Kaze: Hi again everyone! Kami and I are here once again for yet another fanfic!

Kami: We should finish fanfics before starting new ones ne?

Kaze: We'll finish them eventually! Anyways, this fanfic so far is a personal favorite of mine as we are entering this fanfic into the Fanfiction Contest at Anime North!

Kami: For those who don't already know, Anime North is a huge anime convention that takes place once a year in Ontario.

Kaze: And at this convention, many anime fans will cosplay and participate in many contests. Cosplaying is the fun of making or buying a costume and then dressing up as your favourite character from an anime or game of Japanese origin!

Kami: And as usual, there is an annual Anime North Fanfic Contest! So… yeah, you get the point. We're entering this fanfic into the contest.

Kaze: So if you're wondering, then yes, we have finished this fanfic, we're just taking awfully long to post.

Kami: Anyways, once again, the main plot is by me.

Kaze: And the ideas for fillers and details are by me. And as usual, I type the fanfics.

Kamikaze Chibi: Please read and review!

Summary: She lives in Italy and she has a pen pal who lives in Japan. After years of writing, she soon falls for her distant friend. Yet destiny decided to work its magic and her father is soon offered a good job in Japan. Finally moving there, she is determined to meet her pen pal. Unfortunately, just as she was heading to her pen pal's house, she receives an unusual message on her cell phone. Deciding to head to her pen pal's house later, she heads to the train station as instructed by the message on her phone. Little did she know the next time she decides to head to her pen pal's home, he won't be there to greet her.

Chapter 1

"Everyone, we will be starting a new activity in English class today." Started the grade three teacher. "The school has spoken to another school in Japan, and we have agreed that our students and their students will be practicing English by writing letters to each other. Each one of you will have a friend to write to. They will be your pen pals. However, we want everyone to be able to have a friend whom you can speak your thoughts to, therefore, everyone will be using a nickname to write to each other. Hopefully, this will make it more comfortable for everyone as no one else will know whom you are. You may choose your own nickname, but I will need to know each of your chosen names so that I can get each letter to the correct person later on."

"Do we get to choose who we're writing to?" asked one of the students.

"As a matter of fact, you do get to choose class. The students of Japan will be writing a letter to you guys first. When they arrive, you may choose which letter you wish to reply to." Answered the teacher.

"A nickname… What name should I use?" a blonde girl of age eight mumbled to herself later that evening. "Maybe…"

"Izumi! Time for dinner!" her mother called, interrupting her thoughts.

"I'll be right there!" Izumi replied, returning once more to her thoughts. "Maybe I should use…Zuki." She decided after a while in thought.

"Izumi!" her mother called once more.

"Alright! I'm coming, I'm coming!" she replied again, sighing as she got up and headed down the stairs.

"Class, I have some good news for you all," The teacher started, smiling. "The letters from your pen pals have arrived today! I will spread out all the letters on the table up here. Please don't remove any of the letters from the envelopes until I tell you to. Now, everyone, come pick a letter!"

There was an excited murmur from the class as the students got up from their seats and headed to the front of the classroom. Looking at the letters, she saw that the other student's nicknames were written on the envelopes. Seeing one that caught her eye, she picked it up and headed back to her seat.

"Now class, you may open the envelopes. When you are done reading the letter, start on your own letter to reply to theirs. I will be sending your letters out next Friday." The teacher told them once everyone has chosen a letter and returned to their rightful seats. "While you work, I will be calling you one by one to come up here and I will need you to tell me your nickname as well as your pen pal's nickname."

Izumi smiled, opening the envelope neatly before pulling the letter out carefully. Looking it over, she began to read:

Hey,

My nickname is Fai. I am 8 years old and in Gr.3 like you. I was born here in Japan. I don't really have much of a hobby but I occasionally like to play soccer and basketball. How about you?

What's it like in Italy? I've never been there before. Have you been to Japan? Japan is very crowded and there are people everywhere. There are many buildings in the busier areas so many people live in apartments. I live an apartment as well. What about you? Tell me more about Italy. I'm interested.

Write back soon,

Fai

She smiled as she finished reading. Pulling out a pencil and some paper, she began to write her letter.

Hey Fai,

My nickname is Zuki, nice to meet you. My birthday is on May 15 and I was born in Japan too! I moved here to Italy when I was younger because my dad got a good job here. My hobbies…

"Izumi." The teacher called, snapping her out of her concentration.

"My nickname will be Zuki and my pen pal's nickname is Fai." She told the teacher politely once she reached the teacher's desk.

Hey Z,

Happy Birthday. Hope you like the present.

She smiled, reading the first line to one of the letters again. She smiled, reading the first line to one of the letters again. He had started calling her 'Z' when he was lazy.

Pulling out her cell phone, she looked at the key chain that she had received from her best friend, Fai. It was a thin piece of metal painted metallic pink, shaped to look like a cat. He even had the name 'Zuki' engraved on one side. The small piece was then connected to a pink strap, which was now tied to the top of her cell phone.

They were now both ten years old. After the English assignment, she had started liking him. And he admits that he had started liking her. They were both happy. They had exchanged home addresses, continuing to write to each other.

Hey Fai,

I have the biggest news! Guess what? I'm moving to Japan! I can't wait to meet you! Don't reply to this letter, because I'll be in Japan by the time your letter arrives here in Italy! I'll find you when I get to Japan. See you soon!

Your best friend,

Zuki

"Izumi!" her father called. "We have to go! The truck's here!"

She was moving to Japan.

"I'll be right there dad!" she replied, quickly sealing the envelope before sticking two stamps on the top right corner. Grabbing her bag and checking to make sure she didn't leave anything, she ran down the stairs.

"Give me a second daddy, I'll be right back." She told him, dashing down the street before taking a sharp turn to the left and running down that street. Quickly slipping her letter into the mailbox, she ran back up to her house, slightly panting.

"What were you doing?" her father asked skeptically, raising a brow.

"Just sending one last letter to my pen pal to tell him I'm moving." She told him.

Hey Fai,

Happy birthday! You're finally ten! I hope you like the present I got you.

He smiled, reading the letter he had received nearly half a year ago. It was his birthday and she had gotten him a black wristband with the name 'Fai' stitched into it. Placing it into his black bag, he then pulled out a pencil and some paper.

Hey Z,

I've got some news for you. I'm moving. We're moving into a house. It's supposed to be a lot bigger than our apartment. I'll write you a letter when I get there to let you know my new address. Write to you later, I have to pack.

Your best friend,

Fai

"Come on, we have to go now." The middle aged man said to his son.

"Give me a second. I want to send one last letter to my friend before we go." His son answered, heading towards the mailbox.

"What's this? It's a letter for Zuki? There's no one here that goes by that name… it must've been a mistake." Spoke the young boy as he went through the mail that was sent to her new home.

"A letter to Fai? Whose Fai?" asked the young woman as she went through the mail that was sent to his new apartment.

Izumi sat quietly in her seat, reading one of her old letters. She was now on a plane back to Japan. Her father had been offered a well paying job there so they were moving back.

"Please put on your seatbelts, the plane will be descending in a few minutes." A female's voice spoke through the announcements.

Pulling her seatbelt on, she stuck the letters back into her bag, looking out the window as the plane landed.

"Welcome to Japan."

Kaze: A short chapter, but now we've got the main idea out.

Kami: The fanfic isn't too long itself… But maybe Kaze will make it a little longer.

Kaze: Well anyways, please review!