This is my VERY first fanfiction ever! Please, I hope you all enjoy it!

Title: The Golden Frame

Chapter 1

"Ugh," Melony let out with a great relief. After a seven hour plane flight cramped in-between strangers, followed with intense jet lag, who wouldn't be tired? The only token of energy residing in her stomach was several bags of 'crunchy-munchy' peanuts and cheap airplane orange juice. Melony's face started to turn a lovely shade of sea-foam green. Those 'crunchy munchies' may revisit her soon. 'UGH' very soon.

The first thing Melony wanted to do, besides meeting her beloved cousin Yukiko Kudo, who currently attends the prestigious Clamp School, was to silence her grumbling stomach.

Clamp School has its own airport, of course. Melony wobbly stepped off the plane and passed through the gates, not-so-much-really patiently waiting in the waiting room for her beloved cousin to rescue I mean, pick her up as soon as possible in this unknown place.

Everything seemed so much different to Melony. Melony used to live in Japan when she was young, but had to move to America for business reasons with her mother and father. Now, she is 12 years old, and has come to Japan for her cousin's wedding celebration. Yukiko Kudo was currently a university student at Clamp and was to be wed to her professor, Ebihara-sensei. Scandalous, mischievously thought Melony, but she knew the two loved each other very dearly, at least from all the emails Yukiko sends her, about them being so lovey-dovey. An apple pie brought them together, weird, but cute. She smiled. Oh what would she do for an apple pie right now? Melony started fantasizing about eating a plump, juicy apple pie.

"Melony!" shouted a young women emerging from the crowd. The call woke Melony from her fantasy. Darn. In her fantasy she topped off her apple pie with whipped cream.

"Melony! You're here, I'm so glad. Thank you for coming," she tightly held her cousin in her arms, as if there was some force in the world that would tear them apart, she was determined to never let her go. "You've grown up so much" a tear trickled down Yukiko's cheek.

Instead of green, Melony's face was turning blue. Can't breathe thought the girl with lungs lacking oxygen. Yukiko released her from the tight hug, realizing her smothering love…was well…smothering the girl. "I'm sorry, but the last time I've seen you, you were barely up to my knees and you would hold unto my skirt and pretend to hide in it." Yukiko laughed.

Melony blushed with embarrassment. But she had fun. When she was little, she would hide in her cousin's skirt, so she would never leave and the fun would continue. Sadly, her little trick didn't fool the adults, although it did make them laugh.

"Mh-hmm." Melony tried to clear her throat. "I wanted to tell you this in person, rather than on email." She took a deep breathe, and reached out for Yukiko's hands. "Congratulations on your engagement, you'll make a beautiful bride, the most beautiful one in the world."

This would probably be more sentimental if it wasn't in the airport lobby with strangers watching them, as if they were actors in a soap-opera. "How beautiful," an old man sniffed, then wiping his tears with his sleeve.

The location didn't matter, all that mattered was that their together face to face.

"Are you okay?" Yukiko worrying asked. "Oh, I just feasted on some gourmet peanuts on the way here" she said jokingly, but the color of her face was now evergreen and it just showed how serious this girl was for a decent meal. "I know exactly where to go." Yukiko said with determination. She took Melony's luggage and escorted her to a taxi. Thank goodness thought Melony, who was absolutely in no condition to be walking around.

In the car ride, Yukiko was explaining about Clamp school, and all its facilities. Melony nodded in agreement, too tired to say much. Clamp being the only school in the world to accept anyone of any class regardless of their economic standing. Soon, Melony started to gaze outside the car window, watching people and buildings pass by. Japan is different, and I won't be here for long. Then she dozed off, passing by an unknown world that would soon become very familiar.

MANY MINUTES LATER

Yukiko nudged here, gently trying to wake up her sleeping beauty of a cousin. "Wha-a" sleeping beauty awoke from her slumber…with a bit of drool gracing her face.

"We're here" she said was a smiling face. They arrived at a small, lovely bakery with a giant banner over it with big bold letters "Duklyon." The scent of freshly baked bread scattered throughout the air. The grumbling of Melony's stomach increased. Which might have been obvious to some customers already. Melony blushed from embarrassment.

"WELCOME TO DUKLYON BAKERY!" shouted dedicated staff members.

Yukiko escorted Melony to a table next to the window sill. "I'll bring you back something worth waiting for." Melony smiled in agreement, but instead of admiring the freshly baked goods on display, she tilted her head down, rested it on her arms, and closed her eyes. The sunlight graced her body, and shimmered on her dark hair.

Off in her slumber, a small platter of croissants and a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream and cinnamon were placed gently on the table. The bearer silently whispered 'Enjoy,' but it was washed out by the clicking and clattering of utensils, and people talking over their delicious treats. Then walked away, leaving the bakery. "THANK YOU FOR COMING!" shouted, again, a dedicated staff member. "Hey, Kentaro, don't you think that boy looks like the general?" They both stared at each other, then at the young boy walking away, then at each other again. "Nah!" each said in unison. "Takeshi! Kentaro! Get back to work!" Yelled an angry manager. "Sorry Eri…"

Melony woke up to the smell of delicious treats. She gently ripped one croissant and saw the smoke rise up into the air. Freshly baked, guaranteed by the Clamp School Defenders, I mean, bakers.

"Thank you for the food," said Melony.

"b-but I haven't" said a confused Yukiko holding a tray of goodies for the both of them.

"This is really good," Melony happily ate her food.

'Now, just who came here before I did?' Thought Yukiko.

"Eh? You brought more?"