Chapter One

As the plane began to take off, I took one last look at California, and remembered what I would miss: The beautiful beaches with lots of shirtless surfers, the variety of mouth watering food, and all of my wonderful friends.

But screw that man, I was going to Japan!

I pulled out my tangled mess of headphones and stuffed them into my ears once the all-electronics-off light went out. The pre-teen sitting to my left sent me an annoyed glance as the music blared out, but I was to excited to care. I hadn't seen my father in person in 3 years, but since I was going to live with him, limited contact wasn't going to be a problem anymore. The reasons for this sudden change were sad, but thinking about it made me more mad than anything else, since they weren't my fault. I tightened my grip on my phone as the memories floated in my head.

Seeing Mr. Karter lying motionless on the ground...

Being dragged to the principals office, scared and confused...

My mother's face, red, and twisted in anger...

I shook my head and forced a smile. That was all in the past. I was going to a place where no one would know about the accident, no one to look at me with judging eyes, and best of all- no mother. Thinking this, pretty soon the smile became real. I leaned back into the seat and closed my eyes. Sleeping would hopefully make the hours of flying seem faster.

11 hours later

The pre-teen (whose name I had learned was Sara) and I had actually become fairly good friends over the plane trip, enough so that I didn't protest when she climbed over me to peer out the window for her first look at Japan. I'm guessing what she saw impressed her because she let out a little noise.

"I CANNOT wait until we land!" she squealed. I nodded in agreement.

"Japan's a pretty cool place huh?" I said. She did this kind of spasm which I took for a nod.

"I just LOVE Japan! All things Japanese, from anime, to the food, to the video games, and manga, and the cool little inventions, and the blah blah blah..."

...She was a bit talkative. But at least she was nice. Last time I was on a plane, I got stuck next to a pervy old guy who kept trying to put his hand on my knee. Shudder City, I know.

"What are you going to be doing in Japan?" Sara had stopped blabbing about her deep love of all things Japanese, and was looking at me curiously. Since I wasn't keen on spilling my personal life and family issues to someone I had only recently met, I just kept it vague.

"I'm just visiting family." She nodded enthusiastically. It seemed like she did everything enthusiastically

"You do have some Japanese features. It looks pretty cool, kind of a contrast to your blond hair. Is that your natural hair color?"

"Yeah, I got it from my mom." I ran my fingers through the short silky strands. The first thing I had done when my mother informed me of my big move was get my hair cut. Gone was the long, perfect hair my friends used to preen, and braid, and play with. It had been replaced by my new hairdo- barely brushing my shoulders, and not even worth brushing. Surprisingly though, I had been told it suit me.

Sara and I had been chatting for a while when the captain came on the intercom and told us all to put on our seat belts, as we would be landing soon. Sara gripped my arm tightly.

"Oh my god I am so excited!" she said in one breath. I smiled and nodded in agreement. I watched the ground come closer, and my heart started to beat even quicker.

What would life in Japan hold for me?