OOCNESS! There will be a lot throughout the whole story. If you don't like don't read. Flames are not accepted.

Prologue
"Tezuka-chan!" a girl about 9 yelled at the brown haired 10 year old. He was frowning and looked back. His expression softened when he saw it was her. "Tezuka-chan! Wait up!" She came running down the hill glomping the poor grade schooler when she reached him.

"It's good to see you too Ran-kun." The girl giggled as he said those words. Continuing on their way Ran skipped beside Tezuka who had a simple stride that kept up with her.

It was late Fall and Ran wore a green jacket that was slightly thick. Every time she would skip mittens would jump around from her wrists. She wore jeans and a wool cap in her head which she had put on Tezuka's head once she had glomped him. "Neh, Tezuka-chan, did you finish the assignment we had in English today?"

The boy nodded and tapped the back of his bag, indicating that the homework from yesterday was within it. She giggled again and skipped in front of Tezuka making him stop abruptly surprising him. "Did you forget about Fuji-kun?" She pointed at the house they had stopped in front of. Ran smiled at the soft expression that was on his face.

"Hai, he slipped my mind for a second." For being a 5th grader Tezuka had an amazing vocabulary, but Ran also had a good vocabulary. She was a year ahead of her former class. Right now she should have been with her brother in 4th grade but she skipped ahead during Kindergarten.

The other brown headed 10 year old came out of his house. "Ohaiyo Ran-chan, Tezuka-kun, thanks for stopping him again Ran. He can be forgetful can't he?" Both laughed at the annoyed expression on Tezuka's face.

Ran went back to skipping beside Tezuka, while Fuji walked on the other side. The three were inseparable. Walking wasn't the only place where you would see the three together, but at school, Down the halls, during recess, lunch, even in the classroom they would be together laughing and talking.

Ran Karou was the twin sister to Kaidoh Karou. She was a few seconds older than her brother, making her the oldest, but the brother never really let her step all over him. Let's face it, no one like being stepped on.

She had advanced intelligence so the teachers had moved her on up to Tezuka's and Fuji's class and had been keeping her there. But recently Ran had been hearing that they may be advancing her again but this time two years ahead of her current class. that would make her a second year in junior high by next year. And there was an added bonus to it all. Every six months she would be transferred over to Germany to take some studies. She already knew the language, why not learn their culture as well.

She hadn't told Tezuka or Fuji yet, she couldn't bring herself to do so. she didn't like seeing an upset look on their faces, especially when she felt a pain in her chest when she saw Tezuka's face like that.

She had decided that summer she would tell them. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad. She thought. Maybe they will still visit me. Ran wasn't one to say what she was fearing.

"Ran-chan, how can you skip for so long?" Fuji asked, a smile on his face. Ran giggled and hopped in front of him skipping backwards still.

"It takes a lot of Practice., and you must never," Suddenly she ducked under a branch which hit Fuji right in the mouth. She giggled before continuing, "Never let your guard down."

Fuji held his mouth and furrowed his brows. Tezuka laughed at him, slapping his thigh as he did. Ran joined in as well, holding her stomach. "It's not funny! She was distracting me!" Fuji had released his mouth to speak before quickly applying the pressure back to his throbbing lip.

This was the life. Three friends walking to school, laughing at each other in good humor.

When the school year was done Ran became worried. She hadn't thought completely how she was going to break the news to the guys, and the time was growing thin.

Her mother had gotten her uniform early that summer so that she could see how it looked on her daughter, and if she needed to call the school for a different size. Ran had started crying after she tried on the uniform. It just won't be the same!

Finally on the last week before school Ran had invited the two over to her house. She already had her things packed to go to Germany in two days. I don't want to leave them. Dark thoughts entered her mind as she watched the two converse over what they were going to do during the school year.

"Hey Ran-chan, what do you think your co-curricular activities will be? Tezuka and I were gonna try out for Tennis." Ran smiled, at them.

"I think I'll try out for the Tennis team too. I'm sure that the boys could use a spunky girl like me." She faked a smile, but it didn't go unnoticed by her two very observant friends. They were frowning with concern laced in their eyes.

"What's wrong Ran-Chan/kun?" They asked at the same time. Tears welled up in her eyes, and in the moment she cried. The two raced to her side and she told them everything. Her being bumped up two classes and the trips to Germany.

They were at a loss for words. They hadn't expected this at all. Ran-chan is leaving? Fuji revealed his stunning blue eyes as he hugged a crying Ran. While Tezuka's thoughts were leaning on. Why didn't she tell us earlier? He too was hugging his friend. "I don't want to leave you guys. I like having you two as my friends. I don't want replacements!" She continued to cry out these words while they gave her comfort.

Fuji left after she was done crying, Ran's mother saying that Fuji's parents had called him home. All that was left was Tezuka. He was still hugging her, but only with one arm as they stared at the view that was from her backyard. "Ran-kun," She side glanced at him, not sure if she should face him. "Why didn't you tell us earlier? We could have come up with something." Ran shook her head.

"No, I didn't want you two to be upset. I wanted to really enjoy my last school year with my best friends before I go to Germany." She whipped away the last tear that was present on her face and smiled. "Besides I have your guys E-mail addresses. I'll stay communicated with you guys through that." Tezuka smiled.

"Hai, be sure to Email back every day." On that note they hugged. For the both them though it felt like more, much more.

"Tezuka, do me a favor." Her voice was suddenly serious, making Tezuka look her straight in the eye.

"What is it?" Smiling sweetly, Ran opened her mouth and spoke five words.

"Don't let your guard down." Then she planted a kiss on his cheek giggling at the blush that covered his face afterwards.