NOTE:

Hey guys, I'm sorry it took me sooo soo long to update. I've changed/ added some details in the previous chapters since I realized that there are actually a lot of errors in this story. It's up to you if you want to reread those chapters, but I think it would really be better if you did. :D

Btw, I was so touched to see that a lot of you actually put me on their favorites despite my veeeery long updating. Thank you! You guys motivated me to push through with this. :)

Well, here's the new version of A Little Different + 2 new chapters I think? lol Hope you enjoy it! Please continue to read and review!

-Katelyn


Chapter 1

Getting Married

It was an average Sunday morning for Raily Hanami and her mom, Ayane. Raily was sleepily eating her favorite breakfast, buttered toast, while her mom was drinking coffee and reading today's newspaper. It was all good and silent until Ayane set down her newspaper and cleared her throat.

Glancing up at her mom, Raily raised a brow.

"Honey…" Ayane met Raily's gaze. "I need to tell you something."

Raily swallowed her toast and rubbed her eyes. "Mmkay. What?"

"Do you remember the kind man who had dinner with us the other night?" Ayane asked.

"Yeah…." Raily didn't think that she could ever forget him even if she wanted to. "What about him?"

The man, Yunoki Takashi, was a rich reserved guy who owned the flower shop Ayane works in. Raily could never forget the awkward silence at the table when Takashi had dinner with them. He hardly talked much- only when he is asked a direct question and when necessary- plus he has this cold stare. Raily wondered how Takashi kept a straight face all the time, considering he owns a flower shop. And considering his employee (Ayane) is such a cheerful and lively person. It's weird to think about how those two people actually interact with each other.

"Yes, um, I…" Ayane tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear. "You see..."

Raily narrowed her eyes at her mom. The last time she has ever seen her mom this fidgety was when she was about to tell Raily that her dad left them for some young bitch and that he's never coming back. That was ten years ago. The only difference with this time is that her mom looked like she was in a more happy-nervous mood. What the heck is going on? She's blushing!

"He's…" Ayane started.

"He's what?"

"Actually, we…" Ayane took a deep breath. "We're engaged."

"Engaged." Raily repeated. "Okay. So you're engaged… in what exactly?" She bit onto her toast and looked enquiringly at her mom.

"Honey, engaged. As in, we decided to get married."

Raily stared for a long time before she burst out laughing. "That's a good one, mom."

"It's true, honey. He proposed to me last night and I- well, I agreed." Ayane showed Raily the mega-huge diamond ring in her finger.

"HOLY-" Raily almost choked on the bread she was chewing after hearing what her mom had just announced.

"The truth is, we've been thinking about it for a while now and we just decided now is the time."

"MOM! Why?! How?!"

Raily didn't even know that Ayane and Takashi were going out. I mean, sure love can blossom between these two single parents. Ayane's still gorgeous with her auburn hair and lake blue eyes, and Takashi can be handsomely creepy with his violet hair and dark eyes but why would her mom want to MARRY a stiff robot like him? Nuh-uh. No way in hell.

"Honey, please, calm down." Ayane soothed. "I know it must be sudden and I mean with you and his kids-"

"Oh, god." Raily's eyes widen horror at the mention of the guy's kids. They'll all be miniature versions of Takashi no doubt.

"-We'll all going to be living together now-"

"No, no, no, NO."

"It's not as bad as you think." Ayane said. "Out of Takashi's three sons, two of them are already in college so it'll be just his youngest son and his only daughter in the house."

"Am I supposed to be happy about that?" Raily retorted.

"Raily, I know it will be different for everyone but I think that this will be a start of something new. I'm sure you'll just love the nice big house in the city."

Hold up. Did she just say house in the city? Who's damn house?!

"What did you say?" Raily drew in a sharp breath.

"Oh, um, we're going to be living in Takashi's house." Ayane said quickly.

"His… his… house?" Raily asked, her heart beating fast.

"Well, we can't all fit here, with Takashi, his kids and his mother also lives there." Ayane explained. "And his house is in the inner city so it will be better."

Raily gasped. "We're going to leave this place?"

Ayane nodded slowly. "I'm sorry, honey, it's just that I know this will be great for you. We can't keep on living here. You don't get enough education and I-" Ayane stopped short and looked straight at Raily. "We need him, Raily. You need a father."

"I-… I… need to…." Raily stood up and ran upstairs to her room.

"Raily!" Ayane called after her.

Ignoring her mom, Raily shut the door in her room and threw herself to the bed.

She stared at the ceiling and thought out loud. "We're just gonna leave? What about my friends dammit! Everything's here!"

"My life's here…" Raily closed her eyes. "Mom, we don't belong there."

She rolled over to the side and rolled over some more until she caught sight of her antic violin near the wall. She had bought it in an antic shop a year ago and it became one of the most important things in her life.

Raily got up from bed, picked up her violin and played her heart out. She vented out her frustrations, her anger, her sadness and her pain through the melody. When she was finally tired, she fell asleep on the floor crying.

After hours have past, she woke up hearing her stomach grumble. She didn't know crying can make her so damn hungry. She washed her tear-strained face and was about to go down to the kitchen when she heard her mom talking in the phone from the hallway. Hoping her mom wouldn't see her, Raily quickly tiptoed back to her room, leaving her door a bit open.

"Takashi…" Ayane said.

Raily was shocked to hear her mom's voice. It sounded weak and strained. It sounded helpless.

"I don't know…. She's in her room right now." Ayane ran a hand through her hair. "I heard her playing the violin… she sounded so hurt and angry."

Raily lowered her eyes and clenched her fists.

"Maybe… Maybe we should just forget about it." Ayane said. "Maybe…. We should… but Takashi… no, it's not that…. I'm sorry." Ayane shook her head. "I just can't do this to my daughter."

Raily suddenly felt pain sting her heart. It's been just her mom and her for the past ten years and Raily knows how Ayane was still sad over her dad leaving them.

"Thank you, Takashi… I love you too." Ayane hung up the phone and held it to her chest.

I can't destroy her happiness. She just found a man she loves. I'm being too selfish. Raily muttered a curse before slowly approaching Ayane. "Mom…"

Ayane looked up surprised. "R-Raily…."

"I'm sorry." Raily whispered.

Ayane put her arms around Raily. "You don't need to apologize, honey. I guess this is too big of a decision."

"Mom…" Raily embraced her mom back. "You really love him, huh?"

Ayane smiled. "Yes, I do." She pulled away from Raily and looked at her in the eyes. "But that doesn't mean I love you any less. Your feelings in this are also important."

The two of them stayed that way for a long time until the clock made a sound and notified them it was already 7 pm.

"I'll get dinner ready. You haven't eaten anything since breakfast." Ayane stood up, went downstairs and prepared their dinner.

Raily went down too and helped Ayane with setting the table.

After a few minutes of contemplation during dinnertime, Raily was sure she had finally come to a decision. A decision which she hoped she and her mom wouldn't regret later.

"I'll go, mom." Raily said. "If it's really what you want, then I'll go."

Ayane reached for her daughter's hand and squeezed it. "Are you sure?"

Raily nodded.

"Oh honey, thank you." Ayane smiled. "I'm sure things will be better for us."

"Yeah…" Raily looked down at her plate and picked on her food with a fork. "But what about school? I'm still in the middle of my second year in high school."

All throughout her school life, she's been studying at Jared High, a public school in their town. Raily scowled at the thought of studying in a bratty high-maintenance academy for spoiled, uptight, snobby, rich kids.

"Well, you'll be attending Seiso Academy as a music student. You've always wanted to take proper classes in violin right? And you like playing it."

Sounds like a spoiled rich kids' school to me. Raily shrugged. "But why not a normal school?"

"Actually Seiso was Takashi's idea. You see, his youngest son is a musician and he studies there too. Takashi's already taken care of your application and everything."

"Ah," Raily grip tightened on the fork. How long have they been planning on this? Fine, things will be better, that's what mom said. Remember that.

"If you don't like Seiso, we can transfer you to another school." Ayane suddenly said after a while. "But I think you should give it a chance. Maybe for a week?"

"I guess." Raily shrugged again. "When are we leaving?"

"Is the day after tomorrow too soon?" Ayane asked gently. "I know you have to say your goodbyes to your friends and…"

"It's fine." Raily interrupted. "Just fine."

The next day, 9 in the evening:

"HANAMI!!!" A high-pitched voice suddenly made Raily groan inwardly.

Donna. What the fuck is she doing here?! Raily tried to ignore the person and go back to sleep but she was just too persistent in waking Raily.

"HANAMI! GET UP!"

Raily pulled the covers over her head. Go away, Donna. Just go.

"Oh no you don't!" Donna gathered up her strength and yanked the covers from Raily. "Get up! NOW! Don't make me get the bucket of water."

"Alright, alright." Raily opened her eyes and slowly sat up. "What the hell is wrong with you? It's 9 pm and I am seriously sleepy, Donna."

"There's no way you would sleep this early, Hanami." Donna crossed her arms over her chest.

"Oh, last names now huh? Since when do you call me by my last name?"

Donna ignored her. "I haven't seen you all day and you weren't answering my calls so you leave me no choice but to come here."

"Well, you're here now." Raily muttered. "What's the deal?"

"What's the deal?" Donna glared down at Raily. "What about what's your deal?"

Raily held onto her pillow and hugged it. "Yeah? What about me?"

"You didn't go to school today." Donna stated. "Why?"

Raily decided to play dumb. "Well, it's a Monday. You know I hate Mondays."

"Don't even give me that excuse." Donna said angrily. "I already know about everything, okay?!"

Raily looked down and didn't say anything.

"Why didn't you tell me about your mom getting married?" Donna demanded. "Why didn't you tell me you were leaving?!"

Raily clutched the pillow tighter to her chest, still saying nothing.

"Honestly, were you even planning to tell me?"

Raily hesitated. "Not really."

"Not really." Donna echoed. "I can't believe this, Raily. You used to tell me everything."

"Look, I'm sorry, ok? I just…" Raily stopped and lowered her head to the pillow.

Donna let out a heavy sigh before sitting down next to Raily in the bed. She saw 3 bags all packed up and her violin case ready for moving in the corner of Raily's room. "You know… what upset me was that you didn't tell me about this." Donna said softly. "I had to hear it from other people that you're leaving because your mom's remarrying that flower shop man who lives in the posh city."

Raily remained unmoved in the pillow, silently listening to Donna.

"I know this must be hard for you and stuff, but you can tell me anything." Donna continued. "You can complain to me, shout at me, vent out on me, and even hit me. Well, as long as you let me hit you back after you're done with your moment."

Raily gave a muffled laugh and Donna smiled.

"You know, the whole class was sad when they heard you're leaving."

Raily just shook her head.

"Rai, I'll always be on your side, no matter how far you're going to be. Nothing's gonna change that." Donna said softly but seriously.

Raily blinked back the tears forming in her eyes. The reason she hadn't told Donna about her departure was because she knows it will be too hard and too sad. Too much to say goodbye to her best friend. She knows she'll never have a best friend as great as Donna. I mean, how often can she find someone who would come barging into her room at 9 in the evening to confront her and then comfort her like Donna did?

"I can probably visit you sometimes. I'm sure it's not that far." Donna suggested. "Or you can visit us here."

When Raily didn't respond, Donna gave a defeated sigh. "You'll probably just find new friends-"

"You're my best friend. Do you know that?" Raily interrupted as her hold on the pillow loosened.

Donna laughed and looped her arm around Raily. "Yeah, I know. I was gonna say you'll probably just find new friends who would never be as great as me in your new school."

Raily laughed too and now the pillow was completely out of her hold. "I'm gonna be in Seiso as a music student. Can you believe that shit?"

"Seiso huh?" Donna made a humming sound. "Doesn't sound that bad, although you'd probably tear the place down in just one week."

Raily smirked. "You make it sound like I'm a delinquent."

"I did?" Donna pulled away her arm from Raily made a surprised face. "No way."

"I probably won't fit in there, anyway."

"Hey," Donna met her gaze. "You're gonna do great there and you're going to show those inner-city kids what a real violinist can do."

"Yeah, you're right." Raily smiled. "No rich-ass kid is gonna bring me down."

It was silent for a while.

"You're going to make it into the Christmas concert right? Our duet?" Donna asked.

"Of course, I'll be there."

"Good." Donna chuckled. "Because I'm not gonna play the trumpet on the concert without you playing the violin with me. Remember that the success of the concert depends on our performance." Donna winked.

"Heh, you better practice the piece." Raily smirked.

"Yeah, yeah." Donna glanced at her watch and jumped up involuntarily. "Oh no, I gotta get back! I'll come here first thing in the morning and we can go to school-"

"I'll be leaving tomorrow morning." Raily said quietly.

Donna froze. "What? That's too soon!"

Smiling sadly, Raily stood up and hugged her best friend. "Thank you so much, Donna. I'll miss you. Say goodbye to the others for me."

"Raily…." Donna hugged her back tightly. "Promise me that you'll take care over there ok? Do your best. We'll always be here for you when you need anything."

"Ok, enough of this." Raily pulled back and punched Donna lightly on the arm. "You better not forget me, or I'll kick your butt to the South Pole."

Donna punched her back with the same force. "I'll write to you as much as I can, you moody girl."

Raily laughed and gently shoved Donna towards the door. "Go home, man. Musaki-san will freak if she found out you sneaked out again."

"I'm sure mom won't mind if I sleep over," Donna grinned.

As tempting as it was, Raily shook her head to that. "You need to go,"

"Okay, okay," Donna hesitantly turned the doorknob, opened the door and walked out.

Raily stared at the door and was surprised when Donna called out.

"You better make it to the concert!"

Raily smiled and called back. "I will!"

She then heard Donna go down the stairs, and out the front door.

End of Chapter 1