Chapter 1

Welcome to Hokkaido

Mai's Opening Notes: Hey everyone. After much debating and wonder, here I am! I know I left a lot of pissed off readers as I completed 'What ifs' with a cliffhanger. My idea was to run a spin off, that didn't happen and eventually I'll add a chapter to that series. Gomen ;;. So my one-year-old cat, Ayame, ran away. I saw her a couple of nights ago. When I tried to grab her she ran away. Kids are so ungrateful :sighs: My plan now is to get a kitten from this little girl in town, or brainwash my boyfriend to get it for me for our one year anniversary. One of the two would work! On to the story! I wonder, do they tell us Sano's step mom's name in Volume 12? I have yet to buy and read it! Waaa!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Hana-Kimi. I wish I owned Sano, but that is only possible in my dreams. :clears throat: This will be the only time I say this don't complain if you don't see it again.

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Life isn't perfect, but what if perfection is what you get in the

end? What exactly is perfection? Who are we to judge others and their
happiness? What is happiness, but a mere illusion of what we think the
world is providing for us. If Happiness is real then only pain and suffering
can be tied with it. Who's perfect anyway? Pain and sorrow befalls even the
richest, healthiest, happiest people. He would know. Wouldn't he?

He stood in the den, glaring out a window into the driveway. His hands were tucked in the pockets of his black denim jeans. A white collared shirt fit loosely around him to complete his outfit. He sighed lightly, he hadn't expected it to be such a long morning. There were footsteps then, entering the den. From the corner of his eye he spotted his younger brother, Shin. "You look like a mess, big brother" Shin mocked as he placed a hand on the taller man's shoulder. Sano stiffened at the touch and looked down into the roses in the front yard. Strands of his dark hair shaded over the emotions hidden in his eyes. "You couldn't have known" Shin chuckled a bit and looked out the window as a taxi drove up into the driveway. "Well, it's time to put on your party face." Shin patted at his back and walked into the hallway.

"Shin" A woman called out from the other end of the hallway, as Shin had reached for the door. He stopped dead in his tracks as the woman approached and examined him. Her eyes scanned over his opened black collar shirt and the white t-shirt within it. She began to tuck the t-shirt into his blue jeans. "Button up" She ordered as she finished. Shin shifted away and started to untuck his shirt.

"Do you mind?" He questioned with a grin as he looked at his mother. There was a knock at the door. The older woman seemed to jump, as if she hadn't been expecting it. Shin watched, expectantly, as his mother opened the door. There stood a petite woman, with slim curves and humble breast, in a short pink dress. Her warm smile and hazel eyes seemed to call out to him. She bowed lightly, her long brown hair cascaded over her shoulders ever so slightly. He was speechless.

"Good morning" The young woman's voice sang out in a low melodic voice. "I'm Mizuki Ashiya. I'm sorry I'm late, my flight was delayed." She said as she looked back and forth from the young man and the older woman.

"No worries my dear" The woman said as she let her in, "Shin" She said as she gave him a bundle of money. "Help the driver with her luggage and pay him" Shin nodded and in a stiff motion he rushed past the two women and out into the driveway. "Izumi is in the den, come" She walked ahead of Mizuki, who followed close behind. "I hope you had a good flight."

"It was decent. I have no complains, except it's as long as always" She chuckled lightly as the two entered the den. At entering the den her eyes fell upon a stiffened man by the window. It was him, Izumi Sano the record breaking high jumper she had swoon over all these years. What should she say?

"I'll leave you two to get acquainted" The woman seemed to rush out of the den saying "I'll start on lunch" A strange vibe came over her as she stood in the center of the room. So, again she wondered what it was that she was supposed to say to him. She had read every article about him, she knew his top records. She had watched his matches on television religiously. Now she was in the same room as him and her stomach was in knots. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought that her mother back in America had been childhood friends with his. It was weird how all of a sudden when she turned sixteen her mother began to speak about marriage and a legal binding paper two young girls made. Now she was in Hokkaido for the first time, and she was getting married.

"Sit" He finally said in a low husky, yet soothing voice. Obediently Mizuki walked over to one of the beige leather couches and sat down. She began to play with the hem of her short dress. "So-"

"It's really an honor to meet you" She let out in a sheepish voice. Had she not felt awkward, due to their situation, she would have had a bundle to say. He turned slightly and eyed the girl, so this was the teen model from America. It was strange, Shin had spoken of her once or twice, and Sano had never been interested.

"So," He continued as he walked over to the couch across from her and took a seat on the armrest. "Why didn't you fight it?" He gaze quickly moved from her hands up to his serious face. Their eyes met before she turned her face away.

"I did fight it. I did all I could." She sighed softly and focused on the fresh lilies that were on the coffee table. "I cried, I screamed. I even told her I would kill myself if she forced me to marry some guy I didn't know. She laughed and told me I knew you more than I thought. I never understood."

"We've never met." He said as he slid into the seat and rested his elbows on his knees as he knelt forward. "How could-"

"Your reputation precedes you. I've been a big fan since I saw you on a station in America" She muttered lightly. "Even knowing so . . . I ran away. There wasn't anywhere I could really go. My face was known and after a week or so I was home again." She returned her gaze to Sano, only to blush lightly as he was so attentive of the conversation. "I really wanted to meet you. I really wanted to be your friend . . . but marriage . . . that doesn't go well with me. Though I admire you," She blushed lightly as she looked down at her hands once more. She heard a racket from the hallway, she could only imagine that it was Shin with all her luggage.

"Our moms were insane." He sighed as he reclined into the couch. Now more relaxed he looked up at the ceiling. "I don't even know why she would do such a thing."

"Why don't you ask her?" Mizuki asked innocently as their eyes met again. Sano's brow was high in wonder as the question swam in his head momentarily. "I suppose she'd give you the same answer my mom gave me. She told me that she was leaving for America, in hopes of a better life, and made a legal binding paper with a friend. I'm glad we weren't both male" She joked then when quiet momentarily. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No, it's just my mother passed away when I was eight," At that moment Shin walked in. He looked winded and a bit tired as he scratched at his head. He smirked as both Sano and Mizuki watched him.

"Mom fixed up the guest room if you want to unpack." Shin said as he sat on the couch beside Mizuki. "You can rest until lunch is ready if you'd like" She nodded lightly and her gaze went between both Sano and Shin.

"A nap sounds great" Mizuki said with a grin as Shin quickly stood. He stuck out his tongue at Sano as Mizuki walked in front of him. In the hallway he led her upstairs and opened a door before them. "Thanks."

"My name is Shin, by the way" He grinned slightly and looked around the pale green room. "If you need anything just let me know"

"Thanks Shin." She smiled lightly as she sat on her fluffy bed. After sharing those few words Shin excused himself and walked down into the kitchen. Mizuki laid back onto the bed and sighed as she looked up onto the ceiling. "Well, you're here Mizuki" She said lightly as she yawned. "Now what?" She had left so much behind. A career, her family and her best friend. One thing was for sure she couldn't run anymore. "Can't sleep" She muttered as she turned onto her stomach

"So Izumi," Shin heard his mother say as he walked into the kitchen. His mother was working over the stove and Sano was sitting on a chair with a coke. "What are you going to do now? I mean you can't go back to Tokyo, what about your bride." Sano stiffened as he sipped at his soda. Shin walked in and sat across from him, grabbing a

banana and starting to take the peel off. His mother quickly took it out of his hand and set it on the bowl in the center of the table. "You'll ruin your appetite." Shin sighed and looked over at his older brother.

"I'm going back to Osaka when the break is over" Sano could feel his brother's eyes burning at the top of his head. As he looked up from his soda his eyes met Shin's. The tension between the two grew more intense.

"Why don't you stay here. You could go to a local high school and live here." Sano looked up at her and shook his head. With that Shin stood from his seat and walked out of the kitchen. In the hallway he bumped into Mizuki.

"Oh sorry" She said as he stammered past her. She watched him walk out the front door and scratched at her head. He sure seemed mad about something. She walked a few steps to hear the voices of Sano and his mother.

"I can't live under the same roof with him" Sano let out as his gaze left his mother and reverted to his drink. "I don't know what will be of Mizuki, I can't do anything about this . . . it's what I decided years ago. I can't stand him mom"

"Oh Izumi," She walked to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, soothing him as much as she could. "but that poor girl, I'm sure her mother would not have wanted you to disregard the child of her best friend." Sano sighed lightly as he stood from the chair. He looked down at his mother and kissed her forehead. Mizuki saw it then to walk in and pretend she had not overheard. Both Sano and his mother looked over at her as she smiled softly.

"I'm going to go talk to Shin" With that the two women were left alone in the kitchen. The older woman went back to cooking as Mizuki sat down.

"Is Shin alright?" Mizuki, knowing it was not her place, questioned as she watched the older woman cook.

"Conflicts my dear. Those two used to get along so well." The woman sighed as she stirred. "So Mizuki, what are your plans? After the wedding I mean. You have to enroll into a school. Izumi goes to school in Tokyo. It will be hard to keep in touch from here and if you go there too . . . he's in an all boy's school."

"It's the middle of the school year so I can't be too picky. I do have an idea of what I want to do . . . I will need your help though and it would have to be our secret." The woman looked over at Mizuki as she ran her finger over the top of Sano's can. "I want to attend Sano's school, I want to be his friend and I want to cross dress as a boy"

"Nonsense child!" The woman hollered as she turned to Mizuki. "you can't be serious?" Mizuki nodded as they looked at each other. "Well, if you've made up your mind. Won't that be too complicated?"

"I've already enrolled" She looked down in shame as the woman's eyes seemed to pop out of her head. "I know it's going to be a hard task . . . I've always wanted to see Sano high jump . . . and if I'm going to be his wife I want to get to know him." She grinned as the woman patted her head.

"I'll help in what I can . . . but after you're there . . . I can't help you after that my dear. When you're there it's all up to you" She returned to her cooking as Mizuki sighed. "If you get caught . . . you come back here and attend a school here in Hokkaido. Understood?" She looked over at Mizuki who quickly nodded.

Mai's Closing Notes: I can't believe I wrote this. :shakes head: someone shoot me now! I command it . . . well no not really. After my cat ran off I started to leave cat food outside . . . I went out this morning, after the rain from the other night . . . I can't get that picture out of my head. Her Meow Mix turned into something like a hard kitty food cake with pieces unmelted. Inside it . . . living breathing . . . . BUGS! I then went for pizza and can't get that image out of my head! AAAHHH! I have to make my dad clean that up. I can't get that image out of my head and I just want to head into the bathroom and gag myself to throw up! Eeeep! So anyway, please comment . . . . even to say hi or flame me! Go for it, just do it! Muahahahahahaha!