Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story and some extra characters

Author's Note: hi! Miss me? No? (Walks away crying)

Joke! Well, here I am again bringing in another story that I hope would make someone's day by reading (It's never bad to hope right? It's free). This idea just pops out of nowhere and demanded to be written so I've had no choice but to comply. I was supposed to put it in my other story here Mouse Loves Rice but after a writing the first chapter I've decided that one shot won't be enough so I have to upload it as a separate chapter. It's around 3 chapters but that is still tentative depending as how long can I make it with this and of course people's support will also be of help (i.e. reviews, anyone kind enough to give ideas etc.).

Warning: this happened in an alternate universe, OOCness might be encountered while reading. Thank you.

~majrocks~

"Character contributes to beauty. It fortifies a woman as her youth fades. A mode of conduct, a standard of courage, discipline, fortitude, and integrity can do a great deal to make a woman beautiful."

~majrocks~

Project: Makeover

Chapter one: Problem or Solution?

Anna was silently walking her way to their classroom when she passed by a poster. The said poster is for the school's upcoming contest: Miss Shinra Private High. And on the poster are pictures of lovely teenagers smiling, including her best friend, Tiffany Kudo. Tiffany, she thought was the most striking and stands out effortlessly, of course she isn't just saying this because she's her friend. She's very positive that even if she didn't know the girl personally she would say the same thing. But no, she is not jealous or anything like that, beauty she believes is just skin deep.

Personal Profile

Name: Anna Kyouyama

Occupation: student, Shinra Private High School, third year section 1D

Nickname: Anna, Ice queen (but don't say it in front of her if you still value your life)

Description: shoulder-length blond mane, amber eyes, bossy, slim, smart and proud member of NBSB (No Boyfriend Since Birth)

When she finally arrived at their classroom she instantly felt the tension in the air.

"You're late" says Sunny

Personal Profile

Name: Sunny Kawashima

Occupation: student, Shinra Private High School, president third year section 1D

Nickname: Sunny

Description: waist-long black hair, blue eyes, slim, pretty, stubborn and nagger.

"If you haven't FORGOTTEN to announce that there would be an emergency meeting before our class ended then I wouldn't have been late since I have to go back here from home."

The rest of the class sweat dropped, ICE QUEEN VS EMPRESS NAGGER

Suddenly a girl in clutches stands between them.

Anna blinked; she can't believe that she would see Tiffany in clutches, "Tiff, what happened to you?"

Tiffany just smiled at her best friend.

Personal Profile

Name: Tiffany Kudo

Occupation: student, Shinra Private High School, third year section 1D

Nickname: Tiff, Tiffany

Description: honey colored waist-long curly hair, grayish-green eyes, slim, divine face, has a talent for blackmailing her friends and falling for the wrong guy.

"Don't worry Anna; I just had an accident while skiing a few days ago. But I'm okay now" Tiffany explained.

"Yeah, just an accident but for heaven's sake Tiffany! Because of that accident you won't be able to join Miss Shinra Private High. What would happen to our class now? Who would be our candidate?" Sunny wailed.

Anna just rolled her eyes at her lamentations then made her way to her chair at the back besides the window and just looked outside wishing she didn't come to this meeting.

She can now hear Sunny throwing her tantrum over the contest and Tiffany offering possible solutions.

They were still arguing when Anna caught her name being mentioned by Tiffany as a possible solution and their other classmates agreeing with her.

"Well, yeah she can be a candidate, I mean she's presentable" Sunny stated.

Anna's eyebrow rose at her remark.

"And she is known as the ice queen so I bet her entering the pageant would surely make some noise!" seconded someone.

Anna's vein popped, she wanted to kill that someone.

"So it's settled then, Anna is our new candidate for Miss Shinra Private High!" declared their president triumphantly.

5

4

3

2

1

Boom!

"Who says I'm going to join that stupid pageant? If that contest is too precious to you Sunny, why don't you join it yourself?" the bomb started to explode.

Sunny smiled at her sweetly, "I would love to do that Anna dear but I'm afraid that I am one of the hosts of this competition."

Anna was fuming with anger, she glared at all her classmates, "Sorry to disappoint you guys but I'm not joining that contest. Find someone you can make a fool off!" then stormed out of the classroom leaving them all beyond shock.

Tiffany and Sunny exchanged looks then sighed.

~majrocks~

Anna had her don't-mess-with-me-unless-you-want-to-die look that send the other students to the corner and let her pass in silence.

She was nearing the stairs when she heard a voice call her name, "Anna wait!"

She knew it was Tiffany but has no intention of facing her because she was still pissed off.

"Anna wait! Aaaaahhhh!-"

She then heard a crash and a scream.

When she turn around she saw Tiffany plastered on the ground and trying hard to get on her feet or should I say clutches.

She cursed under her breath then hurriedly aided her best friend.

"Are you even thinking? You know you had an accident and walking will definitely be hard so why did you even bother to follow me?"

Tiffany's eyes were watery, "Because... because you're angry at me. Were BFF's right? I can't let you be angry at me. What I wanted is the best for you. I wouldn't want the honor of replacing me in the pageant be passed to someone who I don't believe deserves the role. If you really don't want to enter the pageant its okay with me" tears started to flow from her eyes.

Anna wanted to kick now, Tiffany had been a good friend ever since. She's someone who is wiling to move heaven and earth just for her loved ones.

A pang of guilt strikes Anna; she remembered the reason why she and Tiffany became friends, the latter saved her from drowning years ago and she cannot remember a time when the girl said no to her.

She sighed in defeat, "Okay Tiffany, I'm joining the pageant so you don't have to worry about it anymore."

Tiffany looked at her full of hope, "Really friend? You'll do it for me?"

Anna nodded, "But is it still okay for me to replace you? Isn't it a little too late?"

"Don't worry I know Sunny can pull some strings for us. Right president?" she answered then as if on cue Sunny appeared behind them.

"That's right. Leave it all to me" Sunny declared proudly. Anna could feel shivers down her spine; she knows she'll have to prepare herself for one hell of a journey.

~majrocks~

Everything had been planned out for the next issue of Private Eye; Shinra Private High school's official newspaper.

Lilirara, the paper's editor in chief called a meeting to give their assignments.

Personal Profile

Name: Lilirara Nita

Occupation: student, Shinra Private High School, fourth year section 1N, editor in chief of Private Eye

Nickname: Lilirara

Description: jet black waist-long straight hair, black colored peepers, slim, caramel colored skin, bossy, authoritative and won't take no for an answer.

Yoh's eyes widen as he read his folder's contents

Personal Profile

Name: Yoh Asakura

Occupation: student, Shinra Private High School, third year section 1N, sports editor of Private Eye

Nickname: Yoh

Description: chocolate brown shoulder length hair, coffee colored eyes, always seen wearing orange headphones, megawatt smile, slacker, warm personality.

"You want me to what?"

"Cover the Miss Shinra Private High" answered Lilirara

The irony didn't escape Yoh's ears.

"I'm a sports editor, Lilirara," he reasons out

"And a very good one," she added sweetly, "Yoh, you need to widen your horizons. You need to come out of your comfort zone, and this is a good chance to start that. Besides there are no juicy news in the sports bubble these days."

"I can understand that but why me? Why can't Ren, Horo, Manta or any other field correspondents do that?" Yoh is still not giving up,

"First, because Ren is too intimidating to conduct an interview, second Horo-horo's sister is joining the pageant so to avoid any biased news he could not cover this, so is Manta because he will be helping in the preparations and third I believe that you are the best person to do the job."

"But---"

"No buts, I'm the editor in chief here right?" Lilirara reminded him.

Yoh sighed in defeat, "Okay, so where do I start from here?"

Lilirara's smile broaden, "I want you to focus first on Anna Kyouyama, 3-1D's candidate"

"Anna Kyouyama? Wait 3-1D's candidate is Tiffany Kudo right? What happened?" ask Horo-horo.

Personal Profile

Name: Horokeu Usui

Occupation: student, Shinra Private High School, third year section 4D, literary editor of Private Eye

Nickname: Horo-horo

Description: blue haired blue eyed Ainu, perky, slacker, hates math

"Tiffany suffered an accident while skiing that left her in clutches for a month and a half so technically she can't join the contest. Her replacement is Anna Kyouyama, just a piece of information; her being Tiffany's replacement isn't just what's interesting about her, she also has a reputation of being an ice queen. So everyone is wondering how she would mark her way in the pageant." Explained Lilirara

"Wow, your eavesdroppers really are updated" remarked Ren.

Personal Profile

Name: Ren Tao

Occupation: student, Shinra Private High School, third year section 2D, circulation manager of Private Eye

Nickname: Ren

Description: purple hair always kept in a tongari hairstyle, golden eyes, Chinese exchange student, intimidating, serious type, but kind at heart.

Lilirara eyed him, "Ren, don't call them that, they are researchers"

"Is that how you call eavesdroppers nowadays?"

Lilirara just rolled her eyes, "Whatever, by the way, Ren you and Anna became classmates once right?"

"Yes. Trigonometry"

"How was she?"

"Silent type, smart, sticks with Tiffany like a glue, classic beauty but not striking especially if you compare her to Tiffany" he answered.

She nodded, "So now you've had a head start Yoh, do the rest."

"Okay"

She then turns her attention to other people's assignment.

After the meeting, the three boys namely Yoh, Ren and Horo-horo were now walking out of the school and heading home.

Horo-horo patted Yoh on the back, "Don't worry my friend, you've had the most wonderful job."

Yoh half smiled," I still wish it was related with sports…"

"It's not that bad, maybe you can be lucky enough to find a girl whose face and body is made by God and brains not by Mattel." Ren said.

~majrocks~

The following day Sunny and Tiffany went over to Anna's house early; they are welcomed by Anna's aunt, Eina. Her parents died when Anna was five years old and since then Eina cared for her.

Personal Profile

Name: Eina Kyouyama

Occupation: Anna's aunt, part time personal shopper

Nickname: Eina

Description: long blond hair always tied in a ponytail, Grey eyes, kind and patient but don't test it she's far worse than Anna

When she went to the living room, Anna found her aunt engrossed talking with Sunny and Tiffany.

"You two are quite early, have you come here to tell me that what we talked yesterday is all a joke?" Anna told them.

"No, I won't beat around the bush Anna" answered Sunny.

"Have you ever?" she countered.

"Whoa, stop that. Anna we're here to help you get ready for the pageant" says Tiffany.

"I think you should do it, Anna" Eina seconded then turned to the two girls, "Would Anna have to parade onstage in a swimsuit?"

"No, evening gown only. That plus give a speech" answered Sunny.

Anna never gave a speech in her entire life. This pageant thing was sounding worse by the minute. She wanted to back out but she owed Tiffany and certainly didn't want to hurt her feelings. Maybe she could find a graceful way out.

~majrocks~

Anna's transformation began with a new hairstyle. Sunny had gone with her to Kurls n Style Salon.

"For moral support" she reasons out.

Three hours and seemingly endless torture later, they were back home.

Anna almost jumped and screamed as she stared in the mirror; she decided she looked like someone who needs life transfusion. What had been a perfectly nice and sleek blond hair now resembled a white Afro with limp and bad hair day when what Sunny intended was big fat Kate Hudson curls.

"All I need are pointed fingernails since I'm already wearing a black dress and a broom stick then I'm all set up for a sideline job at the horror house" she whined at Sunny.

"Well, it's not exactly what I envisioned, I think the perms a little tight" she admitted.

"What about this makeup?" the salon was also selling makeup on the side and their resident "expert" had done Anna's face, "I look like an extra from a horror film."

"Maybe the lipstick is too red, and I don't know, the cheeks..."

"Looks like a traffic enforcer's stop sign" Anna grabbed a washcloth and started scrubbing just as the doorbell rang.

"Will you be kind enough to get it Sunny?"

Sunny went to open the door. Hearing an unfamiliar deep male voice, Anna peeked around the bathroom door. Standing in the hall alongside Sunny is a good-looking teenager with chocolate brown hair tied at his back and orange headphones on his head. He also had kind coffee colored eyes and smile.

Anna ducked back inside, caught a glimpse of her reflection and nearly screamed. All she needed was a wart on her nose and a tall pointy black hat to make her transformation complete.

"Is Miss Anna Kyouyama here?" she heard him ask.

Anna paled, 'Tell him no!' she silently screamed.

"Yes" Sunny answered rather flirtatiously.

"Could I please speak with her? I'm Yoh Asakura from the Private Eye. I've come to interview her."

"Private Eye? Oh the school paper. Wait I'll go and tell her."

Anna was going to die. She was happy enough to be a plain Jane until this morning's ill-fated journey to the Kurls n Style Salon that ruined everything, to top it all, red patches were appearing all over her face maybe from excessive scrubbing a while ago.

Sunny approached her.

"I can't go out there looking like this," she hissed

"What do you want me to tell him?"

"Tell him I'm sick, I've migrated somewhere else, uhmm... Europe... no too near, what about Mars or heaven?"

"The publicity would be good for you"

"Look at me Sunny," she badly wanted to shake her shoulders to knock some sense into the girl, "I look like something the animals dragged up"

"Maybe you could put a scarf and I don't know... put some cream on your face"

"Or maybe I could cover myself with rice sack" sarcasm was evident in her voice.

"Well we have to tell him something..."

Anna could tell that Sunny was disappointed, she can understand her frustration but she really can't face him.

"Please Anna, we need the publicity that he offers. I'll do anything"

"Anything?"

Sunny sweat dropped, "Yeah, anything"

"Okay, I wanted a tarpaulin poster of Tom Cruise" Anna smiled wickedly, she was now sure that Sunny would never push the issue.

"Fine"

Anna's eyes widen, "I-It's a yes?"

The other girl closed her eyes then nodded.

Anna stared dumbfounded then also nodded, "Look, tell him I'm coming down with something. Tell him that if he stands out there in the living room I'll answer his questions."

"I'll see what I can do..." Sunny answered.

~majrocks~

"That was an unusual request," remarked Yoh, but nevertheless he agreed and smiled at Sunny.

"I tried to talk her into coming out, but this is the best that I can squeeze from her. Anna can be stubborn at times."

"Okay then, I'll just pull up a chair and shout at her through the bathroom door."

Yoh followed behind and didn't make any effort in eavesdropping when Sunny slipped into the bathroom.

"Did he agree? What did he say?"

'Nice voice' he decided, definitely the beauty pageant type unless of course they had a gang of girls stashed in the bathroom.

"He said okay. I wish you'd come out, he's cute and has a killer megawatt smile"

Yoh blushed; he'd heard that compliment before but it still never fail to make him blush in embarrassment.

"Tsk... I don't care even if he's gold-plated, I'm not letting him see me like this."

'She probably hadn't put on her eye makeup yet.' thought Yoh, Beauty Queens were like that. He remembered Horo telling them before that Pirika won't come out of her room without applying makeup.

Furthermore, he just wished she doesn't have a bunch of silly answers to give no matter what he asked and lamentations about 'what is the new black' unless he could get her off-balance and set the pace of the conversation.

Sunny came out of the bathroom, "I'll make tea while you're interviewing her"

As soon as she was out of earshot Yoh drawled, "I'm not gold-plated Miss Kyouyama but if you want some proof you can inspect it yourself."

He heard strangling sounds from the bathroom.

"Miss Kyouyama are you all right in there?"

"Just fine Mr. Asakura"

"You can call me Yoh"

"Not Sir I'm-not-gold-plated Yoh?"

'She was fast on her feet and tart-tongued' he thought. He liked it; maybe he found a rarity, a beauty queen that is not a walking plastic Barbie doll.

He chuckled, that caught Anna off-guard, 'Well he has some weird sense of humor' thought she.

"Can I call you Anna?"

"Okay"

"So Anna, how old are you?"

"I don't consider that a relevant question. Furthermore isn't it rude for a man to ask a lady her age or her weight?"

"Strike that question, how tall are you?"

"Five four"

"In three-inch heels?"

"No. In size six flat feet" she snapped.

"Dress size?"

"Are you going shopping for me Yoh?" she answered irritated.

"Maybe not at the moment"

"Then you don't need to know"

"I guess I can figure that out when I see you in a swimsuit"

Anna blushed, the mere thought sends shivers down her spine; she cleared her throat then countered, "The Miss Shinra Private High is not that kind of pageant, and I don't have any plans of going swimming with YOU, Mr. Asakura"

Yoh chuckled to himself; he hadn't been entertained in an assignment in a long time.

"Why are you asking so many irrelevant questions? I thought this is an interview. What kind of reporter are you?" she asks sharply.

Now he could fully understand why they call her 'Ice queen', "Not much of one, but I'm all you've got. I've been assign to cover you Anna"

Silence. Good. He'd finally get the best of her.

"So far you're not doing very well" she snidely remarked.

"I'm sorry for that. Why don't you come out here and tell me how? Better yet you can show me."

"I wouldn't want you to get what I have."

"Don't worry about me; honestly I'm beginning to think that you're hiding something from me"

Dead silence again prevailed, 'Bull's eye' thought Yoh, at last he was onto something, "What is it that you're hiding Miss Kyouyama?"

"Nothing. I'm completely open"

"Then be warned… I'm fixing to plunge right in."

"What?" Anna have to think fast and quit fooling around being a smart-mouth and give Yoh Asakura what he'd come for. She had to lie. She took in several deep breaths.

"Anna? Are you okay in there?"

"Just a little light-headed"

Her door rattled.

"Unlock the door so I can come in"

"Why?"

"So I can help you"

"I don't need help"

'She's not just ice queen, she's also stubborn, quite a package' Yoh thought. This job is going to be harder than he expected.

"I'm okay now" she said

"You sure? I know my way around swooning a woman" he meant it as a joke but it seems that Anna was not in the mood for one.

"I'll just bet you do" sarcasm was evident in her voice.

"You sound mighty feisty for somebody who is sick"

"I'm getting over it," 'And a little darned tired of the bathroom' she wanted to add but instead said, "What's your next question Yoh?"

"Tell me, what's your platform?"

"You must be interviewing the wrong person. I don't have one, I'm not a politician."

"I thought all beauty queens have at least one?"

There. She'd done it again; she badly wanted to wring his neck. Tiffany was going to wish she never met Anna; let alone entrusted her with a title.

"Oh, well yes, my platform is…" Anna was for the first time lost for words. What on earth did beauty queens talk about? The only pageant that she'd ever watched was the Miss Universe pageant 3 years ago when Riyo Mori took home the crown.

Yoh tapped on her door, "Anna…"

"World peace" she shouted.

"Pardon?"

"That's it. My platform is world peace" she can now imagine Sandra Bullock raising her eyebrows at her copied line.

"Quite… Innovative" Yoh was caught off-guard by her answer, "May I quote you?"

"By all means"

"Tell me Anna, how do you intend to achieve that goal?"

Oh boy, there was more to being a candidate in this crappy pageant than she she'd imagined, "When I'm parading around, I'll smile a lot to spread the love and peace in my own heart to the crowd. They in turn, can pass it on. I believe that if everybody does that, pretty soon peace will circle the globe" even Anna was aware how trashy her answer had been. But who cares?

"Uhmm… creative of you…"

She deserved his sarcasm. Maybe she could hide all the school paper so Tiffany and Sunny won't be horrified.

"I need to take pictures" Yoh requested

"Pardon?"

"You know pictures to go with the story?"

Anna could now imagine it, her looking like a polka dot porcupine and the whole school laughing. 'How on earth did they talk me into this?' her mind screamed.

"I'm not up to that today" she answered

"I'll come back tomorrow then"

"That's Sunday"

"I'll see you in church then"

Even through the door Anna could tell that Yoh Asakura was determined to finish this thing, "I won't be in church,. I'm visiting a sick relative" no reaction. What on earh is he thinking? "Yoh Asakura?" she called, still no response.

"He's gone Anna" Sunny informed her.

"Are you sure?"

"More than positive, he came to the kitchen to thank me for the tea. Said he had to rush off to make his deadline"

"Good." She opened the door, "I thought he was never going to get out of here"

"Here, have some"

Anna sipped the tea that Sunny handed her.

"He said he'd be coming back" Sunny informed her

"I just hope he doesn't"

~majrocks~

One chapter done! Hope you like this guys as much as I do, and by the way, reviews always makes my day so kindly don't forget to leave one. Constructive criticisms are also welcome.