A new year at Saotome Academy was about to begin as Haruka walked through the door to her new dorm room. Little by little it was becoming less and less clutter as she and her roommate, Tomochika, organized their room.

"Wow!" Tomochika exclaimed as she stretched her back, "A whole year has gone by and now we're one step closer to reaching our goals."

Haruka smiled and nodded towards her best friend. They had been through so much and it was just good to know that she had someone to stand by her.

Suddenly a wild cry came from down the hall. The pair rushed to the door to found out what was happening. Apparently, Junko Sato was getting a new roommate and was rushing to make sure everything was in order for her new bunk mate.

"You would think that little fairy would get a grip," said Mari Ono glaring down the hall at the petite brunette who was causing a scene.

"Well you know how Junko is. OCD like always," giggle Kohaku Fukuda as she nudged her tall pink pixie haired roommate, "She's probably disinfecting the place right now."

"Kohaku, you're so mean," said Natsako Yamamoto to the red headed beauty.

Stumbling out the door of her room came the little big eyed brunette, falling face first with boxes flying everywhere and down the steps too. The five girls who were watching the fiasco, rushed over to help the smallest member of their floor.

"Are you all right, Junko?" asked Tomochika as she examined Junko's face.

"I think I'm over doing it again," the brown eyed girl said as she rubbed a bump on her head, "I've just never had someone important stay in my room before is all and I just wanted to make sure everything was perfect."

"What's so special about your new roommate anyways?" Haruka asked, "I'm pretty sure she's just like everyone else here at the academy."

Junko stared at her with her wide-eyed at her, grabbed the neck of her shirt and brought her in close.

"That's just it! She's higher up on the totem pole than we are! She's at the top of the food chain! She's an heiress to a multibillion dollar fortune! And the fact that she's coming to our school is an historic event for all of us!" exclaimed the small brunette. For someone as small as her she had a strong grip.

"Is that why you're flipping out?" Mari scowled as she picked up the set the last box down, "Psh… Kohaku is an heiress too and you don't see people bending over backwards for her."

"HEY!" the violet eyed beauty exclaimed, "I am too important! Don't you remember how many boys were asking me to dance with them at the Christmas ball last year?"

"Doesn't make you important, it just makes you a flirt," the aggressive tomboy said to her roommate.

"CAN WE GET BACK TO THE REAL MATTER AT HAND?" screamed Junko as she flailed her arms in the air to get everyone's attention, "WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW MY LIFE IS OVER AS SOON AS…"

"Ummm… excuse me," came a small voice from the stairwell, "I hope I am not interrupting anything, but I was wondering where I could find room 314?"

They all stared at the slender figure that was there before them. Black hair that fell just below her cheek with a flower pin to keep her bangs up, eyes of a deep blue, skin of an olive color with a slight tan to give her a summer glow, and a polite smile that made everyone forget what they were all doing there.

"Oh right!" Junko said as she jumped to her feet and bowed, "Junko Sato here! I'm your roommate Miss Fujimoto!"

"Oh no need to be so formal, Miss Sato," said the new comer, "Just Masami is fine and I am honored to be your roommate, if you will have me."

Junko felt her face heat up at the respect that she was receiving.

"Well then, I guess it's my duty to make sure you get settled in Miss Masami," she said cheerfully as she escorted her new roommate to their room.

"Fujimoto? Well that's not a name you hear out here in these parts," Kohaku said as they all stared at the odd couple.

"Why is that, Kohaku?" asked Haruka.

"Well not that I'm one to gossip, but the Fujimoto family usually only let their sons go to private schools. The daughters are usually homeschooled and are taught how to be proper wives," she said lowering her voice hoping that she wouldn't offend their new floor mate.

"Oh that's right," Natsako chimed in, "I think I read something about that. The Fujimoto family dates back to the third dynasty."

"We're not talking about how old the family is, you egg head," snarled the red head beauty.

"Well at least it carries more than your family background as pig farmers in the ninth dynasty," Natsako said in a matter-of-fact tone as she adjusted her glasses.

"Anyways," Kohaku said as she tried to fight back the urge to pull the nerd's braids, "the only reason they would let her come to a school like this or any other school is because she is betrothed."

Shocked expression developed on each of the girls' faces.

"Betrothed? But to who?" Tomochika asked, "And at such a young age too? It doesn't make any sense and yet it sounds romantic."

Haruka looked back into the room where Junko was helping Masami get settled in. She stared at the ebony hair girl who laughed at how much the short brunette was fusing over how "messing" she had let the room get before her arrival.

"Well," Haruka said, "There is one way to find out."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"A sleepover? In our room?" exclaimed Junko, "But you all will make messes and start pillow fights and I don't think we should excite Miss Masami too much."

"Oh, but we want to make sure Miss Masami is comfy and feels welcome on our floor," Haruka said with a smile, "I wouldn't want her to feel like she is an outsider."

"And we can play board games and read magazines and think what we should do with our hair and make up for the open ceremony tomorrow. I bet you would want to look nice for Shou, don't you?" Tomochika chimed in over her friend's shoulder.

Junko's face turned beet red as she started to tremble, "I… I don't know w…w…what you're talking about."

"Oh Junko-chan," Masami said as she laid a hand on her shoulder, "Let them come over. It sounds like fun."

"More like torture if you ask me," grumbled Mari and Kohaku elbowed her hard in the ribs before she said anything more.

"Plus this give us the chance to know you better, Miss Fujimoto," Natsako said as she bowed.

"Uh… I guess it's settle then," Junko said with a heavy heart, but then straighten up and said in a commanding voice, "But everyone picks up after themselves and we stay up no later than midnight! And there will no talk of Shou, agreed?"

"Agreed," the group said as they nodded their heads.

"Good," she smiled taking pride in her assertiveness, "Now we will meet back here at eight o'clock tonight. Go go go! Miss Masami, let's go into town so we can make this your best sleep over ever!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Tomochika wore a part of long pajama bottoms adorn with cats with a matching tee. She waited on Haruka, who was sporting a pair of shorts and a Starish band tee, to find her favorite blanket.

"So what do you think of Masami so form, Haru-chan?" she asked.

"She seems nice. Why?" Haruka said as she folded up the patchwork blanket.

"Well, it's just if she is an heiress, then what if she turns out to be as bad as Kohaku?" she said as to twirled a strand of hair in her fingers, "Not that I don't like Kohaku, but it's just that she can be so rude and snobbish at times that it can be hard to be in the same room as her. Or maybe she'll turn out to be more like that one girl in class S who flips hair and sashays everywhere she goes."

Tomochika shuddered at the thought as having another snobby rich girl in the academy and Haruka giggle at her friend's grimacing look.

"I'm sure Miss Masami is nothing like her," she said as the two started heading down the hall to room 314. Natsako waited outside the door wearing a sweat shirt and sweat pants and carrying a bag and a pillow.

"What's in the bag, Natsako-sama?" asked Haruka.

"Herbal teas. I'm sure Miss Fujimoto will appreciate this welcome gift," she said responded with a smile.

"Boring," came a voice from them. They turned to see Kohaku and Mari. Mari wore a pair running shorts and an old tank top while Kohaku wore a pink baby doll top, white polka dot shorts, and fuzzy slippers.

"What makes you think she would like that?" Kohaku asked as she flipped her hair.

"As a descendant of Fujimoto family, they are a family that values every ounce of Japanese traditions. So Miss Fujimoto will appreciate this kind gesture. I will even be willing to prepare it properly," Natsako answered.

"Please," Kohaku scoffed, "She has been drowning in tradition for so long that she has to have the urge to be a girl instead an old lady. That's why I bought these."

She reached in duffle bag and pulled out glossy magazines that had pictures of models, movie stars and pop idols.

"Hold on a second," Mari said pulling one of them out of her hand, "This one has Starish on their cover. I thought we promise Junko we weren't going to talk about Shou?"

"We're not going to talk about Shou," the violent eyes beauty snapped, trying to get her magazine back, "I brought these for the articles. Geez."

Tomochika giggled, "Oh please Kohaku. Sometimes you just like ruffling up Junko's feathers."

The door opened wide to reveal the petite brunette in a satin nightgown the fell at her calves. A bright smile spread across her face as welcomed in the group. Haruka noticed that there was something different about Junko though.

"It that a silk ribbon in your hair, Junko-chan?" she asked as she pointed out the pink ribbon.

"Oh yeah. Miss Masami saw me eyeing it in a store front window and thought I should have it. She told me to think of it as a thank you for making her feel so welcome," Junko replied in a chipper tone.

As the girls were about to get settled the door opened behind them to reveal Miss Masami. The girls ogled at her floor length gold silk robe that had embroidered peacocks. Her hair was being held up by chopsticks. She looked like she had just stepped out of a history book.

"Oh Miss Masami, what a lovely robe you have," Kohaku said, "Where ever did you get it?"

"It's been in my family for many generations. It's always been past down to the first daughter of Fujimoto. My grandmother gave it to me and I will give it to my brother's first daughter," she replied as she hung her towel on the hook. She joined the girls in the circle sitting in between Junko and Haruka.

"Now that we're all here, let's get this party start," said Kohaku and on cue Mari popped in one of her MP3 into the stereo system and blurred a mix of rock, pop, r &b and other types of music. The girls giggled as they shared stories of one another. Tomochika told the time on how Haruka fell last year at the start of the opening ceremony while Kohaku told one of Mari losing a bet to her and having to wear makeup for a whole day. Natsako blushed at an article on the "7 Ways to Please Your Man" as Junko unbraided her hair to put curlers in it. Mari opened a bag of chips and pigged out on that and Pocky, but also to make sure that the music was still bumping. Haruka painted her toes. From what everyone could tell, Masami was having a good time until a single question changed the whole tone of the party.

"So Miss Masami, what really brings you to Saotome Academy?" Kohaku asked as she brushed Masami hair.

"Oh that… I'm here for the music programs they have here… That's all," she said as she suddenly found interest in a loose thread on her robe.

"Miss Masami?" Haruka asked, "Is there something you don't want us to know?"

"It's not that. You all have been so kind, but it's not the time or place to share such things yet," she said politely as she looked down at her new honey eyed companion.

"So you are engaged?" Kohaku pressed on only to get hit in the back of the head with a rolled up magazine, "Hey! What you do that for, Mari? Was that really necessary?"

"Don't scare the girl, you jerk," Mari said sternly.

"I'm not scaring her, you jerk! I simply want to get to know her better," Kohaku said as she smacked Mari with a pillow.

"Hey! I'm not the one asking stupid questions!" Mari exclaimed as she attacked back. Kohaku ducked making her hit Masami. Mari was stunned when she knocked her over with the blow.

"Oh Miss Masami, I'm so sorry. I meant to hit… Uh!" Masami hit Mari in the stomach with a pillow. The rest of the girls stared in shock. They have never seen anyone take a shot at Mari. Masami went into a giggling fit as she picked up her pillow and knocked over Tomochika.

"No fair Masami-chan!" she giggled, "I was distracted. Pillow fight!"

"Aye… No! You'll make a… AH!" Junko was knocked in the head by Kohaku and it was all out war from there.

Yes, this was the best sleep over Masami Fujimoto had ever been to.