Disclaimer: I don't own PoT. I'm not that awesome.

CHAPTER ONE – COMING HOME

Light brown hair? Check. Blue contacts? Check. Extremely itchy wig? Damn right it's on my head. Flat chest? Harharhar. C'mon, Kia. Get a grip. You're acting like such a girl (harharhar again, aren't I clever today? Let's see if I keep my wits until much later)!

Why am I doing this again? Most honest half-truth answer if caught: Kyle has a tournament to finish and our mother will kill him if he doesn't arrive in Japan today. Why can't I tell that to my brother and just arrive here as myself? Our mother will find out. And not because Nii-chan will blab about it.


"We're moving to Japan," Kyle announced as he barged into my room.

"Whamaszatagin?" I'm not a morning person so forgive me if my brain hasn't started working yet.

"We. Are. Moving. To. Japan. Idiot! As in permanently!"

If my brain wasn't working before, it sure is now. "What? Why? How d'you even know that?"

"Oba-san won the custody battle," explained Kyle.

"I wasn't even aware there's one."

"Me either. I just heard Mom talking about it with the lawyer earlier," said Kyle. There's something different about the way he said it though. There's something else he's not telling me.

Wow. Just wow. I can't believe it. 10 years after their divorce and only then did our father decided that he wants us? I doubt there was even a legal battle. I mean c'mon, who fights over their children 10 years later? I'm sure our dear mother happily gave us away. Just like what happened with Nii-chan.

"Well, Im going now. You should start packing, you know. Haha," Twin brother thinks he's so amusing. I didn't even bother to give a dignified retort as he closed the door.


The airport wasn't too crowded so I easily spotted my 16 year old brother in his school uniform and all too familiar tennis bag.

"How's the flight?" he asked, without a look of suspicion on his face.

"T'was fine. Cute Stewardess," That would be the typical Kyle thing to say but the words Kia would've used would be along the lines of "terrible" and "it sucked". Oh and the stewardess was a middle aged woman. So "cute" might be a tad inappropriate.

Nii-chan only gave the faintest hint of a smile. Well, if you convert it to normal behavior, that's the equivalent of a chuckle.

Nii-chan and I walked towards the cab in comfortable silence. Both of us (by us I mean him and Kia) hate small talk but still, I need to uphold a conversation because although Kyle is not that talkative either, he sure says more words than me.

"So, how's the tennis club?" Bleurrgh tennis. Common interest for them so I guess this will keep the ball rolling.

"We're training for the prefecturals. Speaking of, I'm assuming you will try out?" replied Nii-chan.

"Assuming the team doesn't suck," Uh-oh. Wrong move you idiot! That's what Kia would say! "as Kia would say," I hastily added with a laugh hoping he doesn't notice.

Thankfully, before he could reply his phone rang. "Hello? Sensei? Alright. I'm on my way," Nii-chan quickly replied to the woman whose voice I could hear even though the phone wasn't on loud speaker.

" I need to go back to Seigaku. Urgent matter. Let's drop you off at the house first, though."

Thank God I needn't go with him. As if I need to fool more people today. The house will most likely empty and I'll get some much needed alone time.


You don't know how life changing a day is until in hindsight you get to think "that was the day my life changed". You never get to say "I wouldn't screw up today because this is the day my life is going to change." Because really, if people get to do that how the hell will we muster the courage to get out of our beds?

Today was one of those hindsight days I was talking about. The only difference is it's not just one day which changed my life. More like a week but it's not really measured in terms of days. More like circumstance and bad decisions on some people's parts.

"So, when were you planning to tell us that we, and by we, I mean myself and Kyle, are moving to the other side of the world?" I demanded from the woman in front of me.

"Katheline, do not be such a drama queen. You are not moving to the other side of the world," She replied with the tone she reserves when she's about to breathe fire at people. But the tone doesn't matter and neither does the fact that she called me "Katheline". My mother might be a sarcastic human being (where else will I get it from?) but she never jokes and she most certainly is not one for rhetorics.

"What do you mean I'm not moving to the other side of the world? You seriously think we wouldn't find out? What you're going to keep it from us, say the flight is just to Philadelphia or something?" I blurted out.

"Haven't I just said you are not moving to Japan? How much clearer can I get? Now get out of my office I need to attend to much more pressing matters."

What the hell is happening? Should I believe my mother? She's a good liar but really, what's the point of lying to me about this? Or does she really mean it when she said we're not moving? Honestly, I don't know whether I should feel relieved or more worried. Clearly, the wicked witch of the east coast has something up her sleeves. I'd really rather not find out.


My brother had left in a hurry about ten minutes ago after dropping me off at our doorstep. The house is just as I remember it, a two-storey white-washed building with low fences surrounding it. The cherry tree where I fell from when I was four was robust with pink blossoms. The scent of Bermuda grass, freshly-dug earth and home is exhilarating. The tiny playground composed of a pair of swings, a see-saw and a sandbox was still intact. It had been there for as long as I can remember and now it looks rugged and worn out the way old stuff are supposed to look like. This is the home I was supposed to grew up in but never did.


A/N: I'm very sorry for the late update. I just don't want to post this without fine tuning it. Sorry it's kinda short but it felt right to cut it here because well you'll know in Chapter 2 Btw, thank you thank you thank you for everyone who read this story and most especially to those who reviewed I hope you let me know what you think ;)