The flight's pretty much okay. Good thing Tsukino was kind to exchange her clothes with mine. Anyway, I slept comfortably knowing that I did not have any concerts or photo shoots or press conference or autograph signing to do. I sighed.

I'm sure to miss my old days... Even big-ass photographers or itchy clothes...

-FAST FORWARD-

I pretty much slept the whole time and when I finally woke up, the first thing I did was to look out the window.

It's so good to finally be at home.

After the plane landed, I scrambled my way out. I haven't eaten a decent meal since yesterday. I remembered the sundae I was about to eat yesterday and made a mental note to stop by an ice cream parlor within the week. That's when I realized that I haven't got enough money to go to Hokkaido..

I really am slow..

Think Reika. Think. I only have a few yen, enough for a cab's fare. Hmm..

A wave of thought hit me.

Doesn't Uncle live in Tokyo?

I quickly hauled a cab and got all my stuff in. Man! Tsukino has more clothes than a clothing store! My shoulders were soo tired!! I gave the driver the directions and drifted off to sleep..

-AFTER A FEW MINUTES-

I got off the cab and walked up the flight of steps. For a temple, it sure is pesky to go up and down everyday. As I got to the top, I dropped my luggage and knocked.

No one answered.

I knocked again.

Still, no one answered.

Before I get to knock again, I saw a pervy-looking man with cat-like eyes who wore a look that says "you've-just-interrupted-me-in -my-pervy-magazine-reading-session". Without much hesitation, I flung my arms around him and shouted,

"Uncle Nanjiroh!! It's so good to be back! How's Ryoma-kun doing? How about Karupin? Have you fed him the cat food I sent all the way from America? Do you still read those pervy magazines? Is everyone…"

Have I forgotten to tell you that my whole name is Reika ECHIZEN-Hino? Yep, Ryo-kun's cousin! Kind of amazing isn't it? Having the famous tennis player as your cousin..Before I get to continue all the questions that have been running in my mind, Uncle Nanjiroh cut me off short.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in some kind of concert or something? "

"I kinda fled off…"

"Fled off…?"

As I narrated the whole story to my uncle, I noticed how much the temple stayed the same. I thought that by the time I return, it would be totally different. Oh well, I wasn't really gone for long anyway.

"So, did Ryo-kun make it to the tennis team?"

"Yeah.. that brat sure has nothing to do but play tennis but he still has a long way to go before he can beat me!"

How do you expect a child at his age to beat the samurai Nanjiroh Echizen?

I sighed. Ryoma is still Ryoma after all. Although playing tennis runs in the family, I never really know how to.. I haven't even handled a racket before! I sighed again, turned to my room and started unpacking. I never really finished unpacking since I fell asleep half way.

-FAST FORWARD-

I woke up at the sound of 2 persons shouting. More like Ryo-kun and Uncle.

"I told you she's in there! Damn brat, why don't you believe me?"

"She isn't in there! How do you expect a person in America to be at the opposite side of this door?"

Ryoma isn't really as calm and collected as you think he is. When at home, he shows his true emotions and stuff through shouting…most of the time.

"BRAT!!"

"OLD MAN!!"

"Then open the door and see for yourself!"

As I heard the door knob turn slowly, I saw a very confused Ryoma and a satisfied Uncle Nanjiroh.

"Rei-nee-chan?! What are you doing here?"

I blinked for a few times, ran as fast as I could and hugged Ryoma. God knows how much I missed him. Even though he is that arrogant and cocky boy who thinks about tennis all the time, Ryoma is still my cousin. My only cousin that understands me in every way. I let Ryoma see the real me and he allows me take a peek of what the real Ryoma Echizen is. We have this "twin telepathy" of some sort..

"Rei-nee-chan.." Ryoma mumbled softly.

He's still a kid after all. I bet he missed me too..

"Nanjiroh! Get the kids down here, dinner's ready!"

As we scrambled down the flight of stairs, we arrived at the dinner table looking like we could eat a horse.

At this state, we could more than a horse.

I enjoyed the dinner and I narrated the story how I fled and stuff.

"Reika, dear, do you want to go visit your mother? She must be worried.."

"Ermm.. I haven't got any money with me when I left. I think I'm gonna phone her tomorrow and tell her if I could stay here for a while longer. I really missed Ryo-kun. Besides, I always wanted to know what's life like in Tokyo.."

"That would be fine, dear. Try to call her after dinner"

I nodded and we talked about more stuff and helped with the dishes. After that, I tried to call my mom but the line's busy.

Oh well, maybe I should try calling her tomorrow. She might be in one of those long meetings. Dad's probably with her too!

When I came to the living room, everyone gathered around and it looks like they are serious.

Way too serious.

"Uhmm.. Is there any problem?" I asked nervously and fiddled with my bangs.

"Reika.."

"What is it, Uncle?"

"You need to.."

"I need to..?"

Damn suspense..

"You need to go to school while you're staying here. Your mother might punch me in the face if she knows you're not studying.."

I sighed and gave a relieved look. I thought they said they were aliens and that they need may brain for examination.

"Do I have to?"

"Of course you do, honey. Nanjiroh and I decided that we should enroll you in the school where Ryoma studies. In that way, Ryoma can assist you for any of the problems you might encounter while staying here."

"Oh, okay. What school is it anyway? I kinda forgot.. Sei.. something"

"Seishun Gakuen.." Ryoma answered.

"We already phoned the principal and he said that you could start tomorrow. Don't worry about the uniform, the principal said that you could use your old school uniform."

"Won't I get noticed? I mean, is my identity protected?"

"Why don't you change how you look?" Uncle answered basically out of nowhere.

By now, all eyes were on him. Silence followed...

"YOU'RE A GENIUS UNCLE!!" I nearly glomped him to death as I ran to my room and got some scissors and hair dye. I borrowed emerald green contact lenses from Nanako-chan.

"Well, what do you know, it's the first time the old man said something right..." Ryoma answered

"WHY YOU!!"

-MEANWHILE-

I get to work immediately. I cut my waist-length blond hair and dyed it to a rich chocolate brown color. I don't want my hair too short so I cut until it reaches my mid-back. I put on my green contact lenses and stared in the mirror..

i..

don't..

look..

like..

me..

"I DON'T LOOK LIKE ME ANYMORE!!" I ran down the stairs and began showing off my new look.

"EVERYBODY! LOOK AT ME! I DON'T LOOK LIKE REIKA ANYMORE! I MEAN! LOOK AT MY HAIR! IT'S THE COLOR OF CHOCOLATE! IT'S SO CHOCOLATE-Y THAT I WANT TO EAT MY HAIR!" I shouted as if I was being chased by a bunch of zombies.

After that, silence enveloped the whole Echizen household. Even Uncle forgot to talk for a second.

"Go to bed, Riu-nee-chan" Ryoma stated.

"And don't eat your hair.."