Summary:AU: Sakuno Ryuzaki, an upcoming mangaka and total man-hater, learns through drawing and writing that multiple personalities can help a girl in writing a number one, best-selling manga and getting revenge.

Day 2: Back to the Basics

Sakuno arrived back to her apartment where she was met with the same mess as always-a multitude of papers, clothes, underwear, and all sorts of miscellaneous items covering the floor, counters, and furniture. Shoving some objects aside, she slumped onto a portion of the sofa as she looked over her rejected manga.

"Hmmmm...Aria's eyes need to be more expressive here and their relationship in this chapter is portrayed to weakly. Ah! Why did I put that? He shouldn't be so forceful there! And the big breasted chick has lopsided breasts! Pen, pen, where's a pen!"

After scrambling through a few drawers for a pen and paper, Sakuno began to take note of items that needed to be fixed. As she spread herself out and worked on her manga, the day moved along changing from the hot, perspiring afternoon heat to the cool breeze of the night. It was a quarter to eleven when she finished her first chapter. Shuffling the papers together, she began to reread her work and frowned when she realized that her 'improved' chapter was practically the same as her original. The characters were still as superficial as they were in the beginning.

Grabbing a new wad of paper she sat down and began once again.

Hour after hour passed by as Sakuno worked diligently. The sounds of lead grinding against paper with minor intervals of erasing could be heard throughout the room. Beads of sweat gathered on her forehead as she scrunched up her face in deep thought. This act continued as the clock ticked away; four hours had passed by the young mangaka. With a few more adjustments she had completed her third draft of the first chapter.

Not long before she began to review it did a scowl appear on her face. Not only did her 'new and improved' characters seem phony but they were also downright cheesy! Now frustrated beyond reasoning Sakuno wanted to get rid of it-everything she had! She was going to start back at the beginning with a fresh start. Scanning the kitchen, she took notice of where everything was and grabbing a black garbage bag, she began to throw everything out. Paper, office supplies, mangas in progress, food, pots and pans, kitchen utensils, anything she could get her hands on went in the trash bag. Within half-an-hour the kitchen was empty and as clean as it had ever looked. Grabbing another garbage bag, she moved on to do the same in the family room and bedroom.

It was now seven in the morning and Sakuno Ryuzaki was fast asleep on her once hidden mattress. In the corner there was a compilation of trash bags, each tied and ready to be collected by the garbage truck.

When Sakuno woke up it was around two-thirty in the afternoon. Putting on her sneakers, she left the apartment looking for a new place to live-one where she would be able to begin fresh. As she left the building, the sticky, humid air clung to her skin resulting in a formation of sweat on her face. Wiping her brow, she continued her walk to the bookstore.

"Welcome back, Miss Ryuzaki! What can I do for you?"

"I'm looking for housing brochures? Apartments preferably."

"We have some by the magazine stand. It's to your immediate left."

"Thanks Yuhi."

After browsing through the aisles she finally found the magazines she was looking for. Picking up a few, she plopped herself down on the nearest couch and began browsing through them. Some of the cheaper places were slightly disgusting to live in and the more nicer ones were way way out of her price range. Maybe she would have to try a different magazine?

After a couple hours more of strenuous browsing, she finally found a decently affordable place-Sunny Hills Apartment Complex. She would first have to speak with Mrs. Tachibana about the rent and see if she would be able to move in.

Picking up the magazine, she headed to the manga stand and grabbed about seven different ones before heading to the checkout. She was going to start from the beginning and become a mangaka that would take the world by storm.