March 23, 2009

I got up early for school Monday morning. I wasn't looking forward to school, but I was used to getting up early. I found Kyo in the kitchen eating something unrecognizable.

I'm American, so I don't know Japanese food. I smiled, a rarity for me in the morning. "So…you like the uniform?"

"What?" he asked, blushing. "What kind of stupid question is that?"

"Joking, joking," I said, grinning.

Tohru came in. "Good morning, Lia and Kyo."

"Good morning, Tohru," I said. "Kyo thinks our uniforms are pretty!"

"What the heck?" Kyo yelled. "No I don't!"

"Why are you yelling?" Yuki asked, coming in.

"He's in denial, that's why," I said, playfully punching Kyo on the shoulder.

So anyway, we went to school, and then I ran into my friends. Apparantly here they have different names, though-Riyu Fukui, Emi Hamasaki, Miki Ito, Aimi Kobayashi.

"Lia!" Riyu and Miki exclaimed together, and hugged me.

"Where've you been?" Emi asked.

"Did you go to America?" Aimi asked.

"I went over to visit some family there," I replied coolly.

Yuki and Tohru were watching me, and seemed impressed with my cover story.

Then Tohru went to hang out with Saki and Arisa, and Yuki followed her.

"So, what's it like?" Emi asked. "I've always wanted to visit."

"Hmm…" I replied. "The money is different…and no one walks there, it's all about driving or taking the subway. And there's so much greasy fast food you could drown in it. Aw…I miss it there."

Riyu and Miki were chatting about some stuff they were reading. But Aimi and Emi were listening.

"So, are you going to introduce me to your friends, or what?" Kyo popped out of nowhere.

"I-I…sorry," I said. "Riyu! Miki!"

Their heads popped out of the manga they were reading.

"How may I help you?" Riyu asked.

"This is my cousin, Kyo," I said. "Kyo, this is Riyu, Miki, Emi, and Aimi."

"Didn't you jump out a window recently?" asked Emi.

"Yeah…" muttered Kyo.

"Probably cuz he hates attention," I smiled.

I was having a good day until I got lost. That's when I bumped into Haru.

"Oh…Lia," he said.

"What?" I said irritably. "Are you mad at me? Cuz I'm not going to apologize for something I don't remember."

"No," Haru said. "I'm not mad. But I'm the one who owes you an apology."

"For what?" I asked. "Bumping into me? Cuz that was mostly me."

"No," he said. "For…letting them treat you like that. When they sent you away…I tried talking to Akito, but he wouldn't listen, and no one else seemed to care. I told you I'd be there for you, and I let you down."

"You shouldn't have to apologize," I said bitterly. "It wasn't your fault. Thank you…for being the only one who remembered me."

I hugged him, trying not to cry.