I had my back against my headboard, my head leaning on a pillow propped up against the wall. I had finished all my assignments for the night and was trying to fall asleep, but the events of the day were all swirling around in my head and I didn't know what to focus on first. In the span of a day I had managed to be sexually harassed by one crude guy, be saved by another rather attractive guy, and become enemies with the entire female populace of Ouran Academy. I sighed and slunk down under my covers, rolling over onto my side and pulling my pillow over ears. How precisely was any one girl supposed to cope with all this madness?

And yet, despite all I had been through today, I wanted to return. My classes were more than I had ever hoped for; it had been such a long time since I had been challenged by anything academically and I was enjoying the feeling of learning again. Not to mention, I didn't want that horrid Neikan to think she had gotten the best of me. So I decided I would be returning to Ouran the following day with my head held high and proud. A bunch of silly rich girls and some vulgar, hormonal teenage boys could not and would not keep me from getting the education I so deserved.

I smiled smugly at that, pleased with myself for not letting everything hold me back for once. Tomorrow is a new day, and nothing can stop me now. With that I finally laid back and fell into a peaceful slumber.

The next morning Shizuko woke up bright and early, ready to attack the day. She pulled out the extra uniform she had received the day before and stepped into it, zipping it up as she examined herself in the mirror. She had brushed her hair and put it into pigtailed braids, then wrapped each one around the back of her head and back up on top, where they had been pinned down. From the makeup left for her by the twins, she had put on a light coat of concealer and some powder, and then topped it off with a pale pink blush to highlight her high cheekbones. Her eyes were left bare of eyeliner, but a thin layer of mascara covered her eyelashes to make them look even longer.

Satisfied with her appearance she moved to her bed where she ducked down and pulled from underneath a pair of black sandals. As she was pulling them on she heard a small giggle from behind her. She turned around to see her plum-eyed roommate hiding a grin behind her comforter.

"You look like Heidi, ShiShi!" Umeko choked out between little bursts of laughter. Shizuko held a finger up to mouth then pointed to their other roommate, a slightly older girl named Akane, whose mop of curly red hair could be seen peeking out about from just beneath her covers. It wasn't enough to quiet Umeko though as her distinctive purple eyes sparkled with happiness. Shizuko rolled her eyes and smiled at the young girl, opening her arms to offer a hug, which Umeko gratefully accepted.

"Are you going back to the big kid school again today ShiShi?" Umeko asked, leaning away from where her face had been squished against Shizuko's stomach. Shizuko shook her head yes to which Umeko looked down sadly. Shizuko tilted her head looking quizzically at the little girl in her arms.

Umeko offered her a small smile, but Shizuko could see the sadness behind it. "I missed you yesterday ShiShi…I didn't like it when you went away. I don't ever want you to leave again!"

Shizuko gave Umeko a sad smile and pulled the small girl in for another tight hug; she knew exactly how Umeko felt. It was how she had felt when her own mother had dropped her off at school when she was younger. At first she had always been afraid her mother wouldn't return for her, yet every day at exactly 3:45 her mother would be waiting for her in the schoolhouse lobby with one of her beautiful smiles. She was saddened whenever she thought of how Umeko had never had the experience of a mother's love. She remembered the day Umeko had been dropped off in a carriage on the steps of the Azumi; no one had ever known where she had come from.

Shizuko released the little 6 year old and gently picked up her notebook and pen to write:

"You know I will always be there for you, right? We are sisters, and sisters do not abandon each other."

She handed the notebook to Umeko who read the note quickly then nodded as a little tear escaped from her right eye, falling slowly down her chubby cheek. Shizuko wiped the tear away and scooped the little girl up into her arms swiftly. She walked Umeko over to her bed where she set the child down and tucked her back in.

Umeko sat up and gave Shizuko a quick kiss on the cheek, then huddled back into her warm bed getting comfortable. In a few moments Umeko was asleep again, her chest rising and falling slowly in her sleep.

Shizuko looked lovingly at the two girls who had woven themselves so closely into her heart. She hoped they both knew she would always be there for them. She had not been lying in her written note; sisters never abandoned each other. However, as she walked quietly out the bedroom door and down the stairs, she frowned slightly at the idea that she hadn't completely told the truth either. There would be one day when she would have to leave the Azumi, and it was approaching rapidly.

I ate my breakfast in silence until I heard the sound of a car pulling up outside. I grabbed my bag and an apple and walked out the door to see Kyouya sitting on a bench, typing away on his tablet, waiting patiently for me.

"Oh good, there you are," he said to me as I stood in front of him, "Are you ready to leave now?"

I shook my head yes and followed him to his limo (I guess all the hosts went everywhere by chauffeured limo) where his driver was waiting to let me in. He opened the door and I climbed in, followed by Kyouya, and then we were off.

As soon as the driver pulled away Kyouya's tablet was back on his lap and he was typing quickly once more. I was curious to see what exactly he was always writing, but judging from the looks he gave his precious device, no one but him would ever lay their hands on it. I resigned myself to the fact that Kyouya wouldn't be talking to me, so I pulled out my book and started to read.

We sat in our comfortable silence all the way to the school. When we pulled up outside Ouran, the driver got out and opened the door for us to exit. Kyouya stepped out ahead of me, and then turned around to help me out. Once I was standing and had situated my bag on my shoulder we walked towards the entrance. As Kyouya and I walked side by side he turned to me and started to talk.

"We will be having hosting hours again today. Please be there promptly at 2:30. You can wait with any of the hosts you please, but when hours are over we will be leaving immediately. I have no time to dawdle," and with that he started to walk off, leaving me behind slightly stunned by his brusqueness. I shook it off, knowing this was just Kyouya's way, and trailed after him.

As I walked through the open front doors, a sudden chill went down my spine. I could feel a pair of eyes watching me, following my every move. I turned, looking all around and that's when my eyes found Neikan. Her eyes were trained on me, a scowl distorting her normally pretty face. I smiled and waved at her, feeling suddenly confident and a little feisty; I would not let her get the best of me. She locked her jaw tensely and I could tell she was annoyed that I wasn't falling prey to her.

I left her sulking behind me and continued into the school. I had studied the map of the school extensively last night so as not to have any repeat events of the day before. I threaded my way through the throngs of people lining the halls and made it to my first class of the day that I shared with Hunny and Mori. They were both already seated inside when I arrived and made my way down the aisle. I pulled the seat between them out and sat down.

"Good morning Shizu-chan! Who did you come to school with today?" Hunny asked me excitedly.

I sat up with my back very straight, pretending to push a pair of glasses up my nose, then picked up my notebook and pencil and feigned writing.

"You look just like Kyo-chan, Shizu-chan!" Hunny giggled, a giant smile on his face.

I heard a light, but deep chuckle from behind me and turned to see Mori, a small smile turning up the corners of his mouth. I blushed, but fortunately the teacher walked in then and he turned away. I breathed a quick sigh and turned to a new page in my notebook for the lecture.

Class went by quickly and uneventfully and soon I was waving goodbye to Mori and Hunny and walking towards the music room. I managed to find my way there easily this time, which I was thankful of as I walked in on time. Tamaki was there but he was already seated at the piano with an instructor, so I ambled on over to the harp I was to be learning for the semester.

I set my bag down and studied the beautiful instrument before me. It was a light maple wood with gold accents intricately woven into it. I had never before seen anything look so strong and yet so delicate at the same time. I reached a hand out to run over the soft looking wood when I heard someone approaching. I drew my hand back and turned to see my teacher moving towards me, a smaller woman a few paces behind her.

"Miss Koi, I would like to introduce you to Wakana, she will your harp instructor for the semester," my teacher announced as the woman beside her bowed deeply. I bowed back to her as my teacher returned to the front of the classroom. Wakana walked around me and immediately started to point out the parts of the harp. I listened intently, pausing every few moments to make a note in my journal. She taught me the basics for the rest of the period; I learned how to properly sit with the harp resting lightly on my right shoulder, how to strum the strings using the tips of my thumbs and my first three fingers, and how to tune the harp. We were just going over the string names, which very luckily for me coincided with the keys of the piano. Eventually the period ended and I packed up, bowing to Wakana in thanks. Tamaki came over to immediately ask me how my instructions were going, so I smiled hoping he would see I was enjoying myself.

We left the music room for the day, catching up with Kyouya as we headed towards our chemistry class. The two argued amiably as we walked through the halls of Ouran. I was still getting used to the looks I received whenever I was with the hosts, but most of the time those looks were ones of jealousy. Those girls want to be me, all because of the boys I am hanging out with? If only they knew what I have been through, maybe they would change their minds I thought to myself as I watched Tamaki and Kyouya stop and turn, waiting for me to catch up. I smiled at them and quickened my pace.

Maybe those girls didn't know any better, but it was interesting, and in a way nice, to think that for once I wasn't the one longing to be someone else.

Sorry this chapter wasn't the most exciting...it will be starting to get more interesting soon...I swear.

More about the names I've chosen: Shizuko's little roommates are Umeko and Akane. Umeko means "plum blossom" like her purple/plum colored eyes. Akane means "brilliant red" like her bright, curly red hair. Her harp instructor is Wakana which means "Harmonious music". Neikan, the girl who threatened Shizuko, means "wicked, treachorous" and Kuro, the guy who attacked Shizuko in the hall, means "black, dark" (together those names should maybe tell you a little about what's to come)

Enjoy and review review review as always!