BACK SO SOON? Yes. Yes. Yes I am.

Sorry if this chapter is confusing, I didn't mean for it to be

I was standing in front of the place I used to call home.

The gates hadn't changed. The kingdom's emblem ( a snowflake engulfed in flames ) was still imprinted there on the wood. I gingerly reached out to touch it, feeling my throat close, when they were pulled open by a guard on the inside. His uniform was in perfect condition, not one single thing out of place. He had a blue sash, which let me know he had a high standing in our military. I half-expected him to bow, but of course, he didn't.

I heard the sound of a car driving behind me. I moved off of the pavement, nearly diving into a bush, as a sleek, black car pulled into castle grounds. I followed, quickly, surprised when the guard didn't stop me as he was shutting the gate. What kind of security do they have around here?

I picked a leaf from the bush off of my sleeve as I looked up at the palace as I walked. It was large, and grand, and most importantly, it was home. The walls were still made of stone, the windows still stained purple and blue, and the gardens surrounding were full of a wide variety of flowers. The sun reflected off of a couple of windows and I squinted against the glint.

A car door slammed shut, drawing my attention. It had pulled right up to the stone steps that lead to the large double doors. A man had gotten out. He was tall in stature, was wearing a white suit with a funny looking hat. He looked familiar, like I had seen him before, but I shook the feeling off as I followed him inside.

The doors were identical to the gate, only smaller. When they opened, I bit back on a wave of nostalgia that threatened to overwhelm me. The grand hall was the same as ever, with high archways and a rolling red carpet that led all the way down it. Pillars flanked my right and left, contrasting greatly against the gray tile. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, lighting everything except the dark corners. Home.

Something wet rolled down my cheek and I wiped it away. The only people that were missing were…

My mom?!

There she was at the end of the hall, elegant, black hair pulled into a formal bun with glittering pins holding back loose pieces. Her dress was just as elaborate, the deep, maroon color contrasting her beautiful purple eyes. Her face was young and had very little makeup on it. She was stunning.

My knees threatened to give out from under me.

" Ah, " The guy I followed in said from behind me, " Your Majesty! "

I heard his footsteps from behind me, and then he walked through me. Like I was a ghost.

I was too stunned to move as my father emerged from the door at the end of the hall, apologizing for being late. His voice. The voice that soothed me back to sleep after nightmares so bad Akame couldn't even calm me.

" Your Highness. " The man bowed in front of me, low and respectful. I got a clear view of my dad. The silver hair hadn't changed, his face was cleanly shaven, and his hazel colored eyes were alight with life.

Life.

I took a shaky step past—well through—the man in front of me, towards my parents. They didn't hold any reaction upon seeing me, though, I supposed they were looking past me and at the man. For some reason, they didn't see me. But I saw them.

Next thing I knew, the weirdest thing happened.

I walked out from behind my parents.

" Good afternoon, Miss. " The man said but it was muffled against the blood pounding against my ears. All I could hear was my own heartbeat as I beheld a smaller version of myself. One with silver hair, purple eyes, and a deep purple dress on.

All I could do was gape as I beheld Princess Sachiko Akahoshi.

Akame seemed to materialize behind the princess, a silent guardian. She was wearing the white uniform much like the man outside, but Akame had a purple sash that marked her as my guard. The princess's personal guard. Now that I thought about it, she looked similar to Haruhi in so many ways.

Everything about this situation seemed familiar, but I couldn't quite place my finger on it.

" Shall we go discuss the agreements? " My mom asked, and I almost burst into tears. My mother, talking. My last memory of her had her face shoved in her food, unmoving. Dead. And yet, here she was, standing, alive, and vibrant.

" Of course. " The man rose from his bow and walked through me again as my parents and Little Sachiko waited for him by the door. She looked dreadfully bored, and her eyes kept wandering to the door that lead outside. I shook my head at little me, a small smile on my face. If only she knew what the outside world was like, she would want to stay in the protection of her parents and the castle for the rest of her life.

Little Sachiko tugged on my mother's dress, and mom bent down. Sachiko whispered something in her ear causing my mom's cheeks to puff out. My father looked over at us curiously but Little Sachiko just shook her head.

Oh, yea. This was the time I was forced to listen to the agreement between my parents and some ambassador from southeast Asia.

But why was I here? Why was I watching my own memory before my very eyes?

I didn't know. All I knew was I felt like crying as I stood in the halls I absolutely hated and watched my parents interact with things. They were opening the door for the man, who had gotten there while I was off in space remembering something. I jogged to keep up, but the door shut with a resounding bang before I could get there.

I reached out for it, curious if I could open it when no one else seemed to be able to see me. Could I not interact with anything physical?

My hand touched the golden handle, and the door shimmered before my eyes. I jerked my hand back, startled as I watched surface of the door become like that of a pond. It was mesmerizing, watching what appeared to be wood and steel wave and bend. Would it have felt like water, or wood?

I would never find out. As soon as I put my hand on the door, I fell through, like it had suddenly become the floor. My stomach lurched and I shivered as a cold feeling blanketed me. There was nothing but blackness, but then it was like someone was taking a paint brush and slowly coloring in what was around me. Things gained color, but they weren't the colors of the throne room. No; the lavender and white walls, a soft carpet, a desk in the corner… This was my room.

" But mom! " I heard Little Sachiko say, and she appeared, sitting in a white chair. Now the image was almost complete. All that was missing was the bed, with it's white wooden posts and deep purple bed sheets. Ah… There it was. The place I used to sleep every night.

" Sachiko, you have to do this. You have to get this right! " My mom was seated in the chair across from Little Sachiko. Tea was on the table, steam rising from it. The smell was fruity. I guessed it was raspberry, but sometimes I liked strawberry tea just as much. It could have been either.

" I'm only six, a little kid! This is preposterous! "

That was my favorite word.

" If you know a word that advanced you can't have the mind of a six year old. " My mom countered. I saw the frustration building on Little Sachiko's face, and I glanced past them and out the purple, stained glass window. Outside there was snow falling from the sky, blanketing the ground and covering the few sparse plants in the garden that was visible from my room. It always made me want to run in it, to make snow angels and snow men. But, what I had always wanted to do most was have a snowball fight.

" I only know all of these advanced words because you got me a tutor the moment I turned one! Just because I'm smart doesn't mean you get to rob me of my childhood. " Little Sachiko said, fuming. I wanted to slap her. She shouldn't argue with her mom like that—not when in just four short years…

Mother looked appalled.

" You do not speak to me that way. You are a princess! It's about time you start acting like one. "

" I want a friend mom. A friend. Is that too much to ask for? Is not wanting to spend every day alone a bad thing? " Little Sachiko stood, " If this is what princesses do, I'm not too sure I want to be one. "

She stormed away, through me and out the door behind me. I watched as my mother put her head in her hands and let out a sigh. I looked closer, and saw that she looked exhausted. The wrinkles on her face were becoming more prominent, and just the slightest bit of gray was starting to come in at the roots of her hair.

Why? Why did I do that? My mother was a queen. She may have been my mom, but she had so much more to worry about than some stupid, bratty child. I didn't deserve a mom like that, not when I treated her the way I did. She was just trying to help—trying to get me to be what she needed me to be. I wanted to slam my head in a wall as regret filled me.

I left my mom to finish her tea, and went to follow Little Sachiko. I was wary as I put my hand on the door, scared it might start shimmering but it never does. I open it, expecting the hall, but I was faced with the grand throne room.

The first thing I noticed was the kid standing next to a man that looked weary. They both were covered in dirt and their clothes were raggedy. They looked exactly like peasants as they bowed to my parents who were seated on their silver thrones.

They looked as eloquent as ever, but Little Sachiko was no where to be seen. She was probably hiding behind a large vase, watching, silently as the kid, and what I was going to assume was his father, rose.

" We have summoned you here, because your son could do your family a great honor. " My father said, his voice booming throughout the room like he was giving a speech although the people he was addressing was twenty or so feet in front of him, just below the dais. " We are prepared to give him a title in our castle. "

The father's eyes lit up, and his son looked about ready to combust. His hair was messy but his mouth was agape, blue eyes alight with excitement.

" We are prepared to name him Companion of Princess Sachiko Akahoshi. " My mother finished for my father, her voice much quieter than his. " He would remain here at the castle, given his own chambers, and his own tutors. We would treat him like our own. "

I didn't remember this, any of it. The kid looked familiar though… Kind of like…

" Kei would be honored. " The father bowed again, nearly shaking with the prospect of his son leaving but seemingly happy about him being able to go to bed with a full stomach.

Wait. Had he said Kei?

No... I thought. This couldn't be Kei. Kei had told me he came form a wealthy family somewhere in Europe, and that he was sent to the island for political reasons. He had never been a peasant.

Unless, of course, he had lied.

" Thank you. " Kei said, bowing lower if it was even possible.

" You have a week to get your things sorted. " My father said as mom waved a dismissive hand. Kei and his dad left, nearly skipping out of the throne room. I was rooted to the spot as my parents turned towards each other, both of them looking exhausted.

" Do you think Sachiko will be happy? " My mom asked, and for the first time ever, I saw a slouch in her shoulders. It was barely noticeable, but it was there.

" I hope so. " My father said and they started to fade into black. Their golden thrones followed, along with the dais and the walls. Soon enough, I was standing in nothing but vast darkness. It seemed to stretch on forever in every direction, and my heart started to pound.

There was so much space, so much space for me to get lost if I wandered away. Where was I, anyway? This was obviously the past—that was the only way my parents could still be alive. Everything felt real enough.

What if I was the first person to time travel and then I just got lost between the past and the present?

That was irrational, though. I hadn't been trying to time travel. I had been….

What had I been doing?

I didn't remember, and that bothered me. I was lost, scared, confused, and stuck in a place that was heaven and hell at the same time. I couldn't see two feet in front of me. What if there were things in the darkness that were going to attack me? What things could be in the darkness?

A child's laugh rung through the air. I caught a glimmer of a white cloak fluttering ahead of me. I reached out to grab it and it just sifted through my fingers like sand.

There was another laugh. This one was deeper, but still light, like a little boy. I stumbled towards where I thought it came from, but with nothing for the sounds to bounce off of, it was difficult. He kept laughing, and laughing, and then the girl's voice joined in.

I had to squint my eyes against a bright, white light. I ran towards it, as hard as I could, eager to get out of this darkness that had enveloped me. I tripped over something, falling to my knees. A cold feeling caused me to shiver, and my knees felt frozen. I looked down, saw snow, white and fluffy. It was all around me. When I glanced up, I saw a vast, cloudless blue sky and the two kids I heard earlier, playing and laughing.

It was Little Sachiko and Kei.

Kei's black hair was spiky and wet from the snow Little Sachiko had thrown at him. She was covered with snow and her clothes were soaking wet, but she still didn't go inside. The gardens were full of the very thing she loved the most, and she was playing outside with a friend.

I wanted to tell her to stop as she plopped back in the snow, giggling, and started waving her arms and legs to make a snow angel. I wanted to tell her not to get attached to the person she was having the most fun with, because he would just leave her in a couple of weeks to go to some fancy school.

" What's it like being a princess, Sachiko? " Kei asked, plopped down next to Little me. She glanced over, her smile fading a little.

" Boring. " She answered, turning her head to look up at the sky. I wanted to kneel by her, give her a hug and let her know that if she could just make it through another day, another week, another year, everything would be okay. That was all I wanted to say even if it would have been a lie.

" But you have so many people looking up to you, respecting you. You live in this huge palace with an endless supply of books and tutors. I bet your parents get you anything you want, huh? " He had turned to look up at the sky, his face turning thoughtful. He was wrong, oh so very wrong. My parents only got me what they thought would be necessary for me to learn how to be queen.

" Not particularly, no. " Little Sachiko's smile had disappeared. " I'm always forced to study. This is the first time I've played outside like this. "

Oh god. She sounded so sad, so lonely it made my heart hurt for myself. Was that technically self-pity? Probably but it didn't matter to me. Everyone deserved to have at least one person they could cling to, and I didn't have that.

" Miss Akahoshi! " Akame called from the doorway. I glanced over my shoulder at her, not surprised to see the stern look on her face. " You're going to catch a cold. Both of you. Get in here. "

Kei and Little Sachiko stood, walked through me, and towards Akame. I wanted to turn around, grab Akame by the shoulders and demand what was going on, and why she contacted my dad and not me, but she wouldn't know. This was past Akame, who wouldn't even know that my parents were going to die in four years on February 22. There was no way I could warn her of that either. I was just a viewer of this ride down memory lane.

I sighed and turned, putting a hand on my head. I knew what was coming next and I didn't want to see it. I didn't want to hear it. Yet, despite that, I walked through the door that Little Sachiko had kist disappeared through.

And walked straight into my old room.

It was dark—the curtains were drawn closed and there was a lump on the bed which I assumed was Little Sachiko. I heard guards outside the door I just walked through, mumbling to each other about how the princess hadn't gotten up yet. There were sniffles coming from my bed and I walked closer, slowly, as if I could step wrong and all of this would melt away.

The blankets were pulled over my head and there but my face was poking out. I could see snot running out of my nose and over my mouth and cringed. My eyes were rimmed red and tears were streaming down my cheeks and staining the silk covers on my pillow. I wanted to reach out and give myself a hug, but I knew that wouldn't work. I knew that it would be pointless and fruitless.

" Miss Akahoshi? " I heard Akame whisper as she stepped into the room and shut the door behind her. I wanted to tell her to go away, to leave Little Sachiko be, because I knew exactly what she would say. But that didn't stop her from sitting on my bed and causing the mattress to sag where she sat. " Are you okay? "

Little Sachiko brought her knees closer to her chest and hiccuped a sob. My heart hurt just watching this again, having to relive it just from a different perspective.

" You should know, Kei is very important. " Akame said in a soft voice as she put her hand on my back, " He was sent back to Europe because he's important there, much like you're important here. "

" I-it isn't fair. " Little Sachiko sobbed, " I had just gotten a f-friend and then he goes and r-r-runs awa-ay. " She hiccuped again and I just wanted to squeeze her and let her know that she would be fine. Perfectly okay without a friend. He was only there for three weeks and I had gotten so attached. It was kind of ridiculous how desperate I was for a friend.

" I know it isn't fair. " Akame started rubbing soothing circles on her back, " But Kei… he's doing what he has to. You should follow his example. "

Little Sachiko sniffled, burying her face into her pillow. " I dun wanna be a princess. "

" Being a princess may be hard work, but it's worth it in the end. You'll be like your mother. Smart, beautiful, admired, and surrounded by people you love. " Akame said and Little Sachiko looked up, her eyelashes damp with tears.

" R-really? " She sounded hopeful as she looked up, her purple eyes watery.

" Yes, and I will be with you the entire way. " Akame leaned forward and planted a kiss on Little Sachiko's forehead. I bit my lip to keep it from wobbling.

I will be with you the entire way.

That was the worst lie she ever told.

The scene before me faded into blackness. I just wanted to sit down, rest, take everything in. This was too much, way too much. I had blocked most of my memories as a princess out so I could move on, become something different. And here were some of the worse ones, being shoved in front of my face. Or the best. It depended on how you looked at it.

A faint but steady beeping sound resonated through the darkness. I couldn't tell if my eyes were open or closed, or which way I was facing. I just wanted to go home. Wherever that was. I wanted to eat strawberries with Haruhi and talk to dad about how his day was. I didn't want to be here anymore. It hurt too much.

The beeping sound got louder. So loud I had to cover my ears. My eyes were faced with a bright light, so bright it was nearly blinding. I winced as I left the world of memories behind and entered a world full of light.

§

At first all I felt was a dull ache in my hip and head. Bandages were wrapped around my leg, neck, arms. I was under a scratchy blanket and the pillows under my head didn't offer much support. There was a beeping sound, quiet, but in pace with my heart beat.

My eyes fluttered open and landed on a white ceiling. The room was dim; the only light came in from the window. I looked over at it and saw the sun was setting and streetlights were flickering on. The sky was a beautiful orange streaked with purple, and some of the stars were starting to poke through.

There was a chair next to the window, empty at the moment, but there was a blanket in it, along with a bag. Stacks of books rested on the window sill. I was curious as to what they were but I didn't feel like getting up. My limbs were heavy and my mind was slow. I was smart enough to figure out I was in a hospital, and the last thing I remembered flowed through my mind.

How idiotic of me, to get hit by a car while running away from someone I thought was going to murder me.

My cheeks felt wet and I realized I was crying. I draped a hand over my eyes, barely noticing the needle stuck into my skin. Everything I had remembered felt so real, like I was actually there. My parents, Akame, Little Sachiko, and Kei. Oh my goodness, Kei! I couldn't even begin to comprehend that. I had forgotten about him, forced myself to forget about him when I turned 7. If he was a peasant, then did he really go back to Europe?

I didn't want to think about it. My head was starting to hurt and I was so hungry. I felt like I could have eaten an entire cow if it were sat in front of me.

" Guys, I told you she hasn't woken up for five, almost six weeks, what was the point of visiting today? " I heard Haruhi say as the door to my hospital room opened. I moved my arm away from my face and glanced at her. She was wearing casual clothing and her hair wasn't brushed.

Wait. Did she say a five weeks?

The host club was behind her and I nearly groaned. I had just woke up from a month and a half long sleep and they were here? I just wanted to be with Haruhi and dad for a little while so I could sort my thoughts out. They were still slow and sluggish from having just woken up.

" What— " I tried to say but it came out more like a croak. I hadn't spoken in a while so I expected it, but it was still very, very annoying. " What happened? "

Haruhi was by my side before I could blink. There were tears in her eyes already as she bent over me, grabbing my hand. I was taken aback, because she wasn't a touchy feely kind of person.

" Sachiko? Just rest okay, I'll go get the doctor. " After another second of looking over me, she left the room, sending a warning glare to the host club as she left.

" What the hell. " I mumbled, draping my hand back across my face. Nearly six weeks spent asleep. Six weeks. I was so far behind on my schoolwork it wasn't even funny. I probably had a pile of homework to do and tests to take.

I sat up, slowly, ignoring how my muscles protested the movement. I looked up at the host club, half-tempted to glare at them because they were just standing there, staring at me. I didn't spare the energy to do so, and instead pointed at the stack of books on the window sill.

" Could you hand me one of those? " My voice was still raw, but they should have understood well enough.

And yet they still didn't move.

" Sachi-chan, " Honey said, moving closer and clutching his stuffed bunny to his chest, " Your eyes are purple. "

My heart stopped beating.

I looked around at the host club, who were still in their school uniforms, then squeezed my eyes shut.

" I don't know what you're talking about. " I crossed my arms over my chest. This was quite possibly one of the most stupid things I had ever done.

" And your hair is silver. "

I almost gasped as my eyes flew open. My hands went to the hair beside my face and I pulled it into my sight, nearly tearing up when I saw that most of it was silver and just the ends were brown.

" Shit. " I breathed out, looking back up at the host club.

Kyoya looked like a smug bastard. This practically said he was right, that I was hiding something from the host club. The twins were just staring stupidly at me, and Tamaki didn't seem to have the faintest clue of what to say. Mori was just kind of standing there, surprised.

" Surprise! I was dying my hair and wearing colored contacts. " I said, figuring I might as well fess up about that. But there was no way in a million years I would tell them I was an Akahoshi. I didn't know how any of them would react.

" Why? " Kyoya said, his tone cool and calm, but even he seemed to be the slightest bit taken back by my appearance.

" I didn't want to stand out. " I pointed back at the books, " Now would you guys please give me a book? Or have your brains flew out the window? "

Tamaki was the one who walked over and picked a book up off of one of the stacks. He handed it to me and I opened it to the first page, glad to find that it wasn't a nonfiction book or a textbook. It was a dystopian book. I hadn't read one of these since my otaku phase.

" You're so pretty, Sachi-chan. " Honey sat on my bed and beamed up at me with an adorable smile.

" Thank you, Honey. " I was surprised he said that, considering I probably look like I got hit by a car. Which I did. So I didn't understand how I could even look halfway decent.

" You should stop dying your hair, " One of the twins said, moving to stand on one side of the bed while the other moved to the other side.

" And stop wearing contacts. " The other brother finished. Once again I wished I could have told them apart, but I hadn't the faintest idea.

" No. Sorry. "

" You would probably get twice as many customers and requests. " Kyoya said, pushing his glasses up on his nose. I gave up on trying to read the book and shut it, placing it in my lap. My back was starting to get tired from supporting me.

" Yes, I can see it now. " Tamaki said, going into one of his ' prince modes '. The wheels in his mind were turning and all I wanted to do was stop them. " Sachiko, the beautiful princess of the host club. Every girl wants to be her and every guy wants to date her. "

" Hell no. " I said, shaking my head and cutting Tamaki off before he could say anything else. " Please, drop the subject. "

A doctor walked in before anyone could say anything else, and he shooed them out. I was thankful and I laid myself back down on the bed, sighing in relief. Well, now they know I dye my hair. How long was it going to be before Kyoya figured it out?

" How are you feeling, Akahoshi-san? "

My stomach dropped and my heart skipped a beat and my mind stopped working.

" I-I'm sorry. What? " I stuttered out as I looked at Haruhi for an answer. Her eyes were just as wide as mine, and I felt like I was going to puke.

" Pardon me. " He said, as he looked down at his clipboard, " That's the name that's on here. It's correct, is it not? There was a DNA test done, and we found your blood matched that of Arisu Akahoshi, so that was written down as your last name. "

" I do not go by that name anymore. Please, call me Fujioka-san. " My heart was thudding wildly in my chest and you could hear the monitor beeping faster. When had my mom been in this hospital? I didn't remember her ever really going to Japan except for maybe once, and even then it was brief.

" Alright, Fujioka-san, how are you feeling? " He asked, correcting himself. His thinning, gray hair and black rimmed glasses were starting to make me uneasy, and I didn't know if I could trust this guy. He knew. After all of these years hiding it, he knew. I had avoided hospitals for this very reason.

" I have to pee. " I said, trying to calm my raging stomach.

The Chairman, this doctor. How many more people knew that my last name was Akahoshi?

I felt like that chapter was all dialogue and minimal descriptions but I tried my best at this. And I rewrote this trying to add more description but they didn't fit and felt choppy. Oops.

Sooo... Sachiko was in a coma for five and a half weeks due to head trauma. Wrote some background on her character. This chapter was really fun to write because I got to explore Sachiko's past. That's always fun to do.

Sorry if any of you thought this was boring because about 3500 words of it was just Sachiko going through memory after memory after memory. This chapter felt a lot longer than it actually was because of that.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask! I'm sure some of you are confused and I don't want you to be.

Anyhow, I have a workout in the morning so I'm going to go to sleep.