Title: Alone… and Forgotten… A/N: Uh… I know, I'm slow!!! Yikes! *ducks* don't kill me! don't worry! Terror is coming up too!!! I've just been busy!!! However, there, chapter three, hopefully you guys would like this!!!

Supergal: Yup!! I find that I'm starting to LOVE angst… me must be mad!! Love?? *Meia blinks* uh… pushes Meia out of the picture.

Slamdunker88: Yeah it is Sendo… so, how's your kursus. I wonder whether you'll be able to read this before school tomorrow. Oh, and come to think of it, I just realize…. Could you name me someone who stares too?? Ugh…

Teh Tarik: Oh, wow! I forgot to bring PJ clothes three times berturut-turut… and so far, nothing has happened to me yet… ur school must be strict man!! Well, I suppose it is kinda Meia's fault. In a way… don't worry, you'll see later, exactly whose fault it is…

Miracle: Err… yeah, poor Mitsui... *stays at least 10 feet away from Miracle* err… hopefully you have calmed down a little…. Anyway, Mitsui was the only one who seemed perfect… I dunno, don't kill me… anyway, he's important, right?!! Don't worry, me going to update Terror soon….

Tensai Hanako 2002-3003: Hopefully I gotten your name right. Uh… BTW, thanks a LOT!

Chapter 3- Cold?

            'So, anyway, that's the clubs we have over here. Interested in any?' Varoa asked. Meia shook her head without even thinking. It was true that she had not liked any of the clubs over here, the same way she had not liked any club over in Junior High… except maybe… yeah, there was one club she had been interested in during junior high but…

            'Really? Well, that's great! Then you can join this club!' Mintei exclaimed as she and Varoa stepped in front of a closed door.

            'Err…?'

            Varoa, smiling, threw the door open, revealing a group of boys bouncing a little orange thing called…

            'Basketball?' Meia asked, incredulous. Basketball was the last thing on her mind now… well, okay, maybe it wasn't exactly the last…but BASKETBALL? I mean, come on!

            How ironic, that was what I wanted in junior high wasn't it? She asked herself as she reminisced the time she had yearned to be on the team… but then, as she grew, not only grew up, but grew apart from her brother, she had resolved not to do what he did… and yet she did yearn, still, now. But joining would only mean having another area to compete with him… and obviously, having him excelling and leaving her behind, alone.

            'Va-chan. Come here. Please…' Fujima called to his sister as soon as she appeared at the doorway.

            'Hai, hai,' Varoa said, running to her brother.

            'So? What do you think?' Mintei asked, watching as Hanagata executed a perfect three-pointer. Meia, caught between her childish admiration of her brother and her hot jealousy of him, was silent. What could she say? She had never liked making choices, even now. Since… especially when she was a kid, she had left all the decision-making to Sendo, the person she looked-up to and trusted. Whatever he chose always seemed right… he always had the fun wherever he went, and in whatever he did. That made her scared of making her own choice, worried that she'd miss out on what her brother was going through. Even the different school thingy was planned by Sendo…

            But she had grown, maybe she hadn't really matured… but who knew, and who'd care? Meia wanted to act by herself. She wanted to be courageous enough to do her own stuff, and not do what Sendo did… and yet her childish admiration for him always intervened, her insecurities and worries about being left alone….

            'Ia-chan?' Mintei asked, guiding Meia's wandering mind back to reality gently. Meia ran her hand through her hair nervously as she looked at Mintei, who looked back at her with questioning eyes.

            'Well…'

            'Oi, Mi-chan! Ia-chan! Come here and help!' Varoa bellowed form the other end of the gym while trying to eye all the new-comers who were currently, trying to learn the basics of dribbling. They jogged over to where Varoa was.

            'So, Mi-chan, you take those,' Varoa said, indicating with her right hand.

            'Ia-chan, do you know how to play?' Meia nodded. Sendo had taught her at one time, before her jealousy had rooted so deep in her heart; and she had been fascinated with it. But then, she had decided to not follow him, and gave it up, though it did hurt her heart… and just watching them play gave rise to her desires…

            Stop it! You promised to forget! a part of her screamed. She was about to retort against that voice, when Varoa spoke again.

            'Okay then, you take those three.'

            'But…' Meia started. However, Varoa was already running towards Fujima. Mintei looked at Meia, feeling some unease in her heart.

            She's certainly a little weird…

            It's as if she's… scared…

            'You don't mind joining, do you? I'm sure you'll like it,' she said. Meia nodded, sighing inwardly.

            It's not like I have a choice…

* * * * * * * *

            'Hey, Mintei, is that new girl entering our club?' Hanagata asked her softly. It was already seven o'clock and they were both on their way back. Hanagata, Mintei, and the Fujimas stayed pretty near each other. They had already passed Fujima's house, and now were nearing Mintei's.

            Mintei stopped short at his question, and turned, looking up at him.

            'Why?'

            'No… it's just that… well, never mind.' Hanagata muttered, canceling his intention of asking Mintei his second question at the sound of her slightly cold voice. He started walking again, however, Mintei stopped him.

            'Why?' she asked again. Hanagata sighed. Experience had taught Hanagata how persistent Mintei could be when she wanted to. However, her persistence on this particular subject intrigued him. Usually she didn't poke her nose into others' businesses, but the steely note in her voice…

            'Well, she seems a little weird… I dunno how to put it… how… why did you make friends with her anyway? I mean it's not exactly like you to do that…'

            'Make friends? Varoa did that for me when Meia took one of the only two seats left in class, behind ours. Weird… you feel it too…' Mintei lapsed into a thoughtful silence.

            'Err… Mi-chan?' Mintei looked up, and smiled.

            'Whoops, sorry.'

            'You know, she looks kinda familiar… and she seems really sad. Not only sad, she seems bitter…' Hanaagata muttered. After a while, he sighed, and walked on, followed closely by Mintei. For some reason, something about the way that Meia was so pensively quiet disturbed him. Pensively lonely.

* * * * * * * *

            'Nii-chan! I need help!' Varoa hollered coming down the stairs two at the time.

            'What are you doing in front of the television? The match isn't going to start until err… half an hours time!' Varoa asked her brother.

            'Am I not allowed to watch anything else besides basketball matches?'

            'Well, you certainly don't seem to be interested in anything else.' 

            'Oh, shut up! What do you want anyway?' Fujima asked, playfully ruffling her hair. She tossed her book in front of him.

            'Ugh… Bio… Anyway, thanks for getting that Meia girl, she seems pretty good.'

            'Yeah, I think she is good, and don't try to change the subject, Ji-nii.'

            'Geez! What a sister!'

* * * * * * * *

            The phone was ringing, again. Meia groaned.

            How am I supposed to sleep if the phone keeps ringing for him? She asked bitterly, sitting up. Sendo had already picked up the phone, and was now chatting.

            I thank God Tou-san and Kaa-san allowed me to enter a different school after all… with a different sir name too, or I'll be bombarded with questions on him…

            '…and you might be popular too…' a bitter voice rose in her.

            Popular my foot! They'll only be my friends because of him… that'd be bad… Damn!

            She heard the clock chiming twelve downstairs, and she sighed. She switched her room light on, while muttering, 'Stupid phone!' The book, The Eyes of The Dragon looked really tempting, and she wanted to get her mind off all the stuff crowding her already overloaded brain. But then again, she had a lot of work to do, and though she had not planned to do them, it was the only way to make her sleepy again.

            Deep in her heart, she cursed the phone again, though in reality she was merely cursing her friends.

A/N: So? How's it? I hope it's nice… *gulp* I didn't really mean her to curse her friends you know!! Tell me what you think…. Seriously…