Akumi-Chan: Okay, today I went to school. And guess what? It wasn't all that bad, but anyways, I got some free time since I got no homework on the first day, I guess I'll continue but first I can't forget these things.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, not even the book ' Chinese Cinderella.'

Wind- Wow, you're very good at this, you read the Chinese Cinderella too? Yes, I wanted to keep it a surprise until the last chapter, but now it's revealed. Of course I don't blame you, but I was stunned when you figured I used some parts of that book, and of course, I DO NOT own the book either, it was very shocking and made me cry so I decided to write something similar to it. And I don't own those parts I used either, please do not sue.

Now, on with the story, please, don't flame if you really have to. I begged for my free time to write to keep you reading, thanks! Please review, although I write for my own joy! ^^

My eyelids burst open, I could hear a conversation going on next door. I stuck my ear against the wall, so I could hear better. " Sumi, this is what you'll do, once you go out with Kouji, pretend Izumi is sick and ask him for $30,0000." I gasped, luckily it was silent,

" Oh I will mother, to please anything you wish." I could hear Sumi exclaim. So my stepmother wanted Sumi to marry Kouji so they would get richer? That was over the line, way over. I threw on some clothes and my bag, I thought I should of told Kouji about this, so I sneaked downstairs and ran out.

As my footsteps touched the icy cement ground, I could see people walking everywhere, my eyes caught a little girl with her mother, hand by hand. " Mommy you're the best!"

" Of course honey, now put this jacket on before you get cold."

" Oh mommy! You care so much!" As the mother and daughter walked away, I didn't take notice that I was standing in the middle of the road, hoping and wishing someone would care for me and nobody in the world will ever get left out like me, on the corner of my eye, I could see a white car driving towards me. I gasped but a pair of soft and gentle hand pushed me out of the way.  We both roll onto the sidewalk, the other person stood up, he had short,  navy blue hair, he held out his hand which I found strange, because this person looked exactly like Kouji, except the hair part.

" Kouji?" I murmured out,

" Kouichi, I'm his brother." I took his hand and stood up,

" Sorry, but where's your brother?" I quizzed, he gave me a warm smile.

" Why don't you come with me?" I blushed a bright crimson. ' Gees, what was that for you idiot?! Just because he looks like him doesn't mean you have to embarrass yourself!' I snared at myself, in my mind.

When we arrived, I was back at that bookstore again. " Just wait a moment, I'll go call him down." He said while giving me a tiny grin, I nodded, nervously I walked around the store, exploring the books and magazines. My eyes paused on a piece of paper, the words were big enough for me to read, ' What this?' I thought. I knew it was wrong to look at people's properties, but I had to, I couldn't help myself from gazing, I was just too curious. My eyes were about to stare at the paper when I heard Kouichi's voice.

" He's here Izumi!" I blushed and walked over to the twins.

" I'll leave you here…alone." Kouichi said giving me a wink and left. Kouji crossed his arms and gazed at me blankly.

" I have to tell you something," I said quickly.

" Make it fast." He said simply, I nodded.

" My sister, my stepmother want Sumi to marry you because she want to get richer, thinking you'll give Sumi money and all." I said, feeling the warm blood climbing up the inside of my cheeks.

" I pretty much figured," He mumbled and looked away,  " if you don't have anymore else things to say then leave." I was shocked, what happened to the old him? The him that used to be cheerful and kind.

" Fine! Then I'll leave Kouji Minamoto! If that's what you want to be! You have changed, Kouji, a lot too," I yelled and ran out, tears blurring my eyes. He has changed, I knew it. I walked my way to school, it was still early, so I decided I should play on the swings for a while. Suddenly someone tapped me on the shoulder, I turned around, seeing a pair of brown eyes.

" Hey Ayumi," I said as I turned back to my direction, her sisters soon appeared.

" Look Izumi, we know what happened and we're truly sorry." Ryoko said, as she sat down on the swing next to the one I was.

" Don't be, I deserve it anyways, everyone hates me, because of me my mother died, giving birth to me."

" That's sad, but we don't hate you Izumi, we're your friends." Hinata replied, she pushed me lightly on the back.

I walked home silently, the air around me felt so refreshing, Hinata, Ryoko and Ayumi lived far from my school so their parents had to drive them home. All alone, once again. Not far away I could see a little boy hugging his parents and his right and left hand each in one of his parent's hands. I sighed, distinguishing that this will never happen to me. I suddenly dropped one of my notebooks, when I was about to pick it up, I touched somebody else's hand, it was warm and gentle. I looked up, meeting that same pair of eyes I viewed this very morning. It was Kouichi, he gave me the same bright smile and handed the book to me. " Thank you." I simply replied.

" Yukoso, are you going to the 5th annual fall party?" I could feel myself crying in the inside, but I couldn't show that on the outside.

" You-you're suppose to go with your parents right?" I questioned, Kouichi nodded.  

" You should go, I'm sure your mother will love to." I could feel the anger rising up to me, without self-control I yelled,

" How am I suppose to go with parents who hate me? A mother who always hits me! A sister who show off in front of me every minute! And-and a father who even forget my name and my date of birth…" I soften on the last part, it was true, my father never really cared about me. Kouichi frowned and rested his hand on my shoulder,

" Gomen nasaii." He replied and walked away without even looking back. I looked up into the bright, orange afternoon sky.

" Please," I prayed, " please don't let me be unwanted forever…"

Akumi-Chan- Pretty dumb ending eh? Don't worry it's not the end of the story, just the chapter, man school is so frustrated! My teacher gave us 10 pages of math and write the French numbers 1-1 000 000! But it didn't take that long, but anyhow, just review and don't flame, ok? I begged you! It's long before I can write the next chapter! PLEASE! I'll repeat! P-L- E-A-S-E!