AN: Before anything else, I want to take this opportunity to THANK SHINOMU for her (you're a girl...right!) wonderful reviews. Everytime I post a new chapter, Shinomu is always the first one to review it. And because of that, I want to thank her. To Shinomu, you rock, girl. It's reviewers like you who keeps writers like me to keep making our stories better and better.

Chapter 3 coming up! That was fast, ne? I wanted to make up for my four-month hiatus…hehehe…

DISCLAIMER: MKR still isn't mine…as much as I want it to be mine it isn't mine…huhuhu…

Chapter 3: Back in Town

Zagato folded his hands on top of the table and waited as Lantis walked up on him and sat at a chair.

"That was…" Zagato glanced at his watch then turned back to Lantis, a smile on his face, "exactly twenty minutes after I introduced you to her. I didn't know your patience was that long, Lantis-kun," he said.

Lantis sighed, "I was surprised. You caught me off guard. Completely off guard. And that brings me here," he looked at his brother with disapproval in his eyes before continuing, "Why the secrecy? How come you didn't inform me of Hikaru's arrival in our school? And was that really Hikaru or is she just a look-alike?"

"I think she really is the Hikaru we knew of way back in Cephiro. I can still feel her fiery spirit and dedication that I sensed from the Fire Knight a long time ago. And not just the appearance, but she also has the same voice and, most importantly, the name. If she is a different person, her resemblance to the Hikaru we knew of was uncanny, not to mention too coincidental," Zagato answered.

Lantis nodded, "That's what we thought of too," then he sighed again and rubbed his temple, "But you still didn't answered me, Zagato. Why the secrecy? You know that isn't necessary. And don't tell me you wanted to surprise me. You know very well that you would have, and you did,"

"Because at the time, it was the smartest thing to do, not inform any of you about Hikaru's arrival at the college," Zagato answered. He then stood up and walked around the table until he was in front of Lantis, "Gomen for keeping it a secret, but Emeraude and I thought it would be better to keep it a secret,"

Lantis was about to answer back when the bell rang, indicating that it was already eight o' clock.

Zagato looked at the door and grinned at Lantis, "Your class starts at eight, I presume?"

"Yes," and Lantis stood up from the chair. Keeping his face and voice even, he addressed his brother one more time as he made his way to the door, "This isn't over yet, onii-chan, you know that," and with that, he walked out of the room.

Zagato was left smiling and shaking his head as he returned to his seat, "I know, Lantis-kun,"

"But I don't get it guys; why the heck does she not recognize us?" Ascot asked, looking around the group with concerned eyes.

Fuu sighed. Umi leaned her head on the wall. Ferio closed his eyes and Lantis stood up and looked out the window. The five were in Lantis' pad, a few blocks away from Zagato and Emeraude's haven.

"Don't you think it's very peculiar? The way that Hikaru doesn't know us? Not even you, Umi and Fuu, her very best friends in the whole world? How come it happened that way? And why?" Ascot insisted, now pacing across the room with his hands on his side.

Fuu shook her head. "I can't think of a single logical explanation for Hikaru-san's weird behavior, Ascot-san. Like you, I'm drawing blank. I can't…I can't think of a single thing to give justice to what Hikaru-san did," she answered tiredly, slumping down further on the couch. Ferio's arm came up around her shoulder, and she immediately smiled her thanks for her boyfriend.

Umi sighed loudly and closed her eyes; "I don't want to think of her reaction when I asked her if she doesn't remember us! Fuu…it is very painful to think that Hikaru forgot all about us!" she exclaimed. But even to her resistance, the train of thoughts just wouldn't stop as it played the scene in Umi's mind all over again…

FLASHBACK

"Please welcome, Shidou Hikaru!" Zagato welcomed.

Hikaru entered with a big grin plastered on her face, then bowed slightly at the Faculty Members. "Ohayou gozaimasou, minna-san, and konnichiwa!" she greeted enthusiastically.

From the corner of her eye, she saw her four friends dropped their jaws in surprise. Well, she was pretty shocked as well, and is pretty much as stunned as her friends. Lantis, especially, has that wild look in his face.

She heard Zagato introduce Hikaru to the 37 faculty members of the College. And then her redhead best friend was finally introduced to them five. And it pained her so much to see that her best friend…the now goddess of Cephiro…does not recognize them at all.

There was that patronizing look in Zagato and Emeraude's eyes, and she knew that those two were empathizing with them. After all, they looked for Hikaru for nine years. And now that they found her…she doesn't recognize them at all…

And after that, when everybody settled in on their table, she kept glancing and glancing at Hikaru who was arranging her things in her table. And then she noticed that Fuu, Lantis, Ascot and Ferio were staring at Hikaru as well, as if transfixed. And when the bell rang, she made no move to stand up. Her class does not start at 9 in the morning, and so are Fuu's, Lantis', Ferio's and Ascot's. And surprisingly, Hikaru remained seated on her place.

She stood up and strode over to where Hikaru is. She felt her friend's stares at her back. And the relief. Finally she will be breaking the silence inside the room!

"Uhurm! So, hello, Shidou-san, to Shikigoku College!" she greeted, plastering a huge smile on her face. She sat at the chair in front of Hikaru's desk, and propped her elbows up on the table. Shidou-san! Where the hell did that come from! She silently grimaced.

Hikaru looked up at her with a sunny smile and her heart immediately melted, "Hello, Ryuuzaki-san! You are Ryuuzaki-san, right? And please call me Hikaru. It's much less formal," the redhead answered.

"So Hikaru it is! And yes, I really amRyuuzaki. But I'll only call you Hikaru if you call me Umi, Shidou-san," she answered playfully, smiling mischievously at the redhead.

Hikaru tipped back her head and laughed softly, her eyes sparkling with pleasure, "Okay! Umi it is! And, well, can I call you Umi-chan? Onegai?"

She found it hard to speak, so instead she nodded her head for affirmation. The Hikaru I know of nine years ago insisted on calling Fuu and me with a –chan suffix…oh God, I miss Hikaru so much! The redhead in front of her beamed, and clasped her hands together in front of her chest.

"I'm so happy Umi-chan! This whole big trip back to Tokyo…this is all so sudden to me! I thought we'd be permanently living in Morioka but then, 'Tousan decided to move here to Kawasaki," Hikaru said.

She looked up with a start. This is my perfect chance! She thought. She cleared her throat again, and then she locked eyes with Hikaru, "Hikaru, do you, by any chance, recognize me? From the past, I mean? Like you know…do I look familiar to you?" she asked, almost hesitantly.

Hikaru blinked her eyes, surprised of the sudden question. Then she narrowed her eyes slightly, and looked at Umi's face closely, "Umi-chan…I swear…in all of my 24 years of existence, I know that I still haven't seen you," she answered, and then she peered into Umi's eyes critically. "Why are you asking me, Umi-chan? Do I look like someone you've known before?" she asked innocently.

She shook her head dejectedly, what's happening to you, Hikaru? Why is that you don't remember us? What happened to you…? "No…gomen…it wasn't like that! You just…look familiar, that's all," she answered feebly.

Hikaru seemed convinced, as she beamed at her once again, "Oh, it's all right! People always mistake me for somebody else they knew! But it happened to me the most here in Kawasaki and Tokyo!"

She nodded, forcing a small smile on her face, "I guess it is. You're a pretty…familiar sight…" she trailed off.

Hikaru nodded as well, "Yeah. My friends told me as well,"

She stood up and dusted her dress, "Well, it was nice talking to you, Hikaru! Hope to hear from you soon!"

Hikaru stood up as well, and bowed at her, "The pleasure is all mine, Umi-chan. And thanks for approaching me! I greatly appreciate it!" the redhead answered.

She smiled once more before returning to her desk. When she passed by Fuu's desk, she shook her head and sent a mental message: it's hopeless…

She really doesn't know us…

END OF FLASHBACK

Umi sighed once more. "She…Hikaru…she really doesn't know us…it's as if she hasn't met us all her life! But how can that be? Isn't that impossible?"

Lantis looked back into the group, "But what if she had an accident and she received a blow on her head that caused her to lose all her memories from before?" he said silently, his eyes sad.

Nobody spoke. No one dared to back up what Lantis has just said. Nobody wanted to consider that possibility. The only possible logical explanation for Hikaru's behavior as far as they are concerned…

"So Hikaru, how are you doing here in the College?" Umi and Fuu asked.

The redhead turned to their direction, and she smiled the same bubbly smile that she had, nine years ago. "You're Ryuuzaki Umi and Hououji Fuu, right?" she first asked, and when the two nodded, after glancing briefly at each other, Hikaru's smile even grew bigger, as if her smile just wouldn't go away. "It was really great! The people are great and very nice, my co-teachers are very friendly and accommodating, and the students are very talented and kind! I think I'll be staying here for good!" she exclaimed, excitement shining in her eyes.

Umi and Fuu nodded happily. They were easily infected by her happiness. "Oh, by the way, before we forgot, can we invite you for a dinner party this night? At the Likaura's house? It is Lantis', the headmaster's only brother, 27th birthday. Will you come, onegai?" Fuu asked.

Hikaru hesitated. "But I'm not invited. What if the headmaster got angry? He might not like other people to attend his brother's birthday," she answered.

"Zagato will not be angry, I can assure you that. After all, I'm the one who's going to have the party, not him," replied a voice behind them.

The three turned around, and found Lantis standing behind them.

"Uhm, Lantis-san! Ohayou!" Hikaru greeted, bowing down.

The tall man strode over to where the three stood, and nodded his greeting for Umi and Fuu. The two, in turn, has a mischievous smile painted on their faces. Lantis chose to ignore the two.

"As I was saying, you're invited to come to my birthday party tonight. You should come, even without a present," he continued, looking down at the redhead that barely reached his shoulder. Still the small redhead that I know and love for so many years, he thought, smiling softly.

It was the day after their first meeting. The five friends resolved last night that they will get close to Hikaru as close as before, especially Umi and Fuu who were Hikaru's best friends. And then…Lantis will come in the scene and make Hikaru fall in love with him just like before. And this is their first step to get close to her: invite her on Lantis' 27th birthday.

"He's right, Hikaru-san. You should be in Lantis' party. It will be fun! And headmaster Zagato-san won't be angry. I'm sure he'll be thrilled that the newest professor here in the College gets along with his only brother," Fuu said, a naughty glint in her emerald eyes. She winked at Umi, and together they stared meaningfully at Lantis, who has a hard time keeping his face unreadable.

Hikaru blinked, and glanced back and forth from Fuu to Umi to Lantis and back to Fuu. "Huh? I'm…not quite following you, minna-san…what are you talking about?" she asked innocently, cocking her head on one side.

There was that knowing look that passed unnoticed between the three, and then Umi stepped forward to link an arm on Hikaru's left arm, "Oh, don't mind us! We're just teasing Mister Big-shot Lantis here!" she exclaimed.

Fuu went at the opposite side of the redhead and placed a hand on her shoulder, "So you're coming tonight, right? Umi-san and I can pick you up, Hikaru-san,"

Hikaru groaned and looked pleadingly at Fuu, "Oh please, Fuu-chan, stop calling me with a –san! It's too formal! Onegai, call me Shidou or Hikaru-chan or just plain Hikaru! I'm begging you! I'll only come if you promise not to call me 'Hikaru-san' anymore!"

Fuu smiled widely, and nodded at the redhead, "As you wish, Hikaru-chan," she replied. This earned a smile from the redhead, and they headed towards their respective classes.

AN: I don't think that was any better than the last chapter...what do you think?

peace, man!

(.)-(.)