Serenity glanced around as she walked into the classroom. Her eyes instantly landed on Ryo. She was still wearing the girl's uniform and was talking with a group of the girls in class. Serenity started to walk towards her friend, but paused noticing the twins making a bee line towards her. "Yo! Ryo!" Hikaru was the first to her side. "What's going on with you? You didn't show up for the club yesterday."

"Are you feeling sick of something?" Kaoru asked.

Serenity watched in shock and horror as Serenity replied to them. "I'm sorry Hitachiin brothers." Ryo said calmly as she looked at them. "But I forgot to send you the message that I was leaving the club as of now." There were quite a few little gasps of shock in the room. Ryo ignored them and turned, heading towards her seat, and sat down. She looked like a different person.

Serenity and Haruhi zigzagged over to her side at the same time. "Ryo?" Serenity asked sitting down next to her in the empty seat. "What's up?"

"Please call me by my real name, Ryoko." Ryo said calmly looking at the board. "Class will begin soon."

"Does this have something to do with your grandfather visiting?" Haruhi asked.

"Fujioka-San I'll have to ask you to please not talk to me during school." Ryo said, putting emphasis on the last part. She turned away, as if sayings do not talk to me anymore.

Serenity and Haruhi exchanged glanced and then backed off. "Do you think we should go by her house after school?" Serenity asked.

Haruhi nodded. "Something is up… But I don't think we should take any of the boys."

"Agreed." Serenity nodded.

Luc, Yukki, and Tsukiko followed the two first years up the steps to the Sukaage house. Serenity knocked and smiled as Ryo's mom answered the door.

"Oh hello girls, are you here to see Ryoko?"

Haruhi nodded. "Is she home right now?"

"Yes, come on in." She stepped aside and the five girls walked in. "Ryoko is up in her room, go ahead and go up."

"Thank you." Haruhi bowed and then followed the others. They found Ryo's door and knocked.

"Who is it?" Ryo called, sounding a little more like herself.

"It's us!" Serenity called. "Haruhi, Luc, Yukki, and Tsukiko are with me."

Ryo opened the door quickly. She wore a fancy blue lace blouse and a nicer pair of pants. "HI!" She wrapped her arms around Serenity's neck quickly and smiled. "I'm so glad you guys are here! Come on in." She moved back so the others could follow go in. They all positioned themselves in her room. Luc, Serenity, and Haruhi sat on Ryo's bed. Ryo herself sat on her chair. Yukki and Tsukiko sat on the beanbags Ryo had.

"So what's been going on with you Ryo?" Serenity asked leaning forward. "Both yesterday and today you've been so different."

Ryo sighed and looked down. "My life has been complicated for the last little while… My father's father came to visit." She looked at her hands. "My Grandfather is the true head of the family business. My father has a lot of power, but not as much as my grandfather… And my Grandfather wants to come choose the next head of the family after my father."

"What about your brother?" Yukki asked. "Won't he take over since he's the oldest?"

"Maybe…" Ryo looked down. "Rio-Niisan has to deal with both his mother's family and ours."

"Oh yeah, you two are half siblings." Luc looked over. "I guess he has to deal with both families."

"Yes… And depending on how that goes, affects Grandfather's plans. I am the next oldest… But Grandfather doesn't completely like me…. Because my mother is not from a rich family."

"That's horrible." Serenity frowned. "Your dad choose to marry your mom! It's not her fault she's not rich, and it's not your fault either!"

"I know." Ryo sighed. "That's just how it is."

"So what does that have to do with your actions lately?" Haruhi asked.

"My Grandfather wants me to be on my best behavior and keep act like a 'perfect woman.' So I have to grow out my hair, wear more feminine outfits, and act more girlish."

"That's horrible." Luc frowned. "You shouldn't have to act like that when you aren't like that."

"I just have to deal with it… Once Grandfather is gone everything should go back to normal… But my Grandfather is very stern about it, so he doesn't want me to spend time around boys. 'A young woman shouldn't spend all her time around men unless they are family or possible suitors.'" Ryo quoted. "So for now I won't be able to go to the club or been seen around guys. Sorry Haruhi, but at school I won't be able to talk to you."

"I understand." Haruhi nodded. "Stupid rich people."

Ryo laughed. The door opened suddenly and an older man walked in. He had black hair turning grey and dark green eyes. He had a regal look to him. "Ryoko, you're mother informed me that you had friends over?" He looked over the girls.

"Yes Grandfather." Ryo nodded getting up. "These are my friends; Lucia Jones, Yukki Minari, Serenity Sumiari, Tsukiko Akuma, and Haruhi Fujioka." She pointed to each of the girls in turn. "I know them from school."

He eyed them all over, eyes lingering on Haruhi for a moment longer. "So all of you are in Ryoko's class?"

"No." Luc said. "I'm in the class above Ryoko. But we still like to hang out."

"I'm in the same class as Luc." Yukki smiled. "I'm also Rio's girlfriend."

"I'm in the year above Luc and Yukki." Tsukiko smiled. "In the same class as Rio."

"Haruhi and I are just Ryoko's best girlfriends in the class." Serenity smiled. "But the whole group of us likes to hang out together."

"I see." He nodded. "I am Roku Sukaage, Ryoko's and Rio's grandfather."

"It's nice to meet you." Haruhi bowed.

Roku nodded. "Ryoko, you have some lessons. Once your friends are gone come find me in my room."

"Yes Grandfather." Ryo nodded.

"Also… It seems that Rio's mother and Grandfather will be arriving for dinner. We will soon find out the future."

"I understand." Ryo nodded. "I will see you soon then Grandfather."

Roku nodded and then left. Ryo sighed and collapsed back onto her seat. "Are you okay?" Serenity asked getting up.

"I'm fine." She nodded. "It's just… I want my Grandfather to like me and I try my best. But it's so hard to please him."

"You should just stop and be yourself." Luc said calmly. "It doesn't matter what he thinks."

"Yes it does." Ryo frowned. "He is my Grandfather… and I want desperately for him to be pleased with me. I want nothing more than to be my Grandfather's beloved Granddaughter… Just like Rio." She smiled. "Just like I use to be when I was a child."

"I'm sure everything will be fine." Serenity smiled. "And we'll keep the guys out of your hair."

"Thank you." Ryo smiled and hugged her friends. She smiled. "And once he's gone then I'll come back to the club and we can have lots of fun again."

"That sounds good." Luc smiled. "We won't tell the others as well."

"Thanks so much. I don't want Tamaki trying to interfere." She laughed. "He's a trouble maker… But please apologize to the others for me."

"No problem." Yukki smiled. "Well I'm going to go see Rio… And maybe I'll stay here so I can meet his mother."

"Dinner would be more enjoyable with you here." Ryo nodded and smiled.

Ryo watched as her friends left, all except Yukki who was hanging out with Rio. It felt nice to spend time with them again. She closed the door. Now to go deal with Grandfather. She turned and headed towards her Grandfather's room. She felt more confident after spending time with friends.

"Hey Ryoko…" Rio said walking up to her, he held two glasses in his hands.

"Yes?"

"Are you going to see Grandfather now?" He asked.

"Yeah." Ryo smiled. "Are those drinks for you and Yukki?"

Rio nodded. "About Grandfather… You need to know something." He looked down. "I've been meaning to tell you for a while, but…. I didn't know how to."

"What is it?" Ryo blinked confused. "You can tell me."

"It's the reason I've always been so protective of you when it came to boys…." He sighed and looked up at her. Grandfather plans to marry you off in the family's best interest. He has been sorting through possible suitors for years now. If you are chosen as the next head, then Grandfather will be more insistent about it. I think you should know that."

Ryo froze. "What?"

Rio sighed. "Grandfather plans to pick out your husband. After father married to a woman not from a rich family… Grandfather decided that he had to make sure that didn't happen again. I'm sorry." Rio turned and walked off.

Ryo froze as she stood there. My husband…. Grandfather will choose him… But I… I wanted to choose…. Kyouya…. Ryo could feel the tears coming to her eyes. But I can't… I can't disobey Grandfather. No matter how much I want to…. For both the good of the family and my own future… Good bye Kyouya, I understand now… I will never be able to hang out with you… It will only hurt to know that I can never be with you in the long run. Ryo wiped away the tears and hurried to her Grandfather's room.