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"What do you think?" she asked me directly.

"It's um…", I couldn't put it to words and the first word that entered my mind is,"different."

"Of course it is.", She giggled. "You're one of us now."

Chapter Three:

I smiled. This wasn't home but maybe it's next to it. At least I belonged somewhere, right?

"Okay. Let's assign your target." Tricia announced.

"Target?" I haven't really thought about it yet.

"Ryoma Echizen is vacant."

"E-Echizen-san?"

"Don't tell me you can't do it."

"Um…no. it's not that."

"Then, what is it?" Tricia looked irritated.

"Echizen-san is really nice and he seems like a good person."

"He broke all our hearts." She sniffed. "The truth is, Courtney became his girlfriend. They looked so good together. But after a week… Courtney caught him with that Korean,"

"Jung Hee Mi?" I clarified.

"Yeah. Whatever. We didn't bother to name that girl."

My jaw dropped. I didn't expect Echizen-san to be like that. I tried to understand but… what?

"Hee- Hee Mi told me that-"

"Oh. She told you that crap too? I'm not surprised. She said that to everyone so that we will look like the bad guys." She was already teary-eyed.

"Tricia, don't worry. I'm on your side." Now, I added, "I'll do anything to help you."

"Really?" She sobbed, "anything?"

"Of course. You're my friend."

I bit my lower lip. I understood what she would've read between them.

"Then, you'll do it."

I opened my mouth to argue but closed it again when I saw her sad eyes.

"Please." She then pouted.

I just could nod. I'm not sure of what I'm getting into.

"YAY!" they cheered. "Thanks, Megan." They hugged me. The thing is, the feeling when they thanked me as Megan isn't the same as Sakuno. It's difficult to understand why they would need to replace my name. Besides, being called Megan rather than Sakuno is pretty confusing. But they're my friends, right? It shouldn't matter much to me because whenever they name me- Megan or Sakuno, I'm still their friend.

"Okay. Megan and Ryoma's first conversation will be tomorrow." Courtney planned.

How they made me agree? Well, I have no idea but it's all about their charm, right? You can be carried away easily. Believing them would be like falling off a cliff- totally effortless. And in comparison to that, being one of them is as hard as having not to breathe. It's hard- very and in the end of the day, you'll give up trying. Suddenly, I didn't want tomorrow to come. It'll be a challenge for me. I'll be on the spotlight, fo0r once. I've decided tomorrow shouldn't come.

When I got home, I found grandma sitting on the couch- waiting for me.

"How's your first day?" She asked.

"It was fine." I answered. "I guess," I murmured to myself.

"You made new friends." It trailed off as a question.

"Yeah. There was Courtney Love, Ashley Thomas and Tricia Stanley. There was also one half-Korean, Jung Hee Mi and a Japanese, too."

"Japanese?"

"Mm-hmm. Echizen Ryoma-san."

"Echizen Ryoma?" She repeated, incredulous.

I nodded and turned to go up the stairs.

"Night, Grandma."

"Night." She replied, still distracted.

I got up early, wanting to be the first in school to arrive. I didn't want to be the focus of stares today. I followed their dress code. I wore the pink scarf-tube top-short skirt- ensemble my new personal shopper- hired by Courtney prepared. When I arrived, they were there already.

"Megan!" They all squealed.

"Um… hi!" I didn't understand why they were so excited.

"You." Courtney pointed to me, aggravated.

"E-eh?" I wore the clothes right. I followed her. Why is she angry?

"Going to school without make up is a serious crime." She pointed out.

"Oh." I finally understood her distress.

"Okay." She sighed. "seems like we need a short make up time."

They lead me to a huge room with all the paraphernalia of a beauty salon.

"Welcome to our powder room!" Ashley greeted.

"I thought we're going to our clubhouse." Tricia said out loud.

Courtney rolled her eyes. "Tricia, this is our temporary club house. We told you last week, right?" she raised an eyebrow.

"But I thought we're going to Ey-meh-rey-ka." She told Courtney.

"WE ARE IN AMERICA!" Courtney snapped.

My mouth fell open. There's no way that Courtney, sweet and innocent Courney, would shout like that.

"Sorry, Courtney." Tricia said quietly.

I snapped my mouth shut. Maybe Courtney's in a bad mood.

"Continuing…" Courtney turned to face me.

They started working then and puffed, painted and powdered my face. I was scared to look at the mirror. What if I look like a clown? With a big gulp, I faced my reflection.

I looked beautiful. Dazzling. I couldn't quite turn the emerald-coloured eyes into my familiar brown orbs. I stratched my lips to form a huge grin and the creature mirrored my action. She smiled and it was devastatingly beautiful. I wanted to cry. Her emerald irises were full of excitement and her hair had loose locks and looked perfect that way. Her lips were cherry pink as her sweet smile made them more visible.

I blushed. How did this happen? The creature's cheeks turned scarlet.

"You look perfect!" Ashley screamed.

"You. Are. Super. BEAUTIFUL! Most of us all!" Tricia squealed. They started jumping up and down. Courtney gave them a glare and they settled quietly.

Suddenly, it's time.

We walked through the halls and the once crowded hallway split into two groups to make way for us.. everyone turned to look. Some even craned their necks to see.

Heat rushed up my cheeks. The spotlight wasn't for me. Every guy stared at us. Well, that was how it seemed. Some even smiled at me. Courtney looked irritated and then hurried to take her place in front of us.

Her brows furrowed in concentration then suddenly a smug smile was on her face. She went beside me and whispered, "Target reached. Echizen Ryoma."

My heart suddenly switched to a sprint when my new emerald orbs got contact with his golden ones. Subconsciously, my feet shuffled themselves forward towards my target's direction. Without needing to look around me, I knew instinctively that everyone is looking at us.

"H-Hi. I-I'm Megan." My voice trembled. It sounded distant. On my opinion, I look like a fool right now. Echizen Ryoma was still wearing his stoic mask.

"Too much make up." He said coolly.

I blushed. Instantly, my lips formed a pout and tears were rolling down my cheeks. How embarrassing! I ran to the farthest place I could reach. The rooftop. It was like Japan- like home to me. I cried and finally, when I finished, I walked down and washed the make up off of my face. I tied my hair in my usual twin braids. I heaved a deep sigh.

It was no use trying. I don't and would never belong here.

I miss Japan. I miss Tomo-chan. I miss all my senpais. I want to go back home. My heart thumped swiftly at the word.

"I want to go home!" I shouted out. My heart thumped again but I didn't care.

"I want to go home! I want to go home! I want to go home!" I chanted again and again. I felt free. Until now, I didn't realize how much I wanted to say those words. I didn't realize how desperately I wanted to tell my grandma this plea.

"Un."

And there he was. His presence being announced by his grunt.

The happiness I felt was starting to fade. I fought back the tears that threatened to fall down again.

Oh. The logic I was starting to form clicked on my mind. He heard everything.

I was waiting for him to say something but I didn't really know what to words I was waiting for. Maybe I wanted to be comforted or maybe I wanted him to say sorry for what he said earlier.

"Braids." He said flatly then started to walk away.

My heart wanted to jump right out of my chest.

"E-Echizen-san!" I called after him.

He looked back.

"I'm Ryuzaki Sakuno." I bowed.

"Echizen Ryoma." He then went back on walking away.

Considering that I just introduced myself formally to him as Sakuno, I wonder if he remembered me as Megan.

End of chapter

Author's notes:

Me: Sorry for the very very very very very.. (reaches 100 very's) … late update. I got too caught up in writing my own story with my own characters so I totally forgot about updating this fic.

Well, finally. I got the time and perseverance to type this. Lots of months have passed since I last wrote a RyoSaku fic. It feels good to be back. Soon, I might also update etalocohC. *fingers crossed*

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

I desperately want to write another RyoSaku fic but I decided not to until I reached the fifth chapter of Fake it or Mean it and the second one of etalocohC. I'll also try writing using Ryoma's POV for the next chapter. Wish me luck!

Anyway, I deleted Forgotten promise because I really can't think of anything to write about it anymore. but the new story I wanna write is sort of connected to Forgotten Promise ( I mean, the forgetting people thing..)

Sorry 'bout the long note. Haha. Please review! Even flames are accepted! Ja!