Long time no update! Yeah, it's been difficult for me for these past months so I haven't been doing anything here lately. But for now, here's a new chapter! It's going to be short, and I apologize but we'll see how it goes from here!

All rights go to Natsume Matsumoto!

I look in my mirror and cringe from the sight. I was so anxious and nervous I couldn't sleep a wink. You can slightly see red bags under my eyes, which were also slightly blood shot red. Not only that, I looked like a freaking roll cake: My red cheeks, long brown hair, creamy brown uniform, white socks, and brown shoes- goodness, can things get any worse?

Today is the day, my first day at St. Marie Academy and today is also the last day I'll be in my room for a while. The pastel purple walls, my sketches and drawings- I'll miss them. My luggage was beside me, my hobo bag laid on my shoulder, holding my sketchbook, pencils, and Astrid. Behind me, I had my trunk full of letters from Lia. I know I can't leave them here.

As I continue to stand in the middle of the room trying to maintain my balance, Yume's voice rose from the bottom of the stairs. "Najika! Come on, or we'll miss the bus!"

"Okay," I yelled back, my voice cracking. I turned back to the mirror and sighed. Then taking one last look around my room, I grabbed my stuff and headed downstairs.

~xXx~

My parents, Yume, and her friends were all waiting by the entrance and I felt something knot in my stomach. Was it because I didn't get any sleep last night? I can always take a nap on the bus. After all, it does take a while to get to the Academy. When I reached the bottom of the stairs, everyone turned to me. The knot got tighter. No. I pleated in my head. Please don't look at me like that.

Kiyomi was the first to react, her eyes lit up as she laid her eyes on me. "Look at you!" She cried. "You look so cute!"

I gave a weak nod. "Thank you..."

My sister's eyes went from her shoulder to me. Yogurt must have said something to her because Yume said to me. "Are you alright?"

Mom and Dad's attention towards me became more serious. "Why don't you children go on ahead." Mom told them. With concerned looks, the four of them walked out.

Yume turned to us. "What about Naji?"

"We'll take care of her." Mom said. "Just be careful, and call us when you arrive."

"Okay."

When I blinked, my head spun and my knees gave out. I heard running and next thing I knew, I was in both of their arms. I felt Dad place a hand on my forehead. "You don't have a fever..."

"But you look exhausted." Mom finished for him. They both helped me up and walked me towards the sofa. I sat down with Mom while Dad went off to the kitchen. "Did you get any sleep at all?"

I shook my head and it made the pain worse. The feeling of Mom holding me, cradling my head was so nostalgic. It took me back to when I was young. When were were all happy and together. But now I'm leaving. I can't imagine my parents coming home every day from now on without anyone to greet them. The thought of that, along with what I talked about with Dad a few days before, broke me.

I buried my face in Mom's shoulder as I silently cried. No sound, no sobbing, just letting the tears of frustration out of my body. God, I felt so pathetic. What fourteen year old these days goes to their parents and cries? I turned to Dad when he came back with a small glass of water and medicine. I peeled away from mom. The water was very refreshing, took it down in two gulps. I was probably a little dehydrated too.

I sighed. "I'm sorry."

"Where you up all night?" Dad wrapped his arm around me while Mom kept her gentle hand on mines.

"Yeah. I tried to sleep, I really did. I couldn't though. I don't know why." Well, actually I did know why, but like I would tell them.

"Najika," Mom said quietly. "Sweetie, please tell us what's wrong. We want to help."

I looked up and I could see my reflection of myself just by looking at Mom. We look so much a like and yet... "I don't think I can do it." I said. "I don't think I'm emotionally ready for all of this. Every thing happened so fast- I just wish I was a little girl again following you guys around, being the little patissiere I always wanted to be." When I turned my attention to Dad, as always he has a straight face, but you could faintly see the concern in his eyes. "I can't go. Not when I know that I'll be leaving you behind too." My family meant everything to me. When Yume first left for the Academy, it was a few months after our trip to London. But when I saw just how happy she looked to go, it made me feel more lonely. I lost my sister, my playmate, my best friend. The memories of us together -all four of us- came rushing towards me and I isolated myself for the next four years.

I let out another sigh and pressed my hand against my face. I felt Mom get up next to me for a moment before she sat back down. "This is for you."

I turned towards her and saw that she was holding a small blush pink box with a pink ribbon. She had a sad yet hopeful smile as I took it from her. "We were going to give it to you when you revived your acceptance letter," said Dad. "But we decided to give it to you before you left."

With shaking hands, I tugged on the ribbon and opened the box. Inside was a silver heart shaped necklace with a delicate design imprinted on the front. It was beautiful, and for some reason, it made me feel safe. I laced my fingers through the silver chain, taking it out of the box. "It's beautiful," I whispered. "I love it."

"Look." I never noticed the little hinge on the side of the necklace until Mom leaned over and opened it. It turned out to be a locket and on the inside, it was a picture of all of us in London in front of the shop. Yume was standing between our parents, Mom's arms resting on her shoulders. Back then, I was still small enough to be carried by Dad and I was, one arm wrapped around his neck and another arm clutching onto Astrid. My breath caught in my throat when I looked at the left side of the locket. N.Y.K My initials.

I let a breath out and closed my eyes. "Thank you."

Dad carefully took the locket out of my hand while Mom gathered my hair, lifting it and giving Dad space to hook it around my neck. It laid below my collar bone just above my breasts. I suddenly felt warmer and secure. The medicine Dad gave me earlier seemed to have kicked in too. My head ache was gone and I felt more awake. But then, I realized.

"Wait, what time is it?!"

Dad looked at the clock then got up. "Almost 9:30. Do you want me to drive you to the bus station?"

I shook my head. "It's too late, the bus is scheduled to come around 9:20. I probably missed it already."

Mom walked over to the entry way to the little dish on the table. "Grab your things, lets go."

I got up from my seat while Dad grabbed my luggage and trunk. I looked around one more time. My house, my sanctuary- this is it. Before I walked out, I quickly took out my sketch book and tore out a single page. Like my parents who had something for me, I had something for them. It honestly took me a month to perfect a simple portrait of them but in the end, it payed off.

I laid the drawing on the coffee table, then I ran out the door.

~xXx~

The drive took about two hours due to heavy traffic. Thank goodness Dad wasn't driving because he wouldn't have handled it well. I knew what the Academy was supposed to look like due to pictures and stories but I didn't expect it to be like this. The forest green pathway acting as a dramatic entryway to another world. The Academy looked like a castle. It was more elegant than what I've seen. I got out of the car and walked up to the gate, my parents following me later with my things.

"I called your sister," said Mom. "She'll be waiting for you by the Queen's statue."

The Queen of the Sweets Kingdom, huh? Sweets Spirits, I know they exist, but are they really...?

I walked towards my parents, taking them in my arms once more. I can't believe that I'm finally here. I never would have thought that the day I would say goodbye would be so difficult.

Mom slowly stroked my hair. "Be careful and have fun. I hope you learn a lot."

"And don't forget," said Dad. "Status doesn't matter. As long as long as you are able to make sweets that make people happy..."

"That's all that matters," I finished.

I told myself that once I had my stuff, I would walk though the gates without looking back. But when I took one step past the gates, I ended up looking back. Dad had his arm around Mom's shoulder, looking happy as ever, but it's not just that that caused my breathing to slow.

As they looked at me, they smiled- all while a red and pink butterfly slowly appeared right next to them, fluttering in a happy way.

And thus, Najika's journey begins! I'm honestly surprised you all enjoyed it. It was just a random idea I had in my head, I never thought it would get a lot of readers!
Thanks again and I hope to see you next time!