Here's another chapter! I'm trying my best to update as fast as possible. I hope you guys will enjoy this! Remember I own nothing of Mai Hime, although I wished I had.

The next day was better and worse.

It was better because when I got out of the house it wasn't raining yet, though the clouds were dense and opaque. It was better because I knew what to expect today at school. I went to my first period and sat at my seat next to Sayuri-san. After class Sayuri-san walked me to my next class. People were still looking at me and I can already see my fan-girls starting to form. I sat with the same people during lunch as yesterday.

It was worse because I was tired; I still couldn't sleep with the wind echoing around the house. It was worse because Kuga Natsuki wasn't at school today.

All morning I was looking forward to lunch, seeing those bizarre glares. I wanted to confront her and ask what her problem was. While I was lying sleepless in my bed, I was even imagining what I would say to her.

But when I walked into the cafeteria with Yayoi-san-sweeping my eyes trying to find her- I saw her 9 siblings were sitting together at the same table, and she was not with them.

Sayuri-san intercepted us and steered us to her table. I tried to listen to their conversation; I was terribly uncomfortable, waiting anxiously for the moment she would arrive. I hoped that she would notice me.

She didn't come, and as time passed I grew more and more anxious. I walked to Biology with Chie and Aoi hoping that she would be there sitting in her seat next to me. When I went in she wasn't there, either. I exhaled and went to my seat. Before the class started Aoi talked about an upcoming trip to the beach.

I was a little relieved that I had the desk to myself, that Natsuki Kuga was absent. I told myself that repeatedly. But I couldn't get rid of this nagging suspicion that I was the reason she wasn't here. Knowing that I'm affecting someone this strongly really puts a smile on my face.

When the school day was finally done, I walked swiftly out to the parking lot. It was crowded now with students. I got into my mustang and dug through my bag to make sure I have what I needed.

Last night I'd discovered that my father couldn't cook much besides grilled cheese and bacon. So I decided that I'd be assigned kitchen duty for the duration of my stay. I also found out that he didn't have much food in the house. So I had my shopping list and the cash, and I was on my way to the grocery store.

The mustang roared to life, ignoring the stares toward me, and backed carefully into a place in line of cars that were waiting to exit the parking lot. I saw Natuski Kuga's sibling getting into their own car. There was a silver Nissan 350z, a black Honda Civic, a black Honda Si, and a yellow Evolution VII. I was too mesmerized by their faces that I didn't notice they were all dressed exceptionally well; simply, but in clothes that subtly hinted at designed origins. It looks like they were all good looking and they had money.

They looked at my noisy mustang as I passed them but I kept my eyes straight forward. The store was just a few streets south from the school. While doing the shopping it kind of reminded me of when I did the shopping back in Kyoto. The store was big enough inside that I couldn't hear the tapping of the rain on the roof to remind me where I was.

When I got home, I unloaded all the groceries, stuffing them wherever I could find open space. I started making Katsudon for dinner. After I was done, I grabbed my book bag and headed to my room to start my homework. Before I get started I turned on my computer, changed into one of the kimonos I've brought. I noticed that I had received an e-mail from my mother.

Shizuru,

Tell me how was your trip on the boat? Is it raining? I miss you already. I'm almost finished packing for Osaka, but I can't find my white blouse. Do you know where I put it? Ryo said hi.

Mom

I smiled knowing my mom was happy.

Mom,

Everything is great. Of course it's raining. School isn't bad; it's almost like back in Kyoto except there are less people. I already met some nice people who I sit with during lunch. Your blouse is at the dry cleaners-you were supposed to pick it up Friday. Father bought me a mustang. Although it's old I love it. I hope you have fun with Ryo in Osaka. Tell Ryo I said hi. I miss you too, I love you.

Shizuru

I decided to read The Pillow Book-the novels were currently studying in Literature class. When I heard father came home I went downstairs to get the Katsudon ready.

"Shizuru?" my father called out when he heard me on the stairs.

"Hi, father, welcome home."

"Thank you." He hung up his coat and stepped out of his shoes and slipped on his slippers.

"What's for dinner?"

"Katsudon."

He seemed awkward standing in the kitchen doing nothing; he lumbered into the living room to read the paper. We were both comfortable that way. I made a salad while the Katsudon cooked, and set the table.

I called him in when dinner was ready, and he sniffed appreciatively as he walked into the kitchen.

"Smells wonderful, Shizuru."

"Thanks."

We ate in silence for a few minutes. It wasn't uncomfortable. Neither of us was bothered by quiet. In some ways, we were well suited for living together.

"So, how did you like school? Have you made any friends?" father asked as he was getting seconds.

"Well, I have a few classes with these two girls named Chie Harada and Aoi Senou. I sit with her friends at lunch. And there's another girl, Yayoi Ota, and another named Sayuri Ichinose. Everybody seems pretty nice." With one outstanding exception.

"Chie Harada and Aoi Senou are nice kids. Chie's and Aoi's father are partners. They both are in the media business."

"Do you know the Sagisawa family?"

"Dr.Sagisawa's family? Sure. Dr. Sagisawa's a great doctor."

"Isn't she our school nurse?"

"Yes, but she is also works at the hospital."

"What do you know about her kids?"

"The 10 kids she adopted? Not much, they're very polite kids. They stick together the way a family should, they go camping whenever the weather is nice. Just because they are new, there are people who are suspicious of them. Don't tell me you heard weird rumors about them? Don't believe them Shizuru they are very nice people."

"Father, I didn't hear any rumors about them. I just noticed that they kept to themselves. They're all very attractive."

"You should see the doctor. It's just a waste that she is single. A lot of doctors at the hospital have a hard time concentrating on their work with her around."

We lapsed back into the silence as we finished eating. He cleared the table while I started on the dishes. He went back to the newspaper, and after I finished washing the dishes I made two cups of tea. I set a cup down next to my father.

"Thank you Shizuru."

"Your Welcome."

I went back upstairs to my room to work on my math homework. I could feel a tradition in the making. That night it was finally quiet and I fell asleep quickly, exhausted.

The rest of the week was uneventful. I got used to the routine of my classes and my new fan club. Almost the whole school made up of my fan club. By Friday I was able to recognize almost all the students at school. Natsuki Kuga didn't come back to school. Everyday, I watched anxiously until the rest of the Sagisawa entered the cafeteria without her. When I don't see my blue-haired female I went back to the conversation with my friends. Mostly it centered on a trip to the Fuuka Beach in two weeks that Aoi was putting together. I was invited, and I had agreed to go, more out of politeness than desire.

By Friday I was perfectly comfortable entering my Biology II class, no longer anxious that Natsuki Kuga would be there. I tried not to thing about her, but I couldn't suppress my fascination toward the blue haired beauty.

My first weekend at Fuuka Island passed without incident. I cleaned the house while father was at work. I did drive to the library Saturday, but it was poorly stocked that I didn't bother getting a library card; I would have to make a visit downtown soon and find a good bookstore. The rain stayed soft over the weekend, quiet, so I was able to sleep well.

People greeted me in the parking lot Monday morning. I waved backed and smiled at everyone. There were some girls who squealed and some who blushed. It was colder this morning, but happily no raining. In Literature, we had a pop quiz on The Pillow Book. It was straightforward, very easy.

All in all, I was feeling a lot more comfortable that I had though I would feel by this point. More comfortable than I had ever expected to feel here. When I walked out of class with Yayoi, I could hear people shouting excitedly to each other.

"Wow," Yayoi said. "It's snowing."

I looked out and opened the window. The wind bit at my cheeks, my nose. Yayoi then pulled me outside. And then a big, squishy ball of dripping snow smacked into the back of her head. We both turned to see where it came from. I had my suspicions about Sayuri, who was walking away, her back turned to us. Yayoi bent over and began scraping together a pile of the white mush.

"I'll see you at lunch, okay?" I kept walking as I spoke. "Once people start throwing wet stuff, I go inside."

She just nodded, her eyes on Sayuri retreating figure. Throughout the morning, everyone chattered excitedly about the snow; apparently it was the first snowfall of the new year. I walked alertly to the cafeteria with Yayoi after English class. I glanced toward the table in the corner out of habit. And I froze where I stood. There were 10 people at the table. Yayoi pulled my arm.

"Shizuru-san? Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

I waited in line with her to get her food. All I got was a cup of warm tea. Twice Yayoi asked me if I was alright. I told her it was nothing. I decided to just have one glance at the Sagisawa family's table. None of them were looking this way. They were laughing. Mai, Mikoto, Tate, Akane, Kazuko, and Takumi were wet from the snow. The rest were dry and made fun of the ones that were wet. They were enjoying the snowy day, just like everyone else- only they looked more like a scene from a movie than the rest of the students.

But, aside from the laughter and playfulness, there was something different, and I couldn't quite pinpoint what that different was. I examined Natsuki the most carefully. Her skin was less pale, the circles under his eyes much less noticeable. But there was something more. I pondered, staring, trying to isolate the change.

"Shizuru-san, what are you staring at?" Chie intruded, her eyes following my stare.

At that precise moment, her eyes flashed over to meet mine. I looked away quickly. I was sure in the instant our eyes met, that she didn't look harsh or unfriendly as she had the last time I'd seen her. She looked merely curious again, unsatisfied in some way.

"Natsuki Kuga is staring at you." Aoi giggled in my ear.

"Oh? Is she glaring at me again?"

"No," she said, sounding confused by my question. "Should she be?"

"I get this feeling she doesn't like me."

Chie snickered. "The Sagisawa don't notice anybody enough to like them. But she's still staring at you."

After we finished our lunch Aoi and Chie walked with me to out Biology class. When we left the cafeteria it was raining, washing all traces of the snow away. Once inside the class I saw Natsuki sitting there. I could feel a small smile on my face. Morimoto-sensei was walking around the room, distributing one microscope and box of slides to each table. Class didn't start for a few minutes, and the room was filled with random conversations going on at the same time. I took my seat next to Natsuki. This was now my chance to talk to her.

"Hello," I greeted with my smile.

She turned her head slowly toward me. Her hair was dripping wet, disheveled-even so, she looked like he'd just finished shooting a commercial for hair gel. Her dazzling face was more friendly, open, a slight smile on her flawless lips. But her eyes were careful.

"Hi."

"My name is Fujino Shizuru," I continued. "I didn't have a chance to introduce myself last week."

She looked at me with those eyes with seriousness before talking.

"I'm Natsuki Kuga, I already know who you are. It's mostly my fault you couldn't introduce yourself properly to me."

My mind was spinning with confusion. Had I made up the whole thing? She was perfectly polite now. I wanted to talk more before she thinks I'm done talking.

"How did you know who I was?"

She laughed softly, enchanting laugh.

"Oh, I think everyone knows your name. The whole town's been waiting for your arrival."

I blush a little when she smiled at me again. Morimoto-sensei started class at that moment. I tried to concentrate as he explained the lab we would be doing today. The slides in the box were out of order. Working as lab partners, we had to separate the slides of onion root tip cells into the phases of mitosis they represented and label them accordingly. In twenty minutes, he would be coming around to see who had it right. We weren't supposed to use our books.

"Get started," he commanded.

"Fujino, you want to go first?" Natsuki asked. I looked at her to see she was smiling a crooked smile so beautiful that I could only stare at her like an idiot. "Or I could start, if you wish." The smile faded; she was obviously wondering if I was mentally competent.

"No, I'll go ahead. Please call me Shizuru" I said, feeling a little heat around my cheeks.

"Then call me Natsuki."

I had already done this lab and I knew what I was looking for. It was easy. I snapped the first slide into place under the microscope and adjusted it quickly to 40X objective. I studied the slide briefly.

"Prophase." I said with confidence.

"Do you mind if I take a look?" she asked as I began to remove the slide. Her hand caught mine, to stop me, as she asked. Her fingers were ice-cold, like she'd been holding them in a snowdrift before class. But that wasn't why I jerked my hand away so quickly. When she touched me, it stung my hand as if an electric current had passed through us.

"I'm sorry," she muttered, pulling her hand immediately. However, she continued to reach for the microscope. I watched her as she examine the slide for an even shorter time than I had.

"Prophase," she agreed, writing it neatly in the first space on out worksheet. She swiftly switched out the first slide for the second, and then glanced at it cursorily.

"Anaphase," she murmured, writing it down as she spoke.

I kept my voice indifferent. "May I?"

She smirked and pushed the microscope to me. I looked through the eyepiece eagerly, only to be disappointed. Dang it, she was right.

"Slide three?" I held out my hand without looking at her.

She handed it to me; it seemed like she was being careful not to touch my skin again. I started to regret jerking my hand back like that.

"Interphase." I passed her the microscope before she could ask for it. She took a swift peek, and then nodded with agreement. I wrote it down on the worksheet.

We were finished before anyone else was close. I could see some of my classmates had their book open under the table. Which left me with nothing to do but try to not look at her…unsuccessfully. I glanced at her, and she was staring at me, that same inexplicable look of frustration in her eyes. Suddenly I identified that subtle difference in her face.

"Did you get contacts?" I asked.

She seemed puzzled by my unexpected question. "No."

"Oh," I mumbled. "I thought there was something different about your eyes."

She shrugged, and looked away.

In fact, I was sure there was something different. I vividly remembered the flat black color of her emerald eyes the last she glared at me-the color was striking against the background of her pale skin and her blue hair. Today, her eyes were completely different: a strange light emerald, but with the same sparkling tone. I didn't understand how that could be, unless she was lying for some reason about the contacts. I looked down. Her hands were clenched into hard fists again.

Morimoto-sensei came to our table then, to see why we weren't working. He looked over our shoulders to glance at the completed lab, and then stared more intently to check the answers.

"So, Kuga-san, didn't you think Fujino-san should get a chance with the microscopic?" Morimoto-sensei asked.

"No, she identified three out of five."

Morimoto-sensei looked at me now; his expression was skeptical.

"Have you done this before?" he asked.

I smiled. "Not with onion root."

"Whitefish blastula?"

"Yes."

He nodded. "Were you in an advance placement program in Kyoto?"

"Yes."

"Well," he said after a moment, "I guess its good you two are lab partners." He mumbled something else as he walked away.

"It's too bad about the snow, isn't it?" Natsuki asked. I had a feeling she was forcing herself to make small talk with me.

"Not really," I answered honestly, instead of pretending to be normal like everyone else. I was still trying to dislodge the feeling of suspicion, and I couldn't concentrate.

"You don't like the cold." It wasn't a question.

"Or the wet." I added.

"Fuuka must be difficult place for you to live," she mused.

"I can get use to it, somehow." I muttered the 'somehow' darkly.

She looked fascinated by what I said, for some reason I couldn't imagine. Her face was such a distraction that I tried not to look at it any more than courtesy absolutely demanded.

"Why did you come here then?"

No one had asked me that- not straight out like she did, demanding.

"It's complicated."

"I think I can keep up," she pressed.

I paused for a long moment, and then made the mistake of meeting her gaze. Her light emerald eyes confused me, and I answered without thinking.

"My mother got remarried," I said.

"That doesn't sound so complex: she disagreed, but she was suddenly sympathetic. "When did that happen?"

"Last September." My voice sounded said, even to me.

"And you don't like him," Natsuki surmised, her tone still kind.

"No, Ryo is nice. Too young, maybe, but nice enough."

"Why didn't you stay with them?"

I couldn't fathom her interest, but she continued to stare at me with penetrating eyes, as if my dull life's story was somehow vitally important.

"Ryo travels a lot. He owns a small business, selling cars."

"And you mother sent you here so that she could travel with him." She said it as an assumption again, not a question.

"No, she did not send me here. I sent myself.

Her eyebrows knit together. "I don't understand," she admitted, and she seemed unnecessarily frustrated by that fact.

She continued to stare at me with obvious curiosity.

"Mother stayed with me at first, but she missed him. It made her unhappy, so I decided it was time to spend some quality time with father."

"But now you're unhappy."

"And?" I challenged her.

"That doesn't seem fair." She shrugged, but her eyes were still intense.

I laughed a little. "Have you heard of the saying Life isn't fair."

"I believe I have heard that somewhere before," she agreed dryly. "You put on a good show," she said slowly. "But I'm willingly to bet that you're suffering more than you let anyone see."

For the first time in my life, I have never met anyone like her. This was also the first time I was speechless.

"Am I annoying you?" she asked. She sounded amused. I glanced at her.

"Am I that easy to read?"

"On the contrary, I find you very difficult to read."

"No, your not annoying me, I find your presence pleasant. Are you a good reader?"

"Usually." She smiled widely, flashing a set of perfect, ultra-white teeth.

Morimoto-sensei called the class to order then, I turned to listen. I was in disbelief that I'd just explain my life to this bizarre, beautiful girl who may or may not despise me. She'd seemed engrossed in our conversation, but now I could see, from the corner of my eye, that she was leaning away from me again, her hands gripping the edge of the table with unmistakable tension.

When the bell finally rang, Natsuki rushed as swiftly and as gracefully from the room as she had last Monday. And, like last Monday, I stared after her in amazement. Aoi came over with Chie.

"Wow, you're lucky that you had Natsuki as your partner. That was hard."

"Not really, I didn't have any trouble with it."

"Natsuki seemed friendly enough today," Chie commended.

"I wonder what was wrong with her last Monday."

After school ended, the rain was just a mist as I walked to the parking lot. When I got into my car, I turned on the heater and fluffed my damp hair out so the heater could dry it on the way home.

I looked around to make sure it was clear. That's when I noticed the still, white figure. Natsuki was leaning on a Ducati three cars down staring intently in my direction. I backed my car out almost hitting a rusty Toyota Corolla in my haste. I stomped on my brakes stopping only inches away from the car. I took a deep breath, still looking out the other side of my car, and cautiously pulled out again, with greater success. I stared straight ahead as I passed the Ducati, but from a peripheral peek, I could swear I saw her laughing.

Katsudon: donburi topped with deep-fried breaded cutlet of pork

A/N: So? How was it? Good?Bad? Which? Oh! I need to know please comment! chapter 3 will be out as soon as I finish it