Chapter 1

"Would you like some coffee, miss?" I looked up to see an air flight attendant smiling at me.

"No, that's okay, thank you. My father never let me drink coffee. Could I have water instead?"

"Yes, I can do that." She pauses for a moment as she pours a cup of water and hands it to me.

I smiled with gratitude and went back to looking at my new school pamphlet along with my new school I.D. My picture was on it now, with my shoulder-length blonde curly hair, and brown eyes. I was small in stature, which dad said would help me blend in at my new school. I was fully American, but some people had told me sometimes that I looked partly Japanese. My dad gently pushed me all these years to attend a school in Japan that he felt was prestigious. Dad always took the liberty to plan my future, although he was hardly around. When he was though, he made up for it. That's why I trusted him. In fact, I knew I was lucky to have him around me. It was time to follow his advice. He told me he always felt like Japan was the place to be, so he had a tutor teach me Japanese from a very young age. I spoke, read, and wrote fluently and understood all formalities within the culture without ever personally being there. Dad always took high liberties in making sure I got the best training. He told me he could see the future, and that it was bright. I trusted him.

The plane began to land, and my anxiety as well as excitement increased. Suddenly I was in a foreign yet not so foreign country. Mom had written me a note that I had read during the long 14 hour flight that told me she supported me and expected a call when I landed. I pulled out my cell phone, but then remembered I couldn't use it anymore. I needed to purchase a new one. For now, I'll just use a payphone. It would cost a lot, but mom really wanted to make sure I was safe. I grabbed all my bags and stood up when they told us it was okay to leave the plane. I heard a noise, and I looked over to see a girl look a little nauseous. Feeling empathy for her, I moved over to her and tapped her shoulder. She couldn't be older than 12.

"Are you okay?" I tenderly asked.

She shook her head, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. She really did look sick. Everyone began to get off the plane, but I didn't want to leave her behind.

"Where are your bags?"

She pointed to a small blue bag next to her. I grabbed it and slung it over my shoulder and helped her stand.

"Let's get you to the bathroom."

She didn't say a word, so I gently led her by the shoulders with my back loaded down with both our bags. The flight attendant bowed to us as we got off, telling us thank you for choosing their flight. We reached a bathroom, and took a few minutes until she began to feel a little better.

"Where do you need to go?" I asked her.

She didn't say a word, but just pointed in the direction of arrivals.

I nodded. "me too," I responded. "Let's go".

We began walking that way, while she was shaking from being sick, clammy and cold.

When we reached the ropes that divided the people waiting from those who just arrived, the girl seemed to hear someone calling for her. "Kisa!" Suddenly her scared and weak self seemed too gain a little energy, and the first smile I had seen creeped up on her lips. "Sissy!" she said very quietly, and began to wobble towards her. They embraced over the rope, and both girls began to cry. "Kisa, are you sick? Your hands are so clammy!" The girl exclaimed. "I got sick on the plane," she replied in her little voice, "but that girl helped me." She pointed to me.

"Oh, it was nothing!" I Immediately responded, waving my hand in front of my face to show that I really didn't mind. The girl blinked, taking me in. Suddenly, her eyes got all big and dreamy, and she clasped my hands. "Thank you soo much! Kisa was so scared! Thank you for helping her. I'm Tohru Honda!"

"Nice to meet you, I'm Laura Gaizka."

"Nice to meet you, Laura!" she smiled genuinely. "Are you meeting someone here?"

"No," I responded. "I was just supposed to take the train to this station." I held up a sheet of paper that had Asakusa printed on it.

"Oh!" Tohru exclaimed. "We're going nearby there! Let us take you."

I blinked. "Really? That would be great! I was feeling so nervous about that."

"No problem! She grasped my hand again and also Kisa's, and began to lead us outside to a car parked waiting outside with a driver in the front seat. The driver got out and opened the trunk.

"Thank you, Hatori," Tohru thanked the driver. "I know you're busy with Akito."

He nodded acknowledgement while I wondered who Akito was. He shifted his glance to me, and then to Kisa.

"It looks like Kisa is a little sick herself," he replied. We better get her home.

Tohru nodded with emphatic agreement. "Also, can we take Laura home? She took care of Kisa on the plane."

Hatori's eyes wandered back to me. "Of course," he replied, a little coolishly.

I climbed into the car with Tohru and Kisa, and Tohru talked my ear off. She wanted to know why I had come to Japan, what I was here for, and where I was going to live. I told her that I was here for high school, and she assured me that I would do just fine. She then shifted the topic to Kisa, saying she had gone to America so she could meet a specialist about her anxiety that developed over her lifetime, especially since she started Middle School. Kisa had nuzzled into Tohru's lap, and had fallen asleep there. The whole time Tohru just brushed through her hair with her hand while talking to me.

Hatori finally began to pull to a stop in front of Asakusa station.

"Ahh, I guess this is your stop," Tohru breathed, suddenly realizing how much time had passed by.

"I hope you do well in Japan, and maybe we'll bump to each other again!"

I smiled genuinely. "I hope so. Thank you for your generosity, I appreciate the ride!"

I got out of the car, and so did Hatori. He opened the trunk and handed me my luggage.

I bowed graciously and thanked him.

"Be safe", he said. He didn't seem like a man of many words.

I waved to Tohru, and began walking. I suddenly realized I hadn't called my mother. Luckily, Asakusa station had a pay phone, so I inserted some coins and made a call. No answer. Okay, so I might as well look for my apartment, then. I pulled out the sheet of paper my dad had written the information on along with a map. I began to walk, and found the street. I found the number on the building, and went inside. I was shocked when I realized that it was a department store. I went up to the store clerk, who smiled and asked if there was anything they could help me. I showed her the sheet of paper that had the address with the name of the apartment building on it. She looked at it confused, and looked at me. "There's no such apartment around here, miss, I'm sorry."

Oh.

Chapter 2