It was around 6 o'clock in the morning and the sun was only beginning to rise. Yuzu quietly entered her home. She had slept at Harumi's house, and spent the whole night on deciding what to do. After much thought she had come to the decision of accepting her grandmother's proposition and leaving early in the morning.

Yuzu tip toed towards her room. As she passed by the living room she caught a glimpse of her raven haired stepsister sleeping on the couch. Her face was contorted to a grimace as she seemed to be in an uncomfortable position. Yuzu sighed and placed a blanket on Mei before continuing on her journey to her room.

She wanted to take a shower but decided that it was too risky and opted to just change out of her school uniform and put on fresh clothes. Yuzu didn't know how long she would stay at her grandmother's house so she just packed as many outfits that could fit in her duffel bag as she could.

After struggling to pull the zipper closed the blonde hurriedly walked towards the front door. She turned around one final time to take in her surroundings and think her decision over. Though her mother would (probably) understand her choice in 'proving herself' to her grandmother, she still had a bit of doubt in her mind and that was Mei.

'She'll probably blame herself… and what if she worries too much and overworks herself even more..!'

Sighing Yuzu hurriedly scribbled a note down and left it on Mei's desk next to a pile of student council papers. Then, she turned around and left the house. This time without looking back.

Mei grunted as she woke up and got up from the couch. Her uncomfortable position causing a slight ache in her back. She was waiting for the blonde's arrival late last night only to fall asleep on the couch.

Mei annoyedly looked around the house for her older stepsister. 'She could have at least woken me up!'

Her annoyance soon turned to worry and anxiousness as she couldn't find Yuzu. It wasn't a school day and from what Harumin told her yesterday, it didn't seem like they had anything planned for today.

She frantically looked around the house to look for any clues that might indicate where Yuzu had gone. She found that the blonde's clothes had disappeared from the closet and that a duffel bag was missing. 'Did she run away?'

Suddenly Mei's eyes caught a note on the desk. Her heart dropped as she read the brief words, 'I'll be back soon'

Mrs. Aihara was surprised to receive a frantic call from the usually calm raven haired girl. She was able to decipher what the girl was saying after telling her to calm down.

Apparently Yuzu had disappeared along with most of her clothes, only leaving a note. The middle aged woman was very confused at Yuzu's uncharacteristic behaviour. Sure, the blonde would act out in school once in awhile… but she would never run away!

She decided to hurry home to, first of all reassure Mei and second to find out why and where Yuzu has gone.

When Yuzu's mother arrived she found Mei holding a piece of paper, presumably Yuzu's note, and reading it intently. Mei handed the note to her stepmother who eagerly accepted and read it.

She reread it over and over again, trying to understand Yuzu's actions or any clues as to where Yuzu could have gone. Just then there was a knock at the door.

Mei and her stepmother looked at each other warily until the middle aged woman decided to open the door herself. When she opened the door she was met with the sight of man in a suit with a slightly bent nose.

Mei recognised him as one of the bodyguards who Yuzu 'sparred' with. It seemed like he also recognised Mei when he hurriedly handed an envelope to Mrs. Aihara before leaving without so much as a simple explanation or goodbye.

Mei was growing even more anxious as she waited for the other woman to open the envelope and read its contents. After an agonizingly long minute Mrs. Aihara breathed a sigh of relief before explaining the situation to Mei.

"It seems like Yuzu's witch of a grandmother has pressured her into living at the Hayato estate for awhile…Something about Yuzu proving herself if she is worthy to inheriting the Hayato dojo.."

"So when is Yuzu coming back?", Mei asked, her voice trembling at the blonde's name.

"It doesn't say, but I know that Yuzu wouldn't go unwillingly and if she's decided to stay… well, I trust her to make her own decision either way", Mrs. Aihara said confidently. She noticed the doubt in Mei's eyes and patted her head reassuringly, "Don't worry so much! Have faith in Yuzu!".

Mei looked up at the older woman and reluctantly nodded her head.

Yuzu's P.O.V

The chauffeur opened the door before Yuzu stepped out of the limousine. She stood in front of the traditional japanese house for a moment, gaping at its size and luxuriousness.

Though she hadn't stepped foot in the house for more than a decade, it still seemed vaguely familiar to her. One of the bodyguards led her to the front gate which opened to a symmetrical line of maids and suited men. They all bowed down as soon as the gate opened.

"Welcome, Yuzuko-sama!", they all greeted.

Yuzu was stunned and sweat dropped at the over-the-top greeting. "I guess I'll have to get used to this…", she thought with a sigh.

An old woman in a kimono stepped up and bowed at Yuzu, "My name is Izumi Yuka. You may call me Izumi-san, I am the head maid of this house. Since your grandmother is busy at the moment, I will be showing you to your room".

Without another word the old woman turned around and started guiding the blonde through the halls. Yuzu took of her shoes before stepping on the wooden floor. She was trying hard to keep up with the elderly woman. Although she was old she was moving swiftly and Yuzu was afraid that she could lose her at any corner they turned.

Finally the old woman stopped in front of a fusuma with a beautiful design of what appeared to be an orange tree. The elderly woman slid it to the side to reveal a fairly big room.

There was not much furniture, save for a kotatsu in the middle of the room and a few katanas displayed on the wall. However, there was little to no electronics in the whole house, except for the actual lights.

Though Yuzu was disappointed at the lack of technology, she was still determined to stay. She tried to look on the bright side of things and looked around the room.

The walls were shoji-style closets save for one wall which opened to the garden. The garden had a few cherry blossom trees and the sound of running water and the clanking of bamboo could be heard from time to time.

Yuzu's eyes widened in amazement, "Wow, is this my room?", she asked even though she knew the answer.

"Yes. Now, why don't you settle in and I'll be back later", the old woman bowed before leaving Yuzu on her own.

"Wait! When will I see my grandmother?", Yuzu called out but the old woman had already disappeared in the maze of the hallway.

Mei's P.O.V

After a few weeks since Yuzu's disappearance, Mei's usual quiet and gloomy behaviour was even worse now than it has ever been. Her eyes were dull and emotionless and she had no motivation to do her student council duties. The blonde's absence was slowly killing Mei.

While on her way home from school, Mei happened upon a certain middle schooler (or the other way around) again. This time, there was no playfulness when Matsuri approached Mei. Rather, she had gone back to the scheming, mischievous girl that she was when they first met.

"How pathetic. Looking so depressed when you haven't even done anything yet", Matsuri spat.

Mei pretended to ignore the middle schooler.

Matsuri continued, "At least I told her my feelings"

Again Mei ignored the pink haired girl and walked on.

"But then, I realized something. I knew she would never choose me, 'cause she had you", she said with a hint of sadness in her voice.

This time Mei stopped in her tracks.

"And yet, despite me giving her up to you, you still didn't tell her! Now that she's gone you finally realize your feelings but instead of doing anything you decide to stay here and act all gloomy and depressed!"

Mei suddenly grew angry and she swiftly turned around to face the younger girl. "Well what am I supposed to do?! She made the decision to leave!"

"It's because Yuzu-nee left that you should do something! Hasn't she always been there for you when you needed her?!"

The raven haired girl's eyes widened and she couldn't answer the younger girl.

Matsuri smirked, "For someone who's been acting strong most of her life, you're acting pretty cowardly", she said as she left Mei to think about what she just said.

Yuzu P.O.V

After the head maid left, Yuzu decided to settle into her new room as she was told. She unpacked her things and placed them in an empty shoji-style closet. She found some fresh sheets, pillows, and a futon in the other closet.

Looking around her room, she realised it was quite bare save for the kotatsu in the middle of the room. Without thinking Yuzu sat down and made herself comfortable in the kotatsu. Mei loves kotatsus. I wonder what she's doing right now…

With that thought, Yuzu fell asleep.

…

After a few hours

Yuzu woke up to a knock on her door. "Come in!", she called.

It was Ms. Izumi, "Yuzuko-sama, dinner is ready"

"Oh, thanks", Yuzu followed the old woman to the dining area, where a single table lay in the middle of the room. As Ms. Izumi was placing the rest of the food on the table Yuzu awkwardly spoke to fill the silence, "So.. when will I be seeing my grandmother?", Yuzu asked.

Ms. Izumi sighed before answering, "Your grandmother will be returning in 3 months. During that time you will be trained to learn and master different types of martial arts".

Yuzu's mouth gaped, "I have to master them? In only 3 months?!"

"Yes. In the first month, you will build up your strength and agility with proper exercises. In the second month, you will be taught offense and defense and in the final month you shall learn to master these arts", the elderly woman calmly explained.

"But what if I don't?!", Yuzu screeched.

Again Ms. Izumi sighed, this time with slight annoyance, "Don't worry. From what I heard, you were already taught the basics from a young age. You'll probably pick it up in no time", she assured.

Yuzu took a deep breath, closing her eyes to compose herself. 'If that's what it takes then I'll do it… for papa'.

She opened her eyes and looked at the older woman, her eyes filled with determination, "Alright, I'll do it!"