Kyoko

Kyoko took a deep breath as she stared at the large white building. It was imposing and familiar all at the same time. After all it was a school. A school with red terracotta tiles making up the roof and a grand staircase that lead to an upper courtyard. Just a regular old school. In America. What was American high school like? She really didn't know. She studied up on it, so that she would at least be somewhat ready, but now that she was here she was just scared, and angry. She didn't understand why she had to come to America when her mother decided to come here. It's not like she ever cared about just leaving her with the Fuwa's before. If only Sho and her had run away a week earlier. She would happily be living in Tokyo with her prince while he pursued his dream to be a singer. Now, now she was stuck in Los Angeles going to a school with a bunch of rich kids who she didn't know because her mother's new law firm was "family oriented" and it would have looked bad for her mother to move without her. Dragging her feet she began her ascent to the building. She knew she needed to find the office and that her mother already made arrangements with her schedule, but she had no clue how she was suppose to find her way around the massive building. Already she felt like she was stepping into an alien world. First, she didn't have to wear a uniform. She had worn a uniform every day since she could remember, so to not be wearing one just felt strange and uncomfortable. Almost like she wasn't going to school at all. The only good to come out of this whole fiasco of having to move to America was that her mother gave her free reign of her credit card for a day and instructed her to buy an appropriate wardrobe for an American teenager. Of course she couldn't bring herself to by the high end designer items that her mother might have prefered but she was quite pleased with her selection. She even was able to purchase some make up, even though she didn't know how to put it on and was quite intimidated by it. Second was the car's. In Japan everyone walked or rode bikes, teenagers didn't drive to school. The schools didn't even have a place for them to park so it was actually more hassle for them to drive. But here at in this alien world there were rows and rows of the metal monstrosities all shining in the early morning sunlight. As she continued making her way to the building she envisioned herself to be an explorer, touching down on an alien world. All about her students milled about talking with each other or snapping selfies pictures with their phones. When she finally entered the building she really didn't know what she expected to see. She already knew that the students in american schools didn't change out of their street shoes into slippers like they did in Japan, but she was honestly blown away by the grandeur of this building. She knew this was an elite private school, but she expected something a bit more reserved. She should have known better. The large windows allowed the sunlight to stream inside the building, causing the white walls to glow. Recessed in the walls were lockers that appeared to be made of a strong polished wood. She had expected the lockers, but in all the american high school movies the lockers where a colored metal. The polished wood screamed upscale. She glanced around the cavernous room. None stopped or paid her any attention. Finally she saw a door with large silver letters over it that said "Office" sighing she hitched her bag over her shoulder and marched resolutely toward the large glass door. So intent Kyoko was on her destination that she failed to notice the tall blond boy who was moving perpendicular to her, his head down, reading a paper. She bounced off his tall frame and fell back on her butt and looked up at him, her breath hitching as she caught sight of his blond hair and green eyes.

"Gomenasai" she said automatically from her position on the floor. Corn, the thought came unbidden from her mind, then his green eyes flashed angrily at her.

"You're in America, speak English." He sneered and started to move away then said over his shoulder "And watch where you're going."

She sat in shock, her heart thundering in fear at the violent anger coming from him. Shaking her head, she frowned, no he couldn't have been Corn. So silly of me, she slapped her forehead, why would a fairy be here at this school. Peeling herself off the floor she continued to make her way to the office and was greeted by a bored looking woman who was typing away at the computer in front of her.

"Hello," Kyoko said tentatively in English "I'm new, today is my first day."

"It's the first day of school," the woman replied coldly, "It's everyone's first day."

"Eh, sorry," Kyoko bowed a little as she spoke, "I mean to say it's my first day at a high school in America, I just moved here from Japan and I'm not really sure what I am supposed to do." The woman finally looked up from her computer to examine the girl.

"Ahh, you're that one. One moment please." The woman stands up and moved to an office and stuck her head in. A moment later a tall man with light brown hair and happy looking blue eyes dressed in a nice suit greeted her.

"Ah Miss. Mogami, Welcome to our humble school. I'm the principal, my name is Mr. Asher, come into my office and we will discuss your schedule."

Kyoko bowed respectfully to the principal and moved to follow him. The man smiled kindly at her. "First, and I am sure you are aware of it, but we don't bow here in America." Kyoko smiled, "I know, but it's a hard habit to break."

"Ok, well," the man said as he sat across from her and handed her a piece of paper, "It's good that you already seem to be fluent in speaking English, how are you at reading it." She looked at the paper that listed out her schedule.

"I can read this just fine, but I guess I don't understand some of these classes." She looked up at him. "Theater Arts? I know nothing about acting or theater, I'm really not interested in it." Mr. Asher just nodded.

"I understand that, but how high school works out here is you have to have so many credit hours in different subjects in order to graduate properly. We transferred what we could from your 9th grade year back in Japan, but you are woefully behind in you performing arts requirements. Theater Arts was the only performing arts class that fit your schedule didn't require a previous proficiency. If you know how to play an instrument I can move you into an ensemble if you like."

Kyoko just shook her head, trying to wrap her head around this credit hours system. "No, I don't play an instrument." The man smiled at her.

"The class is great, you don't have to act, you can work as a stagehand too and just work in the background. We have one of our Seniors assisting the teacher in the class, his father is actually the half Japanese actor Kuu Hizuri. That's another reason I put you into the class. I figured Kuon might be able to ease your transition since he is fluent in Japanese."

Kyoko froze, and looked at the man, the image of the blond boy springing to her mind, "Corn? Did you just say Corn?" Mr. Asher laughed. "No no girl, Ku-o-n" he pronounced the name slower. Kyoko's body came back to life, oh, it's not Corn. Why do I feel so disappointed?

"Well he might not be that helpful, now that I think about it, his friend passed away last year and he's been… well not himself." Kyoko just nodded, not really paying attention.

"We will be having a member of our student council show you around, she should be here any moment, but I have one last thing I would like to discuss with you." Kyoko resisted the urge to groan, girls didn't seem to like her much. Wait, the thought drifted into her mind. They didn't like her because of how close she was to Sho, yet these girls here would have no clue who Sho was. Her whole countenance brightened, surprising the Principal. Finally, she might be able to have a female friend.

"So does that mean you'll do it?" The principal asked. "Eh?" she responded finally looking at the man. "I just asked if you could help tutor some of our International Affairs students in Japanese after school."

"Oh," Kyoko brightened again, "I'm not sure how good of a job I can do but I will be happy to help."

"Excellent," He clapped his hands and stood up. "Kindle should be here by now, she will be showing you where all of your classes are and how to get into your locker. Since it's the first day of school you will get copies of all your books in class today with the rest of the students." Ushering her out of the office he walked up to a girl about Kyoko's height with long curling red hair and a pair of black framed glasses perched on her nose. She was dressed in a cute sundress with a cardigan on her shoulders. She looks so cute! Kyoko thought as she took in the girl. I hope we can be friends.

"Kindle," the big man greeted her, "This is Kyoko Mogami, please help her out for the next few days till she gets the swing of things here in America." The girl smiled at Kyoko and bowed partially and said in broken Japanese ,

"Konnichiwa Mogami-San" Kyoko felt flattered at her attempt to greet her in Japanese and so she bowed low to the girl and replied "Ohayou gozaimasu, Kindle-chan." Then in English she added, "Please take care of me." Mr. Asher grinned at the exchange. "Kindle here is also one of the International Affairs students you will be tutoring Kyoko." Standing Kyoko attempted an American greeting with the girl and stuck out her hand to her "It's a pleasure to meet you, you can call me Kyoko."

"Alright, you girls run along now, you don't want to be late for your first day of classes. Kindle, your teachers all know you are assisting Kyoko so they will let you out a few minutes early for each class."

Looking at the paper in her hand Kindle grinned at Kyoko, and motioned for her to head out the door first. "I don't envy your schedule Kyoko, it's pretty heavy with all these honors courses, and helping out with the IA students after school." She frowned at the girl. "Oh geeze, and you have theater arts, you have to put up with Sir Grumpsalot."

"Sir Grumpsalot?" Kyoko quirked her brow at the girl.

"It's what I call Kuon, he used to be super nice, but then his friend died a few years ago and now he is just… mean…" Kindle shrugged, "Mr. Asher tried to have him help tutor the IA students but he blew it off and if he did show up he just called us all stupid. I'm not his biggest fan."

Kyoko frowned, "I don't think I'm looking forward to that class."

"Well, on the plus side," Kindle grinned at her, "You have 3 out of 7 classes with me."

Kyoko smiled broadly. "I look forward to having fun with you in class." Kindle giggled, "Me too. Oh,"

She pointed ahead of her, "There's your locker, lets me show you how to open it."

It took Kyoko several tries to work the dial combination on her lock to her satisfaction. Kindle was amazing. She never once got frustrated or tried to rush her along, she just patiently waited while she got the hang of the lock, all the while asking her questions about where she grew up and what Japan was like. She was also constantly bombarded with greetings from her school friends. Kyoko found herself admiring the girl for her style, grace, beauty and popularity. Every Time they ran into one of Kindles friends, she always introduced Kyoko as the "new student from Japan" which always caused quite a stir. Much to Kyoko's dismay many of the students asked about her taste in anime and a few went more in-depth to ask about what manga she follows.

Kyoko blushed when asked about it, mostly because it seemed that this was the only thing Americans knew about Japan and the fact that she really didn't follow either anime or manga. Inwardly she cursed herself for not following them, it would have at least given her something to talk about with the students here in California.

The rest of the day was OK yet Theater Arts was her last period of the day. To her carriage, the boy she bumped into earlier, was the fabled Sir Grumpsalot Kuon. When she entered the room he just glared at her. He seemed distant from everyone but for some reason, she noticed she was the only one to receive the special glare treatment from Mr. Kuon Hizuri. Try as she might, Kyoko couldn't fathom why he hated her so much. Yes, she was handsome, and she could see why all the girls seemed to swoon at the sight of him. But in her mind, he was nothing compared to her Prince. Maybe that was way, the thought came, because she wasn't swayed by his good looks. Despite the grouch in the corner (she couldn't help but agree with Kindles nickname) Theater Arts was pretty fun. First, the teacher asked why they joined the class. When they got to Kyoko's turn she answered honestly, that she needed the credit and this was the only class that fit her schedule, Kuon scowled deeply and glared at her. She shrugged it off but then they played a game called the Hitchhiker. The teacher put four chairs in two by two rows and had four students sit down. The one in the "passenger seat" started talking and acting in whatever way they wanted and the rest of the people in the "car" had to act the same way until there was another hitchhiker. It took until almost the end of class for Kyoko to finally decide to join in the game. Tentatively she stuck out her thumb. She knew from her day that many of her classmates assumed that if you were from Japan, then that meant you were an Otaku so she decided to act out her version of an Otaku for her classmates. Once she started raving about the only manga she could think of, Fairy Tale, the rest of the "car" kicked in. Somehow she managed to forget about the scowling figure who decided to take up residence in the seats and have fun.