(http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr50/akikokittel/akikobanner.jpg) (http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr50/akikokittel/akiko.jpg)<br/><hr/><br/>Almost bumping into a blushing girl before her as she entered the classroom, Akiko squeaked softly as she deftly avoided running the poor thing over, watching curiously as the babyfaced girl rushed to her seat quickly.<br/><br/>Akiko sighed. School. Her vacation in America, Hawaii to be specific, had been wonderful for her, for both mind and body. She'd spent the majority of her nine months away in her Uncle's dojo on the big island, learning to defend herself. Her uncle had been told, by her mother, how she'd been picked on and beat up at her last school, a public school. And after that, her Grandparents received a call from her uncle, asking them to put Akiko through the exclusive girl's school that grandmother attended.<br/><br/>And so, here she was. Mind and spirit cleansed of the taint left upon her by her experiences at her old school. She felt more aware, energetic, and even-keeled since her Uncle had taught her many of the holistic disciplines of the arts he taught the<em>gaijin</em>in Hawaii.<br/><br/>She approached the teacher and bowed, "Fujiwara-sensei? Apologies for interrupting your lesson, but I am Takeshita Akiko, just arrived at the school. My schedule lists this class as my current classroom."<br/><br/>At that, the door opened, and in walked her bear of a grandfather, "Akiko-chan, you forgot your papers with your grandmother." The tall man bowed to the teacher, "Akiko-san's papers, Miss Fujiwara."<br/><br/>Placing a hand on Akiko's shoulder, "Have a good time at school, Akiko-chan. Do well at your schoolwork, and there will be surprises waiting when you come home next for holidays."<br/><br/>Akiko glanced up and smiled, "Thank you, Grandfather. Tell Grandmother I will miss her."<br/><br/>With that, the giant of a man was gone. Akiko moved to the back of the class, spying an empty desk next to a rebellious looking girl with shortened hair.(Mariko) She drew out a notebook and pencil, and waited for the instructor to resume class.