Author's Note - 12/04/2005: The prologue below has been added on to the fic as of 12/01/2005 for the purpose of story structure. Additionally, chapter 1 and 2 were also heavily edited/rewritten and uploaded. I will be working on revising the following chapters as well, so please forgive me if the writing style is inconsistent from chapters 3 through 8 or 9. That aside, chapter 19 has gone up as of today. Yes, I can hardly believe I've updated!

All things said, I hope you will like the prologue and the revisions I've done so far. Reviews are always greatly loved, you know that! ;p

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Pictures on the Wall
by Téa

A Prologue: Of Another Time and Place

Standing on the curb of the airport's passenger pick-up area, she watched the driver load her things into the trunk. There was only one suitcase and a small carry-on bag, miscellaneous things she had lived off of during the past year. Allowing her gaze to wander, she stared off into space, her eyes not really registering anything in particular.

A little over a year since she had last set foot in Japan. Somehow it felt much longer, and yet altogether too soon.

Something seemed to draw her attention back to the driver then and she stared at him blankly at first, taking in the strange look he was giving her.

"Miss Ishida?"

Blinking, she found herself staring at the car door before turning back to the man who was holding it open for her. Her lips parting, she hesitated and shook her head slightly to ground herself to her surroundings. Then with a slight nod of gratitude, she climbed into the backseat of the car and sighed. Ishida was a name she had to get used to from now on.

Sitting back against the seat, she took a deep calming breath and closed her eyes as the car pulled away from the curb. She didn't know how long she had sat there when a bump on the ride somehow jolted her eyelids open to the backside of the front seat. Without turning, she knew right then that they had now arrived in the city. Briefly, she wished she had fought harder against coming back to a place that had ruined her life so completely. Looking out the window at last, she was vaguely aware of the fact that it was too late to think about that now.

The trees and the buildings blurred together as the car sped by, but she remembered the scenery in such detail that she had to wonder if anything had changed at all. It felt as though everything only went on hold, much like how her life had in the past year. She thought she would've preferred it if Japan was changed beyond recognition, then perhaps she would truly feel like she was starting over.

Weaving through the city traffic, the car slowed down significantly, and she could feel her chest tightening at the sight of increasingly familiar structures. She willed herself to look away, but it was as though her eyes had been drawn outside by a force beyond her control. And all of sudden, there it was, glaring at her with its looming brick walls. Eirin Academy.

In that split second, she saw the swarms of media press against a girl at the entrance of the school. It seemed everyone was yelling and battering the student with questions from all sides as the girl huddled against another body, trying to shield herself from the onslaught. Her face was bleeding and then it was like the girl had suddenly looked up and met her identical gray eyes.

Jerking backwards, she blinked rapidly and found herself breathing hard. It was only a trick of the eye from a shadow casting a reflection of herself on the window as the car rolled by. The school's entrance, she saw now, was empty without a student in sight, as though mocking her with its silence. Her eyes stinging and her heart pounding, she gripped the fabric of her sleeves with her fist and wrenched her gaze away from the window. She looked down and tried to pull herself together, her eyes fixed on the piece of paper lying open on her lap.

Dear Miss Ishida Nao,

We are looking forward to having you with us at Eitoku Gakuen for our upcoming school year. Below, you will find a list of books you will need for...

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

And in another time, another place...her life would somehow start anew.

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Note: The actual story begins with chapter 1, two years after the prologue's setting. Down below, you'll find miscellaneous notes for the story and an ongoing character guide/list that gets updated as the story progresses.

Story Introduction

Before getting into this fic, I'd like to explain a little about the background of the story. Pictures on the Wall takes place in the same universe as the manga, Hana Yori Dango (Boys Over Flowers), meaning the same school which also includes an F4 except my characters are all original and new. Timeline wise, this takes place after the original cast of the manga had already graduated and this is the next generation of students so therefore the understanding of the original Hana Yori Dango storyline isn't especially needed to be able to appreciate this fic. Naturally, if the F4 were so popular in Eitoku...chances are the title would be passed down to the future generations, so that's where this fic comes in.

Although my characters aren't really related to the original cast in the animanga, I do have to add that a familiar name or two will make an appearance along the way. Finally, I hope that you'll manage to enjoy this fic and please send me some feedback as well. Comments are greatly needed as this is the first fic/story that I've ever written. Thanks for taking the time to read this and if you have any additional questions about my story, feel free to email me or mention it in the reviews.

For discussions, update notifications, and awesome fanart posted by other readers, please visit the "Pictures on the Wall" Yahoo group. For the URL, please refer to my profile page.

Things to Take Note of

x The typical Japanese education system is used for this story- with Elementary being grades 1-6, Junior High grades 7-9, and High School 10-12. Keep in mind that when I mention a person entering High School, it's 10th grade and not 9th.

x Naming conventions are in standard Japanese format with Last Name first and then First Name. I've dropped most name suffixes like -san, -chan, -kun, etc. except for areas where it was necessary or added to the storyline.

x When a character's thoughts are expressed in first person pov, the switch is noted by having a -dash leading up to the italicized text and ending in another dash-.

x A character guide is included down below if you should need some reference in the beginning chapters when they may be harder to grasp due to unfamiliarity. Since the Japanese regularly make use of both the first and the last name, I hope that the guide might be of help. It is also important to note that in most cases, the Japanese don't refer to people by their first names unless they're close or on very friendly terms.

Character Guide (Names in Japanese convention - Last Name, First Name)

The F4

Kurosawa Isao: (Senior, H.S. yr.3) Introduced in Chapter 1. An intellectual silent leader of the F4, his passion lies in art. His well-known indecipherable mood swings makes him a mysterious and confusing character for many. His demeanor and personality ranges so widely, depending on his mood that those who meet him at different times often have conflicting opinions of him.

Akita Kanjirou: (Junior, H.S. yr.2) Introduced in Chapter 1. Shy, mild-mannered, and sensitive, he doesn't talk much but instead spends his time quietly observing his surroundings. The purest and the youngest among the 4, he earnestly believes in the "good" and is often bothered by depressing people or those who parties too much. He's also possibly the best looking of the group.

Morishita Shun: (Senior, H.S. yr.3) Introduced in Chapter 1. Easy-going and carefree but also extremely observant and surprisingly wise at times. He has a very lazy air about him, but can be fierce when provoked. Possibly the "bad boy" of the group, he smokes and drinks up a storm as well as frequently visits pubs and bars. He's the tallest and the skinnest among his friends though he eats and sleeps every chance he gets.

Ryusaki Satoshi: (Senior, H.S. yr.3) Introduced in Chapter 1. He's the most confident, outgoing, and active among his friends. His hyper manner and a tendency to talk non-stop about nothing in general often gets his friends exasperated. A tease and a flirt, he is popular for being a womanizer and is easily recognized by his longish locks and low voice.

Others at Eitoku Garden

Ishida Nao: (Sophomore, H.S. yr.1) Introduced in Chapter 1. A student with a dark and secretive past, often absorbed in her own world in the art section of the campus. She has a very cynical and bitter outlook on life. Pride is extremely important to her and she's often determined to prove that she doesn't need anybody. Due to her attitude and appearance, she's feared by many students though she continues to be the target of gossip. Also known as "the witch" among the students at Eitoku.

Matsuo Reina: (Sophomore, H.S. yr.1) Introduced in Chapter 1. Nao's best friend and one of the few who understands her without any words needed. She has really bad social skills when it comes to people she doesn't know so she's often viewed as strange. Extremely observant, she seems to know a great deal about a lot of people. Also known as the other witch.

Hara Tomeko: (Sophomore, H.S. yr.1) Introduced in Chapter 2. A naive and sheltered girl who deperately craves friends and secretly longs to be popular. She tends to care too much about what others think.

Hamano Sakiko: (Junior, H.S. yr.2) Introduced in Chapter 2. A catty girl with a love for gossip and a tendency to place herself amidst other people's private affairs. She is Hamano Chiyomi's younger sister.

Morishita Emi: (Sophomore, H.S. yr.1) Introduced in Chapter 14. Shun's younger sister who had up until recently, attended Yamada High, an all-girl's school. Baby of the family, her personality is relatively outgoing and bratty. She also has something akin to a crush on Kanjirou.

Ichisada Katsumi: (Sophomore, H.S. yr.1) Introduced in Chapter 14. A student who shares a few classes with Nao. A typical "bitch", she naturally doesn't like Nao very much. Think Asai & Co.

Kurosawa Mirou: (Sophomore, H.S. yr.1) Introduced in Chapter 6. Isao's younger brother and 2nd son of the Kurosawa family. He is gentle and soft-spoken, preferring not to be the center of attention.

Kurosawa Eishi: (Freshman, Junior High yr.3) Introduced in Chapter 6. Isao's younger brother and 3rd son of the Kurosawa family. A rebellious character, he tends to get in trouble at school every so often. He does not get along with Isao.

Kurosawa Juro: (Elementary, yr.3) Introduced in Chapter 6. Isao's youngest brother and 4th son of the Kurosawa family. Adorable and playful, he is the only one in the family who seems to be able to get away with anything when it comes to their father.

Yasui-sensei: Introduced in Chapter 1. An art teacher at Eitoku. Almost like a second mother to Isao, she's also quite friendly with Nao.

Watabe-sensei: Introduced in Chapter 3. A language teacher at Eitoku, teaching English.

Others

Isawa Atsuko: Introduced in Chapter 3. Owner and bartender of Purple Den, a favorite hangout of the F4 on school days. She is a former graduate of Eitoku and also appears to be quite close to the four guys, earning her the nickname, Den's Flower.

Hamano Chiyomi: (Senior, H.S. yr.3 Eirin Academy) First mentioned in Chapter 6 but introduced in Chapter 7. Price daughter of the Hamano family, she is Hamano Sakiko's older sister. Very popular, she is also something akin to the princess of the high society.

Nishimura Tomo: First mentioned in Chapter 6 but introduced in Chapter 7. A well-known and popular DJ that went by the stage name, Mo. Close friend to the F4 and a confident for Nao, he is a former student of Eitoku and recently moved back to Japan from New York.

Namura Hideo: Introduced in Chapter 9. Eirin Academy graduate of the previous year prior to the start of this fic. Nao's "ex-boyfriend" who had set up to betray her after the downfall of her family name during her Eirin Academy years.

Kuroda Rie: Mentioned in scattered chapters, not yet formally introduced. Graduate of Eirin Academy and currently lives in New York. She is Nao's older sister and Hanazawa Rui's girlfriend.

Tanaka Shingo: Introduced in Chapter 9. He is one of the Yakuza (Japanese mafia) regional bosses of the Yamaguchi-gumi. His headquarter lies in the Kabukicho district of Shinjuku. He is of relative friendly terms with Morishita Shun.

Kurosawa Mae: Introduced in Chapter 6. She is Isao's mother.

Kurosawa Takefumi: Introduced in Chapter 6. He is Isao's father and owner of the world-wide Kurosawa franchise.

Hamano Nobu: Mentioned in Chapter 6, not yet formally introduced. A shrewd business man and owner of the upstanding Hamano Enterprises. He is Chiyomi and Sakiko's father.

Morishita Andoru: Introduced in Chapter 9. A powerful figure in the Japanese political figure, his connections run deep with both the underground Yakuza bosses and the government. He is Shun's father.

Kuroda Koichiro: Mentioned in Chapter 17. The first son and owner of the Kuroda Empire before its downfall. Legally, Nao's uncle at the time of her birth.

Kuroda/Hanami Ako: Mentioned in Chapter 17. Kuroda Koichiro's first and official wife. Legally, Nao's aunt at the time of her birth.

Kuroda Satoru: Mentioned in Chapter 17. Koichiro's younger brother as well as his right hand partner in the Kuroda business. Legally, Nao's father.

Kuroda/Ishida Sayuri: Introduced in Chapter 9 but officially named in Chapter 17. Satoru's wife, she is Nao's mother.

Nishimura/Kuroda Mayumi: Mentioned in Chapter 17. The younger sister of Koichiro and Satoru, she married into the Nishimura family. Also Tomo's mother.

Katsumasa: Mentioned in Chapter 17. Identity not yet revealed.

Hayami Meiko: Introduced in Chapter 9. A Housemaid at the Morishita Mansion.

Danno: Introduced in Chapter 6. A bouncer at The Underground and friendly acquaintance of Nao.

Koji: Introduced in Chapter 6. A bartender at The Underground and friendly acquaintance of Nao.

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-Character Guide Last Updated: April 24, 2004 for Chapter 17-

Disclaimer: Hana Yori Dango does not belong to me but to its wonderful and respectable owners, most notably of which is Yoko Kamio. Anything from the HYD world that has been borrowed for my story is not of my creation. However, the plot and all characters not familiar in the original manga/anime are mine. In other words, please do not steal or use them for your own purposes without obtaining my permission first.