[PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION] 5'6"; 145 lbs; brown eyes; brown hair, dyed black and red (red underneath, black on top), shoulder length layered; 3 tattoos--line of stars matching Kae's, though hers is on her left wrist, a line of Tibetan prayer (Om mani padme hum) running from the back of her about halfway down her back, and a small Babylon stamp (from the TV series Queer as Folk) on her left hip; earlobes pierced twice, cartilage in each ear pierced, and nipples pierced; usually dresses in bootcut and flare jeans with cutesy shirts, occasionally gets lazy and just wears t-shirts, she does enjoy the occasional skirt and is known to get rather dolled up for special occasions; not real big on makeup except for mascara, but wears it when necessary; has a bit of a shoe fetish and therefore wears all kinds of cuteness on her feet at all times; has an affinity for Mary Janes
[PERSONALITY] Maiya's a firecracker. She'll be friends with anyone and anything she can. She has no problem speaking her mind about whatever subject she wants and doesn't expect people to agree with her all the time. She's open to other people's opinions but doesn't waiver from her own. If you're nice, she'll love you. If you aren't, she doesn't have much use for you. She has a loud laugh that you could pick out rather easily and it's often infectious. She's a mothering type and therefore has many "kids", despite some of them being older than she is.
[BACKGROUND] Maiya was born and raised in New York, the second of two kids (older brother Jake, 23, still lives in NY). Her parents were never married, though they stayed together until she was about 9. After that, her mother got a new boyfriend, whom she later married when Maiya was 15. Maiya took his last name. Around this time, her stepfather got a new job that he had to relocate for. The family chose to go to Japan out of their options because Maiya wanted to be closer to her best friend Kae. Not long after the move, she got a baby brother (Neal, now 3), then a baby sister (Sara, now 2). Her ties with her father remained close, and her parents actually get along quite well but felt they were no longer in love. She's currently in school studying journalism and social work.