It had been ten years since the death of Yuko. Watanuki pined for her everyday and every night. He was in love with her and there was no getting away from it. He needed her, loved her, lusted after her…
Kohane and Doumeki knew he was lying in wait for her. They often told him to forget about her. In response, he would say, "She's Yuko; she'll find a way to come back."
Then Kohane and Doumeki would look at each other doubtfully and mouth, "Not this time…"
Maru and Moro had gotten over the fact that their lovely mistress was gone. However, they knew that their new master hadn't. It wasn't exactly hard to notice and they were quite perceptive. Mokena just drank sake all day, but deep inside him, he missed Yuko too. He shared Kohane and Doumeki's doubts on Yuko returning or not. But, he kept an open mind and told himself that fate will decide soon enough.
Watanuki walked into the kitchen to find Maru and Moro setting up his kitchen equipment.
"Thank you, girls…you're a big help."
"'Kay!" they chanted. They gave him a big hug and then proceeded to help Watanuki in the kitchen.
Kohane walked into the kitchen.
"Kimihiro, do want any help?"
Watanuki turned around and smiled; a false one though it was, said, "Yes, Kohane, would you help me chop the aubergines up, please?"
"Yes, Kimihiro, sure…" Kohane frowned. Watanuki sent her a puzzled look.
"Why do you frown?"
"Well, you sent me the mother of all false smiles back then. When will you smile like you used to?"
"What do you mean, Kohane? I have the same old smile."
"No, you don't." Kohane whispered. "You miss Yuko and you're wasting your life waiting for her."
"She will come back."
"How do you know, Kimihiro? Will you waste your life waiting for her?" Kohane shouted
"I'm not wasting my life, Kohane!" Watanuki shout back. Maru and Moro ran of the room in fright.
"Now look at what you've done! You've scared the girls." Kohane snarled. She ran off in search of them.
Watanuki clenched his fists but then heard, "Hello", in a strikingly familiar voice. Watanuki walked calmly towards the door and stopped. A teenage girl with a black sailor school uniform with a red tie stood in the door way. She had long raven black hair with ruby eyes, She was well endowed to say the least and strikingly familiar.
"Hello, I don't know why I am here. I'm terribly sorry."
Watanuki stared at her.
"Is there something wrong, sir?" the girl asked.
"Yuko…"
"Sir, if I may ask, how do you know my name?"
Watanuki shook himself out of his trance. "Erm…I know everything…"
"No, you don't." she challenged.
"So I don't." Watanuki smiled uneasily.
"I knew it." Yuko said smirking.
"What is your second name?" Watanuki asked. He was so sure it was her, but he just wanted to make sure.
"It's Ichihara."
Watanuki went white. Could this be her?
Watanuki dropped to his knees.
"What's wrong?" Yuko asked.
Watanuki looked up with tears in his eyes.
"Don't you recognise me, Yuko? It's me! It's Watanuki!" He grabbed her white hands that he knew so well.
"Forgive me, Sir, but I don't know you." She started to back away, fear in her ruby eyes.
"You have to know me! It's me!"
Yuko shook her head, turned around and ran out the door.
"YUKO, COME BACK!" Watanuki sobbed. Kohane came running when she heard his scream.
"What's wrong, Kimihiro?"
He looked up at her and quickly got to his feet.
"I saw Yuko."
"You couldn't have done, Kimihiro."
"I know what I saw." He hissed. Kohane shook her head and walked out the door. Mokena came hopping behind him.
"That was her."
"Are you certain?"
"Yes. Go after her."
"I am not permitted to leave the shop."
"You can for this, Go!"
Watanuki nodded and ran out of the door.
"No, I will wait. She'll come back. She has too."