8

Taisetsu na Omoi

(Chapter 1)

One Morning…"Haruka! Youko wa doko ni imasu ka."(Haruka! Where is Youko?) Kantarou asked. "Wakarimasu."(I don't know.) Haruka replied. "Nani ga mondai desu ka."(What's the problem?) he asked Kantarou. "Youko… is missing!!" he said worriedly. "Maybe she's in the yard." Haruka said. "Maybe," Kantarou uttered.

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While he is searching for Youko, he saw a note above the table… and it states that… "I will be away to search a job. So, finish your manuscript before Reiko reaches the house!! Okay!!---Youko." Kantarou became irritated after reading that note.

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"I think Youko's right…what are you waiting for! Do the manuscript right away!" Haruka said. "Huhh...when did you knew that Youko is not here?" Kantarou asked puzzledly. "A while ago. I saw that note a while ago." Haruka replied. "Nande?…(Why?) Why did you not inform me about that a while ago?" Kantarou questioned him with an irritating look.

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"You only asked me that where did Youko went. In fact, I don't know where she went. She did not state a place in that note, right?" Haruka responds. "Uhhh… okay… I lost." Kantarou said and sighed.

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"Ohayou, Kantarou!"(Good Morning, Kantarou!) Reiko greeted as she ran towards him. "Ohhh… Reiko… Long… time… no… see!!" Kantarou said nervously. "Do you want some tea? coffee?" Kantarou offered. "No, I want to get your manuscript…right…NOW!!!" Reiko retorted. "Gulp!!" Kantarou gulped. "Kan…ta…rou…" Reiko mentioned angrily.

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"Reiko… you know…" Kantarou conveyed as he readies himself to run. "Hashire!"(Run!) he shouted and ran. "Matte! (Wait!) Before you leave, I want you to investigate about this lady. The citizens of Kyoto said that she has a sort of a healing power. That's why my boss wants you to investigate about her." Then she gave the picture to Kantarou. After seeing it, the picture captured Kantarou's attention.

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"Kantarou! KANTAROU!" Haruka shouted. "Ohh! What did you say?" Kantarou asked as he shook his head. "Are you listening?" Reiko said. "Hai!"(Yes!) he replied. "What are you waiting for?... ike!!"(… go!!) Reiko uttered. "Wakarimashita!"(I understand!) Kantarou responds. "Ikimasho, Haruka!"(Let's go, Haruka!) Then Kantarou and Haruka ran as fast as they can. When Reiko is out of their sight, Haruka's wings appeared and began to fly.

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After 10 minutes...

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of flying… "Oi! Kantarou, Where is that girl's house?" Haruka questioned him. "Now that you've said it… In fact,… I don't know! I forgot to ask Reiko about it… eheheheehe…" Kantarou answered. "How about landing in that house and ask information about this girl. By the way, we are now in Kyoto!" Kantarou mentioned to him. Haruka and Kantarou landed… FINALLY!!!

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When the two landed, they saw a very gigantic house. This house is composed of 10 floors, and a very spacious yard. But this yard seemed to be a perfect place to write a novel. "Unbelievable!! It is so gigantic!!" Kantarou retorted. Kantarou was making his illusions with that house. After a while, a lady wearing a shades and a hat went out from the house. "Sumimasen!"(Excuse me!) Kantarou uttered as he grab the left hand of the lady.

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"Eh?" the lady said. "Miss, do you know her?" Kantarou asked as he showed the picture to the lady. "Oh, her…" the lady responds. "…that girl…was me." the lady said as she took off her hat and shades. Kantarou and Haruka were shocked after seeing her. "And you're living there…right?" Kantarou asked. "So if I live in that house?…what can I do to you?" the lady said as her eyebrows rose.

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What's up with this girl? I don't think that I've done something that makes her angry… She's too sensitive… Kantarou thought. "What's with that look? Are you planning something against me? Huhhh?" the lady said as she raised her eyebrows to Kantarou…again.

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Kantarou has nothing in mind to say something… but then… "Minamoto-sama!! Minamoto-sama!!" a girl shouted and it seems that it came from the lady's house. Then the girl appeared. "Eee----Oh!

You-chan kawaii ne?!"(Youko is cute, right?!) the lady said as she stare to her eye to eye. Kantarou and Haruka sweat dropped.

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"Youko!" Kantarou was shocked after seeing her. "Ehhh---Kan-chan?" she was shocked…too!!! "Ehh…Ehh…You-chan, Do you know him?" the lady asked Youko as she gaze at them (left-right). "Hai, Minamoto-sama.(Yes, Miss Minamoto.) He's the writer who is always avoiding his publisher…right…Ichinomiya-san?" Youko said as if she is teasing Kantarou.

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"Shut Up!!!" Kantarou scolded her.

After that, Youko hid herself by going at the back of the lady.

"How dare you to scold her?!" the lady said with fiery eyes.

When Kantarou saw her fiery eyes, he was frightened.

"Minamoto-sama…control your temper. Don't worry! It's fine with, me!!!" Youko said.

"If you say so, You-chan!!!" the lady said happily as she looks at Youko.

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"Uuuhhhhmmmmm… Minamoto-sama…"

"You can call me by my name, You-chan"

"Uuuhhhhmmmm… Michiko-sama…may I let them to enter your house?"

"It's fine with me…Eventhough…I hate that writer?!"

"Arigato!!! Michiko-sama!!!"(Thank you!!! Miss Michiko!!!)

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When they enter Michiko's house…"Sugoi!!!(Amazing!!!) It's very spacious!!!" Kantarou said ignorantly. "Huhhh!" Haruka said. "What's the matter, Haruka?" Kantarou questioned him. "Look at that picture…it's look like… Raiko." Haruka described as he points out the picture. "May I see!!!" Kantarou said rapidly as he goes nearer to the picture. When he stares at the picture…Michiko served them a tea.

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"Arigato!" Youko thanked her. "Don't mention it!!" Michiko said cheerfully as she watches her drink the tea that she made. "Oishii!!"(Delicious!!) Youko mentioned with a smile. "Kawaii!! Kawaii!!"(Cute!! Cute!!) Michiko uttered as she hugged her. Kantarou and Haruka sweat dropped…again.

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A few minutes later...

"By the way, Why are you here?" Michiko asked them. "We are asked to ask you if you can really heal somebody." Kantarou replied. "Who told you that I was talking to you?!" Michiko said angrily. Kantarou kept silent. What a morose girl?!" he thought. Then she continued. "To tell you honestly… I don't want to speak about that." Michiko said softly. "Please share with us!!" Youko pleased to her. "Okay, as Youko requested, I will answer honestly." she said. Haruka and Kantarou sweat dropped…again. So--- her weakness is Youko…eh… Kantarou thought.

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"Actually… I'm a healer. When I saw a youkai around me, it talked… But when I saw the injured person and touched it, the injury was healed. Everytime I touch their fresh wounds, it was healing immediately."

"Ah… I remember!!! In my childhood times… I met a guy who can see youkai too…just like me. But our classmates often tease him. When he was crying, I seated beside him. I was trying to comfort him…but when I knew that he was an oni, he was massacred by an onikui tengu. I've saw it with my two eyes." Michiko told her past to them. Haruka kept silent.

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"Thanks for your information. Come on, Haruka!" Kantarou said as they ready themselves to leave. "Uhhhmmm…" Haruka nodded.

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"Raiko-sama! I have a news." Raiko's servant said. "Then, What is that news?" he asked calmly. "Kantarou and Haruka went to your house." his servant responded. "Ibaragi, ready yourself as we get Haruka in our hands!! Hahahahahaha…" he ordered Ibaragi. "Okay…" she answered.

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When darkness is about to unfold… "I wonder if Raiko and Michiko are related…to each other…"

---------------------------------------------End of Chapter 1---------------------------------------------------------