Wings for Mitsuki

Kouyama Mitsuki is a shinigami. It is her duty to retrieve countless souls, as punishment for past crimes. But still an amateur, the naive and simplistic teen seems to only be causing trouble for headquarters. From the very beginning, things seem to go directly out of her favor. But from reawakening memories to falling in love, the new shinigami might find out that life is full of unexpected turns...

>>Renzie>>This is my second fanfiction, called Wings for Mitsuki. After getting feedback from others and finding some of my faults, I hope that this fanfiction can be a success until the very end! (: I came across the idea of a shinigami Mitsuki when I was sitting at my computer, staring off into space. And then I thought - wouldn't that be great if I wrote a fanfiction on it? And thus, I present to you. Enjoy!

>>Note>>Italics for the most part represent what's written down in Mitsuki's journal. Of course, there are other uses for italics like her real thoughts. They're both pretty much the same thing seeing she confides in her journal.

>>Disclaimer>>Full Moon wo Sagashite belongs to Arina Tanemura, and no one else. Only the fictional characters have come from my imagination.

Chapter 1: The Shinigami World

It all started with a simple 'I love you.' Call me crazy, but it's true. I swear it to the shinigami handbook. He was an angel, really. Or, is an angel. If he's still here - watching, that is. Doubt he'd ever be in a place like this. The air is so heavy, it's like a pollution that kills. It's the first time I've ever been so scared to breathe. Sixteen years of my life, and I've never experienced something so traumatizing. After I've arrived in this place, it's like - I don't know. Strange. Weird. I'm still not used to it. But I guess...this is what I deserve, huh?

"Hey. Kouyama."

An adolescent girl stood beneath the moonlight, soft brown gems shifting to see who had called her name. A thin booklet was strapped to tender hands, and a mechanical pencil was kept loose within the pages.

"Ah...! Sakamura-san, there you –"

"Geez. Must you always keep that bound book with you?" A tall boy stood before her, dark hair shifting with the coming wind. His eyes held a shade of brilliant blue, which in the shinigami world was rather unheard of. He narrowed his gaze, waggling a finger towards her writing tool.

"Quills, woman. Quills! As your guide, I'm saying you mustn't forget. Anything from the other world must be disposed of immediately."

Mitsuki frowned, displeased. She didn't like the way he was emphasizing. He spoke of her home so lowly. Or at least, what was her home. Now, this place was home. But just what was...this place? This place...was the closest to hell she'd ever get. Mitsuki lowered her gaze with a small nod, throwing away her pencil with slight hesitation.

"Any others?"

Mitsuki raised her eyes, shaking her head calmly. As the guide smiled with satisfaction, the troubled girl clenched her quivering hands.

Sorry, Sakamura-san. There's just one thing...that I can't give up.

"Kouyama, hurry or you'll get left behind!"

"Ah– sorry, coming!" The girl skipped off into the distance, soft brown hair flowing down her back.

-

"Ah–! A newbie huh?"

Mitsuki sat in a small room, her folded hands tightly clasped. The walls were covered with a soft shade of white. If there were shades, that was. The wooden roof that sheltered overhead was lined with bright yellow lanterns - much like the ones you'd see at a festival. According to Mitsuki, the over-decorated room seemed much too cozy for a dorm. But this was something she'd have to get used to. Including her new roommate.

"It's nice to meet you! Guess we're gonna share a room until you get your own bunk, eh?" A cheery girl smiled enthusiastically, waving her hands like a parade. She looked young - maybe even six or seven. "Don't worry about a thing. Even though Sakamura seems cold, he's not such a bad guy. If he's your guide, you'll be savvy in no time!"

Mitsuki tilted her head as mild confusion remained floating through the air. What was a little girl like that doing in a place like this? "So I guess, then...you've been around here for a while..."

"Yup, yup." The shinigami folded her hands, a proud expression brightening her features. "I've already been an apprentice for nine years. Going on ten this winter!"

Mitsuki's eyes widened. A...nine-year apprentice? She was so young, but somehow held such a high position. For how long had this person been stuck in the shinigami world?

The child giggled at Mitsuki's expression. "I guess you could say that time stops when you're here. Hm...it's funny, huh? A six year old becoming a god of death. I've lived more of my life in this hell than I have back home."

Mitsuki was silent. At that moment, the young shinigami had such a different expression from the previous one. Her eyes were no longer a delightful shade of happiness. They were glazed over with regret - staring blankly at the snowy walls of her cage. Just what kind of mistake had she committed? It was then that Mitsuki wondered - what did she know about being a shinigami anyway?

"I'm sorry...I get that way sometimes. I should know better than to scare off a newbie!"

Mitsuki snapped back to reality, staring with watchful eyes at the smiling girl. Just like that, the child had returned to her regular mood.

"Being a shinigami really isn't all that bad. Though I may not look it, I'm actually fifteen. Funny, huh? But if I ever do that again, just give me a good whack on the head." The young girl hit herself lightly in demonstration, sticking out her tongue in a playful manner. "Ah! And how rude of me. I'm called Hinako. And you're...Mitsuki, right? I got it from the front desk."

The brown eyed girl nodded her head with a tentative smile. "Yes! It's nice to meet you, Hinako."

A knock on the door echoed through the compacted walls, as the wooden door opened abruptly. Sakamura stood in the doorframe, a golden bow and arrow slung over his shoulder.

"Kouyama, time to go." His stern gaze told Mitsuki she was wise to comply, but the naive girl seemed unable to take the hint.

"Go...? Go where?"

He sighed with exasperation, and right away the girl could see him ticking to his limit.

"Ah – coming, yes." Mitsuki quickly fumbled with the drawers, looking for her precious journal. It was where she wrote everything down. Her thoughts, her worries, and her dreams. But Sakamura only shook his head.

"You aren't going to need those things here. It's just a small collection, so you're better off using your brain rather than your hands." (He's referring to writing)

Mitsuki paused, setting aside her bound journal. A small...collection?

-

"Daiki, look this way - N-No, don't spit it out you little bugger!"

In the human world, a woman laughed with the rich tone of happiness. She lifted her small child into the air, a brilliant smile playing across her lips. And every inch of that expression was filled with love.

"Daddy left on a long trip. But...he'll be back soon."

Her smile looked painful now, as the woman fingered the child's golden locks. The truth was, Daddy had died in a plane crash. But even with all the emotional stress, the woman swore to herself that she would never stop loving her son. Anyone could see that a bond so strong could only be fit for someone with a beautiful heart. In all fairness, she deserved to be with her child. Forever. But life as we knew it, was not always fair.

"Sakamura-san, what are we doing here...?" Mitsuki questioned her guide, following him through the thin walls of a cottage home. He lifted a finger to his lips, cautious eyes turning around the corner.

"Shush. You'll throw off my concentration. Thanks to your dawdling, we arrived late. We'll just need to make this quick."

Make what quick? Mitsuki didn't understand. Frowning, she followed him through the maze of a stranger's dwelling.

"Watch me closely, Kouyama. Approximate timing should be in..."The boy glanced at the sand timer, narrowing his eyes for conciseness. "Thirty seconds...going down twenty."

Only then did Mitsuki realize. Sitting before her, was a woman and her child. But that woman...her face was deathly pale. The brilliant smile that once touched her lips died down into a dull expression. And slowly - ever so slowly, her hands lost grip of the child. A violent cough turned the woman away, and a hand clenched her chest in pain.

Mitsuki stared with wide eyes. And suddenly, an unknown force made her hand reach out and grab the back of his shirt. Sakamura turned around, a spiteful look on his face.

"What are you doing? Now's no time for jokes, idiot. That woman's soul is - "

"Don't..."

"Don't, what?" he asked bitterly.

She could tell from the way he looked at her. Sakamura would never stop to think Kouyama Mitsuki as anything other than a misfortunate annoyance. But it didn't matter. The hand that clenched his shirt only tightened as her lips trembled to speak. "Don't do it. You can't...do it."

'...Ten seconds,' she thought to herself.

Suddenly, his grip on the golden weapons loosened and the once stern gaze softened up. "...Mitsuki."

At the call of her direct name, the tender girl looked up in surprise. Why now, of all time to open up? It wasn't like him at all.

"Look..." Sakamura brushed the strands of hair from his face. Time was ticking, and for such a hasty person his facial expression showed no signs of rush. "I'll have you know that I didn't... want to do this either."

Mitsuki felt as if she was holding her breath. Just hoping that somehow...somehow he could stop time. They would leave the family alone, and change someone's life forever. And maybe then, the child could finally live with a mother. Someone to tenderly hold him. A warm bed to be tucked into...and a love that would never die down.

"But some things aren't an option." The boy's once gentle gaze turned strict again, and all was silent except the brutal coughing of a human. "This...is one of those things. Your punishment..." Sakamura clenched his hand, grasping the golden arrow within.

"...will never be an option."

A chill ran down Mitsuki's spine as something stopped inside of her. Something wouldn't allow her to move any further, as the girl could only watch in fright at the following events. Sakamura picked up the weapon, aiming its sharpened point directly at the victim. The woman had fallen to the ground, her eyes closed and heart beating frantically. She had never committed any wrongs; Never done anything to hurt the one she loved most. So then, why did she have to suffer this way...? And how did anyone expect a child to fend for itself? All alone...with no one to hold.

-

-

After that day, I kept on wondering why I couldn't do anything about it. My knees were shaking back then. So fiercely, that I was glued to the floor. And on top of it all, Sakamura's words pierced me like a blow through the heart. Everyone deserves happiness. I mean - I never even knew that woman. I only...saw her die. So why is it that...these tears won't stop? The pages of this book are getting wet and splotchy. Stupid...now my writing's all messed up.

-

"Sakamura, please detail your explanation."

Standing before a group of hooded individuals, was an angry but collected boy. "I already told you, dammit! That time left a real...deep impression on her. It's going to be chaos making her collect souls after that."

"You should know better than anyone else. There is no option in this."

The guide narrowed blue daggers at the chief, practically grinding his teeth with restraint. "I know that."

"But it seems there are still things you have forgotten." The deep voice of a male figure echoed throughout the empty hallway. "For one, learning to control that temper of yours. Don't abuse your privileges so soon."

The boy bit his tongue back, nodding his head stiffly. He hated this. He hated it with a passion. And yet, there was nothing in the world he could do. "Yes, sir."

Another one of the head chiefs spoke up, raising a hand in question. "Don't you remember the time when you arrived, Sakamura? What trouble you caused. But look at you now - you have grown wiser and though still the troublemaker, you have begun to outgrow that."

The other men nodded in mutual agreement, as one proposed a new idea. "Why don't we give Kouyama Mitsuki a chance on her own? Pretty soon, she'll learn the twists and turns of becoming a natural."

Sakamura turned his head in an instant, a bit of hesitation arising. "I still don't think-"

"Don't be so quick to respond, Sakamura. At one point, she must learn. What better way than to experience it herself?"

At that point, the outnumbered boy had no say in the matter. Sakamura found his once cross tongue tied against their many skeptical looks. So after consulting with each other, the shinigami chiefs resulted in a final decision.

"Hm. A good task. Straight forward. I suppose she needs to get over this emotionally. And she will, over time." The hooded figure nodded sternly to himself, concealing the information within a small envelope. He handed it to the tentative boy, giving him the directions of deliverance.

"Sakamura. To the girl herself, if you don't mind."

-

"Mitsuki, there's a package for you! Er- envelope, I mean." Hinako walked towards the recipient, turning the envelope over and over again. "Sakamura just came by and delivered it. Looks like something important."

"Eh? Something for me?" Mitsuki smiled eagerly, taking the envelope. But when she saw it, the girl's expression fell with disappointment. What was she expecting anyway? A letter from him? As if that would ever happen. It wouldn't happen. So how many times did she have to keep reminding herself?

Turning her attention to the addressed envelope, Mitsuki noticed that it was indeed "something important." A red seal was pressed against the fold, a bit of excess wax dripping from the bottom. It was marked with a curved SH, which Mitsuki could only presume stood for the ever famous "Shinigami Headquarters."

"Yes, yes. So quickly - open it! Maybe it's something special. Like a promotion!"

Mitsuki laughed at her friend's attempt to cheer her up. The girl had been under the weather recently, and was rather aloof in telling Hinako what had happened. Ripping open the envelope, Mitsuki discovered a clean white paper folded inside. Scanning the letter with curiosity, she wondering what it was they wanted. And just like that, the sickening feeling had returned. Because in the envelope, read the words she wanted to hear at the very least.

You have been assigned subject #650012:

Kira Takuto

Congratulations.

It seems there's still many unanswered questions. But like every other story, you're going to have to keep reading :D

>>And don't forget to leave a review! ;3