Y O R O KO B I – K A N A S H I M I

Summary: What would have happened if Fujumoto never gave Kobato the konpeito back? Would things still be the same?

Chapter One: House on the hill

Sorry if this is shorter than you wanted. I couldn't make it longer or else the transition into the next chappy would be weird... Also, some events will go along what happened in the manga and others in the anime…and most from the confines of my semi-sane mind. XD

If you don't review, Kobato will cook rice porridge for you!

...did I get the numbers right in the beginning?


The seasons came and gone. The spring in which she appeared and the spring she left passed.

Sixteen seasons

One thousand four hundred sixty days

Thirty-five thousand and forty hours

In a nutshell: Four years

I believed the words Kohaku had told me on that rainy day. I believed that I would one day meet her again and at least be able to apologize for everything I've done. I thought that maybe she'd be able to tell me the place she wanted to go. Maybe I could get her there. If I had one more chance…

"Fujimoto-kun!" called a voice as I almost dropped the book I was holding. "It's from secretary Hattori at the court."

"Got it!"

Yeah, I got the job as a lawyer. School was hell, especially after being so behind in my studies. Sayaka and Okiura actually helped out with my tuition fee even though I tried to decline. They were steady once more and decided to open up another nursery. This time, I told him that if he ever messed up he would regret it.

"Ah, can't think about that now," I murmured and flipped through the file that was my next job. I was back home after a grueling day of work behind a desk. It was boring, but it paid the bills at least.

So, it was an inheritance case. Something about the father who passed away. The original persons the will was going towards were already dead, so it was to go to the next person: his granddaughter.

I quickly skimmed through but let out a yawn. The clock said 2:09 AM. Damn, it's going to be fun waking up tomorrow.

Tomorrow…

My tired eyes glanced over to the handkerchief I always carried around with me. It rested peacefully on the coffee table. Inside the neatly folded cloth was the small candy. It was the only proof I had of her. It was the only way I knew that she existed. I never kept any of the pictures of the 'mysterious life forms' she drew at the bazaar, or the strange penguins either. The few pictures I actually owned the year she appeared always had an empty spot in them. I locked those away, because every time I saw them it was like it denied her existence.

I let a deep sigh escape me as I leaned back into the soft sofa. My eyes slowly began to droop…

"Fujimoto-san," I thought I heard her voice echo firmly in my mind. "You'll get sick if you sleep there!"

"Aa," I groaned and reluctantly pulled myself away from the comfortable couch. I made my way to the bedroom. "I'm going, I'm going… Jeez, annoying girl…"

A part of me must have gone insane within the last four years, because whenever I felt like giving up on her I would always feel someone pulling me along with that stupid grin on their face.


While it wasn't hard to find the address of the place, getting there was a different story. I had to take a freaking train just to get there. Not only that, but apparently there wasn't much transport in the city either. So, I had to walk the rest of the way there. Did I forget to mention there was a steep hill I had to climb just to get there?

This was probably why the old man made me do this client…damn it

As I got closer to the top, I noticed the songs of birds in the air and the full scent of flowers. The whole field was full of flora and the surrounding area had cherry blossom trees. It was beautifully kept even though no one was supposed to have been living here for quite some time.

I went inside and tried to turn the lights on in the dimly lit space.

'Looks like a circuit blew…' I thought since the lights didn't turn on. Just my luck. Well, at least I could relatively see. I made my way into the most lit room, which had a bay window overlooking the front garden. Setting my things down, I opened the window and studied the room. There was a piano, which brought my full attention. My eyes shifted side to side and I shrugged. The client was supposed to be here already… Oh well. If they're late, then they won't mind if I play a little.

I played a chord experimentally and sat down. I took the handkerchief out and set it on the smooth black piano. I haven't played for her in a while… I used to get into the habit of doing this more often, but I guess work got me out of it.

Taking in a deep breath, I began.

It was a slow a memorable piece. To be more exact, it was the song I heard her sing the day I met her. Heh, I remember like it was yesterday. She was getting picked up by two perverted idiots. At first, I thought either she had no common sense or no respect for her own body. It turned out being the former.

We fought a lot, or maybe it was mainly me teasing her

I never knew how fun those days actually were. Before, I wouldn't come close to talking with anyone like that. I don't even play around with Sayaka or Domoto. I guess I'll never find out how she got so close to me, nor do I want to know why I allowed it. If I figured out a reason, I might get hurt again. I might get left alone again. I selfishly wanted her to stay, even though I continued to hurt and tease her. When she wanted to be with me, I treat her like dirt and I accuse her of pitying me. How cruel was I?

The flowers that bloom under the summer sky

My eyes widened and I nearly jumped out of the piano seat. Could it be?

Within my heart…

'TRIP'

"Wahhh!"

No comment


"Oh, so you're the lawyer!" The girl spoke and smiled brightly at me. It put all the flowers to shame. "It's nice to meet you!"

It was hard to take this in and not double over from the emotional kicks to the stomach. Here she was at an arms-distance away from me…and she didn't remember me? Well…it could have been someone different. Yeah, maybe some twin she never told me about!

…but there was no way. The way those eyes sparkled and her voice were far too alike even for a twin. It had to be…

"Pleased to…meet…you." I struggled with a small smile of my own as I recalled my conversation with Kohaku all those years ago.

"Even if our memories of previous lives are lost…"

"Fujimoto-san is the person I care about the most. I always have…and I always will. Forever…"

"The piano…" she started. She probably felt the awkward atmosphere I gave off and decided to start a conversation. "You're really good at playing the piano."

"Oh, I'm sorry for not asking first."

"That's funny… For some reason I feel like I know that melody." The girl went into thought and a ray of hope flowed through my mind.

'Hold on Kiyokazu…get yourself together! You don't want to freak her out by saying, "Oh, yeah. We met before except you were dead with a floating crown on your head!"' I thought. Actually, I just noticed now that her head lacked the hat she always wore.

I smiled fondly. "Really? It's a song an old love used to sing." I stared at her meaningfully, hoping she might catch the hint. "I've been looking for her for a long time."

"Oh?" she gave me a reassuring grin like she always used to. "I hope you find her."

My smile dropped a bit but at least her being here gave me some relief. Heh, it wouldn't be her if she understood right away. She always was a little slow when it came to that. I would never admit out loud that it was that charm of hers that made her so damn cute. "Yeah. Anyway, do you mind if I inspect the house?"

"Yes, please go right on ahead!"

It was a relatively easy job. Anyone could have done it, even a newbie. However, I almost always stumbled or messed up a letter when I felt her eyes on me.

Damn it, I was getting distracted.

Even when she wasn't looking at me, I was at her. She was exactly the same, which made me question a bit. If she was 'reborn', then she would be considerably younger than me. However, she looked almost the exact same age as when she left. Maybe a year or two older.

I'm tempted to ask Kohaku about that later…

"Alright. Everything checks out." I closed the book with a sigh and she grinned once more. "I just have to go back to the office and clear up the formalities."

"Sure! Thank you so much!"

My eyes wandered to the candy I left on the piano. I was tempted to give it to her, but I decided against it. Who knows? Maybe it wasn't to be… So this would probably be the only thing I'd be able to have of her to remember.

That didn't stop me from trying though.

"Hey…" I trailed off, not know what the hell I was doing.

She tilted her head curiously. "Yes?"

"Do you think I can see you tomorrow?"

Crap…I sound like a creeper...

I noticed her confused look as I quickly recovered. "E-Erm, I mean… I might have to check with the will again to make sure that the estate was the only thing… So, maybe we could talk about it more over some tea?"

"Sure! I would like that." She answered kindly. I had to smile. She was simply too innocent. If I were her, I would report me to the police…

"Alright… I'll come here tomorrow around noon and we'll discuss it some more." I nodded and grabbed my things.

She watched my back leave the estate while waving.

The stupid smile was still on her face.

Or maybe it was on mine?


WAH! Second chapter done! Hehe, yay, people like the story! I want to try and keep this short, b/c if I drag it on it will never be finished. O_O. Expect time skips and fluffy moments b/c I'm trying to tone down the angst in my other stories...even though there WILL be sad moments in this... I'm already working on the next chappy!