A/C: I forgot to mention in the first chapter that I'm more likely following the anime adaptation of Full Moon wo Sagashite, since I don't really want to read the manga right now. x3;; Anyway, hope you like this chapter just as much 83

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Once again, I'm only left with shreds of my mother. Wakaouji wouldn't tell me more. Actually, no, it was more like he couldn't tell me anything. Something's odd with that old man; my father, too. It's so frustrating; I want to know what my mother was like. Aren't I entitled to that knowledge since I'm her daughter? What are they hiding from me that could possibly be dang-

"Hold me tight,
Konna omoi nara
Dareka wo suki ni naru kimochii
Shiritaku nakatta yo
I love you
Namida tomaranai
Kottonanjya kimi no kotto
Komiageru fuyuzorani
Sakebitai imazugu
Kimi ni aitai yo."

Maki's writing cut off as the song drifted around her, the voice sad. Who else knows this song? Maki sat up, looking around. Far down the river bend sat a boy, probably a year older than her. He didn't have anything with him, excluding a notebook and a pen, and he repeating the lyrics several times.

Although he was a ways away from her, she could practically hear everything he said, the wind carrying his voice down to her. "Kimi wo suki ni natte..? No, that's not right. How did it go?"

Her heart skipped a beat as she heard her voice sing out, slightly loud. "Kimi wo suki ni natte, dorekurai tatsu no kanna? Kimochi fukurande yuku bakari de?"

It apparently was loud enough for him to hear. His head shot up and turned her direction. Maki felt her face heat up quickly, and ducked her head, pretending to write. Her hands grew sweaty as she heard his footsteps approach her. "That's right," He said.

She begged silently that he wasn't talking to her. Fat chance, she grimaced as he sat down next to her. "How do you know that song?" He asked.

Continuing to look down at her notebook, she felt she had no choice, really, than to respond to him. She didn't want to be rude. "My father used to sing it to me to help me fall asleep," Maki murmured, closing her journal.

"How does he-"

Maki shrugged quickly. "I don't know. He never tells me." She turned her face to the side, looking at him blankly. "Who are you?"

"Kouga. Kouga Yamano." He grinned, holding his hand out to her. She peered at it curiously before he shrugged and dropped it. "Who are you?" He asked back.

Maki winced. She wasn't one for introductions; actually, she wasn't one for people. Internally giving a heavy sigh, she told him her name. "Maki Kira."

"Maki, huh?" He looked out toward the river and smiled. She lifted an eyebrow.

"So what school do you go to?" Maki heard herself ask. She didn't know what it was, but this strange boy intrigued her.

"Eh? Oh, I just moved here from the city. I'm-"

She interrupted, hitting her fist in her hand lightly. "That explains your accent!" She said, quite happily to put it simply, as if she discovered something actually worth while.

The boy named Kouga let out a laugh. "Yep. I'm more in the northern part, or rather, I was. So I have a deeper accent than the southern city folk."

"'Folk'? How old are we?" Maki giggled.

He shrugged, leaning back on the grass, hands behind his head. "Don't judge," He said playfully.

She glanced at him before turning her gaze skyward. She breathed in deep, letting out a sigh. Maki often confused herself by the way she acted. This was one of those times. What was it about Kouga Yamano that made her want to talk, shout, sing? She swallowed subconsciously, a pang in her throat. She coughed lightly, wincing just a bit. She hated herself; no, that wasn't right. She hated what was happening to her. How did she develop a tumor? Was it hereditary? She knew her father had had one when he was in Route: L, and now she learned that her mother possibly had one.

Am I blaming my dad for my sickness? A thought that stuck to the back of her mind, always. Although she didn't want to believe it, it really was the only logical explanation she had for her sickness. Maki bit her lip, slowly slinking back into reality as she realized Kouga was rambling on.

".. that song that I was trying to figure out earlier. I can't remember what it's called."

"Eternal Snow." Maki replied instantly, startling herself that the title came so easily.

"I'm still curious as to how you knew the song. I mean, sure, it still comes on the radio every so often, but it's practically dead. Do you know who the singer was?"

"Dead?" Maki repeated, a horrific thought coming to her head. "No, no I don't."

A smile appeared on Kouga's lips. "Full Moon."

That name struck a chord in Maki's internal self. She didn't know why, but that name seemed oddly familiar. "And now, Full Moon singing her number one debut, 'Myself'!"

Maki gasped, blinking her eyes. What was that just now? A flash back of some sort? "Who's 'Full Moon'?" She asked quietly.

Kouga leaned up on his elbow, "You don't know? Well, I can't blame you; she died fifteen years ago in a stage accident during a concert. My parents were huge fans; they have every song of hers, followed her from her debut. They were even at the concert when the accident happened. They said- Uh, Maki?"

Tears streamed down Maki's face; cold, sad tears that left a trail that made her skin sting slightly. She choked lightly on a cough and gave a small laugh. "S-sorry, I don't know what happened. It's just.. when you mentioned the accident, an overwhelming sad feeling hit me." She wiped her face, giving another small laugh.

Kouga sat up and put his hand on her back lightly in a comforting gesture. It made Maki jump in surprise, but she leaned into him anyway, finishing her cry silently. "What was Full Moon like?"

His arm around her still, he started talking in a quieter tone. "My parents told me she was one person who could make everything right in another's life. From the way she sang to the way she talked to people. They said she was a truly pure girl. She debuted at sixteen years old. Later when she sang Eternal Snow, it was revealed that her producer was Keiichi Wakaouji, the keyboardist for Route: L."

Maki sat up straight. "Route: L? How old is that band?" She demanded.

Kouga's eyes were wide with surprise. "Uh, I don't know. But I'm pretty sure there was a rumor that the lead guitarist of Route: L was also her father."

"My father was the lead singer for Route: L," Maki whispered, pulling her knees to her chest and hugging them.

"The lead singer?" Kouga's voice had an incredulous tone. "No way," His whisper of awe rang loudly through her head. Was her father's band really that important?

She sat up again. Kouga just said that Wakaouji was also in the band, right? Was that the connection between them? Is this the chance she was looking for to find out more about her mother? "I'm sorry, Kouga, but I have to go now. I have stuff to do."

He smiled up at her as she stood. "Okay. I'll see you around, Maki."

She smiled back at him, picking up her bag. "'Bye!" She called over her shoulder, walking up the riverbank.

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A/C: Eeep :3 Kouga introduction. He's a major character, so remember him. I guess I kind of left a cliff hanger? x3; Please, positive reviews 8D I'm trying to write this as fast as I can x3; Well, not that I want to get it done, but I want to get so far into it that I don't want to quit. c: blabla sorry for my rambling. Enjoy! ~Cindy