Few years ago.

In a high school, a certain blue haired boy leaned against the wall behind the entrance of the door of the roof where it was complete hidden. He stared out at the view of the city, a lit cigar at hand. There was only silence as he smoked quietly.

"That's my spot." He glanced over to the side where a girl, probably around his age, stood calmly. She had long dark hair that was tied into two pigtails and crimson red eyes that stared at him quietly. His gaze fell to her uniform and stopped at the dark red ribbon of her uniform.

In this school, you can easily identify the grade of the students by the simply looking at the color of their ties or ribbon. Freshmen usually had deep blue colored ties while the upperclassmen had red, so that would mean this girl was his senpai, although it didn't feel that way.

Kaito hastily took out the cigarette from his mouth and leaned away from the wall. "N-No, I'm not saying you should leave." The girl quickly added. "There's no need for that." He raised a brow while she simply smiled and walked towards him. "Its just that its a little unexpected."

She then grinned. "Kids don't really come all the way here. For three years I thought I was the only person who knew about this place. I didn't think that someone-" She paused and stared at his blue tie. "-A freshman at that, would be here."

Kaito stayed quiet as she turned to the view. The two stared into the distance in silence. "...This place has the best view in this school." He finally remarked while the girl silently pulled out a pack of cigars, popping on in her mouth. She momentarily, pulled the cigar out of her lips and smiled. "I like this view from this place too." She agreed. "So that's good to hear."

Shen then started giggling. "But its not all good. Is this the disappointed feeling when a starlet you had an eye on suddenly gets popular? Its not like I can stop everyone on the street and tell them or anything." She laughed while Kaito was silent. "I wouldn't tell anyone that I was the first person that knew that person would make it and that I knew earlier on that he would be popular! Anyways it means I have a good eye for these kind of things!"

The girl continued chattering away, not even minding at the fact he might not be listening since he was completely silent the whole time. In the middle of the (one sided) conversation, Kaito vaguely remembered her mentioning that her name was Zatsune Hatsune.

He snorted. It was a really odd name, especially since her name was a letter different from her surname. Zatsune commented that she was well aware how weird her name is and doesn't mind it much.

Zatsune chattered endlessly despite Kaito not giving much of a reaction. The cigarette in his mouth while staring laily int the distance. "Light me, will ya?" He glanced over to Zatsune as she held up her unlit cigar loosely between her fingers. Kaito blinked but then leaned forward to have the tip of his cigar to hers.

"By the way, is it really okay for a little brat like you to act like this already?" She asked. "Then again, no one could tell that you're a freshman other than the color of your tie."

"How about you, Hatsune?" Kaito questioned back and Zatsune scoffed. "Its okay for me." She shrugged. "Because I skipped a grade..."

-0-0-0-


Splash.

Kaito glanced into the mirror of his bathroom. His face dripped with the cool water after washing his face. He wasn't sure why he suddenly remembered his past when he was in high school and remembered how he met that woman.

Maybe it was because Miku was here that he suddenly thought about her.

He picked up a clean towel and gently wiped his face, draping the towel around his neck. He picked up his cigars and walked out of the bathroom. He strolled down the hall and then stopped in front of Miku's room. He slowly looked inside but saw no one in the room. He closed the door and walked down the stairs, wondered where Miku could be.

Until he noticed a tiny figure peeking outside the front door. He blinked and moved towards her. "What are you looking at all by yourself?" He questioned. Miku glanced up at him as he stood behind her. He heard the sound of loud familiar buzzing among the trees outside. "Cicadas? What about them?"

"How many cicadas in total do you think live in a tree?" Miku asked curiously.

"Hmm? Why do you ask?"

"Oji-san, about...cicadas." She mused. "I think there must be more than a hundred!" Kaito chuckled at the innocent expression Miku was making. "Cicadas are this loud even if there's only one." He explained. "Why? Are you scared?"

Miku nodded. "Yes, I want to go out into the garden but I'm afraid that if I come across a cicada, I'll get a static shock!" The corners of Kaito's lips twitched at the amusing misunderstanding but made no attempt to correct her. She's just a child after all. "Static shock?" He chuckled. "Do you want me to go with you?"

Miku nodded once again.

-0-0-0-

The two quietly strolled through the garden behind the house where plants and trees stood in the path. Miku held Kaito's hand as they walked through the gardens. She stared at the trees warily where the buzzing of the cicadas was coming from. Kaito laughed softly. "You also cried with the cicadas when you were a baby."

Miku blinked up at him. "When I was a baby? You saw me when I was a baby?" Kaito smiled and knelt down to her height. "I've known you since your hand barely wrap itself around my finger." He gently lifted her little hand. "You're still so little now but...when I went to get you, I almost didn't recognize you." His eyes softened as he sighed. "You've really grown so much..."

"You two look like father and daughter." The two looked up to see a familiar brunette walking towards them, a couple of bags in her hands. There was a small look of disapproval on her face. "If you like her so much then why don't you just adopt her?"

Kaito frowned a bit and stood up. "You came, Meiko?"

She snorted. "Yeah, I came from the department store." Meiko glanced at Miku as she bowed politely and greeted. "Good afternoon." Meiko scrunched her nose. "Uhuh...you're always the same." She grumbled before turning back to Kaito. "I thought you needed a few things so I bought some stuff." She lifted one of the bags up towards him. "Of course you'd take care of it yourself but I just get so mad thinking about it."

He raised a brow as he took the bag. "Huh? What did you buy?" Miku stared curiously, tilting her head. Meiko glared at her and pulled out something from another bag.

"Here." She groaned, holding the item towards the girl. It was a book. A book about a fairy tale classic. The little mermaid. "Go read this book or something where we can't see you. If the book can teach you something before you even start school then that's a plus."

Miku blinked before reluctantly reach out for the book and taking it. "Go already." Meiko grunted. Miku smiled nervously at her and bowed. "Thank you." She said and scampered away. Meiko scoffed. "Its only natural that she's cute since she's a child but I have mixed feelings about the whole thing." She sighed and walked over to the bench where Kaito sat.

Kaito raised a brow at the contents in the bag. "Did you lose weight?" He questioned as he stared at the clothing. "Its a bit too small for you to wear..."

Meiko glared and punched his arm. "You call that a joke?!' She growled. "That's a training bra!" She sighed.

"Why'd you buy her something she doesn't even need?" Kaito asked. "She's still a little girl." Meiko rolled her eyes. "She'll be needing it soon. Besides...girls should start wearing bras early so that they don't sag!" Kaito stayed silent as Meiko continued. "Kids grow so fast, there's going to be a lot more things you'll have to take care of because she's a girl...They're different from boys."

"Is that so?" Kaito muttered. "Caring for a little girl is strange in many ways." He stared into the forest, almost deep in thought. "She looks so delicate like glass but she's also a sweetheart...though I think its adorable that she takes people so defenselessly, its also worrying..."

-0-0-0-

Meanwhile, Miku sat on the porch in front of the house, quietly reading the book. Tears began to form in her eyes as she read the book. She closed the book and began crying.

It was such a sad story. She rubbed her eyes as the tears began to fall, only to be replaced with fresh ones. She sniffed and stood up then began walking back to the garden.

-0-0-0-

"I don't know whether its a trait I have to make sure she keeps or its one I have to help get rid of." Kaito sighed, almost sadly.

"...Kaito." He glanced back at Meiko as she place a hand onto his shoulder. "Don't show too much affection towards Miku...If you were her biological father then you'd be together with her until death, but that's not the case...when Miku becomes an adult, you'll be strangers."

Kaito smiled bitterly. "I know...its obvious." Meiko frowned. "When you like something, you become obsessed with it, and that's worrying. That's why even though you're clearly a friendly and kind person, you don't feel like you're there..." She gently placed a hand onto his cheek. "Even though you're right next to me...I feel like you're a million miles away."

She leaned in towards him. "You know the feeling when you wake up from a happy dream?" She softly muttered. "Miku is like a 'dream'...she's a short-lived thing." With that, she placed a gentle kiss onto his lips.

Tears continue to fall from Miku's eyes as she walked into the garden before she froze at the sight before her. She stared at the two adult as they kissed. At first, Miku didn't understand what they were doing and all of a sudden...the tears in her eyes seem to stream down her doll-like face even more.

She gripped the book against her as the sound of buzzing resounded around them.


"How's Miku?" Meiko asked as she opened the door of her car and slid in. "I think she's asleep." Kaito replied.

It was already late in middle of the night. Meiko decided it was already time for her to leave since she had nothing else to do there. Kaito wasn't really disappointed, it was actually quite understandable and besides they lived further away from the city so its no surprise if she wanted to leave early.

"Man, I've never seen a kid cry like that just from reading a picture book." Meiko commented. When she saw the tears coming from the little girl's eyes, she practically panicked, much to her embarrassment.

Kaito shrugged. "She's still a child." Meiko snorted. "Well, I wasn't like that!" Kaito chuckled. "Then next time, bring a lighter book." Meiko rolled her eyes. "Next time, It'll be 'The little match girl'." She said sarcastically and started her car. She paused for a moment before she glanced up at Kaito. "Hey Kaito."

He looked back at her. "What are you doing for this Tanabata*?" She asked while Kaito raised a brow. "I'm not sure yet." He replied. "Its quite some time till then...Why do you ask?"

Meiko looked away instantly and bucked her seat belt. "Oh, its nothing. Just..." She trailed off. "I'll going now."

Kaito stared at her for a minute. "What's wrong Meiko? Its not like you to trail off and avoid eye contact." He remarked while Meiko stayed quiet. "...Did your parents ask you to bring me along?"

Her eyes widened and she quickly turned towards him in surprise. "How did you know?" She questioned and Kaito scoffed. "Well, you're of marriageable age now." He sighed. "And now I have a child that I didn't have before. Do as you please, because whatever pleases you, pleases me."

Meiko smiled. "Its alright. Don't worry about it." She said. "I don't even know why they're pestering me about this. My family's elders are pretty conservative so as soon as we go and meet them, they'll instantly assume we're getting married." She sighed and shook her head. "Its alright, its way too soon for me anyway."

Kaito smiled a bit at that. "Anyways, don't worry about it. I'm going now! I'd like to stay ahead of the traffic." Meiko said and he nodded in response. "Alright, be careful on your way back."

She nodded back and began to drive away. Kaito stood there for a few minutes until the car disappeared from view before he turned around and walked back into the house. As he walked into the house, he heard something.

He stared up the stairs and realized it was the sound of coughing. It was muffled but it was loud enough for him to heard from downstairs. He climbed up the stairs, feeling concern as he walked down the hallway and stopped in front of Miku's room. "Miku, are you sick?" He quietly asked as he slowly opened the door. The door creaked as it opened.

He looked inside to see Miku sleeping on her bed, lightly coughing. His gaze turned towards the window that was wide opened, letting in the cold breeze and the curtains swayed along with the wind. Kaito sighed. He walked deeper into the room and towards the opened window. He reached out and was about to close when he heard Miku shift on her bed.

He paused and looked over to her. She coughed again in her sleep as she rolled over towards him. Kaito stared at the peaceful expression on her sweet face. His eyes softened as he sat onto the ledge of the window and just watched her for a while. The breeze gently caressed his skin as he sat near the open window.

She really did look like a doll in her sleep. She looked so fragile, so peaceful. He stood up and finally closed the window. He peeked at her one last time before walking towards the door. He stopped when he noticed the book Meiko gave her on her bedside and he smiled as he strolled out of the room.


"I saw my mom last night, in my dream." Miku said the next morning. "Yeah? What was she doing?" He asked as he fixed himself for work.

"She was wearing all white."

"Hmm."

"She was holding something in her hands...like a harp."

Kaito glanced over to her and raised a brow. "Huh?" He started "She became an angel in heaven." He then scoffed. "Even if she's your mother...isn't that a little too flattering?" Kaito thought back about Zatsune when he first met her, she was just too rebellious and wild to be seen as angel. Heck, he once thought she might be the devil's incarnate.

He mentally shook his head. "Anyways, I'm beginning to wonder why you're talking to me while standing there." He said. Miku stood on one of the steps of the stairs where she was now face to face with Kaito. Her innocent teal colored eyes stared at him almost intently as she leaned against the railings.

Kaito frowned a bit. "Is there something on my face? Did I miss a spot from shaving?"

Miku tilted her head and blinked. "Its just...I was wondering what Oji-san's face would look like from up here." He blinked as well. "So how is it?" He couldn't help but ask and for a moment, he almost regretted it.

Miku stood on her tip toes, using the railing as leverage and gently pecked on Kaito's lips.


A/N: Hey guys! Can you believe that Miku's first kiss happens to be with Kaito? Although it was more of an act of curiosity than actual romantic feelings.

I hope you liked this chapter. I had a lot of time right now since here its a weekend and well, school has been a total nightmare in my opinion...and its only the start of school! If the start was already horrible...How the hell am I going to survive the rest of the year?!

Errr...ehem, please ignore my ranting, school is technically not the most wonderful place on earth (and I know most of you understand the feeling!)

-0-0-0-

*Tanabata meaning "Evening of the seventh" also known as the Star Festival, is a Japanese festival originating from the Chinese Qixi Festival. It celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively).

According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the lunisolar calendar. The date of Tanabata varies by region of the country, but the first festivities begin on July 7 of the Gregorian calendar. The celebration is held at various days between July and August.

-0-0-0-

Anyways I'll be posting the next chapter probably in a few hours or maybe tomorrow! Who knws but it will be a very quick update so until then Later!

-Yugao702