Disclaimer: Characters & the original story belong to Studio Ghibli, I'm just letting my imagination mingle with theirs…

In a corner of the small suburban neighborhood, a house had been transformed into an odd little shop, titled as 'The World Emporium'. It kept irregular hours, and was tiny at first glance, but those well acquainted with it knew that it hid a small studio below, where violin making classes were held. At the moment, the small sign in the front door's window displayed its 'Closed' side, and the lace curtain was drawn. No one could guess that it was busy as a hive inside.

"Come to the shop?" Shizuku had just finished her classroom duties and was preparinng to leave with Yuuko, when they were met by Seiji. He nodded in reply. "Grandpa's got some new stock in recently, said there was something he wanted to show you as soon as possible." Shizuku was hesitant and suspicious - today was her birthday, and she had a strong feeling that Seiji was up to something."I dunno," she wavered. "I really need to catch up on my studying if my grades are gonna improve for the entrance exams..." "Besides," Yuuko butted in, "I was planning to treat her today at a café on the edge of the district." Shizuku turned a look of surprise on her friend. "Yuuko!" Seiji headed the conversation off at the pass by saying, "If Yuuko would like to come, she's more than welcome. You know Grandpa likes visitors." Shizuku's suspicions rose. "Seiji," she said with a querulous tone, letting him know she was on to him. But Seiji plowed right on through. "Come on, Shizuku, it's a Friday, so you can stay up a little later to study." Yuuko nodded. "This is the shop you told me about before, right? I'd love to see it." Both of them watched Shizuku expectantly, and there was a long moment of hesitance before Shizuku sighed and relented. "Fine," she agreed, "I could use a study break."

And so the trio set out. Yuuko stopped only once to speak with Sugimura, and they even invited him along, to Shizuku's trepidation. Thankfully (in her mind), he declined, with his eyes seemingly avoiding Shizuku. As the three walked, they discussed their upcoming school festival and what projects their separate classes had planned. Yuuko was working with the Choral Club, as usual, deciding on a few song skits to perform. Shizuku, despite studying her heart out to raise her GPA, still made a point to involve herself with the festival - it was she who had suggested a fairy-tale themed kissaten, dressing up as characters from both Japanese classics and internationally known favorites like Red Riding Hood or The Gingerbread Man. A few had thought it was silly, but in the end, that had been part of the appeal - something that was family friendly and amusing. Seiji would be helping at a takoyaki stand with his class - "I can't stand octopus, so I won't have my fingers in the product," he admitted as the reason of why he had been chosen to help with the stand. Shizuku put that fact in the back of her mind: no octopus for Seiji. In time, their banter even turned to Shizuku's 'Concrete Road' translation - Yuuko of course praised her cleverness as before, and Shizuku turned bright red as Seiji got the words wrong again, and finally taunted her companions in return by nearly turning back to head for home.

At last they reached the small neighborhood where the World Emporium was located, and Yuuko looked about in curiosity. "I never would have guessed this was back here," she admitted, and Shizuku smiled - she had felt the same way when she had first followed Moon to this place. Seiji stepped a little ahead of the girls, intending to open the door for them, but found it locked. His look of surprise threw Shizuku off - was he planning something or wasn't he?! After trying the knob again a few more times, the boy shook his head in confusion. "Wait here," he said. "Grandpa said he'd have the shop open, but he might be in the studio." With that, he went behind the small fence that led to the back stairs. "Studio?" Yuuko asked in confusion. Shizuku nodded. "There's a small studio downstairs from the shop. They have violin-making classes in there." "Does Seiji teach?" her friend pressed. "I don't think so," she answered. "I mean, he's still learning too, after all." A moment later, they heard the lock shift, and the door opened to reveal Seiji. "There we go. He'd forgotten he'd locked it for a bit," he said, grinning impishly. "Come on in."

Both girls stepped inside, and Shizuku instantly noticed the few smiling familiar faces. The next thing she noticed were the sparse but obvious decorations. She didn't have time to notice anything else, because she jumped in surprise at the sudden loud crack of confetti poppers. "OTANJOUBI OMEDETOU!" the friendly faces announced, leaving Shizuku to stand dumbfounded as she tried to process what was happening. Yuuko was a bit flabbergasted as well, and quickly began to apologize. "I-I didn't realize there was going to be a party, I didn't mean to intrude...!" But Seiji stopped her with a chuckle. "It's fine. I told you, Grandpa likes visitors. Besides, I thought Shizuku would prefer it if you were here with us." The three old men - Nishi, Minami, and Kita - were awaiting a response from Shizuku, other than her startled stiff silence. "Shizuku?" Seiji asked out of concern. A moment after he spoke her name she came back to life, embarrassed. "You... You didn't have to do this for me...!" she stuttered, slowly turning beet red. Of course Seiji must have said something to his grandfather, the old man couldn't have known otherwise, she reasoned. Mr. Nishi only chuckled in response. "It's alright, Shizuku, please don't be embarrassed. I wanted to try and give back to you," he explained. "Give back...? But I haven't given you anything, Mr. Nishi," she replied in quiet confusion. "Of course you did," he said, and he put a hand to her shoulder to guide her to the side of the house where the shop was kept. He only looked back a moment to ask his companions to begin bringing out the tea and snacks.

"You may not think much of it," he explained as they walked, "but I meant what I said about your story. You wrote in such a way that it reawakened many old and fond memories for myself and the Baron." "But.. didn't you already give me the geode?" Shizuku wavered, still rather embarrassed. "Well," Mr. Nishi replied, taking off his usual cap to rub at his head, "that was less of a 'thank you' and more of a 'well done'. Your story was rough yet well meaning when I read it, but I was hungry for every page in a way that I haven't been in a long time." He pulled a flat box from a nearby shelf. It was rectangular and white, and tied with a bit of twine - it was meant to hold clothing as a gift until it was unwrapped. "The geode was to congratulate your work. -This-, and your party, is to thank you for satisfying the hunger that I thought had long disappeared." And with that, Shizuku found herself with the box in her hands. She was hesitant to open it, but when she looked back at Mr. Nishi, he only nodded in encouragement. Thus the box was set down, and her fingers fumbled over the twine until it came loose. It took only a moment more to lift the cover from the box and reveal an exquisite surprise.

A small round wooden frame, dark and polished, both trapped and displayed a carved picture, a scene which was all too familiar to Shizuku: a beautiful fairy on the right, looking sweetly downwards as her essence dwindled into the curls of sheep's wool, and her lover, Prince of the Dwarf Kingdom, gazing upwards into her eyes with a clear expression of wishing and waiting. Time showed its effects on certain pieces of the picture - a crack where it had been dropped, a slight edge missing on the center of a curl or a tip of a nose - but it had been well restored, and these evidences lent a tone of reality to the scene, as if one could truly reach out and touch the actual beings in the story.

Shizuku's eyes were almost as wide as her mouth, both open in surprise. It took her several heartbeats to take in the sight of her present. "Oh my gosh... Mr. Nishi, did you make this?" she asked urgently, turning back to the old man. He chuckled in response. "Heavens no. My old fingers were never that nimble. No, this was something I found quite by accident." Her gaze turned slowly back to the scenic piece. The faces and art style were different, but the story was still the same, and it captured her heart just as the old grandfather clock had done. "I know it's not a lot to say 'thank you' with, but I hope you like it all the same," Mr. Nishi finished. In response, Shizuku turned and fairly pounced the old man with a hug, a rare display of affection and gratitude. "It's more than enough," she squeaked softly.

A tea party followed, with simple sandwiches and some buttery shortbread cookies on which Shizuku nearly pigged out. Yuuko was properly introduced, and shown around the shop briefly by Mr. Nishi. She could only marvel at the some of the pieces within, but the Baron didn't hold the same charm for her as it did for Shizuku. After some coaxing, Mr. Nishi and his companions were obliged to bring out their instruments and play a few sprightly traditional tunes. Even the local Bon Odori music was played after a few stories had been swapped, and the three youngsters danced the traditional steps as the elders worked at their instruments, with everyone laughing and singing. It reminded Shizuku of the summer that had passed, and she fell quiet for a little while, musing on that short time before she had met Mr. Nishi and the Baron, and Seiji. He had watched her even then, she realized, and Shizuku wondered how often their paths had truly crossed before she'd finally noticed him. Before she could feel guilty for it, however, she was drawn out of her thoughts and back into the conversation at hand, and her thoughts settled into the back of her mind for the moment.

In time, the small party ended and the cleanup began. Mr. Nishi insisted that Shizuku didn't need to help since it had been her party, and Seiji escorted the girls on their walks home. This time, their chat was filled with an easy companionship, rather than a strained and courteous one. They talked in remembrance of the party, and Shizuku told Yuuko the story portrayed in her new possession, which Yuuko immediately assumed Shizuku had written. Eventually Yuuko parted with the group, walking toward her own home and leaving the two sweethearts alone. As always, Shizuku loved the chance to spend one-on-one time with Seiji, even though she did chastise him a little. "You didn't have to tell your grandpa about my birthday," she said with a light teasing glare. Seiji only chuckled and scratched his head. "He was looking for an opportunity to give you that carving," he replied, "so I gave him one. He was almost giddy at being able to plan the party, you know." Shizuku giggled at the thought of Mr. Nishi being giddy, and she held the white box containing her gift close to her chest. When they arrived at her apartment building, they lightly grasped hands as they had before Seiji had left for his trial in Italy. Seeing the light on in her family's apartment gave Shizuku an idea, and a small dose of courage. "Say," she began, "do you think that you'd... like to meet my family? Not tonight of course," she said hastily as Seiji turned a light red in surprise. "Just before... before you start on your studies in Italy?" She was still a bit nervous to say 'before you leave for Italy', wanting to keep away thoughts of the separation for as long as she could. It took Seiji a moment more to process it, and Shizuku was almost sorry she'd mentioned it. Before she could apologize, though, Seiji finally answered, "I think it's a good idea." The strange reply confused Shizuku at first, and Seiji continued, "It would give me a chance to let them know about my intentions." The reminder of their promise made them both blush, but their hands gripped more tightly, reassuring one another.

In her room, Shizuku opened up the white box again, and admired the carving. The dark wood shined in the fluorescent light of her desk lamp, again making the characters come to life. After a few moments, Shizuku looked around the room. Where to display it? It was meant to be displayed as a wall hanging, but there was little space available that wasn't either already taken up or part of a door or window. She would have to take something else down. A few moments of deliberation passed, and then Shizuku went to the bookshelf near her desk. Beside of it, a hanging witch doll rode her broom. Shizuku took it down and hung up the carving, admiring the fairy and the dwarf once more as it swiveled from side to side, trying to settle in its new spot. Then her eyes turned back to the witch clutched in her hands. She remembered receiving this as a gift as well, and talking to it when she was smaller, discerning its past. Memories of these made-up stories of childhood presented themselves again, interconnecting like nostalgic puzzle pieces. She remembered holding the doll to a window whenever a delivery truck would pass. The symbol of the black cat emblazoned on the side of the truck became a companion perched on the witch's broom handle for a few short moments. And she remembered asking the witch, 'Did you ever deliver anything like the black cat does?'

A slow smile spread across her face as she remembered. And as her eyes looked down at her manuscript for the briefest of moments, the smile grew. Her mind was beginning to race; details were popping into her head with increasingly manic speed. She propped the doll on top of the books on her desk, picked up her pencil, and began writing.

**Author'sNotes**

On characters:
Kita - lute playing gentleman with glasses
Minami - taller moustached gentleman

On Mr. Nishi's shop - The original Japanese name of Mr. Nishi's shop is 地球家 (pronounced 'Atelier Chikyuu-ya', and translated literally as "Earth Shop Studio"). The name given is the DVD's translation of the name.

On birthdays in Japan - unlike in the US, there's not much pomp and circumstance with the celebration, except for very young children of certain ages and for the coming-of-age at 20. Even then, these celebrations have special holidays dedicated to their celebration. Mr. Nishi's surprise party for Shizuku, however small it turned out, was still a big deal, very rare and very special - I think it gave a good show of the special connection between all the characters.

On the delivery trucks of Japan - The delivery service known as "Takkyubin" is a part of Yamato Transport Co., Ltd, and its delivery trucks sport a black cat carrying its kitten. This is meant to symbolize that the service takes care of its customers' orders as if they were family. Sightings in Japan are very common.

On vocabulary (in order of appearance):
Kissaten - the Japanese cafe, traditionally with a maid theme.
Takoyaki - fried balls of octopus meat, a common festival snack.
Otanjoubi Omedetou - the traditional well wishing for a 'Happy Birthday'.
Bon Odori - A traditional dance performed during the Obon festival, which is celebrated in memory of family ancestors and their works and sacrifices. The dance and music varies from place to place.

To my watchers and fans:
Thank you so much for your support. It's hard for me to focus on writing the chapters for this story, but I know it must be even harder for you to wait for each new chapter. I want to do the best that I can for you, and it's heartening to read the comments you leave, critical and encouraging alike. I hope that each facet of the story will shine for you as I slowly craft and polish my work. ~Charis~