Wildest Dreams

Well that turned out to be a dead-end.

Kazuki sighed and hefted his luggage higher on his shoulder. He had been wandering the streets for a couple of hours after his failure at that one music store. After that he didn't really know what to do or where to go. It had been his own decision to run off after graduation and now that he was his own person, he had to look after himself. No more mom and dad to fall back on in this life choice. No one to really help him but himself. And now he was at a loss, what would he do next?

He sat down on a bench at the park he had happened to wander into without realizing. It was starting to ease into evening and the sky was gleaming with reds, yellows, pinks, blues, and purples. It was beautiful. Suddenly, Kazuki felt the need to take out his trumpet and just play. It was a need, a compulsion, and desire that he was more than happy to follow.

He put his bags on the bench and laid his trumpet case down as well. He flipped open the latches and carefully lifted the upper half of the case. Shining silver metal winked up from a smooth velvet bed. A good, honest grin broke out on Kazuki's face for the first time today. He picked up the silver instrument and lifted it up so that it caught the light just right. It was moments like this, right before he played when he just felt that peace and serenity wash over him. The moment when nothing else mattered but him, the trumpet, and the music.

Lifting the mouthpiece to his lips, he breathed in a strong, lungful of air and began playing A Trumpeter's Lullaby. The happy, uplifting tune danced through the air and melded with the relaxed mode of a lazy evening. The people in the park that had been lingering for no reason or were perhaps making their way through were intrigued by the happy, clear tone of the trumpet breaking the routine of the day.

Like moths to a flame, they followed that melody that pierced their hearts with its upbeat phrases. Soon, there was a small crowd around Kazuki. They stood there, quietly listening to him and his music, but he didn't even notice them. His eyes were closed, and though he was playing, his mind was on other things. For every note that drifted out of his bell, a sentiment followed it.

If she's out there, maybe she'll hear me. Maybe she'll hear me and follow the music. Even if just one note of what I play can lead her to me or me to her, I would play everyday until I find her.

So that's what he did. He played his heart out. From one song to another. He didn't open his eyes even once. He never noticed as the people came and others filled their place to watch him fill their hearts with a piece of his. Finally, the last thrilling notes of Jupiter rang through the air and the park went back to being quiet and quaint.

Suddenly an uproarious round of applause came from around Kazuki and he finally opened his eyes to see all the people around him. He was shocked. When had they gotten there? How long had they been there? How long had he been playing? Judging at the color of the sky, he was playing for over an hour already.

Sugoi, it didn't feel like that long.

But it had been. He had played maybe 4-5 pieces that he had memorized, and in between he had been playing around with scales, arpeggios, and other technicalities. To think that he had zoned out for so long. Now, even though he had stopped playing, people were still gathered around him, talking excitedly about themselves. A few even dropped some bills into his case. Of course he tried to tell them that he wasn't performing for pay, but they insisted in exchange for the live music.

Some of the things they said made him blush. Though he was used to performing and having people compliment him on his playing, sometimes it was still a novel feeling to have strangers be so affected by his playing that they would come up to him and pat him on the back, figuratively.

A few of the more courageous listeners came up to Kazuki to ask him questions and chat. Most of them were women, but that fact went right over Kazuki's head. Even though he was a pretty good-looking guy, he still didn't notice that women saw him that way. He had eyes only for Kahoko. So in the end, the women went away disappointed when he good-naturedly turned down all their invites to go out.

As he was emptying his spit valve and packing away his trumpet, an elderly man walked by with his equally elderly wife. They had been listening to Kazuki and they were still talking about his impromptu performance. Unintentionally, he caught some of their conversation as they walked by.

"That boy played beautifully, don't you think, dear?" The elderly lady smiled pleasantly as she strolled along.

Her husband made a grunt in agreement. "It's nice to hear live music nowadays, not any of that new age pop crap."

The lady swatted her husband lightly. "It is nice that there's been more people performing here. And their all such talented kids too."

"Hmph." The old man just grunted, again. "These kids seem like they have nothing to do these days but hang around at the park."

"Dear, don't be so grumpy. It's nice that these children are willing to give up their free time to play for the public like this. And that one girl, she was so kind, she looked up a song that we had asked about. Such a nice young lady. I haven't heard a violin like hers in a long time."

Kazuki froze. Did he just hear what he thought he heard?

He snapped the last latch on his case and hurried to catch up with the elderly couple. Of course, they weren't exactly in a hurry anywhere but Kazuki didn't want to miss another possible chance at a lead. Grabbing all of his belongings, he raced after them.

"Excuse me, obaa-san, ouji-san, can you tell me about that girl that plays her violin in the park?" Kazuki asked.

"Were you eavesdropping on our conversation you little punk?" the old man grumped and glowered.

Maybe coming up to him hadn't been the best idea.

"Gomen, I truly am sorry but I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but can you please tell me about her. It's very important that I find her." he dropped into a bow.

The irritated man's wife saw Kazuki's sincerity and berated her husband for being so snappy. "It's alright young man, no need to bow. Get up."

Kazuki looked up to see the older lady smiling congenially at him. He was relived, maybe they would help him after all.

"I really do apologize for listening in on your conversation, obaa-san, ouji-san, but I am looking for someone very important to me and the girl you were speaking of might be her. Can you please tell me what you know about her?" He spoke as politely and formally as possible to avoid further offending the old man. He didn't seem like it took all that much to set him of anyways.

"Oh, such a polite boy. No need to speak so formally though, just call me Obaa-chan." She smiled gently. She really reminded him of his own grandmother and he felt more comfortable talking to her already.

"Thank you, Obaa-chan. Would you like to sit down? I have a lot of questions to ask you so I don't want you to have to stand the whole time." He directed her over to a nearby bench long the walkway. Behind him he heard a harrumph. The old man just shook his head and walked away.

Did I somehow offend him again?

"Oh dear, don't mind him. He's not as much of a grump as he seems to be." That was a bit hard to believe. "He's just going to walk around the park and come back when we're done, don't worry about him." Obaa-chan sat down and patted a spot next to her. Kazuki sat down and set his things at his feet. He decided not to think too much about her surly husband anymore, there was a bigger topic occupying his mind. "So can I perhaps hear your story? This girl that you're trying to find, you must love her very much to have come all the way up here."

Kazuki was surprised. "How did you know I wasn't from here?"

She smiled and a twinkle came into her eyes. "Your dialect sounds like you come from the more southern part of Japan."

"Ahh, I guess that sort of gives me away, doesn't it." They shared a laugh and the air became more comfortable.

"You've come a long way. Is this girl that important to you?"

She's that and so much more.

"She's a very good friend of mine." Was all he said. But the faraway, gentle look his his eyes said something else. This didn't escape Obaa-chan's notice.

"If she's a very good friend, then what happened for you to be searching for her so desperately?"

"I...don't really know what happened." he sighed at the surfacing memory. "One day she was there and all of a sudden she wasn't." It still stung how she didn't even bother to tell him anything.

Baa-chan saw how much this bothered him and patted his arm reassuringly. "I'm sure she has her reasons."

"Even if she does, couldn't she have told me before she left?" She didn't have anything to say to that because she could feel that question was directed at someone who couldn't hear it. All of a sudden Kazuki laughed and ran his fingers through his hair. A nervous gesture. "I'm sorry for burdening you with my worries." He looked away surreptitiously. Wiped something away from his eyes quickly before looking back at his companion.

"Would you like me to tell you about the girl with the violin now?" Kazuki simply nodded. His throat felt like no words would come out even if he had wanted to speak. "She usually comes once a week, sometimes even twice. I believe she goes to the school a few blocks away from here. Her uniform looked familiar."

School huh? Maybe I might be able to find a clue there.

"Uhm," he had to clear his throat before he continued. "Do you know the name of the school?"

She deliberated for a second. "I'm sorry. I can't say I do. It's not that far from here though, you should be able to find it."

"I'm glad I bought a map from the train station." he vaguely remembered stuffing it in the outer pocket of his bag. "Is there anything else you can tell me about her?"

"Hmm," she contemplated for a few seconds. "I remember something when we saw her practicing alone once. My husband and I were taking our daily walk and we heard her in between the groves of trees. She usually plays such happy, bright songs for the children but then...she sounded so sad. The song she played was very nice, but I could hear her loneliness. I wanted to go up to her but my husband pulled me away. Despite being so surly, he is quite sensitive to a person's feelings. She probably needed the time to sort out her thoughts."

Kazuki didn't know what to say to that. Lonely? She felt lonely? Because she left? Because she missed everyone back home? Would it be too much to think that maybe...she missed him?

"Is there anything else?"

"There is. Before we left, I think I heard her say a name." A name? "Before I tell you, I was just wondering if maybe I could get your name, young man?"

"Oh! My name is Hihara Kazuki. That was rude of me. I should have introduced myself earlier." He held out his hand and Obaa-chan took his hand in both of her wrinkled and weathered hands.

"I thought as much." she smiled knowingly up at him. "Kazuki-kun, the name she said was yours. It seems like the girl that you're looking for still holds you in a special place in her heart."

Again, Kazuki was stunned speechless. He slapped his hand over his mouth to stop the shout of joy that wanted to burst out of his chest. So she's really here. She could be just a few blocks away. He was literally right on her trail. She used to seem so far away from him but now she was within reach!

"Obaa-chan, domo arigato gozaimashita." he took her hands in gratitude, showing off his biggest, brightest smile. "You've helped me so much. I couldn't thank you enough."

She chuckled at his exuberance. "I'm glad I could help, Kazuki-kun." She patted his cheek lightly then made to stand up. Out the corner of his eye, Kazuki saw that her surly spouse had made his round back and was waiting for them a good distance away.

Kazuki got up himself and assisted Obaa-chan and led her to her husband. "Thank you, ouji-san."

The old man looked at him for a time then nodded. No words, not even a grunt, simply a nod. The old couple bid their farewell and strolled on down the path. Once he saw that they had made their way to the entrance of the park and had rounded the corner, he then went back to grab his things. Looking to the sky, he realized that he had been talking with Obaa-chan for longer than he thought. It must have been 7 or 8 PM already. He proceeded out of the park himself and headed toward the business district.

Now that his head was less cluttered with worry and despair, he was thinking a little more clearly. His plan was to find a hostel that allowed for long-term renting so that he could have a place to sleep for the next month. A month. That was how long he gave himself to find Kahoko. In an ideal world, he would just take off school for as long as he wanted and looked for her if it took him 'til the end of his days, but reality isn't as romantic as that. Realistically, if Kazuki didn't find her within the month...he would have to force himself to give up. He still had university to worry about. Even if he had passed the entrance exam and was accepted, he couldn't just ask them to WAIT for him. He couldn't afford to lose his scholarship, even if it meant losing Kahoko.

So within the month, he would have to find her.

The odds weren't exactly in his favor. How was he to find one person out of the one million and something that lived in Akita? He had no idea. But he could only try his best. May luck be on his side.


Ahhh, two chapters in less than a week. I'm so proud x3 I hope you guys enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I've recently gotten a complaint that the story was going on for longer than expected (and it most definitely has) but for all of you who are still following, I'm trying to write the best fanfiction for Kazuki that I can so bear with me! It's almost there. He's almost got her! xD hahaa kinda. Anyway, thank you for reading. Please review! I love to hear back from you about what you think. No review is a bad one and I'll try not to take anything to heart ;)