Yes! Another update! No! One more chapter closer to it being done :( All good stories have to end eventually, right? (Me being a little cocky) :P Some of you might hate me, and I understand. But I have to say, you will be in for a surprise ending that leads into the next chapter ;) Not saying anything! Just gunna let you read!

Chapter 26: Goodbyes

"Well Jiji, are you ready?" After the talk I had with Nori the night before, things became more logical to me. Tombo and I were not meant to be. It was a silly vow we made when we were kids – who was I to believe Soul mates existed? Love is not something young people understand fully. It is something people learn with experience. My experiences with Tombo taught me so much about finding the right person.

I dressed myself early that morning. I wanted to leave hastily without any tears. I only told Ursula, Nori, and Osono that I was leaving. Tombo would have to figure it out on his own. I did not want to face him and have him pull me back in. He could not kiss me and turn things back around – not anymore at least. Part of me wanted him to chase after me again, like last time. I was hoping he would sweep me off my feet and tell me he loved me. I wanted to feel his soft lips against mine once more. I could not afford to think like that anymore.

"Yeah. We are saying goodbye though, right?" He asked me. I nodded. I could not leave without proper farewells. I first wanted to visit Jack Sauer. After I visited him that Christmas Eve, he has changed in a great way. He now talks to his daughter and I sense their relationship growing stronger with each passing day. Though he will never forget the death of his wife, I know he will appreciate the joys of Christmas and family values even more.

"First stop – Jack Sauer." We flew peacefully along to Chiller Street. I was in no rush for goodbyes. It was hard enough making the decision – now, I have to face it.

"Are you sure about all of this, Kiki?" He asked me. She looked up at him and gave a perplexed look.

"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" I told him. He sighed in response and sat between my arms. I sighed as well, knowing what he meant: was I ready to leave Tombo. That…I was not quite certain of yet. I may have been the only one to bring his memories back. Now, he would have to face that challenge without me.

"We're here, Jiji." I lowered my broomstick and we landed. Jiji jumped onto my shoulder and prepared for the dogs. I chuckled at his lack of bravery. I walked up to the front door and rang the doorbell. As if on queue, the dogs began barking and crowding the door. I heard Jack Sauer's voice trying to overpower the dogs' barks. Seconds later, he exited and shut the door before they could escape.

"Sorry about that. I still have to train them to behave." He looked at me and smiled. "Kiki! Oh, what a pleasant surprise! I would let you in, but…"

"The dogs. I understand. I won't be long. I just wanted to tell you something." He looked at me. He knew this was serious business.

"Oh, um, okay. What is it?" I have said it to so many people. It just became natural to admit I was not coming back.

"I'm leaving Koriko. For good." This took him by surprise. We stood there for what seemed like ages. If I had not come back this time, he would still be the grumpy old man I knew before. Now, he has changed. And for the better, I might add.

"Oh, I see. Is there any particular reason?" He was one of the few people I knew who was ignorant to my feelings towards Tombo.

"Let's just say, I came back for someone who didn't turn out to be the person I expected." He nodded in response. Love was the one thing anyone could relate to. He lost the love of his life, and so did I. However, he had a longer, fuller relationship with his life.

"Well, I wish you the best of luck wherever it is you end up, and I would like to thank you for telling me of your departure. It means a lot. You changed my life coming to Koriko. You made me happy again, and I have a strong relationship with my daughter and her children again." I smiled and nodded. Deep down inside of Jack Sauer, he had a kind heart. I just helped him release it.

Jiji and I departed from Jack's house and flew above the clouds. The clocktower was only inches from us. It was the most beautiful building I had ever seen. They rebuilt the top part exactly how it was before. She had some good memories around this place. Memories she and one other only knew…

"Come on, slowpoke!"

"Ok! Gosh, for a girl who flies all the time, you sure do run fast."

"And for a boy who flies by riding a bike, you sure run slowly! Now hurry up! We're going to miss it!"

"I'm coming…What did you want me to see?"

"Sit down right here."

"Okay? Now what?"

"Look at the sky."

"I see clouds."

"Open your mind, Tombo! What do the clouds make?"

"I think…it's…an airplane?"

"Yep!"

"That's awesome! It looks just like mine almost!"

"I told you it was amazing."

"You sure know everything."

"And don't you forget it!"

I smiled as the past took a trip through my mind. I circled the tower and sighed. Time had changed me. Life had changed me. And him as well. We were not the same people we were as teenagers.

"Are you sure you don't want to say goodbye to him?" Jiji asked me. I looked back at the apartments where he lived. Five minutes would change everything for him. It would give him a chance to keep me back. I could not risk that. I did not need that from him, not now anyway. Back then, it was fine because I knew I would return. Now, I was not sure if I would. I shrugged my shoulders and flew towards the forest to Ursula's cabin. She wanted a proper farewell.

"Are you sure about this, Kiki?"

"Yes, Jiji. I am." I said coldly. He huddled back and curled into a ball. I stroked his head and gave me an apologetic smile. He was only trying to help. "Let's get to Ursula's."

It was not long before the cabin was in full view. The birds were all perched on her roof staring at the ground. Normally, they would be on the roof if they were modeling for her, but she was nowhere in sight. I lowered underneath the trees and stood on the ground. I walked along to the cabin, hoping Ursula was home.

And she was, along with Louis. It seemed I had come at the most momentous moment of Ursula's life. Her face blushed as Louis got down on one knee and held her hand. I could not hear what he was saying, but I knew it was something romantic. He truly loved Ursula, and by the look in her eyes, she loved him as well.

"Move in! I want to see this!" Jiji whispered.

"Okay!" I replied. I moved slightly forward and heard the words Ursula (and I) have waited to hear for a long time.

"Ursula, will you marry me?" She nodded in the most gleeful way possible. He stood up and placed the ring on her finger, kissing her the second after. I could not stay back any longer. I jumped out from behind the trees and ran to hug them.

"Oh, this is wonderful! Ursula, it's perfect! AH! I'm so happy for you two!"

"You saw that?" She asked.

"YES! Oh, Ursula, I'm so happy for you. Although, it was me who arranged this in the first place. If I hadn't told you to go on that date, you wouldn't be as happy as you are now!"

"Well, that's true. You really know what you're talking about sometimes." I smiled and hugged them both one last time. It was sad I would not be there for the wedding.

"So, what are you doing here?" She asked me. That turned the happy moment upside down. I dropped my joyful smile and sighed. She knew what I meant. "Oh, you're leaving today, aren't you?" I nodded in response. Ursula knew me too well to know that when I had an idea, I went for it. There was no turning back.

"Kiki, why are you leaving?" Louis asked.

"It's just…I need to figure things out and Koriko isn't the place to do that." He knew of my relationship with Tombo, but he did not know how emotional I took it.

"We understand," Ursula said, holding Louis' hand. I gave her one last goodbye hug before mounting my broomstick.

"Treat her well, Louis!" I shouted as I lifted into the air. They waved goodbye as I ascended into the sky. She was the only other person to say goodbye to. Nori knew, and I did not feel like talking to her about it today. The only people to say goodbye to were Osono and her family. My leaving would crush Kimi. I was like a big sister to her. It would not be easy for her to accept, but it would be harder for me to go.

"So, back to the bakery?" Jiji asked. I nodded in response. This was it. This was the last day I would live in Koriko. It was strange to think she would not see the people she called family ever again. They took her in when she needed a place to stay, and they have grown on her. They changed her life. As did Tombo. He was her first friend in Koriko.

I always wondered what would have happened if I stayed. Would we have been together forever? Would he have his memory? He could be the one for me, but maybe I was not the one for him. No matter if he came into my dreams or tried to tell me he could learn to love me, I could not want that life anymore. It was gone.

"Yes, it's time to say goodbye to Osono." I sped through the air. I did not want to waste any time waiting. I wanted the goodbyes to be over.

"Kiki!" I floated down to the bakery's backyard and the little bakers' daughter greeted me. Before I could land my feet on the ground, Kimi wrapped her arms around my waist, crying her eyes out.

"Kimi! Oh, Kimi, please don't cry." I tried to calm her down, but she would cry even harder. Osono and her husband exited from the bakery and came to collect their daughter. She was taking this harder than I was, and she was only seven.

"Alright, Kimi. We have to let her go now." Osono took Kimi's hand and she reluctantly let go of me. She wiped the tears from her eyes. Jiji jumped down from my shoulder and went up to Kimi.

"Kimi, no matter how many times you tortured me and my son with your baths and playtime, I still enjoyed knowing you." He knew she could not hear her, but he wanted to say it anyway. He had a way with words sometimes.

"Kiki, now are you sure about this? You can always come back here, you know." I knew that. She welcomed me back a second time and she would do so again in a heartbeat. The only thing was I did not know if I would be returning.

"I know, Osono. You've done enough for me already. You've been a true friend." She let go of Kimi and embraced me. It was nice having Osono as a mother figure as well as a best friend. She helped me in ways no one could understand.

"Now you better write us, young lady!" She said as teas began pouring out, "I want a letter every week, you hear?" I nodded and cried into her shoulder. She was the hardest person I had to say goodbye to. Luckily, Tombo was not there to make things worse.

"I better get my things," I said. She nodded and pointed to the attic. I packed everything that morning to be ready when I left. It would take about half a day to return home, so I had to make sure to leave bright and early. It was almost noon, and there was no time to waste.

I walked up the stairs and entered the attic. My pink bag rested on the empty bed. Everything was gone. It was now only an empty room filled with amazing memories.

"Tombo, is it ready?"

"Not yet! Don't look!"

"Ok!"

"Almost done…and there! What do you think?"

"You…you made this for me?"

"Yeah, so everyone in the neighborhood knows you're the witch of Koriko."

"It's perfect. Thanks, Tombo."

"Anything for you, Kiki."

Jiji jumped onto the windowsill and licked his paw. "Is Jin coming?" I asked. He looked around for his son and left. I figured he wanted to go home and see Moe again. Maybe they would have better luck than Tombo and me.

"Found him!" Jiji shouted. Jin and his father came up on the windowsill and sat next to each other. They were so identical you would have thought they were brothers. I scratched Jin's ear and he purred. "Ready son?"

He nodded and, to all of our surprise, said, "Can we stop by the Sato's first?" At first, Jiji and I were baffled he even said anything. He had not said anything to me since the day we left.

I laughed and replied, "Yes, Jin. I'll make sure I drop you off at Moe's." I gave him a wink and he blushed. I grabbed the bag and wrapped it around my shoulders.

"Well, are you two ready?" They nodded and we walked down the stairs. Osono and her family were waiting for me downstairs for my departure. There were not as many people saying goodbye as last time. I did not mind. I did not have to make a big show about it.

"Well, I'm as ready as I'll ever be." I told Osono. She wrapped her arms around me one last time. I wanted to cry as little as possible today, and that was all I had done.

"We will see you soon," Osono said, "I'm sure of it." I nodded. Something made me believe her. Witches had a way of knowing these things.

"Goodbye everyone, goodbye." I mounted my broomstick and took a deep breath. Jiji and Jin were perched on both shoulders, awaiting my takeoff. I lifted my feet off the ground slowly, not wanting to go. I wanted to stay. I wanted things to be different. If things were different, my future would have completely different ending.

I floated into the air and felt the ocean breeze against my face. It blew my long, raven hair back and it flowed in the wind. I flew higher and higher into the clouds, never looking back. I was soaring through the sky.

"Kiki!" That one voice stopped me. I turned around and looked, not wanting to leave without hearing what he had to say.

... So little time left. I know this will be done in a couple weeks :( Hopefully some of you will read my next fanfic, which I put the first chapter for it up tonight! It's a Les Misérables fanfic and I reallyyyy would like fans (and people who aren't) to read it :) I won't update that one until this story is finished, though. I need to focus on one thing at a time.

Anabelle ;)

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