Up in heaven, Here on Earth

by dytia

chapter 5: Precious Life

Finally got hold of some of the manga scans (and finish reading the whole manga.. the manga ending so sweet!!!) so decided to tweak with my story a little bit. I don't think this story would follow much of the manga storyline. We'll see how it goes. Like always.. all characters (except Keichi) belong to Arina Tanemura. Poor Keichi disapeared for two chappies.. he really deserve more.. :)

Keichi bumped into Meroko who seemed so preoccupied.

" Me -chan?!" he called her. Meroko, startled, hesitantly turned towards him.
" Ooo.. Keichi-kun.. "
" What's with the ong face? Is anything wrong? Anything happen to Miyu?"
" No.. nothing.. it's just me.." Concerned, Keichi asked her whether she wants to talk about it.
" If it's a problem, I can lend you a hand. Or at least, you can pour it out. I guarantee you'll feel much better once you tel me about it. I am a good listener."

Meroko look up to him. Keichi always remind her of Takuto. He, like Takuto, really cared for her. Such a sweet soul. But Meroko did not dare to open her up to him.

I refuse to let myself fall for someone else other than Ta-kun. So I dare not get close to anyone.

" Thankyou, Keichi-kun. But I am fine.. really.." He sighed with relief.
" Glad to hear that. Oh, listen. About Miyu, remember you asked me about her background info."
" Yes.. did you find anything?"
" Let just say.. she's an orphan no more." Meroko burst into a wide smile.
" They are alive?"
" Better, I know where they are?"
" Then, what are we waiting for. Let's go!"

Miyuki was sitting with the old couple by the garden. Inside, the television was having a live telecast from Shibuya.

The announcer on the TV animatedly commented on the massive crowd there, " The debut of Mitsuki Kouyama.. the girl who were dubbed as this year's hottest young idol have sparked the nation's interest. 5 milliun copies of her debut sibgle sold. This achievement greatly mirrors last year's Full Moon's record.. in fact Mitsuki's voice and her striking resemblance to Full Moon have caused many to call her as Full Moon's protege." Another reporter interrupt him.
" Perhaps she is Full Moon's long lost sister??"
" Who knows but after Full Moon's disappearance, the public have missed her kind of sweet innocence and greatly yearned for her return. But now this hunger is sated by young Mitsuki's entrance. Look.. there she is now... Singing her first single.. 'Live'... Kouyama Mitsuki... "

Mitsuki's clear voice filled the room.. the old lady sighed. " Such a sweet sound. It makes me feel alive again."

Miyuki glance towards the TV screeen and saw Mitsuki. Miyuki marveled over how energetic and lively Mitsuki was.

This girl.. surely she never know pain or suffering.. her semi charmed life must be an enchanted bed of roses with no obstacles in her way.. unlike me...

The old man watched the girl. Since her appearance, Miyuki refused to smile. At least she stopped crying but the old man knew, deep inside, the tears never stopped falling.

The announcer was promoting Kouyama Mitsuki's autograph signing in conjuction to the launch of "Live Japan" charity. This charity is backed by SEED Records and it aim to heighten suicide awareness in the young. The reporter thrust the microphone to Mitsuki.

" Kouyama-san, please say something about this charity. I understand that it was a brainchild of yours. Is that right..?"
" No.. it's everybody's efforts not mine alone."
" What do you hope to achieve with this charity?" Mitsuki looked wistfully to the sky.. then she smile at the camera.

This one is for Takuto, Meroko and Izumi...
" For everyone.. to live.."

Miyuki chuckled. Sarcastically, she thought that Mitsuki was too naive.

If people wants to die, why stop them? It is their lives... who are yo to tell them it' wrong..

Her thoughts was interrupted when he heard the old lady said, " Finally.. perhaps then... people would start thinking twice about dying and start to live.." Miyuki was dismayed by her remark. She turned towards the old lady. The old lady was looking right at her.
" Oba-san.. why are you looking at me?"
" You were trying to kill yourself.. didn't you?" Miyuki was taken aback. She never told her that.
" Oba-san... I was... it was an accident.." she lied. The old lady nodded emphatically.
" I understand, child. I am not condemning you, " The old lady caress Miyuki's cheek. " After I listened to your story.. I was impressed that you have been strong all this while. But my child.. dying is not an end.. I want you to know that."

Miyuki did not reply. The old lady went on, " When you are old, you will realise that life is precious. That's why I don't want you to throw it away. You are still young. You still have a long life.. Be happy."

The old man sat next to Miyuki.

" We hope that you would continue living here and cast aside all thoughts of death."
" Stay here.. but.."
" Please.. We want to see you be happy. Let us love you as our own child."
" Why are you two being so nice to me. I don't deserve this.. your pity," Miyuki cried.
" No.. it's not pity.. Miyu-chan.. we are two very lonely old couple.. Having you here would give us another reason to live."
" Lie.. I don't want your sympathies.." The old lady embrace Miyuki. Miyuki pushed her away. The old lady fell to the side and started coughing. Miyuki got up and ran.

I don't deserve their love. I am unwanted. Born from a bad seed.. no one wants me.

Flash back... a little Miyuki was being taunted by the big kids.. "Miyu is bad. That's why her parents are gone!!" She was shouting that it was a lie. " Mom and dad love me..!" The big boy sneered at her, " But id they love you.. why are you here??" Another girl stepped in, " Who would love a bad girl like you...?" The big boys and girls said that she came from a bad seed. " That's why you were left at the orphanage's door!!" The taunts get louder and harsher. At the end of the day, the matron found Miyu shaking and trembling in the closet. There was no tears. She already cried so hard that the tears already dried up by the time she was found.

After that day.. Miyu always believe that no one cares about her.

I am born bad to the core. I don't deserve to be happy.

Miyuki was about to leave but stop when she heard the old man's alarmed cries, " Hold on, wife." There was the sound of the old lady coughing. Miyuki looked back at her. She was stupefied to see that the old lady was coughing up so much blood.
" Oba-san..!!!"
" My child..." The old lady breathed. Her lips and hands caked with dried blood.

The old man told Miyuki to help the oldlady onto his back. " I'll carry her to the hospital."
" But Oji-san.. the hospital is far away. You are old. You can't..."
" I can manage. Come.. we must go.."

Elsewhere in Tokyo.. Meroko and Keichi were outside of SEED records.

" They are here.Miyuki's parents. Do they work here?"
" Yes, both works here."
" I can't believe this." Turning to Keichi. " Keichi can you go without me."
" But you were the one who wants to see them?"
" But what if.."
" What?"

I don't want Mitsuki to see me.

" Is there someone you didn't want to see?" Meroko nodded. Keichi thought for a while. " That can easily be arranged." Keichi grabbed her hand and dragged her to the other direction.
" Keichi-kun. What are you doing? Where are we going?"
" Where else? Shopping!"

Keichi practically forced her into some of the funky costumes. Looking at her from head to toe, he said, " Mmmm... something is missing. I know.." After making sure no one was watching, he clapped twice and in a blink of an eye, Meroko's hair became black, straight and short.

Meroko shrieked, " What did you do to my hair?!"
" This way no one will be able to recognise you, right?" Meroko stare at her reflection.
" I look so different." Meroko smile at Keichi. " Thankyou, Keichi.."

Keichi beamed. " Now that you are ready, let's go."

At the hospital.. Miyuki was waiting outside the doctor's room.

Did something bad happen to her?

Miyuki took a peek inside the doctor's room and managed to hear a bit what the doctor was telling the old man.

" Your wife's cancer is spreading. She should be admitted by now."
" But sensei.. you know how my wife is.. she doesn't want to be in the hospital. She wish to stay at home where she belong."
" We can fight this thing.."
The old man sighed, " We are old, sensei.. with not much reason to continue living.. our daughter have deserted us. All that we wish is to stay together till the day we die."
" Don't you want to find your daughter?"
The man shook his head. " She hated both of us. We drove her away."

Flashback.. A smiling young woman telling the old couple. " I'm pregnant." Shattered glass.. The young woman running out of the house... The old man shouting in anger.. " Didm't I tell you before? Now look what happen?" The doctor telling the couple that they could not help their daughter..

Miyuki closed the door.

Oba-san is dying.

She thought of oba-san's words. Is it because she's dying that she wanted Miyuki to appreciate what's left of her life?

The old lady was lying in her bed. She was startled by the door opening.

" O.. Miyuki-chan. You're here. Scared are you? Really I'm fine.."
" Why didn't you want to get treated?" The old lady did not answer. She looked away. Miyuki went to her side.
" You told me not to throw my life away. Isn't that what you are doing now?"
" It's different. I'm old. I should be dying."
" It's not different. You said life is precious. It's the same for all.. young or old."
" My child.. I am an old lady.. except for my husband.. I have no one in this world. My only child hated me. I have no other friends. If I am gone.. no one will miss me.."
" Who say so..I will.." The old lady stared at Miyuki.

Is this the feeling of love? Is this feeling of not letting go?

The old lady embraced Miyuki. Miyuki burst crying. " If I die, would you miss me?" asked Miyuki. The old lady nodded.
" Then... would you live and get treatment if I agree to stay with you?" The old lady was surprised but was overwhelmed with happiness to hear that.
" Let me be your child..." The tears started to overflow. Both hugging each other tightly. Both finally found their family.

Izumi was silently watching the happy reunion. His face darkened as he noted that Miyuki's name is getting blurred in his book.

" Jona-chi.. it looks like her death wish is getting lesser and lesser.."
" Is there anyway to stop that?"
" There is.."
" What.."
" Well.. let just say I know a secret that'll drive Miyuki to her death."
" But how do you break that secret?"
" To do that.. we must find her mother..."

The key to it all.. the chain that connect us all...

At the SEED records.. Meroko and Keichi was seated outside the studio.. inside.. there were the preparation for the launch of Kouyama Mitsuki's "Live japan" charity. Meroko could see Mitsuki practising at the center stage. Hiding behind Keichi shadows, she hoped that she went unnoticed.

" There.. see that lady. That's Miyuki's mom.." Meroko strained her neck looking at the direction Keichi point out. Her eyes widened.. " That lady!!"

The lady which was Miyuki's mom.. was none other than Oshige-san..

Next chapter: If Oshige is Miyuki's mom, who was Miyuki's dad then? What is this secret Izumi is talking about? What will happen to Miyuki next?