Waiting in line at a cafe, Kairi glanced around at the tables, obseving the various people. A tired looking mother with her two children. A young boy who was talking on a cell phone, oblivious to his surroundings. A small group of blonde girls, who, if you knew how to look, were really desperate for friends, no matter how confident they acted. None of them noticed Kairi, but as her gaze swept the room, she locked eyes with a white haired boy. Deep grey eyes held hers, unblinking, and she had the odd feeling that he was lookinh at her the way she looked at other people. Searching her soul for some clue as to why she was who she was. As they continued staring, the boy smiled softly, and Kairi felt herself wanting to smile as well.

"Hey! You gonna order or what?"

Kairi's gaze jerked back in front of her to the cashier. She blushed as she got her drink and went to find a seat. On a whim she stopped as she passed the table where the white haired boy was.

"Um, excuse. Can I sit here?"

She asked quietly.

"Yeah, sure," the boy replied.

"Thanks." She smiled as she sat down. "I'm Kairi Narita."

"My name is Hatsuharu Sohma."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Sohma." She bowed her head.

"You too, Miss Narita."

"You can just call me Kairi." She said blushing.

"Haru." He replied, smiling at her.

She smiled back as she took a sip of her coffee.

"Do you come here often? I don't think I've seen you before....." She said.

He shook his head.

"I've been here a few times, but I'm not a regular." He paused. "You?"

"I practicaly live here," she said, laughing.

He laughed softly with her, and they continued their conversations contently for some time. However, eventually they had to leave. There was a sad silence as they stood up.

'I don't want to leave, but I don't want to risk anything happening to make him forget. I haven't really spoken like that to a person in a long time, and I'd like for him to remember me. Just once, I'd like some one to remember me.'

'I can't. The whole point of leaving was to protect the people I care about. I can't let myself get close to her.'

"So....." Kaiari stopped, unsure of what to say. Sighing, she looked at the floor. "Bye." She murmered as she turned and walked away.

"Good bye." Haru whispered.

'Don't start getting attached...you have to let her go. For her safety. You know that. Yeah, but.......Stop. Forget it, you know you can't.

A single tear slid down her face as Kairi walked out of the cafe.

'Why am I crying? It's been so long...I thought I was ok be now....But I felt so...I don't know...open with him. It was wierd. I didn't need my walls. Oh well, I know my options; Love and lose, or leave and remember. I can't go back. I've made my choice.'

She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't notice when a small book fell out of her purse.

"Hey! Girl! You dropped your book!" The cashier yelled at her.

She spun quickly, jerked from her thoughts. She didn't realize that Haru was walking behind her, and ran straight into him as she turned.

Her eyes widened as he let out a suprised grunt. Stepping away, she stared at his confused face. Taking it all in, Kairi felt something inside her shatter. You could consider it the final blow, because at the moment she decided that she was going to end it.

'I can't go on living like this.......The one person...and now he's gone too...everybody is gone....I can't do this anymore........I give up'

She turned and ran.