I just got finished watching the last seven or eight episodes...again...and I cried...again...but I was really trying to see if Takuto was a little OOC in my fic. I did change he and Mitsuki a bit- to add for the age- but I wanted to make sure their values and general habits were the same, and I realized I did a decent job with it, but I dunno. Shrugs I have up to chapter six or seven already written of this too, so updates won't be ridiculously long in coming. I really have a vision for it, so I've been working on it nonstop, neglecting my Rayearth, but eh, whatcha gonna do? Inspiration comes as inspiration goes .. Anyway, I'll shut up and let you enjoy, I hope, this next chapter! Thanks for reading!

Chapter Three The First Verses of Memory

"Oba-chan, this is Takuto; he's going to be touring with me. We're writing a song together," Mitsuki introduced the two.

Takuto bowed low, "Nice to meet you."

"Takuto, that name seems familiar," her grandmother commented.

"Well, I was in a b-"

"Mitsuki had a stuffed cat by that name a few years ago," Tanaka intercepted. "I believe Ok-sama," she added hastily upon receiving an icy glare.

Takuto's ears seemed to prick, and Izumi's eyes widened in shock. Mitsuki just barely stifled a grin; Tanaka had just helped her on two levels. She made a mental note to thank her in a big way.

"Ah, yes, whatever happened to that Mitsuki? There was a little pink rabbit too, was there not?" her grandmother questioned.

"Yes, M-" Izumi's eyes dared her to try it, "I lost them," his satisfied smile was enough to make her sick.

"You should be more careful with your things Mitsuki-san; you may leave."

She nodded, bowed, and left, with Takuto by her side and Izumi hovering above them.

§§§

Mitsuki brought Takuto to her small house in the back that had been converted into a song-writing area, hoping it would bring back memories, but he simply walked through. Izumi merely smirked. He'd been following Mitsuki almost constantly, but she'd learned how to catch him off-guard. He couldn't shut her up all the time or else he'd give himself away, so she would slip in tidbits here and there, hoping to spark something, anything.

"So…" Takuto made himself comfortable, taking a lounging position on her floor, "How should we start?"

"I don't know," Mitsuki admitted, keeping her distance. "I don't normally write with someone. Generally my feelings just form words and bang, there's a song."

"Well, your father generally wrote our music, probably where you get it from, and now I just put down what I'm thinking, cross my fingers and hope it can carry a beat."

She laughed at this and nodded, "So…why don't we try, I write a line and you write a line?" she suggested, and he grinned and agreed.

"Sounds like a plan."

She sat down near a table, and he stretched and crawled over to her, "Something about your house makes me feel at home…it's familiar…" he sighed heavily and cocked his head at her. "Are you some kind of magician to make me feel that I know you?"

She laughed and shook her head, "Not really," she glanced at Izumi who was fuming. "What about it seems familiar?"

"I dunno, just…everything. Has it always been like this?" he inquired, and she grinned and shook her head.

"No, it used to-"

A loud crash from the other room made Mitsuki's eyes darken. Izumi!

"What was that?" Takuto asked, his eyes shifting to the other side of the room toward the door.

"I'm not sure," she stood and went to the door, looking into the next room warily. She still wasn't sure what the full scope of Izumi's powers was; she didn't know what could be waiting for her in the next room.

So, she resorted to grasping for the light switch, refusing to put even one foot inside the room.

"What is it?" Takuto inquired over her shoulder, making her scream and jump, landing in the next room. Quick as lightning, she flipped on the light, and the two found the culprit to be a small tabby kitten had "jumped" onto the table and knocked over a vase. She knew Izumi had planted it there even without his triumphant look. "Does she have a home?" Mitsuki demanded of the Shinigami while making it sound rhetorical for Takuto.

"I don't know," Takuto answered, approaching the kitten.

"No," Izumi responded, "Just a stray."

"I don't think she does Takuto," Mitsuki came and stood by his side. The kitten had already found a best friend in Takuto though and didn't seem to want anything to do with anyone else.

"Well she does now," he smiled and scooped the cat up to cradle it in his arms while it purred loudly.

Mitsuki eyed the feline suspiciously; it looked harmless enough but then… it was planted by Izumi.

"Jealous?" Izumi taunted.

Mitsuki had the time to scowl at him while Takuto had his head down to examine the kitten.

"We should get back to work though," Takuto suggested, and she nodded and led the way back to her old bedroom, listening to the soft hum of the kitten.

§§§

Mitsuki sighed angrily at the blank paper.

"You either?" Takuto inquired while the kitten nibbled his finger softly.

She threw her pen down, "Nothing." But in her head the words were swirling like a vortex. She had so much to say that she couldn't. She forced herself to smile, "I'm sure we'll come up with something. Speaking of which, have you come up with a name?"

He shook his head, "Not yet."

"Well…" she reached in to pet the kitten, and it promptly reached out and latched onto her finger. "Ouch!" she yelped as she pulled back. Takuto laughed and stroked the kitten's head as it looked up to him for approval.

"What about…Ryuu?" he smiled mischievously, and Mitsuki rolled her eyes, nodding in agreement.

"Sounds about right," she mumbled, nursing her wounded finger. "Maybe if we put on some music it'll help clear our thoughts," she suggested, walking to her CD player. She pulled out her Full Moon CD and wasn't surprised when it wasn't there. "Have you ever heard Full Moon?" she inquired, still facing the CD player.

"No," he called back. "Why, do you have something for me to hear?"

"Not at the moment," she called back, turning to glower at Izumi. So maybe that was a key; she just needed to find a way to get him to hear a song.

"Too bad."

Instead, she flipped on the radio and surfed the channels until she found something they both agreed upon. With the dull music in the background, her words began to form a beat, but they were all words she couldn't utter, and something told her Izumi wouldn't allow her to write them either. She turned and glanced at him; he was the same man, yet…so different. He was much looser than the Takuto she'd known, but at the same time still exhilarating to her. His mood was much the same, though lighter, yet she knew the same feelings ran deep through him. Somewhere, somewhere he had to be there. All the memories of her were there; she just had to bring them to the surface. For now, they were miles apart.

"What about…" she picked up a pen and wrote the words - So, you're far away on the paper.

Izumi, satisfied with this line, backed away, "Good girl," he commented, but Mitsuki ignored him.

Takuto laughed and wrote beneath her line- So, there's nothing left to say.

She smacked him playfully but agreed that it did fit. Her eyes fell back to the paper as her heart began to sing softly- So my smile melts away.

His eyes wandered outside, and upon seeing the weather, answered- So the rain, comes down this day.

"I think we have our first verse!" she shouted triumphantly, and he nodded.

"So we do, I think that's a job well done for one day. I'm gonna get Ryuu home and head back to the studio for a photo shoot."

"I have some more work of my own to get to I'm sure," she sighed and stood, taking him to the door.

"I'll call you later on, and we'll see if we can finish it," he promised.

She barely kept a straight face as she agreed that that would be fine; she was looking forward to it.

§§§

"Where have you been?" Mitsuki grumbled unhappily when Izumi returned that night. "Up to some sort of trouble I'm sure."

"I was actually at Takuto's. You've been bad, yet again. He's over there thinking about you, digging his memory for your face I'm sure," he sighed and sank onto her railing as she stared into the stars. "And I'm completely helpless."

She couldn't help but pity him; he was simply doing his penance for committing suicide. Only, the thing in him that was unforgivable was that- he enjoyed it. She quenched the sick feeling in her stomach and made herself ask, "Izumi?"

"Yes, Mi-ki?"

"Where's Meroko?"

She could feel his body stiffen and somber without even having to look at him, "I don't know," he answered softly. "I just know that she's not a Shinigami, and I can't seem to find her anywhere in Japan or the spirit world."

Mitsuki turned to look up at him and saw the hurt in his eyes, noticed the way his wings seemed to droop. They were at odds about Takuto; they were enemies even, but even enemies have things in common. They both loved and missed Meroko very dearly.

"You think you can behave yourself for one night?" he asked roughly, and she nodded without looking at him. He nodded back before he flew off into the night.

Her first thought was to call Takuto and tell him everything, but something in her wouldn't let her pick up the phone. She didn't owe Izumi anything; he'd tried to kill her. For Meroko, her mind reminded her, because Meroko was suffering. Still, she owed him nothing, but when she began to dial, her grip on the phone weakened, and she fell to the ground, sobbing.

"Meroko…Takuto…why? Why did you leave me?" she whispered through her tears. She could almost feel a gentle hand on her shoulder and a warm tear hit her hand before she drifted to sleep.

§§§

"Hey Mitsuki, it's Takuto," her heart leapt as she picked up the receiver.

"Hey Takuto," she responded coolly, quite proud of herself for doing so, "What's up?"

"I just got home from the studio, and Takasu warned me this song had better be good- or else, so I thought we should come back to it. Bring what we have over to my place. My address is in your notebook."

Oh, very slick, she thought to herself but had to smile, "I'll see if it's all right with oba-chan and head right over.

"Okay, hope to see you soon," he set the phone down on the other side, but she stared at the receiver moments longer. Her whole body was tingling. She missed him so badly! She needed him to know; every minute of being near him was torture. She would have to brainstorm on the subway, but first, she needed to confront her grandmother.

She grabbed her notebook and put on a hat to hide her face from adoring fans. It was a handy trick she'd learned during her time as Full Moon, and it was just as effective for Mitsuki Kouyama.

Hesitantly, she knocked on her grandmother's door and was granted access, "Oba-chan," she bowed, and her grandmother eyed her suspiciously.

"You look ready to go out Mitsuki-san," she commented.

"With your permission, Tak- Kira-san, invited me to his house to work on our song," Mitsuki informed her.

"Mitsuki-san, I disapprove of this man."

Mitsuki's jaw nearly fell to the floor, "What?" she whispered.

"I see the way you look at him, and I do not approve."

"Oba-chan, we're writing a song together for our tour, nothing else-"

"Yet," her grandmother interrupted. "And I do not plan to lose you like I almost did before."

"I'm going oba-chan; you'd like Takuto, you just don't know him," Mitsuki's stubbornness kicked in, and her grandmother caught it. She wasn't planning to lose Mitsuki like she'd lost Hazuki either.

"Very well, you may go, but if you plan to take this further, you must bring him for dinner one night, so I can approve him."

"Thank you oba-chan," she bowed and headed out. Takuto, for dinner? She tried not to sigh, that would be an experience.

§§§

"Hey, so you were able to break free?" he grinned as he opened the door. "And you found the place all right?"

She nodded as he took her hat and sweater and set them on a nearby table. She looked around his apartment and smiled her approval.

There were only five rooms, but they were all huge. Everything was relatively clean and bright; she hated dark rooms.

She was startled out of her self-tour when something brushed against her leg. Her eyes turned down, and she smiled and bent over to pet the meowing kitten, "Hey Ryuu," she whispered softly, tickling the kitten's ears.

"So where were we?" Takuto inquired, returning from the kitchen with two glasses of green tea.

She handed him the notebook, and his eyes narrowed at the verse she'd added - But at night, you think of me.

"How did-y-" he stopped and shook his head, then added- Think of what we couldn't be.

When he looked into her eyes like that, she was almost sure he remembered, but then he'd turn away, and the feeling would fade. If only he knew what he was searching for! I know it hurts Takuto, she thought to herself as she moved the pen - And your heart, it tries to see.

His eyes never left hers as he scrawled the last line- To understand, why there is no "we".

She gulped heavily and bit her lip as he neared her. She reached in, and right on cue, Ryuu jumped onto Takuto's lap, startling them both. Jeez, she thought absently, you've got a cat doing your job now Izumi? As if she'd called him, the Shinigami came racing through the ceiling, "Just what I thought; I knew you'd go running to him the first ch-" but he noticed the awkward position the two were in and stopped, obviously he was okay. Takuto was still clueless.

"Sorry," both mumbled simultaneously. "I-" they both blushed slightly and looked down. Mitsuki took the notebook from the couch and printed in her delicate hand- We're thinking of the same thing.

He laughed and added - At the same time.

She brushed his fingers when she took the pen, and their eyes met for a minute before she wrote- We're thinking of the same song.

"Well, only one thing to do," he joked, throwing in- With the same rhyme.

She closed her eyes and prayed softly for everything to work out. When she opened them again, she realized Takuto was staring at her curiously, "What?"

"You sure you don't wanna tell me who he is?"

She took one glance at Izumi before she responded, "Maybe another time."

"I'll hold you to that."

She giggled softly and agreed.

"Hey, we doubled our work," he informed her, and she looked at the paper and nodded, "I think that means it's time for dinner."

"Yeah, I guess it does," she teased when his stomach growled. "How about some Negi Ramen?" she slipped, and he turned his head sideways. She heard Izumi cursing softly under his breath and had to give herself an inward pat on the back.

"I just thought of something really random," Takuto told her with a curious expression on his face. "What if there were two super heroes that had a team name of Negi Ramen?"

"Oh, I don't know," she tossed her head toward Izumi. "I don't think it'd be so strange."

"You don't think that's strange?"

"Well, anything can happen, trust me, I know," he gave her a curious smile, but she didn't respond to it.

"Anyway, let's go out."

"Uh, I dunno," she stammered hesitantly. "We might get in trouble again."

"It's okay, I know this place where no one will see us," he promised, and she contemplated, then shrugged and followed him out.

§§§

"See?" he whispered softly over her shoulder as she looked out into the ocean. She nodded but didn't turn to face him. The place had turned out to be a small, private beach not far from his home, and the dinner had been a picnic basket full of appetizer, 'Just in case,' he'd added.

It was perfect, but now, looking into the night sky, she couldn't help but feel a pain in her heart. Eichi, she thought to herself. A part of her would always love him, and staring up into the stars still haunted her.

"What's wrong?" Takuto inquired, moving to sit beside her.

"Huh? Oh, just…thinking…" she mumbled, and his eyes fell downward.

"About the guy?" he whispered, and she turned and smiled at him.

"Yeah."

"Where is he?"

"He's…" she shuddered and couldn't bring herself to say it, "gone. They both are…sorta. One is gone forever, the other is just far away," she tried to jump into his eyes and ring out his heart. Remember!

"Then why are you wasting all this time and energy? They left you!" he shouted at her, and she recoiled. A piece of the old Takuto was in that argument. He too recoiled, "Have I said that to you before?"

"You-" a bolt of lightning flashed over the ocean, catching both their eyes. Takuto grabbed her hand and pulled her up.

"It's gonna pour, surprisingly, let's go."

Mitsuki nodded as they both sprinted back to his car; Takuto with picnic basket in hand.

§§§

She walked into his apartment, sopping wet.

"Man, that came out of nowhere!" Takuto whistled as they walked back in.

"Yeah, someone must really be trying," Mitsuki growled at Izumi.

"Trying what?" Takuto asked as he brought her a towel.

"Oh, nothing."

He raised his eyebrows but again stayed silent, "Well, it's gone now anyway."

"Uh huh, it-" Mitsuki erupted into a coughing fit, and he rushed to her side, clutching her shoulders in his hands.

"Mitsuki?" his vision blurred and for a moment he was standing over a twelve-year-old girl with Mitsuki's eyes as she coughed uncontrollably.

"I'm fine," she mumbled in her voice and the little girl's as the vision faded. "Takuto?"

"Woah," he whispered and stepped back. "I think I need some fresh air."

Mitsuki nodded, staring at him worriedly as she watched him stumble onto his balcony.

"Damn you; you stupid girl!" Izumi hissed, reaching down to strike her, but some unknown force stopped him. He pulled away and looked around with terrified eyes. He wasn't sure what stopped him, but he knew if it was strong enough to, whatever it was, he didn't want to upset it.

"Hey Mitsuki!" Takuto shouted, "Come here, quick!"

She gave Izumi one last glance before she turned and hurried out onto the balcony, "Wow," was all she could whisper when she went outside.

A star shower had suddenly erupted in the night sky. Shooting stars fell everywhere around them. The whole night glittered with their splendor.

"Look at that one," Takuto pointed to a particularly beautiful falling star that seemed to be glowing a bright pink color. "Make a wish," he whispered in her ear, and she closed her eyes and did. I wish that Takuto could regain his memory, and I wish Meroko happiness, wherever she is.

When she opened her eyes, Takuto was staring not at the sky, but at her, intently, "I hope it was good," he mumbled softly.

"It was," she assured him, and he smiled and turned back to the sky.

"Good, because I wouldn't want you to waste a star like that, or a night like this."

"I wouldn't, ever," she promised, and his eyes turned to her, almost sad.

"I don't know what it is about you," his hands trailed her bangs gently, brushing them out of the way. "But I feel as if I've known you for years, and I'm not only saying that. Strange things happen when you're around, but you fill a void I've had since I've woken up out of that coma. I've always been searching, but suddenly…I feel as if I don't have to search anymore. Mitsuki, my wish has already come true."

"I-" she didn't know what to say. She wanted so much to tell him why she filled that void, but Izumi was too near, and her head wasn't clear enough to make that decision.

"You don't need to say anything, just-" the phone rang, and he sighed angrily and turned to walk inside. She fell against the rail and stared into the night, the star shower had ceased already, and the heat inside her was fading back. "No one there," he called from behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. She leaned into him, smiling faintly; he was so warm.

"I knew there wouldn't be," she muttered, feeling him shake his head.

"You're so mysterious."

"I don't like to be, but…it's…" she stopped. "I thought of my next line."

"What?" he mumbled into her neck, his voice hot on her skin.

"We're wishing on the same star."

"In the same sky," he kissed her cheek softly, and his head spun. He was in the middle of the street, that same young girl cradled in his arms, but she was unconscious this time. "What?" he looked up, startled, as the image faded.

"Mitsuki," Izumi called cruelly. "Won't your grandmother be worried?"

"Oh no," she jumped away, and Takuto looked at her curiously. "Oba-chan will kill me!"

"Come on, I'll take you home," he offered, but she shook her head.

"You don't-"

"It'll be faster."

She couldn't argue with that, so she nodded and thanked him.

"No problem," he went inside, grabbed his keys, and they both headed outside.

The ride to her home was silent. Neither knew what to say; Takuto couldn't explain his feelings for her, and she could hardly explain them with Izumi lounging in the back seat.

"Thank you," she tried to put on a smile that just slid off.

"No problem," his attempt failed as well. "I'll get in touch with you tomorrow."

"Okay," she opened the car door.

"And Mitsuki?"

She turned as he added.

"Thank you, for tonight."

She blushed and nodded before closing the door and running toward her home.

§§§

"Oh! That makes sense!" Mitsuki declared triumphantly when she finally understood her math.

Arinori smiled at her, and she had to blush. He had tutored her for nearly a week, and his smile still made her heart melt. She knew she didn't love him, not like she loved Takuto, or Eichi, but…she liked him. He was fun, and intelligent, not to mention gorgeous. She could most definitely get used to this.

"Now, we'll move onto a little world history, this should help you on your tour," he informed her, and she nodded. She was getting really excited about her world tour. Her album was set to be released two weeks from today, and she could barely wait. Their tour would start two weeks after the release of her album, and every day closer became more and more unbearable than the last. "Which country do you want to learn about first?"

"America," she answered quickly, and he laughed. He seemed to be quite used to that response.

"Okay…well…let's see," he opened a map and showed her an image of America. "It's divided into states, like this-" he traced the sections of the country with his finger. "There are forty-eight on the continent and then Hawaii," he pointed to the island far to the left side of the page, "and Alaska," next he showed her a piece of Canada that was a different color than the rest of the country. "They are both states that are not part of the continent, but states nonetheless."

She nodded, taking it all in.

"Well, America is one of the youngest countries, but has a jam-packed history. They have the longest standing written constitution and…" he trailed off when the her cell phone began to ring.

She jumped up to grab it, "Hello?"

He watched her curiously as her face lit.

"Oh, hi Takuto."

He shook his head and rolled his eyes, but she didn't catch it.

"You're coming right now? Well…" she stopped and looked at Arinori, then back to the phone. "I'd have to check with Oba-chan, hold on."

She set the phone down, and ran to the next room; a few minutes later she came back. "She wasn't too thrilled, but she said it was okay. Oh, and Takuto, could you stay for dinner? Okay, good, I'll see you then."

She shut the phone and turned back to Arinori, "I'm sorry, we're writing a song for-"

"The tour, I know, Takasu told me, and I'm not to interfere. I guess we'll just have to finish up with America tomorrow."

"Well, he'll be a bit in coming over here, do you want to go over some more until he gets here?" she inquired, and he smiled at her and agreed. She settled on the ground next to him, falling into the map. She had to keep forcing her attention to what he was saying, but she worked hard and was able to get at least most of what he said.

A knock on the door about twenty minutes later signaled Takuto's arrival, and she rose to let him in as Arinori began to put the books away. A few moments later, she led Takuto back into the room. His eyes narrowed suspiciously at the man in the room.

"Oh, Takuto, this is Arinori, my tutor, Arinori, this is Takuto," she introduced the two. Takuto mumbled a stiff hello, while Arinori smiled warmly and took the other man's hand. Mitsuki looked at him curiously but didn't say anything.

"I was just on my way out, Mitsuki, I'll see you tomorrow," Arinori reached over, took her shoulders and kissed her softly on the cheek before he turned, leaving a stunned Mitsuki and an enraged Takuto.

"Tutor, eh?" Takuto inquired, turning on Mitsuki.

"I-he-it-not-" she stumbled, unable to speak. What just happened?!

"Hey, it's okay, I'm not going to say anything. At least you're getting a good education," he joked bitterly, and she just choked.

"Takuto, he-"

He shook her words away and handed her her notebook, "We're just writing a song Mitsuki."

"Right," she mumbled, her heart stinging with every word. She opened the notebook and stared down at the words, tears blinding her eyes. How many times would she be forced to cry for him? She sat at the table, not even watching to see if Takuto followed as she added- We're opening the same scar.

He sat beside her and refused to look into her eyes as he finished- With the same lie.

"It's not wha-"

"I don't care," he whispered viciously. "It's not my life; you can do whatever you want with your life. I wouldn't even be doing this if Takasu didn't leave me no option. I have to keep singing; it's what I'm good at. If Takasu is the best, and he'll get my message heard then I'll do anything."

"Even work with me?" she mumbled, and his eyes lowered.

"Anything."

She couldn't stand it; every word was like a razor to her skin. She stood and simply walked out, stunning Takuto.

After a few minutes, he realized she'd just left, and headed after her, "Mitsuki," he whispered softly. Izumi growled under his breath and flew after the two.