full moon wo sagashite » the novel animé.
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chapter one: no matter what, I want to sing - part one
Full Moon wo Sagashite is my favourite animé and manga ever. I never thought I'd see something this great. In fact, I love it so much, that I've been stalking this fanfiction section for a while. 3 And finally I decided that it's time to make my own. But I don't want to have a one-shot. Or one that might last about ten chapters and then stop. I want to make a novel for the animé. I hope you enjoy it! I will try to update as often as I can, but I do have two other big fanfics to work on at the same time! I was going to do it in third person, but I decided that I wanted it to be seen from Mitsuki's point of view instead, so it's first person. 3 I'm going to split all of the chapters into two parts, because otherwise each one is just going to be too long. D And there will be a few additional scenes, but only just to make everything smoother.
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Chapter Notes: Yes, the songs will all be in the original Japanese, because the translations are terrible and don't fit at all.
Shojo sliding doors
-san polite and respectable suffix for another person
-chan polite or casual suffix for a familiar female person or friend
-kun polite or casual suffix for a familiar male person or friend
-sensei a suffix for a teacher; in this case, a medical doctor
-sama a very respectable suffix for someone higher than yourself; a master or someone more intelligent/higher up in rank
Disclaimer: I do not own Full Moon wo Sagashite, or any of Tanemura Arina-sama's characters. Wish I did though, eh?
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" Ne itsuka sore so itsuka,
Donna ni doko made donna watashi shiteru no, "
Music was playing in the background as a young female singer smiled at the audience. The rest of the small band continued to play their instruments, and the audience roared with excitement.
" Watashi ni wa nai mono mo deru no,
Sou subeteri ga fukuramitashiteru... "
Raising her hand, which was carrying her microphone, to the moon, the music stopped and the lights suddenly flickered off. The young girl - who couldn't have been older than about twelve or thirteen years old - took a step forward towards the audience, microphone held to her mouth. She was dressed in a beautiful short white skirt and additional wings.
" Everyone! Thank you for coming today! " she said to the audience, who were listening intently to her words. " Well, here's the last song. " As she turned around, her eyes closed, to begin the next song, the audience cheered again. Suddenly, she opened her eyes. The music and all of the other noise immediatly stopped. " I- it can't be! "
Standing atop one of the balconies, a tall figure with the build of a fifteen or sixteen year old boy stood smiling, watching the singer with what seemed like affection. " E- Eichi-kun? " The boy, who had dreamy golden-brown eyes and dark blonde hair, nodded, still smiling.
" Your dream of becoming a singer... it came true, huh? " the boy asked.
" Y-yes. Yours too? "
" Yep. "
" That's great! " the female singer exclaimed, taking a step forward.
" Mitsuki. I... love you. "
" E-Eichi-kun... "
The girl gasped and dropped her microphone, the boy continued to smile at her. She smiled back, and seemed to fly towards him...
" Eichi-kun! "
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BEEPEEPEEPEEP...
Opening my eyes blearily, I raised a shaky hand to stop the alarm clock. Raising upwards a little from my bed, I realized that I was in my bedroom, clutching my pillow and wearing my pink pjamas. E-Eichi-kun! I thought wildly. A dream?
" ...Eichi-kun? "
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" Nee... miagete... konna ni hiroi yozora dakara... sou... sugi ni... " I sang at a volume that I thought was quiet, smiling at myself in the mirror as I adjusted my hair to my trademark hairstyle - two curling tails at either side of my head, blinking. I frowned, and raised my hand to my throat, still dressed in my pink pjamas.
" I'll be fine, right? O-of course! " I told myself, although I still felt a little reluctant. Feeling more confident, I suddenly reached out for my green hairbrush and stood again. " Konna ni hiroi yozora dakara... sou... sugi ni - " O-owww...
A sudden flame of pain flashed through my body and I dropped the brush clutching my throat. It hurts... I thought, my eyes closed tightly. I didn't notice the door open until a familiar voice cut across the pain.
" Mitsuki-san! " I looked up, surprised, to see my grandmother standing at the door way, having opened the shojo. She was already dressed in her elegant yet dull green-grey kimono. " How many times have I asked you to stop doing that? Music is such a vile thing, " she said, her expression stern. She turned away from my gaze. " It reminds me of your parents. It makes me feel bad. "
" I'm really sorry, " I replied, feeling ashamed. I knew how Grandmother felt about my singing - but I just wished that she could understand how I felt about it. I decided to take another try at explaining... " But, I... "
" Don't talk back! " she replied immediatly, and I looked down at the floor. No matter how many times I tried...
" Okay... "
Hearing footsteps leading towards my little house - for I lived in a seperate building from my Grandmother and our maid, Tanaka-san - I resisted the urge to turn to look at the door.
" Has your fever gone down? " Grandmother enquired.
" Yes. "
" Really? That's good. Oh... Wakaouji-sensei is here to visit you. " I looked up, surprised. I had suddenly forgotten about my doctor's visit. " Come out to the kitchen. " But I wasn't listening. I had already noticed him - standing behind Grandmother, next to Tanaka-san. My face lit up and I smiled broadly at him.
" Wakaouji-sensei! "
" Sorry to call on you during your holiday, " Grandmother apologised, bowing her head politely.
" No, no, " he replied, smiling. " Don't worry about it. So... how is her health? "
" She seems to be doing much better this evening... "
" Really? " he turned towards me and smiled, nodding his head in greeting. " Good morning, Mitsuki-chan. "
" Good morning! " I replied brightly, grinning broadly. I was very fond of Wakaouji-sensei - he had always helped us whenever I was in need, and he was a good doctor. Grandmother always said to be polite to him, but I did anyway.
Soon we moved into the kitchen, where we had a short breakfast and talked about my health - Wakaouji-sensei was very keen to know if I was alright. Afterwards, he began his checks on me - shining his light into my mouth to see down my throat and check up on my tumour.
Even though I love to sing, a cancer tumour called 'Sarcoma' spread in my throat gradually. Grandmother wanted me to have an operation that has a high possibility of success in removing the tumour; but also will almost guarantee that I'd lose my voice - so I had always said no to it.
" It seems like your tumour's swelled up a little, " he commented thoughtfully as he observed my throat - his gentle olive-green eyes concerned as he tried to determine anything else. " Is it okay if I apply some treatment to it? "
" Yes, please! "
I used to dislike him applying treatment to my throat, but I had finally realised that he was merely concerned for my health. It was still uncomfortable and distasteful too... glad when it was all over, we both got to our feet. The taste of the substance still lingered in my throat.
" There we go! All done. "
" Thank you very much! " I responded, smiling despite the discomfort. Wakaouji-sensei's just trying his best, I thought. Maybe... maybe he would... Just as he was turning away, I finally plucked up the courage to ask him. I had already discovered many times that asking Grandmother was not the answer, but maybe Wakaouji-sensei would...
" Um... Wakaouji-sensei? " I asked quietly. He stopped and turned around, smiling.
" Yes, Mitsuki-chan? "
" Um... can we pretend that you're taking me to the hospital today? " I said quickly, smiling sheepishly.
" You need an excuse to get out of the house, huh? " he replied, chuckling. I laughed uneasily and nodded. " So... where is you're going? " My heart sank. I had been hoping he would forget about that question! Can't help that now... I thought, and held up something in front of him - something I had recieved in the mail that morning...
" Ta da! Seed Records' Debut Artist Audition! " I exclaimed excitedly. " Notification of passing the first review! "
" Huh? " he asked, looking puzzled. I laughed and raised it to my mouth.
" I'm keeping this a secret from Grandmother, so - "
" No way. " My heart sank and my arms fell back down.
" Aww! "
" You just had a fever yesterday and had to leave school early, right? You... have a tumour in your throat. As your doctor, I can't allow that. "
" But I finally managed to kept past the first review! "
" In your current condition... you can't sing in a loud voice, can you? "
Wakaouji-sensei knew about my love for singing... at least he didn't reprimand me for it. But he still didn't allow it! It's so unfair... why don't they understand? But his words cut through me like daggers. " You can't sing in a loud voice, can you? " He was right... I couldn't. That's why my throat was hurting when I was singing earlier... because I was singing too loudly for my throat to handle.
" You can think about auditioning after your throat gets better. " After he saw my spirits fall, he frowned and put a hand gently on my shoulder. " Mitsuki-chan... while the tumour's still small, let's think about the operation. " I frowned. There was no question about that.
" I don't want any surgery. " I replied calmly. " Because... I might lose my voice, right? " He nodded and sighed wearily, but not unkindly.
" That's because of its location... I can't guarantee that you wouldn't lose it - "
" If that's the case... I don't want to be operated on. "
He smiled and sighed again. I'll never have it if there's even the tiniest chance I would lose my voice. How... how can I explain it?
" What's even more terrifying than dying... is not being able to sing for the rest of my life. That's why... " I faltered, and then smiled and bowed my head. " I'm sorry... " Wakaouji-sensei blinked.
" Mitsuki-chan... "
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A few minutes later, Grandmother and Tanaka-san were standing at Wakaouji-sensei's car. He looked intense - my heart plunged at his words.
" Um... it's about Mitsuki-chan... " he began, taking a deep breath. " About her operation... could you possibly convince her to go through with it? " Grandmother frowned and raised her head a little higher, looking slightly exhasperated.
" I've already suggested it time and time again. But... she still refuses to listen. For heaven's sake... she's as stubborn as my late daughter, that child. She is unable to give in! " Wakaouji-sensei looked a little crestfallen, and I shuffled closer behind the door in case he looked up.
" I see... "
Soon he was driving off, leaving Grandmother and Tanaka-san to watch his car disappear behind the gates and me to watch miserably as he left. My only chance... gone. Slowly I closed the door to my building and made my way back to my bedroom.
As soon as I got inside, I opened one of the drawers and tossed the Seed Records' notification paper into the small pile at the bottom of the wooden pit. That made three... three failures. " I wonder if I really will have to wait until my throat is better... " Turning to the bookcase, I lifted off a small blue handbook labelled 'Space'. Opening it to the most read page, I smiled broadly at the sight in front of me. A single photo lay in between the pages - a younger, smiling me with shorter hair and a pretty pink dress and... Eichi-kun. His golden eyes... his golden hair... his deep smile... soon I remembered an important memory.
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" Mitsuki-chan... let's make a promise. Until we meet again... we'll work hard to achieve our dreams. "
Eichi-kun and me watched the sea and he told me about why it was blue - me giggling and him smiling. Then I saw him smiling as he held his favourite poster - his 2000 Moon Calender.
" For me... it's to become an astronomer. For Mitsuki, a singer. ...okay? It's a promise. "
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" Yes... " I said to myself, smiling at the photo. " But... just when will that happen..? Eichi-kun..? " I looked up at the 2000 Moon Calender, stuck on my wall. He had given it to me before...
Suddenly, something was happening to the wall! My eyes widened as a hand erupted from the side of my bedroom, complete with a glove. Eh... eh! I shot backwards against the wall, horrified, as a sixteen year old boy clambered out of the wall. Wh... what! I thought wildly. A-another dream?
" All right! " the boy said.
" Who are you! How did you come out of the wall? " I asked quietly, but it didn't seem like he heard me. He turned to face me, his expression grim but affixed with a grin. He was wearing blue jeans - something I was never allowed to wear - and an odd sort of jacket. And... were those wings! And cat ears! This is definatly a dream... I decided, my eyes wide and disbelieving as a long white cat tail fell by his legs.
" Hm... this one, eh? Mitsuki Kouyama, 12 years old... " he said thoughtfully.
" Huh! Why does he know my name! " I said quietly again, but he just continued to watch me with that weird grin. He was kind of creepy! Some dream... I thought. Usually most of the dreams I had were about Eichi-kun!
Suddenly, another figure erupted from the wall. This time it seemed to be a female, with a hat and rabbit ears! Once I got past the fact that it was just a weird dream, they were kind of cute! She also had long bright pink hair and was wearing a red and white skirt and single bra-top. She didn't look at me, but instead turned to the other one who had come out first.
" Wait a minute, Takuto! " she said irritably. Another one came out...! " Were you trying to lose me! " Who are these people...!
" It's because you're too slow! " the other replied, just as irritably. The girl pointed her finger at the boy, who was grinning again.
" Oi! Is that the way you should be acting towards your elder? " she asked sneakily.
" You don't have to bring up your seniority every time, y'know, " he replied, his arms folded.
" What! "
Watching them was making me feel uneasy, so I decided to confirm that it was a dream, just to be sure!
" E-excuse me... " They both stopped and looked at me straight away. " Who... are you? " I asked cautiously.
" You... can see us! " the girl replied, looking somewhat terrified.
" Yes... "
" Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek! "
I blinked, confused as they gasped and yelled and ran around in a panic.
" W... w... w... why can she see us? " they both screeched. If they don't be quiet, then Grandmother will hear! Even if it is a dream, I still don't like her mad at me... " Living humans shouldn't be able to see us! "
" But... I can see you... " I pointed out, blinking. They both looked eachother fearfully, but then looked determined. The boy clenched his fists tightly.
" What do we do in this kind of situation? " he asked.
" If it's come to this... we have no choice, " she replied. " Let's do it! " The boy nodded, and they both jumped up at once.
The boy turned around and looked at me, grinning grimly again.
" It's absurd to remain hidden when our cover is blown... " he started.
" ...we are the Shinigami, the ones who silence the tears of children! " the girl finished, and they both flew up using their amazing wings and turned around to face me.
" Takuto! " the boy grinned.
" Meroko! " the girl smirked.
" Together, we are... " I braced myself, wondering if they were going to attack me. " ...Negi Ramen! " they finished spectacularly, both holding a pose.
" Ahahahaha! " I laughed, rolling around on the floor. Too funny! " Y-you call yourselves Negi Ramen! It sounds so tasty! Hahaha! "
" Takuto... I really hate our duo's name, " the girl whispered to the boy - I could just hear them over my laughing. Ahahahahaha! It sounds so good!
" Just deal with it... " the boy replied, grimacing. " Our chief chose it, after all... " Suddenly, something caught my eyes and I stopped laughing, looking up.
Whilst they were talking, I crept swiftly behind the girl and touched one of her long rabbit ears. So soft! I flexed it, smiling at its touch. Both looked up, the boy looking bewildered and the girl transfixed with horror. " Bunny ears and cat ears! " They immediatly covered them, seemingly embarassed.
" These... are used for treating children! " the boy explained, looking peeved.
" Treating children? " I asked, confused. " ...Shinigami have kids too? Wait... now that I think about it, if you're Shinigami... " suddenly, I remembered what the Shinigami were supposed to be - the Gods of Death. It didn't seem like such a dream anymore... and the ears were looking less and less cuter by the second.
" ...did... did you come to pick me up? " I asked, staring at them.
" That's what we're here for, " the boy replied bluntly. The girl gasped and shook her head furiously at the duo's other half.
" You're not supposed to say that! " she snarled.
" It's too late for that, " the boy retorted. But I wasn't listening.
" So... I'm going to die today... " I said to myself. That's what the Shinigami are... the 'gods of death'. They're supposed to come on your dying day... that's why I can see them. This isn't a dream... this is plain reality... I told myself, trying to be practical, but I just felt numb. The Shinigami shook their heads and hands in what seemed like a patronising manner.
" Just... just pretend you didn't hear that! " the girl said, laughing uneasily. " You're not supposed to die for another year! "
" One more year! " I exclaimed. The female Shinigami clutched her mouth, having said too much again. But I ignored her. " Is it because... my cancer will get worse? "
The male Shinigami got to his feet. " That could be it... "
" Ah... sorry, " the girl said. " Please, don't cry... " she begged, her hands clasped together and her expression pleading. But I wasn't crying - I just didn't say anything, I just smiled as I thought, causing them to gape at me.
" She's not crying... " the boy commented.
" Well... whilst we have the chance... " the girl began. " Let's see... in times like these... " Suddenly, there was a loud pop and a pink puff of smoke, and a small book appeared in the girl's hand. She opened it hurriedly, scanning the pages. " Um... not here... "
" Actually... " the boy began. " There are people trying to prevent your death. "
" Huh? " I replied, looking up at him. People trying... to prevent my death? The girl froze, horrified.
" Then... I'm not going to die? " I asked quickly.
" No, " he replied calmly. " That's forbidden. Fate... cannot be altered. " My heart sank and I looked back down, my hand clutching my pjamas gently.
" I see... " If I only have one year left to live... I can't hesitate any longer! I thought vividly, my hand now clenched into a fist through the fabric.
" Takuto...! Going on and on and on! Just what are you trying to do? I'm going to report this to the chief! " she threatened. The boy snorted.
" It doesn't matter, does it? Besides, we've already been seen. So what if after a year passes, she... huh? " They both stopped - and realised that I was already gone.
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Climbing down from the concealed ladder at the side of the wall at the house gates, I was soon down on the ground below, still in my pjamas, but I didn't care. I was clutching a bag tightly - it held the Seed Records notification. Running desperatly, I was only shaken out of my little trance when I heard a female voice shouting.
" Takuto! Over there! " I turned around, gasping with disbelief. Oh no! I thought. They were so fast! The female Shinigami was on top of the wall, glaring down at me, and the male Shinigami's head was facing towards me through the wall, and he was shaking his fist angrily.
" Wait, you stupid little kid! " he yelled.
" Stop right there! " the other screamed after me. I bit my lip, and then turned and ran away as fast as I could.
Almost tripping down the stairs, I scanned around wildly for any signs of a taxi or something.
" Hey, youuuu! " I turned around to see the boy skidding down the rail of the stairs after me, feet first. Gasping in disbelief, I shot away to the side as the girl followed, and raised my hand above my head hastily.
" Taxi! " I shouted desperatly - luckily one arrived before the boy was down the three flights of stairs! Jumping into the back, he pulled away seconds before he landed neatly at the bottom.
" Arghhh! " I heard, as he shook his fists at the back of the taxi. I sighed in relief and turned back around. Shinigami-san... thank you. I'm going to the audition now. I thought solemnly to myself. I clutched the paper in my hand, having now taken it out of the bag. If I only have a year left... I'm definatly going to become a singer before then!
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11 minutes later I was walking through the city center. We had always lived on the outskirts - Grandmother said that the city life would be too hazardous to my health, so we stayed away from popular areas.
Clutching the Seed Records notification paper, I looked around, swallowing. I had followed the directions all right, and the taxi driver said that it wouldn't be too hard to get there. But I was still nervous - butterflies seemed to fill my stomach. Spotting a map system, I rushed over and glanced at it. Ah! I seemed to be close to the small dot marked as 'Seed Records Studio', so I hurried along in my pace.
Suddenly, a huge glistening plaque grabbed my attention and I looked up. Wowww! I thought, grinning broadly. I'd found it! A huge noticeplaque read the words 'Seed Records'.
" Is this the place! " I said to myself, amazed. The studio was enormous! I'd never seen anything like it - I was surprised enough at the city center, which I had only visited a couple of times with the school. The building was glistening in the sunlight, a bright silver colour and was filled with windows right to the top! It even reached the height of the nearby skyscrapers! This is it, Eichi-kun! The promise we made... I'll keep it for sure!