NOTES: You know, I've always wondered about the personal dramas of song writers and lyricists who produce the most wonderfully wistful songs….I don't own any of the rights to anything in this chapter.

Mouichido Kimi Ni Aitai was penned and sung by Mikuni Shimokawa; and is the ED song for Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid, and is one of my favorite songs ever! I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO USE IT IN A FANFIC! Even before I wrote the first paragraph of this fic, I knew this song had to be a part of it. Much of the story was written to get to this chapter… If you get the chance, don't forget to buy the song; the soundtrack is not bad.

In the memorable words of Coldplay: "Birds go flying at the speed of sound, to show you how it all began…" –Kero.

Chapter 3: At the Speed of Sound

"Here we go, Shizuku!" said Yuko, excitedly. Her friend was nearly bouncing out of her piano seat and giving Shizuku the victory sign. Beyond the piano were seated a few of the executive producers of the show, behind a tinted soundproof glass. To Shizuku's chagrin, they were in the main recording room of Studio B for a showy demonstration of their soap opera's newest opening title song. She was so unprepared for it she was dressed only in casual clothes while men in business suits loomed on the other side of the glass. Yuko had intentionally kept her out of the dark as to not make her nervous. Though, Shizuku wasn't nervous, but she thought Yuko owed her big time.

"From the top ladies. And don't worry, it's just a demo. Your natural voice will do, Tsukishima-san," said Kusanagi-san in the microphone on the other side of the recording room glass. "It's quite charming."

As Yuko played her intro, a solo violinist accompanied her to compliment the melody, and a twinge of nostalgia wrapped around Shizuku's heart. She couldn't remember the last time she had heard a solo violin like this…it reminded her only of Seiji. The way his fingers played along the strings; the way his eyes closed and a serene expression came across his face as he played… For a moment, she wondered if she was going to sing or cry. Then, she heard her queue from the music direction booth through her ear phones.

"Kitto kimi wa kyou no hi mo - Surely you are looking forward
massugu ashita wo miteru - To seeing tomorrow
kaze ga fuku ano oka ni saita - Like a blossoming sunflower on a hill
himawari no you ni - Blown about by the wind"

In her mind's space, she thought of the last time she had seen Seiji. It was at the airport as she was seeing him off nearly two years ago for one final time. Her heart had urged her of the finality of the situation and recalling the moment wrenched at her still. As she sang the lyrics, she realized that her surfacing grief had been her constant companion all this time.

Shizuku remembered the light had faded from his eyes when he looked at her, and she knew that if she did nothing, if she could not convince him with words, then he would never return. But that day, she couldn't find the words at all to correct their mutual misunderstanding and she was too proud and stubborn to apologize at the time. If only she had found the strength to say anything…But instead, she watched him go in silence with a look on his face she could never forget; it was equally as miserable as how she felt inside.

She had carried that feeling with her all this time, but now, finally, she was letting it all go. She just wanted to see him again. Shizuku wanted him to know how she felt, and since she could not say it that fateful day she was singing it now to him…into space, hoping her thoughts would connect with Seiji somehow.

"Donna ni tooku hanarete ite mo - No matter how far apart we are
kono uta koe ga kimi ni todoku you ni - I hope this song's voice finds you
namida ga zutto tomaranai yoru – On this night when my tears are endless
kimi no mado wo terasu tsuki ni naritai - I am the moonlight on your terrace window

mata kanarazu aeru to - Surely, you and I
sou omou kara... - Will meet again someday..."

She was motioned to continue the rest of the song, and Shizuku felt her eyes welling up when the solo violinist came in again before the bridge. Shizuku wanted to run away from that sound, and yet she had been longing for it all this time. The melody tugged at her, making her feel elated and melancholy all at once. Though this was only a demo tape, she hoped somehow the song would travel at the speed of sound, carried on the wings of a bird that flew all the way to Cremona, Italy. But that was impossible. Only the executives in the room would hear Shizuku's version of it.

Or so she thought.

To her horror and equal amusement the executives had liked it so much they intended to use Shizuku's version in their ad campaign for the new season of the show. Yuko was absolutely no help whatsoever and continued to encourage the idea. The sound editors would smooth out her voice with digital layering, but it was essentially Shizuku's voice that was going to be broadcast nationwide via TV and radio. There wasn't enough time or money to hire others to do it, and since they felt her voice was "pure," they made the decision to use it…after Shizuku signed on the dotted line to give them permission to do so, of course.

"Your thoughts will reach him at the speed of sound, Shizuku. He will know your feelings," her heart was whispering to her. Yuko, in her excitement, told her that Shizuku would be a smash hit, nearly overnight. As a gift, Shizuku got a copy of the demo, thought she really didn't know what to do with it. She didn't so much as need it since her song would be everywhere in the next 48 – 72 hours. It was a pretty popular show, after all. The advertising kings were going to milk it for all its worth. Suddenly, Shizuku wanted to crawl back into bed under her covers and hide.

Yuko was exactly right and most of what she said would happen did happen. The song was an immediate hit, and was requested on almost every radio station by lovelorn, star-crossed couples and singles all over Japan. News of Shizuku's newfound fame in song writing and singing even found its way back to her hometown and her family members were calling and leaving messages on her answering machine almost every night. The song's popularity would ensure that she and Yuko had a steady flow of income from the royalties for a few years at least. Despite Yuko's protests, Shizuku did have to turn down a contract with Victor Records to do more work for them. She was a writer, after all, not a singer. She left the option open to do more song lyrics for them in the future.

But none of this mattered to Shizuku. There were only two people in the entire world that she wanted to hear her song, and one of them was far away on the other side of the world, and almost certainly cut off from Japanese pop culture. At least, she would get this song to one of them.

Back home, on a late summer's day, Grandpa Nishi did receive a package from Tokyo a few months later. But, being of the old fashioned sort, handed the disc over to his visitor to be put into the stereo, something Grandpa really didn't use often as he preferred his old phonograph. The old gentleman only sat back in his chair waiting for the mysteries of the CD to unravel for his ears.

"Seiji, bring me my reading glasses while you're at it. My eyes aren't what they used to be and the lighting in this house isn't nearly as good as in the antique shop," said Grandpa Nishi.

"Yes, Grandfather," said the tall, handsome looking young man, resigned but content to attend his aging grandfather. Before, it wasn't often that he got to come home, but finally, he was ready to come back. Having finally finished his apprenticeship, he was hoping to open a shop of his own. His agile fingers held onto the reading glasses as he switched on the stereo and inserted the CD.

"So what is it?" he asked curiously, leaning against the dining room table of his father's richly furnished house. The disc had not been labeled and the case was empty. The CD played and at first there was background noise of people talking, and microphones being adjusted and checked.

"AH!" exclaimed his grandfather. "It's from Shizuku in Tokyo!" With excited hands he opened the letter that had come with the package. He read it aloud.

"Dear Grandpa Nishi,

Forgive me for not responding sooner than this. When I received your package I was at a loss as to what to say. Here in the busy whirl of a life that is Tokyo, I had almost forgotten the sound of my own soul. The Baron has helped me recall it. I cannot thank you enough for giving me such a precious gift—something I didn't think I could have, no matter how much money I could offer to pay for it.

At first, I confess I was afraid to take him out of the box. The Baron has a way of undoing things; and just with his presence, his magic has boldly revealed the façade of a life I was leading here. I stand completely undone. There were so many memories that I had hoped to keep in that box with The Baron. But I realized I could not deny them forever.

As a return gift, I have enclosed a CD with a song whose lyrics are my own creation, and yes, that is me singing it. It was supposed to be a demo version of a theme song for a popular drama series, but now it's being broadcast all over Japan with my voice. I give you this CD, my very first mentor and critic, in gratitude. The song is dedicated to Seiji, wherever he may be right now. I wish that these thoughts could reach him at the speed of sound, yet Cremona is too far away for something as small as this. But even if I never see him again, I am content, having finally received the message my heart was whispering to me all this time and released it with both hands open.

Best wishes for your continued good health. With much affection, Shizuku."

The song began to play and Shizuku's voice filled the room, accompanied by a gentle piano and the soft, soulful sound of a solo violin. The tune and lyrics wrapped a soulful, wistful embrace around their hearts and memories. Shizuku had put her heart into the song, writing out all of her unreleased emotions; and to hear her voice sing her purest intentions was almost heart wrenching. When it ended, both Grandpa Nishi and Seiji were speechless. The CD continued to play background noises.

"Ah, it's so great, Shizuku! It's such a pity you never joined me in the music industry," said a female's voice. Other voices in the background murmured in agreement with some scattered applause.

"Bravissimi, Tsukushima-san!" said a male voice. There was a brief pause, and then he said to the others in a low voice, "Hey, can someone hand her a tissue or something? I think she's crying…." And that's where the CD stopped.

Grandpa Nishi glanced over woefully to his grandson, trying to think of many ways of admonishing him for leaving Shizuku alone for so long, but no words came to his lips. He noticed that Seiji's hands were clenched up in fists at his side and though he could not see the look on his face, Seiji was most likely already berating himself for any fault on his part. Perhaps his grandson had also suffered greatly in the time he spent away from the girl he loved in his heart of hearts.

In truth, his grandson had heard this song often ever since he returned to Japan. It was being broadcast in the multimedia; on the radio, on speakers in mini-marts, and snippets appearing on TV commercials every now and then. Something about the voice had sounded familiar but he had no idea that it was Shizuku singing to him all this time. It had been so long since he heard it, that he didn't even recognize her voice. This was the first time he had actually heard the song in its entirety and carefully listened to its message. It was entirely heartbreaking for him, and that last day at the airport played in his mind over and over again. Wanting to be alone, Seiji left the room without uttering another word.

NOTES: AH! How will it end? Can they rekindle what was lost? Oh love, where is thy strength? Will they part ways forever, or will they see each other again? Stay tuned for the stunning conclusion! –Kero (doing a dramatic pose and victory sign).