Sorry to people who really love OchiaixKiri but this is not going to be that way. I'm sticking it with Naru-NaruxKiri later on though teehee!
Chapter Two – The Sunrise
Walking out from her room in her baggy fitting clothes, Meroko made way towards the kitchen. She leaned against the wall, staring at Ochiai. "Hey."
"Oh, hi Meroko," Ochiai said, turning to her. "Hmm... I see my mother's clothes are a bit big on you... Oh well, I'll get you some new ones soon."
"Thanks for your kindness." Meroko was silent for a moment, thinking about something. "Say... Ochiai, I have a question for you."
Ochiai adjusted his glasses and looked into her eyes. "Alright, what's on your mind?"
Thinking back to her strange flash of memory from before, Meroko looked up slowly to Ochiai. She was a bit shorter than him, but not by a whole lot.
"Have you ever seen a girl that looks a lot like me? Same hair and everything?"
Ochiai gave her a curious look. "No I don't believe I have. Why do you ask?"
"It's nothing. I was just thinking earlier and I got this sudden memory flash. There were these three people sitting on a building. The first two I don't recognize from anywhere but they seemed a little familiar, and the third person kind of looked like me... but she had wings though. And now that I think of it, the first two had wings too."
"People sitting on a building with wings? Did they say anything?" Ochiai was growing more curious of this girl's story. What a peculiar girl.
"Yes, they were all wishing about something," Meroko told him. "I can't remember exactly what happened... I mean, I don't know any of those people but it's like my memories are trying to show me that I do."
"Strange." Ochiai turned away from her, grabbing a bowl off of the counter in front of him. "Here, the rice is ready. I was just going to call you when you came in. Enjoy!"
Meroko reached out, taking the bowl from him. "Thanks, it looks really good. You didn't need to make food for me... or give me clothes... or let me stay here while I was sleeping... I mean, I'm a complete stranger. I don't want to complicate things for you."
Ochiai smiled warmly. "Oh it's no problem. I live here with my family, and my rather annoying myna bird. My mother actually was the one who suggested you sleep in my bed while you recover. She was shocked to see such a... pretty girl sleeping out in the cold."
"Oh dear, that was your bed?" Meroko sighed. "Man, I'm so intrusive. I'm very sorry." There was a moment of silence. "I wonder what I'm going to do once I'm done eating here... I don't really have a place to go since I can't remember anything, and I can't just stay here."
Ochiai took a bite of his own rice. "My family is out right now, but if you'd like I'm sure they would let you stay here so long as we can find a place for you to sleep. Do you remember where you've been going to school up until now?"
Meroko stared down at the bowl in front of her. "Well, no," she told him. "I don't remember anything. I mean, I remember things I've learnt but... not who I was or what I've done. It's really a weird sensation."
Ochiai nodded, trying to wrap his brain around this. He was smart, but he couldn't imagine how she felt. "Well, I go to a school called Ryokufu. You can come along with me on Monday, and if it turns out you'll be staying here for a while then you can go there as well."
Meroko smiled. This boy was being so kind to her. She was a complete stranger. It was like a dream. "Thanks so much for your kindness."
Ochiai stood up, picking up his bowl and Meroko's and setting them down in the sink. "Well I got to go get some things from the store. If you come with me, I'll buy you some new clothes. You know, ones that fit you."
Meroko and Ochiai headed off to the store. After getting some groceries, Ochiai took Meroko to get some new clothes.
"Can I pick something out for you to try on?" Ochiai asked quietly. "I'm sure you'll look beautiful no matter what you're wearing anyway."
Meroko nodded. "Sure, go ahead."
Ochiai looked through some of the clothes with Meroko then handed an outfit to her – blue shirt with a bit of lace on it around the neck and sleeves with some pink lining, and a pair of black pants. Meroko took the outfit into the change room and came out a few minutes later, looking at herself in the mirror then turning to Ochiai.
"So... how does it look?"
"I was right," Ochiai told her, smiling, "you look beautiful."
Meroko blushed. "Thanks so much Ochiai," she said. "Mind if I try on some more clothes?"
Ochiai nodded. "Sure you can. But do you like that outfit?" He raised his left eyebrow at her.
"Yes, I like it a lot."
"Then I'll buy it for you! Along with whatever other outfit you choose. Then on Monday at school I'll take you to get a school uniform."
Meroko stared at him in shock. "Really? But, I don't have any money to pay you back. I don't want to be a burden!"
Ochiai gave her a warm look. "It's fine, really. Just consider it a favour."
Smiling happily, Meroko went over to the racks of clothes and chose another outfit she liked. She went back into the changing room to try it on, and then came out smiling even brighter than before.
"What's up?" Ochiai asked her. "Did you decide you don't like the outfit I picked out for you?"
Meroko shook her head. "Hehe, I'll show you later!" she giggled.
Ochiai stared at her, confused. "Alright then. Let's go pay for this stuff."
Meroko and Ochiai went to the check out and bought the groceries and clothes, then went back to Ochiai's home. By that time, it was about 9:30 at night, and Meroko was tired again despite all the sleep she'd gotten before. They were greeted warmly by a woman with looks similar to Ochiai's.
"Hello there! I am Sarina, Kazuhiko's mother. Kazuhiko's father is off on business right now. You must be that girl who we found out in the grass!"
Meroko shook Sarina's hand. "Hello, I'm Meroko."
Ochiai stepped forward. "Mother, Meroko seems to have no memory of, well, anything. She hasn't got a place to go and we can't simply turn her away. Would it be alright if she stayed here for a while? She can continue to use my room if she needs and I'll sleep with my brother."
Sarina turned to Meroko. "My goodness! No memory whatsoever? That is rather a problem." She smiled. "Kazuhiko is certainly a kind young man, isn't he? We would love to have you stay here with us Meroko."
"Thanks so much!" Meroko said, bowing. "Well, I'm very tried. Good night Sarina, Ochiai."
"Ah, just a minute," Ochiai said to her and went off into a room in the back. He came out holding a pair of loose pants and a loose button-up shirt. "Here, you can wear this for sleeping." He handed the clothes over to Meroko. "It'll be a bit too big on you, but oh well. Pjs are supposed to be comfy and loose fitting, right?"
Meroko took the clothes from him. "Thanks, Ochiai. I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me today. Good night!"
Taking her bags from shopping and the clothes that Ochiai had just given to her, she headed off into the room where she had slept the last two days.
She changed and then sat down on the bed, thinking. "Hmm... This boy has been so kind to me. I wonder why he's done so much for a complete stranger? Either way, it made me really happy." She slowly closed her eyes and fell to sleep.
As Meroko slept, Ochiai sat awake in his brother's room, thinking.
"Well, this day has been rather entertaining. Who'd have thought that I'd find a girl just lying out on the grass waiting for me to come pick her up? It's certainly strange. I wonder what happened to her? She doesn't remember anything at all... Well no matter what, she can stay here. I don't mind the company and I'm sure my mother is happy to have her. Guess I should guess some sleep, too." He made himself a bed on the floor by his brother and fell fast asleep.
Meroko slept peacefully, but a sudden flash came to her mind that woke her up with a start.
-Jess: Aw, it'll be okay Mero! Maybe sometime you can go visit them or something.
-Meroko: I could... but... I caused enough trouble to everyone already while I was a shinigami. Who'da thought, eh Jess? A girl going from a human to a shinigami and then to an angel.
Sitting up in her bed, Meroko looked around, glancing at the clock to see that it was 4:30 in the morning on Sunday.
"Those people again..." Meroko sat up, sighing. "It feels almost as if my memories are trying to tell me something... My mind has no idea who they are, but my heart and my memories still seem to be holding on to them. I wonder what's going on..."
Getting up from her bed, Meroko opened up the closet that she'd put her clothes into. She took out the outfit that she had picked out for herself yesterday and put it on. It was a pink dress with a few lace bows on it. Underneath she wore a pair of white stockings that fit the outfit. Lastly, she tied her hair up into a little bow at the back, letting the front flip forward.
"There!" She smiled in satisfaction. "I'll show Ochiai later."
Hearing a laugh from behind her, Meroko turned around to see Ochiai standing at the doorway. She immediately blushed. "Ochiai... h-how long have you been there?"
"Just long enough to see you finish tying up your hair," Ochiai reassured her. "You look very beautiful."
Meroko blushed further, her face turning a new shade of red. "Well thanks... you're very sweet."
Ochiai smiled. "Yeah, sure I am." He pointed out the window. "It's about the time for sunrise. Would you like to sit outside and watch it with me?"
Meroko nodded and stretched, following Ochiai out of the house. "Sure, that sounds nice."
The two of them went outside and Ochiai lead Meroko up to a hill a little away from his house. They sat down on the top and watched as the sun began to rise.
"Wow..." Meroko watched in amazement. "So beautiful..." She looked over at Ochiai who was staring in contentment at the sunrise as well.
As they watched, Meroko started to slowly fall asleep again, still tired from awaking so early. She rested her head over and Ochiai's shoulder, breathing heavily.
As she slept, Ochiai looked down at her. He stared down at her face, tired but happy. "You're right," he whispered. "You're very beautiful."