O.o I totally forgot the disclaimer last chapter…..so here it is

I (Kara) do not own Shugo Chara or any of its characters

Only thing I do own is the writing (duh) and the character Akki

Anyway…thx 2 SparklingDiamondz 4 the Fav.

Thx 2 Haru158 and meimei11 for reviewing (better description in this Chpt Haru158)

Thx 4 the feedback and I hope u peoples enjoy Chpt. 2

Chapter 2

A chance encounter

At the Piano

"ARE YOU LISTENING AKKI?"

I'm snapped out of my daydream. "What?" Zane sighs. "I was asking you what the doctor did the night you were late." "Oh…what he usually does." I reply, rolling up my sleeves. Criss cross cuts laced there way down my arms. Some were just scars, but the ones on my wrists were pink and bled when I flexed my wrist. "Got off pretty easy" Zane commented as he examined my cuts. "Yea, strange since I was two hours late." I roll my sleeve back in place. My light purple shirt did a nice job of covering all the scars…and not just the ones on my arms. Zane hopped off the wall and stretched. "Where are you going?" I ask as I do the same. He starts off down the street. "Old man wanted me for some testing. You go have fun." He calls over his shoulder. I wave and sigh. "What fun is there to have?"

With Zane gone I had no one to talk to.

With nothing else to do I start walking… despite the fact I had no clue where I was going. It'd been a while since I'd been in Japan. And a lot had changed. Only place I knew how to get to was the park…which I decided to avoid. Too many memories there. As I walked through the streets the sound of a piano hit me. The clean notes cleared my cluttered mind. I smiled and headed for the sound's origin. The trail led me to an open field where it looked like a concert of some sort was being set up. There were people setting up a huge outdoor stage. A piano was sitting by it…probably waiting to be taken backstage. Whoever had been playing it was gone. Curious, I decide to get a closer look.

No one stopped me as I approached the piano.

No one even gave me a second glance. I guess my long sleeve light purple shirt and dark blue skirt gave me plenty of camouflage. Weird…I was sure my silver hair with the red ribbon tied in the back would give me away. Ah well. I walked up to the piano and gave it a look over. It was an old one…with a nice finish and gold trim. It was gorgeous and reminded me of the one I used to play. Of coarse back then I played with a violinist. I smile at the thought and sit on the bench. I stretch my fingers out on the keys and a wave of calm over came me. The same way it had in the past. I smile and remember the tune I'd play for him. It was one of few things that made him smile. My fingers begin to move. Next thing I know their dancing along the keys and I'm playing The Empty Swing. Ikuto's favorite song.

The workers all came over to listen to my playing. I could hear my mistakes…but I had my audience enthralled despite them. My fingers danced along the keys… they were overjoyed to be playing again. I couldn't help but smile as I played. It had been a long time. I'd forgotten how happy playing made me. As I gazed out at my audience I realized I'd forgotten how happy my playing had made others. Utau and Ikuto had loved my playing. My smile grew wider at the memory of Utau dancing and singing along with the songs I used to play. Such good times.

Playing was the only way to truly remember them.

I got a standing ovation when I stopped.

I stood up and bowed when I'd finished. My audience clapped and clapped before returning to work. I smiled when I saw how happy they looked as they left. But it faded quickly. I used to play that song over and over just to see one person's smile. I sigh. And he hadn't even heard it. I sat back down on the bench and impulsively reached back and grabbed my hair ribbon. It had been the last thing Ikuto gave me. And it was the only material possession I had form those days. I never took it off. I sigh. "You always were good at piano" a voice interrupted my thoughts. I sit up and search for who'd spoke. "Up here Akki" I look up at the stage. And can't believe my eyes. I bolt off the bench. "IKUTO?"