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Disclaimer: I don't own KHR but I do own Yukiko
Aenakutemo kioku wo tadotte onaji shiawase wo mitai nda
Ano kaori to tomo ni hanabi ga patto hiraku
Even If We Can't Be Together, I Will Remember My Memories
I Want To See The Same Happiness
The Fireworks Burst In A Flush, Together With That Scent
The gleaming moon seemed to cast a spell on the land as every little thing began to look lively. The grass glowed as if they were jewels. The trees became darker and their shadows played in the light. Crickets played their part with their melody as well.
"A penny for your thoughts?" A soft velvet voice asked. I turned to see Hiro behind the trees. I sighed and looked away from him and back towards the beautiful sight.
"Silly Hiro, my thoughts are worth a little more than that." I mused bringing my knees up to my chest and leaned my head against them ignoring the slight shaking in them. Light footsteps made its way to my ears. A hand gently grabbed my shoulder and squeezed it.
I buried my face into my knees trying to get the images out of mind. The screams out of my ears. I wanted silence and peace. It was already hard enough for me not break down right there.
"How are you not affected?" I mumbled my eyes tearing up. I didn't want to cry, especially in front of him.
"I'm better and controlling my emotions than you are. Akane and I both are. We don't let it get to us. But you, Yukiko, you're the one who always was carefree. The type that wore their heart on their sleeve." He grabbed me and pulled me into a hug.
"If it helps, just replace it with a good memory for now. You'll get used to it soon." He whispered softly into my hair. I pushed myself closer to him and bit my lip. My body began to tremble as the images kept repeating itself.
"Become strong Yukiko. For us please." My arms wrapped around him and I buried my head into his shirt. I couldn't hold it in any longer. I cried into his shirt. I cried for that little girl who witnessed her father die in front of her. I cried for the little boy who tried to protect his sister. I cried for killing them both, for staining my hands with their blood.
"T-They..didn't have to die." I whimpered into his shirt my hands clutching it like it was my lifeline. Hiro hugged me tighter and buried his head in my hair.
"If we didn't, they could have grown up to be like them! It was a safety precaution." I pushed him away and stared at him horrified.
"S-Safety precaution? How can they end up like them? They were so young!" I screamed with tears flowing down rapidly. Hiro shook his head and ran his fingers through his dark violet hair.
"Yukiko think about it, they could have became us. Killing for revenge." He stated softly. I looked down at my shaking hands. A soft hand wiped away the tears that seemed never ending. I looked back up at Hiro who gave me a soft smile.
"Think of a good memory, one that will always make you smile." He advised rubbing my cheek. I looked away from him thinking back to the times I actually lived a normal life.
"Fireworks." I mumbled lightly. Hiro made a sound of confusion.
"It's one of my best memories. The last time I was with him we saw the fireworks." I sighed wiping away the rest of the tears. Hiro grunted and shifted to sit down next to me.
"The first kill is always the hardest, you'll get used to it soon." He put a comforting hand on my shoulder again. I bit my lip and wrapped my arms around myself.
"Will I?" I scoffed lightly. It's not easy to become something you're not. It takes a long time.
Hiro sighed and let go of my shoulder. He stood up and ruffled my hair affectionately. I glanced up at him.
"Remember Yukiko, if you ever want to cry or scared come to me or think of a memory. I may not always be there but your memories will." He grinned making smile a little.
'Thank you Hiro." I whispered getting up quickly pulling him into a hug. He wrapped his arms around me.
"What are brothers for?" He chuckled lightly.
"You need to stop being so tense and relax for once kid." Momoko advised rubbing sun tan lotion on her legs. I turned to her and glared.
How can I relax when it's so hot? Also with all these noisy people all around?
"Why did we come to the beach in the first place?" I mumbled crossing my arms. I felt so bare and exposed wearing this one piece bathing suit.
"Stop your whining. Plus you'll get the guys faster this way." She winked at me causing me to blush. What the hell is that supposed to mean?
"I'll come back later so we can change for the festival later tonight. Good luck!" I stared after her in disbelief. Who the hell did this old bat think she was talking to?
I glared at the people at the beach and leaned more into the chair crossing my arms. There was no reason to come to the beach! This is just a waste of time.
"Lambo give it!" A high voice screamed. I turned my attention to see two kids. One had an afro and two ice cream cones in his hand and the other was a girl with a small ponytail on her head.
The boy with the afro laughed and ran faster only to trip and drop both of the ice creams. I sighed and got up.
"Must...tolerate." He whimpered when I got there. The girl looked up at me. I bent down to get a better look at the boy.
"Well this isn't good now is it." I stated pointing to the ice cream cones. They both looked at me.
"Here is this better?" I smiled at them reaching behind the boy's afro with both hands and pulled out two new ice cream cones. Their eyes widened and they both grinned.
"Ne, kid it's not nice to take other people's stuff." I smiled at them giving them the ice cream. The boy laughed and stood up.
"I'm the great Lambo! I guess I'll take you as my subordinate." He stood proudly smirking. I laughed lightly and shook my head.
"I'm I-Pin." The girl said with a Chinese accent.
"Nice to meet you both. I'm Yukiko."
"Ne show us another trick!" Lambo exclaimed happily pulling at my hand. I-Pin nodded in agreement.
"Okay look closely at this." I picked up a small grain of sand. The both stared at it with big eyes. I smiled at how cute they both were. I closed the sand with both my hands and blew into it.
"1..2..3." I opened my hands and a butterfly flew out. Lambo and I-Pin gasped and clapped. I laughed lightly at them. It made me glad to know that my tricks could make someone happy.
"Huh, what's that?" I mumbled lightly looking behind Lambo and I-Pin. There was a big crowd staring out towards the ocean and some of the people were cheering.
I stood up and took a few steps towards the crowd. It was no use since there was somebody in the way. I sighed and looked back at the kids but they weren't there.
What the hell? I thought looking around for them but I couldn't find them. I grunted and crossed my arms. I looked back at the crowd a bit more curious than a second ago. Well a look won't be that bad.
I walked towards the crows and stood by two girls. One with brown hair in a ponytail and another with short orange hair.
"Wow Tsuna-kun!" "You're really fast!" They cheered.
"Tsuna?" I echoed looking out to the ocean. A patch of brown hair was out there with another guy. I stared at the brown hair for a little bit before a smile came onto my face.
"Good luck Tsuna." I whispered a little louder than I thought. Maybe because it shocked me that he knew how to swim since he's been scared of deep waters.
"Hahii! You know Tsuna-kun?" The brunette asked. I looked at her from the corner of my eye and nodded.
"Hey kid, time to go!" All three of us turned and saw the old bat waving towards me. I glared and mumbled some words before looking back at the ocean.
"Ne, tell Tsuna I said good job." I told the two girls. They both gave me a smile and nodded. I sighed and jogged back to the old bat wondering why we were leaving so early.
"Don't worry you'll get time to flirt with him later." She gave me an all knowing smirk. I scoffed and crossed my arms. This old hag was going senile.
"Whatever...Obaa-chan." I taunted smirking.
While I was still in the hospital, I learned that she didn't like being referred to something older than she looks. I still feel sorry for the doctor who mistakenly called her my mother.
She turned and glared at me. My smirk got bigger but was wiped off when she hit me in the back of my head.
"Stupid old bat." I mumbled rubbing the bump now forming on my head. She gave me a look shutting me up real quick.
I stopped and turned back to the crowd. It seems the race was over and Tsuna was talking to some little girl. I sighed and turned away. Maybe it was a mistake coming back. It doesn't seem there's a place for me here now.
It was bright pink and had hearts and flowers all over it. The bow was a darker pink with white stripes in it. My eye twitched at the abnormal brightness it gave off.
"What the hell is...that?" I exclaimed in horror not able to think of what else I could call the pink glob. The old hag chuckled and picked it up.
"Why it's the yukata you're going to wear tonight! Isn't it just beautiful?" She smirked at me holding the thing up to her face.
I glared at her and snatched the yukata holding it far from me. I looked back at her before dropping it onto my bed.
I walked out of the room and walked all the way down to the hall. I looked up and saw a string hanging down from the ceiling. I pulled it hard making stairs. A sigh came down from my mouth as I walked up them into the attic.
"Didn't think I would be doing this so soon." I mumbled to myself searching the wall fro the light. Once the lights were on it showed the many boxes it had covered.
A chest with a dust red cover caught my eye. It was all the way in the back next to something that was covered by a cloth. I walked over to it and bent down.
"A-Achoo!" I sneezed from all the dust, but when I did that more dust came up making me sneeze even more. I rubbed my nose and opened the chest. In it were all sorts of folded cloths with designs on them.
"Which one is it?" I asked lightly pulling out all of the cloths in it. On the bottom of the chest there was a black one with pink sakura petals as a design. I pulled it out and unfolded it.
It was yukata that seemed about my size. The same one she wanted to see on me when I grew up.
"That's a pretty yukata kaa-san!" A squeaky voice exclaimed.
"Of course it is, I picked it out of course." A sweet voice replied.
"Ne, when you grow up, how about I let you where it? I want to see how beautiful my daughter looks in it when she grows up."
"Can I really?"
"Of course silly."
I shook my head closing the chest once I put all the yukatas and kimonos back in. I laid the black one on top and grabbed the handles taking careful steps on my way back down.
It's been so long since I had a memory about her. In fact I can hardly remember what she looks like. The only thing I can really remember was her sweet voice. The one that always sang away my troubles.
I sighed dropping the chest at the corner of my room. I walked towards my dresser and opened the bottom drawer. Pictures laid there untouched with dust covering them.
I grabbed the one that had a flower design on the frame. It was the only one that had less dust on it. The one that was just a picture a two of us.
My mom was wearing just a red shirt button up shirt and had her light brown hair up in a ponytail. Her bright violet eyes sparkled and her lips where up in a loving smile. Next to her was a four-year old me. I was wearing a yellow dress and had my black hair back with a flower pinned to the side of it. My gray eyes were big and shined. My arms were around her neck and huge grin was on my face. In the background was our house.
It was the first day that we had moved to Namimori. The day we were able to start over.
'This is a new beginning for us Yukiko. Let's give it our all and don't ever give up!' Was what she told me after the picture. Those words were something I always took to the heart, that is until she abandoned me.
I closed the drawer and placed the picture on top of the night stand next to my bed.
"Watch over me okay mom. It's the least you can do." I smiled wiping away the dust away from the picture.
Every stand was open and many of them had paper lanterns in front of their stand. People were scattered everywhere and enjoyed the festival.
I sighed and walked aimlessly around the crowd. There was no reason to stay here, yet the old bat always found me when I tried to sneak away.
"Come one, come all!" A voice called out catching my attention. It was an old man who was holding a paper fan.
"Come challenge the great Heiji, the archery star!" I smirked and made my way towards the stand.
"Ne what do I have to do?" I asked crossing my arms. The old man turned to me surprised but grinned.
"All you have to do is pop the balloons in one minute."
"No, against the supposed great Heiji."
The old man started to protest but a guy with dark green hair cut him off.
"It's okay otou-san, let her play." He placed his hand on the old man's shoulder. He nodded and went behind the stand and brought out two slingshots.
"You have to pop the balloons in one minute. Certain balloons contain some prizes and if you beat Heiji before the timer is up, you get a remarkable prize." He explained bringing out two boards with balloons on each.
I smirked to myself and grabbed the slingshot along with the rocks that were there.
"Ready...set..go!"
I squinted my eye and shot at two balloons in the top right corner. Two small prizes came out. Then I shot at the three in the center. I grabbed some more rocks and shot at four in the bottom right corner. There was still eleven left and only twenty seconds remained. I grabbed the rest of the rocks and shot at random. I smirked as each balloon popped two seconds before the timer went off.
"So what's this remarkable prize?" I asked enjoying their expressions.
Heiji sighed and went around the booth. He bent down and grabbed a small bag. He grabbed a black box from inside and handed it towards me. Took it and stared at it a few seconds before opening it.
It was a ring. In the middle was a small amethyst gem with tiny sapphires surrounding it. I closed the box and looked at them
"This looks like it costs a fortune."
The old man sighed and looked out towards the crowd of people.
"My jewelry shop was recently closed down. All the jewelry I made seems useless to me now."
That's no reason to see your jewelry, there must be another reason as to why he was selling them in festival.
I sighed and grabbed the prizes I won and stuffed them into my obi ,next to my fans, since I had nowhere else to put them. I opened the box again and gave a loud gasp.
"So you're saying I'll get this handmade jewelry with these real gems if I win against your son?" I exclaimed loudly getting many of the crowd's attention. They looked up at me in shock.
"Ne, I wish my boyfriend will get me something like this. Plus it's only for ten yen per game." The crowd began to murmur to themselves.
"Ne, ojii-san just because your shop is closed down, doesn't mean your jewelry is useless to you. With your marksmanship these could have been a fortune." I waved goodbye to them and wandered off into the crowd.
Once away I stopped by another booth and looked at all the masks they had. A particular animal mask caught my eye. It was a fox. The whiskers where a dark red along the eyes strokes. The nose was black and the rest was white.
I payed for the mask and rubbed it. It was made of wood and not plastic. It was beautiful.
"It's the magic lady!" A squeaky voice exclaimed. A second later I felt tugging on the bottom of my yukata. I glanced down and saw Lambo and I-Pin. I smiled and bent to their height.
"Shouldn't you guys be with your parents?" I questioned.
"Show us a trick!" Lambo demanded ignoring my question. My eye twitched but I said nothing. I don't do well with people who ignore me.
"Now you seem me..." I whispered waving my hand in front of my face. The next second I appeared somewhere around trees. "Now you don't." I continued smirking.
Stupid kid making go somewhere else! All he had to do was answer the question, but no he wanted to see a trick! Didn't his mother ever teach him some manners?
I grumbled some incoherent things under my breath and made my way through the trees. There was a crowd circling two people. I took a few more cautious steps and saw that it was a guy wearing a black jacket with tonfas and Tsuna. Wait Tsuna? Why is he in his underwear and is that a flame on his head? Did he become a...a...a nudist?
A loud explosion happened nearby. Once the smoke cleared there stood two guys. one had a baseball bat and the other was the idiot from that time with Tsuna, and he had dynamites in his hand. What the hell?
I sighed and looked at the mask that was in my hands. It wouldn't be bad for me to help. I put on the mask and appeared behind two guys.
I grabbed my fans and elbowed them both in the neck knocking them out.
"Ma, I'm sure this can be settled without violence." I stated gaining their attention. "But, I guess it can't be helped can it." I smirked even though they couldn't see it.
"Who the hell are you?" Gokudera growled out holding out his dynamite.
"I'm not an enemy, but I'm not ally either." I whispered in his ear. He turned around quickly a look of surprise on his face.
"An allied combat with Hibari and a mystery fighter." Reborn stated. I looked up at the baby who was standing on top of the pole.
"Don't kid around. I'm just here for the stolen money." I'm guessing Hibari stated.
"No way!" Tsuna cried out and the other two agreed with him.
"Heh, this just seemed like fun." Cutting off the guy that looked like their boss. He glared at me and yelled at the people to get us.
I chuckled lightly and ducked under the guy and hit him with the but of my fan. I did a 360 spin around him and threw up one fan in the air. While their attentions were on the fan I elbowed one guy in the stomach and did a half spin and kicked the other guy. I lifted up my hand and caught the fan.
I gave sad sigh. It seems my fun was over already. I walked towards the guy that held the box. He looked up at me and smirked.
"I won't be fooled like the others." He stated pulling out a knife. I scoffed at him.
"Then why is it that I have the money?" I asked holding the box in my left hand. His eyes widen as he looked to where he held it. I took that time and hit the back of his neck.
The box was snatched out my hands. Tsuna held the box protectively.
"I won't let you take this." His eyes seemed so determined. The flame on his head disappeared and he looked scared.
"W-we worked hard for this." He stated his voice shaking lightly.
"That's right! We won't let you take it!" Gokudera agreed.
"That's the way it is!" The other put in.
"Ma, I was going to give it to you in the first place." I stated shrugging. Hibari smirked and turned his head. I turned towards where he was looking and saw I-Pin and Lambo. My eyes widen. They were the only ones who would know who I am from earlier.
"In that case you owe me one." He stated walking away. I walked towards Lambo and I-Pin.
"Ne, don't tell anyone who I am okay." I whispered holding a finger to the mask. Lambo smirked up at me.
"Show us another trick then!" My eye began to twitch again. This kid is blackmailing me.
"Ask Tsuna to look in money box. There will be two gifts for you." I whispered looking back to see that they were preoccupied with the two girls from the beach and a small boy.
Quickly I went into the cover of the trees and and ran around to where the stair was.
The explosion of fireworks caught my interest. I glanced up and saw all sorts of firework colors. I smiled to myself. It was ironic how my last memory ended us with fireworks and it begins with fireworks.
True we're not together right now, but he has others with him. He seems so happy with his life right now. It's time for me to start being happy with my life as well.
I inhaled the scent that I missed for so many years.
"Okaa-san I wish you were here." I whispered lightly looking back at the mask.
I turned back and glanced at all their faces. I might not be welcomed, but that doesn't mean I can't still protect him and his friends. I want to see him smile like that every time and the friends he has now are most likely the cause of that. For that, I'll protect them so they can have that happiness that was stolen from me.
well there you go!
I hoped you guys liked this chapter!
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