Stardust: (A Starlight after story)

She woke up with a start. The waves crashed on the shore as the salty scent of the sea wafted in the night breeze. It was dark and cold, she was lying down on the shore all by herself, tiny grains of sand filling the spaces between her fingers. The entire beach was desolated and all she could recognize was the dead corals washed ashore. Though she was a bit underdressed for the weather, hence making her shiver, she never budged an inch. She was glued on the ground as if she had no control of her body.

Her chest heaved as she registered the fine grains of sand underneath. Her fists scrunched, feeling the slight dampness and softness of the sand and continued to play with the grains. Surely she was on the shore, she could hear the sea and feel it touching her ankles a little.

She remained still, immobile like a log. Her face was fixated to stare at the sky, and as she gazed at it she coud not help but shed a tear or two. There was no exact reason why tear up, she could not think of any, yet the warm tears continued to trickle down. It was melancholic to look at the night sky, seeing those stars where too much to take in by her pangful chest.

Raising an arm as though she was trying to reach the sky, words parted her trembling lips. "Where am I?" she asked, voice shaking. "Who am I?"

In silence she found the answer.

She was...no one.

"You must have gotten used to living here now, but...can I really leave shopping to you?"

A pair of warm blue eyes looked at her warily. She was aware that her offer would have startled him since this would the first time she actually volunteered to do the weekend shopping - or to do anything particularly. Heaving a sigh, she nodded. It must not take long to convince him, no?

"I can come with you so just be to sure. You can't blame me if I worry a lot, yes? This is just too sudden, I'm not prepared for that question," he said jokingly, his hand found the back of his neck. She could see through that humour nevertheless. This guy was too worried to let her go. He had been acting like an older brother or father to her, but in reality he was a hospitable host who took her in. She, the stray.

"It's not even a question, Kaito. It's an offer." She didn't mean to sound as dry as that, but it happened anyway. She only meant to help in her own little way, nothing too big. Why was fate not siding her whenever she would try acting sincere? "I don't want to be a burden in the household. I want to show you that I can help."

"That's not necessary at all. You're a guest," Kaito sighed and untucked the shopping list pinned on the fridge door. The unruly handwriting was surely Meiko's. Speaking of that woman, where was she? His wife was supposed to do the shopping today, so he wouldn't let anyone else take responsibility. No, not even their guest.

Her blue eyes followed him as he stood before the fridge, closely reading his expressions. Shoulders sagging, occasional sighing, face wrinkling - no, at this rate he wouldn't let her go. Why was he hesitant about handing the simple task to her? She was a grown-up, she could handle such thing. The grocery store was a short walk away from the house, there was nothing to worry at all.

"Actually, I've been staying here for over a month. I don't know if you really still think of me as a guest rather than an orphan - I can't remember who I am, where I'm from - so, to return your kindness, let me do Meiko's shopping."

"You speak so formal," he chuckled, waving his hand in the air to dismiss the choking formality going on in here. "This house is welcome to all kind-hearted people like you. Taking you in isn't a burden, Miku. Don't take it that way."

"Then let me go," she insisted, amplifying her voice a little to make her sound eager. Well, she really was. This young couple was making her feel like a useless adolescent when she completely looked like a young adult. She guessed she was eighteen or something older, and Meiko told her that she looked like one, too. This time, Kaito gave in and handed her the shopping list. He went on a tirade of reminders about the things she was really worst – crossing the streets and asking with politeness, and the man did not stop until he was practically walking her out of the yard.

"You sound like a father," Miku interrupted him, her statement caught him off guard.

Kaito chuckled, blushing a little on how he went overboard. "Well, maybe I really want to be one."

She watched him look away, his shoulders slumping down. Without any warning, Miku blurted out what she guessed was true. "Don't worry. Meiko's carrying a life in her belly."

Miku left the man flustered. He ran back inside the house, and perhaps he gave his wife a call. And while Miku enjoyed how joyous her guardian became because of the news, she picked her way to shop.

Who she really was before the couple found her on the shore remained unknown until today. She fed herself with lies, that her memories would come back soon, and she continued feeding herself so. These past days made her feel want to end such illusion; she just wanted to remember who she used to be. Miku asked herself oftentimes, if she liked the starry night as much as she liked it now. She wondered if she liked high places in the past too. It would be nice if she could meet her old self.

Miku looked down from the edge of road, pushing herself against the railing while glancing at the shore. The waves crashed on the shore, removing all prints left by the birds and people. Miku sighed, remembering how she woke up on the same scenery. Closing her eyes, she stretched her arms in the air and savored the cool breeze.

The wind lifted her teal hair from her shoulders, fluttering behind her. Miku wished the wind could whisper her identity, but again all her thoughts were futile. The shopping list Kaito had given her slipped from her hand and drifted in the wind, and she never chased that piece of paper. The wind blew harder, and Miku felt like the wind was asking her to reach out for the invisible arms of the wind. She continued to balance herself on the ledge while the wind blew harsher every second. Moving forward, Miku felt the cold railing pressing against her waist.

"Fuck, don't jump!" Miku's eyes fluttered open when she felt arms to wrap on her waist. In one strong pull, she was dragged away from the ledge. "Life is so precious, you see! If you don't have a will to live, man, I'm gonna give you one! Just don't kill yourself!"

Annoyance boiled her blood as her hands instantly clawed on the fair arms around her waist. If this person was trying to save her, well, he had the most unconvincing words there.

"Will you please let me go!?" Miku buried her nails deep in his skin and looked around to see who was ruining her little moment with her thoughts.

His blond fringe almost got in her eyes, and just then she realized just how close he was. Miku was lost in those azure eyes that looked like the sea. And it seemed like she was not the only one surprised.

"Miku?"

"How did you know my name?" Miku stopped clawing him, and instead she tried removed herself from him through pushing his arms. "Who are you?"

And before she could get an answer, another person came into view. The black-haired guy fell on his knees as he pushed the bike aside. He was panting way too hard, perhaps he was unused to the slope in this place.

"What the hell, Len? Why did you run away from your sister and I–" he stopped talking when he saw the girl in Len's arms. "Miku?"

The girl gulped, confusion evident on her face. A moment ago, she was asking the wind to whisper to her who she used to be. Her voice quivered as she asked, "Do you...really know who I am?"

a/n. this is based on the story allechant and i wrote together before. lololol. dunno, just random stuff. an after story of starlight. OKAY that explains it.