YOROKOBI-KANASHIMI

Chapter 10: The Wish They Shared

Alternate Titles: The Things I Wish to Convey,

Listening to: Dazzling Smile by Hanazawa Kana

So, I had a whole thing where I replied to a few reviews explaining myself, but I can't really since i've let everyone down far to many times with this story. As a writer and author, nothing can excuse my lax behavior with my stories; especially one that the community has been looking forward to for forever. I'm sorry *bows*. I look forward to completing this tale that I've locked away in my fingers and head, so I hope you all can bear with it!

This chapter is pretty choppy, but I'm slowly but surely building it up to the finale. Wish me luck!

Kiss and cry

You showed me how to love

I'll show you how to live

This is more than just a daydream

"Fujimoto-kun."

Idiot.

"Hellooooo, Fujimoto-kun!"

You stupid idiot.

"Fujimoto-kun!"

"Ouch," I winced when the spine of Haruka's binder struck me at the top of my head. I frowned irately at my secretary but her hard gaze dampened my glare. I could see the question and concern in her eyes and sighed before taking my glasses off. I had returned to work the next day and haven't said a word to her about Hanato. I suppose I do owe her an explanation. "I'm alright, Haruka-san."

"Did you get to say what you wanted to say?" she asked softly, almost the same way Sayaka used to talk to me when I was younger and sometimes even now. I shook my head.

"No… Things got a little more complicated actually." A heavy sigh escaped me and I ran a hand through my hair. I should really cut it one of these days… "I think I messed up big time."

"What did you do?" her tone wasn't accusatory or scolding. Rather, it was curious—mother-like if I dare say so myself. She sat in the chair opposite my desk and placed the files she had in her hands on the dark wood surface.

Work had been piling up while I've been trying to "woo" the girl of my dreams. Reality sucks.

"Blaming reality won't make the situation any better."

"Huh?"

"You were thinking out loud again."

I groaned and leaned back in my chair. "It's not like I wasn't prepared to run into any obstacles…"

A loud knock on the door cause both of them to stop. The knocking only grew louder until Haruka hurriedly went to answer it. Just before her hand touched the knob the door was tugged forcefully open and a not-so-friendly face was on the other side.

"Ioryogi?" I asked in shock and stood up. There was deep snarl on his face and it looked like it took every ounce of his self-control not to do a repeat of the alley. Haruka backed away from the intimidating intruder. I had nearly forgotten about him, and if the situation wasn't so daunting then I would have made fun of his colorful blue attire. Shame.

"I thought I warned you, kid. No second thoughts!" he ignored Haruka's warning to call the police and went right up in my face. Before she could get her phone I put my hand up in a halting motion.

"That's alright, Haruka-san. Go outside and don't call security. He won't cause any trouble."

"But—"

"Trust me. I'll explain later," I looked at her and tried my best to muster a smile. It must have looked pathetic, but she simply nodded and exited the room. I sighed and leaned on the back of the couch in my office. "So?"

"So? SO?" he growled but after a few deep breaths it seemed like he regained a bit of calm. "I thought I told you not to hesitate anymore. Now look what happened, dumbass!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Kobato." At the name I tensed up but I fought to hide it. He reached into his pockets and pulled out a handkerchief that contained the little piece of Konpeito that I gave him before. The initial crack was now deeper and its pink color was fading to a dull white. "This is what happens when you can't make a decision."

"What am I supposed to get from looking at this?" I couldn't help but retort in irritation. This angry skirting around the subject was doing nothing but making a mess of my office and what is left of my sanity. Heaven and hell be damned if they bring the wrath of my boss.

"This," he began, "Is what is left of Kobato's soul. I found out after doing some more digging."

"Her…soul?"

Ioryogi nodded. "Her memories. Her feelings. Everything that she was up until that moment she disappeared four years ago. It's all compressed in this tiny little form."

I sat down on the black sofa of my office as I tried to organize the information. "Wait. If that's Kobato's soul, then who is Hanato?"

The taller male sighed and sat on the opposite couch from me. It looked strange to see him so…civil; especially after how he forced his way into my office, but now that I had a moment to really look at him he looked worse than I did. There were dark bags under his eyes and his brow was a little less furrowed than before. "Hanato's existence is treated as an abnormality, which is the main reason why Sai—Maiko had to watch over her and her brother Kojiro. These sort of affairs are usually treated with care to respect the balance. Kobato was supposed to be reborn."

"But?"

"On the night she disappeared from Earth that light was supposed to engulf everything she was and return it to the cycle. That is how the system of rebirth happens," Ioryogi explained. "But something happened to disrupt the process."

I tried hard to remember the night that I used to try so hard to repress. My lungs remember each burning breath I took. My legs remember the stretch of muscle tissue as I ran across town. My hand remembers the cold touch of a barrier and the absence of her warmth.

"That light… Didn't it break?"

Ioryogi brought his fingers to his chin. "That does sound like it could interrupt the process. That was also when your konpeito made contact with her—so that might have been when her soul clung to you. Tch, idiot…" he placed the candy on the desk. "When humans make wishes, it usually results in a curse. Those curses stay in the world of the living and create miasma that demons love. They prey on the living and feed of their despair and regret. When she left, how was it for you?"

"Everyone forgot she existed. I did for a while, too. It's strange though," I couldn't help but let the shadow of a smile reach my lips. "Even though she was gone for four years, it always felt like she was right beside me. Sure, I went through some pretty hard times, but…not once did I ever regret meeting her."

He had the gall the grin smugly and leaned back into the leather couch. "Sounds like love, boy."

"Shut up, you stuffed animal." I retorted but mentally thanked him for the change in mood.

"How far does it go though, I wonder." Ioryogi's tone shifted once more into seriousness. "I've heard about Hanato's condition from Maiko. I can tell you now that no human medicine is going to cure it."

"I figured as much. There can't be anything normal about that girl."

"Glad to know you're starting to catch on quick. It only took you four years."

I ignored his snark and continued from where I was going. "So, I'm assuming you barged into my office to tell me how to fix this."

He gestured back to the konpeito, which now looked even duller in color compared to how it looked earlier. "This. I'm giving this back to you. You'll know how to use it when the time comes, and its coming soon. If this thing breaks before then… Well, let's just say you don't want to screw up." Ioryogi got up from the sofa and made his way to the door. "Don't mess up this last chance, boy."

"I won't."

Once he left, Haruka re-entered the room (albeit hesitantly) and asked if I was alright. I waved off her concern and told her that Ioryogi was an acquaintance of Hanato (I wasn't exactly lying).

"Haruka-san. I need you to pull off a miracle. Can you do it?"

She gave me a look of surprise before laughing.

"Heaven and Hell couldn't stop me."

Her legs wobbled as she tried to maintain her balance in the piano room. Touya managed to catch her just before she fell and let her lean on him for support. In his rush, his elbow knocked against a few keys on the piano, creating a ring of discord in the room.

"Kobato, you don't have to keep pushing yourself!" he scolded. She merely smiled and shook her head.

"It's the only way I'll get it through to him." She took the glass of water he offered her and allowed it to quench her parched throat from singing all day.

He frowned but couldn't find it in him to push any further. The sheer look of determination on her face through her pain was too heartbreaking to argue with. "You know, Fujimoto would understand if you just told him. He won't… He won't be disillusioned or anything."

"I know. Even though he tries to hide it, Fujimoto-san is kind. He wouldn't do anything to hurt me on purpose." She brought her hands to her chest and clenched the fabric that was there. "So before we hurt each other even more, I have to do this. I don't know how to do it any other way."

Touya sighed in defeat and sat back down near the piano. Hanato steadied herself by the open window once more and took a deep breath. It felt like fire in her lungs, but she pushed past it.

One last time… She had to be able to do it with a smile, or else it would all be for nothing.

"I'm home," I mumbled to no one in particular as I lazily kicked off my shoes and set them to the side. I was able to take care of a few clients on the phone without difficulty, but one couple came in about divorcing each other. I hated dealing with these cases the most. Usually I handed them off to my other co-workers, but thanks to the 'favor' I'm squeezing out of my assistant, I'm stuck with dealing with the divorces. I had to sit in the room and listen to them banter back and forth—who gets what and who pays who. I was close to cursing them both out when they brought up who was going to take care of their kid.

Some wounds never heal, I guess.

My eyes turned to the manila envelope filled with the sheet music and tickets. The letter rested on top. I must have read it a hundred times by now. It was frightening how similar the letter was to the words Kobato said four years ago. I think it was then that things began to roll downhill. It still rings true today.

"I swear, that girl is making my hair turn grey and I'm not even 30 yet." I groaned and plopped myself down on the couch. I pulled out a handkerchief out of my jacket pocket and unwrapped it to reveal the cracked konpeito inside. "I'll know how to use it…huh."

'Are you where you wanted to go?' I wanted to ask her. I wanted to ask her so much more. Why did you waste your time on someone like me? Why couldn't you be more selfish? Why…

"The person I care about most…loves someone else."

Why are you still smiling?

"Ah," I sat up with a start and put my hand to head. That wasn't Kobato…

'Fujimoto-san,' I could hear her again and I closed my eyes as if it would help me listen. When I did that, it was as if I felt two arms drape on my shoulders and embrace me loosely. 'Tell her clearly. That girl needs to know the truth.'

One last time. And this time, I won't let her out of my sight.

"I guess this time I'm the one that's late, huh?" I chuckle. The invisible warmth disappeared and I reopened my eyes. "Thank you, Kobato."

A/N: Why hello there, beautiful people. Before you start throwing pitch forks in my direction, I'm gonna get on my knees and beg for forgiveness XD. Ultimately I know how it ends. The tough part is actually writing it. Welp, just like the last chapter, we're counting down to the ending! Fujimoto is finally confronting his feelings head on instead of skirting around them in fear. Let's hope they reach her in time *cough cough*.