I'm VERY sorry for keeping all of you waiting! I've been ignoring all of my fics for a while. I admit that the chapters are kind of short… I might change that later. The quality of this chapter might not be very good, and I'm sorry for that.

Okuda woke up, and attended to her chores. It was just another normal day after all… not. Morihara-san's loud voice rang from down the hall, shocking the black-haired girl immensely.

"Manami, you have a visitor!"

Who actually would want to see her? She was just a normal and lowly servant after all. Slowly making her way to the doorway, she wondered whether it could be Kayano. That was unlikely, since knowing her outgoing friend, the green-haired girl would always just rush in without notifying Morihara-san.

When Okuda saw that the visitor was Akabane Karma, she froze for a second. He just stood there, cat-like eyes scrutinizing her, as if it was nothing special for a merchant's son to go visit a sweet shop servant, seemingly waiting for a reaction.

"What is Akabane-sama doing here?" She had to remain respectful after all. It was the important rule that no one could forget.

"I wanted to see how the sweet shops work."

Urr… no. I don't think so.

But of course, she would never say that. "You may watch if you wish." After bowing, she quickly shuffled off to the kitchen, all the while aware of the red-haired boy following close behind.

She rummaged around for ingredients, and remembered that she had to go to the grocery today. Sighing, she quickly picked up a basket and started her way out.

"I thought you were going to make sweets or something?" Ah, right. The spectator.

"I need more ingredients, so I am going to the grocery owned by Miya-san right down the street."

"You mean the old man?"

"Yes, and you can follow if you wish." She really had no idea why this aristocrat was taking any interest in her doings. Yes, he had mentioned someone called… Suzune? Maybe she looked like that person. Okuda sighed inwards and decided that she would have to tell Akabane Karma that she did not remember being or seeing this girl ever.

…

Miya-san was as generous as always, and gave her a good amount of gifts for being a 'loyal' customer. The old man's shop had been getting less and less visited lately after all. Something about a rival showing up across the street, or was it a rumor of ghosts?

Okuda decided that the mix-up should be cleared now, since she couldn't have Karma follow her for the whole day.

"Do you still think I'm Suzune?"

Karma raised an eyebrow and then smiled a little. "Yeah. You remember, huh?"

"I'd like you to tell me why you think she's me. Please." Okuda would probably be in big trouble if Karma was ever offended. Not like he appeared to be that kind of person though, since he looked… kind of friendly. Maybe after the whole misunderstanding was cleared up, they could be friendly acquaintances.

"First, you have a bracelet, right?" Karma gestured towards her right wrist, and she slowly nodded after giving her small trinket a glance.

"It was probably given to me a long time ago, since it's too small to take off anymore." Okuda genuinely couldn't remember who it had come from. Her parents, maybe?

"I gave that to Suzune when we were 7. It was made specially, so there should only be one. Yours."

Karma took Okuda's hand before she could say anything, and examined the bracelet before nodding his affirmation.

"It has to be that one. Now how come you don't remember?"

"You see, sir…" Okuda was a little desperate now. She really didn't want ANYTHING to do with the rich merchants! The bespectacled girl missed her peaceful servant life. Now, she was being pursued by this Akabane Karma?! This was so confusing.

Suddenly, someone bumped into her with great force, and she almost fell over, only to have Karma catch her before that could happen. He kept holding her, and only let go when Okuda started wriggling around.

"… Thank you."

"You! Servant girl! That hurt!" The person who had crashed into Okuda was an obese man, and he was seemingly holding her responsible. The black-haired girl gulped, and her mind was in turmoil. What if he demanded payment? What would she do then? By now, this "argument" was attracting a lot of attention, and most of the traffic stopped to watch.

"I'm very sorry, sir…" Okuda decided to apologize and hope that the man wouldn't pursue this. After all, Morihara-san couldn't be looking after her and paying for her mistakes ALL the time!

"An apology won't change the fact that you ruined my kimono!"

"I-I" Okuda didn't know what to do, but someone grabbed her hand. It was Karma.

"Let's run, Okuda-san." With that, he started running, pulling a surprised Okuda along and away from the man who was accusing her. They kept running, and Okuda had to admit that it was comfortable –letting the wind blow her hair all over the place, that is. She had not done this since… when? Okuda kept digging at her vague memories, but she could not remember. She had run like this before… but she just couldn't remember! Was she really Suzune after all?

Okuda realized that they had reached a quieter place, enclosed by cherry trees. The blossoms were still blooming, and the familiar smell calmed her formerly panicking mind.

"What is this place?"

Karma had picked up a petal from the ground and was just… staring at it.

"The place where we said goodbye. Are you sure you don't remember."

"Akabane-san, I'm very sorry, but I really don't remember. Maybe I just look like the Suzune you are searching for. However, I must thank you for rescuing me from that confrontation." Okuda bowed before taking up her basket. She was still debating whether she wanted to get to know Karma. He seemed nice enough, but wouldn't stop asking her if she was his long lost friend.

Karma looked as if he wanted to say something, but nodded.

"Okuda-san, you can call me Karma-kun."

The black-haired girl stopped and hesitated for a while. She turned and gave Karma a small smile. "Sure, Karma-kun."