Garden of Memories [preview]
Once upon a boring afternoon, Yuzuki Kaoru dazed in her tent within the woods of Hiroshima. I wonder if anything fun will happen. Nothing EVER happens anymore. Not since mom and dad… But she couldn’t finish that thought. She couldn’t think about the terrible things that her mom and dad went through.
Before they died.
* * * * * *
“Yuzuki! Come on!” Yuzuki’s dad called up the stairs. “You’re going to be late!”
“Gomenasai! Sorry!” Yuzuki shouted down. She ran around the room, trying to find her purse and shoes. Typical Friday night, she thought. At last, she found them. “Coming!” She practically flew down the stairs and into the car. “Love you!” she called to her mom.
“Be good at Yashi’s house!” her mom yelled, with a hint of nervousness in her voice.
“I will! Love you!” Yuzuki sighed. Free at last… Almost. Just gotta get to Yashi’s house. She thought of the things she was going to do this weekend. “Thanks dad!” she climbed out of the car. “Love you!” she hurriedly gave a kiss on the cheek to her dad, and ran to meet Yashi at the door.
“ZUKIIIII!!!!” Yashi literally jumped at her best friend. “Oh yeahh! Almost forgot! Good-bye, Mr. Kaoru!” she waved at Yuzuki’s dad. “Thanks for dropping her off!” She yelled at the silver Pontiac that was pulling away. “This will be one fun weekend. Come on!” As they walked up the stairs to Yashi’s room, a loud CRASH! could be heard from outside. “Whoa, what was THAT?!” the girls screamed in unison. As they ran out to the street, a tower of smoke could be seen in the distance. Inside, a familiar silver Pontiac was lying in pieces.
“…Dad…” Yuzuki was glued to the spot. Run, idiot… RUN! While her mind and feet were conflicting on running and screaming to her dad, Yashi ran to dial 911. “…DAD!” finally, the senses cooperated and let Yuzuki run to her dad.
“Yuzuki! The ambulances are on their way!” Yashi yelled to her friend, and ran back in.
By this time, Yuzuki had already reached her dad, and was trying to dig him out of the rubble. Suddenly, a boy, who looked about the age of 17 years old, emerged from the midst of the wreck. “H-hello?” she said. “Who are you? And what happened?!” she grew madder by the second. Who is this guy... and why isn’t dad coming out of there, too?!
“I’m Kyouya. As for what happened, I have no idea. But, I’m sorry to say... your dad didn’t make it. I heard you yell for him, so I woke up. Good thing, too. But, I looked for your dad, and... Well, you can see for yourse--” But he was cut off by Yashi.
“Yuzuki! Yuzuki, I’m so sorry. But, your mom... On her way here, she was in an accident as well. I’m so sorry, ‘Zuki, I really am.” She tried comforting her friend.
“MOM!!! MOM... Mom... Dad...” she collapsed in Kyouya’s arms. That fateful news stayed with her for a while.
* * * * * *
As Yuzuki sat in her tent, she replayed that tragic day in her head over and over. That man... Kyouya... There was something about him... Something I can’t put my finger on. He was just so... polite. Is it really possible for someone to be so polite after just about dying? No. It’s not. Then who is he?
Yuzuki got out her book, and began to read. She was reading for about an hour, when she turned to her photo of her parents. “Well, mom, dad, I better go get something to eat. Be right back!” She walked outside to the pond, and washed her face. But then, she heard a rustling from the bushes behind her. “Who’s there?!” she nearly screamed.
“Relax, relax, I come in peace!” A familiar face emerged from the bushes. “Yuzuki.”
“K-Kyouya?!” She could hardly believe her eyes. He was here. Right here! “What are you doing here?”
“I was about to ask you the same thing. You see, this is Haneul property.” Kyouya explained.
“Oh... I’m sorry. But, you see, I have no where else to stay, and...” she quickly explained.
“Whoa, hold up. So you’re staying in a tent in the woods on my family’s property? For how long?”
“A little while... A few months, maybe? But I didn’t know that it belonged to your family... If you’d like, I can move out right away, but... Wait... I have no where else to stay... Oh-oh...”
“Relax, relax. Come with me, and I’ll ask my cousin if you can stay at our house.” Kyouya brought Yuzuki back through the woods, and to a house.
“Ooh, it’s so pretty!” Yuzuki glanced around at the scenery and the house before her. Two sliding doors at the entryway, and beautiful trees all around. There was a small stream flowing down by the side of the house. Everywhere you looked, there were green grasses, like oceans of green water.
“Yunho, I found someone! Yuzuki, come here.” Kyouya said, turning to Yuzuki. “Yunho, Yuzuki. Yuzuki, Yunho.”
“H-Hello, Yunho. Nice to meet you.” Yuzuki introduced herself.
“Likewise, Yuzuki. Now, for what reason have you come here, you two?”
“I do live here, you know, Yunho.” Sungmin said. “But, I found Yuzuki in the woods today. She apparently has no place to stay. Can she stay with us?”
“Hmm... Well, I suppose so.” Yunho approved. “Yuzuki, do you have any clothes or anything you need?”
“Yes, actually... But I’ll go get them. I wouldn’t want to impose!” she turned to go back to her tent, but Kyouya stopped her.
“No, no, you wouldn’t be imposing! I’ll come with you to help. After all, I am the one who brought you here.” Kyouya walked to Yuzuki’s side and walked with her back to the tent. As they looked in, he said, “Jeez, Yuzuki, is this all you have? Some clothes, your school stuff, a box of food, and your parents’ photo? Don’t you ever carry anything else around?”
“Um, no, actually... This is all I carry. It’s all I can carry... But thank you for helping! I couldn’t have carried it all on my own...”
“No problem. Now let’s head back.” Sungmin said. When they got back to the house, he led Yuzuki upstairs, to the room she’d be staying in. “If there’s anything you need, let us know. Alright?” Kyouya told her with a smile.
“Alright! I will. Thank you again for helping me!” Yuzuki yelled after him as he walked down the hall. “Now... to start unpacking, I guess I’ll start with my clothes over th--” All of a sudden, part of the roof came in with a CRASH. A boy came crashing down through the roof, and landed in the middle of the room. “EEP!” Yuzuki yelled.
“So if it isn’t you, stupid cat. You decided to come home?” Kyouya said, rolling up his sleeves as he walked in the room.
It’s as if he were preparing for a fight... Yuzuki thought.
“You bet I did, stupid rat. Now today is the day I beat you!” the boy ran towards Kyouya.
“NO! You mustn’t fight!” Yuzuki screamed, and ran forward to hold the boy back. Suddenly, there was orange smoke, and she was holding a cat. “What... What just happened?!” she looked back from the cat to Kyouya and Yunho.
“Great... Now she knows...” the cat said.
“Way to go, stupid cat. Now what are we supposed to do?” Kyouya sighed.
“The only thing we can do. Tell her.” Yunho turned to Kyouya, who nodded. As he turned back to face Yuzuki, he started to explain. “You see, our family, the Haneuls, is cursed. The curse has been passed down through our family for generations upon generations. Whenever someone of the opposite gender, who isn’t also cursed, hugs us, we transform. There are 13 of us who are cursed, each one turning into one of the zodiac members. However, Sungmin here, who is cursed by the cat, was left out. I’m assuming you know the story?” Yuzuki nodded. “Well, then you know the rest. Basically, we turn into animals when we’re hugged. I’m cursed with the spirit of the dog, Kyouya with the spirit of the rat, and Sungmin here with the vengeful cat.”
“Wow... This is kind of... No, really a surprise. That would explain why-” but she was interrupted by another audible poof and smoke. “Oh... OH, dear...” Yuzuki quickly looked away as Sungmin changed back to human form.
“Eheh. I didn’t get to that part, did I? We do change back, but the time between transformations varies. There’s no telling when it’ll happen. And when we do, we’re completely naked.” Yunho apologized.
“I kind of figured that out...” Yuzuki was still turned around, due to the extreme shade of pink she turned when Sungmin turned back.
“Well, what does everyone say about eating? I’m starved.” Yunho walked out of the room, with the now-dressed Sungmin.
“C’mon, let’s go eat, Yuzuki.” Kyouya led Yuzuki out of the room, to the dining room.
* * *
After school the next day, as Kyouya and Yuzuki were walking “home” together, Yuzuki struck up a conversation. “I never knew we went to the same school! Wow... I guess this is a small world after all, huh?”
“Yeah, I guess it is...” Kyouya seemed to daydream as he walked. Better not interrupt his thoughts... Yuzuki thought to herself.
Once upon a boring afternoon, Yuzuki Kaoru dazed in her tent within the woods of Hiroshima. I wonder if anything fun will happen. Nothing EVER happens anymore. Not since mom and dad… But she couldn’t finish that thought. She couldn’t think about the terrible things that her mom and dad went through.
Before they died.
* * * * * *
“Yuzuki! Come on!” Yuzuki’s dad called up the stairs. “You’re going to be late!”
“Gomenasai! Sorry!” Yuzuki shouted down. She ran around the room, trying to find her purse and shoes. Typical Friday night, she thought. At last, she found them. “Coming!” She practically flew down the stairs and into the car. “Love you!” she called to her mom.
“Be good at Yashi’s house!” her mom yelled, with a hint of nervousness in her voice.
“I will! Love you!” Yuzuki sighed. Free at last… Almost. Just gotta get to Yashi’s house. She thought of the things she was going to do this weekend. “Thanks dad!” she climbed out of the car. “Love you!” she hurriedly gave a kiss on the cheek to her dad, and ran to meet Yashi at the door.
“ZUKIIIII!!!!” Yashi literally jumped at her best friend. “Oh yeahh! Almost forgot! Good-bye, Mr. Kaoru!” she waved at Yuzuki’s dad. “Thanks for dropping her off!” She yelled at the silver Pontiac that was pulling away. “This will be one fun weekend. Come on!” As they walked up the stairs to Yashi’s room, a loud CRASH! could be heard from outside. “Whoa, what was THAT?!” the girls screamed in unison. As they ran out to the street, a tower of smoke could be seen in the distance. Inside, a familiar silver Pontiac was lying in pieces.
“…Dad…” Yuzuki was glued to the spot. Run, idiot… RUN! While her mind and feet were conflicting on running and screaming to her dad, Yashi ran to dial 911. “…DAD!” finally, the senses cooperated and let Yuzuki run to her dad.
“Yuzuki! The ambulances are on their way!” Yashi yelled to her friend, and ran back in.
By this time, Yuzuki had already reached her dad, and was trying to dig him out of the rubble. Suddenly, a boy, who looked about the age of 17 years old, emerged from the midst of the wreck. “H-hello?” she said. “Who are you? And what happened?!” she grew madder by the second. Who is this guy... and why isn’t dad coming out of there, too?!
“I’m Kyouya. As for what happened, I have no idea. But, I’m sorry to say... your dad didn’t make it. I heard you yell for him, so I woke up. Good thing, too. But, I looked for your dad, and... Well, you can see for yourse--” But he was cut off by Yashi.
“Yuzuki! Yuzuki, I’m so sorry. But, your mom... On her way here, she was in an accident as well. I’m so sorry, ‘Zuki, I really am.” She tried comforting her friend.
“MOM!!! MOM... Mom... Dad...” she collapsed in Kyouya’s arms. That fateful news stayed with her for a while.
* * * * * *
As Yuzuki sat in her tent, she replayed that tragic day in her head over and over. That man... Kyouya... There was something about him... Something I can’t put my finger on. He was just so... polite. Is it really possible for someone to be so polite after just about dying? No. It’s not. Then who is he?
Yuzuki got out her book, and began to read. She was reading for about an hour, when she turned to her photo of her parents. “Well, mom, dad, I better go get something to eat. Be right back!” She walked outside to the pond, and washed her face. But then, she heard a rustling from the bushes behind her. “Who’s there?!” she nearly screamed.
“Relax, relax, I come in peace!” A familiar face emerged from the bushes. “Yuzuki.”
“K-Kyouya?!” She could hardly believe her eyes. He was here. Right here! “What are you doing here?”
“I was about to ask you the same thing. You see, this is Haneul property.” Kyouya explained.
“Oh... I’m sorry. But, you see, I have no where else to stay, and...” she quickly explained.
“Whoa, hold up. So you’re staying in a tent in the woods on my family’s property? For how long?”
“A little while... A few months, maybe? But I didn’t know that it belonged to your family... If you’d like, I can move out right away, but... Wait... I have no where else to stay... Oh-oh...”
“Relax, relax. Come with me, and I’ll ask my cousin if you can stay at our house.” Kyouya brought Yuzuki back through the woods, and to a house.
“Ooh, it’s so pretty!” Yuzuki glanced around at the scenery and the house before her. Two sliding doors at the entryway, and beautiful trees all around. There was a small stream flowing down by the side of the house. Everywhere you looked, there were green grasses, like oceans of green water.
“Yunho, I found someone! Yuzuki, come here.” Kyouya said, turning to Yuzuki. “Yunho, Yuzuki. Yuzuki, Yunho.”
“H-Hello, Yunho. Nice to meet you.” Yuzuki introduced herself.
“Likewise, Yuzuki. Now, for what reason have you come here, you two?”
“I do live here, you know, Yunho.” Sungmin said. “But, I found Yuzuki in the woods today. She apparently has no place to stay. Can she stay with us?”
“Hmm... Well, I suppose so.” Yunho approved. “Yuzuki, do you have any clothes or anything you need?”
“Yes, actually... But I’ll go get them. I wouldn’t want to impose!” she turned to go back to her tent, but Kyouya stopped her.
“No, no, you wouldn’t be imposing! I’ll come with you to help. After all, I am the one who brought you here.” Kyouya walked to Yuzuki’s side and walked with her back to the tent. As they looked in, he said, “Jeez, Yuzuki, is this all you have? Some clothes, your school stuff, a box of food, and your parents’ photo? Don’t you ever carry anything else around?”
“Um, no, actually... This is all I carry. It’s all I can carry... But thank you for helping! I couldn’t have carried it all on my own...”
“No problem. Now let’s head back.” Sungmin said. When they got back to the house, he led Yuzuki upstairs, to the room she’d be staying in. “If there’s anything you need, let us know. Alright?” Kyouya told her with a smile.
“Alright! I will. Thank you again for helping me!” Yuzuki yelled after him as he walked down the hall. “Now... to start unpacking, I guess I’ll start with my clothes over th--” All of a sudden, part of the roof came in with a CRASH. A boy came crashing down through the roof, and landed in the middle of the room. “EEP!” Yuzuki yelled.
“So if it isn’t you, stupid cat. You decided to come home?” Kyouya said, rolling up his sleeves as he walked in the room.
It’s as if he were preparing for a fight... Yuzuki thought.
“You bet I did, stupid rat. Now today is the day I beat you!” the boy ran towards Kyouya.
“NO! You mustn’t fight!” Yuzuki screamed, and ran forward to hold the boy back. Suddenly, there was orange smoke, and she was holding a cat. “What... What just happened?!” she looked back from the cat to Kyouya and Yunho.
“Great... Now she knows...” the cat said.
“Way to go, stupid cat. Now what are we supposed to do?” Kyouya sighed.
“The only thing we can do. Tell her.” Yunho turned to Kyouya, who nodded. As he turned back to face Yuzuki, he started to explain. “You see, our family, the Haneuls, is cursed. The curse has been passed down through our family for generations upon generations. Whenever someone of the opposite gender, who isn’t also cursed, hugs us, we transform. There are 13 of us who are cursed, each one turning into one of the zodiac members. However, Sungmin here, who is cursed by the cat, was left out. I’m assuming you know the story?” Yuzuki nodded. “Well, then you know the rest. Basically, we turn into animals when we’re hugged. I’m cursed with the spirit of the dog, Kyouya with the spirit of the rat, and Sungmin here with the vengeful cat.”
“Wow... This is kind of... No, really a surprise. That would explain why-” but she was interrupted by another audible poof and smoke. “Oh... OH, dear...” Yuzuki quickly looked away as Sungmin changed back to human form.
“Eheh. I didn’t get to that part, did I? We do change back, but the time between transformations varies. There’s no telling when it’ll happen. And when we do, we’re completely naked.” Yunho apologized.
“I kind of figured that out...” Yuzuki was still turned around, due to the extreme shade of pink she turned when Sungmin turned back.
“Well, what does everyone say about eating? I’m starved.” Yunho walked out of the room, with the now-dressed Sungmin.
“C’mon, let’s go eat, Yuzuki.” Kyouya led Yuzuki out of the room, to the dining room.
* * *
After school the next day, as Kyouya and Yuzuki were walking “home” together, Yuzuki struck up a conversation. “I never knew we went to the same school! Wow... I guess this is a small world after all, huh?”
“Yeah, I guess it is...” Kyouya seemed to daydream as he walked. Better not interrupt his thoughts... Yuzuki thought to herself.
