The Mysterious Kokichi Kinnie

Chapter. 7 Cousins!

     Everyone turned to see that Kokichi had finally arrived. "Nee-hee-hee, did you guys miss li'l ol' me?" he asked as he sauntered into the living room. 

   "Well, we were waiting for you so you could see this," Kaede gestured towards Kiki. Kokichi looked down at Kiki and stood stock still, his lax demeanor fading. Suddenly, his upbeat attitude came back and he started laughing.

   "Wait, is this some kind of joke?" he asked. "Cuz if it is, you guys got me good!"

   "It's not a joke, Kokichi," Kaede responded with a serious face. "We think she may be related to you." Kokichi noticed that Kaede wasn't lying, and he became serious. He then looked down at the little girl.

   "What's your name?" he asked her in a quiet voice. Before answering, the little girl pressed her black umbrella to her mouth, as if to appear shy.

   "Kiki Ouma," she responded loud enough so that Kokichi wouldn't make her repeat herself. Even though Kaede was serious, Kokichi still didn't fully believe what was going on. So, he asked Kiki what he thought that only she would know that the others wouldn't.

   "Your parents," Kokichi began. "What are their names?" At the mention of Kiki's parents, she stiffened a little, and a brief look of melancholy filled her face. But she managed to answer.

    "Akio and Akiko Ouma," Kiki replied. Kokichi's eyes widened. 

    "Th-those are the names of my uncle and aunt," Kokichi said so quietly as if he was talking to himself. "I haven't heard their names in a long time." He had a distant look on his face, lost in his memories of his aunt and uncle. He had been really small when he last saw them; Kiki must not have even been a thought, yet. He remembered how he and his parents used to go visit them every now and then, but ever since Kokichi ran away from home a long time ago, the majority of those memories have been blurry. He shook his head to clear his thoughts, then looked back at Kiki, who looked at him expectantly with the umbrella still covering her mouth. 

   "That means..." Kokichi knelt down to Kiki's level. "...you're my cousin," he finished, a small smile crossing his face as the realization sunk in. Oddly enough for him, he felt a wave of serenity wash over him. Knowing that there was another Ouma around made him feel a little less lonely. He didn't know what his cousin was like, but the fact that she was related to him was good enough for him. Kiki shyly reached out and gently tugged on Kokichi's sleeve.

   "That laugh you just did? That 'nee-hee-hee?'" she spoke in a soft whisper.

   "Yeah?" Kokichi asked just as softly, smiling.

   "I laugh like that, too," she smiled shyly. Kokichi smiled gently at her. Everyone else was watching them intently, so weirded out to see Kokichi being so calm and kind to another soul. But Kokichi and Kiki didn't notice them. Their eyes were locked onto each other's, happy to have found a reason to be less lonely. 

   "Well...I'm glad, Kiki," Kokichi replied, though he was at a loss for words. He reached out his hand for her to shake it. "It's nice to finally meet you." With one hand now holding the umbrella to her mouth, she shyly reached out her other hand, and Kokichi gently shook it. 

  "YOU!!!" An angry voice shouted from the bottom of the stairs. Everyone turned to see Maki staring down Kiki in a murderous way. Maki may not have seen Kiki fully, but there was no mistaking those pale purple eyes and the very pale skin. Kiki also instantly recognized Maki and began to run and scream.