Hello, you lovely people. It has been about 3 years since I finished YLIA and was completely broken over it. I wrote this fanfiction on a whim and tried to continue it. I failed. Miserably. I came back because I got an email because of a review from "Guest". Whoever "Guest" is, thank you. I started to look over my writing and wow, I was bad. I fixed it and I'm going to be rewriting it to fit how I write now which is extra and overly dramatic. I have high hopes so let's see how it goes. Here's the first chapter of After April.

"She's going under!" The doctors frantically tried to keep Kaori Miyazono alive.

Her heart rate, blood pressure, and O2 levels were all dropping. "You're going to be okay. Just breathe!" one of the surgeons urged. "I'm sorry, Kousei" Kaori thought. "I'm sorry we never got to play together again and I'm sorry I was so mean to you. And… I'm sorry I never told you." Her eyes started to close, as a little smile danced on her lips. "I love you."

"You're not leaving me yet, Kaori" Kousei held out his hand smiling. "You still owe me a song." She could see Kousei reaching to her from the riverbank. "That was an amazing night, wasn't it?" she thought. She thought about Watari, Tsubaki, her mom and her dad, the black cat, the dessert shop, her stationary, her violin: all the things that brought her joy. But most importantly, she thought about Kousei. "Come on, you're not giving up here, are you?" She could see Kousei's smile through the water, clear as day. Kaori grinned faintly. "I don't have a choice though, do I?" Kaori reached up and took his hand.

At 14:34, Ms. Kaori Miyazono was brought out of the OR and back into her room.

The last note resonated through the concert hall. Silence filled every nook and cranny as the finale of his performance finally sunk into his audience. Hiroko gripped Koharu's hand just a little bit tighter. Tsubaki keeled over, tears streaming down her face. Watari stood strong for his friend, edging the brink of collapse. Emi and Takashi stared at the screen, not realizing it was over.

At 14:34, Mr. Kousei Arima stood from his seat, bowed, and promptly walked off the stage.

He started to walk a bit faster and then a little more and then a little more until he was in full sprint. He dashed past the officials and ran until he couldn't anymore. He collapsed next to the wall, tears streaking against his blue suit. Kousei started to shake and sob a silent cry. There was nothing, just complete and utter silence as this boy cried for the loss of the only joy in his life. He barely registered Emi and Takashi coming up to him and taking a seat right next to him. There were no words. They were his fellow musicians. They didn't need words. They understood just what he was going through and knew this was all he needed.

The competition went on. Musicians passed. Names were called. Music filled the hall again.

Kousei, Emi, and Takashi simply remained and mourned. Mourned for Kousei and his fallen joy.

"Ugh, my head." Kaori moaned she tried to get up. Everything seemed white and fuzzy. As her eyes focused, two figures came into view.

"Mom?" Kaori asked "Dad?" "Kaori!" Her mom raced towards her to gather her up in her arms. "I'm so glad you're ok!" she said. "Mom, I'm okay." 'You're okay. That's all that matters." Her mother held her as tight as she possibly could, not willing to let her go a second time, tears streaming down her face.

Her dad sat next to her, doing the same. And that was how they stayed, a mother and father filled with silent joy because their daughter was here to stay.

"Hey mom, what happened to me?" she asked. Her mom bit her lip and answered "You had no pulse or heartbeat for a minute, the doctors… the doctors said you were dead."

Kaori's heart dropped as she saw her mom's face. "But Mom, I'm here now." She said with a smile. Her parents smiled back at her. "Oh yeah, and we baked you a batch of your favorite canales." Her dad said as he produces a bag full of Kaori's favorite canales. "Oh wow!" Kaori exclaimed as her eyes sparkled. Her parents chuckled, "She's back."

As she munched on the canales, she asked, "Not that I enjoy your company, but where is everyone?" "The doctors said that nobody was permitted to see you for 48 hours." "Then, how'd you get in?" she asked. "Your mother bawled her eyes out until they let us in." her father smirked. "Oh you!" Ryouko Miyazono said as she playfully hit her husband's arm. "What about my friends?" she asked. "Unless they start crying and throw a tantrum, they're not getting in here until Wednesday." Yoshiyuki Miyazono answered

"You should get some sleep honey," her mother said as she got up to leave. "Get some rest and we'll see you when tomorrow" her father kissed her forehead. "We love you," they said as they walked out. Kaori responded with a little wave. "So I survived it," she thought "Now what?" As she laid down to sleep, her hand slipped underneath the pillow and she felt a piece of paper. She pulled her hand out and found it was a letter with a piece of black cat stationery. "To: Mr. Kousei Arima" it read. She had written this letter a few nights before.

It's strange. Yesterday, she was ready to shout from the rooftops about her love for Kousei and now, she was terrified of the prospect.

"Should I tell him about it or not?" She thought as she strangled herself over it. "I do love Kousei, I know that much… but not yet," she told herself. She turned over and went to sleep.

Miyuki slipped back into the room. Spotting her keys on the other side of Kaori's bed, she reached over to get it when she spotted a letter on Kaori's nightstand.

It was addressed to Kousei and she realized that this was the letter she had promised to send. In all the chaos she forgot, but she put it into her purse and walked out of her daughter's room.

Hiroko, Watari, and Tsubaki all sprinted down the hall. Watari clutched his phone in one hand as his mind raced. Kaori was alive. He couldn't believe it.

They ran around looking for Kousei until they finally found him, collapsed against the wall with his knees pulled, surrounded by his rivals.

Watari went forward and squatted down next to his best friend.

He stared at Kousei until he finally lifted his head up. Their eyes met and Kousei understood.

Kousei understood the phone in his hand. Kousei understood the tears streaked across his face. Kousei understood the relief of the two women by his side. But most of all, Kousei understood the look in Watari's eyes.

Tears made its way back to his eyes as Kousei saw his best friend's mouth move. "She made it" he said. "She made it."

Kousei trudged his way back to his house. He demanded that he be left alone.

He felt her during his performance, that much he could tell. He felt her so strongly, it was like she was there with her.

He felt immense relief, but also something he couldn't quite comprehend. Maybe excitement? Or was it fear? Whatever the case, he realized that he couldn't wait to see her again. Fwick the 48-hour rule.

Kaori Miyazono. The girl that beat him with a shoe. The girl who played music like nothing he had ever seen before. The girl that jumped into the river with him. The girl who loved canales. The girl who loved cats. The girl he loved.

He just couldn't wait to see her again.

Before he knew it, he was home. As he was going inside, he checked the mail. He found a few magazines, a few bills, and for some strange reason, a letter. He turned it over. His heart skipped a beat. The letter was addressed to him with a piece of black cat stationery in Kaori's handwriting.

I'll try to put out the second rewrite soon. Thank you, my guys. Federer is the best.

Grokking24