Author's Note:

With my track record of uploading one chapter and never continuing a story, should I really be starting a new one? No, probably not. But I recently started going back to Animal Crossing Community, and in "celebration", I started a new AC:WW fic. XD;; I really should stop, but I just can't! Lol. Anyway, hope you like. :3

FLY AWAY :: A Brewster Story

chapter i.
a bird's remembrance

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It was another rainy, autumn morning in Toshi, but Kitty made her way down to the Museum regardless. She had been going to the Roost, the coffee shop established in the Museum's basement, everyday since she first moved to this small town several months ago. Brewster, the Roost's owner and operator, had become one of her closest friends, and both appreciated and respected her company and coffee knowledge.

"Hey Brewster!"

"Ah, Kitty! You came! I was sure you'd be staying home today..." the shy pidgeon trailed off.

"Don't be silly," she smiled, waving a hand passively, "Some silly drizzle isn't going to stop me from getting my morning's delicious coffee!" She took off her jacket and draped it on the back of her chair before taking a seat.

"So, what'll it be? The regular?"

"You betcha. Nothin' better to start a day like this." The rain from outside began to fall harder, and she smiled softly as the sound echoed into the basement. Moments later, Brewster held out a dark blue mug filled with her favorite blend. She often boasted to the other villagers about being the only customer Brewster set aside a personal mug for, usually receiving weary or annoyed looks in return.

Sipping quietly at her steaming beverage, Kitty watched Brewster carefully washing his cups out of the corner of her eye. Their silence did not mean they felt awkward or bored, but represented their mutual feelings of comfort around each other. However, when they did break the silence, it was usually Kitty who did the talking. Brewster was a bird of few words, but she appreciated all the words he shared.

Today, however, felt slightly off. She had only moved into Toshi seven or eight months ago, and was unaware of any personal anniversaries Brewster observed. She had heard some of the other villagers mention that around this time of year, Brewster seemed even quieter than normal for a week or two, but they weren't really sure. After all, Kitty was the only one who really knew him, and even she knew very little about him, if she was honest with herself.

As Kitty lost herself in thought, Brewster spoke suddenly, making her choke a little on her coffee as she snapped back to attention.

"Tomorrow's the day..."

Kitty took a moment to subdue her coughing before replying, "What day?"

"The anniversary of the day I left the city."

She immediately realized what he was talking about, and her eyes widened. He rarely spoke about his past before founding the Roost, and when he realized he had let something slip, he'd immediately change the subject or just stop talking completely. But now, without any probing or prodding on Kitty's part, he was suddenly bringing it up on his own accord, and willingly talking about it.

"It was four years ago, I think. Founded the Roost here three months later, and have been here ever since. It's funny. In almost four years, you're one of my first friends in a long time," he chuckled, still carefully cleaning another cup. "It was rainy, I remember. Kinda like today, too. And the day you moved here."

"You remember that?" Kitty asked with surprise, taking another slow sip from her mug. He nodded slowly, the edges of his beak turning up in a small smile.

"How could anyone forget? It was raining so hard you couldn't see anywhere, and got lost for a good half hour before stumbling into the museum. Blather's and I still joke about it," he added thoughtfully.

Kitty's cheeks turned light pink at the comment, and she immediately burst out, "YOU DO NOT!" Brewster chuckled quietly, eyes briefly lifting up from the cup in his hand to look at her blushing face.

"We do, actually. Don't worry, though, we both thought you looked adorably helpless with your soaking hair in your face." Kitty turned around in her seat so that she was looking at the wall to her right rather than Brewster, taking a few more, angrier sips of her drink. He chuckled again before letting out a small sigh.

"The rain reminds me of a lot of things, I guess..."

Kitty's embarrassment faded from her mind as she heard the somber tone in her friend's voice. She turned back to face him, and her mouth opened to say something, but she was interrupted by a voice from the entryway.

"Yo."

Brewster looked up at the speaker, and Kitty's last comment didn't make it past her lips before she, too, looked over to see who had just walked in.

"Totakeke?!" she asked in surprise. When the traveling canine looked at her with a soft smile, she blushed before correcting herself, "Er... Morning, K.K."

"You're a bit early today, aren't you?" Brewster asked with a raised eyebrow. Kitty couldn't tell exactly what it was, but she could've sworn she heard something like disappointment in the pidgeon's voice. She wondered if he had really planned on telling her more about the day he left the city.

"Heh, yeah," he answered. Brewster nodded and smiled, as if he knew the musician's reasons without them being spoken, but Kitty frowned in confusion.

"What kind of answer is 'yeah', anyway?" she mumbled into her coffee, which was beginning to cool down now. She finished the last of it in a few more gulps before placing the mug and the regular 200 bells down on the counter and hopping down from her seat. "Thanks for another delicious cup of coffee," she smiled, bowing politely. As she put her jacket back on, she glanced over her shoulder at K.K., who was busy setting up his amps and guitar as he did every Saturday.

She blushed again when he looked up at her, as if he had known she was looking his way. Turning back to Brewster, she bowed her head again before waving and heading for the door.

"Why don't you come back for lunch?" Brewster said suddenly.

"For lunch?" she asked in surprise. It was true that they hadn't spent their usual amount of time together this morning because of K.K.'s appearance, but she didn't expect him to request her back.

When she didn't answer after a moment, K.K. added from the stage, "I'll even put on a special show this afternoon." Looking from K.K. to Brewster, Kitty's face broke out into a large smile before she nodded.

"Sounds good. I'll bring some bento boxes for us all, too!" she offered.

"That'd be real nice," K.K. smiled gently. After waving good-bye, Kitty giggled quietly to herself as she turned and walked up the stairs. Waving at Blathers as she headed for the door, she took a deep breath before opening her umbrella and walking back outside. It wasn't until she was halfway home that she realized she'd be making food for the two animals she felt she had to impress most.

"... Oh boy," she groaned, smacking herself in the forehead.