As our song played in the background, we twirled across the dance floor, just the two of us - the rest of the crowd watching in awe. Baby we found love right where we are... That is the only line I remember from that song. I remember my dress; lavender colored with sparing jewels across the chest and at the rim of the dress that reached the floor. It didn't have any sleeves so my shoulders were exposed. But I didn't mind because he loved them. He had always said my skin was extremely soft and he wished to be able to touch it forever. Around my neck was the pearl necklace he bought me for my seventh birthday. At that time it was too big so it hung right below my collar bones. My golden hair was tied into a bun atop my head with even more pearls embedded in my strands of hair. My blue eyes sparkled in the candelabra light. But that was all I could remember of that precious moment between two young lovers. I could not remember his face but I made it my goal to find that boy of my dreams. Genichirō...

So here I am, in two layers of clothes and winter boots watching the snowfall from outside the airplane. Once again I checked my cell phone for the time. It read: 8:08 AM. I let out a joyful smile, clutching my phone and holding it to my chest. I couldn't wait to land in Japan and see my baby cousin. In my excitement, I heard an announcement on the airplane. "Dear passengers this is your co-captain speaking, please turn off any electronic devices. We will be landing very soon. The local time in Japan is 8:08AM. Thank you for flying with Crystal Airlines, and on behalf of the crew, we wish you a pleasant stay. Cabin crew, please prepare for landing." I switched off my cell phone and tucked it in my coat pocket and proceeded to clean up the area around me.

About an hour later, I was walking through the crowds of people and their families and friends pulling my cherry blossom covered suitcase behind me. "Kodoku-nee...!" I heard the faint voice of my cousin, Julia. "Julia...?" My azure eyes scanned the crowds for the smaller Asian figure. There she was; waving with her free hand, the other holding something that was blocked from my view. A smile tugged my lips up as I waved and dashed to her, being wary of not dropping anything. When we meet we instantly locked each-other in a tight embrace. "Oh, I'm so glad you're here! I don't know where I would go if you weren't studying here!" I cried still in her embrace and very grateful when I had news that she was studying here and her roommate had other plans! "Hehe, you are lucky that my roommate isn't coming back until a few days." Julia said smiling and we parted and carried my luggage to the bus stop. The bus ride to her college was short and uneventful. However, when we arrived my mouth finally started to bubble off with questions.

"Do you have any friends here?"... "What are they like?" ... "Do you finally have a boyfriend?" ... "What about clubs?" ... "What classes do you go to?"

Julia only laughed and set my bags down on the spare bed. "Okay, okay, Kodoku-nee! Enough questions; you're killing me!" I laughed and sat on my bed. "Sorry! Sorry! But I'm so excited; you know I can't help it!" I protested.. Julia nodded, "Yup. So let's go and answer your questions, shall we?" I bolted up. "Yes please!"

As promised, Julia told me everything. I figured out she had a boyfriend and they've been together since a month or so after she got here last year. "That's soooo cool!" I whined. "I wish I found my one-and-only!" Julia's cheeks deepened in color. "Oh don't worry, you will. There are tons of boys in this school; maybe one of them is yours." She stated teasingly as we walked by the private tennis courts (for students only). I nodded smiling and drifted into a fantasy world. But I was quickly snapped out of it when I heard Julia yelp. I whirled around to find her giggling up in the arms of a boy who was carrying her bridal-style.

"That's mean, Mitsu! Don't scare me like that!" The so called "Mitsu" smiled a bit and nuzzled her nose. "Sorry, Jewel. I can't help it." That's my line! I thought and watched the loving scene go on until Julia spotted me staring at the two. "O-Oh, Kodoku-nee...!" Squirming out of her lover's grasp, she took the boy's hand and held onto it tightly, a faint blush on her cheeks. "This is Tezuka Kunimitsu... My boyfriend." She said shyly.

I shook his hand with my mouth slightly agape. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Jewel tells me a lot you." Tezuka said, his monotonous voice matching that of a grown man's. "No, the pleasure's mine." I quickly said letting go of his hand with one of my kindest smiles. Tezuka was about to speak again when another voice took his place, "Skipping practice to be with your girlfriend, Tarundoru!" That voice sent chills up my spine and the hair on the back of my neck stood up. A shadow crossed over mine and overlapped it. "Who is this?" The voice asked his tone still strict. "Jewel's cousin, Sanada, be nice to her." Tezuka spat back at the other male holding onto my cousin tightly. I twisted on my heels and stole a glance of this "Sanada" person. And man, was I amazed at what I saw. Sanada had black hair and he wore a cap. His hair was bluntly cut and if he took off his cap I am pretty sure he sported a fringe. His brown eyes were entrancing and he was extremely tall (two heads taller than me). And on top of that this man had a rather masculine build. I think I've seen him before... Somehow I feel comfortable around him. I thought to myself.

Our eyes met; his were a coffee color and mine a sapphire color. Somehow I had thought I knew these eyes from somewhere...somewhere...In my dreams. Yet before I could ask Sanada passed me and left without another word. My eyes were still wide with shock. Behind me I heard Tezuka grunt and walk up to me with Julia. He rested his hand on my shoulder and peered at my eyes with a comforting smile. "Don't worry, he's always like that. Once he's used to you, he'll loosen up. Sorry about that." Although he apologized I still felt a singed of pain and anger. I only nodded and smiled. "Well, can I see the rest of the school grounds?" I asked. "Definitely..!" The two said in unison. Then all holding hands, Tezuka in the middle, we made our way through the rest of the school grounds. Even though I had many conversations, laughs, and smiles, my mind couldn't let go of what this Sanada person had done to me. One look at me and he left. Even though it had seemed the expression in his eyes had changed... I gave up figuring out what it was.

That night, Sanada was still on my mind. I heaved a long sigh and rolled over to my left side and peeked over at the couple in the next bed. Tezuka lay on his back, his left arm tucked under Julia's pillow. Julia's head lounged over on her pillow above his arm, the rest of her body next to his, their legs intertwined with each other's. "Lucky Julia..." I pouted. Just after that, my ears caught the sound of a tennis ball being hit back and forth between a racquet and a wall. Curious, I sat up and slipped out of my bed grabbing my shoes and coat. After throwing my jacket over my shoulders, I snuck out of the room and made my way to the tennis courts.

Wrapping my jacket tightly around my body I trotted over to the only court with a little light shining in the darkness of the night. The lone moonlight illuminated my face, making my sapphire blue eyes glow softly. The rigid sound of the ball coming in contact with the stone wall and the strings of the equipment resounded through the air.

Who could it be? I asked myself. Who could be practicing tennis so late at night?

I stood hidden behind a cherry blossom tree, watching the mysterious silhouette. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom, and as the cold night wind blew, the soft pink petals scattered down to the ground. That person had a strong way of hitting the ball, full of passion and willpower. Yet, it was not in the slightest way forceful, he seemed experienced... and natural. It seemed like he fitted right in, under the watchful melancholy of the moon.

How nostalgic...

And at that moment, with the cherry blossoms billowing down and landing on the ground gracefully, without a sound... I knew who he was.

"Genichirō..."

The words escaped from my lips, flying through the wind, to the ears of the man standing just in front of me. All of the sounds in the background halted as Sanada lowered his racquet to his side. He turned his head, glancing at me with the corner of his eye. He had finally noticed me; the one I had been searching for... The boy I loved.