Hey guys, toastedCroissants here! This is my first attempt at a fluffly one-shot, and I really hope you like it. (: So sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Cherry Blossoms Adrift

Pink petals passing
Scents above so high
Painted porcelain perfection
Blossoms caress the sky

Swaying silent shroud
Suitors strolling by
Pink petals passing
Lover's gentle sigh

-Mary Fumento (1999)

#1: Memories of the Cherry Blossom

The cherry blossoms were always a vivid, heartwarming memory that Yumi never failed to remember. The thin branches that held the beautiful buds which would soon bloom into gems of pinks, whites, and purples in various hues always took her breath away.

They would loom beautifully over the bridge she would frequently visit during that time of year, the crystalline river below all of it painting a clear reflection that was almost as gorgeous as the original. The familiar bridge was a deep brown, almost a plum color, and it's ends were supported by gray, rounded stones that were compacted on top of each other, leading to a tiny cottage. That was where the quintet chose to spend their winter break together, creating as many memories they could to make up for the near three years they lost to fight against the evil A.I, whom tried vigorously to annihilate them and the human race.

The lovely, delicate blooms symbolized more than beauty to Yumi. They symbolized remembrance, the life she had before she became an undercover hero set out to save the world.

Snow just started to fall during this lovely winter, creating a thin blanket of frost that added a little charm to everything.

Early one morning, Yumi quietly slipped out of bed and dressed for the cold weather. It was her turn to fill the fireplace with wood today.

Yumi opened the front door with a soft creak, and she was immediately greeted with bursts of pink, the ice cold darts eating at her face failing to rip her attention away. Her dark orbs sparkled with pleasure as the sun slowly rose, and her body filled with pure euphoria.

Almost repulsively, Yumi shuffled towards the bridge and did a few twirls, feeling the thirteen-year-old she once was rise up inside her almost as quickly as the rising sun. She closed her eyes and let the snowflakes lightly fall onto her face, the familiarity consuming her and blocking out the rest of the world.

Today, she suddenly felt great, elated.

Once she settled down, Yumi walked towards the edge, looking over to the river that flowed beneath her. Once word escaped her mouth, not being able to be held back any longer.

"Beautiful," was all she could whisper.

Her breath mingled with the cold, frosty air, creating light wisps of smoke that gave sign to the freezing temperature. Yumi shivered as a breeze suddenly approached, as if a sign to hurry, and she pulled the edges of her coat closer to her tall, lanky frame.

The blooms fell from their perches at a constant rate, mimicking the snowflakes.

Strangely, Yumi felt loneliness begin to consume her, and placing her mittened hands into her coat pockets, she started her slow shuffle into the woods.

The bridge let out faint creaks with every step Yumi took, almost overtaken by the loudness of rushing water below. Even being by herself, the place was never completely silent.

Nature had its own music.

Again, Yumi paused halfway across the bridge just to close her eyes and relax, building a field of tranquility around her. Feeling so calm was almost foreign after fighting X.A.N.A.

It was...refreshing.

Footsteps given away by creakings of the wood told Yumi she wasn't alone, and almost instantly, the loneliness dissipated. A coat was haphazardly wrapped around her shoulders, instantly remedying her cold, and Yumi shifted it around a bit so it would fit better.

Yumi felt the color rise in her cheeks, pleasurably warming her frosty face. A grin spread across her slightly blue lips, and due to the cold, never really reached her eyes. She looked up to face Ulrich, who was content with standing near her while staying silent, fully knowing how these trees meant to Yumi, the sentimental value they possessed.

To him, the cherry blossoms were no comparison to the resplendence his dark-haired beauty encompassed.

Suddenly, Ulrich seemed to understand the feelings Yumi felt whenever she laid eyes on these alluring flowers. The eye-popping colors, the delicate buds that sprinkled the air- she described them perfectly during the talks they had in France. They were an unforgettable sight of her home country, and it would only make sense that it filled the Japanese geisha with nostalgia.

The wind seemed to strengthen, guiding the snowflakes to the east. They sprinkled the top of her hat like a crystal tiara, but Yumi didn't seem to notice.

Ulrich, having felt something, looked down and found Yumi's head filling the crook of his neck. Her eyes were closed peacefully like she was asleep, like she was just listening to the sounds that enveloped them. To Ulrich, her peaceful face was captivating to look at.

Yumi was just happy that she was able to share this moment with someone like him, someone who understood her. Her first friend. Her best friend.

They just stood like that in silence for a few minutes, until Yumi let out a big sneeze. That pulled her back to reality: the firewood is still needing tending with.

"Come here." Ulrich pulled her close, rubbing his hands up and down her shoulders. "You seem cold."

Ulrich's warm breath produced white tendrils of smoke, dancing across his face while warming the back of Yumi's head. The Japanese geisha squirmed a bit and said, "But the firewood-"

"You're freezing, Yumi," Ulrich replied, squeezing even tighter. "I want you to just relax and enjoy the view. It's all taken care of."

Yumi shivered, not from the cold, but with pleasure as Ulrich's lips rubbed against the tip of her ear. She then sighed heavily and muttered, "Fine."

Relaxing her muscles, she obligately nestled into Ulrich, savoring his warmth. She shivered more violently than before, and Ulrich continued rubbing his hands against her arms, desperately trying to warm her.

"Are you okay?" Ulrich whispered.

Yumi turned around, and kissed him on the cheek. "Yes, thank you."

Ulrich felt the warmth rise in his cheeks, overwhelming the cold that once overtook him. He was rather disappointed, because it was the objective to warm her, not him.

Little did he know that Yumi's face was heating up too.

That sparked an idea.

Taking her hands, the brunette pivoted around to face the captivating woman in front of him. He noticed that Yumi's nose was red, and her cheeks flushed from the cold. Then slowly and gently, he pressed his lips to hers, making her eyes widen with surprise and her mind to fill with stupor.

Yumi parted her lips, and kissed back gently. His lips were surprisingly warm, and his breath smelt of mint. She pulled him close, wanting to steal all of his fervor, not caring about the wind anymore. Because right next to him, she felt a new kind of warmth.

The feeling of a memory, another remembering.

That right under the fall of the cherry blossoms, she had her first kiss with the man she always loved.

When they parted, Ulrich whispered into her ear, nearly driving her crazy.

"Are you warm now?" he asked.

Her cheeks flushed, she answered, "Yes, very."

Author's note: I know that this wasn't really my best, because this is my first, but I'd really like to know what you think! Just to let you know, this is just like my practice while I take a break from 'Mission Interference' (I'm still working on it, don't worry!). This collection will just be full of short stories of random such that I think up of, and it'll be great practice too. A lot of this is experimental, and I will be exploring with different genres, so.. expect them to be a little.. different from what I usually write. (:

Reviews are highly appreciated! I love you all, fellow Lyoko warriors! :)

-toastedCroissants, a Lyoko Warrior