Petals
By Cricket-chan
It was funny, she decided one day as she sat on the grass by the road twirling a flower between her index finger and thumb, how young girls depended on how many petals a blossom had to determine whether or not the person of their affections returned their feelings. It was rather silly, actually. It wasn't the flower's issue to decide in the first place... come to think of it, what of those poor flowers with an odd number of petals? To be simply cast aside like that, naked and dying was certainly not something Misao wished on anyone. She contemplated this for a while before deciding that one could not judge an activity without trying it first, so sighing, she began to gently pluck the petals, while thinking the chant that she had so often heard on the streets, especially at this time of year.
He loves me, he loves me not.
He loves me, he loves me not.
He loves me, he loves me not.
Well, damn. She couldn't help but think of someone specialwhen she began her plucking, and now that the results were in, she just -had- to give it another go, but only for further testing purposes. She picked another flower and began to chant silently once more.
He loves me, he loves me not.
He loves me, he loves me not.
He loves me, he loves me not.
He loves me, he loves me not.
Oh. Crap. Sighing, Misao decided that further testing was -absolutely- necessary in order to make her judgment completely necessary, so she picked yet another flower and began the silent mantra once more, not noticing that she was no longer alone.
He loves me, he loves me not.
He loves me, he loves me not.
He loves me, he loves me not.
He loves me, he loves me not.
He loves me, he loves me not.
She had had quite enough by now, thank you very much. Misao Makimachi was utterly tired of this trivial waste of the time that she had more than enough of, and she was ready to lay judgment on this silly little game for the silly little girls. She tossed the naked stem aside and started to rise in order to return to the Aoiya when someone grabbed her hand. She looked down and finally noticed a smiling ex-tenken sitting right next to where she had been just a few seconds earlier, holding a flower.
"Try this one," he said as he tossed the small blossom to her. She sat down and began the ritual once more.
He loves me, he loves me not.
He loves me, he loves me not.
He loves me, he loves me not.
He loves me.
Misao looked up and smiled.
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!