A cry to the heavens, A cry to you

Chapter 3

Yuri had slept soundly that night, her thoughts pleasant, and happy. She had dreamt about Waka, and to her that was no surprise. She had done her daily work around the palace that day, and now was off to the commoners quarter of the city to get supplies and food for the palace.

"Let's see….what to buy…" Yuri muttered quietly to herself, eyeing the selection of vegetables. She picked up a tomato and a carrot, checking for any bruises. Finding none, she smiled and put them in the basket she had brought with her, which filled with other vegetables she thought that would be suitable.

"Bonjour! Picking out groceries are we?" a familiar voice said to her from behind. Yuri eyes widened, and she swung around to see the Tao captain standing there himself. Yuri blushed heavily, and she dropped the basket full of food.

'Oh no' she thought as she stared down at the food. She bent down to pick them up. She reached for the first vegetable, but instead she grabbed a hand instead. Yuri looked up, and the same blush came back to her face, as she stared into Waka's eyes. She snatched her hand away, and bowed her head.

"Waka-sama! I am so sorry! Please forgive me!" Yuri had repeated the same sentence she had given him when she tripped, the first day she met him.

Waka laughed quietly, "Oh Yuri-chan, please do not get so worked up!" Waka laughed more, an amused gleam in his eyes. Yuri's heart fluttered.

'He just called me Yuri-chan!? He thinks of me as a friend!?' Yuri thoughts raced. So much, that she had not noticed that Waka had picked up all of the vegetables and put them back into her basket. Snapping out of her dazed state, her eyes widened.

"Waka-sama, oh no you didn't have to pick up the groceries!" Yuri protested, feeling bad. Waka laughed.

"Yuri-chan, please, it was nothing! And no need to be so formal with me!" He laughed again. Yuri blushed.

"Then what do I call you?" Yuri asked shyly, playing with a loose strand of hair.

"Waka-kun, of course, we are friends!" Waka's smile was breathtaking to Yuri, she smiled and looked away, a red tint tinged her cheeks again.

"O-oh, o-okay Waka-san" Yuri said, her blushing, began to fade. Waka gave her a stern look, and Yuri wondered why, until…

"O-oh! Gomensai Waka-kun!" Yuri corrected herself quickly. Waka smiled and took Yuri's hand and basket, and stood up. Yuri's heart pounded as she felt Waka's hand tighten around hers.

"Come, I will walk you back to the palace" he said gently, as he pulled her along. Yuri's face flushed a light pink, and she looked away to hide it. She closed her eyes, as they began to walk across the bridge towards the aristocratic quarters.

'Waka is so…perfect' Yuri thought to herself. She sighed quietly in satisfaction. It was quiet, until Yuri felt her feet leave the ground. Her eyes shot open, and she looked around, finding that she was on something hard yet…soft.

'Waka's back!' she thought, exasperated, as she struggled.

"W-Waka-kun! W-what are y-you doing!?" Yuri yelped, as she squirmed. Waka grinned a grin that made Yuri's breath catch in her throat.

"I'll give you a fast way to the palace!" Waka said excitedly, as he got into a crouching position.

"W-w-what d-do y-y-y-you m-m-mean!? Waka-kun p-please p-put me d-down!" Yuri protested as she gripped his shoulders gently, another blush finding its way to her cheeks. Waka laughed as if he hadn't heard Yuri.

"Here we go!" Waka began to run.

"W-W-Waka-kun!" Yuri exclaimed as she tightened her grip. He jumped into the air…and high into the air. Yuri held back the urge to scream, as she buried her face Waka shoulder, then it was over as sson as it had started, and Yuri was thankful for that. Waka set her on the ground in front of the doors of Queen Himiko's palace.

Yuri breathed deeply, and tried to regain her composure.

"That was…something different…" Yuri said slowly. Waka chuckled.

"It certaintly was…well at least for you" Waka's little joke was enough to bring a smile to Yuri's face. She noticed the basket was unharmed, and was on Waka wrist.

"Waka-kun, may I have the basket?" Yuri asked politely.

"Oui, you may" Waka handed the basket to her. She smiled.

"Thank you for the ride home" Yuri bowed, a fluttery feeling in her stomach, she blushed again.

"My pleasure" he smiled softly. Yuri blushed more.

"I will see you when I see you" Yuri said quietly, but knowing Waka could hear her just fine.

"Oui" Waka agreed using the French tone he had used often. Yuri looked into his eyes, and noticed that they had looked so much more beautiful in the sunset.

"Thank you again, Waka-kun, Good night" Yuri bowed again, and hurried inside. Waka stood out there for a few more minutes, pondering over his thoughts. He turned to leave, and smiled.

"Good night, Yuri-chan" He whispered.