(Enjoy!)
The rain has finally stopped after a three day rain storm. A take a step outside and still see puddles, but they were smaller. I smiled. The sun was out and the sky was clearing up.
Tsukuyo said to me, "So it finally stopped. I'm glad."
I said, "I'm glad too."
I've decided to take a small walk with Tsukuyo. She was beside me and I was talking to her.
"So, Tsukuyo. It sure is a beautiful day after all that rain, isn't it?"
She answered me without looking, "It is. And look! There's a rainbow!"
I turned to look at the rainbow and there it was. The rainbow looked so beautiful, and it had all the colors a rainbow should have. I smiled really big.
"I love it when a rainbow appears after it rains, or when it still sprinkles. It makes it much prettier. And it makes me happy."
Tsukuyo looked at me. "Me too." she blew out a puff of smoke and was laughing a bit.
"Shall we go get a bite to eat?" Tsukuyo asked.
I replied, "How about some dango?" She smiled and said it was okay.
We got ourselves some dango. We ate it, and I was cheering a bit inside.
"I haven't had dango in a decade!" I cheered.
Tsukuyo stared at me for a few seconds, and then said to me, "Really? That's a long time."
I nodded at that comment. I was thinking about the last time I had a dango.
I had my last dango at 9 years old. I can't believe it's been that long! But the reason why it's been so long was because I couldn't afford it back then.
I was staring off into space, but Tsukuyo noticed me going blank.
"Oi! Don't stare off into space, Mariko-Chan."
I apologized to her. "Sorry, Tsukuyo-Chan, but I was just thinking about my past. About me being broke, and barely feeding myself without any parents."
She put her hand on my shoulder and was almost done eating her dango. "I understand. I didn't have any parents either, so I know how you feel."
I gave her a big smile. After I finished my snack, I gave her a hug. It was kind of a long-lasting hug, but it didn't last too terribly long.
Her arms were around me as well. I kind of whispered something to her before I let my arms go of her.
"I want to stay being friends with you. I don't want to be alone anymore. And I also want to make you, Hinowa and Seita happy."
I let go of Tsukuyo, but her arms were still around me. She then whispers something before she lets go of me.
"I want to stay being friends with you too, Mariko-Chan." I heard Tsukuyo sob a little.
After she lets go of me, she asked, "Shall we get home?"
I nodded.
So we went home. In front of our house, there was Seita.
Seita yells, "Tsukuyo-Chan! Mariko-Chan!"
Tsukuyo asks what was that for. Seita answers, "I've always wanted to do that." He laughs.
I wasn't smiling that time, because I was thinking of Hijikata, Okita, Kondo and the other Shinsengumi.
I was in my mind, thinking, what would it be like if they had found me.
In my head, there were echoes. One echo came from Okita.
"Marikoooooo. You've caused us damage since you left us."
The next echo came from Hijikata. "We're giving you sepukku, whether you like it or not!"
Then, all of a sudden, the two of them came out of the shadows. I was petrified of them. The next second, they drew their swords and they were coming after me. Even though it was my imagination, it felt like they've killed me.
Just after my imagination has ended, I fell to the ground. Hinowa looked at me and asked, "Are you alright? You look like you've fainted!"
I told her I was alright.
Shinsengumi meeting: 2:35 p.m.
There was a meeting at the headquarters, so I came along as well.
Hijikata then looked in front of the other members, including me, Yamazaki,
"Alright. So it's been over a month since Mariko left us, so here's a request for one of the members," Hijikata says. "One of you will go find her, and bring her back. So that we can apologize to her. We really have done many bad things to her, and I feel so ashamed."
I was shocked by the second Hijikata had said that. I was starting to feel a bit sweaty. Then I knew I had to speak.
"Uh, Vice-Chief!" I yelled.
"What is it, Yamazaki-San?"
"I think I will go look for her! I'm kind of sure she hasn't gone far!"
He looked at me like I was some kind of fool. But I didn't care. The only thing I cared about what Mariko being okay. Hijikata then speaks again.
"Heh. We'll see about that. Alright. Try to find her, and if you can't, all of us will go, understand?"
I yelled again, "Understood!"
He lets me borrow a police car, and let's me drive. I think about Mariko.
Mariko-Chan. I'm not going to force you to take you back. I just want to make sure you're safe. I...I care about you!
I felt tears coming in my eyes, but I wiped them away before they came out.
So I drove, and went out of Edo.
Hope you enjoyed chapter 7!
