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VI. Sakura
He wanted to give her something, it was only right. He was indebted to her.
He knew by now where to go to find her. He would navigate through the night and walk to where he knew she'd be sitting with her trusty emergency kit, waiting for him. That night, like the nights before, he found her sitting outside her room, leaning against a wooden pillar, her eyes closed. He didn't bother asking how she knew he was coming; he figured he would be skeptical if she told him.
Rei opened her eyes and gave him a once over. Oddly enough, he wasn't wearing his trench coat, nor was he lugging around that viciously long sword.
"You're not hurt?"
He shook his head.
"Why are you here?"
Aya purposely strode towards her, only then did she notice that his hands were rather full. He sat beside her and gave her everything he was holding.
"What are these?"
"Those are for you."
Her curious eyes scanned his presents briefly. Two white boxes and a cherry blossom. "Thank you."
He nodded and stood back up, ready to go back to Koneko, but was stopped in his tracks by Rei who was holding the hem of his shirt. "Stay."
"I can't."
"Work?"
"No."
"Then why not?"
"I… You see…" She was looking at him expectantly, almost pleading. There was no possible way he could refuse her. "Alright."
He sat back down and was rewarded with a genuine smile.
She opened the first box, the bigger of the two, and was pleasantly surprised to find still plastic-wrapped sheets. Her lips tugged upward, she hadn't expected him to be so thoughtful. Rei set them aside and smiled at him before excitedly reaching for the second box. Her nimble fingers hastily undid the red ribbon and ripped the simple gift-wrapper.
The way she opened his last gift almost made him smile. She looked like a child opening her presents on Christmas. He had to suppress the smile he knew was bound to show because he was Aya and Aya never smiles- at least not in public. Nevertheless, he was happy at her reaction. He had done good, he said to himself.
Her eyes went wide as saucers and she suppressed a squeal as she took out a lovely white yukata. "It's beautiful, Aya." She said wholeheartedly. It was a simple white yukata with delicate, hand-embroidered cherry blossoms.
"Thank you very much."
"It's nothing."
She held her new yukata close to her chest and sat, wordlessly contented. His gifts, his simple yet ever so thoughtful gifts meant more to her than all of Kaidou and her father's expensive gifts.
"Every year it's always Casablanca lilies, a white dress and dinner. Eventually, it was only lilies and a dress… Now, it's not even him buying the flowers. Time changes a lot of things, ne, Aya?" her eyes grew somber as she gently stroked a cherry blossom he brought her. When he didn't respond, she continued to speak. "Do you like lilies, Aya?"
"They smell of death and cheap perfume." He said bluntly.
She laughed. He never heard her laugh like that.
"I suppose they do. I used to love them though, but Kaidou and my father tarnished it for me. It was all they would ever give me. Year after year, I'd receive the same thoughtless gift. I choked on the smell and the sight, eventually I hated casablancas. They remind me of my father."
Her delicate fingers traced the delicate embroidery as she said, "Cherry blossoms are beautiful though. My grandfather planted the tree in the courtyard a very long time ago. He's gone now, but when I look at that tree, I see him and I can't help but smile." She looked up at Aya then, "I might not have casablancas anymore but I'll always have cherry blossoms."
"…"
Mistaking his irresponsiveness for boredom, she decided it was time for both of them to get some rest. "I'm sorry for taking your time."
"I should go."
"I'll walk you down."
They walked to the foot of the steps in silence. Just when they were under the torii, Rei stood on her tiptoes and gave Aya a little peck on the cheeks. The redhead looked at her in shock, Rei smiled at his reaction.
"Thank you… for everything."
"It's the least I can do."
"Don't feel obligated to give me anything." Her eyes grew somber and she reached for his hand. Giving it a gentle squeeze, she looked up at him and said, "I don't want you to be like my father or Kaidou- giving me things because they feel they're obligated to."
She let go of him then and walked back to the shrine.
TBC
A/N
I apologize for the severely late update. Life is crazy right now. I'm at my wit's end.
If I still have readers, well, thank you. And a big thank you to all the reviewers! I'm such a slacker. I do sincerely apologize for that.
Forgive?
