Cherry Blossoms only grew in one place in Midgard, this was the city of Amatsu and in a certain time of a year, people would flock into the shores of the city to watch Cherry blossoms fall and cover each centimeter of the ground. People loved watching the cherry blossoms so much that the people in Amatsu started a festival, especially for the cherry blossoms, they called it the 'Sakura' festival which attracted more tourists and resulted to more zennies for the residents.
This year a group of three teenagers decided to watch and join the Sakura festival.
Ai pulled her jacket tighter around her body as soon as the ship they were on reached the port.
"It sure is cold in here." She said shivering and rubbing her gloved hands together.
Ruby stared excitedly at the city. "We're here! We're here!" She said childishly as she clung unto Akai's arm. "It's my first time to watch cherry blossoms!"
"Me too!!" Ai chirped.
Akai grinned. "Same here, but before anything else, we should first go find lodging."
Ruby took out a neatly folded paper from her pocket. "Hmm… Here's the map to the inn. Uncle has already made reservations." She opened it. "We just go straight, then right. The inn's called Funbari."
Akai nodded and carried their luggage. "Okay! Let's go!" Geeze! Why are these bags so heavy?!
"Are you okay?" Ruby inquired. Akai merely nodded. "Okay then! Ai! Race you to the inn!!" She shouted and both girls started to run.
"Hey!! That's unfair you ran first!!" Ai said as she tried to catch up with Ruby who can still run fast even though she was wearing a thick pink manteau. "Wait up!!"
"HEY!! Don't leave me behind!!" Akai shouted, exasperated. "For crying out loud, I'm carrying your luggage you know!" He groaned in annoyance, as he was ignored and left alone.
He turned around as a suddenly hand tapped his shoulders. "Why if it isn't big brother Akai." He said sarcastically.
Akai almost rolled his eyes and grunted in disgust. Jin and he, are in better terms now than before, for the sake of his Little sister- Ai, and he and Jin constantly annoy each other, saying remarks—which would sometimes lead to mock fights. "Are you Ai's stalker or something?!"
Red eyes stared at him for a while, then Jin raised his brow. "No, why? Are you?" Jin said deadpan, which made Akai glare at him.
Akai exhaled dramatically. "No! Why are you here?"
Jin dusted his black cloak and answered silently. "I'm here to see someone, a mission."
Akai shook his head in dismay. "Whatever, just don't come near us." Akai realized that Jin's an assassin, an assassin cross to be exact, a person who kills but, he was much more powerful than he was before 2 months ago, when he first came in Midgard, and he was confident that he could protect Ruby and Ai, so he didn't really mind Jin meddling with Ai—who was still oblivious to the fact that her friend was a murderer.
Jin turned around his back facing Akai. "I'd do as I please." He paused and glanced at Akai briefly. "You may be a lord knight now, but your strength is nothing compared to mine." He said menacingly, in a tone that would send shivers down ones' spine.
Akai turned around. "… Strength isn't the only thing that you should rely on." Akai said in the same exact manner.
Jin smirked as he heard him walking away. You are extremely entertaining. He mused in his thoughts.
Ruby and Ai sat comfortably at the red couch found at the inn's receiving area. They both drank their hot teas, while waiting for their luggage and their friend.
Ai's feet swung childishly as she drank her tea, looking up the ceiling. I'm going to be a sage three days from now!! She smiled, to herself, her heart beating fast. I can't wait!!
Ruby on the other hand, was done with her tea. She took a book, opened it… seemingly reading it but the truth was she was merely staring at the book, while thinking. For the past two months Akai and Ai has improved greatly… I wonder, I wonder when we'll be able to use Akai's power. Uncle keeps telling me to not let my guard down… But...
Ruby sighed and closed the book. "Everything seems peaceful." She said to no one in particular.
Ai smiled at her. "Yea… I've been meaning to ask you this…" She stopped for a while. "We've been here for two months but, we still haven't seen this evil Lord or his minions."
Blue eyes looked away looking outside the window. "Honestly, I don't even know anymore. 4 months ago many people died in my castle, each person was murdered during the night. The last victim though wrote a dying message with his blood."
The air around them seemed to thicken. Ai watched Ruby sternly as she spoke. "What was it?"
"Majik" the princess placed the book on top of the table. "That last victim was my father, at first I didn't really know anything about Majik… but after his funeral I started reading books in the archives and well I read about the legend."
Ai stopped swinging her feet; she kept still. "So… you started to know more things? And your uncle finally told you?"
Ruby nodded a streak of blonde hair falling off her face. "Yes, we all believed that Azuma was going to attack us because the castles under our family were all raided. The person was obviously looking for something of great importance—the Majik."
"Many people were murdered during those times and I was really afraid that my castle was going to be attacked again… so I summoned you guys, but as you see the attack never came."
Ai put down her cup. "So everything became peaceful when we were summoned?"
Ruby nodded.
"If you ask me, this peace is disturbing. It's either he already found the Majik but he's not able to use it, or he just gave up." Ai rubbed her chin. "The latter is very unlikely… so all the more we should prepare for the brewing storm." She said seriously.
Ruby fell silent. Ai, you surprise me… you may seem like someone who's shallow, but the truth is you're really… intelligent. Could it be that being happy-go-lucky is merely your façade?
Ai stood up and stretched both her arms. "Arrrhhgg!! Where could that stupid Akai be?!" She said loudly, the humor in her voice was back. She turned around and smiled at Ruby. "Let's not think too much of the future, okay? After all, the present time is the most important."
Ruby smiled and tilted her head towards the door as she heard the door creak and open.
Akai sneezed and mentally cursed. He placed the luggage down roughly. "How dare you leave me like that!" He said annoyed.
He sat down the couch and rubbed his hands. Thank god it's warm in here!
Ai and Ruby giggled.
Ai who was still standing grinned. "You're so slow!" she said childishly.
Akai glared at her. He was about to say something but stopped when Ruby leaned over him and touched his face. "You're face is so cold!" She said smiling sweetly.
Ruby removed her scarf then placed it around Akai's neck lovingly. Akai blushed, he couldn't stop staring at her-- damn her milky skin and those red thin lips!
Ai looked away, biting her lip. Stop already…You should know, you know right? I'm still madly in love with you!
Akai looked at Ai, their eyes locking for a while before she looked away; he too looked away from Ruby's face. He cleared his throat.
"Thanks Ruby!" He said hastily. He cursed himself for the reactions he received from both the ladies. Ruby looked at him questioningly, worry etched in her beautiful face, while Ai just turned away with a sad expression. It's hard to understand girls.
Ruby sat beside him. I'm sorry Ai, but I won't give him up. She rest her head on his shoulders, then closed her eyes. Akai stiffened. "I'm tired, please let me stay like this for a while."
Much to Ai's dismay Akai smiled and leaned back on the couch. "I'm tired too… let's rest." He said as he closed his eyes.
Ai smiled bitterly then went to her room. "If you want to rest why don't you just go to your room!" She said angrily as she took off her clothes.
She sighed. I'm like a baby having tantrums. "At least I know that Akai's just being nice… It's not like he's in love with her." She tried to console herself.
She slipped on a silk pajama then wore a thick jacket on top. She laid her head on the pillow then closed her eyes.
"I wonder where Jin is." She yawned. Half of the two months she spent in midgard was with the said man, he trained her almost 24/7, she developed a small crush on him but she decided it was only a childish feeling, far from her feelings towards Akai. Where could he be? My best friend…
--
I realized that I forgot many things while writing the chapters hahaha.. LOL I forgot about the things I wrote in the 1st chapter… the attack and all… and so I wrote this chapter! More like a chapter to clarify things haha I too am confused already.
Andyli--Ai being a priestess with killing powers? If you'd be patient with me and continue reading this fic.. well… just see. Haha I already have the ending and everything in mind.
-- Haru --they cut off her hair?! Whoaaahh that must've been awful on ur friend!!
… Good thing they don't really bully me here! :D people in this university are good nods very good! I'm just having a hard time with math and programming. :D wooo
