8

Of Cherry Trees, Hair and a Shameful Experience

Yao

The next morning I had awoken to find, as usual, that everyone else was still asleep.

All except one.

Honda Kiku's hammock is empty.

"Geez, what time did that boy wake up? To think that he probably didn't even get that much sleep either", I murmured to myself as I slipped on my military jacket.

However, just as I had finished clasping on my belt, a horrifying thought occurred to me.

What if, while I was asleep, something happened to Kiku?"

Possibilities surged in a jumbled mess, harassing my head until I couldn't possibly take it anymore.

"Kiku! No!" I cried before zipping out of the tent.

Without thinking, I grabbed the nearest soldier and shook him furiously.

"Kiku! Have you seen him? Have you seen Kiku?" I screamed in his face, the words toppling over each other into incomprehensibility.

"Y-you mean the J-J-Japanese boy?" the soldier stammered, before pointing a shaky finger towards a clump of bushes, "I s-s-saw him g-go that way – "

"Thank you!"

I sprinted, getting my legs scratched by brambles and god-knows-what-else-I-can't-really-care-right-now to get to Kiku before anyone else could… Mainly those whom I knew would throw Kiku into a gullet in an instant.

However, I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw where I was.

Is this the same place as the camp, where I was brought in and trained for years on end?

It was like stepping into another world; the panorama before me completely took my breath away.

Before me was a cliff, bordered by lush cherry trees, their pink blossoms dancing in midair before finally coming to a rest amongst its fallen brothers and sisters on the mossy ground.

Over the cliff was an astounding view of the virgin land below; golden bamboo groves up north, bordered by the green tufts of broadleaved forests on either side, the river separating the camp and the world beyond like a magnificent blue ribbon. Above it all, the rising sun, a glowing sphere of red, beamed down on the Earth from its perch on the pale horizon.

To complete the picture, there was Kiku, fingering a perfect, peach-coloured blossom, whilst leaning against a tree to be captivated by the view laid out before us.

Cautiously I approached the tree and sat beside him, our feet dangling over the edges of the cliff together.

He turned to me and smiled.

"This may not be Japan, but it is captivating and enthralling in every possible way", he said, gesturing to the scenery before sighing, "If only the sun on my land's flag did not cast out so many red lines. I believe a rising sun such as this would look so much more peaceful."

"In all the years I've spent in this camp, I've never noticed this place before", I breathed, watching a flock of birds fly past, "This… This is amazing!"

Kiku nodded in agreement.

"So… How is it healing?" I wanted to know, pointing at the bandaged leg.

"It's healing just fine now; the last time I checked it wasn't so swollen anymore. Thank you Yao", he said, taking his first good glance in my direction that morning – and immediately, to my surprise, Kiku's pupils dilated, before a chuckle escaped his mouth altogether.

"What? What's so funny?" I demanded.

"No, it's – it's nothing really" Kiku grinned, "it's just that I'd never seen your hair loose before… You look a very different person when it is, but – overall, I was just thinking about how wonderful it looks."

I felt my face heating at the realization that, in the middle of my frenzied muddle to look for Kiku, I had forgotten to bundle my hair. Now it was loose, hanging down to my shoulders.

"I don't know if I should be feeling embarrassed, or to take it as a compliment", I muttered, rubbing my face in a vain attempt to stop blushing.

"Go for the latter – there is absolutely noting wrong with possessing beautiful hair", he assured, reaching out to brush the stray petals that had fallen on top of my head.

In the process, his fingers brushed the nape of my neck – and before I could stop myself, I gave an involuntary gasp. Quickly I covered my mouth, along with my flaring cheeks.

Kiku, noticing this, quickly withdrew his hand, blushing as well (if not more than I was) as he did so.

For a while, we sat in awkward silence, amongst the breathtaking view of the world below the cliff, amongst the cherry petals that spun and tumbled in midair. We stared deep into each other's eyes, the two of us not daring to break this new (and, I had to confess, slightly enthralling) tie.

What a lovely shade of brown…

Perhaps… For just a moment…

Leaning…

I'm sure he won't mind…

Closer…

If I could just try…

Touching…

Just to steal a small-

"… Yao?"

I was abruptly yanked out of my trance and back into reality. When I did we could only stare at each other in horror.

I was clutching his waist.

He had his arms draped over my shoulders.

Our lips were barely a millimeter away from each others'.

I quickly let go and shrunk back, just as Kiku hastily scrambled to his feet and pressed himself against the tree, blushing furiously and shaking all over.

"Ah! Kiku, I-I'm terribly sorry!"

"-No, I'm sorry!"

"I – I didn't know – "

"Were we-"

"I didn't mean – "

"Me neither!"

"… Sorry!" We both exclaimed at the same time.

"Um… I'll go and, uh, get you some breakfast", I started after a moment of awkward silence.

"No need to, I found some a while back", Kiku assured, "I'll, um, be here if you need me."

I nodded and scuttled away, tucking my hair under my jacket collar until I can find something to tie it with.

Cursing myself under my breath (and tripping over a stray root or two on the way), I made my way to the makeshift canteen.

Lou, Xiao Ming and Gua Feng (who had apparently forgotten his storming away just a day ago, as was his nature to do so) all fixed me with weird stares as I sat down.

As usual, it was Gua Feng who broke the silence first.

"Yao!" He guffawed, banging his fist atop the table and startling Lou as he did so, "you should totally see your face right now! Why – you look like you've just kissed a – "

" – What kiss! No one kissed anyone!" Well- I didn't kiss anyone! Ha! Not now and not even nearly!" I blurted.

"Um… Okay", Gua Feng frowned, "Calm down, it was just a joke."

"Yao, are you sure you're alright today?" Xiao Ming inquired.

"Of course! W-Why wouldn't I be?" I sighed.

"Well… How's Kiku?" Lou chipped in, trying to brighten up the situation . However, he quickly clamped a hand over his mouth at the all-too-late realization that it would result to the opposite of his intentions, as proven by Gua Feng's growing scowl.

"Oh! He's… He's safe", I stammered.

After the recent unexpected turn of events, Kiku was the last thing I wanted to think about… Kiku and his beautiful deep eyes, his slim figure, his –

Shame! Shame! Shame!

While I shook my head desperately to try and seize the image away, Xiao Ming and Lou were staring from me to each other anxiously, before coming to the silent agreement that diverting their focus back to breakfast would be the best course of action to take.

Xiao Ming took a swig of water from his cup and immediately spat it back out.

"I think I'm going to try and ask chef for something else", Xiao Ming said, standing up from his seat, "This water taste's awful – like blood!"


:D

Yay, getting down and grubby with ChuNi! The original plan was to post this some time at night (where I am) later on but.. Well, I just couldn't wait! The hands type fast when they like what they're typing~

From this point on, the 'in a world of war and hatred, can love survive?' part of the summery will be greatly focused on in comparison to the last chapters.

So… Well, don't hesitate to tell me what you think about it, alright?

With lots and lots of pretty chrysanthemums (but not the yellow/white ones)

-Plumeria hi