Author's Notes: At the moment, the recent chapters are fairly short. But the next chapter will be rather long, but I shall not explain why. Recently, my email account has not been functioning properly so I have not been able to inform people who want to be updated on the coming chapters. But now that it is working again, I'll go back to emailing you. In the meanwhile, enjoy.
Glossary of words that I used:
'Otousan' – Honorific term for father
'Konban wa' – Good evening
'Oniisan' – Honorific term for older brother
"Thank you, Touya, for inviting me over for dinner." A tall male spotting greyish hair and a pair of large-framed spectacles entered the main door and slipped out of his brown shoes to step into the long hallway. "Since the day we entered university, we hardly have time to come here for a meal."
"Then, eat to your fill, because my father is cooking today and he's making his famous steak." The dark-haired male smiled, adding an assuring pat on the grayish-haired male. "Besides, Otousan misses you alot. Do you know that, Yuki?"
"Ah, your father! I always have to thank him for his wonderful meals. Speaking of which, how is Sakura-chan?"
"Still the same. Otousan thought that her changed personality was due to her reaching of age and becoming rebellious. As a father and a teacher, he thought he could counsel her. But Sakura's loss of memories can't be counseled and Otousan, not knowing that, always feels that he has failed as a father in upbringing her."
The two males entered the spacious kitchen-cum-dining room, where they saw another male of about forty years of age occupying himself with the task of chopping the onions while stirring the stew.
"Konban wa, Kinomoto-san." Yukito bowed his head. "Pardon me for dropping by."
The older man turned around. "Ah! I know it is you, Yukito-san. You are welcome here so you don't have to apologise to me. Dinner will be ready in a short while so make yourself comfortable in the meantime."
Just as the two young adults settled down onto the hard chairs of the dining table, a soft but clear female voice sounded from the hallway outside the kitchen.
"Konban wa, Otousan, Oniisan and Tsukishiro-san."
"Sakura-san," The brown-haired man smiled as he balanced two plates of steaming steak onto the dining table. "You are right on time. Dinner's ready. Come and sit down."
The auburn-haired girl silently sat down, uttering no response. Her father looked at her with the saddest of eyes, and sighed.
* * *
Kero-chan glanced up from the book it was reading. Its beady eyes squinted together as it strained to hear the muffled sounds from below. Is that Yue? Just in time too. I need to ask him of his opinions regarding Sakura's lost memories. It lifted itself upon its white wings and drifted to the door leading out to the hallway of the second floor. Now, how will I get him to come over?
* * *
He sensed it again. The cards! They are up to it again, up to something that even I myself have not conceived. But I only felt the presence of two beings. He gripped his left hand into a fist and slammed it hard against the wall. No! I won't lose the bet! I'll let her become extremely powerful by reviving them and then… I'll spoil the cards' master plan when it reaches the climax.
* * *
"Come, Sakura-san. Have a bit of this? It's quite nice." Fujitaka smiled, as he placed a piece of boiled carrot on his daughter's plate.
"No, thank you. I'm quite full already. I'll like to go back to my room." The auburn-haired girl stood up and carried her plate over to the sink in the kitchen.
Fujitaka sighed. There she goes again. We hardly have a proper meal together and she hardly sits down for dinner for more than ten minutes. But I can't give up. She is my daughter. I have my responsibility to look after her, ever since Nadeshiko passed away. He made a quick glance at the photo frame standing erect against the pot of pale white flowers, and then shook his head.
"Sakura-san, there is a strawberry shortcake in the fridge as dessert. Do you want to have it with us?"
"No, I'm quite full."
"But it's your favourite. Don't you want to try it?"
"I said that I'm quite full. Will you stop pressurizing me? Oh… I need some fresh air. I'm going out."
Fujitaka stared at his blurred reflection in the soup, as the main door slammed to a shut. Where have I gone wrong again? Why? Is the way that I talked to her wrong?
Yukito and Touya glanced at each other, and the two nodded as if in agreement. "Kinomoto-san, I'll go after her and bring her home. Maybe, she's just tired from school." Yukito made a head bow and headed for the main door.
But the miserable feeling hidden under Fujitaka's blank expression could not be dulled.
* * *
Kero-chan heard the main door of the house open and close twice. It floated to the window and saw first Sakura and then Yukito leave the building. This is the best time to talk to Yue. I better catch up with him before he has gone far. It pushed the large window with all its might, creating a small gap that was big enough for it to drift out. Wait for me. Don't leave me behind.
* * *
Sakura glanced behind, conscious of the greyish-haired male following behind her. Can't they stop treating me as a child? For once, I am already fourteen. After what has happened this afternoon, all I want is a place where I can peacefully think things through. But after coming home and taking that nap, I am still troubled. I don't want the cards to sacrifice themselves for me. But I can't think. I can't think of anything in that house. Otousan also keeps asking me to do things that I don't want to.
She turned to the left, in the direction of King Penguin Park, her eyes darting behind her occasionally to see Yukito falling closely. I want some time alone. Maybe, I'll lose him in the forest ahead. She smiled, as she entered the pathway surrounded by tall woody trees, obvious that Yukito tagged along.
But unknown to the auburn-haired girl and the greyish-haired man, the forest they entered flashed forth a pinkish light that faded in the next minute.