Together Always
The Year Begins
Author's Note: The holidays are over, after the New Year traditions, it's back to studying exams and getting prepared as the final three months draw to a close.
Meanwhile, Sakaki and Kagura face few worries of their own…
Oh yes and yay for manga references in this one - based on the New Year's strips
I awoke to the steady beeping of my bedside clock, signaling the first morning of the new year. I could feel Sakaki's gentle breaths down my neck as she dozed, her warm body very close to mine. Carefully, I turned over to her and patted her arm.
"Sakaki, hey Sakaki," I whispered. "It's the new year. We have to meet with others at the shrine."
She stirred, raising her head then stretched her arms. "Oh…right…"
I gave her a kiss then we climbed out of the bed to get dressed.
"So, did you have any dreams?" I asked as I pulled on a new shirt. I was interested to hear if Sakaki had one similar to mine.
"Hm?" Sakaki glanced over to me then lowered her head. "Oh…yeah…"
"Really?" I leaned towards her. "So did I! What were they like?"
"They…were okay…" she mumbled.
"Okay…" I stepped back, scratching my jaw uncertainly. "…Same with mine…"
"I see…' she nodded slowly. It was clear she wanted to get off the subject, so I suggested to head downstairs.
As we made our way downstairs, my dad greeted us at the bottom and was already wearing his jacket.
"Good morning girls," he grinned. "Are you ready to go? I've already toasted some bagels, so you can eat on the way."
"Thanks Dad," I took one, taking a bite.
"So I hear you gave my daughter a ring?" My dad turned to Sakaki, who was now tugging her coat on.
"Oh?" She looked up then blushed shyly. "Oh…y-yes…I-I love her…"
"Ah, I'm so happy for you two!" he chortled, putting an arm around Sakaki's neck, causing her to stoop down. "So, does that means I'm your official father-in-law now?"
"Uh…" Sakaki stammered. "I…"
"Oh, Dad!" I sighed. "Don't bother her!"
"Hey," he let go, "you know, if you're ever in a fix, you can count on us!"
"…Don't promote to her either…" I muttered. "Sakaki, you don't have to take him seriously."
Sakaki just nodded quietly. "Uh-uh…"
"Oh right, it's bit chilly out," my dad muttered as he peered through one of the windows, "so you probably should wear a scarf."
Sakaki blushed, rubbing her bare neck.
"Dad!" This was so embarrassing!
"Hey," my dad replied, taking out a red scarf from the hall closet. "You're not the only one I'm looking out for now, you know."
He then handed it over to her. "There you go."
"…Thank you…" Sakaki took it.
Once she had it properly wrapped it around her neck, I noticed how sweetly adorable it really was on her.
"Wow, it makes you look so cute," I commented. She stared at me then giggled, hiding her smile with her scarf.
"So, we all good to go?" my dad asked as he opened the door.
We responded with an affirmative then followed him out into the early morning weather, our destination being the shrine. It would be a long walk, but we didn't mind that; the outings were always pleasurable. As I walked beside Sakaki, I inhaled the nice crisp air then looked at my new ring.
Sakaki…I smiled.
I leaned onto her, wrapping my arms around her waist so she could feel my warmth. She slid an arm around my shoulders in response, hugging us close.
"We're here," my dad announced, stopping in front of a crowd leading up the stone steps. "I'll leave you two to find your friends. I'll see you later, and best of New Year's wishes to you Sakaki!"
"Oh…you too," Sakaki bowed back to him. He waved us off before he left.
"Well, we'd better find them," I said as I separated from Sakaki. She nodded, and soon we entered the mass.
Not too long after, we found them…Or rather, they found us…
"Hi ,Kagura! Sakaki!" Chiyo gasped as she collided with us, followed by Osaka and Tomo and Yomi in the back. "Happy New Year's!"
"The same to you," I greeted her with a grin. "How'd you find us?"
"Easy!" Tomo chortled. "It's not hard to miss a tall gal like Sakaki in a busy crowd!"
I looked at Sakaki – she obviously towered over us all. "…Good point…"
After we greeted everyone, we pushed our way through the crowd.
"Wow, there sure are lot of people here, huh?" Chiyo said nervously after a bit.
"Oh, man!" Osaka suddenly shouted. "At this rate, we'll get separated!"
"Very well, we'll decide on a meeting place!" Tomo raised a finger then pointed at Sakaki. "If you get lost, just gather 'round Sakaki!"
Sakaki sighed while I couldn't help but giggle.
"Got it," I smiled as I took her hand.
"So, did you have any New Year's dreams?" Chiyo asked curiously after we had tossed some coins for our wishes (you can guess what mine was).
"Oh, yeah," I nodded.
"How about you Sakaki?" Chiyo tilted her head.
"Oh…" Sakaki glanced at her then looked down. "…Yeah…"
This was the same reaction she had when I asked her about it earlier. It gave me concern. "…Sakaki?"
Before I could say more, Chiyo exclaimed. "Oh, pigeons!"
We turned to see a flock of gray, chubby birds fluttering across the ground, pecking at invisible crumbs.
"I'm going to get some bird food!" Chiyo smiled, pointing to a box in the distance as she ran towards it.
I watched as the pigeons let out soft coos, some grooming their wings and flapping them. My mind was immediately brought to Mayaa that other day where he had leaped at stray sparrows in Chiyo's front yard. Believing Sakaki could use for a cheer-up, I elbowed her arm gently.
"Hey, we should've brought Mayaa. I bet he would've had fun!"
"Uh…maybe…" Sakaki blushed.
"Hah, those pigeons are so dumb, they wouldn't even know what hit them!" I added with a laugh, remembering all too well how successfully Mayaa had nabbed one of them in midair at one point…
Sakaki looked at me in mild shock. Err, that didn't really help…
"Um…" I looked away shyly then charged at them. "BWAH!"
The pigeons squawked and took flight as I ran across, and I was soon followed by a hysterical Tomo.
Sakaki stared after me then sighed, shaking her head. Oh Kagura…
She then heard a commotion close by, and she turned to see Yomi calling out Chiyo's name. Chiyo had been swarmed by pigeons…
"Ah, Chiyo!" Sakaki gasped then ran towards, flailing her arms. "Shoo, birds, shoo!"
She rescued Chiyo from inside the flock, picking her up in her arms.
"Are you okay, Chiyo?"
"Hah…I think they liked it…a bit too much…" Chiyo replied dazedly, holding up a torn bag of seeds.
The birds just cooed, flapping their wings once more.
After my run, I noticed something interesting off to the side. After registering what it was for, I called to Tomo beside me. "Hey, let's go get an omikuji!"
"Ooh, feel like having our fortunes told, eh?" Tomo chuckled. "Let's go!"
We set off and the results were…
"Mine says 'moderately lucky'!" I noted, holding out my paper strip.
"Ooh," Sakaki looked over my shoulder at it.
"Ah…" Tomo checked hers. "'Ill-fated'!"
"ILL-FATED?" I exclaimed as Chiyo cried out. "WHAT?"
"Um…yeah…" Tomo frowned.
"Whoa," I breathed.
Osaka grabbed it and looked it over. "Wow, way to go, Tomo!"
Yomi looked at it as well. "I've never even seen one of these…"
"…Ill-fated…" Tomo repeated softly.
"Man, sucks for you Tomo," I said honestly.
"Oh man!" Tomo moaned, taking her strip back. "Now what? What am I supposed to do with this? Tie it to a tree or something?"
"Well, I did hear that if you tie it to a tree branch, the omikuji will be blessed, and the bad luck will disappear…" Chiyo informed.
"I'm tyin' it then!" Tomo gasped.
"But," Chiyo added. "I've also heard that tying it to a tree will make what's written on it come true."
"WHAT?" Tomo shouted. "That's no help at all!"
She then looked around worriedly. "Oh, man…what should I do? WHAT SHOULD I DO??"
"I wouldn't worry about it…" Yomi muttered. "You're doomed anyway…"
"Oh, man…" Tomo whined.
I exhaled then turned to Sakaki. "Well, I think we're done here – let's go home."
We all then left the crowd, Tomo still griping about her fortune on the way out. During our walk, we noticed there was a heavy traffic out on the road. In one of the cars we spotted two familiar faces…
"Whoa!" Tomo stepped forward. "It's Nyamo and Yukari!"
She then looked back at us with a grin which we all knew too well. "They're trapped, let's get them!"
She then charged at the car, I couldn't help it, so I followed, the same with Osaka behind me.
She tapped the window which caused Yukari to look at us and we broke into a chorus of "Happy New Year's!"
Our teacher stared for a moment then rolled down the window. "Hmm?"
"How 'bout spreading that holiday cheer and givin' me some change?" Tomo asked.
Yukari blinked then turned away, rolling the window back up.
"Wha-?" Tomo gasped then promptly yelled. "Yukari, you big Scrooge!"
"Scrooge!" Osaka mimicked.
"Scrooge!" I laughed, caught up in the excitement.
However that was a mistake…before we knew it, Yukari had slammed the car door open and ran at us like an angry bull.
"Run!" Tomo yelled and we fled. I hid behind Sakaki from Yukari's wrath, hugging her around her waist. Sakaki blushed at this. "Err…"
After Yukari had worn herself out from chasing Tomo and Osaka, she turned to us panting. "Ugh…"
"Oh, Miss Yukari," Chiyo politely bowed. "Happy New Year!"
"…Not too bright are you?" Yukari mumbled.
"What do you mean?" Yomi raised an eyebrow.
"Didn't you hear?" Yukari crossed her arms. "This good luck's a dud. The shrine owner's own son failed his entrance exam."
"WHAT??" we all yelled out except for Sakaki, being the quiet type, of course.
"But please," Yukari chuckled as she returned to the car. "Do feel free to pray all you like!"
"And you call yourself our teacher?" Tomo said.
The car honked, the traffic was moving.
"I should get back now," Yukari sighed.
As Yukari climbed back in, I noticed Tomo hand her a piece of paper before they drove off.
"What was that?" I asked curiously.
"Nothing," Tomo shrugged, smiling innocently.
"Okay…" I then looked at others. "So…what Yukari said…we still have to study hard, don't we?"
"Um, yeah…" Yomi replied.
I groaned. "I should've known…"
Meanwhile Sakaki was lost in thought, gazing at the cloudy sky where a couple of white birds flew across.
"…"
--
And so we went to studying. Chiyo's place was always the place to prepare for our upcoming first exam…the Center Test. However, today was different, for we weren't at Chiyo's house but at mine. Just me and Sakaki...
I had suggested we look over our notes there instead – just us two – and Sakaki (reluctantly) accepted. While we were here, I also thought it'd be good to get in some nice chit-chat with no disturbances…
"Hey Sakaki," I said as I put down my notebook. "Can you come over here for a second?"
"Hmm?" she looked up then put away her papers. "Okay…"
She crawled over to me where I greeted her with a kiss to the lips.
"Mm…" she returned the favor. "Is this why you called me over? To make out with me?"
I giggled.
"Yes and no," I sighed, kissing her again on her cheek this time. "Actually, I want to talk a bit with you."
She paused, staring at me for a moment.
"…Ok…" she scooted up, sitting next to me. "What about?"
"The usual stuff," I shrugged. "You know, school, the future and all that…"
I circled the carpet with my finger. "I hear you're going to try for a vet-veter…pet doctor school…"
Sakaki blushed, smiling softly. "Yes…I want to be a veterinarian…I want to help animals…"
I smiled. "I know you'll make it."
"I hope…" she sighed. "What do you want to do?"
"Well…" I leaned back. "I'm willing to get accepted into any good college that has a great sports education program, you know? I might even consider being a teacher like Miss Kurosawa..."
"Really?" Sakaki cocked her head.
"Um…yeah…" I could feel my face grow hot. "Y-yeah…She's so nice and such a good teacher…I-I'd like to be the same…I like being with people and helping out like she does…"
Sakaki smiled then kissed me tenderly, making me feel even warmer.
After she pulled away, she sighed. "I know you will."
"Oh, Sakaki…"
We then embraced each other, sharing our kisses more passionately. But…something was bothering me…
"Sakaki," I pulled away. "Will we still be able to see each other?"
"What do you mean?" Sakaki asked.
"Well…I'm just saying…" I exhaled deeply, not looking at her. "What if our colleges are too far apart? What if we can hardly see or talk to each other? What if we can't at all? W-what if we f-forget…"
Suddenly, Sakaki clutched my arms tightly. "S-Sakaki?"
"That will never happen." she said firmly. "Don't talk like that Kagura. Please. We will stay together."
"But…"
"If it comes to be, I'll visit, I'll do anything, every single week, every day, I promise," Sakaki continued determinedly. "I love you, Kagura."
"Oh…" I sighed, this made feel so much better. "I love you, Sakaki…"
And thus begun another of our deepest kisses, Sakaki lowered me to the floor as we locked lips, my hands roaming her back while hers did the same.
"Ahem!" a voice coughed suddenly. "Not in the living room, girls!"
We separated with reddened faces, looking over to the hall where my dad stood.
"Next time, use your room," he added before walking out of sight. "And when I'm not home, either."
We broke into nervous giggles. After a few moments, I finally remembered something.
"Hey, Sakaki," I began as I faced her. "You know, I've never met your mom…"
Sakaki stiffened. "Y-yeah?"
"So…since you've met my dad and all…" I shrugged. "I think it's fitting I do the same…"
"Uh…" Sakaki stammered.
"Do you think I could come over to your place, study, and meet her and all?" I looked at her expectantly. "I'm interested to see your home, and your mom must be a nice person. After all, she does know about us, right?"
Sakaki twitched. "Yeah…"
"So it's settled? I can come over?" I smiled.
"Yeah…" Sakaki nodded.
"Oh wow!" I hugged her then stood up. "I can't wait!"
I then left the room to tell my dad the news, leaving Sakaki sitting alone.
Sakaki stared off into space as if she could not believe what had just happened, then she raised her hands to her head.
Oh God, what have I done?