Chapter 13: A Blossoming Sakura

Sakura sat inside in her room at the hot springs, with her twin sister Yuna, reading a book. Sakura always found it better to read and do something quiet instead of finding the need to move every two seconds. That's what made her different from her sister Yuna. Yuna was the happier twin; the one who gets more attention. Everyone always forgot about Sakura.

Just once Sakura wished that someone could notice her; or at least make her happy. Her mother died, her father never loved her, and her heart was broken before. Who could smile after experiencing these things? No matter what the bet and her past is what kept her from moving on.

How could one simple bet make her life miserable? This was the question Sakura asked herself everyday. True love doesn't exist…and yet she bet her father that she could find true love before her birthday, which was in three months. How cruel of him…he knew Sakura had strong feelings for someone in her past; but that person broke her heart. Now he was taunting her; this was probably why Sakura never felt close to her father; she would never feel free or happy.

That is, until she met the host club. The host club was…unique in their own sense but they managed to put a smile on her face and laughter in her heart. The more she and Yuna stayed with the host club, the more it hurt Sakura inside. She knew that happy endings were only in the books she read and never in real life, where it really mattered. This is why Sakura is always reading books. She wanted to see someone have a happy ending instead of the sad one she was living in right now.

In the books she has read, Sakura knew the character found love and at the last moment has that lingering moment with her one true love and they share a kiss. That will never happen for Sakura. Just once…Sakura wanted the fairytale ending; or that one person who would love her forever. But who was she kidding everyone forgets about her. True love brings nothing but false hope and broken dreams.

Sakura was still in her trail of thoughts staring blankly at her book when her sister's voice shattered her concentration. She looked up and saw Yuna across the room with her leg in bandages propped on the pillow from yesterday's accident.

"Sakura, can't I please go outside?" Yuna asked for the umpteenth time. "It's so boring here! I want to explore the outside, not sit here on my butt all day!"

"No can do," Sakura put her book down; she couldn't concentrate on it anyways. "After what happened yesterday, yeah right like I'm letting you go outside again. You have to heal that wound in your leg and not only that you still can't walk.

"Yeah I can!" Yuna said getting up. She walked two steps before falling on her face; Sakura rushed over to her sister. "See? I'm improving; that was one more then this morning!"

"Nice try," Sakura said. "You're staying inside and that's final!"

"Where are you going?" Yuna asked putting her leg back on the pillow.

"Outside," Sakura said taking her book with her. "I heard the cherry blossoms are in bloom here."

"You go have fun," Yuna waved to her sister as she left the room. She knew Sakura loved reading underneath a cherry blossom tree when they're in bloom.

Sakura stepped outside and admired the warm breeze that was blowing. Inside she could hear the rest of the host club going inside to make sure that Yuna was okay. She listened to their conversation; no one even mentioned or cared that Sakura was nowhere…typical. She made her way to one of the cherry blossom trees about fifty yards away and sat their and watched the petals drifting slowly to the ground. She closed her eyes as her mind went back to a time when she was six; before her mother died.

She and Yuna were with their mother outside playing when Sakura noticed the petals falling down. She stood there and watched in amazement as the petals started falling and Sakura was saddened by this.

"Mommy, Sakura looks sad!" Yuna said worriedly. "Sakura don't be sad!"

"What's wrong?" their mother asked her.

"The petals are so pretty but why are they falling!" she watched a few more petals fall to the ground. "Why can't they stay in the tree forever?"

"Because they can't stay forever," she thought for a moment but then smiled. "Even if the petals can't stay in the tree forever they always come appear in the spring again. No matter what no one can forget the beauty of a sakura petal falling; that's why I named you Sakura. No one will forget you or your beauty."

"What about me mommy?" Yuna pouted. "I don't want to be forgotten!"

She laughed, "Of course no one can forget you." Sakura looked up and watched the petals falling again but this time she wanted to take in the beauty before spring was over. This was the last time Sakura ever saw the petals again. A few months later her mother died in a car accident and every time spring came, Sakura locked herself in her room so she didn't have to see the sakura petals for they reminded her of her mother. Eventually Sakura moved on and was able to watch the petals again, but that didn't stop her from being saddened at the sight of the falling petals.

Sakura felt a presence in front of her and opened her eyes and saw Kaoru. "There you are, I was wondering where you were!" he said as he sat next to her.

"Really?" Sakura said absentmindedly as she watched the petals falling again. There was a moment of silence between them as they both watched the sakura petals continue to fall.

"What brings you outside Kaoru?" Sakura asked. "Shouldn't you be inside with everyone else?"

"Shouldn't you?" Kaoru said. "Besides I was looking for you."

"I doubt anyone else remembered I wasn't there," Sakura took a deep sigh and closed her eyes again. "Besides I wanted to watch the petals."

"Yeah, they're really beautiful," Kaoru said.

"When I was little my mom said even though the sakura petals fall to the ground, no one can ever forget their beauty, That's why she named me Sakura but I don't think I'm beautiful though but that's okay," Sakura said opening her eyes. "You have some in your hair." She brushed some of the petals off of Kaoru.

"So do you," Kaoru smiled. Sakura could never explain it but every time she was with Kaoru or when she saw him smiling her heart would jump inside of her. It was difficult to read and was an odd sensation but this happened constantly when she was with him.

She brushed the petals off of her head but more of them fell on her head; Kaoru laughed and her heart did that jumping sensation thing again. "I don't mind the petals," she said. "I like it when they fall on me."

"Really?" Kaoru laughed. "Okay then." He blew some petals toward Sakura who smiled and grabbed a handful of petals and threw them at Kaoru. Pretty soon they were covered in petals and were laughing at how ridiculous they looked.

"You know you should laugh more," Kaoru said after brushing the petals off of him. "You sound like you're happier."

"Hm…" Sakura thought to herself and said, "I guess. But not really. I guess I haven't been that happy since my mom died. Not only did she say you couldn't forget the petals…they always come back. Even now I expect her to just enter through the door and say that sorry she was late. But that's not going to happen."

"Is there anything that's making you happier?" Kaoru asked. "You seem to be having fun when you're with the host club."

"I guess," Sakura said. "But that could end anytime now. Happy times don't last forever."

"Don't say that," Kaoru said. "You live only one lifetime might as well make the most of it."

"That's something Yuna would want to hear," Sakura laughed. "She tells me this all the time but I don't know what to do."

"Hm…how about doing something you want to do?" Kaoru said. "Anything come to mind?"

"Not really."

"Really? There's absolutely you don't want to do?" Kaoru leaned closer to Sakura and picked a petal off her shoulder. "Maybe you can let your hair down one time!"

"That's not going to happen," Sakura said. "Sorry but well…there is something but I guess I want to win a bet I made."

"With your father right?" Kaoru said remembering when Sakura told them. "You still haven't found true love?"

"Well maybe because it doesn't exist."

"Don't say that! Of course it exists; you just haven't found it yet!"

"And I never will," Sakura looked at Kaoru. "Don't worry about it Kaoru, I'm fine if I don't find true love. But I do want to win the bet so I'll keep looking, though it will probably be a fool's search."

"No it won't," Kaoru said firmly. "I'm pretty sure the right guy will come soon and when you see him you'll no it's him so don't give up yet."

"Sure whatever you say," there was a moment of silence. "We should get back it's getting late."

"Yeah," Kaoru sighed. "It was fun talking to you."

"Yeah it was," Sakura agreed. "Wow I would've never expected that!"

"Ha ha ha very funny," Kaoru said. "And I think you're beautiful even if you don't think so." He blushed but Sakura was still processing this though her mind and blushed. Sakura felt Kaoru leaning closer to her and she couldn't explain it but her body was leaning closer to him too but then Hikaru came.

"Where were you guys?" he asked. "We're about to eat dinner!"

"Hm?" Sakura said. "I was just talking to Kaoru."

"Really?" Hikaru watched his brother as he blushed slightly. "Okay let's go already, I'm starving!"

They headed back to the resort; Sakura looked back one last time at the petals falling. She felt something in her had and looked down. Kaoru had saved one petal left and handed it to her. He smiled at her and she smiled back; her heart beating faster and faster and for the first time in awhile she was happy.

Author's Note: Taking a poll here, which twin do you like better? Yuna or Sakura? Personally I like Sakura more but Yuna is awesome so I'm stuck between the both of them. Please review!!!!