Amu and Sakura swept the sidewalk of the school, Amu yawning in the process.
"Amu-chan, don't slack off now." Sakura smiled.
"I know, but the weather is so nice! I just want to lay back and enjoy it." Amu smiled.
"You shouldn't do such a thing. You have to clean seriously." Su scolded her.
"Yes, you are almost done. It is unbecoming of a lady to slack off." Chou smiled.
"Where are the other charas?" Sakura asked, looking around, only to find the four laying on the grass, basking in the sunlight.
"That's so not fair!" Amu shouted at them.
"We don't have to clean, so it's totally fair." Sashi smirked, sitting up.
"Maybe if you hurried up you could do the same." Jay smiled.
"I found you! Hinamori Amu!" A voice shouted, as a girl jumped on Amu, hugging her.
"Misaki!" Amu gasped, steadying herself.
"Good afternoon, Misaki-chan." Sakura bowed.
"Ah!" Misaki gasped, and bowed back "Good afternoon, Sakura-hime."
"Please, just call me Sakura-chan. Any friend of Amu is a friend of mine." Sakura smiled.
"You are just too cute!" Misaki smiled, hugging the younger pinkette in a tight hug.
"Misaki-chan, if you keep holding onto me like that, then Nadeshiko will hurt you." Sakura laughed. Misaki nodded and jumped back holding out a magazine.
"Have you two heard of this?" Misaki asked.
"The loveknot temple?" Sakura asked, reading the temple.
"The loveknot temple is supposed to make true love come true!" Misaki smiled.
"Maybe Sakura and Nadeshiko-chan should go there to strengthen their relationship." Amu giggled.
"Ah! Amu-chi! Saku-chi!" Yaya called. The three girls looked up at the window, finding Nadeshiko and Yaya looking up at them. Amu smiled, offering a wave, but Sakura jumped up, waving her hands around.
"Nadeshiko-chan! Let's go to the loveknot temple together!" Sakura cheered, smiling at her. Nadeshiko smiled and nodded.
"Of course." Nadeshiko nodded, waving back to her.
"Yay!" Sakura smiled, spinning around "I'm going to the loveknot temple with Nadeshiko-chan!" Sakura cheered. Amu and Misaki giggled over the Princess's actions.
"Isn't it amazing?" Misaki asked, showing them the article, as they sat on some steps. "If you make a prayer here, then the temple will set you up with your loved one."
"That's sounds really great." Sakura smiled.
"Please, set me up with Tadese-kun." Misaki smiled, holding her hands together.
"Wait a minute, didn't you say that you gave up on Tadese and liked Kukai?" Amu asked her.
"That love has already past!" Misaki smiled "I've come back to Tadese."
"You certainly are spontaneous." Sakura giggled.
"So, what about you, Amu-chan? Who are you going to pray for?" Misaki asked slyly.
"Who will I pray for?" Amu asked "Th-That's an easy one…it would be…" She trailed off, her eyes becoming blank.
"Uh-oh, she's having a fantasy." Sakura muttered.
"Do you know who she's fantasizing about?" Misaki asked.
"Most likely Tadese. Though, I wouldn't put it past her to be dreaming about Ikuto." Sakura muttered.
"Ikuto? Who's that?" Misaki asked.
"Ikuto's a boy in high school that likes to tease her. I think she may have a small crush on him." Sakura giggled.
"Ah! Really?" Misaki gasped, turning back to Amu. "Hinamori Amu, Earth to Hinamori Amu!" Misaki called. Amu snapped out of her dream like state and stared at the two in confusion. "So, who were you dreaming about?" Misaki asked slyly, already knowing the probable truth.
"Love is stupid!" Amu declared, jumping up "I don't have time for love interests or boys in the first place." Amu told them. She walked off, "See ya." She sighed, leaving the two girls alone.
"That's our Hinamori Amu! Cool And Spicy!" Misaki smiled.
"That part of Amu's personality is really nice." Sakura giggled. She blinked in shock when Misaki rounded on her.
"So, what about you? I know there's Nadeshiko, but do you secretly like someone else?" Misaki asked deviously.
"Of course not!" Sakura smiled. "Nadeshiko-chan is the only girl for me. And I have no interest in boys. At least, not in a romantic way." Sakura smiled.
"That's too bad. I really wanted to hear some drama…but oh well." Misaki sighed, "I wish you two the best of luck!" Sakura nodded and stood up, waving to her.
"See you later, Misaki-chan." Sakura smiled, walking away.
"I don't get it, you're going to go to the temple with her tomorrow, so why are you here now?" Sashi asked, staring at the huge mansion. Sakura shrugged and rang the doorbell.
"What reason do I need? Nadeshiko's my girlfriend. And I want to watch her practice." Sakura smiled, as the door opened. Baaya opened the door, smiling at Sakura.
"Sakura-sama. Its nice to see you again. Unfortunately Nadeshiko can only spare a few moments. We're preparing for something big." Baaya informed her.
"Oh," Sakura frowned "Well, then, I'm sorry for imposing."
"Baaya." Nadeshiko's mother smiled "Sakura can visit Nadeshiko for a few moments. She's in her room." The woman smiled.
"Thank you!" Sakura bowed, running off, knowing the way.
"Do you really think this is the best way?" Baaya asked the older woman.
"Sakura has to find out eventually. It's best that she finds out before its too late." She nodded.
"Nadeshiko-chan!" Sakura smiled, opening the door without any thought. Her eyes widened as she saw Nadeshiko with her shirt off. Nadeshiko's eyes widened and she turned away from the mirror, staring at Sakura in shock. 'Nadeshiko' didn't have a female body, but instead had the body of a male, shocking Sakura to the core. Chou noticed Temari floating next to the cross-dresser, signifying that it was 'Nadeshiko'.
"Sakura-chan" She gasped.
"Wh-What is this?" Sakura asked.
"Please, let me explain!" Nadeshiko begged, quickly putting a cream colored turtleneck shirt on. Her voice became deeper, that of a boy's, and she rushed over to Sakura, placing her hands on the pinkette's shoulder. That touch was all Sakura needed to snap out of her frozen state.
"Let go of me!" Sakura shouted, pushing him away from her.
"Sakura-chan, please!" 'Nadeshiko' begged, grabbing Sakura's wrist "Let me explain!"
"No! You lied to me!" Sakura shouted, closing her eyes in fear. "You know that I'm scared of men! And yet…you chase after me…disguised as a girl…was our relationship a joke to you?" Sakura asked.
"No! It wasn't!" 'Nadeshiko told her desperately "Just please! Let me explain!" he begged, tears streaming down his face.
"Explain what?" Sakura shouted "You lied to me! How can there even be a relationship if there isn't any honesty?"
"Sakura-chan, please…" 'Nadeshiko' begged.
"No! Only those that are honest and truthful to me can call me that!" Sakura shouted, pushing him away and running away from him. "I HATE LIARS!"
"Sakura-chan!" 'Nadeshiko' shouted, grabbing a black jacket and rushing after the pinkette. Sakura forcefully opened the doors of the gates and ran away as fast as she could. "Sakura-chan! Wait!" the cross-dresser shouted.
"There you are, Nagihiko-kun!" His mother smiled.
"Mama, I'm sorry but I have to go." Nagihiko told her, rushing to the gate and looking around. He desperately searched both sides of the streets, not seeing any pink.
"Nagihiko-kun, I don't see her." Temari frowned, looking around as well.
"I have to find her." Nagihiko muttered, looking back and forth desperately.
"Nagihiko-kun, everyone's waiting." Baaya told him. Nagihiko faced her and sighed, reluctantly going inside the house.
"I have to find her, no matter the cost." Nagihiko thought inside his head. He looked at his chara, who nodded in agreement,
"Right." Temari smiled, flying off.
Sakura leaned forward, breathing heavily.
"Nadeshiko…lied to me…" Sakura gasped, tears falling down her face.
"Look." Chou gasped, staring at the lake. Sakura looked over the smooth surface and fell to her knees, curling into a ball.
"I can't believe she lied to me." Sakura cried.
"We have to tell Amu." Jay gasped.
"We can't. It'll break Amu's heart. Nadeshiko was her first friend." Sakura told them.
"So, you're going to keep his secret, and lie to everyone when you say that you love Nadeshiko?" Sashi asked.
"I don't know…I don't know what to do." Sakura cried, hugging her knees even trouble.
"Trouble in paradise?" Sasuke asked, walking up behind her. Sakura gasped and looked at him in shock before nodding. Sasuke sat beside her, and took off his socks and shoes, rolling up his pant legs. He dipped his feet in the water, letting it cool off his skin.
"Nadeshiko…she lied to me…" Sakura told him.
"What did she lie about?" Sasuke asked.
"If I tell you, you have to promise not to tell anyone else." Sakura told him, glancing over at him. Sasuke looked at her and nodded, agreeing to the terms.
"Nadeshiko…she's really a boy…she, or rather, he lied to me this whole time and strung me along like it was a game. I don't know what to do." Sakura told him.
Sasuke sighed, "I'm going to hate myself for this…" He muttered under his breath "Do you still feel the same way, now that you know the truth?"
"I don't know. It's Nadeshiko, so I can't ignore all the good things and fun times that we shared, but I also can't ignore the lie that he told me." Sakura told him.
"Maybe, you should speak with him one last time so you know for sure." Sasuke told her.
"I don't think I can face him. I told him that I hated liars, to that effect, I basically told him that I hated him, would he still want to speak with me?" Sakura asked.
"You'll have to find that out for yourself." Sasuke told her. The two sat in silence, Sasuke looking at the lake, and Sakura staring at him, contemplating something.
"Why are you doing this? They way you normally act, you act forceful and make it seem like you want me." Sakura told him.
"I do want you, and I act forceful because I want you to get that I'm serious. But, I also want you to be happy." Sasuke told her, looking up at the clouds "If you're happy with someone else, then I'll stand by, unless your lover picks a fight with me. That's what true love is, putting their happiness above your own." Sasuke told her.
"Thank you." Sakura smiled, standing up. "I'm going to go home and talk to him tomorrow."
"Alright, I'll see you later." Sasuke nodded, watching the pinkette and her charas leave.
"Sasuke, are you sure about this? You could have made your move." Shadow told him.
"I'm sure, what kind of honorable ninja would I be if I did something underhanded like steal her while she's down. I want her to fall in love with me naturally, doesn't mean I won't be forceful at times, but I'll help her if she needs it." Sasuke nodded.
"You're growing up." Shadow smiled "Soon, you'll be a very honorable ninja. Just like your namesake."
Sakura walked home, her mind filled with thoughts on how to confront her girlfriend, or rather boyfriend. She opened the door and saw the note on the table.
"A scoop came up. I'll be back late tonight. Money for take out is on the counter." Sakura read.
"She sure is busy." Jay muttered.
"Yeah, she has bills to pay." Sakura nodded. There was a knock on her door and she looked over at it in shock, before answering it, seeing Nadeshiko there, panting.
"Please! Just let me explain!" He shouted, before she could say anything. Sakura shifted nervously before letting him in the house.
"Do you want some tea?" Sakura asked nervously.
"I'm sorry." Nadeshiko told her, bowing. "It is tradition that the males of the Fujisaki house hold be raised as women in order to learn the traditional form of feminine Japanese dance. I wanted to tell you, but you were so afraid of guys that I was waiting for when I thought you had forgotten about your fear and would accept me." He explained, keeping his head down.
"Why didn't you tell me from the start?" Sakura asked.
"I didn't want to scare you off. I thought that, with your nervousness towards guys, you wouldn't even give me a chance. So, I'm sorry." He told her, rising from his bow. "I'm afraid I have to be going now. I have a performance to give to my family. I'll be seeing you again." He told her.
"Can I know one thing…what's your real name?" Sakura asked.
"Nagihiko. Nagihiko Fujisaki." He answered, leaving the house. Sakura heard the door close before she fell to her knees, tears flowing down her face. She held her hands up, crying into them.
"Sakura-chan…" Her charas whispered, floating around her.
Sakura and Amu stood in front of the Guardians in shock.
"Is that true?" Amu asked.
"She left?" Sakura muttered.
"Yeah." Yaya nodded sadly.
"Fujisaki-san will be studying in Europe." Tadese told them.
"By studying abroad she'll be able to familiarize herself with more styles of traditional dance, and better her presentation." Kukai told them.
"She's probably at the airport right now." Yaya told them.
"Without saying goodbye?" Amu asked.
"No…" Sakura whispered.
"She didn't tell you?" Kukai asked in disbelief.
"I'll be seeing you again." Nagihiko's words rang through her head and she turned around, running out of the garden as fast as she could.
"Sakura-chan!" Amu gasped, looking after her sister.
"There's one more thing." Tadese told Amu, taking out a pink envelope.
"Sashi! My own heart: UNLOCK!" Sakura shouted, her Dream Shield shining bright green. Sakura quickly transformed and shot off into the sky, flying towards the airport.
"Nagihiko…" She hissed under her breath. "I have to tell you something! Something in person!" Sakura muttered to herself.
"There it is!" Jay shouted, pointing at the far away building.
"Sashi! Faster!" Sakura commanded.
"Right!" Sashi agreed, the wings fluttering faster. Sakura landed on the ground without anyone noticing her and she undid the transformation, quickly running into the airport, and going in a random direction.
"Temari's this way!" Chou told her, leading her the right way. Sakura nodded and raced through the large building, desperately trying to fight against the crowd and find Nagihiko. She came to the concord and looked around, desperately trying to find Nagihiko.
"Over there!" Jay shouted, pointing at the boy and his mother.
"Nagihiko!" Sakura shouted, causing the boy to turn around in shock.
"Sakura-chan…" He whispered. Several people stared at them as Sakura ran over to him, quickly wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I love you." She whispered to him, tears falling down her cheeks. Nagihiko's eyes widened and he let go of his luggage, choosing to hold her instead.
"Sakura-chan!" He smiled, placing a hand on her head. "Do you really mean that?"
"Hai! I was just so confused! I didn't know what to think, but now I realize the truth," Sakura smiled, looking up at him, "I love you, Nagihiko!"
"I love you too." Nagihiko smiled. Sakura quickly pressed her lips against, his her eyes closed happily. Nagihiko's eyes widened, and he tightened his hold on her, kissing her back. The crowd around them gasped, and cheered the young couple on.
"Ah! How sweet!" Chou sighed dreamily, looking at them in a daze.
"You really are a romantic." Sashi muttered.
"But this is very cute!" Jay smiled.
Amu-chan, I'm sorry this is so sudden, but I've decided to broaden my knowledge in dance. In order to do this, I will be in Europe for the next year, and I'll come back in a form that will truly surprise you. I don't want to say goodbye, so instead, I'll say Thank you. After reading her letter, Amu raced out of the garden, heading for the hill next to an outdoor bench.
"Make sure!" She shouted "Make sure you come back!" Amu shouted, at the plane passing overhead.
"Make sure, because, it's a promise." Amu thought.
Sakura watched the plane zoom away, and smiled, gently touching her lips.
"Nagihiko-kun…" She smiled, watching the plane fondly.
"You'll see him soon." Sashi smiled.
"Don't worry; the year will fly by in no time." Jay nodded. Saurka smiled and held up the envelope in her hand.
"Here you go." Nagihiko smiled, handing her a pink, flower printed envelope.
"What's this?" Sakura asked.
"A letter I wrote for you. I want you to read it whenever you feel alone, or can't talk to anyone. I'm sure it will cheer you up." Nagihiko winked. He smirked and held his hair back in a ponytail, winking at her "You'll read it for your dear sweet girlfriend, ne?" he asked, his voice light and high.
"Hai!" Sakura nodded.
"Nagihiko-kun, it's time to go." His mother announced. Nagihiko gave Sakura one last hug before walking onto the plane and boarding.
Sakura opened the letter, reading its contents.
No matter what, I'll always be beside you, even if I am in Europe. Never forget me, for I shall never forget you. I love you, Sakura-chan. Both parts of me do.
Sakura smiled and held the paper to her chest, looking back at the sky.
"Nagihiko..." Sakura smiled, staring at the sky.