The International Summer Schools

Letter #2: Iris

"Thank you for helping me, Reni." Iris smiled as she handed Reni another stuffed animal.

Reni took the fluffy bunny and carefully packed it in the box along with the others. "I still don't understand why you want to get rid of all your toys."

"Iris is not a child anymore." Iris scowled at Reni before casting an affectionate look at Jean-Paul. "Besides, Iris is not getting rid of all of them."

Reni picked up the porcelain doll that was lying on the floor and ran her fingers over the doll's smooth face.

"You've never played before, have you?"

Reni slowly shook her head. "It would have interfered with my training." She awkwardly patted the doll's head and smoothed the doll's skirt before laying it in the box. "It was imperative for me to hone my combat skills with minimum distractions."

Iris's forehead wrinkled as she tried to absorb her dear friend's explanation. "So you've never played and had fun before?"

Reni smiled. "Of course I have."

Iris raised an eyebrow. "Really? When?"

Reni's legs cramped from having sat on the floor cross-legged for over an hour so she extended her legs and leaned back on her arms.

"I had fun cruising down the river on a stolen boat with you. I had fun catching goldfish with the Taicho at the Spring Fair."

Reni absentmindedly plucked at the edge of the box as she continued. "I especially had fun navigating the Shogei Maru to Sendai."

Iris giggled as she recalled the memories of the past year. "We did have fun, didn't we?"

Reni gave a curt nod. "For the first time in my entire life, I celebrated my birthday. I got to spend it with my most cherished friends. That was fun, too."

They were quiet for a moment as each took time to enjoy all the happy thoughts that now ran through their minds.

Iris stood up to stretch her legs. She walked over to her bed and picked up Jean-Paul. "Iris misses Oniichan." She hugged the teddy bear tightly.

"He is still at sea. It will take another week before he reaches France."

"You turn into the walking Encyclopedia at the strangest times, Reni." Iris playfully whacked Reni's arm with Jean-Paul. "Don't you miss him?"

Reni sighed. "I started missing him exactly two minutes after the ship left the pier."

Iris giggled even louder. "Iris started missing him before the ship left."

Reni knew about the close bond Iris and the Taicho shared. It had taken her many days to comfort and reassure Iris that Ogami Ichiro will come back to them.

She stood up and closed the box.

"Well, it seems we've cleared your room. What do you want to do with the box?"

Iris thoughtfully tapped a forefinger on her chin. "Maybe we can ask Kanna to carry it up to the attic for storage." Iris added softly, "If Oniichan were here, he'd help me with the box."

Reni knew she wasn't supposed to hear that, so she ignored it. "I'll go look for Kanna."

"Thanks again, Reni." Iris held up one of Jean-Paul's paws and used it to wave at Reni. "Let me know if you want me to help you tidy up your room."

Reni thought about her few possessions: the crate, her chair and the blanket. She grinned. "Thanks for the offer."

A few minutes after Kanna came to get the box, Iris was sitting by her desk with a sheet of paper in front of her. She picked up her pen and started writing a letter in Hiragana. She paused every so often to translate a word from French to Japanese.

Despite mastering the language on board the ship headed to Japan years ago, she never did learn her Kanji.

She crumpled the sheet and took out another. She nibbled on the tip of the pen as she thought about what she wanted to say.

* * *

To the Oniichan that Iris loves,

Bonjour!

Iris knows you haven't reached France yet, but Iris misses you already.

Iris spent the day cleaning up her room. Reni helped me pack all my toys away because grown-ups don't play with toys anymore.

Don't worry, Iris still has Jean-Paul. (He says "Hi!" by the way.)

We both wish we could have gone to France with you, as we haven't been home for many years now. It would have been lovely to see Paris again. Perhaps Jean-Paul and Iris can go visit you soon?

Please write back. Jean-Paul and Iris look forward to your letter.

Hugs and Kisses,

Iris

P.S. Please ask one of the Paris Hanagumi to translate this for you. Iris tried to write this in Japanese, but it was hard to think up the words. Iris didn't want to ask Sakura for help like the last time because Iris wanted this letter to be personal.

~ next -- Letter #3: Kanna

* * *

Author's Notes:

  1. In one episode of the 2nd OAV, Iris steals a boat but it goes out of control and Reni saves her.
  2. In Reni's ending in the Sakura Taisen 2 game, Ogami takes her to the Spring Fair.
  3. In the 2nd OAV, the Hanagumi "borrow" the Shogei Maru to get to Sakura in Sendai.
  4. Reni celebrated her birthday for the first time in the Sakura Taisen 2 game.