Chapter Two: Is it love?
"How is she?" Tomite asked Inami when she returned to her room.
"She's really mad. I would be too if I were her," Inami said. "You should talk to her. She seemed to trust you."
"I know, that's why I'm mad at myself," Tomite said.
"Tomite, we didn't know that Hikitsu was going to tell Umiyame to do what he did. There was nothing we could've done," Inami said.
"Yes, there is. I could've told her the truth from the beginning," Tomite said angrily.
"Tomite?" Inami asked seeing the anger in his face. "You've fallen in love? Haven't you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Tomite snapped as he stormed off.
Sakura sat on her new bed angrily. "What's wrong?" Aki asked.
"Nothing," Sakura muttered.
"Do you want to go home? I can get us home easily," Aki said.
"No, I've got to do this," Sakura sighed.
"Why do you have to do this, Sakura?" Aki asked. "No one told you that you had to. Mother didn't, I didn't, no one did. So, why are you doing this?"
"Because…" Sakura began.
"You're doing it for him, aren't you?" Aki asked.
"Who?" Sakura asked.
"That boy, Tomite," Aki said. "You've fallen in love with him, haven't you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm going to take a walk," Sakura said storming out of her room.
Sakura found herself in a beautiful garden that was filled with flowers and fountains. She looked up and saw that she was in something that looked like a greenhouse. Sakura found a bench and sat down on it. She stared at her reflection in the water of a fountain. (What did I get myself into. Was Aki right? Am I really falling in love with Tomite? But how could I? He lied to me. I can't fall in love with a liar…can I?)
Just then she heard footsteps. She ducked behind a fountain and poked her head above it. She saw Tomite. He was sitting by a fountain on the other side of the garden.
(What if she hates me now? What am I thinking? Could Inami actually be right? How could I lie to her? I knew it wasn't right.) Tomite shifted in his seat, but then he saw a shadow from behind one of the fountains. Tomite stood up and slowly walked toward the fountain.
"Uh oh," Sakura muttered as she stepped backward trying to step on the ledge, but she missed the ledge and fell backward into the pool of water. Sakura sat up and looked at her drenched clothes. "Oh great."
Tomite hurried over and saw Sakura sitting in the fountain, soaking wet. He burst out laughing. "Wasn't cold enough for you?" Tomite laughed.
Sakura giggled. "Gee…thanks," Sakura said as Tomite helped her up. As Sakura stepped out of the fountain, she slipped again and landed right in Tomite's arms. Her face against his chest, and his arms catching her body. Sakura looked up and their eyes met. Their hearts were racing like crazy.
"Sakura, I'm sorry about earlier," Tomite apologized. "I shouldn't have lied to you about why I brought you here."
"Tomite…" Sakura began but Tomite cut her off.
"And, I'm sorry about what Urumiya did to you," Tomite said. "I didn't know that Hikitsu would go that far. He's not like that usually, I promise you that. He's just stressed out because our people have been suffering for so long. He must've been desperate."
"I understand," Sakura said. "Tomite…I know you tried to protect me and I want to thank you for that. But, you still lied to me…"
Suddenly, Sakura found Tomite's lips attached to her's. Sakura's eyes grew wide but then she felt herself kissing him back. Her body relaxed and Tomite caressed her it.
(Tomite…)
(Sakura…)
Tomite let her go and stared into her eyes. Their hearts were still racing. "Sakura…I…" Tomite began, but before he could finish, Hikitsu walked in. Tomite pushed himself away, took off his shirt, and wrapped it around Sakura's soaking wet body. Hikitsu saw them and walked over.
"Hello, Tomite. Sakura. Sakura, I apologize for my actions earlier, it's just that our people have been suffering for so long, I needed you to be the one," Hikitsu apologized.
"You don't have to worry, Hikitsu. I will be the one to summon Genbu. Just get everything ready," Sakura said.
"As you wish, Priestess," Hikitsu said as he bowed his head and left the garden.
Tomite looked at Sakura, who was shivering. "Come on. Let's get you inside. There's a fire in my room," Tomite said leading her away.
Tomite handed her a blanket as her wet clothes dried by the fire. She wrapped it around her body and sat close to the fire. Tomite poured some tea into two cups and handed one to Sakura.
"Thanks," Sakura said as she continued to stare into the fire.
"Are you sure you're warm enough?" Tomite asked.
"Well…not really, but I'll be fine…" Sakura began but suddenly found Tomite sitting behind her. His arms were wrapped around her body. Sakura could feel his warm breath breathing on her neck.
"How about now?" Tomite asked softly.
Sakura blushed and stood up, holding the blanket tightly around her. Then she turned to face him. Tomite stood up too and stared into her eyes. Then she turned away from him again. "I should get going," Sakura said as she picked up her clothes. They were still soaking wet, but she put them on anyway. "Thanks again."
Tomite watched as she slowly headed for the door. (I should tell her how I feel. Maybe she feels the same way. I love her. I have to tell her.) Tomite grabbed her by the arm and stopped Sakura before she could leave the room. Sakura stopped but continued to face the door. "Sakura, I have to tell you something," Tomite said.
Sakura didn't say anything, but just continued to face the door. (What was he going to say now? Is he going to tell me he loves me? But…do I tell him that I love him too? Oh…what's he going to do?) "What is it?" Sakura said finally.
Tomite turned her around to face him. His eyes felt as they were staring at her heart. (Is it really that obvious to him?) "Sakura, earlier, before Hikitsu came in, I was going to tell you something. Ever since we first met, I felt that there was something between us, something special. Sakura…I've loved you since the moment we met," Tomite said with a shaky voice.
Sakura's eyes grew wide. (He did it. He said he loved me. Now what am I supposed to do? Do I say that I love him too? But…I don't know if I do. Oh, I'm so confused.) "Tomite, right now…I don't know if I feel the same way. I'm sorry," Sakura said as she left his room. Tomite's eyes grew wide, his heart felt like it shattered into millions of pieces.
(She…she doesn't feel the same way? Is it true or did I just scare her? Oh…Sakura.) Sakura closed the door quietly and then leaned up against it. Her eyes filling with tears. (Well…I told him that I didn't know. Which is the truth. But why…why do I feel like I've just killed the one I love? I should go take a walk. Yes, a nice, long walk.) Sakura hurried away before anyone could stop her and left the temple grounds.
What's taking Sakura so long? It's been at least 3 hours. Maybe I should go look for her or maybe I should ask that boy, Tomite. Aki walked out of the room and followed the hallway to Tomite's bedroom. He knocked on the door and Tomite answered it. He looked sad and heartbroken. He must've seen Sakura. I wonder if he told her that he loved her or maybe it was the other way around. "Tomite? Have you seen Sakura? She hasn't come back to the room yet? I'm starting to worry," Aki asked.
Tomite's eyes grew wide. "She left about a half an hour ago to her room. At least from my room," Tomite said as he started to get worried. "I'll have the other warriors start looking for her at once."
Tomite walked over to Inami's room and told her to have the others to start looking for her. "Aki, you should stay in your room. I don't know where she's gone, but I'll find her," Tomite said.
"I know. I trust that you will," Aki said as he returned to his room.
"Where do you think she could've gone?" Inami asked Tomite as they ran around the temple.
"I don't know. You don't think she left the temple grounds, do you?" Tomite asked.
Inami stopped. "As soon as we get the others to start looking, you and I are going out into town and looking," Inami said. "I have a feeling that she's out there, maybe even beyond the city."
Tomite nodded and they hurried to get Hikitsu.
Tomite and Inami grabbed their horses and started searching the town. (Sakura, where have you gone? Did I hurt you that much by telling you that I love you? If anything has happened to you…I don't know what I'd do.) "Tomite, that's your blanket isn't it?" Inami asked pointing to a brown blanket at the entrance of the town. It was sitting on a merchant's cart.
"Yeah," Tomite said as he jumped off of his horse and ran to the merchant. "Excuse me, sir? How did you get this blanket?"
"A young woman sold it to me for some food," the merchant said. "I'll sell it to you for 5 pieces."
"Do you know where that girl went?" Inami asked the merchant.
"Yeah, she left the town heading south," the merchant said. "She looked cold. I told her she should have kept the blanket, but she said that food was more important. Poor girl."
"Here sir," Tomite said handing him 5 coins. The merchant handed Tomite the folded blanket and Tomite put it on the back of his horse. "Thank you, sir. Inami, we've got to get out there and bring her back before she freezes."
Inami nodded and they raced out into the icy lands of Hokkan. Inami looked down and saw footsteps in the snow. "Tomite, look," Inami said pointing to the footsteps. "They must be Sakura's."
Tomite nodded and they raced on. (Sakura, please be alright.)
***Want to know what's going to happen to Sakura? Coming Soon: Chapter 3: The Suzaku Seven
"How is she?" Tomite asked Inami when she returned to her room.
"She's really mad. I would be too if I were her," Inami said. "You should talk to her. She seemed to trust you."
"I know, that's why I'm mad at myself," Tomite said.
"Tomite, we didn't know that Hikitsu was going to tell Umiyame to do what he did. There was nothing we could've done," Inami said.
"Yes, there is. I could've told her the truth from the beginning," Tomite said angrily.
"Tomite?" Inami asked seeing the anger in his face. "You've fallen in love? Haven't you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Tomite snapped as he stormed off.
Sakura sat on her new bed angrily. "What's wrong?" Aki asked.
"Nothing," Sakura muttered.
"Do you want to go home? I can get us home easily," Aki said.
"No, I've got to do this," Sakura sighed.
"Why do you have to do this, Sakura?" Aki asked. "No one told you that you had to. Mother didn't, I didn't, no one did. So, why are you doing this?"
"Because…" Sakura began.
"You're doing it for him, aren't you?" Aki asked.
"Who?" Sakura asked.
"That boy, Tomite," Aki said. "You've fallen in love with him, haven't you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm going to take a walk," Sakura said storming out of her room.
Sakura found herself in a beautiful garden that was filled with flowers and fountains. She looked up and saw that she was in something that looked like a greenhouse. Sakura found a bench and sat down on it. She stared at her reflection in the water of a fountain. (What did I get myself into. Was Aki right? Am I really falling in love with Tomite? But how could I? He lied to me. I can't fall in love with a liar…can I?)
Just then she heard footsteps. She ducked behind a fountain and poked her head above it. She saw Tomite. He was sitting by a fountain on the other side of the garden.
(What if she hates me now? What am I thinking? Could Inami actually be right? How could I lie to her? I knew it wasn't right.) Tomite shifted in his seat, but then he saw a shadow from behind one of the fountains. Tomite stood up and slowly walked toward the fountain.
"Uh oh," Sakura muttered as she stepped backward trying to step on the ledge, but she missed the ledge and fell backward into the pool of water. Sakura sat up and looked at her drenched clothes. "Oh great."
Tomite hurried over and saw Sakura sitting in the fountain, soaking wet. He burst out laughing. "Wasn't cold enough for you?" Tomite laughed.
Sakura giggled. "Gee…thanks," Sakura said as Tomite helped her up. As Sakura stepped out of the fountain, she slipped again and landed right in Tomite's arms. Her face against his chest, and his arms catching her body. Sakura looked up and their eyes met. Their hearts were racing like crazy.
"Sakura, I'm sorry about earlier," Tomite apologized. "I shouldn't have lied to you about why I brought you here."
"Tomite…" Sakura began but Tomite cut her off.
"And, I'm sorry about what Urumiya did to you," Tomite said. "I didn't know that Hikitsu would go that far. He's not like that usually, I promise you that. He's just stressed out because our people have been suffering for so long. He must've been desperate."
"I understand," Sakura said. "Tomite…I know you tried to protect me and I want to thank you for that. But, you still lied to me…"
Suddenly, Sakura found Tomite's lips attached to her's. Sakura's eyes grew wide but then she felt herself kissing him back. Her body relaxed and Tomite caressed her it.
(Tomite…)
(Sakura…)
Tomite let her go and stared into her eyes. Their hearts were still racing. "Sakura…I…" Tomite began, but before he could finish, Hikitsu walked in. Tomite pushed himself away, took off his shirt, and wrapped it around Sakura's soaking wet body. Hikitsu saw them and walked over.
"Hello, Tomite. Sakura. Sakura, I apologize for my actions earlier, it's just that our people have been suffering for so long, I needed you to be the one," Hikitsu apologized.
"You don't have to worry, Hikitsu. I will be the one to summon Genbu. Just get everything ready," Sakura said.
"As you wish, Priestess," Hikitsu said as he bowed his head and left the garden.
Tomite looked at Sakura, who was shivering. "Come on. Let's get you inside. There's a fire in my room," Tomite said leading her away.
Tomite handed her a blanket as her wet clothes dried by the fire. She wrapped it around her body and sat close to the fire. Tomite poured some tea into two cups and handed one to Sakura.
"Thanks," Sakura said as she continued to stare into the fire.
"Are you sure you're warm enough?" Tomite asked.
"Well…not really, but I'll be fine…" Sakura began but suddenly found Tomite sitting behind her. His arms were wrapped around her body. Sakura could feel his warm breath breathing on her neck.
"How about now?" Tomite asked softly.
Sakura blushed and stood up, holding the blanket tightly around her. Then she turned to face him. Tomite stood up too and stared into her eyes. Then she turned away from him again. "I should get going," Sakura said as she picked up her clothes. They were still soaking wet, but she put them on anyway. "Thanks again."
Tomite watched as she slowly headed for the door. (I should tell her how I feel. Maybe she feels the same way. I love her. I have to tell her.) Tomite grabbed her by the arm and stopped Sakura before she could leave the room. Sakura stopped but continued to face the door. "Sakura, I have to tell you something," Tomite said.
Sakura didn't say anything, but just continued to face the door. (What was he going to say now? Is he going to tell me he loves me? But…do I tell him that I love him too? Oh…what's he going to do?) "What is it?" Sakura said finally.
Tomite turned her around to face him. His eyes felt as they were staring at her heart. (Is it really that obvious to him?) "Sakura, earlier, before Hikitsu came in, I was going to tell you something. Ever since we first met, I felt that there was something between us, something special. Sakura…I've loved you since the moment we met," Tomite said with a shaky voice.
Sakura's eyes grew wide. (He did it. He said he loved me. Now what am I supposed to do? Do I say that I love him too? But…I don't know if I do. Oh, I'm so confused.) "Tomite, right now…I don't know if I feel the same way. I'm sorry," Sakura said as she left his room. Tomite's eyes grew wide, his heart felt like it shattered into millions of pieces.
(She…she doesn't feel the same way? Is it true or did I just scare her? Oh…Sakura.) Sakura closed the door quietly and then leaned up against it. Her eyes filling with tears. (Well…I told him that I didn't know. Which is the truth. But why…why do I feel like I've just killed the one I love? I should go take a walk. Yes, a nice, long walk.) Sakura hurried away before anyone could stop her and left the temple grounds.
What's taking Sakura so long? It's been at least 3 hours. Maybe I should go look for her or maybe I should ask that boy, Tomite. Aki walked out of the room and followed the hallway to Tomite's bedroom. He knocked on the door and Tomite answered it. He looked sad and heartbroken. He must've seen Sakura. I wonder if he told her that he loved her or maybe it was the other way around. "Tomite? Have you seen Sakura? She hasn't come back to the room yet? I'm starting to worry," Aki asked.
Tomite's eyes grew wide. "She left about a half an hour ago to her room. At least from my room," Tomite said as he started to get worried. "I'll have the other warriors start looking for her at once."
Tomite walked over to Inami's room and told her to have the others to start looking for her. "Aki, you should stay in your room. I don't know where she's gone, but I'll find her," Tomite said.
"I know. I trust that you will," Aki said as he returned to his room.
"Where do you think she could've gone?" Inami asked Tomite as they ran around the temple.
"I don't know. You don't think she left the temple grounds, do you?" Tomite asked.
Inami stopped. "As soon as we get the others to start looking, you and I are going out into town and looking," Inami said. "I have a feeling that she's out there, maybe even beyond the city."
Tomite nodded and they hurried to get Hikitsu.
Tomite and Inami grabbed their horses and started searching the town. (Sakura, where have you gone? Did I hurt you that much by telling you that I love you? If anything has happened to you…I don't know what I'd do.) "Tomite, that's your blanket isn't it?" Inami asked pointing to a brown blanket at the entrance of the town. It was sitting on a merchant's cart.
"Yeah," Tomite said as he jumped off of his horse and ran to the merchant. "Excuse me, sir? How did you get this blanket?"
"A young woman sold it to me for some food," the merchant said. "I'll sell it to you for 5 pieces."
"Do you know where that girl went?" Inami asked the merchant.
"Yeah, she left the town heading south," the merchant said. "She looked cold. I told her she should have kept the blanket, but she said that food was more important. Poor girl."
"Here sir," Tomite said handing him 5 coins. The merchant handed Tomite the folded blanket and Tomite put it on the back of his horse. "Thank you, sir. Inami, we've got to get out there and bring her back before she freezes."
Inami nodded and they raced out into the icy lands of Hokkan. Inami looked down and saw footsteps in the snow. "Tomite, look," Inami said pointing to the footsteps. "They must be Sakura's."
Tomite nodded and they raced on. (Sakura, please be alright.)
***Want to know what's going to happen to Sakura? Coming Soon: Chapter 3: The Suzaku Seven
