Chapter 9
Okay, the majority of the votes so far are for #1. So this chapter will not contain L/Z, but this one is leading up to the next, where there will be a good deal of L/Z. By the way, Samanda, I did add choice #2 for you, as bribery to get you to update "Sapphires and Sakura blossoms"! Do you hear me? Bribery!!!!! MUWAHAHAHAHA!!!!! I'm sorry, I've had a lot of sugar today, and I'm very hyper! (Goes off and starts bouncing) Anyway, here is the next chapter!
Also, I'm dedicating this chapter to a very special person, my chorus teacher, Mrs. Cavanagh. With out her guidance and help, my voice would not have survived the first day of chorus.
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Zelgadis walked down the hallway towards Lina's bedroom. After getting the full tour of the house, he knew his way around. The house was only two stories, with walls of a soft creamy color, on the inside and out. There were drapes on all the windows; one set was red, indicating Lina's room. The carpeting was a light blue, which happened to remind him of the sky.
As he walked out of the kitchen and into the hallway he started to hear voices, Lina and Luna. He walked up to Lina's door and listened.
"OW! Luna!" Lina shouted.
"Well, if you would stop moving!" Zelgadis slowly opened the door, and was greeted with a very interesting sight.
Lina was wearing what looked like a kimono that was about three times two large. She was standing on a stool, though the kimono covered it. At her feet, her sister worked with a thread and needle.
"Hi Zel!" Lina lifted an arm that was completely covered in a sleeve that was way too long in an attempt to wave.
"Lina! Stop moving!" Luna snapped as she took out the few stitches she had just placed in.
"Um, do I want to know?" Zelgadis asked as he watched the two. Lina turned to face him and smiled.
"I have to get my kimono resized! Luna had to add extensions because I grew!" Lina said, sounding very much like a child. Luna rolled her eyes and turned to her sister.
"Okay," She said as she made marks on the fabric. "You can change out of it, Lina."
"Okay! Um, Zel," Zel blushed and hurried out of the room as Lina changed into a set of clothes. A few minutes later she emerged wearing a simple outfit. It wasn't her usual sorceress out fit, but rather a red T-shirt and a pair of yellow shorts. She had a bag in her hand that she swung onto her shoulder.
"Hey Zel, sorry about that. Hey, you want to walk with me?" Lina winked at him and set off towards the door. Zelgadis followed. After they had left the house, Zel let his curiosity take him for a brief time.
"So, Lina, why were you getting your old kimono sized?"
Lina turned to him for a minute, a look of confusion on her face. "Oh, right, your not from around here! I'm sorry, it's for the Sakura Festival."
"The Sakura Festival?"
Lina got a faraway look in her eyes, one of more maturity than Zel had ever seen her with. "The Sakura Festival is a festival that we hold every year. We get people from all over the world at this time. The traditional garments are for a girl, a kimono. The festival is very important to our culture. For one, it provides the money we need to keep us going for the rest of the year. For another, it's an excuse to go out and have a good time with friends, and," Lina sighed and looked away from him. "The Cherry Blossom Maiden."
"The Cherry Blossom Maiden?"
"Every year, at the festival, one lucky girl is chosen to be the Maiden. Tradition says that that girl has to do something to show her love for the guy she likes. It can be anything, from shouting it at a rooftop to asking him out for a quiet evening. The chosen guy, if he returns her affection, is to get a bouquet of cherry blossoms and give it to her before midnight."
Zelgadis nodded and switched his attention to the path. They were traveling towards the park; trees filled with cherry blossoms boarded the road.
"So," He asked, a slight blush coming to his cheeks. "Have you ever been the maiden?"
"Me?" Lina looked shocked. "No way! I've never been chosen."
Zelgadis nodded again and realized they had entered the park. In the center or the park, there was a cluster of girls, two of which he recognized. "Lina, when is this festival?"
"Tonight, Hi!!!" Lina waved happily as they cluster of girls surrounded her. Jess and Nick were there, as well as two new girls. Everyone was dressed similarly to Lina.
"Zel, This is Angel Micholo, and Amy Saunders." The girl, Amy, had purple hair that was tied into a ponytail. Her eyes were a soft green color that reminded him of Sylphiel. Angel was completely different. She had a wild mane of brown ahir, and her eyes blue eyes danced with determination. Lina smiled.
"Zel, you can wait on those bleachers over there." Lina motioned to the set of gray bleachers behind him. Zel quickly sat down and watched. A woman with short brown hair and glasses came up to the girls.
"Girls!" She called; the girls quickly sat down on the grass and watched their instructor. "First off, welcome home Lina. I hope you remember me?"
"Of course! How could I forget you, Mrs. Cavanagh?" Lina smiled and the girls all giggled.
"Right, I pray you remember some of our songs?" Mrs. Cavanagh asked.
"Of course! Which one are we starting with?" Lina smiled again as she watched Mrs. Cavanagh push a piano out from under a tree.
"Lets say, "Hanukah, Hanukah"?"
"You bet! Let's get started!" Lina smiled and everyone stood up. Mrs. Cavanagh began to play a lively tune. Everyone took a big breath and began to sing.
"Hanukah, Hanukah, time of celebration. Sing we of Hanukah the Feast of Lights. Hanukah, Hanukah, voices joined in singing, legends and stories on these winter nights. And as we… Light the candles! Light the candles! Shining brightly with their flames of gold! We remember, and we celebrate, the miracle of long ago. Hanukah, the festival of lights!" *
"Excellent! Girls! Wonderful! You haven't lost your touch!"
The next few hours were spent singing, laughing, and just being girls. They chatted from stories that Lina told to who they would choose if they were chosen for the festival. Finally, Mrs. Cavanagh told the girls to go home because it was getting dark and the festival would start soon. As the girls filed out, Lina came to see Zel.
"So, what did you think?" She asked as they began to walk towards the house. People were busy picking the cherry blossoms off the trees and setting up decorations for the festival.
"It was good. You guys have talent." He said with a smile. Lina smiled back and they both went inside to prepare for the big event.
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All right, there we go! The next chapter will, I promise, have Zel and Lina get together. I'm sure you can guess what's going to happen. Remember Samanda! Update!
Oh, right, the song "Hanukah Hanukah" is a wonderful song that we are doing in my chorus class right now, it has a wonderful meaning and has a very lively tune to it.