Winds of Thyme: The Sequel

By Sakura Takanouchi

~*~ Winds of Thyme: The Sequel Chapter One: A Supposed Summer Break ~*~

Disclaimer: …Oy. Here again, aren't we? *runs away*

~*~Winds of Thyme: The Sequel takes place not long after the original left off. It is now summer break of the same year. What surprises await our heroes now?~*~

'I wish Kurama was here,' Sakura thought as she swung the tennis racket she was holding. The ball flew over the net and landed inside the court.

"Good job, Takanouchi," Her tennis coach said. "If you keep this level of play up, you'll be able to be one of the top players on the team."

Sakura wiped the sweat off of her brow. Summer was so boring, she had decided to join the tennis team for something to do. Kurama was away on another mission, as usual. 'I can't believe he is letting Koenma send him on so many,' she thought. But she had little time to think as another ball went over the court. Her racket made contact again, and the ball landed in the doubles alley.

~*~In Reikai~*~

"Koenma, I have finished the mission you sent me on," Kurama said while watching Koenma stamp papers.

"That's great, I'll send you on another one tomorrow and then two next week, and also if you could pick up my dry cleaning after the mission tomorrow, It'd be great—" Koenma was cut off when Kurama stood up from the chair he was previously sitting on.

"Sir, could you please give me a little time off? I have been so busy doing all of your missions that I haven't seen Sakura in--" he counted in his mind--"12 days."

"Well, normally, I would say no, but since you called me 'sir' I'll just let you have a week off and make Kuwabara try to do your missions," Koenma said. "It's always been so much fun to watch him mess everything up." He went back to stamping papers. "But of course, I always get spankings from my dad for his mistakes. I never did understand…"

"Arigatou," Kurama thanked him politely, and then dashed out of Reikai to see if he could catch the last bit of Sakura's practice.

~*~ Ningenkai ~*~

"Okay, that's all for today," her coach said as Sakura set down her racket and gladly took a drink of water. She thanked her coach, gathered her belongings, and started to exit the court when she saw a familiar face.

"Kurama-kun!" She called out as she dropped her stuff and gave him a hug.

"I came by to see if I could walk you home," Kurama said as he released her and picked up her tennis equipment.

"You mean…" Sakura asked hopefully.

"Hai. Koenma gave me some time off, and I plan to spend most of it with you and kaasan," Kurama said, smiling. They walked off the tennis court, holding hands.

~*~ At Sakura's House ~*~

Sakura hummed to herself as she stirred a pot of wonton soup. She was so exited about Kurama's break.

"Okay, the soup's done," She said, taking it off of the heat and spooning it into two bowls. She set them down on the table where Kurama was sitting. They started to eat.

"Hey, this is delicious," Kurama commented after several spoonfuls.

"It's just instant soup," She said, blushing. Then, she changed the subject. "I wish I could accompany you on one of your missions."

"Cheer up, Sakura," Kurama said. "I'll ask him once I have to go back to Reikai."

"But that won't happen for a while, right?" Sakura asked, finishing her soup and taking her bowl and putting it in the sink. Kurama stood up and did the same with his now empty bowl.

"Of course it won't," he then gave Sakura a hug from behind. She looked up at him, and he kissed her gently before letting go.

"Domo Arigatou for the meal," He said politely.

"It was nothing. Do you want to see a movie tomorrow?" She asked as they slowly walked towards her front door.

"That would be nice," Kurama answered as Sakura opened the door.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then," She said softly.

"Ja ne, Sakura-chan," He said, and then walked down her front steps and into the night.

Sakura shut her door and went to her room. She took out all of the materials needed for training, and then spread out her futon. Several minutes later, sleep overcame her.

~A/N~

Wasn't that just peachy, minna? Awesome stuff. Well, I don't have anything to say in this author's note. Now that I think about it, why do I even have them in every chapter if I hardly have anything to say? …I'm the authoress, someone answer this question!

Sakura Takanouchi