Disclaimer: I don't own Xenosaga.
Of Cherry Blossoms and Peaches: Chapter 6
At the Mizrahi Residence
When Sakura returned to her bedroom, Momo was still fast asleep; huddled in the covers.
That's a relief…I would have a lot of explaining to do if anyone was awake, she thought.
Little did she know Momo was pretending to sleep. She saw the whole scene that took place outside. Ever since Rubedo threw pebbles at the window tohis kiss. However it didn't upset her. She was somewhat relieved that they came to an agreement. She wanted to question Sakura more about what happened but she didn't want to ruin the moment. Although she was still a bit uncomfortable of them, she was overallglad they didn't have to break up.
A few moments later she heard Sakura climb up the ladder to her side of the bunk bed. Momo heard a long sigh and a soft thud on the sheets. Momo smiled. Sakura must have been tired from her meeting earlier since she fell quickly into a deep sleep.
At the Yuriev Institute
When Rubedo came back from the Mizrahi household, he sneaked back into his room at the U.R.T.V boys' dorm. He quietly shoved his unlocked window open and slipped right in—just where a very pissed off Albedo and Nigredo stood.
"Rubedo! Where the heck were you! Yuriev's gonna have your hide now!" Albedo shouted shaking him. Nigredo was at his side.
"Shut up Albedo! Not so loud! You'll wake the others." Rubedo hissed.
Albedo released his shoulders and instead squeezed him tightly almost sobbing into his chest. "Oh Rubedo, We were so worried about you! We thought you were kidnapped!" He cried -sounding like an obsessed mother- when he revealed his soft side.
"Whoa, Albedo stop that!" He pried his death grip away. "I'm fine. Did you really think the great RubedoYuriev could get kidnapped?"
"Like he said, where were you Rubedo? You would've been in big trouble if we didn't cover for you." Nigredo stated.
Rubedo scratched the back of his head nervously. "Well…um…you see…I—"
"—went to see Sakura?" Nigredo finished after secretly probing his mind.
"Hey you shouldn't be invading my mind like that! What I do is none of your business!" He growled angrily. "I thought you guys were my best friends. I can't even trust you."
He gave them a quick glare before returning to the dorm room the three shared.
"Wait Rubedo! Please don't be mad…we're sorry." Albedo said looking down at the floor in shame. "I'm tired of this fighting. I want it to stop so we can be friends again. I'm not going to let a girl ruin our friendship. I mean its okay you're with her as long as you don't forget us."
No matter how hard he tried, Rubedo couldn't stay mad at his two younger brothers for long. He sighed and his anger quickly dissipated. "Albedo…I won't ever forget you or Nigredo."
He smiled and gave an affectionate squeeze through their mental link. "See that? No matter how mad we are at each other the link is always there. It's like a symbol of our brotherhood. Although I like Sakura, she –or any other girl– can never replace my two brothers. Now I realize what a jerk I was. Do you forgive me?"
Nigredo paused for a moment before giving in. "We forgive you…Jr." Mentioning Rubedo's nickname.
"We're like the three musketeers. Aren't we?" Albedo thought.
"Yeah, I like the sound of that, Alby. Don't you Gaigun?" Rubedo teased using Nigredo's and Albedo's nickname.
The rest of the night was followed by pillow fights and childish laughter filled the air.
Momo was awakened by a gentle ray of light shining on her face. She yawned softly and looked up to see if the other occupant was there. The bed was vacant. Then she smelled an aroma of chocolate-chip pancakes and heard the clanking of silverware.
Mommy and sis must be making breakfast, Momo thought as she sleepily walked into the bathroom the two sisters shared.
By the time she went downstairs, they were already serving breakfast: hot chocolate-chip pancakes, blueberries and orange juice.
Ooh the food must be yummy, she thought hungrily since she didn't eat dinner last night. Due to preparation for Sakura's date that evening.
"Good morning, Momo. Why don't you eat breakfast with us?" Juli greeted.
"Yes, I'm starved." She said as she stacked three pancakes on her plate, along with a bowl of blueberries and a cup of orange juice.
"You seem hungry. I noticed you and Sakura haven't eaten dinner last night."
Momo and Sakura exchanged looks. Sakura spoke first.
"Oh we had lots of homework. Mr. Sauer and Ms. Kos Mos made sure of that."
"You don't mean Jan Sauer, do you? The cyborg you met at the subcommittee." Juli asked.
"Yup. It was Ziggy," chirped Momo.
Juli raised her eyebrow a bit in amusement at Momo's nickname for the cyborg. "I see…so you have non-human teachers too, I presume."
"Our math teacher—KOS-MOS—is an android. But they prefer us to call her Ms. Kos-mos." Sakura stated.
"It seems your week at school has gone well."
"Yup." Sakura and Momo said in chorus.
"That's a relief…well I must be off to work now. I'm already late." She said checking the time.
"But mommy, it's only 7:30 am and it's the weekend." Momo whined.
"I know dear, but the shuttle flight is long and traffic is terrible for driving. I will try to come home early dear, okay?"
Sakura shot Momo a warning look.
"No, that's okay. I don't want your work to get piled up."
"Are you sure?" Momo nodded.
Suddenly a call came from the U.M.N. The caller ID read Godwin.
"Godwin? Now who could that be?" Juli asked about to answer the call.
"That's Mary Godwin, a friend from school. She must've gotten our number from the school directory." Momo said as she patched in the call.
"Hey Momo. It's me Mary. I got your number from the school directory. I hope your folks don't mind."
"It's alright. Is there something you would like to tell us?"
"Yes, in fact. Me, Shelley, chaos, master Gaigun, and the little master are going to the festival in Second Miltia square. It's from 5-7 pm. You wanna come?"
"Um…hold on a sec." She looked at her mother pleading who nodded.
"As long as you come home early." She said.
"Sure, Mary. Sakura and I would love to come."
"Okay, we'll pick you up at 5. See ya then." Mary confirmed before closing the connection.
"I have to go to work now. I'll see you two in the evening." Juli called from the door before she left.
"Bye mom." The sisters said in unison.
"But Momo there's one problem."
Something clicked in Momo's head. "Oh no, I forgot. Your date with Rubedo is at 7pm. Can't you go right afterwards?"
"Yeah I guess so. I'll have to ask him when he comes at 5. His dad doesn't like it when his friends call."
"Really? That's strange." Momo thought.
"Well we better prepare things for the carnival."
"Okay." Momo said in agreement.
It's really wierd but I'm sort of nervous about this whole thing. I feel like something bad might happen. Maybe I'm just being paranoid...Momo thought.
A/N: Well that's the end of the chapter for now. I hope it wasn't too short. I'm kind of busy. The climax comes in the next chapter. I wonder what happens...
Review Replies:
Devilman666: Thanks for the reviews. ) It's not easy portraying the characters as they are in the game. I'm glad you thought I did I good job. For the pairings, I've decided it will depend on the outcome of thenext chapter and how the characters react to it. I'm making this up as I go so I'm not sure how things will turn out. But it the end I'm sureit willfit together somehow. >.>
