Disclaimer: I don't own Xenosaga.
Chapter VII: Sakura's Tragic Demise?
It was late afternoon now. 4:57 to be exact. The Mizrahi sisters were getting ready for the carnival in Second Miltia square. They were in a bit of a hurry since Mary and the others would soon come to pick them up.
"Hurry up, Sakura, They'll be here soon." Momo urged.
"Okay. Just a few minutes." Sakura called from the bathroom.
Momo was watching some anime show on TV when the doorbell rung. She was wearing a pink flower printed skirt and an orange top. "Sakura they're here!" She yelled as she opened the door.
Rubedo was standing there with a lop-sided grin on his face. "Hey Momo, you look good." He complemented.
She blushed. "Thanks you don't look so bad yourself." He was wearing his trademark trenchcoat and a red turtleneck sweater.
Mary bonked him on his head. "Don't you know a better way to greet a lady?"
That's when Sakura came down wearing an emerald dress that accented her eyes. Along with it she wore a long sleeved shrug that fastened at her mid-section. Lip-gloss was applied and her hair was clipped in a half-pony tail. To top it off she wore matching chandelier earrings.
Everyone gawked at her especially Rubedo. Sakura had a puzzled look on her face. "What is everybody looking at?"
Rubedo was quick to recover from his stupor. "Sakura, you look fantastic!" He exclaimed with enthusiasm.
She flushed as red as his sweater. "Thanks Rubedo. That means a lot from you."
"Come on everyone. We don't want to miss the carnival." chaos said.
By the time they arrived, at 5:15, already a large mass of people were there. They were crowding the stalls and the traffic was a mess."
"Good thing we didn't drive." Rubedo said looking at the situation.
"I think we should split up. It would be easier to navigate through the crowd in smaller groups." chaos said.
"Right. Since there are eight of us, we should split up into two groups of four." Rubedo said.
"Gaigun, Mary, chaos, and I can be in one group." Shelley said.
"And me, Sakura, Momo, and Albedo can be in another." Rubedo said.
"Just one question," Momo asked, "Who's Gaigun and Jr.?"
"Oh, we forgot to mention that, didn't we?" Rubedo said. "I'm Jr. and Nigredo's Gaigun. It's a long story. I'll explain later. For now let's have some fun."
The restwent their separate ways into the crowd. Group 1 (Gaigun, Mary, chaos, Shelley) went towards the carnival games. And group 2 (Jr. Sakura, Momo, Albedo) went towards the roller coasters.
"Hey, how about we go on that one!" Jr. exclaimed. He pointed to the largest possible roller coaster in the carnival. His eyes were wide with childish excitement and mischief. Before the other three could protest, he scurried over to it and hopped in the front seat. Momo followed suit. Sakura and Albedo sat behind them.
When the ride started up the drop point, Momo felt a strange sense of queasiness and fear. She unknowingly grabbed on Jr's hand and leaned closer to him. He grinned back at her and squeezed her hand reassuringly. She blushed slightly at this notion but was comforted.
Then suddenly the coaster lurched and they fell at full speed down the track. Jr. threw his arms up in the air and screamed along with the other passengers. Momo opened her mouth to scream but nothing came out. She gripped the pole until her knuckles turned white. When the ride stopped she exhaled deeply in relief.
"Wow that was breathtaking." Sakura said.
"That was awesome, wasn't it?" Jr. asked in delight.
"It was a pretty big ride for a carnival." Albedo said.
When Momo didn't say anything, Jr. asked. "How was it Momo?" He then added teasingly. "Were you scared?"
"Um…it was okay. It was a bit frightening." Momo admitted. "Yet strangely enjoyable."
"Yeah that's how roller coasters are. They're supposed to scare the living daylights out of you." He chuckled. "Was this your first time?"
"To be honest it was. I'm usually scared of them."
"That's okay. I am too sometimes."
Momo noticed Jr. was still holding hands with her. But she didn't mind. Sakura did however. Then she reminded herself. We're on a temporarybreak now. They just holding hands…that's harmless isn't it? He's just comforting her, I hope.
Albedo was thinking the same thing, but he decided to save it for Nigredo and Rubedo after the carnival.
xXx
The members of group 2 (Gaigun, chaos, Mary, Shelley) were currently wandering around the carnival holding a large assortment of prizes—whom Gaigun and chaos were carrying—which were won by Mary and Shelley. Or begged by Mary from Gaigun and chaos. She was currently munching innocently on cotton candy with Shelley. The happy motley decided to return to the center of Miltian square & wait for the others.
"I wonder what Jr. and the others could be doing." chaos said.
"The little mastuh's probably flirting with Momo & Sakura." Mary supposed giggling.
"Well…Momo and the little master would make a good couple, wouldn't they?" whispered Shelley to Mary.
"Oh, most definitely." Mary replied.
Gaigun and chaos obviously heard with their superior senses, but chose to ignore it. Rubedo had told him, Albedo, and chaos about the temporary break in his relationship with Sakura. He should've been "girl-free" for at least a week or two. But with Jr., being as unpredictable as he is, you couldn't really tell if he'll stay that way for long.
xXx
Group one decided to top their evening off with the Ferris wheel. Jr. was about to sit next to Sakura when he remembered the hiatus between them and sat next to Momo instead. Albedo filed in the seat next to Sakura.
It was 7:15. The carnival would soon close. The setting sun glowed reddish-orange which colored the surrounding sky and faded into shades of pink and lavender. The main portion of the sky was tinted a deep blue-violet.
"Isn't the sight pretty, Jr.?" Momo asked using his nickname.
"Yeah it sure is." He said. The subtle rays of the sun brought out her peach-colored skin and pink hair. And her eyes…the golden shade of her them matched perfectly with the sunset.
Momo and Sakura are like opposites. Momo looks better in warm colors and Sakura looks better in cool colors.
Jr. felt some weight on his right shoulder. He turned to see Momo leaning on him fast asleep. Her soft hand was also unintentionally resting on his. He decided not to ruin the moment by waking her and just smiled.
Albedo and Sakura were half-way behind so they couldn't see the touching scene take place. Maybe for the better. Sakura was sitting hands folded in her lap, secretly wishing she could rest her head on Rubedo while watching the sunset. Little did she know her sister was doing just that at the moment—except she was asleep. Albedo had his hands behind his head gazing into the subtly-forming stars wondering how Rubedo and Nigredowere doing.
xXx
Everybody had joined up at Miltian Square after the carnival. "Did ya'll enjoy the carnival?" Mary asked.
The groups nodded in response. "It was a good break especially since the first week of school." Jr. said.
"How so, Rubedo?" Sakura asked.
"Ah just the usual. The teachers are such a drag." He answered.
"Well, I better get going. Thanks Jr. The carnival was a good idea." chaos said.
"Mary and I have to go home too." Shelley said.
"Bye. See you Monday." The rest said in unison.
That left the Yuriev siblings and the Mizrahi sisters. Since they lived on the same street, they walked home together. Few other students from MSS that attended that carnival followed them.
Jr. yawned. "I'm bushed. We better get home quickly. Who knows what weirdos come out at night?"
They had to cross the main road to get to their house. Which was usually quite busy.
Momo was walking at a normal pace across the road to their home when she picked up police sirens coming toward them. They appeared to be pursuing a speeding car. The driver was heading towards them at top speed. If they continued at this rate—
"Everyone! Get out of the way!" She screamed.
The Yuriev siblings detected the car with their sensors and dove off towards the sidewalk. Momo jumped out of the way. But Sakura froze in alarm unable to register what was going on.
It all seemed to happen in slow motion. A large black vehicle came out of nowhere. Sakura's eyes were wide with terror and she couldn't move. Momo tried to push her out of the way but it wasn't far enough. The driver tried to swerve around her but ended up knocking into her. She slammed into the windshield and rolled off into the road unconscious.
"SAKURA!" The foursome cried out.
Not a second later did Jr jump up and make a mad dash for Sakura. When he got to her, he held the unconscious girl in his arms. She was bleeding heavily soaking his clothes but he didn't care. Momo was at his side sobbing hysterically. Albedo, Nigredo, and several other students gathered looking on worriedly. Several cop cars pulled over and an officer surveyed the scence. "Call an ambulance!" He ordered someone. The rest of the events were a blur.
A/N: Before you go flaming me about killing Sakura, she is still alive. It will make more sense in the next few chapters. Until then R&R plz
Review Replies:
Livefreedieyoung: Thanks for the feedback. Making the characters IC is not easy sometimes. (lol) The pairings will probably be obvious later on, but I want the characters to fit together naturally. Although I would prefer MomoxJr, we'll just have to see :P
Kos-mosMomo: Well there you have it for the next chapter. I hope it wasn't too upsetting . It'll make more sense in later chapters. It's good to know I have some consistent reviewers.
