ACT 13

OoOoOoO

Dining Hall. (After Kanna and Sumire left.)

"Hey, Iris what was that all about?" Kohran asked with a confused face.

Iris looked at her bowl for a long while before she answered. "It's about Sakura."

"Oh, it was about that incident, huh?" Kohran said turning serious. "It was a tough battle and accidents always happen."

"No, that's not all to it," Iris added. "Something is wrong."

"Huh? What else is wrong?" the Chinese girl asked. Seeing Iris acting like this was arousing her curiosity. Of course, before she left for Hana-Yashiki she knew something was wrong with Sakura. She didn't know that it was this serious.

"It's about Maria."

Kohran looked at her own bowl. "Yes, just like what I said. Accidents always happened."

"It's not about the accident," Iris snapped.

Now Kohran was getting more and more puzzled. "Huh? What do you mean?"

OoOoOoO

Ohgami slipped out of his room. If it wasn't for dinner he wouldn't have cared. He needed to eat and check on the girls. After all, he must not leave his responsibilities. And yes, there was still the night watch to go.

The events of the past three days made his heart ache. He wished he could turn back the time.

'And if I did, what could I do?' Ohgami held his head and grimaced. "I'm so useless!"

He had to hold back his tears. No, he must not cry for now. He must be strong. He must be strong for the Flower Division. He must be strong for Maria.

The young man collected himself as he went down the stairs. He passed down the hallway until she reached the entrance of the Dining Hall. He was startled when he heard voices.

Somebody was still there.

"WHAT!" it was Kohran's voice echoing. She sounded shocked from something.

Ohgami paused for a moment. Something pulled him back, urging him not to enter.

It was not one of the good things to do but he eavesdropped anyway.

There was long silence before Kohran spoke again in a softer tone. "So, how did you know this?"

Iris snuggled her teddy bear. "Iris heard it from Kanna and Sumire while they were arguing the other day."

"I see." Kohran seriously said. "It's really a big blow to her. . . I never knew she really felt that way about Maria-han."

'Huh?' Ohgami was utterly confused. 'What is she talking about?'

Iris continued. "Sakura loves Maria very much . . . ... Iris doesn't know if it is right to love someone of your own gender. We only do that in plays. Right, Jean Paul?" The French girl turned her attention to her teddy bear.

Kohran decided not to speak about the moral issues of female to female relationships. Iris was still too young or too innocent rather, for this kind of thing. Besides, the braided-haired girl was too tired for it now. Maria's Kohbu gave her much more labor than the ones in Hana-Yashiki.

"We have to go now. It's getting late. There's still more work to do tomorrow." Kohran rubbed her temples. 'Yes, for me that is. And I don't think I'll be able to sleep either after this revelation. Wow, who would have thought that Sakura-han is a. . .'

"Oniichan!" Iris called.

"Huh?" Kohran set her gaze at their captain who was standing at the entrance. "Ohgami-han, it's been a while. Have you eaten?" Kohran asked then suddenly her expression turned sour. 'Eck, if he already had, why would he be here? And he still owes me for him missing my departure last time.'

Ohgami didn't seem to hear their words as he walked back to the corridor.

Iris felt sad. "I guess Oniichan didn't hear us."

Kohran scowled. 'That's the second time Ohgami-han ignored me. He owes me double!'

OoOoOoO

Midnight.

A shadowy figure walked silently towards a secluded place. Night patrol was over, but he still couldn't help worrying. He wanted to see her but something was bothering him.

"Why? Why didn't I notice it before?" he asked himself loudly. 'I am their captain. I should be aware.'

As he stood at the white door which read 'Intensive Care Unit', another figure came with flowers in hand. "Ohgami-san?" it said in a low but clear voice.

Ohgami turned around his head and noticed the familiar figure in darkness. "Sakura-kun?"

Sakura stared at him for a while studying his expression. Ohgami did the same. Even in this dim light, they could see each other clearly.

'He looks a bit tired, with all those rings around his eyes. I guess he's having trouble with sleep just like I am,' Sakura thought.

'She looks rather pale and who wouldn't be after nearly starving herself to death? But why would she come here all of a sudden?' Ohgami questioned silently and answered it himself almost immediately. 'Maybe we have the same reasons.'

Maria.

"It's late. Why are you here, Sakura-kun?" Ohgami asked, finally breaking the silence.

"To see her," Sakura responded while tightening her grip on the thorn stems of the flowers which were evidently roses. 'Seeing you here, I may probably change my mind—OUCH!' Her eyes squinted in pain as a thorn pricked her hand.

"Are those for her?" Ohgami said, looking at the three roses she held.

"Yes," she simply replied. "And what about you? Why are you here?"

"Night patrol," Ohgami lied. Night patrol had already ended two hours ago.

"I see."

"Sakura-kun," he called out softly. He suddenly remembered what Ayame said a while ago. "You should not. . ." Ohgami's voice trailed off. 'But if I stop Sakura now, she'll keep on hating me. ... I'm always getting in her way ... although I wanted to see Maria first... I guess maybe this is the best chance for her to loosen up on herself.'

"Should not what?" Sakura repeated his last words.

"Stay up late. . . but it's okay if you really want to see her in this hour," Ohgami just said although he knew it was going against Ayame's orders. "I should be going now. Good-"

"Ohgami-san. . . I-" Sakura cut in.

Ohgami looked at her brown eyes that were glimmering in the dark. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry."

Ohgami winced. "Sakura-kun?"

"I wanted to tell you this for a very long time. I know you love Maria-san. I didn't really mean to hurt her and for acting so mean to you. Please forgive me," Sakura bowed down as she spoke those words in the most sincere tone.

Ohgami placed his hand on Sakura's shoulders, urging her to straighten up from her bow. "I know you love her too so I can't blame you for that."

Sakura turned her gaze on him. "When did you find out?"

"Just a while ago. . . and I know it's a bit slow of me. I should be the one apologizing for not noticing it earlier."

Sakura tugged Ohgami's sleeve and reached for his hand. "Ohgami-san, can you do me a favor?" she asked as she placed the roses in his hand.

"Sakura-kun, what-," Ohgami paused in for a while when he saw Sakura's warm smile.

"Can you give this to her?" Sakura pleaded.

"But I thought you-"

"I think you both deserved each other better," Sakura said, half her face covered in darkness. "Don't you know what three roses signify when a man gives them to a woman?"

"No," Ohgami said in a firm voice.

"I guess she'll tell you when you gave it to her," Sakura said.

"No, Sakura-kun, what I mean is that you should be the one. . ."

Sakura looked up at him when Ohgami placed the roses back to her hands. ". . . to deliver this to her," Ohgami ended.

"Ohgami-san?"

"Besides, that is what you came here in the first place." Ohgami gave her a warm smile of his own. 'Even at this late hour, I can't stop you from following your heart. I just can't. . . I just can't stop you from loving her.'

"But what about you? Don't tell me you don't want to see her."

Ohgami shook his head. He couldn't find any other words to deliver and felt the need to leave. "I have to excuse myself. Goodnight, Sakura-kun."

'Ohgami-san.' Sakura could swear that she saw the glimmer in Ohgami's dark eyes as he turned around and went away. 'He's feeling hurt.'

Now that Ohgami was gone Sakura faced the door. 'Why can't you wait Sakura? Why now?'

OoOoOoO

Maria knew she heard something behind the closed door. 'Who could that be this late at night?' she asked herself.

She cursed herself for not having her pistol. 'It could be a robber, or even the enemy. What an opportune time for them! I should have asked Ayame to bring my revolver before she went out.'

Maria felt perspiration building up on her forehead. Her eyes narrowed as the doorknob began to turn. 'Here it comes. I'm totally dead.'

The Russian balled her hands into fists.

"Maria-san?"

The blond woman's expression changed when she heard who it was. "Sakura?"