Disclaimer: I don't own Hikaru No Go

Thanks to Chidoriochibi, abc, There is no Pen Name, Halcyon Clouds, Haruka Akira and Kickkid3 for reviewing.

Sorry, I took such a long time to post this chapter up. It was already done last week... my friend who beta for me had sent it to me earlier. I was suppose to do another round of re-reading this chapter... I got too lazy and didn't read it until finally I have done it. Bow bow... gomen!

Hope you all like this chapter.

Chapter 30

It was amazing to see the quiet inn suddenly filled with a huge mop of guests. Touya watched Akari helping slightly during lunch at the dining area before she brought him outside to see the scenery. She had changed out of the kimono and was wearing her normal clothing as she ushered him around. The place was beautiful, the air was clean and fresh and the wilderness around the area was covered up with snow.

"That is the cable car to bring the skiers further up the mountains to higher slopes." Akari said pointing over to a small engine house where the cable cars were moving continuously upwards. "Do you want to ski?"

Touya shook his head. He never skied before and he had often heard that people breaking their legs for not doing properly.

"Well, usually the beginners will ski on easier and less challenged slopes. We also offer skiing lessons that are taught by experienced coaches for beginners." Akari explained as if she was reading his mind. "So you don't have to worry about getting injured. How about riding?"

Touya turned to her. "You mean horses?" He remembered hearing Inoue telling his sister to help out at the stables earlier and he wanted to see the horses. He had never really seen one before in real life. "Sure…"

Akari led Touya slightly further to the back of the inn. They then climbed up a hill by foot.

"We have a helper that usually stays near the horse shed at night to take care of the horses but my relatives will personally work during the day." Akari continued to explain their work at the inn. "Today, I guess it is Inoue-chan's and Itoe-chan's turn to do that job but Itoe-chan is afraid of horses. She had built up this forebear since a horse nearly kicked her when she was younger."

"Did she get hurt?" Touya asked with concern while imaging a huge horse rearing up over a younger version of Itoe. She was such a nice little girl.

"No, there were adults around her to stop that stallion." Akari smiled slightly. Touya was always so sweet and caring, but she shook her head slightly to clear that thought. "We don't let the young visit the horses alone."

They soon reached the stables and Touya was rather surprised to see the stables being so huge. There were already a few guests horse back riding on a flat area that was fenced up. Itoe and Inoue were grooming one of the horses that stood outside of the shed. When Akari and Touya approached, they turned to them smiling.

"Is Yuki around?" Akari asked.

"She is inside." Itoe smiled. "We just fed and groomed her.

Akari motioned Touya to follow her into the stables and Touya was slightly astounded at the number of horses they had. They whined and breathed vapor when Akari and Touya walked in. Some of them stamped their hoofs on the ground. Akari led Touya to the other end of the stables until a beautiful white horse came to view. It poked its head out of its stall to greet Akari in a friendly manner.

"This is Yuki," Akari introduced patting the horse head. "Do you want to touch her?"

Touya didn't answer and stood slightly a distance away from them. Akari smiled.

"She won't bite," Akari continued. "She is my horse, but we do rent her out to guests sometimes. I brought her into this world almost six years ago when I came here with my sister for a holiday."

"You brought her into the world?" Touya didn't really understand her.

"I became a horse midwife for a night." Akari explained. "The vet couldn't come during the blizzard so oneechan and I had to come up here to help her mother. We were happy that we were able to help. Oneechan knew a lot about horses because she had read a lot of books. We worked hard together to bring Yuki into the world in that blizzard night. Yep, Yuki was born at night, like me. I was born at night too…" Akari added that last sentence rather softly but Touya heard her.

This lovely woman, who had brought into the world at night, had given everyone around her a beautiful warm light of happiness. Touya couldn't really believe that. He had always thought that probably she was born at the day break, when the sun was rising. But it seemed like it was the same with this horse too. She was born at night but she looked so beautiful. The name Yuki fit her perfectly because there were no stains or patterns on her pure white coat. (Yuki: Snow)

Touya slowly came closer and put his hand gingerly on Yuki's nose. As soon as he did, Yuki grunted breathing out vapor. Touya jerked his hand away slightly with surprise. Before he could lift his hand off, Akari's hand covered over his and put them back slowly on Yuki's mane, moving gently in stroking motion and earned a slow whine from the horse.

"See, it's not that bad." Akari smiled her hand still over Touya's.

Touya was staring at Akari with wide eyes now. She was holding his hand! He couldn't help feeling his heart rate had suddenly increased by the feeling of her soft hand over his. He had missed holding her hand too. Touya closed his eyes to savor the moment.

Akari didn't seem to notice as she continued to guide Touya's hand to stroke Yuki; her head slightly inclined looking at the horse tenderly. Somehow, her reverie came to an end and she blinked, pulling away from Touya's hand. Touya felt like wincing at the coldness that greeted his hand from the lack of warmth providing by Akari's hand earlier. She tensed slightly, avoiding Touya's eyes, and she turned away quickly.

"Let's go…" She mumbled.

Touya watched her headed towards the stables exit and sighed rather wearily before following her out to the cold winter air.

That evening, when everyone gathered in the family dining area for dinner, Touya sat quietly next to Akari with her relatives at a Japanese style table where a pot of oden was boiling at the center. Everyone chatted happily about what they did or what hilarious matter that happened during the day. Touya had not seen any family with so much chatting during meal before. He realized that the talkativeness ran in the Fujisakis family. It seems every family member liked to talk because the second Fujisaki he had met was Akari's sister, Akane, who had the same trait.

"Touya-san, how long will you be staying?" Itoe asked trying to bring the quiet professional GO player into the conversation.

"Not long, I have matches to attend back in Tokyo." Touya answered.

"Right, I heard that you just won the Meijin Title!" Inoue said. "It must be really hard."

"I have lots of support." Touya replied and turned to Akari who was looking down at her bowl.

"So what brings you here?" Yumi asked curiously.

"I…" Touya was unable to answer and a slight blush crept up his cheeks.

"Isn't it obvious?" Itoe cried enthusiastically. "Touya-san is here to save Akari-nee from that hideous man who came today!"

"Hideous?" Yumi flared angrily. "Are you trying to tell me that my taste is bad?"

"Really bad!" Itoe confirmed it, sticking out her tongue.

Touya and Akari remained silent while the bickering between her cousins continued.

"You dare to mock the eldest!" Yumi cried angrily. "You should learn more manners, Itoe!"

"I am only saying the truth!" Itoe pouted. "Besides, Akari-nee doesn't want to be paired. She is already engaged to Touya-san!"

"Itoe-chan!" Akari gasped.

"It is true!" Itoe continued. "If not, why would Touya-san come to stop the matchmaking ceremony? Besides, I find that he has the right to, anyways."

"You should leave adults' business alone Itoe!" Yumi cried out.

"I think, for once, I agree with my sister." Inoue said quietly.

"Shut up, boys have no say!" Yumi and Itoe said together.

Inoue, getting angry slightly, ignored the girls and continued to eat like this argument was the most usual thing in the world. Yumi's husband knew better than to say anything about the situation either.

Akari shut her eyes tight at this embarrassing moment while the argument was carrying out between her cousins. She sat rather stiffly at the table next to Touya and Touya was rather uncomfortable that he was an open topic of this conversation.

Her grandma was also silent watching her quietly.

"And I find it so romantic!" Itoe continued to gush, not noticing the tense couple before her. "It is like a prince charming coming to save a damsel in distress."

"Akari is not a damsel in distress; if she doesn't want to go for this ceremony she would have just said so!" Yumi retorted. "Don't make me look like the bad one here!"

"Did you let her say anything?" Itoe snapped back, her dreamy expression gone, her eyes flashing, which reminded Touya so much of Akari's when she was angry. "NO, you didn't even wait for an answer and organized the whole thing!"

"I did not, Akari didn't disagree either!"

"But she didn't agree either!"

"That is enough!" Akari's grandma shouted over the table. "Both of you keep quiet!"

Silence came over the table as soon as the two girls settled down but they still glared dangerously at one another. Akari's grandma turned to the bashful couple sitting together quietly and she smiled slightly.

"Akari, please serve Touya-kun, he is your guest." She said finally.

"Hai," Akari nodded slightly.

Without looking at Touya, she took his bowl to get some food for him and then pour out more tea into his cup. The dinner proceeded rather quietly for the rest of the evening except for Itoe suddenly coming up with another question. Touya was surprised at how much the girl can talk but he was starting to like her since she was really nice and not to mention, she was trying to help him too.

"Touya-san, will you be around tomorrow?" Itoe asked innocently.

"I should be able to stay another night." Touya answered politely. "I don't want to disturb anyone."

"Of course you won't be disturbing!" Itoe smiled sweetly and Akari eyed her cousin cautiously. She was up to something and Akari knew it. "Is it the first time you are here in Sapporo?"

"Hai," Touya nodded once.

"Great then, you should stay for another night, so you can go to the Winter Festival that starts tomorrow." Itoe grinned happily. "Don't you agree, Akari-nee?"

Akari was speechless; all alarm bells ringing in her head. She knew that her cousin was up to something but with this coming up, she really had no idea.

"This is the festival that we all go every year and you never missed it either when you came to visit, Akari-nee." Itoe continued, rather robustly. "At least, Touya-san should be able to see the splendor of all those ice sculpture in the city! He DID come a long way from Tokyo."

Akari blenched and looked at Itoe with wide eyes, almost getting up to strangle that little girl on her neck. She turned away from Itoe furiously while staring down at her bowl and gripping the chopsticks harshly in her hand. It wouldn't be surprising if the chopsticks snapped into halves.

"Akari-nee will be pleased to show you the sight, Touya-san," Itoe winked at Touya who smiled. He was beginning to like this little girl more and more…

The Sapporo Winter Festival was awesome; Touya had never seen so many huge ice sculptures that decorated the whole city into ice and snow. He had heard of the Sapporo Winter Festival before, in fact it was a tourist attraction and Japan most favorite place.

Akari brought Touya through the site quietly. Her relatives all tagged along chatting rather loudly while they walked through the festival site. The site was huge beginning from the Odori Site to the Makomanai Site. There were stalls selling merchandizes and food on the way but Touya was more enthralled by the ice sculptures decorated throughout the Sapporo city.

There were two Odori sites and the first one they went through was more for children with cute ice sculptures and places for children to actually play. Ice slides were built to entertain children and the sculptures were more fantasy like. The place was crowded with families with kids. Touya had to keep up with the rest of the group whom seemed to know where to go and what to do.

The second Odori site had more building sculptures along the way. There was Japan famous Nagoya Castle which was built almost to the same size as the original castle. As they proceed walking, the crowd had thin out slightly and suddenly Touya found himself walking only with Akari.

Akari also seemed to notice that her cousins had abandoned her, huffed slightly. They shouldn't leave without telling her. Now she was stuck with Touya alone. She frowned and turned to Touya slightly.

"They will return. I guess they are hungry and go to find food stalls…" Akari said softly. "Are you hungry?"

Touya shook his head and somehow had a feeling that this was Itoe's doing. He was not going to waste the girl's effort off getting them alone, so he better used the time wisely.

"Akari… I am really happy that you accompanied me to the Winter Festival today." Touya started the conversation. "I really am glad to be able to be with you again…"

"Touya-kun, I am just showing you around because you are a guest." Akari avoided his beautiful eyes. She couldn't help but always melt whenever she looked into those warm emerald green eyes. "So… please… don't misunderstand."

"I won't," Touya smiled slightly stepping closer to her. "I am just thanking you for accompanying me and also telling you how much I enjoy your company."

Akari turned to look at him slowly. "You are welcome…"

"The festival is really amazing," Touya continued leaning closer. "Just like you…"

"You are supposed to look at the sculpture…." Akari whispered, unable to tear her eyes away from his as soon as they locked. "Not at me…"

"Everything is beautiful…" Touya continued leaning closer until his lips almost touching hers.

Akari was wondering if he meant the ice sculptures or her but she was rather stoned while her heart melted at the way he was looking at her. Akari was closing her eyes slowly when suddenly they heard children screeching happily and Akari jerked back.

Touya almost groaned. Why these interruptions had to happen to him when he almost got her to give in! Not only he wanted groan, he wanted to scream! Calming his nerve, he straightened up slightly and looked at Akari who had started avoiding his eyes again. Damn! If only he could get her to stare into his eyes all the time. He knew now what made Akari weak at her knees. No wonder she never dared to look at him straight in the eyes because she was afraid what may happen and what she was afraid was, to give in.

"Akari, why are you running away again?" Touya asked with slight hint of frustration in his voice. "You know that, I didn't mean to hurt you that night!"

"But remembering that everyday is not exactly a pleasant thing Touya-kun!" Akari replied hurtfully. "I hate myself for not being able to forget that image that just kept repeating itself in my head! I am really sorry…"

"Akari…" Touya reached out to her, wanting to hug her to ease away her pain but she stepped back. "Please, let's try to do this for us! We are getting married this coming spring!"

"Touya-kun, I want to reconsider." Akari sobbed slightly.

"I will always wait for you, Akari," Touya whispered feeling slightly rejected when Akari moved away from his reach. "You know that there is no one for me but you."

"I am sorry…" Akari whispered and started backing away. "Please understand, I really needed sometime to think. I mean marriage is a big step into another new life and I don't want to get hurt again."

"I won't hurt you!" Touya cried out desperately. "Akari, I really won't!"

"That's what I told myself everyday but in the end…" Akari's voice trailed off. "I am sorry, I need to go…"

Touya watched Akari walking away rather sadly. He knew he needed to give Akari more time to wipe away those fears she had in her heart. With him pestering and forcing her won't do her any good and may push her away from him further if he pressed on too harshly. When Akari had practically disappeared into the crowd, he heard a sudden thump as if something huge fell on the snow. He also heard someone cursed softly and mildly. He turned to the source to see that Itoe had fallen down on the snow from a nearby huge ice sculpture where she was hiding behind and eavesdropping.

Itoe watched Akari walked away and felt rather angry at her failed arrangement. She leaned forward too much and fell into the snow with a loud thud and she cursed, smacking the snow lightly with her hand. When she saw a figure looming before her, she looked up slowly to see Touya raising his eyebrows at her. She smiled rather uncomfortably.

"Eavesdropping is a rather impolite thing to do, Itoe-san," Touya said kneeling down in front of the girl. "So why are you doing this?"

"Because I want to see Akari-nee happy…." Itoe said lamely as she got up from the snow and brushed her jacket quickly to get rid of the flakes sticking on her front.

"I don't see Akari looking very happy, do you?" Touya replied rather nonchalantly trying to hide the pain away from his voice but Itoe caught it anyways.

She looked at him for a moment before she got up silently and walked to one of a drink store swiftly as if she was in a hurry. Touya followed her while wondering what she had in mind now. She got two hot drinks and passed one to him.

"Akari-nee had been really distracted ever since she came back." Itoe started speaking after she took a sip of her hot drink and sighed with relief.

She must have been cold to lie on the snow that way, Touya thought as he watched her rubbing her freezing hand over the hot cup to warm them up. No wonder she was in such hurry to get a hot drink.

"She was never so distracted before." Itoe said without looking at him as she looked at her warm cup of drink.

Touya remained silent as he listened to the girl and tried to comprehend what she was trying to tell him.

"Even when she got hurt six years ago from ice skating and she came here to hide for almost half a year, she wasn't even this distracted." Itoe continued. "I had been watching her since she came back, Touya-san. She was always lost in her thoughts, doing silly mistakes in her work. Like putting salt in her coffee instead of sugar and luckily I was there to stop her from pouring the whole packet of flour in a pot of guests' noodle…"

She took another sip of her drink and continued, staring straight ahead of her blankly.

"And I know that she is constantly thinking of…" Itoe turned to Touya. "…you."

Touya blinked and remained rather speechless to hear something like this from a little girl.

"I hope you feel much better knowing that Akari-nee hasn't forgotten about you." Itoe smiled. "I was hoping that she may be able to face the fact on how much she loves you and goes back with you. Forget whatever happened back in Tokyo that made her upset. Even I know it is not your fault."

"How do you know it is not my fault?" Touya asked curiously.

"By hearing the way you spoke and tried to explain, it is easy to guess." Itoe shrugged. "It is only Akari-nee is too hurt to see that. Besides, true love is never perfect. I mean, come on, nothing is perfect. All I know is that you both will be together again after this misunderstanding resolved."

"You know, you are very smart, Itoe-san." Touya smiled at the lively girl next to him. "I can't believe I am hearing something this profound from a little girl like you."

"Hey, I am not a little girl anymore." Itoe pouted slightly and then added proudly. "I am going to be thirteen soon."

"Congratulations." Touya smiled at the enthusiastic girl next to him.

"Domo arigatou," Itoe bowed in a western fashion and then smiled up at Touya. "Come on Touya-nii…." She paused and looked at him hopefully. "I can call you Touya-nii right?"

"Why don't you just call me Akira," Touya smiled.

"Ok, Akira-nii then," Itoe grinned. "Let's go get the others…"

Touya nodded and side by side they walked down the festival together to look for the rest of the group. Finally, the dread in Touya's heart lifted, knowing that he had help even here at Sapporo. He will have to wait for Akari to come back to her senses.

"By the way, do you by any chance bring the engagement ring for Akari-nee?" Itoe asked hopefully.

Touya nodded, pushing his hand into one of his pants pocket.

"Is alright if I see it?"

Touya pulled on the ring from his pocket and showed it to Itoe who squealed in delight and awe.

"UWAH!" She cried. "It is so beautiful like Akari-nee!"

She has the same thought as I do too… Touya thought silently with a small smile.

Before the sun rose the next morning, Touya was already ready to leave. Itoe, who looked rather miserable, stood by the door watching him thanking their grandma for her hospitality before he turned to her.

"Do you really have to go today?" Itoe asked sadly. "You can still stay until Akari-nee follows you back to Tokyo."

"I can't afford to loose the Meijin title and I have a match today." Touya explained. "I had worked really hard for it and it was a promise I had made to Akari."

"Would you come to visit us someday?" Itoe asked.

"I would love it if you come to our wedding, Itoe-chan." Touya smiled and clipped her chin lightly.

"I would love to go to Akari-nee and Akira-nii's wedding!" Itoe exclaimed.

"Then I will see you?"

"You bet!" Itoe grinned. "And you promise to come back to Yamada Inn someday again!"

Touya smiled and nodded once at the grinning little girl before he turned away and walked out to the drive. Akari's grandma had told the driver of the van to fetch him to the train station that will bring him to the airport. He sat inside the van quietly, looking back at Itoe running out from the inn to the drive, waving at him. He watched her until she disappeared from his view as the van moved on, down the hill.

Akari knew that Touya had left that morning and somehow she couldn't stop but felt the bareness feeling creeping up into her heart again. It was after lunch when all the guests had just finished eating and Akari was wiping the top of a table rather absentmindedly. She didn't know that she had been wiping that same spot for almost the whole hour until Yumi spoke to her.

"If you continue, you are going to create a hole on that table." Yumi said while she piled up the trays of food to bring into the kitchen. "You had been wiping that table for almost an hour Akari!"

"Huh?" Akari looked up in a daze.

"Don't daydream, we are very busy you know!" Yumi lectured and stood up with a pile of trays in her hands.

"Hmm…" Akari mumbled and continued wiping the table.

Yumi looked at her for a moment, shook her head before she left the dining hall. Finally, Akari stopped her cleaning and looked down at the towel in her hand, unable to comprehend the emptiness in her heart.

"Oh no…" Akari buried her head in her hands. "I miss him so much! And he only left like a few hours ago!"

The whole day flew by in a blur and Akari was glad whilst it came to an end. When she was finally able to sit next to the hearth trying to think what had actually happened when Touya came by, Akari was confused. The visit was a short one but Akari couldn't help but remember the warm glow filling her heart when he was around. Now that he was gone, she could only feel that empty coldness in her heart. She pulled her legs to her chin and stared into the fire dancing furiously in the hearth. Without thinking, she threw another log into the fire and it rose higher. The fire wasn't working. It wasn't warming up her heart.

"Don't set the inn on fire, Akari." She heard Yumi said behind her.

"I will not…" Akari replied rather halfheartedly and irately.

Yumi sighed and took a seat on one of the couches.

"Akari, come here…" She called gently.

Akari turned to her cousin who patted the seat next to her. Gradually, she got up and took the seat next to her cousin quietly. She twirled her fingers together and waited for her cousin to start her speech or her lecture or whatever she had in mind, though she hoped it was not another matchmaking effort.

"Akari, did you remember six years ago when you were here?"

"Yeah…"

"Did you remember the time I was having a lot of problems with my boyfriend who is now my husband?"

Akari became silent.

"I still remembered you and Akane did a rather dramatic arrangement for both of us to meet after that horrible quarrel we had." Yumi smiled at the memory. "And you know what?"

Akari shook her head.

"I was glad you both did." Yumi turned to Akari and stared at her intently. "If not, I wouldn't know how much he loves me and how much I do too or we wouldn't have gotten married. I owed you and your sister plenty, Akari. When I saw how Itoe trying to arrange for you and Touya-kun to talk privately at the Winter Festival, I finally remembered."

Akari's eyes widened and turned to Yumi in surprise.

"That Itoe has your spirit Akari." Yumi smiled gently at her younger cousin. "She was able to tell that you seemed a lot livelier when Touya-kun was around. Even it was only for two days but those two days shown, Akari."

Slowly, tears begin to emerge in Akari's eyes and Yumi put an arm around her shoulders.

"I am not trying to preach nor am I trying to lecture." Yumi continued. "I am sure obaba had tried talking to you and I guess is it my turn to tell you that never run away from the right person. You came here with a problem back in Tokyo, face it and get over it!"

"I have no idea how much I miss, Yumi-nee." Akari mumbled burying her face on Yumi's shoulder. "I can only tell how much I miss him when he is out of my life again…"

"That, everyone noticed, it is pretty obvious. He is your light. All you need to do is accepting him." Yumi smiled patting Akari on the head. "You should know what to do now, Akari."

Akari looked up and dried her tears with a small smile appearing on her face.

"Do you think you should start packing now?" Yumi asked innocently. She earned a friendly smack from Akari and they both laughed.

"By the way, Itoe-chan actually set me up?" Akari asked rather incredulously.

"Just like how you and Akane did the last time." Yumi said rather distastefully. "It wasn't pleasing to hear right now but later in years you will thank her, just like how I am grateful to you and Akane."

Akari grinned. "It runs in the family, doesn't it?"

"How strange I am never like that…" Yumi rolled her eyes. Akari laughed again and she felt so good to be able to do it after such a long time…

Eternal Snow was open for business like usual, even Akari wasn't around. Touya had never stopped going there for breakfast and Mitani had always served him, but somehow the place didn't seem the same without Akari. Touya took his usual place in the café and waited for his usual breakfast that morning. He was reading the morning papers and flipping the pages rather casually, while he scanned the news quickly. He continued reading even though he heard someone walking up towards him and putting a plate on the table. Before he could look up to thank the person, who he knew was Mitani, the person spoke and that voice didn't belong to her.

"You know whenever I am down or had too many things to worry about. I always go for something sweet. It usually helps."

Stunned, Touya put down his papers and his gaze fell on a plate of Tiramisu on the table and, very slowly, he turned towards the voice he knew so well with wide eyes and mouth slightly open. Akari was standing next to his table with her hands behind her back, smiling at him rather shyly. It was just like the first meeting they had in the café. The words and the Tiramisu… Still not able to believe his eyes, Touya stood up slowly from his chair while reaching towards her. Akari didn't step back and his hands enclosed on her arms gently. He spluttered slightly.

"Is it really you, Akari?"

"Hai, Akira." Akari nodded, still smiling. "You look kind of down, so I thought something sweet may cheer you up."

Touya laughed softly. He was glad to hear Akari calling him by his name again and he pulled her into a tight embrace, his face buried snuggly on the curve of her neck. He could feel Akari's arms wrapping around his waist and he sighed with pleasure.

"If that is so," Touya whispered into her ear. "It will mean that you are the only sweet that I need, Akari."

Touya pulled away slightly to look at her who was smiling up at him slightly. There were tears in her eyes as she looked into his eyes without breaking the contact. He knew that that was tears of happiness this time and he smiled. He was studying her intently, trying to drink in her beautiful features just by gazing at her.

"I am so sorry for running away, Akira." Akari said softly. "I…"

"Shh…" Touya put a finger on her lips gently. "I have a surprise to show you."

Akari inclined her head and waited. Touya stepped back slightly and reached up his hand to show her that it was empty and then moved it to her ear touching it gently, did a flicking movement with his fingers as if taking something out of her ear. He then held the engagement ring between his thumb and index finger and brought it to the front. Akari chuckled softly as she watched Touya picking up her hand and slipping the ring into her finger. As soon as the ring was sparkling in Akari's finger, she flung her arms around his neck and everyone in the café cheered. Touya hugged her in returned.

"You finally came back!" Touya whispered.

"My feelings are telling me that it is the right thing to do." Akari replied just as softly.

Finally, he thought, Akari had come back to him. His birthday wish, being able to see Akari every morning when he wakes up, will come true soon. Touya pull back slightly and captured Akari's lips in a deep passionate kiss, which Akari returned just as deeply with devotion. While the fiery kiss continued, more cheers and applauses burst throughout Eternal Snow.

TBC

I will be putting up an epilogue for this story. I guess I should be able to upload it by next week. I hope everyone is happy with the ending. LOL.

Thank your so much to my friend who had taken her time and effort to proof read this chapter for me. All credits and improvements goes to her. Arigatou gosaimasu!

About the Winter Festival I had written in this chapter is a real event in Hokkaido every year. It starts around Febuary during winter time for seven days. Everyone is welcome to go. The whole city will be built with ice sculptures. Last year, 2005 Snow Festival in Sapporo was held from February 7 to February 13. If anyone wants to know more about it. Please read on...

For Knowledge:

Sapporo that is the city of Hokkaido has the most famous tourist attraction during the winter time. The Sapporo Snow Festival. It is one of the Japan's largest winter events that attracts a growing number of visitors from Japan and abroad every year. Every winter about 2 million people and ice sculptures which line Odori Park, the grounds of the Self Defense Force base in Makomanai, the main street in Susukino. For seven days in Febuary, these statues and sculptures (both large and small) turn Sapporo into a winter dreamland of crystal like ice and winter snow.

The Snow Festival began in 1950, when local high school students built six snow statues in Odori Park, in 1955, the Self Defense Force joined in and built the very first massive snow sculpture for which the Snow Festival become famous for now. The festival has grown from these humble beginnings to become one of the biggest and most well known Hokkaido's winter events.

Extras: I found there is three different site in this Snow Festival. There are the Odori Site, Makomanai Site and Susukino Site named after the streets and park mentioned above.

I had mentioned about Odori Site and Makomanai Site in the story but I didn't say anything about Susukino Site. I couldn't find any information on Susukino Site... so it was a little difficult for me write about it. I hope this little knowledge helped. If you want to know more... go to Yahoo search and type Sapporo Snow Festival. There is alot you can learn from there. I can't write out the link I have used for this information here because, it never turned out right. Some text will be missing.