Bildungsroman

Chapter 20

Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, with no copyright infringement intended. I don't own PoT, which belongs to Takeshi Konomi.

You could've heard a pin drop in the room. Airi lounged in the window-sill, a bleeding gash across her lower lip; Sakura sat backwards on a chair, shooting the former glances now and then; Momoko's fingers twisted together on the settee Mr Okubo had brought up.

Kagome's hands were thin and pale against the pink sheet. Sakura wondered at how frail they looked; had they always been like that?

No one had spoken in ten minutes; since the moment they'd trooped in, and Kagome's face had gone as blank as a jail cell door.

Sakura's eyes darted from Kagome, who stared at her blanket fixedly, to Airi's bloody lip, to Momoko. The latter caught her eye, and Sakura raised an eyebrow, jerking her head towards Kagome the slightest amount.

She saw, for a second, crescent-shaped impressions on the back of Momoko's right hand, before the girl inhaled and shifted.

"How are you feeling?"

Kagome's eyes flickered to Momoko, and then across the room, before dropping back to the blanket. "Alright."

Sakura chewed the inside of her cheek. "That's good." She replied, frustration licking her insides. "That's... good. Good news."

Airi rolled her eyes; it looked more like a snap. Kagome swallowed. For a moment it looked like she might say something, but the moment passed, and then another, and another... Airi swung her legs off the sill, and Kagome's burgeoning intent crumbled.

But Airi merely helped herself to more cherry juice, and went back to lounging.

Sakura gnawed at her cheek again, and exchanged a look with Momoko.

Bless her, she tried again. Gentling her tone even further, she spoke again, "Your club president asked when you'd be back." Kagome looked up to meet Momoko's encouraging smile. "Honestly, I didn't know what to say, but I said you were getting better."

She must have seen the panic in Kagome's eyes as well, because she hastened to add, "From your typhoid, silly. Only the principal and your homeroom teacher know what happened. Your mother said they were very kind about it."

"Amazing, really, considering you've been sneaking alcohol onto school premises." Airi drawled.

A full-body flinch wracked Kagome, and Momoko cast Airi a furious look. She opened her mouth, but Sakura stood up instead. "Airi, outside." She snarled.

Black eyes met brown; Airi sneered. "Don't order me around."

"Then I'll drag you." Sakura's hiss was a promise. New muscles coiled under her floral crop top, under her skin. "Don't test me. Outside."

Momoko watched, wide-eyed, as Airi slowly slid off the window-sill and out the door that Sakura held open. For a moment, the latter stood irresolute, wondering what to say to the girl sitting, eyes glistened, in the bed.

Then she strode forward, tentativeness in her face but not in her step, and threw her arms around Kagome's neck.

Almost out of habit, the astonished girl returned the embrace.

Sakura kissed her roughly on the head. "God it's good to see you." She whispered, giving her a shaky smile before hurrying out and slamming the door behind her.

She grabbed Airi by the arm and steered her to the Okubos' front garden. Mercifully, neither parent was in sight.

"Let go." Airi snapped, shaking herself free. Sakura drew herself up, and looked her friend in the eye. In her boots, she was 5'6, and in her anger, she felt bigger. "Let's get one thing straight," She began, voice trembling with rage. "If you can't be nice, you can't see her. I don't care what you're feeling while you're here- she's your friend too. If you can't act like it, you know where the bus stop is. You understand me?"

Airi stepped closer, eyes flashing. "Who the fuck died and made you a fucking judge-"

"Airi, I'm this close to getting violent. I'm here for my friend, and I thought you were too, but if I was wrong, either you get the fuck out now, or I break something first. Your call." Sakura's tone was just as dangerous. "I'm going in now. Take a few minutes, walk it off, whatever- but if you step inside again, you're going to be civil. I'm sorry, but your issues are going to have to come later. Okay?" Without waiting for a reply, she turned on her heel and stalked back into the house.

Pausing outside Kagome's room, Sakura pressed her palms to her eyes and resisted the urge to scream. Or cry. Or kick the banister down. Taking a deep breath, hitching a smile onto her face, she pushed the door open.

And stopped short.

"H-hey," Kagome choked, wiping her eyes. Momoko groaned, flopping across the blanket on her stomach.

Sakura looked from the broad grin on Kagome's face, to the comical disgruntlement on Momoko's and decided she didn't want to know.

"So, yeah, I'm obviously going to have to go into rehab. The doctor recommended this place out in Okinawa-" Kagome crunched on her chips, getting crumbs all over the quilt. Momoko wrinkled her nose and brushed them off; Sakura's eyes widened. "Okinawa? But that's so far away!"

Kagome sighed. "Yeah... yeah, and I don't want to go all the way there, but... I need to... I gotta get better, Sakura-chan." She attempted a smile, but it came off looking more like a grimace.

Sakura lost no time in snuggling into bed with her, ignoring Momoko's grumbles about how she'd been there first, come on. "Yeah, of course." She buried her face in Kagome's shoulder, inhaled the scent of her dewy body mist. "When d'you leave?"

"I mean, assuming everything goes okay, and they accept me?" Kagome shrugged. "Two weeks, maybe three."

Momoko and Sakura looked stricken. "That's... so soon." Momoko whispered, looking devastated. Kagome nodded, tears filling her eyes.

Sakura bumped her shoulder. "Hey," And her voice wobbled. "The sooner you go, the sooner you can come back, right?"

"Yeah," Momoko still looked upset, but she seized onto that with a brave smile. "You'll be back in no time, Kagome-chan."

The girl in question nodded, then her lower lip disappeared between her teeth. She looked sideways up at Sakura. "Airi-chan...?" She trailed off, but her question was obvious. Sakura made a helpless gesture with her hands, but before anyone could say anything, a gruff voice came from the door.

"Honestly, if you had eyes in your head, you'd have seen me five minutes ago."

The look on Kagome's face could have lit up the underworld, Sakura thought: she broke into the world's biggest, dampest, brightest smile. Airi scoffed, pushing Sakura's legs out of the way under the blanket and propping her own feet up.

Sakura's protest went ignored.

"Sorry about earlier." She held out a candy bar.

"You're a bitch." Kagome replied, but she grinned and accepted the candy anyway. A grin flickered in Airi's eyes.

The nearest market was ten minutes away. Sakura raised an eyebrow. "That was a long walk." She jibed. Airi's eyes flashed, but softened almost immediately. "Yeah... and it was hot too."

Sakura and Momoko exchanged a heavily, heavily relieved look. They were going to be okay. Yeah, Kagome was going away, but it wouldn't be for long, and they'd all be okay.

"Hey," Airi turned to Sakura. "I never asked why you called me. That day."

Sakura blinked. Then it hit her. "Oh! Right, yeah. That. So Sanada-kun asked if I wanted to attend Kanagawa's Tanabata festival, and Ma and Papa said I couldn't go alone. Any of you wanna come?"

Three sets of wide eyes confronted her. Sakura grew nervous. "...What?"

Kagome exhaled, and looked at the other two. "Who wants to be the first to call her an idiot?"

"Hey!"

She rolled her eyes. "Well, you are. Boy asks you to Tanabata, and you ask if you can bring a friend?"

Momoko was shaking with laughter. "Sakura-chan, I know you're not this dense."

"Speak for yourself." Airi muttered, eyes narrowed for some reason. Sakura groaned. "Okay, no. I got this from my dad, I don't need it from you girls, okay? Sanada-kun's attending it with his team. He asked if I wanted to come with, because we had him over for dinner and he wants to return the favour. So-"

"Wait, wait, stop." Kagome's flailing elbow nearly got her on the head. "You had him over for dinner? At your house?"

"Moving a bit fast, aren't you?"

Sakura threw up her hands. "It was dark! He had a long way to go! The least I could do was offer him dinner after I almost broke his nose!"

"You what now?"

Momoko and Airi had tears in their eyes. "This is the weirdest courtship I've ever seen, and I dated an Indian."

"What's wrong with Indians?" Sakura asked, distracted.

Airi scowled. "They cook with mustard oil. And they put chilli in everything."

Abruptly, Sakura remembered what she said. "This isn't a- a courtship!" She spluttered. "He's a friend! A weird, traditional friend, but just a friend! But seriously, are any of you coming or not!? Yes or no!"

Kagome made an apologetic grimace. "I'm on bed rest, so..."

"I'll come." Airi shrugged. "Should beat Tanabata with my family, and I can get Takumi-nii to drive us."

"Sweet." Sakura grinned, hi-fiving her. "Beats taking the train in a yukata, bloody hell."

Momoko looked apologetic too. "I've got family coming over, so I can't. Sorry, Sakura-chan."

Sakura looked disappointed, but nodded. "Sure, no problem. Airi, I'm gonna confirm with Sanada-kun and my parents, so no take-backs."

"I told you," Airi scoffed. "Beats Tanabata with my family. Confirm away... and we're going kimono-shopping."

"Pssh, Ma bought me one ages ago." Sakura vividly remembered that trip. Apparently, so did Momoko, for her eyes lit up. "Oh yeah, wasn't that yours and Sanada's first date?"

Mr and Mrs Okubo looked up in mild alarm as yelps sounded from their daughter's bedroom, but the laughter in which they were couched made them smile. The hard knot in their stomachs started to resolve. Mrs Okubo dashed a tear away as her husband buried his face in her neck. Warm little breaths puffed against her skin as he attempted to control his relief.

"I look ridiculous." Sakura whined. Her mother gave her a light smack. "If you do, it's not because of the yukata." She scolded. "Don't slouch, you look like a hunchback."

"So much love." Her daughter murmured, fidgeting with her obi. "And do I have to wear the geta?" The wooden clogs were supremely uncomfortable.

Aiki smoothed back her hair, which was in an elegant bun with a kanzashi. "You don't leave the house without them." She told her daughter, smiling a tad sadistically. "Consider it your apology for streaking your hair without permission." She eyed the dark blue ends that she'd been unable to hide with disfavour. Sakura rolled her eyes, but inwardly thanked god her mother hadn't seen the bellybutton ring.

The apology for that would probably have been full geisha makeup.

"Yes mother." She intoned, her smile so docile that it would've fooled no one. Aiki huffed, then sighed, sinking onto the bed.

Sakura shuffled to the bedside cabinet, where her mother's water bottle was. The older woman watched her go with a smirk. "I wish I had my phone."

Sakura shuddered, glad that her mother had a penchant for forgetting where she left the thing. "I'd kill myself." She told her baldly. Aiki laughed. "You do look nice, sweetheart." She assured her, accepting the proffered bottle. "That young man won't know what hit him."

"UGH!" Sakura glared at her mother. "It's not like that! We're! Just! Friends!"

Aiki looked taken aback. "Well, if you say so... no need to shout, young lady."

"Sorry." Sakura mumbled, lowering herself almost gingerly to sit beside her mother. "It's just... I've been getting this a lot from the girls lately. Kagome especially. She insists on seeing this as some kind of date, which it's really not. It's not like I don't have male friends, you know. I don't know what's gotten into everyone lately."

Her mother put an arm around her shoulder and drew her close to kiss her forehead. "It must be frustrating," She soothed. "He's a nice boy, Genichirou-kun. Maybe the girls see something you don't?"

Sakura snorted. "They haven't even met him."

Aiki kissed her forehead again. "Silly girl, I meant something in you. But never mind. I like the boy. You should bring him around more often. Heaven knows you need more friends with manners- Momoko and that Fuji boy aren't enough to rub off on you."

"Oh my god, Ma, I'm not, like, a savage." Sakura giggled. "I can be plenty polite when I want to."

"Bring some of that home, baby, I'd like to meet it sometime." Aiki shot back. "Now, I think I hear Takumi-kun and Airi, so why don't you go down? You've got everything, right?"

Sakura rose and looked at the mirror. She almost didn't recognise the young woman in the gorgeous, blue-patterned yukata, and the updo with the silver pins and dangling kanzashi. Her mother wasn't big on makeup, but Sakura had dusted a little blush on her cheeks nonetheless, and her lips were tinged the slightest bit pink.

"Yeah." She nodded, smiling at her mother's reflection. "That's everything."

In some ways, it was a good thing her mother couldn't come down to see her off; Sakura stuffed a nice-ish pair of flats in her bag. Airi snorted.

"Shut up." Sakura warned, and Airi complied, though her eyes mocked as much as ever.

"Hello, Takumi-nii." She greeted Airi's brother politely. He nodded at her, before grumbling about the three seconds Airi took to slide back into the front seat.

"Oh, shut up, nii-san." Airi rolled her eyes. "Sakura, what's the address?"

Sakura dutifully read it out for Takumi to punch into the GPS, and they were off.

"How's your mum doing?" Airi asked, as Tokyo sped by (in some places, crawled by) outside the window. Sakura shrugged, grinning. "Well enough to threaten me into these shoes and the hair."

Airi laughed. "God, you say things like this and I see where you get it."

"That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me." Sakura drawled. Takumi's lips twitched. Airi twisted around to look at her outfit. "You do look good though... but I have to say, you have no idea how to walk in geta."

"I have to say that too." Sakura agreed. "In fact, I'd like to scream that. I've got flats, though." And she lost no time in swapping the two.

Airi snickered. "Not going to do the hair?" She gestured at the elaborate updo. Sakura glanced at the rearview mirror and shook her head. "I actually quite like it." She confessed. "I'll have to ask Ma where she got the kanzashi; it's gorgeous, isn't it?"

"I'll say." Airi agreed. "Your mum has great taste."

Sakura cocked her head, eyeing Airi's own getup. "So does yours." Airi's yukata was a white with pink swirls, and her hair was in a semi-casual half-bun with a chopstick. Unlike Sakura, she had dark lipstick on; she also had geta, though judging from earlier, she actually knew how to walk in them.

The rest of the drive passed in small talk; Airi refrained from teasing her, though, for which Sakura was immensely grateful. Takumi-nii might not care, but Sakura still didn't know him all that well.

"We're here." Takumi drawled after about 40 minutes. Sakura's eyes grew wide as saucers as she took in the imposing estate. "Are you- are you sure?" She stammered. Takumi rolled his eyes. "It's the address you gave me."

"And there's 'SANADA' on the nameplate." Airi pointed out. Sakura squinted, having missed the kanji on the nameplate earlier. "Right..." She said faintly. "Right place, then. Great." She swallowed.

Airi reached back and smacked her thigh. "Go knock, genius, you're the one invited."

Sakura grabbed her bag, which contained the host gift, and slid out of the car. Airi clucked her tongue and smoothed down the back of her yukata. "Gimme ten minutes notice to pick you up." Takumi instructed, before driving off.

"Where's he going?" Sakura asked, perplexed. Airi rotated her shoulders. "I've learnt not to ask." She replied. "Now c'mon, no fun standing out here."

Sakura gulped, before knocking on the door.

Almost at once, it was opened by a... very, very familiar looking man. But not the one she knew. "Um..."

He grinned, bowing. "You must be Gen-chan's guests." His face was older, but his eyes twinkled in an almost unsettling way. Probably because they were so similar to his brother's, who probably didn't even know his face could do that. "Please, come in."

"Thank you." Sakura and Airi removed their shoes once inside, and returned his bow. "I'm Kagawa Sakura, and this is my friend, Tamashiro Airi."

"Sanada Gensuke." The man replied, sliding the door shut. "Come this way, little brother's in the drawing room."

Indeed he was, and he wasn't alone. Yukimura Seiichi smiled as he rose to his feet along with his vice-captain.

"Kagawa." Sanada bowed. "And...?"

"Oh, this is my friend Airi." Sakura flapped her hand, feeling exceptionally wrong-footed. "Tamashiro Airi, I mean. Say hello, Airi."

The look Airi shot her could only be called incredulous. Some part of Sakura sympathised; the last time Airi had heard that, she'd probably been five years old. Another part of Sakura wilted at how stupid she sounded.

"Thank you for inviting me, Sanada-san." Airi bowed, her best manners on display. For some reason, she ignored Yukimura completely- which seemed to amuse the boy.

"If I may ask," Sakura began, trying to diffuse the tension (that she alone felt, clearly). "Is your mother home? Only I've brought a gift, and it seems more appropriate to give it to her personally..."

"Mother must be on her way." Sanada Gensuke replied, glancing at his brother. He liked this one. "She was in the shrine, but she should have finished by now. Would you ladies care for some tea? Or lemonade, or water?"

Sakura's eyes met Genichirou's, and she smirked. "Tea sounds lovely, Sanada-onii-san. Thank you."

"Just water for me, thanks." Airi replied. He inclined his head, disappearing to the kitchen, leaving all four of them alone.

For a few moments, an awkward silence reigned. Then Sanada turned to Airi. "I don't believe we've met, Tamashiro-san." He began. "Sanada Genichirou, and this is-"

"Oh, we've met." Yukimura interrupted, a laugh in his voice. "It's a pleasure to meet you again, Tamashiro-san."

Airi stiffened, but said nothing; a lesser man than Yukimura would've quailed under the force of her glare. Sakura looked at her, bewildered. "Wait, what? When was this?"

"You're a very lucky girl, Kagawa-chan," Yukimura replied. He cast a tight-lipped Airi a sly smile. "Tamashiro-san is a very devoted friend indeed."

"I- yes- what-?" Sakura spluttered, looking from him to Airi. The other girl caught her eye and gave the tiniest shake of the head, and Sakura subsided, though no less confused. She offered Yukimura a glowing smile, though. "Airi's always been there when I need her. Both as a support as well as a kick in the ass."

"Please, sit." Sanada interjected before Yukimura could reply. Sakura suspected the 'ass' comment might've gotten his goat, but she sank into a seat nevertheless. Whatever reason Yukimura had for baiting Airi- how did they even know each other, anyway?- she wasn't going to stand for it.

He looked angelic tonight, she had to admit; more so than usual. His side-bangs were drawn back, highlighting his enviable cheekbones, and the pale pink of his yukata and with the blue obi made him look anything but effeminate.

Dangerous, Sakura thought. He looks dangerous.

Like a beautiful, poisonous flower. Oh, it was lethal, but so, so beautiful.

"You both look lovely this evening." He complimented, and she saw in his eyes that he really meant it. Of course he did; he was the most beautiful person he knew, so why would he be insecure about paying a pretty girl a compliment? "I have to say, Kagawa-chan, that kanzashi is absolutely exquisite."

"Thank you, Yukimura-san." She replied politely. "You boys look very nice as well."

And Sanada really did too. Unlike his friend, he had opted for a slightly more formal look: a black kimono with a navy hakama that bore his family crest. His cap was absent, and Sakura couldn't help but think that was a wise fashion choice; his hair was a startling, deep black, which brought out his eyes. He looked like nothing so much as a kendo practitioner, and it was a good look on him.

He caught her eye at that moment, and after a confused moment, she grinned. The severe expression on his face softened; she'd take it.

The next moment, she was leaping to her feet, as a middle-aged woman swept into the room.

"You must be my son's guests for the evening." Her voice was rich and warm, and Sakura wondered if she sang. She was dressed in the most beautiful kimono she'd ever seen- a deep red, with cherry blossom patterns embroidered on the arms. "Sanada Hanako. You are very welcome to our home."

Both girls bowed. "You're very kind, um... Sanada-okaa-san." Sakura offered her a half-smile as she addressed her, fearing that the title wouldn't go over well. An eyebrow did go up, but so did the corners of her lips, so again, Sakura would take it. "My name is Kagawa Sakura, and this is my friend, Tamashiro Airi... please accept this gift on both our behalves."

"My, you didn't have to go through this trouble, my dear." Hanako protested; upon Sakura's insistence, she accepted the gift with a little bow. "Thank you. And I do compliment you on your yukata, Kagawa-chan- that kind of workmanship is rarely seen nowadays."

Sakura blushed. "I can't take the credit, Sanada-okaa-san; my mother chose it."

"Your mother must have an eye for quality, then." The Sanada matriarch said approvingly. "Did she also choose that kanzashi?" At Sakura's nod, she looked pleased. "It might be modern craftsmanship, but it really is a unique piece. And... Tamashiro-chan, was it? You look very nice too, child. A very becoming colour."

Airi bowed again. "Thank you, Sanada-san."

Gensuke entered at that moment, and his mother took the tea-tray from him with a smile. "Please, sit, children. I'm glad you girls arrived early; you have enough time for tea before seeing the festival. Kanagawa's Tanabata festival is renowned, you know."

"Yes, my grandfather said so." Airi replied, accepting the proffered teacup and holding it with a delicate touch. Sakura observed her out of the corner of her eye; her own porcelain cup felt too delicate, her fingers too thick around it.

Sanada shifted as the other two women talked; Sakura looked at him. He was looking at her hands, and as she watched, he covertly adjusted his own grip to something that looked wrong, and then back to the right way.

Sakura's brow furrowed. Sanada's eyes flickered from her cup to her face, and back. He repeated the motion.

Oh. Sakura looked down at her cup, and then at Sanada's. He rotated his cup again.

This time she copied him.

Well, would you look at that. Her fingers looked relatively normal against the material now. She cast a quick glance around, and gave him a tiny smile of gratitude.

He nodded minutely.

"...looking forward to most, Kagawa-chan?"

Sakura looked at his mother; Hanako was looking at her with an expectant smile. Taking a measured sip (Sanada hid his amusement behind his own cup), she bought her brain a few minutes to reboot. "The puppet shows." She replied, shooting the younger son a smile as she laid the cup gently in its saucer. "I was promised a good one."

"Oh, are you fond of it, Kagawa-chan?" Yukimura tilted his head. "We always have excellent troupes performing here, don't we, Hanako-san?"

The older women nodded. "Indeed we do, Seiichi-kun." She agreed. "I believe this year will be no different. A troupe from Nagoya is among them."

"I hope it's the Hiroyuki Company, then!" Sakura's knee bounced a little in excitement. "They were supposed to come to Tokyo a couple of years ago, but it got cancelled for some reason... after I went to all that trouble getting good seats, too..."

"I remember that." Airi rolled her eyes. "You cried for hours. We probably bought her every croissant in the city before she stopped."

Hanako was chuckling; Sakura flushed red. "I was sad, okay?"

"Didn't you take up tennis just after?" Airi enquired sweetly. "I mean, all those croissants..."

"Oh, you play tennis too, Kagawa-chan?" Hanako asked, surprised. She hadn't equated the slender, pretty girl with such a strenuous sport. "Is that how you and Genichirou met?"

Yukimura chuckled. "Well," He cast a fidgeting Genichirou an amused look. "In a manner of speaking, Hanako-san. But we first met Kagawa-chan at Rikkai's first debate competition. She made quite an impression."

Sakura blushed even deeper, remembering. Airi sighed theatrically. "Oh, the caffeine-high days. She was such a delight, fainting all over the place..."

"What?" Hanako exclaimed. Sakura buried her face in her hands. "I should've brought a total stranger along." She lamented. "At least they wouldn't drag me."

Airi laughed, and to their surprise, so did Gensuke.

Mercifully, the doorbell rang. "Excuse me." Hanako murmured, disappearing to answer it. Sakura took another sip of tea. "Thank you for the tea, Sanada-onii-san. It's very good." She favoured him with a polite smile. He grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Not a problem. So, you're in debate too?"

"I was." Sakura replied. "I quit to focus on tennis. It was getting hard to balance everything."

He hummed, then shot her a distinctly wicked smile. "That would be the 'caffeine-high days'?, I guess?"

Sakura went so pink that she looked like nothing so much as her namesake. Airi snickered into her cup, and while Yukimura was smiling beatifically, Sanada was wearing a distinct smirk.

That was when Kirihara clattered into the hall, steered by Yanagi. How the younger boy managed to make so much noise, Sakura didn't know; but she stiffened upon seeing the latter. If he was surprised at seeing her, he gave no sign of it. "Hey, Sanada-fukubuchou, 'Mura-buchou- oh." Kirihara's eyes became as round as coins upon beholding the two girls.

"Yanagi-senpai, it's that Kagawa chick." He probably thought he was using his inside voice.

Sakura wondered if he knew what an inside voice even was. "Hi, Kirihara-san."

Airi merely raised an brow; an acceptable form of greeting, according to her. Yanagi eyed her curiously, but Sakura reclaimed his attention.

"Hi again, Yanagi-san." She cared her teeth in a loose definition of a smile. Sanada looked from her to his friend in confusion. It was Yanagi's turn to stiffen. "Kagawa-san."

"Are we going to sit around," Airi interrupted the building tension. "Or attend this festival? Don't know about you, but we girls didn't dress up just for the great tea."

Gensuke snorted, but shot her an approving look.

She was lounging- as much as one can lounge in a yukata, in company- looking around at the boys with barely-concealed irritation.

Yukimura rose to his feet- on an aside, how could even that single movement be more graceful than everything Sakura had ever done in her life?- and nodded. "Tamashiro-san makes a good point." Sakura clearly heard Airi grinding her teeth, and her own confusion reared its head again. "We should be in good time if we start now. You ladies don't object to walking, do you?"

They shook their heads, and soon, after having bowed and smiled and bidden Hanako and Gensuke farewell, the six teenagers were on their way.

"No geta?" Sanada raised an eyebrow at Sakura's festive flip-flops. She snorted. "Can't walk in them. Don't tell Ma though."

He rolled his eyes.

"Ne, fukubuchou, how'd you and Kagawa know each other?" Kirihara piped up. Sakura exchanged a look with the boy in question, and he shrugged. Tell them whatever.

Well then.

"I broke his nose." She deadpanned.

"Oh, wow." Airi breathed, grabbing Sakura's hand. "Look at this."

Sakura could only nod in awe. The festival was in full swing- a riot of people and lights and children's laughter, and colours and stalls and-

It was lovely.

"Oi, close your mouth, Seigaku, you'll catch flies." Kirihara sniped.

"Close yours, or you'll catch my fist." Airi retorted, smiling in a way that Sakura recognised- and stifled a smile at.

Sanada wasn't fooled. "You're not going to warn him not to argue with her?"

She raised an eyebrow at him. "How well do warnings work on him, d'you think?" He smirked, and let it go. Kirihara wasn't made of glass; he could learn the hard way.

"Hey, how does Airi know Yukimura-san anyway?" She enquired, as the two of them stroll towards the stalls. Sanada shrugged. "I was about to ask you the same."

He led her to a dango stall, but she refused one. "Not really my favourite." She insisted, when he pressed her. "I'll have a cinnamon bun at the bakery- I can smell them. I'm not all that fond of sweets."

He gave her a look. "I thought you take your brownie with ice cream and chocolate sauce." He reminded her. She looked at him as though he were mental. "That's chocolate. That's different."

He rolled his eyes again, and she smacked his arm. After a moment of surprise, he allowed it; apparently it was a friendly thing, because she didn't seem to think too much about it. So he wouldn't either.

He was working hard- and it was hard- not to overthink everything she said and did, not to view her as an opponent but as a friend, a simple, breezy girl who was good company, and clever to boot. And.. he blinked. "Is that blue in your hair?"

Sakura paused, looked at him. "Is it the bangs? Ma tried her best, but she couldn't hide them. Not that I want to- I like my streaks, thank you very much. It looks pretty good, and my friend Momoko's really good at this kind of thing. Airi actually has one entire streak of red, but it's underneath; you can see it when she puts all her hair up. I just figured I wanted a change, just a bit- I didn't want dye my entire hair- but Ma hates it. She said I look like an American hippy, which is kinda rude- I was thinking more along the lines of cosplayers, y'know? And-"

"Kagawa. It was just a question." He could feel a headache coming on already. Gods she could talk.

Sakura bit her lip, and fell silent. They walked on like that, until she'd purchased her cinnamon bun. "This is really good." She pronounced happily. Then she turned to him as though she'd just remembered something. "By the way, I like your hakama. You look like a samurai or something. Very traditional-chic."

"I'd need longer hair for that."

"Yeah, Yukimura-san looks a bit like a noble, doesn't he?" Sakura shook her head. "Just without the black teeth. I swear, every second with him is like a blow to a girl's ego, y'know? Boy's just too pretty to be real."

The chuckle that escaped him surprised even Sanada. Sakura looked delighted, but was wise enough to eschew comment. "Has he ever had a girlfriend?" She asked instead.

Sanada looked at her pityingly. "No, and I should warn you that you don't have a chance."

"Ugh, gag me." Sakura wrinkled her nose, disgusted. Sanada looked surprised. "I don't date men prettier than me. Or scary men either."

"I'm not scary?" He regretted asking that almost at once. It had... implications. But again she surprised him with her temperate response.

"Not to me. Now," She clapped her hands. "You promised me a show, right? Where are the puppeteers?!"

He let out a quiet breath of relief

Sanada watched, bemused, as Sakura clapped her hands and laughed. Her eyes were shining; he'd never met anyone who enjoyed puppetry quite this much.

He'd caught sight of Yukimura and Kagawa's friend across the ring earlier; the girl looked interested, but the way she cut her eyes at Yukimura gave away just how little she enjoyed his company. Yukimura had smiled at him, but didn't approach, apparently having devoted himself to needling his companion. Sanada pitied her, he truly did. He was (mostly) inured to Yukimura's particular brand of teasing, but not everyone had the dubious good fortune of long experience with the Child of God.

Sakura caught sight of his abstract expression, and nudged him. "Not enjoying yourself?" She asked. "We can go do something else, you know?"

He shook himself out of his musings; she was his guest, and he had a responsibility to be a good host. "No, of course not." He declined. "I didn't realise you were such a fan."

She blushed, casting another bright glance at the puppeteers and their string puppets. "It's fun," She muttered, twirling a loose strand of hair around her finger. "It's such a good way of telling a story, isn't it?"

"It is." He agreed, moving away from the audience applauding the bowing troupe. "Though I prefer Kabuki and Noh."

"I've never seen a Noh performance," Sakura admitted, making a beeline for a drink stall. He followed. "Kabuki is fun... but don't you think the storylines are a tad played-out? I mean, how many times can you stage the 47 ronin?"

He drew himself up, fixing her with a stern look. "It's a tale of honour and the greatness of the samurai way." He declared. "It shouldn't be lost."

"Well, obviously not, but there are other stories." She argued. "The 47 Ronin is one of the most important stories in our history, but it isn't the only one. What about modern tales- stories about life after the Restoration? Even our lives? Do you think we're not worth writing about, knowing about?"

He raised an eyebrow. "We aren't heroes of any kind."

She mirrored the gesture. "And do we only need heroes? Where would heroes be without ordinary people- people like us? And are there any heroes anymore? The world doesn't need more great heroes; it needs normal people to be good. Now wouldn't that be a story..." She trailed off, looking pensive. Sanada watched her, unconvinced- but she did have a point. And by the gods, she made it well.

"So what's your solution?" He prompted. She looked at him enquiringly. "What story would you tell, if you had the chance?"

Sakura hesitated. "The A-bomb." She murmured, looking almost guilty for mentioning it. Sanada drew back, eyebrows coming together. Sakura bit her lip, but continued: "Look at us, almost afraid to discuss it- but art can talk about it. It wasn't about the war, dropping those bombs, it was about terrifying our people. We need to talk about it, about what it did to us as a country, and to our families." She took a deep breath. "Ma's grandmom- my great-grandmom- was in Nagasaki when they dropped the second bomb. She survived by pure luck, but she was traumatised, you know? The things she saw... and she couldn't get pregnant for years. She gave birth to my grandmother in '53, almost 12 years after she married. She had a few other kids, but only one survived. Then my mother... she was a weak kid, right from the start. Papa says it was pure luck that they didn't lose me... they lost other kids. I remember a few of them too... Ma got a bit big and then... she was in bed for weeks. No baby. You know." Her chuckle was a bit damp. Sanada was staring at her, but she wouldn't meet his eyes. "The doctors said it was because of her family's medical history... But it's because of history."

Her lemonade bottle was clenched in shaking hands; she took a drink, took a breath. Sanada was still staring like he'd never seen her before.

"I admit..." He cleared his throat. "I never thought of it that way. That we are stories because of our history. And... I am sorry your family has suffered for it."

He was polite enough not to comment when she wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "Thanks." She replied thickly. "That's nice of you... now can we please go do something fun? Like bunraku?"

He blinked, a little thrown by the change in subject. "You like bunraku?" It was kind of traditional, and yukata notwithstanding, modernity was in this girl's bones.

Sakura nodded, still a little flushed with emotion. But today was supposed to be fun, damn it. "It's actually my favourite." She informed him. "String puppets are fun and all, but I still find them a little crude. Bunraku is so elegant. Requires a lot of skill, too, doesn't it?"

"Of course." He agreed, leading her towards where he thought he'd seen bunraku happening earlier. It wasn't the Hiroyuki Company, as she'd hoped, but she still recognised the name, and her eyes shone as she launched into an explanation about why they were really really good, and doing some really interesting stuff, technique-wise, but she quieted when the show began.

Sanada watched, too, but he was mostly lost in his thoughts. Sakura's words rang in his head, and he realised that she had convinced him. He'd almost forgotten that it had been an argument until just now, because she'd convinced him so thoroughly. No matter how she laughed and clapped, he couldn't forget the ache in her voice or the glisten in her eyes.

Sakura nudged him. "Seriously, you're spacing out. You wanna go?"

He shook his head, and settled in to give the show his full attention.

Airi stalked away from Yukimura; or she would have, if she'd been wearing anything but these damn wooden clogs. They might be graceful and all, but they did not allow a girl to have the satisfaction of storming off.

Feminism hadn't come to Japan a moment too soon.

"I don't want cotton candy." She hissed, pushing the treat away. Yukimura clucked disapprovingly. "I bought it as an apology, Tamashiro-chan. Surely you wouldn't break my heart by refusing?"

"I definitely would." She replied. "And if you don't mind, I'd like to find my friend."

"Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you." Yukimura kept pace with her easily. "Sanada did invite her, you know. She'll be perfectly safe with him."

Airi swallowed her retort: You don't know that. "I'd like to find my friend." She reiterated slowly. "So you can either help me or fuck off."

He pressed his lips together, as though holding back a smile. "Must you be so crude, dear Airi-chan?"

She stopped short and glared at him. "One," She began, spitting the words out through clenched teeth. "You do not get to use my name. I haven't given you that permission, and I won't give you that permission if you continue being such a dick." He actually had the temerity to laugh, the bastard. "And two, I can be much more crude. Just ask Sakura."

"Maybe I will," He mused, moving a low-hanging branch out of her way. "But she might think it a bit odd of me... odder than us having met before tonight. Keeping secrets, hmm?"

"None of your damn business." She snapped. "Are you going to help me find her or not?"

"Do you know," He popped a piece of cotton candy into his mouth. "I admire loyalty. Sanada has loyalty in his bones, Kirihara too, but for different reasons, and only to me, not to Rikkai. I won that. But I'm different... I've always been different. Not special, just... people seem to like me, trust me, almost on sight. Present company excluded," He shot her a look. "But your friend... you came all the way to Kanagawa to exact revenge on my vice-captain, to an alien school, for her. I don't much care why, but... your loyalty. I covet that." His second glance was almost... caressing. Airi shivered under it. "You're a strange, rude, elegant girl with a temper that should make me afraid, but the truth is, I want you. If I have to win your affection to win your loyalty, like Kagawa has, I'll do it."

Airi stared at this tall, beautiful boy. She was sixteen, and the most beautiful boy she'd ever seen was telling her that he wanted her. It was...

...chilling. Her blood ran a bit cold. She couldn't deny she was intrigued, but what should have been a melting speech came across as a little frightening.

"Let me ask you something," She murmured, tilting her chin to look Yukimura in the eye. "Have you ever been loyal to anyone? The way you want them to be to you?"

It was perhaps the first time Yukimura had ever been brought up short, in a very, very long time.

"No," He replied, stunned by his own admission. "No, I... I can't think of anyone... Sanada, maybe, but..."

"Maybe isn't the same as yes." Airi said, brushing some hair back over her shoulder. "So now, you tell me, Yukimura... what reason could I have to be loyal to someone who doesn't even know how be loyal in return?"

He had no answer to that. There was no answer to that.

Airi sighed and stepped away. "I'm going to look for Sakura." Her tone was a little kinder, and Yukimura hated it. "You can come along, if you like."

Sakura and Sanada had wandered the length and breadth of the festival, and truth be told, she was a little tired. "Let's sit down." She suggested. He acquiesced, though not without a look of mock-judgement.

They sat on a nearby bench, and Sakura leaned back, looking up at the stars with a contented smile on her face. "I had fun." She announced, still looking skywards. "Thanks for inviting me, Sanada-kun."

He shifted. "You're welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."

"Speaking of stories," She locked her hands behind her head. "Can you tell me the story behind Tanabata?"

He looked incredulous. "You don't know?" She rolled her eyes. "Of course I do. I just want to hear it again. Humour me."

Sanada scoffed and looked away from her. "I don't tell grown girls bedtime stories."

"So you tell kids?" Sakura grinned at the sight of the pink creeping into his cheeks. "You've got a nephew, right? I bet you tell him stories all the time. You've got the voice for it."

He looked back at her, brow furrowed. "The voice?"

"A storyteller's voice." She replied dreamily. "Come on, please?"

Sanada sighed. He likely wouldn't get any peace unless he humoured this childish wish of hers. "Princess Orihime, the seamstress," He began. "Wove beautiful clothes by the heavenly river. Because Orihime worked so hard at her weaving, she despaired of ever finding love. Her father, who was a God of the heavens, arranged for her to meet Hikoboshi, the cow-herder, who lived on the other side of the river. The two fell in love instantly and married. Their love and devotion was so deep that Orihime stopped weaving and Hikoboshi allowed his cows to wander the heavens."

Sakura closed her eyes and listened. He really did have a beautiful voice for storytelling- for a fleeting second, she wondered if she could convince him to record audiobooks. Then he continued;

"Orihime's father was furious, and he forbade the lovers to be together. Orihime pleaded with him to allow them to meet. The God, despite his anger, loved his daughter deeply, so he decreed that the two star-crossed lovers could meet once a year- on the 7th day of the 7th month. On the first day they were to be reunited, the river was too difficult to cross. Orihime became so despondent that a flock of magpies came and made a bridge for her." Sanada paused and took a deep, fortifying breath. "It is said that if it rains on Tanabata, the magpies will not come, and the lovers must wait another whole year to be reunited, so we always wish for good weather on Tanabata."

He exhaled, looking up as though sending his wishes into the night. Then he directed an exasperated look at Sakura. "Happy?"

She smiled at him faintly. "You do have the voice for it. Thank you." Her gaze returned to the sky. "You know, I'm not a romantic, but that is really a moving story. Imagine waiting a whole year to be with the one you love, just for a single day." She shook her head.

"You're not a romantic?" Sanada asked, raising an eyebrow. "I thought all girls were romantic at heart."

The smile she slanted up at him was a little amused, a little bitter. "Very few girls are romantic, Sanada-kun." She replied. "It's not a romantic world we get to live in."

What could he say to that? His nose gave a throb out of memory- a punch thrown in panic and self-defence, because a smart girl looks for danger in the shadows, not princes. Fortunately, Sakura didn't require an answer, and he could hear the smile in her voice again. "You're a romantic, though."

"I am not." He shot back. She snorted. "Please. You're all about chivalry and hospitality and tradition. And you know I'm no wilting flower, but if we encountered a strange man in a dark alley, you'd put yourself between me and him, because you believe that you're a man and I'm a woman, and therefore it's your duty to protect me." She looked up at him, a laugh lurking in her eyes. "Wouldn't you?"

Sanada rolled his eyes. "That doesn't mean I'm a romantic, it just means that… I… that I'm cognizant of my duty." Sakura giggled. "Right. Okay. Sure, whatever you say. Though for the record, if we ever do get jumped, I'll probably need the help."

"I've been saying, brass knuckles." A new voice chimed in. Their heads jerked around to see Airi and Yukimura coming towards them. The girl perched herself on the arm of the bench and offered Sakura a spice cake. Her lipstick was patchy, worn away by numerous snacks and cup-edges.

Yukimura nodded at Sanada; his gaze was a trifle absent, the latter noted. "Did you enjoy the festival, Kagawa-chan?" He asked politely. "I only managed to see one troupe of puppeteers- I think they were from Okinawa."

"Oh yeah, I saw them- Sanada-kun was nice enough to show me all the troupes." Sakura replied, smiling at the boys. "It was brilliant- I'm so glad I came."

"That's good." He smiled at her. If she hadn't been a nice, sensible girl, she'd have swooned dead away at the sight.

He really was the most gorgeous creature.

"I hope you two ate…" She looked from him to Airi. "We just kept picking up stuff at stalls… I've had so much food…"

Airi snorted. "It's a good thing you have practice tomorrow then."

"Damn good thing." Sakura agreed. "Thanks for the cake… it completes my glutton quota."

Airi bowed mockingly. "My mission in life." She looked at the two boys. "You two staying longer? I think it's almost time we made a move. I should call my brother."

"And we should find Akaya and Renji." Sanada replied, slightly apologetic. "I suggest you ask your brother to come to the nearby children's park, Tamashiro-san. There's a mad rush at the festival entrance."

"We'll walk you there." Yukimura offered. Sakura shrugged when Airi looked at her for confirmation. "Works for me."

"Cool." She moved away a few paces to call her brother. She returned to the group soon enough. "Alright. He said he'll be there in 10."

Yukimura nodded. "We should start walking then. The park isn't far."

They fell into their old pairs again, but no one seemed very inclined to talk. Sanada and Airi were naturally taciturn, and while Sakura was beginning to feel exhaustion creeping up on her, Yukimura simply seemed lost in thought.

Takumi was already waiting for them at the entrance to the park. "Took you long enough." He grumbled. Airi rolled her eyes. "My brother, Takumi. Takumi-nii, Sanada Genichirou and Yukimura Seiichi. Friends of Sakura's."

The older boy looked them up and down, a calculative expression on his face. At length, he nodded. "Thanks for taking care of my sister and her friend." He bowed slightly as he spoke.

Sanada bowed in return, while Yukimura offered a bland smile. "It was our pleasure." Intoned the former.

Sakura shook her head at all the formalities; she didn't check, but she just knew Airi was rolling her eyes to the high heavens. "Well, see you around." She smiled at Sanada and Yukimura in her friendliest way. "Really, thank you for inviting us; we had such a great time-"

"-Really." Airi drawled beside her. Yukimura's eyes flickered to her, and he looked like he was holding back a wider smile.

"-So much fun." Sakura emphasized, glaring at Airi. "And, um, Sanada-kun, if you could pass my thanks to your mother and brother-"

He nodded, a spark of approval in his eyes. "I will. Thank you for coming."

She smiled at him one last time, before sliding into the backseat again; once they were safely in, Takumi reversed, and drove off.

The two boys turned back in the direction of the festival. "You know," Yukimura began, his tone light. "If I were a curious sort, I would be asking you all manner of questions tonight, Genichirou."

Sanada rolled his eyes and shot him a dry look. "I could say the same. Tamashiro-san didn't seem too enamoured of your company."

Yukimura chuckled. "She's a very interesting girl… more so than your new friend, I'm sorry to say. But no, she doesn't like me very much, certainly not as much as Kagawa-chan likes you."

"What a pity." Sanada replied, giving nothing away in either tone or expression. "Kagawa is… companionable. And more interesting than you give her credit for."

"Is she?" Yukimura murmured, tilting his head to look up at the stars. Somewhere behind them, leaves rustled in the breeze. "I wonder…"

The part about stories and the atomic bombs was inspired by 'Children of the A-Bomb' by Arata Osada. It's a collection of memories ('testaments') by children who experienced the Hiroshima bombing during the Second World War. The kids' ages range from 4 to around 14, and it was a harrowing, painful read (I was 14).

The Tanabata story is actually one of my own favourites from the Japanese pantheon. Apologies, though, because Tanabata is supposed to be in July, and though I haven't mentioned months in my story, it's obviously not July- the past 19 chapters don't take place over just one month! Pardon a non-Japanese writer's mistake?

And finally- I am not being racist towards Indians. I'm Indian. The 'mustard oil' part is true about Bengalis (from the Indian state of West Bengal), one of the reasons I avoid their cuisine. They're nice people, though :)

Reviews are love!

Cheers,
Chilli.