Chapter Eleven

Sakura,

I'll bet you're wondering how I got your address. Well, I didn't. Your old building manager wouldn't give me a forwarding address, the old goat, but I'm a lot smarter than he is. I'm just addressing these to your old apartment and he's forwarding them along for me. I'm pretty clever, huh? I'll bet you're so proud of me right now.

This place seems so quiet without you here. Sure, time still goes on and the battles continue to be fought, but it lacks something. It lacks a creepy little stalker girl. You used to blush so hard when I called you that, because deep down it was true – you may not have been a stalker, but you could somehow always find me. That's a skill that the higher ups at Easter would've killed for, so I'm glad they never found out about that one, too.

Nothing scared me more than when you joined Easter. From the moment I met you, I could sense the power you held. Before I knew you, I feared Easter getting you because of the strength that would give them. After, I was just afraid that you would lose yourself, and you did. I should have protected you, always. I should have been there, even when you pushed me away. After all, when have I ever listened to you?

I'm going to change the subject before this letter gets too soppy and just ask; why did you change your number? You could have saved yourself all the letters I'm going to send you, just by picking up your phone once. Oh well, you made your choice, now the souls of all these trees are on your head. In fact, I'm going to write whole novel, burn it, re-write and mass-copy it, just to show you how much paper you waste by not picking up your phone.

Okay, I'm not writing a novel. Not that I couldn't; you'd be the damsel in distress, I'd be the charming prince, and that idiot Kukai can be the dragon, or something. Urgh, like I could ever be the 'charming prince'-type, but you knew that fact about me from the start and it never stopped you. Stopped you from what? I don't know. Stopped you from being with me, I guess. Just sitting with me, and playing along when I 'kidnap' you.

I still resent you calling that kidnapping. You had fun, every time, and if you really want me to kidnap you, I'll get a train to Gakure and bring you back, how about that? No, I won't – I promise. I may want you back, more than you can think, but I won't do that. It would be cruel. You may think you want to come back, but give it time; you'll come to realise that you don't miss being caught up in battles that are not your own, and fights that are started for selfish reasons.

I'm sorry for writing to you. I know it must be painful for you, so soon after you left. All I hope is that you can one day forget everyone here. Please, forget me.

Ikuto

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Dear Sakura,

I got your forwarding address from your old landlord. I hope that's okay. You're really missed here, by all of us, but I hope your old town is helping you get your life back to normal. Why did you change your number, anyway? I tried calling you a few times, but it said the number was disconnected. I miss talking to you, Sakura.

Daichi misses you and the girls, too – Mari more than the others, but don't tell them he had favourites! He likes everyone, I guess; they just have more in common, like you and me. I have a soccer game coming up soon – wish me luck! With you thinking of me, I can do anything!

I know this is short, but I'm no good at letters. Sorry! Hey, write me your number and then we can talk for real! I'll tell you all about the game.

Write back soon!

From,

Kukai

{-}

Dear Sakura,

I heard you moved away, back to your old home in Gakure. It's quite close to where I am currently living, so I was hoping that we could catch up. I am still not ready for you to accept my love for you – I have much growing to do before I am a man worthy of your love. I am trying every day, though, and I hope to soon be a choice you consider.

I tried to call you, but you must have changed your number. Nonetheless, I will not give up my pursuit of you. I realised when you moved that I may have gained more rivals for your attentions, but I refuse to be beaten! I can promise you that!

Hoping to hear from you soon,

Kairi

p.s. Musashi wishes to tell Setsuko that he hopes she is doing well and her sisters are fine.

{-}

Darling Sakura-chan,

I miss my favourite student! Everyone here is an idiot and I can't take their stupidity much longer. I thought it was bad when they didn't put you in my class, but this is much, much, much worse! Now I don't even get to see you around school, and that just means that I'm even more aware that I'm surrounded by idiots!

Come back and join my class, or I'll kidnap you again!

From your favourite sensei ever!

Nikaido Yuu

{-}

To Sakura,

I know I apologised for the last one, but I couldn't help myself. I keep picturing you reading that letter over and over in the future, wondering just who in the world I am. You'll be going through your old things ten years from now, wondering who this guy that sent you one letter and then never got in touch again was. No, it's selfish of me, but I want to be in your memory, forever.

I want you to remember our first date – even though you didn't know it was a date. I want you to think back and remember your smile when you ate your favourite dango, the laughs we shared when I was walking you home and your reaction when you found out it was a date. Tadase and Kukai may have messed it up a bit by interrupting, but it was still so much fun, because I was there with you. I know I tease you, but I will always look back on our memories together fondly.

Our second date went much better. You had so much fun at the old amusement park that it made me forget all the bad things that had happened that day. You didn't forget, though. Even after I embarrassed you, telling you that was a date too, you still took me home and bandaged me up, and cared for me, saying that cats may have nine lives, but I'm human and I only have one. I'm glad that my one life had you in it.

I didn't expect you to be the one to suggest our third day, but I really wish there could have been a fourth, fifth, sixth – I don't care that it's weird that I'm in high school and you're in elementary school. One day, those numbers won't matter anyway. In a few months, you'll be in your last year, and then you'll be in middle school, high school, college; we'll both grow up, and then one day you'll be twenty and I'll be twenty seven, and that doesn't seem so far apart.

I hope this doesn't sound too weird, but I'm trying to be honest.

From,

Ikuto

{-}

Dear Saku-chi!

Where did you go so suddenly? Yaya missed you! Wah! Pepe-tan does too, and so does everyone else! Well, maybe not Rima-tan, but I'll bet she secretly does; she's not fooling me! You have to come back and visit some time! And write back with your new number, too! I can't believe you changed it!

Don't you want to talk to me anymore?

From,

Yaya

{-}

Dear Haruno-san,

I know we never really talked, but I believed that I should write to you and tell you that you are missed here. No doubt Kukai and Yuiki-san already wrote you, but nevertheless it's always nice to know that a lot of people are thinking about you.

Actually, I need your help, too. We're facing a new enemy in the form of Nazo Charas and, although Amu is dealing with them sufficiently, it is still hard without your special skills in combat and defence. I know there isn't much you can do, but perhaps you could explain to your current guardian that you are needed here, and then she will allow you to move back? I know Yuiki-san wouldn't mind you moving back into her spare room.

Wishing you all the best,

Hotori Tadase

King's Chair

{-}

Dear Sakura-chan,

I got your address from Tadase; I hope that's alright. I don't really know if you remember me, but I'm Nadeshiko's twin, Nagihiko. We only met once, but I've been thinking about you a lot. When I enrolled at Seiyo and took the Jack's Chair position, I was a little disappointed to hear that you had moved away. I asked Tadase for a way to contact you and he gave me the address, saying that you have changed your number or something, so don't be mad at him, because I asked!

Anyway, I hope to hear back soon. I enjoy talking to you.

From,

Nagihiko

{-}

Dear Sakura,

You're not writing back – not that I expected you too, though. I figured that I'd start telling you about what's been going on, rather than just reminding you of old times.

That long-haired cross-dressing kid is back with the Guardians, just so you know. Yeah, I figured out that she was really a he a while back – I'm surprised it took you so long, and that the others still haven't really figured it out. It's not that hard, y'know. I overheard Amu the other day – twins? It's a little obvious, and completely overused.

Ah, I forgot that you don't like me mentioning Amu. I'll bet you're getting all jealous right now, aren't you? You're probably all puffed up, ready to explode in a fit of jealous rage, huh? Well, don't worry – you're the only pinkette for me, I promise. I can't say the same about anyone else, but if you're interested, that Kukai kid still misses you, too.

I'm not saying that he misses you as much as I do, and we definitely do not talk – I still hate that kid. I just thought that you would like to know, even if telling you hurts me. That's just how much I care about you. Does he care that much? I know, that was petty – but does he?

Back to the updates: there's this chick, new to Easter, who can turn people's Heart's Eggs into Nazo Eggs, which then swallow the creator whole and turn them into a Nazo Chara. Freaky, am I right? Of course, the Guardians have been taking care of this pretty well so far, and Lulu – that's the girl – is being an annoying brat about it. I wouldn't be surprised if she and Amu become pretty good friends, or friendly rivals. Oops, talking about Amu again!

I don't know how well you and Utau got along, but she's doing well, too. Her popularity as a singer is rising again, and some of her old fans are coming back, but it's hard work to make a comeback after she quit Easter. She had a concert recently and it went really well, so I think it won't be too long until Utau is a worldwide name again.

I'm sorry, but I have no real idea what's going on with the Guardians. I can't get within five feet of them without Tadase yelling his usual – he's the real prince-type, so I hope you're not looking for one of those, because I'd have something to say if you started dating that little brat. I'm still sort-of in contact with Nikaidou, though, and he misses you; something about his favourite student, and how everyone is an idiot, or whatever. You really made an impression on that one.

I want to write more, but I need some sleep. I haven't been feeling all that great lately. Please, don't concern yourself with me, though – just be happy in your new life.

Love from,

Ikuto

{-}

To Haruno Sakura,

I'll bet you didn't expect a letter from me, right? You're probably the only person I can talk to about this, so I got your forwarding address from that hyperactive carrot-top you used to hang out with. Something's wrong with Ikuto – he's not acting like himself and I'm worried for him, as his little sister.

I know he's probably still in contact with you. Since you left, he's been depressed, but recently he's getting worse. I haven't seen him for days; it's like he's disappeared off the face of the earth. I know you can't do much from where you are, but try calling him, or writing to him, or something. If it's you, I know he'll respond.

Yours hopefully,

Hoshina Utau

{-}

Dear Sakura,

I heard my brother wrote to you, and so I couldn't resist! I hope he wasn't being too flirty or weird? He can get a little over-excited sometimes, but don't hold it against him. He's a really great guy and you should give him a chance! He's athletic, funny, and smart – so much better than Ikuto. Sorry, I shouldn't make comments like that about your friend the cat, but I'm he's my brother and I guess I'm bias in his favour!

Anyway, you should write him back. Don't worry about contacting me, I'll be very busy with my dancing and as such I probably won't be able to contact you much in return.

Regards,

Fujisaki Nadeshiko

{-}

Dear Sakura,

You didn't write back, so I thought I'd try again – I may have written the address badly or something, so you didn't get the other one. The soccer game went great! My team won, and I was voted MVP! Can you believe it? I was so honoured!

I still miss you loads, and I really hope this letter reaches you and you write back. Just in case you can't write or whatever, I wrote my number on this one, so you can call me!

I hope I hear from you soon!

Kukai

XXXXX-XXX-XXX

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Dearest Sakura,

This will be my last letter.

Things are bad here, and not just because you left. I don't want to trouble you too much, so that is all I'll say for now. Just know this:

I care for you a great deal, Sakura, and nothing will ever change that. Not Kukai, not Easter, and not this distance that Tsunade has put between us.

I don't care if I sound sappy or soppy or whatever, because it's the truth.

Enjoy your new life.

All my love,

Ikuto

{-}

Tears in her eyes, Sakura read that fourth and final letter from Ikuto again and again.

She had to go back.