Chapter 16: Declaration
"Alright, that's a wrap!" Haru-kun calls out when the last segment is done being rehearsed. The week has gone by painfully slow, like carefully ripping off a band-aid. Every day has been the same: class, music club, myosotine, and isolated practice at my apartment, myosotine, and sleep. I carefully open the orange bottle, ignoring the scowls from Yumi and Takako, and drink up the fourth from last pill that I have. "I'll have to refill my prescription soon…"
"Sakura, I really think that you should cut back on that… medicine of yours," Yumi cautiously says.
"Yeah, I did some research about it and found that it doesn't cure anything," Takako builds on. "It's also new on the market. Heaven knows what adverse affects it can have!"
"Okay… Once this bottle is done then so am I," I look them in the eye with a weak smile.
Yumi wraps her arms around me, and Takako looks down. This whole week I have tried. I have tried to be around them and enjoy their company. I have tried to sing, to dance, to perform. I have tried to talk and to reach out. I have tried to do it all on my own. Still, I always end up swallowing a little blue pill. I cannot find happiness in the things I once loved. There is something big missing. It feels like piecing together broken stained glass without the right adhesive… and without gloves.
"To be honest, guys," I begin with a shaky voice, "I cannot wait. I cannot wait for the Cultural Festival to be over. I cannot wait to not be forced into this anymore."
"Why do you say that?" Yumi asks pulling away from me.
I shake my head and open then close my mouth. My gaze averts from the ground to the heart wrenching faces of my two best friends.
"I just want to be left alone. I don't have the energy to be around all of you," I can feel the tears prick at the back of my eyes. "I'm sorry. It's not because I don't love you. I just wasn't ready for so much at once."
"It's all overwhelming, isn't it?" Takako questions me. "It's as though you're being forced to dive into your past headfirst without a lifejacket. You know, I'm studying psychology at the University. I don't mean any disrespect to Yuzuki-sama, but I feel as though her methods are unorthodox. It's almost like she is on the last platform of her patience and wants to force you into being better. I knew that forcing you to spend so much time with us, attend Music Club, and perform in the festival would be a great shock to your system. Still, I obliged her request because she is technically my senpai."
Takako takes a seat against the stage. I slowly make my way over to her with Yumi in tow. We all sit down together, and it's quiet for a moment. However, sometimes with people you know very well, you know that their silence only masks the loud thoughts running through their minds.
"I don't know how you're doing it Sakura," Yumi barely says loud enough to hear. "Everything you told us a few nights ago… I can still feel the pain I felt when I imagined what you went through. I thought that my heart actually had broken at that instant. The next day I skipped my classes and spent the day at Kyo's."
"Hmm," a small smile tugs at my lips, "How is he?"
"He's doing well. We're planning on getting a place together when this school year ends."
"That sounds nice."
"Yeah, it's almost going to be like we're married! I'm going to cook for him, and we're going to eat our meals together. We'll fall asleep together and wake up to each other. We've already begun picking things out for our new place."
"Shopping for your first apartment is a lot of fun. I think that helped me take my mind off of things and feel normal for a moment."
"You've always been good at shopping, Sakura," Takako jokes and we all laugh.
Then it's silent again.
"We'd better go now," I say getting up. "They'll be locking the doors soon."
The three of us silently make our way out of the school.
"It's pretty amazing, huh? Our kohai worked really hard this week. It's as though they've been practicing for months!" Yumi lightheartedly breaks the silence.
"Hey, we weren't bad either! I saw a few jaws hit the ground," Takako says.
"After the festival we should all celebrate! Maybe go on a weekend getaway with all of the Music Club?"
"As if their parents would allow them to leave town with two college girls, Yumi."
"Well, how about a really fancy dinner? I heard of this place near Sakura's apartment that just opened up. Munchkin's Bistro, was it?"
"Who in their right mind would name their fancy restaurant Munchkin's?"
"I think Yumi means Mushin's Bistro. I've heard of it, too," I say remembering my date there with Sesshomaru. "I think I'll pass on that. I wish to continue with the Music Festival though. I can handle it, but I'll complain every now and then."
"Sakura, you don't have to if you don't want to…" Takako gently says.
"No, I should. I don't leave things unfinished. I heard somewhere that the most difficult journeys yield the most beautiful destinations. I hope that after all this, I'll find my light."
We say our goodbyes at the train station and promise to see each other at practice on Monday. I have tomorrow and Sunday to recharge.
Class on Saturday is mandatory, but I make it optional. After I called the office alerting them that I will not make it I passed out for the rest of the day on my bed. I have a dreamless sleep, but that is interrupted at the loud rapping on my door in the late afternoon. "Yuzuki-sama, just quit already!" I sigh getting out of bed. I take my time throwing on a skirt and blouse while ignoring the continuing knocks. Finally, I make my way to the door and turn the knob.
I cannot help myself as a grin splits my face and my pulse quickens. Sesshomaru stands in my doorway with his right wrist resting on the doorframe above his head.
"Why weren't you at school today?" he asks with his expression going from blank to reproachful.
"Good afternoon. It's nice to see you, too," I sigh and walk away leaving the door open for him to walk in.
I hear the door close and him kick off his shoes. Then he follows me to the couch where I plop down and draw my knees to my chest.
"Are you going to rat me out for playing hooky?" I inquire while wrapping my arms around my knees.
"No because then I would have to come up with an excuse as to why I came down here. Having not picked up any assignments from your other teachers it would be difficult," he replies taking a seat next to me.
"So why are you here?"
"Shouldn't a man check on his lady after she's been acting anxious all week and hasn't said a word to him?"
I cannot stop the blood from rushing to my face, and I peek up at him from behind my hair. His golden eyes dance with amusement, and the corners of his mouth perk up ever so slightly. The next thing I know he has an arm wrapped around my shoulders and pulls me to his chest. I let out a toxic sigh that is replaced with pleasure and contentment in my body. My head finds a comfortable spot where his neck and shoulder meet. We sit like this quietly for a while with his fingers running through my hair. All too soon he breaks the peaceful silence.
"How has Music Club been?"
"Would you like for me to give you a pleasing answer or the truth? Never mind, that's a stupid question… To get to the point it's been necessary torture."
"Why is that?"
"Takako believes that it's all too overwhelming for the fragile state I'm in, and I agree with her. But I can't drop out a week before the big show."
"Still, should you be putting yourself through so much?"
"Honestly, it's not really bad at all. I'm just being stubborn."
"Heh, aren't you always stubborn?"
"Hey!" I pull away from him and playfully punch his arm.
"Spare me," he says with a raised eyebrow and smirk. We both know that I am stubborn.
"You know what they want to do after the festival?" I ask him sitting back. "They want to have a fancy dinner party at your friend's restaurant."
"Is that so?" he responds after a breath.
"I don't think I will join them."
"Why not? It could be fun for you."
"Your friend and his entire staff cannot find out that I am a high school student. Also, I just want to take a break from everyone after the festival."
"If that is what you wish to do I won't talk you out of it," he says pulling me closer to him. I feel him bury his face in my hair, and I hear him inhale deeply.
"Is there anything you would like to do tonight, Sesshomaru?"
"I can think of several things," he says lowly in response to my genuinely innocent question.
"Um, is watching a movie, taking a walk, or getting dinner on your list?" I ask with my face burning.
"I suppose if those are things you wish to do," he chuckles pulling away from me.
"Perfect, lets start with a walk!" I gleefully say hopping off the couch and walking to my dresser. I pull out a pair of black tights to go with the grey skirt and white blouse that I am wearing. Then I head to the bathroom to properly put them on. Next I grab my plum colored flats and plum beret and wait for him by the door.
"Shouldn't you wear a jacket?" he questions while sauntering over to me.
"Is it really cold outside?"
"Cold enough to see your breath."
I sigh and head over to my dresser. I settle on an elegant white pea coat. Stepping out of the apartment building I feel the cold bite at my nose. In response I jam my hands into my pocket and tuck my chin in. Sesshomaru triumphantly smirks at my reaction to the temperature then wraps his arm around my waist. He leads me down the steps and across the street. We walk a couple blocks in silence, enjoying the other's company, until we reach a park.
"Strange, there's no one here and it's Saturday," I remark.
I step forward and take a seat on one of the swings. Sesshomaru positions himself behind me and gently begins to push. When I am at a decent height he stops and takes a seat in the empty swing next to me. Eventually I slow down and come to a halt.
"Sesshomaru, why me? Of all the eligible women your age, why me? A student with no family and enough baggage to make a plane struggle at lift off."
"Why not you? I don't see a broken girl when I look at you. I see a beautiful lady who challenges me with her beautiful mind. I see a strong woman, although jaded by recent events, still remembers how to laugh, smile, and look at her surroundings with beguiling curiosity," he pauses and gets up to stand in front of me. He grabs my hands and pulls me up to him. Then he wraps one arm around my waist, holding me close, and grips my chin to tilt upwards with the other hand. "I do see a crestfallen lady, but I can make her happy again. And not only am I able to, but I want to. I want to stop your tears and mend your broken heart. I want to be the reason for the frivolous smile on your face."
"Oh…" is all I can manage at his declaration, and I foolishly get lost in his eyes. Sesshomaru leans in carefully testing the waters, and to his joy I do not draw back. Shyly, he places his lips on mine. He tenderly sucks on my bottom lip before pulling back a tiny bit. Then he chastely pecks my lips again before pulling back completely to look into my dazed eyes. We are frozen in time; warmed by the other so not even the wind picking up phases us. Gold eyes and blue-green hues stare into each other. A small smile grace his face while my lips remain parted hoping for more. In this instant, I know what it means to be in our own world.
"The two of you...! Inconceivable!" a familiar voice yanks the both of us from cloud nine.
Hi guys!
Check it out! I updated on time, and with school just starting this week, too! I deserve some ice cream, haha.
So, intended cliff hanger? Possibly! It's just convenient that the chapter stops here because I have to be up in 5 hours to get ready for school and then a long shift at work. That broke student life, ya' feel me? Anyways, I have two ways the story can go from here. Who caught Sakura and Sesshomaru kissing? It's between Minami and Takako. I honestly have a plan for each, so forgive me if the update comes a little late while I debate on which path to take. On top of that I'm going to L.A. for the weekend and most likely will be kept from writing...
But every chance I get I will write something even if it comes to typing in little notes on my phone! Thanks to all of you for reading my story and reviewing. I appreciate it all so much!
Until next time!