Chapter Twenty Six

A Crush

He sat on the deck of the Cherry Hill Temple gently strumming his guitar. He practiced the strum patterns carefully as he watched his fingers change chords. He braced himself. To form the A/C# chord, he would have to put his middle and ring finger in the second fret and stretch his pinky all the way to the fourth fret. He messed up, and a horrible sound came from the guitar. He sighed and threw his arms down. He had been practicing for weeks now, and his fingers still couldn't move like he wanted them too. Frustrated, he tried again but came up with the same results.

"What are you playing?"

Kyoji looked up. Sakura stood on the deck looking over the music sheets that were spread out.

"I'm not really playing." He looked down at the guitar. "I just can't seem to get it right."

"Can I play?"

Kyoji shrugged his shoulders. He held up the guitar, and she took it from him. She sat down on the deck and started to play the same song with ease. She didn't even need to look at her fingers or the music—she just played, and when it came time for the A/C# chord, she formed it perfectly.

He was stunned and outshined all in the same moment. He couldn't believe that she could move her fingers so fast and so perfectly. "Where did you learn to play like that?" He almost gasped.

She stopped playing and rested her arms over the guitar. She faintly smiled. "From you."

"From me?" He put his hand over his forehead in wonder. "You mean I actually get good at it?"

She nodded fervently. "Yeah, you're the best." She continued to play again. "You taught me everything I know about playing guitar."

Kyoji sat in silence as he listened to Sakura play beautifully.

The girl walked around the house carrying a glass of water. She was told to make herself at home, but it felt strange. Raye's Grandfather was especially nice to her, thinking that she was one of Raye's distant cousins or something to that effect. The past and Crystal Tokyo were nothing alike. The past felt primitive, dark, and somewhat scary to her. Nothing was familiar looking about the city to her at all. The only thing remotely familiar was seeing her parents—well, the younger version of them anyway. They almost seemed to be completely different people. Sure, she loved her parents, but they were very strict about her duties as a Princess. It was almost liberating and refreshing to meet her parents at a time when they were young and not declared royalty.

Sakura looked up at the sound of footsteps. Her future mother came into the room and stopped. "Sakura, the Outer Sailors are here. They would like to see you."

Sakura nodded. "Alright." She followed Raye through the house towards the tea room. The faint noise of the Sailors talking poured out into the hallway. They all fell silent at the sight of the girl from the future.

"Remarkable," Michelle uttered.

"Pluto, did you know anything about this?"

Trista shook her head. "I'm no longer Sailor Pluto. My senses are not acute anymore."

Sakura looked over at Trista. In Trista's arms was her little boy wrapped in blankets. Sakura gingerly stepped towards Kanejiro and Trista. "Is that Kazuki?" Her face turned bright red.

Trista nodded. "Yes, it is. You know him in the future?"

The girl's face grew redder. "Yes."

Raye looked over at Sakura, studying her face deeply for a moment while Sakura stood before Trista.

"Would you like to hold him?" Kanejiro suggested.

"Well…uh…I…" Sakura's whole face turned bright red, but before she could resist, Kanejiro took the baby from Trista and put him into Sakura's arms.

Embarrassed, she looked up at everyone staring at her then looked back down at the baby. The child snuggled into his blankets deeply, revealing the thin trace of green hair that he had—just like his mother's hair.

"Anyway, what can you tell us about the future?" Amara asked.

Sakura sat down with the boy in her arms, and started to answer questions.

By herself now, Sakura walked around the gardens of the Cherry Hill Temple. She weaved through the bamboo patches, stopped to examine the buds of the cherry blossoms, and would occasionally dip her feet into the cool waters. She treaded slowly while pondering over many thoughts and feelings she had.

"Can I join you?"

Sakura turned around. Raye stood behind her in her miko uniform. Sakura nodded, and the Priestess came up to Sakura. They started to walk together slowly.

"So tell me about your life in Crystal Tokyo?"

Sakura shrugged. "There isn't much to say. I go to school, I train as a Sailor Scout, and I live with my family."

"Well, who are your friends?"

"The other Sailors' children mostly. I'm pretty good friends with Ayeka, and sometimes Gabriella and Rini get on my nerves, but they are my friends."

Raye nodded and walked on silently for a moment. She smirked widely. "Any boyfriends?"

Sakura stopped. "No!" She turned her head away to hide her beating red face. "What makes you say that?"

"Come now, lying to you mother has got to be one of the worst things a person could do. Now tell me. What's going on?"

"Nothing is going on!"

Raye grinned even wider. "Someone likes Kazuki Meioh!"

Sakura jerked her head back, glowing bright red. "I do not!"

Raye cocked an eyebrow.

Sakura looked to her feet. "I do."

"Well," Raye smiled. "Is he your boyfriend?"

Sakura looked up, facial expression completely saddened. "He barely knows I exist. He never looks at me, talks to me, or anything else."

"Why?" Raye looked sad.

Sakura shrugged. "He never talks to anyone. He's such a loner."

"Have you ever tried talking to him?"

Sakura nodded solemnly. "Yes, and he never says anything. He might occasionally look at me when I'm talking, but that's about it." She let out a deep sigh. "He hates me."

"Oh, I'm sure he doesn't hate you."

Just like her mother, she hated to cry. Gentle drops of tears started to roll down her face, but she quickly tried to wipe them up and hide them from her mother.

"Sakura, what's wrong?" Raye asked so gently, it even surprised herself.

The girl gripped onto her future mother, startling her mother in the process, and squeezed the miko's waist. Raye gasped in surprise from the squeeze, but took the girl into her embrace. By now, the girl was sobbing heavily. "He doesn't even notice me. Nobody ever notices me. I mean, Rini's the future Queen, Gabriella is the outgoing one, Ayeka is so smart, and Kaede is the strongest…" Sakura trailed off. "Why would he want me?"

"He'd be crazy not to want you."

Sakura shook her head and looked up at her mother. "I'm a nobody."

It was quiet that night in the Temple. She was supposed to be asleep, but she couldn't sleep at all that night. She sat out on the deck by herself staring at the stars. She looked up at the moon. In her time, the Moon Kingdom had been reestablished, and she had been there many times. Not only was she Princess of Mars, she was also a Princess of the Moon Kingdom. The central capital of the Golden Millennium, the time of Crystal Tokyo and beyond, was of course, Crystal Tokyo. It was the most beautiful city in the entire universe. The buildings were made of pure crystal, there was no pollution, the rivers were as clear as glass, and the presence of evil was nowhere to be found—except recently.

She pulled her knees up against her chest and started to rock herself. She thought of her family again—her parents (King Kyoji and Queen Raye of Mars), her two brothers (Kenshin and Tenchi,) and her three sisters (Kikyo, Reiko, and Aoi.) Kenshin was highly skilled with swords while Tenchi was extremely intelligent and cunning. Her sister Kikyo was a skilled archer, Reiko was an avid reader and writer, and her baby sister, Aoi had the brightest blue eyes and blonde hair. Aoi looked like her Aunt Serenity. Tears came to Sakura's eyes again. She didn't know if they were dead or alive.

She heard a footstep. She looked up, but peering into the darkness, she saw nothing. She returned her eyes back to her legs, but heard the noise again. This time, she got up off the deck and walked out into the courtyard. It was very dark—the moon was only a small sliver of a crescent. She cautiously inched forward peering into the darkness. She was silent, but her heart pounded in her chest. She tried not to breathe hard, but she couldn't help it as fear gripped a hold of her. She kept moving forward.

A large hand went over her mouth! She tried to scream, but the scream was muffled. The hand covered half of her face, and it jerked her head back into its arms. Tears poured down her face and dripped on to the hands of the figure. The eyes started to glow hellfire red. It was one of the creatures that attacked her a few days ago—it was an ogre. Its nails were sharp and long just like its teeth. It was extremely odorous, and sharp bones pierced out from its skin. Its skin was pure black and its hair was a greasy color of green and red.

Sakura tried to kick and scream, but the Ogre was too strong and powerful for her. It began to squeeze her tightly. She screamed out, only to have it muffled. It felt as if every bone in her body was going to be crushed.

"Sakura!" Raye screamed out. Kyoji and Raye sensed the presence of the evil creature and ran out to attack the monster. They stopped once they saw that Sakura was in the arms of the creature.

"I will crush her bones into powder!" The Ogre growled.

"Let her go!" Kyoji hollered, unsheathing his katana.

The Ogre only squeezed tighter. The creature removed his hand from Sakura's face so they could hear the agonizing scream of the young girl. The Ogre laughed.

Sakura kept screaming until suddenly she was released. The Ogre screamed out in pain. Sakura felt to the ground gasping for air. She looked up. A dark figure was standing before the Ogre.

"Leave boy! This doesn't concern you!"

"Who is that?" Raye asked, looking at Kyoji.

Kyoji shook his head. "I don't know."

The boy was dressed in all black and a black cape went around his shoulders. His hair was a dark green and his eyes were light purple. From his hands, came three blades each. Sakura's eyes locked on him.

The Ogre paid no attention to Sakura anymore. It charged straight after the dark warrior. They quickly engaged in battle. The Ogre's long claws would strike out at the boy while the boy's blades would slash and cut at the Ogre. The Ogre was extremely strong and muscular, but the dark warrior was fast, nimble, and agile. They fought furiously against each other for a few minutes.

The fight was interrupted by a flash of blue light. Everyone turned his or her attention to the light. Out of the blue light emerged another boy. His hair was black, and his eyes were the same. He was dressed in a black kung-fu uniform. The Ogre forgot about the first boy and set his sights on the second. The new boy and the Ogre started to fight. The new boy was pushed to the side by a fling of the Ogre's arm. The first boy with the blades went to attack, but the second boy got up and pushed him out of the way. The second boy formed an energy ball of blue light and threw it at the Ogre. The Ogre was hit and it exploded.

Since the fighting was over, Kyoji and Raye ran up to Sakura and helped her to her feet. They then turned their gaze to the two strangers than fought with the Ogre. Sakura looked at the two boys. Her eyes first went to the boy with green hair. "Kazuki! What are you doing here?"

The boy stepped forward, but the second boy stepped in front of him. "My name is Ryujin."

Sakura looked puzzled. "Ryujin?"

The black haired boy, Ryujin, bowed down before Sakura. "Forgive me, Princess. I am a loyal subject from Crystal Tokyo. I saw you being chased into the time portal. I followed you to ensure your protection."

She nodded. "Thank you, Ryujin. My parents will reward you greatly for such an act of bravery."

He came up on one knee and took Sakura's hand. "That will not be necessary, my lady. My reward is to know that you are safe." He kissed her hand.

Sakura blushed. "Yes, thank you."

Silently, Kazuki walked past everyone and charged off into the darkness. His face was stern and stoic, and his eyes distant and cold. Sakura looked over at him. "Kazuki, wait!" She hollered, but he didn't stop for her.

"Who is that?" Kyoji asked.

Sakura sighed solemnly. "Kazuki."

"Why is he here?" Raye asked.

Sakura shook her head. "I don't know."

Apparently, the boy named Kazuki spent the night on the roof. He was found up there early that morning, and he remained there for hours into the day. He merely sat on the highest point of the temple and gazed over the landscape. The other boy, Ryujin, spent the night in the temple. He ate breakfast with Kyoji, Raye, and Sakura. He was sociable, clever, and very charming. Frequently, he would be caught gazing at Sakura or smiling at her. She found herself smiling more and more at him too.

"Ryujin, do you have family in Crystal Tokyo?" Raye asked.

He shook his head. "No, I am a poor orphan boy."

Sakura's eyes saddened. "That's terrible."

He nodded, trying not to smirk. "Yes, yes it is." He looked away. "I am very lonely without family." He turned back to Sakura. "But perhaps someday there will be someone special in my life."

She felt a little uneasy and nervous. She turned back to her breakfast and started eating again.

"Is there something wrong?" Raye asked, looking at Sakura. "You've barely eaten your quota for the day."

"Yeah, you're only on your second pancake," Kyoji agreed.

Sakura sighed and fiddled with her fork. "It's nothing."

Raye pondered for a moment. "Do you think your friend, Kazuki, would want anything for breakfast?"

Sakura shrugged. "I don't know."

Before they could finish talking, the boy was already standing in the kitchen door. He was still stern and fierce looking. He took off his black cape revealing his strong muscular arms and black clothing. He wore black boots, black pants, and a black sleeveless shirt. His hair was dark green with wild locks, but his eyes were a light and gentle purple.

"Are you hungry, Kazuki?" Raye asked.

"When will my parents be here?" He asked, voice very even and emotionless.

"I called them fifteen minutes ago. I assume they'll be here within the hour."

He nodded then left the room.

As Raye predicted, Kanejiro and Trista arrived at the temple within the hour. They could hardly believe their eyes as they saw the little boy they had in their arms grow up into the strong young man that stood before them. He looked like his mother and even had the personality she had before she was married, but the boy had his father's powers of metal. They marveled at their grown son.

"How did you get here?" Kanejiro asked.

"The time portal," He uttered flatly.

"But why?" Trista asked.

The boy didn't answer. While interacting with their son, they realized more of who he was and his personality. They decided not to push the issue, but instead, marveled at their son.

After a while, Kazuki took off from the house and went outside. The adults let him go without a word, but a few minutes later, Sakura snuck outside and tried to find him. She walked around the temple for at least twenty minutes before spotting him. He was on a rock gazing over the courtyard. It always seemed like looking at things was his favorite hobby. She didn't understand how he could sit for hours by himself just thinking about stuff.

She causally walked around trying to get him to notice her, but he never looked her way. After a few moments, she walked over to the rock and leaned against the side far away from him. She stood their silent for a few moments then looked over at him. "So, Kazuki, how are you?"

He didn't answer.

Sakura let out a nervous laugh. "I guess I'll take that as a fine." She looked around. "What do you think of the past?" She looked over at him. "It's really something, isn't it?"

Again, he didn't look at her or even acknowledge her presence.

"Sakura!"

The girl looked up. The black haired boy walked up to the rock where Kazuki and Sakura were. "Sakura, I've been looking for you."

"Looking for me?"

Ryujin nodded. "Yes, I was wondering if you would accompany me on a walk."

"Sure, I guess." Her stomach growled. (She was just like her Aunt.) "After lunch?"

"After lunch would be perfect," He said.

Kazuki got up off the rock and started to walk away. His light purple eyes glanced over at Ryujin and Sakura then quickly they returned forward.

"What's with him?" Ryujin asked.

Sakura shook her head. "I don't know."

"Well, come on. It's time for lunch." He grabbed a hold of Sakura's hand, making her blush, and let her into the house. Everyone silently took notice of what seemed to be a new forming couple, but they didn't say anything. As she set the table, Raye looked over at the two but shook her head and didn't say anything.