Ryotaro was right. It sure was cold outside, but she was sure glad that the winter days are over.
She reached her friend's house in a couple of minutes in order to pick up her sister. She felt the warm bento her friend made for her. It was the warmth of love. After admiring the gift Saki had made for her, she reached for the doorbell then pressed it. She heard the bell inside ring. She waited in anticipation whoever kind soul would bother to open the door for her.
She looked at the house, its gate was thick, and its wood is moist with the weather. It was enormous that you couldn't see what's through it. Anyone can tell that the house is really old, like it was passed down from generation to generation. She read something written on a block of white stone addressing that this was the Main House of the Sohmas.
Sayuri gulped when she heard some footsteps approaching the front gate. She flattened her coat with her hands and ran her fingers to her long black pigtails.
At last, somebody opened it. She looked up and saw a handsome man wearing a kimono.
"Ah good evening Shigure-nii-san," she bowed as she greeted.
"Oh, isn't it my cute Ri-chan?" Shigure said going to her eye level. "Are you here to pick Miki-chan up?"
Sayuri nodded.
"I'm sorry but I thought she was already my daughter-in-law,"
The next thing that Shigure knew was that he had a bump on his head.
Dirty old man… wonder what he has that she married him…
"Sigure, who is outside?" A female voice called from inside.
Shigure turned to the woman who spoke "Oh my dear Akito, Sayuri hit me on the head,"
Sayuri squeezed her head to peek what is happening in the other side of the thick door. Inside, she saw a woman wearing a beautiful kimono of read with delicate blossoms embroidered on it. On her head, she wore a simple ornament of a chrysanthemum. "Aki-chan?"
"Ri-chan?" Akito said as she went near the girl standing on the gate.
"Aki-chan, I am here to pick up my sister," Sayuri told her friend.
"Yes I know, come in, she's just in the back yard playing with the others,"
Shigure sighed. How come my existence doesn't exist whenever these two friends meet?
--&--
Sayuri and Akito were in the dining room. The dining room is in a traditional style: the room is spacious, the table is low and there were only pillows for them to kneel on. They sat opposite each other, and on the table were two bentos.
"I guess saki-chan made one for you too," Sayuri said to her friend.
Akito's face turned red "Yes, and I never thought that I would be able to make friends with you and Saki,"
Sayuri smiled, "that's alright Aki-chan!"
"Akito" she corrected.
"But don't you think Aki-chan is cuter? Akito sounds male,"
Akito remained silent, like there was a heavy burden inside of her when Sayuri mentioned the word male.
"Uhmm… by the way Aki-chan, how is Miki-chan doing here? I hope she doesn't cause you so much trouble,"
"She's fine… I'm just worried that my little boy always teases her," she paused "but… I am glad that he didn't inherit my bad tantrums,"
"Aki-chan has bad tantrums?"
Akito hesitantly nodded. "if you just know me from the past--"
"Aki-chan should never dwell in the past!" Sayuri exclaimed as she dropped a hand on the table, her expression darkened. "Never be a slave to your past… past is past, remember that, and if Aki-chan's been a horrible person before, then I am glad that now… she has become one of the vbest persons I have ever known…"
Akito's eyes grew wide, seeing Sayuri's big bright blue eyes reminded her of Tohru. But seeing her explain things made her somebody else; her pure white soul would forever show, even if she wore black clothes.
"If Aki-chan have been bad… then she wouldn't be my firend now," Sayuri looked up at her "I don't care how dark your past is, what is important to me is that Aki-chan is Aki-chan,"
Akito looked at her, her dark ones on her lighter ones; she gave a small visible smile. "I am glad that I've found a friend who so understands…"
Sayuri noticed beads of fluid forming around her friend's eyes. "Don't cry Aki-chan… because if you do… maybe… maybe… I might--"
"Who says I am going to cry idiot?!"
"Allright!" Sayuri said becoming a little energetic to lighten up the mood. "Let's eat Saki's bento, I'm starving!"
"Yeah, I hope Saki is here with us too…" Akito said dreamingly,
And so the two friends ate their bentos happily, celebrating their friendship, the feeling of warmth and acceptance is such a wonderful feeling.
