Here it come, The sixth Chapter of A Garden under the Moon, in which we see the first direct consequence of Saki's going serious.

To the ones who were scared by the end of the last chapter, Thank you, it means I managed to convey what I wanted. As you may have noted from my other Saki fanfic I do not paint her to be an average Jane. My personal nickname for her is The Graveyard Gardener after all. ( Most people forget there is not only flowers to Saki's theme)

Now onto the chapter, it's a little short but going further meant writing the next one .

A disclaimer: I don't own Saki, I will always owe her.

A Garden under the Moon 6

A New day's Dawn.

That night, Koromo had a strange dream.

Usually she dreamt either about the fairytale her mother used to read her when she was young or about her parents. Some nights, she even dreamt about both. Those nights she always woke up in tears.

But not tonight, tonight she was the Moon alone in the sky. And for some reason it felt natural to her.

But still she was alone, the stars were too far, too many to care about her. Sometime she saw the sun, but he was too bright and wouldn't
let go too close.

So she passed her time observing the earth, there wasn't much to see but she had nothing else she could do apart from looking the
stars in envy.

Until one day she saw a little flower, alone in her windowsill.

There she thrived, even so there was no one to take care of in her abandoned house, not even the sky.

It was just a lone, banal looking flower, but nevertheless it kept her attention.

So as she made her round around the earth she continued to search for the flower each night.

And each night the flower was there surviving with the little she had. Still it was a somewhat sad sight as without light or water the flower would
never grow.

But then she thought, if the flower needed light , she could give her her own, even if she would have to remain here all day for that as she was not as bright as the sun. And so she moved so that her moon ray would meet the little bud.

And if she needed water She would gather the cloud around her mass, and so the flower could drink.

Then as the time passed, the flower grew, but still the Moon was getting worried as it refused to bloom.

Thinking she would see for herself if there was something wrong with the flower, the Moon got near.

And then, the Flower Blossomed. It was the most beautiful thing the Moon had ever witnessed. But she was too close and the Flower too vivid in her growing. So the Moon got entangled in her petals as it grew to the sky.

It was then that Koromo awoke. She had difficulty in breathing as if she was still a prisoner of the flower's limbs.

She pushed away at the thing that was tightening around her and saw a face that she could recognize, still half asleep.

There was a girl that was using her as if she was a pillow.

After some minutes she finally got out of the hug she finally took in the girl figure, and as she saw the brown-hair, the black nightgown and the tear on the innocent face her name came back to her."Miyanaga Saki"

And along with the name came back what had transpired yesterday. Suddenly, she asked herself if that dream had any meaning.

Looking around her room for her change of clothes her eyes stopped on the mahjong table. She had to talk to Touka, right now. Her cousin had outdone herself on that one, maybe too much so. That girl was truly a mystery for her, and it was frightening.

Quickly she put on her dress, nor forgetting her hairband, and got to the exit. Yet, as reached it, she heard the younger girl sight and caught herself wondering about what could the girl be dreaming about. Was Koromo in her dream like Saki was in Koromo's. The idea was both terrifying and alluring.

"Touka, are you sure it was okay to let her go yesterday? You know how Koromo can get on those nights," Hajime was worried. She had experienced it first hand and she still was traumatized about that night. She didn't wish for their new comrades to experience the same thing, not when she was still so frail.

Yet, Touka was not worried at all. She saw something last night that persuaded her everything would go alright."Don't worry, no one came back crying right. And that girl is far stronger than you would think at first glance, you were the one to point her to me after all." Touka sat as she ruffle some paper on her desk. It was still morning but she had work to do.

"I know. But I can't find Jun and Tomoki, neither are in in their rooms, and they always sleep there." Hajime continued, last atmosphere had been ominous and she herself had trouble sleeping. If not for the strange dream she had which had ended with her lost in a beautiful jungle of flower she wouldn't be awake right now.

"They must have thought it was better to stay at Koromo. They must have been tired after all those game. Look at you you, you are still rubbing your eyes," Touka proposed, tending a cup to Hajime.

The young maid took it and filled it with tea while continuing. "Still, I can't help but think something happened yesterday. And I won't be able to calm down before I see them. The four of them." She pushed the cup next to her mistress.

"Oh, the four? You think something would have happened to Koromo?" She took a slip." Now you are getting silly, as you said there are nothing that can beat her on night like that. No, I'm not worried about Jun and Tomoki though I can understand. I think I will let them take a leave from work and school if they wish to."

" .. Yes... That would be wise I think. And you should take one too Touka. Saki maybe strong but you should not have taken so long to recover yesterday." Hajime chained up. She was truly worried about Touka health. After they had come back to the office, checking if the others were already gone, Touka had passed most of the night going through the same papers she was now. She had only slept an hour or two because Hajime had added some sleeping pills to the Tea.

Touka probably knew about it but she said nothing. " I know. But with father gone I have to do some work. And there are the papers for Saki's transfer. At this time of the year they are heavier than usual and I have to contact her old school."

"That's why you have us Touka. We are not only here to play you know. " Hajime lectured her friend as she gave a refill of tea. After that she took a seat next to Touka and seized the files with the photo of a brown-haired girl on it "I will do that for you" She announced as she started going throughout the papers.

The act earned her one of Touka's rare genuine smile. The heiress then took some seconds to relax her muscle, and hid her flushing cheeks, "I don't know how I would do without you."

The remark made Hajime redden even more, hiding herself behind the folder. She had lost track of where she was in the file. "That's... That's nothing at all." It took her some time to find back where she was, and when Touka asked again for tea she almost spoke too much but everything was alright.

They had almost forgotten the point of their conversation when the doors of the office burst open.

"Touka, Touka!" The childish voice called. They both turned and saw the last person they would be waiting this early in the morning. But there was no doubting it, The hyperactive girl in front of the was Koromo. How she had woken up so early was a nature's wonder.

"What is the matter Koromo? There is no need to shout that early in the morning." Touka inquired as she got up to meet her cousin. Of course Hajime followed her.

"Ah, Sorry, I was not sure you were awake. " Koromo excused herself. The irony did not escape the two friends as they nearly burst out laughing hearing Koromo's reasons. Only the genuinely lost look on the little blond stopped them.

"So, What did you want to talk about? I suppose it is about your new maid." Touka asked gently, and seeing Koromo nodded sheepishly, she understood it must be serious. "Then come take a seat."

Once they were on the sofa Hajime started. "So, What is it about Saki? Is she not to your liking?" She knew she was talking like Saki was a toy, but to Koromo people she did not know tend to be treated like that. She herself had gotten out of that title only after last year's Tournament.

That was why she was surprised when the usually refrained girl started to vehemently defend Saki

"NO! I like her very much. She is very nice, and cute, and strong and..." Koromo was losing track of her purpose, only thinking about her first impression of the new girl.

"So.. What is the problem? From what you say I gather that she did not break playing you. And she did not upset you," Touka asked. For the life of her she couldn't see where was the problem. Her cousin even found her cute. And she never found anything cute but her mother's plushies. If she did not know any better she would think that Koromo had even fallen in love with their new member.

For her part, Hajime had a hunch about what could be so unsettling for Koromo. " Tell me, Koromo, How did the match with Saki go. Did anything happen?" Hajime knew she was right when she saw the petite girl twitch. Probably Koromo had lost.

It would seem trivial for anyone. But it had never happened to Koromo. At least not when she was playing seriously, as she probably had yesterday.

"Saki's really scary you know..." She finally opened her mouth " ... Playing her is a lot of fun, but she really is scary."

Finally Touka caught on the meaning of her cousin words. "You lost?" She was wide-eyed as the sheer impossibility of what she was hearing. "How did it happen?" Koromo losing on a winter full moon was just something she couldn't get her head around without getting it from the witness herself.

"Well, Koromo first played to observe her, trying to build up some pressure and she easily won the first hand. But as I said Koromo wasn't even trying."

Then I taunted her and opened the doors..." Koromo explained what happened. As she had hoped, Saki had done well against her cousin, but from What she was hearing Koromo shouldn't be in this state. After all she was now at the South 3 and Koromo was largely domineering.

"...And then, Saki said she should stop it there... Saying that she couldn't win against Koromo. I had just put Tomoki to zero, and she had lost a point in Jun the turn before, but she was apologizing to me in the middle of the round... I didn't understand anything," Koromo followed for both Hajime and Touka it was obvious why she apologized, but Koromo wasn't used to Saki's way.

And from what Koromo had said both feared they knew how this tell would end. "... It was then that she did it, she apologized to Tomoki for taking her points. I knew she would do so, but not that she wouldn't struggle at the choice... Then I saw that both Jun and Tomoki were relaxed. How could they be relaxed?" Koromo Was getting upset again for retelling the story of her frustration.

" I think I have my idea, hearing her declaring the game ended they must have understood what she was about to do." Touka said, trying to calm her cousin.

But it failed, Koromo was still seeking answers."How? No one should play for that, so how did they know?"

" To be sure she could go against you we played with her yesterday. She did it a lot at first. That how she plays in defense I think," Touka continued her explanation, and this time it was successful.

"Still, I am impressed she managed a +/-0 against you Koromo, even if you were not serious." Hajime said, thoughtful. If Saki was able to do that they might actually really make it.

"... Well ... I had felt it, there was something amiss in her game so I was really going at it seriously, even if I did no put everything in the game. But still, even Touka can't handle that much in general and the three of them were mostly fine." Koromo continued. That was something Hajime was impressed at Saki had managed to calm down the two of them even under such pressure.

"Then, she finished her hand. She was only second but she looked satisfied. And Jun started to tell strange thing about her meeting her target. At that time I didn't understand at all..."

"And they explained it to you I suppose," Touka deduced. She wasn't surprised when Hajime talk about +/-0 even so she wasn't the type to understand alone that sort of thing so she had guessed there was an explanation somewhere.

"Yes. I was really impressed. Saki was really incredible there... yet.." She was hesitating. Normally Koromo never hesitate so why was she now by just telling a not so old story.

"Yet what? You won, so why are you saying Saki is scary? And didn't you say you lost earlier?" Touka asked, She had a lot of patience, but she didn't like suspense at all.

"ugu..." Koromo shivered.

"Something happens afterward right?" Hajime deduced, if Koromo had said she had lost they must have played another match after that one.

"Well, after that she fell down. The uniform you gave her really don't suit her by the way so I think I will have her wear plain clothes." The sentence shocked Touka, she really liked those uniforms. They were the top of classicism and elegance. She was about to complain but Hajime stopped her.

" So.. what happened?" The young maid asked to keep the conversation on track. She had to admit she was curious as to what could have gotten Koromo in that state.

"... She said sorry once again. Following that we decided it was time that she got more light cloth so while Jun got out on an errand she undressed. Well Tomoki helped her undress in fact. And when she got out of her socks I felt something. Saki had changed . She had felt it too and said she could win right now and I accept her challenge, after she got dressed. I think she is a little bit of an airhead." Once more Koromo got sidetracked. But it was understandable as their new resident was really ... Interesting.

Hajime and Touka looked at each other, nodding meaningfully at the implication of Saki's airheadness.

This time however Koromo got back to her discourse by herself. "... That match was on a whole other dimension. Usually I can at least feel what's going on in the other's hands, but around her there was a cloak. I was even forced to use my control in a way I never did, but even That could only hold her off for some time." The tension on her face was visible Hajime noted, it must have really been a marking experience.

"Wait, you can use it in another way?" That detail was strange enough that it had caught Touka's attention off the story.

" Yes, but I won't talk about them now. Not before I train them to be useful against her," Koromo declared seriously, flames in her eyes.

" ... You will train? " Both Touka and Hajime were dumbfounded.

" Of Course, I can't go on if I am not able to go against her, I owe her that much." Koromo said as if it was the most normal feats in the world. "And after a defeat like that I would be too ashamed if I at least didn't try."

"Was the defeat that crushing?" Hajime thought it had been a close match with a win barely 1000 points over Koromo. But there she was forced to see her speculation up.

Yet all she could imagined hadn't prepared her to the true result .

"I was really excited at first, and even Jun an Tomoki were fighting for it. The three of us tried to fight But even so Jun and I managed to get out she totally manipulated us, even using my new found capacity against me to get the score right, I really thought I had a chance but even so..." She made a pause visibly hurt. "Zero, that's how it all ended," she signally closed her speech.

" What do you mean?! I thought you said you had lost, but if she was +/-0 it wasn't a loss!" Touka exclaimed, it really didn't make any sense for her.

" No, I meant she got us to exactly Zero. She used the three of us in turn to get the score right before finishing us with that bloody Yakuman." For some reason , both Hajime and Touka had the impression the latter part of the phrase was to be taken in its first meaning. A feeling which was increased when they remarked Koromo was shaking. "I don't think the other's noticed but she did it at midnight precisely, when the moon was at its highest."

Finally it dawned on them, Why Koromo was now afraid of Saki. She had intruded on Koromo's territory and symbolically laid devastation to it. To someone like the petit Blonde girl it could be pretty traumatic.

After letting the information sink in Touka finally asked the question she knew would come. "So, Koromo, What do you want me to do with her?"

But Koromo had already thought about it, the question was in fact meaningless. "Nothing, I want her to remain here."

She saw her cousin sigh briefly, apparently she didn't wish for Saki to quit them either. However she remained concentrated as she had not finished her Interrogation."And What will you do?"

"I already said it, I will train. I really want to win this year, and At least I don't want to have any regret like you had last year." Koromo answered remembering Touka disappointed face after she learned what had happened. It fact she could still catch her cousin brooding about it sometimes.

"That's all well and good, But didn't you say She was scary? You do know you will have to be with her a lot as she is your maid now." Touka insisted, she had rarely seen her cousin so serious about something.

Koromo closed her eyes and let her feelings out. "Yes, Saki is scary. She is even scarier than uncle when he is Really mad. But so am I, And you all still remained with me until now, and for that I am thankful. She is like me Touka. I can't let her alone." She was rarely went sentimental, but this time she felt like she had to convey what she really thought.

She opened the eyes and saw that both Touka and Hajime were smiling. That was a great relief to her.

"Koromo-chan, are you here?" Hearing that meek voice on the other side of the door, Koromo flinched. She may liked her a lot more than she probably should, But the brown haired girl was really scary.

...

When she woke up the first thing she noted was that she was not in her room. And that she was alone.

However, the first point quickly stopped worrying her once she was more awake and took in the details of the room.

It was where she lived now. More accurately this was her mistress' room, hers was the one to the right if she remembered her instructions.

And according to those instructions it was her duty to wake up and take care of her new mistress. That was where her second worry came from. If Touka was to be believed Koromo was even less of a morning person than her, so why was she not there?

Saki started to panic, looking all around her if she could find a clue. Koromo was the niece of a rich family so maybe someone had kidnapped her. The thought made Saki worry even more, she was now responsible for her, she couldn't fail. If she failed... She preferred not to think about it. She was used to being alone but here she had felt that maybe...

Her eyes finally posed on the mahjong table. It had not been arranged after their game and the last hand was a still exposed, as well as the score.

Maybe she had gone too far finally. She was eager to prove herself to her new friend, to be accepted. And Koromo was a lot like her so mayhaps she could take it on. At least that's what she had thought at the time.

Ye , even so she was having so much fun she had once more forgotten about the others. Before going to sleep Koromo had assured her that everything was alright but Saki wasn't completely dull. She had felt the slip of a girl shivering in her arm during her sleep. She must have had a nightmare and it was probably her fault. That must be why Koromo wasn't there anymore, she must have fled.

She may have said the match was fun but the truth was that nobody could keep up with her when she forgot about them.

Saki remained there, brooding. After some time she decided she at least had to do her job of maid correctly, before she was inevitably reject. And it would free her mind a little. So as she did her best not to think about anything when she started tidying the room. Starting with the mahjong table and the mess she had made while searching for Koromo.

Really she had been silly for searching in the cabinet. Her charge was small but that not to that point. However she was certainly small enough to fit in the toy's box. The idea made Saki smile a little. Koromo was really cute, it was only one night but she already felt she would miss the girl when she would be sent back.

Her mood took an other slump. Why had she thought about that?

Even so she didn't remain there and once she had finished she got to her room, to change into her day's clothes. On the door there was her name. She didn't remember putting it here so it was probably one of the others. She turned the doorknob and entered.

However she didn't make one step inside. What she so inside was just too stunning. It was almost the exact replica of her old room bar two details. One her bedroom and bed were never that big. Two, the flowers in the windows had bloomed.

It was so beautiful that Saki shed tears. She always took care of her flowers but they rarely bloomed that strongly, and never so many had blossomed at once. Whatever could be the cause of that miracle she did no know, but she almost did not care. She was just happy. So joyful she was that she did not care if she really was fired today, the sight of that morning made it worthwhile.

Still, she had to show it to someone, even if it has been just to reassure her she was not dreaming. The first person she wanted to show them was of course her father but he was no longer here, and her sister did not care about her anymore.

But this time she did not let it affect her, the day was too good for that. It was winter but there was a beautiful sun outside. And even if it was only for some hours she did have others she wished to show it.

And now that she was thinking more positively, she had an idea where she could find her.

Saki started to dash, now that she thought about it she was sure Koromo would be in Touka's office. She did not know how she knew but there was no doubt. And once she was there she would take the chance to apologize. She was scared to be rejected, yes, But doing nothing would take her nowhere.

She had nothing to lose anymore after all.

With that resolution in mind, she got straight to Touka's office crossing the garden between the two mansions and getting up the stair without any hesitation. Once she was in front of the door however she still took some minute to think. She Only had one try at this.

Finally, she took a deep breath and called out.

...

" Yes, You can enter." Koromo answered, but she was still under the effect of the retelling so her voice was a little shaky. "And this is Koromo-san for you, remember who is the sempai here." She added before the door was fully open, it was as much an admonishment to Saki as it was to herself, she should let the girl affect her. At least not negatively.

"Hi, I am sorry Koromo-san... Can we talk a little?" The younger girl asked shyly from the entrance of the office. "I wanted to..."

It was obvious what she wanted to talk about, from the resume of her story she had heard there was only one possibility. That was why she cut her before she said the world. "There is no need to."

"..." The shock was transparent in Saki's silence, judging from the time it had taken her to get here after Koromo had got out it must have taken her a lot of courage to even show up. "But..."

"I said there is no need to. I am not angry at you or anything, you beat me fare and square yesterday so you don't need to hide. You should be proud." Koromo continued. Turning to Touka and Hajime to reaffirm her earlier statement.

"... Aren't you afraid?" Saki asked within a disparate murmur. It was plain for everyone that she had already lost hope and could believe that it was for nothing.

"... Yes, I am." Koromo had to be honest with her. She owned her that much. "I was so scared that yesterday night... It was like my parents' death all over again." She was still looking at Touka, not able to look her new friend in the face yet. That's when her eyes caught the small flower on the windowsill, she already had seen it somewhere.

" That's... Then I really have to..." Koromo felt the genuine Worry and despair in the girl voice. She couldn't be a coward anymore

Koromo turned around, Looking in the tearful red eyes "NO! Don't even say the word! It is not your fault! The only one to blame is myself for not being strong enough!" She had shouted, seeing that girl crying had snapped something in her and she had shouted.

"Koromo!" behind her Touka called her back to earth. Saki was now openly crying.

"I know Touka." She answered more calmly. She really had to apologize this time.

She finally approached Saki, extending her arm around her. "I am sorry. I shouldn't have shouted there, it's just that..."

"This is nothing. Those are tears of joy." Saki's answer stunned her. She wasn't afraid? She was happy.

"Of Joy? What make you so?" It was Koromo turn to be lost.

"It's the first time some get angry for me. It's the first time someone does not blame me... Truly , today is a good day" Those weren't the words of a monster, those were the word of a young teenager finally feeling at ease. "You really accept me ... Right?" Still , apparently need to make sure once more.

"Of course. It is normal for human to be afraid, But we have to get over it if we want to go on living. I really think that letting you go would be the worse thing that I could do. I would really be a monster if I did." Koromo tentatively reassured her,hugging the slightly taller girl in her arms. At that moment she promised herself to never let her go.

But Saki was still fidgeting in her arms, and when she looked up she saw that Saki was looking farther into the room.

"I agree with her, You can remain here as long as you wish" Touka confirmed, and finally the girl calmed down, beaming a smile that made Koromo skip a beat.

"Thank you... really, today is the best day of my life." The remark threw a conflict in everyone's heart. They knew it was likely not an exaggeration.

After an awkward silence wherein Koromo helped her new maid to get up. The one that had remained silent finally said, "You will live even better days."

There was nothing else to say. If today was truly Saki best days, then it was their duty to make it so it would go uphill from now on.

"Still, you should go dress yourself. We may all be girls here but it doesn't excuse everything." Touka pointed out, her face slightly red.

"...ah...EEEEEH!" Saki fled into the hall, shouting. She was still in the transparent black nightgown she had last night.

"... I should go with her," Koromo said her face the same colors as her usual hairband.

"Yes, you should, ... That girl would lose herself even in an F2." Touka still , waving her off. Then just before Koromo was out her cousin added a comment "She is your responsibility now."

"I know," Koromo responded smiling. " Thank you Touka. You kept your promise." She didn't say the last part out loud, but she knew her cousin had understood, they were family after all.

'f~ew' Touka sighed loudly, slumping back in her chair. For one moment she was really afraid things would go sour.

"So, What do we do now? " Hajime asked next to her, she too visibly stressed from what had just happened.

"Now? You give me some tea and we finish those paperwork. Saki transfer has to be finished before the start of next week"

"Hai, Touka-oujo-Sama," Hajime got up, still reaching for the hot water. She knew that Touka didn't like to be called like that. But this time she would let it slide.

As Saki had said, It was truly a good Day.

Until next time

Thank you for reading.

Thank to nightsentinel for the Beta

Please review. They really do help boost my mood, even the critic.

Fragment of Ring