Sometimes in April

Rating: T Genre: Romance/General

Summary: Seto Kaiba has always been known relentless workaholic but when his brother and doctor force him to take a vacation, he goes of f to Kyoto to escape for a month but he finds out that maybe vacations aren't so bad when he meets a beautiful red headed photographer. SxS

Chapter 3: The Lake of Stars

The dance is a poem of which each movement is a word – Mata Hari, Dutch dancer and spy

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April 3rd

There was an eerie silence in the Kaiba Mansion. It had been three days since the owner of this brilliant palatial home walked into the sunset. However even before the CEO left, there was always this silence that held a lingering sadness that echoed through the halls yet no one was aware of the sadness. No one was aware of the heartache these walls have seen.

A young maid walked through the halls, carrying a bin of laundry to wash. It was normal routine during her workday in the mansion even though things have been different since her master had left unexpectedly. She knew the CEO was cold and ruthless but he didn't seem like the person to just runaway like that. Something had to be troubling him very badly for him to run off on his little brother. For the news, she heard, the only instructions that were left by him were to Roland to watch over the company and Mokuba. He never even said goodbye to Mokuba. The CEO cared very deeply for his little brother. What was wrong with him?

As the young woman was left pondering about her master, she heard the faint cries of a child echoing down the hallways. She followed the noises further and noticed a door was opened. She placed the bin by the wall and slowly walked by the doorway to see Mokuba crying over the phone, sitting on the floor. He was hugging his knees into his chest. He looked completely distressed.

"Master Mokuba" she called out. He looked up her shyly and continued to cry. He attempted to wipe away his tears to hide his shame.

"Young master, what's wrong?" she asked bending down to see the young boy's face. She brushed his raven hair out his eyes and lifted his head up gently.

"…My brother…won't return my calls" he sobbed. "That means he's still mad at me"

"Why would he be mad at you?"

"Because I convinced him to go to the doctor…when he called me…I told him I didn't know him anymore…that was the last time I spoke to him, I made my brother leave" he cried breaking down once again. The maid gathered the poor boy in her arms.

"Mokuba, your brother is probably very distressed and confused right now, he probably needs some time right now to think"

"But what if he doesn't come back?" he asked. There was grim silence for brief moment. She held him even tighter.

"He will come back but not as the man we knew"

"What do you mean? He asked.

"Mokuba, you're brother probably needs some time to himself right now. He's not doing this to hurt you but to heal his own wounds. He needs to find his way, it can happen, just believe in your brother, Mokuba"

"I do…I never stopped" he whispered before he drifted of into a sweet slumber. She looked down at her young master. The poor boy had cried himself to sleep. She caressed him softly as she looked out the window to see the bright sun in the sky. She smiled to herself.

"Sometimes we all need to find our way again"

-

It was the late afternoon. It was the third day of the CEO's stay. It was late afternoon and Seto Kaiba was confined amongst the soft sheets of his bed in his hotel suite in Kyoto. This experience alone was completely new to him. He felt comfort he felt no where yet his heart and mind were still heavy. His soul was still weary. Once she left the temple yesterday he had decided to purchase a small journal and release all his thoughts. He was aware all the sadness and grief still buried in but he was far from healed. He didn't know how to cure his ailing sickness

The cell phone on his desk rang. It was the second time this morning. Seto paused from his writing and looked down at the paper. It took everything to stop the trembling in his hand. His face remained emotionless and blank. The CEO wasn't ready to face his brother. He couldn't face him.

He held his heart again and starting breathing hard. Why was this happening to him? Why was he falling apart now?

A knock came to the door. He quickly masked his sadness as he walked over to the door and opened to see a young maid standing in front of him.

"I'm sorry to disturb you but I was instructed to give this to you" she said quietly. The CEO stared at cautiously without uttering a word as he took the postcard she was handing.

"It is the annual Festival of Stars tonight; it is a tradition around Arashiyama over at the Ku Temple by the bamboo grooves" she explained.

"Bamboo grooves?" he whispered. He realized it was the same temple where he met the young miko, Shizuka.

"Tomorrow night is the annual Festival of Stars that marks the beginning of spring, it's very beautiful and fun, I'll be performing…you should come by…if you're not busy"

'That's where I met her…the young miko…Shizuka'

"Yes, we want many people to come, enjoy you evening and the festival will start at sun down" she said and left leaving the brunette in the doorway. He closed the door without giving her the slightest notice but didn't care. He leaned against the door and took once last look at the card in his hands.

"I'll guess I see again sooner than expected…Kawaii Shizuka"

-

The night had arrived with the luminous colorful fireworks and tree lights illuminating the sky above them. People were smiling and socializing, the children were laughing and playing, and the fun had only just begun. The festival had truly brought out the happiness out of all these people except for him. Seto Kaiba simply walked around aimlessly like a weary ghost, laying low by wearing jeans and an old band t-shirt Mokuba had brought him one year. He honestly was never fond of the shirt but now it was the only piece of Mokuba he had with him. As she was walking, an elderly woman stopped him.

"Excuse me young man, have you seen my granddaughter?" she asked. He gave a confused look.

"Ma'am I'm afraid I don't know who your granddaughter is"

"I need to find my granddaughter Shizuka for the performance" she said.

"I can't help-"

"Have you seen my granddaughter?" she repeated. Seto looked at him still in confusion. He was starting to get rather irritated with the old woman.

"Ma'am I don't-"

"Oh dear the performance is starting" she said pointing over to where the temple was standing. Her fragile hands pulled him over to focus his attention to the sight everyone else was waiting to witness. There was a deep silence. A young woman came out from the thin paper doors of the entrance of the temple. She was dressed in a golden silk kimono with a unique floral design embroidered on the fabric. Her fiery hair enticed the eyes of every man and woman that laid eyes on it. She slowly began to step forward as the traditional drums and string instrument began to play with her steps. She played with the gold colored fans in her hands, her hands moving magically. When she came into the light, Seto realized it was the young miko he had met only yesterday. The music turned from soft and whimsical to dramatic and aggressive. Her movements began more alluring and her dancing followed the dramatic rhythm of the sound playing. All he could see was the flashes of gold from her kimono and the deep hazel eyes the seemingly struck him in a way he had never felt. She danced and danced until the beating came to an abrupt stop leaving only the melody of the strings to guide her. She eventually ended her dance with a striking pose of partial covering her face with the fans. Her eyes landed on Seto's.

The crowd cheered as Kaiba made not a sound. He could not believe what had just taken place. She looked so enchanting and beautiful at this moment; he wondered was this even real. The elderly woman pulled him out of his trance.

"You should come meet my granddaughter" she said dragging the poor man through the crowd. Once the blue-eyed man reached the steps of the temple, his eyes immediately met her beautiful hazel orbs.

"Shizuka-chan, this wonderful man helped me find my way while you were performing" said the old man. Seto gave her a confused look.

'I didn't help you at all' he thought rather irritated at the moment.

"You came?" she questioned, drawing closer to the young businessman.

"Yes, your dancing was wonderful"

"My granddaughter always was such a beautiful dancer, you were truly wonderful Shizuka-chan" said the elderly woman.

"Thank you Obasan, oh and Takashi-san is looking for you by the servers table" said Shizuka as she hugged her grandmother.

"Ok then, it was very nice meeting you young man, what is your name?"

"Kaiba Seto"

The old woman bowed graciously and walked off into the crowd, leaving the two young ones by themselves on the steps of the temple.

"I'm very happy you came tonight, I didn't think you would" she said nervously. He looked away from her unable take her fiery beauty.

"I wasn't but that's all people kept talking about it so I came" he replied.

"Well I have to change but would you meet me by the lake, you can see the light show the best from there" she said nervously. He glanced at her and noticed the small blush on her cheeks.

"Sure"

"Thank you" she whispered in a low voice as she went inside the temple. He looked disappeared into the holy place; his eyes sparkled with certain unfamiliarity. What did he feel this way all the sudden? He walked off into the crowd as he waited for her to come out. A strange feeling washed over him as he wandered through the crowd like a mindless puppet hanging lifeless on his master's strings. No one noticed him. No one looked his way. In Domino, a million false faces of smiles and comments of flattery would have come his way but here it was different. Here in Arashiyama, he was a timeless ghost lingering, he was invisible to the wondrous happiness they felt everyday. It was the first time he knew of true loneliness.

He reached the lake and sat on the lush green grass. The gentle breeze played with his chocolate locks. He still couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness he felt. He placed his hand over his heart. It hurt again; his heart was ailing him once again.

"I see I made it before the show started"

He glanced over his shoulder to see young miko dressed in her traditional red and white kimono just as the day he had met her. Her hair tied back by a pearl white ribbon. The young miko sat next to the CEO as he didn't make a sound. She sighed softly as she gazed at the dancing lake.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" she asked turning to him. He glanced at her through the corner of his eyes.

"I guess" he whispered.

"Oh they're here!" she exclaimed pointing towards the lake. A small fleet of small paper boats, each holding a burning candle began to sail passed them. Each shimmered brightly lighting up the lake before their eyes. It was as if the stars from the sky had fallen upon the water waltzing to an enchanting nocturne.

"You see" she said causing the young CEO to turn his attention to her while she was still gazing at the lake. "The Festival of Stars is a tradition that has been held in Arashiyama for thousands of years. We sail paper boats with lights because each holds an undying wish and prayer. We sail them in hopes that our sins will be cleanse and our souls will be revived. The Ku Temple has been with my family for centuries and it is up to us to keep that tradition alive not just for us but the people that believe in this tradition"

She reached inside her long sleeves and took out two thin slices of paper with two candles. Kaiba watched her as she began to fold both pieces of paper in small boats and placed a candle in each.

"Would like the sail one? Maybe a wish will come true"

He stood still for a moment and then nodded in response as he took the paper from her hands as she instructed him on how to fold the appear into a little boat. She took two matches from her sleeve and lit them, she handed him a match.

"Make a wish, light the candle and then sail the boat" she said with a smile.

Kaiba turned his attention towards the boat. He closed his eyes and sighed deeply. Once he reopened them he lit the candle and placed the small boat in the water with the rest of the fleet. She smiled as she watched his boat float with the rest as she did the same with hers.

"I hope your wish comes true" she said. He looked at her and gave a hollow smile as he turned back to the lake.

Yes, he hoped his wish would become an article of faith to his ailing heart and that the pure waters of the lake would wash over his heart, cleansing every sin he had ever committed. It was at this moment that he felt his first touch of hope for a better future.

I'm back from the dead!

Well thats it for now, it won't be a super long story but it's a passion piece I've been working on for a while now so hopefully I get it done. Also check out my profile for an update on my stories and my latest venture, I'm happy to be back and tell me what you think!