A/N: A real first date (finally!) . . . and the weirdness begins ^_^
Thanks again to everyone for their comments and reviews.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of MSGM. All such honors belong to Oyuki Konno.
Nana-chan brought a guest to the next meeting of the Yamayurikai. She was a petite girl, probably only 154cm, with straight, shoulder length light brown hair, held back by a dark brown hair band, and matching eyes. As small as she was she had a nicely formed body, what could be seen of it underneath the dark green Lillian uniform. For a first-year she had an aura of confidence that belied her years. Her eyes glanced briefly at each of the girls sitting around the table before she smiled in a very satisfied manner. Yumi somehow felt that she had passed one of the hardest exams she would ever take in her life. When the girl glanced at Hiromi-san she gave a quick start and looked at Nana-chan. Nana smiled and nodded and the girl simply shrugged.
After first introducing the members of the Yamayurikai to the young lady, Nana turned to the table of Roses, "Everyone, I would like to introduce you to a very good friend of mine, Yukiko Kada-san. She was the class representative in my third-year middle school class."
Both Noriko's and Shimako's eyes grew wide as the girl's name was provided though neither said a word.
"Good day everyone," Yukiko said in a voice like a gentle melody with a slight nod to the girls sitting around the meeting table. "As Nana-san said I am Yukiko Kada, first-year pine group number 29. Nana-san has explained to me that you believe the sakura tree behind the education building is slowly dying due to a lack of water getting to its roots; the water being taken by the gingkoes. She also mentioned that it was your desire to save the sakura if at all possible. Have I judged the situation properly?"
"You have," Yumi answered for the group with her naturally buoyant smile. "Nana-chan said that she might have a friend that could possibly help us. I assume that would be you?"
"You assume correctly Yumi-sama. I thought that Yukiko-san might be . . . 'uniquely' qualified to help," Nana giggled as she looked at her friend. Yukiko just rolled her eyes and sighed. She was obviously used to Nana-chan's sometimes mercurial personality.
"What Nana-chan is trying very hard not to tell you," Yukiko said with a smile for her friend, "is that in addition to being a first-year student here at Lillian, I also happen to be the head Miko at the Igusa Hachimangu Shinto Shrine just outside of Musashino."
"That's why!" Noriko exclaimed, "I was wondering about your name. You are a member of the Kada clan aren't you?"
"I am Noriko-sama," the girl replied with a short bow.
In response to the confused looks around the table Shimako tried to explain. "The Kada clan has provided generations of priests to the Fushimi Inari Taisha. The Taisha is the primary Shinto shrine to Inari in all of Japan and is located at the base of Inari Mountain in Kyoto."
"In addition to being one of the principle kami of Shinto, Inari is also one of the primary bodhisattva in Buddhism," Noriko added. "The Kada clan has been associated with Inari and his messengers, the kitsune, since around 1500 AD."
Yoshino started to sputter and Nana giggled at her onee-sama's discomfort. "I-if it is not impertinent to ask, w-what exactly is a Miko of Hachiman, a warrior god, doing attending a Catholic girl's school?" Yoshino was finally able to ask.
"Why, for the education of course," Yukiko answered with a grin.
"Excuse my ignorance," Hiromi spoke up with a slight smile for the brown haired girl, "but how is a Miko expected to help save a lone sakura tree?"
"Ah, that's where it gets interesting," Nana piped up with a smirk. Yoshino put her hands over her face and shook her head.
"While Yukiko-sama is only claiming to be a Miko, albeit 'head' Miko," Nana-chan went on with an evil grin, "she means that term not as it is currently used today, as a 'shrine maiden', but in its original meaning. Yukiko-sama is one of the strongest spirit mediums and shamans in Tokyo."
"Please Nana-san, I have asked you not to call me 'sama'. It is embarrassing," Yukiko stammered with a slight blush, "it's not like I'm trying to hide it or keep it a secret," she told the others, "I just don't see any need to advertise."
"We can sympathize with that," Yumi said with a small grin, "we are pretty good at keeping secrets ourselves," she said with a distinct glance at Hiromi who just rolled his eyes. Yukiko looked first at Yumi and then at Hiromi before she gave him a nod and a shy smile.
"I thought," Nana went on as she ignored the byplay going on around her, "that it might be fun to ask Yukiko-san to see if a spirit resides within either the sakura or the gingkoes and, if so . . . well, I had not thought much beyond that yet," she finished with a shy grin.
Shimako let out a small gasp, "You can do that?" There was silence around the table as everyone digested all that had been said.
"I do not see why we cannot try it." Yumi finally interjected. Every eye suddenly turned towards the end of the table where the Rosa Chinensis sat with a smile on her face. "I mean, really, what harm could it do? I am sure that Maria-sama would give us her blessings."
It was decided that the group would meet by the sakura tree late on a Sunday morning in order to try to have as few witnesses as possible since the school would be officially "closed" for the day. Since some had plans already for the weekend they agreed to meet on the following Sunday.
-oo-
The plans that Touko had for the following weekend revolved around her onee-sama's brother, Yuuki. At the end of their shopping "date" Yuuki had asked her to go out with him the following weekend. That date unfortunately was postponed due to the requirement for a joint meeting between the Hanadera and Lillian student councils to discuss the Christmas Ball. Both she and Yuuki had been upset but understanding regarding the need to postpone the date. The meeting had run long as people tried to bring up every possible detail or concern regarding the affair. Almost nothing was actually resolved except that both councils agreed on a united strategy in raising the proposal to their respective school administrations.
It had been relatively painless when they took the idea to the Lillian school administrators. With their backing, along with the approval of the Director, receiving the administration's approval was almost a fait accompli. While the administration of Hanadera showed a little more reluctance, the support from the Lillian faction had turned the tides and final approval had been obtained. A schedule of monthly meetings between the councils had been set up and Hanadera had promised to keep them informed of any updated information.
As a result of the delay in their date, Touko was probably even more excited when she exited the M station to find Yuuki already there carrying a large backpack. She had decided to wear a pair of straight legged blue jeans and a pink sweater rather than a skirt. Based on Yuuki's attire of jeans and a pale blue sweater she was glad she had not overdressed.
"I hope I did not keep you waiting," she said as she walked up to him even though she was fifteen minutes early.
"Not at all, I just got here myself," he replied in the time honored tradition. Touko thought he had probably been there for over an hour given that she had seen him arrive a half hour early for their shopping trip and she couldn't keep from smiling. "Shall we go," he asked as he took her by the hand and they started walking towards the park across the street.
Touko reveled in the feel of his strong hand encompassing her own. His fingers and palms were somewhat callused so she knew he wasn't afraid of hard work. Even still his hand held a warmth and gentleness that distracted her. Before she knew it he was pulling her off the path and up a slight rise toward an especially beautiful cherry tree.
"I hope you don't mind, but I thought today we could just have a picnic and enjoy watching the cherry blossoms," he said with a slightly sheepish smile. She could tell he was worried that she might think him a penny pincher for not taking her to a movie and meal.
"I think it's a wonderful idea, and I applaud you for remembering our conversation from the shopping trip," she replied with a giggle as he opened his pack and pulled out a large blanket and began unfolding it. "As I said then, it's not always the fancy dinners or movies that make us the happiest." She helped him lay the blanket out on the ground. He then turned back to the pack and began unpacking various plastic tubs of food. He asked her to sit while he unpacked the picnic lunch.
Once everything was unpacked he opened a thermos and poured her a cup of tea. She smelled it before taking a sip: Jasmine. It was delicious and she told him so. He blushed as he continued to open the food for her inspection. There was a small assortment of sushi, noodles in a cold soup, onigiri, cute octo-wieners, a fresh garden salad, rice, cut fresh fruit as well as umeboshi, and pickled daikon. It looked like a feast.
"Yuuki, you didn't have to go to all this trouble. If I eat all of this I'll get so fat you won't want to look at me," she laughed.
"Actually, it wasn't that much trouble. I bought the sushi, umeboshi and pickled daikon, but the rest was simple to make," he said with a slight flush to his cheeks, "and I doubt that you would ever get fat off of my cooking," he laughed.
"Wait, you mean you made these?" Touko exclaimed.
"Uh, well, yeah," Yuuki stammered. "My mom has been teaching me how to cook a little so I won't starve when I head off to college. I won't promise on how it all tastes, but at least my mom is still alive after she tried it."
"Will wonders never cease; a man that knows how to cook," Touko giggled, "Next you'll be telling me about your recent adventures in flower arrangement."
"Hey! Give me a break!" Yuuki exclaimed with a laugh, "I'll have you know that my flower arranging has won awards!" He loved the way she laughed. Yumi had told him about all of the masks she had worn before they became soeurs, but he thought that this was the genuine Touko-san.
His obvious lie aside, Touko realized that she was having fun. She was truly enjoying herself and, for once, felt herself really relax. The food really was delicious and she made sure to compliment him on it. As they laid back and enjoyed the drifting cherry blossoms she found herself telling him everything that had occurred the previous year. She had no idea why she was opening up to this boy, unlike anyone else in her life except for maybe Yumi-sama, but she found herself wanting to hide nothing from him, as if his good opinion of her truly mattered. He quietly listened to her story, even the parts where she had treated Yumi so horribly, without comment or complaint. She could tell he was really listening as well, not just pretending. Every so often he would squeeze her hand as she reached a particularly painful part of the story, such as the death of her birth-parents, and she took comfort from that small gesture.
When she had finished relating the entire thing he turned up on his side and propped himself up on his elbow so he could look her in the eyes. "You didn't have to tell me all of that Touko-san," he said softly, "but I'm glad you did. I don't blame you or hold any grudges for what you put Yumi through. If she can forgive you and love you after all of that, then who am I to judge you? I can see how the misunderstandings started, and how you two patched things up again. You have some very special friends and your relationship with my sister is, I believe, stronger for everything the two of you went through.
"I-if you don't mind, I would like to continue seeing you. I really like you and, in a way, I can see exactly what Yumi sees in you. Despite your occasional . . . outbursts, you really do care about the people you love and that says a lot about your character and who you are. And, at least with me, you are not afraid to admit to your mistakes and that takes a lot of courage. You could have easily kept that entire story from me and it would not have changed how I felt about you. Having told me, however, I like you even more now and, if you will have me, I'd like to see where we can go from here."
And with that he very slowly and very gently bent over and brushed her lips with his own before he lay back down. She could have very easily pulled away or stopped him, but she didn't. Nor did she want to. His lips had been very soft and tender and they had promised something that almost no one else had ever promised her; acceptance of exactly who she was. She didn't know what it was about these Fukuzawa siblings, but their total acceptance of a person, warts and all and without any care whatsoever for social station, was such a breath of fresh air that it was almost unearthly. But she had known both of them now for many months and, as Sachiko had once told her, they were honest to a fault. They were like mirrors that showed you unflinchingly both the good and the ugly in yourself, but you found yourself wanting desperately to stay with them and to change yourself to get rid of those ugly parts; to be a better person when reflected in those eyes. Why?
"'Because I love her'," she whispered softly to herself, remembering the words Sachiko-oneesama had once told her when Touko had asked her older cousin that exact same question. She now knew exactly what Sachiko had been trying to tell her. And if Yuuki was anything like his sister, and it certainly seemed that way, she could easily see herself falling for him as well. Falling? Be honest with yourself Touko, you have fallen for him already, she thought to herself with a smile as she touched the place he had briefly brushed with his lips.
She turned her head so that she could look at this wonderful boy. "I'd like that a lot Yuuki-san," she said. "If you will have me, with all of my flaws, I'd also like to see where we can go from here." She touched her fingers to her lips and then brushed them against his. Before she could move he captured her hand and gently placed soft, tantalizing kisses against each of her fingertips. She shivered at the contact but made no move to pull away. He turned his head towards her and smiled and she could only smile back. Yes, the Fukuzawa's were different; and she was very much afraid that she deeply loved both of them.
-oo-
The next morning found a veritable gaggle of Lillian students in casual clothes gathered around the back stoop of the education building. At least all but one were in casual clothes. Yukiko was dressed in her regular kimono and hakama as a Miko.
"You do realize," she said as the girls of the Yamayurikai gathered around her, "that this would normally cost you around fifty thousand yen." At the dropped jaws she laughed. "Just kidding. We do normally charge for exorcisms, but something like this I see as my duty. So, do you want the full blown show or the short version?"
"The short version is fine," Yumi chuckled, "no need for formalities if they're not required."
"Well then, let's get started," she said and moved over to the base of the sakura tree as everyone watched.
Yukiko laid a hand gently against the trunk of the tree, bowed her head and closed her eyes. She stayed like that for a moment before she started mumbling under her breath. After about two minutes her eyes briefly opened wide, but she simply shut them again and continued in her mumbling monologue.
"What's all this," came a friendly voice from behind them. There were a bunch of gasps as the girls spun around to see who their unanticipated visitor was.
The interloper to their ceremony was a short, old woman with grey hair and a slightly pudgy body. She was wearing a pair of grey sweatpants and a yellow sweatshirt with a large smiley face on it. Her face seemed to reflect her sweatshirt with the big grin she wore.
"Aunt Kaori," Hiromi exclaimed among additional surprised shouts of "Director" and "Kaori-sensei".
The Academy Director, Hiromi's godmother, chuckled at the scene her appearance had created. Most of the members of the Yamayurikai were babbling, trying to explain why they were there while Hiromi just laughed at her outfit.
"What are you doing here Godmother," Hiromi asked into the general tumult.
"I was out for my morning jog when I saw you all hanging around the back of the education building and I thought I would check it out. Now, can you answer my question," she asked with a smile.
Yumi got everyone to settle down and started explaining the situation when they heard a loud "Whaaat!" from the direction of the tree. Yukiko had stopped her apparent discussion with the supposed tree spirit and was staring across at the group of girls standing near the building's stoop before the Miko shook her head, closed her eyes again, and went back to communing with the tree.
As the girls looked back at the brown haired shaman Yumi continued with her explanation. Kaori-sensei simply nodded and then grew concerned as she watched Yukiko at her work.
"It would make sense to think that the tree might contain a spirit," she said thoughtfully. "It has been here since before the school was founded. In fact, the entire grove was here before they started construction. I remember from my own school days hearing that the education building was originally supposed to be located where the grove is but a combined group of local Shinto and Buddhist priests begged that the grove be spared. In fact, Shimako-san, I believe your family's temple was among those represented." The Angel of Lillian just nodded.
Yukiko had supposedly finished her discussions with the sakura and moved over to the largest of the gingkoes and repeated the process. Again, after a couple of minutes her eyes briefly opened in surprise before she closed them and started mumbling again. This dialogue took another fifteen minutes as the group of girls and the Director quietly looked on.
With a sigh Yukiko nodded her head and stepped away from the gingko and made her way back to the gathering.
"Director, it's a good thing you're here. I have a request if I might impose upon you," Yukiko said with a deep bow. Kaori-sensei acknowledged her bow with one of her own.
"What is it you need Kada-sama," she asked.
Yukiko gave a long suffering sigh at the "sama" but decided to let it go this one time. If having the respect of the Academy Director for her position as a priestess got her what she wanted, so be it.
"Director, I would like to install a rope fence around the grove, only about two feet high so people won't trip over it, and I would like to add some minor seals to the rope if you would not mind," she said.
"So, the grove is . . . inhabited? Can the sakura be saved?" Kaori asked.
"It is and it can," the young Miko answered with a smile, "the minor seals will not really affect the spirits. I'll set them up so that they deflect anyone from thinking about cutting them down in the future. As for saving the sakura, um, yes, I think everyone had better sit down."
"Huh," Yumi asked but was quickly grabbed by Noriko and made to sit in the grass as Shimako and Yukiko did the same with the others. When everyone was finally situated Yukiko answered the unspoken question. "It's better to sit down than to fall down."
The girls then became aware of a deep groaning sound growing in the area as Yukiko nodded her head. The groaning grew in strength and the ground they sat on started to quiver and then to shudder softly. Ripples suddenly appeared in the earth around the sakura like miniature waves moving outward from the tree. The deep harmonic sound and the quivering earth went on for another two or three minutes before it simply stopped.
"Ah, yes, that should do nicely," Yukiko said as she stood up and went back first to the sakura and then to the large gingko. Again she laid a hand on the trunk of each tree and mumbled for a moment, nodding her head as a smile played on her lips. Everyone was thinking the same question when she returned to the group.
"It's quite simple," she said, "I determined that the grove was, in fact, inhabited by kodama, or tree spirits. With that it became a simple task of asking them to move their roots so that they no longer encroached on the roots of the sakura. The largest gingko usually speaks for the rest. They are very benevolent spirits and were more than willing to help. It seems that they really like the girls that come to visit them," she looked at Shimako and Noriko and grinned, "especially a couple of them." The two in question at least had the decency to blush.
"The movement you felt was the trees shifting their roots away from the sakura which should no longer be threatened with starvation," Yukiko finished her explanation and glanced around the group of girls that were now staring at her like she had grown a second head. She had to laugh at their expressions; a full hearted laugh that sounded like a song sung to the gods it was so bright.
"Then, that's it?" Yumi asked as Shimako and Noriko moved to the base of the sakura, looking up into its pink blossom covered branches.
"That's it . . . well, almost," she said with another glance towards the grove, "I have to ask Noriko-sama and Shimako-sama about something and make sure they are happy, but other than that . . . ," she shrugged.
Yukiko was roundly thanked by everyone and Nana gave her a big hug for providing the day's "very interesting entertainment". As she finished with Nana-chan, Yukiko returned to the sakura where Shimako and Noriko still stood. They spoke together quietly and then moved off further into the grove.
"A very interesting Sunday morning," Nana-chan giggled.
"I agree-whole heartedly," Kaori-sensei laughed, "and I am very much thinking that I will grant Yukiko-sama's wishes. It would be . . . 'interesting' to see the reactions from the administrators and teachers," she chucked with a glance at Nana-chan, "but I think the students will be thrilled."
When Yukiko, Noriko, and Shimako returned from their brief walk through the grove Yukiko was sporting a new piece of jewelry and Noriko had a huge grin on her face.
"Everyone, I would like to introduce you to my new petite soeur, Yukiko Kada-san," Noriko said with a warm smile for the young Miko.
A/N: Uh, I did mention "weird", didn't I?
Thanks for reading. Please feel free to leave a comment.
Take care.