Author's Note: Sorry…It's been a while. Thank you for all your support and patience :3
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.
Spells and attacks will be written in bold fonts.
Thoughts, flashbacks, and emphasized phrases will be italicized.
Hanami Jomakushiki arc - Chapter 22 - Sakura Bloom On Mountaintops
~Fairy Tail Guildhall, Magnolia, Fiore, X794~
Four months flew by since the turmoil at Magaret's autumnal Thanksgiving Parade passed.
Wendy, Romeo, Shinji, Aria, and Carla had since returned to Magnolia after assisting Lamia Scale with Margaret's reconstruction alongside Blue Pegasus.
While those four months were mundane, the team's bonds grew stronger with every moment they shared.
A now fifteen-year-old Wendy hesitantly stood in front of the guild entrance, dressed in a light teal vest over a white sweetheart neckline mini-dress. Her feet were snug inside white mary janes.
Carla, who stood by her side wore a black blazer with a yellow cat symbol over a yellow-colored shirt and a black pencil skirt.
The white-furred Exceed looked up to her, "What are you waiting for?"
"I-I-I-" Wendy knew what was going to happen as soon as she opened that door.
"Oh, just open it already!" Carla scolded, "You can't delay the inevitable!"
"Hah...fine," Wendy sighed as she slowly opened the door, a tad scared for her life...
"Happy Birthday Wendy!"
Almost everyone from the guild yelled out to her whilst popping confetti and streamers. A huge white banner with the words "Happy Birthday, Wendy!" inscribed in blue ink unfolded from over the wooden stage area of the guildhall. A horde of transparent balloons with the Fairy Tail insignia colored in gold were released from a blanket into the ceiling.
The guild members formed a crowd by one of the central tables of the mess hall. A spread of pizza, chicken wings, beef-on-the bone, fish, vegetables, and desserts galore were set a top the table. Most importantly, the centerpiece was a deluxe two-tiered strawberry cake with fifteen candles. The ones gathered in front of the cake were her teammates, new and former alike - Lucy, Gray Shinji, Aria, Romeo, and Happy.
The bluenette's eyes sparkled in joy as she ran up to them, "Woah...Thank you so much guys!"
"See, " Carla sighed, "There was nothing to worry about in the first place."
The white-furred Exceed then shifted her gaze to a corner of the guild building where the troublemaking Natsu was gagged and bound by an ever-watchful Erza who sat on his fearfully shaking body
"Nothing to worry about~" Carla ominously said as she nodded to Erza from afar.
"Aye~!" Happy tuned in, "It's for the best that Natsu doesn't ruin this moment with his antics."
"Happphhhyyy...!" Natsu wriggled and writhed at his Exceed partner's betrayal before he was bonked over the head by an unhappy Erza.
"Stay down," the scarlet-haired knight grouchily stared down the Fire Dragon Slayer, "If you knew how to behave in the first place, we wouldn't have felt like we would need to resort to this in the first place."
"Srrrrwryyyy..." Natsu barely mustered an apology through his gag.
"Apology not accepted, "Erza turned away from his false puppy-dog eyes, "I would be happily eating cake by now if it weren't for you. But by then there'd be no cake in first place if you were running amok anyways."
...
"Happy Birthday Wendy!" Romeo, Shinji, Aria, Lucy, Gray, and Happy chimed in unison.
"Oh, you guys..." Wendy sheepishly smiled, "I honestly thought I was going to get murdered or something..."
"Eh?" the six of them faceplanted to the ground upon hearing those words.
"What the heck made you think that would happen?" Lucy interjected.
"This," Wendy grinned as she held out an invitation card.
The words 'Come to the Guild at 3:50 or else...' was crappily scribbled with runny red ink that splattered to create specks of blood-like drops on the paper.
"Wow, this really does look an authentic death threat, "Aria was lowkey amazed by the writing on the invite.
"No kidding..." Shinji nodded as he observed the paper's contents
"Natsu...you had one job..." Lucy put a palm to her face in utter disappointment.
Gray shuddered at the splattered red ink, "Who taught that idiot how to write?"
"We can't exactly send them our regards," Romeo sweatdropped as Igneel's cheeky grin showed up in his mind.
"Who's bright idea was it to select him to write the invitation?" Carla was about to chastise the ever-loving shit out of someone.
Immediately, she looked to Lucy. The blond Celestial spirit wizard held her hands of up surrender, "It wasn't me! I know full well that his handwriting is awful."
She then turned her suspecting gaze to Romeo, who was holding small aquamarine gift bag with glittery tissue paper jutting out from inside. Upon seeing he brought a special gift for her best friend, she simply huffed and let it slide.
"Got you something," the now sixteen-year-old Fire mage presented a baglet in front of the Sky Dragon Slayer.
"You shouldn't have...Not after everything you guys already did," Wendy tried not to blush as she gently accepted the gift bag.
"This gift is the only thing I contributed actually, " Romeo ruffled the dark purple locks on the back of his scalp before he looked to their other guildmates.
"Gray-nii and Shinji split the Jewel on the catering minus the desserts."
"We got you the some of the best classic meat-on-the bone and pizza in town! Right?" Gray smiled as he looked to Shinji.
"That's right," the raven-haired swordsman grinned as he and Gray fist-pumped.
"Erza and Aria selected the cake vendor."
From afar everyone could sense Titania's eyes glinting hungrily at the two-tiered strawberry cake as she sat atop a beyond miserable Natsu.
"I feel sorry for her..." Aria sighed.
"Can't be helped," Lucy shrugged, "Natsu isn't afraid enough of anyone else."
"Lucy made the banner and the balloons."
"You set all of this up by yourself?" Wendy gawked at the Celestial Spirit Mage.
"Writing the font on the banner was no trouble," the blonde wizard clarified, "But I did get some help from the others with setting on the stage and blowing the balloons."
"Ahem...Aren't you forgetting someone, Conbolt-Boy?" Carla cleared her throat as she glared at Romeo.
"Aaaand Carla made sure we didn't slack off," the Fire Mage sweatdropped.
"Of course I did!" Carla poofed and became a cat girl in secretary attire- blazer, pencil skirt, kitty hair clips, fake glasses, pointed and black binder included, "Without my constant nagging, these buffoons would have ruined your special day!"
"As for me, I wanted to get you something special since this is the first time I'm celebrating your birthday as a teammate."
"Objection!" Carla slammed her pointer against the wooden dining table as her fake glasses gleamed insightfully, "You just wanted to hide the fact that you were the one who asked Natsu to write Wendy an invitation."
"G-Guilty as charged," Romeo held his hands up in surrender.
Wendy removed the sparkly tissue papers and lifted out an object with a gilded sheen. Dangling from her upheld fingers was a golden alloy necklace with a sunflower pendant.
"It's beautiful, Romeo-san!" Her chocolate brown eyes reflected the trinket's sheen.
She held out the necklace to him with an adorably pleading look on her face, "Will you put it on me for me?"
Romeo's cheeks turned a bright shade of pink, "Y-yeah, of course."
The bluenette handed him the unclasped necklace and turned around, sweeping her long blue locks to the side of her neck to allow him to lock the clasp in. Romeo wrapped the front part of the golden necklace with the sunflower pendant around Wendy's front neck, then brought the hook and the circular clasp around to her posterior neck before finally fastening them.
"There..." Romeo said, "Done."
Wendy then turned around and flashed Romeo a smile, "Thanks. How do I look?"
"Looks...good..." The Fire Mage looked away to the side, a tad embarrassed.
"Kyaaahhhh~ This is soo cute, I could almost die!" Aria mentally fangirled.
"They liiiike each other~" Happy teased while chewing on some pizza.
"I-it's not like that!" the two teens objected.
"I guess it's about time now for the main event, "Carla adjusted her fakes lenses while looking to Romeo who sighed in response.
Waving a tiny blue flame from his index finger, Romeo lit up all the all candles on Wendy's cake in one flick, "Who needs lighter when I'm around?"
"MghhhmmmmMMMMHHH!" Natsu loudly flailed in protest as him and Erza were suddenly right next to everyone in the gathered crowd. The scarlet-haired knight stared longingly at the strawberry cake.
"Erza, you didn't let him loose on purpose!" Gray protested.
"Oh can it, Gray!" Erza bonked Gray on the forehead, "I'm right next to him. Let a girl enjoy her cake."
The others in the vicinity simply chuckled.
Romeo, Carla, Shinji, Aria, and Carla all turned to Wendy, "It's time to make a wish!"
Wendy closed her eyes and made her wish. Once she opened them, she gently blew out all the blue-flamed candles. Everyone applauded in response.
"Good, good. Everyone dig in!" Erza loudly announced as she made sure to secure herself a slice of strawberry cake.
"Wendy's neat, let's eat!" a whole smorgasbord of guild members joined in on the dining proclivities.
"Bring on the booze!" Cana lifted a barrel of wine to start of her daily chugging session.
"MMMMMMMM~!" Titania made the most girlish squeal anyone would ever hear, "This cake is simply the best. Next time, I'll buy ten- no twenty boxes worth!"
"Sensei...You really can't help yourself when it comes to sweets," Shinji sweatdropped as he watched Erza savored her first saccharine spoon.
"Ya know, thanks to her, the Magnolia's desserts industry is always booming," Aria playfully smiled as she chimed in.
"As long as she watches over her health, I won't mind," Shinji sighed before he realized someone was missing, "Wait...Erza-sensei, where did Natsu-san go?"
Erza nearly dropped her cake from shock.
"Gahahaha! This grub is the freaking best!" Natsu hollered as he started chowing down on that classic meat-on-the bone and chicken wings.
"Dammit Natsu, make sure to leave some for the rest of the guild, "a vein popped on Gray's forehead, "I don't want my dime feeding your stomach."
"Gobrlgobrgobbbrrr..." Natsu was too stuffed to make a comprehendible response.
"I'd say it could have been worse," Lucy patted Gray on the back, "At least we didn't let him light the candles..."
"Love rival..." a rain woman with foreboding aura appeared between the two looking at Lucy with murderous intent.
Both the Ice Make user and Celestial Spirit wizard shuddered in fear.
"Ah! Juvia!" Lucy immediately retracted her hand from Gray, "I wasn't trying to-"
"Lucy Heartfilia, mark my words, first thing I see coming back from a quest should NOT be this!" Juvia's minimized ocean blue pupils pierced the blonde mage's soul.
"T-That wasn't my intention...Gray and I are just friends," Lucy waved a random, tiny white flag as she looked to Gray, "Right?"
"Y-Yeah, Juvia you're the only one for me," Gray sarcastically put an arm around the Water mage's shoulder.
Doing a complete one-eighty, Juvia's face was suddenly redder than Erza's hair, "Ah-Ah, Gray-sam-"
"Ssshhh," Gray put a finger to her lips, "I thought we agreed we agreed you'd drop the honorifics a long time ago..."
"I-I-" Juvia stuttered as steam left all the orifices on her head.
"Pffttt..." the Ice Make mage stifled a giggle at how easy it was to tease her, "Glad to see you're back. Want me to get you anything?"
"I'll..." as Juvia recollected her speech, less steam emitted from her head, "I'll have a slice of cake."
Gray grinned, "Coming right up..."
"I'll excuse myself..." Lucy shrugged feeling really out of place next to those two.
"Perhaps you'd like me to serve you something, Princess?" a familiar voice teased her from behind as he put is hands on her shoulders.
"Huh?" Lucy turned to see who it was, "Loke? What are you doing here?"
The Celestial Spirit, Leo the Lion, was dressed dapperly in his black suit, white-collared shirt, red tie, and blue-tinted glasses. In his hands were five pink sakura themed tickets, "I just wanted to stop by the give a gift to the birthday girl."
"Wow, Team Loke might just have one-upped Team Natsu on my list..." Aria's jaw dropped as she comparatively glanced between the playboy spirit and Natsu who was sloppily gorging on a bucket of chicken wings.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lucy inquired as she glowered at Aria.
"Nothing at all..."the pinkette whistled while feigning innocence, "Note to self: Don't talk about my ships out loud. It makes the characters too self-aware..."
"Eh? Loke-san?" Wendy was surprised that one of Lucy's spirits would want to give her something rather than his own contractor.
"Here ya go, I won these from a raffle I participated in while I was on a casino date at Akane Resort," Loke smiled as he handed the vouchers to Wendy.
"You what?!" Wendy was perplexed.
"Oh Loke, you get minus rating now..." Aria clicked her tongue in disappointment, "I guess Natsu is still the better option. Lucy, I feel so sorry for you..."
"Again, why are you comparing them?" Lucy interrupted Aria's shipping reverie, " And what about them has anything to do with me?"
"Nothing at all..." Aria's drifted towards Wendy who was reading the vouchers.
"Watame Onsen and Inn...Special Annual Yozakura Four Day Pass...Sakura City..."
"Sakura City?! No way!" Lucy exclaimed in excitement, "You'll be right in time to enjoy their Annual Yozakura! I'm actually quite envious right now..."
"Annual Yozakura?" Aria pondered aloud
"Its like cherry blossom viewing festival where the blooming will be observed at night alongside food stalls, fireworks, art exhibits, music, and games," Shinji explained as he and Romeo stepped into the conversation.
"Are you familiar with Sakura City, Shinji-san?" Wendy tilted her head.
"I've heard the name thrown around here and there, but never went to," the Bladesmith mage shrugged.
"I did do some reading on it a while ago," Romeo added, "Sakura City is located in Fiore's southwestern mountain range. The mountain the city is established on is called Mt. Cerasus."
"Sounds like a far way off," Shinji noted, yet internally something was gnawing at him in the back of his mind, "Southwestern Fiore, huh?"
"Something on your mind?" Aria titled her head curiously at the raven-haired mage's expression
"Nothing really," he dismissed as he cast a smile her way, "This trip sounds like it'll be a lot of fun, thanks Loke."
"Thank you so much Loke-san," Wendy smiled, "I'll be sure to bring you back a souvenir!"
"There's no need for that. You guys should enjoy yourselves," The Celestial Spirit flashed him a thumbs up with a gleaming wink, "Be sure to tell me all about it when you guys come back to the guild."
"Will do," Romeo returned a thumbs up.
With those parting words, the lion spirit vanished back into the Spirit World in a golden flicker.
Romeo, Shinji, Wendy, Carla, and Aria's eyes lit up as they looked at the five vouchers in Wendy's hands.
"We should start packing and making travel plans ASAP, " Aria's ruby eyes sparkled with the greatest excitement.
"Umm...Do we have to take a train to get their?" Wendy frowned, remembering that she suffers from the same motion-sickness in moving vehicles that her fellow Dragon Slayers suffer from.
"The railways can only take us so far," Romeo recollected," So we'll have to make a few camping pit-stops along the way."
"I suggest we avoid a few places along the way," Shinji suggested, "Especially the Datura Darkwoods north of Brugmansia."
Carla looked at Shinji. Something about his remark was odd.
"That was...oddly specific," Carla adjusted her glasses as she stared at Shinji.
"Haha..." the seventeen-year-old held his hands up in surrender, "I... also did some reading up...I heard that place was really foggy and easy to get lost in..."
"If you say so..." the white-haired Exceed turned back to Wendy and Romeo.
"Crap...that was too close for comfort," Shinji frowned as he brushed a hand through his hair.
"Pffttt..." Aria put a hand to her lips as she stifled her giggles. Seeing Carla's, Romeo's, Wendy's, and even Shinji's excited expressions only further accentuated her own.
"This is going to be so fun!" the pinkette internally squealed.
~Sakura City, Mt. Cerasus, Fiore~
"This...*Hah* is not...*Hah* fun...*H-Hah* at all!" an exhausted Aria panted as she lagged behind her teammates along a gray, stone staircase winding along the mountainside. Carla, in her Exceed form, led the way with her wings spread wide. Romeo and Shinji, carrying bigger backpacks were a few feet behind her. Wendy was about a yard in front of Aria.
Over the past five days, the team traversed west from Magnolia to arrive at Sakura City right in time for the Annual Yozakura. From walking on foot through various towns along way to following a path along the southern rivers, the mage's navigation skills were put to the test.
However, the majority of their journey had been on flatter lands. The real test of endurance came when they arrived at the foot of Mt. Cerasus. After scaling much of the mountain, they were greeted by the very stone stairs leading to their destination. Every incremental set of steps became increasingly tiresome as they gained altitude.
"We're...*hah* at the last stretch Aria-san," Wendy consoled the pinkette as she trudged up the stairs, "Almost there..."
With the last winding set of stairs, the group stumbled upon a tall, red torii with a respective carved, stone kitsune statues set by their hashira (A/N: pillars). The torii's gakuzuka (A/N: square slab in the mid-section of the nuki and kasagi) displayed a rose-gold insignia of a five petaled cherry blossom with its anthers, and filaments depicted as sable circles attached to spokes stemming from a common central circle.
Behind the torii, was a stone brick lookout garnished with greenery and cherry trees filled with buds. Beyond the city entrance lookout, a stone brick parted two expansive rows of whitish-grey plastered houses with indigo-tiled roofs and latticed windows.
" "Amazing...So this is Sakura City..." Romeo's breath was nearly taken away by the beauty of the city.
"Suddenly...I don't feel so tired anymore," Wendy mustered a small smile.
"We *pant* finally made it!" Aria nearly plopped onto the stone floor.
"Whoopsie daisy!" Shinji had fortunately caught her in the nick of time.
"Tsk tsk, it's too early to pass out Aria," Carla wagged a finger at the pinkette, "We still need to search for our accommodations."
"Ayaaaa..." Aria groaned before the five made way into the city's streets.
As the Yozakura celebrations would commence tonight, many of the residents and shopkeepers were out and about decorating the town: hanging paper lanterns, festive banners, and flags; placing statuettes of tanukis, inari, maneki-neko, and a chibi, kimono-clad woman sitting in seiza posture. The statuette of this particular character was always shown with closed eyes as she held hold a fan with the city's ubiquitous cherry blossom emblem covering her mouth.
True to the city's name, the streets were filled with cherry blossom trees.
Just like the ones at the lookout, all of these blossoms were only buds.
While the team walked through the streets, Wendy held up one of the pink vouchers Loke had gifted her, "Watame Onsen and Inn... Located in 4-7-8 Kumori District, Rangekka Ward..."
"District...Ward..." Romeo contemplated these terms out loud, "This address system is really different from what we have in Magnolia. Even down to the numbers."
"Oh, that would mean we have to find building 7-8 in the 4th block of the Kumori District," Shinji explained the numerics with ease.
Romeo found himself flabbergasted by the swordsman's confident deduction, "H-how did you-?"
"A-Ah..." Shinji paused, realizing he slipped another tidbit of his past, "I once lived somewhere with a similar address system a long time back,"
"Regardless, we should ask someone for help...or find a directory of sorts" Carla suggested.
After walking far enough down the row, the Fairy Tail mages entered a broad hexagonal plaza containing multiple shops, food stalls, and grassy park with a miniature shrine and koi pond. Per usual, there were budding cherry trees everywhere.
On one of the trees was hung a wooden posterboard containing a map of Sakura City with a red star indicating their location.
Romeo, Shinji, and Carla glossed over the map while Wendy and Aria rested on a bench.
"Hmmmm..." Carla put one of her white paws underneath her chin, "So Sakura City consists of five wards: Rangekka, Kikue, Umehana, Takeshita, and Sakuragami. Each of these wards are divided into smaller districts."
"Currently, we're in Suzuran District which is fortunately in Rangekka..." Romeo contemplated aloud as he kept trying to locate Kumori District, "If we want to go to Kumori-"
"Then I humbly you suggest take the left-most route from the plaza then make a right five blocks down," A gentleman's voice from behind interrupted the Fire Mage's train of thought.
Romeo, Shinji, and Carla turned around to see brown-haired man wearing a plain, blue nagagi tucked into a light grey hakama. His face was covered by a hyottoko mask.
The three Fairy Tail mages jolted backwards at the sight of masked man. Wendy and Aria who had watched from the comfort of the bench were equally lost for words.
"My apologies. I couldn't help myself when I saw how vigorously you all were glazing over the directory," The masked man clasped his palms together whilst bowing repeatedly to the group of young wizards, "It was clear to me that you guys were visitors from outside Sakura City. Thought I could step in and volunteer my assistance. Where specifically are you in Kumori District do you need to go?"
"Much appreciated," Shinji curtly bowed, "We are headed to a place called Watame Onsen and Inn."
"Oh, Watame? You have exquisite taste," the brown-haired man's eyes became starry from behind his mask, "How did a bunch of wizards like you manage to get yourselves a booking?"
"We received passes as gifts from a friend," Wendy chimed into the conversation with Aria by her side.
"Your friend must be well connected to be able to procure this many passes," the masked man pondered aloud.
"I'd say he is a little too well-connected," Carla scoffed as an imaginary picture of Loke winking at women in Akane Resort's casino popped up in her mind.
"Haha. At least he was gracious enough to give you the rewards of his conquest...conquests," The masked man chuckled, "Any who, let's get you settled as soon as possible. I'll take you there in a jiffy!"
"W-Wait," Aria paused the man before he turned towards the left-most path off the plaza, "You could at least tell us who you are before you take us there."
"My apologies," the masked man clasped his hands and bowed repeatedly once again," I agree that some introductions are in order. How could you possibly trust someone you have just met to show you the way?"
The brown-haired gentleman lifted his hyottoko mask to the side of his face, unveiling a handsome face with glistening ruby-red eyes. The once-masked male smiled to the Fairy Tail mages, "My name is Ranmaru. I happen to know the proprietor of Watame Inn, so I definitely know the way."
Wendy, Carla, Aria blushed briefly as they gazed upon Ranmaru's poster model-esque face. Aria in particular was entranced by his ruby eyes.
Ranmaru turned his smile to the girls before catching a brief glimpse of Aria's identical ruby eyes. Immediately, he slid his hyottoko mask back over his face.
"Eh?" the two girls were weirded out by his eccentric behavior.
"M-my apologies," Ranmaru clasped his hands and bowed for the third time, "My face brings a lot of unnecessary attention. So much that it prevents me from performing my duties..."
"Aw...bummer," Wendy quietly pouted.
"If Sorcerer Weekly had you're face on their cover, I'm sure they would sell out," Aria smirked.
"While I do not approve of your brazen remark, you do have a point there..." Carla crossed her paws over her feline chest.
"R-Ranmaru-dono, perhaps you should take us like you promised," Shinji was trying his utmost to curb his cringe and slight jealousy as he latched onto one of the masked man's shoulders.
"Y-Yeah," Romeo latched onto Ranmaru's other shoulder with a similar expression to Shinji's "T-To Watame!"
~ Hoseki Shrine, Sakuragami Ward, Sakura City, X794~
Elsewhere in Sakura City, lay the Hoseki Shrine. All the shrine buildings were bright red with black-tiled roofs. Budding cherry blossom trees were scattered everywhere in the shrine grounds.
A green-eyed girl with pink hair robed in miko attire sat underneath a particularly huge, budded cherry blossom tree to the left of the shrine's haiden (A/N oratory hall). Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail with a red rope fashioned into a bow. On her lap, atop her red hakama was an opened storybook. Two younger shrine maidens sat by her side as the pinkette began to read the book's contents:
"Long, long ago...predating the Age of Dragons, was the tumultuous Age of Gods..."
"To establish their dominion over the land, the gods fought amongst each other. Calamities ensued wherever they clashed. Earthquakes split the land into separate continents. Tsunamis and tornados laid waste to many ancient civilizations. Lightning cast fires that blacked out the skies with suffocating smoke and ash. Eternal snow cast itself over the mountains to the northeast."
"The divine never thought of the other creatures caught collaterally in their strife. This filled the sentient other species with an immense fear for the gods. One fearful batch of humans scurried up the mountain that would later be called Mt. Cerasus seeking shelter from the disasters caused by the gods' destructive collisions."
"The humans who went up the mountain were led by a singular, determined man who went by the name Iwao. He did not want himself nor the people in his charge to become additional casualties of the gods' thoughtless tumult."
"Iwao and his followers found an expansive plateau along the mountain covered in amethystine crystals and beautiful cherry blossom trees. A spot of natural beauty untouched by the ugliness of the world. Sitting atop a floating crystal in the ethereal garden, was a woman with flowing hair the same color as the flowers on the cherry trees clad in a dress made of violet crystals. Her blood-red eyes looked beyond the plateau with a sorrowful, lonely expression."
"Sensing this woman was no ordinary human the other villagers were too afraid to approach the strange lady. They turned to their fearless leader and designated him to do what they could not. Iwao, reluctantly accepting, set foot towards enigmatic woman in the jeweled sakura garden."
" 'Pardon my intrusion, Goddess,' the man bowed as he politely spoke, fearful of this conversation's outcome, 'My name is Iwao. My people seek sanctuary from the conflict between the gods. We do not wish to disturb you, but would you be willing to allow us to settle here for a while?'"
"The mysterious lady's despair-filled eyes looked into the man's jade-colored eyes, 'Stay as long as you need. Under the condition that no one cuts down my cherry trees or shatter my magic crystals, I shall grant you all my protection.' "
"Among the gods of that era, she was among the exceptions that did not want to harm other lives in the process of acquiring dominion over the land."
"After months of progress, Iwao and his people created a functional village to settle. During those months of hard work and dedication, not once were they touched by the battles between the gods. Upon establishing their new home, the villagers decided to celebrate by holding a grand feast using their first bountiful harvest. Unanimously, they agreed to extend an invitation to their benefactor. Once again, the villagers designated Iwao to send the invitation."
"Iwao returned to the crystal garden where the mysterious, gem-clad woman resided with word of feast and offered her a riceball made from the crops they grew."
"The woman hesitantly accepted his gift and took a bite. Her ever-lamenting blood-red eyes suddenly became sparkling rubies upon tasting rice for the first time."
" 'My Goddess, I take it you'd be interested in attending the feast? We have plenty more riceballs and other things you'd might like to eat, Goddess.' Iwao smiled as he tried to convince her to come, offering a hand to her."
" 'While I may be a goddess, that isn't my name...I am known by this land as Hanagami Sakuya,' the woman smiled accepting his hand, 'But you can just call me Sakuya, Iwao.' "
"The Feast of the First Harvest was spectacular. Sakuya's eyes shone with excitement as she tried the villagers' dishes. All with Iwao, lovingly by her side."
"Recognizing the benevolence of their Goddess, Iwao and his people built her a shrine to give her offerings of rice, rice-related dishes, and vegetables. In return, the Hanagami Sakuya not only protected the village but also taught the villagers how wield magic-"
"Mai, it's time to practice the dance for the Rite of Spring Flowers. Make haste to the kagura-den." A stern older woman's voice halted the pinkette's storytelling.
In front of her stood a green-eyed woman with long pink locks were fashioned into a hime cut. Her forehead was exposed with a magenta five-petaled sakura emblem emblazoned into the skin. She wore a similar priestess outfit to the other shrine maidens underneath a red haori with white sakura vectors embroidered into the fabric. A white paper crane floated next to her.
"Yes, Aunt Chigusa," Mai immediately stood up and bowed to the older woman before running off, leaving her book under the large tree. It's title was Sakura Monogatari: Goddess of the Jeweled Garden.
Chigusa nodded to the young shrine maiden as she saw her set off. She then turned her attention to the two younger shrine maidens who bowed their heads to her as well.
"You two, don't let me catch you slacking. We need personnel on the ema plaque stalls and the omikuji stations. The Yozakura will soon start. And so too will the Rite of Spring Flowers."
"Yes Ma'am!" The two young shrine maidens bowed in tandem before rushing to their assigned tasks.
Chigusa sighed as if speaking to the paper crane, "What on earth am I going to do with these children? The minute I stop looking, they go off dillydallying. Ugh..."
"You've got it bad, Lady Chigusa..." another woman's voice smooth and sultry was emitted from the paper crane, "But cognizant people can always be fixed, disciplined, or shown the right way."
"How have things on your end been faring, Baika?" Chigusa inquired.
"Nothing new," the woman on the other side responded, "Haruhiko-san is still unresponsive, despite being awake."
Chigusa's lower lip quivered momentarily, "No bad news is inherently better than any bad news at all."
~Watame Hot Springs and Inn, Kumori District, Sakura City~
As dusk crept in, the skies above Mt. Cerasus and Sakura City's plateau became a gradient of deep orange to eggplant purple and black. Cotton candy clouds gathered over the peaks of the other mountains in the range.
Watame Inn's onsens consisted of a bluestone tiled path leading to two open-aired baths with quintessential bamboo fountains. The baths were sectioned into separate gendered facilities by a high bar of dried, bound bamboo. The onsen garden consisted of twisted pines, potted bonsai, whitish-grey limestones, and, of course, the city's signature cherry blossom trees hanging over head with unbudded flowers.
Both outdoor paths sported protected views of the cloudy sea in the sky. Various mountain peaks poked through the vast cotton candy blanket.
"Finally, some relaxation! Nothing hits the spot like a hot bath," Aria stretched her arms out before her steam-covered figure took a dip into the warm, therapeutic water. Her pink locks were tied into a braided low bun.
"Especially after all that wandering and trekking, the baths here feel so heavenly~" Wendy who let her long blue locks fall down felt as if she could drift off into sleep any moment as she laid back by the bath's bluestone edge.
Carla's lower face was half-submerged into the bath water as her chocolate-colored eyes locked onto the unblossomed cherry tree branches looming over the baths.
"Carla, what's wrong?" Wendy questioned her Exceed companion.
The white-furred Exceed moved her head back to free her mouth from the soothing depths of the bath water, "Despite this city being called Sakura City, I have not once seen a cherry blossom tree in bloom yet. Isn't it weird that all the trees are still only buds on the eve of the Annual Yozakura?"
"Hmmm~ Come to think of it, that's really weird~" Wendy was too relaxed to really make conversation. Almost automatically, she laid her head back; looking into the dusky sky above, "Haaa~"
Aria and Carla sweatdropped at the Sky Dragon Slayer's indulgence.
"Goodness, that girl needs to learn to restrain herself from making such noises," Carla contemplated how she was going to scold her, "What if some pervert on the other side hears her?"
The bamboo nozzle on the fountain tipped over, clacking its attached stone bowl. The sound echoed through the onsen as water from the spout poured into the round basin.
On the other side of the bathhouse, Shinji and Romeo stood atop the bluestone tiles watching the mountaintops over the cotton candy cloud blanket coating the range. They made sure to stay far away from that bamboo barricade as if their lives depended on it. Steam emanating from the bathhouse conveniently covered all the right places.
Both males sported a rosy tinge on their cheeks as they bickered to each other.
"This is freaking weird..." Romeo quietly muttered to Shinji, "The Watame Inn's owner simply let him tag along even though he doesn't have a voucher. Free of charge...Not a single Jewel demanded..."
"Weird? This is borderline creepy," the Requip user whispered back to the Fire mage, "What the hell is he doing here?"
They both turned around and glared at the elephant in the room. Laying adjacent to the bamboo barricade under the unbloomed cherry branches was Ranmaru. His chiseled upper body leaned back against the pavement with his outstretched elbows flat on the bluestone. Per usual, he was wearing his hyottoko mask.
"What's the matter?" the brown-haired wagged a finger to the two Fairy Tail mages asked, "Do you not want to join me?"
Romeo smacked his forehead with his palm, "I don't like where this genre is heading..."
"Do you seriously wear your mask while bathing too?" Shinji's eyebrows twitched at the masked man.
"Oh! My apologies... I was wondering why my face felt so stuffy," Ranmaru put his palms together before bowing, "I've grown so accustomed to wearing it, I completely forgot I had it on!"
Romeo and Shinji nearly faceplanted to the floor.
Ranmaru then removed his mask from his head. When the mask was completely separate from his head, it faded away into thin air.
"Was that Requip magic just now?" Shinji stepped into the bath. His curiosity was piqued more than it already was.
"Oh this? Just a simple disappearing trick," Ranmaru cheekily smiled as he swept his brown bangs over his mid scalp, exposing his fair forehead.
"A simple trick from a not so simple character..." Romeo verbally scrutinized their unwelcomed third party," Who exactly are you, Ranmaru? Why did Watame Inn's owner just let you in without a voucher or a price tag?"
"Why so serious?" Ranmaru grinned to Shinji and Romeo whilst his ruby irises twinkled mischievously, "That question is so boring. When the time comes, I will inform you...mages of Fairy Tail."
Romeo and Shinji looked a tad unnerved by Ranmaru's change in demeanor. He was always quirky, but this time his quirkiness was reaching an all time low.
"To keep the plot going, I'd be more than happy to answer any queries not pertaining to my identity," Ranmaru cast the two an inviting smile.
"I don't really have any questions for the likes of you," Romeo blankly replied, crossing his hands over his elbows.
"Awwww, don't be like that. You'll make me sad," the foolish Ranmaru feigned a temporary, exaggerated frown before turning to Shinji, "How about you, my sword-wielding chap?"
"Hmmm..." Shinji briefly pondered before a lightbulb flashed over his head, "What is the purpose of Sakura City's Annual Yozakura?"
"See, now that's a good question!" Ranmaru beamed with delight, "Have you noticed how all the cherry blossom trees we've thus encountered haven't bloomed yet?"
"Come to think of it, yeah, " Romeo looked to the budding sakura branches overhead, "We haven't seen a single sakura flower on any of the cherry trees in the Suzuran and Kumori Districts."
"It's like that throughout the entire city," the brown-haired male's ruby eyes flashed insightfully, "The main attraction of the Yozakura is the Rite of Spring Flowers, performed on the first night at the Hoseki Shrine's kagura-den by our land's most beloved shrine maiden, Mai-sama!"
"How does a shrine maiden's dance cause the cherry blossoms to bloom?" Shinji looked at Ranmaru in disbelief.
"You'll have to see that for yourself when we all go to Hoseki Shrine together. I suggest we get going, "Ranmaru abruptly stood up, alarming Shinji and Romeo with his huge "confidence" before exiting the outdoor bath buck-naked.
Shinji and Romeo simultaneously sighed.
"I guess we should head out," the raven-haired teen suggested.
"I want to soak for little longer though..." Romeo whined.
"C'mon dude," Shinji got up dragged Romeo from underneath his shoulders out the water, "If we keep the girl's waiting, Carla will scold us until before we'll get to enjoy any of the festivities."
"Ugh..." The dark-purple haired teen's head fell back into Shinji's toned chest, "Carla can go stuff her hoity-toity self."
...
"Hic-chyuuu!" a towel-covered Carla sneezed from inside the woman's changing room.
"Are you alright Carla?" Wendy who had a pink towel wrapped asked out of concern.
"Must've caught a night chill after leaving the bath," Carla wiped her buttony nose with a paw.
"That...Or maybe someone was talking behind your back," a towel-clad Aria winked to the white-furred Exceed.
~Kumori District, Sakura City~
With the excitement of the Yozakura festivities underway, the streets of Sakura City were bustling with people dressed in traditional yukata and jinbei. Strings lined with lit paper lanterns were strewn from roof to roof, casting a soft glow onto the streets. In the distance, the pounding of taiko drums and teh strumming of biwas echoed in the distance.
Romeo, Shinji, and Ranmaru stood outside Watame Inn's entrance, waiting for Wendy, Carla, and Aria to finish dressing up.
Having freshened up from the baths, Shinji and Romeo switched up their attire for the night's celebrations.
Romeo wore a red tank top with two black lines forming a cross. White track pants with black streaks on the side covered his legs. His feet were snug in a pair of black geta.
Ranmaru, re-wearing his blue nagagi and grey hakama from earlier looked at the two younger mages with mild disappointment.
"Romeo-san, you look too casual for the occasion..." the brown-haired man glowered at the Fairy Tail mage.
"Traveling all the way from Magnolia [mostly] by foot requires that we pack lightly," a vein popped from Romeo's forehead.
"Besides, I think my fit looks great!" Romeo puffed out his chest through his tank top.
"Ughhh...You could try learning from your traveling companion over here," Ranmaru switched his gaze to Shinji, was admiring the festive ambience.
The Requip mage was clad in a dark purple yukata with silky, black obi was tied around his waist. The lower hem of his yukata depicted a silvery-white crescent moon peeking through grey clouds. White socks sheathed Shinji's feet as they set into a pair of black geta.
Ranmaru had on a maroon and white, striped yukata wrapped with a royal blue obi. As he was out in public, he wore his favorite hyottoko mask over his head.
Feeling Ranmaru's scanning gaze upon him, Shinji's eyes twitched, "What is it? You want to criticize my attire too?"
"Not at all," the brown-haired male shook his head, "I just wanted to learn where you acquired such authentic garbs despite never foot here before?"
"Ever heard of Balsam Village?" the raven-haired swordsman inquired.
"Ah-ha! Our city does export a lot of our manufactured goods to them," Ranmaru recalled, "Given how close it is to Magnolia, it's no wonder..."
"Sorry for the hold-up guys!" Wendy's exasperated voice snapped them out of their conversation as three pairs of white geta clacked as they hit the flat stone pavement.
The Sky Dragon Slayer exited Watame Inn wearing a sky-blue yukata adorned with yellow sunflower designs. The garment was secured to her body with a pink sash tied to her stomach. Her blue locks were fastened into a loose chignon with matching sunflower hairpins inserted.
To her left, was Carla in her human transformation. The Exceed wore a light-teal yukata baring orange goldfish designs with beautiful, white tails. Her obi was magenta. Carla's snowy white hair was let down, but she made sure to include a black cat hair clip on her front.
To her right stood was Aria. The pinkette was dressed in a pink yukata with sakura flowering from snow-colored branches embroidered onto the seams. Her garment was secured with a tea-green obi. Aria's pink locks were tied into a side curled updo with a white cherry blossom clip for embellishment.
Romeo, Shinji, and Ranmaru sported the same rosy tinge on their cheeks as they gawked at the three girls, dumbfounded.
"W-Why are you guys looking at us like that?" Aria averted her gaze from Shinji's, "Do we look so bad you couldn't find the right words?"
"N-No, not at all," Shinji shook his head, "In fact, you look...pretty."
Aria gently smiled at the raven-haired
Ranmaru bowed as he took Carla's hand, "My lady, I believe we've never met. Could you bestow me the honor of knowing your name?"
Romeo and the other Fairy Tail mage's jaws dropped knowing full well the effect Carla's human form has on unsuspecting males, "Should've seen this coming..."
Carla momentarily blushed before she dropped the truth on him, "It's me, Carla."
"I...beg your pardon?" Ranmaru felt as if an acorn dropped over his head, "Are you secretly a nekomata or something?"
"Nope," Carla's cat ears twitched as she looked to her side, "Just a cat with the magic ability to transform into a human form. Nothing more."
"I see..." Ranmaru nodded as lightly removed his hand from hers.
Wendy put a consoling hand over one of Carla's shoulder, "You did the right thing, Carla."
"He was going to find out anyways," Aria put a hand on the cat girl's other on the other shoulder.
...
As they wandered Sakura City's streets on the way to the Hoseki Shrine, the Fairy Tail mages became captivated by the festival sights. Laughter from children playing and couples giggling created an ideal romantic ambience amidst the vibrant colors. Wafts of savory takoyaki and meat skewers on the grill combated the saccharine fragrances of dango, sakura mochi, and cotton candy from various food stalls.
One particularly sweet food stall caught Wendy's attention. She briefly deviated from the group to procure the food stall item.
"One caramel apple please," the Sky Dragon Slayer held up a single finger to the stall vendor.
"Here ya go, sweetheart," the vendor replied as he exchanged two caramel-covered fruit in exchange for her Jewel.
Wendy's eyes sparkled as she held onto the sweet treats by their sticks, "Wait, what's the extra one for? I only paid enough Jewel for one."
"It's on the house sweetheart," the vendor smiled as he waved goodbye, "Consider it some Yozakura Festival amnesty!"
"I will! Thank you, sir!" Wendy waved back to the vendor before walking back to the group.
"Here! Take a bite," the bluenette playfully poked Romeo's cheek with a candied apple.
"W-What's this for?" the Fire mage was appalled as he reluctantly accepted the sweet treat.
"I got lucky. The vendor gave me a second apple," Wendy the pulled something hidden from the neckline of her yukata.
Glistening under the lantern lights was the golden sunflower pendant dangling from her freed hand by a small golden chain.
"I was hoping to repay you for the necklace you got me for my birthday."
"You're wearing it..." Romeo could not hide his smile.
"Of course," Wendy smiled at tad sheepishly as she turned her gaze away from him, "I based this whole outfit off the necklace you bought me..."
Jets of steam figuratively burst from Romeo's ears. Fortunately, the dim festival lighting protected his beet-red face from being exposed.
Aria and Carla watched their exchange intently. But the expressions on their faces could not be any more different.
"Kyaahhh~~" Aria's ruby eyes sparkled as she internally squealed, "Those two are soo cute! I wish I brought a photo-taking lacrima with me!"
Carla, in vast contrast, glared at Romeo like she planning a hit on him. An ominous aura emanated from her seemingly harmless cat-girl visage.
"Please don't try to assassinate Romeo in his sleep tonight," Shinji sweatdropped as he tried to calm the female Exceed down.
"Ahem, we still have a ways to walk," Ranmaru cleared his throat, grabbing everyone's unanimous attention, "Unless you all want to miss the Rite of Spring Flowers..."
~Hoseki Shrine, Sakuragami Ward, Sakura City~
Lines of lanterns lights were strung along countless unblossomed sakura trees and buildings over the crowd gathered a few yards front of stone stairs of the haiden. A band of biwa players, gagaku (A/N: traditional flute) players, and taiko drummers were stationed in front of the shamusho (A/N: shrine administrative office building) to the left.
Anticipating the token Rite of Springs Flowers, the gathering of folks all conversed in hushed tones that conveyed their concurrent excitement and reverence for the upheld tradition.
Thanks to Ranmaru's persistent rushing, the Fairy Tail mages and their guest were able to find a spot in the crowd with a decent view of oratory.
"Geez," The brown-haired male sighed through his hyottoko mask," If you people had gotten distracted by one more obstacle, we wouldn't have been able to procure a good spot like this before the crowd starts to pack."
"S-Sorry about that, Ranmaru-san," Romeo and Wendy apologetically sweatdropped, both with matching half-eaten caramel apples in their hands.
"Conbolt-boy," Carla hissed at Romeo as she grabbed him by his red tank top straps, "When we go back to Magnolia, I'm going to scold you big time."
"I didn't do anything weird with Wendy," Romeo frantically shook his heads to deny any monkey-business,"I-I-I swear!"
"That's enough Carla," Wendy glowered at her Exceed friend, "Stop harassing Romeo-san."
"You're also getting a scolding from me, Wendy!" she turned to the Sky Dragon Slayer with a raging blaze ignited in her eyes.
"N-No way..." Wendy sported the same doomed look as Romeo.
Shinji giggled at his teammates' antics. He then switched his gaze at the one teammate who wasn't initially in his line of sight.
Aria's cherry blossom themed yukata really suited her. Her ruby eyes glistened under the gentle lighting if the paper lanterns overhead. Seeing her so beautiful like this stirred something dormant in him. Something he wanted to keep to himself for the sake of his duty. Still, Shinji couldn't help but feel something was off with her.
Aria was mesmerized front of the bright red haiden. Over the offering box, three gilded bells engraved with the city's sakura emblem hung from the top of a crimson archway with red-and-white ropes attached to the top loops of the bells. Cognitively, she could almost make out the sound of their ringing before the people begin to pray-
"You seem lost in thought," Shinji interrupted her focus.
"I do?" the pinkette asked.
"Mhm," the raven-haired male nodded with his hands in his yukata sleeves, "Something on your mind?"
"Nothing much. Just admiring the scenery," Aria calmly replied.
"I am too..." Shinji quietly said. His words, however, were still audible enough for only Aria's ears to pick up on.
Aria flinched as she heard his words. She glanced at him with a blush plastered on her face.
Shinji's blush deepened upon seeing her face.
Before the two could say anything, the taiko drummers commenced playing at a steady pace. The entire audience ceased their speaking. A row of biwa players began to strum their instruments with a fluttery, introductory strum. One cue with the strumming strings, a lone, pink-haired shrine maiden gracefully twirled into the area in front of the haiden. Her hand tightly gripped a kagura suzu - a cluster of fifteen, brass bells stuck to a small, vermillion stave with a flowing scarlet sash attached to the stave's base.
Amidst her twirl, the shrine maiden opened her light-green eyes to the audience. Aria felt the shrine maiden's eyes briefly lock onto her red ones for a split second before completing her rotation.
The music stopped when she halted in front of the haiden. Four torches were then ignited around her, forming the boundaries of the square area whilst alighting the main attraction. When the last torch was lit, the biwa players plucked their strings once more with a different tune.
The dancing miko took a step to her side, then dipped as she shifted her weight underneath her raised unarmed right hand to one torch lying in the corner. She spun around and repeated the same set of steps to the others. With every spin, the scarlet sash trailed with her. With every stop, the bells of her suzu jingled.
The crowd was utterly captivated by the shrine maiden's flowing movements amidst the backdrop of biwa strings. But the one most entranced by this dance was none other than Aria...
"This dance...There's something about it," Aria stared intensely at the other pinkette's performance, "Although my memories are staticky and filled with white noise when I try to remember. My muscles almost recognize this choreography..."
When the fourth corner was graced, the shrine maiden twirled to the center and raised both her unarmed hand and her suzu-bearing hand in the air. An array of gagaku flutes and the low booming of taiko drums now accompanied the biwa players. In sync with the music, the flames on the torches burned with greater intensity and brightness, turning blue in the process.
Rattling the suzu whilst lowering it to her front in an arched pathway, the miko's unarmed right hand was raised solitarily before the many lights.
A magenta magic circle with a five-petaled sakura emblem appeared from her hand. From it, various amethyst shards gathered to construct a near-translucent crystal fan and hagoromo (A/N: Tennyo feathered robe) that curled around white-sleeved arms.
Last but not least, an amethystine diadem with crystalline flowers akin to cherry blossoms was conjured. The jeweled crown fastened itself to scalp.
Light shimmered and refracted into seven colors upon contacting the crystalline regalia. Three technicolored aureoles appeared around each gleaming item as if the maiden was graced by the Divine with three halos.
The majestic sight of the shrine maiden's magic drew many "wow's" and "awes" from the crowd.
"That magic..." Aria's ruby eyes reflected the iridescent glow of the main performer's magically conjured items.
On cue, the taiko drums hastened their rhythm. The biwa players plucked their strings faster. The flutists raised their notes an octave higher, signifying the climax of the kagura was near.
The miko, adorned in her amethystine regalia, opened her crystal fan and waved it in fluttering motions whilst rattling her suzu in opposite directions. Once her held items were two arm-lengths apart, she spun whilst raising her opened fan to the air. The refracted seven colors of light spun everywhere blessing everyone with its blinding beauty.
Upon halting her spin, the kagura suzu bells jingled once more, with the miko retuning to the center of the torches. Both the biwas and gagaku flutists ceased their playing. Only the low, slow beats of the taiko drums echoed to create an atmosphere of anticipation.
As if it were a living being, the crystal hagoromo snaked itself up Mai's raised right arm, passing the fan into the air to form a ring. Within the ring, a soft white light radiated from the center creating an aurora enveloping over the crowd and city.
When the magic lights caressed the cherry blossom trees in the shrine's vicinity, the buds began to bloom.
All over Sakura City, pink buds unfurled into beautiful flowers when touched by the aurora field produced from the heavenly, crystal-feathered robe. The residents who stayed at their homes, the couples who decided to spend the Yozakura enjoying their date, the food vendors, and game stall attendants all alike witnessed the blooming of their city's sacred trees with awe.
"So pretty," Wendy's brown eyes sparkled with excitement.
"No way..." Romeo's, and Shinji's jaws nearly dropped to the floor as they watched the cherry trees effloresce in the lantern-lit night.
"Yes way," Ranmaru smiled as he watched the shrine maiden, "This is the Rite of Spring Flowers, performed flawlessly by Mai of the Sakuragami Family."
"Sakuragami...Mai..." Aria quietly repeated those names as she looked intently at the miko in the center of the fiery stage.
Unfortunately, she wasn't the only lost in her thoughts upon the rite's completion.
When Carla cast her gaze on the blooming flowers, her Premonition began acting up:
A pinkish-white-haired male stood in front of a crystal altar with an unconscious Aria cradled in his arms.
Tears rolled from his eyes down his cheeks as he set Aria's body down.
He touched the crystal altar, imbuing it with his magic, and shrine cracked and shattered in response.
When Carla returned to the present, she wiped the sweat forming over her forehead. Her first reaction was to look to Aria. She saw how the pinkette looked intently at Mai Sakuragami as if the dissonance between her body and her memories led her to cusp of remembering something.
Carla could only look at her with sorrow and nothing but sorrow.
"One thing is certain; I'll have to keep a constant eye on this one...!"
Next Chapter: Ethereal Flower
Slowly but surely, everything is coming together...
As always, please feel free to give me your constructive criticisms, feedback, suggestions, etc. But please don't be too harsh with me. If you chose so, Ranmaru will have to sick his secret trick on you...
Ranmaru: *peers from corridor wearing a hyottoko mask* My apologies *clasps hands and bows fervently* I couldn't do such a thing. That would spoil some unnecessary items.
Author: *pouts* Awwww, good point ya got there.