Chapter 9

Between Dreams and Apologies

Sakura wakes up before Takara. Takara is in a deep sleep. Sakura doesn't bother her yet. Sakura sits up and stretches.

"I think I'm gonna go out and get some breakfast for us," Sakura thinks to herself.

Sakura quietly gets up and walks to Takara's front door. She leaves and quietly shuts the door.

"I won't be gone for long," Sakura says to herself and then walks away from the apartment.

Takara is in a deep sleep. Takara did have a very long emotional day, meeting so many people, making new friends, possibly seeing Eito, Leiji, or Leitangi. Plus, bringing up something very traumatic takes a toll on someone.

Takara's brain leaves the deep sleep due to the nightmare she is having.

"No, no, no...," Takara says in her sleep.

Takara wakes up and gasps loudly. Takara feels her heart racing like crazy. Takara looks down and sees that Sakura isn't there.

"Sakura? Sakura! Where did you go?!" Takara calls out.

Takara jumps up and frantically runs around her apartment looking for Sakura.

"Sakara?!" Takara yells out.

Takara runs to Naruto's apartment and starts banging on the door frantically. "Naruto! Open up! I'm freaking out here!" Naruto doesn't open his door after 30 seconds of waiting. "I guess he's still sleeping, or is out."

Takara goes back to her apartment. She sits down on her pillow and looks at her songbook.

"Let's try to write a song to calm down. That's what I always did back then," Takara thinks to herself.

Takara opens her book and looks at a blank page. Takara grabs a pen that came with the leasing papers. She holds the pen and stares at the blank page. Then, Takara's brain hatches an idea. Takara starts writing: "Dark nights are truly dark, dark and silent, not even a bark from a dog could be heard, it's too silent I will go crazy."

Takara groans. "Man that is so stupid!"

Takara puts a singular line through the lyrics. The lyrics can still be read easily. Takara tries again: "Dark nights, being choked by my master."

"Whoa, that's too kinky. That's not even what I was going for...," Takara says in her head.

There's a knock at the front door. Takara throws her songbook down with it still being open. She looks through the peephole and sees Sakura holding a paper bag. Takara quickly opens her door.

"Hey Takara, good morning!" Sakura says. Takara grabs Sakura and pulls her inside quickly.

"Where were you? I woke up from a terrifying nightmare and you were gone!" Takara yells.

"I'm sorry!" Sakura says. "I went out and got us breakfast."

"Huh?" Takara asks. Sakura holds up the paper bag. "Oh, Sakura! I- But... Why?"

"Because why not?" Sakura says with a smile.

Takara smiles. "Thank you Sakura. This is very nice of you to do. I'm sorry that I yelled at you. I had a nightmare and I was just terrified."

"It's all good," Sakura says.

Sakura puts down the bag of food on the floor. She then takes Takara's throw blankets and straightens them out. Sakura grabs the bag of food and puts it in the middle of the blankets. She then sits down and unloads the bag. Takara's eyes light up at the sight of the delicious food.

"Sit down Takara! Dig in!" Sakura says with a smile.

Takara sits down across from Sakura. Takara immediately starts eating while still thinking about her nightmare. Her nightmare was just the night of her escape. The boiling hot water, the icy water, and seeing Yaketsuku on fire. A day Takara will never forget.

Sakura looks down and sees Takara's songbook open. Sakura looks up at Takara to see her eyes closed while she devours her french toast. Sakura slowly looks over and tries to read the lyrics that Takara wrote just moments ago.

"Man Sakura! This tastes so good! Thank you!" Takara says. She then opens her eyes. Takara's smile goes away. "S- Sakura?"

Sakura's eyes get big. "Oh!"

Takara feels her face turn red. "... W- what all have you read?"

"Just two lines. Dark nights are truly dark, dark and silent," Sakura says with wide eyes.

Takara looks down. "Oh... Okay."

Takara continues to eat while Sakura sits there in shame. The silence is so awkward.

"... But from what I read, I really liked it," Sakura says to break the awkward silence.

"Uh hu," Takara mumbles.

"It's true!" Sakura says.

Takara ignores Sakura.

Sakura sighs. "Takara, I'm sorry. I really am. I know I shouldn't have looked. I was just so curious, I just had to see your talent!"

"My... talent?" Takara asks.

"Yeah. Writing songs usually takes talent. Just from the little I read, I can tell that you have talent," Sakura says.

"Thanks, but I think my lyrics are not good," Takara says.

"May I see a song that you're proud of?" Sakura asks.

"Um..." Takara says then sighs. "Page 9."

"Really?" Sakura asks.

Takara barely nods with her face being very red. "Read it before I change my mind!"

Sakura turns to the 9th page of Takara's songbook. Sakura begins to read the page. "After this war, I beg that you come home to me. While I wait, I'll hum our song. I'll be waiting for you my love. " Sakura stops reading.

Takara looks down.

"Takara, this little section I just read... It's beautiful!" Sakura says. "Was anyone in mind when you wrote this?"

"No," Takara says. "I would love to find true love someday, but I don't think anyone would love me."

"Why don't you think anyone would not love you?" Sakura asks.

Takara sighs. "Because growing up, I was always told that I was ugly, and that no man or woman would ever truly love me. And I hate my body. My scars, my bruises, all that fun stuff."

"That's not true Takara. I know you'll meet someone who will love you for who you are and who won't mind your imperfections," Sakura says.

Takara shrugs her shoulders. "I guess so."

"I know so!" Sakura says.

Takara smiles at Sakura. "I'm glad we're friends, Sakura."

"Me too," Sakura says. "Hey, let's finish up breakfast and go shopping."

Takara chuckles nervously. "Alright."