How The Sakura Blooms

Chapter 7 - Both Sides Of The Coin

***Here's another chapter for you :) hope this makes up for my little break***

-- Kaika's P.O.V. --

I hear a husky voice and open my eyes to a gentle smile. "Ju-shiro..." I whisper lowly. What is he doing here? I didn't think anyone else knew about this spot, especially someone who had just come here.

He reaches out a hand towards me as rain begins to pour down. I was so upset when I left the house I hadn't even noticed it was cloudy out. My voice was a bit hoarse from crying but still I manage to speak: "I don't... want to go back there right now." I say lowering my eyes.

He tips his head gesturing for me to take his hand but I shake my head slowly, refusing to get up.

"How did you... know I was here?" I say without looking up.

Jushiro: "I looked for you for awhile, when I couldnt find you, I looked for someone to ask. I ran into this older man who said you might be here."

Why would he go through all that trouble? And more importantly... Who would know I was here other than Emiko? Neither me nor Emiko have any relatives or friends around here that we talk to and would know something like this but as I wonder about this, confused, my thoughts are interrupted by a sudden loud crack of thunder as it sounds, booming through the sky and causing me to jump and shut my eyes tightly. I've always been afraid of thunder.. I curl up in the fetal position trying to warm and comfort myself as I realize my clothes are soaked all the way through. Involuntarily, I begin to shake both out of fear and from the cold.

I open my eyes as I get the feeling that I'm being lifted and sure enough Jushiro lifts me up and pulls me close to his chest. My cheeks instantly start burning up and as I try to resist but I realize I feel a lot weaker than usual. As we approach the house, I finally get my blushing under control but I realize that I'm burning up and shivering. I must've caught a cold. My eyelids become heavy and though I fight to keep them open my eyes close and I lose consciousness.

-- The Next Day --

When I regain consciousness it's the next day. I open my eyes and I'm laying on my back in my bed, staring up at the ceiling at a ray of sunshine that peeks through my curtains. As I become more awake and aware I realize there's a wet rag on my forehead. Jushiro probably put it there to bring down my fever. Just as I think this I hear an unfamiliar voice.

???: "Just relax and say aahhh."

I turn my head slightly to the right towards the source of the voice and see a tall, expressionless guy with black hair and grey eyes.

"Y-you're Morinozuka Takashi r-right?" I say in an almost unaudiable voice.

He nods: "You can just call me Mori." He holds out the thermometer for me to take in my mouth. With all the deliveries I've had lately this new presence doesn't surprise me much. Still feeling weak, I blush and shyly take the thermometer.

"How did you get activated?" I ask him curiously.

"Jushiro." He answers short and to the point, and then hands me a note. It looks just like the one that had come with Rin and I read it to myself.

'Thank you for participating in our beta test. This is the last of the A.H.F.Cs that we will be sending to you. We'll be in touch when the time calls for it. Sincerely, President Sadao Tajima' This note was just like the first one and at the bottom had the same official stamp that read 'B.W.A.'

Well at least they won't be sending me anymore. I fold the note and lay it down on my nightstand. The thermometer beeps and Mori takes it out of my mouth looking at what the temperature reads.

-- Third Person P.O.V. --

Mori: "Your temperature has gone down but you still have a slight fever so try to stay in bed and not move so much." He gets up and begins to leave, stopping in the doorway: "I'll make dinner so don't worry about that."

Kaika nods and blinks a few times, a bit surprised: "T-Thank you."

Just as Mori leaves Sebastian bursts in through the door looking as though he'd been pushed, and Kaika catches a glimpse of red hair as the door is slammed shut. Sebastian looks extremly irritated as he reaches for the door and tries to open it to no avail.

Rin yells from the other side of the door: "There's no use in trying to get out, I'm not letting you out until you apologize to Kaika and deal with that attitude problem of yours."

Sebastian sighs as he clenches his fists in annoyance: "You're wasting your time."

Rin sits on the floor across from the door which is forced shut by a chair underneath the doorknob: "I've got all day, and besides, it's your fault she's sick. Like it or not, she's the one we were sent to, and the one we're suppose to learn from."

Kaika furrows her brow, not understanding any of this. What does all of this mean? Why were these things sent to me? What are they suppose to learn.. from ME? Of all people... The more and more she thinks about it, the more and more it doesn't make sense.

Sebastian, not giving into Rin, grabs a book from a bookshelf in the room and sits on a chair in the corner: "No point in standing around." He mumbles.

Snapping out of her thoughts and remembering their last encounter, Kaika turns on her side, facing her back to Sebastian. Not having anything to do, and not wanting to acknowledge the guy sitting just a few feet away from her, Kaika decides to go back to sleep.

Emiko and Kaika were in the living room laughing and playing with each other when Emiko's aunt called Kaika over by herself, a look of grief and sorrow on her face. Kaika didn't understand why she couldn't talk to her in front of Emiko, they didn't have any secrets.

Emiko's aunt tried her best to stay calm and strong: "Kaika... I'm so sorry but... your... your parents.... they've passed away..." The woman bent down with tears in her eyes and hugged Kaika tightly. Kaika was still young, she didn't know what to think, she didn't know what to do. Mommy... Daddy.... They aren't... coming home? She stood there frozen in shock as the news hit her and tears quickly streamed down her little chubby face.

Kaika's eyes shot open and she gasped loudly as she woke up from her nightmare. She was trembling and tears formed in her eyes.

???: "What's wrong with y-"

Sebastian was still locked in the room with Kaika. He sat on the windowsill just like he had in the study and had started speaking in his usual cold tone when he noticed how upset Kaika was. In an instant his personality was completely different, he spoke in a warmer tone and looked at her concerned.

Sebastian: "Hey... are you okay?"

***What do you think of Sebastian's softer side? By the way the picture is of Morinozuka (aka Mori) Takashi, well, until next time, tata for now! :)***