The Samurai and Girl with Aqua eyes

8: Preparing for the festival

Previously:
"You may look like Kuro, but you're nothing like him." "Hmm . . . Iroh-san, what does Kuro have against me, I mean I'm just an outsider, and what makes him so rich?" "Well it pains me to say that Kuro and his family were the first ones to strike gas, ever since then we've had people buy cars," Iroh said. "Then what does he have against me?" "Ever since he became rich, boys feared him, girls wanted him, but he only wants to get close to Lord Takeshi and he's only had his eyes on—" "Aqua," I said. "He hopes to get on Lord Takeshi's good side for an arranged marriage with her." "She wourd never agree to that." "But I, I don't rove her, I've onry known Aqua-san for a week." "Really, well then tell me, Kiku, what do you feel inside when you're around her?"

🗾the next day🗾

Aqua's POV:

Knock knock. "Kiku I'm ready to train."
The door opened a bit. "Not today, I need to think about something, and I think better in here," he said. "Oh, ok, hey you know the village is having a spring festival in three weeks, think you can stay here till then?" "I'rr have to think and tark it over with Arfred," he said. "Well I hope to see you there, goodbye." I went outside. "So you're not training today," Ella said. "No, guess we'll just see if everything's ready for the festival." "Then let's go," she said.

🗾kimonos🗾

"Ok here's yours for your dance with the girls," Ella said.

"Let's put some flowers in your hair." "And what about for after," I said. "Right."

"And here's mine," she said.

"Ella, you realize we forgot umbrellas." "Well then let's see if there's any left." There was.

🗾Ella checked on the lights, and I saw the girls practice 🗾

"You're all gonna do great," I said. They were soo happy, then one asked, "where's that guy you're always with?" "Yeah that man that looks like Kuro." They all looked at me, some even giggling. "He wasn't well today, now let's try the routine with me, and then you all can play," I said.

🗾at Irohs house🗾

Japan's POV:

"So that's how you feel around her, I'm impressed, no one really comes to me the next day with answers." ""Werr that's how I ferr, now what shourd I do?" I took a sip of his tea. "Kiku, you say you have personal space issues right." I nodded. "Well those two times I saw you with Aqua, you seemed to let your personal space open." There's also when I teach her karate, but you don't need to know that. "I say spend more time with her, and slowly let that personal space open up," Iroh said. I took a long sip of tea. "I wirr try . . . But I have very personar things that I wourd not like her to see." Old Iroh knew what I meant. "You've fought on the battlefield and returned alive, you see what it does to people, that is why you can be a bit lonesome, but it never hurts to let someone in, Kiku."

🗾after some tea🗾

"Kiku dude, me, Ella, and Aqua were headed down to the beach, wanna come?" I could hear Iroh-sans words echoing in my head. ". . . Ret me get changed first." "Don't worry dude, I'll wait for you down here," Alfred said.

🗾at the beach🗾

They were the only two down here, both in a fifty's swimsuit, Ella's was blue and white, while Aqua's was light blue with a cherry blossom pattern on it. "What took you so long boys?" Ella ask. "My western friend, and a coorer," I said. "Don't worry, it's got fruits, soda, and ice in there," he said. Alfred then dropped his stuff, took off his shirt, and ran into the water. "Cooooolllllddddddd!" "I'll go after him," Ella said.

Aqua's POV:

Kiku brought out some fruits. "Those are basically the fruits you had at home," I said. "Hai." We just walked along the shore talking. "I thought you were pranning for the spring festivar." "I did, well, I was just checking on things and everything is ready, even my kimono, I hope you'll be there," I said. I sounded too pushy. "We'rr be there," Kiku stuck out his pinky, "promise."

🗾after a little water fight, and some fruits and soda🗾

"Kiku help me with—"
"I'll help, Alfred," Ella said, "and put my towel up there will ya." It was me and Kiku at the beach, at sunset. "We shourd be heading back." "Just a few more minutes, I love coming down here to watch the sun turn the sky pink." I had my towel around my hip so I still felt a bit cold. "Arrow me." Kiku shared his towel with me while we watched the sunset. "It's beautifur, I wish you courd see Mount Fuji when the sunsets it's just as beautifur as this." "I hope one day I can." We both looked at each other, his eyes have this strange look, my heart is beating like crazy. "We should get—"
"No wait." His hand went to my cheek, it feels hot.

Japan's POV:

The wind blew her hair to the water, now was my chance. "Kiku what are you doing?" ". . . What feers right." I leaned in and kissed her, I'm letting her in. Aqua flew in with the kiss, her lips tasted like the sea.

3rd person POV:

"Alright the cooler is up! . . . Ella, what are you looking at?" Alfred ask. Ella whispers it in Alfreds ear, but before he can get all excited, she covers his mouth. "Look at the waves and tell me what you see, Alfred," Ella says. "Mmm, calm and quiet," he says. "Exactly," Ella said, "Aqua was able to calm down the waves because of what Kiku did."