Subject: [kffdisc] Sake and Sakura 4 Date: Mon, 12 Apr 1999 01:29:30 -0700 (PDT) From: Rurichan and Harichan Reply-To: kffdisc@onelist.com To: kffdisc@onelist.com From: Rurichan and Harichan here's Sake and Sakura 4. Misao makes an appearance. As always comments and flames welcome, and no, I did not create RK. ^_^ Sake and Sakura 4 ‘Strong, so strong,’ Sakura thought sleepily as Hiko carried her home. At the market, his voice, his manners, they all seemed to have an effect on her. Like that moment they were sharing in the kitchen a few days ago. She had learned to sense him around her and had come to expect it. ‘After all, he is your bodyguard.’ her mind said to her. She leaned her head against the strong wall of his chest and listened to his heartbeat. His cloak was partially covering her, wrapping her in warmth. Sakura turned her face so that she was facing his chest and breathed in his smell and in a few moments she was asleep, the day’s escapade temporarily forgotten. Hiko looked up from his sculpting when he sensed someone at the Nagoya gate. His guess was right when there was a knock on the door and Kotori ran to open it. “Oh! Hello Yamato-san.” Kotori said a bit stiffly. “Ohayo Nagoya-san, is Sakura-san awake?” Yamato asked. Kotori glanced at the house and bit her lip. “No she is still sleeping.” “Ahhh I see, please give her these flowers then, I’ll return later when she is awake.” Yamato said. Kotori took the flowers and watched Yamato leave the gate. She closed the door and shuddered. Hiko wiped his hands on the cloth and studied his sketches of Sakura. “More flowers for Sakura.” Kotori said as she walked past him. She sighed, “I wish I got flowers.” Hiko found it hard to concentrate on his work. Yamato had ruined his perfect morning. He glanced at the house, Sakura had not woken up since yesterday’s incident. Yamato had come to the door three times since this last visit. Each time he would bring flowers or poetry. “I need to go get more clay.” Hiko said rising from his seat. “Do you need anything?” Kotori shook her head, “I’ll watch over Sakura.” On his way out he caught sight of Misao sitting in a tree across from the Nagoya house. She was well hidden in the branches, a normal person would have not seen her but Hiko knew better. “He came again.” Misao said her eyes never leaving the Nagoya house. “Yes, he’s Sakura’s intended.” Hiko said as he stared down the street towards the market. “Persistent isn’t he?” Misao asked. “Too persistent.” Hiko said and walked away from the tree. “What does she say about him?” Misao asked making Hiko stop. “I never asked.” Hiko said and went to the market. Two hours later, Hiko was leaving the market. He cradled a ten pound bag of powder in his right arm and a few supplies in his left arm. Something made him look at the stalls and he caught and old woman sitting on the ground with a few items laid out on a blanket. “Hello there young man.” the old woman said. Hiko bowed to the old woman and turned to leave. “Are you a potter?” she asked. Hiko turned back and nodded, “Yes.” “You don’t look like a potter.” she said. Hiko smiled, “I try to be a good potter to make up for the lack of appearance.” he looked down at the blaket and saw beautiful combs made of wood. “Did you make these?” She nodded, “Yes, these hands are more steady than they seem. My husband and son carve the combs and I decorate them. Look, here’s a lovely comb with inlaid wood.” she picked up a comb. Hiko looked at the comb and nodded, “Its great work.” The old woman smiled, “Coming from you that is a compliment.” Hiko returned the comb to the blanket. His eyes caught another wooden comb. It had carved flowers. “Ahh, that is one of my older works, it was when I could handle my tools better.” the old woman said. “Its beautiful.” Hiko said. “Its great as a present.” the old woman said. Hiko put the comb down, “I have no one to give it to.” “By the looks of it, you do. You haven’t let go of the comb.” Hiko realized that he was still fingering the comb. “How much for it?” he asked after a moment. The old woman smiled and named her price. Sakura opened her eyes she blinked away the sleep. What happened? She wondered. Then she remembered yesterday’s escapade and closed her eyes. She was almost kidnapped. Until Hiko saved her and carried her home. She must have fallen asleep on the way home. She rose from her bed and said, “Kotori?” Footsteps grew louder as Kotori ran towards the room, the doors opened immdiately and Kotori popped her head in, “Oh! Sakura! You’re awake.” Sakura smiled, “Where’s Hiko?” suddently she wanted to take back those words. How could she ask that first!? “In the courtyard working on his sculpture.” Kotori said. “I made some soup, when you’re ready come and have some.” A few moments later Sakura entered the dinning room and sat down at the table. The doors were open and Sakura could see the courtyard. Hiko was mixing clay in a urn. He looked dusty. “Here you go.” Kotori said as she put a tray infront of Sakura startling her. Sakura smiled at Kotori, “Thank you.” she looked at the tray and saw a bowl of soup, rice and pickles. The rice bowl was one of Hiko’s bowls. She reached for her chopsticks and her hand grazed the flowers on the table. Three bouquets of flowers sat on the table. “Kotori what’s this? Admierers?” Sakura asked. “I wish.” Kotori said from the kitchen. “They’re for you.” “For me?” Sakura said staring at the flowers in awe. Who sent her flowers? It had been years since she recieved any flowers. Too many years. She glanced out at the courtyard where Hiko was making a model. “Yes, Yamato-san sent them.” Kotori said as she sat down with a bowl of soup. “Oh,” Sakura said. She pointed to the scrolls of poetry and books, “Those are from Yamato too?” her eyes caught a simple wooden comb. She put her chopsticks down and picked it up. How beautiful! “Oh? The comb?” Kotori said as she finished the last of her soup. She rose and as she left the room said, “Oh no, Yamato didn’t bring that.” “Thank you.” Sakura said interrupting Hiko’s thoughts. Hiko turned and smiled at Sakura, “I saw it and thought of you.” he said. “How along are you on the sculpture?” she asked. “I have most of it done, I just need to work the details in now.” Hiko said, “That part I left last.” Sakura sat down, “If you want I can pose for you again.” Hiko almost said no, that was what the sketches were for. “If its not too much trouble.” he said. “It’s not.” Sakura said. Hiko smiled, “Alright, tomorrow then, I should be ready for you.” Sakura smiled, “Tomorrow.” she left the courtyard smiling. She heard a knock as she passed by the gate. “No Sakura, I’ll get it.” Kotori said as she ran to the door. “Hello,” a man said, “I am looking for Kakunoshin Nittsu.” “I am him.” Hiko said as he approached the door. “I have a pottery request for you.” the man said. He handed Hiko a message. Hiko opened the note and then looked at him, “Is this right away?” The man nodded, “Yes, you’re the only person that can do this job.” “Tell him I’ll be there in an hour.” Hiko said. The man nodded and left. “You’ll miss dinner.” Sakura said. Hiko smiled sympatheticly, “I’m sorry, but the man said it was urgent.” “Its alright, Sakura and I can handle things.” Kotori said. Hiko turned to Sakura and said, “I’ll come back in time for some tea after dinner.” Sakura smiled at him making his heart almost leap out of him. “Go.” she said. Hiko entered the Aoiya and sat down in a booth. Misao appeared and sat down across from him. “Okina’s coming.” she placed three cups and a bottle of sake on the table. Two cups of sake later Okina appeared and sat down next to Misao. “I looked into the Sake business, but from what I could see, it runs well.” Okina said. “Too well.” Misao nodded, “Aoshi looked into the Sake business and noticed how well it has suddently been doing.” she grew serious, “Okina and I have been noticing that there have been less attacks on the house. It feels like the calm before the storm.” “Something is going to happen.” Hiko said. “I wonder what is going to happen though.” “Well after questioning a few of the attackers there were a few leads but most of them were hired through some mystery man. They don’t know why they attack Sakura and Kotori. Most of them don’t try to kill. They developed a sort of deal, make a lot of noise and damage then leave. They seem loyal to the Nagoya family, considering they’ve been at it for over a year.” Misao said. “I also looked into Yamato-san’s history and noticed that he was hired abruptly.” Okina said. “Abruptly?” Hiko asked. “Yes, he has no formal education in accounting.” Okina said. “He’s creepy too.” Misao said shivering. “You’re not the only one that thinks that way.” Hiko said pouring himself more sake. “I think the reason behind the attacks is to kill Sakura and Kotori so that the Sake business belongs to her father’s partner or because they are trying to hide something.” Okina said. “When we do find out what the reason is we’ll let you know. For now Aoshi will keep watch over the business and the rest of the Oniwabanshuu will keep watch over the Nagoya house.” Hiko bowed, “I don’t know how to thank you.” “As I’ve said before, I am only returning the favor.” Okina said. “And if you can,” Misao said, “Can Sakura try to get us a deal on Sake?” “Misao!” Okina exclaimed. “But Jiya, you said that Sakura’s Sake was the best.” Misao protested. Hiko chuckled. One of the Aoiya waitresses came with food, “Dinner Okina-sama?” Okina smiled, “Just in time.” he turned to Hiko, “Will you stay for dinner?” Hiko shook his head, “I need to go back as soon as possible. I told Sakura I’d be there for tea.” he finished the last of his sake. When he put the cup down he caught Misao and Okina grinning wildly at each other. “What?” Hiko asked. They both turned to him in surprise. “Oh! Nothing!” they both said waving their hands infront of them. Hiko gave them a look and rose. “Oh! Hiko-san!” Kotori exclaimed when Hiko returned. “Is something wrong?” Hiko asked as he entered the house. He headed towards the dinning room. “Well...” Kotori said as she trailed him to the door. “Sakura-san.” Hiko stopped walking. Yamato. He stopped before the doors and could see through the crack. Yamato was sitting close to Sakura. Hiko tried to supress another wave of possesiveness. “Yes Yamato-san?” Sakura asked. “Will you marry me?” he asked. ---------------- This is getting longer than I expected it to be. oh well I just feel that there are parts that can't be left unexplained. I realized midway through part 3 that I grabbed the names for Sakura and Kotori from Clamp, another group of talented people. ^_^ for Sake and Sakura 1-3 or are just bored ^_^ go to: http://members.xoom.com/Haruchan/rkff/rkffmain.htm Rurichan