The Song of the Sakura Tree - 11

It was early, and the sun shone to wake me up from my deep slumber. I just felt so good after last night! Oh, what could this day bring? Suddenly, my phone vibrated, and I took it from the table near my bed. I looked up at the screen, and smiled. I flipped my phone open, and casually greeted, "Oh, hey, Yuzora! What's up?"

The other line cackled and Yuzora answered, "Oh, hi, yeah. Well, I just want to invite you to my party, you know? Just a little celebration of our... years of friendship! Hinatahi and a bunch of other guys would be here."

A line of worry spread across my forehead. I frowned, and replied, "Well, that's cool." I took a layer of hair and twirled it around my fingers. "The problem is I have a date... with Raiden."

It's true, people. He asked me after he called. Again. He told me that I'll meet him in the Sakura Park because we'll be going somewhere.

"W-what?" Yuzora said, shocked.

"You heard me," I breathed.

I heard her gasp for air before taking in what I've just said, and asked, "Where exactly?"

I checked my fingernails. Cut perfectly. Good. I smiled. "At the Sakura park, and to tell you what, we're going somewhere after that."

Yuzora, on the other end, was rolling her eyes and mouthing, SHE'S GOTTA DATE.... WITH RAIDEN! to Soichiro, Hinatahi, and Kiro. Then she went back to me, and teased, "SO, you and Raiden, huh? Cute couple, if I may say so."

I heard sheer sarcasm from her tone, and I defended, "Why? Is there something wrong? Do you not like him?"

"Oh, well," Yuzora sighed. "You just went out and never told us. About Raiden, I mean. Who's this guy, anyway?"

I groaned. I have not told them yet... geez. How can friends just not understand this overflowing pour of emotions inside of me? Well...

"Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention about him to you guys. Well, I met him... accidentally on the public library, the one just down the block. Well, we bumped on each other, and the rest is... history."

Yuzora's eyebrows furrowed in suspicion, and she told me, "So, literally and technically speaking, you've only met him in a couple of days? Is he a new guy around here? 'Cause I actually haven't crossed his path yet."

I shifted nervously from my bed to sit up straight, and grabbed a pillow. I rocked on my bed before answering, "Well, yeah."

"And you're telling me you're ALREADY 'in love' with this suave guy?" Yuzora mused. "C'mon, Arika, I know you're smarter than that."

I threw my pillow away in disgust as if I were throwing an enemy away from my path. "What are you trying to say?" I said, gritting my teeth. My jaws clenched in angst. I do not like what Yuzora is trying to say: Stop, you don't even 'really' know him.

And it was the very same words she said. Well, mostly.

"Arika, please," she pleaded. "Stop this deranges, you don't even 'really' know this guy."

That's it. I've had enough of this bicker. "You know what? You're just J-E-A-L-O-U-S, jealous. Is it just because you don't even have a boyfriend yet? Is that the reason? Well, if that's what, then there's somebody who fancies you."

Yuzora's face turned bright red from anger. "I MOST DEFINITELY AM NOT, ARIKA! AND THAT'S NOT WHY! I DON'T CARE! I REALLY-"

"YAMAZAKI SOICHIRO LIKES YOU, YUZORA!" I cut off. "He likes you, don't YOU know that?"

Yuzora looked down to hide her face from Soichiro. Soichiro was just beside her, and was already looking worried. Yuzora looked up again when she had recuperated. That blow was too hard for heart.

She spoke, not unusually calm and neutral, "You know what, Arika? There's something wrong. WITH YOU. Whatever happened to you? Have you lost your mind?"

I shook my head, and shouted, "There is NOTHING WRONG with me, idiot! I am perfectly normal! I have not lost my mind!"

Yuzora was already crying over Soichiro, and she hissed, "Forget about our FRIENDSHIP, Arika. I don't know you anymore. Who ARE you? You're not the Arika I've known since I was thirteen... ALL RIGHT, if you don't want any of my help, these are the last words I'll ever say to you: BE. CAREFUL. OF. WHO. YOU. TRUST. And don't bother calling me again if you ever cry. That's all, bye."

Before the phone went off, I heard her crying and saying, "I wish she'll understand me, but she didn't...."

Then the phone beeped off.

I stared at my phone lying in front of me at my bed. For hours, I just looked and looked and looked at it.

Oh my, WHAT HAD I DONE?

What had I done? I've crushed my friendship with Yuzora. This is SO not what I wanted. I gazed at my clock and saw it was nine o' clock in the morning.

"Our date is at nine thirty..." I muttered.

Then I realized what I had just said. I quickly threw the sheets away from me, and went to the bathroom to take a shower. When I was done, I quickly put my denim skirt on, and wore my red sleeveless shirt. I put my boots and threw my coal black cashmere cardigan on. I combed my hair neatly, and did my makeup in a dash. I grabbed my leather tote bag and threw one last glance in the mirror before going out the door.

I looked good enough, and learning that, I went. I hurried my way to the park and found myself just on time. "Nine twenty five," I breathed. I turned left and went to the direction of the Sakura tree. The cherry blossoms did not look happy at all. Its branches were curved down, waiting to prick somebody. Its flowers were in color, but they were pale, as if its life was slowly draining out of it. It looked bedraggled, fearful, and angry.

I didn't like the look at all. But I never minded it anyway. I put my attention away from it, because under that tree was my prince. He was smiling at me as I neared. I grinned back, waving. He looked like a runaway model in his ripped jeans and black muscle shirt. He also has his motorcycle jacket and boots on. His brown hair was artistically waxed.

"Nice outfit," I teased. He took and kissed me back in exchange. We both laughed after that. He released me and chuckled, "You, too." I heaved up a sigh, and asked, "So, where are we going anyway?"

He giggled, and went towards me. He grabbed me close, enough to whisper in my ear. He held me close, and spoke softly in my ear. He said, "Somewhere where your dreams will come true." I laugh nervously, but told him back, "Well, where would that be?" He didn't answer me.

He laughed, and suddenly, two things happened at the same time. One, I was knocked on the head by somebody on my back. Two, when I plummeted, I saw a blonde girl beside Raiden.

When Yuzora stopped wailing on Soichiro, she sobbed, "She doesn't trust us for now..." The painful realization made everybody quiet. I was expecting this might happen, thought Soichiro. I knew that Arika would do this.

"This is the WORST," Hinatahi sighed. "She must've had been clouded by the fantasy of escaping the hurt she experienced with Hiro by turning to Raiden-san."

"Reasonable enough," said Kiro. "Who knows what she would do?"

"This is way too foreboding," Yuzora grumbled. "I have a bad feeling that Akiko and her 'cats' might do something."

"I sensed that too," Soichiro said grimly. "We better go there."

"NOW," Hinatahi pointed.

Everybody agreed. But Yuzora objected, "But first, we need a plan." Soichiro grinned at her, and alleged, "I've thought of something already... if... you're all ready to risk something." The threesome inched nearer to Soichiro as he described his plan.

When he was done briefing them, Hinatahi slacked and sank deeper into the soft chair. She wasn't smiling. "This," she declared, "plan isn't going to be easy."

Kiro gazed at Hinatahi sitting on the floor with her arms crossed over her chest. Then he sighed, and said, "Well, in this life, nothing is really ever easy."

Soichiro and Yuzora looked up at Kiro, and agreed. Hinatahi uncrossed her arms and stood up. She glanced at them all, and raised her chin up, then affirmed, "Well, if nothing is ever easy, then let's get going." Unbidden tears pattered down her cheeks. She swallowed her fear, and said, "Arika's life is in grave danger, so we better get going." Then she began going to her late father's arsenal to get some things.

The rest of the team stood up and followed her.