(no subject)

[festal]

"I-I'm sorry I'm not here...!"

Comments

October 15th

[subtract]

[After almost two weeks of living in Sakura's guest room, Add is told he can finally return to his own temple. His feelings (now that he has them again) are mixed, but... he doesn't want to keep being a burden on her. Rather than say anything, he simply tidies up and leaves.

It's later in the day that she'll find something sitting on the floor of her room: a small box of adorable chocolate-filled marshmallows, with a few delicate white flowers laid out next to them. The petals will fall off if she breathes on them too hard.

There's also a short note on a piece of card, written in Add's extremely small and compact printing.]

Thanks for letting me stay.
- Add

1/2

[festal]

( It doesn't take her long to notice something is different. Even when Add had kept to himself, she was always aware of his presence at her temple. When she goes to check, she finds his room is all tidied up with everything put away and looking as if no one had been there at all. And she really isn't surprised. She'd been sensing it for a while now. Add was clearly recovering and returning to his old self so it would only be a matter of time before he moved on.

It's both a sad and happy moment. She'd really gotten used to him being around but if he was well enough to decide it was time to leave... then that's nothing to be so upset over. It's too bad that she couldn't say good bye but she finds comfort in knowing she'll see him again.

When she finds her gift later in the day, she's surprised. She tries to pick up a flower at first but when the first petal falls, she understands it's nature right away and leaves them alone for the time being. Focusing on the box, she smiles to herself whens he sees what's inside. She'll have to share them with her shinki later.

Likewise for Add, much later in the evening, he'll receive a message from her, )

Thank you for your gift. I wish we could have said good bye. Please, take care and if you ever need anything, let me know.

2/2

[festal]

( And a few minutes later, a second message follows up, )

Do you know how to send a picture with this? I've received them before but I've never sent one myself.

[subtract]

[He was just going to leave her message at that, but then she has to go and send him another one... ugh, if she's asking him a question he can't just not answer it!

Several minutes later he texts her back with some fairly detailed instructions on where to find the camera function, as well as a few basic features like where the settings are what each of them roughly does. She doesn't seem to be very tech-savvy, so he's trying to keep things as basic as possible here.

... and then a few seconds after that:]

I'm just going back to my temple, it's not like I'm leaving forever.

[festal]

I know. Still, I hope to see you again soon.

( And it probably shows that she's trying to type a message and it takes a little while for it to come through but a picture is eventually sent! It isn't much, just a small vase with a flower arrangement featuring the flowers Add had left for her. )

Thank you!

Backdated to Oct 26, voice

[tacomeme]

Hey.

[Guess who just left the monthly training and saw Ryoma, oh boy]

[festal]

( It's Takumi. Of course she's going to answer right away and she doesn't sound nearly as calm as him, )

Takumi...!

I-I was going to call you... Where...? ( Sniff, ) Where are you?

[tacomeme]

H-heading back towards the temples. I can meet you...?

[there's a tension in his voice, proof he's fighting to stay calm for her]

[festal]

( Oh, she can tell. She can definitely tell and it's enough to get her to try to calm herself down but... if Takumi is trying to stay calm for her sake, it just makes her worry more. Of course, given her own experiences today, she thinks she knows what's wrong, )

I-I just got home with Tsuzuki-san and everyone. ( So she's already at her temple. But a beat and she adds, ) I'll meet you outside. I... I don't want the others to har yet.

sometime november 9th?

[abgrund]

[ when sakura leaves her temple on this particular day, she'll find someone outside.

it's ain. except, that may not be really apparent, as he's seated on the roadside with his lower body in the form of dark smoke rather than proper legs. his single visible eye is closed, perhaps suggesting that he's asleep.

there's also a cat sitting on his lap - a grey one, with one hind leg in the same hollow form as ain's arms. it peers up at sakura when she comes closer, giving a single meow. ]

[festal]

( It's just a nice, fall day outside so it's only natural she'd decide to go out for a walk. Her temple is nice but with it's ever constant cherry blossoms in bloom, it feels more like spring than fall. Maybe she can find a better place to enjoy the autumn leaves?

She jumps when she sees something dark in her line of vision suddenly. Is it an ayakashi? Oh, no, and she's unarmed and away from her shinki-- oh, no, wait. Upon closer inspection, it's only Ain. But what is he doing in the middle of the road like this? He... he isn't hurt, is he?!

She's careful but purposeful as she comes closer to see. It's then that she notices the cat in his lap and... )

Is... is he sleeping?

( She's thinking out loud but he seems fine. But why here of all places? She tugs at the scarf around her neck and frowns, looking at the cat as if expecting some sort of answer or suggestion about what to do. )

Ooh....

( She's fretting. It would be easy to just leave but she's never been the type to leave people behind on their own. Unwrapping her scarf, she kneels down next to Ain and.... just... carefully tries to place it around him?

Pleasedont'wakeup, pleasdon'twakeup, pleasedon'twakeup, please... )

[abgrund]

[ the cat watches her when she comes over - it has grey eyes inscribed with a green pattern inside its iris, the same as ain's eyes.

as for the shinki himself, he remains asleep for the most part, until..... until it seems like she can leave without repercussions, but his single visible eye opens just as she's about to go. guess she'll have to stay here for the time being. if it helps, he doesn't get up.

there's three seconds of silence while he looks down, processes what is happening, and concludes that he has to say something. ]

................... are you going somewhere?

[festal]

( At first, she can only think: What pretty eyes this kitten has! It's a gray-green that reminds her a little bit of the sea. It's only when she gets closer that she realizes the eyes are more than just a pretty color. Is this... Ain's cat? She'd thought it was just a stray.

Her scarf is a bright red so it definitely doesn't look like it belongs to Ain but she doesn't mind parting with it for now. Scarves are cheap and easy enough to replace. Just when it's all in place and she feels like she can make a quick and quiet escape, Ain opens his eye and speaks, )

Eek! ( She jumps back, pulling her hands away and dropping them down in front of her, turning them anxiously. ) N-nothing!

( Wait... that doesn't answer the question he'd asked at all and she flusters, )

I mean... yes! Oh... ( She looks away, ) I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean to disturb you...!

voicemail

[brynwieldr]

This is me checking in to let you know I haven't vanished.

voice!!!

[festal]

( Ring, ring, guess who's calling back right away? Anyway if Leo answers, he's going to here one (1) very distressed princess, )

Leo? Leo! I'm still here! A-and you...?

( Please don't let this actually be Niles on the other end. )

[brynwieldr]

Yes, yes I'm fine, Sakura.

[Poor thing.]

I'm still here and I have no intentions of changing that right now.

[festal]

Oh thank goodness!

( She whispers it to herself but Leo can still hear it. )

I was so-- ( Worried. ) So many p-people are missing. We c-can't find Kaden and I h-haven't heard from Lavi and it seems like everyone's l-lost someone...!

( She's definitely not crying. Yet. She's going to though, don't worry. She's so anxious right now )

11/22

[abgrund]

[ a box is delivered to sakura's place. it contains a cute doll without a signature. ]

Backdate like wooooah: Nov 27th [Note or Action]

[sing_for_me]

[ Once Kaden's doing better, and once she figures out what to get for people, Alex starts to drop by the temples of those who have helped her out. She'll knock to see if anyone is home, but if not, she will leave a box of assorted cheesecakes at the door with a note on it:

Sakura,

Thank you for all your help with finding Kaden. This isn't enough to show my gratitude, but I do hope you like them. I wasn't sure what you might like so I got different flavors.

If you ever need help with anything, I will be more than happy to help you in any way I can.

Thank you again.

-Alex ]

[ooc: Up to you if you'd like this to stay as a note or turn it into an action tag!]

December 24th

[pure_radiantics]

[ Sakura receives a medium package of tea labeled Kyoto Cherry Blossom and a handmade headband with sakura decorations hot-glued onto it.

Then there's a hand-made IOU coupon for "one free relaxation session - see note for details." ]

Merry Christmas, Sakura!

You're such a sweet person and you care so much for others, so my wish for you in the new year is getting the chance to relax a little - maybe a pampering day? I can come over and paint your nails or do your hair or a facemask or something. Whatever would make you feel great! (I learned a lot about this kind of stuff thanks to Forrest!)

I look forward to seeing you around more often and becoming better friends in the new year!
- Kairi

Dec. 24th

[purr_ince]

[ Sakura will find a small box for her with her name written on the red ribbon around the green package. Inside there is this and a little note:]

I hope this finds you well. Merry Christmas, Sakura. -Adrien

Any time after December 7

[replicatedform]

[After his conversation with Yui, the idea that Sakura might be a ninja haven't left his mind. He never get that impression from her, but on the other hand... Ninja are sneaky, maybe she's just that good at hiding it?

He think she's not one, but he can't entirely dismiss the thought away.

After deciding on how to approach this, he decides to wait until they're both would be at the temple.

While sitting down and just relaxing after today's events (or lack thereof?), he's been glancing over at her sometimes. Okay, just ask and get this question over with.

And maybe because a part of him is curious.]

... Sakura, can I ask you something?

[festal]

(It's an easy day! She's currently sitting under the kotatsu right now, peeling an orange for herself when he approaches her,)

Yamanbagiri-san? Of course.

(Setting her orange down. What is it?)

[replicatedform]

Well, it's...

[Now the moment is here, he starts to feel... awkward? Nervous? Why, when it's just a simple question!?

After a short breath to steady himself, he looks right at Sakura's face and asks, with absolute seriousness:]

... Are you a ninja?

backdated to Dec. 25th coz Im super late

[redmare]

[ Sakura will find a small box containing bath bombs and a small note. ]

I hope you enjoy them! Merry Christmas, Sakura-chan.

-Chinatsu