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The thick snow covered the pathways leading to a beautifully furnished house, it looked like it was occupied by people of high nobility, it had three floors and it seemed spacious even just from the outside.
Lately Hayabusa has been distancing himself from this house because of an untoward incident against the maiden of the Onmyouji Clan. They haven’t been on speaking terms after the mission that they both partook in. Ever since, it was just not the same between the both of them. The distance between them has been growing ever more as the days go by, and Hayabusa doesn’t want to ruin their friendship over a small misunderstanding. He has been gathering the courage to even talk to her, but he cannot.
He decided to let the dust settle first before trying to talk to her, he may cause more harm than good if he ever tries to talk to her. The ninja decided to talk out all of his pent-up emotions and frustrations into his training. He figured that if he bottled all of these emotions, one day it might just burst open. Although he cannot train that much because it was winter time.
The winter made them feel more isolated from the world. The atmosphere was cold and gloomy, the ice-kissed blossom trees are not blooming at all. Everywhere the eyes can reach was pure white, a thick blanket of snowflakes envelop the once thick and fertile land.
They all had time to self-reflect while the dust was settling, maybe the wall of his ego was so high up that he can’t see over it, maybe he needs to stop caring about what other people might think of him, and should rather focus on being his true self. Because he can’t solve anything if his defenses are always up. He realized that this whole situation was his fault.
“You know, instead of sulking all day in this corner of the training area. You should write your thoughts, let it all out, who knows maybe you will create a masterpiece?” He lifted his gaze as he saw the scarlet ninja, Hanabi.
“Pfft. You know full well that I can’t write.” Hayabusa scoffed at the idea.
“Just saying that emotions are a big driving factor in your performance lately, I need to fight the real Haya, not this wimp emotional one.” And then it hit him. The ninja dashed out of there without even stopping to thank Hanabi for the advice.
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Kagura was sitting alone in the darkness of her room. The somber mood of the room matched her emotions. She had been unenthusiastic to even eat or talk to anyone. She has been completely isolated from the world.
After the day her childhood friend hurt himself, she can’t imagine what would have happened if she didn’t intervene. She was upset at Haya for acting recklessly, she doesn’t want anyone to get hurt. Her caring nature seems to be showing when she saved her friend from the grave dangers of their last mission. It was never intended in their plan to charge in head first, but he did, and it almost cost his life.
She wasn’t angry at him, she was just upset. All she wanted was for them to complete this mission unscathed but that didn’t happen.
Just then a note from under her door appeared. She lazily stood and picked it up. Words were written.
My Dearest Kagura,
I would like to invite you to our old hang out spot, once you are ready in your own time. I know that I had not been the most cooperative person with our plans, but I want to make it up to you with the promise of changing. I want to talk to you personally, as a letter might seem insincere. I will be waiting every day. Hoping this letter finds you well.
Sincerely, Haya
She read the letter a few more times to digest what he had said. Her feelings were mixed, part of her wants to talk to him, but the other part wants to be left alone. With the last bit of willpower, she picked up the letter and put it at the top of her desk. Slowly sinking back to her spot, a while ago, and be swallowed by the darkness once more.
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Weeks have passed and the two of them have not made any efforts to reconvene, the winter was over and the eternal darkness that plunged Cadia is now gone. The grassy patches can be seen again, although it was just at the early stages of growing again.
With curiosity, Kagura peeked out of the window, the once eternal void of darkness is now filled with the sunshine that pierced through her windows. The feeling of the sun’s warmth can be felt once more. The birds that were once missing are now back enjoying the change of season.
And then Kagura remembered, she looked at the top of her drawer. The letter was still there. She wondered if she should pay a visit.
Remembering that she missed the feeling of the sun rays against her pearl white skin, she set out, and with a definitive purpose this time.
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A dashing young man was sitting below a Sakura tree, seems like he was waiting for someone. But again, he felt like he got stood up. Preparing to leave, he picked up a piece of paper and was ready to head back.
“Haya!” The voice was all too familiar for him. He turned around to see a familiar umbrella, the same umbrella that saved him.
“Kagura, I thought you’d never come.”
“I just wanted to take a stroll out in the sun.”
“So, you weren’t here for me?”
“I never said that. I was strolling to meet you of course. I was lucky I still caught you here.” She turned around feeling her cheeks burn red.
“Does that mean you forgive me?”
“I never said I got angry at you.”
As the cherry blossom leaves around, them fall one by one, it had created a feeling of a fresh start, as the spring just started once more.
“New season, new beginnings.”
He turned around and greeted her with a smile.
“Hi, I’m Hayabusa, maybe we can start over again?”
Smirking, Kagura took Haya’s hands and dragged him to see the beauty of spring time.