The New Winds

Sakura had climbed up onto the roof again. She had hoped Zashi would come; she did somewhat not so subtly say she was going there to look at the stars again. For a Crane she really needed to work on the subtleness...

However, she'd kept a secret! All day too! The box was in her kimono sleeve as she laid down and looked up at the sky, sighing softly.

"So pretty...."

"Well, the sky is and you are, but I'm not sure what you're referring to Sakura-chan." Zashi skinks over on the roof. "Hopefully tonight is quieter than last night"

Sakura quickly sat up to bow to Zashi.

"Zashi-kun, you came" she smiled, then suddenly looked away shyly.

"A-ano...hai...I want a quieter night of just us" she said quietly, blushing "I was referring to the sky. It's a clear night, and really pretty."

Zashi looks amused, coming alongside the small Doji. "I hope so too. You can tell me a out the constellations. I'm... really bad at that"

"I don't know what they are either" Sakura said quietly, taking a calming breath before turning round. In her hand was a small brown box. It looked quite new.

She held it out.

"A-ano....for you..."

"Huh?" Zashi takes the proferred box, and slowly cracks it open. The redhead's jaw drops as they see the bracelet and the gem inside. "You said..."

Zashi gulps as mental gears continue to turn. "It's...I didn't get you anything."

The bracelet was clearly newly made. Rose gold linking Kitsune-shaped smoky quartz. It was of the highest quality.

"Ano...I didn't make it hoping for something back. I...I made it for you. P-please accept" she peeked up shyly, thinking this was the game of refusals.

"It's... Sakura-chan, you said you would make something like this that would be for your formally betrothed. I'm flattered, I seriously am. It's a gift with depth more than you know." Zashi pauses, a part of his brain screaming to stop there, but custom demands. "Like I said I have nothing physical I can give that could compare."

"I know I said that! B-but...ano...even if it's not official yet, I wanted to...ano..." Sakura went more red "I wanted it to be as close to real and official as I could make it. S-so...I made this. For Zashi-kun. Because Zashi-kun is Zashi-kun, not because I want Zashi-kun to give me something back! S-so...please...accept this. I made it for you."

She lowered her head, hoping he'd accept it and not reject the third offering.

"I accept." Zashi takes the Doji's tiny hands and clasps them before taking the box and bowing. "I will simply have to ensure that I win over Sakura-chan's parents"

The kitsune still has a troubled expression on their face. "I wasn't kidding though about not having anything physical to give you in return. Buuuuuuut" after a moment, Zashi nods, "What I have that is most precious to me are my secrets, the ones I told you about. Sakura-chan, you have offered up your time, skill and" Zashi peers greedily at the sparkling gemstone, "some very beautiful materials. The least I can do is try to offer you something in return. So...Sakura, I offer you three Truths. Ask me for one, and I will answer to the best of my ability."

There was a visible look of relief when Zashi accepted the box, and she smiled. She listened to his words and nodded, feeilng that her gift was so tiny compared to his, as he made such a big deal about secrets.

I could ask... she pushed her thoughts away, and asked the first thing that came to mind.

"What mochi filling is your favourite?"

Zashi blinks once, and then again. The redheads raises a finger and then lowers it before letting out a chuckle and grinning. "Funnily enough, my favorite mochi filling is when the mochi is on the inside wrapped in aburaage. After that, I would say black sesame."

Zashi carefully takes the bracelet out of the box. "May I wear it?"

"Oooh....I've never tried it like that before. We'll have to find it sometime!" Sakura smiled brightly, nodding "and hai! You can wear it! It's yours, and I want to see if I got your wrist size right. I measured based on how different I remembered your wrist size was to mine."

She looked at his wrist, her expression one of worry, praying she had got it right.

"Maybe we can wander a bit before we have to come back here." Zashi works the clasp on the bracelet, sliding it onto his wrist. "Heavens, you got it perfect. You are really good at this." Zashi beams at his...what should he call her. Not a betrothed or lover yet, but more than a friend.

"Thank you." Zashi takes her hand. "I hope things are a bit quieter tonight"

Sakura looked overjoyed when it was perfectly fitting. Completely overjoyed!

"Thank the kami it fits. I'm so happy" Sakura smiled brightly, before sitting down again "the stars are bright tonight, and it seems quiet. Maybe we can look at them together?"

"I would like that. I would like that a great deal" Zashi goes to lie down and stargaze with his lady love, holding her hand and scarcely is able to take his eyes off her to see the stars

Sakura laced her fingers with Zashi, looking at him with a slight blush before she moved closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder and looking up at the stars.

"There...perfect" she whispered, her heart racing as she managed to tear her eyes away from Zashi and up at the sky "I'm so happy."

"Me as well." Zashi shuts his eyes, breathing in the moment

The two of them fall into silence for a short while, just enjoying the moment. It as a beautiful night, and Sakura didn't want it to end.

After a short while, Zashi would feel something very soft pressed briefly against his cheek, as Sakura gently kissed his cheek before turning back to look at the sky, shyly smiling to herself at her own bravery to do such a thing.