7 Is this really the cold Sakura? P: 3

It was a little chilly as fall was on the door. yellow and orange leaves were falling on the ground.

Sakura wished to see the pink petals of the chary blooms that she heard about before coming, but unfortunately, they didn't bloom in fall.

Right now she was sitting outside a restaurant watching Kija eat the rice balls that he ordered. For some reason she didn't know, she was enjoying the moment and had a big smile on her face.

" What" Kija complained after noticing her smile.

" Hmm?" she didn't get what he was complaining about.

" Why are you smiling like this?"

" It's nothing important"

" I'd like to know"

" Well, it's strange, I can't put it in words, but if I have to.." she stopped and looked at Kija " the atmosphere between us, it's different. Maybe it's just the fever that's making you this quiet."

Kija frowned at her words but she gave him a warm smile before she started talking again " but you know, this quietness gave me time to observe you more and I have discovered a new side to you. You have some kindness in you. If we try, we could actually get along" she said with a warmer smile. She looked even more beautiful while smiling. Her deep blue eyes sparkling like a piece of the most beautiful diamond. If someone were to describe her eyes it will be 'a water diamond'.

Kija was impressed by her beauty shining under the sun, but he noticed his rudeness staring like this so he immediately averted his face with hope that the redness on his face wouldn't be noticed.

" y–yeah" he didn't even recognize what he agreed on but Sakura's face lit up.

" Really?" she stood up and held both his hands " it will be nice if we get along" Sakura has already got tired from the fight and she knew that Kija isn't a bad guy since her Master told her so much about him. She wanted to befriend her Master's son.

Kija's face reddened as he saw how much she wanted to befriend him.

[What's wrong with her today?]

Kija suddenly stood up from his place shaking Sakura's hand away. He already paid for the food so he was free to walk away.

" Ah, wait for me" Sakura called as she ran to reach Kija.

" if you slow down I'm gonna leave you behind."

" don't say that" she complained as she reached him but he kept speeding up for some reason making it harder for her. Of course, she had extraordinary speed, but she was able to use it only while running, on the other hand, it won't work when she's just a few steps behind. She just needed to speed up her walking which is hard since her legs are much smaller than Kija's.

In front of her, Kija was deep in thoughts. Sakura's smiling face kept crossing his mind. The Sakura in front of him was a completely different person, she was right, they were getting to know different sides of each other. He couldn't help but smile at the thought. That's not bad.

...

Kija took Sakura to all the fun places he knew: parks, restaurants, shops, etc. Kija didn't have the intention of showing Sakura around or something, he just wanted to have fun and Sakura accompanied him, or that was what he convinced himself.

" Wow, this game is amazing"

" See, I told you"

" This is delicious"

" so cu~te"

Sakura and Kija kept walking around until sunset. The sun looked so big and red. Everything was orange, The beautiful orange of the sunset. It was time they return home because it's also time for his parents to come back. Of course, Kija didn't plan on telling his mother about his trip while he was sick so he better hurry.

" Sakura wait here. I'll bring two ice creams before we return."

She just nodded. She was so tired but still, she wanted to complete. Being around Kija was so much fun. If he just treats her like this always.

Kija was about to order the ice cream when he suddenly felt dizzy. He held his forehead and turned his gaze to the ground. Everything was blurry, he couldn't see it clearly, he tried to step one foot forward but instead, he took a couple of steps to the back as he lost his balance. His head hurts like hell and he couldn't hear anything clearly, it felt like he was underwater. He could hear Sakura calling out and see her running toward him but it was too late, his legs won't hold him anymore and he collapsed on the ground. The last thing he saw was Sakura's face.

And everything went black.

...

"How is he?" Kija woke up to his mother's voice. He knew he was on the bed in his room.

" he'll be fine, I gave him medicine so his fever will come down soon." Another voice came from across the room. He heard his mother's sigh of relief.

He then remembered what happened; he was out with Sakura when he collapsed. He opened his eyes wide and his mother seemed to notice that he woke up.

" Kija!" he could see his mother, father, and the doctor in his room. He looked over his mother, Sakura was standing in the corner with a sad expression. She had her face down like a kid being scolded, but instead, he could tell that she was the one scolding herself. She was blaming herself, though he wasn't sure why.

His mother bowed to the doctor thanking him while his father escorted the doctor downstairs. When his father left the room with the doctor he heard a 'thud' coming from the corner.

Both Kija and Miss Hana looked over to the source of the voice. Sakura now was on her knees clutching her hands to her chest with big fat tears rolling down her diamond eyes which now were drowned in tears. She could hardly see but she couldn't care less.

" S- Sakura, what's wrong?" asked Miss Hana in a worried voice

" I am sorry" Hana and Kija didn't know what to say after hearing Sakura's apology that came out of nowhere.

" It's because of me that master's son is in this state. I failed to take care of him." She said with a cracked voice.

( Master's son?)

This phrase confused Kija. Just moments ago she was calling him by name. But the thing Kija didn't know was that this actually proved that Sakura's feelings toward Kija have changed, she didn't hate him anymore. She had this strange thought that calling people by their first name was rude for her, though it didn't apply to other people, she didn't think that it was rude for them to call her by name.

She got this strange thought because, working as a ninja, she was just someone assigned by others to do some work they ask her for money so she was always below others she was working under. That was what she convinced herself, but when she met Kija's father, her new master, he had been treating her like his own daughter.

So calling Kija like this showed that she does not intend on being rude to him anymore.

" What are you saying Sakura?" came Kija's mother's voice cutting his confusion, and he looked at Sakura who was on her knees with her face facing the floor. Lots of tears were rolling down her beautiful face.

" The master and the miss asked me to look after master's son but instead I couldn't make him good food and so he had to go out. I also allowed him to stay outside even though he was sick. I failed."

Miss Hana was about to say something but she was interrupted

"yes, it's your fault."

Sakura and miss Hana looked at the source of the sound.

It was Kija with a dead serious look on his face