Chapter 22: Sakura in the Shadows (15)

Moon bridge was one of the oldest bridges in the city and a well-known landmark. Small and shady but isolated and deserted a good place for privacy.

Riyo had managed to smooth talked her into coming her to meet Tsiyi. Not long after arriving Riyo lead Tsiyi's father away for a polite conversation.

Rachel folded her hands into each other, just for him to catch hold of her hand. To lead her away for a walk.

"I can walk unassisted" Rachel said.

"Oh, I know. And you run, too. You are always running from me," he looked straight ahead. "If I have hold of you, you cannot get away so easily."

Rachel nearly bit her lip as she closed her eyes the closeness is sending her down a spiral. "Just ask your questions" she said calmly.

"Tell me about your Sister."

"We are not related by blood; I saved her life and she took me and my brother in."

"Brother?"

"I am sure you heard how one of the babies died back in my step-father house. "He stopped abruptly and turned.

"The boy was not going to be able to live in that house anymore. So, I left with him."

He paused for a long time.

"He, Riyo, and I have been siblings since then…"

As his grip loosened, she quickly got herself away afraid of the closeness. "Tsiyi, what do you want?"

"I want you to trust me?" he said lightly, although Rachel didn't turn to face him, she felt the emotions rumbling in his voice. "Why are you being like this we are not enemies, nor have we ever been. I saved you from Jimbe when he tried to drown you, I even kept your secrets when I wanted to question how you ended up in the kitchen. I have never hurt, and I never will."

Its not that it never was that. Ise deserved this love but she didn't. Ise deserved this happiness but she didn't. Dammit she didn't want to take Ise life for her own in the first. Rachel was just some girl who invaded this girl and took over her life.

She Can't, She can't, She cant.

This life was never supposed to be hers to live.

"You are right…..But, I cannot. We are different people from different 'worlds." Her mind began to panic but only one thing was clearly, she couldn't accept it or him.

"Ray, I do not what you have been through. So, please trust me enough to tell I me, I knew in your heart you want to. You and I are kindred. From the first moment we saw each other-"

Push, Rachel abruptly pushed him away. 'The person you meet wasn't me but….", It was like Rachel lost conciseness and didn't realize her power was going out of control. It was just for a moment when she finally said. "We are nothing alike!"

Tsiyi looked as his hands for a moment before making a noise of rage before seizing her hands. He held her trapped hands close, his eyes intent and fixed on her. His hair turning silver.

The air between them glowing, shifting, stretching out. Their powers were clashing or were they merged.

And then it snowed.

Once the cold droplet touched her face Rachel calmed down as she looked up. Shadow-weaving was indeed an interesting ability.

Tsiyi joined their hands captured by the moment his silver hair suddenly turned back to black. He was extremely happy for some reason, much to Rachels's confusion.

"We did this, together" his forehead lightly touched her own "I have only heard less than half the story"

"I do not want to talk about it"

"Then I will ask again the next time I see you."

"Next time?"

"I told you that this time, you would not get away so easily" he smiled