sister when I visit Hiroshima again ..."

Yozora carefully closed the box, "No thanks, Asashi-sensei. But it is a gift for yours

Sister! I can't accept that! "

Asahi smiled, "It's okay! My sister ... died of an illness two months ago ...

You can have the yukata! "

Yozora was startled.

How could Sensei tell her something so bad and have a smile on her face !?

"Aren't you sad about your sister?"she asked worried.

Asahi stared at her, startled, Of course! She was my only one! "

Yozora nodded, "Then you shouldn't tell something so bad with a smile!"

Yozora was sad, she wanted to cry, but she pulled herself together.

> Not in front of Sensei! Not even because of Mafuyu! <

Because she'll dance or sing as a geisha somewhere ... if she was still alive.

"Take it!", Asahi said simply and hurried away.

With the box in hand, Yozora ran to her room.

There she tucked it away with her clothes and tried in vain to calm down.

Then Takeru came in whistling.

"Hello Yozora!", He started grinning, but paused, "You are so pale ... Aren't you feeling well?"

Takeru had taken Yozora to his heart, she was like a sister to him.

"I .. miss Mafuyu," Yozora pressed out.

Now the dam was broken and she could not hold on anymore and started to cry.

Takeru took her in his arms, "Everything will be fine! Maybe you will meet her at the summer party!"

That thought cheered Yozora up a little.

"Come on, let's eat. Otherwise it will be cold," she said and ate the meager meal in silence.

At night Takeru suddenly woke up and heard Yozora sobbing.

It has often been the case, she dreams ... He wanted to help her best.

"Oh dear ..." he mumbled sadly.

"Ta ... Takeru?", Yozora whispered softly, "Are you awake?"

Takeru straightened up, "What is it?" He asked worried.

Yozora crawled over to him, "May I see you? I can't sleep ... I keep thinking about Mafuyu!"

So Takeru took her in his arms again, "Everything will be fine! Don't worry! Now sleep,

Yozora. Tomorrow is the day off! "

He spoke softly and soothingly to her, stroking her hair and rubbing her back.

In less than 20 minutes, Yozora was sleeping peacefully in Takeru's arms.

She felt comfortable there ... as if she were at home ...The next day was the first day off of the summer festival.

Yozora woke up in Takeru's futon, but he wasn't there.

She yawned and stretched, she hadn't slept so well in a long time!

Then Takeru came in, "Good morning you sleepyhead!" He shouted in a good mood.

Yozora smiled and stood up.

"I'll show you Kyoto! You've never been here, have you?" He asked during dinner.

Yozora nodded, "Yes. I'm looking forward to getting to know Hauütstadt!"

"Do you have a yukata? It's really hot," said Takeru before they left, he himself was already in his

red yukata.

Yozora nodded and asked Takeru to wait outside.

Since she used to be used to dressing herself, it wasn't a problem.

She learned early on how to tie artistic obi bows (Art Grütel).

Then she combed her long, dark brown hair, which shimmered reddish in the sun.

"I'm done!" Yozora shouted and stepped out of the room.

Takeru stared at her, "Where did you get this yukata from?"

Yozora winked, "I'm not saying!"

So they went to the big summer festival in Kyoto, Takeru in his wine-red yukata and

Yozora giong next to him in her white yukata adorned with red flowers.

There were so many happy people on the street, everyone was singing and laughing.

It was a nice atmosphere, nobody was unhappy.

Yozora was completely in her element, as she used to be taught good behavior and a little dancing.

"Come on! Let's hang up wishes!" She shouted, laughing.

Both came to a bamboo bush on which many colored strips of paper were already hanging.

Together they wrote down one of their most heartfelt wishes on colorful strips and hung it up

Others. (Old tradition)

It was a wonderful day, the sun was shining in the light blue sky, it was cloudless.

They walked between stalls and looked at the painted masks and looked at the delicious food.They also played small games of chance and ate octupus balls.

"It's much nicer than ours!" Said Yozora to Takeru.

Takeru nodded, "Come on! Let's go to the main square!"

The evening came slowly, the twilight colored the sky fiery red, as if it were on fire.

Now the dances began and the great fire sign burned on the high mountain. (The Dai sign = large)

Yozora bowed towards the mountain, "May the spirits of the ancestors find their peace!"

Takeru held a grilled sweet potato in front of her eyes, "Here!"

Yozora accepted gratefully and took a hearty bite.

The festival soon reached its climax, at midnight everyone went to the river with colorful lanterns.

Yozora carefully put her red lantern into the water, "Grandmother, find your way to Grandfather and say hello

Him from me! "she muttered.

Takeru also put a lantern in the dark water and whispered something that Yozora couldn't understand.

"The Dojo members all have an appointment! We have to go to the restaurant!", He reminded Yozora.

This was an old tradition in the dojo, since no one could be at home that quickly, everyone celebrated in the

Dojo together, as a `` family ''.

The reserved room was already quite full.

All Sensei's and more than half of the students were gathered here.

Yozora felt a little out of place, there were only boys and men there! She was the only thing

Girl.

Both sat down together at a table that wasn't too crowded.

There was pastries, tea, sake, sweets ... everything your heart desires!

Everyone enjoyed it.

This should strengthen the sense of community, this was also the goal of the gathering.

"Who knows a nice song?" Asked her former sensei.

Several volunteered and sang a song, those who knew the song sang it in a good mood.

Asahi-sensei was there too, sitting next to Yozora and drinking his sake."I love this party!" He shouted and toasted the others.

"Don't get too drunk," said a geisha who had come for the conversation.

"I will still dance.", She smiled.

It hurt Yozora's heart, she didn't want this geisha so close, it reminded her too much of Mafuyu!

Takeru seemed to sense her pain and gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze.

The geisha walked forward and began to sing in her bell-clear voice.

She also danced with her rose-red fan.

The song is about the two lovers, the legend, whose honor is celebrated today.

Their song ends with the Milky Way appearing and both crying and overjoyed in each other's arms

fell.

Everyone clapped, moved, it was the most beautiful dance and musical implementation that you have ever seen

Many people called.

The geisha bowed and smiled shyly.

Most of them called for an encore.

The geisha nodded and was about to begin when unmistakable screams came from outside.

"What the hell!" Asahi-sensei shouted and stormed outside first.

Yozora wanted to check too, but Takeru held her back.

"No, it could be dangerous! You have no practical experience!" He explained darkly.

Almost all Sensei's went outside and the screams got louder and louder.

Wood could be heard cracking, glasses broken, and those impenetrable screams of frightened women.

> What's going on ?! Yozora thought, startled.

Takeru took Yozora by the arm and took her to one of the back corners of the room.

"Wh-", Yozora began, but he covered her mouth and gestured for her to be quiet.

He himself went to the door and stormed out.

Something splashed on the outside wall next to Yozora.

It was dark and it ran down slowly ... The paper sucked it in, it turned red.

> Blood! <it thundered through her head.

Oh my God! A slaughter at such an important festival ?!> Takeru! Come back! It is dangerous!! Yozora thought desperately.

There were more and more screams, she heard her Sensei call.

> Oh no! I can not help! Everyone is out there, only I sit around and shiver with fear! <

She took courage and slowly got up, carefully moving towards the door.

Very slowly she opened the door a crack and peered outside.

Suddenly the wall she was leaning against collapsed.
A man lay on the pile of wood and paper and gasped, blood flowing from his slit throat.

Yozora didn't know this man, so it has to be one of the others.

The man lay there twitching, sword in hand.

Yozora watched him die, when he stopped moving, she walked slowly to him.

"Dead ..." she thought and studied the glassy eyes and the slowly flowing blood.

Yozora didn't want to be weak anymore, she snatched the sword from the dead man's hand and wiped it on the

Clothes clean.

It wasn't a long sword> Perfect length! <

She swung it around once to try it out.

Then she went outside, swallowing.

The sight made her shudder and she stood paralyzed at the doorstep.

The floor was full of pools of blood and the dead lay contorted against the wall, their eyes

frightened and empty.

Yozora crept quietly into the back hall.

Her heart trembled, beads of sweat glistened on her forehead.

Trembling she went on, saw the dead and empty eyes.

Most of all she wanted to scream, to run ... Si was still scared!

Suddenly someone grabbed her arm and wanted to drag her into a room, Yozora struggled and let go

the sword fall with a clang.

Then she was in the room, "Yozora!" The familiar voice of Takeru whispered in her ear.

Yozora looked around in amazement.

> Takeru! <

"What's going on?" She asked furiously when he let go of her.Takeru took her in his arms, "The rebels", he just said, he literally spat it out.

He held her tightly around her, "You were scared, weren't you? I'm sorry I didn't see you again

picked up!