"

Yozora nodded and returned the hug, "It's okay ... Don't blame yourself! The thought alone
counts! "She smiled weakly.

Both sat quietly on the smooth floor and waited.

But what were they waiting for?

Yozora was getting restless, her throat was dry and she finally wanted to know who the opponents are.

She had never heard of the rebels, who are they?

A group of abandoned samurai?

"Who does such a horrible thing about this peaceful festival?" Yozora muttered.

"I'll tell you in the dojo," Takeru simply replied.

Suddenly the door of the next room opened and Asashi-sensei entered.

"Sensei!", Yozora exclaimed startled and bowed quickly.

"No time for politeness, Yozora! Get out of here! Go back to the dojo, now!" He ordered

with an authority of a leader and handed Takeru a sword.

Thankfully, Takeru accepted and took Yozora's hand.

"Sensei ...", Yozora began, but then only nodded and followed Takeru.

"The enemies are mostly in the busy city center, the dojo is very isolated, it is safe," Takeru explained.

Yozora followed Takeru with difficulty, her yukata was not as easy as Takeru's.

He led them through narrow alleys and a small bridge.

> Takeru knows Kyoto so well! <

Sometimes he would stop at an intersection and look around carefully before moving on.

He pulled Yozora with him and quickly turned the corner.

Suddenly they heard strange voices, Takeru quickly pushed her into an open door and jumped in after her.

He quickly closed the door and slid a bolt in front of it.

Then he looked around, looking for hidden enemies.

He pulled Yozora into a small chamber that was in the far corner of the room.It was an oversized closet, the contents of which were mostly clothes.

"Why are we here?" Yozora asked, trembling.

"I didn't know who was coming and if there were enemies, how many there are! I don't want you in unnecessarily

Bring danger! ", Takeru replied in a whisper.

Those words warmed Yozora's heart, someone is worried about her!

She had lost everything: her home, her sister ... was in a big, unknown city and was on

selling a samurai dojo ...

But Takeru cares about her!

She nodded and looked around, there were so many different clothes.

She rummaged around quietly and found what she was looking for: a boy yukata!

> With that I will be able to walk a little more freely! <

"Takeru ...", she whispered shyly, "I put this boy on yukata. I can move better with it"

He nodded and turned around, it seemed like he was going to blush.

Yozora slowly loosened the obi belt and took off the yukata's overgarment.

Suddenly Takeru's strong arms wrapped around her.

"Takeru?" She asked, startled, confused and embarrassed.

"Please call me Tatsuro ... I also call you Yozora.", He said simply.

"Ta .. Tatsuro ... What about you?", Yozora felt herself blush.

Tatsuro didn't answer, just kept hugging her.

"Love is forbidden to us swordsmen .. At least that's how it is in our dojo ...", he began slowly, "But

I waive this rule! Yozora, I ... my heart is yours! I am giving this to you as a gift!"

Yozora shuddered, did Tatsuorou just confess her love?

> What do I do now? What should I do now? What do I have to answer to that? she thought feverishly and

exhaled in gusts.

"You don't have to give me an answer yet ... if you don't want to.", Tatsurou answered one of her questions.

"Tatsuro ... I ...", she began, trembling.

Tatsuro turned it over so that Yozora had to look him straight in the face."I'm serious, Yozora!" He said, careful not to be too loud.

Yozora just nodded, unable to speak.

"Please say something about it! What do you think about it? Please!", Tatsuro asked desperately.

Yozora chose her words carefully, "I'm not sure, Tatsuoru ... I-" she stopped.

Did she love him? Or is it just more of a friendly love?

Would she want to break the rule because of him?

It seemed like everything was turning, she didn't know what to do.

> What should I do? <

Suddenly she felt Tatsurou's lips on hers.

He kissed her for a long time until he finally pulled away from her gently.

Yozora blushed, she didn't know what to say, she was too confused.

"We have to get out! I think the strangers have moved on!"

Yozora didn't say anything, she was paralyzed. She was so ashamed!

> He kissed me! Me! Oh my God! <

"We don't have any more time!", Tatsuorou shouted softly and pulled her out of her yukata.

She was too confused to stop him and as soon as she knew it she was in the chosen yukata.

Together they ran into the street and slipped into a small alley.

A great wall appeared before them, Tatsuro ran unpaved to the left and ducked.

Somehow a small passage appeared and they crawled into it.

Suddenly they found themselves in the dojo's bamboo forest.

"A secret passage", Tatsuro winked with a smile.

How did he know this one? Tatsuro was so full of secrets !!

They crouched slowly and crouched through the lush bamboo forest.

"Stay here! I'll see if someone is in the dojo!" Tatsuro whispered in her ear and quietly jumped into the dojo.

In the meantime, Yozora thought feverishly.

> How should I behave? God! I'm only 15! I won't be 16 for two months! What we mean

Mother think ?! <

Then it occurred to her that she no longer had a mother, so to speak.

Now she fought her tears.> How should it go on? I am afraid of losing! <

Suddenly she knew why she couldn't answer Tatsuro!

She was afraid to give him her heart and then to lose him! That was what she was most afraid of!

> I've lost so much in this short time! <

Yozora had lost love for her family, her `` home '' and then her dearest sister.

She couldn't stand to lose Tatsuro too!

Now Yozora knew what was bothering her, but how should she explain Tatsuro ?!

Then he came back.

He pulled Yozora into her room, which they shared.

"There is not a soul here, it is safe!" He said breathlessly, still from running through the dojo.

Yozora nodded and sighed, she sat down and fanned herself with her hand.

It was a sultry summer night and the new day was about to break.

Yozora was tired, but she forced herself to stay awake and pinched her knee.

Nevertheless, she almost fell asleep sitting when she found herself in Tatsurou's arms and suddenly

woke up.

"You almost passed out ...", he explained, "I'm sorry. I must have scared you very much! Forget it! Please

don't mention it anymore! "he added bitterly.

That would actually solve the problem, but why did Yozora feel so sad, like that

depressed?

"No," she heard herself say, "I won't forget it, any more than you will!", Her voice trembled.

What was she doing there ?! She didn't want him!

But she spoke by itself ... It was the voice of her heart.

"Tatsuro ... Was it your real feelings?" She asked, ashamed.

He nodded, unable to say anything, and stared at her.

"Are you brave enough to live a long life?" Yozora asked further.

This time Tatsurou thought, he seemed to understand, "You're scared, aren't you? I understand you. You have everything on

once lost, that's why you're afraid!Yozora, it's my real feelings! I promise you I will

will always protect you! And I'm not trying to die before you My word of honor as

Swordsman! "

Yozora nodded, some tears rolling from her eyes.

> Now everything is fine .. I am no longer alone ...! <

She now had someone she loved and that comforted her very much in this cold world.

The birds were chirping when Yozora woke up.

"Well, you wake up Sleepfur?", Tatsuro asked with a quiet laugh.

Yozora rubbed her eyes and stretched a little, she was still in Tatsurou's arms.

"Nobody came last night," he said, his voice hoarse because he was up all night.

"Where are all?"

"The Sensei's are preparing to attack the ... rebels," he replied.

"Will you tell me now who the rebels are?" Yozora asked pleadingly.

Tatsuro nodded seriously, "They are swordsmen without masters. They are very independent and defend themselves

the imperial ruler. They rebel against him and botch his plans. That's the only thing

known about them. You don't even know who the leader is! "

Yozora was beginning to understand.

> You chose the summer festival because nobody expected it! <

Tatsuro leaned forward and brushed some hair from her face and smiled at her.

Yozora smiled back, she was happy and her heart was pounding.

> We have a different relationship now ... Do I have to behave differently now? <

It was her first love, if she was at home she would never be allowed!

Then she would just be engaged to some man who had good business.

One will only look to business matters rather than to the feelings of the married couple.

Yozora was happy as it was now, happier than usual.

Tatsuro now took every opportunity to hug her and kiss her gently.

Yozora enjoyed this closeness, it had been a long time since she had been hugged and kissed so closely.Father and mother were always at work, Mafuyu was with her wet nurse and she was always at school,

a boarding school for young girls.

Tatsuro was always with her, now in the moment and that was enough for her, at least now.

"I love you, Yozora!" He whispered gently in her ear.

Yozora blushed, she was still so embarrassed, "Me too," she mumbled.

"Now time could stand still ..." she thought relieved in Tatsurou's arms.

Suddenly the birds twittered wildly and flew screaming out of the bamboo forest.

Tatsuro tensed up and quickly pulled her up.

Without a word, he gathered up her things: the sword, shoes, and a blanket.

He stuffed these things into a small sack, only tying the sword around his waist.

Then he took Yozora's hand and