"It's... pink."

Ai smiled, turning her face toward his voice. He could almost hope she was really looking, but there was a peculiar quality to her stare, an expression that suggested she was wandering through a dark room and trying not to stumble over anything. "What shade of pink?"

"Shade?" Jun stared at the flower in his hand, attempting a sheepish laugh for her benefit. How was he supposed to know what shade it was? He wasn't an artist. "It's darker than mother's roses, and..."

"It's okay, brother." She reached out slowly, fingers brushing his knee, and sought his hand. "I wish I'd planted those seeds last year, instead."

When she could still see. Was it a year already? "I know what it reminds me of now." He guided her hand to the flower, and watched her brush her fingers over the petals. "The robe you made for the last Tanabata. It's a deep color, just like that. The center is white."

"It sounds like a beautiful flower." Ai rested her hand on his wrist, and it seemed her eyes were searching for something, though he couldn't guess what. They wouldn't find it, whatever it was. "Will you put it in my room before you leave? Have Nyoko arrange it with something nice."

"I will."

Would she be able to see it before it wilted? He would leave with the dawn... if he moved quickly and followed the priest's directions, would he find the cure they were seeking?


-----------------------

This was practice for something long overdue.