I woke up feeling better than the night before. Rest had a power that I hadn't been able to predict, helping me put a distance between my feelings and emotions. Instead, there was only hope. In the barely there morning light, Sana rolled towards me with a smile. The golden summer morning rays was shining on his rumpled wig, the strands sparkling individually in their messy glory. He was smiling to me, and I wondered if it was a dream. He propped up on his elbows, and I took him.

"Good morning," he whispered. It filled me with such warmth, beautiful and smooth.

"Good morning, my darling," I whispered back into his ear. I kissed it, and he made a sweet sound. That smile had increased. I rolled with him a little, wrapping my arms around him, pulling him up to my body. He came easily, and I bunched up his shirt as I brought him even closer. His lips hovered over mine as I swept our blanket up his body, making sure he was warm. Unable to resist, he lowered down, and kissed me. It reminded me of fresh milk in spring time, waving long blades of grass in the summer, the fragrant crunching leaves under my feet in the autumn, and virgin snow drifting silently in the winter.

My lips touched his, exploring. They were soft and giving, and as I thought of their pinkness, I never wanted them to leave. I held him dearly like this, loving him so completely. There was nothing more I wanted.

We'd eaten a lazy breakfast of omlettes together, and my mom drove us to our house. She stayed with us through another day of practice. It seemed like we were getting it now. With an audience of one, the other members were practicing better, seeing what worked with my mom. She liked everything, so it was difficult to determine, but it was encouraging nonetheless.

Around noon, Natsuko showed up with fried chicken and practice was suspended as soon as she threw open the screen doors. Most everyone put down their instruments and hurried towards her, eager to eat. She hadn't announced she'd be bringing this, and suddenly everyone was ravenous.

Sana pinched the part of my kimono that touched my thigh as I took his microphone to set it on the stand. I lingered, wanting him to do this. He stared at it, holding the material. It was the silvery blue kimono that I loved, with tiny embroidered designs that reminded me of ice and flowers at the same time. The light purple obi I was wearing matched the feeling of the kimono perfectly, offsetting the color and complimenting it at the same time. A long time ago, I'd imagined him in the same ensemble in a house just like this, baking cookies. A time where I thought I might lose him, but knowing in that moment that I had to marry him. Now, here we were. It felt like ten years had passed, so many storm waves overcome. I was wearing the same kimono in this house instead.

"Come get chicken!" My sister called to us, mock frustration in her voice. She laughed in the next beat.

I gave a chuckle. "Let's go eat," I said, setting the microphone on the stand. Sana nodded, letting my kimono's silk fall from his fingers. In one swift movement he was in my arms, lifted in the air. I settled him to my body, and he wrapped his arms around my neck securely. He was so strong today, though quiet. I kissed his forehead, and that smile was back, lighting up my world.

We joined everyone near the futon. I set him down on it, and he got comfortable against the wall. I gathered a paper plate from Natsuko, and got a chicken breast, some potatoes, and utensils. It would be enough for now, until we wanted more. Easy to manage on this plate. I went back to him, and he looked so pleased upon seeing it. As I settled next to him, other Lyra members began to talk. A conversation started, to which I wasn't paying much attention.

My knife cut the chicken breast into manageable pieces, and though he was strong today, I began feeding him anyway, enjoying watching his lips.

I was brought back by my mom's voice. "We'll go to the beach, then. Around 7PM, I'd think. That's when we used to go. There might be some tourists from Tokyo, but it isn't very popular. Might not be very crowded. Ah, I used to take my children to this every year. We haven't gone together in so long. Maybe I can invite Naoko, too. Have them all come. I wish Papa was here, too, but that can't be helped. Maybe next year."

"Huh?" There was a chunk of chicken in my mouth. I quickly chewed and swallowed it. "What are you talking about?"

"The fireworks festival, silly," Natsuko replied instead. She had a french fry in her hand absentmindedly.

Something like an electric shock went up my body. A brief memory from earlier this summer, but well remembered. "Ah! I wanted to take Sana to that!"

Natsuko started laughing. "Yeah, it's tonight, apparently."

"We're all going to go," Shizue sighed, her eyes going to Hikaru. "I bet it'll be romantic. I wonder if there's going to be vendors, like a real festival? Is it just fireworks?"

My mom was already nodding, remembering. "There's always some. Music, food stands, everything. All along the water front."

"Is there takoyaki?" Yami asked, pausing in his eating.

Sana burst into sweet laughter. I grinned, seeing him do this. "You're already eating, and you're talking about that?" He asked, too in his giggles.

"You know how much I like takoyaki," he said, smiling like a little boy.

"I do, I do," Sana snorted a little. He was too cute.

"Hmm, I wonder if there will be..." My finger went to my chin. "I wouldn't mind some, too." My head turned, only to see Sana's eyes practically shining at me, a look of wonder on his adorable face. "What?" I laughed. He turned shy. "What?" I laughed again.

"I want to see you eat takoyaki," he said quietly, too shy. I poked out my lip, and he shrank a little more, way too adorably shy. My arm went around him, pressing him to me, and his eyes went big, his small, nervous smile plastered to his face.

"Then there'd better be takoyaki there," I said, smiling myself. Loving him.

"Yeah, there'd better be!" Yami echoed, digging back into his chicken.

By the evening, Sana had taken a nap. He seemed a little tired, but he was undeterred by this. His will to go see the fireworks was written all over him. We'd changed into yukata, Sana, myself, and Natsuko. Naoko and her family would be joining us at the beach, just like everyone else. We were getting ready hurriedly, having had a light dinner beforehand. No one was much hungry after our heavy lunch, but we made sure to eat enough. I'd especially made sure that Sana had enough to eat.

He looked radiant in his light blue yukata with white lilies all over it. I was wearing a red one with pink and white flowers, and Natsuko was wearing one that was white with goldfish and blue water patterns. Our hair was styled elaborately, compliments of my mom. She'd done our hair up in simple styles, but very effective to keep our hair off our necks and fashionable, too. She'd used some of the traditional hair pieces from Sana's collection, and the effect was stunning.

When we arrived at the beach front, I had Naoko on speaker on my phone. It was so noisy that it wasn't bothering anyone. We wandered around, taking in the sights and sounds. There was pop music coming from somewhere. I decided to use this as a guide.

"Is the music louder or quieter where you are?" I asked, watching Natsuko excitedly push Sana in front of me. I saw his face lit up by various stands as he checked out their wares, looking like a child in his own excitement. I wanted to buy him everything there just to see more of that smile.

"Definitely louder!" Naoko called out. "We found a goldfish game booth! Daichi and my boys are playing now!"

"Ohh! What does it look like? Anything I might see from far off?"

"Yeah! There's huge light up pin wheels spinning on the booth next to us! They're being sold there!"

Light up pin wheels? I eyed Sana, who's mouth had just opened upon seeing some character masks for sale as we passed by. I just knew he'd like a pin wheel.

"Okay, we're going towards the music! I'll keep an eye out!"

"Okay! Remember, I'm wearing an orange yukata! You'll see it!"

"Got it!"

"Wait!"

Natsuko stopped in her tracks, but I didn't. My feet raced over to Sana, desperate to see why he'd just called that out. I heard my mom shuffling behind me, too. As I rounded him, he pointed to his left. I followed this, and my smile was back. Nothing to worry about at all.

"I want to get you one," he said, shy again, that cute face from earlier today. His eyes were a little bigger as his chin tucked in a bit, obviously nervous at suggesting this. My finger poked his cheek, and that smile was back. Success. He gave a little giggle as we turned, going towards the stand he'd pointed to.

As we neared it, the enormity of the colors hit me in the orangey gold glow of the light of the stand. Dozens of colorful fans of every type were hanging from racks. Immediately, Natsuko chose two. She handed one to my mom, and my mom gratefully started fanning herself. She took some coins out of her pouch and handed them to the seller. He bowed to her and took them with both hands, making change quickly.

My hand went to ruffle Sana's hair, but stopped just in time as I saw his elaborate hairstyle. His fingers were on his mouth as he surveyed the fans, his eyes squinted a little bit. He was making a hard choice. The gentle breeze of the evening ruffled his hair instead, satisfying my need.

In what seemed like five whole minutes, he pointed upward. "That one there."

I followed his finger, and my eyes lit up. My whole face brightened. Eagerly, my own fingers went toward his choice. Plucking it from the rack, I couldn't believe how perfect it was. I brought it down, and stared at the delicate waves of the sea printed on it. It was more of an expression of it, a modern take on water, white and variously blue swirls suggesting the movement on a much darker blue. Tiny dots in these colors were around the swirls, suggesting spray. My hand gripped the stick a little too hard, and I eased up. As I did this, Sana was paying the seller. I gazed at this, proud of him. He'd wanted his own money again for so long, and now he had it, and he was choosing to buy me a gift. I wanted to hug him and never let him go.

I stuck my fan proudly into my obi, and bought him a fan, too. I'd seen it as soon as we'd approached. I plucked it from the rack, and handed it to Sana like it was no big deal, but I was quietly watching him as I paid the seller. His mouth parted, smiling to himself as he stared at the design. It was mostly see through, a pretty effect. It ombre'd from a light green to blue, and on it were beautiful white flowers. They reminded me of him, his love of white roses. I know often, I focused on his love of purple roses. But, these reminded me of him on stage. How he always wore white, and his beauty as he performed. As beautiful as a white rose, and just as delicate.

Smiling all together, I took his wheelchair's handles. We went off in search of everyone again, satisfied and with new fans. The night air was opening my senses, and I briefly looked up at the sky above, slowing my walk. Above us were trillions of stars. Hidden by lights, but hanging there. Blazing away in perpetuity, giving us their light.

I sighed in my happiness and focused on the task at hand. Like a small ripple, Sana started to fan himself. It warmed my heart more than the summer air.