A Match to Remember

[Nicolas King]

Nicolas had cleared this day on his calendar, and had assured Sakura of that fact every time the subject was brought back up but somehow she felt that he would be called in anyway, that something would go wrong somewhere in the world and that would require his attention more than a silly little girl at a Quidditch game... or something to that effect. Of course, Nicolas didn't see things that way, he knew that something was always to go wrong in the world but that he couldn't let such obvious facts control his life, so when he promised somebody to be around for something, or to take a day off, he kept the promise as well as he could.

Nicolas arrived at Sakura's flat and was greeted with an embrace and a soft kiss before being invited in while Sakura finished getting ready for the game. Sakura was wearing a team jersey for the Appleby Arrows with jeans and her hair was tied back in a ponytail. She was, evidently, prepared for a day out and a day cheering on her favourite Quidditch Team. This, of course, was in stark contrast to Nicolas was wore what were essentially regular robes. Nicolas would surely enjoy the game, but he didn't have a preferred team to win, didn't know enough about either side to make a judgment call like that, but he had figured he would cheer with Sakura for the Arrows when the time came. Sakura came back out, now apparently fully ready for the match, and presented one of her two tickets to Nicolas 'as promised'. He smiled and thanked her kindly before complimenting her on her appearance and offering her his arm. With a smile down at Sakura, Nicolas apparated them from the appartment to the UK, where the match was set to take place.

When their feet touched solid ground again Nicolas looked to Sakura shortly, to ensure she was still in one piece, and was reassured by her smile that she was fine. He looked to where her gaze was and smiled at the Quidditch pitch that had been set up for this event, temporarily, in the English countryside. More interesting, for him, was the fact that as he looked around the perimeter of the area he could still see various charmists and aurors setting up the necessarily protections for the day. He was quite glad that the New Zealand team never had to do this sort of thing and that his job never came down to being a security guard for a sporting event. Taking Sakura's hand now, they walked to the entrance gate and each presented their ticket, a portion was ripped off and then handed back to them. Thanking the Wizard at the gate, Nicolas led Sakura in to the stands and they started the maddening search for their seats before the match was to begin.

 

[Sakura Gemini]

All morning long she had been preparing herself, making sure the tickets were at hand that the flat was clean before she left. That her favourite team sweater wasn't stained of course it was ripped near the hem and looked so completely worn that she had simply hugged it to her in the end and opted for the newest home jersey that her father had bought her especially for the game today. It's newness felt strange on her, especially as she had worn her 'old faithful' to every single game she had ever seen since she turned 15 and had gotten the sweater as a gift that Christmas but she had not wanted to see the horrified look on Nicolas' face by wearing it with him. It was well loved but had long since not been decent enough for wearing any where else but lounging about the flat.

When he arrived she was not in the slightest bit surprised to see him donned in his usual wisarding garb and kissing him swiftly on the lips she went in search of the tickets as she finished pulling her hair up into a high ponytail atop her head. Once she had found them again, she handed one to Nicolas. Still thrilled that he was able to make it though she had felt like such a nagging wench the last few weeks over the matter.

It wasn't long before they were off, she clung to him perhaps a little too closely but she always enjoyed their side along apparating now, much prefering to going solo. Once arrived and having received their stubs back they made their way through the stadium to the side they were indicated. The atmosphere was electric and she smiled as so many other Appleby fans mingled about. The Kestrels were a good team of course but in her view they had nothing on the Arrows. A few people she knew passed them by, waving and calling out to her. All hoping that the game would be great. Turning to beam up at Nicolas she felt the charged atmosphere of the event consume her as they made their way up the flights of stairs to where their row was situated.

She had been expecting a much longer climb but was speechless when they came about mid way of the stadium. Sakura over the years had lost count of the bloody noses she had put up with because of the altitude alone of some of the bad seats her father had acquired. Her grandfather had always been able to get them great seats but every once in a while Daniel insisted he could do just as good but his sources invariably failed, so much so that he had been tempted to redo the last healing spell he had performed on one of his 'ticket sources'.
"Nicolas" she was spellbound, breathless by how amazing the seats were. It was about the same height as the old school cheering stands at Hogwarts, she had spectacular views of the scoring boards, the people on the ground and the cheerleaders in the air.

"These are amazing" she smiled turning to beam at him and delivering a kiss that could knock the socks off any man in a five mile radius. Displaying public shows of affection had never been really her thing, especially this public. Their walks together were much different of course, usually there wasn't a sinner about for miles, but in a packed stadium she wrapped her arms about his neck as her mouth claimed his. Her tongue finding its way inside his heavenly mouth. The kiss would have progressed no doubt but decorum settled as did the whoops and cheers of those about them. She broke away blushing crimson.
"Sorry" she whispered wiping his lips tentatively before sitting down in her seat, "thank you" she smiled again at him.

 

[Nicolas King]

Nicolas smiled as they reached their seating and Sakura realized that not only had Nicolas gotten the tickets after they'd sold out, but they weren't in what he recalled a few of his muggle mates in school calling 'the nose bleeds'. He watched her astonishment as seemed at a very loss for words except for the simple utterance of his name before she collected her emotions somewhat and managed another small phrase before releasing these emotions to him. Nicolas received Sakura's kiss, holding her softly at the waist and cradling her cheek with his other hand, realizing if this moment alone was all the day held for them, if the day were to conclude right after that kiss, Nicolas would not have regretted anything about it, would have treasured it among his favourite memories, and counted the price paid for the tickets, and the slight harassment from Sakura to ensure he could come along to the match, well worth it for that exquisite meeting of lips.

As Sakura broke away Nicolas noted her face having turned crimson and thought on what else the day held for them, how she might react later on, and hoped that he hadn't made the wrong decision. Pushing this thought from his mind, however, he hushed Sakura after her apology, assuring her it was unnecessary, and took his seat as Sakura took hers and thanked him once more. He assured her that it was no problem, and that he'd known she'd wanted to see this match.

Soon enough the players broke out from the changing rooms in to the stadium, flying frantically about in laps and practising various tricks and plays which they intended to use during the game. Fans of the Kenmare Kestrels started to play on harps as was the custom as the emerald-green streaks filled the air in the stadium. This was matched, of course, by those few daring supporters of the Appleby Arrows who shot arrows in to the air from their wands in support, most commonly at the supporters of the Kestrels. This practise, of course, had been banned over a hundred years ago and no sooner had a few arrows been fired then the sounds of ministry officials trying to track down who had fired them, exactly, could be heard. Nicolas watched the pale-blue of the Appleby Arrows for a while, sizing them up, before turning his attention to the Kestrels and watching their runs. He hadn't watched a match in some time, but was confident that Sakura was cheering for the right team. With a smile he turned to Sakura and told her this, through the roar of the fans about them.

The referee walked out on to the pitch with the case of balls for the game and called the players in to the centre. After a word with team captains, the balls were released. First the snitch, then the bludgers, then, finally, the quaffle was tossed in to the air and the game started.

 

[Sakura Gemini]

As they sat down and Nicolas assured her that her apologies were unnecessary she smiled at him, the temptation to kiss him again for that alone was strong but in seconds the players were out and the usual pandemonium ensued. The harps drove her nuts of course and like the many Arrows fans she automatically cheered when the illegal arrows were sent flying. Being a ministry worker perhaps she should not condone that type of behaviour but it happened at every game and no one was ever seriously hurt. It just simply wouldn't be a game without them now, banned or not. The crowd erupted into hysterical laughter at the officials words as if that would really prevent the perpetrators from not firing again. She was thrilled when Nicolas seemed to favour her team above the others, it would have been disastrous altogether if he had chosen to cheer for the other squad.

Soon enough the referee had released the various balls and the teams were in high pursuit. It was like a speed way out there but she loved it. As soon as Charles Cavendish caught the quaffle the most senior Arrows chaser and began to race up the pitch, he became enlarged on the screens around them. Sakura rarely looked at these screens but always looked at Cavendish for some reason because he would wink as if he was winking just at you and a 'ping' would emit from his shining white teeth. He truly was the poster boy for the Appleby Arrows. Women all over the stadium went wild and applauded and though Sakura applauded too her attention was soon back on the other players especially the beater Henderson from the opposing team who barrel rolled within inches of Cavendish, elbowing him viciously on his turn. She stood as others did at the injustice of the action as Cavendish was pummeled on the other side by a Kestrel's chaser.

The referee blew the whistle and both Kestrels laughed as they moved away, they would receive a warning at best. Cavendish had held to the quaffle bravely and passed it effortlessly to Deacon Beaks. Every Arrow fan was off their seat and moments later cheering as the keeper for the Kestrel's fumbled for the quaffle, it hit off the hoop and went in. At every game the usual songs would erupt whenever a team scored and so it was now. The chants from the Kestrel supports were drowned out by the Arrows and even Sakura sang along with her fellow supporters. Swaying along to the beat as she stood and clapped along. Delighted that her team had already pulled into the lead. Soon they were all sitting again though as play continued and the Kestrel's took possession of the quaffle. So absorbed was she in the events unfolding that even her beloved seemed momentarily forgotten beside her.

 

[Nicolas King]

Nicolas watched the game with an air of good humour with regard to how earnestly Sakura cheered for the Arrows but how he was simply there for watching the sport - and Sakura. It was likely more of Sakura that he watched more than the game itself. The animation and joy on her visage gave himself greater happiness, knowing that he had had some hand in causing her to be so very overjoyed at something as simple as a Quidditch game, and also realizing that she would likely not be nearly as happy if it were anybody else in the world at the game with her. He applauded casually a the first goal of the game was scored but smiled widely at Sakura's reaction to this moment. The stands around them, full of Arrow supporters, all rose to their feet in thunderous applause and Nicolas felt strangely out of place for a moment before Sakura took her seat again beside him and he felt perfectly at ease with the world again, knowing that it wasn't necessarily in this group or at this game that he belonged, but rather with this woman.

The game progressed and as it did so Nicolas grew more and more acutely aware of the emotions he felt in the whirlwind that he was to call the day. Of the joy he felt when near Sakura, of the hope he found in their future, and most especially of the anxiousness he harboured over what he had planned for after the game. How so much came down to that one point in time, how long he had planned it for and how much it would ultimately decide for them both. He frowned at this. That time, after the game, seemed so very far away - almost as if it didn't exist in this reality at all, as if it'd never happen in this world, that Nicolas would never know his answer. This feeling made him more uneasy, more anxious, and his pocket seemed to burn red-hot with what it held within.

The Arrows had scored twice more, and the Kestrels were in possession of the Quaffle - preparing to score on the Arrows for the first time in the game when the chaser was taken out by a Bludger which had come from behind him. He spiralled to the ground, Quaffle in hand, and the whole stadium seemed to rise to watch his decent and the Arrow's chasers follow him down to retrieve the Quaffle. Nicolas, however, had ceased following the game, too deep in his own thoughts to the point where it'd finally overwhelmed him. As others stood, Nicolas descended to one knee. When the Arrow's chaser had the Quaffle again and the crowd relaxed, Sakura turned to take her seat once more but noticed Nicolas' semi-recumbent position, a small box in his one hand. She seemed transfixed by him in the moment and he offered her a small, queasy, smile in assurance of the moment, moving the hand out slightly he opened the box to display the ring and spoke as he did so. "Sakura, I love you." He began with this statement of fact, his mind still racing, awed at himself that he couldn't wait the few hours to propose as he had planned. "Would you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?" Nicolas already considered himself the happiest and luckiest man alive to even be with Sakura, but this moment would surely seal that assurance.

 

[Sakura Gemini]

Sakura could not remember the last time she had enjoyed a game so much, her heart was slamming in her chest with every swerve, dive and climb her team made. The quaffle was passed with speed and grace, caught with precision and held as if it were a life line. Again and again a run was made on the hoops and fortunately were now in the lead. The Kestrels got possession and began streaking up the pitch, she was on the edge of her seat watching it all unfold.

The bludger that hit the chaser was a cracker, she knew full well that if it had been the other way around she would have been appalled, demanded justice and booed the opposition relentlessly but as it was her own team she could only stand and clap wildly with everyone else. It wasn't that she condoned the action but it had been effective. It had stopped the chaser in his tracks and that had obviously been the beaters intention, how could she fault that? She watched as all three Appleby chasers dove down after the Kestrel still clinging to the quaffle. Loudly she spurred on her team, encouraging them to go faster, to push harder. Not once had she taken a blind bit of notice of the man she was here with, the game had her undivided attention now. As Nicolas loved his cauldron cakes she loved her quidditch. A loud cheer erupted as once again the Arrows got possession of the quaffle and breathing a sigh of relief she turned to sit again but paused in doing so to see Nicolas kneeling on the ground.

For a moment she thought he was just tying his shoelace again but it just wasn't the same somehow. He was more erect in how he knelt and in his hand was a small box. Much too small to host any cauldron cakes. Her eyes widened as did her mouth. She clamped the latter closed, unsure if she truly understood until he smiled. Her eyes looked deep into his brown orbs and she felt as if she were struggling to breath. Even more so when he opened the box to produce the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. A hand hastily covered her mouth and about them now the crowd moved from viewing the game to taking a keen interest in them. An audible gasp of awe ensued from the onlookers but Sakura had eyes for only Nicolas as he began to declare his love for her.

He proposed and the crowd of onlookers about them seemed to hush, the hush grew and it felt as if the entire stadium were now riveted to the events unfolding in the stands instead of what was transpiring on the pitch. The Arrows had scored again and though the majority of the stadium cheered it did become noticeable that something else was going on. And yet through all the commotion erupting around them Sakura heard only his voice as he asked her to make him the happiest man alive by marrying him.

Her eyes moved to the ring once more, it was beautiful and unique looking, so very like the man before her. There were no reasons at all that she could think of for her to refuse him and every reason imaginable for her to accept. A smile blossomed on her face as she slowly nodded her head.
"Yes Nicolas" the smile continued to grow, she may have been dressed in her team colours sporting no makeup whatsoever but in that moment, she looked more beautiful than she ever had. She was truly madly and deeply in love.
"I will marry you" the stands about them erupted anew but she was still only smiling at him, reaching out to him to have him stand before her, "I love you."

 

[Nicolas King]

Nicolas watched Sakura's actions, his heartbeat and breath suspended in this time as she recognized what it was exactly that he was doing even before words escaped his mouth. His words seemed almost surreal to him, the whole situation just out of place with the 'real world' as he spoke to Sakura and watched with soulful eyes as she reacted to his words and the entire situation as a whole.

Nicolas took no notice of the crowd around them, of the hush that had come over that section of the stands, that there was even a Quidditch game still going on within their view. He only took notice of Sakura and of every second, every eternity, that passed before his heart was finally permitted to beat again, his breath permitted to return again, with that simple nod of a head and utterance of 'yes'.With that simple world the world seemed restored to his senses in a new air, a new light, an entirely new reality, nearly. He returned the radiant smile of the woman before him and took her hand in his own, removing the ring from the box and slipping it on her finger with her further, firmer, statement that she would marry him. "This ring has been in my family for several generations - it was my mother's, and now it's yours."

After this brief statement he rose to stand in front of Sakura and smiled down at her, his fiancé, his intended, his belovéd. No more words seemed to come to him as he placed his hands on her hips and leaned his head towards hers, their lips meeting and Nicolas now returning the kiss which Sakura had given him before the start of the match. '[D]elivering a kiss that could knock the socks off any [wo]man in a five mile radius.'

 

[Sakura Gemini]

Her hand felt so warm in his as he lifted it and placed the ring on her finger explaining about the ring. She gasped in awe then, glancing at the ring that fitted perfectly on her finger as if it had been made especially for her. She knew without a doubt that if she had any ring in the world to choose from, this would have been the one she would surely have picked. It was beautiful, the light danced and played off the diamonds as it glinted on the white gold.

Sakura had smiled as he slowly rose to stand before her, his hands gently holding her hips as they moved infinitely closer to one another. Time and space were irrelevant to them, the cheering crowds mesmerized by the duel events unfolding about them torn between watching the couple to the game and as the Arrows scored on the hoops again, Nicolas kissed her. The crowd went berserk, whistles, cheers, ticker tape flying every which way while someone charmed an image of the couple kissing to have them on view on the large screen for all to see.

Oblivious to this, Sakura could feel her leg pop as it had the very first time he had kissed her. Her mouth moved over his with an abandon she had never before experienced. Already secure in his love, she could not explain it to herself now or if ever just what his kiss was doing to her in that moment. Her hands wound their way around his shoulders, her body clung to him as if he was her very necessity for breathing, for existing. Slowly she broke apart, not wanting too but knowing they had too. She was reacting to him in a way that was not appropriate for where they were. Colour suffused her cheeks as she smiled up at him, before resting her head on his chest and laying her hand over his heart. She looked once more at the ring on her finger, still disbelieving that this had happened at all.

Closing her eyes briefly she had all forgotten the game not glancing up to look as rude chants were sung out as one of the Arrow's beaters was sent off for an illegal hit.
"You've made me the happiest woman alive since we began seeing one another" another glance up at him, smiling into his beautiful brown eyes, "My cup of happiness is overflowing."
She laid her head upon his chest once more as the cheers and roars of the stadium slowly began to filter back into her consciousness.

 

[Nicolas King]

As the two stood there in the most public of places and kissed Nicolas smiled inwardly, he hadn't gotten to do exactly as he'd planned or imagined, nor had he been able to allow Sakura to enjoy the whole game without interruption, but he had found the woman of his dreams and she seemed to have found the man of hers. They seldom made such public displays of affection, and that was part of why it was so surprising to Nicolas that he had proposed there, at the match, or that she had been so overwhelmingly receptive to it. As they kissed, Nicolas felt like the magic of his own being was mixing with that of hers, that somehow they were much more connected now than they ever were before, even though all that had been done was a ring had transferred from him to her in order to symbolize a promise of something great to be.

As Sakura broke from his lips, Nicolas sighed and looked down at her, her cheeks flushed with colour and she rested her head against his chest. He held her to himself, embracing her in the moment and wondering how he could be expected to focus on the game at all now. Of course, he did realize that this moment (like all others) would pass and that Sakura would be fully enthralled by the match before them once more, that was to be expected, but he didn't think he would be able to shift his attentions so easily.

Fortunately, the moment didn't pass as quickly as Nicolas had feared it may have. Sakura continued to seek the warmth of Nicolas' arms and then she broke the silence, looking up to him as their gazes caught once more. Nicolas smiled with Sakura's words, not finding words in addition to hers necessary and feeling the words of his proposal surely assured her of his similar feelings. Releasing Sakura from his embrace a moment he smiled down at her, knowing that her attention would be back to the game in a moment as they would each sit back down, but seizing this moment to offer her something he hadn't yet, but that he felt was very late in doing so. "After the match, I'd like you to come back to my home here, if you'd be willing. I've seen your flat plenty, but you've never seen Levens."

 

[Sakura Gemini]

She thought surely they would sit down now, her gaze caught the spectators before them and all were doing so and yet they stood locked in one another's embrace. It was Nicolas who moved apart to look at her and speak, to invite her to see his home here in England. Levens, the name was beautiful and she wondered if it meant something to his family. Nodding her head she turned it then abruptly as they were roared at to sit down. The spectators were a fickle crowd and though they had cheered for them earlier on, they now wanted to see the game they had paid so dearly to see. With a grin she sat into her own seat and waited for Nicolas to do the same before turning to look at him once more.

"I'd love to see your home, really" he had not talked about it much to her and she wondered at this but then again, she wasn't always bursting with stories of her home either. That thought triggered another as she gazed down at the ring on her hand again before looking at him.
"While we're here in England, maybe we should also visit my family ... to tell them the news?" she glanced at him wondering how he would feel about another meeting with her father but her thoughts were soon interrupted as the Kestrel's made a play for the hoops. Sakura was on her feet and covering her mouth in astonishment, willing the keeper to knock it out when the beater from the Kestrel's smacked her so hard with a bludger that she fell from her perch before the center hoop and toppled to the ground.

A loud gasp rang out through the stadium before boo's followed. The game was held for a while until the alternate keeper could be brought on. Sitting down again Sakura exhaled deeply as if she had not been breathing right in all that time. She turned again to look at Nicolas and could not help but smile at him.
"I'm sorry ... you proposed then invited me to your home and I get lost in the violence of the game."

 

[Nicolas King]

Nicolas had forgotten about the game for a moment and was rudely brought back to reality by the crowd around them. Feeling poorly for a moment about having interrupted their viewing of the game, Nicolas retook his seat, and turned to Sakura, smiling for a moment as she agreed to visit his home and then not feeling so bad about his interruption of the game for some of the fans as she gazed down at her hand and the ring on it.

Nicolas chuckled with Sakura's question, she still didn't know he had spoken with her father about the idea already, and that her mother knew of it as well, that this all occurred just before she bought her flat, and that they were likely wondering what was taking so long. Deciding not to reveal any of this he nodded his head again, "Of course, a personal visit is always nicer than an owl, and we're here anyway." He agreed, knowing how important telling her parents would be for Sakura and having no desire to rob her of that, or to bemoan the idea.

As Nicolas spoke this, however, Sakura was back on her feet, following the action of the game in awe, shock, and horror as her team's keeper was knocked from the air. A gasp. Murmurs. Boos. Then Sakura returned to her seat as the game lulled, exhaling heavily and then turning to smile at Nicolas, a smile which he returned. With her explanation he nodded, "We are here for the game,"

The game progressed steadily from that point on, the Arrows leading the board but the Kestrals never too far behind. Then murmurs rose from the crowd again, and fingers started to point in to the air. It appeared that the Appleby Arrow's seeker had spotted something, and now the crowd had spotted his chase. This alerted the Kestral's seeker to the ordeal as well and he bolted after the snitch and the Arrow's seeker, hoping to win the game for his own team - even only after this few short hours of play.

 

[Sakura Gemini]

Sakura was delighted that they would go to see her family, she knew Amos was there this time and hopefully with a surprise visit he would not be able to scamper off as he had before. She wanted Nicolas to meet the patriarch of her family, certain that both men would get along tolerably well. Of course she also fervently hoped that her father would attempt a better job and being welcoming to her fiancé. She smiled at the word, the strange word that Nicolas now was to her. Looking up at him she smiled, curling her arm through his and snuggling against his shoulder as she enjoyed the rest of the game.

She wasn't to stay in that position for long though as the seekers began to battle ferociously for possession of the snitch. Sakura along with everyone else all but leaped from their seats. Almost yanking Nicolas' arm with her as she did so, she hastily apologised before turning back to the game. They were neck and neck, arm stretched ahead of them for the coveted item while they ducked and swerved with stupendous skill. Sakura was in her element, cheering madly with all the other supporters. A Kestrel beater moved in to tackle the Arrow's seeker but was well spotted and cut off with a beautiful blow to the head by one of the Arrow's more experienced beaters.

And then stunned silence as both seekers collided in mid air, moments passed dragged passed with agonizing slowness and then the Arrow's seeker detangling himself from his opponent waved the snitch above his head. Sakura cheered loudly turning to beam at Nicolas before flinging her arms about him again. Her mouth found his instantly and all elation for her team's win was shared in that moment. Breaking apart she continued to smile.
"Time to go then" the stadium was a hive of activity as more arrows were shot off into the air.
"Before the natives get extremely restless with their win" she laughed linking her hand into his, her fingers lacing naturally with his own. The only difference now was the slight pinch as their fingers brushed against the beautiful ring. With time the feeling would be like a second skin but for now she wanted to enjoy the new sensation of it.

 

[Nicolas King]

Nicolas was ceaselessly happy that his Christmas gift to Sakura could end off so well. Not only had he been able to obtain excellent seating on short notice for a match he'd known Sakura wanted to see, and get to propose that they spend the rest of their lives together at said match, but now the sprinkles on top of everything for Sakura's day - her team had won. Nicolas smiled as Sakura beamed at him and instantly embraced him. He returned this action and within moments not only had their arms encircled each other, but their lips had done similarly as well.

Standing up, Nicolas nodded and accepted Sakura's hand within his own, feeling the cool of her ring against his skin and instantly enjoying this sensation, this feeling that Sakura was now committed to be his, and that all the world could know it and see it so very clearly. Nicolas wondered for a moment how their linked hands didn't feel empty without this symbolic addition, and if a similar preponderance wouldn't come to him, or even her, in the future when the additional bands would interrupt their interlocked hands.

Walking alongside his intended to the outside of the stadium, Nicolas smiled. "Your parents first?" He enquired shortly, figuring Sakura would want to share the news with her family quite quickly. Wrapping his arms about her once more Nicolas waited until he could feel Sakura was ready, closed his eyes, and apparated them both just outside the gate of her family's home.