where the cherry blooms.
Long ago, deep within the forests of China, there was an orphanage that was built at the base of the Himalayas ran by a Japanese immigrant. Everyday, there was children running back and forth, screaming, yelling and pulling each other's hair. At Kazukague's orphanage, no one was sad. Although, there was one child there, the second eldest, who seemed so full of sorrow, with so much empty joy. Her mother and father were both killed by some people who raided their village, shortly after the child was born. Also, her older brother, Idachi, was always sick, and has been bedridden for his entire life. The child's name was beautiful and was only meant to be beautiful. Her name was Sakura.
Like everyday, Sakura was talking to Kazukague about cherry trees. She was so fascinated by them, almost bewildered in a way. Bewildered by their beauty, even though all she's ever seen was paintings and the dead cherry trees in the field.
"Kazukague-sensei, why do cherry blossoms bloom, again?" That was a question Sakura always asked, and she always asked it with her wide, hazel eyes.
"Because spring is a time for cherries to bloom," Kazukague always answered. Sakura fumed, considering she had grown tired of the answer.
Izumi, Kazukague's niece, suddenly interrupted their conversation. She had a very worried and flushed look on her usually pale face. "I'm sorry to interrupt, Ojisan," Izumi bowed slightly. "But Idachi's fever is getting worse." She seemed to be addressing Sakura. "We need your assistance, right away, Ojisan, and you too, Sakura-chan."
Immediately, both Sakura and Kazukague stood up. "Thank you, Izumi-san." Kazukague said in his deep, bellowing voice as Izumi led them to Idachi's room. There, Idachi lay on a thin cot, sweat dripping down his forehead, and his eyes clenched tight in pain. Sakura noted the dark circles around his eyes. He looked so pitiful.
"We need ointment," Kazukague said, almost as if it was a reflex. He bent down to feel Idachi's forehead and withdrew his hand to look up at Sakura. "Sakura-chan, considering you are the oldest next to Idachi, we are asking you to get this ointment for us."
Sakura froze. "Wh-what? But I can't-" She stopped talking when Kazukague held up a hand to silence her.
"Please, Sakura-chan, for your brother's sake," Kazukague said, his eyes soft and kind. "If you want you brother to live."
"O…Okay," Sakura whispered, her gaze floating from Kazukague's stern face to Idachi's. If her brother's life were on the line…she would do anything. "But from where?"
There is a medicine man on the other side of the mountains," Kazukague replied. "He is one of my friends and I know he would be willing to give you some free ointment. You should get ready now, considering it takes about a week to get there-without sleeping, that is."
The next day, Sakura prepared for her trip. Izumi even cooked Sakura a loaf of bread and an O-bento. After a few moments of packing provisions, Sakura was on her way. She said her good-byes and gave a quick kiss to her brother for good luck.
For six, long, sleepless days, Sakura trudged through the mountains tough exterior. She only stopped for a few, after the sun had set, to eat small pieces of bread, or grains of rice from her Obento. Soon, Sakura had reached what she thought was the place.
It was exactly like what Kazukague had described it: a small hut, with a long trail of smoke rising from the chimney, and cherry trees all around. Carefully, and slowly, Sakura approached the house. Sakura raised a shaky hand to knock on the wooden door, but the door seemed to open by it self.
"Um, hello?" Sakura said, only loud enough for her to hear. The sound of her own voice comforted her. She took a cautious step into the dark hut. There was no light, except for the fire burning in the corner.
"THINK FAST!" A voice suddenly cried out.
A child's voice? Sakura asked herself as she saw an object speeding towards her. She clumsily tried to catch the object, but unfortunately, it bounced of her head. Was that a ball?
"Wow, you're bad at this," the voice said again. No, it wasn't a child's voice. "Come on, is that all you got?" Suddenly, a small, wrinkly woman stepped out of the shadows. "Now, what do you want?"
"Uh, well," Sakura stammered. "Kazukague-dono sent me here to-"
"Get some ointment?"
"Yes," Sakura nodded. "Please," She quickly added.
The small woman seemed to scoff. "Only for a small price." She met Sakura's eyes. "Only if you do something for me."
"Sure, whatever you want," Sakura said hastily before she could stop to think.
"Give me that pink stone you have."
Somehow, Sakura's face fell. She was expecting something hard, and backbreaking. But then it would be faster it to get to her brother. "Oh, sure," Sakura reached into her leather pouch and fished out the smooth polished stone Kazukague found in the river the summer before. Good luck, Kazukague had said. "Here." She held out her hand.
"Thank you," the old woman snatched it greedily from Sakura's hands. "I know your brother has a fever. I recommend that you take the green pouch on the shelf over there." The old woman waved her hand towards the shelves on her right while she inspected the pink stone.
Sakura grabbed the pouch and ran out of there as fats as she could. She ran through the mountains for five days non-stop. It was easier, considering the snow-capped mountains was nothing but slush. Spring is coming, Sakura though happily. Spring might mean cherry blossoms.
When Sakura got to the small orphanage, she dropped the pouch. Everyone was crowded around one of the dead cherry trees. No, Sakura though, as she bit her lip.
"Sakura," She could make out one of the faces in the crowd. Kazukague. "I'm sorry, you're too late. He died last night. I'm sorry." His eyes were full of sympathy and also even some sorrow.
"No," Sakura shook her head wildly. "No." She repeated as she ran toward the cherry tree.
"But look, Sakura-chan," Kazukague put a hand on her shoulder. "There is a cherry blossom. It came as soon as he went. I believe the will to protect and save your brother is in that blossom, and it is in every blossom. It bloomed into something beautiful, from something that was dead. But it's beautiful, just like you, Sakura.
"You're Sakura, my cherry blossom."