Mei brushed a long strand of hair from her face as she gazed up in wonderment. Long black strands of her silk hair were draped down her back and shoulders, standing out against the pale pink of her kimono. Her pearly skin was just as much of an offset as her clothes. Deep brown eyes gazed lovingly up at thetall cherry tree that stood before her.
The girl giggled as a pink petal slowly floated from the branches and gently came to rest on her nose. The ground was covered in them. Glancing down, Mei realized that she no longer could tell the difference between her kimono fabric and the fallen pink petals. They seemed to melt together and become one solid blanket that covered the ground.
Sighing deeply, she closed her eyes and imagined that she was now part of the cherry tree, growing tall and healthy and also beautifully. She pictured her feet seeping slowly into the ground and becoming roots. And her arms were stretching and becoming branches that were covered in cherry blossom petals.
And that�s when she felt it. She didn�t know what it was but something told her that there was something beneath the tree. She could feel her imaginary roots wrapping around it as they continued to grow. It was a feeling that puzzled her deep in her mind.
"Mei," called a gentle voice from behind. It was low and soft but was more than enough to pull the girl from her daydream. She turned slowly to find a tall man with short brown hair. Long bangs draped across his forehead and dark emerald eyes that sparkled in the sunlight. He wore a black kimono that hung openat the chest, exposing his pale and well-toned chest. His skin was quite a contrast tohis outfit.
"Oh, its you Sukito. You startled me." Mei gave a deep breath as she greeted the older man with a smile.
"Forgive me," he said in a deep silky voice "Have I disturbed you?" Mei turned back toward the tree and sighed. "No. I was just thinking. And admiring the cherry tree. Its blooms are really full this year."
"Indeed it is," Sukito said as he came to stand next to the girl. He glanced at her and noticed the small smile that curved at the corners of her pale lips.
"You love it here, under this tree. Don�t you Mei?" The dark haired girl nodded her head as she caught a falling petal. Its color matched her slightly blushing cheeks.
"For some reason, I feel most at peace here. I can�t really explain it," she spoke softly while she rubbed the flower petal between her fingers. A gust of wind caught it from her grasp and carried it across the rest of the garden. But Mei wasn�t worried, cause she knew that there would be more. Sukito caught one of his own and held it tightly in his fingers. He then reached over and gently placed it in the palm of Mei�s hand, then closed it just as gently.
"Do you know why Cherry blossom trees petals are such a pale and lovely color of pink?" Mei shook her head no as she gazed up at the older man. He smiled kindly down at her. "It�s because of the blood." Mei gasped in shock and dropped the petal from her hand as covered her mouth.
"What do you mean?" she asked. Sukito turned his gazed up toward the tree, a smile still on his face. "Long ago, Cherry trees used to be as white as the snow. But there was an Emperor who didn�t like the color of its blossoms. He said that it reminded him too much of the winter when his beloved wife had died. So he ordered that any and all warriors that had died honorably in battle, be buried beneath a cherry tree, so that its roots would absorb the blood and the petals would grow to become a pale and calming shade of pink. They were simply called spring blossom trees before that. Do you know why we call them cherry trees now?"
Mei shook her head again and gazed back up at the man, waiting for his answer."Because the Emperors daughters name was Cherry. He called her Chisanna Sakura, meaning Little Cherry Blossom."
Mei stared at the fallen petals on the ground and thought. "So there is a body under each of these trees." She began to wonder if that�s what she felt before. Something solid beneath the trees roots.
"Come. We should go in. The days light is almost gone and we should get in before the nights chill sets." And with that, Sukito lifted the small girl and placed her on his shoulders. She gave a small cry but didn�t protest. "We can come back tomorrow and spend the whole day under its shade. But for now, lets go home little Sakura."