Long time ago, in Kyoto, lived Tory, a small white dragon, well known by everybody there. As he was as small as a bird the people called the dragon Tory, as it means bird in japanese. He was 50cm long, and absolutely harmless. He could not speak the language of the people, of course, but he managed quite well whisteling, and making noises with his lips. Tory lived in one of the cherry trees on the central avenue in Kyoto. The avenue lead to the imperial palace, where the emperor lived at that time. Of the cherry trees Tory always went to the same one. In spring when all the cherry trees were blooming in pink and white colours, the avenue was like a sunrise, with the trees full of “snow?.As the flowers fell down the avenue was carpeted in pink and white. The emperor, then, always went out to wish a "happy summer" to everybody.
Tory lived in the only tree that never was in blooming. Tory could be easily found the whole year as he was white. If the tree bloomed in spring then it would be impossible to find Tory.
Lots of people tried to say to Tory that it would be safe in spring in other cherry trees, as a lot of merchants, and visitors arrived to the city. Of course, they had never seen a dragon, so Tory could be annoyed. Tory always answered with a Bluffffff, and then flew to his cherry tree, started to sing and whistle.
Once, in spring time, there were too many people, too many visitors, too many foreigners, from a lot of countries, chinese, koreans, even portuguese and spanish. All of them already knew the story of the little dragon.
Some Samurai were drinking, celebrating their last battle in the northern territories, where they fought with “barbarians?. One of them had the following idea: "We are very good with our arrows and bows, we could even kill dragons!!". "Of course," said another, "we have one, here in the palace avenue".Then all of them went to the avenue with the bows, arrows and swords.
The citizens of Kyoto were frightened by them. They were of a higher class. So, they just follow the samurais. Then they entered into the avenue where the cherry trees were blooming. The people thought that the samurai were going to the palace to kill the emperor, but, suddenly, they stopped at the cherry tree without flowers. They said: "There it is!, that little white dragon". "As it is very small it is going to be difficult", some of them shouted.
The citizens could not believe what they were witnessing. 20 or 30 samurai with the battle bows, just to hunt a little harmless dragon. So, then, some merchants moved themselves between the tree and the samurai. Everybody was shouting very loud. The samurai being of higher rank or level, ordered the people to move away. More and more people were gathering together.
The emperor was informed, so he went to the main gate of the palace to see what was happening. The samurai were very drunk, and aimed at the people, ordering them to move away. Most of the people moved away very quickly, and the rest were moved by some soldiers who obeyed the samurai.
24 bows were raised directed towards the little dragon, who was paralyzed. Tory could not move. He was just whistling very softly, sssiiiiiiii, ssssiiiiiiii.
The captain said, "ready, steady, and? what??". The cherry tree was blooming!! Suddenly white and pink flowers were showing everywhere. Fast, very fast it was full of flowers. More flowers, more beautiful than any of the other trees. Tory could not be seen.
“Sakurao! Sakurao!? shouted a spaniard “el cerezo SAKURAO?. The people were amazed, everybody repeated “sakura, sakura? without knowing that the spaniard was saying that the tree was cured!!
The emperor saw everything from the palace. He ordered the doors to be opened, so that, he could see the tree closer, that special “sakura tree?.
Soon the samurai were sober again. All of them let their bows fall to the ground, and stood, hypnotised, looking at the tree. The dragon was singing much better that ever before. It was fantastic, undescribeable.
The emperor arrived, so fast that nobody realized that he was there until he reached the tree and touched it. Then, everybody bent their bodies, or put their knees on the ground. The emperor said, “from now on, you will be called Sakura, cherry tree in blooming?. The people liked that and they started to cheer the emperor and to sing.
After that Tory lived in the same tree. But in spring time it bloomed as the others, changing into Sakura. Everybody understood that Tory had a reason to live there. When it bloomed it was the most beautiful tree.
Nobody knows how long a dragon lives. So, if you go to Kyoto, in the cherry tree avenue, look for a little dragon. But, be careful!. In spring it will be full of sakuras, it will be impossible to find Tory, or ... maybe not, who knows ...
(Thanks to Susan for the correction!)