It was summer and all the colors were too bright. Under the cherry tree I closed my eyes and ha the most incredible dream; a splash of colors drawing different types of flowers, suddenly it became dark and I see the full moon, my chest ached, I felt a strange melancholy and a melody started to sound, it was beautiful, a voice; a beautiful voice was singing. My heart started to beat so fast like it never did before and the melancholy I was feeling it became strong. The singing voice was full of sorrow and it was singing about the seasons an about the love that was lost.
A shadow was coming close to me, I couldn’t see his face but it was familiar, I didn’t feel any fear. He was in front of me and hugs me tight … “my dear hime”.
I opened my eyes, it was all a dream but it was so vivid, I still was able to feel the heat on my body, that whisper on my ear was so real…
“My dear hime” … I remembered those words; I was not a princess… Why would I dream about someone calling me a princess? …
I returned to town, I had to help with the flower shop or my mother will scold me again.
Our life was hard a big family, five children, my mother a florist, our father died two years ago and our mother has been running the business with a lot of effort, as I said I am not a princess.
Helping with the shop was not difficult; the only thing I didn’t like was to deliver flowers to the palace. Seeing how much difference was between my reality and theirs was frustrating.
Arriving at the shop, I took the basket that mother always leave for me to deliver, by the flowers this time; I noticed that the deliver was only to the palace.
I put the basket on my back and started to walk, the smell was beautiful, almost like a drug, makes you want to sleep and dream again.
I arrived to the palace, like always so huge, I left the flowers on the main room, where usually they instructed me to put them, and it was as far as I could enter the palace.
Walking on the outside of the palace I started to feel so anxious, like there was something for me. I kept walking toward the entrance I looked around, there was something, and a shadow calms my attention, a familiar sensation, I kept walking, but again this shadow seemed to follow me, but this time I hear a voice “follow me” it said.
I was not afraid but wasn’t sure, at the end I decided to follow that shadow, that took me deep into the forest, I kept following this shadow until it stopped in front of the lake, the shadow became a black bird… was that magic?...
-who are you?- asked a voice. The voice was familiar but I was sure I didn’t know who that voice belonged to.
-sorry… I was following that bird- I said pointing the crow that was on top of a tree’s branch.
-that crow likes to attract people, but it always attracts troublesome people-
I turned around and met the red eyes of that someone who was talking, the owner of such a deep voice.
I knew he was not human, maybe a demon but I was not afraid.
His eyes were wide open, like he was surprised.
-Have we met before?- I asked, it was a strange feeling, like I met him before, even when I knew was the first time I saw him.
-No- he replied
I felt disappointed.
-Why don’t you run? You know I’m not human- he asked coldly.
-I’m not afraid- I replied
He turned around and started to walk, he slowly was disappearing.
I wanted to scream, tell him not to go but I couldn’t, I did not know his name. My heart felt in pain for an unknown reason, why did I yearn so much for that demon?
I saw the crow that was flying around, I took one flower from the grass and I gave it to the crow.
-it is for him, give it to him- I said to the crow, the crow took it with it claw and flew in the direction of where the demon left.
That night I was not able to sleep, his eyes was the only thing I could see when I closed my eyes.
Days passed, there were times when I saw that crow, but the demon was not there, I even tried to follow the crow, to try to find the demon but I had no luck the crow while flying it always faded away.
It was night and we were eating dinner, I realized my mother was looking at me with concern.
-I have seen a crow following you- she said.
Everyone stopped eating, except for me. We knew where this conversation was heading to.
-be careful…demons and spirits are all around this village- she said again.
-I know mother but you don’t have to worry it is just a crow flying around- I said not giving it importance to the conversation.
And so the conversation was over, my mother was too scared to keep talking about demon or youkais inside home, she always thought that if you speak about them, they will come.
Like any other day I had to deliver flowers, I went to the palace as always, they were regular customers, they used to ask for flowers every day and even sometimes more the once in just one day. And of course today was not exception for going to deliver flowers to the palace. But now as my new habit, I ran into the forest after delivering the flowers. I still had the hope of finding the demon again. But as usual he was not there so I left a flower at the lake, when I started to walk to get out of there I thought I heard a voice, I looked everywhere but no one was there.
Next day was the same and so on the days passed by.
One day I was doing the usual, thing, delivering the flowers into the castle but for my surprise, someone talk to me, one of the guardians.
-excuse me young girl. He said.
I stopped, to be honest I was scare, maybe I did something wrong without realizing- yes?- I asked with fear.
-I have realized that instead of getting out through the main gate, you go towards the forest-
I just nodded
-Why is it like that?-
-I like the forest; there are so many flowers and birds- I replied.
He seemed serious, the nodded like he understood what I meant –just be careful, the forest is full of youkais-
I bowed and thanked him –I will sir, thank you for your advice- and left.
In my way to the forest, I started to hear a voice, a singing voice, it was the same voice as my dream, I was sure about it, the song was sad, words like “the one I loved, I killed just by loving her”, the song was full of sorrow and tragic words. I ran faster towards the lake, I knew it came from there, when I realized that the song stopped, I stopped running as well and stayed behind a tree, where I could see the lake, there he was, the demon I was yearning for, sited on a log that was floating in the lake, dressed beautiful, with something that looked like a kimono and his beautiful long hair being moved by the wind.
-Why you bring me flowers?- he asked loudly with his deep voice.
I got nervous, he knew I was there hiding.
-Answer me! - He demanded.
I stopped hiding and walked towards the lake slowly –I don’t know…I just do…-
-You silly…last time you walked into the river you died- he said with his expression full of sorrow.
-Died? - I stopped.
-Hundred years ago… I killed you…why you have to come again looking for me? Do you want to die again? - He asked with pain.
-Then we do know each other- I said thinking at loud.
-We did long time ago…- he looked at the sky- run now and don’t come back, if you do I will kill you again-
-Why? - I asked.
-It is my curse…I am destined to kill the one I love…Run!- he yelled and in a glance he was in front of me with his sharp nails, the looked like claws in my neck, slowly touching my skin, I could feel it was like a knife. I was a little afraid but even so, it wasn’t enough to make me run away but I had the feeling that If I ran I was not going to see him again and I was going to regret it always.
I walked towards him, which make that his nails cut very shallow the skin of my neck, he was surprised and gave a step back I jumped on him and hugged him.
-I am not going – I said –I cannot go –
-stupid- he said while touching my hair and held me in his arms- now I won’t be able to keep ignoring you…I won’t let go of you…but aren’t you afraid the you will die?-
I looked at him – if I have to die, I will anyway I will day soon or later but at least I will die in your arms now-, he just kept embracing me I felt I couldn’t breathe of how tight he was embracing me but didn’t matter I was happy.
Every day after that was normal, delivering flowers and passing to the forest to spend the rest of the day beside my beloved demon. Sit under a cherry tree, listening to his singing voice, while I closed my eyes and dreaming about flowers and colors.
One day in winter we deep into the forest and for me surprise a cherry tree was blooming beautifully, but that was impossible it was winter.
-How?- I asked amused.
-shhh…- we went closer and under the tree there was a couple, both beautiful. She with long brown hair and innocent face, wearing a blue kimono with pink cherry blossoms design. He with black hair and childish face, wearing a kimono with red design of momijis.-who are they? - I asked, I knew they were not humans, they were too beautiful.
-They are Haru and Aki…but Haru prefers to be called Sakura or that is how I call her-
I looked with curiosity, why they were together? - Is the spring and autumn in love? - I asked.
-Yes, they are- he nodded – but they can meet once every blue moon in winter.
-That’s sad- I said – they only can meet once if I had to see you only once every winter will be sad because I would want to meet you always-
He didn’t say a word he just put his arm around e.
I fell asleep and woke up in my futon.
That morning as usual I went to help my mother with the flowers, but I noticed her strange behavior, she didn’t look at me, she looked upset.
-Who is it?- she asked.
I couldn’t answer, what did she mean?
I heard her crying, I saw her tears but I couldn’t react, in all those years was the first time I saw her tears...
-your grandmother, said that when you born a youkai came to see her, to tell her that a demon was going to take you away from us.
I just looked at her with wide eyes wide open.
Is it a demon? - She asked- that’s why that crow was always flying around-
I was silent.
-Answer me!- she yelled.
I just nodded.
She kneeled in the floor and started to cry even louder, I was scared, so I just ran away the fastest I could, I hear her screaming telling me to come back, that I was going to die I kept running. The people from town looked at me strange but finally I got into the forest, he wasn’t there, I wanted to call him but I realized I still didn’t know his name, I started to cry, I was scared.
-Where are you? - I yelled.
I see the crow flying around me and immediately I feel his arms surround my body, I cried even louder now.
-What happened my hime? - He asks gently.
-I’m not a princess…don’t call me like that- I said in tears, I felt like I was losing strength.
-Long time ago, you used to live in that palace, but you said that next time you were not going to be a princess, so you could be with me-
-But not anymore…I live in a small house; outside the village an now I probably won’t be able to return to it ever again-
He turned me around and lifted me face, so our eyes could meet.
-My mother knows…a youkai told my grandmother-
He gave a sigh – the youkai …but it is true I will take you away from your family-
-So that’s how it is…if I choose you, I choose to leave behind my family-
He nodded.
-is not too late…you still can run away from me- and he stopped hugging me and left me.
I felt in the grass, I had no strength – no- I replied – I won’t leave you, I already choose you-
-Then you won’t see your family again-
I nodded – is ok…just let me say goodbye to the tonight-
He closed his eyes, and then nodded. He kneeled in front of me and started to create a melody, the wind started to blow and pink petals were surrounding us.
Did you make this? - I asked.
-No…that’s from my friend Sakura- he said.
-Finally you say I am your friend- said a kind and soft voice. I looked at her, she was beautiful and gave me a warm feeling, next to her was him Aki, he was beautiful as well, both were magnificent, more than any human even more that my demon.
-I own you my friend- she said- thank to you Aki and I can meet, even when it is for such a short period but was the best curse you could put on us. So now I will help you, I will curse you as well, so you can be with your beloved hime, without killing her. I will take away your immortality…when your son turn 16, you will leave this world, you will die… so in next life you can meet your hime as a human, and do you agree? - She asked nicely to him. He just nodded with courtesy.
They smile and she came closer, she kissed his chick and touched my hair the returned next to Aki and both left in a rain of pink petals.
Both looked at each other and smiled.
That night I went to my house to say goodbye, to my surprise they were not there, so I went to my room, took my things and left a letter for them. When I got out I saw a youkai, was the first time I saw one and the only one. He was tall, his figure was human but his face was a mask, he had no hands or feet, he only was wearing a yukata and was floating in the air.
-I took your family just for a few minutes- he said calmly. – Don’t worry, they are actually inside the house but you cannot see them and they cannot see you, it is just my magic-
-Why you did it? - I asked.
-Because if they see you, they won’t let you go-
-why do you help me? You were the one who talked to my grandmother years ago- I asked.
-Uhm…I own this one to that demon, I know him from years ago, since you were a princess and lived in that palace…I told your grandmother so they were prepared, I never thought they were going to be so stubborn- he said.
-You’re not scary youkai- I commented
He laughed- this is not my true form, if you see how I really am, that would scare you- He turned away and vanished in the darkness.
I walked away and for a last time I looked back to my house, there they were all my family, talking discussing and my brothers and sisters fighting as usual. My little brother saw me through the window I just waved goodbye and he just smiled kindly to me and waved back.
It was a night of full moon, he was there under the cherry tree, just like a dream, so unreal, and everything was unreal, just like magic…was like a dream where we were walking under the moonlight.
