Authors note: StandArd! Disclaimer…
So those who have read this one shot before are probably all like… "what…eh…no…WAIT! where is the rest of the story!? GIVE IT BACK YOU INDIAN GIVER—" and I shall cut you all off there because, well that is just a very offensive thing to say. Shame on you. And, it's still there ya twit, just in later chapters. I am re-writing/editing this story. Or sprucing it up if you will. Instead of one shot, it shall have chapters, multiple chapters. And it shall continue on past where I left it. In other words, hello! Story Daddy's Little Cherry Blossom continues! Yay? And it's better than ever people! Or so I hope.
I would also like to throw a thousand fragrant, Ruby Red Roses at the feet of mine dear Beta; Ruby Dragon Fairy, for blunting all the thorns in this chapter!
Intro, Flowers and Magic
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Desire and laughter flowed like a stream of light around the little girl as she bunched herself into a little ball and jumped at the pet shop window pane. Her hand whacked it, and some of the kittens on a close shelf scattered away. With glinting eyes, they regarded her wearily from a scratching post they had taken refuge behind. She didn't notice them though, she was more of a dog kind of girl.
"That one, daddy! Can I pleaaaase have that one! Oh it's so cute!" She cried, trembling with excitement and joy. Overcome by her need to pet and cuddle the tiny thing. "I want to hold it so bad—!" Her cries were cut short when she heard mighty laugh and felt her little body gently being gently swept into two big strong arms. She hardly had time to protest, "Daddy! N-" as she was hugged so tight words escaped her.
The air was chill, but her daddy's arms were warm and comfortable. She snuggled in easily and gasped when she looked up and found herself face to face with the sweet, little, white German Shepherd she had been trying to reach. She beamed as she felt an excited jolt from the sudden proximity. She tested the frost pane with a tap of her fingertip. She frowned at the obstacle, the puppy seemed too far away when there was cold glass between.
She looked adoringly back up at her dad, "please dad," she begged her case. "I really, really want to hold that one. How about we go inside…" She suggested in a whisper as she traced its angelic, sleeping form. Small, white, and fluffy, just like how she thought a snowball would feel before she touched it and realized that it was actually cold and hard. "Pretty please," then she locked her big, expressive, puppy eyes on his.
Akio smiled indulgently as he answered in a nonchalant lilt, "Not today Kagome!"
Her look of shock and brimming tears, hardly surprised him.
She was so precious, and really quite the puller of heart strings. But ohoho, no way could he let her into that pet shop. If he let her walk in to pet one puppy, they would be coming home with three. And this was experience talking, not his wild imagination. That one time Kagome and her mother had come home with three furry 'surprises' from what was supposed to be a 'short and thrifty' mall trip, was still fresh and painful in his mind. Never again!
He didn't want to let her fixating on that puppy. Not when she wasn't ready for one yet, she had only just turned six, and especially not with the surprise he had already planned for her eighth birthday. Speaking of surprises, he needed to hasten their exit. He could feel some darker characters, he'd rather not reveal to Kagome, attempting to drop in for a surprise visit. But he had some time, they were near, not close yet. So, now he had to determine the best way to get out of this without heart breaking tears…while avoiding ambush.
He knew that many parents would quote psychological strategies from some high end child rearing books, with faith as though they were quoting scripture from a holy book like the Bible or the Koran. But Akio knew in truth that sometimes six year olds' were simply just kids in need of a little distraction. Specifically a magical distraction, his eyes gleamed. A little spark of magic might also warn away his visitors.
Kagome blinked when twinkling hazel eyes slanted her way, and a deep blue energy sparked from Akio's finger, gathering a small wind around his daughter, curling small wisps of her hair into tiny flying ringlets, and tickling her chin.
She giggled at the sensation, and dropped her gaze from the window to look curiously back and forth from her father's glowing finger to his eyes.
Perceiving his intent, Kagome hummed curiously, "Will you do a pretty cloud show for me?" She asked, even though she already knew what even the most meager stirring of her father's winds usually led to. She thought she could hear wind chimes benefiting from her father's winds in the distance.
He grinned at her and tilted his hand to the side as though inviting her to see for herself whether or not there would be a 'pretty cloud show' coming anytime soon. The tiny warm wind first began caressing her cheeks and then plummeted down to the sidewalk in one smooth sweep, growing as it began picking up the freshly fallen autumn leaves of orange, yellow, and red, and twirling them in a colorful cyclone around the pair. "Well…I could do a cloud show," he finally replied.
Looking more aloof he added, "or maybe a splash show—" He flicked his finger towards a fountain across the street, splashing the water up as he carefully crossed the street to get closer to it. Kagome turned her head fast as a whip to watch the water fall down into fading shapes of mist, completely missing the triumphant smile lift her father's lips. Success for Operation Distract!
He continued on down that street, closer and closer to where he had parked the car. "…or how about a smoke show?" he suggested amiably.
Kagome clapped her hands to signal her favor of this idea, "A smoke show is perfect!" she agreed, shuffling around excitedly in his arms. "Could you use colored smoke this time?" She asked.
He hooted his agreement, feeling distinctly in that moment how much he loved her and the sweet little ideas her imagination came up with. Where on earth had she gotten the idea for colored smoke from anyway? If he knew her well enough, it was the little old medicine man in that movie Pocahontas they had watched the other night. He knew that Disney movie was trouble, next thing he knew she would be climbing barefoot over rocks and up trees, proclaiming her undying love for mother earth and John Smith to the world. Except, well, she already did all of that, except for the John Smith confessions of love part—yet. He chuckled to himself, alright, so he loved that about her...and he loved the movie Pocahontas. He stopped just then when he spotted a little something, small, pink, and simple, encased deep in auburn foliage up the path.
He sent a wind current, similar to that of a boomerang, spinning towards it. It came back with a tiny pink flower, slowing gently as it neared his daughter. Kagome's eyes crossed. He nearly burst out laughing, she looked so ridiculous and silly, Akio loved it. She was a cute and he utterly cracked up as she continued to stalk its path with those crossed eyes as it zigzagged, landing softly right above her ear.
When it landed she gave him a winning smile of pure joy. The sight of it sent his heart beating faster with fatherly pride of her love for the simple and little things in life. She carefully reached out to put the flower in the palm of her hand where she gently stroked the delicate petals. She'd never dare bruise her favorite flower, the cherry blossom. She was such a gentle girl.
"Hey dad…" she said after a natural pause.
He paused in the middle of buckling her into the car, "yes darling?"
"Do you think the puppy will like the colored smoke show too?" She asked eagerly, with an innocent smile as she fondled the flower.
Crap, Akio thought, distraction failed. "Umm…" He began, when he noticed her smile suddenly faltered into a frown as she looked down at her hands.
"Oh no, I tore a petal!" She then started tearing up as her voice raised to frantic, ear traumatizing decimals, " Oh no, oh no, oh no! How do I fix it? Daddy, I can't fix it—"
"Calm down Kagome! It's just a flower!"
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A/N: Thanks for reading love. And don't worry, everything gets way less romanticized in the next chapters. I just can never help myself in the first hehe.