Cherry-Blossom Guardian
The characters or anything that is included in his work all belong to Ken Akamatsu so please don't sue.
There has always been a cherry-blossom tree at the top of the tallest hill in Mahora. It is always blooming no matter what season. There is always a small, white dove nesting in the tree. Lots of people have tried to cut down the tree for many reasons. They have tried but failed. No matter for what reason the small, white dove is always there to protect the tree. No one really knows why but she does. Many people visit the tree. Many tales have been said about this single cherry blossom but what is the real reason? Well there is one legend which speaks truly…
It was a peaceful day in Mahora Academy, an all girls' school. It is like a city but just for the students. It teaches from pre-school all the way to university level. It was an ordinary day for everybody but maybe not for some. It was a normal morning with girls hurrying to class. However this story is mainly about two girls who were always together.
"Set-chan!" A small cry could be heard. A girl, sixteen years old with long chocolate brown hair, running towards, a so called, Secchan, but really her name was Setsuna, Setsuna Sakurazaki. She had coal black hair, tied in a tight ponytail at the right side of her head.
"Yes, Ojou-sama?" asked Setsuna
"I told you to wait for me! Also stop calling me Ojou-sama, its Kono-chan!" breathed Konoka Konoe.
"I'm sorry but I can not. I can not lower your high status." Setsuna replied in a more serious tone.
"PLEASE!"
"Very well. Ko-Ko-Konoka." stuttered Setsuna.
"That's a start. Let's go, were going to be late."
Together they ran for there class. Or rather Konoka dragged Setsuna by the hand.
The day passed like any other school day. Negi, their homeroom and English teacher, was trying to keep control over the bustling, restless class. It was Saturday so class ended early. When it finally ended for lunch Konoka came towards Setsuna.
"Hey, Set-chan. Can you come to the big hill near the World Tree? I want to have lunch there."
"Very well Ojou-sama… I mean Konoka" replied Setsuna, quickly correcting herself.
"Yay, I get to have lunch with Set-chan!" giggled Konoka. "I need to tell Asuna that we will be back later."
Asuna was Konoka's room mate and Setsuna's best friend. She was a simple girl except she was the dumbest girl in the class and she was only really good at sports. She was also Setsuna's sparring partner. They would both get up early in the morning to train with each other. She was a very active person and a kind one.
When they departed, it was a nice warm afternoon. No one could have ruined this moment where they sat and quietly ate the wonderfully made lunch, by Konoka. However, Konoka was disturbed by why Setsuna was so quiet. Usually she would blush a dark crimson every time she teased her. Now there was only a light flush.
"What's wrong Set-chan?" asked a concerned Konoka.
Startled by the sudden comment Setsuna, flustered, said, "Nothing Kono-chan- I mean- Konoka- no- I mean Ojou-chan. Ah I'm dizzy…"
Setsuna tipped sideways and expecting to hit a hard ground, she landed in a soft, warm lap.
"Careful Set-chan." whispered Konoka.
"I'm sorry Ojou-sama, how rude of me." Cried Setsuna, quickly, getting up and bowing.
"Don't worry about it." Laughed Konoka, while leaning in she said, "I like it when you can be relaxed."
"I'm sorry"
"Don't. Please you can lay down." said Konoka in an almost pleading voice. This slightly confused Setsuna but she did as she was told. So, Setsuna carefully laid her head on Konoka's lap. A blush quickly rushed to her cheek. Konoka leaned, her face centimetres away from her face.
"So are you going to tell me what's wrong, or am I going to have to punish you." said Konoka, trying to keep herself from giggling. Another deep blush emitted from Setsuna's cheeks while a small squeak was heard.
"Don't worry Set-chan. I won't do anything to hurt you."
There was silence.
After a few seconds, minutes, hours, Setsuna didn't know and didn't care. All that mattered was that she was with Konoka.
"Konoka, would you mind listening to a story?"
"Hurray, a story! OK Secchan I'm all ears."
So, she started her tale of the past.
"Please Father, no more!" a small child cried.
"Get up you filthy beast. You are supposed to be the daughter of the all mighty Crow Tribe chief and yet I am here looking at a weakling." A ferocious, angry looking man said to the small child.
"Enough! If you don't get up from the floor now, you can stay in the rain all night." The small child made an effort to get up with her miniature wooden sword but ended with failure. She fell to the soaking ground.
"So be it." There the man left the small child. Laying on the ground the small child bruised and exhausted. That small child was Setsuna.
After, what seemed like day, Setsuna, made her way back to the tribe. It was a freezing cold, wet winter day. She had been training since sunrise and now it was 9pm. She did have breaks but they were only 30 minutes. She was trained day in, day out. No matter the weather, what condition her was, she was pushed to the limit by her so called father. The Crow Clan was a large community filled with Crow People. They were born with large black wings, black hair, black eyes, black everything and could speak the language of, you guessed it, crows. They could eat anything from worms to berries. However Setsuna was different. Her father had fell in love with a human and her mother, now in the plains of the dead, and gave birth to her. She was born with pure white wings, small at the time but neither the less white. She also had white hair and white eyes. People could say that she was like an angel but not to the Crow Clan. White wings are a sign of terrible luck and that didn't include her white hair and eyes. Her father was absolutely ashamed of his new born child. Since the day of her birth, she was hidden until she was old enough to dye her hair and wear her contacts. All the servants knew of her and she was treated with scorn anytime they had to do something for her. She wasn't treated like a princess, even though she technically was. It was more like an outsider.
After a few years she had to attend the school. However at school the only things you really learnt were traditions, hunting and flying. Since she could not show her wings, she was always excused from class. At school she never fitted in. The children always teased her and said that she was the "Devil." Setsuna was never really treated nicely in her entire life. Her eyes were lifeless. Whereas children would play outside, she would be cooped up in her tiny bedroom. No one ever visited her if they had a choice. She was never loved and always forgotten. She was the half demon.
After a couple weeks of school, she was five when she started; her father started teaching her the ways of the Shinmei-ryuu. Training was always tough, some could say like torture, but Setsuna never complained, most of the time she was always silent. That was one of the reasons the children at school ridiculed her. Until that day she had enough and cried. Her father had always despised her and had always thought of getting rid of her but she was the only heir to the throne. However that was the last straw. He had left her in the pouring rain to fend for herself. He just didn't care anymore. He asked a messenger to contact the Kansai Magic Association's leader. He will get rid of this cursed child once and for all.
"Set-chan, I never knew you had such a terrible childhood. I'm so sorry." whimpered Konoka. Setsuna, surprised by the tear which fell on her cheek and the crying girl before her. She got into a sitting position and put her arm around Konoka.
"Don't cry Konoka. It is in the past the next part will be much better."
"There's more?" replied Konoka in a quiet voice, letting her head rest on Setsuna's shoulder.
"Yes, this was when I had finally left that horrid place and met you."
Well that was the first chapter. It was extremely cheesy but i believe it gets better as you read on. Please review.