Disclaimer: I don't own anything other than my imagination. InuYasha and Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru respectfully belongs to their rightful owners.

AN: This is a oneshot based on episode 3 of Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru.

Hope you enjoy~!

The sound of playful laughter was heard below the large tree that it aroused the curiosity of an ancient spirit dwelling within the tree. The spirit looked down its branches and smiled as a group of children and what looked to be five white tiger cubs, playing before the ancient tree. The spirit also spotted one resting within its boughs.

Long, dark locks fell down the spirit's shoulder and a small, delicate hand pushed them back behind fae-like ears. The spirit appeared to be a beautiful, young female wearing an elaborate furisode decorated with cherry blossoms in full bloom behind a dark backdrop, enhancing the bright colors of the blossoms. She had long, dark obsidian locks that fell in loose waves down to her waist with a fringe that settled above curious, blue eyes. She was also wearing a beautiful wreath of pink flowers upon the crown of her head.

She continued to watch the children and wondered how they would react if she appeared before them. It's been so long since she's had company and what they're doing looked fun. The white tiger cubs looked so cute! Her fingers twitched, she wanted to pet them to see if their fur looked as soft as they seem. She perked up when she heard something about a cherry blossom tree and looked down to see that five more people joined the group of children under her tree.

There was a man with brown hair wearing a jersey suit, two older teens wearing traditional clothing, another man also wearing traditional clothes with layered pink hair, and a younger teen with glasses wearing a white lab-coat over semi-formal clothes. She looked at her tree, bare of any blossoms and even she wouldn't be able to tell what tree it is had she been a normal person.

"What? It's not a cherry blossom tree?" the one who was resting in her boughs said. She noted that he sounded quite disappointed that her tree wasn't a cherry blossom tree.

"No, most likely not."

She huffed to herself and disagreed with what the man had said as she can will her tree to be what she wants regardless. The spirit laid on her stomach over one of her wide branches and continued to listen amused, as the children earnestly wanted her tree to be a cherry blossom tree.

She searched her memories to learn their names. Her memory was long as she's watched over the lands beyond her tree for a long time now, even before the citadel was built. She's learned of the citadels inhabitants, but she's never initiated contact before. They were an interesting bunch, which mostly consisted of sword spirits.

They must be very powerful to attain a humanoid form, or rather their young master was very powerful to give them human form. Still, the spirit believes that with enough time, the sword spirits would gain human form of their own power, they're certainly powerful enough.

"It's not a cherry blossom tree?" she was sure that he is Hirano Toushiro.

"Are you sure?" and that one is Atsushi Toushiro.

"So, it's not a cherry blossom tree…" the blue-haired kid is Sayo Samonji.

"All of you want a cherry blossom tree?" and the one wearing glasses is Yagen Toushiro.

She smiled as the three nodded their heads 'yes' to Yagen's inquiry. They must really want her tree to be a cherry blossom tree. It wasn't something she was adverse to and a cherry blossom tree in full bloom is very beautiful.

"If it were a cherry blossom tree, it should have buds by now. Well, as soon as its leaves come in, we'll be able to tell what kind of tree it is." Now she was sure the one who said this is Heshikiri Hasebe.

"I wish it was a cherry blossom tree." Atsushi said.

"A-A cherry blossom tree would be nice." Gokotai agreed shyly. Now, the spirit of the tree was just beside herself, mutely squealing in delight at the cuteness, almost tempted to reveal herself to the adorable kid. She was sure that he was also the owner of those cute tiger cubs.

She was brought out of her thoughts when the teen within her boughs, Namazuo Toushiro, excitedly agree for her tree to be a cherry blossom tree. She had fun listening to their ideas of how to turn her tree into a cherry tree, from ashes to hypnotism to burying the dead. It was a rather morbid idea, but she had a good laugh, though the group below her didn't hear her.

"Well then, what if we make a wish on this tree directly?"

"What are you saying?"

The spirit of the tree could only grin at Yamatonokami Yasusada's suggestion and Kashuu Kiyomitsu's response. Now they're talking her language. After all, with such honest and earnest wishes, it wouldn't be too hard to make their wish come true as it is within her powers to grant such honest desires. It also brought her the opportunity to reveal herself to such an interesting group of people.

It's been such a long time since she's had this much fun! She giggled to herself and the sweet sound of her mirth was carried by the winds, which was heard by the sword spirits residing in the citadel.

The spirit settled herself more comfortably on her branch, while fixing the long sleeves of her furisode so she doesn't sit on it. It was a bad habit that she's been trying hard to break, she couldn't count the many times she'd sat on her sleeve. She watched the sword spirits move about the citadel curiously, her keen eye-sight letting her see what they are doing.

Yamatonokami was walking around the citadel distributing stacks upon stacks of strips of paper to his fellow sword spirits. She could only wonder what they were going to do with an obscene amount of paper that only seemed to increase.

After a moment of watching them, she moved her gaze up the blue sky and watched the clouds float by. It wasn't long before she began to doze off under the warmth of the sun and was soon fast asleep with smile on her face, dreaming of cherry blossoms in full bloom and having fun with the sword spirits.

She unconsciously let her aura out and let it seep into her tree. Her aura would make sure her tree would bloom cherry blossoms, she didn't want to disappoint the sword spirits. And besides, she also wanted to see cherry blossoms, it has been a long time after all.

The sound of rustling paper woke the spirit up and was pleasantly surprised to see her tree in 'full bloom.' It was a very creative idea, to ask for a wish and see the full effect of said wish. She fingered a slip of paper hanging before her face, one side was white, while the other was colored pink. She read the written words on the white side and smiled.

I wish cherry blossoms will bloom.

Please bloom.

There was a lot of similar wishes for her tree to bloom cherry blossoms, but there was also a lot of wishes for an 'Ichi-nii,' and there was one for a 'Kousetsu-niisama' too.

I want to see Ichi-nii.

I want to play with Ichi-nii.

I want to see Kousetsu-niisama.

I hope Ichi-nii gets here soon.

She wondered who this Ichi-nii is, he must be a wonderful person to have so many wishing for him. Letting more of her aura seep into her tree, the spirit was glad to see small flowering buds appear on her branches. Now all she has to do is let nature take its course. Her tree will bloom cherry blossoms in no time. She may or may not have granted the other wishes, but she has this feeling that their wishes will be granted sooner or later without her influence.

She cut the flow of her aura as she saw Yamatonokami climb up her tree and lay down, looking up at the numerous wishes. She waited in anticipation as Yamatonokami stared at a bud in surprise.

"Th-Th-They're cherry blossoms!" The look of surprise on his face had the spirit smiling brightly that she was almost tempted to exposed herself, but it wasn't time yet. She watched in excitement as the others joined Yamatonokami in her branches to look at the cherry blossom buds in awe.

"There weren't any just a minute ago." Sayo said, looking up at the cherry blossom buds.

"Our wish came true, didn't it?" Namazuo said softly. It was a wish that the spirit was only happy to grant, and to see how delighted the sword spirits are with the blossoms, she couldn't be happier. She was about to reveal herself when Hasebe's comical reaction had her bursting into fits of laughter.

"I-I-I have to let Master know! Master~!" Watching Hasebe rush back to the citadel had her laughing so hard she lost her grip on her tree and she tumbled down her perch, surprising the group of sword spirits at her sudden appearance. Still giggling under her breath, she smiled brightly at the surprised sword spirits and greeted them excitedly.

"Hi~! It's nice to finally meet all of you~!" she said with an impish grin, mirth clear in her eyes.

"A-Ano... E-Eto, who are you onee-san?" Gokotai said shyly, all five white tiger cubs surrounding him.

"Hmm~? Me~? Well, I'm glad you asked Gokotai-kun!" she ignored his squeak of surprise at knowing his name as she stared at the tiger cub with the black ribbon around its neck. She knelt down and wrapped her arms around her knees, tilting her head to one side as she met the tiger cub's curious eye.

"I'm… My name is…" she trailed off as she eyed the tiger cub who was approaching her curiously. She reached a hand out before the cub, and grinned as the cub moved closer to her hand and sniffed it. She could tell that the cub was curiously taking in her scent before butting its head against her palm, seeming to like her scent. She giggled at the ticklish feeling of the cub's vibrating purrs against her hand, and sighed in delight at feeling the cub's soft, very soft fur.

"Ah, minna! Chotto matte–! Onee-san, watch out!"

Looking up at the warning, she was met with a bundle of white and black fur. She laughed as she was suddenly dog piled–or is it cat piled?–on by five energetic tiger cubs, who were play-fighting for her attention, attention that she was only happy to give. Grinning quite happily, the spirit carefully stood with an armful of purring felines. The cub with the black ribbon around its neck was perched quite comfortably on her head, playfully batting at her wreath of flowers, she was quite the sight. She looked towards Gokotai and the rest of the speechless sword spirits, she beamed them a bright smile, before proceeding to introduce herself properly.

"My name is Kagome and I'm the spirit of this ancient tree! Yoroshiku na!"

End.

AN: Please leave comments and reviews~