Hitsugen
"Return." The word was whispered, the magic was cast, and the old woman found herself back on the bustling streets of Toemeda.
She walked slowly, her frail body now much too weak to move quickly. She had been fast and athletic once, her body fit and nimble, running and weaving through the crowd. But those days were over.
There. She had always known she would have to return some day, ever since that fateful meeting so long ago.
She hesitated, looking around, searching her ancient memory. It had been so long ago, she could barely remember. Then, she saw the Sakura tree and smiled. Seating herself on the bench, she waited, the gentle breeze ruffling her silvery-gray hair, and causing the many pink petals to drift gently onto the ground.
A young girl took a seat next to her, looking at the cherry blossom tree wistfully, a troubled look in those emerald orbs. She sighed and simply sat there, starring sightlessly at the passing crowd.
"You look worried little girl. What's wrong?" The old woman finally asked, after she sighed a third time. She snapped her head left so swiftly that her brown bangs made an audible swish through the air.
"Gomen. You startled me." She apologized sincerely. Then she sighed again before continuing. "It's just, I have a really big decision to make. My boyfriend asked me to marry him."
The old woman hid a sad smile and instead asked another question. "Do you love him?"
"Of course!" Was the immediate reply, "but marriage is a serious issue. I have to make sure I'm not being impulsive."
"What does your family think?"
"Oni-chan is absolutely furious about it naturally. The way he acts, it's like I'm still 12 instead of 21. I'm old enough to make my own decisions. Otou-san just told me to listen to my heart and decide."
"They both love you very much."
Emerald eyes looked startled as the old woman mentioned that. "I know that too. It's just, Oni-chan is being rather difficult..." Her voice trailed off.
"There's something else too isn't there." The woman queried gently. Once more, the girl was surprised.
"Yes, yes there is. You're very perceptive Obassan." She answered, and the old woman simply gave a faint smile.
"I'm afraid of hurting two of my best friends." The confession came softly, like a hurried whisper, anxious about being overheard. "One of them is in love with my boyfriend. The other is in love...with me."
For several long moments, nothing could be heard save the rustling of the leaves.
"Love is knowing when to let go." The old woman finally said, and her voice clearly spoke from experience. "I'm sure that since they love the both of you, they would want the both of you to be happy."
"I know you're right, but I really don't want to hurt them."
"But they already know the two of you are together and love each other very much. If they have sacrificed their love for you to allow the two of you to be together, then there's no reason to hesitate now." The woman answered wisely.
"But..."
"No more buts. Listen to your heart. What does it say?" The woman ordered firmly.
"It, it says I want to marry him."
"Then do. And cherish every moment you have with him, and cherish your friends as well, for all they have done for you. Don't hesitate to show your love for them. Every moment is precious."
"You're right." The girl finally decided. "I do love him, and I want to marry him. My friends have known that before I even did. I guess they won't start minding now."
The girl turned to the old woman, smiling her beautiful, radiant smile. "Thank you for listening. I don't even know why I poured my heart out to a stranger."
And the old woman merely gave her a faint smile. "But I'm not a stranger Sakura. Remember what I said. Cherish every moment."
"How do you know my name?" But it was too late for any questions, and emerald eyes simply looked on in shock as the old woman faded away.
As the world swirled around her, the old woman merely gave a tired smile. The Return card flew back into her hands, cold as the magic fled from it. "Thank you." She whispered, a tear dropping silently from her eyes.
"How do I know you Sakura?" The old woman whispered as she slowly stood up and began the long walk home. "I am you."
The same emerald eyes looked upon the world now, at the dead tree stump in front of her. So many things had changed.
She had always wondered who that strange obbaassan was, the one who had finally given her that spur of courage to say 'I do.' It was only so many years later, when she looked at herself in the mirror and saw the woman staring back at her.
How could she have missed it? The woman had had the same emerald eyes as her...