Don't Cry, Jiji!
Theme: Tourniquet
Huian's delicate fingers ghosted over each soft bloom. There were so many colors to choose from! Vivid red peonies proudly swayed in the afternoon breeze while pale pink azaleas glowed, reflecting subtly the hues from their vibrant neighbors. Tiny clusters of deep violet wisteria and butter yellow jonquils nodded their heads to the afternoon sun. Of all the colors, Huian was looking for one special color: blue.
Happily humming to herself, she paused to watch the white fluffy tenshi dance across the sky. Outosan called them "clouds" but he didn't really see them. Early this morning she discovered that the tenshi did light on the earth. Outosan called it "fog" but she knew better. Sadly they left no footprints. Raising muddy fingers to the sky she imagined floating with them, free to see every color the world had to offer. Her eyes twinkled as one of the wispy being revealed a beautiful thin face momentarily to her, smiling wistfully before swirling out of sight again. As long as these ethereal beings were watching over her, she would never be alone.
The child turned her attentions back to the Kou garden, bursting with colors. Finally she spotted a bright blue hydrangea and squealed. The bush was just within her grasp. So enraptured by the beauty of the blossoms, she never noticed the serpent coiled beneath the bush.
Piercing screams echoed across the Kou estate. Shuurei dropped her manjuu dough on to the floor and Kouyuu spilled ink in his study. Reshin, who had been happily watching the girl play, was the first to be by the girl's side. Casting his fan to the ground, he dropped to his knees beside the screaming girl and began shaking her shoulders.
"What is it!" he bellowed into her face, only to cringe when she flinched away from his voice. Swallowing harshly, he tried again, only this time more quietly. "Huian, tell me what's wrong!"
"Hebi, hebi…." She panted, pointing her finger into the dense foliage. Without even thinking, he scooped her into his arms and stomped firmly on the offending creature's head.
"Kouyuu!" His yell was high pitched and pleading, but the two heads of Kou were already running to him and his precious Huian-chan.
"We're here Reshin-sama," Kouyuu reached for his daughter, but the elder Kou only pulled the girl closer to his chest. Tears fell from his eyes, and the child was openly weeping into his robes.
Shuurei remained quiet. Her eyes were wide as she took in the scene: her screaming daughter, her weeping uncle, a fan cast to the ground and under Reshin's foot. . . she gasped in understanding. Grabbing Kouyuu's arm roughly, she took command.
"Kouyuu. Go get a shovel now!" Responsive to her order, Kouyuu went sprinting across the garden toward the tool shed. "Bring a rope!" she called after him, then turned her attention to the crying pair.
"Reshin-sama," Shuurei fought to keep her voice even. "Reshin-sama," she addressed him again, but he did not seem to know she was there. "Ojisan!"
His head shot up and his eyes met hers. "Did the snake bite Huian?"
Reshin only began sobbing, but on hearing her name, the girl sniffled loudly. "No, Oukasan," she gulped and wiped her nose across her jiji's robes. Kouyuu, flushed from running, walked up just in time to hear.
"What happened, Huian?" Shuurei asked.
"There was a snake, and I got scared."
Shuurei reached out for her daughter, but Huian threw her tiny arms around Reshin's neck and started crying again.
Kouyuu, finally catching his breath looked from Shuurei to the pair respectively. "Why are you crying, Huian-chan?"
Her eyes widened and she sniffled again. "Because Jiji's sad."
Reshin blinked wildly and shifted her in his arms. "You're okay?" His voice trembled.
Huian nodded and pulled her hands free from his robes. Crushed in her hand was a bright blue blossom, which she held up for him to see.
"Don't cry Jiji," she said softly, "I brought you a pretty."