Letter #10: Sakura
If I could tell you, I would let you know
Sakura allowed the tranquility of the garden to permeate her inner mind. She focused her energy and created an aura that allowed her to be extra-sensitive to her surroundings. A leaf rustled -- Sakura knew it was ready to drop at any second. With perfect precision, she sliced the leaf in half as it fell from the tree. With a flick of the wrist, she sheathed her katana and waited patiently for the next leaf to drop.
This was her ritual. The Shinguji sword technique required a perfect harmony between mind and body. Back in Sendai, she would sit under the waterfalls and meditate. Here in the Teigeki, the gardens provided her with the calm she needed.
Above her, she heard the crows cawing and the wind rustling through the trees. She blocked out all other sounds as she listened to her inner voice. Shinguji Kazuma, her father, had taught her at an early age how to be patient and still. It is only when one silences the noise can one hear the true voice of the universe. When she was younger, she didn't know what it meant -- she was content to sit beside her father as he meditated.
She heard the sound of the clock echo faintly from the lobby and knew it was time for her daily duties. She breathed out, expelling the negative energy of the Haja and stood up.
"Good morning, Sakura-san. Are we going to spar this afternoon?"
"Good morning, Sumire-san. Yes, I shall meet you at the training center. I want to see if I can deflect your naginata techniques."
Sakura went to her room and changed into her pink kimono and hurried back down for breakfast.
"Hey, Sakura! Reni and Iris are going to roast potatoes in the garden with Kohran this afternoon."
"Yes, Sakura-han. I think that autumn is truly here and it is time to burn the leaves. Would you like to join us?"
Sakura smiled. "Thank you. But I have a sparring session with Sumire-san. I'll join you when I'm done."
"Yay! Sakura always roasts potatoes the best!" Iris turned to Reni. "We did this last year, too. But you were too serious and formal then that you didn't join us."
Sakura sat down with Maria and Kaede. "Good morning, Maria-san, Kaede-san. It's a beautiful day, isn't it?"
Kaede nodded. "Yes it is. A perfect day to go out and enjoy the outdoors."
After breakfast, Sakura got a broom from the backstage and went up to Ogami's room. She smiled as she entered the room and saw Ogami's painting hanging by the bed. It was her day to have the painting. She stared up at it and sighed. Too bad, Orihime didn't have him painted in a Japanese robe instead of his suit. He would look even more dashing in traditional clothing.
She remembered the time when Ogami went with her to Sendai. She had lent Ogami one of her father's yukatas.
Sakura realized that she had wasted precious time staring at Ogami's portrait and started sweeping the room. She took special care in dusting the framed photograph of the Hanagumi that Ogami left on his desk.
Maria had announced earlier that it was too beautiful a day to waste on a training session indoors, so she decided to cancel the morning meeting with General Yoneda's blessings. Sakura was secretly relieved to have the extra time to write a longer letter to Ogami.
On her way to returning the broom to the backstage, she bumped into Sumire.
"Sakura-san, are you busy?"
"I've just finished cleaning Ogami-san's room. Why do you ask?"
"I was wondering if you and I could move our sparring session to this morning. I received a phone call from my mother a few minutes ago. It seems there is a dinner party at my house and they want me to attend."
"Alright. Let me return the broom and get ready. I'll meet you in the training room in 15 minutes."
Sakura entered the training room 12 minutes later. She found Sumire doing warm-up exercises with her naginata. Sumire swung her weapon in a wide arc before thrusting it forward with full force. Sakura could see Sumire's purple energy aura emanate from her body and gleam on the blade of her naginata.
"Ah, Sakura-san. There you are. Shall we begin?"
Sumire did not hesitate. She charged at Sakura immediately. Sakura blocked the first attack and assumed a defensive stance -- using both hands to hold her katana in front of her.
Sumire stood ready to charge again -- spinning the naginata above her head before lunging at Sakura again.
She's gotten faster and more aggressive from the last time. Sakura barely deflected the second attack. "You've improved a lot since the last time, Sumire-san."
Sumire smiled. "So have you. Maybe I should join you in your morning meditations. I might be able to pick up a few more pointers."
"Your Kanzaki Fuujin-Ryuu attack is equally powerful. The energy your are able to channel to your blade is remarkable."
The continued to spar. Sakura decided to take the offensive and swung her katana in broad strokes.
Sumire agilely blocked each swing with her own weapon.
The match went on for another 20 minutes before the two agreed to call it a draw.
Sakura bowed. "Thank you for the match. I shall try to do better next time."
"I, as well." Sumire returned her naginata to the wall rack. "Well, I must go get ready. Okamura will be here in an hour."
"Try not to drink too much at the party."
Sumire cast an innocent look at Sakura. "Whatever do you mean?"
"Oh... nothing. Have fun, Sumire-san."
Sakura decided to go to the basement for a quick swim before going to lunch. She knew that no one would be in the swimming pool at this time. She made a clean dive and swam a few laps before exhaustion set in. She had a busy morning, but now she had to rest of the afternoon to relax.
Lunch was a quiet event as most of the Teigeki inhabitants were out. Sakura ate quietly beside General Yoneda.
"So, Sakura, why aren't you out with the others?"
"I wanted to finish my chores this morning so I could have some free time in the afternoon. Kohran has invited me to roast sweet potatoes with her in the garden later today."
"I see. Well, I should go. I have a meeting at the Defense department in an hour."
Sakura returned to her room. She opened the window and breathed in the cool autumn breeze. From her window, she could see Kohran, Iris and Reni already gathering leaves to roast the sweet potatoes with. Iris spotted her and waved. Sakura smiled and waved back.
It was time to write her letter to Ogami.
She sat down and took out her calligraphy brush and her roll of paper and started writing. When she finished writing her letter, she read it and then placed it in the drawer with the stack of all the other first letters she wrote.
Sakura looked at the growing pile of letters and asked herself when she would find the courage to send them to Ogami.
She then proceeded to write another letter -- the one she would send out to Ogami.
* * *
Unsent
Ogami-san,
I miss you.
I know I saw you in Paris only a month ago but I already miss you. I clean your room everyday so I can be near you. Some times, when I am in your room, I close my eyes and I can still smell you -- the pomade that you use... and then I miss you even more.
Why did you have to go? Why couldn't they send someone else?
The Paris Hanagumi are all so beautiful and sophisticated. I admire them yet I am jealous of them. They get to spend time with you. It scares me sometimes -- the thought that you would come back to Teito and realize just how plain I am. I am not as beautiful or artistic as Hanabi-san or as sweet and helpful as Erica-san or as aristocratic and elegant as Glycine-san.
I'm just me.
Would you still want me when you return? I don't know. The possibilities scare me. I do try to be more like Sumire-san. She is so confident and self-assured -- she knows how to act appropriately and she knows all the right things to say. I'm just a simple country girl from Sendai.
You are the most important thing in my life and I want to be with you forever.
Please come back soon, Ogami-san, and try not to forget about me.
Love,
Sakura
* * *
The one she sends
Ogami-san,
It is autumn in Teito and we are, once again, roasting sweet potatoes in the garden. I forgot to mention in my letter yesterday that Sumire-san and I had a sparring session today. We have both improved our skills and we ended in a draw.
How are Erica-san and the others? Please extend my sincere regards to them. Let them know that I wish them luck in all the battles you fight.
I have been keeping your room clean, as I promised. Kanna-san and Kohran have complained that your room is even cleaner than theirs. I just smiled when they said this.
I hope you are well. Please write back soon.
Sincerely,
Shinguji Sakura
~ next -- Letter #11: Yoneda
* * *
Author's Notes:
- To see a really good duel between Sumire and Sakura, watch the TV Series.
- The Hanagumi go to the garden to roast sweet potatoes after they gather the dried leaves in the Sakura Taisen 2 game.
- Ogami goes with Sakura to Sendai in the 2nd Sakura Taisen game.
- Sumire: drinking too much? She gets "drunk" in the 1st game. She was also shown drinking during Reni's birthday party in the 2nd game.
- In her letter to Ogami in the last part of the 2nd game, Sakura tells him that she promises keep his room clean.
- The subtitle: "If I could tell you, I would let you know", is a line from a WH Auden poem. (He's one of my favorite poets.) These are the lines that inspired this particular chapter:
"There are no fortunes to be told, although,
Because I love you more than I can say,
If I could tell you I would let you know."
