Part II ~ Spring's Promise

Chapter 1 ~ Dreamscapes

It was a glorious day. The air was cool and clear, suffused with twilit radiance and the golden glow of sunset. She stood in Okina's garden, amidst the flaming poppies and crimson roses, illuminated by light. Her hair spilled down in a fall of dark silk, shimmering as the sun struck its rich tints. It was a rare occasion that she ever loosened it from its habitual braid ~ she had taken the occasion today to wash it and was now combing out the few tangles with a comb. Entirely absorbed in her work, she failed to notice his approach, or the enchanting picture that she made.

He stopped short when he saw her, stunned by the luminous creature before him. His grip tightened unconsciously on his kodachi ~ he had been returning home early from practice ~ as he fought to control the overwhelming wave of desire sweeping across his consciousness. It was a losing battle.

In a moment, his hands were tangling themselves in her hair, his fingers entwining with her own. Startled, she dropped her comb ~ it clattered to the ground with his forgotten blades. His lips were on hers in a hungry, possessive kiss before she could murmur his name. Her astonished gasp was swallowed in a passion neither could control nor cared to. After so long…all they had to do was surrender.

Misao awoke with a gasp, sitting upright in her bed and unconsciously bringing her hand to her lips. Had it really been just a dream? She sighed, feeling suddenly cold and small in the dark, quiet room. It was as if she could still feel his presence, so close yet so unreachable, leaving her shaken as though by a storm. She trembled once more, despite herself. Ever since that night, the dreams had been getting increasingly frequent and vivid. And she had been so sure she could forget him! Had it really been two days ago that he'd come back into her life again?

With another sigh, she rose out of bed and reached for her running clothes. Glancing at the clock, she noted that it was only 5 o'clock in the morning. Oh well, she thought ruefully. It's not like I can ever get back to sleep after these dreams. With a sigh, she headed out the door.

The air was refreshingly cold and crisp, piercing her dream-like state with its absolute clarity. She inhaled deeply, then headed out to the Tidal Basin, next to the Jefferson Memorial. It was her favorite jogging path, and now that the cherry blossoms were in full bloom their clean, delicate scent drifted alluringly in the air. The sun was just beginning to rise, tinting the horizon with shades of palest rose to deepest violet. She ran with abandon, a reckless, foolhardy girl once more. Yet the scenes from her dream would not stop replaying themselves in her mind ~ not even the water's shimmering calm or the stately white marble pillars of the memorial could dissipate them.

For this time, it was not merely a dream. It was a memory.

Clothed in only his soft-green robe, Aoshi stood and stared out of his floor-length bay window. It gave him a clear vantage point over most of the city, especially the Tidal Basin and its ring of cherry trees. On a sunny day, he loved to stand here and watch the happy families enjoy themselves on the paddle boats, reminding him of his own times there with Misao. He smiled at the memories of Misao climbing the cherry trees, garlanded by a wreath of pretty blooms; Misao struggling valiantly on the paddle boats, her slim legs no match for his longer, stronger ones; Misao sitting contentedly by his side as he fished. His eyes darkened as he caught sight of a young couple strolling, hand-in-hand, along the path beside the water. That was a memory he didn't have.

That dream…He suddenly remembered the reason for his restlessness this morning. He had awoken with a start, senses still assailed by a barrage of emotions and desires. It had been a long time since he'd had any vivid dreams, and this one had caught him completely unawares. Yet the memory of that kiss had always burned somewhere in his consciousness, always a source of fierce, hidden pain.

He had been nineteen that year, Misao seventeen. They had loved each other lifetimes before…since the beginning of the world. Yet he had left her the morning after, too afraid to face what he already knew to be true.

Why did you run?

She smiled, wearily, at her perky assistant. "Thank you, Ruth. Is there anything else?"

"Um…Yes!" Ruth's grin stretched impossibly wider and brighter. "Your friends, Okon and Omasu? They called to say they were coming to visit later today. In fact…" she checked her omnipresent day-planner ~ Misao had thought it a sure sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder, until she realized that Ruth was only trying to imitate her ~ "They should be here now."

As if on cue, the door to Misao's office burst open to reveal two giggling, well-dressed ladies laden with shopping bags. Upon seeing the seated girl, they dropped their bags dramatically and rushed to her side.

"Misao! What have you been up to? We've missed you so much!"

Forgetting her former melancholy, Misao smiled up at them affectionately. Fellow residents at Okina's martial arts school, they had become like sisters to her over the years. It was Okon and Omasu who had taken care of Misao after her parents died ~ they'd taught her everything she needed to know and more about how to act like "a proper lady." She'd missed them sorely after they both married Japanese tycoons and moved out of Okina's school, but they diligently kept their constant vigil over their "little sister" and never failed to cheer her up.

"Hi you guys," she hugged both of them close and, as they immediately noticed, more tightly than usual. Pulling away, Misao pointedly arched an eyebrow at the mound of shopping bags, evidence of yet another wild shopping spree. "Raided Neiman Marcus again, did you?"

Okon blushed guiltily, while Omasu hurried to explain, "Demo…Misao, we got you something too!" She pulled out a small box, wrapped in pale pink tissue and tied with sheer organza ribbon. "For your birthday." She smiled proudly.

Misao stifled the urge to laugh, then announced mock-seriously. "Oh…thank you!" A chuckle escaped. "But girls…my birthday's in May. You're two months early."

Having been caught off-guard, the two guilty shop-a-holics flushed with embarrassment. Misao laughed, clearly and happily, and caught both of them in another embrace.

"Thank you! Thank you!" she whispered fiercely. "You have no idea how much it means to have two such wonderful sisters." She held the box reverently. "I love it, whatever it is."

"Well, aren't you going to open it?"

With a smile, she unwrapped the tissue to find a small and intricate hardwood box, painted with delicate cherry blossoms. Sliding open the lid, she beheld a shining locket, skillfully made in the shape of a sakura blossom, with a diamond twinkling merrily at its center. She gasped in surprise and delight.

"Okon! Omasu! Arigatou!" she blinked back warm tears of joy, and fastened the dainty chain around her neck. "It's so beautiful."

"We always knew that you loved sakura blossoms the best," Okon added shyly.

"Yes, and we want you to put in the picture of someone special," Omasu winked. "So you can keep him close to your heart."

"Him?!" Misao feigned astonishment. "But my special people are you! Besides, the only man in my life right now is Okina, and I don't think I'd want his picture there!"

All three laughed gaily, sharing in the joke. Then Omasu suddenly became quite serious. "We heard from Okina that you saw Aoshi again at the party." She looked at the younger girl with concern. "I know you never talk of it to anyone, but Misao…daijoubu ka?"

She stiffened, eyes clouding with remembered pain. "Hai…everything is as it should be now." She replied softly, then smiled reassuringly at the two worried faces. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine. Look!" She gestured to her surroundings. "I'm perfectly happy right now. I have my work, my apartment, my pretty outfits, and an adoring family. What more could a girl want?"

"Demo…what about love?"

"I can live without it." Her eyes begged them to drop the subject.

With a sigh, Okon mourned, "But you and Aoshi…you'll just leave it like this?"

"Yes." More firmly now, and slightly tinged with frustration. "Why does everyone automatically assume that we should be together?!"

"Because any fool with half a brain can see that you two were made and meant for each other. You needn't look so offended, Misao. It's a fact."

Misao's indignant protest was interrupted by a knock on the door, followed by Ruth's head around the door frame. "Miss Makimachi? You have a visitor."

"Yes, who is it?" She flinched at her own sharp tone.

"It's a man named Shinomori."