Sono Kusabana Otome Mondai

Chap.2

With a scoff, Sanzo turned away from the innkeeper; in his opinion, the tale was just that and nothing more.

"Do you not believe it, Sanzo-sama?" The innkeeper asked. Sanzo shook his head.

"It's a shame; it sounds rather true, especially considering the fact that it really is always winter here." Hakkai added. Goku glanced out the window, and rubbed his eyes. A girl, quite young was staring at him with wide eyes.

"I gotta go check something outside." He called, pulling on the cloak and rushing outside to the girl.

Her dress was a light namanamashii(1) and a chain of white flowers served as a belt. In her murasaki(2) hair were several sakura blossoms, and other small flowers were plaited into her hair.

"Mister….Mama needs your help." The girl called. Goku arched a brow.

"Little girl, it's too cold to be out here in that thin summer dress. You need to get inside." Goku tugged at her hand. The girl refused to budge, and clenched Goku's hand tightly. "Ah!" Goku's hand was feeling cold, very cold. The skin was starting to turn blue.

"You're going to turn to ice, unless you help me get Mama bring spring back." The girl threatened.

"Me? But my companions…"

"You all will help. We want Hazumi(3) back. And I want Mama back." The girl replied. Her gaze turned from the soft sakuranban(4) gaze to a cold hiaoi(5) glare. "You will help." A gust of cold wind blew Goku back through the inn window of their room, and he shuddered.

"Goku!" Hakkai rushed quickly to the boy's side. "Goku, you're freezing cold!"

"Huh….?" Goku knew Hakkai was right; he felt like he was solid ice already. Why did he feel so cold?

'You're going to turn to ice, unless you help me get Mama bring spring back."

Goku realized that the girl had not been lying. He was going to turn into an ice sculpture, unless they found the Kusabana Otome(6) and convinced her to bring spring back.

"Guys, we've got a legend to fix." Goku said, staring down at his blue hand, shuddering as the fingernails turned into icicles. 'Before it's too late, I hope.'

Translations

(1) namanamashii- green

(2) murasaki-violet

(3) Hazumi-spring

(4) sakuranban-cherry
(5) hiaoi-ice blue. Taken from the words hi(ice) and aoi(blue)
(6) Kusabana Otome- flower maiden, from kusabana(flower) and otome(maiden) ( A/N: Hey, didn't I tell you about that one in the first chapter! )