#10

The cherry blossoms are always pretty this time of year, noted Syaoran as he gazed lazily up at the blossoming pink flowers swaying in the breeze of the afternoon wind. A memory floated up from the depths of his clouded mind of the first time he'd seen a cherry blossom, and why he loved them so….

"Syaoran! I want to show something!" a ten-year-old little Sakura called happily, tugging on little Syaoran's arms as she drug him up a large hill.

"Your Highness--"

"Sakura!"

Little Syaoran blushed and looked at the ground passing by. "S-Sakura… shouldn't we stay close to the castle, I don't want your brother worrying about--"

"They'll be fine! Just come with me, I have to show you this!"

Syaoran sighed and gave in, knowing once the girl set her heart to something, she was going to do it, whether it be through hell or high water.

The sun was beginning to set, making the sky a purplish pink tint. It was beautiful, and there was just enough light left to see across the blazing dessert.

"Your—Sakura, shouldn't we head back now?"

She turned around and glared at him. "Not yet, we're almost there, don't worry." She flashed him a toothy smile and continued walking.

And she was right. They only walked a few more minutes until Sakura halted and turned around to him. "Okay! We're here!"

Behind Sakura stood a fairly tall tree blossoming pink flowers. It looked to Syaoran like just an ordinary tree, save the color of the flowers, and he was about to question his princess when a sudden wind caught them in its path. The tree's boughs swayed in the wind, releasing many pink petals. They danced around them, as if performing a ceremonial dance, twisting and leaping and spinning on the wind.

Syaoran found himself staring in awe at the performance, unable to find words.

"They're called cherry blossoms," he heard his Sakura say, and turned to her. "It's what my name means. 'Sakura Blossoms' is another name for the tree, because Sakura means cherry blossom." Her back had been turned to him as she said this, and turned around, a soft, sweet smile playing on her lips. "Happy 10th birthday, Syaoran…"

Syaoran kept his eyes closed a moment longer, savoring the precious memory for as long as time would allow. Finally he opened his eyes, and noted that the wind had stilled, leaving the sakura petals lying helplessly on the ground.

He stared at them a moment, then left. He wasn't sad for some reason, because, after all, nothing lasts forever, right? Everything has to end sometime…