DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters or anything from the Naruto franchise or the beloved Japanese folktale. I do, however, own the original characters in this story and this particular storyline.
Michiko
Chapter 4
After recess, it seemed that time went by so fast. Our classes were unusually smooth. No one picked on me. We were drawing pictures after story time. Our teacher said that we were to draw how we felt about it.
It was a story about bamboo hats and a rice cake. She picked an old Japanese story for that day. She picked stories from all over the world for story time. It was a different country everyday.
Sasuke and I were seated next to each other as always. My mother had just bought me a new set of crayons with a lot of pretty colors.
Since I always liked to draw and my old set was pretty worn out, she gave me a new one even if it still wasn't my birthday. I wanted to share it with Sasuke first.
I remember immediately getting the yellow crayon to draw a big rice cake. I remember feeling really light about the story. It made me happy that the old, hungry couple was able to eat and live happily ever after. I was planning on drawing other things inside the rice cake. I wasn't sure yet when I started the drawing but I definitely wanted to draw a rice cake first.
You see, the story was about this old couple. They were poor. They had no children that could help them. There came a year when winter came too soon. They were caught unprepared and didn't even have the money to buy New Year's rice cakes.
The wife, knowing that her wedding kimono was the only thing of worth that they could sell, asked her husband to go and sell it. He reluctantly agreed so that at least they could have money to buy rice cakes. He walked through the snow and he passed six Jizo statues.
In Shinto belief, they are considered sacred so he made a promise to offer a rice cake on his way back home.
After awhile, he met a woman who was selling some fans so that she could buy a new kimono for herself. The old man took pity on her and traded the kimono for the fans. He then went to the village in hopes of selling the fans. No one would spare him a single glance and it wasn't too long before he got hungry and approached a noodle peddler in hopes of trading a fan for noodles.
The peddler scoffed at the man saying, "Why would I want to buy a fan when it is winter?"
Ridiculed and discouraged, the man left. He then bumped into a chubby man with a golden bell. The chubby man was amazed of the fans and thought that they were beautiful. He offered to trade it all with his bell. The old man agreed thinking that at least someone would want a bell to ring it to signal the coming of the New Year.
By that time, there were hardly any people left around the village. He was somehow disheartened but then met a young man who was selling bamboo hats. He didn't have as much luck in selling as the old man but it didn't seem to faze him. The old man was taken by the young man's determination and traded the golden bell for five bamboo hats.
He then headed home, having not bought any rice cakes but with a light feeling since he was able to help a young man.
On his way, he passed the six sacred Jizo statues again and remembered his promise. He didn't have any rice cakes to offer but then remembered that he had the bamboo hats. He took each hat and placed it on a head of a Jizo statue.
He then realized that he only had five and there were six statues. The old man then took off his own hat and placed it on the last statue before heading home.
By that time, the path was already snowed in. When his wife saw him, she quickly ushered him inside to get warm.
He told her everything that had happened. He kept his head down in shame. When he didn't hear a reply from his wife, he looked up and saw that she was smiling at him warmly.
"Aren't you mad?" He asked.
"No. I am actually proud, very proud." She replied.
"But I didn't bring home any rice cakes." He pointed out.
"No. But you showed respect to the Jizo statues. I believe that is better."
Later that night, they woke up to a loud thud from outside their home. The opened the door and was stunned to see a giant rice cake left at their doorstep. They then saw the Jizo statues up the hill. They bowed at the old couple before leaving.
The rice cake kept the couple fed for the next few weeks. They enjoyed good fortune for the rest of their lives.
Now, as an adult I finally realized why our teacher chose that story. As a kid, I never appreciated the fact why our teacher chose the stories she shared with us.
The story that I thought that was just to entertain young kids means much more. I believe it is a reminder that unselfishness, generosity and concern for others pay in the end.
I mean, the old man could have just kept walking, leaving the statues on his way home. But instead, he chose to respect them and got a giant rice cake. The old man didn't do it for the reward. He did it out of respect.
He also wouldn't have traded with the young woman, the chubby man, or even the young man. He wouldn't have taken pity of the young woman looking to buy herself a new dress or appreciated the young man's efforts in peddling wares not appropriate for winter. But, he did.
I suppose even my young heart back then understood the real lesson, which added to the light feeling I got from the story. I drew the old couple inside the rice cake, the statues, and the people that the old man met. It wasn't really beautiful but enough for a small child. I remember choosing light, bright colors to depict what I felt before coloring.
Then, I noticed that Sasuke hadn't moved to get a crayon. I turned to him and asked, "Sasuke? Are you ok? You can borrow my crayons."
It seemed to snap him out of his thoughts as he looked at me and smiled a bit. "Yes. I know, Sakura. I was just thinking what I'm going to draw."
He then moved to take the black crayon. I raised an eyebrow.
Black?
Then again, it was always one of his favorite colors next to dark blue. I shrugged it off.
I knew that Sasuke was the kind of person who always wanted to plan on what to do first before he actually did it. Even with our age back then, he always wanted to be sure and perfect. He told me once that he believed that the only way to excel was to plan and be thorough.
Who would have thought that those things he said to me would be the foundation in my determination in life?
Who would have thought that I would be applying the same thing in every aspect of my life?
I didn't realize it then. How could I? I was a child. Those kinds of things don't really enter a child's mind.
Sasuke's motivation back then was to be like his brother. He said he did those things to be just like his brother. He wanted so much to be like his idol.
I glanced at his paper. Just like me, he outlined what he wanted to draw first. He had used the black crayon to draw the basics before coloring it in.
Looking back at that memory, I know we were the same in wanting to define the lines of our drawings, our boundaries first to make it a clean drawing. But unlike me, he chose black while I chose a color that would clearly blend more with the color that would blend more with the color that I would be using to color the inside with. I never gave it much thought then of course but as I reflect on it, he will always be Sasuke.
I remember the first time I saw his drawings. They were either all black or dark blue. After awhile, after we started to become close, he learned how to use other colors. I'd like to think that it was my influence that did that. He did say that he liked my set of crayons better. He told me that I had more colors than he did. It would always make me smile when I remember that trail of memories.
XxXxXx
Itachi was stunned to see her there. His first thoughts were that she was there to visit a grave near his brother's. It was perfectly logical to expect her to walk on by, none the wiser that he was there. She never changed course though. It dawned on him she was indeed there to visit his brother.
The plethora of his emotions never reflected on his face as he simple watched her and the dog beside her make their way towards him slowly.
"Aki," He heard her soft voice. He knew she was calling out to the dog. "Stay. I know there is another there. Let him have his privacy to pray."
Itachi watched as the dog rubbed his nose on her leg in understanding. How she knew about his presence was something that peaked his interest more.
"Haruno-san," He called out.
Sakura turned to him, following the direction of his voice. "Ah, Uchiha-san. I'm sorry to disturb you. We could come back to give you privacy."
Itachi glanced back at his brother's grave for a moment before looking back at her. "It is alright, Haruno-san." He tentatively said, curious to see what she was going to do next.
Sakura reached down to scratch Aki behind his ears. The dog then started to guide her to the grave they have visited countless times.
Itachi stepped aside to let her pass. He watched her every move. It was fascinating him to no end.
Sakura walked and when she reached the gravestone, she gracefully knelt and traced the kanji of Sasuke's name. Her fingers gently traced the name of one of her most precious people. It made her smile. Aki sat next to her. She paid no mind to the stare she felt directed at her from the man she knew now was her best friend's admired older brother.
Hi, Sasuke.
She allowed her hand to trace the gravestone downward. She soon felt the gentle petals from Itachi's offered bouquet. She traced the petals delicately. From the delicate smell that hit her nose, she could tell that it was a carnation. She wasn't sure what color it was though.
"You gave him carnations. Am I right, Uchiha-san?"
Itachi was startled with the question. How did she know? "Yes. Those are red carnations, from my mother's garden. She had cut some for me to take in her stead." He watched a graceful smile cross her face and she nodded.
It seems Mikoto-san hasn't changed. I wonder if Itachi knows its meaning.
Sakura then set the bouquet of white orchids by the carnations. She then took out a glass angel, with different shades of blue, set in a black base. From what Itachi could tell, Sasuke's name was carved in gold on the black surface of the base beneath the angel with the distinct red and white of the Uchiha crest next to it. Sakura then set it down by the flowers.
"Happy birthday, Sasuke." She whispered before she gently traced the letters of his name again.
Itachi watched the girl he hardly knew talk and remember his brother. He could tell that she was very close to his brother. He tried to search through his memories if he knew her from before.
It wouldn't have been very hard since his brother hadn't been close to a lot of girls. No matter what he did, he just couldn't place her. It only meant that he hadn't met her before.
He had been so caught up in his thoughts that he almost didn't notice that Sakura had gotten up already.
"You knew my brother?" Itachi couldn't help but ask. He wanted a verification of some sorts. He knew he didn't need to ask the question but he wanted to know the depth of her relationship with Sasuke.
Sakura was about to say goodbye but was caught off guard with the question. "Are you sure that is what you really want to ask, Uchiha-san? You and I know well to realize that you know the answer to that question."
Itachi gritted his teeth. She was right after all. "How come I haven't seen you before?"
Sakura pondered on how to answer that question. But in the end she replied, "I don't really have an answer to that question, Uchiha-san. I do not know why after all these years, I've only gotten to interact with you now. But to answer the question that I'm sure is going through your head ever since seeing me here this afternoon, Sasuke was my first real friend. He was my best friend. What I wouldn't give to have him here with us now…"
Itachi was silent. It became blatantly clear that he had gravely misjudged the girl…no, the woman in front of him. There was a depth to her character that was backed up with this confidence and intelligence he had failed to acknowledge before. He humbled himself into admitting that he had mistakenly misjudged her character simply because she was blind.
Sasuke had seen something in her years before that had pushed him to befriend her. His brother was social if there was a need but only made few friends. He didn't make true friends easily. If Sakura was a friend of his brother's, then there was something in her that was special.
"I see." Itachi chose to answer. "Thank you for remembering my brother's birthday." He added formally.
Sakura smiled back at him and bowed her head slightly. "There is no need for thanks, I assure you. For everything that he did for me back then, I will stay true to my word that he will always be my best friend. Remembering his birthday is but a normal thing." Itachi was, to say the least, taken aback, with her response.
"I better get going. I know it will be dark soon as the wind is starting to get chilly. Don't stay out too long, Uchiha-san. I'm sure Sasuke wouldn't want you to get sick."
Sakura inclined her head again and turned to leave. Aki immediately started walking by her side as they made their way back home.
Itachi took one final look at the grave and started his own journey home. He was going to spend the night at his childhood home. He knew that his mother would know some answers he was looking for.
XxXxXx
When Sakura and Aki got home, Pakkun met then at the door. Sakura bent to pat the dog.
"I'm home." She called out. She then heard the conversation from the kitchen halt and footsteps coming her way. From the sound of the footsteps, Sakura couldn't help but smile.
Ino and Kakashi welcomed her home.
Sakura walked towards them while Aki and Pakkun took their places at the living room rug by the heater.
Ino engulfed Sakura in a hug. Sakura could tell Ino's excitement. She could already guess what news her best friend had come to bring her.
Kakashi then kissed her on her forehead before leading her towards the kitchen.
"Hmm. Something smells amazing! It seems you have perfected your butter-chili prawn, Kakashi-nii." Sakura said as she took a seat.
Kakashi set a plate in front of Sakura and Ino. "Yes, and for dessert, we are having chocolate fudge cake."
"Oh my God! Kakashi! I can't believe it! You're cooking has greatly improved! I approve!" Ino commented as she took a bite and laughed. "If I keep eating here, I'm definitely not going to fit my wedding dress."
"Congratulations, Ino-pig!" Sakura commented.
Kakashi smiled as he too took a seat. "So you and that Nara kid are finally tying the knot? Congratulations."
After Ino told them all the details of the proposal the night before, Sakura cleared her throat and said, "I met Uchiha Itachi by Sasuke's grave this afternoon."
Ino almost dropped her fork. Her jaw was wide open. "What did he say?" She asked.
Kakashi remained silent. Sakura then answered, "I'm sure he didn't expect to see me there. He didn't say much actually. He just asked me how it came to pass that it was the first time he saw me visiting Sasuke's grave even if I'm almost always there. I simply told him I don't know. He then thanked me for remembering his brother's birthday. That's pretty much it."
Ino decided to drop the subject as she helped Kakashi clear their plates and helped with the dessert. "Speaking of desserts," Ino said. "Don't forget we are meeting Hinata tomorrow."
XxXxXx
To say the least, Mikoto was shocked that his eldest son decided to come back and have dinner and spend the night with them. Not that she didn't like the idea, it was unusual from her son. After taking over Fugaku's position, Itachi barely spent the night at home anymore. It was a welcome change.
During the course of dinner, Mikoto asked, "Did you meet someone by your brother's grave that made you decide to come back home?"
Itachi's eyes towards his mother's. He watched as his mother's eyes registered understanding. "Ah! It seems as if you have finally met Sakura-chan." At her son's questioning gaze, she added, "She was your brother's best friend. They spent a lot of time together back then. Every year on his birthday and Christmas, she would leave a present for him. On valentines, she would leave chocolate. Even without special occasion, she would visit him and leave a flower."
"She is such a sweet girl. It has been a long time since I've seen her." Fugaku commented.
Itachi stilled. Both his parents have met Haruno Sakura. "How come I've never seen her before? I've never even knew her before."
"Haven't you ever wondered that there are times when there are flowers there before you? Surely that has happened to you before." Mikoto commented.
"Yes. That is true. There are indeed times when I would visit and there would be flowers there. I never thought that it would be from her. I simply thought that someone from the family had come."
Mikoto simply smiled. "How did you meet her, son? Surely your sudden interest isn't just from the sudden meeting at a cemetery." Fugaku commented.
Itachi looked at his father and said, "She was at the office with her business partner, Yamanaka Ino. They were supposed to be the ones going to head the preparations for the upcoming banquet."
"Supposed to?" Mikoto asked.
Fugaku could see where it was going. He knew that his son wouldn't like where the conversation was going. With his wisdom and observations backing him up, he said, "Itachi, why don't you visit their shop tomorrow and see for yourself? Sometimes, it is better to judge with your own eyes rather than let the PR committee decide on important things."
Itachi understood what his father was trying to tell him. He saw the reprimand coming. He deserved it for his short sight but he was willing to rectify the situation as soon as possible. He was going to do what his father advised the next day.
White orchids – it could symbolize purity and elegance but this flower provides the ambiance of wistfulness and loneliness, thus making it suitable for the message, "I miss you."
Red carnations – often used in flower language to symbolize both admiration and missing another. It could also mean an aching heart and admiration.
The story of the Bamboo Hats and a Rice Cake is an actual Japanese myth.
Michiko
(to be continued...)
