Cherry Blossoms Solo

At least that is what was presumed of the young Japanese witch as she stepped out onto the fresh street in the United Kingdom. It had been almost four years since she had first stepped out onto this very same street. Life was not supposed to do this to her. She was not supposed to be here, she was not supposed to leave Japan, and she certainly was not supposed to be moving to London. But alas, it was not her decision to be made. Throughout her whole life she always had someone directing her to her next objective. It didn't matter of her opinion on the move, her young seven year old self could not get a lick of respect from any of her elders, despite being extraordinarily responsible. Instead, she would listen and follow commands given to her as if she were a machine.

"Sakura?" came a small voice speaking so softly it felt like dew forming on grass in the morning. Sakura always loved her mother's voice. She spoke in a soft but firm tone that could easily calm even the most aggravated. Her mother, Rin, was a skinny woman with hair that looked like silk dribbling down from the top of the scalp to her lower back. Sakura had always felt this hair was one of her mother's best features. The way it seemed to float when she walked made her look like an angel sent from the heavens. She was indeed a beautiful woman whom Sakura cherished and honored.

"Yes, mother?" Sakura replied turning her body so she could look at her mother. Sakura looked a lot like her mother, but never got her long silky hair. Instead it was chopped slightly past her shoulders. Her mother was dressed in a white, knee-length dress made out of lace. Sakura figured she could never wear something so bright and beautiful. It always looked not quite right on her own body compared to her mothers. Instead she was wearing sneakers, a pair of black leggings, and a white button down shirt. It was basic, but Sakura liked it. It helped to make her less noticeable to the strangers surrounding her.

"Where do you want to go next?" Rin inquired to her daughter. The street in front of them was made of small bricks carefully placed together in little neat rows. It must have been a tedious job for someone to go through, especially without the use of magic. Behind the duo was a small café that looked like it was built in medieval France. Looking to the left, the street wound down for about a mile down a small slope. To the right,the street took a turn down another lane. The place was lined with shops built so close together that the walls on both buildings touched. There were no wizarding shops or even wizards to be in sight. A few muggles roamed around in packs coming in and out of the shops, talking quietly among one another.

"Why don't we go over there," Sakura answered while pointing to small clothing store her mother had brought her into many times before. Her mother loved muggle clothes and goods so much that more than half of her closet was made up of them. Her mother was so fond of these muggle fabrics that it eventually even started growing on Sakura.

The two walked together across the small lane into the little boutique on the corner. Inside, they walked onto the wooden floor with racks of new cute shirts and pants. There was an old woman sitting at the counter knitting a purple scarf together. She moved a hand up to acknowledge Sakura and her mother then went back to her craft. Rin immediately went for one of the racks and held up a small red blouse with little white specks sprinkled in. She looked at Sakura with it and smiled. Knowing what this meant, Sakura took the shirt and headed to the back where the dressing rooms were. She put it on her small body and turned to look at herself in the mirror.

Her mother was not wrong, in that it did look good on her. Her slightly darker skin tone blended well with the bright red. When she walked out her mother beamed and quickly told her she should get it. Sakura was about to head back in to take off the shirt but Rin pulled her away and told her just to keep it on. They walked up to the counter with the old lady and Rin pulled out her wallet with her muggle money in it.

"Happy birthday, musume," Rin whispered soothingly into Sakura's ear. The shirt that was just bought would be Sakura's birthday present from her mother. Every year the two of them would go shopping together and pick something out. This year it just so happened to be the blouse. It may just have been Sakura's favorite present over the years even if she didn't quite show it.

Sakura wore the shirt for the rest of the day out on the streets of London. Once back home, Sakura's mother started to prepare some of Sakura's favorite Japanese dishes before her father got home. It was not very late only around three o'clock in the afternoon. Until finally, Sakura's father, Akira, came home from his work.

"Happy birthday, Sakura," Akira said as he came into the small house the family owned. Akira was tall and also skinny like Rin. His face was long and narrow, and his expression was usually serious. He had the figure of a business man was what Sakura's mother had always told him.

Dinner was especially good tonight as it was a home cooked meal. This was also one of the traditions on Sakura's birthday, as the family usually simply used magic to cook all of their meals. Sakura's birthday was a simple time. She had never wanted anything too extravagant. All she wanted was to spend time with her family. Her birthdays had been the same every year with their traditions, however there was one tradition that they could no longer do.

"Sakura," Akira called from across the table. "Once you are finished we're going to go somewhere."

Sakura looked up and nodded her head. She had assumed that the family would have just played a game of some sort and then go to bed once the sun set. She was curious as to where her father might have been taking her, but decided that it would be best to not ask. After the family had finished their dinner, Akira stood and motioned for Sakura to come over. After waving goodbye to her mother, who was not coming with them, they left the house.

"Father, aren't we going to use the floo network?" questioned Sakura as Akira began walking down the street.

"No, musume, we are walking," he answered. "Sakura? Do you remember why we named you after the cherry blossoms?"

"It was because the day I was born was the day of the blooming," Sakura replied. "I miss the cherry blossoms. They were always so pretty. When we lived in Japan we went to see them everyday on my birthday, do you remember?"

At this Akira didn't respond and instead nodded his head and kept walking. They probably traveled for around two miles until Akira stopped. It was getting late and the sun was beginning to set on the horizon finally. They were stopped in a small muggle park Sakura did not recognize.

"Father? Why are we here?" Sakura asked.

"Just a little farther you will see," he stated back and began down a small path into the park. The trees started to become denser and a faint sound of water running appeared.

"We're here," Akira said to Sakura. "Take a look."

"I don't see anything," she responded. They were still on the path with trees on both sides of them.

"That's because you aren't looking," Akira replied before dragging a bit of brush back to reveal a small clearing by a river bank. Looming over it were the pastel pink flowers she hadn't looked at for almost four years. Their brown trunks glimmered in the fading sunlight.

"Otōsan," Sakura murmured. "I can't believe it."

Akira sat down on the grass beside the bank and Sakura followed. They hadn't been able to do this since her seventh birthday in Japan. Once they moved, the tradition stopped. The beauty in these trees resembled so much for Sakura. She could remember every birthday with her father coming to see them bloom, but this year was even more special.

"These cherry blossoms represent you," Akira whispered. "They are your name, they are your beauty. Don't let anyone take that away."