Part 2

The day started as any other spring day: with the sound of Shinta running up and down the house calling, "Cherry blossoms! Cherry blossoms! Come see the cherry blossoms snowing!"

"Shinta, it's too early," Shiiho complained, the eldest of her sisters at age thirteen. "Go back to bed." She covered her head with her blankets.

Despite her chiding, Akami and Matsuriko instantly leapt out of bed and ran to the open panel. "Wow, look! It's so pretty!" Akami pointed to the grove of cherry trees that stood on a hill overlooking their far; a mild breeze was about, lifting the tiny pink blossoms off the trees and mixing them about in the wind. "It looks like pink snow."

Matsuriko laughed out loud, waving her arms excitedly. She tottered down the steps and began to skip across the yard.

Before she could get too far Shinta stopped her, then bent down to allow her the privilege of riding piggy-back. "Come on, Ma-chan," he said. Shinta had only been six when his youngest sister was born, and the difficulty he had in pronouncing her name had required a pet name he had grown too accustomed to. "Let's go see." She giggled exuberantly and hugged his neck from behind.

"Brother," Shiiho groaned from bed, "go after them."

"The sun's barely up," he snorted back, sitting up. "Besides, I've got chores."

"Kyouji? Shiiho?" Their father's voice could be heard from outside, and moments later his figure appeared in the carelessly left open entrance. "Shiiho, your mother could use your help--did you forget about today?"

"Oh, my gosh, the picnic!" Shiiho instantly leapt to her feet and dashed to the corner where her yukata was set and waiting. "Could you please excuse me, father? I have to get dressed."

"Of course. Come on, Kyouji."

Kyouji stumbled outside to wait while his sister changed. "What's going on, father?" he asked groggily.

The man chuckled. "So, you forgot, too. Today is our Cheery Blossom Picnic; our neighbors the Yamashitas, and the Sagakuras are coming to spend the morning with us and then have lunch in the cherry tree grove." He smiled into the frozen morning light. "And what a beautiful day for it."

A moment later Shiiho emerged from the room; she slipped into her sandals and hurried off to join her mother in the kitchen. "And so it begins," Kyouji murmured. "Well, I'm gonna get dressed. You need help, Dad?"

"Yes. We'll get as much of the work done as we can now, and the rest later in the afternoon. This day is for us, too."

"Of course." Kyouji grinned and reentered his room, picking out his work clothes. I'll change just before Sachiko-san arrives, he thought smugly.

Meanwhile, Akami, Matsuriko, and Shinta were already in the cheery tree grove, laughing and dancing, capturing the petals that scattered like butterflies about their heads. They scampered about the trees' thick roots and chased each other in circles around the trunks. Not even they knew the rules of their impromptu game of tag. Their elfish laughter echoed down the hill as they played.

At long last the realization of that day's promised event reached Akami's thoughts. "I can't believe I forgot! Mother's going to need help preparing the food." She turned to her siblings. "Shinta, Matsuriko-chan, we've got to go back."

"Go back?" Shinta echoed disappointedly. Matsuriko simply ignored them. "Why?"

"The picnic! You have to help, too." She scooped up Matsuriko, much to the young girl's dismay. "Come on--we'll play later."

The trio skipped down the hill and ran giggling back to their room. They changed in record time and hurried to find their mother.

"Look at your three," their mother admonished. "It's not past seven and you're already a mess--what's a mother to do? Now I'll have to call your brother to prepare a bath."

"We're sorry, Mother," Akami apologized sheepishly. "We just wanted to play."

She sighed, even as her face was already being twisted by a smile. "Impossible children. Now hurry and help your sister with the vegetables while I clean up Matsuriko-chan."

"Okay." Shinta and Akami quickly retreated into the kitchen. Their mother shook her head, lifting the youngest Himura into her arms.

At about nine o'clock the Yamashitas arrived: the parents Sanbrurou and Ayumi, their eldest son Osamu, Oyuki (who was Kyouji's age), Akami's friend Miyo, and Ayumi's mother, who was only called "Grandma." A little time later Nori and Naoko arrived with their daughter Sachiko, and their ten-year-old triplets, Yoshi, Yasu, and Toshi. Each brought with them some food offering, and as a group the three families journeyed up the hill to the cheery tree grove. Several large blankets were laid out, and everyone gradually split into groups: the men spoke of their farms, the women of their daily lives, and the children played among the trees. Kyouji stayed with the two older boys to discuss Sachiko, while the triplets stuck together and Sachiko watched the younger children.

"These are really cute," said Miyo, looking over Akami's dolls. "This is Shiiho-san, isn't it?"

"Yup. And Brother, Shinta, Matsuriko, and this one's you." She removed another from her yukata and displayed it proudly.

"You should make one for Sachiko. I bet she'd really like one."

"I have enough stuff. Will you help?"

"Can I?"

The morning passed pleasantly, sitting in the shade of the beautiful trees. "It certainly turned out to be perfect weather," remarked Shinta's mother, Himura Marimo. "We couldn't ask for a more beautiful day."

"It certainly is," replied Naoko. She was smiling, but then her expression darkened, and she climbed to her feet. "Please, excuse me for a moment."

"We were just about to eat," Ayumi protested. "Is something the matter?"

"Oh, no. Only, I'm not feeling quite well. But please, don't worry over me." She bowed slightly. "Thank you for your concern."

Marimo frowned thoughtfully as her neighbor left the hill. "I hope nothing's the matter," she murmured. "She did look a little pale."

"Oh, I'm sure it's nothing. Why don't we get the food ready for the children?"

"Yes, of course." She called them over, and realized with a frown that Akami and Shinta weren't among them. "Oh, now where have those two gone?"

"They said they were getting something from the barn," Miyo answered. "For the cheery blossoms."

Marimo let out an exasperated sigh, as she already knew their plan. "Another year," she groaned. "Every year they have to do this. Well, we can at least get things started."

Akami laughed at the spectacle her brother made; the barrel he'd put over his head had swallowed his entire body, which made navigation nearly impossible. He wandered about, bumping into the trees as his laughter echoed from within his wooden prison. "Akami, help me," he said, spinning in a circle dizzily. "I can't see."

"Hold on--I'm coming." Still giggling she pushed him gently in the direction he was supposed to go. "Just walk straight. you're going the right way." They made their way up the hill together, sharing their private joke away from the other boys and girls. "This is a good place," the elder declared, helping to remove the barrel from her brother's head. She set it beneath the largest of the nearby trees; as the breeze continued, it rustled tiny blossoms from the tree and sent them falling into the container. Delighted, the pair began to help by collecting those flowers that had already fallen.

"Akami! Shinta! We're eating now!" their mother called.

"Coming!" they responded simultaneously. But just when they decided to do so, a gust of wind rose suddenly, stirring to life another flock of blossom-butterflies. The two children scampered about, collecting as many as they could; the promised meal was soon forgotten. Another several minutes passed before the mumbled complaints of their stomachs urged them to return.

"There you are," their mother scolded. "Well, I hope you had fun, but you missed out on the ohagi Sagakura-san made for us. We ate it all."

"All of it?" Shinta echoed incredulously, whose favorite food was ohagi. "You didn't save any for us?"

"Your loss," spoke up Kyouji. He patted his stomach. "Umm, that was great. Better luck next time."

Akami knelt beside her mother with a pouting expression. "That wasn't very nice."

"Next time, come when I call you." Marimo glanced about. "Speaking of which, where is Sagakura-san?"

"She hasn't been feeling well lately," offered the woman's husband. "Nothing serious--just a touch of the flu, I believe."

Staring at the now empty ohagi plate, Shinta muttered, "I can't believe you at it all."

Everyone laughed at the boy's dejected tone, and then turned inward to continue the meal. After all the food had been eaten, the separate families began to clean up and returned home to complete their own private chores and affairs. Akami and Shinta wasted no time, and spent the remainder of that day collecting the cherry blossoms.

Three days after the picnic, the plan of the two children finally came into affect. Kyouji awoke with a yawn, and nearly panicked when several soft objects slipped into his mouth. Coughing and sputtering, he sat up. "Shiiho? Akami?" He glanced about groggily, and the sight made him groan. "Damnit you kids, not again," he muttered.

The entire room was filled with cherry blossoms.

Kyouji dressed quickly and headed outside, muttering curses as he brushed the tiny petals from his clothes and hair. Every year those little imps--

"Kyouji, come here a moment." The voice was his fathers, in the other direction. He abandoned his sibling hunt to see what the man wanted.

"I need you to go the Sagakura's farm," Gouji told his son. "Your mother needs to borrow some things."

"Why not send Shiiho?" he asked lazily. "I have to take care of the horses."

"Shiiho is ill. You're to borrow some medicine, understand? It's only a stomach flu, but you know how your mother is."

"Yes, Father."

Akami, Shinta, and Matsuriko approached just after their brother had gone. They'd stuffed their clothes with the pink flowers so that handfuls dropped out as they ran. "Sister's sick?" Shinta asked. "Did she throw up."

Gouji knelt down in front of his three children, though he directed his words to the elder two; the vacant look in Matsuriko's eyes indicated that she could not even hear them. "I know this is your special day," he told them quietly. "We all laughed and smiled when we saw your flowers." He reached out and plucked a blossom out of Akami's hair. "But your mother and sister are sick now, and resting. You'll have to help me and Kyouji take care of them."

"We'll help," said Akami immediately. "What should we do?"

"When Kyouji gets back he and I will do the chores. If you can clean the laundry, Akami, then Shinta can tend to Mother and Shiiho. Is that all right?"

"Yes, Father. Matsuriko-chan will help, too."

He smiled. "Yes, of course. Now get started right away, so they'll get better."

"Okay!" The children quickly separated to begin their tasks.

When Kyouji reached the Sagakura's farm he was surprised to find no one in the fields or tending the animals. Curious, he investigated. None of the chores were being done. No one was cooking. At last he detected the sound of voices--they were people crying.

"Sagakura-san? Sachiko-san?" Kyouji followed the lamentations, growing uneasy by the mournful sounds. He soon found himself outside one of the house rooms, and the grievous murmurings solidified into words.

"I don't believe it!" one of the triplets yelled suddenly. "How can you say that? She can't be dead!"

What? Kyouji stood frozen as the panel slid open nosily, and two of the Sagakura boys burst out of the room running. Neither paid any notice to his presence. A moment later Sachiko appeared in the door, her face streaked with sorrowful tears. Her gaze leapt immediately to the visitor. "Kyouji-kun..."

"Sachiko-san, what's going on?" he asked, coming forward. But before he could speak again she ran to him, clutching his shoulders as her body threatened to crumble. He gripped her arms to keep her upright. "What on earth--"

"Our mother is dead!" Sachiko cried, her tears renewing. "She's dead, she's dead..." Still sobbing she hid her face in his shoulder.

"W-What? That's...." Kyouji shook his head to dispel his shock. "Sachiko-san, what's going on? How? What?"

"Kyouji-kun?" Sachiko's father, Norihide, emerged from the room with the town doctor. "You shouldn't be here, boy," he said wearily.

"What'sgong on?" Kyouji demanded, glancing between Nori and the doctor. "Sagakura-san--what happened to her?"

Nori bowed his head sadly, and Sachiko's sobbing began to lessen. "She died this morning," he replied quietly. "Of Cholera. And now my son Yasu is ill."

"Cholera? Oh no...." The realization drained all color from the boy's face. He forgot the girl that clung to him, and the faces of the boys as they ran from the room in which their mother had died. All he could think of were his father's words, and he whispered, "My sister Shiiho is sock today."

The doctor's attention was drawn in full. "Take me to her."

Kyouji led the aging man to his home, calling the family together in his parents' room where Marimo and Shiiho were resting. The doctor listened impassively to their symptoms: diarrhea, nausea, headache, and dizziness when walking or standing was attempted. The family watched his reactions closely, but no indication of their condition's severity showed in his face. At long last he sighed. "I was afraid so."

"It's...isn't it?" Kyouji stuttered, unable to speak the ailment's name aloud. "What can we do?"

The doctor glanced at the young children gathered, and opted instead to speak to the husband in private. Kyouji fidgeted restlessly as they spoke outside. Shinta crawled to his mother. "He'll give you some medicine to make you better, won't he?" he asked innocently. "You'll feel better soon, Mother."

"I'm sure I will." Despite the uncertainty that rested inside her, Marimo patted her son lightly on the head. "Just be patient."

Several anxious minutes later Gouji returned, his face grim even as he tried not to seem so. He knelt beside his wife and touched her head lightly. "How do you feel now, dear?"

"Weak," she answered softly. "But not too bad."

"Well?" Kyouji interrupted impatiently. "Father, what is it?"

The man did not reply immediately. He gazed at the children's wide, fearful eyes, debating with himself. He knew that to lie to them would be cruel. "It's Cholera," he said at long last, and the two eldest children--as they were the only ones who understood--reflected shock in their faces. "Same as the Sagakuras, and I heard earlier that the Yamashita's grandmother has it as well."

Marimo sighed deeply, and closed her eyes. She stroked her son's hair, who was staring at her in incomprehension. "How long?" was all she asked.

"A matter of days." Gouji could not meet the eyes of his family. "All we can do is feed you--nutritious foods, with sugar and protein. That will help, but...."

"We're going to die," Shiiho blurted out, finally revealing to Akami and Shinta how serious the situation was. "That's what Cholera does, doesn't it? We'll whither away."

"No!" Shinta cried as everyone began to panic. "Mother, Sister--you can't leave. Tell the doctor to come back! We'll get you medicine!"

His mother shushed him gently. "Quiet, Shinta. We haven't given up."

"Damn right." Kyouji rose to his feet. "I'm definitely not gong to let you die. We'll work hard and get food for you."

Gouji smiled grimly at his son's determination. "Of course. Now everyone, listen carefully; you'll all have to stay out of this room from now on, alright? I don't want you to get ill." He began to usher them outside. "If you children finish the chores, I can take care of our two fine women."

But Shinta was reluctant to leave his mother's side. "What if they die?" he asked diffidently.

"Don't think about that now, dear," Marimo assured. "You only have to worry about your chores. now go on--help your father." She was urged to kiss him on the forehead, but her logic told her otherwise. She offered him only a smile as he and his siblings left hesitantly.

"Mother," Shiiho asked once thy were alone in the room. "Will we die?"

"Shiiho, come here, child." Marimo gestured for her daughter to come closer, and she embraced the younger tightly. "I love you, Shiiho. You were my first daughter, and I won't let you go easily. We won't give up. It is possible to survive this, and we can."

"Yes, Mother."

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