When Cherry Blossoms Bloom

Chapter 4

Hirozaki woke with a cry and his parents rushed to his side to calm him. His mother sat on the bed next to him and held him until his sobs had come to a stop. His father pulled him into his lap and held him. Their son's night terrors had cost them many a sleepless night over the last month. And even after taking him to some of the best doctors, the source of his malady was a mystery. "Do you want to tell about it?" His father would ask. But Hirozaki would hug him and his mom and say that no, he was a big boy. His father decided to try one more time. Maybe talking about it would help alleviate whatever was causing the problem. "I'll tell you about my dream." He says suddenly. His parents looked at each other. The boy described his parents riding in a vehicle in a big city. He said he said glass breaking and heard their screams. The parents faces went pale as they looked at each other. They shared a knowing glance. The answer to a question they had in the back of their minds had finally been answered. The father's mother had said something similar nearly ten years ago. She had also said that if their son mentioned the same situation, it would validate what would be become a life altering moment for the boy. The father handed his son to his mother and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. He found his mother sitting in the temple on their compound. "Has it come to pass?" Her son's silence answered her question. She slowly got to her feet and took her son's hand in hers. "I love you, my son. And know that I will take care of my grandson until the end." Despite trying his best to be strong for his mother, a tear managed to fall down his cheek. "Why must we be victims to fate?" His mother wiped away his tear. "Because, my son. Sometimes fate knows what's best for us, even if we may never understand why. Just know that your son will grow up to be a handsome, successful man. He will meet a woman who will change his life. They will give birth to the children who will end the curse that has plagued our family for generations." Her son nodded almost automatically. He had heard of the curse on his family since he was young. His family, according to the history, had angered a demon, nearly a millennia ago. An ancestor had been foolish enough to summon a demon and make a request. When the request didn't manifest itself to his liking, he refused his end of the bargain. The ancestor watched in horror as all but one of his children died from freak accidents. Some drowned to death. Others died in unexplainable fires. Still others died of grotesque and painful illnesses with no cure. The night he buried his second to last child, he came home to find his son sound asleep in his bed. He watched as his son's hair turned as white as snow. The others in the village saw his loss as a bad omen and banished him and his family from their home. The night they fled their village, the other villagers saw their son's hair and began to throw stones at them. They found their way to a small remote village on an island and took up residence there. Rather than being fearful of their child, the village elder welcomed the family with open arms. In doing so, the village prospered beyond what anyone had expected. The curse they would learn manifested itself by way of their son only being able to have one child. Whether a boy or a girl, the child was born with pure white hair. And so it continued with each generation. Hirozaki's father had scoffed at his grandmother's tale, and later brushed his mother's warning off. Until his wife gave birth to their son. He was born with snow white hair and silver eyes. The village elder had blessed his birth as good fortune. Just as each elder had done from the time his family settled here. It was only after the birth of his son that he learned that his mother had been coloring his hair since his birth. She came clean of this fact when she saw her grandson for the first time. Given the superstitions behind a child born with white hair, he understood why she did it. Thankfully for Hirozaki, society had moved beyond superstition. Though, he still had his issues. Children were afraid of him. Because of his differences and the treatment that he received from those around him, Hirozaki chose to keep to himself. He did manage to make one close friend and this seemed good enough for his son. He had grown up happy and well balanced in his ten years. It was more his overachievement and unwillingness to play that drew the ire of his fellow classmates.

"Goodnight." He tells his mother and returns to the house. He found his son sound asleep in his bed and his wife waiting with hot tea when he returned. They enjoyed their refreshment in peace before retiring themselves. He and his wife worked for the US ambassador to Japan and had been assigned to go on a trip in two weeks. With their son's revelation, the previous excitement of the trip now turned into a solemn and foreboding acceptance. His wife had married him even after learning about his family's history. He held her close as she sobbed quietly. The two weeks came all too quickly and they found themselves saying goodbye to their son. The parents each hugged their son and bid their farewells. His grandmother held his shoulders gently. "Be strong." She whispered. Her son turned and gave her a smile before he and his wife left.