The Dancing of Bears and Flowers

Sakura Dance

The Japanese man, dressed in traditional kimono of gold and white, sat in prayer before a beautiful, pink-flowered tree, motionless. Nikolai watched with wonder and curiousity as his friend slowly rose, eyes still closed, before pulling out his katana, the Path of Sorrows. Takeo opened his eyes, amber flaring with fierce warrior purpose. The steel of his sword glinted so brightly, it was like a star in his hands. Nikolai sighed gently, his wonder ever growing as he watched.

Slowly, Takeo manoeuvred the sword in the air, making slow cuts at first, slowly gaining in speed, until, he was wrapped in his swings, ducking, diving, dancing among the pink petals of the tree. When he struck the final blow against the wind, Takeo stood still, position flawless and beautiful. Slowly, Takeo delicately slid Path of Sorrows back into its' scabbard and knelt back down on his tatami mat. He looked up into the tree, closing his eyes, face peaceful, body still.

Careful to not disturb him, Nikolai approached his friend, admiring the gentle shimmer of the gold and white fabric of the kimono as he got closer. Takeo was like a statue, but he heard the heavy footsteps, only opening his eyes when they stopped beside him.

"Nikorai?"

"What is it you are doing?" the Russian asked.

"I am praying for quick speed" Takeo replied, looking to Nikolai. "In foot and hand."

"Oh! Keep going!"

Takeo gave a faint, gentle smile, before resuming his work, but Nikolai did not go away. Instead, the man sat down beside him on the mat, watching with wide, curious, blue eyes. Takeo looked at him from the corners of his eyes.

"Nikorai?"

"Da?"

"Why are you watching me?"

"Teach me."

"N-nani?!" Takeo turned to his comrade, surprised. "Teach you?"

"Da! It looks so fun!" the man cheerily explained. "You dance so pretty with sword and dress!"

Takeos' lips went to a straight line. "Kimono."

"Da, that!"

With a slight roll of his amber eyes, Takeo slowly stood, holding a hand out for Nikolai to take. Once on his feet, Nikolai was walked to a room that belonged to Takeo, for now. On the bed lay three kimonos of varying colours and sizes. Takeo took up the largest kimono and presented it to Nikolai.

"For you."

Carefully, Nikolai took the kimono and unfolded it to see it properly. The fabric was yellow-gold, lined with deep red; the colours of Russia. Nikolai looked, wide eyed, at Takeo, who shrugged and spun around. Nikolai stood for a moment, before pulling off his clothes and putting on the kimono. Once it was on, he tapped Takeos' shoulder, who turned around without haste and looked him up and down.

Nikolai smiled, quite proud of his work. Without a word, Takeo undid it. Now perfectly dressed, Takeo smiled and Nikolai blushed in embarrassment. He followed the smaller man back out into the courtyard and knelt down on the tatami mat with Takeo.

The warrior closed his eyes, hands on his knees. Nikolai did the same, minus his eyes, he had to see what had to be done or he would get lost. Takeo sat there, breathing, mindful of his comrade, who tried to do the same. Takeo smiled a touch as Nikolai fidgeted.

"Breathe, Nikorai" he said.

"Is that all? Nothing else?"

"Not now."

Nikolai grunted unbelievingly, but settled down to just breathe. The smell of the blossoms filled his nose, a welcome difference to the rotting smell of corpses and wood, as he was familiar with. The scent was relaxing to Nikolai, who had smelled flowers only a few times in his life. Thinking of those times took his focus away from his meditation. His mind wandered on and on in a sea of old memories, good and bad.

Nikolai felt something brush his cheek with gentlest care, that if he had not been ready to open his eyes, would have never felt. He blinked open his eyes and saw Takeo standing before him, hand retracting to his chest, face soft with concern. Nikolai knew he had cried and his hand was not quick enough to wipe them away.

"It is nothing" he smiled, forcefully. "Is just tiredness in my eyes."

Takeo raised an eyebrow.

"Did I wake you?"

"No" the man slowly knelt before Nikolai, eyes on him always. "I was praying when I noticed you were... too still."

Nikolai blushed. "Sorry."

"Meditation can take you were you have forgotten" Takeo said, looking at his hands as he took Nikolais' own. "Or where you want to be. It is not a bad thing."

Nikolai sighed. "I did not want to be there, nor remember!"

Takeo nodded, thoughtful, before sitting straight and closing his eyes. Nikolai tilted his head a touch, curious of his comrades' behaviour. He flexed his fingers a touch, arousing Takeo to reopen his eyes.

"Sumimasen, Nikorai" he apologised. "What has made you sad?"

Nikolai shrugged. "Lots of things."

"Too broad" Takeo shook his head. "What makes you happy?"

Nikolai blinked, stumped. "Hmm... Well, I am not liking one thing particularly..."

Takeo rolled his wise eyes and stood, helping Nikolai up, before taking him in the direction of the kitchen and dining room. Nikolai curiously watched after his short friend as he busily found recipe books and set them down on the table. Takeo turned sharply to Nikolai, eyes ablaze.

"You enjoy food?"

Nikolai beamed. "Da!"

"Then I will make you something."

"You don't have to be doing that, Takeo. I am alright now!"

"If you are sad when you meditate, you do a bad job" Takeo waved a dismissive hand and sat down, taking up a book. "Do you have favourites?"

With ease, Nikolai listed off a dozen different Russian foods he liked, before Takeo shooed him away. Nikolai, now bored and without company, shuffled through the countryside, heading towards the lake, when he stopped. He looked out into the distance, thinking of things that made him happy, wondering if anything did. He had lied to Takeo about having things to start with, but he was hungry. He sighed thinking about Takeo working away in the kitchen to make him something. It was a pleasing gesture, one that made Nikolai smile.