Play with me!

"Hey. I can't see the way like that you know?" He said while trying to search the way.

"It has to be a surprise. I'll lead you the way, don't worry." Toshi was sitting on his shoulders, after making sure the blindfold was on tight. "To your left!"

Karkien started to walk to the left without fear. It looked like he was used to trust all kind of people.

"Okay, now right! Now, take three steps forward."

After a few minutes of oral instructions, Toshi hopped off his shoulders. "You can take it off now."

It was a meadow. But it was wide and open, with an abundance of buttercups, dandelions and other wild flowers around. It smelled floral and peaceful, and the thatches of grass on the ground looked comfortable. "Tada!"

Karkien smilled for that was the first time he saw such a pretty thing. "It's pretty." He voice sounded emotional for the first time and some tears were starting to role from his eyes.

"I planted them when I was a kid. Took me years to get them all to grow like this..." Toshi said, both dreamy and proud. "Eh?! Are you crying? W-what did I do wrong?"

The tears were falling from both his blue eye and his red. "No. Nothing his wrong." He said at last.

Toshi muttered something, took her handkerchief out, and passed it to him. "Here! Whenever you cry, you can use this! Keep it."

"Heh?" He looked at Toshi blushing a bit. "T-thak you." He said at last.

"No problem!" Toshi smiled happily up to him, and took his free hand. "Come on! There's a sakura tree here, I planted it long ago." She dragged him to the middle of the meadow, where indeed, there was a young, cherry blossom tree. "It's almost time for its first bloom of the year."

Karkien followed he with a smile on his face and with some tears on his eyes. Who could guess that happines was this good.

"See? D'you wanna come here with me everyday and wait for it to bloom?" she asked, excited.

Karkien looked at her and saw happines on her face. "Sure." He said with a smile while nodding his head.

"Good! Wanna meet my friends?"

Karkien looked at her a bit confused but quickly nooded trying to avoid her happines to be gone.

Toshi grinned, put two fingers in her mouth, and whistled loudly. Two bunnies appeared from behind the tree, hopping over to them. "Whee, these are my friends!"

Karkien smilled trying to keep other toughts away from his mind.

Toshi held up a bunny to him, smiling like the little girl she was. "A penny for your thoughts, Karkien?"

Karkien waved his head like he was shaking something from him. "Sorry, what?" He asked while looking at her.

"What are you thinking about, Karkien?" Toshi asked curiously as she nuzzled the bunny.

"It's nothing." He said while trying to smile.

Toshi frowned and placed her small, warm hand on his cheek. "Your cheek muscles are straining. Why are you pretending to smile?"

Karkien turned around quickly trying to avoid eye contact with her while stooding up.

"Karkien?" Toshi asked, straightening up as well. "You're thinking of something, I know it. Please tell me."

"Please. Don't follow me." He said while starting to rush into a deep forest, slowly vanishing in the dark.