The morning light filtered through the thick layer of snow that covered the village, casting a soft, ethereal glow over the peaceful landscape. The village had come to life slowly, the village elders going about their work, while the others helped with the daily tasks—fetching water, tending to the animals, and preparing the food for the day.
Kaizen, however, found himself outside the small cottage, his boots crunching softly in the snow as he walked toward the edge of the frozen river. He had woken early that morning, unable to sleep, his mind still heavy with the thoughts of Aoi and the conversation they had the previous night.
"Kaizen, are you going fishing again?"
Kaizen turned at the familiar voice, and a small smile tugged at his lips as he saw Sakura skipping toward him, her small figure bundled up in warm furs. The fire within her—always so full of energy—hadn't dulled, even in the cold of the frozen wasteland.
"Not today," Kaizen replied softly. "But if you'd like to, I can come with you."
Sakura's face lit up at his suggestion. "Really? You'll come with me?"
Kaizen nodded, though his mind was still preoccupied with the thoughts of his past and the weight of his responsibilities. "Of course," he said, gesturing for her to follow him. "But first, let's walk for a bit. I want to show you something else."
They walked in silence for a while, their footprints leaving deep impressions in the snow. Sakura occasionally looked up at him, her eyes wide with curiosity, though she didn't say anything at first. Kaizen, sensing her unspoken questions, broke the silence.
"You've been asking a lot of questions lately, Sakura," he said, his voice steady but with a hint of amusement. "Is there something on your mind?"
Sakura hesitated for a moment before speaking, her words carefully chosen. "I've been thinking a lot... about my mother. She seems to like you a lot, Kaizen."
Kaizen stopped walking, turning to face her. "Your mother?" He could feel his chest tighten at the thought of Aoi, the woman who had started to make his heart stir in ways he didn't fully understand. He pushed the thoughts aside. "What do you mean?"
Sakura's small hands were tucked into the sleeves of her furs, and she looked down at the snow beneath her feet, her voice quiet. "She talks about you sometimes. How she wishes she could help you... but she's scared, I think."
Kaizen felt a knot form in his stomach, the weight of Sakura's words settling on his chest. He wasn't sure how to respond. Aoi had been kind, but her kindness had become something more, something he hadn't been prepared for.
"She worries about you," Sakura continued, her voice becoming more serious. "But she also says you're not like the others. She says you have a pain inside you, just like her."
Kaizen closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the sharp sting of Sakura's words. The pain inside him... It was something he had buried deep, locked away behind layers of anger, rage, and revenge. And yet, it had always been there, gnawing at him.
He exhaled slowly. "Your mother... is a good person, Sakura," Kaizen finally said, his voice soft but firm. "She doesn't deserve the burden of my past."
Sakura looked up at him, her bright eyes full of innocence and wisdom beyond her years. "But you're not your past, Kaizen," she said, her voice steady, as if she understood something he hadn't yet admitted to himself. "You're with us now. And you're part of this family now. We don't want to see you carry that weight anymore."
Kaizen felt his heart constrict at the sincerity in her words. He had never thought of himself as part of any family—never thought he would be capable of belonging anywhere again. But here, in this small village, with this little girl who had accepted him without question, something inside him began to shift.
"You're a smart girl, Sakura," he said with a soft smile, crouching down to her level. "But there's still much you need to learn. The world is full of pain, and sometimes, we can't escape it."
Sakura tilted her head, clearly puzzled. "What do you mean? I thought... I thought you were going to teach me to meditate so I could be calm like you."
Kaizen laughed lightly, the sound feeling unfamiliar to him after so much time spent in solitude. "Meditation can bring peace, yes. But there are things in life we cannot control. Sometimes, we have to accept that things happen, and we can't change them."
Sakura nodded slowly, though she still didn't fully understand. "But... you don't have to carry everything alone, right? I can help, right?"
Kaizen's chest tightened as he looked into her earnest eyes. She was just a child, but her words felt like a balm to his wounded soul. He stood up slowly, reaching out a hand to her.
"Alright," he said with a smile, his voice gentle. "Let's try this meditation, then. But remember, it's not about escaping the pain. It's about finding peace in the midst of it."
They walked to a quiet area near the edge of the village, where the soft glow of the setting sun filtered through the trees. Kaizen sat cross-legged in the snow, motioning for Sakura to do the same.
"Close your eyes," Kaizen instructed. "Take a deep breath. Focus on the sound of your breathing. Breathe in... and out."
Sakura followed his lead, her little chest rising and falling with each breath. They sat in silence for a long while, and Kaizen could feel the tension in his own body slowly dissipating. The wind, the snow, and the quietness of the world around them all became a part of him, grounding him in the present moment.
Sakura broke the silence with a soft giggle. "I think I'm doing it wrong, Kaizen. I keep thinking about everything."
Kaizen chuckled. "That's okay. You can't control your thoughts, but you can control how you respond to them. Just keep breathing, and eventually, the thoughts will fade."
Sakura took another deep breath, and this time, Kaizen could feel her energy calm.
As the evening stretched on, the two of them sat together, content in the shared silence, the flickering light of the setting sun casting long shadows around them. For a brief moment, Kaizen felt the weight of his past lift slightly, replaced by the gentle presence of this child and the hope that, perhaps, peace was still possible for him.
Later, as the stars began to dot the sky above, Kaizen stood and stretched, brushing the snow from his robes. He looked down at Sakura, who was still sitting cross-legged, her small face lit with a peaceful expression.
"You did well," Kaizen said, offering her a hand to help her up.
Sakura grinned up at him. "Thanks! I'll be even better next time!"
Kaizen couldn't help but laugh, his heart light for the first time in a long while.