Asari makes her landing on earth, expecting the karahiro tree waiting for her on the same spot.
She felt strange. There was a smaller tree on the very same spot. She drew closer to it to take a better look: it was similar, but, certainly different from the tree of five years ago. She inspected its branches, looking for the strongest one – the jiku branch.
She inspected the tree's branches, and felt the wind softly whisper in her ear. She took a few steps, mindful of her surroundings. Then, she saw that just a bit farther from her was a remarkable brach of a tree - and on it, was a boy she thought she knew. He was sound asleep (or so she thought), wearing a cap with a matching camouflage uniform. She could drew nearer, slowly.
Asari looked at his face and smiled. He has grown quite a lot in just five years. But she couldn't be mistaken – this was her friend, Jiku!
She drew near him and whispered gently: "Wake up, wake up! A clouder is here!" She said excitedly.
The boy let out a chuckle and Asari stepped back, surprised.
"Welcome back, Asari!"
"What's this? You were pretending to sleep?" Asari said, narrowing her eyes.
"Wasn't it obvious?" Jiku chuckled.
"How could she seriously think I was sleeping?" Jiku thought. He had been anticipating this day for a long time. From the moment she set foot in the forest, he couldn't help but feel excited. He strained his ears to listen to her every move, but all he heard was his own heartbeat which he desperately tried to silence. The truth was he had prepared for this day for so long, he actually had the entire day planned for Asari.
Asari shrugged, "I really thought you fell asleep. Training as a soldier must be hard."
"It's all right," Jiku said, trying not to make it a big deal.
"Uh, Jiku, what happened to our tree? It seems much smaller now…"
Jiku paused for a moment and tried to grasp the thought that Asari referred to the karahiro tree where they met as "our" tree, something that they shares.
"Oh you mean the karahiro tree," he said, as he cleared his throat.
"Yes, which, if you remember, we decided to call the Asari tree after your invention of the so-called Jiku branch," Asari said, matter-of-factly.
"Actually, the old tree burned up due to an accident, Asari. I'm sorry I couldn't save it for you," Jiku said, biting his lip.
"Burned up? Then a part of it must now be in Cloud Kingdom. I'll make sure to look… Cheer up Jiku, I'm sure you did your best."
"Did I?" Jiku said quietly. Anyway, what will we call this new tree then?
"Asari the Second!" Asari grinned.
"Then Asari the Second it is. Come, I'll show you to the city this time."
"Thanks, Jiku."
Asari couldn't help but smile, being so warmly welcomed by Jiku. As Jiku saw Asari smile sweetly, with her eyes focused on him, he couldn't help but look away with a funny feeling in his heart, and felt his ears turn hot. Asari took Jiku's hand as he led the way. She noticed that Jiku had grown much taller, his body leaner and more muscular. As he led the way, he motioned for her to be quiet.
They walked through the garden. Asari saw something move just next to them, behind the leaves.
"Puppy!" Asari gasped.
"Asari, meet Perero. Perero, say hi to Asari, just like I taught you," Jiku said seriously.
A small white dog with a brown spot on its back playfully approached them. It went straight for Jiku and then to Asari, wagging its tail. It held out its left paw. Asari took it, and gazed into Perero's huge eyes that seemed to pop out of his face.
"Nice to meet you, too, Perero!" Asari said happily.
Jiku led Asari around the city, with Perero trailing behind them. He showed Asari all his favorite places; they had ice cream at the foothills and ate food wraps as they strolled around the city. They watched children on their way home at noontime from school, and even visited the arcade shops and amusement park. Jiku found out that Asari was a klutz at arcade games; her skills at darts and archery were similar to that of a child's, expected of a girl, he thought. However, she was particularly wonderful when it came to games that had something to do with mobility - flying planes and driving cars and rovers. He was surprised at how brave and bold she was at the amusement park, at times dragging him to the most thrilling rides that made nauseous. He did his best to make his own little fears invisible, and mostly kept quiet, satisfied at watching Asari at a close distance.
At sunset, he brought her to the Hill of Hope, where both his old and new headquarters could be seen. There, he told her the story of how their headquarters was burned, right along with the old karahiro tree, which, on their first meeting, they decided to name after Asari. They stayed on the hill until the stars came out, and the night fell against the well-lit town that seemed to have stars of its own. Asari felt like singing, and she did.
"Oh dear friends, see where I stand,
Let my little heart be glad,
Let me see sky, earth and sea
Fade for now at least for me
Let me see the stars shine through
In a moment I'll be with you."
Suddenly, the skies cleared and the stars seemed to shine brighter than ever. Jiku looked up, astonished. A part of him was laughing just moments ago when Asari began to sing, for her singing – well, her singing was apparently not one of her best features.
"Wow, Asari, I don't know if it was that song or your voice, but you managed to clear the skies."
"Of course! Wait, what? Something about my voice?"
"That song was perfect."
"It would be wise for you to remember that song, Jiku. It's the words of the song. It's a handsome plea to the clouds. If you have a pure heart, the clouds would listen. You'll be a soldier, you could use it one day, and maybe even I could hear you. But keep this a secret," Asari said, almost whispering.
Jiku thought about what Asari said for a moment, astonished. "So you mean there's a way to reach out to you after all, when you're not here?"
"I really don't know Jiku. But I've never heard anyone, I mean not even you in the last five years no matter how hard I listen. I couldn't possibly know if you've been calling, but this is worth a try, right?... Wait, you've actually tried to call me?" Asari asked.
"Uh, no, I was just thinking if that was possible so you could help me somehow or something," Jiku answered, sounding unsure.
Jiku sat on the grass and lay on his back, watching the stars in the sky. Asari sat beside him, and moments later, asked, "So Jiku, do you want me to sing another song, or I'll-
"I'll do whatever comes without the singing," Jiku said a little faster than he intended.
Asari rolled her eyes at Jiku who smiled a little. "Let's fly," she said finally. Jiku tried to stop himself from smiling. In reality, Asari's voice sounded so well but he wanted to pretend to not like her singing, just to tease her a little bit. He was also worried to be so enraptured by her when she begins to sing or look at her with those beautiful eyes that he would stare and look weird all of a sudden.
"Think we could take Perero?" Jiku asked.
"I don't see why not. He looks like he's up for
or it," Asari grinned.
Jiku held on to Asari and they flew like they did when they first met. Jiku was exhilarated; flying with Asari was the only thing better than flying planes. He felt so close to the sky; he felt one with it. They soared above the clouds as if they could touch the stars, and he could view mountains and cities and villages below them. While Asari and Jiku enjoyed it all, Perero held on to Jiku for dear life and wondered endlessly as to when the ride would finish. Soon enough, however, Perero got the hang of it too and enjoyed himself.
Time flew quickly and before they knew it, soon it was time for Asari to go. They landed in the garden, just near the new karahiro tree Jiku planted for Asari. As Jiku walked with Asari to the tree where they always meet and part, his pace was slower than usual. Asari hid her sadness with a smile and played with Perero.
"Thanks very much for today, Jiku. I won't forget it. This has been my best day on earth!" Asari announced with finality.
"Don't flatter me. Isn't this only your second time to visit? You should come more often."
"I wish I could, but I really couldn't. Like the king says, clouders belong to the sky."
"Then why do you come here?"
"To experience a different kind of adventure!" Asari says happily, "And to see you, of course!"
Jiku looked away for a moment to hide a smile, but tried to stop himself. What am I thinking? She's too innocent. She doesn't mean anything by that, right? It's not like I'm special.
"Jiku?"
Noticing Jiku look away, Asari went on to explain, "You know, clouders have this ability to move through different dwelling places and become different things. My dad said he once tried to become a tree, a turtle and an eagle. As for me, I haven't tried other forms – only this land dweller's form, as you see. It just seems so nice to be like human land dwellers, you know? It seems so nice to be like you."
Jiku nodded slowly, "The land dweller's form, it suits you. But being a clouder must be more fun, right?"
"Yes, but it's a lot of work if you ask me. If I perform my tasks well, maybe I could gather enough magic to bring you there longer... Oh look at the time! I wish I could stay longer, Jiku, but it looks like it's time for me to go."
"Oh, yes, yes," Jiku answered, unable to hide the disappointment in his face.
"Well don't be sad! Here, take this," Asari said as she handed over a pale blue stone to Jiku.
"This is to remind me of you. Heh! Sorry, it's all I can give you for the next five years, but it's a drop of rain. If you put the stone in water, rain will come to you. But then try not to use it unless you really have to. So you know, so you won't forget me."
Jiku was surprised at the thoughtful gesture. How many times did he think that Asari must only be a product of his imagination? "Thank you, Asari." Jiku said.
"Sure," Asari smiled. "Hold on to it till I come back. Got it?"
"Got it."
Jiku watched as Asari turned back. She slowly, gracefully, lifted herself up in the sky until she faded away with it, like an apparition from a distant dream. He held on tightly to the stone she left him. Perero cuddled close to Jiku, as if to tell him not to forget that he still had him there. And true enough, what great comfort Perero was to Jiku.
As Jiku started to head back to the new headquarters with Perero, he was surprised to see an imposing figure standing in front of them, just a few steps away. He had no doubt; it was General Arisimo. He hesitated to move for a moment, but knowing that the General had already seen him, he continued to walk towards him.
General Arisimo did not wait for Jiku to speak.
"If you're wondering what I saw, I saw everything," he said curtly.
General Arismo took out a cigar, lighted it up and continued to look at Jiku with stern eyes. "It's best for you to forget about her. She's supernatural. She will get in the way of your training. She's already getting in the way, obviously."
"I'm sorry I missed training, sir."
"Leave it at the fact that she's not your enemy. Don't make her your friend. Let this be the last of your meetings with the clouder – that's an order!"