A Sakura Covered in Snow

The Snow Queen Falls in Love with The Frost King.

I have always been fond of winter, which brings with it white snow and beautiful shapes of ice.

Winter can be both pretty and deadly.

When I was born, my skin was cold to the touch. The people spread rumors that claimed that I had been cursed by a Yuki-Onna, which is why my mother named me; Yuko.

Oddly enough, the people may have been correct.

As a little girl I would always look forward to winter and the cold that it brought with it.

I disliked hot baths, preferring cold ones.

My father was a bit worried but my mother loved me and gave me the nickname; my little snowflake.

I grew up in a time where the old was being replaced by the new.

Vehicles that were moved by a motor were something very new and interesting.

New clothes, new customs and new ideas were everywhere. It was a revolution like no other.

One day. I was out taking a walk by myself, and that was when I saw him.

He was a foreigner and we locked eyes.

I quickly hid my face behind my hand fan.

The man, with a calm and gentle aura, got up from his rickshaw.

My heart was about to melt, as the man went over and bought a Kanzashi. He then walked towards me.

I breathed nervously on my hand fan, where then ice appeared.

The foreigner was now standing before me. He put the Kanzashi in my hair, and he was about to touch my face.

I feared the same negative reaction which I had received from other men.

But, that was when I felt it, a hand as cold as my own.

I gazed deep into his eyes, where I saw it, a winter wonderland.

The foreigner bowed as he returned to his rickshaw driver.

We shared one more look together, but my heart then shattered like ice hitting the ground, as an attacker tried to kill the foreigner.

I looked on in horror, and without having realized it, I had turned my hand fan into ice.

I later found out that the foreigner was a prince from a land famous for its long winters… I would love a land like that.

But I had to make amends.

I arrived at Kyoto, where the foreigner was in the hospital recovering.

I had put on my white kimono, the funny thing was, that I truly looked like a Yuki-Onna.

I kneeled down in front of the hospital as I took out my razor.

I breathed on the razor and ice appeared.

I then held the razor to my throat, as I prayed that my death would help the foreigner recover and that no more harm may be caused.

I then happily did the deed.

After my death, the people granted me the title of retsujo, which means; Valiant Woman.

But, I could not find peace in death. For it seems like my death was not enough to prevent the tragedy to come...I am so sorry.

I have now been given second life and I hereby set out to end the beast that drew first blood on the foreigner.

We found ourselves standing in the land of the foreigner, for I had hoped to see it one day.

I was looking at the man, but he seemed corrupt and changed.

" Why did you do it? " I asked.

With a grin, the man said;

" For the sake of our people "

" Our people never wanted any of all this bloodshed, and loss of precious life "

But the man seemed unmoved by my words.

I knew what had to be done, as I drew forth my weapon, and that was when the man giggled as he also changed.

I realized that the man had also been given a second life and that he had fused with a Balachko.

The three heads of the dragon all glared down at me while they were all grinning.

I breathed on my sword, as my eyes glowed with a snow white color.

The dragon looked on in horror as winter was mine to command.

But having nothing to lose, the dragon charged.

I charged as well while riding on the snow.

As we were about to clash, I thought to myself;

" Nicholas, I will treasure this gift you bought for me, till the ice smelts and I am no more, for I am the Snow Queen "