It is spring and the cherry blossom trees are in full blossom; proud pink swaying in the gentle breezes and petals falling loose to dance to the ground. It's a beautiful sight, something he had missed for those last five years. Being away from Japan had left a hole in his heart yet returning to France had overlapped that loneliness.

He had gone home, having chosen to attend college there because his grandmother had passed away the year of his graduation. He had been sad of her death, of course, but this had meant his one true chance to return to his mother, the person who meant the world to him and his father had more than approved of it. But upon graduation there were sad goodbyes, tears from certain friends and understanding smiles from others.

They understood. They had always understood.

That was what had made them so dear in his heart and caused it to ache in the middle of the night, his head spinning and tears burning at closed eyes.

Those sleepless nights always brought on hordes of questions, attacking his mind and body with such ferocity the mere thought of a friend hurt. But that had been the driving force to get him through those years of college, to get him to finish and return back to where his friends—where his heart had been yearning to return to—were at. But the reunion of meeting was cut away and pushed back a year.

Mother had fallen ill and all he could think of was to stay by her side, help her get better and just let her know that he was there. He was to be her support just as she was his, always there to hold her hand and murmur encouraging words of how once she was better he would take her out and allow her to experience the best time of her life. And many a laugh had been a reward to silly little jokes and promises, sweet smiles gracing a pale face framed by blonde hair.

She had been beautiful, even in that frail state of illness.

A year later she recovered, showing signs of growing strength and when she was better he had lived up to all the silly promises he had made her. But there was one he made to her that was a big deal: "When you get well, maman, I will take you to Japan."

He would take her back to Japan and they would live together. She would not be weak anymore and would be able to stay with him until the day she died (which he prayed would be not for a long time).

The promise was well lived up to.

They had gone to Japan together; all things packed up and shipped ahead of their departure date as to be set up before their arrival. Father would be meeting them at the mansion. He had sounded excited, happy. It had been a nice change from the usual teasing tone the old man carried, finding it fun to make fun of his son over the most stupid of things.

"Maman?"

The vocal question was answered by a curious glance of eyes, a slender hand reaching up to the outstretched one that helped her out of the car. The sunlight hurt her eyes, causing her to squint, but as she turned her attention to her son she saw the bright smile he bore and merely smiled in return.

For her, it had been ages since last setting foot in Japan, but for Tamaki, her son, it had been only five years and that sadness that had once been in his eyes had disappeared and was warmed with happiness.

It had been something she had missed.