14-30. Cherry Blossom- Dante

14. Cherry Blossoms- Dante Auditore-Ashford (DanRos)
After Father and Mother left us for Constantinople it was never the same. Mother left us for Francia soon after, leaving the Elite Assassin name to Angela and Father had settled with another woman. I never even met my half siblings, Marcello and Flavia; who I have heard about in letters. I've even heard Father is now living with this woman and their children in Firenze. Charming. He can't be bothered to visit me or Angela but can be with this woman and his children with her.
Leonardo hasn't even met his own grandfather. But I guess… father doesn't even know of his existence. Only mother knows. I suspect Angela knows, however.
But I digress. I returned to Venezia to see my darling Rosa when I heard of Father's move to Firenze. Leonardo was doing well; Rosa is a great mother. I had decided to move away from this country and start a new as my parents had. I requested Rosa and Leonardo come with me and they accepted. Rosa knew some people in Venezia that could take us where we wanted to go. Mother had told me of a country called Giappone which she had read about when she lived with Grandfather in Germania. She had said traders of the town had told her of great things. I wanted to see these things for myself. So we set out for Giappone.
The trip was long and very boring. I never liked travel at the best of times but I now know never to travel by sea again. Leonardo and Rosa asked of Fathers health. I didn't care enough to give a detailed answer, just to tell them of my distaste of him. I told Rosa of what had happened after he left Venezia and of his new family even when he was still married to my mother.
The courier pigeon that we use to send letters to each other kept me in contact with mother. She frequently told me of Parigi and the francese. She also mentioned father a lot. She was very upset with her life now. She ruled Francia, as promised, not being able to commit to her assassin lifestyle; but also not being able to see her children. She was also upset and angry that father had not sent her even one letter.

My Dearest Dante,
Do not hate your father for what he has done to me. You are free to dislike him as much as you wish but never say you hate him. He cares more now for that Sofia Sorto woman now.
Ah how I miss those days free-running around Rome, not with a care in the world. But the days grow weary now.
Paris isn't much. Dear Alice is a darling and knows of everything. She would love to meet you. But I hear you are destined for Japan? Angela told me. The traders told me of pink trees there. Please tell me off them when you arrive! Draw me something.
I recommend Ohira for you. I hear there is a Samurai training camp. They are very skilled.
However… I will love to hear from you again.
Tell Rosa and Leonardo I love them.
Serena, Your mother.

Mother had spoken of these pink trees before. It was strange. Trees were either green or brown. I had never witnessed a pink tree.
It was beautiful, however. As Rosa, Leonardo and I rode through the country on our way to Ohira, like mother had said, we saw these strange trees.
We had arrived in the spring. The trees were covered in sweet pink flowers, their petals flowing free in the wind. The smell was pleasant and the air was fresh.
"Did you know of these Dante?" Rosa asked me.
"I love them!" Leonardo beamed "They're very pretty. Not as pretty as mother though"
"Nothing compares to your mother" Dante smiled "Mother told me of them. She said the traders called them, cherry blossoms"
"Cherry blossoms…" Rosa repeated quietly, smiling slightly "I like it…"
"We're lucky to have arrived in spring…" Dante grinned "Apparently that's when they bloom"