A tall, imposing man walks through the lovely gardens. The greenhouse contained garden preserved some of Japan's most treasured botanical marvels. Wearing a black business suit with a dark blue tie, he casually strolls through before the inevitably flood of work begins for him. He is, after all, the duly elected President of the Japanese State.

His stern eyes look peacefully at the colorful flora from behind his spectacles. His short, well kept dark brown hair gracefully lined his head. This man was the very image of the strong Japanese man. A container in his right hand with coffee, he makes his way from garden exhibit to exhibit, enjoying the take of the plants.

A pair of bodyguards hover behind the president, doing their job while staying out of the way. One carried a briefcase with the seal of Japan on it, containing Mr. Ito's papers and materials. Both agents were heavily armed and shoot to kill if the need arises.

While looking at a Cherry Blossom tree, the only one in the entire state of Japan that still bloomed, he exhales, taking in the scent of the rare sight with a calm expression.

The walkways were clear enough to bicycle, which wasn’t always true due to the near constant snowfall. And it may not be true later in the afternoon when the snow accumulated yet again. However, Sophia takes advantage of the lull in precipitation to go through one of her two usual tracks. Either to the East Gardens, where she would chain her bike in the bike rack and walk through for greenhouse for a quick break, or toward Hikawa Jinja and Ueno. However, Ueno was far more interesting in springtime weather, so she woke up early to head toward the East Gardens.

Sophia was not expecting to see armed personnel there. However, she does recognize the man that they are protecting instantly. Two famous people and a week, but this one was a ton more important. And again, Sophia gets a little star-struck and forgets exactly how to greet him or even if she should. She figures that she should ask for an autograph as she probably wouldn’t really get a chance to be this close and talk to the man again.

She walks up to the bodyguards and asks quietly as to not bother Prime Minister Adoji Ito’s introspective moment, “Would it be ok if I asked for an autograph from Prime Minister Adoji Ito or would he prefer not to be bothered? If so, do you have pen and paper that I could borrow?”

”Father!”

A pig tailed Valdis came jogging up, in her hand was a container much like his. It looked like she had ran all the way from the estate which was saying something. She was slightly out of breath from the effort, usually she wouldn't but due to the fact she had gotten a cold from her adventures a few days ago it made it difficult. Valdis wore a black peasant blouse shirt with a purple leather waist corset, along with black leather pants. A black surgical mask was also worn, as was custom for anyone who had a cold in japan. Her coat had been left at the entrance to the green house, after all it was actually warm in the green house unlike outside.

”Can I have a motorcycle or a car…or a dog sled…either would work cause running here is a bitch…and Father, you took the wrong one; that’s my decaf….company made me switch….”

She held out the container of coffee; and peeked around him when she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.

”Little mouse?”

The bodyguards look at Sohpia as though she had two heads, but detecting no threat, one of them makes a move to inform the president of the PR opportunity before Valdis bursts forth in her spazzy moment of attention and coffee.

Adoji looks at Valdis as she approached, tilting his glasses a little, peering at the coffee. His expression was a faint smile, thought slightly forced. The girl whom caused him trouble with her...humorous pranks. His daughter.

"No wonder I am still feeling tired. And no to all of the above, you aren't yet old enough. You know well enough that you have access to drivers and others who will cart you around to wherever you need to go." he says in a firm, yet caring enough voice, again slightly voiced.

His stern eyes gaze over to where Sophia was, upon Valdis acting as though she knew her.

"A friend of yours?" he inquires.

Sophia is a little more than confused by this situation. For a few fleeting seconds, she was going to get an autograph and a conversation with the President. And then Valdis shows up out of nowhere and calls him father. Sophia recognizes that someone had to have sired Valdis… but her father was the president?

However, she tries to follow Yuki’s older advice in handling Valdis and take everything in stride. She also tries not to let her starstruckness show too much. She puts on the act of the friendly peer, and one not phased by the company that she was in. Maybe it would get Valdis to shake the nickname. However, at this rate, she thinks she should probably just accept it.

She waves at her peer, looking cheerful, “Good morning, Valdis.” She turns her attention back to the President, “Sorry to bother you, Prime Minister Adoji Ito. Valdis and I both met earlier in the week at school. My name is Sophia. It is a pleasure to meet you.” She sticks out her hand to shake the President’s hand.

Valdis pouted slightly though it was hidden so she leaned her head on his shoulder.

”Aw but daddy, I’ll be old enough in a couple of months.”

Though she knew his father; so she really didn't push it any further. But with that she plucked the coffee from his hands and handed him his.

”Don’t worry that ones not contaminated. But you do know I’m going to ask that same question again in a couple of months, you’re going to have to come up with another excuse…like you wouldn’t unleash such a danger on the community or something. “

She looked back at Sophia.

”Little mouse more like a confused hostage then friend. Good morning Little mouse. “

Valdis looked up at the cherry tree, she liked the green house it was nice to see something other then snow….she wondered why there weren't more of these. They certainly would build up peoples moral…they seemed to be getting bleaker lately.

As Sophia approaches, the two bodyguards make a movement to detain her at first, but with a wave of his hand, the president disarms those intents. The two were just doing their jobs after all, and what threat could a school age girl be?

Well, aside from Valdis of course. But she was the exception, not the rule.

"And we will speak when that time comes." he says, putting the subject of Valdis being on the road to rest...for now.

When Sophia introduced herself, he nodded and then smiled warmly, taking a few steps toward her and likely causing Valdis to stumble a little due to her choice to lean on his shoulder, then extending his free hand to shake her own, gently clasping her hand and moving it accordingly.

"A pleasure to meet you Sophia, it's quite refreshing to know that my daughter has some friends with good manners." he says then, looking at Valdis and then her. "Perhaps you should invite your friend to a dinner some time." he says, clearly misinterpreting the true nature of Valdis and Sophia's relationship.

After withdrawing from contact with Sophia, he turns back toward the Cherry Blossom Tree, sipping his newly caffeinated beverage and then speaking, facing the tree.

"Once upon a time, Japan was filled with these trees blooming. Their advent was a powerful indicator of spring, a time of renewal and rebirth after the long winter. So powerful was this phenomena that it was a holiday of sorts. People from around the world used to flock to Japan to witness the sight." he says, then taking another sip of the coffee.

"It is this I want to see again more than anything...one day our labors and research will come up with a way to reverse the damage wrought to this world, and the spring will once again come." he states calmly.

Even if Valdis doesn’t give a warm greeting, Sophia is happy to receive one from her father. However, she brushes it off as Valdis wasn’t exactly a warm and friendly person. “I would love to have dinner with you both,” she says being genuinely honored by the invitation.

She joins Prime Minister Adoji Ito, reflecting on the last blooming cherry blossom. He was so optimistic about the future when others seemed to believe that the world was coming to an end. “I remember walking around Ueno nearly every day in the spring to look at them. I look forward to seeing them again,” she comments, sharing in his positive attitude.

It reminds her a little of Artemis’ talk about changing the world. The task seems daunting, but she feels invigorated about her mission. At the very least, it meant there was hope even if it fell on her. “While there’s life, there is hope,” repeating a proverb.

“I suppose after the long wait, it will that much more beautiful when springtime comes.” She isn’t sure whether she is commenting on the tree or life in general, but it scarcely mattered anymore.

Valdis did loose balance for a second when her dad just walked away but she quickly regained it. Only to raise an eyebrow at her father’s statement…whatever was he talking about.

”But Daddy I do have good manners, I just choose not to use them….and I would love to have her for dinner sometime…little mice look so tasty”

As they reflected on the cherry blossoms Valdis walked over and stood shoulder to shoulder with her dad. Slowly she leaned over and whispered in his ear, completely ruining the moment in the process.

”I lied about the coffee….I licked it”

She smiled and looked over at little mouse, her moment was soon to be ruined to.

”I only got to see them a few times…and Japan has so many holidays I mark it spring time when I see giant penis floats going down the street. It will be spring again when you see young men prancing around in loin cloths and vegetables carved to match their glory.”

It was one of Japans more…awkward holidays but it was one that made the immature giggle like madmen.

"Excellent. Arrange a time with Valdis then and she will let me know so that adequate preparations to receive you can be made." Prime Minister Adoji Ito says with a warm smile upon hearing of Sophia's acceptance. Friends might keep Valdis out of some of her trouble, and it was always good publicity to be engaged with the public on all levels. He ignored Valdis' comment about mice being tasty, knowing it was standard Valdis operation protocol to make remarks like that for creep factor.

As the president as about to respond to Sophia's optimistic statement of the future, Valids blurted out about licking the coffee, which brought him a pause and a slight expression of discomfort. Only his daughter would pull something like this. It could also just as easily not be true, but with Valdis running about in that medical mask lately, he decided to refrain from any additional risk and steps over to a nearby trash pail, depositing the tainted beverage.

While he did this, Valdis then elaborated on her knowledge of obscure holidays, which caused several beads of sweat to go down the side of his head.

"Well, I suppose even holidays such as that have their place in the world. There is no meaning in saving the world from the elements if people can't indulge in their customs, now is there? he says, then turning back to the cherry blossom tree, reaching up and gently feeling the sensation of a leaf upon his fingertips, respectfully contacting the plant before withdrawing it back to his side.

Sophia looks at Valdis with a kind smile when Prime Minister Adoji Ito says to plan a date to come over. “I suppose we can talk about that after school when I find out whether I was accepted into the arts program or not. Hopefully, I will see you there,” she adds. She has no clue how this would turn out, but she wouldn’t stop trying. Even Valdis’ remarks don’t seem to bother or disturb her.

She watches the interaction between Valdis and her father with some amusement. She guesses that Valdis is simply this way all hours of the day. It would take some getting used to, but she feels like she should come up with quicker comebacks to her odd sense of humor.

As Prime Minister Adoji Ito touches the tree briefly, it seems like a long farewell. She certainly hopes that it isn’t too long though. “It was wonderful meeting you, Prime Minister Adoji Ito, and it was nice seeing you again, Valdis. Hopefully, we can meet up soon. I should probably get back on my bicycle while it is still nice out,” she says, preparing to leave the warmth of greenhouse by buttoning up her coat.

”How about you bring pushy cat to, if father wants my school mates to come over then let’s have one of those screechy girly parties, I never had one. We can stay up all night and cause sleep deprivation yes?”

If her dad wanted her to reach out to have friends she would, starting with little mouse…she may invite Ama-chan as well…She looked over at her dad, a slightly evil chuckle coming from her throat. It was always amusing to see her dad loose his calm mask. More so if she was the cause of it, which more often then not it was. When he began fondling the plant Valdis had to make a comment, though for once it wasn’t for creep factor.

”Alls well and good in saving the world but there’s going to be none left if this never ending winter goes on…so many species of plants and animals have gone extinct… Planting will have to go along way, and those plants will have to be cultivated from green houses like these…and animals well…you just have to hope that the ones in the zoo’s will be successful at breeding and we’d get lucky if they’d be able to be reintroduced into the wild…Honestly science tells us if this is not done soon then the very air we breathe will become toxic. We’ll need a miracle”

Bit of a downer, but it was the facts. She was sure her father had already come across the same thoughts, but it was most likely classified information. But this showed Valdis actually did have deep thought. She turned back to little mouse with small smile fallowing her.

”Why meet later, I’ll walk with you.”

She waved back at her father.

”See you later dad, I’ll be home late…..I have arrangements with a crazy old lady”

Sophia is happy to hear that Valdis is all for having her as a guest in her home. Some excitement radiates off of her. “Neither of us will see Yuki until Monday, but I am sure she would be happy to come along as well. A night over sounds fun, but I am afraid I am not that loud of screecher,” she jokes.

However, she feels sad about Valdis’ sentiment towards the future. It isn’t something that she holds as true, but she more feels sad that someone could lose hope like that. She feels more assured about the future not that she has a role in it, at least according to a magical cat. However, even before that, she still trusted humanity's ability to pull through in critical moments. They were capable of doing amazing things sometimes. “No miracles happen without a little faith…”

She perks up as Valdis mentions walking along with her. “Sure. Do you have a bike? We could ride together for a bit. Who is this crazy old lady though?” She puts on a hat to keep her head and ears warm as well as some gloves.

”Don’t you have Yuki’s number?...And we can arrange for you to be loud.”

Valdis smiled slightly eerily at her remark.

”Miracles only happen when hard work is involved, you can’t just hope things will get better you have to do. You don’t reach dreams by wishing on stars. It is a fact that many species have been wiped out, by the time we realized this winter was not going to end we already lost many species. Area’s which were tropical only needed a few weeks before the damage was done for them….I believe we will survive but we have already lost much. Things will not go back to the way they were. Unless someone has the power to bring back the dead then those that were lost only live on in our memories.”

It was a dark fact, but a fact one would have to face. Valdis believed the humans would survive, and the earth would live on. But they all would not come out unscathed, like a large open wound the earth would take time to heal although it would always have a scar. She really wasn’t aiming to crush little mouse’s hopes, but things needed to be put into perspective.

”There are however many bio domes, plants that people had in their houses have been donated, wild life preserves and animal shelters have been given funding to grow. Who knows some of the plants lost may be little seeds left in someone’s junk drawer waiting to be planted...”

She grabbed her coat at the entrance and put it on, it was a white swayed leather coat that went down to her thighs, it had black fur lining. It was her replacement jacket for the one that had gotten torn to pieces….her Dad had picked it out so it was softer and slightly girlier then what she would have picked, but it was warm and comfortable. She tied the belt that came with it and pulled out black leather gloves from the pocket along with black furry earmuffs. All while balancing the cup of coffee in her hand.

”No I ran here, but if you don’t mind taking a detour I can go pick my bike up. I can also give you my home phone number…I don’t carry a cell phone…they creep me out. As for the crazy old lady, she’s the priestess down at Hikawa shrine…she’s determined to nurture my good nature…Now…as for this sleep over, how about this Tuesday, after school.”

She smiled her teeth gleaming in the light.

”We well have much fun, I’ll dig out my Ouija board and voodoo doll kits, we can go ghost hunting, watch scary movies!”

Valdis was describing more of a horror movie then a sleep over.

”In fact I’m to excited to wait, let’s go track the victims down, TO THE SCHOOL RECORDS”

Sophia pulls out her phone, “Yeah, I have Yuki’s number. As for being loud, I have older brothers, so trust me when I say the spiders in the bed trick won’t work,” she smiles back. She could deal with traumatizing pranks, a virtue of having siblings.

She starts texting Yuki about the slumber party idea while listening to Valdis talk. With some seriousness that is rare for her, she speaks, “Have you ever heard about ecological succession? Occasionally, some great disaster will happen, like a fire in a forest. Many things die, perish, disappear. But the area isn’t some barren wasteland after that. Many things survive too. And the world makes something new and beautiful after such a terrible event. Some creatures have an opportunity in this new world to make something wonderful for themselves.”

“I am not saying the world won’t be different. And I am not saying to ignore what was lost. All I am saying is that there isn’t a reason why life can’t still be beautiful after everything is said and done. And if we dwell on all the negativity, we lose an opportunity to make something new.”
She quickly changes attitudes as if taking her own advice, “Anyways, this will be a great party once Yuki gets back to me.”

“We can make a detour past your house. It isn’t like I had plans this early in the morning. And I don’t think I have been past the Hikawa shrine that many times to be honest. It would be nice to see.” And any priestess that would make Valdis less grumpy during initial meetings was fine with Sophia.

“Tuesday after school works wonderfully for me. You own a Ouiji board? And voodoo doll kits? How do you hunt for ghosts?” she asks at the rather odd activities planned. Sophia didn’t particularly enjoy horror movies all that much. Stories focused on death with sad endings tended not to sit right with her. But she would grin and bear if it made her friends happy. If the acting was any good, she may even actually enjoy herself. As for the other things, surely some spirits didn’t mind having pleasant conversations, right? At least, it was more interesting that the normal sit and talk about boys. Sophia didn’t even have any boys to talk about.

“School records? How many people have died at our school exactly?” she asks wondering if death at Juuban was a regular occurrence.