Benjamin reached the miniature island sooner than he expected, then settled his palm against the rough bark of the enormous cherry tree.
Ancient power thrummed deeply, but slowly and patiently, beneath his fingers.
"This… must be a really old tree," he murmured to himself. "Are you sure it's a cherry tree at all?"
He was grasping for distraction. He wanted to do anything to keep the memories from resurfacing.
In truth, this was only the second time he had seen those visions so clearly; the first had been the moment he died on Earth.
However, he did not want to dwell on them now.
He turned back toward the mouth of the lake.
But still nothing... The hollow space where the others stood remained blank, and he could not sense what Sakura and the rest were doing.
He pushed the unease aside and began the return journey; hopping, leaping, dashing from leaf to leaf with the same effortless silence as in the beginning.
When he reached the shore, he allowed form to return.
