The Girl Who 'Went Away'

The Kato's Family

25 July 1990 Sabah, Malaysia - Prologue

This a story about a girl name Sakura Kato who move to Kyoto, the home country of his beloved father Tanagi Kato.

"Are you sure you to want move there?" Tanagi forehead twitching when he heard that her only daughter want to move to his home village on southeast Kyoto, Japan.

"Yes dad. I am 100 percent sure and determined. Whether its two or three years later in future, I really want to visit your home and village where you grew up. And if it is possible I want us to move there since mom already…" Sakura hesitate to continues her sentences considering its a sensitive topic.

Her mother Anna was a beautiful Sabahan women which her father fall in love with during his visit here in Sabah, Malaysia fifteen years ago. After two years of long distance relationship, his father Tanagi Kato finally made the decision to tie the knot and since then has lived in Malaysia. Unfortunately, mom was involved in a hit and run accidents one years ago and sadly passed away. Since then it only has been me and my dad. Even though dad was miserable and devastated for several months after mom passed away, he never ignore his responsibility and always take care of me.

"Its okay honey. I understand what you trying to say. Even your mother is no longer here with us, she always live here in our heart." My dad smile as he stroke his gentle hand on my head.

My tears stream down softly on my cheek as I nodded slowly. Dad was always a gentle person. I never saw him get angry and always tried his best to stay calm in any situation. The only time I saw him crying was on my mother funeral.

"If that is what you have decided, I will start to arrange my working situation in Kyoto as you finish your high school this year. I am glad that I rented out my late parents house in Kyoto instead of selling it. Now we do not have to worry about living space. Its an old yet beautiful Japanese house near the Higa shrine. I am pretty sure you going to love it." Dad smiled as he utter those words.

My heart filled with excitement just hearing dad talk about the house. I remember when dad showed me the picture of his late parent house, it was an old but sturdy japanese house. It was surrounded by small flower garden, with one big Sakura tree near the porch. I remember dad telling me on that was how he got the idea for my name. There are also small river on the left side of the house. I remember seeing two red pole behind the house and it turned out to be the entrance to Higa shrine dad always talked about when I was smaller.

Growing up my family and I not really much of a believer. But we always try to do as much good as we can and avoid any bad behaviour. Thats what my parents always taught me. My mom did visit the church since it was her religion growing up but she never really force me and dad to go with her. We never really took to much pressure on that section of our life.

On the other hand, I am always intrigued when dad started to tell me about the life he had growing up in Japan. The cultures and the believes especially in the rural area is what make me excited the most. I always wanted to visit a shrine. There's something about it that always picked my interest and make me wanted to know and learn more.