Yuya : PhotoStory

Yuya, the lover of Taira no Munemori of the Heiki clan, learns in a letter, delivered by the female servant Asagao, that back in her hometown her mother is seriously ill.

Prompted by the letter, she asks Munemori for permission to go home.

The pressing request of Yuya is her mother's appeal - to meet once more before leaving this life. She reads the letter aloud.

Deeply worried about her mother, she weeps.

Munemori doesn't give permission for Yuya to return home. He presses her to ride in the ox-drawn carriage to view the cherry blossoms, saying that this will comfort her.

Reluctantly, Yuya leaves with Munemori for the spring colors around Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

There, with the imperial capital resplendent in the blossoms, everyone is dressed in dazzling clothes and enjoying themselves.

But Yuya is in low spirits. Whatever she sees, she thinks of her mother. Her distress is overwhelming.

During the banquet, a passing shower makes some blossoms fall to the ground.

Unless Yuya does something to stop it, scattered blossoms will pile up on body of her mother.

Yuya's kind and strong thoughts melt the heart of Munemori. He gives her permission to take the road to the east and return home.