This is my first attempt at writing in English. Constructive criticism is very appreciated.
Oh, and Tetsuya is my OC. He's Juri and Takato's son.
Send it to Heaven
Juri,
Where are you?
And Tetsuya?
Where is he?
What were we doing anyway?
Oh, yes, it was supposed to be a trip.
To where?
Okinawa. That was it.
We were going to visit Kai and Minami, right?
Oh, forgot to mention Rhythmi.
What was I doing?
Oh, I was… Trying to steal Tetsuya's Age*?
But there was no Age in his Bentobako**!
So, it wasn't in his Obento. It was in the Nishime***. That's right.
And you?
You were… Laughing lightly, right?
Oh, and trying to stop the fight between me and Tetsuya.
Have I mentioned that your food is the best?
You learnt it from a notebook your mother had written?
It had her maiden name written on?
That's why your food's so delicious!
What? And you also learnt from Shizue?
And your father?
God, no wonder Izakaya Katou is a great success.
Oh, so your brother invented new recipes?
That's good, don't you think?
Guilmon Bread? That was dad who invented that! And then, many other Bakeries started making it anyway.
Ok, ok, but we also were the first ones baking Leomon Breads, Impmon Breads, Belzeebumon Breads, Terriermon Breads, Renamon Breads, Cyberdramon Breads, Guardromon Breads, MarineAngemon Breads, Lopmon Breads, Culumon Breads…
Now I'm not on the topic I was supposed to be.
Okay.
I'll start again.
There was going to be a festival in Okinawa, and it was going to be some days before Rhythmi's birthday, right?
Kai and Minami had invited us.
That's right.
So, I bought train tickets. For me, you and Tetsuya.
Tetsuya was hyper he was going to see his cousin. Rhythmi really loves children.
The Urazoes were going to meet us at the station. Right.
But in the middle of the journey, it… Crashed into what?
Oh, you didn't see, either.
So…
Here are we now.
Waiting for help.
Or maybe not hoping anything good (or not too bad) to happen anymore.
I know there aren't enough ambulances; they'll try to help those who are more critical or who have more chances of surviving.
You aren't fine, as they take you.
I'm still conscious, but I know I'm fading away…
Tetsuya also is.
Slowly…
I saw the paramedics coming towards me.
They took me to the ambulance.
I couldn't see Tetsuya anymore.
I lost consciousness.
And later, woke up in a hospital.
And the first thing I did is ask the nurses where my wife and my son were.
They soon told me I had to see it with my own eyes.
And I didn't like that.
Somehow, I had a bad feeling about that.
I wasn't so badly hurt in the accident, I think; I got out of the hospital in a week.
But still, they didn't allow me to see you or Tetsuya.
I had an even worse feeling.
And I was right, unfortunately.
They took me to a room.
And there was Tetsuya.
On a wheelchair.
And with an arm missing.
I got desperate; which father wouldn't?
But Tetsuya just saw me and smiled.
"Daddy!"
I had to hold my tears.
I really had.
It was too much, too much.
I talked a bit with him, but the kind of conversation you'd probably say: "Don't teach bad things to Tetsuya!".
And unlike other times, I felt bad about it.
But I couldn't see you.
I was getting crazy.
Kai, Minami and Rhythmi had to take care of Tetsuya for a pretty long time.
And that makes me feel like the worst man and father of the world.
Somehow, I know I am.
They only allowed me to see you after a really long time.
I have no idea why, it didn't help anyway.
You were on a bed.
Machines were surrounding you.
You couldn't cook or have ideas anymore.
You couldn't breathe for yourself.
You didn't even know you were Juri.
That… Made me…
I didn't know.
I wasn't ready to raise Tetsuya alone.
Much less in the state he was.
I was afraid.
Scared.
Frightened.
Really.
I didn't want to do to Tetsuya what your father did to you.
But I also didn't expect you to do to Tetsuya what your mother did to you.
I'm not saying you, your father or your mother are bad persons or did something bad in purpose.
I just… Thought this kind of bad things happened just once in the entire life.
We were so happy you didn't have the genes that killed your mother!
I thought you and I could raise Tetsuya properly!
But now I can see, I was wrong.
Without noticing, I was doing to Tetsuya the same thing your father did to you.
I was neglecting him.
Tetsuya was luckier and had Kai, Minami and Rhythmi. But what would happen if they weren't there for him?
He'd probably pass through the same things you passed.
I know that's not what you wanted for him, I didn't want it, either.
But now I can understand your father.
I wish I didn't.
Who'd want to pass through what he passed?
And Tetsuya, how he suffered.
All the problems you and your father had…
I know both of you wished nobody else passed through that.
But somehow, your wishes weren't granted.
Deciding to turn off the machines wasn't easy. Tetsuya had hope you'd come back to life. He thought you were just sleeping and would eventually wake up.
But I knew that those problems in your brain were permanent and would stop you from that.
When I said I'd sign the papers and let the doctors to turn off the machines, Tetsuya, really angry, said:
"You're not just letting them turn off the machines! You're letting Mommy die!"
And I think he didn't speak to me for more than half a year.
I don't want to remember the funeral.
It was disconcerting.
Seriously.
It should be, but… Why was it worse than I thought it'd ever be?
I'm sorry for not visiting your grave; it's just… I'm not ready.
But I swear I'm going there before I die.
And then I'll write another letter.
A happier one.
I'll leave that note on your grave with this one.
I'm sorry for making you read this.
I just needed someone to talk with.
And even dead, you seemed like the best person.
And sorry for not making appropriate paragraphs.
I couldn't work on them, like you'd want me to.
And also didn't pay attention to Asanuma-sensei's explanation on the last day we went to school before going to the Digital World. I still want to learn it properly!
But seriously…
I just…
"Threw the thoughts up" in here.
I'll make up for that.
I will make something for you.
A really tasty Mochi****.
And put that on the Butsudan*****.
Then you can have it.
I also swear I'll raise Tetsuya more properly.
The way you'd want me to.
Or the way I THINK you'd want me to.
I didn't know you as well as I should.
And will never be able to.
Sorry for that.
Don't wait for me in heaven's gate; it'll be a waste of time.
When time comes, I'll go.
And I'll find you, wherever you are.
Go and look for your mother.
Don't forget Leomon.
You deserve, after all the things you passed through.
Just don't forget me, I'll join you when time comes.
When time comes.
Now, I have to raise Tetsuya until he becomes mature enough to stand up for himself.
And I don't want to leave him alone.
See you,
Takato
Takato put the letter in his pocket. Then he went to the kitchen. He made some Mochi and put one or two in Tetsuya's bag. After his son had gone to school, he put some of the Mochi in front of the Butsudan, which had three pictures and a draw.
The first was of Juri's mother. The second, a draw of Leomon. The third, Takato's father. And the last one, but not least, was of Juri.
"I'll raise Tetsuya up properly, you'll see."
AN:
*Age: A kind of fried tofu (food made from soy) – contracted form of Aburaage
**Bentobako: Bento (packed lunch) box
***Nishime: A Japanese food, made from Age, Konyaku, Kamaboko, Konbu, Carrot, Yam…
****Mochi: Rice cake
*****Butsudan: Shrine
