Disclaimer: I still don't own "Ceres" and the characters therein...

Two years after the end of volume 14

"Sheesh! There's so much junk in here!" Aya said, as she attempted to sort through various papers. "And Tôya was supposed to be the organized one," she chuckled. Suddenly she stopped and stared at what she'd just picked up—a sealed envelope with only two words written on the front: To Aya. She opened it and gasped. "It's from Tôya!"

My dearest Aya,

By the time you read this, I will already be gone. Don't worry about me, though...I'm with some wonderful people. I can't wait to see how our beautiful daughter grows up. With you as her mother, we've nothing to worry about.

Aya, I love you more than those words can even mean. You are my world, my everything. And though I cannot bear to be distanced from you, I must part from your side eventually. When that happens, I want Aogiri to be the father figure to Chidori. He's the only one who will care for you the way you deserve to be cared for, and I'm sure he will love our child like his own. Take him as a husband...please. I will never be angry with you for doing it. He loves you as I love you, so it's what's best for you and Chidori.

Don't fret about any of this, Aya. We will be reunited one day. But until then, let Aogiri take care of you, remind our daughter how much I love her, and always remember how much I love you.

With all the love that I posses,

Tôya

After she'd finished reading it, she read it twice more. She felt like she should've been surprised but wasn't. Tôya had died a month ago, having sacrificed Mana to Ceres; she knew it was inevitable, so it wasn't as hard to cope with as it would've been otherwise. Yûhi had been so comforting to her...not just when Tôya died, but always...through everything.

As Aya stood there, frozen in place, silent tears rolled off her cheeks. Tôya, even now, you're still looking after me...you still want what's best for me...and you still love me.

"Aya?" Yûhi called. "Are you alright?"

She quickly wiped her tears and spun around to face him. She looked into his concerned eyes, then back at Tôya's letter, and flung her arms around him. He embraced her, though he was quite confused. "Is everything okay?" he asked again.

"Yeah..." she smiled. "Tôya...he gave us his blessing. Yûhi, I want you to help me raise Chidori. I've already told you that...and Tôya wants the same thing."

"I know...he told me to take care of you when he was gone...I never intended to do any differently. For you, I will do anything." he replied.

Dear Tôya,

I'm aware that this won't reach you physically, but I know you can hear me. I have missed you so much the past month. It will be hard without you, yet I think it will be bearable, at least. Of course, I'd want you and I to raise our child, but Yûhi will do well. I'm sure of it.

In a few months, I will marry Yûhi , like you wanted. No matter what happens, I will always love you. Though I do honestly love him, it cannot compare with our love...and when Chidori is old enough, she will know: I'll tell her everything about our past.

I know I owe it to you, Shuro, Chidori (the original, that is!), Aki, my dad, and even Ceres, to live a full life...you've all done so much to allow it...but I will still always long for the day I get to come to heaven and reunite with you all. I love you, Tôya, with all that I am...now and always, my heart is forever yours. Be sure to send my love to all!

Until we meet again,
Aya