In Memory
by misaoshiru
The house is no longer a home.
When they first moved in, it reminded him of the home he'd grown up in all those years ago. Before he met Hiko. Before he learned Hiten Mitsurugi-ryuu. Before he'd even k--
but. He shouldn't, couldn't think that way anymore. Not while they were here. Not in this sanctuary.
"It's very...empty," she said after a silent moment. Not complaining, he could tell. Just stating what it was.
"But it's ours. We'll make it ours."
The warmth of it, after he sets it ablaze, is almost more inviting than the cold barren emptiness that was,
He remembers the first time he lit the fireplace in that little cottage, the night they moved in. There hadn't been any wood in the shed when they arrived, and it had rained recently, so it took him a long time to find anything that was dry enough to burn.
But the small almost-smile on her face as she curled up in front of the fire was worth it.
because for all the belongings they'd accumulated since they arrived, it was empty and barren. Without her.
He didn't know why he bought her the mirror. Hadn't known why at the time.
But it wasn't like they didn't have the money – they weren't rich, but they had enough. And she hadn't had a mirror, and something seemed wrong about that.
And something seemed right about her having it.
The mirror doesn't reflect anything anymore. Not without her to reflect.
He only brings her scarf, out of all of her possessions, with him. Nothing else has any worth to him, anymore.
He'd asked her, once, where the scarf had come from. She cherished it so much...
She didn't answer.
But there had been a smile in her eyes when he asked.
Eventually, even the scent of her perfume fades,
He remembers being teased for recognizing "such a sensual scent."
But to him, it's nothing like that.
It's a scent he's always known, or so it seems. He doesn't remember from where.
Maybe his mother wore it.
but.
Regardless of where he first learned its scent...
In his mind, it would always belong to her.
but her presence will linger on.
Always.
Rest in peace, hakubaikou.
Before anyone tries to flame me for "ripping off Conspirator," I actually had this idea a few days ago. In fact, ever since I heard about hakubaikou's death, I wanted to write something to dedicate to her.
I just couldn't figure out how to make it work until today.
Having said that, if you haven't read "Elegy" by Conspirator-sama yet, go do so now. It's probably at least fifty times better than this fic.