-Epilogue-
About a week after that night, Chie found herself home alone once again. Her parents both worked on Sundays and the dog was currently lounging upstairs, no doubt making a mess of her bed.
Nowadays though, Chie never really felt anything but lonely. Her thoughts haunted her constantly, day and night. When she was at school, or if other people were around she could ignore her thoughts for a little while, but they still nagged at her.
She kept picturing those few moments in the hospital; Yukiko's cold hand in hers, the dull pulse that faded even as Chie grasped her fingers tightly and begged her to stay.
Even now she could feel herself getting lost in the numbness of her memories. It almost felt as though she lived more in recollections than she did in reality.
She remembered how Souji had once told her that everyone dealt with the grief of losing someone in their own way, was this hers? Would she simply cease to live in the real world and retreat to the comfort of her own mind?
'It'd probably be better that way,' she reflected. 'It's the only place I'm gonna see her again.'
A tapping sound brought her out of her thoughts; someone seemed to be knocking on the front door. Pulling herself up with a sigh, Chie shuffled into the hall and made for the door.
Whatever she was expecting, it certainly wasn't for her to pull open the front door to reveal the tired face of Fuyumi Amagi.; Yukiko's mother.
"A-Amagi-San," Chie stammered, caught off guard. "Uh, is there something I can help you with?"
Fuyumi looked as though she had just stepped out of the inn. She was dressed in a pale blue kimono with a butterfly design, and her sleek hair was twisted up into a simple ponytail at one side. Her face, though dabbed in makeup, still showed fresh signs of grief. She offered a sad smile to Chie as she reached up and pulled out a folded envelope from the sleeve of her kimono. For a moment, Chie was struck upon seeing the movement, so similar was it to the way Yukiko used to pull her fan from her sleeve.
"Tadaaki found this while sorting through some of Yukiko's things. It's addressed to you."
Chie remembered Tadaaki Amagi from the few times she had met the man herself. Unlike how his wife and daughter seemed to be cast from porcelain, like living china dolls, Tadaaki had always seemed rough and rugged around the edges, an unpolished diamond.
Tall and burly with messy hair and deep piercing eyes, he was intimidating to anyone who knew of him and yet even kinder and gentler to anyone who knew him well.
All she could clearly recall at the moment was the way he had broken down in tears at his only daughter's funeral.
Taking the envelope from Fuyumi's outstretched hand; Chie ripped the top open and pulled out the letter inside with shaking fingers. Gulping audibly, she flipped it open and began to read;
Chie,
There's a big part of me that doesn't want to write this letter. Mostly because writing it means that I accept the fact that I could die and leave you. Also because I know that reading this can't be easy for you. I hate the thought that I'm causing you to dwell on what might have happened.
I wrote this not too long after what happened inside the TV. Seeing people get killed, fighting the Shadows, watching as others got hurt; it really brought it home to me how dangerous those few months were. One of us could have easily died in there and it would have been so sudden. I wanted to write this as a 'just in case'. Even without the Shadows, I don't want to leave you without saying goodbye one last time.
I also don't want to leave without telling you that whatever happened, however I died, you need to stop beating yourself up over it. I'm sure that the others have said something like this to you already. I'm equally sure that it hasn't made too much of a difference. So I'm telling you now Chie, keep me in your heart but move on with your life. I don't want the memory of me to drive you down; I'd rather that you lived your life the way you always have, the way I remember.
Yours always, Yukiko.
Chie hadn't realized she was crying until Fuyumi silently handed her a handkerchief. The two were quiet for a few moments; Fuyumi waited while Chie re-read over the letter and wiped her eyes with the handkerchief.
Eventually, as Chie folded the letter over again and placed it in her pocket, Fuyumi spoke softly.
"She always spoke of you when she was at home. Even before you were together, she always thought of you and worried after you. I believe that letter was her way of making sure you were alright."
That said, she offered one last tired smile to Chie before she turned and made her way back down the driveway of the house.
Aware once again by how similar her movements were to those of her daughter's, Chie spared one more glance for Fuyumi Amagi, framed in the rising sun of Inaba.
"Thank you."
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AN. I hadn't actually planned on an epilogue to this (who am I kidding, I don't plan anything anymore), but a review I recieved today brought up the idea of Yukiko's last words to Chie, and here's the result.
So digifreaks, this chapter is especially for you (no BROSUKE this time though, sorry).
Yukiko's parents also make something of an appearance (after a complete absence from the other chapter). I'm also aware of how completely uninspired thier names are. I doubt this is the last I'll write of them though, they may pop up in something else, who knows?
Anyway, hope you liked it~
