Warning: Character death. This chapter deals with the funeral of Nadeshiko Kinomoto.
Sakura and I were crying, but Dad wasn't.
Dad had a vague, strained smile plastered on his face that deepened the creases that had been forming along the corners of his eyes in the last few months. His glasses were clean, but his tie was crooked. His suit was pressed, but he smelled like chicken soup and vomit.
The church was big, and the doors and windows were wide open. The scent of cherry blossoms and wisteria wafted in from the street. People I didn't know kept coming up to us and saying that they were sorry. I tried to keep them away from Sakura, who didn't seem to understand what was going on. A lot of the strangers were tall, with high cheekbones and fashionably dressed even if everyone's clothes were black.
Everyone's clothes but Sakura's. She had been put in a frilled, yellow dress with sky blue ribbons on the sleeves. She had a yellow, wide-brimmed hat on her head and her hair was braided down her back.
Sakura was herself, for the most part. She was kind to everyone who I let speak to her and kept trying to comfort people through her confused tears. I wasn't sure who was more painful to watch, her or Dad. She was too young to know what was happening. She didn't really get why Dad was "happy" but Grandfather was slumped in a pew, muffling his cries with a handkerchief.
What was worse was that Sakura kept going over to Mom's coffin to try to wake her up.
And Dad would just smile and say "Isn't that sweet of you, Sakura?"
I felt like I was going to be sick, but I couldn't leave the church to go to the bathroom. I had to look after Dad and my sister. Grandfather had been yelling earlier and who knew when he would start again?
Mom didn't look like herself. Her face was rounder and her throat was fat. Her makeup was bad and her nails were painted pink instead of clear. She wore her wedding dress but she wasn't smiling.
Looking at her made me realize something: It was time to grow up. I was going to have to look after myself, Dad and especially the monster. Mom couldn't do anything for us anymore, so it was up to me. I had to help Dad out around the house I had to get a job as soon as I was old enough, so I could help Dad with the bills. I had to be a big kid.
I put a hand on Sakura's shoulder. I must have looked rough because she gave me a hug out of no where, arms wrapping around my waist. I jumped a little and tried to make a funny face.
She looked up at me with Mom's eyes and I faltered.
"Don't worry, Touya!" Sakura said, her face radiant even though it was wet. "Mommy taught me the magic spell! Everything will be alright!"
