Chapter 4
"Hurry up Shimako-san!" The woman called upon, with her distinctly western features and light wavy brown hair, smiled as she continued down the paved walkway in a more refined and dignified manner than her Petite Sœur who currently raced ahead of her. It had already been two months since they, sitting together on the bed with Shimako's arms wrapped around the smaller girl, had received the devastating news. Even now she could clearly recall Ito-sensei's answers to Noriko's pleading question. 'Two…maybe three years.' Shimako's breath caught in her throat and her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, recalling what was without a doubt the darkest day in her life and the life of the woman she loved. Ahead of her Shimako watched the back of the dark haired woman's head as it bobbed slightly up and down as the petite girl's arms worked to propel the wheelchair she was now confined to. While her Noriko could stand, and even walk with assistance, it was much more expedient to use the wheelchair when being out. Sternly chiding herself, the woman trailing behind the smaller girl shook off the dark thoughts which threatened to place a damper on their day. The warm days of summer where here, the sun was shining, and the two of them were determined to enjoy the sunshine.
For several days after receiving the news, the small girl had dropped into a deep and dark depression from which even the loving ministrations of her Onee-sama were not sufficient to pull her out of. The new treatment of Riluzole, used to slow the spread of her ALS, left her tired and with stomach pains which did little to encourage her to eat. After five days Dr. Ito informed her that she was being discharged the next day and could return home. There would be regular visits and additional tests to determine how fast her ALS was spreading as well as how effective the Riluzole was in slowing the spread but these could, for the most part, be done as outpatient visits. It was later that evening when Noriko sat up suddenly in her bed and looked at the four adults who equally looked at her with expressions of concern and sympathy. "I want you all to leave," she suddenly said.
"Riko," Noriko's great aunt responded first in a quiet voice tainted with uncertainty. "If you need some time alone we can step out of the room for a while."
"That's not what she means Oba-sama," Shimako spoke up drawing all eyes to her as she looked directly into Noriko's eyes and clarified. The former Rose Gigantea knew her little sister better than anyone else and so it had only taken an instant for her to realize what Noriko had really meant. Just the sound of the smaller girl's voice, in the tone that she used and the inflection of the statement, said everything to someone who knew how to listen. Someone who knew how to read the woman in the bed. Someone who knew her better than she possibly knew herself. "She wants us all to leave and never come back."
There were gasps around the room upon Shimako's words which weren't refuted by the girl that had made the initial statement. "Noriko-chan, surely you don't…" the girl's mother started to ask but couldn't bring herself to finish, too fearful of the answer awaiting her.
"Shimako-san is correct," Noriko finally confirmed in a passionless voice, breaking eye contact so that she might glance towards her mother. "I want all of you to leave and never come back." Shimako was the only person, besides Noriko, in the room that didn't wear a confused expression upon her face. "Please, just go away," Noriko stated, her eyes finding Shimako's and pleading with the woman by that one look.
Once more without breaking eye contact with the woman she loved Shimako translated the ambiguous words. "She wants us to remember her as she is now, not how she'll be a year from now or even two years from now. Leaving now insures that we'll always remember her as the cute, energetic and vibrant girl we all love so dearly." The girl she spoke of, held fast by the grey eyes which stared at her as if they were memorizing each and every detail, nodded confirming everything Shimako had just stated.
"But where will she live? What about school," the elder Nijō inquired as her husband tried to comfort her.
Noriko's head snapped around and looked directly at her mother. "School? Really Mother? I've just been told that I have scant years to live and you want me to fritter them away in some classroom learning facts that I'll never ever use in the short amount of time that has been allotted me?" As the small girl spoke her voice grew louder as she barely managed to keep her anger under control. "You may run back home and go back to school! I know that is what you're best at!" The older woman flinched at her words as if struck by a physical blow. "You have children that need you. In case you haven't noticed, now more than ever, I'm not a child any more Mother!" Her voice quivered with what the adults present took to be suppressed anger however Shimako knew it to be just the opposite. It was a voice so filled with pain and raw emotions just marginally held in check. Noriko's shoulders slumped as if all of her strength and anger were used up from that one tirade. "Go home mother," she said in a softer voice as her eyes fell to her lap, "That's the only place you're needed now."
"Sumireko Oba-sama," Shimako said softly with a pointed look at the stricken parents. Taking the hint Noriko's great aunt stepped over to her sister and slowly, with the help of Noriko's father, ushered her towards the door and finally out of the room. Shimako stood up and stepped to the bedside in one fluid movement. Reaching out she gently laid a curled finger beneath the young girl's chin and lifted causing Noriko's face to rise and her head to tilt back so that Shimako could see the smaller girls face once more. Without a word the light haired woman leaned in and lovingly kissed the smaller girls brow before straightening back up and walking from the room. As the door to the room was closing behind her she heard the first of what she was certain would be many, gut wrenching sobs. It took all of her considerable control not to rush back into the room to console the hurting girl within.
The next morning Noriko spent getting her things packed and ready to go as her discharge paperwork was being processed. As the morning passed into early afternoon the petite woman glanced around the room once more to insure she had everything. An orderly arrived with a wheelchair to take her to the main entrance to the hospital so that she could catch a bus to where ever she was going. A detail she herself had yet to determine. As she drew near the glass doors they opened automatically and she saw a face she knew all too well seated upon a stone bench. The person she saw may have been waiting only a few minutes or even perhaps the entire day, she had no way of knowing short of asking. The woman with light colored hair and distinctive western features stood upon seeing her, clasping the handles to a small purse in her hands in front of her, she waited for the wheelchair to draw near. "Shimako-san," Noriko said when she was near enough to speak to the older woman. "I thought I asked you not to come back."
Shimako smiled serenely at the woman that meant more to her than her own heart beating within her chest. "It's not tomorrow yet," she said in way of answer, stunning the girl in the wheelchair into silence. Motioning for the orderly to follow her, the daughter of a Buddhist temple stepped to the curb and hailed a cab. With the orderly's assistance they managed to tuck the befuddled Noriko into the backseat before she could object. Shimako walked around to the other side and climbed into the cab after thanking the orderly for his help. The smiling woman gave the cab driver the address of her family's temple and they were soon on their way. The entire trip to the temple itself passed in silence.
Shimako watched the girl ahead of her in the wheelchair come to a stop near a bench and ease herself from the wheelchair to the bench itself. Grey eyes sparkled with love as they always did when resting upon the woman before her. As she walked down the paved pathway to the now seated girl she couldn't help but smile recalling the conversation the two of them had that first day at the temple. They had found a secluded area in which to speak so it was less likely they would be interrupted or overheard.
"Shimako-san, you have to let me go," Noriko opened with. Having used the time in the taxi en route to the temple to gather her thoughts once more and so felt she was ready for any argument the woman seated beside her on the bench could come up with.
Shimako's reply, when it came, was short and to the point, "No."
"But Shimako-san, I ca…"
"No," was heard once more, effectively cutting off her carefully prepared reply.
"Shimako-san…"
"No."
"I…"
"No." Noriko opened her mouth to say something only to hear "No." for the fifth time before even a single syllable had passed her lips. The smaller girls head dropped in defeat. Through it all Shimako sat there with a gentle smile and a serene look upon her face just waiting to say that single word once more should it be called for.
"Onee-sama," Noriko finally said and then looked up at the woman regarding her with surprise when the expected word, she had now been the recipient of five times, wasn't delivered instantly. Brown eyes meet those of grey and she saw in those eyes a love so deep and so pure that her heart hurt. She had been ready to turn that love aside, to deny that it existed. Lost in those grey eyes she recalled all the time the two of them had spent together, the promises they had made and the fact that she loved the woman beside her more than life itself. "I love you," she said softly in a tender voice. "Will you stay with me?" Shimako leaned over and without a word hugged her Petite Sœur tightly for several long moments till Noriko suddenly heard the older girl sniffle delicately and leaned back from the embrace only to see tears gently rolling down the smooth skin of the cheeks before her.
"There's my Noriko," Shimako said with a sniffle as she wiped at her tears with one hand. "I thought I'd lost you in there the other day," she added with a wave of a hand to indicate the wheelchair and Noriko's current situation, as a small smile graced her lips.
After that day things had more or less settled into a comfortable arrangement for the two of them. Noriko moved into the Tōdō family home there at the temple. When Shimako had suggested that they make a list of Buddhist statues to go see Noriko had declined stating that she had better things to spend her time on. The knowing look that clearly indicated that the smaller woman's 'better things' were none other than Shimako herself, warmed the older girls heart and took her breath away as she was overcome by her love for her white rose sister. The two women spent every minute together as Shimako withdrew from Lillian University wanting nothing more than to be by Noriko's side. They made day excursions to parks and other places where they would sit and talk while holding hands and gazing lovingly into each other's eyes. Evenings were spent at home, curled up on a couch together, each simply enjoying the others company. Today what had brought them to this secluded park was a dolphin fountain Noriko requested to see. Shimako had packed lunches, made with her own loving hands, for them to enjoy when they were ready. The sun shone brightly and for the time being they were the only ones present at the fountain. The soft gentle whisper of the wind as it almost playfully caressed the trees causing them to sway side to side was relaxing to listen to.
"What took you so long, Shimako-san?" the petite girl chided Shimako; however the loving smile on her face took any possible sting out of the words.
"Next time I think I'll ride in your lap," Shimako retorted with taking a seat upon the bench next to the woman she loved and setting their boxed lunch next to her, "That way you can wheel us both here and you won't have to wait for me."
"I'd just be happy to have you in my lap," Noriko replied and then, realizing what she has said, her cheeks turned an adorable shade of red. Looking anywhere but at the woman seated on the bench beside her, her eyes fell on the fountain. "Oh, it's so beautiful!" she exclaimed clasping her hands together to her chest as her eyes shone with wonder and delight at the fountain. The fountain itself held not only dolphins but also mermaids and mermen as well.
Shimako smiled; delighted to see the woman she loved so happy. Turning to regard the fountain with its many spouts of water she had to agree that the fountain was very impressive. There was a shimmering in the air around the fountain from all the water particles that hung in the air in mist form. The effect seemed to make everything sparkle. "You know I wouldn't be surprised if when the sun hits this just right a rainbow appears," she said turning to look at Noriko only to have her words stopped in midsentence as the smaller girl's lips covered her own. Shimako's eyes grew large in shook however she didn't pull away.
It was Noriko that finally broke the kiss and leaned back slightly with her eyes closed and a dreamy look on her face. Stray beams of sunlight flicked down through the canopy of leaves above to dance across the younger girls face making it seem even more breathe taking than it already was. "I'm sorry Shimako-san," Noriko finally said opening her eyes to see the woman she had just kissed gazing at her with a look she had never seen on Shimako's face before. "I just had to know what that was like before I…" she stammered, not certain of the correct term to use. "Before I'm gone," she finally settled on. "I'm sorry," she offered, still uncertain of the look upon the slightly older woman's face.
"It's alright," Shimako replied softly as she reached out and caressed the younger woman's cheek affectionately. "You startled me is all, Noriko." Shimako swallowed slowly. "I wasn't expecting that." Noriko started to apologize once more only to be held spellbound by the grey eyes that were growing larger and larger before her. "I think, I would like to know what it's like as well," Shimako whispered tenderly as she closed the distance between them and captured Noriko's moist lips with her own. Noriko was quick to return the lingering kiss that stretch for several long moments before Shimako withdrew with her own eyes closed just as Noriko's had been. Several long moments passed before she said anything. "I can't believe we've waited so long to do that." Opening her eyes she saw that Noriko's entire face, all the way to the tips of her ears, was a lovely shade of pink.
-oOo-
Summer burnt out and slowly gave way to autumn. One exceptionally bright and summer like day, which would probably be one of the last warm and sunny days of the year, the women packed a lunch and went for a stroll outside across the grounds of the temple. Robed monks and visitors alike stopped and greeted them, offering kind words and warm smiles. Over the past months the two women had become a permanent fixture at the temple. Those who frequented the temple often were heard to greet them as Yoruhiru, meaning day and night. Noriko's black hair and Shimako's wavy hair which had lightened considerably from all the time the two had spent outdoors the last two months; it was an apt name for them. It was Shimako's father that set them straight one day. "They greet you as Yoruhiru not because of your hair coloring," his eyes sparkled with mirth. "Rather it is due to the fact that night will follow day and day in turn follows night so too where ever one of you goes the other is quick to follow." Both women turned and looked at each other in amazement and then giggled softly behind hastily raised hands.
The day was exceptionally beautiful as Shimako strolled along beside the wheelchair of the woman she loved. The walking woman paid close attention to her little sister and noticed that she was favoring her left hand again. Only a few days previously the small woman had confessed that the thumb on her left hand was 'misbehaving' as she put it. Not wishing to say anything to her Petite Sœur as she knew how self-sufficient she liked to be, Shimako instead suggested they stop. "This would make a lovely place to sit in the sun and enjoy our lunch wouldn't it Noriko?"
Noriko surveyed the rich green manicured lawn and how the naturel curve of the land gently slopped away. If they could manage it without upsetting her wheelchair, they could descend the slop slightly and allow it to act as a natural back rest for when they lay down. "I think it will do nicely, S…Shimako," she replied with a slight stammering of the older girls name and only a light tinge of pink to her cheeks. After the events at the fountain Shimako has informed the smaller woman that she could, or rather should, drop the -san from her name when addressing her directly. It was something that Noriko found both exhilarating but a little embarrassing as well. Shimako herself found it all very charming and endearing watching her blush so cutely.
With Noriko's help they soon had their blanket spread upon the thick grass and weighted down at the corners. Shimako set their lunches out to one side along with a small cooler which contained refreshments for them. Moving back to the wheelchair the woman, with distinctly western features, assisted the woman she loved out of the wheelchair and down onto the blanket. Over the last several months they had become very adept at working in tandem to accomplish this maneuver. It wasn't long before they were both seated on the blanket, within easy reach of one another, and softly conversing about nothing in particular as friends will do while enjoying the company they are in. Seeing Noriko try to hide a yawn behind her hand, Shimako straightened the skirt of her light blue dress. The older girl had worn the dress specifically because she knew Noriko thought it looked stunning on her. Shimako patted her lap gently, the movement catching the other girl's attention. "Come lay your head here," she instructed with a gentle smile of reassurance upon seeing Noriko's hesitation. Suddenly feeling very tired, and drawn in by the offer of her Onee-sama's lap the petite ailing girl lay down and rested her head in the offered lap. "Comfortable?" Shimako smiled tenderly down at the woman in her lap as she leaned forward to shield the girl's face from direct sunlight.
Noriko opened her eyes upon hearing the one voice in the world she would never grow tired of. If she were to slip from this world with Shimako's soothing voice in her ears she felt there could be no better way to go. As her eyes opened they saw Shimako's face almost as if it was floating above her. The sun, which the other woman had moved to block from her eyes, backlighted the older girls head giving it an almost shimmering halo of light about it that took the younger girls breath away. For a long moment she could do little more than lay there and stare at what she was certain was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen. Shimako started to become concerned as the other woman just lay there silently and stared at her unmoving for a long minute. Noriko's response, when it came, was said in a tone filled with love and wonder, "Shimako, you're an angel!" Noriko smiled suddenly realizing she had been wrong and that it hadn't been the most beautiful sight she had ever seen, at least not until Shimako had blushed just then.
Grey eyes sparkled with love and a trace of humor upon hearing the other girls words said with so much love and wonderment. "And if I was," she inquired of the girl in her lap. "What would you have me do for you?"
"If you were an angel," Noriko replied without batting an eyelash, "I would ask you to take me away with you and to never let me go."
"And miss your chance at being reborn?" Shimako arched a brow in question playfully, knowing her Petite Sœur leaned heavily towards the Buddhist belief of reincarnation.
"If it meant being with you for all eternity I would," Noriko declared with assertion. "I wouldn't even have to think about that one." The smaller woman's words stole the very breath from Shimako's chest and made her heart ache in a painful, yet happy sort of way. Shimako sat back, after all what does one say to something like that she pondered. Many minutes passed with the two of them just sitting, enjoying the simple pleasure of being together. "I hope I come back as a male," suddenly departed from Noriko's lips.
"Noriko!" Shimako exclaimed, completely surprised by her little sisters words.
Turning her head Noriko chuckled softly upon seeing the unguarded look of surprise upon her Onee-sama's face. "Think about it Shimako," the black, bob-cut haired woman went on to explain. "If I come back as a guy, by the time I'm twenty you'll only be thirty-nine," she reasoned. Still seeing a look of confusion upon the face that she could stare at endlessly, she chuckled softly. "Onee-sama, if when you're thirty-nine and a young dark haired twenty year old man comes up and flirts with you don't send him away. It just might be me!" Noriko grinned, her dark eyes sparkling playfully as she watched her Onee-sama's cheek turn a lovely shade of pink. "We could even get married!"
Shimako couldn't help but return the grin before her even as she felt the tips of her ears warm into a blush. "I'd marry you now if I could," she replied with in a more serious tone of voice than she had intended to.
Noriko raised a hand to shield her eyes from the sun so she could clearly see Shimako's face and eyes. "Would you really? I mean if you could. Would you really marry me, Shimako?"
The older of the two former Rosa Gigantea's reached out and took Noriko's hand that was shielding the smaller girl's eyes and brought the capture hand to her own chest, laying the smaller girl's palm against the front of her dress directly over her heart. "I love you with all that I am Noriko. I don't need some ceremony or a piece of paper to tell me what my heart already knows. I have been wed to you in every way that matters from the first moment I turned around from that Sakura tree and saw you standing there. I doubt very strongly that it is possible to be more attuned, more in love, with another living being than I am with you." While she spoke her heart the dark eyes beneath her gaze welled up with tears which escaped from the corners of the smaller girls eyes and ran down the sides of her face to become lost in the dark silken strands of her hair.
"Shimako," Noriko said in a voice heavy with emotions as she boldly reached up and caressed the older girl's cheek tenderly. "Promise me. Promise me that you'll love me for the rest of my life."
Shimako's own eyes sprung a leak as she leaned into Noriko's touch, tears rolling down her cheeks to drip unnoticed from her chin to fall forgotten onto her dress. Shaking her head negatively Shimako replied in a voice equally choked with emotions, "No. I'm going to love you till tomorrow comes."
Author's Note:
I would like to first thank everyone that has sent their well wishes. I know this is all just a part of life, a fact Cheri and I have spoken of. The price of growing older, per my dad who is 91, is that you have to watch those around you that you love and care about leave and depart for the great unknown. When my 15 year old niece passed away last year on Valentine's Day, perhaps the first big passing that really hit me hard, I learned that the sun will still rise the next day. The world will continue to spin and life, filled with both good and bad, sorrow and happiness, will continue to go on. Even if we'd prefer it didn't.
Your well wishes are greatly appreciate and on behalf of my family I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
As always, though certainly not required, I do appreciate any and all reviews.
Kind Regards,
EJ Daniels
All characters within this story, unless otherwise stated are the sole property of Oyuki Konno the original writer of the Maria-sama ga Miteru light novel series.
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