A Team Pigeons production:
A Milk and its Derivatives side story.
Encounters
Co-written by Why and Joe
Downpour
Atsuko hated the rainy the season.
Nee-san had explained to her how a collision of cold air from the north and warm air from the south made it rain so much during the period. She also explained how the season was known as "tsuyu" or "plum rain", as it coincided with the time of year that plums ripened.
All Atsuko cared about was that she could not play outside, a fact that made her especially angry given that she had only recently learned to ride her bike without stabilisers.
It rained when she travelled to school each morning and did not let up all day, meaning that she travelled home in the rain too. The constant barrage of wind against the apartment windows had also made it difficult to sleep.
She lay wide awake in the near total darkness. Her body still coursed with energy that had not been expended earlier in the day as she could not run around and tire herself out. She looked towards the vague outline of her bookcases in the corner of her bedroom. Her Nee-san would not be happy if she caught her reading at such a late hour, but it was difficult to imagine her Yuzu-nee taking issue to it. Atsuko frequently heard her oldest sister's heavy footsteps moving about the house at every hour of the day, such were the demands of her work.
She wrapped herself up in her bed covers and resolved to fall asleep. It was as warm as a hug from her Yuzu-nee without any of the comfort her sister's arms would provide her. Getting further agitated, she clumsily kicked the covers aside and clung on tightly to her giant white teddy bear. Selene's embrace brought her a sense of reassurance. She felt safe and secure, completely ignoring how her pyjamas had awkwardly rode up her body during the struggle with the covers.
Atsuko remembered Nee-san's advice and carefully controlled her breathing, taking deep and rhythmic breaths to help herself fall asleep. She then started counting. One... Two... Three...
She felt herself start to drift.
The wind grew ever stronger, rattling the windows in their frames and howling like a terrible beast. Atsuko sat up and reached out for her night light.
Ordinarily, Atsuko would enjoy the tactility of the switch on her night light, as it was soft and shaped like star, but there was no time to enjoy such small joy at the moment. She needed comfort desperately as the storm outside threatened to consume her entirely. She pressed the switch and a pale yellow light filled the room... Yet Atsuko's mind was still not at ease.
The light had cast menacing shadows across the room. The metal arm of her more powerful reading lamp looked like a bony appendage reaching out to grab her. The size of the Lego figures on her bedside table was amplified in their shadow, creating the illusion of faceless beings standing over her.
Atsuko could not stay where she was. She needed her sisters and she needed them now.
She dangled her spindly legs over the side of the bed and hesitated, fearing the possibility of some unknown terror grabbing at her. Finally, Atsuko took a deep breath and exited the relative safety of her mattress. It was at this point that she noticed her bare feet. Nee-san had warned her before about walking around without socks or slippers, but both of those were placed in a particularly dark and foreboding corner of her room.
Nee-san would have to excuse her.
How had they ended there, anyway? Had she kicked them?
The wind continued thrashing against the windows on the apartment like the pounding of an unseen and malicious force. Atsuko shuddered before tip-toeing towards her bedroom door, trying her hardest to avoid further incensing whatever bore her such ill-will.
The door swung towards Atsuko with a high-pitched creak. Ordinarily, she would have been fearful that she had awoken her sisters by making such noise, but she was now secretly willing them to wake up and take her away from all of her fear and anxiety.
The hallway was a gloomy abyss. Atsuko could not see more than two feet in front of her and instead had to rely on her memory to see her through to the room that would give her salvation.
One foot in front of the other. Atsuko was a girl with boundless energy, yet she struggled immensely to keep walking; her fear of what could be lurking in the shadows continued to grow exponentially. She was all alone and lacked the internal resolve to walk confidently. If only she could walk like her Nee-san.
Nee-san...
The thought of her sister reinvigorated Atsuko and gave her the impetus she needed to keep walking. She entered the living area and could just about make out the outline of the kitchen peninsula. The empty room was a painful reminder of her vulnerability. There was no Yuzu-nee cheerily singing to herself as she prepared food. No Nee-san or Papa sitting quietly at the dining table as they busied themselves with various papers. There was no Mama dancing about the room as she effortlessly saw to her daily chores.
She slowly shambled towards the door to the master bedroom. As Atsuko made her approach, the roar of the wind began to die down and the splashing of raindrops against the windows grew less intense. It was a moment of respite that was surely due to the closeness of the people whom Atsuko trusted the most.
She took a deep breath and grabbed at the handle.
The door slowly swung away from her, revealing yet another pitch black room, save for the dull light pouring in through the thin curtains obscuring the balcony door on the wall furthest from Atsuko. As her eyes adjusted, she could just about determine the shape of the bed.
Her sisters' bed was gigantic, a fact that Atsuko was immensely jealous of in spite of her own bed being queen-sized - A decision made by her Nee-san as she feared the wild ways Atsuko could toss and turn into during her sleep would see her hit the ground at some point.
But perhaps, her Nee-san had wished for her bed to be so big because it allowed the two of them to sleep together in the utmost comfort as Nee-san did not like sleeping in her own bedroom when Yuzu-nee was not at home.
Nee-san and Yuzu-nee had always carefully guarded their private quarters, causing Atsuko to feel as though she had committed some grave offence by disturbing its sanctity. She would not usually enter the room unless it was an emergency or if she had been invited in.
Her legs carried her forwards of their own accord. She was so close now. Atsuko could make out the shapes of her two sisters' bodies. They looked almost ethereal in the pale glow provided by the nearby windowed balcony doors. Nee-san was wearing an elegant pale blue nightie while Yuzu-nee was wearing a bright yellow tank top Atsuko was quite familiar with as it had an image of a strange-looking mascot character on the front.
The two clung onto each other, making the vastness of the bed almost redundant as they covered such a small surface area.
The sight filled Atsuko with joy and relief. All she had to do was wake them up and she would finally be safe. She opened her mouth to call out to them.
Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.
Atsuko willed her vocal chords to produce sound, but nothing came out. She tried again and again but she had been rendered mute. She screamed a silent scream in frustration. Her sisters could not hear her and continued sleeping peacefully.
She began to panic, questioning what machinations had led to her voice abandoning her at such time. She needed to wake up her sisters and she needed it to do it quickly. She moved to stretch her arm towards Nee-san so that she could shake her from her slumber. The time for politeness was over. Nee-san would surely forgive her once she understood.
Atsuko's hand stopped inches from her sister's body, held back by an unseen force. Her body began to shake as the magnitude of the situation dawned on her. She suddenly became very aware of her surroundings and how wrong everything was.
Both of her sisters were motionless in bed. For Nee-san, this was not an unusual occurrence, but Yuzu-nee always tossed and turned in her sleep and she always breathed heavily. But now, both girls were like statues, there was not even the gentle rise and fall of the bed covers as the two continually inhaled and exhaled.
The sound of the wind and rain was no longer present. The only thing that Atsuko could hear was her rapidly accelerating heartbeat. Even in the presence of her beloved sisters, Atsuko was all alone. She pulled her arm back towards her body in defeat. She was at the mercy of the perverse force that bound her.
A dull tapping noise could then be heard from behind her. Atsuko quickly realised that something or someone was rapping against the curtained door. She slowly turned towards it, now devoid of any control of her body. It was surely over. There was nothing more to be done.
Atsuko's eyes widened as all of her fears were realised.
A vague yet unmistakably humanoid shadow could be seen behind the curtains, watching from the balcony. Despite the curtains separating them, Atsuko had no doubt that the being could see her with absolute clarity, such was the intensity of the watcher's unseen gaze.
Atsuko felt herself walking towards it. One foot in front of the other.
Try as she might, she could not pull herself away as she was drawn closer and closer into its web. The rapping against the window grew louder and faster as though the watcher was getting excited. It almost had her. Just a few more steps and Atsuko would become its latest prey.
Atsuko finally reached the curtains and stopped. Her eyes narrowed.
Nee-san... Yuzu-nee... I'm sorry.
She cast the curtains aside, one with each hand. The sudden rush of light left her momentarily blinded, but she soon regained control of her senses and beheld the spectral figure that stood, or rather floated before her.
Atsuko was surprised. She was no longer afraid and instead felt an odd sense of warmth. Had she accepted her fate or was there something else at play?
"Atsuko."
A familiar voice called out to her. It was surely an illusion. It had to be.
"Atsuko."
The second call of her name was more certain and forceful. It felt too real to be a fabrication.
That voice, there was no mistaking it. It was the voice that had always been able to comfort her. It was as familiar as her mother's embrace to her.
Atsuko felt the weight return to her body and further regained control of her various faculties. She shook her head vigorously, was greeted by a bright light and finally managed to open her eyes. She blinked rapidly. She wanted to wake up at once.
Safe Haven
She was back in her bedroom. The main ceiling light was switched on and the figure in front of her was one that she knew intimately.
"Atsuko." Mei's face was tense with concern yet her voice had never been gentler as she reached to smooth her sister's wild hair back and away from her face, she needed to see those beautiful green eyes.
"Are you okay?" She asked, already knowing the answer.
Without saying a word, Atsuko jumped up and all but climbed on her sister to wrap herself around her in the tightest of hugs, grabbing at the many folds of Nee-san's loosely-fitting t-shirt as she did so. In a different time, Atsuko would have been shocked by her Nee-san's attire, but she was too relieved to make note of the oversized shirt with a teddy bear print on the front or the equally baggy pink shorts.
All she wanted was to burrow herself into her Nee-san's embrace, the one place where darkness felt safe. She needed to feel safe above all things and there was no place as secure as her Nee-san's arms. Her hugs were always tight, all-encompassing as she put every inch of her will into them, especially when someone she loved was in such pain.
"Nee-san." Atsuko began to cry. Her tears felt like a punch in Mei's gut. Soon, Mei realized that Atsuko's cries held no despair but rather relief.
Sadness was not the cause of her tears. Happiness was. Mei doubted that her sister had ever experienced these kinds of tears before, she was much too young for it. What terrible horror had she been in the grip of to find such a strong sense of relief on being awakened from it?
"Atsuko." Mei's voice was tinged with the pain she felt from seeing her precious sister in distress. "It is okay; I am here for you now." Mei mentally chided herself for not intervening sooner. She could have spared her sister such an ordeal if she had reacted more quickly.
"Nee-san." Atsuko's sniveling was fading rather quickly. Mei's voice held a spell within its chords and whenever she pledged herself to the child in her arms, the spell would be cast, dispelling Atsuko's each and every fear,
"...I had a bad dream." Atsuko whispered shyly. Mei trusted her sister to know that she would not think less of her for getting scared, but Atsuko was still an Aihara and had her own pride to contend with.
"I know." Mei drew her sister in tighter and willed all of the warmth from her body into hers. As a rule, Atsuko would always feel as warm as Yuzu did, but Mei could feel the chill in her sister's body. The rain had lowered the temperature and kicking the covers aside must have caused Atsuko to get cold.
"It is over now though. I am here with you" Mei was cradling Atsuko's head again her shoulder, right hand gently caressing her hair. Her left hand was firmly on the child's back, willing her as close as possible. Atsuko kept trembling slightly though and Mei could only wish it was because of the cold.
Mei darted a quick glare about the room, the bed covers had been thrown aside, the pillows were at the foot of the bed and Atsuko's beloved half-moon night light laid had been knocked over on its side. Mei reached over to put it back up, fortunately it had not been damaged. The night light was precious to her sister and Mei had grown fond of it as well.
The movement caused Atsuko to slightly pull back from Mei's shoulder and her eyes caught her precious teddy bear, Selene, stranded on the floor. Her emerald eyes filled with anguish and low whine parted her lips. A shy smile chased it away immediately though as Mei walked over to retrieve Selene and in less than an instant, Atsuko was hugging her irreplaceable treasure once again.
"Thank you, Nee-san." Her voice was still a bit raw but her crying had stopped.
Atsuko placed Selene to sit against the headboard with the uttermost care. It was her usual spot. Then she turned her full attention to Mei, green eyes offering nothing less than the absolute trust. She also wanted more hugs.
Mei softly took her sister's hand in hers. She had to get the Atsuko's mind engaged so that she could move on by rationalizing her fear. Atsuko returned her firm grip with one of her own, her small hand all but belonged in Nee-san's bigger one.
"Come, sit on the sofa with me. You are safe." Atsuko resisted Mei's delicate pull. Mei turned concerned purple eyes on her. Atsuko looked at the bare feet, then back a Mei, a most apologetic expression on her delicate face.
Mei would have chuckled in any other occasion but this was not the moment to let hilarity in. She smiled at Atsuko warmly. Hers was the most encouraging of smiles, for it expressed infinite devotion while inspiring and granting trust at the same time.
It was a complex smile and because of that, it was a private one, reserved to Yuzu and Atsuko. After all, they were the only two people able to bring it forth, it was only fair for it to be theirs.
Atsuko could only smile back. Her Nee-san would take care of everything now.
Mei diligently obliged by quickly moving across the room to grab Atsuko's slippers. How had they ended there anyway? Had she kicked them? Regardless, now it was not the time to dwell over such matters.
Mei was back in the blink of an eye and placed the slippers beneath her sister. Atsuko immediately put them on. Her sister had purchased them for her and they were incredibly comfortable.
Atsuko's hand was once again in her sister's and she stepped out of her bed with assurance this time, feeling completely secure in the knowledge that her Nee-san would protect her. Nee-san would never allow her to suffer harm. Nee-san would repel any and all beings who would see her hurt.
Mei's hold of Atsuko's hand was tight as ever. A solid reality that no dream could ever hope to shake. On any other occasion, Mei would have lifted Atsuko in her arms. The time that she could no longer do such a thing was closing in, Atsuko was growing at such a quick rate. At the moment though, Mei knew that Atsuko had to walk about on her own feet and see from her own perspective that the apartment was as safe as it had always been.
Mei slowly led her sister back to the living area, turning on every light switch as she went, forcing the menacing darkness into a quick retreat. The kitchen, previously so foreboding, was now the kitchen that Atsuko knew and loved. The dining table was impeccably clean, just as it had always been.
Once they reached the sofa, Atsuko wasted no time and clambered on it. Mei elegantly took a seat next to her. Even in such uncomely attire, she was the picture of beauty and refinement in an act as simple as sitting down. Mei's legs were so close to her younger sister's that they were practically touching.
Mei was about to put her arm around her sister but swiftly changed her mind upon taking in the sight of those beautiful green eyes; They still held a measure of disquiet and Mei would not allow it to remain so. Atsuko needed comfort more than anything at the moment and a simple arm around her shoulder would not do. She put her hands under the child's arms and lifted her up, hoisting her on her lap and into her arms with a smooth and elegant movement
Atsuko all but melted into her embrace. She threw her stringy arms around her sister's neck and rested her face in its hollow.
Mei's lips curled in a gentle smile as Atsuko nuzzled into her. She was used to Atsuko's affection and loved to return it in kind. The child was very physical and to her own surprise, Mei had never minded her firm brand of affection, not mind one bit.
It had taken her a bit longer than the rest of her family, but after holding the child in her arms for the first time, she had found herself indulging in the physical affection with an ease that had surprised her as much as it delighted Yuzu.
Atsuko shifted about and rested her head sideways on Mei's shoulder while her right hand curled around of Mei's loose shirt and made a fist of it.
Once Atsuko had settled herself once again, Mei wrapped her arms around her even more firmly as if willing her even closer. The child needed comfort more than anything right now and Mei was more than happy to provide it. She was proud of it, actually.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Mei asked with a concerned expression. Atsuko's hair could be generously described as chaotic, like a lion's mane without the majesty or prestige.
Atsuko paused to gather her thoughts and Mei took the chance to adjust her pyjama. They must have become disheveled in her flurry of movements as she was beset by such a terrible dream.
Atsuko related what she had seen back to her Nee-san. It felt oddly cathartic and Nee-san remained quiet yet attentive throughout the story.
"I see." Mei began while running her fingers through Atsuko's wild hair. No matter how messy it was, they were still silky and fine. It did not take long for it to fall into order. "You have had quite the scare."
Atsuko nodded meekly, lower lip adorably jutting out. She buried her head in Mei's shoulder once again and she sighed happily when Mei resumed gently massaging her back.
"You know, the Chugen festival is only a few days away now." Mei informed her sister, Atsuko pulled back to give her big sister a puzzled glance. "Many years ago, it was a yearly event to give gifts to the spirits of those we care about."
"Nee-san?" Atsuko began to understand what her sister was saying, but wanted to hear it from the woman herself.
"Of course, I do not believe in such things." Mei's gaze was unfaltering as she gave Atsuko the most assuring of looks. "But maybe what you saw was related to that."
Atsuko was confused. Why would a spirit want to contact her? It was surely just a bad dream with no deeper meaning. After all, everyone that Atsuko knew and cared about mercifully had their health. She slowly came to the realisation. There was someone... it was the only person that it could have been. She then looked towards the door to the master bedroom, which was now slightly ajar.
"Hey Mei, where did you put my shorts?" Yuzu called from the room while poking her head from behind the door.
She wanted to pout when she saw Mei wearing her clothes, but could not help but smile at the two most important people in her life as they sat cuddling each other. Something must have happened, considering the hour and how every single light in the apartment was turned on. Not to mention the theft of her shorts. She sighed and retreated back into the bedroom to make herself decent.
Yuzu brewed a pot of tea while Mei brought her up to speed with what had happened. Atsuko hovered close to her sisters. Yuzu had turned some of the lights off, the kitchen was warmly lit by the low orange-coloured glow of the lamps hanging above the kitchen peninsula. It was okay though, Atsuko was with both her sisters and could only feel absolutely safe.
"...How did you even know she was having a nightmare? You were in another room!" Yuzu asked, despite knowing the answer. She wanted to coax the words from the lips of her lover.
"I heard her, Yuzu." Mei explained in the most matter-of-fact of tones. "Her bed covers were rustling more than usual, so I knew that something was wrong."
"...And that's why you stole my shorts?" Yuzu asked, making a poor attempt to appear annoyed at her lover.
"Borrowed, Yuzu. I borrowed them." Despite the confidence of her words, Mei's cheeks and ears became stained with the brightest of blushes. Yuzu smiled. Even if her words were not, Mei's body was always so honest.
Atsuko began giggling uncontrollably, Yuzu took the chance to hug the child again, she lifted Atsuko into a the warmest of hugs and shared knowing smiles with her before setting her down. Mei rubbed her mouth to hide her own smile, but it was a futile effort. The technique had been utilised so much by her that anyone close to her knew that it was a weak attempt at misdirection.
"Come on, little samurai." Yuzu beckoned towards the master bedroom while carrying a tray holding the teapot and three empty mugs. "We can drink this in there."
Atsuko felt no reluctance to return to what had been the scene of her nightmare. With both of her sisters, she was untouchable. She would not pass up on the rare opportunity to visit their inner sanctum. Besides, Nee-san was holding her hand again and Atsuko felt safe to go anywhere if her hand was in Nee-san's strong grip.
No one paid any heed to the clock. They were satisfied to take in such a delightful moment.
Once there, Yuzu set the pot and several empty mugs onto the bedside table before dramatically throwing open the curtains covering the balcony doors. Of course, there was no spectral figure waiting for them there. Instead, the windows on the doors were specked with droplets of water that reflected the broad spectrum of lights from the streets of Tokyo below.
Atsuko smiled brightly at her oldest sister and ran to hug Yuzu around the waist. "Thank you, Yuzu-nee" She mumbled against Yuzu's stomach. Yuzu was able to hear her as she had bent forward to wrap her arms around the child and to kiss her check loudly, as was her habit.
"You are so very welcome, sweetheart." Yuzu whispered sweetly against Atsuko's head before dropping another kiss on her cheek. "… go get in the bed now." Yuzu sent Atsuko her way with a final squeeze and promptly closed the curtains.
Mei was already in the bed, back resting against the headboard. She beckoned Atsuko over with her hand. Atsuko lost no time and pulled in close beside her. She leaned into Mei's side and sighed happily. Finally, Yuzu climbed in next to her, securing Atsuko safely between the pair.
Yuzu hurriedly pulled the sky blue cover over them and set to the task of filling each mug with the freshly brewed tea, her deft hands moving confidently. She made sure to pour an even quantity in each mug before handing them to Atsuko and Mei. Atsuko smiled shyly at her and started to gently blow on the tea. Mei was accustomed to the hot beverage and took a sip right away, her eyes never leaving Yuzu's face as she did. Yuzu knew what that look meant and she could only answer with a look of her own and so her eyes loved Mei back.
"... Yuzu-nee, Nee-san" Atsuko almost whispered her words, nevertheless her sisters' attention focused immediately on her.
She felt shy and kept playing with a the collar of her shirt while keeping a firm grip on the mug with her other hand. She knew there was no need to say it, but Papa was always telling her it better to never leave important things unspoken
Atsuko had never appeared more delicate and her green eyes seemed bigger than ever as she searched her sisters faces with a shy smile on her lips.
Mei drank the last of her tea and moved to place it on her bed table, she draped her arm over Atsuko's shoulder, unable to resist the urge to comfort the girl.
"Yuzu-nee, Nee-san…" She started again, willing a note of clarity in her voice.. "Thank you." She quickly hid her face behind the mug while taking a big sip, but her sincerity was obvious and soon, she was beaming at both of them with the kindest of smiles.
Mei squeezed her shoulders gently and her eyes were full of warmth and affection. Yuzu dropped several kisses on her sister's dark hair before beaming back at her.
They needed no words to express their feelings for her. It did not matter that it was an ungodly time of the night. It was not important that there was school and work to attend to in only a few short hours.
The only thing that mattered that they were together, always watching over each other.
In Between
"Yuzu, are you sure about this?" Mei asked quietly while buttoning up her honey-coloured raincoat.
"Well… I talked with Mama about it and she thought it would be a good idea…" Yuzu shifted her gaze away from her lover and towards Atsuko, who was patiently sitting on the sofa. "...And this is important to me."
Mei responded with a simple nod. The decision to bring Atsuko on their annual visit to the grave of Yuzu's late father was not hers to make. She knew that she could only support Yuzu's decision, especially considering that Ume had also given her blessing.
She was quite aware that shielding her sister from harsh realities was a pointless endeavor, and she knew that her reluctance to introduce her sister to the inevitability of mortality had a strong element of selfishness.
She simply could not stand the thought of her beloved Atsuko being in the grip of anxiety and fear. The wish to keep her untouched by such emotion was a potent one and at least a part of her was completely rebelling to the idea of taking her to a graveyard.
Mei could not recall learning about the mortal nature of humans. It felt as if she had always knew. It was a fact that filled her with disquiet as it left her blind and robbed her of the ability to predict Atsuko's reaction, or part of it at least, as their emotional temperaments were quite different.
Her love had been introduced to the concept of death at a very tender age and quite brutally. She too had no way to predict Atsuko's reaction. Mei sighed, forcing the thoughts agitating her mind into silence. Her sister's wishes were most important to her and she had been expressing the desire of meeting her Yuzu-nee's Papa or a while now.
And there was her beautiful love to consider as well, introducing her beloved sister to her father was a moment of utmost importance for her.
Upon such thoughts, Mei resolved to trade her fear with the love she felt for her two irreplaceable treasures standing about her and fully committed herself to the day. She would be there for them, walking with them and providing them with all the strength they may require. It was the least she could to for her green-eyed loves.
From the corner of her eyes, Mei caught sight of one of the many pictures displayed on on the angular shelving unit behind the couch. It was one of the rare pictures displaying the whole family together, taken in her office on Atsuko's first day of school.
The whole family had gathered in her office to greet the child at the end of her first day of school and as soon as Mei had retrieved the child from her classroom, Yuzu had called in for Kaori-san to snap a picture of them all.
Her father stood beside her mother, he had one of his hands placed on Ume's shoulder and a nervous yet genuine smile on his face. Ume held her smiling younger daughter in her arms and was sporting an unusually incredulous smile on her face. Atsuko too was smiling, looking happy in her mother's arms and full of pride. As it was her first day, she was wearing the Academy's formal attire, complete with a small tie. Atsuko had been particularly happy over the tie as Mei had been wearing one as well on that day. Being dressed like her beloved Nee-san had filled the child with pride.
Mei stood on Ume's side, her lips were bowed ever so slightly in a smile that spoke of love and pride in equal measure. She had her hand on her sister's small shoulder, squeezing it ever so gently.
Whenever she realized the fact that she and her father had been standing in a similar pose, a feeling she could not quite decipher would fill her chest. It was a melancholic one for sure, happy and sad at the same time.
By her side, with her most dazzling smile on her face, was her beautiful love, as always the brightest ray of sunshine. Yuzu had been so happy that she had barely been able to stand still for the time it took Kaori-san to snap the picture. She had one of her arm wound tightly around her middle in a warm embrace.
They were holding hands in a beautiful blatant way as they held them entwined in front of themselves. Mei had not been surprised by seeing their pose in the picture, as sharing touches with Yuzu had become second nature to her and she did so unconsciously these days. With a sigh, she looked away from the picture and pulled back to the present. She could not allow herself a second more of distraction, not today.
Mei found the entire situation somewhat discomforting, but Atsuko's curiosity had grown since her bad dream and it was finally time for her to meet the man who had inspired Yuzu to dye her hair.
"Come on, Atsu-chan." Yuzu's attention returned to her youngest sister. "I'll help you get your coat on."
Atsuko enthusiastically dashed to Yuzu and stretched out her arms by her sides. Yuzu effortlessly slipped the dark blue coat onto Atsuko's shoulders before setting about doing up the buttons that the smallest Aihara found so troublesome. She then led Atsuko over to the entryway and both sat down on the step.
Yuzu then moved to the shoe rack and retrieved Atsuko's Wellington boots - It was no coincidence that the dark blue colour of the boots matched the raincoat. She held one boot steady at a time and let her sister slide her dainty feet into them, making a mental note of the difficulty that Atsuko had in putting them on.
She smiled at her sister and felt about the tips of her boots with practiced fingers, they would do for today, they would do for a couple of weeks more actually. No longer though as the child was always growing and would soon require a new pair.
Mei watched as the two operated perfectly in tandem, neither sharing a word between each other as they went through the familiar process of preparing to leave the house. Yuzu's bubbly personality was quite muted on this cold and drizzly morning, something which Mei was acutely aware of. She could hardly blame her lover for her less-than-lively mood. It was always the case when this time of year rolled around and despite her suggestions on the contrary, Mei knew that Yuzu still felt a pang of sadness whenever the topic of her father came up.
It was only natural to feel that way and it gave Mei a greater appreciation for her own father. Shou had not always been a good man, but he always had his health and his absence, while lengthy, was not a permanent one.
She joined her sisters in the entryway and fired a warm gaze towards them. The ploy worked and Yuzu shot her a beautifully sincere smile in response, another image for Mei to commit to memory.
"Let's get moving then!" Yuzu announced, mindful to ignite her word with a dose of enthusiasm while bestowing the brightest smile on her girls.
Mei's eyes narrowed in worry as the smile had failed to reach her beloved's eyes. It was not a forced smile, as Yuzu's was incapable of such artifices, it held a most nervous edge though. A touch of uncertainty. It was a tremendous show of trust on Yuzu's part as she was allowing her love to see her most delicate side while letting Mei know that she had absolute need of her in spite of being able to smile.
Over the years, Yuzu had learned to trust Mei with her sadness. She had stopped trying to put up a brave facade when her mood was not a bright one.
It happened rather rarely but when it did, she would allow herself to wear it. She did not need to feign constant happiness around her love. Around these time of the year, she would find solace in her Mei's embrace, simply thinking of her Papa while Mei held her was the perfect balm for her melancholy.
She had never allowed herself to dwell in her lack of memories of him in the past, fearing her sadness would spill to her mother. Now, she had the chance to acknowledge her emotion in a perfectly safe situation. It was something she was grateful for as it had allowed her to come to terms with certain aspects of her character she had not been able to decipher in the past.
She could not allow herself to drift untethered today while trusting Mei to lead her through the day. She had to be in every moment as she had her little sister to think of.
Atsuko meant the world to her, but Yuzu knew that it was not fair to keep her insulated from the more cruel realities of the world forever. She and Mei needed to find the appropriate level of tactfulness to teach Atsuko some important life lessons without frightening the child. It was a too delicate matter and it would need their combined efforts. She had to remain sharp.
Laid to Rest
The train journey had been a quiet one. Yuzu spent most of the trip staring at her feet, occasionally stopping to steal a glance at Mei and Atsuko, both carrying pensive expressions of their own.
The usual exuberant curiosity that would grip Atsuko whenever she traveled on train was missing. As a rule she would be with her face as close as possible to the widow albeit without touching it, as her Nee-san feared the surface to be crawling with germs.
She would take in the sight of the landmarks they run through greedily, constantly asking questions when something caught her attention.
She had learned, over time, that while her Nee-san had in-depth knowledge of historical landscapes, her Yuzu-nee knew Tokyo on a more intimate level and would describe the areas she was familiar with in vivid colors because she had them with her own eyes.
Yuzu-nee might not have read as many books as Nee-san did but she knew just as many things.
As of now Atsuko was sat between her sisters as she felt the need to be close to both. Her eyes were fixed on the tips of her Wellington boots, she would kick her feet every now and then as it felt like her boots had become too tight. It was not a problem though as she knew her Yuzu-nee had already taken notice of it.
For Yuzu and Mei, it was a well-worn path, but Atsuko's presence had introduced an uncertain element to their yearly ritual. It was impossible to determine how their younger sister would react to the new experience and the prospect of another conversation on the subject of mortality, which was an inevitability, created a level of anxiety for the lovers.
They had managed to broach the topic carefully back in Fujikawaguchiko, but their sister's naturally inquisitive mind was sure to bring more questions - Questions they did not necessarily have the answers for.
The cemetery contained a cluster of stone markers of varying shapes and sizes, some meticulously maintained while others crumbling away with the years. They gleamed as the late morning light hit the damp stone.
Four concrete walls blocked out most of the sound from the roads outside; All that could be heard was the rustle of trees in the wind and the patter of the light drizzle that had persisted throughout the morning and was predicted to continue until nighttime at least.
The trio arrived at the wooden torii gate and bowed deeply in unison before entering. Atsuko walked between her sisters, each holding one of her hands a little more tightly than usual. If questioned, Mei was prepared to tell her that it was due to the slippery floor, but her firmer grip was also caused by a level of anxiety that she had not been accustomed to.
"I'll be right back." Yuzu announced before heading off to the shrine. Her usual half-skip was still present, but lacked the level of enthusiasm that had normally been associated with it as she dodged the many puddles scattered across the ground.
"Nee-san?" Atsuko asked with a puzzled expression on her face.
"Your sister is going to fetch a few things, Atsuko." Mei began to explain in her usual authoritative voice although she infused it with a sweet loving note. It was a tone meant for Atsuko alone and it never failed to provide the child with a great level of security. She had learned a great deal of things while listening to such a tone. She had all but grown up in the sound of its loving guidance, it was her beloved Nee-san's voice and it made her feel safe.
"She is going to get some water to clean the grave and some incense to burn so that it can be purified." Mei continued, forcing herself to look at the child, she had been avoiding Atsuko's inquisitive eyes from the moment they had set foot at the graveyard.
Mei feared the questions that the experience might prompt her sister to ask. The answers she would be able to offer her, albeit completely honest, might prove to be quite unsatisfying as they were the result of suppositions rather than knowledge. To be honest, Mei did not wish to darken her sister's bright aura by revealing to her how frail life truly was.
Still, she knew that it was her duty as Atsuko's Nee-san to guide the child through dark waters. She released a soundless sigh and turned her eyes on her sister, taking in the sight of the ever-present curiosity glinting in her eyes and resigning herself to the inevitability of honesty. She would never be able to face those beautiful green eyes with anything less.
Atsuko tilted her head in bemusement. Mei had little time for spiritual matters, so it was an odd sight to see her speaking with complete seriousness about the rituals that they would be performing. It was impossible to tell whether a belief in the divine simply did not cross her mind during her day-to-day life, or whether Mei only wished to follow along with Yuzu's own practices as a display of solidarity.
Her dark-haired sister's contemplative mood had not escaped Atsuko's notice. The child had resolved to keep her curiosity in check and allow her sisters to set the pace of the journey. She could be patient, after all.
She had no rush and was more than happy to return her sisters' love with a gesture of consideration. She nodded to herself and tightened her hold on her Nee-san's hand, willing her sister to realize that she was there for her. Nee-san answered her tenderness by running her thumb over the back of her hand in a grateful caress.
As for the rest, Mei stood in silence as they waited and thought back to the very first time that she and Yuzu had visited her late father. She recollected how cynical and closed off from the world she had been back then, how she thought of Yuzu to be little more than an irritant and how alien the prospect of someone offering unconditional love and support to her had been.
Their trip that still shone brightly in her memory after many years together was the first step on her path to a happier life. The nature of their locale invoked a sense of melancholy, but Mei also had warm memories attached to the place.
Elsewhere, Yuzu walked the brick path alone as similar thoughts to Mei's crossed her mind. She did not allow the grief of her Papa's untimely passing to pervade her daily life, but the memory of the ensuing years of hardship for her and her mother was a scar that would never fade. She also remembered that it was here that she first saw Mei's beautiful smile - A smile not triggered by bullish attempts to push her away, but by sincere happiness at the prospect of being able to reunite with her estranged father. Even back then, when their relationship was in its infancy, Yuzu knew that it was a great privilege to be able to see a side of Mei that very few had seen before.
"I'm back!" Yuzu announced, now carrying a pail of water in one hand and a cluster of dark green incense sticks in the other.
"Yuzu." Mei offered her free hand to Yuzu so that she could carry something for her, as Atsuko still clung on to the other. The child's firm grip acted as a tether somehow, allowing her mind to focus rather than drift.
"Don't worry, Mei. It's not that heavy." Yuzu responded with a smile before stopping to reconsider her position. Atsuko's other hand looked quite inviting.
Yuzu chuckled under her breath before placing the incense sticks into Mei's free hand and transferring the pail to her other, so that she could take a hold of Atsuko's hand and resume their walk side-by-side.
It did not take them long to reach their destination and like every other plot, Papa's grave was coated in a thin layer of water from the continuous drizzle, giving the light grey stone an almost metallic sheen.
Without saying a word, Yuzu relinquished her unusually firm grasp on Atsuko's hand and placed the pail on the ground. In response, Atsuko's grip of Mei's hand tightened.
Yuzu set about pouring the water out onto the plot, gracefully and carefully arcing her arm each time as she tilted the dipper to allow for an even distribution of the crystal-clear liquid.
Mei and Atsuko stood to the side patiently, spectating the small ceremony. Atsuko turned and looked towards her Nee-san, but could not find her gaze as her older sister's wistful eyes were focused entirely on her blonde-haired partner.
She sensed that it was not the appropriate time to ask the multitude of questions to her Nee-san that had formed in her mind. They would have to wait for later.
Next, Yuzu set a half of the incense sticks in each of the small holders sat in front of the stone column, which was simply marked with "Okogi grave".
She produced one of the matches provided by the shrine and swiped it against the abrasive piece of paper to no avail. She swiped again... And again, the match stubbornly refusing to ignite.
Mei took a step forward and upon reaching Yuzu's side, noticed the tiny shudder of her lover's manicured fingers. In spite of the drizzle, it was still a temperate day; Mei knew that Yuzu's jitters were not a product of the weather.
She placed her hand on Yuzu's shoulder, lips softening when her love rubbed her cheek against it for a few seconds, before going back to her task. She felt Yuzu's shoulder jerk as she struck the match again.
Finally, a small flame formed and Yuzu quickly lit the incense sticks before blowing the match out and putting what was left of it in her small handbag. Mei then stepped back, allowing her arm that was still connected to Atsuko to fall slack once more.
A pleasant fragrance soon filled the air as wisps of white smoke began to rise up from the grave marker.
Yuzu turned back to Mei and Atsuko and smiled at the pair with her trademark grin, her mind seemingly at ease upon completing the formalities of the upkeep. Mei and Atsuko returned the smiles with ones of their own; Atsuko's smile was a shy and nervous one.
She had gathered this moment to be of great importance, her mind though was still agitated by questions and, ever so perceptive, she could tell that her Yuzu-nee was feeling particularly delicate today. She wished to hug her, but had realized that she had to let her oldest sister take the initiative for the time being.
Her Nee-san had been very quiet as well, which, while not uncommon, had concerned Atsuko somewhat as her silence lacked the usual calm she had come to identify with her dark-haired sister.
Not many people would notice it, but Nee-san was nervous. Atsuko knew because her sister's purple eyes were wider than usual and fixated on Yuzu-nee's every move as if constantly checking on her.
Although, when Yuzu-nee had turned to smile at them, the purple-eyed Aihara's shoulders had dropped slightly as though a burden had been lifted from them.
"Right!" Yuzu began, emerald green eyes finally setting on her youngest sister. "Atsuko, I'd like you to meet my Papa."
Yuzu beckoned towards Atsuko and with some reluctance, the youngest Aihara let go of her Nee-san's hand and stepped forward, albeit hesitantly; The feel of her Nee-san's hand cupping the back of her head filled her with a measure of courage and she finally walked to her oldest sister's side with her head held high.
Still, she drew so close to Yuzu's leg that her skinny arm was all but brushing against it. Her sister's hand fell on her small shoulder, drawing her closer, a gesture which Atsuko greatly appreciated, for her sisters' touch never failed to provide her with love and courage.
"Hey, Papa." Yuzu spoke softly, her words intended to be heard only by Atsuko, Mei and her father.
"I can't believe that it's been a year already…" Yuzu's voice thinned ever so slightly and Atsuko was all too quick to wrap her spindly arm around her sister's waist, willing to return the tenderness her Yuzu-nee had given her as best as she could.
The hand Yuzu had on her shoulder tightened its hold for a second before relaxing in what was the gentlest of caresses. Atsuko knew her sister had appreciated her gesture and it filled her with pride.
"I guess that time really does go quickly once you get older." Yuzu started again and this time, her voice did play the notes Atsuko was all but enamoured with. She could not hear them as clearly as she usually did, yet her sister's natural cheerfulness and positive disposition was back in her tone, albeit quite delicately as her speech held quite the solemn countenance in spite of her words lacking formality.
It made sense to Atsuko, as she was talking to her Papa and he was family.
"It's been a fun year too! We went to Fujikawaguchiko not too long ago and we had the best time! Mama was so happy! She could not stop smiling!"
Yuzu paused and returned her gaze to Atsuko, whose emerald green eyes were now transfixed on her oldest sister. Yuzu nodded at her encouragingly and bestowed her brightest smile upon her before focusing back on the grave once more.
"Mei and I also brought Atsuko this time. I've told you before how smart and cute she is, and now you finally get to see for yourself!" Yuzu's touch on Atsuko's shoulder turned into a feather-like one. It was all the impetus Atsuko needed to to part from her sister and take a small step forward.
"We're all so proud of her and I know you are too!" Yuzu finished while taking in the sight of her youngest sister waiting solemnly for her turn to speak. She could not wait for her Papa to finally hear Atsuko's voice and speak with her.
This precious child had brought so much happiness in her mama's life and her own, that she knew Papa already adored her and could not wait to meet her.
"..That's what I've come to report." Yuzu clasped her hands together in prayer, bowing her head for a few seconds to complete the speech that she had carefully been rehearsing in her mind all morning - Just as her beloved Mei would do.
"Atsuko." Yuzu caught her youngest sister off-guard by using her given name, causing Atsuko's cheeks to be painted with a bright red as she blushed. "Would you like to talk to my Papa too?"
Atsuko took another tentative step forward towards the stone, the deep and elegant etchings now more clearly visible through the haze.
"Okogi"
To Atsuko, it was a word that referred solely to her Yuzu-nee. Her Mama had explained to her that she and Yuzu-nee once had the Okogi name before they became Aiharas, but Yuzu-nee changed it back later. She did not fully grasp why Yuzu-nee felt it necessary, but trusted her sister to have good reason .
On Yuzu's part, she did not wish to explain to Atsuko that the name change was to avoid some of the stigmatisation that her relationship with her step-sister would bring. The child's optimistic worldview did not deserve to be spoiled by the harsh judgement of those who did not understand her relationship with Mei. It was better to sidestep the issue entirely.
"Hello…" Atsuko spoke before abruptly pausing. Just how was she supposed to address him? "...Yuzu-nee's Papa."
Atsuko felt a shred of unease as the words left he mouth. She had only known one father, yet her oldest sister had known two; The cogs in Atsuko's mind began to turn as she slowly began to realise just why this trip was so important to her Yuzu-nee.
With renewed confidence, Atsuko spoke again.
"Mama and Yuzu-nee told me all about you - They're always so cool! Nee-san and I have a different Papa, but we're still one family!" Atsuko found herself grinning as the words came to her with ease.
"Yuzu-nee is always smiling! She is like Mama to me but she is my best friend too!"
She had no better way to describe her beloved older sister, for her Yuzu-nee was her favorite playmate and closest confidant. She felt exactly like Mama did with her loud enthusiastic kisses, her warm embraces, her infectious laugh and the way she would cradle her and sing her to sleep.
Mama and Yuzu-nee surely shared the same kindness. Even then, Yuzu-nee radiated a brand of energy that belonged to her alone and Atsuko could feel it calling to her whenever she was in her sister's presence. Together they were unstoppable, Mama said they were a storm constantly waiting to happen.
Perhaps, Yuzu-nee's radiance did not come from Mama alone but from him as well. Yuzu-nee could light up a room with a smile and she could light up Nee-san's face with a simple look.
No matter how long a shift she had worked or how little sleep she had managed to get, her Yuzu-nee never failed to make time for her. It was something she had learned from Mama. Mama worked crazy hours too but never failed to spend some time with her family every day.
Although, her Nee-san was the one she spent most time with as their schedules matched almost perfectly, Atsuko was quite aware that each and every member of her family, even her traveling Papa, always made sure to share beautiful moments with her.
"And she makes the best food too - Especially her omurice!" Atsuko continued, wishing for Yuzu-nee's Papa to know just how wonderful a daughter he had. It was no easy task either as words could convey her limitless love and the fierce admiration she had for her sister only to a certain extent.
Although, if Yuzu-nee's Papa could hear her, then he must be able to look into her eyes as well and Atsuko trusted her eyes to spell out her feelings way more clearly than her words ever could.
"Did Mama ever make it for you? Mama's omurice is very good too!" Atsuko paused as she heard her sister shuffle her feet slightly behind her.
Yuzu smiled as her eyes narrowed, holding back tears. The dichotomy between her eyes and her lips was brought about by her conflicting feelings: Immense pride in her beloved sister and sadness that she had never gotten the chance to cook for her Papa - Her Mama had taught her well.
"When I grow up, I want to be a samurai!" Atsuko clenched her fists with enthusiastic vigour. "Some of my classmates say it's silly, but Yuzu-nee, Nee-san, Mama and my Papa all say that I can do it!" She nodded, green eyes sparkling with the beautiful will that stemmed from being allowed to pursue her dreams.
"I hope that you think I can too…I'll do my best, I promise!" She added softly and could not stop herself from smiling as she was absolutely sure that Yuzu-nee's Papa would trust her dreams as well. He was just like Mama and Yuzu-nee! He had to be! Always smiling and so very sweet and filled with nothing but love.
Atsuko finally pulled her eyes away from the stone and set them on her Yuzu-nee, who was watching her with a smile that was every bit as radiant as their Mama's was. The blonde-haired girl nodded at her in approval before Atsuko turned back to close out her speech.
"It was nice to get to meet you and I will come again next time too!" Atsuko blushed once more before adding a final line.
"...Thank you for giving me my Yuzu-nee."
Atsuko imitated her sister's actions and clapped her hands together before bowing deeply, her hair getting perilously close to the ground as she bent over.
As soon as Atsuko stood back up, her oldest sister was upon her in a flash. Yuzu swept her into her arms and spun her around while laughing happily and peppering soft kisses all over the child's smiling face.
She inhaled deeply, as if trying to breathe the moment into her memory when Atsuko tightened the hold she had around her neck and burrowed deeply into her shoulder, eager to cuddle into her familiar warmth.
Yuzu stilled herself and simply stood with her sister in her arms, face gently pressed against Atsuko's small shoulder. She caught sight of her love's looking at the two of them and her green eyes widened at once.
Mei's slightly damp dark hair framed her face as silk would, making her alabaster skin all but glow by contrast. The misty morning had added a beautiful glint to her eyes, enhancing their purple beauty to appear transcendent.
Right now, Mei might have been an otherworldly presence indeed, as she stood still akin to a statue, only her eyes following Yuzu's and Atsuko's every move. The smile that slowly but steadily softened her lips all but revealed her human nature though.
Soft and loving as Mei's smiles always were when she held Yuzu in her eyes, her lips curved slightly in a show of confidence while managing to retain their softness. Still, it lit up her eyes as they all but revealed the fierce pride and limitless love that was flowing through her veìns.
Yuzu knew quite well how her love felt. She could only nod at her while succumbing to the itch that had been scratching her throat since Atsuko had started talking with her Papa.
"You did great, Atsu-chan!" Yuzu exclaimed as she tried to blink away the happy tears that were now streaming from her wide eyes.
"I'm so proud of you and I know that my Papa is too!" She pulled back and nuzzled Atsuko's cheek, willing the child to to look directly into her eyes.
"Thank you, little samurai." She whispered, only for Atsuko to hear and ducked her head again, to gently rub her cheek against Atsuko's silky dark hair as much as cat would with a kitten.
Since her Papa's passing, she had done her best to always keep her Mama happy, promising him that she would get her to smile at least once a day - A task that had become easier over time.
Her Mama had done her best to insulate her from the sadness that her young husband's passing had brought into her heart and yet Yuzu, ever so perceptive from a very young age, had never missed her sudden spells of sadness and had also caught her crying on some rare occasions. It had been her tears to give her the idea of coloring her hair at first.
Yuzu had no doubt over her Papa being incredibly happy over the fact that his girls had managed to build such a beautiful life for themselves.
"Yuzu-nee…" Atsuko whispered in worry upon pulling back and taking in the sight of her sister's tear stained face.
"Happy tears?" She questioned hopefully. She had learned about happy tears but still had trouble picking which one a person was crying and to tell the truth. Her Yuzu-nee seemed to be in the grip of different emotion at that moment. She was smiling for sure, but her chin kept trembling ever so slightly and she kept biting on her lower lip.
"You bet, little samurai." Yuzu's sweet yet unusually thin voice reassured her sister. The situation was far more complex than that, as her tears held both joy and sadness in equal measure but the ones her wonderful sister had brought forth were made of only happiness.
She felt the familiar warmth of her love's close presence and looked to her left. Sure enough, she found Mei standing by her side. The tenderness her partner was smiling at her at the firm support she was looking at her with filled her with courageous calm and her tumultuous emotions stretched and snapped back into place, aligning themselves at once.
Charming as ever, Mei flipped out a white embroidered handkerchief from her coat's side pocket and offered it to a wide-eyed Atsuko. A wordless conversation took place between the dark-haired Aiharas in a matter of seconds.
In the next breath, Yuzu found herself in Atsuko's care while the child tenderly dabbed at her tears with her Nee-san's handkerchief, pink tongue picking out from between her rosy lips as she carried out the task with utmost concentration, knowing that leaving her sister's makeup undisturbed was the only acceptable result.
Yuzu stilled her face, wishing to make it easy for the child and because she needed a moment of quiet, yet she found herself unable to keep her lips still as sudden smiles happened to relax them outside of her control.
Mei stepped into her line of vision and Yuzu found a spot of untouched serenity by looking into the her love's purple eyes, allowing her mind to drift within their depth while trusting Atsuko's weight in her arms kept her grounded.
She had no intention of letting her little samurai down any time soon. In spite of being tall for her age, Atsuko's weight was close to nothing as her frame was still quite willowy. Yuzu needed the comfort and the security of the child's touch at the moment.
In a matter of moments Atsuko had wiped away all traces of crying from her face and was now dutifully trying to fold the handkerchief back into its rectangular shape while Yuzu and Mei traded looks full of only pride.
Atsuko shifted her eyes to her Nee-san in a silent question she needed to be answered. Mei's simple nod had her smile and she put the handkerchief into her own coat pocket with the utmost care.
Yuzu shifted Atsuko on her hip then, so that the child could turn around toward Papa, as Mei still had to greet him.
Atsuko kept one arm around Yuzu's neck while the other laid loosely about her sister's shoulder as she kept playing with Yuzu's haìr, an habit she had developed as a toddler and only around her oldest sister.
Perhaps, Yuzu's wonderful hairstyles had gathered the baby's attention, preventing her from developing any interest for tamer looks.
Regardless of the reason, it was something Mei felt guilty glad for as Atsuko had the strongest of grips and her delicate hair would have not fared well in the toddler's hands.
Mei willed the sight of them to be committed to her memory, down to every detail: From the minuscule drops of water that made Atsuko's blue coat look translucent to the way a lock of her love's golden hair curled around her chin.
Mei gave the child her proudest look which promptly dusted her cheeks with dash of rouge, then shifted her eyes on her love's face.
Seeing her love so soft with happiness had her chest swell. Her green eyed girls had been simply perfect and so supportive of each other, it put Mei's mind at ease to know that Yuzu and Atsuko were able to fully be there for each other, in sickness and in health.
It was her turn now. She had to rise to the occasion. Yuzu's father deserved nothing less and the same was true for his daughter. She quite enjoyed having her silent talks with the man whenever they visited him, yet this time around, it felt as if silence would not be appropriate.
Mei took a couple of elegant steps and set herself in front of the marker.
She was familiar with the sight of it, just as much as she was familiar with the scent of the incense rising to mix with the rich smell of rain. A peculiar combination that had become quite dear to her.
...dear to her.
In a moment everything became clear as she realized there was only one thing she could say to the man that had given her Yuzu to her:
"Even a lifelong prosperity is but one cup of sake;
A life of forty-nine years is passed in a dream;
I know not what life is, nor death.
Year in year out - all but a dream.
Both Heaven and Hell are left behind;
I stand in the moonlit dawn, Free from clouds of attachment."
It was a poem that she and Atsuko were intimately familiar with - It had frequently appeared in their reading sessions about the little samurai's favourite swordsman… or swordswoman. While Mei had always found it to be an evocative piece, it took a new meaning for her when she kneeled before the resting place of Yuzu's father. Her loved ones had taught her about the often fleeting nature of a life that would often pass like a dream. Mei felt no desire to wake up from the dream that her life had become.
Just as Yuzu and Atsuko had done, Mei clapped her hands together and bowed deeply, silently thanking Yuzu's father for all he had done.
She turned back to face the duo and was met with two pairs of loving green eyes watching her as she stood back up straight. Their smiles were accented with a mixture of happiness and gratitude - Something which gave Mei pause for reflection.
In truth, she had just spoken the words that first came to her in an act that she was not accustomed to. Thanks to Yuzu, Mei had found a new level of trust in her instinct; Not everything had to be elaborately planned out in advance and there was undoubtedly a beauty to be found in the unexpected.
Atsuko then huffed dramatically and folded her arms.
"Have you been reading without me, Nee-san?" She asked as she tried to put on her most incredulous expression.
Simultaneously, Mei and Yuzu found themselves breaking out into giggles and Atsuko soon joined them. The heavy atmosphere when they arrived was already a fading memory - One that was now being replaced with happy and reverent ones of their visit to Yuzu's father, who would surely be proud of all of his family.
Finally, the three moved to leave and as Yuzu was returning the pail back to the shrine, Mei turned to her younger sister with a serious look on her face.
"Do you have any questions, Atsuko?" Mei asked.
She had been dreading the question earlier that morning, but no longer felt such trepidation about having the discussion with Atsuko. The child was a fast learner and seemed to have picked up on the deeper meaning of their customs and why they were so important to Yuzu.
"No… I think I get it." Atsuko replied, placing a finger at her chin as she searched her mind for any outstanding queries she had or anything she did not quite understand.
Truthfully though, everything she wanted know had already been answered. She knew that her Yuzu-nee's Papa was not around any more but her family remained committed to honouring his memory by leading a life that he would be proud of. It was not even curious to her that she now felt a connection to the man who she had never met - His own personality was surely reflected in Yuzu-nee and Mama.
Atsuko vowed to also keep his legacy alive.
Into the light
Mei stood by the kitchen counter, intent on making some tea. Yuzu had purchased some excellent exotic flavors for her and she had been meaning to try them for a few days now. The rainy weather was absolutely inspiring when tea was concerned but she had found herself craving the traditional taste of the most familiar green tea during this last week.
At the moment though, her desire had shifted toward some fruity rich blend and she knew that her girls had a taste for novelties.
As the water seemed to be taking longer than usual to heat up, she indulged herself with one of her favorite pastimes, which was looking at Yuzu and Atsuko. The two had been inseparable since coming home, most likely relishing in the new beautiful layer that today's experience had added to their relationship.
At the moment Yuzu was half sitting and half laying on the couch with Atsuko laying on top of her, the child's back resting against Yuzu's chest. They were about to engage in one of their favorite activities: a mobile game called Love Live!. Mei had little to no understanding of it, but her girls played it so frequently that she had become familiar with the saccharine tunes that had made it so ubiquitous.
Some of them she also found quite enjoyable, but what she loved the most was to observe the look of utter concentration that Yuzu and Atsuko were sporting at the moment.
Their beautiful verdant eyes were equally narrowed and both held the tips of their tongues between their pursed lips as they stared at the screen with the utmost focus.
"We must scout a good one, Atsu-chan." Yuzu's voice had dropped her usual playfulness in favor of a serious edge, one that Mei had only heard the woman use at work.
"I've got this, Yuzu-nee" Atsuko replied to her sister in kind, infusing her own sweet voice with a note of steel.
A tense pause followed and after a few seconds Yuzu and Atsuko released the breaths they had been holding. Their faces went slack at once which precluded Mei from guessing whether their quest had been successful or not.
On a whim, she was about to ask when all hell broke loose.
A cacophony of screamed victory cheers followed, the words varying but the volume increasing steadily as the two all but started jumping on the couch, Yuzu on her knees and Atsuko on her feet.
Mei could only stare with wide eyes until a delicate giggle rose from her throat at the sight of her girls wildly happy mood.
She was quite accustomed to Yuzu and Atsuko's gaming antics but even for them such reaction was quite extreme.
The pair grabbed at each other as they jumped about with wild abandon and bright smiles on their faces. Laughter filled the room as they revelled in whatever virtual prize they had just won from the game. In enjoying the delighted display, Mei felt as though she had won something too.
Just the sight of them compelled Mei to smile and not her usually tight lips smiles either. She walked to them, unable to resist the temptation of enjoying their shared energy at a close range. It felt as if the air vibrated around them, such was the strength of their of their joy.
Their eyes shifted on Mei simultaneously as soon as she reached the back of the couch. The smiles she was greeted with could be only described as effulgent as they radiated sunshine in every direction.
She and Yuzu reached for each other as soon as Mei laid her hand on the back of the couch. She immediately turned her palm up and welcomed Yuzu's own hand with a firm grip.
Atsuko wasted no time in pulling her even closer by reaching over the back of the couch and grabbing at a handful of her cardigan.
"We got Elichika, Nee-san!" She declared electrified, wiggling her hips and bouncing about in a little victory dance that made her look all the more adorable for it.
"...Is that good?" Mei was aware of what of what a rather pointless question that was as the answer to it had been spelled as loudly as possible no longer than a minute ago.
Her lack of knowledge of the game prevented her from voicing a deeper inquiry, still, her need to join the conversation at hand was too strong to resist though.
"Sure is!" Yuzu chirped in while squeezing Mei's hand tightly. The atmosphere was one of easy happiness and laughter at the moment but the day had been quite an emotional for her partner and she needed Mei's touch to keep herself grounded.
"We've been trying for so long, Mei!" Yuzu injected a note of exasperation into her voice, wishing to convey the frustration she and Atsuko had been feeling over continually missing their chance.
"So long, Nee-san!" Atsuko agreed with her oldest sister, wide eyed and nodding several times.
"I can't wait to try her out, Atsu-chan! This is awesome!" Yuzu urged her sister on, taking her small hand into hers as if the two were dancing partners and swung them about excitedly.
"Yes!" Atsuko thundered her answer while performing yet another small dance to both her sisters' delight.
"Very well then." Mei interjected, the elegant tilt of her voice played a most endearing contrast to Atsuko and Yuzu's energetic speech. "Before you go back to your game, please join me for some tea."
Atsuko blowed delicately over her cup of tea. Unlike her sisters, she had no taste for the beverage when it was scalding hot. Unlike her Nee-san, that drank it as soon as the water had been poured, she loved to put at least two sugar cubes in it, even though she was always allowed only one as often they would drink tea more than once during the day.
She could not wait to return to the game, but she also knew that tea time should not be rushed. Besides, she was enjoying looking at her sisters quite a bit as they were acting particularly lovey-dovey at the moment, staring into each other eyes while playing with each other's hands. It was quite the endearing sight as they seemed lost in each other as though the rest of the world did not exist.
Atsuko did not feel left out as much as she felt privileged that they would allow themselves to enjoy such indulgences around her.
"Fantastic flavour, Mei." Yuzu-nee broke the incantation their sisters had been under by speaking up. "Isn't it Atsu-chan?"
"Yes! I love it!" Atsuko chirped delightfully, the tea that her Nee-san had chosen was quite delicious; It tasted like oranges with a hint of ginger.
"I am glad." Nee-san smiled at her which always made her happy. "I enjoy it quite a bit myself."
The next moments were spent in a rather blissful silence as they the three enjoyed their tea while basking in the special comfort that came with the ability of sharing simple things among loved ones. Soon enough, their cups had been emptied and Atsuko found herself in her oldest sister's lap again, finally ready to go back to their beloved Love Live!.
She knew that Nee-san was peeking at the game from behind Yuzu-nee's shoulder, which made her giggle. Her Nee-san had no love for games such as this one, unlike her and Yuzu-nee. Still, she could not help herself and would become curious if something happened to particularly delight Atsuko and Yuzu-nee.
They had been playing for quite sometime when Atsuko finally managed to top her previous high score. Yuzu-nee cheered and bounced her about while Atsuko did her best to appear nonplussed. It lasted a few seconds though, as she soon added her own voice to Yuzu-nee's cheering.
"Matsuri won't believe this score, Atsu-chan." Yuzu-nee told her enthusiastically while nuzzling her cheek. "Ehehehe… Can I tell her it was me?"
"Yuzu-nee!" Atsuko scolding face soon gave way to a mischievous grin "...Okay, you can!"
They were interrupted by the sound of something thudding against the door, followed by the rattle of a key being forced into the lock. After some fumbling, the door swung open and there stood Ume with two bags and her motorcycle helmet in her hands.
"Mama!" Atsuko wasted no time, she handed the phone back to her sister and all but darted toward her parents. Ume was quite accustomed to her younger girl's explosive greetings and had already lowered her bags and helmet on the ground for in the next second, she found herself with an armful of Atsuko.
She stood with the child wrapped around her and swayed gently, cradling her as she had done when she was but a baby.
"Hello, darling." She said, as was her custom, even though her voice had an unusually melancholic quality that immediately alerted her oldest daughters. She walked into the kitchen with Atsuko in her arms, burying her face in the child's shoulder to deeply inhale her unique scent.
"Mama!" Atsuko had pulled back after kissing her sloppily on the cheek and by the smile on her face, Ume had no doubt that their journey to meet Papa had gone splendidly as on cue, Atsuko immediately addressed the subject.
"I met Yuzu-nee's Papa today, Mama!"Atsuko's cheerful voice filled Ume with pride and happiness, yet she also felt sadness blossom in her heart as well. It was not unusual for her to feel contrasting emotions when her late husband was concerned.
"He already knew me, Mama!"
Ume knew that Atsuko had not been able to perceive the complexity of her mood as she had never seen it before. Her oldest daughters were a different matter though.
"...and I'll visit him next time too!"
Ume managed to smile gratefully at Mei when the young woman retrieved Atsuko from her arms. Her younger daughter's enthusiasm had been replaced by worry as she kept her green eyes fixated on her while wrapping her arms around Mei-chan's neck once her sister had set her on her hip.
"... Mama is sorry, dear." Ume raised a hand to cover her mouth when she felt her chin and lips tremble. She had told Atsuko a lot about her late husband and she was genuinely happy to share her memories of him with other members of the family. It was a way of keeping him with them.
Each and every piece of advice she had given to her Mei-chan on how to set up a romantic date had come from him. Ume was too much of a tomboy and too outspoken to understand the fine balance of courtship.
Yuzu's father on the other hand had been quite the charmer and would surprise her with small presents, romantic dinners and dancing as often as their meager budget would allow him. He knew all of the steps.
Around this date though, the memory of him would play loudly in her heart and especially today, as her heart had been aggravated by the thought of her daughters' journey as well. She had been absolutely supportive of Atsuko meeting her husband and even more so, as she knew it would have been difficult for her to take her by herself.
She always went alone at the graveyard. It was something she needed to share with her beloved alone. It would be too much to have other people present. It was the only thing she kept to herself. Not even Shou could know.
As it always happened when a spell of sadness was cast on her, her eyes searched for her beloved Yuzu.
She found her immediately as she was standing next to her and just has she had expected, Yuzu was smiling.
Her smile broke the spell at last and Ume took her daughter's delicate face between her hands. Her Yuzu looked at her with confidence and certainty. It was a routine they were quite familiar with as Ume would take her child's face between her hands and stare at her whenever life got too hard.
It centered her to stare into those trusting green eyes and it renovated her energies at once.
Her husband had loved Yuzu as much as she did. He could hardly take his kind eyes away from her and he started to sing to her even before Ume started doing so.
Once she was no longer breastfeeding the child, her late husband had not allowed her to get up at night, not even once. "It's my turn now, love..." he would say before kissing her lips delicately.
He had wanted her to focus on her studies and took on the responsibility of their caring for their daughter at night, in spite of working two and sometimes even three jobs at a time.
She could see so much of him in their child. His passionate heart, his reckless courage, his tact and so much more.
"Mama…" Yuzu called out to her and put her own hands over Ume's, gently holding them.
"...We had a great day." She said as the dazzling smile she had been giving her reached her eyes and made them sparkle in pure joy. "Papa was so very happy! He had a great day too."
She finished and by then, the only thing Ume could do was to wrap her arms around her daughter and hold on to her as tightly as she could. She had been blessed.
This wonderful daughter of hers had been the only thing that had stopped her from shattering on so many occasion.
Atsuko watched with wide eyes as Mama and Yuzu-nee hugged. Her concern waned once her oldest sister had moved to comfort their Mama. She knew the two of them shared a special bond. She had no knowledge of the details, but after a Yuzu-nee's Papa went away, Mama and her oldest sister had been through a very hard time.
They only survived it by being there for each other.
When they parted after a few minutes, Mama's face was no longer soft with sadness. Her infectious smile had returned and her green eyes were, once again, sparking in delight.
Mama planted a sloppy kiss on Yuzu-nee's cheek, which her sister predictably protested.
What could not have been predicted though was that Nee-san immediately copied their Mama and planted an equally sloppy kiss on Atusko's face.
Something as such had never happened before! Nee-san's kisses were always delicate and could barely be heard!
Atsuko turned toward her, mouth gaping incredulously.
Nee-san eyes though were fixated on Yuzu-nee and Mama. Her sister's intense purple eyes were rich with respect and devotion. She had an expression of amazed wonder on her face.
Atsuko understood that look now. It was a look of total admiration for two people that had managed to survive the worst of pains while maintaining their open hearts and carefree smiles.
She could only tighten her hold around her sister and join her in admiring those two incredible persons they had been all but blessed with.
First though, she needed to get her revenge!
Atsuko turned planted the sloppiest of kisses on her Nee-san's face, immediately turning her red with embarrassment and shock.
It was only fair!
