Chapter 7: Happy now?
Chiasa dragged herself down the stairs. It was late morning, so the others were awake. Sitting at the table was Toshiaki, Akio, and Etsuko. Chiasa averted her eyes and sat down. "What's up?" Toshiaki asked, after he swallowed his mouthful of food, "You look like you saw a ghost." Chiasa jumped as he said 'ghost', but was able to consume her emotions. "It was just….a nightmare I had…"
"Aw, come on! You can tell us!" Chiasa shook her head and looked over at the opposite wall. Etsuko smiled and poked her with a fork. "What's wrong? You seem depressed!"
"The fire…"
"What?" The two boys looked at her confused. Chiasa just turned and looked at Etsuko. "You were in a fire…You died in the fire. You can't be looking for your mom, there would be no way she could notice you!" Etsuko looked down, before looking back up and smiling. "I was waiting for someone to tell me."
"What?!" Toshiaki and Akio looked at the two like they were crazy. "Are you meaning to say, we were traveling with a ghost this whole time?!" Etsuko still smiled and hugged Chiasa. "I was waiting to find someone who knew about me. All I needed to know was my past, and how I died. And you did that! Thank you Chiasa…" And she faded away, leaving a small bracelet from her wrist behind.
Toshiaki and Akio sat there baffled as Chiasa picked up the bracelet and put it on. It was a thin golden loop with a blue crystal sitting in the
middle. Chiasa smiled and began eating her breakfast. This is exactly as Etsuko would want it.