I suppose I had skirted around an issue. I've taken care of Ryuuko since she was rescued from the basement and, frankly, I couldn't think of anyone besides Nui, Aikurou, or I taking care of her in the coming years, however, I would be confronted with that issue, when Uzu asked, "What's gonna happen to her if something happens to ya'll?"
Time, it seems, stood still for a moment and that I was in a trance. I would snap out of it the moment Uzu tapped on my shoulder and repeating the question. Be honest, Satsuki Kiryuuin, be honest! I told him that was question I didn't really have the answer to which he returned, "Oh, well, it's something to think about, as, I mean, ya'll can't take care of her forever."
I dreaded him saying that but I knew I couldn't be too upset with him for it, as he was right. In all this time I had spent caring for her, I would find myself admitting that I truly hadn't really thought of that. Besides the aforementioned, I genuinely worried about Ryuuko if something were to happen to either of us and I had hoped to delay coming to terms with that. At best, Ryuuko can state what she needs, feed herself, and, to some extent, dress herself, however, she has yet to learn how to use a toilet, as the flushing noise scares her, gets overstimulated really quickly, and the fact that she isn't too well-versed in social situations.
Finding her a wonderful caregiver would be difficult, especially since so many would rather take in people of her sort for monetary gain, thus she'd be likely to be cared for properly, and the fact that she doesn't open up well to new people. As I thought of this, I would find myself going back to my thought process of marrying just to secure my sisters' future, however, be this as noted, I am not attractive by many means and neither had I too many gentleman callers. Of course, marrying for money and pragmatics, again, as I recall, would be futile as few do those things anymore and the fact that I would be tying us to a long life of misery.
Honestly, I wondered if I should ask Uzu to marry me but I sincerely doubt that he'd say "Yes" to the whole fiasco and, as I thought of that, I wondered what Aikurou would think. Of course, for all I knew, he'd mostly disapprove and, honestly, I can't say I'd blame him for that, after all, he does put our well-being and happiness first and foremost. I suppose I could ask him what his advice towards such a procrastinated matter would be. I would guess that he hasn't really thought about it.
Not too long, about a couple of days, afterwards, I would find myself asking him. To my expectations, he hadn't really thought about it but he did say that it was good we were thinking about it now. He explained that we had a long time before that point to think about Ryuuko's future but it's best to have something of a plan should worse come to worse.
I told him of what my thoughts were before talking to him, to which he responded, "I suppose you could do that but I doubt that your father would like the idea, surely, one should marry for love, not money or pragmatics, and this isn't the dark ages or whatever sort of flimflam. Likewise, your sisters would think you were sick, mentally, of course."
"I suppose they would be right."
"Once again, you are making yourself the sacrifice. If anything, you're the glue that seems to be holding them together."
"Yes, and I feel I have few other choices. Our inheritance from our family is dwindling, my job pays so little, Nui's had to get a job, and government checks don't contribute much. With those factors, I doubt there would be enough to have Ryuuko put in a home someplace nor do we know who to leave her with if worse comes to worse."
"I suppose this is true, however, it's not unreasonable to worry about Ryuuko's future."
"No, it's not but, with all that's said and done, does she really have a chance at a future that will be with people who'll love her and where she'll live comfortably minus abuse?"
"Mmm, I would say that she does but, of course, I'm no soothsayer. This seems like a bridge we'll have to cross when we get to it."