Nana walked arm in arm with Raku as they headed for the entrance to the community center. Pointing out the new addition to the building, Nana said, "Over there is the new wing where the community hall is. We did most of the work ourselves. That's where Mariko, Kanae, Hisoka and those Brothers from the church gave us a wonderful anniversary party. Remember, Yuka?" she said all smiles.
Yuka nodded. "That was a very nice surprise," she agreed.
Frowning in thought, Nana added, "And it is quite possible that's the day Mariko conceived.."
"Mama Nana, tell grandma about when we made the new entrance," Mariko quickly said, hoping to shift the topic.
"I didn't have to go turn the microphone off when we made the new entrance, either," Lucy said with a smirk.
Chuckles arose as Mariko blushed. Hisoka let out a giggle, which earned him an elbow in the side as Mariko frowned at him.
A few men in the parking lot walked quickly over to them, pulling out cameras. Two of them were foreigners by the looks of them.
Lucy was really beginning to hate cameras. When she and the White Robes went to the Mayor's offices to accept the gratitude of the people for saving their city, her eyes were blinded from the almost constant flashing of camera bulbs. As if this wasn't enough, a crowd of camera toting men popped their bright lights at her on the way to and from the ceremony. She thought that would be plenty of pictures to go around.
It wasn't. Walking down the street, in the grocery store, and here in the community center parking lot, there was always at least one person with a camera to place a bright spot in her vision.
"Not again," Kouta said with a sigh.
Kouta Junior ran up and asked, "Can I do it, Mama Lucy?"
Lucy nodded. "Be sure not to hurt anyone," she instructed.
Kouta Junior walked toward the men and said, "No pictures!"
The men raised their cameras anyway. The cameras were jerked from their grasps. Hanging in the air, metallic crunching was heard as the cameras collapsed upon themselves then dropped to the pavement in pieces.
"Camera crunching is fun," Kouta Junior said as he came back, wearing a grin.
"Hey! You're going to pay for that!" one European man yelled.
"Go stand in line," Lucy called over to him. Photographers had tried to take them to court to make them pay for ruined cameras. Even though the judges agreed who destroyed the cameras, they also informed the irritated men that their court had no jurisdiction over the sect. The complaints then went to the Embassy and were forwarded to Lucy, who tossed them in the trash with the rest of the garbage.
One thing Lucy was happy about was how Nana seemed to be recovering on her own. Although Lucy didn't care for 'Mama Raku', Nana was returning to her old self and even getting around on her own. It was like seeing her mother had given Nana an injection of life. Nana was even much better at remembering things.
"Ahhh.." Mariko gasped as she stopped and gripped her belly.
"Mariko?" Hisoka asked as he steadied her. "The baby kicked again?"
"That was no kick, it was a contraction," Mariko said with a wince.
Kouta got on Mariko's other side as they walked her in. Just outside the entrance, Mariko let out a squeak as water ran down between her legs.
"Her water broke, get her into a bed," Lady Himari said, and hustled them inside.
Hisoka's face turned into a frightened grin. "The baby's coming!" he announced.
"Get her into the clinic," Lady Himari said firmly.
"Ohh! Mariko's going to have her baby!" Nana cried, and quickly flung doors open in front of Kouta and Hisoka as they helped Mariko along.
.
"Ghaaaaaa! ... this HURTS!" Mariko cried red-faced as another labor pain hit.
Beside her bed, Hisoka held the hand he swore Mariko was trying crush his with. Remembering everything they'd been taught, he coaxed, "Deep, even breaths.."
Mariko snapped her head to him and growled "Don't tell me what to do! This is YOUR fault!"
"Three minutes apart," Lady Mitsu noted as she watched the clock on the wall.
As the pain subsided, Mariko looked at Hisoka and said, "I'm sorry."
"Just watch me and breathe like we learned," he coaxed. Hisoka took breaths, Mariko watched him and breathed with him. Upon the next pain hitting, Mariko again cried out, then proclaimed, "I'm NEVER having sex ever again!"
"Breathe hon.."
"Ohhh, SHUT UP!"
Despite her pain induced anger, Mariko did breathe as she watched Hisoka. Hisoka withstood the verbal abuse as he stood by Mariko in her agony and let her crush his fingers.
Between Mariko's bent legs, Lady Mitsu watched under the sheet. "It's coming. Mariko, push when I tell you to."
.
Outside the birthing room, Kouta sat with the rest of the family in a waiting room. Lucy winced at Mariko's cries, and said, "I was never that loud."
Kouta rubbed the back of his head and said, "No ... but you DID make a few holes in the ceiling." Glancing at Yuka he grinned and said, "And someone here swore never to take another turn in her life."
Straightening herself, Yuka gave a huff and said, "At times we say things we don't mean."
Lady Himari gasped and grabbed her belly. "I think it's time," she said weakly.
Kouta gapped at her, then shot up and ran to get another White Robe.
With a wince, Lady Himari got up and said, "Yes, it's time."
Lucy helped Lady Himari into the other bed as Hisoka was coaxing Mariko to push.
.
Lady Mitsu was an efficient midwife. She helped Mariko deliver her baby girl just in time to turn her attention to Lady Himari. Lucy went over to Mariko's bed to finish up and see her very first granddaughter.
Sweaty and tired, Mariko held her newborn wrapped in a clean white towel. Baby Chizu's eyes were open, showing her lavender pupils. A fine tuft of light purple hair adorned her head between her stubby little horns. Hisoka kissed his wife then said, "Our sweet little Chizu. I love you so much, Mariko."
Offering him a weak smile, Mariko said, "Our baby... Hisoka, my darling, I am so tired."
.
Raku came in with Nana and the rest of the family once Lady Mitsu had delivered Lady Himari's baby, another girl. The tiny, bald girl was as tired as her mother. Kouta held his baby while Hisoka held his newborn.
Nana's smile was ear to ear as she fawned over the babies. A tear of joy came to her eye. "They are so precious, congratulations, Hisoka and Mariko, and Kouta and Himari. This is what I was waiting to see." Scanning her family, she added, "You all so dear to me, I love you all so much. Please, take care of each other. I will be watching over you."
Nana then collapsed.
.
Kanae left the temple with Kuri and Etsu at the end of the day. Their classes and studying scriptures was not hard work, but it was boring enough that they felt drained by the end of the day. After dinner, they usually had study time together before turning in early. Today Kanae noticed a non-sect man waiting for them at the foot of the stairs. His hands were folded in front of him. The part of his face she could see under his hood, looked solemn.
Approaching him, she saw who it was that was looking at her so seriously. "Brother Junso!" she said, a smile spread over her face briefly.
Brother Jusno offered her his own weak smile, then held out a hand and said, "Please come with me, Lady Kanae. We must speak."
Kanae's first thought was that something had gone wrong in Sapporo. Brother Junso was working hard to get people to accept sect members living there, and so far, she had thought his efforts were going well. "What's wrong?" she asked as she took his hand.
"Not here," he said, and guided her to a small prayer building to one side of the main temple.
Inside, he motioned for her to sit on the single bench, then sat beside her. He pulled his hood back, and looked at her with pain in his eyes as he held her hands.
Kanae yanked her hood back and asked, "Did something happen down in the city?"
Brother Jusno shook his head and said, "In Kamakura. Lady Mariko and Lady Himai had their babies. Chizu is the name of Lady Mariko and Sir Hisoka's baby. Kyoko is the name of Lady Himari and Sir Kouta's baby."
Confused, Kanae asked, "That's good news, isn't it? Why do you look so sad?"
"On the same day, we lost Lady Nana."
Kanae's jaw worked. She then asked, "Lost? You mean no one can find her?" as fear rose in her throat.
Brother Junso shook his head. In his sad voice he said, "Lady Nana collapsed right after the births. Lady Mitsu ... everyone did everything they could. Lady Nana's internal organs were beyond help. I'm so sorry, Kanae, Lady Nana didn't have a chance."
Kanae's lip quivered, "No, that can't be," she whispered.
"I am afraid it's true. I came to get you for the funeral. I already spoke with Lady Azami and Lady Hama..."
"No!" Kanae whined. "It ... can't be!" She then fell into Brother Junso, wailing out her grief.
Brother Junso held her and petted her hair as Kanae cried. Although he felt her pain and wanted to comfort her, a small part of him couldn't help but feel good holding her.
.
The whole way back to Kamakura, Brother Junso and Lady Kanae didn't argue once. Their hands seemed welded together during the trip. The sat together on the plane, and upon arriving at the airport, Lucy and Kouta met them. Kanae released Brother Junso long enough to hug her parents and share a few tears with them. Right after that, she reclaimed his hand, holding onto it firmly.
Brother Junso had planned on staying at the church, but Lucy and Kouta insisted he stay at their house. Pleading in Kanae's eyes forced him to accept their generous offer.
The mood at the Maple Inn was a somber mix of joyful reunion and shared grief for Nana. Brother Junso took a second floor room next to Kanae's room. He put away his meager belongings, then came down for dinner to find Mariko sitting in her place. Her shirt was pulled up as she held both babies, breastfeeding them.
His face warming from the sight of the large, pale globes the babies nursed from, Brother Junso quickly turned around. "Excuse me, Lady Mariko, I didn't mean to bother you," he said, feeling embarrassed.
Looking up at him with the bliss of nursing the babies on her face, Mariko said, "It's my fault, Brother Junso." A feeding bib, which was a cut down apron to cover her chest, floated over to hide the nursing infants. "It's all right, they are covered now," she said.
Brother Junso glanced back, then turned with a huff. "I didn't mean to ..."
"It's fine, as I said, the fault is mine," she assured him.
Lucy came in and cast a grin at Mariko. "My, they are getting big," she noted.
"They are growing," Mariko said with a smile. "Before long, I don't think I'll be able to hold both Chizu and Kyoko at the same time."
"Yes, the children are growing too," Lucy said with a wry grin. "I bet Hisoka is happy about that, also."
Mariko's face opened up. "Mama Lucy!" she gasped.
Lucy shrugged. "All settled in?" she asked Brother Junso, who was trying to ignore the conversation.
Brother Junso nodded. "Yes, thank you for your hospitality," he said with a bow.
"No need to be so formal," Lucy told him. Coming over to him she asked in a low tone, "So, have you been thinking?"
He knew what she was talking about. He nodded and said, "It is a ... very complex problem."
"I never said it wasn't. Take enough time and make the right decision. Have a seat, Brother."
Brother Junso took his seat. Soon, the long table filled up with the family. Kanae sat beside him. His other side was empty, a overturned bowl and cup sat in what would have been Nana's place. He met Raku, who took the other side of Nana's place at the table.
As they got together, Chika came up behind Brother Junso and studied him. He greeted her. She didn't respond, but only watched him.
"Chika, come sit down," Kouta said as he indicated her place on the other side of Mariko.
Chika went to her seat, saying, "I just wanted to see Kanae's boyfriend. When are they getting married?"
Laughs peppered the table as Junso and Kanae both turned red.
"We don't have that kind of relationship," Kanae said to quell the mirth.
"So you say," Lucy replied with a smirk.
Wearing her own impish grin, Lady Himari asked, "So what kind of relationship is it?"
"We're good friends," Brother Junso informed her. "Lady Kanae and I are working together to build mutual respect between our respective religions."
Kouta itched his neck as he said, "That sounds like a politician's 'no comment' remark."
"Papa, it's true," Kanae insisted.
"Myself and Himari work hard at building a good relationship between our people and the rest of Kamakura," Lucy said. "That doesn't mean we hug the Mayor."
"WHY are you so worried about what we do?" Kanae asked in exasperation.
"Because we want to see you happy, dear," Yuka said.
"So someone must make a difficult choice," Lucy said as she eyed Brother Junso.
Brother Junso had been busy, so he really didn't have time to think about the question Lady Lucy had asked. With Kanae right here beside him as he sat at their table, he did realize that Kanae was becoming very special to him. The more he thought about it, the more he knew Lady Lucy was right. He had a very difficult choice to make.
.
The chapel at the Yukaita community center was full for Nana's funeral. Brother Junso readily agreed to take part in the viewing, standing beside Lady Kanae. He also agreed to speak during the service. Lady Sakura started the ceremony with her official opening and prayers. Lady Himari took her turn to speak of the woman who was so loved by all, and always had a smile and pleasant words for everyone she met. Lucy then took her turn.
Standing up at the podium, Lucy winced and said, "When I first met Nana, it wasn't under the best circumstances. I had just escaped, and Nana had been sent to look for me. We had a very ... brutal fight that left Nana with no arms or legs. A short while after that, we met again at the Maple Inn. Nana's Papa had bandaged her and given her replacement limbs she could use before he set her free. It took some time, but we became friends, and I learned just how innocent and caring Nana was." Her voice choking as tears streamed down her face, Lucy continued. "Nana forgave me for things ... I would probably never forgive another of. She helped teach me how I should be. I feel blessed to have known and shared a house and a family with such a loving woman." Turning to the casket where Nana lay, she said, "I'm going to miss you ... my dear sister..." Lucy then broke down sobbing. Kouta collected her and took her back to her seat.
Brother Junso approached the podium with a bible in his folded hands. He waited until Lucy was seated, leaning against Kouta. Lucy gripped Yuka's hand on Kouta's other side as they all sobbed together.
"It is times like this, that we come to understand what people mean to us," Brother Junso said softly as he looked out over the crowded room. "I cannot add anything to Lady Nana's gentle and loving nature that has not already been said. I, as everyone here, will sorely miss Lady Nana. She was an inspiration to us all. I can only assure you that she has gone to a better place and offer my own prayers for her soul. If you would permit me, I would like to read a passage from our bible and share these words with you."
Opening his bible, Brother Junso read, "And he said, These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Brother Junso closed his bible and said, "Lady Nana is with the Lord. Let us mourn her passing from us, be also rejoice that her eternal spirit lives on and knows the peace that surpasses all understanding." He then turned and bowed to Nana and said, "Farewell, Lady Nana, those of us who you leave behind will never forget you."
Nervous about how the sect would take his reading of the bible, Brother Junso sat back down in the second row. The pink haired woman beside him patted his hand and quietly said, "That was beautiful, Brother."
Mayu was the next to get up to speak. Her eyes swollen and red from her grief, Mayu laid a piece of paper on the stand. Sniffing back some tears, she said, "Nana was my very first and best friend. I'll never forget when we first met. She was very happy to find someone she could call a friend. Nana was innocent and clueless. All that money she burned, having no idea what money was for," she said with a weak chuckle. "Or when I grabbed her arm, and if came off. So sweet, so innocent, so selfless. The meals where Nana would proclaim me and Mama Yuka as geiniuses as she at with gusto as if she was having a finest meal that had ever been served. All the times we laughed... Also the time when she said someone was coming to kill her. Instead of hiding, she left to face the threat alone so none of the rest of us would be hurt." Mayu paused to take a shuddering breath. "The pure and selfless way she loves us.." Mayu paused with her head down. Lifting her tortured face to Kouta , she said, "Papa...I..." then broke down into racking sobs.
Kouta got up and held Mayu as she wailed out her tears. He steered her back to her seat, then stood in her place. Kouta cleared his throat and said, "Mayu wrote this in trubute to Nana. I think many of us have the very same feelings."
Taking a deep breath, Kouta read, "To Nana, my special friend. You laughed with me, you cried with me. You were always there to share my joy and share my pain. You never judged me, your love was unconditional. When I felt alone, you were there to assure me I was not. When I felt unsure of myself, you would give me confidence to strive on. Your joyfullness and innocence touched my very soul..." Kouta's voice cracked. He took a few breaths to choke back some tears, then kept on. "When you left, you took a precious part of me with you. To me, you will never be gone, for I hold all of our memories in my heart. My dear, sweet, Nana, if you can hear this, please know that you will be forever loved..."
Kouta put a hand to his face and sobbed. He sat back down to be enfolded by Yuka and Lucy.
.
Although no cameras were present as the funeral procession make it's way to the grave site, many others had come to pay respects to Lady Nana. Nana's casket was piled high with flowers and prayers written on pieces of paper. Brother Junso found himself beside Kanae as the final benediction (or what he took to be a benediction) was spoken by Lady Sakura.
Leaving the cemetery with Kanae's hand in his, Brother Junso thought hard about the woman at his side. He did have a difficult decision to make.
