Chapter 4

Mando POV

I couldn't do anything but watch. I hadn't felt anything… Was I supposed to? Okia cried and Aiko was stunned. She had been the one to watch her mother die.

" Aiko,"

She looked at me with her eyes wide with horror.

" You couldn't do anything to stop her. It's alright."

She didn't move.

" No it isn't…"

I tried to comfort her.
" Your mother chose to keep us safe we couldn-"
" Iyaiya CHIGAU! It's my fault she died! KUSO! I was too weak! If I was stronger…She would be here with us…"

I wrapped my arms around the two of them.

" She will always be here, we just can't see her anymore."

Okia looked up at me, face red from crying.

" Everyone we care about leaves us! First it was Sofu, then Sobo, then Hirashi ojisan, Mina Obasan, and now Okaasan!"

I held them tighter.

" I promise we'll always be together, I'll never leave you. I promise."