Chapter 14: Life Without Chichi

After the funeral people came back to the mansion to pay their respects. Toboe went straight up to the Skylar's nursery. He picked her up and sat in the rocking chair and began to rock her. Toboe couldn't believe how much Skylar looked like Chichi.

Downstairs Yoko looked to Kaida and asked. "Where is heaven?"

Kaida's eyes were filled with tears. "Stupid! There is no heaven! It scientifically impossible for there to be a heaven."

Yoko began to cry and ran up to her room. Tsume followed her. He opened the door and saw Yoko laying on her bed crying.

"Yoko?"

"Go away."

He walked over and picked her put and laid her in his lap. "Kaida didn't mean it. She is upset. You kids are very close to your Aunt Chichi. There may not be any scientific proof that heaven is real, but if it isn't real than where did you and your brother and sister come from?" Yoko smiled. "That's proof enough for me. Just think that your Aunt is up in heaven having a wonderful time. She is looking down on us and just remembering how much she loves us."

"Daddy, tell me again what heaven is like."

"There are no tears in heaven. No one is ever afraid because there isn't anything to be afraid of. You can eat and play all day and never grow tired. You want to know what Chichi may be enjoying?"

"What?"

"Her other five children are with her in heaven. Skylar maybe here with her father, but we all know she will be just fine."

Yoko giggled and then she kissed her dad on the cheek. "That sounds like a wonderful place."

"It is."

"Than why is everyone crying? They should be happy."

Downstairs Elena people would ask."How did Chichi die?"

Each time Elena would put on a brave face and answer. "Her body was so worn down that she never woke up."

Then others would ask. "How did the children die?"

Again Elena would put up a brave face and reply. "Chichi put to much stress on herself and the children. Originally three of the children were born alive but they adventually died form malnutrition. Chichi wouldn't rest and hardly eat because of this case she was working on. She would stay up all night doing paper work and planning out her case and the next day go straight to work. It got worse the sooner the trial got."

Soon after everyone left Elena began to clean up. She was in the kitchen cooking dinner when Tsume walked in. Elena didn't notice him nor did she care who walked in. Tsume picked up a fork and took a bite out of the vegetable casserole. He then walked up to her and put his arms around her and kissed her neck. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Elena answered.

"I know something is wrong."

"How do you know that?"

"You food. It tastes different."

"How so?"

"It just doesn't taste like your cooking. I don't know how to describe it." Elena didn't look at Tsume, but Tsume brushed her hair out of her face and kissed her on the cheek. "I know you miss Chichi."

Elena began to cry. "She was more to me than a little sister. She was like one of my children. She was my best friend." Elena dropped the spoon that she was using and put her hands in her face and cried harder. Tsume turned her and faced her. Elena then fell in the floor. "It's not fair, Tsume. It's not fair!"

He got on his knees and put his arms around Elena. "I know sweetie. I know." Just then Tsume looked up and saw that Kaida, Kiyoshi, and Yoko were in the door way watching. "Why don't you go out and play?"

"We have an idea." Yoko replied.

"Not now." Tsume sighed and picked Elena up and took her up to there room. He placed her on the bed. Kaida, Kiyoshi, and Yoko came in and sat next to their mother. "Children, please go out and play."

"Not till you listen to our idea." Kaida demand.

"Tsume lets listen to them. What is your idea?" Elena looked up into her children's eyes.

"Well first you need to stop crying." Yoko started off. Elena nodded her head and wiped the tears out of her eyes. "Then we have a party." Tsume and Elena were confused.

"Yoko, Kiyoshi, and I have been thinking." Kaida continued. "I apologized to Yoko and we all started talking and thinking. We know that aunt Chichi is in heaven and we can't understand why everyone is so upset. She is happy, and we should be happy for her. We think we should throw a party to congratulate Aunt Chichi."

"See not everyone can make it into heaven, and when they do it should be a special occasion." Kiyoshi concluded.

Elena laughed and kissed each one of her children. "You pups are so correct. That is what we are going to do. Now lets get started. Yoko go tell everyone, but don't tell Uncle Toboe."

"Why not?" Yoko asked.

Tsume looked at Elena and understood. "Your mom wants it to be a surprise for him."

The part was set up in the living room. There were streamers all around and each one was a favorite color of Chichi. A banner that read 'Congratulations' hung in the middle of the room. Elena was in the kitchen putting the final touches on the cake that read 'We love and miss you.'. All of Chichi's best friends were their and the only person missing was Toboe.

"I'll go get him." Kina said as she began to walk up stairs.

She got up to the nursery and opened the door. Toboe and Skylar were both asleep in the rocking chair. Kina gently picked Skylar up and put her in the crib. As she did this Toboe jumped up from his chair.

"Toboe, what's wrong?"

"Kina, it's you. I didn't know who that redheaded person was."

Kina laughed. "It's just me."

Toboe sat back in the chair and began to rock. "I just had the most wonderful dream about Chichi."

"What was it?"

"I was sitting here rocking Skylar and thinking about Chichi. I got up to put Skylar back in her crib. I turned and looked at the door when Chichi walked in. She was so beautiful. Her entire body had this invisible glow to it. She walked over to me with a smile and kissed me. She then walked over and picked Skylar up. She then turned to me and said. 'She is so beautiful. Toboe, you know I love you. I've been watching you and you're so sad. I don't want you to be like that. Skylar is going to grow up and be a wonderful person, but she needs you. Don't worry I'm taken care of.' She then walked over and kissed me again. I looked at her but I didn't feel sad I smiled and I told her that I loved her and miss her so much. She smiled and reassured me then she put Skylar back in her crib and looked at me and said. 'Tell everyone I said thanks for the party. It was a wonderful thought.' Up until that point I thought the dream was real but that last statement threw me off."

Kina smiled. "You truly love her don't you?"

Toboe smiled. "Yes I do and I always will."

"I have to show you something." Kina smiled and grabbed his arm and pulled him downstairs.

They walked into the living room and Toboe was astonished. "What is all of this?"

Elena walked up and smiled. "We thought we would throw a party for Chichi. To congratulate her on getting into heaven."

Toboe began to cry, but they were happy tears. He then turned to Kina and said. "I guess it really did happen."