I wouldn't say this is a filler since it's not at all random. Hopefully, you'll see it that way too…
Chapter Sixteen: Echoes
The woman stood before the open window of the flower shop. The heavenly light casts its rays to surround her silhouette as she tended the white narcissus flower with her aged hands. The flower would neither lift its head to the warm light nor the woman's touch.
"Whatever is the matter? There's sunlight, fresh water, moist soil, and even fertilizer." The woman made a pout with her hands at her hips. The flower was quite mysterious but in need of care.
Madame Hajima?
The woman turned around only to see the other flowers in the shop. A grieving thorn poked her heart.
"Why?" she whispered to the narcissus. A gentle breeze passed through the window, stirring up a whiff from the honeysuckle to her nose.
"Such a sweet scent would envy the deceased." Mrs. Hajima laughed half-heartedly at her remark as she walked down the rows of strong aromatic flowers. Dangling on the floor, a vine reached out and took hold of her by surprise. Mrs. Hajima barely had time to gasp as she fell backwards into a stranger's aid.
"Are you alright?"
Madame Hajima?
Mrs. Hajima spurred around to see a young girl with fairly long brown hair. Her angelic blue eyes were filled with genuine concern. Yet for a brief moment, Mrs. Hajima mistook the young girl as someone from her past.
"Are you alright?" the young girl repeated. Her question snapped the aged woman out of her dazed look to reality.
"Yes, and thank you, Bluenda," she replied as Bluenda pulled her up to her feet.
"So what brings you here? Anything I can help you with today?" Bluenda just gave her a warm smile. Again time captivated Mrs. Hajima in that moment.
"I was just doing some window shopping and just wanted to check up on things."
Mrs. Hajima gave a tiny smile in response. There was something about Bluenda that reminded her of a dear old friend.
Bluenda glanced around the shop filled with an assortment of flowers. She saw the cheerful baby's breath and carnations. The roses were pleasing to the eyes but the thorns said otherwise. Then her eyes fell upon the white orchids under the dark shadowed corner of the room. A frown crept upon her face at the sight. She then saw the narcissus at the window. Gently, she cradled the shy flower and whispered a couple of words inaudible to Mrs. Hajima. Bluenda then turned to Mrs. Hajima with a grin on her face.
"Well, everything seems to be ok. See you tomorrow Mrs. Hajima."
"You're going to Mt. Pyre too?"
"I'll be accompanying Naoko. Till wee meet again," Bluenda waved her goodbye from the door.
"Till we meet again," Mrs. Hajima said back but hung unto those last words. She looked back to the narcissus flower at the window. There the flower stood, tall with demanding pride, full of life. Mrs. Hajima's surprised gasp lead to a fit of laughter.
"Ikiru…she's just like Ikiru!"
Mrs. Hajima looked up to see a ghostly figure standing among the flowers of the shop. The figure had short brown hair that had a soft yet off the edge kind of look. His blue eyes showed no harm and gave her a calm and peaceful feeling. His crisp white shirt and slightly baggy jeans complimented his state of mind. The young man became aware of the pair of eyes on him. But he just welcomed the attention warmly.
Mrs. Hajima mirrored the smile from where she stood behind the cash register. In the back of her mind, she knew this was just an illusion at bay. It would not be long for her memories to appear before her.
"Madame Hajima, where do you want me to put these boxes of sun stones?"
"Ikiru, those are the prizes for the bug catching contest at the park. I'll need you to make a delivery by noon."
"No problem, I'll do it now! Consider the job done!" Ikiru bent down to pick up the box. He hesitated after underestimating the weight of the boxes.
"Do you need any help?" Mrs. Hajima asked after hearing the wining grunt.
"No, I got it all under control! By the way, I hope you like it here in Golden Rod City."
"You know, Ikiru, if it wasn't for you I wouldn't feel at home again."
Ikiru sheepishly grinned back at Mrs. Hajima. He looked up to her and gave a look that reminded Mrs. Hajima of her own son. The kind of look a child gives to his mother that pleads the silent question "can I play outside, now?"
Mrs. Hajima chuckled in dismissing Ikiru to get on with his task. She watched him walk out of the shop with the box in his hands. With one foot in front of the other, he wearily walked in a zigzag pattern trying to get his balance. Just as Mrs. Hajima was about to clip one of the stray decayed leaves, she heard a small yelp and a clamor of boxes. She quickly rushed to the door to see what had had happened.
There he was, Ikiru. He shook his head with a hand messaging a tender spot that the box had supposedly hit. Before him was a frail girl who was still trying to make sense of what had just happened. She timidly hid her face under her long brimmed hat.
"Hey, Ikiru, watch where you're going! Those sun stones are cheap! Are you even listening to me? The contest can't wait forever!" Mrs. Hajima called from the door frame of the shop. She was trying to snap Ikiru out of his confusion.
"I'm terribly sorry. Are you alright?"
Mrs. Hajima refrained herself from laughing at the sudden change. Instead she mentally slapped her face as she leaned against the door frame. She watched the little prince help his princess to her feet. From then on, Mrs. Hajima knew who would always be on Ikiru's mind.
However, when Ikiru returned to the shop Mrs. Hajima had anticipated a more lively and happy expression on his face. Instead his eyes were clouded with worry. Mrs. Hajima patted the stool beside her and Ikiru understood. She didn't even have to ask for she knew her friend too well.
"Oh mon amie, what am I to do? I know she is hurting after the way her companion handled her. Misery loves company. In her case, it seems like her sun hasn't shined down on her fragile petals for years. Somehow I want to help her in falls, protect from her fears…"
"And love her till…"
"I was serious!" Ikiru quickly flashed a glare at Mrs. Hajima.
"I know," she then softens," and that's why I know everything will turn out just fine when your heart is in the right place."
"Vraiment?"
"Of course it's true!" she said while messing his brown hair, "besides the night is young! Take a breath of fresh air in the park, Ikiru. I hear this week will be evening filled with stars to see." Mrs. Hajima waltz around the shop, spritzing water on each upturned faces of the flowers. She looked over her shoulder at Ikiru and gave him a wink.
Sparkling glittering lights, Ikiru's Jumpluff let himself out. Ikiru smiled down at his friend. He looked up and frowned at the decision that dawned to him.
The present bells of the flower shop chimed. Awakening from the dreams of the past, Mrs. Hajima blinked at the sound. Before she knew it, Ikiru's image faded away along with the Banette.
Au revoir, Madame Hajima...
Sadden she was, but she hid it from whoever it was at the door.
"Whatever was that sad look on your face for?"
Mrs. Hajima's lips cracked a small smile towards her husband. She went over to him and welcomed the embrace she needed.
"Really, whatever is the matter?" Mr. Hajima questioned with a small chuckle for the attention.
"I can't believe how much time has gone by since he passed tragically," she buried her face into his chest.
"Shh… I know. I know," he softly said as he stroke her hair that was tied back.
"Ikiru would always talk about her. The times they shared together and the times he watched her perform with her magic, she was always on the tip of his tongue. He brought so much life to her but also to me and my flowers. How I miss him terribly! I wish I could have possessed the power to bring him back!"
"But even so, too much time has passed."
"I know," she then let out a heavy sigh.
"What's wrong?"
She grinned for a moment and wondered if her emotions were as readable as an open book.
"You know me to well."
"Yes, well I am your husband. Come now, what's wrong?"
"I'm worried."
"About?"
"I'm worried about Misa and Ricko."
"You should really give them more credit."
"I know but tomorrow will be a rough day. What if they don't pull through?"
"Well what if they do pull through?"
Mrs. Hajima closed her eyes and put on a contemplative look.
"I see your point," she then opened her eyes to see a shadow at the window.
"How was work?"
"Not that different from yesterday."
"So there's nothing new about those stones?"
"Well all we know is that they ruby gem enhances the negative trait while the sapphire gem enhances the positive traits of a person. If a person were to posses the ruby gem they could lose themselves to a point of death. The sapphire gem, on the other hand, can give the strength to live but to no longer posses it would mean that everything would revert back to its original state."
"Then it's hopeless!"
"No it's not," Mr. Hajima sternly looked at Mrs. Hajima in the eye, "if that time were to come, one has three fatal hours to decide. But more importantly they must not forget-"
Mr. and Mrs. Hajima jumped at the sudden high pitch of screeching from the Nocturnes. They quickly closed the windows to sound off the noise but the screeching continued.
"An omen of disaster," Mr. Hajima while covering his ears.
"Do you think she heard us?"
"I hope so, for her sake, for all of them."
Down the dirt path, Bluenda ran away as fast as she could. She covered her ears from the screeching that will seem to continue through the night.
"We must not give up when there's still hope. Just as long as-"
Bluenda's thoughts were interrupted by the screeching of the Hoothoot and Nocturnes.
End of Chapter Sixteen
Terms:
Au revoir Till we meet again
vraiment? really?
mon amie my friend
I kind of got tiered of using 'orbs' so I used 'gems' instead.
Flowery detail: Narcissus really is a flower. But there's a legend about it too. Ever heard of "An Echo and a Flower"? Echo was very pretty nymph but when she learned to talk she wouldn't shut up. The more she spoke the more her beauty faded away. One of the goddess was so annoyed with her that she took away Echo's own words. Echo could only repeat the last words she heard a speaker say. Once day, she saw a handsome man named Narcissus. Unfortunately, Narcissus was very vain. Echo had hoped that when she spoke to Narcissus, he would say beautiful things for her to repeat. Unfortunately, Narcissus didn't say anything beautiful to her but harsh cruel words. After such an embarrassment, Echo fled to the forest, and cried to her death. Meanwhile, the gods had witness Narcissus cruelty that they placed a curse upon him. So when Narcissus saw his reflection in the water he was mesmerized by his complexions that he never left. He continued to look at himself night and day without food. Eventually he died and in that very spot he died was a narcissus flower.
Future sight insight, Eefi!
"Next time on 'Go!' it seems the Ikiru has touched several lives.
'Yuki?'
'I'm going too.'
Why is everyone going to Mt. Pyre? Naoko is dressed in black with flowers in her hands.
'Looks like it just hailed.'
'Ricko, what are you talking about? '
'Look at the ground. Don't they look like crystals, Misa?'
Phoebe waits at the candle lit cathedral till the hour while Bluenda is on the lookout.
'Are you sure you want to stand up against me, boy?'
'Mitsuru!'
Get ready to hit the ground running in the next chapter of 'Go!'"
