Prologue:
Suzuhara Misaki peered down at the piece of polished granite in front of her feet as brilliant reds and yellows from the horizon danced across its shinny surface. A familiar sadness set in as she read inscription for what seemed to be the thousandth time. Her grip tightened with each word she read, when the small figure in her hand could take no more it cried out the only way it could, with a harsh metallic snap.
"I'm sorry Hikaru." Misaki said as the sound snapped her out of trance. She turned the ragged doll over in her hand and inspected for damage. "I really wish I could take better care of you." It only took her several seconds to find the offending spring and slip it back onto its post. "But I am afraid it would be of little use." With a sigh she once again focused her attention on the tomb stone, and reads the inscription to herself:
Here
Lies Mihira Shuuko and Her Angel Athena
Though
Her Time on this World was Short
She
will Always be Remembered as a
Loyal
Wife, Caring Mother and
A
True Champion
May the Light of Her Soul Guide us All.
Several years ago it would have been impossible to read the inscription with the naked eye this late at night, but Misaki's shock of this had long since faded. She looked into the burning horizon sighed again.
"It won't be long now Hikaru." Carefully turning around her wheelchair Misaki began the long trek back home.