14 years later...
Kei smiled happily as the candles on her cake were being lit. Here surrounded by her friends and family was the happiest place she could possibly be. She turned her head to the seat on her right which was empty and sighed. Every birthday it was the same. It was almost like some sort of tradition.
She would ask her mother for anything about her father, his hobbies, what his favorite food was and anything else that popped into her mind. Her mother never answered any of her questions, except to tell her that he had died. The look in her mother's eyes always made like it seemed that she doubted his death though, but she didn't want to bother her mother any longer. The party had been great, and after all the guests left she helped her mother by picking up the gift wrappings and straightening the furniture.
"Kei-chan?" her mother's voice called from the kitchen. "I have a special surprise for you."
Kei jumped up excitedly, and walked quickly to the kitchen.
"Oh mum!" she exclaimed, eyes filling with glee as she saw what her mother held in her hands. It was an intricately sewn black kimono made of a fine silk. It had a red dragon across the front and was absolutely beautiful. She touched it gently, and smiled.
"Your father gave it to me a long, long time ago." Her mother smiled secretly to herself, clearly remembering times long gone past. "He would have wanted you to wear this."
Kei positively glowed.
"Father? Will I get to meet him?"
Her mother smiled again, this time sadly.
"Well, there is no harm in at least telling you the truth... Wait, I think it would be better if I showed you." Another mysterious smile crept across her mother's face, and she grabbed her hand. Kei could tell she was trying to mask some sort of sadness, but the feeling was replaced with excitement as her mom took the keys to the Volvo.
"Come on Kei, you don't want to be left behind do you?" Her mother shouted from the driveway.
Usually, her mother was a calm rational person. Never was she this spontaneous. Kei decided to go with it. Something good was bound to happen.
The route they took seemed somewhat familiar to Kei, as if she had traveled this road when she was younger. Finally curiosity got the best of her and she asked.
"Uh, mum? Where are we going?"
Her mother just smiled.
"You'll see when we get there."
After half an hour they pulled up to a rather worn looking shrine.
"Grandma's house?" Kei whispered, confused.
A/N: Sorry the chapter is so short. I'm having serious writers block... XX
I won't be updating any of my fics for about 2 weeks because I'm going to camp! Weee!! Bye all!
Kei smiled happily as the candles on her cake were being lit. Here surrounded by her friends and family was the happiest place she could possibly be. She turned her head to the seat on her right which was empty and sighed. Every birthday it was the same. It was almost like some sort of tradition.
She would ask her mother for anything about her father, his hobbies, what his favorite food was and anything else that popped into her mind. Her mother never answered any of her questions, except to tell her that he had died. The look in her mother's eyes always made like it seemed that she doubted his death though, but she didn't want to bother her mother any longer. The party had been great, and after all the guests left she helped her mother by picking up the gift wrappings and straightening the furniture.
"Kei-chan?" her mother's voice called from the kitchen. "I have a special surprise for you."
Kei jumped up excitedly, and walked quickly to the kitchen.
"Oh mum!" she exclaimed, eyes filling with glee as she saw what her mother held in her hands. It was an intricately sewn black kimono made of a fine silk. It had a red dragon across the front and was absolutely beautiful. She touched it gently, and smiled.
"Your father gave it to me a long, long time ago." Her mother smiled secretly to herself, clearly remembering times long gone past. "He would have wanted you to wear this."
Kei positively glowed.
"Father? Will I get to meet him?"
Her mother smiled again, this time sadly.
"Well, there is no harm in at least telling you the truth... Wait, I think it would be better if I showed you." Another mysterious smile crept across her mother's face, and she grabbed her hand. Kei could tell she was trying to mask some sort of sadness, but the feeling was replaced with excitement as her mom took the keys to the Volvo.
"Come on Kei, you don't want to be left behind do you?" Her mother shouted from the driveway.
Usually, her mother was a calm rational person. Never was she this spontaneous. Kei decided to go with it. Something good was bound to happen.
The route they took seemed somewhat familiar to Kei, as if she had traveled this road when she was younger. Finally curiosity got the best of her and she asked.
"Uh, mum? Where are we going?"
Her mother just smiled.
"You'll see when we get there."
After half an hour they pulled up to a rather worn looking shrine.
"Grandma's house?" Kei whispered, confused.
A/N: Sorry the chapter is so short. I'm having serious writers block... XX
I won't be updating any of my fics for about 2 weeks because I'm going to camp! Weee!! Bye all!