"Tengen-saama!" Suma whined loudly as she, Makio, and Hinatsuru all obediently followed their husband to some seemingly random location unknown to them. "Where are we going? Are we even there yet?"
Makio also feeling tired and aggravated of Suma's whining began to glare at her. Before anything could happen though Hinatsuru stepped in to calm them both down as they walked. She couldn't help but be deeply concerned herself however, considering their husband's recent behavior.
It had been some time since the events that went down in Yoshiwara so he was fully healed and able to walk on his own but what followed was altogether curious and worrying. Out of the blue he had asked solemnly for them to follow him and even though they questioned it at first, follow him they did.
Unfortunately it was beginning to be a bit too much for Suma, as she began to sob and whine which in turn started getting on Makio's nerves. Just as the blond banged female was about to blow and start nagging at the youngest, Tengen suddenly stopped walking.
The females all flinched at his sudden halt and stopped themselves, gazing at their husband curiously for he had stopped before what they could only assume was a simple grave. He stood there silently for a long time, gazing at it with a somewhat calm sullenness.
His wives waited patiently for him to speak but when he didn't they all exchanged confused, curious, and concerned expressions. Finally Hinatsuru stepped forward and finally asked what was on their minds.
"Do you know…whose grave this is, Tengen-sama?" She asked softly.
The white haired male remained silent for a little longer and then finally replied with, "It belongs to Shinomori Fuyume. We happened to cross paths while you three were on your recon mission."
He then told them everything - the stories of her past that she shared with him, her goals, and their journey together up until her last breath. By the end of his retelling Suma was in tears, Makio looked intensely upset and troubled, and Hinatsuru looked deeply concerned.
The eldest was the first to comment as she said, "She must have been such a brave and strong girl to survive so long on her own…"
"She…lost…her family…too!" The youngest added between sobs. "She must have…been…so lonely!"
The blonde banged female said nothing and instead nodded sadly in agreement.
"She was a right pain in the ass!" Tengen suddenly shouted angrily, startling the three of them into silence. After a moment his mood mellowed and he continued after cracking a small bittersweet smile. "Even so she had the aptitude for being a great tsuguko, worthy of learning my techniques…"
This statement in turn caused his wives to turn and gaze at him with shock. Never had the thought crossed their minds that he would decide to pick up an apprentice, which meant that in the short time they'd spent together this Fuyume became as precious to him as his own family.
Knowing that the waterworks started once more as Suma began to wail and sob even harder.
"I-If…Tengen-sama says…that, then Fuyume-chan…would've been…our family too! Now I…feel bad for…not bringing…anything to honor…her final resting place!"
The other three just responded with bewildered silence. Tengen stared at her blankly, Hinatsuru looked apologetic but comforting and Makio looked slightly ticked off but managed to keep it together.
"Ah, I do…have these…plum seeds." The youngest calmed down for a moment after realizing she did have something. "Should I offer these to her?"
And that was the final straw as the blond banged female finally snapped.
"You dumbass!" She exclaimed angrily, smacking Suma upside the head. "Fuyume-chan doesn't want the leftovers from your afternoon snack!"
"Tengen-saama! Did you see that?!" Suma whined to her husband. "Makio hit me and all I was doing was trying to be nice and respectful!"
"It is not and you know it!" Makio argued angrily.
Just as a full on cat fight was going to erupt Hinatsuru quickly stepped in to mediate. "But Suma actually thought of a nice sentiment for Fuyume-chan."
They all gazed at her somewhat incredulously and Makio immediately asked, "She did?"
"I did?" Suma echoed, sounding quite lost.
"Yes," the eldest replied with a soft gentle smile. "We can plant the seeds here and eventually Fuyume-chan will have a nice beautiful plum tree to rest under."
Suma instantly agreed and eagerly started to dig a hole in the ground near the grave. Makio was still a little pissed and moody, but eventually joined the other two in planting the seeds.
Tengen silently watched them with a gentle bittersweet smile and thought, 'You were a good kid Shinomori, and didn't deserve the ending you were given. My only hope is that you find a better one...in the next life…'
