A Munto Fanfiction: Castles In the Sky © RedWingedAngel002
Disclaimer: Munto; Sora o Miageru Shōjo no Hitomi ni Utsuru Sekai © Kyoto Animation; Yoshiji Kigami and Tomoe Aratani
Genre: Angst, Drama, Fantasy, Family, and Hurt-Comfort
Summary: The curse of crossing space-time was a process to grieve.
A/N: Onto part two of the feelz train! Keep an eye out for symbolism in each chapter, although this one should be pretty blatant. There are a number of new original characters, which I'm hoping to introduce and develop much later in Soft Spot.
Songs: Unbreakable by: Firelight, Hope of Morning by: Icon for Hire, Running Up That Hill by: Placebo, Twilight by: Vanessa Carlton
Japanese Index:
-chan: can be used with either a diminutive, or with those who are grown; a indicate affection (Japanese honorific)
kimono: a long, loose traditional Japanese robe with wide sleeves, tied with a sash
kousa: dogwood flower
-kun: used by persons of senior status in addressing or referring to those of junior status, or by anyone when addressing or referring to male children or teenagers (Japanese honorific)
futon: a padded mattress originating in Japan, which can be rolled up or folded in two
obi: a broad sash worn round the waist of a Japanese kimono
"Talking."
'Thinking.'
Memories/Flashbacks.
Chapter 2: Trauma
"Grandma!" A blur of blue and beige shoved at high speeds into her obi. "Happy Birthday!"
"Chikara, be careful! Not so rough with your grandmother!" Nozomi snapped from the car door and hauled herself up the golden rim.
"Fiiine!" His nose crinkled in distaste and then veered bright to double-check, "You're okay, right, Grandma?"
"Yes, yes. Thank you, dear. It's good to see you, Chikara-kun," she pet his brown locks.
"Right! See you!" The boy whirlwind past, arms outstretched as he ran, "I call window futon spot, Sis!"
"Hey!"
Kaho watched her granddaughter exit from the back seat. She stood, took but a moment to stable her bearings, and brushed a crease from her floral summer dress. Although normally a bit reserved to herself, there was certainly a different aura about her.
Curious, a particular item was yet not to be seen.
"Did you forget your umbrella in the car, Yumemi-chan?" her question caused a freeze, lips pursed, and she paused at removing her sandals to shake a small negative, followed by a smaller smile. Prideful of her overcoming yet not wanting to cause much unwanted attention, a leathered hand waved off casually, "Bah, who needs that anyway? It's a beautiful day to get some sun!"
The blonde stared out passed wooden porch beams and to the clouded sky. Her fare complexion cusped to a sickly hue, while dark circles contrasted against dazed eyes. Nozomi did mention her difficult nights sleeping.
"What, not too old for hugs, are you?" her voice grounded her back.
"Sorry." Sheepish, she closed their distance with open arms, "Hi, Grandma."
Always sweet, always gentle.
"Hello, my kousa. Let me get a look at you," she caressed both cheeks between callused thumbs. They were almost eyelevel now due to her growing height. That was not all that had grown; noticeable curves shaped her figure. "My, look at this fine young lady we have here! You've certainly bloomed since our last visit. Anyone caught your eye?"
"Eh?" Embarrassment ran up her neck, and in flustered retort her green fire flared, "Grandma!"
Good, there was still some spark in her.
She chuckled and pinched the hued warmth, which caused a nudge to her profile. With this, her heart turned aflutter.
"Oh my. Is that the flower clip I made you?" It had been a handcraft birthday gift as her graduation into adolescence.
Every spring as a little girl, she loved humming beneath the backyard dogwood tree, where white flower crowns and speckled sunbeams adorned her hair. It was the endearing memory Kaho visualized when thinking of her granddaughter. However too soon, those sunbeams and innocence were overcast by pink shadows and feign smiles.
"M-hmm," a shy grin spread, palms clasped behind, and she looked down at her rocking feet, "I wear it every day for school."
Touched, she pulled her down for a kiss and felt two arms glide around her shoulders.
"Chikara! Chikara, come help us with the luggage," Nozomi beckoned over the cicada wails, "You too, Yumemi."
"'Kaaay," she stepped down the porch and skipped over to the sedan, unhooked shoes slapping at each step, and disappeared behind the open trunk.
With a brief greeting, Shigeru grunted passed her, his stout build angled to even the heavy duffle bag's weight. She was politely denied the offered assistance.
"Yumemi, let Papa or one of your uncles get that one."
Shocked gasps spread when she lifted the burden with ease. Even with such a petite frame, she held an inner strength as that of a dying star. *1
"Hey there now. Can you keep that up? That's a good twenty kilograms, kiddo," her second son-in-law called from the doorframe behind her.
"Yep!" Bare arms dimpled as she waddled forward in determination, tongue peeking from concentration at it being almost half her weight.
"Alright. Coming through!" Kazuhiro looked back at them, dark brows typically knit were raised high in disbelief, "Wow, what have you been feeding her, Nozomi?"
"I'm just as surprised!" she laughed.
"Whoa, Sis! So cool!" Chikara echoed out of sight from across the hall, "Let me try!"
"No way, you'll get squished!"
"Pleeease?" he wined.
"Fine. Here," a loud thump was heard.
"Oof!" A pause. "Hnn! Hnn…!"
"See? I told you. Let's try together."
"Right!"
"Heave-ho, heave-ho!" their harmonized chant tapered silent as they continued together.
Her middle child sighed and she wiped her sweltering brow, parted bangs sticking awry from ruby pins. When she placed her load down for momentary rest, she cleaned sweaty palms on a handkerchief fished out from loose salmon-pink pants to compose herself; even mere minutes out of the air conditioner, the July heat scorched so.
"Hi, Mother." Stepping up the two stairs to meet her, the embrace was lingered. There was an unspoken exhaustion. "Thank you for having us."
"Thank you for driving so far. Kyoto is such a long way," she patted her back and tidied the tale frizzed from humidity. They were lucky to have the three-day weekend due to Marine Day. "It's hot today, isn't it? Let's get your things settled and cool off. I just cut up some watermelon."
"That sounds wonderful," the charming mole at her left cheek tweaked when her eyes crinkled into a warm smile, then dropped to search about, unsettled by the quiet. "Oh? Misaki isn't in yet?"
"Misaki and Honoka are running a bit late. Traffic." A pointer tapped her thin lip as she dwelled the phone conversation an hour prior, "Miyo-chan is being a bit fussy too, from the sound of it."
"I see. It's difficult traveling with a one-year-old," she empathized. "I'm sure Taku-kun is being a good big brother."
"Of course. He takes his responsibilities very seriously."
Both ladies laughed at the image.
"Nozomi!"
"Ayano—" her stance curdled tense, guarded.
"What on earth happened to Yumemi-chan? She's so pale and thin!"
"Can we talk about this later, please?" she requested, a warning tone edged the seams.
Internally sighing, the tension rose between the two, as it always did when together.
True, the mother recalled their teen bickering as normal siblings do, however, nothing soothed the searing accusation Ayano placed thirteen years ago: questioning Nozomi's fidelity. When Yumemi was born, she had her father's dark eyes and mother's brown tuft, which gradually bleached as the months went by, until permanently blonde and emerald, ever curious of the skies above. It was wound never healed or forgiven for them both. *2
"Is she all right?" a copper-dyed curl was tucked behind the shell of her ear.
"For the most part, yes," was her hesitant comply. "It's good to see you."
"You too," she gave her younger kin a hug when bid, "I'm sorry. It's such a shock."
"I know. We've been through a lot these past few weeks. She's a bit fragile right now," the downcast look brightened, tired but hopeful, "This is actually the most I've seen her perk up in some time."
"I can't imagine…" Red manicured hands gave both shoulders a pat, and she ushered her to the door, "Come on in. We'll discuss this later in detail."
Nozomi nodded stiffly and tipped a bow when slipping passed them.
"Mother, do you know anything about this?" They both looked out the rolling cumulus, cooled by a passing wind.
Now with no children near to in breathe the fumes, a box of cigarettes was taken out from Kaho's kimono fold, sparking the butt and she took a drag, heady in savoring the taste. It was no secret to her family, but a respectful boundary to keep loved ones comfortable.
"Your sister says it's some kind of trauma," the smoke blew from flared nostrils, consuming all around. "She asked me for advice not too long ago."
Her late husband was in the war. Yumemi had similar anxieties.
"Is that so? Poor thing," she sympathized in a wave of pity, asking, "Did the doctor specify what?"
"Hmm, I don't believe there has been a doctor's visit of any kind," her grin cloyed, knowing the gossip about to take place.
"Wha—? And what if there is something seriously wrong? Tsk, unbelievable," cherry-painted lips curved down in disapproval, arms crossed, "She needs to take better care of her daughter. The umbrella act took long enough."
Five years, in fact.
"Yumemi-chan doesn't want to go and Nozomi won't force her. She and Shigeru will parent their children how they like. It is out of our hands," she reasoned as the neutral party. "Let's do our best to support them this weekend."
"I suppose you're right."
A/N: Please prepare yourselves for next chapter. It's going to be heart wrenching.
—Ari [3.28.21]
*1: Always in need of powerhouse Yumemi in our lives: [deviantart red-winged-angel/art/Strength-472786814]
*2: This portion of suspicious accusations and gradual color change in Yumemi was inspired by tenebrous-shenanigan. Sadly, she is no longer on DA, so I cannot post the link to read.
*3: Just a little more on Nozomi's character profile from OVA II: "Nozomi Hidaka: She is an ordinary mother (housewife). She has a peaceful dignity and watches her adolescent daughter by warm eyes. The Heavenly World, which was visible in the early summer, became the cause to make her look back upon her past choices. She usually manages housekeeping faultlessly and has built the sweet home as a mother who looks after two children. She has a very good relations with her husband, Shigeru."