Interlude: 7: The Meaning of Death
Eight years ago
"Ayaka-chan. There's something I need to tell you." A woman with long black hair said to me. This was right after the First Holy Grail War ended. I woke up to find myself in someone's house.
"W-Who are you?" I asked. Needless to say, I was really confused. Who was the person? Why was I here? Where are Onee-chan and Father. This was when I learned all the questions to those questions.
"I'm Mikasa Reiroukan. This is the Reiroukan Manor. A young man has requested me to take care of you from now on." Mikasa spoke as she sat down on a chair next to the bed I was lying on. Her explanation only gave me more questions than answers. But, the one that dumbfounded me the most was…
"…Where are Manaka-Onee-chan and Father? Are they also here?" I spoke with a smile. This made tears fall from Mikasa's eyes.
"I-I'm so sorry…but your father…and sister…are not here. I regret to inform you that… they are gone." Mikasa spoke in between sobbing.
"Then where are they?" I asked.
"Ayaka-chan…they are dead." Mikasa spoke as she comforted me by hugging my body. Her tears dripped onto my shirt. But I was confused. At the time, I did not understand what she meant by the word, 'dead.' To clarify, I knew what the word meant. But I assumed that humans 'can't' die. So, I…
"…You don't have to cry! They will be back tomorrow! There's no way Manaka-onee-chan and father would ever abandon me!" I said with a smile. But this only made Mikasa grip me tighter and sob even more loudly.
After that I remember patiently waiting by the door of Reiroukan Manor. I was convinced that Onee-chan and father would walk in and hug me and give me a stuffed animal as a present for being such a good girl.
The next day
So, I waited.
The day after
I waited some more.
The day after that
And I continued waiting while having a bright smile on my face when…
"Who are you?" A young girl with black hair asked me. She had dark circles under her red eyes. But, I was a child, so I didn't pay any attention to them.
"I'm Ayaka! What's your name?" I replied while smiling.
"Misaya. What are you doing at my house?" Misaya asked.
"I'm staying here until my father and Manaka-onee-chan come pick me up! They are taking a little longer than I expected though." I replied.
"What's your last name?" Misaya asked.
"S-Sajyou? Why?" I answered. I was confused. The truth is I had no knowledge of the participants of the First Grail War. Father or Onee-chan didn't tell me so it was only natural that I had no clue. But Misaya knew. And then…
'Bam!' Misaya slapped me.
"O-Ow? What was that for?" I spoke as I rubbed my cheek.
"W-What are you doing in my home?! You are the reason why my father is dead! Your family killed him!" Misaya shouted.
"K-Killed?" I spoke.
"Don't act like you don't know! They definitely told you! You are mocking me by acting dumb, aren't you?!" Misaya yelled.
"B-But the Grail War was just a game…no one was killed…right?" I asked. I knew what the word 'kill' meant but I was a child. A stupid, ignorant child who didn't consider that words like 'die' or 'kill' can apply to human beings.
So, I always assumed my mother would return one day too. And that's why I assumed that Father and Onee-chan would return one day as well. That was when…
"You idiot! Every single Master were killed in that war! My father! Your father! Your sister! They've all been killed, and they are never coming back!" Misaya was screaming at the top of her lungs. Mikasa finally noticed and tried to console her daughter.
"…" I was speechless. I didn't know how to react, so I stared at Misaya.
"Stop looking at me like that! Don't tell me you only realized that they all died just now! You said that to rub it in my face, didn't you?! I hate you. I hate you! I hate you! I HATE YOU!" Misaya screamed as her mother hugged her.
"I-I'm never going to see Mother…or Father…or Manaka-onee-chan…ever again…because they've been killed." I spoke as I fell on my knees. Tears dripped from my eyes. And that's when I realized that people die when they are killed.
I wasn't scared. I was utterly terrified at the harsh truth of the world. I'm never going to see my family again. I'm going to die one day. I'm completely alone. Those three facts were all I could think of as I cried my eyes out and prayed to God that harsh truth was a lie.
God never answered. My suspicions were confirmed and only made me cry louder. That was the saddest night of my life. The night that put a definitive end to my childhood of dreams and fantasies that were never ever going to come true.