Chapter 5 – The Ersatz Parents

A serene scene was taking place at a riverbank in Amaterasu's realm. Two burly boys, one with very dark brown short hair and one with slightly longish black, both clad only in short cargo pants were fishing with simple bamboo rods. At the same time, a girl with long black hair and a promiscuous figure, underlined by the scant bikini she wore was floating in the water on her back, holding a watermelon between her calves.

"Hey, Sis, don't stay in the water too long or you'll get wrinkly!" one of the boys shouted with a rebellious smirk plastered to his face.

"Dead and still stupid…" the girls sighed silently to herself. "You won't catch a fish in a billion years, you lummox!" she shouted.

"Still feisty as ever, ain't she, Bro?" the boy in question asked the one sitting next to him.

"And you're still as a joker as you were your whole damn mortal life," he shrugged. "Even death doesn't change people like you."

"Right back at ya," he smirked. "Still the most levelheaded of all of us!"

"At this moment, the only one level is me," the girl said loud enough for them to hear.

All three of them snickered, and at the same time, a voice said to them, "Hey, snots, how's life?"

The girl lost her balance and dunked underwater, but the two fishing turned around immediately without missing a beat.

"Hey, Padre!" the black haired boy cheered. "Oh, Mom's also here!"

"Hi, Mom," the brown haired boy said.

After a second, the girl after a few coughs, added, "Hey, Mom and Dad, nice to see you!"

"What are you up to, my dear mischief makers?" the man that appeared asked.

"Hopefully not trying too hard with finding entertainment, right?" his companion asked.

"Of course not, Mom…" the brown haired boy replied innocently.

"Yeah, surprisingly my flippant brother has a good day today," the black haired boy said.

The girl came near them, carrying the icy cool watermelon with her.

"Anybody want my melon?" she asked, but she quickly regretted that specific choice of words.

"I'll take two," the man said smirking.

"You have mine, you savage…" his companion muttered. "That's your daughter, even if you're dead and a god, Toshiro…" she sighed.

"Yeah, I kinda forget myself around such a beautiful daughter, heh…" he scratched his head. "Come on, Akiko; don't look at me like that…"

"Always a perv, Dad…" she sighed. "Curse my genetics to give you such a tease…"

"Right?" the brown haired boy asked. "Good that Andrew and I are men, we have less worries, and look like Padre here!" he laughed.

"Akiko took after her namesake and my mother almost perfectly," Toshiro nodded his head. "Right, Yoshika?"

"You forgot to add that Akiko II has bigger boobs than your mother," Yoshika giggled. "Oh the wonders of genetics… Or did you have something to do with that, hmmmm?"

"Absolutely not, who do I think I am to dabble in the DNA of my unborn children?"

"Oh right, Dad, you're supposedly some kind of super-god right now?" Andrew asked.

"Well… Actually…" Toshiro started squirming around. "Ah, I know!"

Toshiro raised his hand and a veil of monochromatic energy surrounded all of them.

"Now we have some privacy, heh…"

"Why take such measures, Dad?" Akiko asked.

"You see, the thing is that only those more powerful than Yoshika and I know that I'm just a clone…"

"A clone?" Conrad asked. "Like something from a shitty sci-fi movie?"

"No, you dingus, a clone made with godly powers," Toshiro said. "The original me wandered off with the combined original Yoshika and my dear friend, also a god, on a journey. He didn't tell me the details, but right now, we're here so none of the ones we love miss us. We're identical on a genetic and psychological level, having the same memories, so you don't need to fear us or anything."

"I see…" Akiko pondered. "Hey, does that mean you're more powerful than us or the Old Gods?"

"I'm slightly more powerful than Ami, who is the Empress of Gods as you know, and I have a special trait, namely total impunity from the Old Gods' influence. Not that I need all of that right now, but who knows?"

"Letting the things flow their way but keeping tabs, huh?" Andrew asked amused. "That's so like you, Dad."

"I'll let Ami govern the universe, but I'll keep a watchful eye on her," Toshiro winked. "So, anyway, since we've bumped into each other, what should we do?"

"Uuuuh…" Akiko pondered. "We could just hang out near the water, it's relaxing."

"Yeah, come on, Padre, let's do some fishing!" Conrad took Toshiro's hand.

"What do you think, Yoshika?"

Before he noticed, Yoshika was already clad in the same bikini that Akiko was wearing.

"Come on, Sweetie; let's have some quality mother-daughter time!" Yoshika cheered and ran off with Akiko.

Toshiro smiled and said, "This afterlife is a paradise for us…"

He changed his clothes to match his sons and the three of them went to the riverbank.

Minutes later, after a prolonged period of exchanging dirty laughs while looking at the two girls swimming further upstream, Andrew asked, "Dad, you know, once you told us that no problem in our lives would be greater than the loss of a loved one, right?"

"Mmmm…" Toshiro pondered a few seconds. "Yeah, it was when the two of you dinguses "accidentally" popped a tire of our neighbor's car and you were so scared about what both he and us, your parents, will say that the both of you ran away."

"Right…" Conrad mumbled.

"Yes, that," Andrew nodded. "Tell us, Dad, what happened when you lost somebody you loved?"

"I see…" Toshiro said, not interrupting his fishing. "I'll tell you about the one loss that changed my life first."

August 18, 1939

Yokosuka

As you should know from anime, a life of a Fusojin boy revolves around school. Don't give me those grins of yours, that's almost entirely true. So anyway, on that day, I had animal pen duty during the summer break. The temperature was high and the animal pens had barely enough shade, so I worked diligently on delivering them water first and foremost, and then food. I finished around five PM, and I went home.

"Ah, Toshiro-kun, finished with our critters?" the old janitor Taro asked. "Sure is hot today, right? The poor things must be suffering…"

"I did what I could, Sumigaya-san. Please excuse me, I'll be going home now," I replied.

"Yes, yes, have a nice day. Eat a good dinner, and take a nice bath."

I bowed and turned around, walking outside of the school gate. The sun's intensity turned down a notch compared to when I began working with the animals, and the way to my home had enough shade for me not to sweat. The way was really short, since our apartment was only three blocks away, so I took my time.

When I finally turned around at home, I traditionally yelled, "Mom, I'm home!"

This time however, which was rare, I didn't receive a reply. I started thinking intensively, jumping to the conclusion that Mom was out for shopping. However, I quickly noticed a pair of boots unknown to me when I was pulling mine off. And just a few seconds later, a man in a military uniform came out from the main room. He looked at me from top to bottom and said, "Kid, go to your mother, I think she needs you now more than ever."

I didn't think too long as I ran into the main room. My dear mother was sitting at the table sobbing loudly, with her face buried in her arms lying on the table. I never saw her in such a state, so I was kind of hesitant to approach her. But… She was my mother after all, so I crept slowly to her side.

"Uh… Mom?" I asked quietly.

She twitched visibly, and raised her head, revealing a face full of sorrow, with her eyes already red from all the tears. What little make-up she wore, "to accent her natural beauty," was dripping down her cheek.

After taking a deep breath, she said, "Toshiro… I think you're old and smart enough to have your reading comprehension skill at a level well above that needed to understand this…"

"She really said it that way?" Conrad asked. "That was… cold, if anything else."

"Yeah, I know…" Toshiro sighed. "But Mom knew very well that I was a genius, and I knew that she wasn't the run-of-the-mill housewife either…"

Just then I noticed that she was hiding a piece of paper. She gave it to me, and I started reading it, skipping the header with all the addresses and whatnot.

Dear Mrs. Akayama

It is my deep regret that I am to confirm the words of the man that delivered this notice to you, whose sad duty was to inform you of the death of your concubine and the father of your child, Major Lucas Edelweiss.

A casualty message has been delivered by radio today, August 18, 1939, in which it was reported that your concubine has perished in a tragic accident in Britannia earlier this day.

I know that added distress is caused by failure to receive more information. Unfortunately, the report received did not contain any further details but you may be assured that in the event additional information is received regarding Major Edelweiss' death, it will be promptly communicated to you.

I sincerely regret that this message must bring you so much sorrow into your home and my deepest sympathy is with you in your bereavement.

I barely read the last passage, as my hand were shaking already.

"D-Dad… died?" I asked with my voice failing me, falling on my knees.

My mother came closer to me, and embraced me tightly saying, "Yes, Toshiro…"

"S-S-So I won't be able to see him? Not once?"

"I'm sorry…"

"Don't be…" I answered with an unexpected coldness in my voice and stood up, releasing myself from my mother.

"T-Toshiro?"

"I need some time alone, Mom…" I said and ran out of the room.

"Toshiro!" Mom yelled, but I put on my loafers almost instantaneously and shot out of my home.

I ran and ran through the streets of Yokosuka, half-blind because of the tears. I doubt this would be possible a few decades later, when cars and motorcycles became more popular. But I was too furious to even bother with anything. I may have been a smart kid, but I still was a kid after all. That was a childish fury, a bit illogical and very emotional. I was mad at Dad for dying, at Mom that she couldn't somehow arrange a meeting with all of us.

I finally stopped running after I fell flat on the ground somewhere in the outskirts of the town. Then another object of my fury came on – myself. I was piss mad that I was so weak, because I ran away from Mother at the time of her need. But when I wanted to return home, I could barely walk. And that's when I got really mad. I grabbed a boulder near me, about a quarter of my size then, and I just wanted to throw it away in a fit of rage. Of course it didn't budge. At that moment I promised myself two things – that I would protect my mother, and that I would gain the means to protect her by stopping being so weak.

I returned home running just using my willpower alone. When I opened the door, two things happened at the same time – I started falling and Mom caught me. She was waiting for me all along.

"And then?" Andrew asked.

"You know the rest, you shits," Toshiro smiled. "I started training like mad, even though our living conditions started floating down shit creek. It helped me focus on something else than my fathers death…"

"It haunted you so long, Dad?" Conrad asked suddenly.

"Kind of… My acceptance, or denial, of his fate came in phases… When I joined the army, to help our financial distress, I found something new in life. When Mio came for me - that shifted my focus on her and her ensemble of witches entirely. When I saw his grave alongside Ichiro's, I was happy I could somehow meet him… When I learned that I have an Uncle, somebody that he knew, I was proud. But when Kye enabled me to talk with Dad, I finally accepted that the man who I never met while he was alive was gone from my life, but he went out with a bang, saving at least one life, if not more indirectly..."

"Deep…" the two brothers said in sync.

"So, did I answer your question, Andrew?" Toshiro asked.

The one in question smiled and said, "Yeah, you did, Dad. Thanks."

"I wonder where Mom and Sis are though," Conrad added. "They vanished."

"Vanished to the naked eye," Toshiro smirked. "Remember you guys are gods now."

"Privacy, Dad," Conrad said.

"Riiiiiiiiight…"

Now that would make me a hypocrite…

Meanwhile

Upstream

"Swimming against the current is more fun than I expected!" Akiko cheered as they took rest on a rock.

"Having godly powers has its merits," Yoshika giggled and conjured up two glasses of ice-cold Coke, one having a slice of lime in it. "Want some?"

"Oh, thanks, Mom! You even remember how I like mine!"

"I'm your mother!" Yoshika said proudly. "And I will dote on you into eternity!"

"Hahaha! I'm spoiled even in my afterlife!" Akiko took a sip. "If I look back at my life, I really didn't have any traumatic experiences in my life… Apart from your funeral, but you prepared us all for it and I was already an old granny by that time…"

"From the perspective of your whole life, things do look differently than when they occurred, Sweetie. When my Dad supposedly died, it was like the end of the world for me, but in perspective? That only gave me a drive to fight!"

"Grandpa, huh? That turned out nicely in the end…"

"Right? But if you want to know, I can tell you how it looked to me at the time."

"Oh… Well… I never heard the story with all the details…"

"Listen up then…"

August 18, 1939

Yokosuka

As you may remember, actually you should, it's just a matter of combining facts, that day was my tenth birthday. It started out like a perfectly normal day, and to be honest, I forgot about the fact I had my birthday that specific day. Thankfully, my mother was always so nice to correct my moments of airheadedness when she was around, so the first thing I heard from her after she woke me up instead of the usually, "Good morning, Yoshika," was "Happy birthday, Sweetie."

To say I was overjoyed would be accurate, heheh… But my mind kind of worked it's own way, and I had to ask, "Mommy, is Daddy coming to see me today?"

I could see the guilt in her eyes, but Mom just replied, "You never know, Sweetie. Maybe he'll make a surprise visit?"

That was enough for me at the time. I got a present from Mom, a stethoscope I bugged her about for a few months. It's really a unique feeling to hear the heart of another person, and especially your own… But anyway, the day went on in a birthday tempo. Some of the girls from school even paid me a visit, with my dear cousin Michan among them, heehee… Once it was a bit late in the afternoon, Mom proposed I go buy myself some shaved ice with extra flavor.

"But what if Daddy comes?" I asked.

"I will shout so loud you'll hear!" Mom replied loudly. "Come on, go. It's a birthday treat."

"Yay, thanks!" I hugged her and ran out.

I strolled down to the city, and frequented the nearest shop that sold shaved ice. Of course I took the biggest portion, and I ate while I was going back home, since I thought Dad might come around, brain freeze included.

After a few minutes, I crossed my ways with a man in a military uniform. Mom always told me to be polite to soldiers, so I said, "Good morning," and went my way. At least in theory.

"Oh, are you perhaps the young Miyafuji?" he asked all of a sudden.

"Ummm… Yes?"

"That's kind of… good…" he said shyly. "I'm on my way to your mother's clinic."

"Oh, then we're going to the same place!" I cheered momentarily. "Can I follow you?"

"Yes, please," he smiled faintly.

He was walking fast, a bit too fast for my liking, but I was cooling myself down with the ice, so it wasn't all that tiresome.

"Can I come in?" he asked as we arrived.

"Please," I said with a smile.

I thought that maybe he had some kind of injury hidden under his shirt, or something more internal, but once he came in, some ominous feeling griped me tightly around the chest.

"You're back, Yoshika?" Mom asked as she peeked out of the dinning-slash-living room. "Oh? A guest from the military?"

"Uh, hello ma'am…" the soldier bowed slightly. "I'm here for official business…"

"Official business…" Mom squinted here eyes. "Do you want to sit down, have a tea, anything?"

The soldier reached for his breast pocket and pulled out an envelope.

"It's for you ma'am…" he said quietly.

That's the first time in my life that I saw my Mom actually terrified. She must have known how it works, since she took the envelope with shaking hands, and ripped it apart without trying to open it with finesse. Once she got the piece of paper that was inside in her hands, I saw that her eyes were darting like mad all over it.

And finally, after a few seconds, she fell forward.

"Mommy!" I shouted, but the soldier reacted fast enough to catch her. "Mommy, what's happening?!"

"Ichiro…" her eyes started welling up with tears. "Your father… He won't be coming back…"

"W-What do you mean, Mommy?"

"It means that he's dead…" I heard Grandma's voice so suddenly that I jumped up.

She stood at Mom's side with the letter in her hand, massaging her forehead with her hand.

"D-Dead?" I asked, feeling as my own eyes started watering up.

"I'm so sorry, Yoshika…" Mom said and stretched her hand out to me.

I latched myself onto her, and wailed for the next hour until I fainted from exhaustion.

"It's good that it happened during the summer vacation… I could cry my eyes for the whole weekend, refusing to even meet Micchan… Mom was in a similar state, while Grandma looked potentially unfazed, so she took over the clinic for the time, until Mom was able to focus herself, which happened around four days after the news broke. I in turn was apathetic, lifeless and bleak until a new school term started. From there on, I had to put up a façade for my fellow schoolgirls. In school I was the usual Yoshika, but at home I immediately slumped down into a stupor. Mom had to help me with my homework more than usual, or I would have problems with my grades, who, heh… well, I was very average until something happened. It took me a year to recover more or less from the trauma of my father dying. On his first death anniversary, I swore to myself to never take part in the war, no matter what happened. I decided to pursue an academic career in medicine, and that was final. Well, and in 1944 that went down the gutter," Yoshika smiled after the last sentence.

"Dad and Mio happened, huh?" Akiko asked.

"Yeah… The two turned my life upside down, with Toshiro almost grabbing me by the feet and shaking me, heheh…"

"From what I remember, Dad was presumed dead for an extended period of time, right?"

"Yes, that was the case. But maybe I'll tell you about it some other time, huh? Two sad stories would be too much, even for goddesses," Yoshika giggled.

"Kay, Mom," Akiko smiled warmly. "Can I have a refill?"

"Do it on your own, Sugarpuff, you're a grown woman," Yoshika snickered.

"Indeed," she snickered too and her glass refilled instantaneously.

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