Had to rewrite the chapter and although its actually longer than before...it's still about the same length as the first chapter. I have come to realize that writing long chapters is hard. Therefore, I would like to salute to all you writers that can write so long chapters. I admire your skill. :D
I also came to realize why people always seemed to ask for reviews. Gives you motivation to write. Thanks to those who did. I appreciate it.
Anyway, I'm not sure if you're gonna like who it turns out to be. If you have the time, please tell me what you think.
After going through the seemingly endless amount of paperwork, the woman was finally allowed to leave the hospital. She wanted to be rid of it as soon as possible so she and her daughter didn't have to stay in the hospital longer than necessary.
The stench of misery and death in the air annoyed her immensely. It was mocking her and she couldn't stand it. She needed to get out and smell the fresh air and that she did. The minute she stepped outside it invaded her lungs and it helped her feel more awake. Her face was already washed of the tear stains and the only thing that roamed on her face was fatigue.
Shizuka was doing fine compared to her mother's state of weary. She had slept while she completed the paperwork seeing as there was nothing she could do to help. She was so tired that she had a dreamless sleep in the arms of her mother.
The Sun would have glared in their faces if the clouds had not blocked him. They were doing their little dance in sky but stopped as soon as the water in their stomachs became too heavy. They let go and rain started to fall.
The both of them just stood there under the canopy waiting for the cab to arrive. They had called for a taxi as they did not come in a car to the hospital. A honk sounded and they made their way to the awaiting cab. The ride home was uneventful; quiet even. The taxi driver opted to keep his mouth shut when he noticed the somber atmosphere surrounding the two.
They brushed their teeth and got ready for bed as soon as they arrived home. Even though it was now noon time, having been deprived of a good night's rest, they took to their beds.
It was pitch black. Everywhere was blanketed with darkness. Nothing could be seen except a lone figure right amidst this dark veil. This figure had silky raven threads framing its face. It was rooted from the top of its head and reached until half of its back. Its eyes were emeralds staring into the darkness. It sat there; its head on top of its bended knees with its arms around the legs. Kind of like the same position as someone in a corner hiding away. This was almost the same but the figure had no corner to hide in so it just sat there. No emotion played on its face as its eyes shifted from place to place.
"Natsuki," a voice softly spoke.
It was not the figure's but it got its attention as its ears prickled.
"Natsuki," the voice spoke again.
This time the figure lifted its head away from its knees and emeralds frantically scanned the surrounding area.
"Kaya?" the figure questioned.
A spotlight appeared about 5 meters away from the figure. There stood a faceless figure with auburn hair. It reached out its hand to the raven-haired one.
"Natsuki," it spoke once more.
A smile grew on the auburn's black unidentifiable face. The raven too, wanted to smile back but she felt uneasy and something was pulling her back.
"Kaya, it's you right? I know it's you!" she spoke; more like convincing herself.
Straight away she got up and ran towards the other figure.
"I missed you."
Tears sat at edge of her eyes as she finally closed in on her companion. Just as she was about to wind her arms around Kaya though, she vanished into thin air.
"Kaya?"
Disbelief shook her. She frantically looked around, her head swishing left and right. Then, crimson eyes stared upon her in the darkness and relief flooded throughout her body.
"What are you doing there? You scared the hell out of me. Come here, I want to see you; touch you; hold you," she said, her lips curving into a small relieved smile.
The crimson eyes came closer and closer to the light she was standing in but stopped just a step before. Suddenly, the body fell to the ground, the light capturing its features. It lay there; motionless. Pale and white.
She woke up startled and gasping for air. Her eyes big and wide and yet she saw nothing. Tremors threatened to engulf her body and she felt really cold. She willed herself to stay still and take in slow deep breaths. Please calm down, my frantic heart.
She wasn't sleeping. Not one bit. The tossing and turning had not gone unnoticed. Although she was in another room she could hear the bed shifting, sounds emitting from a slight, swift movement on the bed. It was only a faint sound but she concentrated hard and tried her hardest to listen as she pressed her ear onto the wall. After a few moments, she made a decision and took her plush doggie. Her tiny feet made pitter patters on the ground as she made her way to her mother's door. She knocked gently and entered.
"Mama? Can I please stay here?" her voice and eyes pleading, the doll held in front of her face as if she was feeling shy.
The woman sat upright, startled slightly about her daughter's timely appearance. Her mother smiled warmly at her, happy at the presence of her little one. She opened the blanket big enough for her to crawl in and at that instant, the child too, smiled widely and ran towards her mother. She hopped into the inviting bed and wrapped her arms around her mother.
"Thank you," she whispered into her ear and she kissed the cold, lonely cheek of her mother.
It caught Natsuki by surprise as she held her now bright red cheek. Even though she doesn't blush much often in front of people, her daughter and late wife are able too make her blush easily. A grin grew on her face, her mood brightened by her daughter. She then pinched the cheek of the little one lightly as payback. She was not one to lose easily.
"Aren't you cheeky, my little Shizuka?" she said as her daughter pouted at her, her hand too one her red cheek.
"Mou, that hurt Mama! I only gave you a bit of my affection," she said faking a hurt voice.
If she wasn't so used to hearing these kinds of things, she wouldn't have noticed that it was fake. After being with her wife for so long, she was able discern between a fake jesting one and a real one. Shizuka was her mother's daughter after all and she certainly has inherited her late wife's characteristics. Or could she have been taught secretly by her wife when her back was turned? That she may never know. She would be tearing up right now if her daughter wasn't just centimeters away from her.
"Now, now, we all know that doesn't work with me, Shizuka, But I'm glad you love me enough to show me your affection in such a way," she hugged her; her head in her daughter's soft auburn tresses.
Her nose took in the scent of lavender and it immediately calmed her insides that were burning ever since she left the morgue of the hospital that morning. She missed the blush her daughter adorned and the tiny mutter of 'Well it worked when mother did it', concentrating on only her sense of touch and smell. She did hear the words that came after though;
"I love you, Mama," the little girl uttered, as if assuring that to her.
"I love you too, my little angel," the woman replied, her hold tightening.
And she gave her silent promise to take care of her one and only baby until she would get to be with her lover once more.
Until death do us part. I will be with you until my last breath leaves. When that time comes, I will wait for you to join me…not sooner than what was planned but someday when your life has gone through its course. We will be reunited and we will love once more from the depths of our souls. I will never forget you willingly as you too, the same. Our hands will be joined and our hearts beat as one. Our love is eternal, through and through. So do not fret, my dear Natsuki when I leave you in my slumber.
Ermm...some of you were expecting that Natsuki would be the one to die and when I found out that I was a bit nervous. Does that mean I portrayed the character OOC? Ah, a dilemma.