Chapter 32
Kimi ni Aitakatta- Naoto Inti Raymi
"Hi!" Kiyo said with a welcoming smile. "I've been thinking..."
Kiyo grabbed a chair and a cup of green tea for her and Aoki. She sat down and looked at Aoki who was still standing.
"Take a seat." Kiyo said. Aoki put the bag on the table and sat down. She grabbed her cup of green tea and looked up to Kiyo.
"I know I just met you.. but would you like me to adopt you?" Kiyo took a sip of the green tea. "I had been thinking for a while if something happened to me this place would be abandoned. I feel like all my work would go to waste. Then you just happened to show up. It's almost like you are my answer. But it's up to you. I can't force you."
Aoki drank some of her tea. Adopted? I'm her answer? She thought to herself feeling confused as if she was hearing a different language. I'd hate to be a burden on her.. She thought to herself.
"I don't want to rush you... but if you know if yes or no already, you can totally answer right now. That's if you know though... otherwise you can take your time." Kiyo said.
"Yes." Aoki said with a smile. It sounded like something she should say yes to.
"Awesome! " Kiyo said. "I'll get the paperwork started. Feel free to call me mom. I've always wanted to have a child."
Aoki giggled. "Ok mom"
Kiyo stood up and grabbed the bag. "I need to put these away so they don't rot." She looked into the bag and saw that Aoki had gotten everything. "Wow, your memory is perfect. I would have easily forgotten something." Kiyo smiled.
That night Aoki couldn't sleep as she thought about everything.
Adopted? It's nice to know I'm part of a family... Why can't I remember anything before today? Merli and Kiyoteru are really nice. I'll get used to everything, right? Who am I really? I feel like there's something I should remember, but I can't remember anything...
Aoki sighed and closed her eyes to sleep.
"Yeah, It's getting worse. I can't afford treatment and there isn't a cure yet... I'm too old to have the doctors experiment with me. I think I'll just enjoy my last moments peacefully."
Aoki opened her eyes and tiptoed to the door.
"My heart is too weak. There's no use in sufferring more than necessary... No, it's ok really."
Aoki tiptoed closer and peeked into Kiyo's room.
Kiyo? What's wrong?
"I have to head to sleep. I'll talk later ok?" Kiyo said and hung up.
Aoki ran back to her room before Kiyo could see her. She hid underneath her blankets and listened. The only sound was that of crickets outside. However it felt like whispering conversations to her. But it wasn't annoying, they were almost like a lullaby.
She uncovered her face and tucked herself on the fluffy pillow.
The morning woke Aoki as the sun shined early through the window. The sky was clear and the birds flew around singing. There were a million songs being sung at once by the birds. But even so it somehow sounded beautiful to her.
Aoki got up and headed to the kitchen.
"Early bird gets the worm, eh?" Kiyo said as she finished her bowl of rice. "I found a way to make the adoption process much simpler. Being old has it's perks, you know?"
Kiyo put the bowl in the sink and reached for a folder. "I just need your signature and fingerprints..." She reached for a pen and ink pad.
Aoki grabbed the pen and stared for a second. Signature? She saw above, where Kiyo's signature was. To Aoki, it looked like a sloppy name. She put her pen to the paper and wondered how hers would be. Maybe fancy?
"Oh! That's a pretty signature!" Kiyo said after seeing Aoki write. "I'll help you with the fingerprints."
She took Aoki's hand and put the fingers on the ink pad for each required fingerprint. Aoki looked closely at each fingerprint, which amazed her at the detail of the mark.
"Mind taking them to my friend?" Kiyo said, putting the pages back in the folder.
"Where to?" Aoki said, looking at her hands.
"It's where you went to the store but a bit farther. You'll see a red building. Go in there and tell the person at the desk 'This is from Kiyo'. They'll know what to do with them."
Aoku nodded and headed outside to the bike. She put the folder in the basket and drove to a red building.
She walked in and stood for a second, looking at the modern decoration.
"May I help you?" The lady at the desk said.
"Oh!" Aoki said snapping out of the moment. "This is from Kiyo."
The lady took the folder and looked inside. "You must be Aoki, no?"
Aoki smiled. "Yup!"
"You're cuter than she described! She had always wanted a child. It's good to know she finally gets her wishes." The lady stood up. "Ok, I'll get these taken care of. Thanks Aoki"
Aoki nodded and headed out. She came back and went into the garden shop.
"You're not ok." Someone said to Kiyo. Aoki frooze confused on what was happening. The person turned to look at Aoki.
"You must be Aoki. I need you to stay with Kiyo and don't let her move until I get back." The person said. Aoki turned to look at Kiyo who was sitting in a chair.
Kiyo looked at Aoki and smiled. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."
The person came back with Kiyoteru.
"We'll take you to the doctor. You can't be here like this. We need professional advice." He put his arm out to help her.
Kiyo sighed. "If you must insist." She got up carefully, as they helped her.
A/N: What? Yes.. I know. Another meaningless author note! It just feels strange not to have one after having an author note in every chapter. So there it is!