B.B. wolf123 - I'm glad you like the end! I'm not very good at endings is all, but their story is sad so I wanted it to be happy! C:
And here's the wandering mother!
"Sweetie, where is your father?"
I frowned at my daughter when she shook her head.
She appeared so sad and I hugged her gently. She didn't seem to notice.
"Let's go searching for him, alright?" I murmured.
Her response was a sad smile.
"Kozue?" I frowned at my daughter's behavior.
She had been so depressed lately.
I found her having a bad dream on the couch.
She tossed and turned in her sleep, screaming that she was sorry.
"What was she sorry for…?"
I tried waking her up...
But i couldn't...
I shifted nervously at the sight of my husband. He had fallen, his neck terribly twisted.
I went to the house to find Kozue when the body was taken care of.
I found her muttering to herself by the window.
I went to her side and petted her hair, laying a small kiss on the top of her head.
I didn't know what to do about this.
She had been having more nightmares and sleeping for hours at a time.
"I haven't been able to find daddy, but we can go search for him some more."
I lied smoothly. I didn't want to crush her hopes of finding him.
I tried to hide the tears when she met my eyes.
It was so hard.
I'm so terrified…
What's happening with my daughter?
She sleeps for such long periods now and always shouts in her sleep.
Why did my husband have to be taken?
I already lost him.
I don't want to lose my daughter!
I'm starting to have weird dreams now too.
A tall mansion with children singing inside; Kozue goes inside, calling out for her father.
Kozue…
My husband…
I chase after her, unable to grab her attention.
"Please Kozue, we need to leave!"
But I can't convince myself enough as I follow her inside.
We're sleeping so long now.
I don't know what the date is.
It's raining so much too.
I don't understand what's happening.
Kozue won't stop crying and is always running.
She's sorry…
What have I done…?
This is my fault.
I should have told her.
She keeps running from me and it always scares me.
We need to leave but i don't know how!
A woman bearing horrifying tattoos grabbed my shoulder today.
Tattoos…
They hurt…
Her touch felt like I had been stabbed!
I don't understand…
I find Kozue later in a corner sobbing.
She's so sad though, I can't tell her.
"Let's go search for daddy."
She only nods and grabs my hand, still crying.
That lady tried to grab her today.
I had to pull her away.
I didn't want my daughter to have this painful tattoo.
She was already in enough pain…
We haven't awoken in days.
I feel so guilty.
This is my fault…
I should have made sure my husband was safe…
I should have done something…
I realize sadly that my daughter already has the tattoo covering her body.
"Won't you help me find him?"
I stare at the short-haired woman, reaching out to her for help.
A flash hits me and sends pain through my body.
I hear Kozue running around the room.
She's sobbing and asking her where he went, and accusing her of killing him.
The woman just hits us with that camera again.
It hurts.
Kozue runs and I follow to find her.
It always scares me when she runs.
Sometimes I don't find her for days.
The pain is suddenly gone. The tattoos don't hurt and there are candles floating through ice cold water.
I don't feel it.
My daughter stands next to me, both of us staring at the familiar form.
She runs to him and hugs him, yelling of how sorry she is.
He pulls out a ball for her and smiles, then takes my hand.
We're all happy again.
Kozue is happy again…
We take each other's hand and walk with the other shadows, our beautiful child humming as she walks between us.
She finally smiles, her eyes no longer sad.