Sora no Ato: Chapter 2
Healing Friendship: Fixing Treasures
Back in Seize, in the first days of the peace, Noël and Aisha continued the friendship they had forged during the tumultuous events of February. As they spent time together, Noël convinced Aisha to begin teaching her Roman. Noël's intelligence and the motivation of their friendship contributed to the speed with which she picked up the language. In return, Aisha asked Noël to teach her Helvetian, a request she happily acceded to.
Kanata and Aisha also spent time together. Their common language of music on the trumpet needed no translator. They often would play together on bugle and trumpet, sometimes in the fortress itself, and sometimes journeying out to the fields and hills around Seize. Occasionally the villagers would hear them greet the rising sun together with a shower of brassy notes from atop the fortress's tower.
``What a lovely way to start the day,'' commented one customer to the merchant they were dealing with in the Seize town market.
``Yes, Kanata plays well now, and this new girl...''
``Aisha,'' the customer added, ``the injured Roman.''
``Right, Aisha. She's much better than Kanata was when she first came.''
This prompted a burst of laughter and agreement. They both also agreed that they missed Princess Rio, not that either was complaining about the current duet or either of the gals, but...
Kanata and Aisha enjoyed this playing together as much as the villagers did, but not all they had to say to each other could be conveyed in music, so Yumina and Noël pitched in to help translating their words. This was also good practice for the two language students.
In their conversations, Aisha explained that her grandmother not only taught her the trumpet but also the tune for the Sound of the Sky when she was a young girl.
``Just like I learned it from Rio's sister, Princess Iliya, when I was little,'' Kanata interjected. She had previously told the story of how Iliya had rescued her and played the tune for her, giving her the desire to also be able to play such lovely music.
``Well,'' said Aisha, once she understood. ``I think that I was a bit slower to learn than you were.'' She smiled at Kanata, appreciating her musical talent.
``Rio-sempai told me that her sister also taught her that tune, and also how to play the trumpet, when she was a little girl. She even gave me some of the books her sister used.'' Kanata was happy that Aisha had learned this same way.
They discussed how Aisha's grandmother tied both trumpet and tune back to Seize, as she had been a fortress maiden here in her youth. Aisha didn't know if that was where her grandmother had picked up tune and trumpet, for the trumpet was not unknown in the Roman Empire, merely uncommon. Kanata didn't know where Iliya learned either, but still thought this was all wonderful, and the others appreciated her enthusiasm.
Talk of Aisha's grandmother brought up the story she told Aisha of the fossil of an Angel of Destruction that was supposed to be in Seize.
``There is one. I saw it in the lake here the first day I arrived in Seize,'' Kanata replied. She was excited to be part of this story.
``Really? I'd like to see it.'' Aisha was happy to hear her grandmother's story corroborated, but she was in no condition to hike down to the base of the cliffs where the drowned fossil lay. Even Kanata ended up there by falling, and nobody wanted Aisha to take another fall off a cliff. Aisha didn't either, so while they discussed the fossil, she never went out to see it.
In addition to conversations like these and simply playing together, Aisha also taught Kanata some Roman tunes that she knew. Most of these were old folk tunes whose origins were lost in the mists of time, but which every Roman knew. Kanata shared what she could of Helvetian music, but she did not know the variety of tunes Aisha did, though she knew several thanks to Iliya's books that Rio had given her.
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This sharing of language and music continued until Aisha had finally recovered enough to travel, though she still wore a cast and used a crutch to help get around. The morning she was to depart, Aisha and Kanata together played the Sound of the Sky from atop the fortress tower. ``Just like I played it here with Rio-sempai before she left,'' Kanata commented. She also loaned Aisha her trumpet and played a bugle herself. Aisha was touched by the honor, for she knew this trumpet's history, and how precious it was to Kanata.
When they had finished, Aisha gave Kanata back her trumpet. ``Thank you,'' she said. ``Thank you for letting me play this, for playing with me, for everything.''
Kanata smiled at her in acknowledgment and understanding. ``You're welcome. And thank you.''
``And I will continue to practice the trumpet when I get home. I will think of you then.''
``I'll never forget you, Aisha,'' Kanata told her.
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After not much more procrastination, the whole platoon together took Aisha to the train station to begin her journey home. Yumina and Naomi joined them in seeing her off, as they also had become her friends while nursing her here.
On the platform, waiting for the train, Aisha said her goodbyes and thanked everyone. Last of all, she came to Noël. ``Thank you for everything, Noël,'' she said, then untied the scarf Noël had given her and wrapped it around Noël's neck.
``But...'' Noël protested.
Aisha continued in Roman, after asking Yumina to translate. ``You gave me this to help heal, and now I am healed. I will always carry the warmth of this gift in my heart.'' She reached up and tied the scarf and placed one of Noël's hands on it. ``Now it is once more your turn to wear this. And when dark despair assails you, reach up to hold it, and remember that I have already forgiven you. Remember that there is a Roman soldier who cares deeply for you, and wants you not to suffer any more.''
``Aisha...'' Noël said, holding onto both the scarf and Aisha's hand, her voice filled with emotion as her eyes filled with tears. After a moment, Noël let go and embraced Aisha in a fierce hug. Resting her head on Aisha's chest, she continued in perfect Roman, ``My dearest, Aisha. Thank you.''
Aisha returned the hug, and tenderly rested her cheek on Noël's head. ``Noël,'' she whispered, putting everything she needed to say into that one name.
The two stood like this until the whistle blew signaling they should board the train. They parted reluctantly, and as Aisha moved to board, she hopefully asked, ``You will write?''
Noël smiled and answered, ``Of course. When you are fully healed, you will return to visit?''
Aisha's smile and nod was a sacred promise.
ooo OOO ooo
Not long after, two days of steady rain had driven Seize's orphans indoors, and their pent-up energy was getting a bit much for their young ability to contain it. Seiya and a couple of the boys his age were playing a romping game of keep-away with a new ball from a recently donated box of toys. This game took them through most of the rooms of the church complex except the actual sanctuary, through doors, behind curtains, over furniture.
``Here, Claude! Here!'' cried Seiya from his spot next to a chest.
His partner threw him the ball, trying to keep it out of the reach of Alain on the other team. The throw was a bit wild and Seiya had to jump to catch it. His foot came down on the bedding put away on the side of the room. The pile was no more stable than his landing, and in trying to keep his balance, his wild flailing of arms swept half the items from the top of the chest by the window. His feet and the bedclothes betrayed him, sliding out from underneath. He could keep neither his footing nor balance and landed with a painful crunch atop a box he had knocked off the chest.
That brought the game to an immediate halt. All the players realized they had gone too far. Seiya himself felt the worst from breaking something with their game. Picking himself up he found he had landed on, and broken, Mishio's box from her mother.
``Uh-oh. We're in trouble,'' Claude lamented.
``Deep trouble,'' Seiya agreed.
Four very penitent boys picked up the box, including all the pieces, and went off to find Yumina. They knew that their misdeed would be discovered eventually, and if they tried to hide it, things would just go that much worse for them.
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After some fearful searching, the boys discovered Yumina in one of the small rooms, working with Noël on her Roman. Since Aisha had left, Noël had been meeting regularly with Yumina to continue her study of the language. Most agreed that it was not just Noël's love of learning that motivated her, but also the close friendship she and Aisha had forged. Noël and Aisha began teaching each other their languages while Aisha was recovering in Seize, and they continued corresponding after Aisha's return home, alternating languages in their letters to give them both practice.
The boys stood in the hall outside the room, listening to Yumina and Noël's voices, uncertain whether to open the door and disturb them or not. As they stood there, who should come wandering toward them but Mishio, who saw them holding her mother's box. Deciding that Yumina's possible displeasure would be less scary than Mishio's certain wrath, they opened the door.
A very subdued group of boys entered the room followed by Mishio. ``Excuse us, Yumina-onēchan.''
Yumina looked up at the children. Her practiced glance quickly appraised their situation. ``Do you kids have something you'd like to tell me? Perhaps about that box that you're holding?''
``Yeah,'' interjected Mishio, ``why are you carrying that? I gave it to Yumina-onēchan, not you.''
Seiya looked down at his feet and mumbled.
Mishio poked him in the ribs. ``Speak up. Nobody can hear you.''
``Um... We... uh, I... I'm sorry.'' He held out the box to Yumina. ``I think we broke this.''
``We?'' Claude whacked him. ``You're the one who broke it.''
Seiya turned on him. ``And who can't even throw straight?''
The boys froze, realizing they just let out more than they might have wanted to. Yumina was able to pick up on the slightest cues like this. She was normally quite tolerant as long as no one got hurt, but now...
``Why don't you all sit down and tell me the whole story, from the beginning.'' Yumina turned to Noël. ``Please forgive this interruption. I hope this won't take long.''
Noël grunted her assent and leaned back on the wall behind the bench she shared with Yumina, silent and out of the way.
The children sat down on the floor in a semicircle around Yumina. With the help of some prompting from her, the boys told the story of their game of keep-away, of the toss gone wrong, of Seiya's jump and trip, and the accident with the box.
As the tale unfolded, Mishio sat there silent, staring at the box sitting in their midst with its bottom stove in. As she did, tears began to well up in her eyes and flow down her cheeks. When they finished the story, Mishio turned to the boys. ``How could you do this?'' she cried. ``How could you break something of Yumina-onēchan's like this? How stupid are you?''
Yumina looked at the boys. ``What did I tell you about roughhousing and running and playing inside? You need to be careful not to break other peoples' things, and extra careful to take care of their precious things.'' She paused to let this sink in, then emphasized her point by adding, ``Do you realize that this box is very precious to Mishio? It belonged out her mother, and is one of the few such surviving treasures. And it's precious to me too, as Mishio gave it to me last year.''
``And now you went and busted it,'' Mishio accused them.
``Can't you fix it, Yumina-onēchan?'' asked Seiya, his voice full of a seven-year-old's trust in a beloved parent.
Yumina looked at the box, and then glanced at Noël who has been silently watching the whole proceedings. When Noël answered with a minute nod, Yumina replied, ``I'm sorry. I don't have the skill to do that kind of work. Wood and fabric are quite different materials. But maybe, if we ask nicely, we might find someone who could help.''
Yumina realized that Noël may well have the best ability to fix the box, but also knew that might likely raise complications for both Noël and Mishio given that Mishio's mother had died from bio-weapons at Bienenland and Noël seemed somehow connected with that. She hinted anyway, knowing this and hoping Noël would chime in. She also silently prayed that this would continue Noël's healing.
Noël saw the look of hope and pleading grow on the children's faces as Yumina said this. ``I might be able to, but...'' she began, but let her voice trail off as other thoughts entered her head.
``Please, Noël,'' Seiya begged with unusual sincerity. ``Please fix this. Cause if you don't, if Mishio's precious box stays broken, she'll never forgive me ...and I won't forgive me either.'' Seiya took her hands, looking up at Noël, his own anguish palpable in his tear-filled eyes.
Noël's expression softened, but a hint of pain nibbled at the edges. She turned from the children and sent Yumina a questioning look.
Yumina smiled and nodded, answering her unspoken question, then turned back to the boys. ``I think the dining hall needs to be scrubbed down again. Why don't you boys go do that after going back to straighten up all the messes you made while playing. Maybe that will help burn off some of your excess energy.''
``But Yumina-onēchan, we just did that two days ago,'' Alain challenged.
He stopped when Seiya elbowed him in the ribs. Yumina countered, ``I think that doing it again may be best, unless you think that cleaning the kitchen and all of the bathrooms until they're spotless would do a better job of teaching you to use patience and good judgment.''
The boys quickly decided that scrubbing the dining hall wasn't as bad an option as they first thought.
``Us too?'' asked Claude.
``Yes,'' said Yumina, looking at the other two, ``I think Alain and Seiya could use both of your help scrubbing, just as you helped them playing keep-away.''
After only a moment of consideration, the four boys answered, ``Yes Yumina-onēchan,'' in unison, and walked—slowly and sedately—out the door and toward the dining hall.
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Noël turned back to Mishio, who was now seated at Yumina's knees, looked at her seriously, and began. ``Mishio, I know this box is precious to you: a treasure from your mother. It is truly priceless. I can try to fix it. I can't promise that I won't break it worse. And...'' She held up her hand to forestall anything which might follow the look of hope and joy on Mishio's face. ``I must tell you something first. After you hear that, if you still want me to try to fix your box, I will try.'' The old sadness came back to her face. ``But I will understand if you want me never to touch it. I will understand if you want to never see me again.''
Noël knew—in her own way, and who could say just how she knew all that she did—that Mishio's mother had died from the bio-weapons from the plant which Noël herself had restored. Hence, Noël felt she had no right to even touch this box.
They sat thus for a moment while Noël gathered her thoughts and her courage. She took hold of Yumina's hand for support, then began. ``You remember Colonel Hopkins who came to town last February?'' When Mishio nodded, she continued. ``When I was younger, he took me from The Academy. He convinced me to help restore a facility from the old world.'' Noël paused for a breath. ``But he betrayed me ...us. He used that facility for bio-weapons, not medicine... He used it to destroy three towns in one night ...at Bienenland.'' Her voice grew soft. ``That was the Invisible Reaper.'' She looked straight at Mishio and continued in a voice full of emotion. ``I'm sorry, Mishio. I killed your mother. ...I'm so sorry. I killed so many people.'' She bowed her head, grasped Yumina's hand in an almost-painful grip as tears ran down her cheeks, and whispered, ``I'm the Helvetian Witch.''
They all sat silent for a while. Yumina returned Noël's grip on her hand. She knew a little of Noël's story, but hear her speak those words herself...
Mishio had come to rest her cheek on Yumina's knees, and Yumina put her other arm comfortingly on her shoulder. After a bit, Mishio squirmed out from under Yumina's arm. She moved to kneel in front of Noël and took her other hand. ``It's all right, Noël-onēchan. Don't cry.''
``But...'' Noël sobbed. ``I can't touch your precious box.''
``Yes, you can, Noël-onēchan.''
``But I—''
``You can fix it. I know you can.''
``But I killed—''
``No, you didn't.'' Mishio's voice held an authority far beyond her years. ``The Invisible Reaper did. Colonel Hopkins did. The war did. You did not.'' Mishio looked up at Noël, pleading. ``Please. You're my friend. You're not a killer.''
``Noël, you might also want to consider how many you saved by helping end the war,'' Yumina pointed out.
``But that—'' Noël countered.
Yumina cut her off. ``That was a team effort, yes. But they couldn't have done it without you. There's no way they could have stopped Colonel Hopkins from restarting the war if you hadn't fixed Takemikazuchi.'' Yumina paused for a moment. ``And if you hadn't, what would have happened to Seize, to Mishio, to all of us, if the war had begun again here?''
``And Seiya said you saved Klaus and Kureha after they rescued him in that storm,'' Mishio piped up.
``And you also helped Aisha to recover,'' said Yumina.
``But...'' Noël thought on this for a bit, letting the ideas percolate through her brain and finally allowing herself to feel Yumina and Mishio's emotions, however little she felt she deserved them. She swallowed her tears and looked up at Mishio. ``Really?'' she asked in a low voice filled with a hesitant hope, a hope too often ground to dust between others' anger and her own guilt.
``Yes!'' Mishio smiled up at her. ``Please.''
``Mishio.'' With that word Noël visibly pulled herself back from the pit of guilt and despair. ``Mishio, would you like to help me try to fix your box? It will be slow, delicate work. We will likely have to break it more before we can fix it. Would you like to work with me? I would ...enjoy it. Would you please.''
``Really?'' asked Mishio, hopeful, trusting, pleased to be given a part in the repair.
``Yes,'' said Noël. ``This box is precious to you. I think you should have a part in its fixing. We should work on it together.''
Yumina smiled at them both. ``I think that's a good idea. This way, Mishio, you will make sure that the tender memories of your mother in the box are preserved.'' She looked over to Noël. ``I know that Noël will be very careful, and if there's any way to fix this box, she will be able to do it.'' She looked back to Mishio. ``And who knows, while working together, you might even learn something.''
Seeing their self-doubt, Yumina asked them both, ``We know there's no guarantee you two can fix this box, but would you like to pray for success in fixing it?'' She was uncertain whether this would bring comfort or anxiety, but willing to try.
Noël looked over at Mishio now holding the box tightly to her chest. ``Mishio?'' she asked.
She looked back at Noël, then Yumina. ``Yeah. Please. Anything to help.''
Noël also agreed with a nod.
``All right.'' Yumina led the way to the sanctuary. She took the broken box, set it in the front near the altar then stepped back. Noël and Mishio came to stand on either side of her. ``Let us all ask the Myriad Gods that you be able to fix this precious box.''
The other two nodded, then all three put their hands together and bowed for a moment of silent entreaty.
As they finished, a hole opened in the rainclouds, and let through a single ray of sunshine which made its way through a high window on the west side of the church and fell in a small pool of light around the box.
Yumina smiled and picked up the box from this pool of light and gave it to Noël and Mishio. ``May all the Myriad Gods grant you skill and success in repairing this precious treasure.''
Noël let Mishio take the box. ``Why don't you keep this safe ...until we get together.''
Mishio nodded, hesitantly.
Yumina looked at Noël. ``Would you have some free time tomorrow, maybe at this time instead of our language lesson?'' She knew how eager Mishio would be; patience was not the strong suit of eight-year-olds.
Noël nodded, and they arranged to meet then.
ooo OOO ooo
The next day Yumina and Mishio came over to the Timekeeping Fortress, bringing with them the remains of Mishio's box, wrapped in a cloth for safekeeping. Noël was waiting for them in the courtyard.
``Thank you for agreeing to try to fix this,'' Yumina said in greeting.
``I'm not sure I can,'' Noël answered, ``Mishio's willing to help. So I'm willing to try.''
``Thank you, Noël-onēchan,'' said Mishio, looking up, eyes full of hope and trust.
``But...'' Noël was still uncertain.
Yumina's look reminded her of their discussion back at the church, and her promise to try.
``We'll try our best.'' Noël held out her hand to Mishio. ``Won't we, Mishio?''
``Yes, Noël-onēchan,'' she agreed, taking Noël's hand.
``Let's go to my workshop,'' Noël suggested. ``If that's all right?'' she added as a disclaimer, looking hesitantly at Yumina. Since the completion of Takemikazuchi and the damage to the garage at the end of the war, Noël had appropriated one of the spare rooms in the fortress and turned it into her workshop. She now spent the time here that she had with Takemikazuchi.
``Will you be all right going off by yourself with Noël?'' Yumina asks Mishio. ``I'd like to talk with Filicia a bit.''
``Sure. I'm a big girl now,'' said Mishio. She and Noël walked off together while Yumina headed up to Filicia's office.
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Yumina knocked on the door. ``Filicia, do you have a moment?''
``Of course, Yumina. Come on in.'' She entered to find Filicia seated behind her desk. ``Would you like some tea?''
Yumina smiled, agreed, and took a seat.
``What can I do for you today, Yumina?''
``I wanted to talk to you about Noël. I hope I haven't done something to hurt her.''
Filicia was instantly concerned, for she also wished Noël no hurt. ``I'm sure you never intended to, but what is it that's worrying you?''
Yumina proceeded to tell the story of Mishio's broken box and how Noël had hesitantly agreed to try to fix it. ``You see, I'm worried that, since Mishio and this box are from Bienenland, that this may bring back bad memories for Noël. Then there's also the fact that Mishio's mother died from the Invisible Reaper. I don't want Mishio to start blaming Noël for her mother's death, or have to relive that time either. Both Mishio and Noël seemed all right with this yesterday, but I don't want this to end up hurting either of them.''
Filicia nodded, understanding. ``But if this can help either of them with their painful past...'' She looked off, visiting her own memory for a bit, and a smile grew on her face. ``I know that it was only with the help of friends that I was able to overcome the dark shadows in mine. I've tried to be a friend to Noël, but maybe she needs another. Maybe Mishio can become that friend. We've seen how Aisha's friendship has really helped her.''
Yumina smiled in return. ``I hope so. Mishio is a nice kid, and normally happy. You and Kanata already helped her once with her mother's box. Maybe this can also help her, and I hope help Noël as well.''
``I share your hope. And, thank you, Yumina. Thank you for your help here—just like you've always helped us.'' Yumina blushed, but Filicia continued, ``Don't sell yourself short, Yumina. You have helped us, and Seize, and all of Helvetia in many ways. Please let me know if there's anything I can do for you.''
The two smiled at each other, realizing a kindred, caring spirit in each other. Yumina cared for her orphans and Filicia for her platoon, each being a mother in role, if not in fact.
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Mishio and Noël arrived in her workshop and unwrapped the box atop the work table there. Noël hesitantly picked it up, watching Mishio's reaction for permission, and looked at it, closely and carefully, turning it over to examine it from all sides.
After a bit, she handed the box to Mishio and asked, ``Could you tell me how this worked: how did you open it before it was broken?''
``Sure,'' Mishio took the box. ``It's complicated. First you slide this piece up...'' She continued explaining, pointing out the various slides and the order and direction you needed to move them. Her face grew unhappy when many of them refused to move, or when her fingers brushed a broken edge.
``OK, that helps. We need to figure out how this works inside ...so we can take it apart. Then we need to fix the broken pieces ...or replace them. Then we put it back together.''
Thus began the first of many sessions that Noël and Mishio spent together, working on the box. Noël would only work on it with Mishio there, as she felt unworthy to touch it otherwise.
They started simply trying to figure out how it was constructed and how to take it apart. As Noël expected, they had to break a couple more pieces to totally disassemble the box. She was very careful to discuss these breaks with Mishio before doing them, and to have them to the actual breaking together. Once the box was in pieces, Noël showed that some parts were all right, others could be fixed, and some were badly enough damaged that they needed to make replacements for them. This led to a couple expeditions to Windmill to talk to Naomi about acquiring the needed woods, tools and glue. Some she could get and for others she pointed them to fellow merchants in Seize or Treize. Seiya and the other boys even arranged to work some odd jobs in exchange for some of these materials in addition to what they contributed from their allowances.
Progress on the box was not rapid, but as they worked together, Noël and Mishio's friendship grew closer and stronger. They took to eating lunch together as they worked, either over the box in Noël's workshop or joining the rest of the platoon together in the common room, where Mishio was welcomed as a friend and comrade. Yumina continued to come over periodically to see how the repairs were progressing and to talk with Filicia. The two ``mothers'' were glad to see this blossoming friendship, to see their children grow and prosper.
Noël found Mishio's enthusiasm and joy in life to be as hard to resist as Kanata's. As they worked together, a smile became less of a stranger to Noël's face, and those passing the workshop would occasionally even hear her laughter join Mishio's.
Mishio was glad to be a part of fixing the box, and as they worked on it together she found it became yet more precious to her, as the time and care added to the already precious memories of her mother the box held.