Chapter 11: This Is Only Just The Beginning
"So, you're going to miss the funeral?"
I don't face Kairi. Closing my eyes, I breath out, watching the waves splash against the shore. The water hits my dress shoes, but I don't care. I keep my eyes transfixed on the currents far out into the ocean. The water reminds me of her. Everything reminds me of her. I can't believe I lost her.
Kairi doesn't say anything, just stays behind me.
I take the folded piece of paper from my pocket and look at it for a moment as the sun starts to set. Written in cursive writing: Fujisaki Nadeshiko. I haven't seen her in so long. She's disappeared, from what Tsukasa says, shortly after we left the school. Not only have I lost Rima, but I also lost my sister. Sighing, I stuff the note back into my pocket.
I didn't read what Rima wrote to Nadeshiko. It's not my note to read, no. My note is in the jacket pocket of my blazer. I haven't even opened it yet. Maybe I want to preserve what's left I have of her. I know I'll always keep the note, I just don't have the strength to open it. Not yet anyway.
"You know you can't just sit there forever," Kairi speaks again. I don't move. We stay in this position for a while. I reach down and play with a seashell in my hands. It's chipped in the corner. The other piece somewhere in the world, or maybe even on this beach. I'll never know.
Eventually, I hear Kairi's footsteps move away and I'm alone once again. Alone, physically and mentally.
Third Person P.O.V:
Yaya looks down at Rima in the casket. This wasn't right, this isn't right. This wasn't supposed to happen. As she looks at her best friend's cold lifeless body, Yaya can't help, but shed even more tears. She hadn't stopped crying since the doctors told them that Rima's confirmed death. That was two weeks ago.
So many tears shed over her best friend, knowing she'd never wake up from her eternal slumber. No one is really paying attention to her, in which where Yaya searched through her black purse for something. Reaching back out, revealed a note. "Yuiki Yaya" wrote in cursive, with tear stains on it. Carefully unfolding is, she makes sure not to get any tears on the words for the ink will smudge.
Wiping her eyes, Yaya tries to steady her voice to her best capability.
"Yaya wants to read the note now, by Rima-chan's side. So Rima-chan will know that Yaya read it," Yaya says. Taking a deep breath, she holds the paper up to her face, reading it silently to herself.
Yaya,
We've gone through so much together. This all seems so unreal to me. I'm so sorry I had to leave. I'm going to miss you dearly. You've been with me through everything, especially with all the chaos of last year. Remember all the memories we've made together; being the top students at EAMS, those late night deep conversations we would occasionally have, and don't get me started on everything that we did with Kairi and Kukai.
Anyway, I just want to let you know you are my best friend and you've been my best friend since the first day I met you. If you want me to be honest, I'm glad you were bullied, because then Kairi, Kukai, and me wouldn't have saved you and the four of us wouldn't have gotten so close to each other.
Also, I have to apologize for dragging you into this. I'm a terrible friend for forcing you to go on this adventure with me, and it nearly costed your life. You don't know how happy I was when I saw you again in Azumi's Castle.
I hope life takes you to great places and you and Kairi have a good future together. Please, if you do find another best friend, always remember me? I love you Yaya, you're my sister and you always will be. It really is heartbreaking right now for me to be writing this, as no words can ever describe what you actually do mean to me.
So let me sum it up with thank you, for everything.
Your sister,
Mashiro Rima
Yaya couldn't help the tears escaping her eyes. Some dripped on the paper, while some fell on her dress and others onto the sand covered beach. Yaya looks at Rima's dead body and smiled through her tears.
"You'll always be my sister," Yaya whispers before turning and walking down the grassy hillside to the beach. She sees Kairi walking uphill and he immediately runs to her. Yaya stops him from holding her. Instead she looks into his emerald eyes and silently tells him to go to Rima. There are always enough times for later for Yaya to be comforted, right now all that matters is Rima. Kairi nods, getting the message, and continues uphill.
Yaya sighs, smoothing out her black dress that ends right above her knee. It's a mesh dress with lace at the bottom and a round neck. Yaya had put her hair in two ponytails, holding them with black bows. Her ballet slippers crunch under the grass as she finds a spot under a tree that grows at the base of the hill. Sitting against it, Yaya puts her purse down and looks out at the water.
Yaya suddenly lifts her hand up. Tiny flames dance right above her fingertips as she looks at them intently. She closes her fingers in a fist and a wisp of smoke comes up, signaling the flames have burned out. She looks from her hand to the ocean and back to her hand again, repeating the pattern twice. For once in the past two weeks, Yaya's finally stopped crying.
Kairi tentatively walks up the hill after being pushed away by Yaya. Truthfully, he didn't want to see Rima. He didn't want to see his best friend's body dressed in white and in a casket with her hands crossed over her chest. He didn't want to see the gravestone with her name carved in with her date of birth and date of death.
Instead of going to the front, he just stands next to the casket. He can't bare to stand next to it, taking a few steps over.
Retrieving his note, he reads it with shaking hands.
Kairi
We had a good run, Kairi. However, not everything can last. Thank you for being such a good friend and coming on this journey with me. You stuck by my side to the very end and I'm glad you're okay.
You're the best map reader a friend can ask for. I can't thank you enough for all you've done for me from going on this adventure to helping me with studying last year. You've kept me from doing stupid things by being the sensible one. And sorry for all the times Yaya, Kukai, and I got you in trouble for things you shouldn't have gotten in trouble for.
Take care of Yaya for me. The three of us have always been there to protect Yaya from the start and I'm putting my trust into both of you to keep doing so. Especially since you two are dating, I know you'll never hurt her. Please, just keep looking after her, she's so fragile and even though she is very strong, we know how easily she can break.
I love you like a brother Kairi, I hope you'll always know that.
Your sister,
Mashiro Rima
Kairi's lower lip quivered as he felt himself on the brink of tears. He feelings small arms wrap around him. He turns around seeing Yaya as the person holding him. She has a neutral expression on her face as she holds him in her arms. He sobs into her shoulder, removing his glasses as he does so. What Rima didn't know is that Yaya needs to protect Kairi more than he can protect her.
Not this time Rima, not this time.
Utau and Amu out at the beach, right below the hill. Shifting her gaze to the left, Utau sees her brown haired green eyed boyfriend sitting on the rocks. He's been there ever since Utau showed up and he doesn't seem like he's going to move anytime soon. The two feel an arm wrap around their shoulders. Looking up, they see it's Ikuto.
"Why don't you go to him?" he asks Utau, his voice just above a whisper.
"He needs his space. He's fine on his own," Utau say, leaning my head on his shoulder. Amu looks down at the folded piece of paper in her hands. "Hinamori Amu, Tsukiyomi Utau & Tsukiyomi Ikuto" written in cursive on the front in Rima's handwriting. Amu glances over and sees Ikuto nodding at her and Utau staring at her intently. Taking a deep breath Amu steadily opens it.
Sure, both the Tsukiyomi siblings and Amu have memorized the note that their deceased friend gave to them. They just like to look at it.
Amu,
You don't know how sorry I am for risking your life. I shouldn't have been so selfish into taking all of you with me. However, I know that for some reason if I didn't take all of you, it wouldn't have been right. Something just kept telling me without you, Utau, and Ikuto it would've seemed pointless to go on this journey at all.
You are a great friend and I hope all goes well with you and Ikuto
Utau,
You've been such a good friend to me. I wish we could've gotten closer as friends because we both have water element and we connect that way.
I can't thank you enough for coming with me on this journey. I'm sorry for almost killing you, it wasn't suppose to end like this. What can you do, it's fate.
Ikuto,
I don't think I can apologize enough for endangering your life, your friend's lives, and of course your sister's life. It was a big risk I took taking so many with me, but that's a risk I don't regret it at all. We found Nagihiko, maybe not the way we thought, but he's with you now.
I hope the future is bright with you three. Thanks again for sticking by my side.
Your Friend,
Mashiro Rima
Amu sighs, refolding it back up when they were done reading it. She lays her head on her Ikuto's shoulder who kisses her gently on the top of he head. They turn and walk down the grassy hill.
He could've easily done it. Everyone's to engrossed with the funeral, they won't notice until it's too late. All Kukai wants to do is take the plunge into those threatening waters and never return.
He had failed her. He couldn't protect his best friend from any of this happening. It's like the ultimate defeat, knowing he didn't do his duty. Kukai hates himself so much for not being there for her.
This is Rima, one of his best friends. Last year, she was the only one who knew what it felt like to fall for an evil. And all these years he couldn't even count the times where she had to save his ass from trouble. Or the late nights spent helping her study for her exams. He couldn't save someone he considered as a sister.
It sure has affected him a lot without her anymore. Look at him, the boy's about to commit suicide. If he couldn't protect her, how can he possibly protect Yaya and Kairi, people he also considered siblings he had to take care of. Kukai's always been the youngest of his brothers so he never had true experience of being a big brother until he met Rima, Yaya, and Kairi. He feels as if he isn't cut out to be the big brother, just maybe the little brother.
His brothers were always better than him and he could never match up to their expectations, so he even doubted he could cut out to be a little brother. Kukai just felt like he failed everyone.
The note sits on the rocks next to him, unopened. He didn't even have the nerve to open it yet. The minute he saw it, he wanted to rip it to pieces, throw it at the doctor, and tell her to get Rima back.
Kukai sighs. So easy to take it, to make that move. He didn't deserve to live, in his opinion. He deserved to rot in a hole for not being able to protect them, three people he felt the need to be responsible for, and now one of them is dead.
Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning slightly, he sees Yaya and Kairi watching him. Yaya sits down next to him, tucking her legs into her chest. Kairi goes to the other side and takes a seat. He slips Kukai the note and Yaya puts her head on his shoulder, both of them silently urging him to open it.
Sucking in a deep breath, Kukai slowly opens the envelope, holding the parchment carefully in his hands as if it were to break at the slightest breath.
Yaya and Kukai don't look, keeping their eyes focused on the ocean. They give Kukai the same privacy they were given when they first read their notes.
Kukai,
You are probably the best brother I could've asked for. I couldn't have asked for anyone else so brave to come on the journey with me. Thank you for supporting me through it all.
While writing this, I started to cry because I realized how many memories we hold. Right now I can still picture Tsukasa yelling at the four of us for staying up outside past curfew or the time we all stayed at Kairi's bedside when he was ill.
I love you so much Kukai. You're like my rock, along with Kairi and Yaya. I will miss you so much.
None of this was your fault. Don't ever think you failed me because you didn't. This was supposed to happen, in a bizarre way, and I hope you know none of it was because of you.
Your Sister,
Mashiro Rima
Water marks stain the paper and new ones splash on. Kukai doesn't even try to conceal his tears. Yaya just tucks her head into his chest, moving his arm out the way first. Kairi wraps an arm around his sobbing friend. Kukai wraps both arms around his two best friends, holding the three of them tightly together, afraid he'll lose them if he doesn't hold strong enough.
The three sob out all their feelings regarding Rima. In a strange eerie way, they can feel her, watching them at that very moment.
Yaya and Kairi fish out their notes, wiping away the excess tears that had clung to their faces. Kukai too has stopped, but doesn't bother to wipe away the leftover tears on his face.
They each look at their own individual notes, before simultaneously tossing them into the waters, watching the water absorb the material. The ink smudges all the writing into nothing. Kukai, Kairi, and Yaya just huddle closely, not giving the notes a second thought. As they just stare out into the sea the best friends silently grieve over Rima, without another tear shed.
From afar Nagihiko watched the scene unfold in front of him. He scoops a handful of sand, letting the grains slip back down on the beach through his fingers. It just reminded him of how he let his love get away; quick and easy.
Nagihiko slowly gets up and walks up the beach and towards the hill. Soon they were going to close it and she'd be buried under feet of dirt. Along the way up, he sees Amu, Ikuto, and Utau hanging around a tree. Utau sits on a low branch, her legs dangling down. Ikuto leans back with his back against the bark. Amu is standing next to Ikuto, letting her eyes transfix on Nagihiko. He doesn't give them a second glance. Continuing up, he runs into Mrs. Mashiro. He gives her a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek before going on to the casket.
Mr. Mashiro went somewhere about an hour ago for an unknown reason, leaving his wife to grieve for herself. Nagihiko can already tell the marriage isn't lasting long. He can see the paper clutched tightly in her hands.
He stares at her body, the tears gathering in his eyes. She's dressed in all white. A beautiful white gown match the sparkly flats adorned on her feet, with her arms crossed over her chest. Her hair has been combed through and held back by her signature headband with the black bow in the middle. A gold bracelet is wrapped around her wrist and is the only color on her body besides her buttercup curls that are spread out from under her. Nagihiko clutches the edge of the casket tightly in both of his hands.
"You know, there is no shame to cry, Nagihiko." Tsukasa's voice invades his ears. From his position, Nagihiko can tell his old principal is right behind him. How Tsukasa kew he was on the verge of breaking down without looking at his face, is a mystery to Nagihiko.
Nonetheless, Nagihiko let out the breath he didn't know he was holding and let the emotion filled tears spill. It was like Nagihiko was waiting for someone to tell him it was time to let the tears spill. Like waiting for someone to tell you when it was okay and not okay and when you should and should not cry. That person just so happens to be Tsukasa.
"She looks so peaceful doesn't she?" Tsukasa asks. Peaceful is the last adjective he would use to describe Rima; dead of course is the first choice. But even pale and lifeless as she looks, Nagihiko still thinks she looks breathtakingly beautiful.
Tsukasa kept silent for a while, just looking at Nagihiko's back as if he were a delicate rose. At the moment, he does consider Nagihiko to be in a fragile state. However, he couldn't blame the poor boy.
"Didn't she give you a note?" Nagihiko asks, through his sobs. It was none of his business what Rima wrote to Tsukasa, but he had something in his gut that kept telling him to ask.
"Yes," Tsukasa says. "I didn't read it though. It's floating in the ocean somewhere." Nagihiko whips around and looks at him in shock.
"You did not. Why would you do that?" Nagihiko asks, absolutely bewildered. Tsukasa shrugs, giving him a mysterious smile.
"In a way I already knew everything that was written before I even touched it. Mashiro-san was a very unique girl, but she was always a bit predictable for me, in my opinion," Tsukasa says.
Nagihiko could picture Rima coming up with some sort of snarky retort. The thought almost brought a whole new wave of tears. Again he choked back a sob.
"Somehow, I feel as if Mashiro-san has never left." Nagihiko stares up suspiciously at him.
"Don't give me that her soul will live on forever in our hearts crap," he says. That line to Nagihiko is basically a way to make the pain fade for a while. So that he can move on from Rima and get on with his life.
"I don't believe in that Fujisaki-san, you should know me better than to believe things like that." Nagihiko raises an eyebrow. "I mean I know this isn't the last of Mashiro-san."
"She's dead. What more is there?" Tsukasa shrugs, looking into the casket at Rima's lifeless body.
"There always is a lot to a dead person. Maybe not now, but I know that Mashiro-san isn't done yet, especially with Isamu," Tsukasa says. Nagihiko is beyond confused. What is this man talking about? Has he lost his rocker? "Is Mashiro-san really the one to let Isamu go without revenge? I don't think so. She's not done yet. Maybe she won't get her revenge now, but in the future, yes."
With that Tsukasa turns and walks away. Nagihiko stares after Tsukasa in complete confusion. What in the world goes on in Tsukasa's mind is beyond Nagihiko's capability.
Turning back to the casket, he lifts up two fingers, pressing them gently to his lips before pressing the same fingers on Rima's lips. He lets out one more tear slip from his eye before walking back down the hill and to the tree where his friends are, who have been watching him the whole time.
Nobody says anything. They all just stare at the ocean together with blank expressions. None know how the future will turn out, especially Nagihiko. He's been replaying the words of Tsukasa over and over in his head, but still nothing has come up except for a fresh headache.
He looks down the beach and realizes there's a cloaked figure on the shore. The person bends down and picks something up. Nagihiko squints, trying to see if there's a feature he can recognize, but the hood is still up.
A hand moves up and pulls down the hood, revealing long violet hair and amber eyes. Nagihiko knows now it is his sister. What had happened to her? Where had she been for all this time? Why was she here, now? How did she know?
So many questions soared through Nagihiko's mind as he just watches Nadeshiko for a while, making sure to analyze every single move.
On the beach, an envelope has settled itself in the sand. A gust of wind flutters it across the sand and down the shore until a foot steps on it gently. The figure wears a long black cloak, shielding it's identity from anyone watching.
The figure picks up the envelope and turns it around. "Fujisaki Nadeshiko" is written on the envelope. The person smiles, and removes it's hood. Long violet hair flows from the back and amber eyes shine contrasting to the sun.
Slowly opening it, Nadeshiko takes out the paper and lets the envelope drop back on the sand. The wind sweeps it back up and away from her sights. It's not like she cares as she unfolds and reads it.
Nadeshiko
You've played a fair game my friend. I figured it out a while ago, but wasn't sure weather or not I was right. The flowers really gave it away and maybe the fact that you were always very helpful Nadeshiko. But what I never figured out was: why the mysteriousness? Why the notes? Why couldn't you just tell me who you were?
Then after I wrote this I figured out why: You didn't want Nagihiko to know. He already knew I was in danger and knowing you were helping would've made him gone insane. So, I figured out your strategies and tactics, and now you'll probably stay in hiding for a while, am I wrong?
Knowing you're reading this, Nagihiko probably dropped the note. I knew he would, just as I know you'd find and be reading it. I also knew to write this because I know he wouldn't read it.
Also, the book. Find it, get it, keep it. Whatever you do, don't read it. Just keep it with you and make sure no one else reads it. It's out there somewhere, it cannot be destroyed. Find it.
Nade I'm depending on you to answer a few questions for me. Last year, during Halloween, something happened that's been on my mind for a while. I was fighting off a demon and I had a confusing jumpstart. It wasn't like any other jumpstart. It was different. I need you to help me figure it out. I'm depending on you Nadeshiko.
Take care of Nagi for me, Nade.
Mashiro Rima
With that the note was forever memorized in Nadeshiko's mind. She let the note fall from her fingers and let the wind take it away. She stares after it until it disappears from sight. Pulling her hood back up, she turns and realizes Nagihiko has been watching her. He's slowly making his way towards her now, getting faster and faster with each step.
Smiling she takes off into the sky, not looking back to see her brother's reaction.
"Sorry Nagi, I have some research to do; alone."
Down below, Nagihiko stares up at her, just watching Nadeshiko dissolve to a spec and then nothing. He couldn't catch the person's face, but he did have a good feeling that the person had something to do with Rima, and he's going to find out what.
Tsukasa's right, this isn't over yet. Nothing is over yet. It seems as if all the troubles have just started.
"Nagihiko!" Nagihiko turns, seeing all his friends running up to him with Azumi. Now why is she here?
"There's been a situation! My castle, a part of it has burned down!" Azumi says frantically.
"What? How could this have happened?" Nagihiko asked worriedly. What is going on here?
"The fire that always goes off. Outside your old room there; it exploded!" she explains frantically. Nagihiko keeps still, not reacting.
"Do you know anything Nagi?" Amu asks. "Nagi?"
Nagihiko's eyes have widen and mouth dropped open. Nothing comes out. Nobody moves, just waiting for him to say something, anything.
"Fujisaki-kun do you know what could've done this or who set it off?" Tsukasa asks sternly. Nagihiko looks around all his friends. No, this couldn't be, no. Tsukasa turns to Azumi. "Did you find any evidence on what could've caused it?"
"The hearth. Something was thrown in their and whatever it was it exploded the hearth and took the lives of a few of my Vultures. However, someone took it out. It looks to be the size of a large book of some kind," Azumi explains quickly.
Suddenly Nagihiko feels faint. Tsukasa is looking at him with a knowing glare. He knows, now he's just waiting for Nagihiko to admit it.
"I set it, I set it off," Nagihiko whispers. Gasps ring out.
"Why Nagi-kun?" Yaya asks. No one understands why Nagihiko would want to explode a hearth. It's not in his character to do so, even if he is an evil.
"I didn't explode it though," he whispers, his eyes glazed over with a dreamy look. His voice is monotoned and very quiet that you have to keep very quiet to hear him.
"Then who did?" Ikuto asks.
"Elements Angel and Evil: Facts And Legends." With every word uttered the group becomes more tense and frightened. Their worst fears have come to life, the book has disappeared once again. This time, no one knows where it is, or who it is with. Worst of all, who is reading it at this very moment. Nagihiko snaps his gaze to Tsukasa who just seems as shocked as everyone else, but more afraid than anyone. "It's only just the beginning."
Thanks for all your reviews and comments!
This is the last chapter of Test Of Trust and the epilogue is coming soon.
I promise it will come by...middle August. I have a lot of things to sort out with THE SEQUEL ;D
YES I HAVE DECIDED ON DOING THE SEQUEL. you guys have convinced me to do so and i love you all for that! I promise to make it way better than this.
Dont know a date for it yet but possibly the end of August? Idk yet.
My thank you's will go out next chapter :)
Love you alls!
~HAHE