"What are you going to do now?" Rika asked quietly as she helped Nadeshiko pack her clothes up.
Nadeshiko's father had heard of the attack and immediately ordered for his daughter to return. He was willing to accept her as long as she was safe by his side. Nadeshiko had initially refused but Rika had encouraged her to go back home. Nadeshiko would regret it if she didn't go back to her parents.
"I guess I'll continue my course at the university and then graduate" Nadeshiko replied.
"I'll miss you, Nadeshiko" Rika said.
"I will too but I'll come visit. Keep up in school and make your parents proud" Nadeshiko said.
"After the reaction I got from my mother and brother, I have to make them proud" Rika bent and placed a folded dress into the bag.
"At least they didn't kick you out. Your mother seems to be fine with it since your bisexual and not totally gay like me. Akaya will be uncomfortable but he'll come round" Nadeshiko replied.
"Rika-chan! Nadeshiko-chan's car is here!" Yuki called from downstairs.
Rika shut the suitcase and both of them heaved it down the stairs. The driver took it and placed it into the car boot.
"Thank you for keeping me for a few months. I troubled you a lot, didn't I?" Nadeshiko said.
"Of course not. You are welcome anytime" Yuki hugged Nadeshiko.
"Bye, Akaya" Nadeshiko kissed Akaya's cheek making him twitch.
"Bye" he replied shyly.
"I'll miss you, Nadeshiko" Rika said.
Nadeshiko held her tight. "I will too. Come to Tokyo for university, okay?"
"Yeah. I know. Bye" Rika let go and Nadeshiko sat in the car. The driver shut the door and then entered the car. The car drove away with Nadeshiko waving from the back. Rika smiled softly and then felt her mother wrap her arms around her waist.
"I'm happy that you've found a good friend, Rika-chan" Yuki said.
"Me too" Akaya piped up.
"She might be older but she's a great friend" Rika agreed.
Summer was spent with Rika occupying herself. She involved herself with sports like basketball, mountain climbing, hiking and football. She hadn't gone to visit An's grave or even to meet An's parents and brother.
"Rika-chan, it's a surprise to see you here" Yukimura said as he entered the park. Rika was by herself dribbling a basketball and occasionally taking shots.
"I wanted to get out of the house" Rika replied.
Yukimura could feel his heart beat faster as he examined her. Two months of playing sports had toned her body to become fine muscle which was all the more attractive. She was dressed in shorts with a tank top that showed off her muscles and tan. She had grown even more beautiful from the time he had entered high school till now.
"Have you been to visit An yet?" Yukimura asked quietly.
"No. I'm not ready yet" Rika replied.
"There's no time like the present. Let's go" Yukimura said.
"I'll go when I'm good and ready" Rika snapped.
"There is no specific time, Rika-chan. If you truly loved her then you should get this closure" Yukimura said.
"Fine!"
Rika let the basketball go and tossed it through the hoop. She headed towards the bench and wore her jacket covering her arms. Yukimura took the basketball and they headed out of the park. They caught the bus and then got to the graveyard. Rika was quiet until they reached An's grave. To Yukimura it was cruel injustice. An was so young. She didn't deserve to die. No one deserved to die that young.
"You were upset at first but then you seemed to calm yourself after a day. What happened?"
"Well, they say if you truly love someone you should let them go. If they come back to you then it was meant to be. An and I weren't meant to be. It is better to let this go and not regret it" Rika explained.
"Very wise" Yukimura said.
Rika turned from the grave. She stopped when she saw a familiar figure. Tachibana Kippei stared down at her with kind eyes.
"It's nice to see you again, Rika-chan" He said, his deep voice washing over her.
"You as well, Kippei. I just came to visit An-chan" Rika said.
"She'll be happy you came"
This was what killed Yukimura on the inside. They referred the Tachibana An as if she wasn't dead. As if she was ill or sick and they had come to visit. The dead had no feelings. The dead had no more life. There was no point of coming to see their graves. They couldn't do anything to help you.
"Yukimura-san" Kippei spoke up.
"Nice to see you again, Tachibana-kun" Yukimura said.
"You too" Kippei replied.
Yukimura took Rika's hand and led her out of the graveyard. Rika didn't look back but at regular intervals she would squeeze Yukimura's hand as if in pain.
"The regulars are planning to have a dinner together. Would you like to come?" Yukimura asked.
"It won't be awkward right? I haven't spoken to them since the hospital"
"I'm sure it won't be. Niou says he knew everything right from the beginning while Yanagi said he was suspicious for some time now. Yagyuu intends to respect it while Jackal says that some people in his family are gay too. Marui is curious like Akaya but Sanada on the other hand..."
"He hates me" Rika said quietly.
"He doesn't understand. Remember, he was brought up with traditional values and opinions. He might not accept it but he'll keep his mouth shut"
"I'll come anyway. I haven't seen you all in ages and Akaya will be happy that I'm spending time with him rather than outside" Rika replied.
Yuki was delighted that her daughter had decided to go out with friends and immediately set about getting her dressed up for the occasion. Rika protested but then went along with her mother anyway. After all, this was a way that Yuki would feel connected to her daughter after all that had happened.
"So this whole bisexuality is that you like girls and guys?" Yuki asked out of curiosity.
"Yeah. It also means that its people's personalities that will attract to me, not their looks" Rika replied.
"I wish I had that when I fell for your father. I know he's your father and he gave me two lovely children but I just wish we hadn't fallen apart. He was the quiet one in college that never spoke to anyone but when I got to know him, I fell hard for him" Yuki commented.
"Why did you guys divorce? You never told Akaya and I because we were too young"
"He came to me one day when both of you were nine and told me he couldn't bear to lie to me anymore. He said he couldn't be himself around me" Yuki explained
"Does that mean he was-" "Gay? Yes he was" Rika stared at her mother in horror through the mirror.
"Don't need to look so shocked. I had suspected it from the beginning because he had no girlfriend before I met him but I thought he was saving himself for his first love. He just never acted on his feelings for a male. I was hurt but then I tried to keep us together. He just wasn't attracted to me so I let him go" Yuki wiped a tear from her eye.
"I'm sorry, mom. I had no idea otherwise I would..."
"Would what? Hide your true self from me? I'm happy you came clean, dear. You're still my daughter despite everything" Yuki said.
Rika smiled and then wiped away a few tears of her own. Yuki immediately smacked her hand away.
"You'll ruin your makeup!"
