Akama, Kuroda, and Kijima started examining Aoyama's parents' bodies while Aoyama and Miki stood on the side. At the sight of his parents, Aoyama nearly broke down again but he tried to remain strong.
Miki cringed at the sight. She remembered her own parents and sister who died in similar way just a little over five years ago. She felt sick in her stomach. "Why must this happen again?" she wondered.
"Everything looks pretty normal to me," Kijima said.
Akama saw how badly burnt they were from the explosion. He observed their faces, their clothes, their arms, and then he noticed how Aoyama's father's right hand was clenched and there was something sticking out. He quickly reached for the hand and opened it to reveal a couple of black feathers.
"Feathers?" he muttered.
Kuroda and Kijima quickly jumped to his side. "Eh?"
"Interesting," Akama thought to himself.
"Why would your father be holding on to some feathers, Aoyama?" he asked Aoyama hoping for some explanation.
"I don't know," Aoyama replied. "I don't see any reason why he would have feathers in his hands."
"Hmm feathers?" the words suddenly jolted Miki's memory. "Show me!"
Akama walked to Miki's side and showed her the feathers. "Wow," she exclaimed.
"Do you know something about them?" Aoyama turned to Miki.
"My grandmother. She passed away when she was doing some gardening. I did see some feathers around her when I found her. I never gave it a thought as there were always birds around her house," she explained as she reached for the feathers from Akama's hands. "But I did take some notice as they looked really shinny and fluffy, almost looked fake. Just like these ones."
"Did you keep any of them?" asked Akama.
Miki shook her head. "No, as I said, I didn't really think much about it."
"Something smells like dark forces," Kuroda said. "We should keep those feathers and investigate them further."
The rest on the group nodded in agreement.
"We should now let your parents rest in piece and paid them respect that they deserve, Aoyama," Akama suggested.
Aoyama nodded. "Thanks, guys."
-oOo-
Aoyama decided to not delay the cremation of his parents. He wanted them to rest peacefully quickly. He held the ceremony that afternoon surrounded by the people who meant the most to him. His extended family lived all over Japan so they would not be able to come anyway on short notice.
Accompanied by the rest of Goggle V, he took their ashes to let them free over the ocean.
"Rest in peace, Mom, Dad. I love you and I'm sorry," he sobbed while pouring the ashes over the ocean.
Miki held one of his arms and Kijima held the other while Akama and Kuroda stood behind him holding his shoulder.
"So what now?" Aoyama asked after he was finished.
The others looked at him. "It's up to you, Aoyama," Akama took the lead as usual. "Take a few days to grief. We'll investigate it once you're feeling better."
Aoyama nodded. "I should really visit my parents' home and do something about it."
Akama nodded. "Let us know if you need a hand."
"I'll be fine. I think."
"Call us," Kuroda said. "You have our numbers."
"I will. Thanks again." Aoyama bowed to them.
"There's no need to be so formal," Akama put one hand on his shoulder. "We're family, remember?" He gave Aoyama a hug followed by the rest of the group.
Aoyama smiled, for the first time that day.
"Shall we all go?" Akama asked the group.
"I think I'll stay here for a little while." Aoyama decided. "You guys go ahead."
"Take care, bro," Kijima said on behalf of the others before they walked back to their own vehicles.
As Miki turned her back to follow the guys, she felt one of her hand being pulled. She turned around to find Aoyama looking at her. "Can you stay?" he asked softly.
Akama who realised Miki was a step behind turned around as well. "Miki?"
Miki turned her head to look at Akama, then back to Aoyama.
"Please?" Aoyama pleaded.
"Sure," she couldn't say no to her grieving friend. "Just give me a second."
She walked towards Akama and told him, "he wants me to stay," she whispered. "Maybe you should go first."
"I'll stay as well then," he suggested.
"I think he just wanted me," Miki clarified.
"Oh…," Akama was taken aback.
"Go home, have a rest. Take my car. I'll see you later," Miki said as he passed him her apartment's keys.
"How are you getting back then?" Akama asked concerned.
"I'll figure something out. Aoyama would drive me I'm sure. Or I'll give you a call at home if I need you to get me," she said reassuring him.
"Hmm…," Akama hesitated. "Are you sure? I can wait somewhere nearby if you like."
"It's fine. Aoyama is with me, I'll be fine," she said.
"He's not emotionally stable at the moment and you're not physically well either," he reasoned.
"We'll be fine, Akama. We're not children," Miki insisted. "Go."
"Okay," he finally agreed although inside he wasn't so sure. "Give me a call, okay?"
Miki nodded and walked back to Aoyama.
Akama watched her from afar. He wanted to grab her and tell her not to go but he couldn't as it would be the selfish thing to do. Akama was anything but a selfish person. With a heavy heart he walked back to Miki's car and left.
-oOo-
"Thanks for staying," Aoyama said as he took a seat on the sandy beach.
"No problem at all," she said as she sat down as well, putting her crutches beside her.
"How's your ankle? You fell again today," he said remembering what happened earlier.
"It's fine. Don't worry about me," Miki said. "How are you feeling?"
"Okay, I guess," he replied. "I don't know actually. I feel rather numb at the moment. It's just been an overwhelming day."
Miki nodded. "It certainly has."
"How did you cope when you lost your parents?" he asked. "I just realised that I never asked before."
Miki shrugged. "I don't remember much actually. I tend to block painful memory."
Aoyama nodded. "Maybe it's the only thing you can do really."
They sat in silence for a while before Aoyama said, "I'm scared, Miki."
"Of what?" Miki asked.
"Of being alone," he said. "I'm very close to my parents. Even though I have not lived with them for so long, they still call me everyday. Especially my mom. There has never been a single week passed without us seeing each other."
"Aoyama…," Miki didn't know what to say. She put her hand around his shoulder. "I know nothing can replace your parents. But please know that you're not alone."
Aoyama reached for Miki's hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. "I know you guys are here for me, but we now have our own lives. Look at the past five years, we never even saw each other."
"But we're here now," Miki said. "And we're not going anywhere."
Aoyama sighed. Somehow he found it hard to believe it.
"We should go, it's getting cold," he said as the sun started sinking.
He got up and helped Miki up. "Will you come with me?"
"To where?" Miki asked.
"My place. I really don't want to be alone tonight," he said.
Miki suddenly could picture Akama nagging her to come home in her head but she couldn't say no to Aoyama. "Sure," she finally said.