[Episode 55412] [Episode 55412]In all, Soun Tendo thought as he herded his children out of the taxi, a thoroughly inappropriate day for a funeral.
Of course, it had been a beautiful ceremony. Just like she had been. The cherry blossoms had just bloomed, and had wafted their way across the graveyard in a manner most pleasing to the eye. It hadn’t been like that when they had met, of course: winter had gripped the land when their omari had taken place, and in retrospect she had been somewhat less than pleased at the situation. Although, in thinking about it more, the formalities of both ceremonies did create a sort of bookends to his relationship with her. She probably would have been quite irate about this one as well.
The children were quiet as he led them up to the house that beautiful spring morning. Kasumi. The slightly musky smell of the household wafted out into the courtyard as she slid the door open. She used to be alive, like her mother. She's dead now, but still moving. Strange.
Nabiki, the quiet one. Eyes open, seeing everything, looking at my face, speaking only to ask the important questions. The stairs creak a bit as she walks up them, her small hand encompassed in my palm. She knows, I think.
And Akane. Oh, Akane. Your face accuses me, and you don’t know it. Your tears had started that day, and they hadn’t stopped since. So much like your father.
Oh, he had observed the proper forms of grief. All the neighbors had seen his stoic dignity as he had seen to her remains. He had been the pillar of strength his children had needed to get through this trying time. He had been the proper father. He had been the proper spouse. He had been the leader of the community that he was supposed to have been.
He had had enough. The love of my life was worm-food, dammit, and if I want to cry I'm damn well going to.
But there’s someone in the backyard. Oh, no. Not now. Not a challenger. Let me do this one more thing, Kimiko, and I can let go.
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(Posted Mon, 30 Jun 2003 06:19)
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