On Ren's side, everything had been settled. Takuma was officially his successor.
Even though Ren was still needed to assist as a non-executive advisor, he didn't have to go to the company daily as he did before. The inauguration for Takuma would take place next week.
The news swept across the high society. All of them were shocked when they heard the current head of the Fuse Family stepped down and gave his position to his paternal cousin.
This was a rare occurrence.
Although both men were in the same family, they came from different branches. Usually, the position of the head of the household would be occupied by the first branch and the titles would go along the line of the descendants.
With Ren's movement, it could be said that he didn't intend to let his future sons be the next head of the later generations.
While people were busy talking about it, Ren didn't pay attention to them. They could talk however they wanted.
Right now, his focus was on his wife.
Tsubaki still going back and forth to the sanatorium.
Sometimes, Masami's health turned better but most of the time, she would suffer from endless pain while drifting in and out of consciousness. Her already frail body turned skinnier because she would only throw up the food she tried to eat.
"Her time is nearer. We could only try to let her be comfortable as much as we can," The attending doctor told the couple one day.
Because of this, Tsubaki grew more frantic. She couldn't sleep well at night and she often daydreaming. It made Ren panic because if this continued, his wife might develop pre-natal depression.
One day, while Granny Sumiko accompanied Tsubaki for a nap after lunch, Ren went to meet his mother-in-law. It was the rare time they were together without Tsubaki with them.
"Mother, may I talk to you?" Ren asked cautiously from the door of the inner room.
Masami smiled gently at him. She had always liked this son-in-law of his. Although she had a good impression of Nagao Yuuto, her other son-in-law as well, they didn't meet often as how she did with Ren.
"Come here," Masami weakly beckoned him, "I want to talk to you too."
Ren entered the room, closed the door and sat on a chair next to the bed.
His mother-in-law was currently leaning her back against the headboard. Her sunken cheeks were too apparent and the light of her eyes dimmer than usual. Even though she could speak much today compared to the days when she was sick, it still required much energy.
Yet, it was a relief that his mother-in-law didn't have to depend on life support.
Ren didn't speak. He pursed his lips tight, concerns lingered in his brows. He clasped and unclasped his hands to let out how restless he felt.
He didn't know what to say to his mother-in-law. He just felt he wanted to see her.
"Are you worrying about Tsubaki?" Masami's feeble voice echoed softly in the room.
Ren's eyes twitched. He looked at his mother-in-law.
"Yes," He answered with a dumb voice.
Masami had watched the couple throughout the time they were here. She could see that Ren was greatly concerned over Tsubaki's anxious mind.
Tsubaki would always smile whenever she talked to her but, Masami clearly saw her daughter was worried about her deteriorating state. The ongoing anxiousness wouldn't sit well for an expecting mother like Tsubaki.
"Ren, I believe you could take care of her well after my death."
Her frank words surprised Ren.
"Mother, don't talk like that..." He forced the words out of his mouth.
Masami smiled, "Life would end with death. No matter how unwilling us to face it, it would come. At that time, the greatest support Tsubaki could have is you."
Red veins were apparent in the whites of his eyes.
Ren didn't know his mother-in-law for too long but, he was saddened by how calm the woman that was important for his wife when she was talking about her own death.
"Please rest assured. Tsubaki would always be my priority. I'd love and care for her until the end of our life."
In the end, he could only firmly put up his oath.
Masami let out a chuckle. Her gaze drifted to the lockets that Tsubaki presented to her the other day.
A memory spread in her mind, sending warmth to the depth of her heart.
"Ren, I have a favor to ask."
Ren looked at the pale woman, "Please tell me, Mother. I'd do my best to fulfill it."
Masami opened her mouth, saying what she hoped for. Once he heard it, Ren immediately got up and searched for the doctor.
Once Tsubaki woke up, she heard that her husband would bring her mother out of the sanatorium for an outing.
"Where are we going? Can Mom leave the sanatorium? What did the doctor say?"
Tsubaki was glad if her mother could have a change of scenery but she was still worried if her mother's fragile body couldn't bear being exposed to the sun and wind.
"Mother insisted. The doctor and a team of nurses would be on standby," Ren smoothened the collar of his wife's autumn jacket. Something flickered in his eyes as he said, "Mother wants to visit Father's burial site."
Tsubaki froze.
"What did you say...?"
Ren repeated, "Mother wants to visit Father."
When he first heard it, Ren wanted to protest because going outside in his mother-in-law's current condition would only turn her condition worse. The cemetery was far from this place, almost taking an hour of the ride. If something happened, the effect might be irreversible.
But, something told him that if he didn't grant this wish, he would deeply regret it. Thus, Ren did his best to persuade the doctor to allow Masami out of the sanatorium.
"How could that... Won't it makes Mom uncomfortable?" Tsubaki asked anxiously.
"Sweetheart, let's grant her this wish, okay?" Ren patiently coaxed her. His eyes brimmed with tenderness as he stared at her teary eyes, "I don't want either you or Mother to regret it."
Tsubaki pursed her lips. She understood his meaning. In the end, she could only agree.
The sky was still bright when they set out of the sanatorium. Tsubaki kept quiet while sitting beside Masami. Masami was bundled in a thick cardigan with a woolen hat warming her head. Even though winter had yet to arrive, the weather was still cold.
Soon, they arrived at the cemetery. Ren took the lead to gently carry his mother-in-law and placed her in the wheelchair. His heart panged with ache when he realized how light her skinny body was.
"Ah, he looks as dashing as always," Masami smiled, "Hehe, Tsubaki, look, isn't your father handsome?"
Right now, she was facing her beloved Takahisa's burial site. Its surrounding was clean. The photo of a man smiling softly to the lens was placed in front of the tombstone.
Tsubaki and Ren lit up the incense. It was the first time they came here.
Tsubaki couldn't kowtow as her round belly limited her movements. Tears reddened her eyes as she looked at the photo of her father.
This was the man who was so dearly loved by her mother. Even after his death, her mother's love for him still blooming.
"Takahisa, look, I bring Tsubaki and her husband here," Masami chuckled with her eyes gleaming softly to the photo, "They are doing great. Both of them are filial to me."
Ren kept Tsubaki close to him. They stayed quite far from the tombstone, giving space for Masami to talk. Even from afar, they could see her smiling softly at the man in the photo frame.
"Darling..." Tsubaki leaned her head on his chest, savoring his warmth.
Ren gently hummed while stroking her hair, "Yes, sweetheart?"
A stream of tears rolled down her cheeks, "Mom would go soon, isn't it?"
Ren paused for a second, "Yes. We have to send her with smiles, sweetheart."
Tsubaki nodded her head a few times. Despite the tears running down her face, her lips bent into a smile, "Okay."
She had spent these days dreading her mother's incoming death. Tsubaki was torn between letting her go or keep holding on to her. Their time together was so short. She was unwilling to let her leave soon.
But, sooner or later, she still had to face it.
Nothing happened to Masami throughout the short outing to the cemetery ground. Her pale face was beaming with a delighted smile in the journey back to the sanatorium. There was no sadness or regret as if she didn't visit her beloved's burial site.
"Tsubaki, Ren, live well," She said when the couple watched her lying back on the bed. Her voice was so soft, so full of tenderness, "I really hope both of you could live happily with each other until the end."
"Mom, go to sleep," Tsubaki gently persuaded her mother, "You must be tired after the trip. I'll come again tomorrow."
"Hehe, you're such a worrywart," Masami looked at Tsubaki with love.
"We'll be happy, Mother," Ren replied his mother-in-law's words seriously from the side.
"Good," Masami chuckled, "Alright, alright. Let's stop being so gloomy. I'll sleep now. Be careful on your way back."
"Okay," Tsubaki reluctantly let go of her mother's hands.
Masami waved at them, urging them to quickly go home. Leaving with no choice, Tsubaki let Ren supported her back to the car.
In the following days, Masami appeared so lively and healthy compared to before. She could smile and laugh without having any difficulty.
Yet, on the fourth morning, she was found sleeping without being able to wake up again.
A soft smile graced her sleeping face with both of her hands holding the necklaces as her soul made her way to her beloved.