Airi held her so tightly, not wanting to let her go. He was scared, he doesn't want to be left alone. He doesn't want her to die as well.
His heart terribly aching, tears flowed uncontrollably from his eyes
"Please....don't leave me" He sobbed "You can't leave me...I'm scared"
"Airi...you'll be just fine..." his mother reassured him as she caresses his hair.
"No, I won't be..." he cried "I don't want to be alone...you can't leave me..."
With a gentle smile on her face, she held his little hand and planted a soft kiss on it.
"Airi, my dear child...you are not alone. Even if I'm not with you, I 'am sure that your friends will keep you company..."
"But that won't be enough!" the child retorted "I can't live without you. Don't leave me like dad! You can't leave me! Mom!"
"I'm sorry..." She weakly cried, making the boy stare at her, helpless. She placed her hand on Airi's soft cheeks. It was so wet from tears; it was unbearable for her to look at him like this. Her heart ached a lot.
"I'm sorry..." tears flowed from her eyes. "We've caused you so much pain, and yet we can't even share that pain with you. Oh Airi, if you only knew how much your dear mother wants to be with you forever..."
"Then why not stay with me?" Airi asked.
"Because if it's for you, it's worth the price to pay"
"What are you talking about?! I don't understand!"
She beamed at him. "Someday you will. But please for my sake, don't regret your choices. Be a good child, stay strong and make sure to smile. Your father and I will always love you, and will be there for you no matter what. That, don't ever forget..."
"Mom..." he kept pleading her, tightening his fist, making the palm of his hands bleed.
She held his hands again with her other hand, and caressed it gently. She looked at him with worry yet still remained her smile, she reminded him. "Airi, take care of yourself, mommy doesn't like to see you hurt."
The boy however, didn't pay heed to her and just cried. His heart was in too much pain, he can barely feel the pain in his flesh. He just can't stomach the fact that he will one day have to say goodbye to both his parents that he dearly loved. He was afraid to be alone. When he was with them, he felt as if he could do no wrong. Even if the world would go against him, he was sure to himself that he would be just fine. Yet now, everything around him feels like an endless nightmare. He was extremely scared.
"Everything's gonna be alright now, don't cry..." she tried to coax him "Airi, smile. Send me off with a smile Airi"
"But I can't"
How can he smile when he is in too much pain?
"If you can't do it for yourself, do it for me..."
Hearing her words, his heart ached more. But with all his remaining strength and courage, he forced a smile, a sad smile...
She also smiled at her in return. Opening his bleeding hands, she placed her pendant, created from beautiful jewels, carved into a beautiful pink rose.
"You're such a good child, I felt as if I 'am unworthy. But just this one last time, I loved you so much..."
Her hand that was holding Airi's cheeks fell and her eyes closed, beads of tears flowing out from it still.
The child wept even loudly, the other servants could only hang their heads low in sadness, while the others cried.
It was hard to believe that this one lucky family, that was just previously living their lives happily together, who respected everyone around them and acted humble and kind to others, was left with nothing more but their only child.
They somehow feared what might happen to Rosaroses now. Not that they underestimated the boy's talent to handle the family, but they feared what might happen to the child.
Watching him grow, they knew all too well how much their young lord loved both his parents. He was very fragile, and dependent towards them. They had no idea if he will be able to move on and continue living life, or whether he would change into utter coldness.
Neon's body started to glow. She started disappearing into petals, and no matter how much Airi held on to her, she just continued to turn into petals, drifting along the gentle wind.
The pink rose petals, flew around the weeping child first, touching his cheek before flying out of the window to the sky, never to return again.
As the servants looked at where she was previously at, they noticed that a rose wasn't left there. And to completely disappear meant only one thing. She died without the slightest regret.
They then realized that both Airi's parents were completely prepared, unlike Amira whose presence remained in a half pink and black rose that she left behind.
...
The following day, Airi just locked himself in his room. He skipped all his meals, and forbid anyone to speak to him or enter his room.
He also didn't bother to host a funeral for his mother. He found it unnecessary since no corpse was left behind to bury anyway. And funerals are also no more than formalities, being held only so the dead can be mourned by everyone who cares or to sympathize with the deceased's family.
Airi never liked anything about it at all. He thought that there's no point in doing one, just for other people's convenience. He was also not in the mood to do anything at the moment.
While the guild found out that Neon had already passed away, they fully respected the child's choice. But they were also very worried in what might happen to Airi next.
Airi was currently the head of the family now, and with enough procedures and paper works, the information would become official. Though it was highly dangerous -- as many other families would seek to bring down the family as it is in its most vulnerable moment with only the child to handle everything -- there was currently no choice, regardless whether they hide it or not, the truth can't be hidden for long anyway.
Meijin hands are currently full with his responsibility in the Darkrose, and Airi was on his own. The future of Rosarose's family, lies in his hands. But the biggest problem is if he will be able to, since the emotional shock he suffered is quite severe.
***
A week had already passed. The E-class have yet to receive any news from Airi.
It was Monday morning and E-class is already in their classroom, waiting for Amili and for their history class to start.
Kishi was impatiently tapping his forefinger loudly on the table, with his head resting in his other hand. The sound he was making was so loud that the whole class was unusually quiet and uneasy. Even Kira just sat quietly beside him, with Fuffly, her four-tailed spirit fox in her arms.
Kishi was waiting for Airi to finally show himself after so long. Knowing Airi, he knew that he wasn't the type who arrives at school very late. And yet, Kishi waited long, but he still didn't come.
As Amili entered the room, the children stared at her.
Slamming the thick book on the desk at front, she said, "Okays everyone, let's have a recap--"
But before she could finish her sentence, Kishi interrupted her. "Where's Airi?" he asked.
She looked at him for a moment before she answered. "He won't be coming"
Clicking his tongue, he hastily stood up and strode towards the exit. Kira following closely behind him.
"Where do you think your going?" Amili asked him. But he merely gazed at her coldly and replied.
"What else? To Airi obviously" With that, the two of them disappeared out of sight.
Hearing what they said, Bubblegum was first to stand up and rushed over to follow them. Rex, lune, Yin, Yang, and Mythica were next, but Amili was able to stop the last five of them.
"None of you are going to leave" she told them.