Chapter 7
Sora stood there for a moment watching Ayane bounce around. Ayane seemed ecstatic about Sora coming along to meet her mother. Ayane stopped jumping. What she was more concerned about though, was Ayane's older sister meeting Sora, and all the embarrassing things she'd say. Ayane then went from excited to an overwhelming embarrassment. Sora looked at Ayane and walked up to her.
"So when are we going to visit your mother Ayane..?"
"Oh uhm! We can go now if you want!"
"Oh cool.. Do you know where her cemetery is?.."
"Of course I do!"
"Alright.. Do you have any way to get there..?"
"It's not far so I usually just walk! And on the way there.. I pick up some flowers and candles for her.."
"Oh I see.. That's really sweet.."
"Yeah well she is my mother after all!" Ayane turned around and walked to the door to put on her shoes; Sora did the same. Ayane opened the door and walked through and waited for Sora to walk to the front door to close it. Sora walked out of the front door after Ayane.
"Are we going to get your mother some stuff Ayane..?"
"Yes I am! It's only respectful for her"
"I see.. You really love your mom don't you..?"
"Yes I do.. It was a shame she passed.." As the two of them wrapped up their conversation, they proceeded out of the dorm building and walked through the golden gates. Exiting the college campus.
Ayane and Sora found themselves inside of the market. The moment they walked through the automatic entrance doors, they got a scent of fresh flowers, and fruits. Sora looked over at Ayane and saw her face, she looked a bit down, upset even.
"Are you okay Ayane..?" Sora tapped Ayane on the shoulder and Ayane snapped back into reality, and out of her thoughts.
"Yeah.. Yeah I'm ok.. Let's get shopping!" Ayane responded. Sora looked concerned but for her own and Ayane's sake she left her be.
"Alright what flowers does your mother like Ayane..?"
"She likes a mixture of poppies and daffodils!"
"Oh that's a unique combination of flowers.."
"Yeah my mom was always the experimental type of person.." Ayane and Sora walked to the flower section of the store. There they were greeted with the smell of fresh variety of fruits. From apples, bananas, oranges. It was all there, but they didn't come here for fruit, they came for flowers. Ayane and Sora walked over to where the flowers were, and Ayane carefully picked the freshest flowers. Sora looked at Ayane and was mesmerized. She was surprised that Ayane knew exactly what she was doing, but then again, she does do this every year. Sora looked at Ayane's concentrated face gestures, she was in a thinking pose with her pointer finger resting on her chin and her eyes narrowed, like a small shallow beach. However, her expression was calming, soft and subtle, like adding waves onto that already shallow small beach. Ayane grabbed a bouquet of flowers. They were bright red and beautiful. Ayane picked up the daffodils and she stared at them as if she saw memories of her and her mother. Sora watched this vividly realizing how hurt and how much pain Ayane was in. Sora had never suffered anything like this because she still had all of her family members. In a way Sora was extremely sympathetic for Ayane and wondered how she could've dealt with this sort of pain alone.
Both Ayane and Sora migrated to the register as they did back at the grocery store and this time Ayane paid for the flowers. Sora, walking with Ayane to the cemetery, suddenly Ayane stops in her tracks on the sidewalk and turns around to face Sora. Sora seems surprised to see that the more and more she looked at Ayane the more and more despondent she seemed. Sora finally opened up her mouth to say something about it but before she could, Ayane interrupted.
"So! Uhm.. When we get there.. I don't know who's going to be there… Usually nobody goes.. Not even my older sister.. But she's constantly busy since she works all the time.. So It'll be just you and me as far as I know Sora…" Sora looked at Ayane for a moment. She was confused on why they were going to be the only two, but she remembered that Ayane's father committed suicide.
"That's fine.. I just want to be there for.... You..." Sora falls asleep standing up after stating her statement. Ayane gently pokes her face, and she snaps awake.
"Sorry.. I want to be there for you.. It doesn't matter if It's just us.. I'll be here for you for as long as you need me to be.. And that I can promise you.." Sora said, walking towards Ayane and wrapping her arms around Ayane, signaling a warm embrace, but not out of pity, from her heart. Ayane hugs Sora back, still ruminating about her mother and how much she had impacted her life. They both release from Sora's embrace.
"Thank you Sora.. You're really sweet to me.. I don{t know how you can put up with my obnoxious behavior sometimes.." After saying that Ayane continued to walk. They arrived at the open gates of the cemetery. Sora followed after Ayane when she walked inside the gates. Looking around Sora saw a lot of headstones and graves, mourning despondent families, and pretty or dead flowers next to headstones. Ayane continued walking the path of the cemetery until she cut straight into the grass, Sora followed. Ayane stopped at a headstone titled "Long Live Scarlet Hyuga 1987-2023".
"Your mother's name was Scarlet?.. That's a beautiful name.."
"It sure was I just could've wished she'd been here to see me grow up… Ya know..?" Sora felt terrible after letting that seep into her ears. Ayane looked calm, but almost emotionless. Ayane looked at the head stone, kneeled down and pressed her lips against it.
"I miss you mom.. I wish you were here… I brought a friend with me…"
"Hello Mrs. Hyuga.." Sora gently waved her hand at the headstone.
"I love you so much… I hope you're resting well in your new home… I got into college… The one you wanted me to go to so much… I met a wonderful friend… And I really care for her… Her name is Sora.. Sora Ame.." Sora didn't know what to say, as she watched Ayane talk to the headstone, she then realized how much pain and suffering she was really in. Before she knew it Sora saw tears hit the ground. Ayane was crying. Seeing Ayane in so much pain hurt Sora, in a way she wanted to make all of her pain and fear go away completely. Instead, Sora went behind Ayane and comforted her with a warm hug from behind. Isn't this what couples do? Sora thought to herself. Even if that was the case, Sora didn't care, all she wanted to do was be there for Ayane during her pain and suffering.
Ayane started letting out loud sobs, her mourning filled the cemetery, and combined with everyone else's. Sora, having mixed feelings of shock and sadness for Ayane, continued to hug her. Sora released Ayane from the hug.
"I love you mom… So much… Rest well, ok?... I'm leaving now… And I'll continue to do my best for everyone…" After Ayane said her final departing words, Ayane walked off and onto the path again, signaling for Sora to follow.
"Come on Sora… Let's go home…"
"I'll catch up, you get at the gates I'll give you a head start.."
"Alright.. I'll wait for you at the gates.."
"Thank you.." As Ayane walked off to the gates, Sora stayed behind at her mother's grave and looked at it in despair and sorrow. She then spoke.
"Mrs. Hyuga.. I swear to you.. I'll do everything in my power to make sure that Ayane is safe and happy.. You are very lucky to have a daughter like her.. Ever since she came to college.. She's had a huge impact on me.. Some in which I can't comprehend.. She's sweet, loving, kind, and amazing to spend time with.. She's a wonderful girl.. And I hope that someday I can.. Ask her a huge commitment question… But that takes time… Healing comes first… So, I'll do everything in my power… You have my word…" After Sora spoke those words, Ayane called out to her waving her hands in the air, totally oblivious to the attention she may be attracting to herself. Sora swiftly made it over to Ayane.
"Ready to go back Sora?"
"Born ready.. Let's go.." Ayane giggled at her response, and they ventured out of the gates to the cemetery, with smiles etched on their faces, leaving the sorrow, weeping, and puddles of tears behind. I swear.. I'll do my best for you.. All of you.. Sora thought to herself. I promise that I'll do my best for her.. Thinking at the same time as Ayane. No matter the cost, Ayane and Sora were willing to give up anything, for the people they loved, Including each other.