บท 74: Chapter 73 Black roses and goodbyes
Neon was gently poking Airi's cheek to wake him up. It was almost noon yet the children are all still fast asleep, so she came there to wake them up.
"Five more minuets...." Airi groaned, turning to the side.
"Airi..." She had been trying to wake them all up, but just like Airi, none of them wanted to get up.
Slightly loosing her patience, Neon stood up and walked over to the window and drew the curtain, letting the bright light of the sun shone over them.
Because of the blinding light, the children suddenly jolted up and rubbed their eyes.
Neon sighed and shook her head. "You three had been hiding here all morning, don't you want to get some fresh air?"
"No. Even if we do, we can always just go out in the balcony." Airi yawned
"Airi..." She glared at him but he merely shrugged. She sighed once again before finally giving in. "Whatever...just hurry up and get ready, the others will be arriving soon."
After that, she left the room. Airi stared at her as she left. She was wearing all black from head to toe, and because of it, he can't help but fell less motivated to start the day.
"Get ready for what?" Kishi asked him, sounded clueless.
"The funeral" Airi replied flatly.
Though he was completely unwilling to go and get ready, he had no choice but to do so.
The three of them dressed themselves all black. The twins felt weird at first since they always wore white but even so, they looked nice and Kira even looked like a doll.
*
Many others arrived, and most of them are members of the guild. It started raining and everyone was soaked. The three of them just stayed at the garden gazebo to keep themselves dry.
"Aren't go going to give your dad a rose?" Kishi asked him in concern
"You aren't either" Airi said
"We weren't 'cause it's raining and Sychi told us not to get wet and get ourselves sick"
Airi didn't argue further and turned his head away, as he stared at the rain. While Kishi stared at him, he felt slightly disappointed.
He sighed, "You know...you might be annoying for most of the time, but this side of you is way worse. What happened to the Airi I know?"
"That's probably isn't me"
"To think you just said yesterday that goodbyes aren't such a bad thing, yet here you are, afraid to say it"
Airi glared coldly at him.
"I don't remember saying anything"
Kishi merely stared at him. This was the first time he encountered this side of Airi, and no matter how much he tried to get used to it, it wasn't pleasant for him at all. He was running away. He was scared to face reality.
Kishi also can't deny that he was also afraid of reality, and he also don't know what he'll do when he's greatest fear had happened. But because of it, he admired Airi who can say and do everything he wanted without fear of what might happen. In a way, he wanted to be just like him and learn to accept things the way it is. He wanted to smile even though things aren't that good and when he was in pain. Yet right now, he realized that Airi was merely wearing a mask to hide his suffering, and the one he was speaking to right now was his real self. No matter how much he tried not to feel disappointed, he just can't help but to.
...Airi...He, was...just like him...
Bubblegum's hand was being held by her mother. She was there to attend the funeral, but she kept looking at where Kira, Kishi and Airi were in.
She was worried, she just knew how much Airi was loved and how much he loved his father in return. Most of them were spoiled children and was treasured a lot by their parents, but Airi was somehow different. Unlike most of them, he had everything. He was a genius, the best among all of them. He was very lucky and was well blessed, and he barely knew what it felt to be alone. He had his mother, his father, and almost everyone loves him. He may feel like most people don't understand him, but his fellow children in the guild are all there for him. Bubblegum can only imagine how he felt as his world started crumbling away.
After so long of looking back and forth, Bubblegum couldn't take it anymore. She ran to towards the nearest gazebo and ignored all the others calling.
"Sugar!"
She was soaking wet from the rain, yet she didn't care. The sound of her footsteps as she stepped on puddles was loud, yet not as loud as her inner voice that was so eager to see him.
As she reached the place, water splashed all over and the other three turned to stare at her, barely able to keep themselves dry as she splashed them.
"AIRI!!"
"What the hell I wrong with you?!"
But before Airi could fully react, Bubblegum hugged him tightly; sobbing.
Forgetting the fact that he was now wet because of her, Airi gave in and hugged her back.
"Sugar, I'm okay alright" he said
"No, you're not! If you are, then why aren't you still giving uncle a rose and say goodbye!?"
She reached her hand out to him and attempted to give Airi a black rose, but he refused. Airi clenched his fist and avoided her gaze. The twins merely stared at him, but Bubblegum felt hurt and dropped the flower to ground.
Tears started to flow from her eyes once again and she slumped down to the ground. Seeing her like this, Airi can't understand why she's like this when it comes to him.
"Why are you bothering yourself about me so much anyway?!"
Bubblegum didn't answer and just continue cry. Airi felt even more worse because of this. He opened his mouth and was about to speak, but Kira spoke before him.
"I bet Sugar had good reasons for being like this when it comes to you. But whatever it is, Airi, don't you think it's a bit personal?"
She advanced toward Bubblegum and picked up the rose. She then went to the edge, just enough that she wasn't in the rain and performed a spell. As she muttered an incantation silently, the others stared at her, and was surprised to what happened next.
The previous cloudy sky turned bright and the clouds shattered and revealed the sun. Even though the sky were bright once again, it was still raining, but a beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky, radiating with various colors. The petals of the back rose she was holding began to fall off and multiply, then flew along with the wind she created and drifted to the sky. Soon after, thousands of rose petals begun fluttering down along with the gentle rain.
"What in the..."
"Enchanted palace is known for its ability to use all kinds of magic, there's nothing new about it" said Kishi
"That's not what I'm talking about here" Airi looked at the sky again and can't help but admire it.
Looking at him, Kishi sighed and looked also at the sky. And just like Airi, Bubblegum was just as surprised and stared at Kira instead of the sky.
"Uncle must be happy." She said "He died without any regrets. I don't want to be sad anymore, I want to be happy. But I have to say goodbye, don't you guys think so too?"
All their gazes were now at her. Kira was still sad, and her smile was still unhappy, but she was trying her best to be positive and smile anyway.
Some of the petals gathered and turned into a bouquet of black roses, before landing into Airi's hand. He then looked at her and she nodded. She was right, there's no point in moping, but rather he should try his best to accept no matter how hard it is.
He silently went towards his father's grave and carefully placed the flowers as tears welled from his eyes. The others just gazed at him but didn't utter a sound. Neon embraced him, sobbing, yet happy to know that he finally decided to accept his father's death.
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Yukishime_chan912
Yukishime_chan912 I appreciate those who read this book, but I really do feel like having a comment or two here. Having none can feel a bit.....ghostly...