When Cherry Blossoms Bloom

Chapter 26

Hiro and Ruth walked into the temple. It had been a week since their confrontation and victory against the demon. They walked up to the shrine and got on her knees. On the altar were all three of the scrolls. A testament to what they had lost and gained. The curse was finally broken and the price had indeed been high. Ruth lit some incense and put it in its proper place. "Grandmother," Hiro says aloud. "Thank you so much for everything that you have done for me and all of my family. I know that wherever you are now, you are happy." Hiro bowed his head. He helped Ruth to her feet. Ruth watched her husband as a tear began to fall. She wiped his tear away. She blushed as she put her fingers through his hair. Hiro kissed her hand and they walked back to the house. With the defeat of the demon, Ruth was not surprised that their psychic gifts remained. Sakura explained to her parents that she was still being visited by ghosts. She would do her best to help them find peace. Sachi began to take interest in the possibility of becoming a spiritualist much like Hiro's friend. As time passed, the twins found that it was beneficial that they work together. Time seemed to pass all to quickly, just as it had before all the drama they had experienced. The twins were soon off to University and then Ruth and Hirozaki found themselves sitting amongst many other proud parents as they waited for their children's graduation ceremony to begin. Ruth was looking around nervously. Hiro took her hand. "Don't worry,love. They'll be here." Ruth took a breath. "Hey, mom." Ruth jumped to her feet at her son's voice. When she turned to face him, she saw that all of her children had made it as promised. Aaron had come with his wife and three children. His wife holding their newest addition. Behind Aaron was his brother Branyn. He was still single having chosen to focus instead on his military career. He had just received a promotion to the head of the Department of Defense in the U.S. His younger brother Connor was next. His wife and two children smiled their hellos and took their seats. Ruth's youngest child walked around and addressed her stepdad. "Hey dad, do you mind?" Hiro raised an eyebrow. "Just this once." Deanna smiled and kissed him on the cheek as she took a seat between them. The crowd quieted as the ceremony began. Ruth watched doing her best not to cry as she watched her two youngest children walk across the stage and accept their degrees. The twins had made the number one and two spots in the top of their class. Hirozaki listened, glowing with pride as he listened to his children's rehearsed speeches. Aaron leaned over to his mom. "I think they turned out better than we did." He chuckled. Ruth gave him a hug. "We all had different kinds of journeys, kiddo," "Everything happens for a reason." Aaron finished for her. "I know, mom." At the end of the ceremony, Sachi and Sakura hurried over to their family and gave hugs all around. Sakura picked one of her nieces up and put her on her hip. "Come on, you guys." She tells everyone. The family loaded up in their vehicles and made their way to the auditorium. Inside they found refreshments, music, games and camaraderie. The family found a group of tables that had name plates for the family. Hiro and Ruth sat next to each other and watched as their family found their own seats. The family enjoyed the time they had together. Ruth's children planned on staying for at least a week so that they could at least try and make up for lost time. Each child had been so busy with their own lives that finding time to come to see their mother had taken quite some time. Ruth had no complaints. They were here now, and that is all that mattered to her. The thought of being an empty nester again weighed on her some. For as long as she could remember, being a mom was all she had ever known. Though being almost seventy, she definitely didn't have the energy she once had. She had already retired from her anime business a few years before and had passed it down to one of her most loyal employees. The only thing that hadn't changed over time was her libido as well as her husbands' If one were to see them together, you would think they were still teenagers. Granted age forced them to be a little more careful as well as creative when they spent time together. But after all was said and done, they were more content than ever to simply hold onto each other. And when the time finally came years later. That's how they were found in the end. Hirozaki was holding Ruth close, his arms wrapped around her protectively. He was one hundred and five and she one hundred when a friend finally found them on the fateful day. Their families came together to lay the couple to rest. Both Sachi and Sakura had gone on to have families of their own. Each had four children, showing that the curse had indeed been broken. The only remnant of their legacy that remained was the silver eyes and psychic gifts that each generation continued to possess. The silver eyes were left by the powers that be as a reminder that no matter how hard life got, asking evil for assistance was never the answer.