ᴅᴇᴍᴏɴ sʟᴀʏᴇʀ: ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ғʟᴏᴡᴇʀs ʙʟᴏᴏᴍᴇᴅ "ᴋʏᴏᴊᴜʀᴏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴋᴀʀɪ"

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

"Waking in an unknown paradise"

After eating, everyone went to Akari's room. When they entered the room, Akari was already awake. She couldn't quite open her eyes, but she could feel everyone's presence. She knew who was who and she was happy that those who can come, came. "Tanjiro-kun, Zenitsu-kun and Inosuke-kun. Thank goodness, you're here", Tanjiro cried quietly, Zenitsu sniffling loudly and Inosuke trying not to shed a tear. "Kanao, Aoi, Nezuko. My, my, how we've all grown", Akari's voice was a little quiet, but loud enough for all of them to hear. Kanao and Aoi held both Akari's hands. "We're here, nee-chan", Kanao said. They stood up, crying in each other's arms as they felt her fading away. Kiriya stepped forward as well as Senjuro. "Akari-san. You're almost with Onii-chan now", Senjuro said. Akari could only smile. "You've done so much for me and my sisters. Akari-san, thank you so much", Kiriya said. "Kiriya, it was my pleasure to be your guardian, to be your sisters'. And Senjuro, don't worry, I'll punch your brother for leaving too soon, all those years ago", Akari said as slow as she could. Senjuro chuckled. Yushiro stepped forward and his usual expression was plastered on his face. "Thank you for coming, Yushiro-san", she said and smiled. Yushiro sat beside her after Kiriya stood up. He lends her his hand. "You're a good person, Akari. I should be the one thanking you for keeping up with me. Wherever you'll go, I hope you get to reunite with your loved ones", he said and a tear fell from his eyes, his expression softened. "Tamayo-sama is surely proud of you, Yushiro-san. I'll deliver your love to her", she said and Yushiro started to cry, but immediately wiped his tears away.

Now, it was time for Akari's grandchildren. Hiyojuro, Hikari, Kyojuro, Akira and Kenjuro sat down in her bed. "Grandma, I can't let you go yet", Kenjuro cried so much that it hurt Akari's heart seeing him like that and hearing his voice break. "I'm not going anywhere, Kenjuro. I will always be here with you", she said as to ease some of his pain, but losing someone is not that easy to just let feelings be okay. Akari knows that very well. She experienced it first hand with her family being taken away. Her friend and sister-by-heart, Kanae and Shinobu and also with the love of her life, Kyojuro. "Gandma, you've done so much. How can we ever repay you?", Hiyojuro shed tears like he has never before. He took off his eyeglasses to wipe the tears away. "My grandkids, listen to me very carefully. The love you gave me, the love you have in your hearts is the very same love that your grandfather offered me. You have repaid me more than I deserve. I love all of you. Thank you, to all of you", she said and the five of them hugged her. Mirai and Hiro sat on each side of the bed after each of their children had said their goodbyes. "I personally thank you, Mirai and Hiro, for making my kids happy. For making them grow and for cherishing them, loving them as they are. You, two, are an amazing people. Thank you so much", Mirai cried as Hiro smiled softly. As a sign of gratitude and respect, they kissed the base of Akari's hand. The others went outside the room, as well as both Kajuro and Kyori's families to give them privacy and space when it was time for them to say goodbye to their mother.

"I don't like seeing you cry, my sweetheart", Akari said to Kyori as she offered her hand to them both. They took it and sat beside Akari. "It feels like you're leaving too soon", Kajuro said, his tears were welling up under his eyes. "I know and if I could live forever, I would, for the both of you", she said to her son, her hand now on both Kyori and Kajuro's cheeks. "Oh, how I love you both", she added and Kyori cried so heavily. "Mom, thank you so much. Thank you for everything", Kajuro said. "We love you so much, Mom", Kyori uttered. "I thank you, too. Both of you became the reason for me to keep living my life. I've lost so much and I felt like giving up, but you both gave me strength and holding you for the first time, it felt as if I was complete. As if I was in an unknown paradise. I also felt your father's presence on that day, that's why, you both being born, was the most exciting and the greatest moment of my life", Akari took a deep breathe. She sighed and closed her eyes, tears falling on the side of her face. "Thank you, to the both of you. For choosing me as your mother, for being my kids", she said and she smiled to them, looking at them with the softest smile she has ever given someone. "I love you both. Thank you", she said as she breathes her last breath. Kajuro and Kyori cried so much, so heavily as soon as they felt their mother slip away. And when she did, they could never seem to stop from crying. Their voices echoed in the house and Mirai and Hiro ran to them, hugging them from behind. Their children ran to them as well and hugged them tightly. The others just looked at them, welling up. It started to rain. The sky was filled with dark clouds as Kajuro and Kyori shed tears.

Akari woke up. What's going on? She held her head and rubbed it, feeling a little ache. She sat up and looked around. "Where am I?", it seemed like she was in a mountain. A hill, perhaps? She continued to look around her surroundings. Then, she gasped when she saw what she was wearing, or better yet, what she looked like. "I- I'm young?", she held her cheeks. It didn't have wrinkles and her hair was longer than it was when she was on her bed. She was wearing a blue kimono. The same kimono she wore on her first date with Kyojuro. What's going on? What's happening? Where am I? The questioned swirled and she was getting confused. Her surroundings were covered in grass and red-seeded dandelions – the one you wish upon. She saw a tree and the sun shined behind the tree, making her cover her eyes. She stood up and fixed herself. She put her hand just above her eyebrows and covered her eyes from the shining sun. She looked further and saw someone beneath the tree. She tried to see who it was. The wind blew pass her, her hair covering her view, but she could clearly see who it was. Her eyes grew big in shock and her eyes started to get teary, when that someone turned around facing her.