Ordo Noctis

Chapter 12

I'm not sure how long we sat there weeping - it could have been a minute, or two, or an hour, or three. But when we were finally ready and had recovered, Mrs. Kobayashi shook her head in disbelief.

"We shouldn't have been so hard on her. Ichika was only trying to follow her heart and do what she thought was right. I guess... it just felt like she was abandoning us. So we didn't think she was worthy to come back. And now she's gone, and we can't make up for all the time we missed..."

Mei looked up as if she'd had an idea. "But I do have some part of her left! She wrote me a letter every single day, up until about fifteen years ago. I never opened a single one - I was too filled with anger. But even overcome with rage, I couldn't bring myself to throw away something my sister had given me. It felt too special. They're in a box up here."

Mei stood up and retrieved a large, plain box from a closet shelf. She seemed to struggle under its weight, carrying it back over to the bed.

"That's actually what we came here to ask you," I told her. "We're trying to figure out what happened to Base, and we're wondering if anything Madam Kobayashi wrote could give us a clue."

It felt so strange talking about the secret headquarters of Ordo Noctis, just giving out information without worry. But because it was all gone, there was no use in trying to hide anything anymore.

Mei opened the box, and my eyes widened. I hadn't comprehended just how many letters someone could write in twenty-seven years, but now it was obvious that Madam Kobayashi had, in fact, written one every day. The envelopes at the top were gleaming white, with beautiful loopy writing. As you went toward the bottom, the paper became yellowed, and the ink faded. But the handwriting and the addresses were always exactly the same. I wondered how long Madam Kobayashi had had that handwriting - it was so perfected, you could barely tell two envelopes apart. The letters were identical on each address.

Mrs. Kobayashi stood. "I have work to do around the house, but you're welcome to stay and look through the letters. Can I bring you anything? I just made some miso soup..."

"That sounds wonderful, thank you," I smiled.

I picked up an envelope and opened it carefully. The letter inside was dated very early on - Madam Kobayashi had probably only been with Ordo Noctis for about a month.

                    Dearest Mei,

          I asked the Shadow if I could write letters to my family. He gave me permission and even let me give you a bit of information about it! I'm not sure why he trusts me more than the others not to betray any secrets.

         I am beginning to settle into the organization. The training is vigorous and difficult, but I am so excited to be as skilled and experienced as the others.

          I hope you are well. Please say 'hello' to Mama and Papa for me. I know they are angry with me, as are you, but I hope we can put our differences aside in order to stay in touch. I already miss you terribly.

          Love,

                    your sister Ichika

After reading, I handed the letter to Mars to look over. Mei was also beginning to look through the letters, wiping away tears as she read. "I cannot believe I did not... ah... keep in touch sooner." She spoke in broken English. She seemed to have learned a small amount - enough to be able to read Madam Kobayashi's letters.

The next one I read was dated about two weeks later.

                    Dearest Mei,

          I was disappointed when I found no letter waiting for me, but nevertheless I will continue to write. I do not know if you are reading these letters, or even if they are making their way to you, but I do hope you can find them comforting when we are apart. It is certainly comforting to me to think that I can still connect with you by way of letters.