Shion - "I Won't Forget You"

Story

Shion - "I Won't Forget You"

The graceful sun shined upon the lands of Tengoku (天国). Once the green fields of this land were stained red by blood and fire, but now peace and prosperity spreads throughout most of the realm. It was beneath the capital Seikyou (聖京), in the dark depths of the underground city Urashakai (裏社会), only illuminated by crystals of light hanging from the ceiling, that two people wholly insignificant to the history of the world were born.

The streets of the dense city clamoured with life. From above not even a glimpse of the pavement could be seen through the dense crowd of people. It was in this crowd that a mother and daughter were walking together. Both of them shared the same black hair, hazel brown eyes, pale skin and skinny body. Their clothing was light and modest, holes filling parts of them. The young girl was also wearing a back bag. While they were walking the six-year-old kid looked up to her mother and asked her a question, one that she had wanted to ask for a long time.

"What is the sun?"

She had first heard the word used by one of the caretakers at her old daycare. When she asked them what the word meant they didn't answer. So, she assumed that the word was something taboo, like swear words, but even then, she couldn't hold back her great curiosity.

"Ah..."

Her mother seemed taken aback by the sudden question and struggled for a while to find the right words to explain it. Eventually she came up with an answer.

"Do you see the blue crystals at the top of the ceiling, Shion?"

"Yes, of course. I'm not stupid, Mama!"

"Well, imagine the ceiling being a wide blue expanse and instead of many small blue lights dotting it, there is one bright yellow light. That is the sun."

"But where is this sun?"

"It's... above our home. In a place we cannot reach."

"But why can't we reach that place?"

"Because... that's how it works."

"Why does it work that way?"

"Because it does."

Shion then asked her mother another question.

"What does my name, Shion, mean?"

"Where is this coming from, dear?"

"I just want to know."

Shion's mother pondered the question a little and answered.

"Your name refers to a flower, the Tartarian Aster. According to Hanakotoba (花言葉) the meaning given to the flower by our ancestors is 'I won't forget you'. I gave you that name because I wished that you would remember me. Humans only truly die when they are forgotten after all."

With that the conversation came to an end and the mother and daughter kept on walking in silence until they reached their destination: the Blaues Kreuz Public Elementary School [ブラウエスクロイツ小学校[Burauesu Kuroitsu Shougakkou]). Today was Shion's first proper day at the school.

"Well, goodbye sweetie. Have fun."

"I will, Mama! Bye-bye!"

The energetic girl skipped through the hallways of the building until she eventually found her classroom. When she slid open the door no one was inside yet, as she and her mother arrived too early. She sat down on the seat next to the windows and farthest away from the blackboard. She chose this seat, so that she could always see all her classmates.

Shortly after sitting down another girl entered the room. While she was just as pale as and even skinnier than Shion, her hair was a bright blond, and her eyes were a shining emerald green. As soon as she caught a glimpse of Shion, she looked down nervously and moved towards a seat multiple desks away from her. But before she could sit down Shion, who had quickly shot up from her seat, grabbed the girl's arm and dragged her to the seat right next to her. Without even turning towards her she spoke to the girl.