The  Arrangement 

Grief 

It's been about 2 months since I came to stay with my sister. Gyomei has been sending letters to me almost every day about my pregnancy. My belly has doubled or tripled its normal size. I couldn't help but feel something was wrong. Perhaps it's all in my head. It was a day, a normal day when I felt my water break. To be honest I felt I peed myself and panicked. My sister came in All worried and yell that my water broke. Her husband quickly called the town doctor. The pain quickly escalated throughout my body. my other sister happened to be there and help me throughout the pain as well. I had a crow send a message to Gyomei that labor was here. Normally I would a response would happen within an hour but this time...it was different. He never sent a crow. My legs were spread, with my sister Emi holding my hand. My sister Keiko Was putting a wet cloth on my forehead. The pain was intense, even with my old injuries, this had to be the worst pain I have ever experienced. I felt as if I was being ripped apart. It was the morning, the sun was shining through the open shoji door. It had to be more than 8 hours of labor and Gyomei still hasn't answered. Panic filled my brain and body.
"What if he doesn't care?!" I grip my hand as Keiko reassured me that he loves me. Then I saw it. The crow. I lean forward, throwing something at it but it doesn't move.
"Is he coming?!" I ask the crow.
"I'm sorry Lady Ren...lord gyomei has died in battle against muzan." What. it isn't funny.
"What" I say in disbelief
" he survived to the end and helped kill Muzan" This pain. Like when mother died. This pain. I felt blood drip down my face.  No no. I can't be crying. Tears began falling down my face along with blood from the missing eye. My cries got louder and louder. I'm pretty sure at that point they became screams.
"I'm sorry for your loss on behalf of the demon slayer corps" that damn thing flew away. why did he call me, or tell me that they were fighting Muzan. How could he leave me? Us?! I clutch my belly in pain and sorrow. My sisters did their best trying to support me but they couldn't believe it either. The town doctor who was between my legs only said one thing.
"I'm sorry for your loss miss but you need to give birth to your child. For your husband's sake," This broke me out of my veil of sadness. I look at him with tears falling and nod.
"Now push" I push. I push through the pain. I pushed through the tears. I kept pushing until I heard it, cries. The doctor cuts the cord and places it on my sister. She cleans it off and hands it to me. He was so handsome. His eyes were a black color as he cried. His hair was black like mine and his father.Oh god, he was a big boy. Just like his father. He looks just like him. Except for the scar across his forehead. Why can't he be here? Why can't he be here to hold his child? Tears began to fall once again. I do  not know if they were tears of happiness or sadness. Probably both. I held him as I cried. Cried for the new life brought into this world and for the life that was wrongfully left. After a little while I felt the feeling once again. The doctor looked down in surprise.
"Well miss, congratulations you have twins" My sister took him from my arms and I began pushing once again. This once slid right out. The doctor and my sister repeated the process and handed me her. She was a big one too. Her eyes were a light green with black hair. She looks just like my mother. Oh, thank Buddha that both of my children were born safely. I thought of my husband crossed my mind once again. He can never hold them, or love them. Tears began flowing out. This baby didn't cry but just looked up and me. What a calm soul.
"What are u gonna name them?" Emi asked.Gyomei and I picked out names if they were a boy or a girl. Well, I get to use both names.. without him.
"Well..." my voice struggled to stay the same.
" the boy...Gakuto and the girl... kaya." I looked down on both of them. As my sister spoke.
"What beautiful names"

It's been a year since his death and well genya as well. That stupid crow didn't even think about telling me that Genya was gone as well. The boy that inspired me to create a family of my own is gone. He was too young to be gone so soon. The children have grown up fast. They already learn how to walk and eat on their own. It was enjoyable to see them walk together, in the usual quiet estate with the stone with the words "himeijma" out in front. I missed him quite a lot. While doing laundry one of those damn crows landed in front of me. Before I was able to kill that thing it spoke.
"You have been invited along to go to Kaikoma Mountain."  I couldn't help but agree. I wanted to see my husband's grave. I got my sister to watch the kids and began my journey. It had to be hours later when I made it. I saw the headstone with the name engraved on it. "Gyomei himejima" I got on my knees before it. Before I grab the same prayer beads that were delivered to Me. a couple of weeks ago. They were delivered by three men. They were named Giyu Tomioka, Tengen Uzui, and Sanemi Shinazugawa....shinazugawa. This must be the Genya brother. They stated that they were a friend of Gyomei and wanted to give me his old items. They played with the children for a little bit and left soon after.
" hello gyomei" I won't lie I started talking to him. As if he heard me.
"I've missed you..a lot" My hands clenched the ends of my kimono.
"We had twins...a boy and a girl. I named them what you wanted." Tears began flowing out
"Why did you leave us? Why didn't you tell me?"Silence was a response to this.
then the reality hit me. The reason why he did tell me was because he didn't care about me. You would tell a stranger about your wife being pregnant? Why would you tell a woman you didn't love that you were going to sacrifice yourself.
"I am not gonna get my answers from you..never again" I placed the small cat charm on the grave and got up
"Maybe in another life. I can be your wife again?"

100 years in the future/ 2012

Oh um hello? My name is Mizuki Himejima. I am a banker. I woke up and passed my alarm today..again. I had to get up fast. I quickly got changed. In my rush today I almost did some bad. I almost knocked over great-great-great grandpa's prayer beads. god Dad would have killed me if that were to happen. Oh, thank Buddha. I run towards the door and put my shoes on. I run out of my apartment running down the stairs trying not to be that late to work. I look at the time and I'm already late. Eh, what's the point of running? I walk past a daycare and see 2 children arguing. I slow my walk to watch them and see one start hitting the other, The one getting hit starts crying. A couple of seconds go by and a very tall and large daycare worker picks one up and tells it not to hit. He turns to speak with the other child and I couldn't help but notice..what a Handsome man that is.