"To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering." - Friedrich Nietzsche
Hospital
"Why are having such a long face? It's not like I died", Chifuyu saw Azumi with her eyes swelled. "Takemichi-kun told me that it was Baji who did it. Did he finally snap?", the raven head clenched her fist. "You might not understand but when he was punching me, it felt like he's the one taking double the pain I was feeling", the blonde looked at the ceiling. "So, are you angry at him?", Chifuyu closed his eyes.
"I don't. To some degree, I feel like we're both the same. Baji's someone who would beat you up just because he feels like it. There's a heavy burden he's carrying", Azumi opened. "I see. You knew. Are you trained to be a spy or something like that?", the lad sighed. There was a moment of silence. Chifuyu peeked and saw Azumi looking down at the ground and closed his eyes once more. He would prefer the girl with her head held high and oozing with confidence and not someone who bows her head low. "Did something happen at your house? I was told by Fumi-san that your grandfather called for a meeting", the lad sat and cupped Azumi's face. "But it's so difficult, Chifuyu. I am really hated this much by people I wanted to apologize to. And I...I can't seem able to see past my sin", the girl crouched and felt like throwing up. "I already told you this before and we even wrestled because of your hard-headedness. You did nothing wrong to apologize for this much. If anything else, you're the one to whom they should be apologizing", the blonde clenched his fist. He felt his other hand cupped on Azumi's face being wet. Baji told Chifuyu how he regretted it so much not being able to stop Kazetora with his plan. To make amends for it, he pledged that whatever happens, he will always be on Kazetora's side.
"Azumi, what is that sin you are referring to?", Chifuyu toned down. "Just merely existing. Because I happened, people had faced so many misfortune", her voice broke. The blonde had an angered expression on his face. He wanted to go on a rampage as he wondered how much her household broke her to even think that merely existing was a sin. He led Azumi's head to lean on his chest. "You're injured", the girl raised her head and showed concern for the lad's welfare. "I just got some scratches. Look at you, wipe your face. Taka-san and the others might arrive soon", the blonde tried to lighten the mood. Azumi gave a soft punch to Chifuyu's chest and whined about having to bring Mitsuya into the conversation.
"Even if this is uncalled for, I had always wished for Baji-san to find forgiveness. I know for sure that Mikey already put it behind him and is genuinely a friend to Baji-san regardless of the past. I want him to know that he's forgiven and I hope he knows it's time to forgive himself. Azumi, I hope for the same thing for you", the blonde said and wondered why he couldn't hear anything from Azumi. Chifuyu opened his eyes and saw Azumi's tears falling like a droplet of rain. She doesn't make any sound when she cries.
Mitsuya lowered the flowers he bought and leaned on the wall. The lilac head had a small smile. He was a little jealous that they would share such deep secrets and that Chifuyu knew just the words to say. "You're early. Why haven't you entered yet?", Hakkai and the other high-ranking Toman members approached him.
They all entered making Azumi freeze in Chifuyu's chest. Her brain stopped functioning for a moment but forced her brain cells to wake up. She stood right away and gave a bow. The raven head left the room. "If we knew that you would be having such a pretty lady leaning on you, we shouldn't have visited", Peh-yan gritted his teeth. "Sorry to interrupt your lovey-dovey moment", Mikey apologized. "You got it wrong", Chifuyu hissed. "You're really cute when you're embarrassed", Smiley commented. Angry nodded at what his brother said.
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Hanami's Residence
Dojo
The servants bowed their heads low and left as the woman requested. The raven's head tied her hair in a ponytail and changed her clothes into a traditional kendo uniform. She bowed at the sword in the middle of the room. Azumi picked a wooden sword and started thrusting it against the air. A lot of things happened in the past days. A friend she always dreamt of dying is fortunately still kicking and alive. The school reunion felt nostalgic at the same time. There are memories that brought pain to her friend, Chifuyu. Even if he had to go through remembering a painful past, he still accompanied her.
She heard a clap from behind. The woman turned and saw Fumi who was already in her 40s. "Fumi-san. You're back from Hawaii?", Azumi lowered her sword and watched as the woman removed her shoes and hugged the grown-up child she reared like her daughter. "I am done with Hawaii. I have had enough of the ocean water. I am thinking of the springs in New Zealand", she started talking about the beautiful scenario. "How about we have a vacation there next month?", the raven head woman invited. "Really?! A workaholic like you would take a leave to travel?!", Fumi shook the woman. "I've been having nightmares lately so I think a vacation will relieve me of the stress", Azumi nodded in agreement with what she said.
"Aren't you going to bring me along?", a grown-up Chifuyu blew off Fumi's head. "How handsome! I was just away in Japan for a decade and you already bloomed into such a wonderful flower", the ash grey-haired lady still has her peculiarity. "That's a generous description from you, Fumi-san. I've brought some drinks. I'll be setting up a table and chair in the garden, he raised the bottles and left.
Azumi sat on the wooden floor and reminisced how the dojo gave her peace a long time ago. "Matsuno also has that cheekiness that your father has", Fumi opened. "Have you now found closure with your unrequited love with my father?", the raven's head pulled her knees and leaned her head on it. "I've gotten over it a long time ago", the woman stretched Azumi's cheeks. She stopped and leaned on the wall with her feet lying on the ground. "I will never be as happy as I am now that your father chose Aimi. If we forced our arranged marriage, you won't be here. It took me a long time to realize I loved him. When I saw him being taken away from me, that's the only time I realized of how much I had taken for granted all those time I could have told him how much he's a treasure I'd be willing to exchange with everything I have", Fumi chuckled.
"Azumi. Do you love Chifuyu? Be kind enough to let the man know your response. You're already 26 and you're not getting younger. Whatever your decision will be, I'll support you. My beloved's treasure", she stood and reached out her hand. "Thanks for telling me that, Mom", the woman gave a wide smile. Fumi felt warm in her chest and pulled her for a hug.
Chapter end.
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Existence Precedes Essence
Fanfiction"The literal meaning of life is whatever you're doing that prevents you from killing yourself." ― Albert Camus "Azumi, what is that sin you are referring to?", Chifuyu toned down. "Just merely existing. Because I happened, people had faced so many m...
