Mystery of Time

Chapter 17: Entangled timeline, failed mission

Yuri went back to the mansion and left a sigh with tiredness. But just then
baby Aroha started to cry. Yuri got annoyed indeed but all she did was
crook her eyebrows. Yet, she went on to prepare some milk. Just after she
wanted to pour the warm milk into the bottle, she spilled it all on her hands
with the push of Yami.
Yami glared at Yuri, her voice dripping with disdain. "Why are you so weak?
Can you handle the baby and take her responsibilities alone like this?"
Yuri met her gaze with a fiery resolve. "I can or not, I must take care of her,"
she said, her tone filled with determination.
Yami sighed dramatically. "Fine. I will help my servant clean the mess you
made. But I doubt you can handle the mess of your life. Just give her to
me!" Her voice grew more forceful.
Yuri’s anger flared. "Why do you want to help me so much? I don’t need
your help. Nor do I need you to help me raise Aroha. But why do you want
her?"
Yami’s eyes narrowed, a hint of bitterness in her voice. "You took away
everything from me—my money and the love of my husband. I see, Aroha
is the world to you. So, I want to take her from you. At least I won’t harm
her like you did to me."
Mr. Henry, having overheard their argument, rushed to their side. "What are
you saying, Yami? Keep a lock on your sinister mouth. Did you know? Yuri
is the reason for Kio’s freedom from you. So, no need to blame anyone."
The argument halted abruptly. Mr. Henry’s intervention silenced everyone.
Yami fell silent, struggling to contain her anger, while Yuri felt a surge of
relief, knowing Aroha’s fate might change for the better.Years passed, and Aroha grew up knowing Yuri as her mother. When
Aroha spoke her first word, "Mama," Yuri’s heart swelled with mixed
emotions. Tears streamed down her face—tears of both sadness and
happiness. She was overjoyed that Aroha had spoken her first word, but
deeply saddened that she would never hear Aroha call her real mother.
Yuri’s resolve hardened. She knew she had to live out her time in this
timeline, ensuring Aroha’s future was secure. As she pondered her role,
she felt a profound sense of loss. Her mother’s shortcomings weighed
heavily on her, and although Amelia was alive, she had abandoned her
child. Yuri was resigned to the fact that she could not change this outcome.
Another piece of news arrived via the mansion’s telephone—Amelia was
about to give birth to another baby girl. Yuri realized she had only three
more years with Aroha and was determined to uncover the mystery of her
mother’s death.
Everyone gathered to visit Amelia, Kio, and the newborn. Yuri stood to the
side, holding two-year-old Aroha, while Mr. Henry and Yami stood beside
her. Despite Yami’s simmering rage, she maintained a facade of peace,
influenced by Mr. Henry’s presence.
Kio beamed as he introduced the new arrival. "Do you know what I named
her? Yurizperanse. Is it okay, Yuri?"
Yuri forced a smile, her heart heavy. "Absolutely."
Kio continued, "And I will always keep her close to us. What do you say,
Amelia? Now we can give her time, right?"
Amelia, though hesitant, agreed. Yuri maintained her distance and headed
home, her dissatisfaction palpable to Kio, who sensed the growing rift
between them. Yet, nothing changed.
Three years passed, and Yuri’s age remained static, while the world around
her aged. December 1st arrived. Yuri knew it was time to face the dark
truth. She planned to visit their house the day before the accident. With a heavy heart, she took one last look at Aroha and tearfully asked Mr. Henry,
"Can you take responsibility for Aroha?"
Mr. Henry looked surprised. "Why? Where are you going?"
Yuri wiped her tears and said, "I’m going to Kio and Amelia’s house for
Christmas."
Mr. Henry laughed, trying to lighten the mood. "I got scared when you were
crying and saying such things. I don’t understand why you’re so upset.
Won’t you come back?"
Yuri’s voice was tinged with anger. "I don’t know! Just look after Aroha,
okay?"
Mr. Henry, sensing the gravity of the situation, nodded without further
questions, understanding that this might be Yuri’s final farewell.
A five-year-old Aroha, now far removed from the two-year-old she once
was, looked up at Yuri with concern. "Where are you going, Mama?"
Yuri knelt to her level, her eyes brimming with tears. "Remember, your
name is Aroha and you are never alone. Everyone is here to support you
your whole life."
Aroha’s face crumpled in distress. "But why are you crying? Where are you
going? I can’t live without you."
Yuri managed a tearful laugh. "I know. You will meet me again. I’m going to
your real mother for now."
Aroha’s grip tightened. "But you are my real mother. If you go, you have to
take me with you!"
Yuri sighed, her heart breaking. "Mr. Henry, please hold her until I go."
Mr. Henry took Aroha into his arms, trying to comfort her as she struggled
to stay with Yuri. Yuri hurried away, heading towards her destination with a
heavy heart. Upon arriving at Kio and Amelia’s house, Yuri found the driver absent and
only the black car remained. Something felt off. She knocked on the door
anxiously, and Kio opened it with a warm embrace, welcoming her in for
Christmas.
Yuri sat quietly, observing her past self and the festive scene as Amelia
handed the white fluffy scarf to baby Yuri. It was the same scarf Yuri had
always wanted to see again. Tears welled in her eyes as the memory
unfolded.
Baby Yuri asked Amelia, "Who gave you this scarf with such a big heart?
Who loves you more than me and Dad?"
Amelia, surprised by her daughter's words, looked at Kio for answers. Yuri
smiled, saying, "Maybe she’s just jealous that someone loves you more
than Kio and herself."
Amelia responded gently, "Santa Claus gave it to me. He advised me to
give it to the most loved person of mine." She then placed the scarf around
baby Yuri, who hugged her mother in delight. The room was filled with
warmth and happiness.
Yuri took the opportunity to ask about the logos. Amelia explained, "This
scarf is made by my family’s business, and its logo is this."
Kio added, "Amelia has a ring with the logo. I thought of giving it to my
daughter, Yuri."
Suddenly, Yuri hid her own ring, realizing its significance. Amelia noted, "It’s
too big for her."
Kio responded, "Well, I’ll give it to her when she’s older."
Yuri, seeking to understand their feelings toward Aroha, asked, "What
about Aroha?"
The room fell silent. Yuri felt the weight of their indifference. Amelia hadn’t
even wanted to name her first child. In a corner of the world, her past self was celebrating with family, while her sister wept alone. Yuri sighed,
thinking, ‘In one world, the past me enjoys family time, and in the other, my
sister is left in sorrow.’
Changing the subject, Yuri asked, "By the way, where is the driver?"
Amelia looked away, trying to avoid the question.
Kio explained, "There was an argument between Amelia and the driver.
She dismissed him, and I couldn’t intervene."
Yuri’s concern grew. "What was the argument about? The driver didn’t do
anything wrong, did he?"
Kio replied, "I understand your concern. The driver’s words may have hurt
Amelia’s pride, but I don’t know the full story. You know Amelia."
Yuri’s heart sank. If the driver was absent, Amelia might drive herself and
cause an accident—or worse, someone else might harm her.
Amelia returned, "Yuri, I set your bed for tonight. Come, I’ll show you."
Yuri hesitated, "Oh no, I’m going home."
Despite her words, Yuri intended to stay and watch over Amelia to prevent
any accident. But Kio insisted, "Come on, it’s Christmas night. Stay for
tonight. It’s your first time visiting our house."
Yuri reluctantly agreed, though she knew the layout of the house well from
her own past experiences. That night, she lay in bed, but sleep eluded her
as she fretted over the impending danger. She rose early, driven by
urgency.
At lunch, the conversation took an unexpected turn.
Amelia suggested, "I think Yuri should also live in this house with our baby."
Kio, excited, agreed. "That’s a great idea! But what prompted this change?" Amelia, nervous, explained, "I need to go abroad for business. I don’t want
to stay alone. I want you to come with me."
Kio’s mood shifted to seriousness. "For how long?"
Amelia replied, "Maybe seven or ten years."
Kio was taken aback. "That’s practically a lifetime. I’m sorry, but I can’t
leave my sister and baby. You should go alone."
Amelia’s voice was filled with hurt. "I thought you loved me. How could you
say that? Are you suggesting a divorce?"
Yuri watched the argument, feeling the strain on their relationship. She
stood up, trying to mediate. "Please don’t fight. I know Kio didn’t mean it."
Amelia, enraged, snapped, "You should mind your own business!"
In a sudden outburst, Kio slapped Amelia and ordered her to leave. Amelia,
wounded and angry, stormed out to the black car and drove away into the
darkness. Yuri, desperate to stop her, failed to catch up.
She frantically dialed Amelia’s number. Amelia, driving through a dark
forest, answered, her anger palpable.
Amelia barked, "Why did you call now?"
Yuri’s voice was pleading. "Please go back to your family. You have a
husband who loves you and two daughters who need you."
Amelia’s response was harsh. "Who are you to meddle?"
Yuri, tearful, said, "I’m your daughter, Yurizperanse. Even though I’m from
the future, I need you. Father needs you too."
A crash interrupted their conversation. Yuri’s heart stopped as she listened
in horror. Tears streamed down her face as the world seemed to freeze
around her. n the midst of her anguish, Yuri realized her failure. "I failed. It was the one
thing I should have done... but I failed again."
But then she realized again, she could assure about Aroha’s happiness
and also knew that her mother’s mystery was just an accident and her
father really did no wrong about it.Yet, amidst the turmoil, she found solace.
She knew she had ensured Aroha’s happiness and understood that her
mother’s death was an accident. Her emotions had been a roller coaster,
but she felt a sense of peace as she looked at the ring she had hidden. It
sparkled, its logo shimmering and disintegrating.
The magical sparkles enveloped her once more, as they had the first time.
She remembered the rule of time travel: to travel unnaturally, one must
create a specific situation. But for natural travel, a memorial element was
needed, and the best timeline would always be chosen.
Yuri closed her eyes for a blink and in the second blink of when her eyes
opened, she found herself lying face down on an office table, the past a
fading memory.