Through The Forest Of Flames

Chap 46- Aftermath

[5 Years Later- Post War]

You rolled onto your back, the firm mattress slightly creaking at your movement. Your left hand slid around to the side, mindless reaching for him, for his warmth. When all you felt was the blankets and the corner of his pillow, no residual warmth residing in them, your eyes cracked open slowly.

The sunlight peeking through the curtains from your window blinded you for a mere second before your e/c eyes adjusted. You rubbed the crud out of your eyes as you sat up, the comforter falling to your waist from the movement, the long shirt you slept in keeping your bareness covered. You looked around the dimly lit room, finding no presence other than yourself. You quietly listened, hoping he'd be somewhere in the small house doing something, but no sound came other than the occasional creak of the wood settling.

You looked to his side of the bed, a small note was resting on his pillow, being held in place by a cigarette and a lighter. You smirked, moving the two items to pick up the note as you rested against the headboard behind you.

About time you woke up, dummy

We were out of milk and your favorite tea

Be back in a few

Love you

His handwriting was still chicken scratch, but you've adapted to it over the years. You set the note aside before stretching your muscles, your neck cracking softly as you woke up a little more. Grabbing the cigarette and lighter, you swung your legs over the side of bed and slipped into your f/c slippers.

You walked over to the window, sliding open the blinds as the sun overtook the room, your quirk taking in the warmth happily as you opened the no screened window. You lit the cigarette, setting the lighter to the side, as you leaned out the window a little to take in the fresh air.

You were in a small town, located somewhere in Oregon, USA. The two of you have only been here for a little over three years, but you settled a lot faster here than you did the other places. Whether it was the small, welcoming community or the heavy forest life that surrounded the area, you weren't sure what it was, but you felt comforted either way.

When you first left Japan, with only a backpack and your boyfriend by your side, you weren't hopeful about escaping. Lani helped you both through the whole process, making you realize how deep her pockets and network actually ran. It took a lot of fighting with yourself for the first few months to come to terms with the change. Being away from everything and everyone you've ever known and loved was a lot harder than you wanted to admit.

You spent the first year in France, being secluded away and always on high alert for anyone that would spot you. It didn't take long for a policeman to recognize Touya, resulting in a major combat, which meant Lani had to move you again. She thought Russia would be a good hiding place, and it was for a while. But after about six months of bitter cold and snow, you asked to be moved one more time.

Lani was resistant at first, until she remembered she had some colleagues here in the States that would be willing to help. Moving to America frightened you, you were worried that you and Touya would stand out like sore thumbs thanks to the small role that America played in the war. But that fear got squished the moment you talked to Lani about where you'd be going, which is now where you currently resided, three and a half years later.

It took a while for you and Touya to adapt. Learning English was difficult, and it was even harder for you both to work up the courage to leave the house. Lani eventually set you up for a job, securing you a way to get income rolling. Funny enough, she set you up with running a floral shop with a lovely American couple that wanted to retire soon, but couldn't find anyone to help. Easy to say, you fit in perfectly for that role, and the couple loved you like their own child for it. Not like you had to pay for bills for the house you lived in, Lani had you covered on that aspect, but you wanted to pay her back for what she's been doing for Touya way before the war ever got started.