Hades

Chapter Twenty Eight - The Farewell, Part Two

Chapter Twenty Eight: The Farewell Part Two

When the summer is dead and gone for another year, it is only a matter of time before the frosts set in. With Cerbi gone Harusame's room seemed strangely empty and cold; even to Hades, who silently pondered that he actually missed having the little mutt around to chomp on his fingers. Despite the absence of her pet and the deterioration of her condition, the girl seemed determined to be cheerful.

One day after school as Hades walked her home more slowly than usual, she said conversationally,

'This was my last day.'

'Huh?'

She smiled at him. 'My last day; at school, I mean. I think it's for the best, don't you?'

Hades shrugged. 'Why did you keep going to school all this time anyway? It's not like you've got graduation to look forward to, or friends to see every day...no offense.'

'None taken. I suppose I just felt like a good education is important. It's what my parents would have wanted for me. Other than you, my brain has always been my very best friend. It lets me appreciate great music, great literature, great culture; all the things I'd be learning about first hand if I ever became an adult.'

'Culture is overrated.'

'You don't mean that,' said Harusame, and took his hand. 'You may not admit it, but you're very interested in human culture. All those great musicians you mentioned earlier, for example. And if I were to ask you who your favourite writer is...?'

Every nerve end in Hades' being was focused on his hand. She was holding his hand as they walked. It took him a while to construct an answer. 'Wordsworth, I guess. Or maybe good old Will.'

She laughed. 'Good old Will indeed. Which play?'

'The one with Beatrice and Benedick,' he heard himself say, but the name of the play wouldn't come to him because his head was all stuffed up with thinking, 'Holding hands is what children do, but it's also what lovers do.'

'Oh yes, wasn't that one adorable?' said Harusame, sounding delighted. 'They spent so much time bickering, but in the end they were far more perfect for each other than boring old Romeo and Juliet ever where. You see, Hades?' She tugged his hand. 'You're very cultured!'

'I guess I do speak a few languages,' he admitted, beginning to swing their hands between them as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

'Really? How many languages do you speak?'

'Uh...pretty much every one in existence...'

*

Though he hated leaving Harusame alone, Hades knew Uxi would never let him hear the end of it if he wasn't present for Honda and Treielle's departure.

They waited for him at the river by Cerberus' cage. Uxi's candy floss pink pigtails were a blur as she tidied Honda up.

'Um, Uxi-san, you don't have to do that,' said Honda bashfully, and Treielle hid her smile behind her hand.

'Now just keep still while I fix your hair, love.'

'For crying out loud Uxi, nobody cares what the kid's hair looks like,' said Hades with a disparaging snort.

Uxi glared daggers at him.

'I care!' she said, doing up Honda's shirt button so tightly it nearly choked him. 'I'm not having him going to the afterlife looking messy.'