Love Will Find A Way (Sequel To Sands of Time) ~Complete~

Chapter 9: Taken

​There was Atem again, sitting on an elaborate throne with a few people in front of him. His expression was sad, totally out of the now. People were asking him questions on what to do and how to continue with their duties but all he did was tell them, "I would like to be alone". Immediately, the people moved out of the hall and when he heard the door close, he broke down, crying in a similar way that Atsuko did when she heard her mother had died. Atsuko felt tears go down her face and she moved closer to Atem and placed a hand on his shoulder to comfort him. His head immediately jolted up and his face was almost in shock. "Aadila?" Atsuko was shocked and looked around, realizing that he was talking to her. "It's impossible, your dead. And why are you wearing such strange clothing?" Atsuko was wearing the shorts and tee shirt that she remembered going to bed in.

"Wait, you can see me?"

Atsuko woke up, jolting up from her sleeping position and looking around the room in a bit of a daze. Realizing what she had just experienced was a dream, she looked at the clock on her bedside table and saw it was 6:45 a.m. Atsuko was going to have to get up in fifteen minutes and decided that there was really no reason for her to try and fall asleep again. After a quick shower, she made her way down to the kitchen, meeting up with her father along the way.

"Good morning Dad. Did you sleep okay?"

"As good as I could. Why are you up already?"

"Just woke up really. Do you want me to make you something for breakfast?"

"I'll just have whatever you're having."

"Miso soup it is then." Atsuko laughed as she went into the freezer and grabbed two small containers put them one into the microwave as she grabbed two bowls from the cupboard and two spoons from the drawer. She stood their quietly as she waited for the microwave to start beeping to indicate that it was done. Atsuko turned to ask her dad a question but he wasn't anywhere in the kitchen, so she continued to stay silent. Eventually, the microwave went off and her father walked in silently, surprising Atsuko as she turned around to put the bowl on the table in his place. With the newspaper in hand, he elegantly slide into the chair, thanked his daughter and silently began to eat the soup.

Atsuko heated herself up the other container of soup and silently ate it, standing on the other side of the counter. Atsuko's siblings eventually walked down and immediately said that they weren't hungry before Atsuko could ask. Her younger sister, Amaya walked over to her, coming to hug her lower waist, since she was only 5 years old. Atsuko didn't really know what to do with the situation because she was now basically in charge of raising her sister, doing all the things that her mother would have done like she did with Atsuko. Looking down at her sister, who was much shorter than Atsuko when she was this age, and gave her a gentle smile to show that everything was going to be okay. Atsuko finished eating, put this dishes into the dish washer and walked back to her room to change. The ceremony was beginning at 12:00 and it was 8:30. Her family would be leaving in about an hour, so she had to finish getting ready. After getting dressed, Atsuko did her hair and very light makeup and put on the bracelet that was passed down from her grandmother. She heard a knock at the door and told the person to come in. It was her little sister.

"Atsuko? I don't know what to wear."

She chuckled a little bit, turning off the lights in her bathroom and joining bedroom, then walked to her sister who was still at the door. "Come on, I'll help you." Atsuko eventually found a black dress in the very vibrant wardrobe that her sister had. Amaya got dressed and then Atsuko helped her put her hair in a simple pony tail, then they moved to the door. When Atsuko opened the door, she looked behind her and saw her sister silently crying, obviously overwhelmed by the situation. Atsuko kneeled to her sister's height and said, "Don't cry because she's gone. Smile because she lived, but you never need to be ashamed of crying okay?" Amaya nodded and then wiped the tears and gave a big smile with Atsuko giving one back.