The Hunter and The Predator Leokumi

13|| Tears

After her funeral, all of Mikoto's ashes were buried in the Hoshido's family grave along side with her husband and previous ancestors. Only a scarce amount of family from her side came during the funeral while many of the Hoshidoes came. The odd imbalance between who belonged to which family caused a rift that unsettled Takumi. However the sight that even outsiders came for Mikoto let him be glad that there are others missing her. Now that the service has been over two days ago Takumi has to travel for another one.

Takumi had spoken with Ryoma about this and convinced him to let him take a day off from school. With that said, Takumi exits the train with his bag in hand. He is dress in a black suit that his friend, Oboro finished for him. The Sage had created the suit for Takumi as a congratulatory gift but was unable to finish nor make adjustments to fit the growing boy. Takumi still doesn't know when the Sage made it but he did. The thought of the man working on this warms Takumi's heart so much that the somber weather doesn't bother him. Though he is glad it isn't raining or it would've made his plans turn sour.

In the letter that the Sage gave Takumi, he states that he wanted his ashes to fly. It doesn't specific where so Takumi thought of the closest thing to flying. There he hikes up and onto a cliff, bypassing the fence and towards the edge, checking ever so often that the ledge is stable. There's no one around except for him and he apologizes to the decorated urn like he is speaking to the Sage himself, "Sorry, it's only me for your funeral. Though I know you'll understand, we are in a different country, far from there."

The wind only replies to him as the crashing sounds of the waves repeat like white noise. He see no birds flying around, probably migrated for warmer temperatures. But that's fine, he can do what he planned.

"It's windy enough to scatter your ashes, but I would've waited if you weren't so damn picky about the date," Takumi sighs and grabs his phone and connects it with a speaker. He goes through phone to find a recording. After a few moments a sound of singing begins and blends in with the waves. Takumi begins scooping the ashes and letting it fly away.

"They couldn't come so they wanted me to fill in their presence with their voice," Takumi says and scoops out more ashes. He can see the grey powder leave his hand as it swirls into the air and beyond. Then he mumbles to no one in particular, "Just had to be picky that this will be done all at once."

After Takumi had finally scattered all the ashes he burned the urn and box made out of wood and left for those ashes to leave on its own. The sun in the sky is setting as Takumi rides the train home. The train car empty and old but that fact give him a peace of mind.

***

"You let them die," the voice whispers into Takumi's ear. Who it belonged to is unknown as it sounded to come from many. The voices whispers again, "You failed, and they paid the price."

Takumi covers his ears and bends down, all alone in that darkness. He shakes his head but doesn't refuse it. The shadows swallows him as they show him eigengrau. A hazy figure that looks like a woman lifts his chin up and forces his hands away from his ear. She ushers, "Look, look at your crime."

Her voice is velvety as she breathes by his ear. She continues as if comforting him, "You fail as a Hunter."

"You let your emotions betray you!" Another voice screeches.

Takumi tries to cover his ears once more but to no avail. She whispers again, piecing his mind, "Don't you hear them? What do they sound like?"

He keeps his eyes shut and wails, "I don't want to hear!"

"Take responsibility," a different voice reaches his ear. The kind, warm voice he wants to hear is dead and harsh, yet it beckons him all the same. He opens his eyes and regrets it.