Haunted archer

Shino's family

We walked together to the apartment building. Shino's hand was trembling in Touji's hand.  Touji squeezed him for just a moment, but there wasn't anything he could have said when there were other people around them.  So they just walked on and only in the elevator, when there was no one else, they dared to look at each other and Touji touched Shino's cheek gently trying to help him relax. It might seem unreal, but Touji felt actually pretty calm. Even though he was going to see his.. well, his boyfriend's family, he was still all worried about Shino. How it would affect him, would he get his closure? And if he did. Was this going to be all for them? Would they be done then? Would Shino leave?

When they arrived in front of the apartment door, Touji pushed the call button and it took about 20 seconds of nervous waiting before the door was opened. Shino's younger sister was opening the door and when she saw Touji, her eyes were suddenly wide and she seemed to have a hard time saying anything. Finally, she asked politely, who he was and why he was there. Touji had a feeling, that she knew who he was, but how he had no idea.

"Hi, I'm Touji Seryou. I was your brother's junior and a friend. Is your mother home? I need to see her for a minute?" Rieko's smile fell and her countenance was totally different from when she had seen Touji first. It must have been really hurtful still to hear something about her brother. She called him in and they walked into Shino's home.

Shino was walking around, from one place to another, Touji had to sit down behind the table and drink tea, which Rieko had made and asked him to wait before she had left to go get her mother. Shino guessed that mom had probably been working last night, she was usually sleeping late into the day. As they were waiting anxiously Shino walked everywhere and looked all over, what had changed and what hadn't. At one moment he came out of his sister's room and said.

"I guess nothing will ever change in here, it's still as messy as it ever was. I wonder if she ever cleans anything. I know our mom doesn't step in there." After that Touji saw him standing in front of another door and hesitating. A couple of seconds later he stepped through the door and Touji wondered if he should go and see if he's okay when he already came out of the room. "It's all as if I haven't left. I think they haven't even stepped into the room after I died." Shino was quiet for a little while and then he said. "I'm more certain than ever before. Mom needs this letter."

Just after he said that they heard his sister coming back and a sleep-deprived woman came after her. She did look like she needed more sleep. Her eyes were all with dark circles and she was looking so sad. Touji felt the need to comfort her somehow. As he introduced himself and told her the story they had concocted, she was actually able to look surprised in her tiredness. Touji was wondering, how could she possibly show any feelings in a state she was in. But then she was gently smiling at him and Touji corrected his first image of her as a fragile and devastated woman. She also seemed strong and had not yet given up on life.

Touji had said to her how Shino had stayed up at his house a couple of times and when they had studied together, they had gotten pretty close with each other. How Shino had liked his countenance in the club practice and he had been teaching him some about concentrating and relaxing when he got too stressed. As he talked, Shino's mother was really smiling, when she imagined her son being such a good upperclassman to Touji.

"Actually, there was an assignment that Shino was working on at my house. It was a really long time ago and the first thing before I talk on, I have to say that I am so, so sorry about the situation right now." Touji raised from his seat and bowed down to Shino's mother. Though they had not talked about how to exactly act this out before Shino's mother and sister, he hoped, Shino got it. His mother started to protest and raised herself up as well and pleaded for him to stop, saying this wasn't necessary. Touji sat down and explained according to their plan.

"The assignment that Shino had to make was to write a letter to his mother, in English. To show his appreciation and to show how he feels about their relationship. I found that letter when we had a big cleaning last weekend. I should have found it much sooner, but unfortunately, it had slipped under a big wardrobe, that we only move rarely. I read the letter and thought that maybe you would like to read it. Though it's been so long after his unfortunate death, it seems these were his sincere thoughts. I still remember how much concentration he put into writing this assignment. I truly believe he meant every word." Touji took the letter from his bag and handed it to Shino's mother.

Shino really had written it in English, to make it plausible, but he had also said, that Rieko was as talented in English studies as he had been, maybe even more. Shino's mom, of course, didn't understand it, but she didn't want to give it to Rieko at once. She brushed the letter slightly and silent tears were on her cheeks. Finally, she handed the letter to Rieko. She had said nothing after coming back with her mother, but Touji saw in her eyes, that this was hard for her too. However much they had tension as brother and sister between them, she had a deep love for her brother. She started carefully, not wanting to translate it wrong.

"Dear mom. This seems like a weird assignment for me, to tell you all the things I think you already know. I'm supposed to write how much I appreciate you and what I love about you. Well here goes. After dad left us, you have been working so much to raise us up decent and strong. You have been the strong woman in my life who really pushes me out of bed when necessary or who hugs me when I feel down. You have been the best influence a kid of my attitude can have. I love how you have shown how we can be happy and how being your kid can make us live through anything. Thank you for the strength, you give me and the love you show me. And I'm sorry if I forget to be an understanding son and forget that you are still young and should be living for yourself more. Hope we can live happily together for a long time.
Love
Shino"

When Rieko finished the letter, she didn't lift her gaze and seemed really moved. But Shino's mother was crying and smiling at the same time. She took the letter and hugged it to her chest. As she thanked Touji once more, she moved back to her room, to be alone in her sorrow. Both Shino and Touji believed that this had been the right thing to do and that she would feel better at some point. 

*It all might be a bit too depressing, but I still like to write it like this. This is how the story moved and I let it. Next time I'll write something a bit more happy romance to these boys.

*song: A Thousand Winds - Park Eun Tae
This is an awfully sad song. I'm unable to find you the song with English lyrics. There is a story on the internet, that it was written after some kind of catastrophe. I will add the lyrics to the end.
The song is full of emotion and I feel always like crying in the end. And it felt right for Shino's mother, who is grieving her son and the letter felt like the emotions in this song, also I'll believe you will read it from the lyrics. 

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there I do not sleep
I'm not there I do not die

Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there
I'm not there I do not die

I am a Thousand Winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn's rain

When you awake in the mornings' hush
I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds
in circled flight
I am the soft stars that shine at night

Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there I did not die
I'm not there I did not die

I am a Thousand Winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn's rain

When you awake in the mornings' hush
I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds
in circled flight
I am the soft stars that shine at night

Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there I do not sleep
I'm not there I did not die
I am not there I do not sleep
I'm not there I did not die