As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

After arrived home, Himari just simply took a shower before heading to bed. She wanted to make up for the lack of sleep. Her sleepiness finally kicked in after she got out of the bathroom. 

Hiking the hill was fun but, instead of only felt sleepy, her limbs also turned sore. Himari didn't even want to climb stairs or moved around much. 

Ugh... She may need a few days or a week to return to her usual state.

"Meow~"

Chobi greeted his mama from the top of the bookshelf inside the bedroom.

The chubby tabby was sandwiched between a stack of books and cute pillows adorning the shelf, trying to camouflage himself there. He yawned lazily before rubbing one of his front paws over the surface of the bookshelf.

"Chobi, don't you want to sleep?" Himari threw herself on the bed after drawing the curtains. She let out a contented sigh once her body felt the softness of the mattress, "Don't disturb me. Your mama here is sleepy."

"Meow, meow~"

Himari extended a hand and reached out for her phone. She smiled once she saw there was an unread message from Kazuya. Her finger tapped on the screen.

[Kazuya: Arrived home already. Wanna go to bed]

[Kazuya: MoonBoyYawned.png]

Himari chuckled softly. She quickly sent him a reply.

[Himari: Great minds think alike!]

[Himari: Have a good sleep]

[Himari: PinkStrawberrySleeping.png]

"Chobi, good night~"

Himari put the phone on the bedside table. She laid on her right side, hugged the big orange tabby plush toy then closed her eyes.

Somehow, the bliss that enveloped her heart when the first ray of sunlight sprinkled on her could still be felt by her.

Even while she was sleeping, a faint hint of a smile could be seen beaming on Himari's face.

She was happy. 

At the same time, Yuina had gotten up as early as seven. Now, she was preparing to go out. Although it was still early, Yuina had a destination she wanted to go to.

This morning, a sudden morning sickness surged and made her lying listless on the bed after making a trip to the bathroom. She vomited twice.

Even though they weren't bad, Yuina still felt uncomfortable. Her throat felt hurt after retching.

"Baby, are you just trying to make your mom stay in bed today?" Yuina fondly patted her flat stomach, "Just because it's the weekend?"

Nowadays, because she continued reading the books and articles regarding pregnancy, Yuina was eagerly anticipated the months to come. The uncertainty clouded her mind before gradually dispersed, giving new hope to her.

So what if her child would accompany her through the days she was alone?

It didn't mean that she was using her and Ryuu's child as a tool to chase her loneliness away. 

There were traces of her fears lingering in her mind but, Yuina chose to take a step forward instead of letting her uncertainties pulling her down.

Whenever Ryuu had to be away for his job, Yuina thought she could spend more time with their child, doing what a mother and her child could do together.

But, Yuina also understood she had to tell Ryuu that both of them should cooperate together if they wanted to provide a stable and happy environment for their child. The excuse of being busy thus making one of them an absent parent shouldn't be justified.

Enough was enough.

Yuina could accept Ryuu's hectic schedule before but, with they currently expecting a child, he shouldn't be away from home too much. 

As much as she loved her husband and supported his career path, Yuina fully grasped that once their child was born, they had to make changes in the way they lived their life.

"Your dad should still be sleeping at this time," Yuina gave her stomach one last pat before she grabbed her handbag and walked out of the room, "After we return home, accompany Mom to watch Dad's films, okay?"

Yuina held back her laughter at her silliness. Her stomach hadn't even shown yet but, she had developed the habit of talking to the bean sprout inside her womb. 

Although she found her new habit as silly, Yuina was still happy to go on with it. She didn't expect that having a child growing inside her could affect her mood greatly.

But, her smile drooped once she reached her destination almost one hour later.

Yuina was dressed in black, from her one-piece dress to her bag and flat shoes. She didn't look out of place in this area as the whole place exuding gloomy and silent vibes. 

She was visiting a cemetery.

"Baby, Mom hasn't come to visit your grandparents for months. Let Mom introduce you to them, en?"

Her voice was so soft akin a whisper. The coming breeze carried the words away, floating in the air.

Yuina slowly left the car park. Even with her eyes close, she already knew the way by heart. It was where her parents were buried together.

When Yuina ascended the stairs leading up to the terraces, she saw a monk was quietly sweeping the ground. He was sweeping dry leaves and accumulated dust. They exchanged a smile before both of them silently continued what they were doing.

Once Yuina reached the top, she washed her hands under the water tap before she took a wooden barrel and a ladle. The items were provided by the temple nearby. She filled the barrel then brought it with her to her parents' burial site.

Yuina finally stopped in front of a marble tombstone.

Two names were engraved on the tombstone. Together with the dates of their death.

Masuda Akira & Asachi Yurika.

An unconcealable sadness flickered in Yuina's eyes as she quietly read the names. She swallowed down the bitterness and sorrow that would always seep into her heart whenever she came here.

"Mom, Dad, I'm here."

Once again, her words were blown away by the breeze.

Before she offered incense sticks to her parents, Yuina started by cleaning the tombstone. She scraped the stains on the grave, pulled up the weeds around the site and finished it off by pouring the water from the barrel on top of the tombstone.

Yuina kneeled in front of the tombstone and gave her parents a prayer, sending her thoughts and hopes to them. She earnestly prayed that both of them were happy whenever they were. 

"Yuina! Mom and Dad are going now!"

"Hehe, wait for us to bring back your favorite snacks, okay?"

Even after more than a decade, Yuina still remembered the last words from both of her parents.

On that day, they went out on a date as to how they often did, leaving her alone at home. Yuina didn't feel offended or alienated because she understood that at times, her parents wanted to have two-person time like how a young couple did.

Her mother and father were always a loving couple even after decades of marriage. Yuina often said she wanted to find a husband like how her father, making her father laughed in delight.

"Hahaha! Dad would rip off his limbs if he ever dares to mistreat you!" 

One time, her father replied like that when Yuina eagerly said she wanted to marry a man as cool as him.

That day...

Both of them didn't come home like how they were supposed to.

Yuina slowly opened her eyes, revealing a pair of misty eyes glistening with tears. 

"Mom, Dad, your daughter here... is fine. I'm living a better life... than before," Yuina let the words flowed out of her mouth. Her voice was shaky as she tried to contain her sadness.

Even until now, it was hard.

"I miss you both."

Doom followed their steps as the car her father drove was crashed onto by another vehicle. The perpetrator was under influence of drugs. The crash was fatal enough to kill her father while her mother breath out her last on her way to the hospital.

On that day, she had excitedly anticipated what would her parents bring back to her.

Never did Yuina think she would receive a phone call that sent her collapsed on the floor.

Tears broke out of her eyes before she could even say anything. 

When she waited to see her mother's bright smile and her father boasting about their date, she was met with their cold corpses instead. Yuina never thought she would be one of the people left behind by their families due to a tragic accident.

Since that day, her days blooming with flowers turned hellish. The once warm and lovely home she had was stripped away from Yuina. 

"Mom, Dad... you two would be... grandparents soon."

Yuina continued talking despite her voice grew shakier. She clenched her hands together, her tears trickled down her face and fell on the back of her hands.

If both of them were still alive, Yuina could imagine how joyful their expressions would be. 

Her mother would happily tell her what should she pay attention to during her pregnancy.

Her father would be the anxious one, asking if she felt sick and needed to be in help in every way.

Yuina bit her lower lips. Her eyes were clouded by her silent tears.

Dear wind,

May you carry my longing to them,

To the ones who didn't cease to shower me with their love and care,

Until Fate wasn't kind to them and stopped their time,

The ones that I couldn't even take a brief glimpse even if my heart desired.