Title: The Grave

By: Justine Smith and Brittni Clemons

            24 year old Aiko Nakatoni sat, deathly still on the freshly packed dirt. The smell of dirt and grass wafted to her nostrils, and she inhaled deeply. It was a smell she had come to know very well. Beneath it laid her one true love, Takuya Kon. Just two weeks earlier he had passed on, leaving Aiko utterly empty inside. Everything she had loved and been loved by was gone. In her trembling ivory hands she clutched one blood red rose, symbolizing everything she had felt for Takuya, and everything she would feel. A few tears slipped from her eyes. She could taste the bitter saltiness of them on her tongue as she wept. They were to be wed, she could remember, and it pained her to think that she could have been Mrs. Kon. Mrs. Aiko Kon. She liked the sound of the words, though she knew it would never be. Aiko jumped when she felt someone’s hand on her shoulder.

            “Aiko, it’s time to go,” said a voice. Aiko turned to look through the black veil into the violently blue eyes of her older sister, Kyoko. Hastily wiping the tears from her eyes, Aiko rose, gathering her black mourning dress into her hands. It was the same dress she wore every time she came to see him.

            “I love you, now and forever,” Aiko whispered, dropping the rose on the dirt. It clashed horribly with the dingy brown of the dirt, but Aiko knew Takuya would appreciate it.

            Tightly, Kyoko held Aiko’s hand and led her out of the cemetery. She didn’t think it healthy for someone to spend so much time there. It angered her that her mother let Aiko behave in such a manner. “Do not disturb,” her mother would say. “Shinko koi comes only once in a lifetime.” Deep inside, Kyoko knew she was right, though she would never admit it to Aiko.

            Aiko let herself be led across the gray stone path. The cemetery was just on the outskirts of the small town, and it didn’t bother her to walk home. Besides, she had walked there.

            “Hahaoya is upset that you left so suddenly,” Kyoko said. Aiko paid her no attention and instead let her gaze drift over the many faces that peered back at her. They all seemed to taunt her, as if they knew exactly where she had been. Their faces showed pity, and Aiko despised them for it. They passed a small market, where flocks of people struggled to find exactly what was on their shopping list. Among the throng of people, she caught a flash of untidy jet black hair and shimmering golden eyes, accompanied by a cleft in the chin and a tiny scar next to his right eye. A tiny breath caught in her throat. It was him – Takuya. Aiko’s heart pounded in her chest as she fought to see him. She called his name, and Kyoko turned around.

            “Do not make a fool of your self,” she hissed, her blue eyes flashing. Aiko pointed to the crowd where her lover was standing.

            “Do you not see him?” Aiko returned, a smile breaking, wide and happy on her face. Kyoko turned to crowd, searching for what she could not see.

            “Whom?”

            “My Takuya,” Aiko answered joyously. She tugged on Kyoko’s hand. “Let me go to him.” Kyoko scowled.

            “Your eyes trick you,” she said in vehemence. “Hahaoya expects us home soon.”

            “No!” Aiko protested. “I must see him.”

            Kyoko noticed the glares she was receiving from the passerby, and she felt the heat rise to her face. Embarrassed, she pulled Aiko along.

            “You are seeing things,” she muttered. “He is dead.”

            Aiko knew he was dead, but her eyes weren’t lying. He was there. He was! Burning hot tears filled her eyes, as she followed Kyoko reluctantly down the cobblestone street. She had seen him, she knew she had. Nothing could convince her otherwise. Kyoko refused to let go of Aiko’s hand, and it was beginning to sweat. Aiko glanced over to the bus stop where an elderly couple was waiting. A young man sat next to them, his face hidden from her sight by a young lady walking by. When she passed, Aiko caught a glimpse of who it was. It was Takuya again. The sight of him made her dizzy. His eyes were trained on hers. It couldn’t be real, it just couldn’t. He was dead, and yet, there he was, standing on the street. Aiko closed her eyes a moment, and then opened them again. Suddenly, she could see him everywhere. Tears fell from her eyes, streaking down her cheeks.

            “Takuya!” she cried. Kyoko spun around angrily.

            “Be quiet!” she snarled. Aiko shook her head.

            “Mai hitotsu ken bakari,” she murmured. When these words escaped her lips, the ground seemed to tremble beneath her. Kyoko’s hand dissolved in her own, and everyone faded. Only one other person was left, and he was standing at the end of the road, approximately 20 feet from where she was. Forgetting all the rules of life and death, she ran. Aiko gathered her dress and ran to him. Takuya watched, a small smile playing on his handsome face. Aiko stopped a foot away from him and felt her heart melt. He was holding the rose she had dropped on his grave.

            “I thought you were dead,” she whispered. Takuya held out the rose. Tenderly, Aiko received it, holding it as if it were made of glass.

            “I’ve missed you,” Takuya said. Aiko could barely hold herself up as she stepped up to him.

            “I’ve missed you too.” In a fluent motion, Takuya pulled her to him and embraced her tightly. He covered her face in kisses, whispering words of love in her ear. These were his words:

“Konrinzai sai imei En hima maro.” Those words made Aiko’s heart soar, and she clung to Takuya, thanking the heavens that she had him. When she looked down, she could see the ground was far away, but she wasn’t scared. Not as long as she had Takuya. Her black mourning dress had changed to a pure white wedding dress, and Takuya was dressed in a white tuxedo. Now, she thought, we are truly bound for life.

Translations:

Hahaoya - Mother

Mai hitotsu ken bakari – My one and only

Konrinzai sai imei En hima maro – Never again shall I leave you