Chapter Text
Epilogue
'Happy birthday!' smiled Hiromi as her daughter entered the kitchen.
'Thanks Mom.' replied Eiko with a yawn as she took a seat at the table.
'I can't believe my baby is eighteen!' sighed Hiromi 'You're a grown up now.'
'Mom!' groaned Eiko her cheeks going pink with embarrassment.
'Back in my day we had to wait until we were twenty to be deemed adults.' she grinned at her daughter's flustered appearance 'I can't believe how quickly the time has flown. Once your father is back from his work trip this afternoon we can go out and celebrate.'
Eiko grinned with excitement.
An unexpected knock at the door caused them both to look up and at each other in surprise.
'Who on earth could that be?' wondered Hiromi.
'Ooh maybe it's Kibou. He said he would come over this morning but he's a good half an hour early' replied Eiko brightening up at the thought of her current beau 'I'll get it!'
'You might want to rethink that.' chuckled her mother.
Eiko looked at her in confusion and then followed her mother's gaze downwards to look at the oversized t-shirt with a cartoon unicorn on it that she slept in.
'Aargh.' she squeaked before thundering up the stairs to get changed.
Hiromi smiled to herself as she stood up from the table and tightened the belt on her bathrobe before heading into the hall. She pulled open the door and looked out but no-one was there. Confused Hiromi looked up and down the street. They hadn't taken that long to answer the door had they? Her gaze shifted downwards and her eyes fell upon something resting on the step. She bent down to retrieve the item frowning slightly to find whatever it was, was wrapped in a cleaning cloth and tied with a ribbon. A small tag was also attached to the ribbon. Hiromi turned the tag over and her eyes widened and she let out a gasp. Although it only contained one word she knew that handwriting.
Eiko found her mother sitting on the doorstep in a daze. She placed a hand on her shoulder and Hiromi jumped a mile.
'Mom are you okay?' asked Eiko her face etched with concern.
Her mother nodded.
'Yes.' she replied softly.
Eiko tucked her long skirt under her to allow herself to squeeze in next to her mother taking her free hand between her own. Hiromi turned to look at her daughter. Her eyes were misty.
'The knock at the door was a gift for you.' explained Hiromi as she presented it to her daughter 'I don't know how she did it.'
Eiko looked at her mother in confusion as she accepted the cloth wrapped gift.
'It's from your Aunt Haru.' continued Hiromi ' She must have planned this all out in advance. She always wanted to celebrate this special birthday with you. I wonder what it could be.'
'I miss her.' sighed Eiko leaning into her mother.
'I do too.' whispered Hiromi, a stray tear rolling down her cheek 'But she wouldn't want us to be sad. Especially not on your special day.'
Hiromi nudged her daughter and she smiled back at her.
'Are you going to open it?' she asked.
Eiko nodded and carefully undid the ribbon and removed the cloth allowing the item to fall into the palm of her hand. It was a beautifully carved kokeshi doll. It had the symbol for eighteen carved on its chest and was decorated with painted sakura blossoms.
'Wow.' said Eiko.
'How beautiful.' murmured Hiromi hugging her daughter around the shoulders.
'I'll treasure it. ' smiled Eiko 'Let's go inside. We wouldn't want you scaring off Kibou looking like that.'
'Watch yourself young lady.' Hiromi responded to her daughter's sass 'Just because it is your birthday doesn't mean that you can get away with murder. Now help an old woman up!'
Eiko laughed pulling her mother up by her outstretched hand before embracing her. The two murmured to each other before heading inside and closing the door behind them.
Hidden amongst the leaves in a tree opposite Haru sat on a branch. She sniffed quietly having observed the interaction of her best friend and her beloved niece. She wiped a tear away with a gloved hand before a handkerchief appeared in her eyeline. Haru laughed gently before accepting it.
'Thank you.' she said.
'Are you okay?' asked Baron who had been sitting besides her also quietly observing.
'Yeah. I just miss them so much. I just wish there was a way that I could let them know that I'm all right.' she sighed.
'You know why we can't do that.' he replied softly.
'I know but it doesn't stop me wishing.' mused Haru leaning against him.
Her attention was then caught by a cheerful young man walking down the street. In his hand he held a single sunflower. Eiko's favourite. Haru smiled as she watched him approach the house, nervously smoothing down his hair before knocking the door. Within seconds Eiko had reappeared. A big grin on her face.
'I'm going to watch over them. Over them and their children and their children's children.' declared Haru.
'That is a very noble notion my Baroness.' smiled Baron.
Haru turned to look at him rolling her eyes.
'You know better Baron.' she admonished.
'Of course my Haru.' he replied with a chuckle as he picked up her hand and kissed it. 'Once in a moment of great despair I wished for a chance of a happily ever after and I was lucky enough to receive it. I hope the same for them.'
'I do too.' she agreed.
'Now why don't we go and cheer you up with a visit to Mamoru?' suggested Baron.
Haru smiled thinking of her giant, mythical pet.
'You always know the right thing to say.' she sighed giving him a kiss on the cheek.
He stood up and held out his hand for her to take. Her Baron, her happily ever after.