Chapter Text
Chapter 129 – Departure and Reunion
Momo and Hikaru are kneeling in front of the gravestones for their mothers with Gekkō and Izanami on the ground between them. Both are silent in prayer as the wind blows a slight breeze and compared to the last time they were at this site, it is a paradigm of peace. It’s been a few hours since Loretta left the house, and the final accounts are being settled….
**********************************************************************
“Are you sure you don’t want to come, Vamola?” Momo asks her friend as they are all gathered in the house courtyard.
“I am, it’s important you go, I’ll stay here with Sakata.”
“Ok…if you insist. Watch over her, Erosuke.”
“Yes ma’am!”
Although a part of Vamola wants to go with them, she knows this is an important moment for Momo and Hikaru. That place was where those two had their first moment and the walls slowly started to fall between them. In a way the cemetery was where Momo and Hikaru had their first true meeting, and it is where they need to have one more conversation.
Of course, the meaning of that place also holds true for Vamola, and she had her first true meeting with Hikaru. That was where she really reached out to that man, saw the pain in his heart over his lost mothers and realized they shared the same loss. So much has happened since that day and looking at Momo and Hikaru, it’s incredible to realize how far those two…how far all of them have come since then.
Hikaru meant it when he said everything would have fallen apart without Aira. She held the line at the battle and never stopped challenging him, never putting up with his bullshit. Still, this young woman before him is just as important. Without Vamola trusting his dumbass and seeing through his bullshit as well, he’s not sure if things would have gone as well as they did. Despite all his provocations and being so damn self-centered, she never stopped believing he was more than he let on.
Honestly, if not for Vamola everything would have fallen apart.
“Thank you Vam-chan…I mean it, more than I can say. Thanks for believing in my dumbass…and thanks for being here for Momo and Granny.” Hikaru tells her and hugs Vamola as tight as he had held Aira.
“You had better be coming back.” Vamola replies as she feels his warm energy with her head on his chest.
“I am, I promise, but I have a lot I need to make right.”
“Don’t take too long…and thank you. I know my mom and aunts are alive.” She says and separates from Hikaru while crying but is obviously happy.
“Don’t thank me…But I’m happy for you, I know what that loss feels like.”
“It’s scary but…” Vamola says as she turns to Momo and Seiko.
“…you’re never alone.” Hikaru replies while looking at Momo, Granny and Anna.
Honestly, once he heard Vamola’s history, the dumb shit wanted to kick his own ass even more so (if that was possible). The shit this young woman has been through and what she truly lost…and the strength that it took to move forward and keep standing, he could only hang his head in shame at his own inactions. If there was anyone who earned the right to stand aside and just let the world go by her, it’s Vamola.
Yet there she was, fighting back against her own fears and taking her life back while Hikaru remained in his own pit. He’s said it before and will say it again, but these kids were better adults than he ever was.
“It took my dumbass too long to figure that out.”
“I don’t think you’re that dumb.” She says while smiling at him.
“Thanks Vam-chan….and I hope your mom gets here soon.” He tells her while giving one last hug.
“Me too, can’t wait to introduce her to everyone.”
Which is a day she cannot wait to come. Vamola has no idea how long it will take but due to Hikaru she knows it will be here sooner than later. She now has proof the family she left behind is alive and can’t wait to introduce them to her new family.
“I'm looking forward to it, Vam-chan.” Hikaru says and kisses the top of her head as Vamola blushes and gives him one last smile.
It’s not that he needed any other reasons to come home but it’s good to have one. He had no idea this girl existed and is grateful she showed up for Momo and Granny. And like the rest of Momo’s new family, he can’t wait to get back here once he’s finished mending fences.
Not just her though and the last kid is before him as Sakata stands next to Vamola. Hikaru knows he’s the one of the group he hasn’t talked that much to since shit went sideways. It’s not that he’s been avoiding the kid, it’s just been an endless avalanche of crap since the beach. Still, Hikaru owes Sakata just as much as the rest for risking his neck and getting Momo and the rest to the field. He may not know much about the kid but that’s just another reason to get back here.
“Keep it up with the mechs kid, like to take a ride when I’m back. They’re pretty badass.” Hikaru says as he nods to Sakata.
“Yes sir!” Sakata enthusiastically replies and is already thinking about what he can make with the nanoskin.
**********************************************************************
“It’s quieter than last time.” Momo remarks when she finishes praying.
“Hope it would be, no cursed sword trying to kill us.”
“This is so weird, looking at…” Becca says and is trying to take in reading a gravestone with her Japanese name on it.
“I know, it doesn't feel real, are we really…” Aki replies and is following Becca’s thoughts.
“Who knows and has any of this shit not been weird? Just glad you’re both still here.” Hikaru mentions while he runs his hand over Gekkō.
“I swear, you’ll always be a momma’s boy.” Aki says and Hikaru can sense the happiness in both of his mothers.
While he can feel the happy feelings coming from those two, Momo, on the other hand, seems to be lost in thought. She is focused just on the gravestones and looks like she is in her own little world.
“What’s on your mind Momo?” He asks her and Momo slowly turns to look at him.
“Honestly, I’m not sure. You know why I never really thought of mom. She was gone but I never felt like I ever had a connection with her. Then you show the hell up, all these memories hit me of you, your mom, my mom and…” She finishes while wrapping her fingers around Gekkō…around their mothers and again seems to be lost in thought.
“And???”
“And…. I can’t help wondering how different my life would have been if...”
“I thought you wouldn’t change anything.”
“I wouldn’t and I mean it, really. But seeing what she…they were like with you, can’t help but wonder how different my life would have been if I was raised by our moms…if you and Anna were here…I can’t help but think of what I…what we lost.”
Momo tells herself she won’t change anything and believes this, truly. Her life and her friends means everything to her….Okarun means the world to her. She would like to believe if their moms and Hikaru were here that her life would have been the same. That she would still have met Okarun and her friends and maybe she would have. Still, she doesn’t believe things would have happened as they did and her life would have been altered beyond recognition by the presence of their mothers, this man and no doubt Anna.
The worst part is she thought she had gotten over these feelings and was moving on. How can she miss a life she never knew? Yet every time Hikaru talks…every time she hears their mothers…every time she feels their love for him, it becomes impossible for her to not ask “what if.”
“I know what you mean. I’ll do anything to change what happened, go back and make better choices.”
If there is anyone who can sympathize with Momo right now it is Hikaru. The last 14 years have been an endless list of what ifs…what if he had listened to Loretta and they just left America…what if he had defeated Izanagi…what if he had reached out to Granny and beg her not to go…what if he went home after the Norway battle and…and what their lives would have been like if their moms raised both of them.
Before he came back and before he almost threw it all away against Izanagi, “what if’s” were the constant in his life. And it wasn’t until he was bleeding on that mound surrounded by monsters did he truly realize he had other constants in his life…constants which had been with him for 14 years…the constants of Anna and Loretta.
“I thought about it every day, what I…what we lost. But then I see Anna and I remember what I gained, all the people we’ve helped…what I would lose if I…if we could change the past. We may not have each other, the brats back home…probably would have never met your friends…Aira, Vamola, the boys…”
The fact is there is no right answer to their worries. At the end of the day, they can’t go back in time and change what happened. Hikaru’s regrets will always be part of him and Momo is going to have her “what ifs.” Still, Mom 1 was always going about finding the silver lining as a kid and Mom A told him to make his choices and move forward. They both have lives they love…lives they can now share with each other and thankfully there is still time to build a future together without being stuck in the past.
“So, Momo…no regrets.” He says with as much love as he can muster while reaching out and hugging his mother’s daughter.
“He’s not that bad when he’s thoughtful, right Momo-chan?” Becca asks the girl she will always consider to be her daughter.
“Well, he is my mom’s and your son.”
“Wouldn’t that make you two…” Aki says to both of her children and wonders if they think they are…
“No and shut up!!!” Momo and Hikaru scream at the same time and in the same voice.
These two have come so far regarding their relationship and both are genuinely surprised by their progress. Nevertheless, there are still many bridges they need to cross, and neither are in any shape to answer that specific question. Hell, they may never cross that particular bridge and that can wait for another day.
That said, they’ve come to realize they are starting to have the same thoughts and can’t help but laugh their asses off. The pair is realizing they are once again going down that path of denial, yet they just can’t seem to help themselves. At least now they will be in denial together along with the rest of the family.
“You ok Izanami, you’ve been quiet.” Hikaru mentions as he notices this particular family member hasn’t said anything in some time.
“Yes, I’m fine Hikaru-san. It’s just being here, remembering that day…knowing that Momo-dono never…” Izanami says but her voice seems to be on the verge of tears although she is quickly interrupted.
“Izanami…thank you.”
“Momo-dono?”
“Remember, I saw all your memories. I saw you grieve for our moms. You fought for them, for Hikaru, for my friends and Granny…for yourself against your brother.” Momo says as she picks up Izanami while embracing the sword and to Hikaru, it looks like his mother’s daughter is hugging his sister’s human form.
Would Momo have formed a relationship with Izanami if she had come home with the family? She’s thought so much about being raised by her mom and Becca…their moms and what living with Hikaru would have been like. If they were here, would she have still called Granny a fake…would she have started taking her training seriously when she was younger…would she have formed a relationship with this wise, old soul like Hikaru did? He is right and she is moving on yet feeling the kindness in this sword…the kindness in this woman, it makes Momo think one final “what if.”
“I felt your warmth, felt your love so please don’t grieve. We need you to keep this fool in line, he needs his big sister.” Momo tells the wise soul as they both cry slightly and smile.
“Thank you Momo-san, I will.”
With that Momo lays down Izanami next to her mothers sword and notices the chi in both the blades start to shine, the happiness in the women all too obvious. That was the first time Momo had actually talked to Izanami besides a few brief sentences and it’s clear why Hikaru was drawn to her. Their personalities are like night and day although they seem to have what the other was missing; Hikaru had that zeal for life which pulled Izanami forward and she was his guiding hand, the one person the fool always listened to.
And Momo knows the fool’s sister will have her hands full with this one.
“And you, don’t screw up anymore.”
“I’ll try but no promises…Momo-chan.” He tells her and smiles like an idiot once more.
To which Momo immediately lightly slaps him with her ghost hands and once again wonders if that even works on him. But from what she can tell, Anna and the others seem to enjoy hitting the fool more for their own piece of mind than in any hope it will have an effect.
For which it does and honestly, Momo does feel ever so slightly better once the ghost hands connect with his back.
“You just can’t help yourself can you?” Momo says as the fool shrugs his shoulders and then helps the girl to her feet.
**********************************************************************
“All done then.” Seiko asks as Hikaru walks up beside her and is still grinning like a fool.
“For now, it's still weird praying to a grave when they’re not…or are…”
“Are Aki-san and Rebecca-san actually…”
“Short answer, yes but it doesn’t matter.” Hikaru says after taking a quick look at the stones…and a longer look at the young man in front of him.
Don’t judge a book by its cover…his mom told him that enough as if it was gospel to her. It doesn’t take a genius to understand the meaning, yet perception and reality are two different things. Hikaru saw Ken’s power at the beach and yeah, it was something but power like that is a dime a dozen in their world. He definitely made it his own and isn’t something to be underestimated although that’s not what caught the man’s attention. This young man may look weak on the surface, but he has a hell of a spine.
And based on how those two have been with each other, Hikaru can’t think of anyone better to be here for Momo when the shit hits the fan.
“Ken, thank you.”
“I didn’t really do anything Hikaru-san.”
“No, I was a distant jerk at first. I just wanted to slap a seal on Izanami and get out. Was looking for any chance to run away. All that time and I still could barely look at Momo and Granny.”
Looking back on all that fear and self-doubt, Hikaru cannot fathom what held him back. Now that they are on the other side, just why did he hide for all those years? He truly missed Momo, Granny and the rest with every fiber of his being, but he still stayed away despite his heart always breaking. His moms said not to call himself a coward, yet his actions were based on fear, on not wanting to just man the hell up like Ken did that day.
Those few minutes with Ken in the courtyard that night, that was a turning point. If he hadn’t called Hikaru out for his bullshit, who knows what would have happened. Even after that, Ken was always there beside Momo and even a god tier fool like Hikaru could see what they mean to each other. And he can only thank the gods that Ken was here for Momo when he was in his pit.
“So, thank you again, you’re a better man than I ever was.” Hikaru tells Okarun as he looks at the young man right in the eyes.
“You can stop Hikaru-san. I just helped, it’s what you do when people are in need.” Okarun says and is clearly embarrassed, yet Momo has a massive smile on her face.
“That you did.” Hikaru tells Ken as he pulls the kid closer to his head.
If he was being truthful, Okarun was helping Momo and he needed Hikaru in order to do so. The man came from nowhere, yet he was casting a hidden shadow on Momo’s life. He was an unknown and a non-factor in her life until he was all she could think of. Seeing Momo and Seiko’s relationship falling apart, that ate at Okarun’s very soul…seeing those two fighting because of this man frankly just pissed him off.
Still, once he realized where Hikaru was coming from and his history….what Momo, Granny and Aki meant to the man and what losing his mothers did to him…what that fear did to him, Okarun could at least understand the man. And once the barriers the man placed within himself finally fell, Okarun knew this man was someone who could be trusted.
“And mom is glad Momo picked you.” Hikaru whispers as Ken immediately blushes and puts his hands over his eyes.
“Stop, what’d you tell him?” Momo yells at Hikaru while he walks over to their grandmother.
“Nothing, just a secret between men. And keep her safe Ken or my mom will have me kick your ass.”
“I will! I promise!”
Not that Hikaru needs to hear this young man make that promise. Ken’s actions tell him everything he needs to know, and this young man is more reliable than he ever was.
“Heading out?”
“Yeap, take care Granny.”
“That's all you have to say punk.”
“Oh, I could say a lot more…. Seiko-chama.”
Really, how hard is it for this moron to just say “see you later” or “goodbye”? Is it really that difficult for this ass to just be a decent human being with her? Does he have to get in one last snide remark after all these years???
“I swear, you are an absolute…” Seiko says as she clutches her fist in annoyance.
Of course, Seiko is going to get in one last word with her asshole grandson and remind him for the 10,000th time not to piss her off. Of course, her asshole of a grandson has to turn at that moment and give her that damn smile again. And of course, she remembers that’s when his true self always shines through…of course that damn smile reminds her he is still that sweet little boy.
“Hikaru…” The grandmother says to her fool of a grandson.
Before the fool of a grandson can say anything, his incredibly patient and wise grandmother is hugging him from behind. And all he can feel is the same love from her that he did in his childhood. He always said his Granny was his port in the storm and even after 14 years it’s almost as if he never left home.
“Stay safe Hikaru, keep your moms and sister safe. Never let go of Anna and come home soon.” She says with her arms around his waist and honestly doesn’t want to let him go.
“I will and thank you Granny, for everything.” He says and honestly doesn’t want to let her go either as the two of them block out the rest of the world.
Yet the rest of the world is looking on with Momo and Anna quietly observing the two. For the former, those two embracing reminds her of herself and their grandmother, of the selfless love that woman always showed her. And for the latter, it’s a scene she has always wanted to see, had hoped would come to be, and cannot actually believe is happening before her.
“I’ve complained about him so many times, but I see where he gets it from, but it could be worse I suppose.” Anna says as she continues to watch those two embracing.
“True, when he first showed up all I felt from him was pain and regret and I just didn’t know about Granny. Brought up some bad memories…”
“But now?”
“Still some bad…. but more good memories. I’m happy he came back…happy I got to remember him and…I got to meet you.”
“Well, he had to but yes, I can tell he’s the happiest he’s been in a long time. I’m glad I got to see your grandmom again, his moms, and talk to Izanami. Meet your friends and you Momo-chan.”
Anna only ever saw Momo that one time when Seiko brought her to America, hoping to get the fool to come home. Naturally the shit felt them coming and came up with some excuse to disappear. That was probably the first time Anna truly lost it with that ass and almost forced him back. But that was also the first time she lost her nerve when she saw him looking at that picture. Still, she never thought it would take 13 years to see Momo again and like with Hikaru, this is probably the happiest she has been in a long time as well.
“I’m glad I got to see my mom fight too, she’s a total badass.”
“She is, seeing her and Becca fighting in person was something...” Anna mentions and notices Momo is staring at Gekkō.
Just like her husband and grandmother, Anna has been kicking her own ass since she realized Aki and Becca were in that sword. She has no idea how she missed that and failed to see their auras. Looking back on all those years, it’s probably because they were so weak and not noticeable. Still, they were there in her house, near her for 14 goddamn years and she still missed them. If she had seen those auras, told Hikaru what was going on…that his moms were still with him then Momo would have had her mom back in her life.
“Do you want Hikaru to leave her and Becca here? I’m sure he would if you asked.”
Momo didn’t even consider that possibility and was tempted. Just like Hikaru, she is just starting to build a relationship with her mother…with their mothers. She’s only talked to her mom a few times and it felt like she was coming home…that a piece of her which was missing has been found. Would it be wrong of her to ask Hikaru to let their moms stay here for a bit…to let her spend as much time with them as he did…to feel the same love that he did???
“No, it’s fine, really. And Hikaru needs her…needs them more, you can tell.”
Which is no doubt true and honestly, Momo can’t imagine Hikaru without that sword. It has been almost literally attached to his hip and it’s as much a part of him as Izanami. She doesn’t believe Hikaru can’t live without them, yet their relationship is incredibly deep and until he has finished making amends in Japan, it’s best their mothers stay by his side.
“And I have my friends, Granny, Okarun….” Momo says, stopping as she stares at the boy and Anna watches on as the girl’s chi brightens.
“That boy means a lot to you, doesn’t he?”
“He does, more than I can say.”
Which for Momo is slightly more accurate than she wants to admit. Okarun has been her rock and saved her more times than she can count. Whenever she felt like she was losing it, even in the darkest times he was there. And so many times she just could not say it no matter how much she wanted to and her stubbornness almost cost them.
“Don’t let him go, ever. A few times Hikaru almost lost himself…that idiot could never be honest. I think that’s one of your family’s traditions.”
“I know, looks like Mom was the same way…” Momo says as she reaches out to hug Anna, embracing the older woman and her eyes go wide as she feels something within her friend.
And when they separate, Anna can tell Momo is thinking something but isn’t sure what. This girl is ridiculously intuitive and there isn’t much you can get by her. Still, she’s taking her time and seems to be staring right into Anna.
“Then shouldn’t you be honest with Hikaru?” Momo says while looking down at Anna’s stomach…and immediately has to brace herself as her friend grabs her and they turn from Hikaru.
“How’d you find out? I’ve been masking my chi.”
“You can blame Hikaru; I can read it a lot better now. Does he know?”
“He hasn’t said anything, I’m planning on telling him.”
“When? He’s an idiot but not that dumb. He’ll figure it out eventually.”
“I know…I’ll tell him soon.”
“Considering all the trouble he gets into the sooner the better.”
Now this is a conversation that neither of them thought they would be having with the other. Anna wasn’t hiding this from anyone; she just wanted time with Hikaru alone and away from everyone…at least she told herself that. The truth is she is as nervous as he’s been since he got home. She only found out after he left for Japan and until she confronted him…until she knew she was at peace with him and they had a future together, she wanted to keep this to herself.
Momo can sense Anna’s nervous energy radiating through her body and it reminds her so much of Hikaru. Not that Momo can blame her friend and if her estimates are right, Anna only found out recently which would explain why Hikaru doesn’t know…and why Anna is so nervous. Still, considering what Anna just said about Momo’s family not being honest…
“Weren’t you just talking about being honest…I thought he was the foolish adult.”
“Alright, alright, I’ll tell him, soon.”
“Are you two done gossiping?” Hikaru says as he looks over on the two women with their backs turned to him.
“You were keeping secrets with Okarun.”
“That was just advice between men, you two are plotting something.”
"Oh, shut up, how many times did our moms tell you to listen to the women in your life?”
“So, so, so many times… But they do need to tell me everything.”
The man’s default setting seems to be that of a fool and sure, he’s done enough to show Momo he’s not an idiot, yet when he goes all out, he’s easily the biggest fool she has met. Due to that, however, it’s just as easy to forget that he is not as big of a fool as he lets on and knows his shit when he’s serious. That despite his obvious failings he is one observant bastard and let’s very little get past him.
And he lets her and Anna know that there was no way he could have missed what his wife was hiding as he puts his hands on her stomach and smiles like an idiot.
“Damn you, how long have you known?” Anna says and is surprised but at the same time she is not and remembers this one never runs out of ways to shock her.
“Not as big of an idiot as you think I am.” Hikaru tells his wife as he hugs her, looking like he never wants to let go.
“You’re still an idiot.” Anna mentions and has the same look he has, not wanting to let go of her fool.
“Whatever you say dear…” He says while looking over to his mother’s daughter.
He honestly had no idea Anna was expecting when he left for home and Jesus Christ the fool is really hating himself now. If he had actually died and left her alone with…he would have cursed his own dumbass for such idiocy. Once again the fool can only thank whatever lucky star he was born under for being surrounded by so many wise and patient women.
“So how does Aunt…”
“SHUT UP! Don’t even think about that!” Momo shouts back and Hikaru and Anna can’t help laughing at her flustered response.
Ok, they’ve come pretty damn far, and Momo can’t complain but there is no way she is ready to be called that yet. Her and Hikaru still have a way to go, and she does not have the mental capacity to hear that from him…at least that’s what the foolish girl thinks to herself.
“Don’t worry Momo, I know I still need to earn that.” The foolish man tells the foolish girl as he holds her shoulders.
What’s with this feeling Momo is getting from him? He’s not saying goodbye but she’s feeling that same sense of regret from him. Is he actually thinking of not coming back??? What is so important that he has to leave now???
“Momo, I’ve said sorry enough and I mean it. I’m so sorry I missed so much…that I wasn’t here for you, Granny and everyone…sorry we can never get that time back. But I’m glad it didn’t matter, that everything turned out ok; you’re smarter and braver than I ever was. Mom…our moms are proud of you, we all are.”
“Wait a minute…did he just say that…does he actually think that…how could he say that???” Momo thinks to herself but can’t even say anything as Hikaru turns away from her…from his mother’s daughter…from his…
“About that time...Granny…Ken, I’ll tell you about all the alien shit when I’m back.” He tells them as he and Anna start to walk down the road while Momo stares at their backs.
Anna can also feel Momo looking into them…into Hikaru and turns to give her, Seiko and Ken one last wave. Hikaru, on the other hand, keeps his head forward, not looking back towards them and Anna is perplexed by this.
Really, she’s not sure herself why they need to leave and travel Japan. Yes, she wants to see the country and Hikaru needs to make amends. Even then, he’s spent 14 years wanting to see his Japanese family…to connect with them. The others are important, but would it hurt to wait a few more weeks? He hasn’t been this happy in heaven knows how long so why force himself on this journey?
“Are you sure we need to go now; we could wait a…”
And as soon as she sees her fool she has her answer and the dumbshit is crying his eyes out, forcing himself to walk forward. She still isn’t sure why he wants to go on this trip but if it’s hurting this too much to leave, she’s sure it is important and that they will be back with their family soon enough.
“You are such a noble fool.” The girl says to the boy, and she holds him as they walk forward.
**********************************************************************
Okarun and Momo are watching as Anna and Hikaru are quickly disappearing down the road and are almost out of sight. The two of them are mostly silent yet Okarun can hear Momo as she is crying while trying not to make any noises and Okarun can’t help but think back to when this started. And all he can think about is what the man’s arrival did to their group and what it did to Momo.
“When Hikaru-san showed up, I was honestly pretty angry at him. He came out of nowhere, knew so much about your mom and Seiko-san but was just going to leave. I came close to punching him, I thought it was just so selfish of him…. thought he was a coward. He kept pulling back, he just wouldn’t take that first step.” Okarun tells Momo as he steps in front of her, hoping his words are getting through her tears.
Actually, Okarun came much closer to punching Hikaru than he cares to admit. He hates that side of him coming out and it usually does no good. Still, the look in Hikaru’s eyes that night in the courtyard after the cemetery…him saying he just wanted to leave, the boy can’t remember the last time he was that pissed off. The selfishness of the man that day, the self-pity he was drowning himself in was too much for the boy. If he had said anything else…if he made any excuse or did anything besides talking to Momo, Okarun knew exactly what he would have done.
And is thankful he did not have to, and Hikaru finally talked to Momo…that he finally gave her the answers she deserved to hear.
“But he did…for his moms…for Seiko-san…for himself… and for you.” The boy says as he reaches out to hold the girl’s hands.
Okarun saw Hikaru with them…with Seiko…with Momo and it’s obvious what she means to the man. The man’s love for the girl got twisted into fear holding him back, stopping him from moving forward with her. That fear became an excuse for him to shield himself from pain and disappointment and that is a feeling Okarun knows all too well…a fear that he eventually had to power through for the girl…the same fear that the man eventually had to cast aside like the boy did.
Once again Momo thanks the fates for sending her down the hallway that day and for looking into that classroom when she did. It was a chance encounter, just the randomness of life at play and she definitely came out ahead with Okarun. Whether it’s fighting aliens, spirits or her own doubts, there is no one Momo would rather have besides her than this boy.
“Okarun, thank you…for everything.” The girl says as she hugs the boy with all her heart and soul as she cries into his shoulder.
**********************************************************************
“Hikaru-san, prepare yourself.” Izanami says and surprises Hikaru who was not expecting to hear his sister.
“What are you...”
It’s clear his sister has some plan as the ghost swords shoot out of his arm and into the ground before he is quickly spun around. He has no idea what Izanami is planning and really needs to talk to her about randomly using the swords…and that idea goes out of his mind immediately as Momo runs into his chest and wraps her arms around him.
“Momo, what the hell are you doing?!?” Hikaru says and is shocked she is suddenly hugging him.
“Idiot.” Momo says but it is barely above a whisper and Hikaru can’t make her out.
“What, I couldn’t hear you.”
“Idiot.” Momo says again and is a little louder, but Hikaru still can’t hear her.
“What, you need to speak…”
“IDIOT, IDIOT, IDIOT!!!!” Momo yells at the top of her lungs and Hikaru has no trouble hearing her this time.
Momo has been pissed at this one plenty of times since he appeared for so many reasons…for showing up out of nowhere…for bringing that disaster in his wake…for creating that replica of her mother …for being raised by their mother…for not being here…for showing her what could have been and for so many other reasons.
“You stupid moron, complete buffoon, absolute goddamn colossal jackass!!!!!!”
“You’re going to have to…”
“No, just shut the hell up!!!”
Despite it all, she’s grown to care for this fool for so many reasons…for showing her what their mothers were like…for loving her, Granny and their mothers…for bringing her mothers back to her…for fighting for her and her friends and for so many other reasons…
“You appear out of nowhere! You blow up my life, blow up my friends lives! Damn near get us killed! Beat the shit out of my friends! Get us…get me to actually like you and now you are just leaving! You are such a selfish bastard!”
And now this asshole is just walking out of her life again…just what the hell is he thinking?!?! How can he open up so many doors for her and think he can just leave them…leave her behind again?!?!?
“And don’t say it didn’t matter! Of course it mattered you weren’t here you dumb shit!!!”
How can he think that??? What the hell is going through that damn head of his??? She doesn’t even care that he wasn’t here to help. All she cares about is that he wasn’t here…her mother’s son…the man raised by her mother who could have connected her to their mother was not here…
“Aren’t you going to say something you idiot?” Momo says after a few moments of silence.
“I wanted to make sure you were done.”
“For now…” Momo says as she holds him even tighter then after the battle with Izanagi and Hikaru can feel the true strength behind her arms.
“Momo…believe me, I know I’m a fool. I’ve been one since I decided I wanted to fight monsters…” The fool says as he holds his mother’s daughter and remembers all the times he did when she was a little kid.
One upside of knowing you are a fool is that you know you are a fool and only the king of fools would do what he does for a living. Still, he isn’t so much of a fool as to forget who he owes for keeping his dumbass alive for so many years…
“But I’m a blessed fool, a fortunate fool. This fool has a lot of smart women keeping him in line…probably too many….and he loves them all.” The king of fools says and squeezes the incredible wise young woman as tightly as he can.
“I’m not sure why we do.”
“Probably so you can all kick my ass.” He tells his mother’s daughter and they laugh together, seemingly the only people in the world at the moment.
Both of them wish this moment could go on forever although that’s a fantasy. The world is still here, and they can’t hide even if they wanted to. Still, for now they can at least take solace in the embrace of the other...Hikaru in the memories that have now come to life and Momo in the lost past which has found his way home. They are done asking about “what ifs” and only care about what is to come.
“I remember the last time I held you like this…I thought about it a lot. I’m sorry it took me so long to come home.”
“I thought you were done apologizing.”
“I’ll never be done…Momo-chan.” Hikaru says and he can feel the same happy energy going through Momo like with Aira.
“You really can’t help yourself.”
“Nope…that’s why I need you to kick my ass.” He says and they both show the same smile and each can feel the same happy energy in the other.
“That is a lot of fun.”
“Anna can give you plenty of pointers…. Aira already has it down.”
“She really got to you, didn’t she?”
“That she did, hell of a friend you made. But not just her, I’m glad you have so many strong friends.”
“You are coming back, right?” She asks and they separate although Momo has her answers as soon as she looks in his eyes.
“You have my word, and I mean it. I’ll never run again, I promise. There’s still a lot I need to tell you about our moms. But…but there are other people…important people I have to see and apologize to before it really is too late.” The fool says although Momo knows he is thinking about those two girls.
“I guess I’ll trust you, you damn fool… Make sure you kick his ass for me.” Momo says as Anna walks over and hugs her without a moment’s hesitation.
Just like with Hikaru, Momo wishes this moment with Anna could go on forever. There is so much she still wants to talk to this woman about…so much she can learn from her…so much she can do with her.
And feeling that additional little aura inside of Anna, Momo knows she will spend plenty of time with her in the future.
“Always Momo-chan, he’s not the only one who wants to come back.” Anna tells her and squeezes her one last time.
“And you better stay in touch.”
“I will and I promise.”
“And I’m holding you to your word.”
“I swear on our mothers, believe me and we’ll be back soon enough. I’m going to want to show the place to the kids.”
“Your students?”
“Not just those kids.” Hikaru tells Momo as he turns to Anna and gives a quick smirk.
“How the hell can you possibly know that???” She asks as he gives her one last smile before heading for his next challenge.
Yet the fool says nothing and gives Momo that same smile she saw in the past. It’s the smile of an ass and honestly, one that should piss her off but like her mothers, grandmother, and Anna…she just can’t. The dark soul who entered her life is long gone and the happy face which filled their mothers and grandmother…and her with so much joy in the past is back.
And Ayase Momo has no doubts that her expanded family will never be separated again.
Epilogue
Peace has once again settled on the Ayase household for hopefully the foreseeable future. There is a peaceful silence as Momo, Okarun, Aira, Vamola, Jiji, Sakata and Seiko sit around the table quietly eating dinner…and two spots are left open for the inevitable return of Hikaru and Anna.
And they prepare themselves for the inevitable chaos which will follow that pair.
FIN