Archive of Our Own ^beta

Emiko loved her parents, don't get her wrong. But their negligence from them makes her despise them with her full heart. 

Sure, Emiko's mother loved to buy and give dozens of gifts to her favorite and only child, but as time went on... she didn't have enough time to spend on her daughter who was only a child that needed attention to grow properly. 

Emiko doesn't even remember that much of her father, just knowing that he would always say yes or agree to every request to what Emi wanted. More or less just him not letting Emiko finish her sentence and just saying yes, waving her away as he reads a newspaper or focuses on work. She can't even remember a time when work wasn't involved with her father. Nor can she remember a good time with him. That seems sad, but she doesn't care about him.

But the person she always cherishes yet almost forgotten... the word or even a remote relation to forgetting someone that was so kind to her made her heart shatter. Evelyn Illusion. 

She was such a saint, yet was underpaid like the rest of the people hired by her parents. Said people knew that the six-year-old child needed some attention, or else her temper would make their minds go into overdrive and put her in an orphanage. Or worse, sell her to something or someone. That thought sends shivers up her spine. 

She sighed heavily, snapping herself out of thought, and looked around a small apartment she bought, she was sick of the high and royalty life. She likes the simpler things, like her favorite hobby, cloud gazing. 

She stood up from the velvet-colored couch and went to the apartment balcony door, opening it and putting her hands on the railing, a smile creeping on her face as she stared at the clouds like old times.

Flashback 

Young Emiko ran out of the house after doing her daily routine. She ran and ran until she spotted the gardens filled with different flowers, all of them being her favorites. It's her personal garden; personal heaven and paradise are what she would call it. She plucked a few daffodils, forget-me-nots, purple hibiscus, and some orchids. She tried her best with the flowers, trying to find a good pattern on the little bouquet she would give to her 'mommy' who would come in a few minutes.

"Emiko sweetie? Are you here? You can't just run out of the mansion and make everyone worry for your safety. They all thought you were going to run away far from here. I as well got concerned for you." Evelyn's voice rang out in the quiet garden. Emiko giggled before hiding in a bunch of orchids, dropping and forgetting the bouquet. Forget-me-nots were Evelyn's favorite flowers and her personal favorite hiding spot on how they smell great. But it's only the nighttime, but she doesn't mind it. If she tries hard enough to sniff it, she can smell a bit of fragrant of the forget-me-nots.  

"Find me, mama!" She giggled before slapping her hands to try to hide her giggles. She tried peaking when she heard a familiar humming coming from the ultimate 'maid'. People use that ultimate talent for she really is graceful like a maid, but both females knew that isn't really her talent but Evelyn doesn't bother. They're superior and she was only a 'maid' in those eyes.

"Found you! And as punishment for scaring everyone, I'm going to tickle tickle!" Evelyn dropped her 'using complicated words for the heck of it and because its respectful persona'  that Emiko liked to say to her, she laughed when she started to get attacked by Evelyn's gloved hands, tickling her on the tummy, neck, and even the ears. 

"Waahahahah! NoooOO! Ahhaha! Okay okie, I won't do it agaahahah-again! Stop it, mama!" Emiko's laughter died down, a big smiling being on her face. Evelyn's own smile appeared, yet still looks forced and professional in Emiko's eyes.

"Oh, what's this?" Evelyn's natural dull eyes looked at the unfinished bouquet, Emiko snapping back and scooping it up, trying to hide it even though many flowers were sticking out at the back of her, the bouquet was too big for her tiny body to hide it from Evelyn. 

"It was supposed to be a gift... but I couldn't finish it in time before you could come here..." She mumbled, slowly getting the flower out of her back and handing it to a shocked Evelyn, taking it with such a gentle touch it was actually insane for Emiko. 

"It's quite pretty, I appreciate it and will take it with utmost care." Evelyn put her nose on the flowers, the scent of the different flowers wafting in, creating a nice sensation, a calming effect felt for the maiden.

"It's pretty? It-it wasn't perfect though..." Emiko shuffled her feet and kicked a small pebble, fiddling with her fingers in the process. Evelyn stood still for a moment, taking in the bouquet before putting that gently on the ground and kneeling in front of an almost crying Emiko.

"Things don't need to be perfect for them to be pretty, just like you and me. You're so reckless it scares everyone," Evelyn pinches the cheek of Emiko gently, a smile on her face. A genuine one that Emiko has only seen on her face only once or twice. "Yet that recklessness is why you're so pretty in my eyes. So daring and full of life, such a sight to behold. Such a beauty." She praised the little Emiko, tears becoming full of sorrow now turned into happiness.

"There's a reason why you're my mama, eheh." She giggled, hugging the older female who reciprocated it back. Rubbing circles on her back, always so comforting it sometimes hurts to know she isn't really her mama. 

"Come on, there's some homework you need to do. After that, I'll prepare some snacks and we can go and play here for the rest of the day, or until I am needed for assistance by others." She held out her hand for a young Emiko to take, which she did happily. 

She didn't really care if she didn't like to do homework nor go back inside that horrid place of a mansion that she once called home. If it makes Evelyn and maybe even her parents happy, so be it. She needs to be perfect to be able to be praised.

Right?

Flashback ends for the moment

Emiko sighed, stopping herself from remembering the rest of that scenario. She went inside and closed the balcony door, going into the small kitchen in search of something to eat. She may be a millionaire, but she would like to do things the 'poor way', the same term her parents used when referring to people below them. Evelyn not being an exception to that term. 

Emiko shook her head, she shouldn't be remembering that out of everything right now. The previously mentioned female grumbled under her breath when she opened the refrigerator door, noting she ran out of items the apartment offered. Thank god she's rich enough to not worry about that, but she's too busy with her thoughts to go and buy at this point in time. 

Instead, she got a small cellophane inside the refrigerator, unwrapped it, and opened the microwave while simultaneously closing the door of the refrigerator, inside the microwave, she tossed the sandwich inside, set the temperature to low heat then made the duration three minutes. She leaned on the counter, waiting for it to be finished. But of course, her thoughts engulf her again.

Flashback resumes 

The young Emiko dramatically bid farewell to the homework after she was done. She was so eager to show her parents the results of the test yesterday. It was perfect! She finished the last two questions on the paper, reviewed the paper briefly, and stuffed it in the same bag with the test results. She made sure she had what she needed in her bag, checked it up a few times, then thought to herself that she was ready to show the test results to her parents.

She gently closed the door to her room, strutting and greeting maids that whom she was well acquainted. Sooner or later, she arrived in the 'busy office room' where the majority of the employees who work under her parents are. 

She greeted some of the employees to exert 'respectfulness', and it paid off. The employees whispered among themselves, saying how respectful she is. Emiko liked that and would like for it to stay that way. 

She arrived at a big door that said 'CEO's Office', she knocked on it twice and heard her father's voice saying she can enter. And entered she did, said male didn't even glance up, knowing full well that it was his daughter, Emiko.

"Afternoon Emiko. Do you need anything?" Her father asked her, Emiko said a small 'wait' and started to dig for the test results, almost pulling out the homework she did a few minutes prior, not wanting to get scolded if she got anything wrong. Emiko snapped herself out of her overthinking, as she swallowed a big lump in her throat and pulled out the test results, putting them on the desk. Her father eyed it, dropping and organizing the dozens of papers on his desk, before taking it and examining it closely. 

"Do you like it? I got a perfect!" She smiled widely at her father who still had that dull and emotionless eyes staring down upon her, her smile faltering, her eyes thinking it's a nice view of the floor while darting everywhere, with an added of shuffling from anxiety by her feet.

"Good, that's good. That is what is expected of you. Is that all?" Her father passed back the test results, not sparing a small smile or even a 'so proud of you, or 'congratulations!' but instead gotten... whatever the hell she heard from the thing she called a father. Emphasis on the word called.

"Can I go out in my garden? I-" Emiko stopped herself when she saw her father raising his hand, a signal to stop talking. And so she did, she silently put back the test results onto her bag and reverted back to her father.

"Yes yes, Ms. Illusion will accompany you as usual. You're dismissed." Said hand swayed right and left, another sign that the person is dismissed. Whether or not it is said with the words or not. Emiko faltered, nodding silently, walking out of the room. Her mother is still an option! She should also show it to her.

Emiko's dissipated adrenalin rushed back in, feeling determined to show how good of a child she is. Her mother actually cared before she was busy with work, so it wouldn't be that much of a lost cause when she tries to show it. Right?

Emiko let out a huff of determination and started to search for her mother. Asking employees, butlers, and maidens alike where her mother is. The others only mentioned areas she was previously in. Emiko pouted after running around like a crazy child in her eyes, still not giving up and asking one more maid and butler the location of her mother.

"Ah, your mother is in the dining room, I do not know why, but she's definitely there." The butler nodded in agreement, Emiko's eyes sparkled like when a child discovered something new. Finally! She pinpointed her mother in this big household! She quickly thanked the two and went immediately to her mother's location. 

After running around, she saw her mother organizing some papers and packing papers into large groups some about to slip off on the pile, she straightened any ruffles on her clothing when she was running about and went to her mother. Anxiety slowly crept in.

"Good afternoon, sweetie. Do you need anything?" Her mother actually made eye contact with her. Okay, that's a good start from what happened twenty or so minutes ago from her father. This feels like when she wasn't so busy with her work, with so much care, and love! Oh, this is a really great start!

"Well, I wanna show you my test results!" Emiko giggled and quickly got the test results which she got out of her bag halfway in her random chase sequence on trying to find her mother, sitting in her hands, a bit crumpled but hoping her mother won't mind it too much. Gave it to her in a hesitant stance. Emiko's mother shot an eyebrow-raising, but nonetheless grabbed the paper and examined it. 

After a few agonizing minutes of awkward silence for Emiko's case, her mother finally looked up to her daughter. A forced smile she knew oh too well. She uses that to look nice and sweet to people. "Such a great daughter you are! You're free for the week, okay? I'll make sure that the teacher in the school doesn't give you homework. Now off you go." She shoved the piece of paper back into Emiko's hands, dismissing her rather quickly, also going away from the dining table with the help of butlers and maidens carrying the many many papers that were once on the table.

Well, that was... fun. She shook it off from her mother being busy, or else she would've been living in the streets by now if they aren't working as they are. Dismissing the negligence she receives from her parents, running to an all too familiar muted purple-haired maiden.

"Ma- Miss Evelyn!! Look!" She pulled lightly on her skirt, using the one not holding onto a very crumpled piece of paper, Evelyn's work pausing to look at a glance at a very excited Emiko. She smiled back, putting the duster down after finishing dusting off the artifact and said item onto a table along with the duster. Kneeling down to Emiko's height with the use of putting one knee down. 

"What a splendid afternoon, wouldn't you say? Now, what do you need that requires my assistance, little heir?" Evelyn tilted her head, a habit she got from taking care of children. Emiko just liked it cause it looked funny and cute when Evelyn does it.

"Look!! I got a hundred on the test yesterday!!" Emiko put the paper onto her face of Evelyn, making her step back a bit before her lipstick would stain the paper. Emiko did not notice and just continued on rambling "I also finished the homework, and mama and papa said I can do whatever! Let's go to the garden!" She stuffed the test results carelessly back into her backpack and pulled out the papers of homework she did. 

"What a smart child, your parents must be so proud. They may not show it but I know how proud they are of you. Such a pretty, smart, and daring child." Evelyn pinched the cheek of Emiko, an act she has come to know as an act of praise of the woman in front of her.

"Yeah! I know! Now come on, let's go to the gardens! Afternoons are a good time to cloud watch just like you said!" she giggled, using the skirt of Evelyn to drag her. Said person gently folded the paper and sneakily put it back onto the backpack of Emiko.

"Let's get some snacks along the way, shall we?" Evelyn patted her head, and Emiko nodded vigorously, dragging them past the dining room and into the kitchen in a matter of a few seconds. Even Evelyn was a bit taken aback, but nonetheless kept her composure, they entered the kitchen and saw many chefs making food left and right, conversations not being able to be coherent from all the people talking unless you really focus.

"Emiko, stay outside of the kitchen, I'll gather the snacks. I've come to know your 'secret' sweet tooth." Evelyn gave a small squeeze on Emiko's hand, the latter saying okay, and left outside, waiting for the woman to get the snacks.

End of flashback

Emiko snapped out of the memory again from the ding heard from the microwave. She was thinking that much in a matter of three minutes? Incredible. Well, maybe not really since people have told her that the microwave's timer lasts longer than you have intended it to be. She doesn't care about the details as Emiko used a small handkerchief she kept in the drawers from the short time she spent in the apartment, opened the microwave, and grabbed the piping hot sandwich with the handkerchief, yet it was still burning hot.

Emiko hissed on the heat seeping through the cloth rather quickly, accidentally throwing the sandwich on the counter, blowing it onto her red-ish fingertips. Okay, maybe she should've been more careful, but she was blinded by the starvation she got from the memory. And maybe a bit from her previous hunger before memories came in. 

"Motherfucker..." She mumbled under her breath, waiting for a few minutes until she knows that it was now cooled down but still using the handkerchief. A bit too cautious around a small pathetic sandwich, she would've been scolded by her parents if they see her being this pathetic.  She grabbed a small plate and a glass, pouring water while putting the already bitten sandwich on the platter. Going back to the main area, the bedroom.

She sat back on the velvet couch that was conveniently near the balcony, having a small stand with a lamp on it. Pushing aside said lamp as she put the glass of water and sandwich on it. She let herself back inside memory lane, with no more resistance. 

Flashback resumes yet again

The memory resumes with Evelyn and young Emiko strutting towards her garden, carrying two baskets full of biscuits with a few juices inside of them, draped along with a cloth to preserve some of the warmth from the food. Chatting away happily.

"That's so stupid!! You know?! I don't know how they can just throw away food because it's not that good! At weast give it to someone in need!" Emiko complained about her day in school a few days prior, recalling how a person threw away their snacks because it didn't taste good.

"It would've had the saliva of the person making it to be disgusting, I myself wouldn't eat it if I was given of it." Evelyn shook her head, "Agree to disagree, dear." She added when she noticed Emiko's pouting face in the corner of her eye. Only for Emiko's stomach to grumble, signaling she needs some food inside her child tummy.

"I'm sooo hungry now! Let's run! Last one there is a rotten egg!" She yelled out and started running full speed to her garden, not hearing Evelyn shout to be careful, only to trip on a tiny mud puddle, making her fall. Moments soon, she started crying.

"At least you aren't dirty nor injured, just fell." Evelyn let out a sigh of relief, picked up a crying Emiko, and cradled her in her arms. Slowly moving to the garden that was only a few minutes away from them.

"I-I hic I'm sorry... I should've li-listen... hic I'm sowwy mama..." Young Emiko kept apologizing to the maiden who didn't seem to mind her mistake. Shaking her head and putting a finger over her mouth, a form of an act from said maiden to gently shut her up.

"I do not mind. Don't be so harsh on yourself when it's not fully your fault." The hand she used to stop Emiko from talking and apologizing started to caress her cheek in an act to comfort her. Another form of Evelyn's way to say that everything's fine and alright, no need to feel so guilty about it.

"Bu-but..." Emiko shut herself up when Evelyn stopped moving and looked at her with her eye that had a question mark than a normal pupil. Rather than the usual bright yellow color, it had a blue-ish tone to it. Emiko was always astonished by it, staring into it makes her want to say all her wrongdoings, and knows that the eye will keep it secret.

"Let's not dwell on this any longer, we're here." Evelyn gently put the child down from her arms, not wanting to be put down, whined and tried to make herself stick to Evelyn's arms. Kicking up her legs and tried to hold tighter on the dress, to no avail.

"I want up..." She made grabby motions with her hands, Evelyn sighed and patted her head of Emiko, scooping her up once more and walking to the center of the garden, where you can see all the flowers in every direction, with a small picnic cloth on the place, near a tree for some shade. Emiko glanced for a moment on the eye once more, seeing that it has changed to that usual tone of bright yellow that sometimes blinds her if Evelyn feels particularly happy in those days.

"Let's get some food in you now, alright? You did mention you were suffering a bit of starvation a while ago." Evelyn blurted out, putting down Emiko, getting the basket that was tied to her skirt, with a little bow on it. Emiko thinks it looks cute and giggles at it. Evelyn's professional smile left her face replaced with a genuine one yet again. 

Emiko's sadness dissipated in an instant and grabbed ahold of the basket Evelyn was previously holding, scavenging for food that she wants at the moment. Evelyn sighs as she sits herself down on the picnic, gets the other basket, and started to pull the items out of it. 

Emiko grabbed a small apple juice box and put it on the left side of her, then started to resume her search for some snacks. None of the things she could see be to her liking at the moment. She was quite picky anyway.

"Are you craving a muffin? Topped with sprinkles and blueberry, speaking of blueberry... The muffin is laced with blueberry filling with it being blueberry flavored as well." Evelyn gave a blue-ish muffin to Emiko who stopped searching inside the basket for her cravings. Yes! Mama always understood what I want! Emiko rejoiced in her head, grabbed the muffin, and started eating it away. Evelyn chuckled, grabbed the unattended basket next to Emiko, and started to put the snacks and juices from inside said basket on the picnic cloth.

After some quiet time with the munching noises of delight from Emiko, said person got the juice box on her left side, grabbing the little straw embedded in it with a small plastic wrap, unwrapped it recklessly as well as harshly pierced the poor apple juice box. She hummed in delight. Evelyn got herself her own, doing the same procedure as Emiko but more graceful and gentle, her own flavor of juice was pineapple.

"How do you drink pineapple? It's so yucky!" Emiko commented when she noticed Evelyn drinking said pineapple juice box, Evelyn just gave her a smile before downing the juice inside her mouth, having the ability to speak once more.

"Preferences. You like apples while I like pineapples more. Don't be too brash." She leaned in and patted the head of Emiko, said female pouted as she continued to drink her apple juice. Evelyn laughed and started to drink her own juice. 

A few minutes later

After some time with comfortable silence between the two, they put some items out of the way to the point you can lay down on the picnic cloth. Which is what Emiko totally did. Lying her head on the lap of Evelyn, her legs sprawled across the end of the picnic premise, she looked up and started to cloud gaze with the maiden she was so fond of.

"Look at that, a bunny-shaped cloud." She pointed to a cloud, Emiko's imagination tried to imagine a bunny but to no avail, only seeing a dog with really long ears. Can dogs' ears be that long? Besides, she doesn't even know what the hell is a bunny supposed to look like.

"I see a dog with long ears, though." She tried to have Evelyn see her perspective and started to trace the cloud, Evelyn following along the finger, looking content as ever.

"I see, but I however still see a little cute bunny. They're pretty and cute, just like little Miko here." Evelyn ruffled the heir's hair, making said child laugh, and pushed the hand away in an attempt to swat it. 

"Ooh, lookie here! I see a cool flower." Emiko's attention switched to one on the left side of her, looking like a sunflower in her eyes. She has always been fond of flowers and even studies them from time to time, it's just something she does to pass the time while learning a lot from it since she does have a garden filled with flowers.

"Can you tell Miss Evelyn what it is? I can't pinpoint what type of flower that is. But the smart and almighty Miko over here could. I just know it." She spoke in a joking and teasing tone, but still had the tone of real love laced in there.

"It's a sunflower! The center is either a black or a dirty yellow color in the center! And there a whooole lot of flower thingies on it, I counted one before and it had over fifty flowery things! Isn't that so cool?!" She rose up from Evelyn's lap, exclaiming and waving her arms to emphasize her point to the maiden, who was nodding along with occasional questions. It told Emiko that she really is paying attention and is interested enough to ask questions about it.

The rest of the memory was spent cloud gazing and Emiko blurting out all the information about different types of flowers to Evelyn who was making a flower crown along with Emiko. It was a joyous day, and she wishes it would be like that all the more. 

Flashback ends

Emiko bit onto her finger by accident, shouting out a loud profanity as 'FUCK!' while cradling her bitten finger in her hands. Was she eating and drinking some water while thinking of the memory? Wow, multitasking at its best core. 

Emiko sighed heavily, thinking back to the memory that ended up with something related to flowers. Something she was fond of since childhood, and still is. Maybe she could research and regain her knowledge on them later on?

No, not later on. She concluded, Emiko Saikou would do it now. Pay a debt that was due so long ago. Better late than ever, wouldn't you say? Emiko grabbed her laptop from the bedside table, quickly googling and researching the information about flowers and their meanings and everything behind them as she sat on the bed.

A few hours later

She realize it was already eleven at the night. She clearly still had determination and adrenalin running in her veins, but she would like to be there for Evelyn early in the morning. She sighed as she closed her laptop and put it back on the bedside table, got changed into comfortable pajamas, and went to sleep, feeling content that she'll finally pay a debt she owed so long ago. Although the information is lacking and not that informative, she's able to have a good grasp and understanding of the language.

In the morning, 6:00 AM

The apartment's alarm woke the majority of the residents up, Emiko being included but she was grumpy. Always was when she woke up. Said female yawned and sat up, going into the bathroom to have a refreshing bath that'll make her into a good mood. 

Almost an hour later

After a while, she came out of the bathroom, a towel draped all around her body as a last effort to cover herself off. Even if she doesn't like to admit to it, the life style she was born in made her want to have a silky soft robe ready when she finishes a bath, she dismissed the thoughts and went to the closet, searching for a nice outfit to wear as of today. Maybe even making it floral to fit the theme she's trying to achieve. 

She found a great combo, having a muted blue color for the upper top of the overalls, as well as the skirt. Both are littered with flowers of different colors and sizes but seem to be the same type. The majority of the flowers just being the same type, with some of them having added random accessories around, she thinks the random colors that the designers chose were because 'fuck it' is what she thought of those insolent fools. At least try to make it accurate for the love of fucking god.

She sighed, what's done is done. She can't change it, anyway. She checked the outfit laying on the bed. As previously mentioned, the skirt and upper top of the overalls (the bottom part couldn't be found since it's actually the skirt) have a muted blue color as its base, flowers of different sizes, and colors scattering all around the outfit. She got a light beige-colored undershirt, with matching muted blue color stockings like the others. She straightened some ruffles on the skirt and walked to the mirror that all apartment rooms have, she twirled around and smiled at her reflection. She looks gorgeous! Evelyn wasn't lying on that bit.

She smiled subconsciously at the mention of Evelyn. Realizing she still needs flowers and the specific kinds, she quickly grabbed her laptop, and looked at the notes she half-mindedly scribbled inside the laptop while looking for stores that are near her that also has the flowers she needs.

After a few minutes of her head progressively getting a huge migraine, she found a big flower shop a few blocks down from where she is. Grabbing her phone that was stored in the bedside table drawer, she opened the google maps app and typed in the address of the location she needs to go. 

She got her big bag ready, she did only rented out to stay for a few nights, and they were soon over. She would need to pay the receptionist or one of the staff now. Along with some extra cash for the massive amount of food she has eaten in a short span of time. She stuffed two bottles of water to make sure she was hydrated. Some free snacks in the apartment she full well knows might've started to get some mold on it, and some being expired. So she just scrapped on putting those snacks inside her bag. She got her laptop and stored it securely in the bigger part of the bag. Phone stored right next to it. She rechecked her bottle of water and realized that both had their straps not locked in. That would've been bad, it would've dropped and spilled all over, making her a laughing stock in public. Or some random and strange man tried to steal it off and she would've needed to waste money to buy more bottles.

Speaking of money, she got the money laying around the room that she hadn't had the energy or was too lazy to put in something safe. She sighed after making sure she checked all the crevices and stuffed the money she found in her wallet. if she did miss anything, then they can have it. She made sure she placed the wallet so that she can quickly get out inside her bag. And then started to stuff the small number of clothes she brought to the apartment. Stuffing it inside, the space the bag can hold has massively decreased. 

The last items she tried putting inside the bag were a god damn struggle. But of course, she's the daring Emiko Saikou that Evelyn would say to her. The smart and almighty 'Miko' would be able to do this expertly. After a few mental breakdowns that lasted for a few minutes, she tried the last try in organizing and arranging the items around the room, while also checking to make sure she hasn't lost anything. 

She bid farewell to the room and went down towards the reception desk using the stairs. She then realizes she didn't comb nor styled her hair. In a last-ditch effort she combed through her hair after a comb she found in her bag hanging on one of her shoulders. After combing it decent enough in her opinion, she started to use a hair tie she found lying around in a small section of the bag. Debating whether to make a ponytail or a bun. The ponytail won since it was easy enough. 

Sooner or later, she arrived on the first floor of the apartment building, seeing the familiar receptionist woman that seems to never look tired. Actually, she hasn't even seen her leave her desk that wasn't remotely related to work. Is she a robot? Who knows at this point in time. 

"Good morning, Emiko." The receptionist greeted nonchalantly, not sparing a glance at all to the floral-themed woman. Emiko doesn't mind, she does this to everyone, fortunately.

"Morning, Ms. Receptionist. I would like to check out this apartment. Also, here's the payment. With an added tip of two hundred." She grabbed the wallet buried beneath the clothes making it a bit difficult to get but was successful to get it and started to dig for the appropriate amount of money with an added tip of two hundred dollars. 

The receptionist stopped typing on her computer, glancing at the money the same way Emiko's father would look at her test results from that memory. Some sweat started to drip, but she just took the money and started counting it. "I see. Any problems you have encountered that wanted you to leave? How do you rate the service? Any suggestions or comments to give to our establishment?" The receptionist lady asked, counting silently the cash to make sure it was the right amount.

"Well, I've had my stay and wanted to go somewhere now, also one, no I didn't have any problems that I have been in that wanted me to leave. I rate the service a nice four-point nine out of five. The service is nice, but a few employees were rude. A suggestion is to fire those two. I don't remember their details but you can use the surveillance camera I could see all around here. But, I don't have comments." Emiko tried to sound professional, the receptionist just nodding along to what she was saying. 

"Alright. We'll take your suggestion into consideration if the employees do have an impact on our residents' ratings. Thank you for the generous tip. You may leave." She put the money into a greyish box. Emiko quickly left after that.

She put back her wallet in her bag and started to retrieve her phone, turned on mobile data, and strutted along with the location she inputted a while ago. Only took twenty minutes for her to arrive there. It seems like the map was over exaggerating, saying that it would take her an hour or so. Or she has a secret talent of being able to gorgeously strut and arrive at her destination. But oh well.

"Welcome to All in Bloom, Pansy's Petals! How may I help you?" The young lady clasped her hand in excitement, an eyebrow raised when she noticed her outfit. "Wow! You are decked out in such colorful floral-themed clothing! What's the occasion?" Her curiosity peaked in a bit, her smile widening in a good matter. 

"The occasion is just meeting an old friend after a few years. What's your name? I could just yell it out when I find what I'm looking for." Emiko smiled back, extending her hand out, a matter she saw her parents use for a formal greeting. The dark velvet-colored hair lady quickly shook her hand rather vigorously.

"Of course! Name's Molina Morika, Ultimate Gardener! What's your name? Maybe even talent too if you have one!" She stopped shaking Emiko's hands, putting them on her sides as she anticipated an answer from her.

"My name is Emiko Saikou. I don't feel comfortable sharing my talent right now, I hope you're fine with that." Emiko waved her hand and started to walk around the first aisles of flowers, a row filled with purples, reds, and pink types of flowers. She stared down at one, bent down a bit, and touched a pinkish petal, "You've grown all of these?" Emiko looked up to see the Ultimate Gardener nodding. "These are really nice, I like them but they're not what I'm looking for." She stopped touching the pinkish petal of a flower and moved along to the other rows. 

She noticed as time went on that the whole garden is color-coded like rainbows. Starting from the left side, it's red and along the way, it became yellow or such. She was in the miscellaneous section, filled with random flowers the Ultimate Gardener deemed not decent enough to be one in the main larger rows. 

"Would you like to accompany me while I walk around your garden to search for what I'm looking for?" She asked Molina, who just clasped her hand and nodded. They both started to walk along the many rows of flowers Molina has grown. Said gardener talking of the meanings of flowers and others.

She spotted another row of color-coded flowers, with the ones she needed. She strutted over there and picked up an aloe. "The Aloe is famous for it's big and nutritious stems that helps out with skin care. But what I'm after is the flower itself. It means affection and grief, right?" She grabbed a few more aloes and showed them to Molina, nodding her head in agreement.

"Did you also know that 'Aloe' from the name Aloe Vera is a name derived from Alloeh, an Arabic word?" She looked up at the taller female who shook her head,  and so she kept blabbering on. "It means shining and bitter substance! Also! The word Vera is a Latin derivative meaning 'true'. Greek scientists like, at least two thousand years ago regarded the plant to be a universal panacea. It was called 'The plant of Immortality' by the Egyptians too! I think it's cause it helps out your skin and stuff, making you look younger than you actually are! But I dunno about those itty-bitty details. I'm a gardener after all! Heheh." She giggled at the last part of her sentence, Emiko started to become interested in the information she has heard. Maybe she could get more information about the flowers she picked out.

Speaking of flowers, she excused herself for a moment and went outside the flower shop, saw a nearby bench, plopped herself down then started digging through the items in her bag for her laptop. She opened it rather quickly, her password memorized already, and looked at her notes app. She saw the other flowers she needed to get but knew she would forget them sooner or later. And so, she transferred the notes to her phone, a portable device good enough for now. 

After that, she made sure her laptop is secure if any passerby would want to try snatching it, she opened her phone and made sure to see if she has received the notes. Full contact with no losses. Fortunately, that was the case. She sighed, laced with heavy relief, a smile gracing her lips as she put back her laptop inside the bag. 

Speaking of the bag, her left shoulder seems to be aching even if it wasn't on it for that long. Most probably because it had the majority of her belongings and those things were not not heavy, to say the least. She swung the bag carefully to not damage any brittle items to her right shoulder and moved along the day.  Coming back into the shop, she was greeted by Molina once again, they both started to accompany one another as they walked around the various rows of flowers.

After some time and comfortable silence when Molina stopped talking, she glanced at her phone resting comfortably on her left arm and looked at the notes app. She saw the picture of a flower that she labeled Angelica and tried searching for said flower. Only for mere moments to have found it.

"These are Angelica flowers, right?" She plucked one out from the bunch, leaving quite a big hole in the center. She hopes Molina doesn't mind that, to distract herself from that thought, she continued speaking. "I heard they mean Inspiration." She turned the flower to all sides as a way to observe its beauty. Molina nodded at what she said.

"You're correct. In the language of flowers, Angelica was associated with inspiration. If you are planning to give a gift of Angelica flowers, it would mean you're hoping to inspire and encourage that person! Also, did you know that Angelica also plays a role in many cultures? Like in European folklore, it was associated with angels from the name, and with that basic knowledge, they also associated it with having protection against witchcraft!" Molina grabbed herself an Angelica as she spoke through the information. She gently put it back with the rest of the Angelicas. Emiko concludes she doesn't want this. She thought it would mean she had gotten inspiration and ambition from the person. Oh well. She put back the flower into its place.

"That's nice, but that's not what I want to gift." She clapped her hands in an attempt to rid of some dirt that has gotten on her hands from the flower. she shouldn't be dirty when the occasion is this special. Molina nodded and continued to follow Emiko around.

Not long after, she spotted a flower that looked similar to an Apple Blossom image she had gotten from google. She practically ran over there and plucked far too many than she wanted. Molina was a bit startled but laughed it off, walking towards the Emiko who looks so fascinated by it.

"Apple Blossoms mean preference, but I didn't really understand it a whole lot. Can you tell me more information about it?" She admitted, snapping out of her fascination, and started to put some flowers back. Molina laughed as she scribbled her customer's order. 

"Well, the main premise of it is that. But I don't necessarily call it preference. From my knowledge, the Apple Blossom is symbolic of long life, the long quote with it goes as said, 'It stands for the concept of life continuing, even after we ender a 'death' during the winter of our lives.' I don't really get it but it's cool! I also heard from my neighbor that these flowers are used for spring-related arrangements." She explained, Emiko's eyes of wander faltered, Molina knew that expression all too well as she scribbled out that the customer wants Apple blossoms. She tried cheering her up with a fact she learned from her own personal experience, "Ya know, their five-petal blooms grow in absolute gorgeous clusters on the large, arching branches of apple trees, right? There's also a subtle pink tone in it, a nice and lovey-dovey accent in a romantic setting. But it still looks nice in any setting, to be honest." She shrugged the last part. She was never a romantic type of gal, but if the moment strikes, she can use the knowledge of flowers to her advantage. 

"That's good information, I'll mentally note that down if I ever need the use of Apple Blossoms." Emiko blushed at the thought of a romantic setting with the love of her life, with various types of flowers scattered around, Apple Blossoms being included there. She shook her head violently Molina was confused as to how her neck didn't break from the sudden movement.

"Well, let's continue on!" She happily skipped to other flowers, this time she was the one leading the duo. Emiko doesn't mind at the moment and glances in all directions for any flower she needs, occasionally glancing down at her phone. Only for her to double-check the image on her phone as she ran once again to a flower patch, 

She was sure the image was identical to the thing right in front of her.  It had all kinds of different flowers, somehow still color-coded, seriously, Emiko is impressed that Molina could color code these so well it's a bit scary. But the thing that caught her eye is that all the flowers in the patch had a similar greenish part attached to them. Arborvitae is what google and the internet have constantly referred to them as when she was researching the night before.

She plucked out one, like all the rest of the flowers (excluding the previous one), and examined it with such care she surprised herself. "Well, these things are Arborvitae, right? From what I've researched, it means unchanging friendship." She gave the small flower, said flower looked like a marshmallow that was sneering hot from a bonfire but still retaining that whiteness in itself. Molina accepts it without a second thought and examined it herself. 

"That's the gist of it, yeah!" Molina shrugged before explaining. "In the fifteen hundreds, or to be exact, fifteen thirty-six (1536) it was discovered that a tear made from the bark and leaves cured scurvy, as while in fifteen fifty-eight (1558), the tree was appropriately named "Arborvitae" which actually means "Tree of Life" in Latin. The oil from these trees is still used today for medicinal purposes! The Chinese people use the aromatic branches of the Arborvitae as good luck charms in New Year's celebrations." She said as she scribbled down the name of Arborvitae onto the notepad she has been carrying around this whole time. Emiko nodded along to what she was saying.

"Alright, I'll have this as a consideration to buy." She spoke to herself, and Molina rejoiced. Farming and taking care of Arborvitaes were absolute torture, even for her level of patience on these types of things. Seriously, they're not something she wants to do. Fortunately, she has a good batch of those so she needn't worry.

"Great! Do you still have some other flowers you would like to find? I can talk about their meanings as we try finding them!" Molina suggested, that it seems like her energy has never dissipated since Emiko has gotten to the flower shop. Hot damn.

"Pink carnations, Daylily, Hibiscus, Carnation, lastly, Forget-Me-Not." She showed her phone to the gardener who leaned in and saw the different types of images of flowers and their names. She nodded while she guided Emiko around the huge flower shop to get what she needed.

"Let's start off of Carnations! What do you know of them? What's their meaning that you have learned?" Scribbled down in her notepad the names of the flowers Emiko has mentioned moments prior. This little daring gal does have an eye for a nice gift to give to someone, Molina thought to herself.

"Well, I read on a website it means fascination, a female's love, and- err, or mother's love." She fiddled with the hem of her skirt, placing her phone in the small pockets on it too. Fascinating! What a cool and intricate design of clothing. It will surely be caught by someone's eye.

"You're not wrong! Although, the female or mother's part is kinda false, sorry. Lemme explain! Maybe you can tell by now, but Carnation's meaning varies depending on the flower's color! But at its core, a basic carnation flower embraces the meaning of fascination, distinction, and oh~! love! The love aspect of carnation does include everything related to love, everything from a mother's devoted love to a suitor's passion for his bride. Quite a cool and interesting thing, wouldn't you say?" She looked back at Emiko who was smiling, looking about to be in a trance, Molina laughed as she snapped her fingers. Efficiently snapping Emiko from her daze where she shook herself wide away.

"That's really cool to know. What about Pink carnations? I heard they symbolize the words 'I'll never forget you.' when I searched the premise of it." She asked kindly, the grin still laid upon her face. Not minding that Molina contradicted herself that it irritated her a bit to the point of having an eye twitch. Molina herself stopped using her customer service smile and put on a real smile. She enjoys the company of his fine lady.

"I guess you can say they do mean a bit of a meaning of 'I'll never forget you', buuut! It's not all there's to it. Pink carnations also symbolize fondness, gratitude, and motherly love! Did you also know that the pink carnations first bloomed when Mother Mary wept as Jesus carried the cross? That's an interesting fact I read in a book. And since that timeline, the color pink exemplifies protective motherly love. But also! Different shades of pink for carnations and a whole lot of different flowers mean different things. Take a light pink carnation, for example, light pink carnation color meanings are of mother-like love and expresses gratitude, the fondness being gone but it's still there! that's just not the most important meaning for light pink carnations." She used her hands to emphasize her point and to make a dramatic flair to her words. Emiko chuckled softly at the gardener's antics.

"I would take a lot of different types of pink carnations then. This is a gift to someone who showed me motherly love and I am fond of them." Emiko patted her bag in a comforting matter. It's a random habit of hers when she's at peace. It seems weird but she doesn't mind. 

No one's perfect, anyway. There are flaws, and there are unique traits to every individual. Whether or not they know of it. Like Molina Morika, so fond of flowers that it's amazing her head could contain so much knowledge of those puny things that are used for decoration.

"That's such a kind and loving thing! it's going to melt my heart on how lovey-dovey that is." Molina hugged herself as a way to convey her words to the Seamstress. Who only rolled her eyes playfully, wanting to learn more about the flowers she would like to buy for the maiden. 

"Well, let's not digress that much. The daylily is a Chinse Emblem for the mother. Or so I've read from the most untrustiest site ever; the fucking internet." She shrugged with her shoulders, almost making her bag fall along with her own body. But she caught herself just in time, with her bag an inch or so off the ground. Molina giggled before composing herself and explaining the meaning of Daylilies.

"I wouldn't say that Daylily symbolizes a Chinse Emblem for Mother, but you can associate it with that! In actuality, In China, the Daylily is associated with forgetfulness and loss of memory, you could say it symbolizes 'forgetting worries.' They are often gifted when someone is having a little bit of a rough situation, this flower when given is like an encouragement for the person to overcome the hardships and move on. That's one of the many things it symbolizes too!" She raised her hand high up to the point she looks like a child, Emiko laughed at the gardener's antics yet again before said gardener continued, listing down the many meanings Daylily holds, using her fingers to keep track of the meanings. "Flirting, desire, success, wealth, and forgetfulness and loss of memory like I mentioned before are all the other meanings, and that's not all of em!" She jumped in excitement after listing down the other meanings. Emiko too felt a rush of excitement run down her body.

"What else? I could see there's still more to it." She commented, rather brashly. "I didn't mean it harsh, by the way. I guess it's just my tone." she quickly added, for Molina not to take it the wrong way like every single time others do. She didn't mean to be rude, it's just her natural tone when speaking. She hopes Molina understands. In which she did by a nod and laughter coming from the latter. Emiko sighed in relief and continued listening to Molina.

"Like I said before, well, not really but anyway! The Daylily is a symbol of flirtatious behavior due to its habit of each flower only lasting a day or so after blooming. Commonly used to represent forgetting about the past and filial bonds. While the Japanese language of flowers, is called Hanakotoba, Daylilies symbolize both wealth and success, also the added meaning of power! A few other lilies are as widely grown as the Daylilies. Like many flowers with a silly little lil in its name, the Daylily ain't even a true lily at all! And yet, it still has its characteristics of it! What a scam, ya know? It has this dramatic vase-like flowers that resemble the blooms of true lilies, so I guess the name has stuck. They're also quite easy and colorful to grow about, and the Daylily even has its own mythology and symbolism all its own that deserve plenty of attention I would like to talk about!" She clasped her hands in joy as she inhaled and exhaled, she almost lost her breath while talking about all of the meanings of Daylilies.

"Also, the flowers in the genus can be considered Daylilies if you don't want to waste any breath on the details. Unlike true lilies that are part of the Liliaceae family, the Daylily belongs to the family of the genus to my knowledge! This makes em a relative of plants like the Red Hot Poker. Would you like to know about it, too?" She glanced at Emiko who was eyeing the flowers around while strutting, she turned her head and shook.

"Your loss~ eheh! Well then, let's move on! The daylilies tend to share similar growth habits of bushy grass-like foliage clumped at the base with tall flower stalks rising above it. The flowers too are shaped like true lilies and often have ruffled or overlapping edges. The color range is a bit limited, but it's still cool! Like the peachy pink shades to white and others! Only a few notable species have any of that sorta stuff." She plucked a random flower they were passing by in her shop, twirled it then just putting it in her hair. Emiko shrugged at her.

"Well~ Let's move on! Let's talk about Hibiscus, shall we? Well, it-" 

The duo's voice of fascination faded as they walked through the flower shop, engulfed of sharing their knowledge to someone who also wanted to learn the language of flowers. Molina's shop was never that much of a popular place to begin with, only having to divert her attention off of Emiko and their lovely conversation every once in a while. Emiko doesn't mind and waits patiently for Molina, and then go back to their conversation about flowers.

Two hours later

It was almost ten o'clock when Emiko got the various flowers she has selected to bring to Evelyn. Waving bye to her newfound friend as well. She was getting excited! And her bag is killing her, holy fuck. She sighed to herself and started to change the once landscaped bag to a portrait standing point and put it over both of her shoulders this time, it being on her chest because she doesn't trust the people around her to be good enough and still things off her if she puts it behind her back.

She walked through a nearby bus waiting area with a few strangers on their phones and that one kid whos listening to music with their headphones. Emiko leaned in the little enclosure the bus waiting areas have while waiting for said bus to come.

Fortunately, fate was being kind and she only had to wait for a few minutes when she saw a bus stop in their waiting area. She saw many passersby exist with loud commotion, a lot of people who weren't chilling in the waiting area but were near it anyways boarded the bus with her.

She tapped her knee nervously as she was surrounded by many people on the bus, but she luckily got a seat on the far right, so there weren't that many people. Since her right side is just a wall from the bus. Although she has a problem with the child picking their snotty nose right beside her on her left.

She internally gags and throws up in her mind. She thanks her parents, maids, butlers, and people you name it in a mansion for not having manners like that when she was younger because that is fucking disgusting in her privileged mind.

Although, after at least thirty minutes of absolute torture for Emiko, she arrived at a location near the mansion. Still clean as ever and even has new renovations on it. She was surprised by shrugged it off as she stepped out of the bus, and started to walk to the mansion that was positioned like in those cartoons and shit she used to watch when she was young.

Those types of mansions on high cliffs would most likely cause her to have a fear of heights if she have ever seen them in her young childhood days. But either way, she has a slight fear of heights due to... past experiences she would not like to go into detail about. 

She arrived at the huge portch. Some maids dropped their brooms in sight of the young Emiko Saikou returning home, some going inside while yelling, "Mrs. and Mr. Saikou! Your daughter's back!" She groaned at the mention of her parents. She just wanted to see her real mama, Evelyn Illusion.

Illusion, huh... Emiko Illusion has a nice ring to it. But eh, her parents wouldn't want to have their only daughter adopted by 'lowly peasants that clean shoes for petty change' are another term her parents use. 

She tapped her feet patiently, the other maids and butlers who were cleaning continued to do so, but sneaked glances at the seamstress. She barked back with either a growl to them or a menacing stare, which they revert back their eyes on their work.

She wasn't surprised on hearing many steps and chatter coming closer and closer inside. And sooner or later, she met eyes with the tired ones of her parents.

"Oh, my daughter! My sweet, sweet daughter!" Her mother exclaimed and hugged her tightly, Emiko making a disgruntled yelp while being caged by her mother's arms. Her father soon joined in the 'family hug'.

"Hands off, please. I'm just visiting my mama." She tugged the arms around her rather harshly, Mrs. Saikou was confused and let go first, having a perplexed look plastered. The next one was actually the people around them also having a confused expression, then Mr. Saikou's head finally clicked, and stopped hugging his daughter.

"Mama? what do you mean? I'm right here!" Mrs. Saikou opened her arms in an invite to have her daughter hug her after not seeing her for years on end. Emiko didn't reciprocrate. Making Mrs. Saikou look like a fool. Said parent lowered her arms in a defeated stance.

The father wasn't amused and did not tolerate his daughter's behavior, "Emiko Saikou. What are you saying? Do you not recognize your mother's face? Disgraceful!" He scowled in front of his daughter, Emiko made a similar scowl in front of him.

"You guys don't deserve the title of mother nor father. You neglected ninety-nine percent of my life! And that one percent wasn't even that special to hold dearly in my heart! I don't even remember those!" Of course, her last sentence was a lie as she did sometimes reminisce about the happy memories she had with her mother and surprisingly her father as well.

Those two are stunned over their daughter's words, mouth agape. The butlers, employees, maids, and others were equally shocked as well. She made a loud scoff that held a huge amount of venom, she strutted inside and slammed the door loudly, making some people near flinch at the sheer sound of it. 

The hallways were being avoided in Emiko's favor. Whenever someone seen her, they either turn the other way or just quickly passed by her. She actually liked the feeling of being feared. it felt a nice change from before. 

She arrived at the door leading to the backyard, she opened it and breathed in the fresh air. Even if she was in that hellhole of a mansion for a few minutes, the air difference is evident. But she shouldn't dwell on unnecessary matters like the air.

She walked and walked until she is in her personal heaven and paradise-like those years ago. And to her surprise, new flowers and even the ones from years ago were radiating beautifully, with an equally beautiful yet tired-looking dark-purple-haired female who was watering a patch of forget-me-nots. Emiko smiled at her. Looks like her favorite is the same all these years. She cleared her throat, immediately catching the attention of the maiden. But what she didn't expect is a young boy that had the same yellow question mark in his eye, but instead of the right, he had it on the left. 

When the maiden registered who it is, she dropped her watering can in shock. The young boy quickly picked it up and held it up to Evelyn, but poor Evelyn was too shocked. Slowly placing a hand over her mouth. "M...Miko?" She slowly and hesitantly spoke out. Emiko's smile widened, and she shook her head slowly. Seeing tears from the maiden and seeing her own vision becoming blurry from the gush of tears that are going to come crashing down in mere moments.

The old female acted sooner, running to Emiko who had her arms open the same way her mother had done it. This time, the person she wanted to have a hug from reciprocated. Both females wept while a confused little boy who had a similar-looking hair color but more on the blue side of colors, while also being a bit lighter as he held a watering can while his mother weep with a non-familiar looking person. 

"Ma?" The young boy tugged on the hem of his mother's long skirt, the crying duo stopped their moment and looked down at the young boy. Looking dumbfounded just as he is. 

"Since when did you have a child?" Emiko sniffed and then laughed at her pathetic state. But put her attention on the boy. He looked just like his mother yet is distinctively different from one another. It astonishes her the way Evelyn's eye has always.

"A few years back, six to be exact. And his seventh birthday is around the corner! He was born in [REDACTED] of the month [REDACTED]. Isn't he just a wonderful little boy just like you young long ago?" Evelyn clasped her hands in joy before lifting up the boy, looking oblivious to what he was experiencing as he held onto both his mother and the watering can.

"And I think I'll be taking this, young man." Emiko teased the little boy, grabbing the water can as he made grabby motions while it was slowly being pulled away. After that action was done, he made a pouty face that was just so adorable!

"Aww!" Emiko cooed to the boy who now looked nervous but still waved at her kindly. She waved back before pinching both of his cheeks in the delight of how cute he is.

"By the way, ma'am. His name is Skyler Illusion. Although he prefers to be called Sky." Evelyn poked the little boy's nose which is now identified as Skyler Illusion. 

"Oh, speaking of by the way, here's a small gift of appreciation for taking care of me and even seeing me as your own daughter." She exclaimed, picking up the bouquet of flowers that she let go in her reunion with Evelyn.

"My, you are always fond of flowers. And still, are, can you tell me the meanings to me? Oh, daring and smart Miko?" She tilted her head with a smile plastered across her face. Emiko nudged her arm softly, laughing at the long nickname she used long ago. 

"Well, let's start with Daylilies. They mean a lot of things, they-" 

The due sat in the picnic-like memory before, enjoying a variety of food as they all cloud-gaze like old times. An added member of Skyler Illusion, the son of Evelyn Illusion watched and even had a small interest in cloud-gazing.

Emiko admits, that she never had a good childhood and so she can't really help out and make the most for Skyler, but she will try to not have Skyler endure the negligence just like she has had years ago. But that would never happen with such an amazing mother like Evelyn.

The rest of the day was spent catching up with one another's life, and the rush of anger Emiko was experiencing after Evelyn told a peculiar story. But in the end, she had the joy of being able to see a nice technique on how to water a bunch of flowers at once by the small Skyler Illusion. 

She hopes, with the efforts of her own and Evelyns, and other supportive people around them, that Skyler will grow up and have the opportunity to choose what he wants, not be bound by anything. Helping to fight despair and make the hope shine in the world as she attempted to but didn't succeed in the end.

She hopes her successor can be able to do what she couldn't.