Day 4 Revisited

(For mood music/piece that inspired me ~ From the Heart by X-Ray Dog)(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc0KzGStcws)

One Last Farewell

“Papa!” Kairi ran to her father’s side. “Papa!”

Ryo turned at the sound of the young child’s voice; the familiar tones rang in his fatherly ears.

She leapt into his outstretched arms, embracing his lost child. All of Ryo’s ancient strength could not hold back the rebel tears. Kairi held her father tight, daring to not let go for fear of separation.

Ryo pulled her gently forward, gazing upon his once missing child. He stroked her round face, brushing away loose strands of dark hair. Her emerald eyes looked back at him, reminiscent of her lost mother.

“Papa, where’s mama?” Kairi’s eyes searched the field, waiting for her mother to pop out of the blossoms.

Ryo set her down and knelt at her height. “Mama,” he tried to find the right words. “Mama’s not here.”

“Is she back home? She’s waiting for us with supper! Oh, she’ll be so mad at you!” In her excitement, she began to pull away.

Ryo held her in place. His face cringed. He pulled his daughter close, whispering, “Mama can’t come back. Mama is flying free in the skies with Bahamut.”

“Papa?”

“Remember the stories? About Bahamut?”

“Mama is…Mama is…?” Her small voice began to crack, buckling under the realization.

“She did what she had to do. Bahamut gave his life for us. So your mother and I could have you. And Mama,” Ryo swallowed hard. “And Mama did too. For you. For us.” Kairi began to weep in her mighty father’s shoulders, her own shoulders trembling. “She allowed me to find you. So we could be together.” Ryo continued.

Kairi’s eyes glanced at the field, the flowers offered all the comfort they could, yet it wasn’t enough to quell the storms in Kairi’s heart. Her eyes spied a figure approaching them. The figure looked familiar. She squealed and broke free of her father’s embrace. She dashed toward the approaching figure.

“Mama!” Kairi cried.

The being fell to her knees to embrace the child, her hair falling gracefully right behind her. “Kairi,” the figure said in a soothing voice. Kairi nuzzled into the figure’s gentle embrace, overwhelmed with emotion.

Ryo ran after Kairi, stopping short of the two embracing. His violet eyes instantly recognized the figure with the raven hair.

“Megumi,” he whispered.

She appeared translucent, ghostly. Yet despite her appearance, her eyes still radiated like polished emeralds as the day he met her.

“Kairi, my light, listen to me. I cannot stay long. I came to say goodbye.”

“Mama?”

“Mind your father.” Megumi smiled. “And keep him out of trouble. Ok?”

Kairi nodded as Megumi placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

“I love you, always remember that.”

Kairi reluctantly pulled away, wiping her eyes.

Megumi stood, looking at Ryo, she smiled. “Yo, Baka.”

He ran to her, hoping to embrace her one last time. He ran through her, feeling a cool mist over his body. She looked at him with sorrow; her smile crumbling into slow streaming tears.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I was only allowed to hold one of you.”

Ryo wiped his cheek. “It’s ok, Runt.”

Megumi pressed her fingers to her lips, leaving a lifetime of kisses on each one. She extended her arms softly, releasing those kisses onto her family. Tears streamed down her face. “I love you both so very much. Until we meet again.”

Kairi grabbed onto her father’s leg, waving goodbye to her mother.

Megumi began to walk away, slowly disappearing into the petals riding along the sunset.