Chapter 11: My Rude Awakening and Resolution

[Miko's POV]

After I said my goodbyes to my companions in the Shrine, Me and my father are currently walking on the path towards my home, the Yae residence, is located.

Every now and then my father gives a sidelong glance for no absolute reason and it is getting irritating. So, I decided to start the conversation before I might snap at him if this keep happening any longer.

"Father, you have something to say, please say it now"

"Ah...um... how were you in the shrine in these past few days?"

"I feel fine and well, took care of me and helped me recover slowly. so, thank you for asking. How about you and mom"

"uuum...I... we are doing fine. I just... want to tell you something when we get there, so, I want to remind you to not get angry for what I am going to say"

"Well, if you are going to say something that will make me angry, then don't say it then"

"But... the thing I will tell you there is quite important"

"Then say it now then if it is that important"

"...."

"Tsk, whatever. Let us get a move on, I can't wait to see mother again"

"...."

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Father didn't say anything else and he stopped taking any more sidelong glances after that talk.

Few minutes later, we had arrived at the Yae residence. Father was about to say something but I ignored him and took a look around the place.

The residence consists of four buildings arrange in a square formation, giving the center of the residence a courtyard look. Three of the buildings are only one-story while furthest one is two-story. All of the buildings have dark red stone ceramic curved rooves and the walls are white with red highlights on the beams and pillars. The four corners of the residence have large trees with pink leaves, I believe these are called cheery blossoms. Then to wrap it off, the whole residence is surrounded with a high stone wall with the same-colored stone ceramic rooves with a fine-looking entrance gate on the front.

After looking around the residence, I noticed that the whole place looks empty and it looks like no one else is living here.

"Hello, anyone home? Mom? You there?" I tried to call for mother from outside of the building

"Um Miko. I just want to say that-"

"Not now Father, Mom! huh, she might have gone outside maybe" I cut my father mid-sentence and keep calling for mother.

"Miko, I was going to say-"

"Maybe she is sleeping, let's go inside~" I ignored him and walks towards the entrance of the main house.

"Hey! wait..."

I went inside the main building, which is the two-story one and I start searching for mother.

"Miko, listen to me. Your mom-"

"Yeah yeah, I know. She might be asleep. Mom, I'm home~!"

"Miko..."

"She must be somewhere here~"

"Miko..."

"Ah, or maybe she really was outside the house~ I guess we had to wa-"

"MIKO!"

"WHAT?"

"Your mom is not here nor she's outside"

"Huh?" I became very confused and distraught

"Your mom is dead" My whole body froze in place

"What?...." My heart suddenly becomes heavy and my vision is starting to darken.

"She dead a week ago, it's the same day when you went missing" My mind begins to numb and going blank

"...."

...mother?...

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[Hakuro's POV]

After revealing Miko the horrible harsh truth, she became awfully silent

She didn't get angry nor went berserk inside the house. She just went quiet all a sudden.

I tried guiding her to her room and she didn't say anything and just quietly followed me.

After reaching her room, she went inside the room and closed the door on me, which surprised me.

I tried to take a peek at the gap of the door to check on her condition,

I saw her sitting on seiza and seems to be praying while clasping purple sacred object on her hands.

She stayed at that position for a long while without making a move.

'What is she doing? Is this a practice she learned the shrine. no matter, I guess I'll just cook dinner for now'

I decided to leave her alone for now and went to the kitchen to make some food for us two.

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[Few Hours Later, Evening]

After making dinner in the kitchen, I placed the food I made on top of the dinner table. I cooked Fried Tofu and Miso Soup, which were her and her mother's favorite food respectively.

<A/N: I tried to searching for Yae Sakura's favorite food and it won't give me answers. So, I just assume it is Miso Soup because it is the most generic food that most Japanese eat, right?>

When I look at the food I made on the dinner table, I am starting to reminiscing the time we used to eat together with my family. For the past six years, they started to forgive me from what I did back then. I apologized over and over again to regain my family's trust on me in the past. The first one to warm up to me was Sakura, she told me that she always loved me ever since, she was just upset that time. It took a while for Miko to forgive me, she hated me severely but with Sakura's help, she slowly convinced Miko to forgive for my sins and we lived happily together. However, now with Sakura gone, I don't think it is possible to regain Miko's love and affection that easily.

Then I heard footsteps behind me and I look back to see Miko quietly walking towards the dining table. She sat down and waited. I also sat down and look at her face. She had an emotionless and empty expression. She had atmosphere of someone who has given up in life. I tried to start the conversation in hoping I can regain her confidence.

"So Miko, are you feeling fine?"

"...."

"I know it was all a sudden, but I know your mother did all she can to protect yo-"

"I looked through my memories..." Miko suddenly talks in a somewhat monotonous tone

"What?"

"The Kagura Suzu... It contained my memories of the past and a portion of soul. I looked through it"

"Okay... then, what did you saw?"

"I saw... Me and my mother playing at a field of glowing flower in the middle of the forest... dead at night"

"....."

"We played together for hours... but then... the memory cut to black"

"Okay... Is there something wrong with the memory?"

"Tell me.... How did mother die?"

"....."

"..."

"She was trying to save you from a flying monster, I think to is Griffin of some sort"

"..."

"She fought desperately to save you from the monster's grasp. However, she failed to save you and the monster flew and took you away."

"..."

"But before dying, she used the last of her strength to use her final secret Sakura technique, Sakura ryūsei-hō [Cherry blossom meteor cannon], and fired it at the flying Griffin. The technique killed the monster and it was vaporized, leaving you falling from the sky. After that she died after firing that shot."

"!!"

"What's wrong?" Miko was shocked when I said the last part

"No, it's just... It all made sense now." The light in her eyes started to come back. Thank goodness.

"I see. Then, are you satisfied now?"

"Sort of..."

"Okay, now let's eat before the food gets cold" She nodded and takes a bite on her Fried Tofu.

"Ah... it's cold"

"Eh?!"

Ah, I forgot, we talked too long that the food went cold.

'*sigh* I guess I have cook another one over again'

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[Miko's POV]

I see now.

The reason why I was falling from the sky, was because the flying monster that took me died in one shot and was freed from its grasp.

And the reason for mother's death was because she sacrificed all of her strength to fire a sure-kill technique at the fleeing monster and killed it. The technique also drained all of my mother's strength, killing her in the process.

I was deeply saddened by this truth that I discovered, but I am truly grateful for my mother's ever-loving sacrifice. I want to honor that sacrifice from now on and do whatever it takes to continue her legacy.

'Thank you, Mother, for everything that you've done for me'

After collecting my thoughts, I eat the newly cooked food that father cooked just now

I was joking that I said that the food is cold. Well, I guess that one was a bit lukewarm when I tasted it. So, I asked a newly cooked fried tofu so I can eat a piping hot dish.

To be honest, I am realized that I was quite disrespectful and ignorant towards my father a while back. However, I can clearly see that he is trying change his way to gain my affection. Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt if I will try to be loving and respectful towards him once and a while.

To honor my mother, I guess I have to follow my father's instruction from now on. I will try to live on to his expectations and make him proud. Afterall, both of them were my parents in this world.

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[Next Morning]

I woke up from the sounds of birds chirping and the rustling the Sakura leaves. I lift my body upright and I tried remembering what happened last night. I remembered cleaning the dishes with father, then I chatted a bit with him and finally, we went to sleep. After recollecting last night's events, I slowly get up the bed and exited the room.

I walk towards the porch of the house and saw my father swinging a long sword at the courtyard. He swings the sword really fast and steady while being.... topless. He had a very thin yet muscular physique, his body is steaming while sweats dripped down to his muscular body.

But then the swinging stops and I snapped out of my observational thoughts. I look up and saw that father is staring at me. I was startled but regain my composure and walk towards him.

"Good morning, Miko"

"Good morning, father"

We greeted each other with a bow.

"Today, I will be going to train you until you live up to your mother's name and honor"

"Understood"

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Author-san here,

I have few more chapter ideas I have got in mind before finishing the volume.

I want to try to reach for fifteen chapters in total, with the first half of the final chapter as the epilogue of the volume and the second half as the starting point to the second volume.

I hope you guys still enjoys the chapters. I know some of you guys are really really bored, but I am really trying my best here.

Anyways, thank you for reading