Nasuko's Past

Heishi silently walked down the road leading to Nasuko's mountain while smiling. Last night, back in the trial grounds, he had already contemplated everything. Even after regaining his past memories, he did not feel distant from anyone in his new family. He still treated Hoenn and Arianne as his parents for they were. The past is the past and it was time to move on. Besides, he was not really close with his past family and the relationship got colder ever since high school when he moved out towards his personal apartment. He was not an only child and had 6 younger siblings so he had no reason to worry about who would take care of his parents once they grew old.

He was not well accepted by his past-life's family due to his pursuit of becoming an inventor while still remaining an otaku. In a family of businessmen, he was considered lazy and a disappointment or so they said. To them, he should already be grateful that he was not abandoned. He had things investigated then and knew the truth of the matter. His mother was pregnant with him when she and his "father" met. His true father did not want to take responsibility and left her. He was an eyesore for his parents in his past life due to a variety of combined factors. The warmth of a loving family he lacked then, he got to fully experience here for over 10 years from 3 mothers, 1 father, 1 brother, 1 sister, 1 uncle, and 1 grandfather.

His grandparents in his past life had already passed away in a car accident long before he was born. They crashed into one another and it was in the hospital where his parents first met. In this life, he gets to experience having a grandparent and he had a close relationship with him too. What's the point in getting hanged up on the sad past? It was better to fully immerse and enjoy the present while looking forward to his happy future.

....

Arriving outside the manor, Heishi went in to look for Nasuko. He searched the entire building but did not find even a single trace of him. The silent manor was so quiet even a pin drop would be heard. A thought suddenly popped into his mind. '...Could it be?' He remembered going back one time after forgetting something inside the manor and found his grandfather leaving and headed towards a certain direction in the forest. Heishi stared and walked towards a part of the forest as he recalled the direction. Sure enough, with the tracking skills he was taught, he found tracks of a person recently going past here. He followed the traces that led him deeper and deeper into the forest where trees started to grow bigger.

The path led him to a surprise discovery. In the middle of this dark forest enshrouded by big tall trees stood a small magnificent open shrine-like building. Sunlight shined through the gap in the leaves of trees that seemed to have parted way for it, brightening up the structure, making it stand out in this dark place, and painting a beautiful scene.

His grandfather was inside while cleaning up something that looked like a long altar. He silently approached while admiring the place for it was his first time finding this place. "Grandfather..." Heishi quietly called out. Nasuko turned towards him. "Heishi...come here."

Nasuko couldn't help but notice the picture frames on a table beside the long altar. The biggest one held a monochrome picture of a young adult woman in a plain shirt and skirt with a small polite smile on her face, her looks could be considered average but she exuded an aura of grace and elegance that could be felt even through the picture.

A smaller frame contained a picture of the same woman but in her teens wearing a bridal gown holding hands with a much much much younger Nasuko who was similarly in his teens in a groom's suit. They were hugging together while holding hands and showing off to the picture the rings on their fingers.

Another picture frame captured the scene of the young adult woman in a patient's robe in bed, crying while holding a baby wrapped in cloth in her hands. Beside her was a young adult Nasuko who similarly had tears in his eyes while carrying a 4-year old Hoenn who was looking curiously at his newborn sibling.

"Her name was Emilia, she was the one and only love of my life. She's your grandmother Heishi." Nasuko answered the question his grandson was keeping in his mind.

"...What happened to her?" Heishi asked as he looked at Nasuko who was gently wiping the tomb.

"12 years ago...The mid-east branch launched an attack on us. You see back then, All I had in mind was completing my mission. After Emilia gave birth to Jin I left to complete my mission. I was 19 years old when I left for Paradis. For 20 years, I focused on completing my mission. My mission was to pave the way for the next person to finally complete the task.

One day, I decided to return here for a little while to spend time with Emilia, your father, and your uncle. I learned of your uncle's talent and your father's courting of 3 women from the same family then. The Mid-east and Marley branch joined together to invade us but I kicked their ass and sent them retreating. Your father inherited the Combustion and showed his genius. I was assured that he could protect the island along with your uncle who then possessed the Nature titan.

Emilia tried to convince me that I had done enough and I should stay but I was adamant about finishing what I started. It was three years later that I felt I had truly done enough and I missed them dearly. I returned and decided to finally stay for good. Emilia was of course joyful of my return. We were all happy...but it was cut off shortly. Gekido returned to take revenge to which he succeeded. He killed Emilia. Smashed her to the ground with a hardened fist.

Heh heh...Life has a way of playing cruel tricks with us all. Just when we could finally be together again, She was taken from me. I guess it was a punishment to me for leaving her alone for more than 20 years. She was the one who possessed the life titan back then and even if we transferred it to someone else, it was too late. The life titan can heal all physical wounds and bring someone back from the brink of death but it could not bring someone back to life once they die.

To revive someone requires the help of the soul titan but Charlotte belonged to the Hizuru branch that was located far away and revival has strict requirements. A soul can only stay in our world for 24 hours and after that, they would disappear and only a roaming spirit will remain. After her remains were buried and I had transferred the life titan to your mother and the nature to your stepmother Miyuki, I holed myself up in grief and despair in the manor until you were born.

As you know, my close friend Jeff tried to cheer me up by taking revenge for me by playing one of his pranks on Gekido.

Hoenn was also upset because of her death and refused to take on his mission. I could not blame him for I fully understood how he felt. This is the reason why when you were born and old enough to train, I personally taught you. You will be the one to finish what our ancestors started and what I had lost years of being together with them for.

Heishi, I want you to keep in mind and always remember what I'll say to you now. Complete your mission and finish this all but never forget and abandon the people around you. Always find time to spend time with them as often as you can while they are still with you for one would never know when they will be taken away from thyself. It is enough for me to suffer this fate alone and you must not repeat the mistake I have done." Nasuko said as he finished sharing his past with his grandson. He ruffled his hair before standing up and leaving.

Now that Heishi looked at the altar-like object more closely, he found words engraved in the upmost side of it which he recognized to be his grandfather's chisel writing, and finally realize that it was not an altar but a grave.

...

'Here lies the body of Emilia Grace Ryoshi,'

'I told you back then when we were exchanging oaths that I would always be there for you and death would never do us part. I intend to keep my promise to you.'

'I will search for your spirit no matter how long it may take me. Even if it is on the other side of this world, as long as I live and breathe, I will continue to look.'

'Your loving husband, Nasuko.'

...

"Heishi! What are you waiting for? Let's go! There are still lots of things to prepare for tonight!" Nasuko called from outside the tomb.

"Coming Grandpa!" Heishi responded as he hurried out to join his grandfather while unknowingly using a more intimate form of addressing Nasuko.

"You read my writing? It's alright. I wrote that after a long reflection in my 2 years of seclusion and meeting you for the first time. After you inherit the Combustion and Life, I will leave the Crystal to your uncle Jin for your brother to inherit once he completes his coming-of-age trial. That will be the time when I will fulfill the words I engraved in stone." Nasuko explained as he and Heishi walked through the path heading outside the forest.