29. From an Orphan to a Mother
"Aunt Aiko…"
"K-Kotaro?"
"Don't worry, I will heal you."
Kotaro awaited a miracle, and it indeed came to him—Hamon. He knew exactly what it was.
The best advantage of Hamon lies in its versatility, which includes healing. Kotaro took a breath and began generating Hamon within him. He didn't know where he learned it, but the method of generating Hamon was imprinted in his instincts.
Yellow, electric-like sparks started to form in his hands as Kotaro infused them into Aiko. For a moment, Aiko's pale face regained a bit of color, but…
"Huh? Why isn't it working?"
Hamon is not an omnipotent power. While it is versatile, it has its limits, and its healing capabilities have their boundaries.
Theoretically, Hamon can heal anything, but it requires life energy. As long as there is "enough" life energy, you can heal anything. Like when Baron Zeppeli used his entire life energy to heal and enhance Jonathan.
But Kotaro didn't have that much energy. He was like Jonathan when he first learned Hamon. Moreover, he was injured from fighting the demon, which further reduced his Hamon-producing capabilities.
"N-No. I'll try again—"
The eyes that had been clear now started to fill with tears. Deep down, Kotaro knew he wouldn't be able to heal her, but still, he couldn't give up.
"Cough! Stop it, Kotaro."
Aiko grabbed Kotaro's hand, stopping him from trying any further. She coughed again, feeling the impending death approaching her. She knew that she was about to die.
"I know that I can't be saved."
Her words only accelerated the tears falling from Kotaro's face. Mitsuri, standing nearby, was crying as well, witnessing it all.
"Cough! Tsk! Why are you crying now? Such a child."
"I-I am not a child!"
Hearing his refutation even at this moment made Aiko laugh. She turned her head and looked at Kotaro, placing her hand on his cheek, feeling his warmth.
Kotaro grabbed her hand tightly, never intending to let her go.
"It's good that I got you married. Now, even if I'm not here, Mitsuri will take care of you."
After speaking these words, Aiko turned her head and called the tearful Mitsuri to sit beside her. She then placed her other hand on Mitsuri's head, patting her gently.
"Don't look down on yourself. I believe in you."
Sniff! Sniff!
"Y-Yes!"
Sob! Sob!
Mitsuri wiped her eyes, trying to stop the tears, but they kept on falling. Blessing both of them, Aiko looked at the night sky, and a tear streaked down her face.
She didn't want to die.
But…
'Ah! I'm going to die.'
She accepted the reality. Running away from it wasn't her style. Moreover, she wasn't as afraid as she had thought.
'Is it because I have those close to me in my final moments?'
Aiko herself was an orphan. She had strong social skills from childhood and was the leader among the other orphans. When she became an adolescent, a matchmaker took an interest in her skills and took her in as an assistant.
After her teacher's death, she took over the business of arranging marriages. During this time, she came across Kotaro, another orphan who was inexplicably mature for his age.
And from then on, she adopted him.
'He has grown so much.'
She looked at the crying figure holding her hand and remembered the time she took in that small child, who called her Aunt even after taking several beatings on his head.
To think she wouldn't be able to support him anymore in the future…
"Sorry, Kotaro. I won't be able to support you in the future."
Her words made Kotaro's heart ache. This woman, at the end of her life, didn't scold him or tease him… She apologized. She apologized for not being able to fulfill her duty as his adoptive mother.
"Don't say that! You… You've done more than enough… Mom!"
Aiko's eyes widened at his words, then softened as she smiled brightly. On that starry night, her smile was the brightest thing Kotaro had ever seen.
"Ah…"
In her life, if there was one thing Aiko wanted, it was a family. She was an orphan, always wondering who her parents were. After fighting through life's difficulties, her craving for a family only grew stronger.
But maybe it was her fate that she couldn't find a suitable man and was more inclined towards making money for survival, leaving her unmarried.
Now, in her last moments, if there was something she regretted, it was this—her wish to give birth, become a mother, and create a family.
But now it seems she had done just that.
"M-My child… Kotaro…"
"Yes, Mom."
Feeling his warmth, Aiko smiled, understanding that she was the luckiest woman alive. She was born an orphan but was leaving the world as a mother.
What could be more fulfilling to her?
"My son…"
She caressed Kotaro's cheek, and with a smile, Aiko closed her eyes, finally leaving this world with no regrets.
==
A/N:
A small chapter, but it gets the job done. A moment of silence for our lovable Aunt—no, Mom Aiko. Rest in peace.
PS: It's a bit late, and I'm really sorry. I was very tired and fell asleep. I just finished writing the chapter now.