“I’m coming, Aiko. I do love you. More than the moon and the stars in the sky. Wish it and it will come true. You are so close to the magic—it must work for you. Try it, Aiko.”
Takumi woke with a gasp. Had she really seen Aiko? She often dreamed of events before they happened. This time it felt like she was witnessing an event from the past. The dense night was lifting. The sun would soon rise. She could not waver. Second chances never came easily. This might be the last time she could get away—be it to escape physically or mentally, she would escape. Knife in han
d she crept down the stairs and out a side door to the gardens.
She saw no reason to change what she was wearing. The billowy, sheer fabric that made up her nightgown swayed in the morning breeze as she plodded up the grassy hillside. No one was about this early. The sweet smell of fresh-bloomed flowers rose to her nostrils. Mr. Nagumo did have a magnificent garden. He used the blossoms to decorate for his many parties.
Takumi reached down and picked one pale pink flower. It was called a wineberry in these parts. Mr. Nagumo paid lots of money to get exactly what he wanted. This flower needed lots of care, and he paid someone to do that for him. He did nothing himself except rule over his massive domain.
This flower would be his last gift to Takumi. She slipped it behind her ear and continued her ascent. Once she was at the highest point of the hill, Takumi sat down, eager to watch her last sunrise. The cool morning air chilled her, but she made no effort to warm herself. It seemed silly knowing what she was about to do.
Below her the first rays of sun shot through the sky. The light took on her favorite color and mimicked the pink of the petals that adorned her hair. A ball of pale pink fire rose on the horizon. She must prepare herself.
Takumi stood, legs straight and stiff, and slid the knife from inside her sleeve. Both hands encircled the handle of the ordinary, black steak knife. Her arms lifted into the air and her wrists rotated toward her body. She had it positioned to the exact point of entry. This is how she intended to view the last minutes of nature’s spectacular wakening, in suicide mode.
It wasn’t like her to lie to herself or try to make things pretty. She wasn’t a pretender. This was her only way out and she was taking it. Before her the last of the fiery ball rose above the land. Bursts of sunshine pervaded her inner being. It was time.
Takumi lifted her arms out straight in front of her and plunged the knife to her heart. Two events happened simultaneously. Her legs, which she didn’t realize had locked up on her, gave out and made her fall to the mossy ground. And she heard a voice call out to her that she had never thought she’d hear again—Aiko’s.
“Ta-kum-i….”
The knife had plunged deep into her body. Luckily for her, falling to the ground had messed up her mark. The knife stuck out between her shoulder and neck. The pain was intense but so was the joy of hearing her lover’s voice.
“Oh my goodness, Takumi. What have you done?” Aiko leaned over her with concern and tears in her eyes.
“It was you or death, my love.”
“You idiot! I’m here now. How will you run with this wound, Takumi?”
“I’ll run, girl. I’ll run like the wind, just help me get up.”
The pair knew that removing the utensil would cause a great flow of blood so they left it in as they fled. They ran hand in hand to the edge of the Nagumo property and laughed as they did so.
Mae stood at a window and watched the pair flee in their quest for freedom. She envied the both of them. It’s too late for me, but I’ll do what I can to help the both of them.
“Mae, where is Takumi? I’m ready for breakfast early this morning. Get that girl down here.”
“Of course, sir. I’ll bring her right back.”
Mae spent so long upstairs that Mr. Nagumo came to the end of the staircase and yelled up to her. “Mae, what’s taking you so long?”
“Sir, Takumi is feeling quite ill. Would you care to come up here and speak to her?”
“Ill? Of course I don’t want to speak to her. You know I detest germs. Make her stay in bed all day and tend to her. She must be better by tomorrow. I’m having a party and I plan to introduce her talents to my many male guests. Make sure she’s ready.”
“Of course, sir. She’ll be ready.”
The day of respite allowed Takumi and Aiko to travel to their building. Neither knew how they’d made it so quickly. It seemed that every road had a willing driver who would let them tag along. It was as if they were meant to reach the building.
Hand in hand they walked up the steps of the magical respite. Each of them opened a door and slipped inside, closing and locking the gigantic structure behind them. The two doors interlocked on the inside.
“Are we done, Aiko? Is all of the bad stuff behind us? Will we really and truly be together forever?”
“Yes, Takumi. As long as we vow to stay here and never leave.”
The two women interlocked their pinkie fingers. “I vow it.”
Chocolate Cream