[Aika Crisis] Day 3: I Visited My Ex-Girlfriend's Mother

Yoko arrived at the bridge with fury in her heart and a katana in her hands. She was still dressed in her nightgown and didn't even bother wasting time to look decent enough to go out. Truly, she was raw hatred personified. With vengeance in her eyes and cold, hardened nipples beneath her gown, Yoko pointed her blade at the two.

“Osamu!" She screeched like a murderous harpy. "Explain yourself! Maybe you'll stop me from skinning you alive!”

Aika and Osamu jumped up, with Aika remaining behind him.

Osamu immediately attempted to defuse the situation. ”Well, uhh, you see, I walked out to grab some snacks, but then I heard Aika playing guitar under the bridge!"

Yoko hesitated for a long moment, premeditating her reply. ”I see...prepare to die then."

"Wait a minute, we didn't do anything, I swear!” Osamu pleaded.

"It's not a matter of you having done anything.” Yoko snarled. “It's a matter of you possibly doing something. That is something I cannot allow. Now then, Aika, are you ready to be punished for daring to lure my husband out of our home?”

"Osamu...move aside." Aika quietly commanded.

Aika had her electric guitar in her hands as she stepped in front of Osamu. She wielded her Gibson Black Beauty as if it were an axe, and she was a viking ready to destroy her opponent.

"Oh? So you've chosen to fight, Aika?” Yoko snickered.

"I don't want to, but you're really pissing me off. Osamu is not your husband, yet you insist he is and you think you can dictate where he should be at all times. Do you know what that makes you?"

Aika dared to utter the most unforgivable word, the C word. Clingy.

Yoko's eye twitched as that word rung out into the air, echoing infinitely within Yoko's soul. "Osamu..."

"Y-yeah?"

"Forgive me. I'll be sure to wash Aika's blood off of your clothes after this.”

Aika and Yoko charged at each other like two swordswomen from warring clans. The two of them shouted their war cries at the other, leaving Osamu questioning if they really intended to kill each other. Thankfully, a familiar vortex appeared between them, and Izanami emerged to restrain the both of them. The guitar and the sword, along with their owners, were pinned to the ground.

"Izanami!" Osamu gleefully called out.

"Damn you! Why do you always get in my way?! I'm going to rip her open and sew her heart to the back of her head!" Yoko protested.

Clearly, the fight was still on between the two ladies, even as Izanami held them down.

"You couldn't kill me if I let you jump first!” Aika shot back, wriggling under Izanami’s grip.

"Enough!" Izanami yelled, her tone ferocious and serrated enough to scare the two girls.

Izanami grabbed hold both of their heads with her cold, dead hands. Suddenly, the two warring girls fell completely silent, their eyes rolling into the back of their heads. It may have looked rather creepy, but all Izanami did was use her power to render them unconscious for a short while. 

Releasing a sigh of relief, Izanami smiled. “You okay, Osamu?"

"You saved me, Izanami! Maybe I really should marry you!” Osamu cheered.

"Oh love, don't tease, don't tease.” Izanaki snickered. “They're unconscious for now. Do you know where Aika lives?"

Osamu’s relieved grin withered. ”Uhh…crap...no. I actually don't."

"Well, I hope Yoko won't mind having another guest in her house. I'll carry Yoko.” Izanami said.
Osamu nodded. ”I've got Aika."

The two of them began their walk, carrying the girls back to Yoko's place, the streets empty and peaceful. The cold, moist air around them gave a ghostly, gaseous veil to the amber light of the street lamps. The moon was high in the sky now, as pale and radiant as Izanami’s smile.

(Finally, things calmed down again. I guess it's not surprising that Izanami is so responsible. She was always like this. She always had those…almost maternal instincts. Knowing how to bring peace to chaos is another one of her great traits as a goddess.)

"Say, Osamu?” Izanami called out, pulling Osamu from his thoughts.

"Yeah?"

"How did you meet someone like Yoko?"

"What's with the curiosity?” Osamu chuckled.

"It's because Yoko is such a curious person. I learned that much when I met her, shortly after you left."

"Well, she was the first girl I dated when I lived here. I believe we first went out eight years ago."

"Wow, so you guys were just ten?” Izanami gasped.

"Yep. Believe it or not, she was the most gentle girl you could've ever met back then. She was just also incredibly lonely. I still remember how I'd often see her eat lunch by herself. Nobody sat with her. People said she was weird and not to go near her."

Izanami smiled, already seeing where the story was going. "And so, naturally, little Osamu did the opposite thing that everyone told him to do, right?"

"Yeah. Besides, what do a bunch of idiots at school know? That day, we sat down together, and I let her have some of my rice cakes. We hung out and talked every day since then and started dating pretty soon afterwards. I lost all my friends in the process, but I didn't really care since I was with her. I still think she's the one of the coolest girls I've ever met."

"So, where did it all go wrong?” Izanami questioned.

"My parents were strict about girls, and when they found out about our relationship, they didn't approve of her. They didn't like anything about her.” Osamu explained, a pained expression on his tired face.

Izanami’s brows sank in sympathy. ”Poor girl..."

"I had to break up with her. It wasn't something I wanted. Despite that, I still wanted to be friends with her, but we didn't talk as often as we did back then. I'd see her every once in a while, but she'd always run off and say she had something else to do. I think she became the way she is now when I left and she lost her father. Maybe it's how she copes. She appears to guard her heart with every step she takes, but she's still the little love bird I met years ago."

"You're such a sweet guy, Osamu."

After explaining the story, Osamu remembered a question he’d been wanting to ask. “Speaking of which, how did you two end up meeting? You seemed to already know each other when I came back."

Izanami averted her eyes from Osamu and delayed her answer. "Sorry, Osa, but...Yoko asked me not to tell you that. Rest assured though, Yoko and I more or less get along with each other! At least she doesn't flat out hate me."

(Well, it helps hearing Izanami say that to me.)

They were finally back home. Aika was laid next to the sleeping Isabella, and Yoko was returned to her room. Izanami left the rest to Osamu, who, after tonight, still decided he wanted to sleep next to Yoko. The next morning, however...

(Ah, I can hear birds chirping. Looks like it's morning already. Why does my stomach feel so heavy, though?)

Osamu tired eyes slowly peeled open and found Isabella sitting on his stomach and pointing her desert eagle right at his face. She only wore a white tank top and her American Flag underwear. 

“H-Hi there, Izzy. Why are you glaring at me while pointing a very dangerous firearm at my face?” Osamu asked as if Isabella was pulling a prank on him.

Isabella began crying like a child, which only made Osamu fear her more. "Yoko left for work and Aika is still sleeping. "C-c-can you please make me breakfast? I don't know how to cook Japanese dishes that well!"

"Come on Izzy, still?” Osamu groaned. “You can cook Western dishes like a pro though, can’t you?”

Isabella pushed her gun against Osamu's cheek. "Don't judge me!"

"Okay, okay! Let me up and I'll make you breakfast!"

Izzy’s tone went from threatening to wounded and vulnerable. “You promise, Osa?”

"Of course I do.”

"I don't believe you! If you're serious, touch my boobs!" she said, without a hint of shame on her blushing, tear-soaked face.

Osamu recoiled. ”What? This old thing again? Why?"

“Come on! It’s how we used to make promises.” Isabella recalled. “Do it for old time’s sake!”

"There's no way I'm doing that!” Osamu protested.

"Then I'll just kill you! I know exactly how to get rid of a dead body!”

Osamu pinched the bridge of his nose. ”But then nobody will be able to cook you breakfast and Aika would just be mad that you woke her!"

"Then touch my boobs! Squeeze them as hard as you can and show me you're serious!"

Not wanting to have a gun pointed at him any longer, Osamu gave up the fight and grabbed both of Isabella's boobs. Isabella moaned and blushed as her soft, sizable breasts were groped exactly to her liking. For her, and perhaps any girl with such fruitful breasts, feeling the strength and grip of a man's hands on her chest was a ticket to heaven.

"Osamu, both hands? You beast!” Izzy chuckled, her laughter forcing her trigger finger to twitch.

Isabella accidentally shot off a round from her gun in her excitement, putting a hole in the ceiling and scaring herself and Osamu.

"Holy cow, that was amazing!” Isabella cheered with a slight giggle.

“Which part, exactly? Holding me at gunpoint, the groping, or firing your gun indoors?” Osamu groaned.

Izzy gave Osamu a coquettish wink. ”Whichever you want it to be."

"A-anyway. I touched your boobs, so can we please get on with it?"

"Yes please, I'm starving!"

(God bless America...I wonder what she wants to eat.)

The two marched downstairs and into Yoko's beautiful kitchen. The window Isabella shot through was still broken, but other than that, the kitchen was relatively spotless after the chaos of the previous day. Izzy sat down at the counter like a little princess awaiting a meal from her servant.

Irked by her carelessness, Osamu cleared his throat and spoke. ”Uhh, Izzy, do you want to...you know...help out?"

"What do you mean? Help you with what?” Izzy asked, her head slightly cocked to the side.

(Was she always this stupid, or is she just pretending to be an idiot?)

"Never mind. How about some cold somen?"

"I want pancakes!” the blonde princess demanded.

"Well, we do have the ingredients to make pancake mix, but I'd rather not use the last of the sugar. It's rude to do so without asking or being able to replace it."

Isabella pouted like a sad dog. "Somen is fine. Hold the green onions."

Osamu nodded. ”Got it.” 

(I just remembered, I have to go with Izanami to visit the grave of Aika's mom. It would be pandemonium if Izzy was still here when Yoko got home. Maybe I should take her with me.)

"Hey, Izzy. I'm going to make a visit to the cemetery today. Wanna come along?" he politely asked.

“The cemetery? For who?” Izzy asked, pinching her angel wing necklace between her thumb and index finger.

"Aika's mom.” 

“Oh..." Isabella quietly mumbled, her eyes clouded with surprise

"What's the matter?” Osamu asked, a little worried.

"N-nothing! I was just surprised! I had no idea Aika's mom passed away. That does…explain a lot of things though.”

The meal preparation was finished and they both sat down to eat. Since Isabella thought it was okay to eat without saying proper thanks, Osamu slapped her hands away from her bowl, lecturing her on the importance of etiquette.

"Not only are you a guest in someone's home, but you didn't help the person who cooked the meal, despite you being the one who pressured me to do it. Let's not forget that this is food that Yoko works to pay for. Don't just dig in without saying proper thanks."

"I'm sorry!” Isabella laughed. “Thank you for this meal, from the animals that died, to the farmers who produce the vegetables, and the psycho who pays for it all."

(Close enough, I guess...)

"Hey, Osamu? What kanji do you use to write your name?” 

Osamu’s brow shot up in curiosity. ”That's a random question. Where did that come from?"
"I just think it's weird that I've known you for so long but I still can't write your name. Forgive me, I'm kind of slow when it comes to kanji memorization. It wasn't written like Osamu Dazai, was it?"

Osamu reached for a napkin and pen, stopping to write out his name. He slid the napkin over to Isabella, her eyes carefully scanning the kanji as if to burn it into her memory.

"There you go. It's written as ‘discipline’, like the ‘shu’ in Shugendo, but it’s read as Osamu. I really don’t mind that you forgot how to write it, Izzy. Learning another language is challenging, after all.”

Isabella kissed the napkin and kept it in her pocket. Her face was pink and radiated with joy. "Thanks, Love."

(It meant that much to her? Well, she is my ex. I guess there's always going to be some love between us. I'm glad for that. Isabella helped pull me through a lot of awful stuff.)

By the time the meal was finished, Izanami appeared in the kitchen out of her usual vortex of darkness, ready to take Osamu to the grave site. For this trip, she wore her casual summer dress, its flowing, pink fabric just loosely clinging to her pale body.

 Startled by the ominous appearance of a hellish vortex, Isabella panicked and grabbed her gun, pointing it at Izanami. She was so scared she couldn't even look down the sights as she yelled out and fired at her. Four shots rang out, leaving the barrel of the desert eagle smoking hot.

"D-did I kill her?!" Isabella shouted at an ear-ringing volume.

"Don't you know better than to fire at a deity?!" Osamu yelled as he shook Izzy by her shoulders.

Izanami simply brushed the bullets off her pale skin as Osamu bowed to her in remorseful supplication.

"Please forgive my idiot ex-girlfriend, Izanami!” Osamu pleaded from one side of his mouth, growling at Isabella through the other.

Izanami waved off their panic. ”Oh no, please! It's okay! I understand I'm kind of scary. I'm sorry, Isabella."

(The fact that she's so remorseful over something she can't help is really painful.)

Isabella too humbled herself. "I-it's okay! Just...maybe next time, you should try opening a door instead opening a vortex of darkness and ominous screaming, you know?"

"Oh! Okay!” Izanami cheerfully accepted. “Well? Shall we go?”

"Will you be joining us, Izzy?" Osamu asked once more.

“Sure! I’ll tag along.”

The three left the house together and walked, like normal people, to the cemetery. They took the back road behind the house instead of the main streets, a courtesy they silently afforded Izanami to avoid the odd stares at her lifeless skin. Along the way, Isabella had trouble keeping up with the pace, as she got too distracted by the aromatic wisterias dangling overhead.

After a rather long walk and a much-needed workout, they finally arrived at the cemetery, with Izanami leading the way to the grave they were looking for. The cemetery was much like a public park, situated in a flat clearing of clean-cut grass, the occasional tree in the distance offering shade from the creeping light of the morning sun. 

A few people were scattered about the cemetery grounds, paying their respects to the friends and lovers that departed from this world. Their names were carved into the seemingly endless rows of obelisk headstones, their cherished lives summarized only by respectful epitaphs.

Some minutes later, Izanami came to a stop, her eyes fixated on a granite, obelisk headstone.“Here we are. This is the gravestone of Kiyomi Mihara, Aika’s mom. I took her soul from this world just before you left, Osamu. She was a gentle and kind soul who loved her daughter as fiercely as she could. She lived a good life."

A sorrowful fire tore through Osamu’s heart as he gazed at the tombstone and the name engraved on it.

"How did she die?" he reluctantly asked.

"Complications from Lymphoma.” Izanami began. “Aika just wasn’t the same after her mother passed. She was raised a devout Christian, but she stopped going to her local church following Kiyomi’s death.”

Osamu’s brow shot up in surprise. “What? Aika’s a Christian? I thought she wasn’t religious.”

Izanmi shook her head. “Perhaps her loss tore her from her faith.

"Poor Aika, I didn't know she went through that by herself..." Isabella somberly mumbled.
"I really made a mess, didn't I? I left without considering what any of you were going through. Izanami, you especially must've been lonely."

"Oh no, please! It's okay, really! I'm used to it.” Izanami said, attempting to politely pass it off.

"I don't want you to be used to solitude. That's the thing."

Osamu pressed his hands together and prayed. Izanami and Isabella joined him in the mournful silence.

(Forgive me, Aika.)

End of Day 3