This is How Things are Now

A hero's funeral is a beautiful thing.

The last time Yuzuko left the house, she told me she had an important mission to go on. She said that they might have discovered the base of the demon lord. Yuzuko said she wanted to have a giant feast before she left, so I cooked up multiple dishes, she poured multiple bottles of wine, and we partied the night away talking about old times. The next morning she said goodbye and left. That was the last time that I seen her alive.

"How you feeling, Jun?" Asuka comes up from behind me, embracing me in her arms.

Asuka was a on-and-off lover of Yuzuko throughout the time that I was staying with her. Growing up around her, she became something like a big sister to me. Asuka is a comforting presence to have around after what happened with Yuzuko. Unfortunately though I wasn't the one who broke the news to Asuka. She had to hear about it through a letter from the military. I apologized to her, but she assured me that I had nothing to be forgiven for, and that I wasn't to blame.

"How are you?" I grab one of her hands that is wrapped around my shoulders.

No response, just a tighter hug.

Her ovberly-large red witch hat covered the tears in her eyes from being seen by those around us.

All of the countries' heroes have gathered for the funeral of the legendary swordswoman hero, Yuzuko. Everyone comes up to me to pay their respects to the legendary hero who died in combat fighting for her country and her world against the wixke ddemon lord. 

When sunset came around, we lit a large bonfire and began to party. Yuzuko would have wanted he rfuneral to be an all day drink drinking party, shit, she would have had it go on for weeks if she had any say in it. But for tonight, and this night alone, the entire country has dedicated their time to celebrating the life of Yuzuko, by drinking away until they all pass out.

Me and Asuka share drinks while reminiscing about the past, and before we knew it, the sun would come up. Finally the night was over and I could say the spirit of Yuzuko was honored. Seeing that I was the only one left awake when the sun hit my face. I give one last cheers to Yuzuko and fall to the grown where all of her drunken comrades lay in a no-doubt pleasant slumber knowing that Yuzuko is watching over us all.

By the time everyone awoke, the afternoon had already came. The heroes were the first to leave, no dount they had very busy schedules. Before long the mess that was made the night prior was cleaned up by the hard-working working-men of the town where me and Yuzuko lived, our neighbors, family, and friends. With all of our business concluded, one by one people began to return home. Me and Asuka went back to Yuzuko's house one last time. Everything had already been cleaned out and moved over to Asuka's place where she has a near-infinte storage space. Come to think of it, it may actually be infinite, she is a witch after all. 

After looking around one last time, Asuka and I head for the train. It was decided earlier that I would be movign in with Asuka. When we first met after Yuzuko's death, we came to this idea together, and taht was also when we decided to move all of Yuzuko's stuff into Asuka's place. It was the best idea that two grievign souls could come up with. We both need someone to lean on right now, so we can be that person for each other until we heal.

Finally we board the train.

Asuka falls asleep with her head on my shoulder. That hat...

At some point without realizing, I also fell asleep under the coverage of Asuka's hat.

There, I had a dream. A dream about Yuzuko. She told me that she taught me everything that I needed to know, and that now it was time to live on my own without her. But before she left she also told me one more thing: to take care of Asuka for her.

Well which is it!? Live on my own or stay with Asuka!?

It was just like Yuzuko to say confliciting things like that. She always spoke from the heart. It didn't need to make any sense as long as she was honest. That's just the type of person Yuzuko was.

"Hey sleepyhead, we're here" When I awoke, I was the one who was laying my head on Asuka's shoulder, I guess at some point while I was asleep our positions changed.

Asuka stood up beside our seats. I look up to see her hat slowly rising, and now no longer covering my face, I straighten up. I do a few strecthes to lighten up my tense body. Afterwards I grab all of our bags and suitcases. Though most of these are Asuka's.

"Thanks, Jun"

"Ah, no problem, this is short work for a swordsman like myself" I say, desperatly trying to keep my balance while holding all six of her bags plus mine.

"Uh, Asuka, why did you need all these bags again?"

"I'm a girl. girls have things that they absolutely must have"

"Girl? How old are you again..."

Asuka glares at me. Luckily the train was empty or I would have gotten off with a lot worse than just a glare.

Asuka turns around with a "Humph!" and I follow behind.