What was she like?

Before I knew it, Airi-chan had already taken me to the graveyard on top of the hill completely opposite to the sea. I was confused, after all she had faced, she should've been scared to even sleep, but she is here in the graveyard visiting my mother.

"Katsuhito-kun, what was your mother like? Do you remember her?"

There was only one thing I could say, "She was a very kind person."

I wonder what she would think of me if she saw me now, with her. She would definitely treat her like her own daughter. I wish she was alive right now.

"You don't mind me asking these questions, right?"

"Of course not."

We were walking through the graves, with small steps trying to enjoy our time in this dark place at night. But it doesn't completely feel like night though, because the blood moon's light is brighter for us to see the surroundings clearly. I could even read the names of the gravestones.

My mother's grave was on the far side of us, so we had quite a distance to cover. It would've been better if we had just entered through the opposite gate, it would've been much easier.

I was going through the names of the people that have died. Some of the graves look old, some look young. The young graves are the graves that I have not seen previously, so I am trying to read their name and recognise who they were. Maybe it might be someone who I know?

One particular grave caught my attention. We were pretty close to my mom's grave now, so I was surprised that a grave this new was here. It's name was a bit hard to read, but I could read it...

"What... the... heck...?", no no, this can't be true. Maybe its another Airi, not my Airi-chan. I laughed nervously. My Airi-chan is alive here beside me, right now! Maybe the thought of her being dead still hasn't left my mind. I looked at her in confirmation.

"Katsuhito-kun, you know, we should become Tsurihito and Tsurihito's Bride. My dad is getting old and I don't want to burden him any more." She said nonchalantly.

"Huh... what... Airi-chan...? What are you talking about?"

"Come on, you would do this much for me, right? We were supposed to be together, but you left me alone in the sea. Now you can do this much for us to stay together forever, or do you not want us to be together.

"Who... are you?" I am sure, this is not the Airi-chan I know. She wouldn't say such words. I am sure of it. She is kind, gentle hearted and caring person. She recognises the thing people do without telling others. Thats the reason I fell for her. For her to say something like that...

But again, she was not wrong though... I did.. leave her in the sea all alone. Who knows how much she has suffered? She might be traumatised by that experience, yet she is keeping her cool.

Wait, the heck? Why should we be Tsurihito and his bride though?

I was blinded by my own thoughts. I didn't know what to do. Before I noticed, Airi-chan was just a few centimetres in front of me, looking directly into my eyes- that would be an understatement. She was looking directly at my soul. But I didn't feel scared.

"Y... ye...s...ye..s.. ye-"

"KATSUHITO GET DOWN!!"

I didn't know what was happening. Why was I trying to say yes back then? I was supposed to say why to her, but somehow I could only say the words "yes" in front of her eyes.

I felt a sudden pull on my body from the back. It brought me back to reality, and I didn't known what was happening. I looked behind me, was Teiji.

I suddenly saw the light of burning torches surrounding the graveyard. It looked like the whole townsfolk has came here. What was happening??

"Hey Teiji, what the heck is happening?"

"Listen, Katsuhito, stay away from her... that is not the Airi you know of, she was not the Airi you knew of. She is a fake!"

"You...", I heard a growl from amongst the crowd. It was Takuma. Oh no... he meant trouble, I know what he is trying to do and I can't let him do that. I have to save Airi-chan.

"Let go of me, Teiji! He is going to kill her!!", after all she disappeared and thats why we searched the sea that day, so I knew his thoughts.

"No. I told you, she is not real!"

"The heck you mean by that!!", I was confused. She was right there, in front of us. Maybe she was a bit dizzy headed, from all the pressure of life or death. Or maybe the fish king manipulated her into saying those stuffs.

Teiji shouted. "Katsuhito! Get back to reality!! Airi died two months ago!!! Why don't you remember that?!?"