Chapter 9: Afterlife
[??/??/4517]
“My name is Corianna.” She walked down the steps. Her teal hair floated behind her as she approached Kenichi. She had a gentle smile and with welcoming hands she presented Kenichi a seat nearby. As they made their way to the seats, Kenichi was still looking at the architecture of the area where he stood. There was no roof above, only sky. They sat on the chairs across from each other. “I am a goddess of reincarnation.”
Kenichi stared blankly at her.
“You know what reincarnation is?”
Kenichi stared blankly at her.
“I was the one who sent your wife’s soul to Teora.”
“I’m listening.” Kenichi crossed his arms.
“You do understand I am a goddess.”
“So?”
Corianna looked around a bit and made herself comfortable in her chair. “Sorry you’re the first Earthworlder addressing me in this manner. Did I do something wrong?”
“I’m trying to process what is going on with my life right now. Instead of dying in a river, I get teleported to a completely different world. Despite what people tell me, I am somehow responsible for the deaths of over 700 people.” Kenichi felt his chest pushing in and out. “I find myself dying of oxygen poisoning. Then some random teenage girl sits on my chest with a knife to my throat claiming to be my dead wife. Finally, I am here with you, a goddess of reincarnation. So, I am officially dead. Thank the goddess I don’t have to put up with this crap anymore.”
Corianna sat still when Emma’s voice echoed across the sky. “Please, let Kenichi live.”
“That is a prayer, Mr. Yamaura. Emma is my follower and she wants me to save you. That is why you are here.”
“She’s not my wife.” Kenichi placed his over his diaphragm feeling more pushing.
“You’re right. Her name is Emma. She is your wife’s reincarnation.”
Kenichi got up and turned his back on her. “Don’t you give me that.”
“Sit down.” Her voice got his attention. Her stern eyes were like a mother telling a child what to do.
He sat back down when another prayer from Emma echoed. “I have to know if it’s really him.”
“My heart aches for Emma, because like you said she is not your wife. Your wife’s soul was way stronger than I thought and her memories were retained when I placed her into Emma. Look me in the ways.”
Kenichi lifted his head up and Corianna continued. “You made you point. You hate the world, you hate me, and you hate everything that is your life. Get over it. I am trying to be reasonable with you because of what happened to you and your wife was not fair.”
“What about my children, my unborn grandchild?”
“How old are they?”
“Eighteen and twenty. My grandchild will be born later this year.”
“They are fine.” Corianna lowered her head and smiled. “You will be too.”
“So I am not dying?”
“No, I got you in time because of Emma’s prayer.”
“Please.” Emma prayer said. “I want Kenichi back. I can’t move forward without saying a few things. Without thanking him.”
Kenichi looked up to the sky. “What is she talking about?”
“From what I am sensing in her prayers, she finally realized that she is not you wife. If I may finally explain, please.”
Kenichi looked back at Corianna, and he nodded.
“Emma was an unborn child that had died her mother’s belly, but there was still time to answer her mother’s prayer and save the baby. As a goddess of reincarnation, my role in this area of expertise is to place the soul into an empty unborn vessel. Emma. Many mothers suffer losses in pregnancy and not many pray. Her mother did. So when Fumiko arrived, I placed her in Emma.”
“Why Fumiko?”
“She believed in reincarnation in your world. It was her prayers during her childhood that wished to be taken away from her parents and to another world where she could be safe.”
Kenichi’s tears slowly welled up. “And you answered her?”
“I have to admit. I do tend to cry when I hear some of Earthworlder’s prayers, but I had never cried the way I did than Fumiko’s. It really was unfair, that after all the years she went through with her parents she met you and prayed not to die. I’m still talking.”
Kenichi closed his mouth and listened as he pushed his diaphragm. “Why am I feeling pushed?”
“Someone is trying to save your life. I’m holding you here just in case.” Corianna stood up as Emma repeated her prayer again for Kenichi to wake up. “Listen to me, the memories of your wife was supposed to be forgotten as Emma grew up. She was never supposed to remember anything about you, your children, Earthworld. The purpose was to ease Fumiko’s soul as Emma grew up happy. Somehow, Fumiko was too strong for Emma’s mind to forget and she retained some of her memories. I keep hearing those prayers about it and it annoys me because Fumiko basically took away Emma’s identity. Now I’m hearing her prayer saying she remembers everyone effectively robbing Emma of her own life.”
“What am I supposed to do about it?”
“Nothing.” Corianna walked toward him. “Emma has to overcome Fumiko in some manner, Fumiko has to accept that this not her life. She has to be Emma and enjoy it.”
“You can’t force a person to be someone they’re not.”
Corianna stared into Kenichi’s eyes and nodded. “You’re right, I can’t tamper with free will. I hate to admit it. I failed Fumiko.”
“You did not fail her.” Kenichi cross his arms and Corianna turned to him. “You did your job. What Emma does with her life is her problem not yours.”
“Mr. Yamamura.”
“Emma said ‘Forget teleportation and reincarnation.’, she’s right. We both in our own way had been hurt with Fumiko’s death. Emma and I do not know how to deal with this situation. She has the right idea. We should start… over…”
“Is that what you want?”
“That’s what I have to figure out for myself.” Kenichi started fade. “I have to get back. I can’t let this go unresolved.”
“It looks like you will get what you want Mr. Yamamura. I wish you well.”
“Thank you for Fumiko.” Kenichi heard Emma’s prayer one last time.
“I can’t let this go unresolved. I must know.”
Kenichi smiled as he faded away. “I agree… Emma.”
***
[07/22/4517]
Kenichi opened his eyes. At his bedside was Emma. Her hands clasped over his despite her injured arm. Her face buried in their hands. He moved his fingers getting her attention. When she lifted her head up, tears fell over reddened face.
“Kenichi.” Emma tightened her grip on his hand. “I remember everything in Earthworld. All of my memories rushed back. However, I… I can’t feel those memories anymore. I was able to feel these memories, but now I can’t. How? What happened? I can’t remember how I felt about the taste of ice cream. I can’t remember how it felt when we first kissed. I can’t remember the warmth I felt when held my babies.”
More tears fell down her face. “I can’t even remember how it felt when we argued with each other.”
“Emma.”
“It’s just information. Information about Fumiko. I’m not her. I always believed I was her because of some stupid test I took, but it’s not true. I’m not Fumiko, I’m Emma. A complete stranger. I’m so sorry Kenichi. I’ve hurt you. You’ve lost everything and I am standing here calling you a liar. I’m the liar.” Emma stared into Kenichi’s eyes. “No one… no one other than you and my parents knew of that day. That was the last day I ever saw them. They pushed me over the edge.”
Emma pressed her stomach with her right arm. “I see the pain like a moving picture, but I can’t remember how that pain felt. The only memories I feel are the memories of my life here on Teora. With my family. Nothing else.”
Emma lowered her head. “I’m sorry.”
Kenichi spoke. “Apology accepted.”
Emma eyes grew wide as Kenichi continued. “Those memories are yours… always have been.”
Emma placed her right hand over her chest and listened. “Thank you for taking care of her memories Emma. Thank you for remembering Fumiko, and giving her soul the happiness she rightfully deserved. I believe… I believe she will rest easy now.”
Kenichi reached over to Emma’s injured hand. He gently took her palm and held it tight. A faint image of a woman’s hand gripped onto theirs. Emma tightened her grip and spoke. “Fumiko…”
Fumiko let out a light smile. “Let my memories guide you dear Emma, for they have always been your life. This is the last of my strength before I rest forever. Thank you very much.”
Kenichi pulled up Fumiko’s hand away from Emma. He closed his eyes and spoke a little prayer. “Fumiko… Satoshi and Ichigo grew up and are adults now. Satoshi is going to be a father with his fiancé Rumiko. Ichigo is attending university in America. Was I a good father? There was so much I could give them and our grandchild. I feel like I abandoned them.”
Fumiko rested her head on his hand. “No, you did not abandon them. What has happened to you here is not your fault. They’re adults now. I feel fear for them but knowing you…”
Fumiko looked Kenichi in the eyes, even though he could not see her. “They have all the tools they need to make it in adulthood.”
Fumiko closed her eyes. Her tear touched Kenichi’s ring. It made the sound of a ping and she remembered the day Ichigo was born. She saw Satoshi in Kenichi’s arms. The smile Kenichi gave when he introduced his son to his little sister. She felt his hand grip hers. Even though he could not see her, she realized he could sense her. “Thank you, Keni.”
As Fumiko’s hand slid away from Kenichi, his hand struggled to pull it back. His fingertips curled into a hook holding onto her fingers. Fumiko took her other hand and gently unhooked the fingers. Kenichi’s hand fell onto the bed as Emma stared at his ring covered in a single tear. His hand landed on the bed with a thud.
“Go get the doctor for me please.”
“Yes.” Emma got up and opened the door. She opened her mouth to say something, but stopped herself. After she closed the door, she heard Kenichi wept. “Corianna, give him strength.”
Emma found Sarina with Dr. Harrison talking with Maddox by the receptionist. She hurried to them. As she talked to them, a nurse overheard what was said. Once Emma led everyone back to Kenichi’s room, the nurse walked behind them.
Carrying a clipboard, the nurse saw the door slowly closed. The guards standing beside the door waved her to move along. She was able to get a glimpse of Kenichi sitting up for the doctor. The nurse continued her way to the stairs and reached the second floor. She entered the telegraph room where she began to tap on it.
The wire made its way across the city, towards Slope End. It reached Talon Company where Kiwi stood behind the female operator writing down the message. She handed Kiwi. After Kiwi read the message, she walked through the office building to Sebastian’s office. There he stood before the window looking out at security patting down every employee leaving the premises. The lines were long and slow.
“Time is being wasted by this.”
“Mr. Reinard, message from the hospital.” Kiwi handed the slip and he read the message.
“How unfortunate.” Sebastian walked over to his desk. He sat down and wrote a reply. “I want to know when he will be released from the hospital. Once we have the date, I want him isolated as soon as possible so I may speak with him.”
Before Kiwi left, a bear man arrived dragging beating man to him. He threw him before Sebastian. The man sat on his knees with an angry face. The bear man spoke. “He’s the one that stole the prototype.”
“Oh.” Sebastian leaned close and noticed a necklace on the man. It was metal with a symbol of a bird and a sun. “A follower of the Church of Endira?”
“You sinners will pay for bringing Earthworlders here.”
Sebastian looked at Kiwi. “Please, continue your task.”
“Yes. Mr. Reinard.” Kiwi returned to the telegraph and handed the operator the message.
As the signal made its way through the network, it reached a wired junction. While the message continued onward to the hospital, the junction copied the message and sent it in another direction. It arrived at a company building called Nirico Telegraph. The wire reached a whole network of wires where operators were flipping switches and plugging cables into walls.
The wire took the message away from the area and down into the lower levels where filed paperwork were archived. The wire entered a small room hidden behind the shelves. It began to tap.
“Hurry up and right it down.” Boss John said the mysterious person sitting before it.
“You are quite impatient sir.” The mysterious person wrote down the message.
“Because I want our reward.”
“Soon, Mr. John.” The mysterious person handed Boss John the message.
Boss John smiled. “Here’s the plan.”
To Be Continued...
