Chapter Text
‘She is buried here.’ Nokowé stepped back from the grave.
‘Thank you.’ Susa knelt to lay the shion she had gathered before entering town. A few petals drifted away in the wind.
She stayed still as she read the names on the monument until Nokowé’s footsteps retreated.
‘Hi Mum. Hi Mama. Kuri, Hama, Yinu.’ Susa’s gaze travelled up. ‘Grandparents I’ve never met, I guess.
‘So, I’m going to help save the world. I won’t be doing much of the saving myself, mostly supporting Tané as she does it and trying not to get in the way. It’s been a while since some of you last saw her, hasn’t it? She’s less awkward now, but you’d still know it’s her. And we’re together now - yeah, you were right, Yinu, laugh it up. I think you’d approve of her now, mums, not that I’d have ever asked. And it’s not just because she’s a girlfriend. Mum, you can catch Mama up on how she’s changed. And she saved my life again.’
Susa pushed the flowers closer to the monument, better protected from the wind.
‘I’m sorry, Mum. After what you did she shouldn’t have had to. I hope you can forgive me for nearly throwing that away. Even if I’m on the other side of the world, I’m not going to forget what you did. I’m not going to forget any of you, and I do fully intend to come back
‘We’ll be starting in Inys, the heart of their Virtudom seems a good place to begin. We won’t be able to do this all by ourselves, but the Westerners fear the Nameless One as much as we do. I don’t imagine I need to tell you he’s returned. That’s the kind of thing you’d be able to tell from up there.’
Susa stood. ‘I can’t stay too long. Keep an eye out for me, will you? I know you’d say you’re already proud of me, but just you watch.’
She turned and walked back to Nokowé and Tané by the stone bench. Nokowé picked up the shamisen she had brought. ‘I don’t know if you can take this with you, but you’re welcome to have it.’
Susa looked over at Tané who shook her head.
‘Thanks, but we have to travel light.’
Nokowé nodded but kept holding it out. ‘One more time? I’m sure they’d love to hear you again.’
The neck of the instrument was reassuring in Susa's grasp. She would miss it.
‘Sorry I didn’t get to finish that song with you.’ She plucked a few starting notes.
‘We’ll work on it when you get back.’
‘Just make sure you’re safe here.’ Susa adjusted her grip. ‘Thanks for everything already.’
Nokowé smiled despite her own tears and sat down while Tané sat on the other end of the bench. Susa sat between them with the shamisen couched in her lap.
Maybe the song was incomplete, but this was how her mum had last heard it. Someday she would be back, she would finish it, she would play it, and she would write more.
Thanks to so many people she was still here to promise that.