Chapter fourteen

"Where did you go Ei? I was worried." Kana asked leaning on the doorframe as Ei placed the bags in herr hands on the bed.

"Oh! Issey took me and Kira shopping!." Ei answered sorting out the bags.

"Eh? And you didn't invite me?."

"Issey asked us to let you rest since you've been really unwell."

"Issey…"Kana began.

"Hm? What about him?."

"Do…do you like him?."Kana asked and Ei dropped the bag in her hands in shock.

"Of course I do!."

"You know what I mean." Kana said sternly.

Ei pursed her lips in sorrow as her eyes slowly welled up with tears.

"You don't need to feel bad or cry, I understand.". " You're both idiots, don't you understand the severity of your feelings?! Even if I understand! What do you think the entire kingdom will think?! What will mother and father think?!."Kana yelled sitting on the floor.

Ei burst into tears refusing to face Kana while clutching her head.

"At least I know he can take care of you when I'm gone, when I'm gone everything will be fine. "

"What do you mean? Where are you going? Can I come with you?."

"No, where I'm going…I'm afraid it's a journey I have to take alone."

"You're not telling something? What is it?." Ei asked sensing something was amiss.

Kana sighed dropping her gaze to the floor."I have pneumonia, and the doctor says I have but a few hours left." Kana murmured smiling bitterly.

Ei's face paled." W-what do you mean? Pneumonia? You're joking right? Real funny? Please tell me this is a joke." Ei asked standing shaking but when she saw Kana's sad smile Ei knew she was far from it, Ei crashed back to the floor.

"I'm sorry."

"Why didn't you tell me?! I could've helped! Somehow!." Ei yelled pulling her hair in frustration.

"You can't do anything about it now, I can die happy now that I know you and Issey are going to be together."

"You're leaving me…alone! you can't! You have to get better!."

"Please Ei, the power of life and death is not in the hands of any mortal. It is merely the cycle of life and beauty of humanity."Kana said gently grasping Ei's hands, Ei looked at her with bloodshot eyes and a puffy nose.

Kana chuckled softly patting your head."I do have a request."

"What is it?."

"Can you please do my makeup? I want to look beautiful one last time. "

After finishing up with Kana's makeup, Ei went off to find Issey, she found him talking to Raika.

"Issey! Issey! Please come with me! Kana needs you!." Ei cried pointing out of breath from running around.

"I'll talk to you later, come on Ei!." Issey said pulling Ei away.

After reaching Ei's room, Kana asked Ei to step out while she talked to Issey, after a few minutes Issey came out before calling a maid to prepare a picnic basket, his face was grim and sorrowful, hee looked at Ei before smiling bitterly.

"We're going on a picnic, do you want to come with?." Ei nodded hesitantly.

Ei sat off to the side on as Kana and Issey talked quietly, she busied herself with weaving the stems of the flowers in her hands together in preparation for a flower crown.

"Hey Kana! Look!." Ei cried showing her accomplishment to Kana.

" It's beautiful!." Kana praised and Ei placed it on her head.

"It looks better on you." Ei murmured pouting.

Kana shivered hugging herself before smiling softly.

"Let's get you back, it's cold." Issey murmured draping his coat over her shoulder.

"Alright." Kana tried to stand but stumbled, she had to be carried on Issey's back while you carried the picnic basket.

"Do you remember when we first met?." Kana began slowly fading." You just arrived from a mission and I was accompanying my parents to visit the king, many people thought love at first sight was stupid but to me I couldn't explain, when I first saw you, you were so caring even when you were tending to your horse, and I tripped you helped me up, I knew you weren't thinking of marriage but I still pushed on until I was engaged to you. "Kana murmured smiling while slowly losing her grip around Issey's neck.

"Shhh rest, you need it." Issey mumbled tightening his grip on her.

"You know I don't regret not getting married to you, because I know you'll be happier with (Y/n) than you were with me."

"Kana-nee please stop talking!." Ei pleaded.

"Issey please promise me you'll look after Ei while I'm not here."

"Don't say that."Issey replied coarsely.

"Please promise me!."Kana pressed on ignoring what he said.

"…I promise…."

"And Ei, when mother and father arrive you have the decision to go back with them or stay at the castle, please stay out trouble, you're very fond of that."

Ei whimpered unable to reply.

"Don't worry you two, I'll watch over you from the heavens maybe in our next lives, I can be a sister to you, Ei, and a friend to you Issey but until then take care..... I love you."Kana murmured before going silent, everything stopped when Ei and Issey halted.

"K-kana? Kana?! Issey! Kana won't answer me!." Ei cried running towards Kana unmoving body on Issey's back."Make her talk! Please! Please!." Ei wailed clutching her body to her chest after Issey placed her on the ground.

"Ei…"

"No! No! No!."

"Ei…Kana is gone."

"No! No! She can't be! She's just sleeping! She'll wake up!." Ei cried louder.

"Ei please."

"KANA!!."Ei wailed as Issey tried to pull you away.

Everyone stood in front of Kana's grave paying their respects. Ei, Rumi, Kira, Yu, Eiji, and Heiy were crying while Raika, Hitori, Issey Haruto and Raga stood off with passive expressions, a lot of dignitaries attended as well as Kana's friends, Queen Aira was standing off the side with Queen Noi;Haruto's and Rumi's mother also stood off crying. Ei knew the king was unable to attend but you were more than disappointed and angry at their so called parents who didn't even find time to attend their own daughter's funeral.

After everyone had left only Ei stayed opting to sit next to Kana's tombstone for a while, she didn't know her long but she cared for Ei and treated her with love and over a period of time Ei accepted the fact that she was her sister but before she could get to know her she was gone.

After a while, Ei picked herself up and ventured into the castle, since their family was related to the royal family Kana was buried in the royal cemetery, ei knocked before opening the door to Issey's study.

"I didn't even get to say I loved her.... I really am pathetic aren't I?."Issey asked sorrowfully a few bottles scattered around him indicated that he's been drinking, Ei kneeled next to him not saying anything before pulling him for a hug, after she hugged him, he went full out crying cursing himself while Ei said nothing but let him cry.