WHOOOTTS~ how'cha doin? really sorry for updating this late.
rndmnweird: whahaha. yeah, that would be fun. i wonder why i let ai have that ability anyways.. but then
let her still have fun even though she's dead .
beecubed: THANKS~! really! i really appreciate you commenting. thanks for your comments and corrections, i'll try to work on that ^^
bamtai: well here's the chapter! we'll see what we can do for ai-chan's visibility. i dunno really what i might do in future chapters
kano-chan: LOL isn't it great to let her see through clothes
maybe we shall add more fun ghost abilities
resop2: oowww~ sorry. i updated this so lat that i can't respond to that answer anymore ^^; really sorry
gab98: thanks a lot gab! hahahaha. quite unusual though, writing a fic where ai-chan is dead... i hope you'll still continue reading this
xyukie56:sorry for bein' random... i wasn't really aware of that. (i kinda walk around without towel sometimes BUT IN MY OWN ROOM) hahahahaha
and yeah.. ai-chan will graduate soon eh?
And Niigaki Risa became the leader of all-female idol group, Morning Musume.
After the burial ceremony, official announcement s was made to the media by Tsunku. Things were happening way too fast, and it seemed even the members can’t cope-up with it. Just dealing the with fact that their former leader Takahashi Ai is now dead, made the deafening silence yell with mourning and grief every time they gather up.
How much more with Ai herself, as Risa thought of the entity only she can see.
Chapter 5She was a great woman…
I admire her a lot…
Her perseverance and…
I can’t believe it, no one knew… “Ai.” The girl sitting on the stairs lifted her head up. “Aren’t you going inside?”
Little she shook her head, a sad smile slightly drawn in her lips. “No,” was she said in almost a whisper and a grin was perhaps forced to be shown. “The incense irritates me a lot.”
Risa sat next to her. “They’re already speaking…”
“Yeah. I can hear them.”
“Your mother and…”
“Niigaki-san.”
Yet someone else spoke at the same time as Ai tried to mutter her acquaintance’s name, a living one. Risa turned to register the one who’s calling her, “Tanaka-san.”
“Be ready.”
Ai realized that it is actually her first time seeing a fellow member besides Risa. Tanaka Reina. Tough you thought, hailing from her yankii title, yet looked just as disoriented as anybody else would. She didn’t forget to live-up in her fashion and cosmetics, yet it failed to conceal the dark hollows beneath her eyes. She looks just as tired and sleepless, staring blankly down to the floor. While Junjun…
There was Junjun behind Reina, and it shocked her that she’s looking directly to her direction. Staring at the place where she is, no other expression was exposed, but her eyes hinted there’s something… Somehow, a fear grew inside her.
“Junjun?” The tall Chinese tore her gaze away from the invisible being as Risa acknowledged her presence.
“I’m worried about Tanaka-san.”
No more response was made against the statement, and Risa spoke-up. “I’ll be coming.”
Reina just walked back inside as she took their now leader’s word. Before Junjun followed, she eyed Risa intently for a short moment. When they’re gone, she looked back at the silent girl beside her.
“Junjun was looking at—"
Predicting what she’ll say next, Risa interrupted her sentence quickly. “Silly~ she can’t see you.”
“But…” She stared back at Risa with a worried expression.
“If she can, there’s still nothing to be scared about. It’s Junjun.”
Ai’s tensed expression slowly toned down as the words sunk in. Yeah, it’s Junjun… “We’ll, I mean ‘I’ err… well if she can see, then ‘We’ will talk to her, okay?”
The older woman smiled at her, and the bean smiled back. “I’m going now. You really aren’t coming?”
The smile fainted a bit. “I’ll be fine here.”
Risa nervously stood before the microphone as she was called to speak in behalf of Morning Musume. Her gaze explored the faces that are all staring at her, some of the eyes puffed and some are just expressionless.
“Uhmm… Good day to all of you.”
That just sounded so wrong when their just having a funeral for a deceased person, and Ai can’t help but giggle. Not that someone else will mind her…
Realizing improper use of words, Risa inhaled deeply. “I’m Niigaki Risa, a fellow member of Morning Musume. Me and Ai-chan joined together being in one generation, and I’ve been friends with her ever since then.”
Risa bit her lip.
Just when you’re obviously unprepared for this even you were reminded beforehand… “I… we… well… We all know Ai-chan. Everyone who had speak before me told you who she is, how amazing she is. She stood-up as a leader for this past 4 years, and even though the responsibility seemed beyond her limitations, she faced it with all her best, widen the scope of her capabilities and abilities, and exceeded her boundaries to fit the leader everyone expected to be, and to be the leader that guided Morning Musume through anything they faced. In troubles or success.”
And I’m totally messing-up.“I was there with her. I’ve seen the struggles she had, but responsibly kept from everyone’s knowledge as much not to troubles them with her own matters. Even though she herself isn’t sure of how to deal with things, she only thought of others first and what’s the best for them, thus overcoming the problems we had. With her lead, we’ve became closer than we’ve ever been. Unconsciously, we’re already treating one another like family.”
Mou~ Niigaki-san… don’t make me cry…“And now I’ve taken-up the responsibility to become the next leader as she unexpectedly… left us, I’ll continue where she last stepped and take care of this group as she have done. We’ll never forget all the things she have done for this group, no matter how many generation will still come, the name of Takahashi Ai will always be remembered as long Morning Musume lives, and of course this group will stay existing forever.”
Small laughs were elicited from the softly sobbing audience. Even Risa herself felt herself tearing-up.
“Ai-chan, I know you can hear me… I want to tell you, I’m sorry. For everything. Whatever we are dealing right now, we’ll get through it, ok? No matter how complicated it is, I’m here, the group is here. Though they don’t know, you know they’re always there for you, right?”
Confused expressions surfaced as the last sentence was said but nevertheless, they softly and briefly laugh at the concluded joke.
“Niigaki-san is sure speaking weird.” Linlin said, smiling, as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
“She still needs to learn how to do jokes a lot more convincing.” Aika softly giggled and sniffed.
“We’ll continue to do our best as Morning Musume, as a group, as a family. Thanks to all of your hardworks. Otsukaresamadeshita.”
Ai found herself inside, watching her group huddle together. Teary was it, yet the smiles on their faces assured brighter hopes for the coming days, for the future without her.
The brown eyes glossed with tears met hers, and a smile was shared between them. The only two of them.
Yes, accept the fact and move on with a new hope.----
I guess this is the end of the mourning period. I hope I’ll be able to write brighter chaps from now on
Topic: AFTERLIFE.. perhaps? [TakaGaki] 09/10 (Read 8571 times)