Persona BLEACHED: Blooming Lily

2021
Naruki City. One of hundreds of houses in the residential section of the city. Outside of a smattering of religious paraphernalia on the front lawn and porch, it was unassuming.
As the old saying goes, looks can be deceiving.
On this day, a contingent of police squad cars had descended upon the quiet neighborhood, officers lying in wait for the call to enter the house.
This was the residence of Buddhist priest Masato Tsumomo. Naruki police had been investigating the priest and his followers closely, amid rumors that his sermons were becoming increasingly cult-like in nature. This, along with allegations of sexual abuse amongst the sect, had caught the department's attention.
Attention turned to action when the priest's common-law wife, Yuri, came to the department and gave truth to the rumors, and informed them that the couple's child was still in the home with Masato. The priest had saved his worst abuses for the child. Yuri was not allowed to bring them out with her, and her concern was growing.
Police had staked out the home. They knew Masato was there with his followers and the child. Their calls to him went unanswered. Fearing the worst, they barged into the house. They searched every room. Nothing. The last room was the basement. Charms and talismans were hanging around the place, but like the rest of the house, there was nobody there.
Police had no idea how they possibly could have left the house undetected. The mystery only deepened when, a day later, Masato and six of his followers were found lying in a shallow grave in a nearby forest. Cause of death was never revealed to the public. Even more confounding and alarming: the child was not with them.
And so they had to tell Yuri. The man who had effectively held her hostage was gone. And the child she loved was nowhere to be found. They told her that the child was most likely gone. Disposed of by Masato or anotjer party before he ultimately met his own fate.
No updates ever came. As the months passed, Yuri's hope that her precious Saku would be found dimmed. A year after everything went down, Yuri reluctantly made the decision to return home. She left Japan, and never looked back.
Deep in her heart, she believed she would see Saku again. It was only a matter of when.
---
July 23, 2029
Sakuya couldn't hit the button to call fast enough. The day's events had left her looking forward to a nice slumber. Now, she was wide awake.
Thousands of miles away, on a beach in Monaco, a teenaged girl with indigo hair and beachwear sat underneath her umbrella, sifting through her tablet. Her phone began buzzing.
"Well. That certainly didn't take long." She answered. "Hello, Sakuya. I take it you got my message?"
"Carrie-san! Is it true?! You've...you've found my mother?!" Sakuya demanded.
"Breathe. I know how enormous this is. But I need you to be calm."
"How can I be calm?! You know what you just told me, right?!" Sakuya stopped for a moment. "No...okay. I'm alright now. Wait...that noise in the background. Are you near the ocean?"
"I'm at the beach. Don't worry, I'm under an umbrella. My back is covered. All is well." Carrie massaged her shoulder. What skin was visible on her backside was scarred.
"You're spending your beach time helping me with this?"
"I always have this in the back of my mind. I just happened to find the breakthrough now."
"Please. Tell me what you've found."
"So, I'd been reaching dead ends everywhere I looked. The most I could find was that the name 'Yuri Tsumomo' stopped appearing in records around Naruki City by 2022. I assume this is when she left town. That name should've appeared in records elsewhere in Japan around this time, but it never did. It's nearly impossible to go completely under the grid, so this is where I became stuck. At this point I became convinced that your mother was no longer in Japan."
"I see...so where could she have gone?"
"Home, Sakuya. If she wasn't in Japan anymore, maybe she wasn't originally from there. I started thinking that 'Yuri' was a name she took when she moved to Japan. That's why I requested a strand of your hair last month. Lo and behold..."
An image appeared in Sakuya's messages. "This is your ancestry. You're Japanese only on your father's side. Your mother is ethnically Chinese."
"I'm half-Chinese? What would have brought her to Japan?"
"Could've been any number of reasons. Regardless, I took my search abroad after getting these results. I cross-referenced bank records, property records, anything, for the name 'Yuri' or a variation thereof. Around the time when your mother's name stopped appearing in Japan, an apartment in Beijing was bought under the name 'Hua Baihe'. 'Baihe' is Chinese for 'lily', just as 'Yuri' is Japanese for it. I looked up passport information for that name and I came across this..."
"How on Earth did you manage all of this without being detected?"
"I've spent the summer honing my skills. And agents of the Chinese government haven't come knocking on my door as of yet, so I did my job well. But tell me if this looks familiar at all..."
Sakuya received another image. It was a China-issued passport, with an image of a woman with her dark hair tied back. Sakuya nearly dropped her phone, and covered her mouth.
"I take your silence as confirmation that I got it right?" Carrie asked.
"Oh..." Sakuya stared intently at the picture. "Mother...it's really you..."
"Before you start booking the next flight to Beijing, I have something else. She isn't in China anymore, either."
"What? What do you mean?"
"Her trail stopped after about a year. I managed to get in touch with the apartment manager and asked if he remembered her and knew where she went. Your mother was incredibly depressed, Sakuya. She left Japan because her hopes of finding you had died. She thought going home would have helped her to move on, but the pain was still there. She wanted to go somewhere far, far away. Try to find a new life for herself. And so she did."
"So where did she go?"
Another message came through. This was another passport, out of the United Kingdom. "Glasgow. In Scotland. Your mother is a travel agent there."
"I can't...I don't have the words. So when--"
"I already booked you a plane ticket. It's an early morning flight, but I don't think you'll mind. I'll be joining you, of course. It's all my treat."
"Carrie-san...thank you. From the bottom of my heart, I could never repay you for this." Sakuya began tearing up. "I betrayed everyone's trust. I worked with the people that hurt you...and you've given me more hope than I've ever had. Do I even deserve this...would my mother even accept me for who I am now?"
"Shhhh. It's alright, love. It's what friends do. None of us hold any of what happened with Death's Hand against you. You were a child being manipulated for years. And I said it before. Your mother never truly got over losing you. She still loves you. Part of her may even still believe that you're alive. Everyone deserves a loving family."
"Yes...you're right. Thank you, Carrie-san. I am forever in your debt."
"Think nothing of it. I'll send you the travel details. Bring your essentials. I would imagine you might be staying for a while. See you tomorrow."
The call ended. Carrie put her hand on the sand. "I have to go now. I'll be back soon. I'll make sure to visit before I leave for school. See you soon, Mama, Papa. I love you both so much." She packed her things and left.
In Japan, Sakuya was shaking. This was absolutely not how she was expecting today to go. Her mind was racing. Now she had to explain to the Professor everything that had happened, then rapidly pack everything she was going to need, then somehow get enough rest before having to hurry to the airport in the morning. All while her heart was racing.
But it was racing for the best of reasons.
A mixture of terror and excitement. The moment she'd been dreaming of was finally approaching.
---
July 24, 2029
"Carrie-san...what's taking you so long?" Sakuya pondered.
Mid-day in Glasgow. Sakuya, suitcase in hand, stood waiting in front of a Victorian-style hotel. "Monaco is so much closer to here than Japan...how can she not be here yet?"
Right on cue, a girl garbed in an indigo hoodie, boots and beret walked up holding a large cup. "Bonjour, my magnolia. Sorry to keep you waiting. I saw this adorable coffee shop on the way here and I couldn't resist." Carrie said.
The two hugged. "I'll be careful with your backside." Sakuya said.
"It's alright, I'm numb to it by now. Coffee?" Carrie offered her cup.
"I'm okay, thanks."
"Your loss." Carrie took a sip. "Lovely city, isn't it? Flawless mixture of Victorian and modern architecture. Kenneth would be in heaven here."
"Indeed. Relatively speaking, Liverpool isn't that far from here, is it? Maybe we should give him a call."
"If it were a normal visit I would do just that." Carrie took notice of Sakuya's body language. "Let's go get ourselves checked in. It's under my aunt's name, so it shouldn't bring up any problems. I can see you want to sprint out of here."
"Yes, let's. I...have so much I want to get off my chest. I'm trying not to get too excited, because the potential for disappointment is always there, and yet..."
"Everything will be fine. Positive thoughts only. Come now."
"Okay. You know...it's odd, seeing you here without Natalia following you everywhere. I was starting to think you two were joined at the hip."
"Ah, don't get me started. I'm already preparing for the pinnacle of all hugs when I see her again. Did you see her in that video call last week? Her hair is nearly down to her waist now..."
The girls checked their bags in, and quickly departed for the city. "Alright, the agency should be right around...here." They arrived in a business plaza, and were at the door to the travel agency. "You ready for this?" Carrie asked.
"Yes and no. All at once. I don't want to make a scene, what if I embarrass--"
"Sakuya. Positive thoughts. It's now or never."
Carrie opened the door. Sakuya took a deep breath, and followed her inside.
"Top of the mornin', ladies! What can I do ya for?" asked a bearded man sitting at the front desk.
"Hello there. Apologies if this sounds a little forward, but my friend and I are looking for Hua Baihe. We were told she worked here?" Carrie asked.
"Hua Ba--ooooooh, ya mean Lily? That's what we all call her. Yeah, ya just missed her. She headed down to the Harbour for her lunch break. 'Twas only a couple minutes ago, it was."
"Harbour, okay. Thank you so much." Carrie replied.
"Hang on a minute...you there." The man looked intently at Sakuya. "You her family or somethin'? Ya look like you could be her little sister."
"I, um...I am her family." Sakuya replied.
"Ah, so my eyes weren't deceivin'. She never talks about her fam. Lotta bad memories, she tells us. Didn't mention anyone comin' in, either."
"I...came to surprise her."
"Well I won't hold ya up. Bet she'll just be tickled pink."
The girls departed, and headed for the harbour. "What if she doesn't want to see me? What if I'm just a reminder of how awful life was back then? I don't want to be a burden for her..." Sakuya pondered.
"Love, please stop finding reasons not to see her. You're minutes away from putting an end to years of pain. You have an opportunity to bring your family back together. I would...love that opportunity."
"Carrie-san...I'm sorry."
"I would love nothing more than to spend another second with my parents. But they're gone. Your mother is right around the corner. I want you to have this. If I can't have that bond anymore...I can at least help you find yours."
"Yes, you're right. I shouldn't think such awful thoughts. I'm sorry for bringing those awful thoughts back up for you."
"Please think nothing of it. This is a lovely occasion. Let's not delay it further."
When the pair arrived at the harbor, they soon caught sight of somebody sitting on the edge of one of the docks, looking over the ocean. The woman had her dark hair tied back, and wore a dark collared shirt not unlike the one worn by the bearded man from the agency. Sakuya stopped in her tracks.
"There she is. Do you want me to talk to her first? See where her mind is at?" Carrie asked.
"Please...I need a minute...I still need to prepare..."
"Okay. Wait here."
Carrie approached the woman. "I hope you don't mind me staring. Looking at the ocean calms my mind." Carrie said.
"Oh, it's no problem. I do the same thing. Looking out there makes you forget a lot of life's troubles. I come out here a lot." Baihe replied.
"Indeed. It's very important to me. It reminds me of my family. My favorite memories all involve the ocean in some way. Say, that uniform...would you happen to be Hua Baihe?"
"Huh? How would you know that? You looking for a vacation plan or something?"
"Not quite. A friend of mine recommended you to me. Your coworkers said you would be down here."
"Uh-huh...would this friend of yours have a name?"
"Well, of course. But I think she wants to tell you herself. She came from Japan to meet you."
"Came from...Japan..." Baihe keyed in on what was going on. "What are you really here for? Is this about Masato? Because I've had my fill of talking about that troll of a man..."
Carrie looked back and gestured. "I'll let my friend fill you in."
Baihe turned around. 
Sakuya, tears in her eyes, stood there. Baihe got up from her spot. She stared in silence for what felt like minutes. She couldn't process what she was seeing. "This...this isn't some kind of sick joke, is it? You're not...you can't be..."
"M...Mother..."
Baihe sprinted over and grabbed Sakuya, examining her almost as if she needed to prove she was really there. "It...it is you...oh my God. Saku...you're...OH MY GOD!" 
Mother and daughter embraced. "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry...I never should've left you with that man...I thought you were dead...I've spent eight years thinking I'd gotten you killed...oh, my baby..."
"It wasn't your fault, Mother...you had every reason to leave...he was never going to let me go...I know you tried to save me..."
"Let me...let me get a good look at you." Baihe looked somberly at Sakuya. "I'm gonna take a guess that...it isn't 'Sakutarō' anymore, is it?"
Sakuya shook her head. "It's Sakuya, Mother. I'm finally who I should be. Is...is this okay?"
"Is it okay? Of course it is, Saku. I know you were never comfortable with being a boy. This is what you wanted. How could I ever have a problem with that?" Baihe touched Sakuya's face. "Look at you. So beautiful. I dreamed of this. Seeing you standing here, happy and finally free of that evil man. It was my one hope for all these years. You are happy, aren't you?"
"Of course I am. I'm living the way I feel, I have wonderful friends, and now...now I have you. I've never been happier."
"I'm so happy for you, Saku. We have so much to talk about...how did you even find me?"
"It was all thanks to my friend Carrie-san. She did all of the digging. This never could've happened if she wasn't so determined. She's a miracle worker."
Baihe grabbed Carrie's hands. "You're an angel. I lost all hope of seeing Saku again. I could never repay you for this."
"No repayment necessary, madame. Seeing a happy reunion is all the payment I need." Carrie replied.
"Well...ah, shoot. My break's almost over. But, uh...maybe the office'll understand if I need some more alone time. There's a lot of catching up to do."
"Eight years worth, Mother. I don't know where to begin...but that doesn't matter. What matters is...that I CAN begin." Sakuya replied.
Mother and daughter walked back towards the plaza, Baihe's arm around Sakuya's shoulders. Carrie walked close behind, a look of contentment on her face. She looked back out at the ocean. "Only good memories..." she mused.
---
Later that night, Carrie returned to the hotel, a bag in-hand. She texted as she walked.
"Just saw the cutest little hairclip at an accessory shop and I thought it would look nice on you..."
"OMG please don't!!! You're too much!!! - Nat"
"Ahahaha...too late. 💜"
"Omg...you don't need to spoil me like that - Nat"
"It's what best friends do. 💜"
She reached her room, and opened the door. To her surprise, Sakuya was in her bed.
"What on Earth are you doing here? I would've guessed that you'd spend the night with your mother." Carrie asked.
"Well, I asked her about that. But she said that her house is a little disorganized at the moment, and I'd be better off sleeping here tonight. I tried convincing her but she seemed uncomfortable talking about it, so I didn't press further. She did request tomorrow off from work, so we'll at least have the day to catch up." Sakuya replied.
"Hmm. Curious. Maybe she just doesn't want you seeing her house so unkempt. You see your child for the first time in so long, you don't want them dealing with disorganization."
"Maybe. So how did your shopping venture go?"
"Just bought a couple of things, nothing too big. I did get Natalia this adorable hairclip. I could feel her getting flustered all the way from Bruges."
Sakuya giggled. "Even with the boost in confidence, some things don't change with her." She proceeded to yawn.
"You've had a long day. VERY long. Get some rest. I'll try not to make too much noise." Carrie said.
"You're right...need to conserve my energy for tomorrow. And Carrie-san?"
"Yes?"
Sakuya got up and embraced Carrie. "Thank you, again. For your help, and your friendship."
Carrie smiled. "You're welcome, love."
"Good night, Carrie-san."
"Good night, Sakuya. Pleasant dreams."
Sakuya got in her bed, and went to sleep. Carrie took on a serious expression, and pulled out her phone.
Shortly after, Sakuya woke up to the sound of the door opening and closing. "Carrie-san?"
A while later, Carrie arrived near the doorstep of a wood and stone house. "Here it is..." she said while peering at the map on her phone.
"(Something about this doesn't add up. She looked so ecstatic to see Sakuya after all this time. But then she makes an excuse for why she can't come to her house? If I was in that position, I would grab my child and never let her out of my sight. Housework be damned. I can't shake this feeling...)" she thought.
The lights were off in the house. The porch light was also off. What Carrie noticed next, however, was far more alarming.
The door was slightly ajar. 
"(Maybe...she just went out for a second? No, but the lights are off. It isn't good to just walk in like this, but there might be something troubling happening.)"
She made up her mind, and crept inside the house. 
Some distance behind her, Sakuya watched.
Slowly and methodically, Carrie snuck through the house. If there was an intruder, she knew she was prepared. She had Skuld's foresight. And she was trained by an ex-member of Israeli defense. There wasn't a fight she wasn't confident of winning.
She heard a noise coming from down the hall. It sounded like a television. She crept towards it. Skuld wasn't warning her of anything yet. 
As she rounded the corner, she felt her foot hit something. She looked down, and could make out the shape. It was a small, glass bottle.
She looked into the room. It wasn't the only one.
The light from the TV revealed that the floor was littered with empty bottles. Strewn about on the couch, bottle in hand, was Baihe, still in her work uniform, looking completely out-of-sorts. She slowly looked over towards Carrie. "Hey...what're you doing in my house, ya punks...hey wait a minute...you're Saku's Frenchie pal...Carly, right?" she slurred.
"It's Carrie. And I'm from Monaco. But that doesn't matter right now. Also, your door was open. I thought there could be an intruder."
"Nah, just my old forgetful self...can't help it, y'know...crazy day today..."
"Quite. I can see why you didn't want Sakuya seeing your house. Embracing the Scottish stereotype, from the looks of it."
"Pffffff. I don't have a problem...haven't even had that much..."
"This is the point where a friend of mine would mention her 'BS Meter' going off."
"Well excuse me for being soooooo...happy..." Baihe took a sip, but the bottle was empty. "Shoot. Could've sworn there was more in this one...what a rip-off..."
"I think you've had enough to drink. What would Sakuya think if she saw you like this?"
"She isn't gonna...I'm gonna be all good come the morning...all...good..."
"Carrie-san, what are you doing--"
Sakuya walked in. She hit a bottle. She stopped.
"Mother...?"
"Shit...there goes that idea..." Baihe uttered. Her vision started to blur. "Really didn't want you to see me like this...Saku..."
"Mother...? Mo..er..."
Baihe blacked out.
---
July 25, 2029
"...Mama...Mama...help me, Mama...help me...he's going to hurt me again...please...help me!"
"Nooooooo!" Baihe sprung awake.
"Mother, Mother calm down! It's okay. You were having a nightmare." Sakuya assured.
Early morning. Baihe had been moved to her bed, Sakuya seated next to her.
"Ugh...Saku...my head..." Baihe muttered while clutching her head.
"You had a rough night last night. Me and Carrie-san cleaned out all of the bottles. We were going to help clean up, but we didn't want to disturb you."
"Saku..." She wrapped her arms around Sakuya. 
"It's alright, Mother, I'm not going anywhere. Carrie-san, could you give us a moment?"
"Of course. Ring if you need anything." Carrie shut the door behind her.
"I'm so sorry you had to see me like that...when I have one drink it's so hard to stop...I must've scared you to death..."
"Mother...what's wrong? Did I trigger something horrible? If I did, I can just--"
"It wasn't you, Saku. Having you back might be the first good thing to happen to me in a long time. These last sixteen years have been a living hell. I try not to think about it, but the thoughts just creep in and then...things like last night happen."
"If it's alright, we can talk about it. I know it's painful, but maybe it's time to make peace with the past. Then we can start over from here."
"Okay. Okay, we can go over it. I'll just warn you, though...it gets pretty bad. But you already know that." She placed her hand on Sakuya's face. "Whatever you hear from me, just remember one thing. I love you so, so much. More than anything in the world. That's why the pain's been so unbearable."
Sakuya grabbed her mother's hand. "Please. Just tell me."
Baihe took a deep breath. "It all started back in Beijing. I was at a prayer service. The priest giving the sermon was a guest from abroad. If you haven't already guessed, that priest was Masato. Your father. He was...or at least was good at pretending to be charming. I fell under his spell quickly. I was a naive teenager back then. I couldn't see that I was being taken advantage of by an older man. He said he could give me anything my heart desired. And I bought it. Then one day, he whisked me away to Japan. I found out later that another girl was accusing him of assaulting her, so he ran like the wind. I didn't want to leave home, but around this time I found out I was pregnant. I was sixteen years old. My family would've gone off the deep end if they found out. So I left with him."
"You were only sixteen when you had me?"
"That's right. I'm thirty-two years young. I was nowhere near ready to be a mother. Not ready for all the side effects, or the ungodly strain of childbirth. It nearly killed me. And even after that, the ogre was no help. If he wasn't out seducing everything that moved, he was being a complete tyrant at home. I was just a kid myself. I couldn't see what the bastard was doing to me. So for eight years I just stood around and took it."
"What finally made you leave?"
"You can only push someone for so long before they finally decide enough is enough. You were the one good thing I had while I was there. The way he treated you...I don't want to remind you. I felt so powerless watching him subject you to his 'corrective measures'. Every time I tried to stop him I'd get one across the face for the attempt. One day I finally had enough. So I left and told the police everything. That's when they showed up at the house. And well...you know the rest."
"When they told me no one was there...that they found his body and you weren't with him...I felt like such a failure. I should've fought tooth and claw to take you with me. I thought I'd gotten you killed. I waited for a year in that town for them to find you. My hope sank with every day that went by and you didn't turn up. My mind swirled with every horrible possibility. Every night I'd go to bed, and I could hear you screaming for me. 'Mommy, Mommy, please help me, don't let him hurt me--!'"
Baihe covered her face. She didn't say a word for a minute. Sakuya put her hand on her mother's shoulder. "I'm okay...I'm okay. I...after that year I knew I couldn't stay there any longer. I went home. I thought I could move on, but it just made the demons in my head stronger. So I moved as far away as possible. I had my good days and bad days. The bad days looked a lot like what you saw last night. The good days are when the thought would spring in my head that you'd walk through my door and everything would be okay again. It's why I bought this house. I still thought, deep down, that you could still be out there. Then the painful memories would flood back and I'd just drown myself in booze and I'd start hearing you again and I...I..."
Sakuya embraced her mother as the tears began to fall. "Just go, Saku...go home and forget you ever saw me. I failed you. You're here in spite of me. You shouldn't have to deal with a broken mess like me."
"I won't be doing that. All of this pain tells me how much you love me. And I love you, so much. I've spent years trying to find you. We're together now. We can get through the pain together. I can't 'go home'. As far as I'm concerned, 'home' is where you are."
"Oh, Saku...I'm sorry you came all the way here to deal with my being broken."
"The details aren't important right now. We're together again. That's what I care about."
The two warmly embraced. "I love you, Saku."
"I love you too, Mother. Now how about I find you something for that headache..."
"Oh, please do. I've had hangovers before, but sheesh..."
---
"Good lord. How long has this been sitting here?" Carrie pulled a small bottle out from beneath the couch. "Next time I see Kitten, I'm apologizing for calling her room filthy. How am I even still finding bottles..."
"Excuse me, Carrie-san?" Sakuya stepped in.
"What is it, Sakuya? Come to help me with the cleanup? This may be a bigger task than I thought it would be..."
"Let me relieve you, then. I can take it from here."
"Oh no, I couldn't let you do everything."
"I might not be in the café at the moment but I'm still a maid. What kind would I be to let an heiress get dust all over those well-manicured hands? Besides, Mother actually wants to speak with you."
"With me? What about?"
"You'll have to ask her yourself. Now give me the bag."
"Now, now. Isn't it un-maid-like to order the heiress around?"
"Well, I...er..."
Carrie giggled. "I'm kidding, of course. Here you are. My hands thank you." Carrie handed Sakuya the garbage bag and walked towards the bedroom.
"Hello, Ms. Baihe. How is your head feeling?"
"Like shite. But not as shite as it was when I woke up." Baihe held a bag of ice over her head.
"So what did you want to see me about?"
"Just wanted to thank you again for helping my Saku with everything. Coming here to give me your two cents as late as you did was a brave thing to do. Especially when you LOOK like a girl with money."
"I'm not overly afraid of being out after dark. I can defend myself just fine. And there really isn't any need for thanks when it comes to helping Sakuya. She asked me for a favor and I did everything I could to make it happen. It's what good friends do."
"Still, bending over backwards to pull through like that...when I laid eyes on you, I thought you were just another spoiled rich kid. But you've got a really good heart. Your parents must be really proud of you."
"....." Carrie's expression fell. "Yes...I suppose they must be..."
"Uh-oh. I might be hungover but I can see I've hit a nerve."
"It's just...well...my parents are...gone from this world."
"Oh no, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up bad feelings."
"It's not your fault, really. A big reason why I wanted to help Sakuya find you was because...well...every girl needs their mother. I lost that precious bond far too soon. If I could help someone find that bond that they lost...maybe it could help repair this hole in my heart. Even if just a little bit."
"You poor thing. Losing your family so young must've been horrific."
"I try not to think about the bad parts so much. I told you yesterday how much I love staring at the ocean. So many key moments happened near the ocean. There's a beautiful beach close to my home that I spend a good amount of time in. It's where Mama and Papa actually met. He was measuring the water temperature, she was collecting mineral samples. They locked eyes in the water and that was that. They exchanged their wedding vows on that beach. My loveliest memories of my mother are when she would take me for walks along the shoreline. And then when the time came...that's where they were put to rest. We spread their ashes there. We had no choice but to cremate them because their bodies were so..."
Carrie's expression darkened. "Easy there. Don't think about the bad." Baihe interrupted.
"I...I'm sorry. I'm alright now." Carrie snapped out of her darkened mood. "I miss my mother. Deeply. Growing up without her or my father has been horrible. No amount of wealth or jewelry or clothing could ever fill that void. I could see how much Sakuya missed you. And I can tell from the state of your house how much you've missed her. I know that these are difficult circumstances. The important thing is that you have each other now. Seeing the raw emotion when you saw each other is enough thanks for me."
"Are all of Saku's friends made up of this much sugar? She really did luck out. I know I'm not exactly...perfect. But I want to make things good for Saku. She deserves that much."
"You both deserve it after your ordeals. Just promise me you'll cut down on the drinking. I don't want Sakuya to worry about finding you passed out on the couch again."
"I'm going to try. It's gonna suck a lot at first, but if she doesn't have to worry about me, then it'll be worth it. Say, could you tell her to come here for a minute?"
"Certainly."
"Thanks again. For everything."
Carrie exited the room, and found Sakuya about to lug the tied-up garbage bag outside. "Come now, I have it." Carrie requested.
"Absolutely not. I can...handle it." Sakuya replied, struggling.
"Your mother wants to see you. Please, allow me."
"Forcing an heiress on vacation to take out the garbage. My boss would give me such an earful."
"I don't want any special treatment. This entire venture has been for your benefit. I am your humble servant for today. The bag, please, madame."
"Ohhhh. Fine. You don't take no for an answer, do you?"
"Not at all." Carrie took the bag, and Sakuya left the room. 
"Humility and kindess above all else. That's what you always told me. Right, Mama?" Carrie went outside.
---
July 26, 2029
"Are you sure you have everything?" Sakuya asked.
"Doubly sure. I traveled rather light, anyway. It would be hard to lose track of anything." Carrie replied.
"Not like you couldn't afford to replace anything you lose, right Frenchie?" Baihe asked.
"It's Mona--mmph. Forget it."
"I wish you didn't have to leave so soon." Sakuya said.
"I know. But there's a beach calling my name. And you'll be seeing me in a couple of weeks anyway, right?"
"Yes...a couple of weeks..." Sakuya gazed downward.
"What's with the hesitation? Truancy's a bit of a grave offense, isn't it?" Baihe asked.
"I don't know if I can leave you so soon, Mother. Especially after what happened yesterday. I would spend every day rife with worry. I'd feel like I was abandoning you."
"It'll be tough letting you go, yeah. But I don't want you leaving your friends high and dry. We can work something out. It's what the internet is for. Right?"
"She's right. Our little group just wouldn't feel the same without you there. The others would be very disappointed. Especially a certain football star." Carrie winked.
"Oh, right. Yes. Of course." Sakuya replied nervously.
"Wait, what was that about a football star?" Baihe asked.
"Oh dear. I may have given you a talking point~." Carrie teased.
"Ohhhh. Don't start picking up on Kitty-san's habits, please!" Sakuya pleaded.
"Please. Kitten would've been FAR more forward. I'll just leave it at that." At that moment, the call to board came over the airport's intercom. "That's my cue. I'll see you soon, hopefully. Enjoy your time together."
Sakuya warmly embraced Carrie. "Thank you so much. You've given me more than you can possibly imagine. Natalia-san has the best best friend she could have asked for."
"There's plenty of room in my heart, my dearest magnolia. Keep those positive feelings going for me, okay?"
"Let me get in on this." Baihe embraced Carrie. "Safe travels, doll. Give that beach of yours my regards, alright?"
"Of course. You two take good care of each other. That's the best 'thank you' you could give to me. Best of luck from here on. See you in Tokyo~."
Sakuya waved goodbye as Carrie walked away to her flight. "She's got a good head on her shoulders, that one. You picked your friends pretty well, Saku." Baihe said.
"Yes, I did. I'm so thankful to have met them. This never would've come to be if I hadn't."
"True that. Now let's get you home. I actually have to do that work thing today."
"Alright."
"Heh."
"Something the matter?"
"That's the first time I called that place 'home'. I guess it really is that now, huh?"
"Yes, that's right. It finally can be. Home..."
Baihe put an arm around her daughter as they walked out. "So, about this football player..."
"Mother..." Sakuya groaned.
"What? Just a bit of girl talk, Saku. No one has to know but us..."
The two continued as they walked away. The laughter was, for both, for the first time in a while, genuine.
For the first time in a while, neither could have been happier.