"Can I say my goodbyes?" Yuki suddenly spoke up. She was in a daze, but she still wished to say her goodbyes to Mary before she was turned to ash.
"Yes, this way." The female officer said with a smile. "By the way, my name is Tina Watts. Just call me Tina."
"Then Tina, thank you for your offer. But I will have to say no for now. I have money now to find an apartment. Do you happen to know anyone who is renting?" Yuki asked but quickly added: "Don't worry, I have no suicidal thoughts. I will not give up this life that Mary gave hers for. She protected me with everything she had. There is no way I will allow myself to die so easily."
Seeing how Yuki's gaze was firm as she said this, not wavering at all, Tina let out a sigh of relief. "I do have someone who has an apartment, and it is even near your college."
"Really, how much!? And who do I contact? I have plenty of money... The news about making money on Soul Fusion Online is true." Yuki's eyes looked at Tina with expectation.
"You are talking to them. It's a one bedroom with a half bath, above my family's bakery. Unfortunately, there is no shower. You would need to go to the bathhouse not far from there. But it comes with everything else. My parents were looking for 500 crowns a month, but I can knock it down to 300 crowns." Tina answered. She smiled warmly at Yuki, whose eyes were glowing with excitement.
"Having no shower is fine. I am used to showering at college anyways. Keep the price at 500 crowns. I will pay for two years upfront." Yuki did not want to take advantage of Tina's kindness. She was already giving her a new home.
"Are you sure? That's 12000 crowns..." Tina wondered if Yuki was going over her head or not with this. 12000 crowns was no small amount.
"I know. As I said, you can make money in Soul Fusion Online. I kinda hit the jackpot last night." Yuki whispered the amount into Tina's ear, causing Tina's eyes to widen.
Tina had no idea one could make so much money in a video game. "I don't know what to say. Alright, after you say your goodbyes to Mary, I will take you home so you can get your things."
"Okay, thank you." Yuki took in a deep breath as she walked into the morgue area of the police station.
She was led to a room where Mary's body laid on a table with a white sheet covering her body. The coroner folded the sheet down and left the room to give Yuki some time alone. Tina brought over a chair for Yuki to sit on. "I will be just outside. Take your time."
"Mm… Thanks..." Yuki sat down and looked at Mary's badly bruised face, and frowned. She reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind Mary's ear. "Mary… I am sorry… If I acted sooner, then maybe you would still be alive." Yuki's eyes began to well up with tears again. "That bastard who did this to you is now dead. I made sure of it. Your death was not in vain. You protected me, just like how you have been for so many years now.
"In the orphanage, you were bright and cheerful. Sadly you ran with the wrong crowd. But even to your last breath, you were still the sister I never knew I had. The time I spent with you made me feel like I had a family again. I have regrets… If I had just moved a little sooner, maybe… Just maybe you would still be alive. For this, I can only bow my head and apologize. But Mary... I know you would want me to live a good life. Why else would you go so far for me? I promise I will go to college and make something out of myself. I will live the life you were not able to live. I will live a life for the both of us. So you go off in peace, knowing the life you protected will not go to waste. And when I grow old and finally die. I will see you on the other side. Where the two of us can be family again." Yuki wiped her tears as she got up and leaned down, kissing the top of Mary's head. She caressed the top of her head a few times before finally forcing herself away. She exited the room to find Tina standing there waiting for her.
"All done? You can take more time if you want." Tina knew it was hard to say goodbye to someone you cared about, so she did not mind waiting for a while. She had already been prepared to do so.
"No, I already said what needed to be said. Plus, she will always be with me. Please have them deliver the ashes to my new place." Yuki replied with a faint smile.
"I will. Come, let's go get your things." Tina put her arm around Yuki's shoulder and gave it a slight squeeze. Yuki did not know what she would do without Tina and the other officer. Their words and support at such a time like this had really allowed her to keep her head about her.
Tina drove Yuki back to her room at the boarding house and helped her pack all her things. Not a single soul came out when a police car showed up. Yuki packed her things up, which wasn't much. Her clothes could all easily fit in a single bag. She had a few potted plants and some salves, as well as her normal toiletries. The biggest thing was the VR equipment. This was the only thing she gave special care to, afraid it would break. Although she had plenty of money, Yuki was not stupid enough to go out and spend it all. She wanted an upgraded helmet for better synchronization, but she still felt off about spending a bunch of money on one. She figured if she can continue making money for Soul Fusion Online, she will get a Pod, but those were very expensive. But only if she were to buy one of those would she be willing to dish out the money for new VR gear.
When her things were packed, Yuki took a look at her now empty room before turning and walking out the door. "Tina, can I check Mary's room?"
"Mm… You can take any keepsakes you may find in there. But I will need to enter with you." Tina did not know what may be waiting in the room, so she did not want Yuki entering alone.
"That's fine." Yuki had no objections. She only wanted to see the life Mary had to live and imprint it into her mind.
When they opened the door, the room was surprisingly clean. It seemed Mary was a bit of a clean freak when it came to her place. Yuki looked around at the room that did not have much in it. Just a bed, nightstand, a small tv, and a coffee table which still had a stash of neo sitting on top of it. Both Yuki and Tina frowned at seeing this.
Yukie walked over to the nightstand that had a small book on it with a lock. A small key sat next to it as well. Yuki picked it up and unlocked it, and looked inside. "Today, I saw Yuki running off to school again. As always, she is working hard to better her life. Sometimes I wish I could join her. But alas, I am so addicted to this neo shit I can't do anything but sell myself. Do I regret it? I do. Maybe if things were different and I did not hang out with those people, I wouldn't be where I am today. But when I think of it as if I was not the way I am now, there would be no way for me to protect Yuki."
"I met Yuki as she came home from college. I couldn't help but tease her for still being single and still a virgin. Maybe my mind is a bit warped from the drugs, but she still laughed it off as always. I see Yuki as my way of looking at what I could have been. She is my light in this dark world that I am now a part of."
"As of late, Greg has been asking me about Yuki, but I keep changing the subject. I can't let that bastard touch Yuki. I can not let my light be extinguished by that bastard. No matter if I have to give this life of mine, I will not let my light die. I would rather kill Greg and die in the process than let Yuki come to harm. She is the only thing keeping me sane. If by chance, I die because of this and Yuki, you are reading this, I want you to know you have always been my sister in my heart and that I will always love you as such, so fight on. And find that person who will love you. Make a family of your own and show this world us orphans will not submit to this hell of a world!"
Yuki instantly broke down crying. Tina hugged her tightly and let her cry as much as she wanted.
