The hiss of steam filled the kitchen. A woman deftly placed pieces of vegetables and meat into the boiling water. She did not forget to add various kinds of spices, then stirred them.
Yuki, that was her name. Though she was about twenty years old, her face still looked like that of a teenage girl. Her black irises matched the color of her hair that flowed long down to her back.
While she was absorbed, a pair of hands wrapped around her slender waist from behind, slipping between the folds of the pink apron she wore.
"Eh?!" She startled slightly, but a soft laugh slipped from her small lips. "You are so good at choosing the time when I let my guard down, Arata-kun." A warm smile was given to the handsome man with black hair who embraced her body.
The man chuckled softly. "What is wrong with seducing my own wife?"
Yuki shook her head gently, a red blush creeping over her cheeks. "At least let me prepare breakfast."
"Do you need help?"
Once again, Yuki shook her head. "The last time you 'helped,' this kitchen turned into your playground. You covered my whole body with flour. It is a disaster if you 'help,' Arata."
Arata's laughter echoed in the kitchen. He could not deny his silly behavior whenever he was with his beloved wife.
"Now go quickly or I will hit you." Yuki raised the ladle in her hand as a playful threat.
Her husband gave a thin grin when he saw her act. He brought his face closer, close enough to make her blush and turn her face away awkwardly.
"All right, I will not disturb you, but give me something special first."
"You... always so annoying," she said, stealing a glance. Yuki let out a sigh. Her hand moved slowly, caressing the cheek of the one she had loved since her youth. "But... perhaps that is what makes me fall in love with you again and again."
Her eyes closed, her lips drew near, kissing her husband's forehead. After a while, she drew her lips away from his forehead.
"Only on the forehead? Not on the lips?"
Yuki pouted, her small hand patting Arata's tall body. "Do not complain so much. Go quickly, annoying man!"
Arata quickly left his wife and waited in the living room. Sitting on the sofa while staring blankly at the news on the TV.
A small smile formed when his gaze turned to the gold ring that circled his ring finger. From his pocket, he took out a box containing a silver necklace with a crescent-shaped pendant.
"I hope she will like this gift."
Today was their fourth wedding anniversary. Arata intended to give the necklace to his wife as a present.
Arata then reached into his other trouser pocket and took out a neatly folded vacation brochure. His shoulders loosened as he looked at the brochure in his hands.
"This time... I will surely take you on a holiday. No more work. Nothing will stop us this time... I promise."
Arata turned back to the jewelry box, weighing the necklace again. In his mind, he imagined how it would look when the necklace was placed on his wife's neck. His grip tightened.
As he focused, without realizing it the objects around him began to tremble slightly. A few seconds later, his smartphone on the table rang loudly. Its screen flickered red and white.
Bzzzt!
Arata's eyes widened, realizing that something bad was coming. He immediately ran to the kitchen and grasped his wife's hand. "Let us go!"
"Eh?! What is—?"
Before Yuki could react, the ground shook violently and objects fell from the shelves. The kitchen cabinet collapsed. Plates shattered on the floor.
"Earthquake!"
Arata reacted quickly, grabbing his wife's hand and pulling her under the table. "Yuki! Get down!"
They wrapped their arms around each other, calming the fear that crawled along their backs.
Yuki buried her head in Arata's chest. Arata's embrace became tighter when he realized his wife's body was trembling in fear.
"Arata..."
"Stay calm."
A few seconds passed, the quake began to subside. There was no more shaking in the ground.
"It seems the earthquake has subsided," Arata murmured, beginning to release his embrace. "We must hurry to the evacuation area!"
Yuki nodded, her voice still trembling. "Y-you are right."
Arata came out first from under the table. Followed by Yuki though her legs were still shaking.
"Hurry, Yuki. I will carry you if necessary."
Yuki took a deep breath, calming herself first. "No need. I can walk on my own. Trust me, I am fine." Though firm, her voice was filled with tremors.
"All right. I understand. Do not hesitate if you need help."
Yuki nodded.
Just a few steps later, another quake came. Its tremor was clearly far stronger than before. Pieces of the roof fell, the walls cracked, the floor split.
"Aaaaah!"
"Yuki!"
Yuki slipped into the basement.
Arata immediately jumped, embracing his wife's body, trying to protect her with his own without thinking of his own safety.
Thud!
Both of them fell. A loud thud resounded when Arata's back hit the cold and hard basement floor.
"Ugh..."
It was not over, rubble continued to fall from above. Arata quickly turned his position and protected his wife with his body from the falling debris.
The sound of heavy objects falling did not stop, striking Arata's back. He struggled to endure in order to protect his wife.
Meanwhile, Yuki closed her eyes tightly. She dared not see what would happen next. In the depths of her heart, she only hoped they would survive.
"Aaaargh!"
The quake suddenly stopped, together with Arata's scream of pain that tore Yuki's heart.
Something warm dripped onto Yuki's cheek. She opened her eyes slowly. At once, she froze. Her mouth opened but her words seemed stuck in her throat.
"Thank goodness... you are safe."
Arata, with a weary forced smile, wiped a drop of blood that had splashed on Yuki's cheek.
"No... Impossible..."
Yuki stared in disbelief. A sharp piece of wood had pierced the chest of the one she loved most.
"Cough... cough..."
Fresh blood spilled from his mouth, staining part of his wife's frozen face.
"Heh, look at you now." Arata laughed weakly. His fingers trembled, trying to wipe the blood on Yuki's face. "Sorry for ruining your beauty."
"No... This is not true!"
The world collapsed for Yuki. She wanted to scream, but no sound came. As if a tight lump filled her throat.
"Sorry... for making you worry..."
Arata fully realized his condition, there was no chance of survival for him. His hands trembled greatly, unable to support the weight of his own body.
He brought his lips closer, kissing his wife's forehead. "That is a return... for... this morning... Yuki."
A bitter smile was etched for the last time before he collapsed and exhaled a heavy breath.
Yuki awoke, touching the body of her husband lying beside her. A drop of water fell down her cheek. She embraced her husband's stiff body, pressing their foreheads together.
"Please... do not leave me alone, Arata."
Her fingers clenched his body, as if forcing him to wake though she knew her husband would never open his eyes again. She buried her face in Arata's stiff body.
"Always, always, always, always like this... why only me? Why always me?"
Fate always toyed with her. Each time she had just obtained happiness, they immediately took it away from her without leaving anything.
Her fingers moved slowly along her husband's hand. As she tried to link their hands, she found a silver necklace that was still warm.
That day... was the day of their wedding celebration. And the necklace in her hand that should have been a joyful present for her... instead brought unbearable pain that struck her chest.
"I... I cannot accept this."
Anger and despair pushed her to scream hysterically, hoping all of this was only a nightmare and wishing to wake quickly. Her sobs came along with the pain that spread further.
"Please... return him to me."
Yuki embraced Arata's body tightly. Her sobs began to weaken, replaced by silence. In the midst of that silence, she felt something.
The necklace in Arata's hand suddenly shone, a warm light enveloping their bodies.
"Why... why are you still warm?" she whispered, realizing that his body seemed not yet truly cold. "What is this light?"
Then she heard it. Not a human voice, nor a voice from this world. But a whisper that was soft, distant, and deep.
Do you wish to be with him, to cross beyond the bounds of life, O faithful one...?
Yuki clenched her jaw tightly. "Yes! Take me with him! Whoever you are, I beg you, whether goddess, demon, angel, whatever! I will do anything as long as I can stay with him!"
I will carry you to the place where fate is woven again. But not now will you meet him. If your heart is firm, then seek him.
The voice vanished together with the light of the necklace that now surrounded their bodies. Yuki gripped her husband's hand tightly, and in the midst of her tears, she let her body be carried away in the light that embraced the world.