Chapter 363 The intertwined souls of Shikatori Town Murder Case (Part 2)
“Bride, do you wish this man to be your husband and to enter into a marriage contract with him? To love him, to take care of him, to respect him, to accept him, and to be faithful to him until the end of your life, regardless of sickness or health, or for any other reason?
"
"I do."
Kitahara Yuko said without hesitation.
"Then bridegroom and bride, you can kiss each other. Under the gaze of the Lord, I declare you officially husband and wife."
The old pastor nodded, looked at Kitahara Ryunosuke and Kitahara Yuko with relief, and then continued talking. It can be said that he has watched these two children grow up, and it is his expectation that they can get together in the end.
things.
Kitahara Ryunosuke came closer and looked at Yuko's lovely blushing face and red lips as soft as pudding. He couldn't help but swallow, then lowered his head and kissed her gently.
………
………
The afternoon sun was exceptionally warm, shining dots on their faces through the shade of the trees overhead. There was a pleasant fragrance filling the air, which should be the smell of some kind of flower.
Kitahara Ryunosuke casually picked up a handful of fish food and threw it into the pond in front of him, watching the brightly colored koi swarming over like floating red silk.
The mirror-like water surface reflected his face, which was the image of an old man with wrinkles, white hair and a white beard.
"Morning, brother."
A familiar voice rang in my ears, but it no longer had the freshness of a girl, and was also soaked in time.
Yuko, who was leaning next to her, slowly opened her eyes. She looked at her brother's face, but her slightly whitened eyes did not have any luster. The face was also full of wrinkles, but she could still vaguely see the past.
The girl's pretty face.
"It's getting late, Yuko."
Kitahara Ryunosuke looked at Yuko and held the hand she extended.
"Brother, I just had a dream..."
Yuko spoke softly, as if talking in a dream.
"I dreamed...I left you forever. It was really a terrifying dream...I really can't imagine..."
"Don't worry, Yuko, it's just a dream."
"Is it true..."
"Of course, I am holding your hand now to prove it."
Kitahara Ryunosuke said softly, gently shaking his hand, trying to pass on the warmth to her.
"So this is ah……"
As if feeling this warmth, Kitahara Yuko shook her head, and she seemed to be a lot more energetic.
"Brother, I don't know if you still remember that thing. It was when we were young and I just came to our home."
"You must have hated my mother and me at that time. You were cold to me and my mother every day, and you didn't even say a word to me or my mother."
"I remember I had a pink stuffed bear. It was my favorite stuffed doll. But one day I suddenly couldn't find it. Finally, my mother searched the whole house and found the dirty stuffed animal in the trash can.
Little Bear.”
Hearing his words, Kitahara Ryunosuke subconsciously touched his nose with an embarrassed smile on his face.
"Hmm...well...it seems that I did throw that one. I wanted to make you cry at that time."
"Brother... he is really bad, but I still like him. There is no reason, I just like him."
"But...brother, do you still remember the time when my father and mother just passed away? At school, someone laughed at me for being a child without parents. Then you went to the school and found that guy after school.
I blocked him in an alley and beat him up severely."
"Is there such a thing anymore...?"
Kitahara Ryunosuke shook his head and tried to think back, but unfortunately found nothing.
"Brother probably won't remember... After all, it's a very small thing. There are many, many more such things. Every time, my brother shields me from the wind and rain. Every thing, no matter how small it is, I firmly remember.
Keep it in mind."
"elder brother……"
"Um?"
"I like you the most."
………
………
"Yuko?"
After a long silence, a bad premonition suddenly appeared in Kitahara Ryunosuke's heart. He turned his head and looked at Kitahara Yuko, who was leaning on your own shoulder. There was a smile on her lips, and she fell asleep like this.
Like a sleeping princess in a fairy tale.
——It's just that this time the prince's kiss couldn't wake her up.
"Yuko..."
The heart suddenly felt empty, like a big empty hole that would never be filled.
Tears flowed down his cheeks unconsciously, filling the ditches of time. He stretched out his hand to wipe away the tears, but more tears poured out, like a river bursting its banks.
He reached out and touched Yuko's pale hair, feeling the warmth of life remaining in his palm. The white-haired old woman in front of him gradually merged with the image of the girl she once was.
"Brother, don't cry."
He faintly heard the girl's voice in his ears, and he saw the girl standing in the sunshine, smiling beautifully.
"I didn't cry..."
Kitahara Ryunosuke wiped away the tears on his face and tried to smile, but instead of smiling, the corners of his mouth were twisted.
"I really didn't cry."
………
………
"Father, father..."
When he woke up again, it was still a bright and sunny day outside. He was lying on a soft bed, surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and granddaughters.
"Who are you……"
Kitahara Ryunosuke looked at the middle-aged man beside the bed who looked somewhat similar to him, and tried hard to think of his name, but unfortunately he couldn't think of anything, leaving only a blank.
"Father, I am Daji, don't you remember?"
"Big mustard..."
Kitahara Ryunosuke repeated it, trying hard to recall, and seemed to have some impression. That was his and Yuko's first child, and also their eldest son.
But that's all the impression was.
There was a suppressed cry lingering in my ears, and my heart felt empty, as if something was missing.
"Where's Yuko...why didn't I see her?"
"Mother, she..."
The other children looked at each other and finally told Ryunosuke Kitahara the truth tactfully.
"Mother, she has gone to a better place."
"yes……"
Kitahara Ryunosuke suddenly realized that Yuko had already left.
His eyes scanned the unfamiliar faces beside the bed, and finally landed on a little girl with a similar appearance to Yuko. The child timidly hid behind her mother and looked in his direction, just like she did at first.
Like when I met Yuko.
For some reason, Kitahara Ryunosuke suddenly laughed.
The sun shone warmly on his face, and his heavy body was unusually light, almost as if he was floating.
In the sunshine, he saw Yuko walking towards him. The girl walked to his bed and leaned down, as if she wanted to kiss his face.
He also reached out and hugged the girl, then held hands and walked towards the end of the light,