Chapter 3: The Pain of Loss

Lady Yoruichi!

(It happened so suddenly.)

(You disappeared without a trace, without any warning at all.)

(Why?)

(The feeling never faded. The sadness and loneliness you left behind soon grew into anger...)

(...and eventually, hatred.)

I am stronger than you!

While you were gone for a hundred years, your powers grew weak, and mine have grown stronger!

You lied to me! You promised me we would always be together! I was so hurt and angry, I came to hate and curse you!

I can never forgive what you did, Yoruichi!

There can be no forgiveness for the way you betrayed my trust and devotion! Not ever!

(The only way I was able to move on was to hate you.)

(But now...)

Are we close to the shop yet?

(I'm able to stand beside you once again. Perhaps I'm very lucky to be able to do so.)

Yes, we are.

That's impossible...

What's wrong?

The salted daifuku mochi... The sweets that I wanted you to try.

A previous customer bought masses of them, and now they're completely sold out.

I see.

Well, if they're sold out, then there's nothing we can do about it.

What else would you recommend from this place?

Oh, hey. What are you doing here, Captain Soi Fon?

The salted daifuku mochi they have here is really popular right now. I just bought out everything they had to have my own stash at home.

So it was you.

Huh?

It was you, you damn fool!

Did you see the sad look on Lady Yoruichi's face when I told her they had run out of salted daifuku mochi?!

There's no way you're allowed to make her look so sad! You will pay for this!

But how was I supposed to know?

I will not forgive you! I will never forgive you!

Okay, okay! Here, take half of what I got.

I'm glad you understand.

Lady Yoruichi! These are the salted daifuku mochi that everyone is praising.

Ooh, thanks. I'm glad I get to try it.

............

Mmm! This is delicious!

I understand why everyone's been raving about it. I can easily eat a plateful!

(Aww... Look at her eat those daifuku. She looks so blissful.)

There are still more left. Please, have as many as you like!

But they're mine...

Are you too blind to see that happy look on Lady Yoruichi's face as she eats them?

If all it takes is 10 or 20 salted daifuku mochi to see that expression, then offering them to her is obviously the normal thing to do.

Uh, I wouldn't say that's normal.

Did you say something?

No, absolutely nothing at all!

I have to ask though, Captain. Why are you so devoted to Lady Yoruichi?

That is none of your business.