Chapter 6

Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. - Romans 6:4

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The rain was pelting heavily against the windows of Miki’s bedroom, and the sounds of thunder rumbled in the distance.

Yuri Kirisawa couldn’t get to sleep at all. She had been staring at the same spot on the ceiling above her for what had seemed like hours, her brain working overtime, trying to figure out all the things that had happened that day. And the moment that she had calmed down enough to think things through rationally, Yuri became angry.

Rightfully so.

And for the first time in her life, she had actually found someone that she really hated enough to even consider murder which scared her.

If anyone had told Yuri yesterday that this is what would actually happen today, she would have laughed in their faces.

Yesterday, she could still see her mother.

Yesterday, her mother could still hug her goodbye.

Yesterday, her mother could still tuck her in bed.

But never again.

Every time that Yuri closed her eyes, she could see the image of her mother’s body lying in that pool of blood, like a photograph was placed over her eyes. And every single time that she saw it, she could also see the image of the sneering and mocking faces of that woman and her daughter laughing at her and her mother like a movie on fast forward.

The events of that day seemed almost like a scene out of some movie or maybe some book.

But unfortunately, this is reality.

This is Fate.

And nothing can change it.

Yuri clenched her hands into fists tightly, both hands clenching the blanket so tightly, that for a moment, it almost seems like the blanket will be torn apart. She had never wanted someone dead so badly in her life.

Not even when those nosy neighbours of hers had gossiped about her mother, and had spread some really nasty rumours just because they’re Japanese. Not even when Jessica Kwok had made her life a living Hell in school. Not even when Jessica Kwok and Alice Kwok made such a scene in the supermarket one day when both Yuri and her mother ran into them by chance.

But now, she really wanted to see them both dead.

And she’ll do anything to achieve that.

“Yuri, you still awake?”

Yuri jumped a little as Miki’s voice sounded in the darkness.

She had assumed that Miki had fallen asleep hours ago, but it seemed like her best friend had been lying awake in bed for hours as well. And maybe it’ll be a good thing if Miki doesn’t know what Yuri had been thinking about.

Yuri was seriously thinking of leaving the Ishigawa household, but two reasons stopped her.

One is that she knew that Miki’s eldest brother would be in big trouble if she suddenly vanished from under his care whilst the investigation about the murder of her mother is taking place. And the other is that she wanted to see some kind faces at least.

It had always been this way for as long as she could remember.

She never had many friends, and neither did her mother. And when Yuri was old enough to understand, she realised that it’s because of her foreign blood. Because she’s Japanese.

It isn’t fair.

“Yeah.” Yuri sat up in bed, running the fingers of her right hand through her hair.

Dim orange light lit up the room a little just then, and Yuri could see enough that Miki had just turned on the table lamp of her bedside table. Soft footsteps pattered across the floor before Miki sat down on Yuri’s bed.

“Can’t sleep?” Miki asked in concern, and Yuri shook her head.

“Every time that I tried to close my eyes, I kept seeing my mother’s body,” said Yuri. “It’s unforgivable! My mother…my mother never did anything wrong! I can’t forgive them!”

Miki looked at Yuri with concern in her eyes. She sighed a little. “Yuri, I can understand why you’re angry,” she said. “But forgiveness is the greatest virtue.”

“Could you say the same thing if someone murdered your mother?!”

Miki jerked back a little like she had just been slapped, and decided not to retort, knowing that Yuri was not in the best state right now. She’s far luckier than Yuri, that, she knew for sure. She doesn’t have parents, but she still has her two older brothers.

But Yuri only had her mother. And even if it has been proven that Yuri is innocent, what will she do then? She has nowhere else to go. Will she have to go to an orphanage?

Miki sighed before phrasing her words in a better way so that Yuri won’t take it the wrong way. Miki had seen what Yuri is like when angry, and she has no wish to stand in the way of Yuri’s wrath.

“Yuri, I believe…that a strong heart and a strong belief…can be a strong weapon even against the most powerful foe,” said Miki gently. “That’s why…” She bit on her lower lip a little before looking at Yuri. “That’s why, Yuri, you can’t give in.”

Yuri smiled sadly and shook her head from side-to-side slowly. “That’s what I’d thought a long time ago as well,” she said. “You’d been watching too many movies, or you’ve been reading too many books, Miki. Real life doesn’t work this way. I’ve learned that now.” She looked out of the window. “When I was at the police station earlier…no one believed me. No one. They all think that I’m the one who killed my mother. Even if they can’t prove it, everything will change. Nothing will stay the same.”

Miki stared at Yuri.

For as long as she had known her, Yuri had always been quite vibrant and cheerful, and was quite optimistic. She always had a smile on her face, and the few friends that Yuri had, liked her, as it was rather difficult not to like that sunny personality.

But the current Yuri…is more like a shadow of her old self.

Miki sighed inwardly. If anyone had told her yesterday that this is what Yuri would be like today, she would have laughed at them.

“Miki.”

Miki looked at Yuri. Her best friend was staring at the blanket that is currently covering her legs. “Do you think that there really is a life after death? Where do you think that people go after death?”

Miki blinked at this strange question before pondering on the answer. “I’ve never really thought about it before,” she said. “But when I asked Michio-niisan where my mother had gone to when I was younger, he told me that my mother is in Heaven with the angels. I like to think of life after death as a paradise where no injustice of any sort occurs, and where everyone can just live in peace.” Miki looked at Yuri, and her face softened. “Your mother too, I’m sure.”

Yuri looked at Miki with a startled expression before smiling a small smile. She nodded. “Yeah.”

Silence fell once more before Miki broke it. “About Alice Kwok…” She trailed off, looking at Yuri who had a look of pure fury on her face at the sound of that taboo word, and Miki flinched a little. “I believe you when you say that she’s the one who had killed your mother. But do you have any proof?”

Yuri was silent for several moments before she shook her head from side-to-side slowly. “No, I don’t,” she said. “But I know that it’s her! That flower…that was her calling card. She’s mocking me!”

Miki nodded slowly. “Did you tell the police this?”

“I did!” said Yuri with frustration, waving her arms about. “They refused to believe me! And let’s face it! Who will? I am a major suspect in a murder case that has more than half of the country’s police in a panic! No one in their sane mind will believe me! Even Michiru-nii[1] is starting to think that I’m crazy!”

Miki didn’t say anything about that as she knew that Yuri is partly right about her eldest brother.

“Then what will you do now?” asked Miki at last.

The murder of Yuri’s mother would be all over the headlines of the newspapers by the next day, as the police already had nearly two CID teams on this case since a nine-year-old child is the main suspect of this particular case.

Yuri didn’t say anything as she recalled her mother’s last words to her…Hitomi Kirisawa’s dying message.

Go to your uncle, to the country of Japan. Do not return here again. Niisan was right. Like he always was. Listen, Yuri. Kami… Do not trust Kami…

Yuri frowned. It’s the last part of her mother’s words that she don’t understand.

Don’t trust God? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Furthermore…

Yuri frowned as she remembered the frantic phone call that she had received from her uncle telling her to go home immediately, and to get her mother out of the house. And less than an hour after she’s received that phone call, her mother was dead.

Her uncle must know something.

“…I’m going to Japan, Miki.”

Miki blanched. “Whaaat?!” Yuri was thankful that the door of Miki’s room was shut so that Michio can’t overhear their current conversation. “You’re going to Japan? Are you going to find your uncle?”

Yuri studied Miki.

She had a feeling that whatever she suspected about her mother’s death, as well as what she had suspected about her uncle must be kept to herself.

Her problems are her own. And she’ll deal with it herself.

“He must know something about my mother’s death,” said Yuri at last. She clenched her hands into fists. “I know that he does.”

Miki sighed. “I can’t stop you, can I?” she said and Yuri smiled a little.

“And how are you going to get there? You’re not allowed out of the country. Scratch that.” Miki shook her head. “You’re not even allowed to take a single step out of the house! How are you going to go to Japan? And secondly, how are you going to contact your uncle when every single phone in our house is taped to record any phone conversations?”

Yuri sighed. “I don’t want to get you involved in this, Miki, but I think that I’m going to need your help,” she said hesitantly. “You don’t have to if you do not want to, but—”

“Forget it.” Miki interrupted. “You’re my best friend. We grew up together. The least that I can do is to help get you out of Singapore.” She sighed and looked at Yuri. “At least you’re not arrogant enough to not ask for help.” She muttered beneath her breath. She glanced at Yuri. “Give me your uncle’s number. I’ll call him using a public payphone. And…” She chewed on her lower lip nervously before looking at Yuri. “I might have to get Michio-niisan to help as well.”

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[1] -nii: A casual form of address for an elder brother