Read Love From the Shadows :: Chapter 20 & Epilogue

Chapter 20:

Today wasn’t the same as it used to be. It never would, not without him. No sakura were falling, the village fell silent, all to mourn the death of Yuji Toshida. Yumi woke up, still in the stand, this time without Yuji there to make her breakfast. The cries of Soy Sauce’s meowing filled the room, as he snuggled all around Yuji’s favorite spots at home. She carefully picked him up, and held him to her chest.

“He’s…really gone…”

She said, still stunned from yesterday. Soy Sauce could only look at her with his big eyes, still looking for his owner. She peeked out the window to see one of the darkest days she’s ever seen. The sky was a heavy gray, a faint mist was falling upon them, and a hint of fog landed as well. Yumi had planned Yuji’s funeral already, and scheduled it for 3 o'clock. She looked at Yuji's apron, still hanging off of his side of the bed. She thought for a moment, and decided to wear it for the day, in honor of him. With a graceful tie at the back, and Soy Sauce mounting in the front pocket, they were ready to pursue the day, Yuji’s day.

As soon as they stepped into the village, it was clear that Yuji’s death didn't only hurt the two of them: It hurt everyone. Everyone was quiet, shops were closed, and some even carried signs of Yuji all across the village. The area where Yuji was stabbed had been cleaned of its blood, and Yuji’s body was gracefully wrapped in a soft cloth to contain him. She went over to examine the body, and saw a message left by the people that had wrapped him:

Yuji Toshida, The boy that died to protect the people he held dear

Her eyes started to well up at the message. She bent down to fix his hair, knowing he wouldn’t like it messy in his grave.

“I’m gonna treat you right, Yuji…I’ll carry your legacy.” She said to herself, stroking his hair one last time. With one last gaze, she laid down a single note on his body. It was the first recipe he had ever written, and was now folded gracefully on his grave. Two other villagers came to help her put the body into the coffin. They handled him with care, making sure that he fit right in.

“Alright, we're good to go. The funeral should be starting soon.”

She said to the villagers.

“I’ll carry the coffin back to the stand. I know that’s where he’ll want to be buried…”

She said to herself, already lifting him up. She couldn’t help but notice the elegant embroidery that was on the coffin. It had his family Kanji, his recipes transcribed along the sides, and his apron tied onto the front. So many people were already at the stand, and saw Yumi carrying the coffin, signalling the start of the service. WIth the laying of the coffin, Yumi got up on the podium to begin her speech.

“People of ShaoYin…We are all here today to celebrate the life of Yuji Jikuta Toshida…”

She started.

“Yuji was born on July 24, 2006, to his loving parents, Mayu and Rikuto Toshida. His family consisted of his mother and father, his brother, Etsuko, and his feline companion, Soy Sauce. At the age of ten, Yuji lost his family due to an attack by the Hoshira clan in 2016, in which all of his family members were slain, and his family stand had been burnt to the ground.”

She said, causing the villagers to look back in trauma. “But Yuji never stopped at these setbacks, he kept going. He served so many people in this village, and has brightened so many lives…mine included. Yuji wasn’t just a boy that had his family taken from him, he was the boy that never stopped, and showed this village just what resilience should be. His stand, Toshida no Mise, has been running for the past 9 years and counting. On the day of November 21, 2025, the village was attacked by the Hoshira clan once more. Yuji didn’t hide like he normally did, he went out and fought the clan back. He showed us that he has matured, and was ready to give back to the village that has given him so much. He was slain by the dojo’s head master that day, and has stunned us forever. He may not be here with us anymore, but his legacy will live through this village for years to come. Now, he’s with his family in the sky, watching us from up above. This funeral isn’t to show gloom and sorrow, but as a reminder and celebration of who Yuji was, and how he will always be with us.”

First, there was silence, but slowly, everyone started to clap. Tears were shed, claps cheers filled the area, and toasts were made to him. Jae and Mao were the only people of the clan that came to the funeral.

“Mom! Jae! It’s so good to see you. I gotta say, it was hard to get through that speech.”

She admitted.

“The speech was beautiful, honey! It shows just how much he meant to you and the village…”

She said, already latched around her daughter.

“I gotta say, I only saw him in that battle…but he truly must have meant something for the whole clan to be after him.”

Jae said, sitting across from the two. As Yumi ate with her Mom and cousin, she could only gaze up at the sky.

“This is for you, Yuji…all of it is…”

She said, raising her glass.

The next few days were filled with even more celebration and memorial. Firework shows were held, cooking contests took place at the stand, and the village was bustling with conversation more than ever before. The stand started to get more business as well, as so many villagers went to Yuji’s stand. Not just to order food, but to carry Yuji’s legacy of cooking and personality. Yumi and Soy Sauce were able to see all of the business and testimonials. So many people left flowers, cards, and other gifts at Yuji’s burial site. Yumi could only tear up happily and watch as everyone paid their respects to her best friend, her lover, and most importantly, her Yuji.

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Chapter 21/Epilogue:

It has now been around 10 years since Yuji’s passing. Yumi has become the proud owner and only chef at Yuji’s stand. So many meals have been made in those years, including the only recipe she made: The Yuji roll. It contains a wrapping of sweet seaweed paper and brown rice, and filled with raw salmon, fresh-cut avocado, yum yum sauce, and topped with fish eggs. It was the best-seller of the stand, carrying the legacy of Yuji further and further everyday.

Rumors started to appear in the village of just how much Yuji had changed her.

“Did you hear that she was a deadly ninja, and changed all because of him?”

“I never knew that they met by accident, the rest is history!”

“I heard that she’s the one behind the stand now, and that she learned every single recipe that he made, all to keep him alive in our minds.”

They all would say, astonished by the legend of the two. Some people even started to call Yuji:

“The boy that tamed the kunoichi.”

The village didn’t have to fear the clan anymore, as Yumi had sworn to protect the village. She didn’t just serve people food at Yuji’s stand, she opened her own dojo hours on the weekends. She trains all ages to fight, basic self-defense, and to tell everyone that no matter who they are, everyone has the heart to push forward and fight for what they believe in.

At the end of the day, as Yumi laid on Yuji’s side of the bed, Soy Sauce would always look out the window. He would claw outside and meow, like something was there. Once Yumi would go to check and open the window, she wouldn’t notice anything.

“I know you miss him…”

She said, petting Soy Sauce, but he kept meowing and tried to point outside again. Everytime she turned off the lights and headed to bed, the same white rabbit would jump up. It would always sit in the same spot next to Soy Sauce, gazing every night as Yumi slept, keeping watch.

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