A/N: I am using Fuji for Fuji Syuusuke but I'd be using 'Syuusuke' when his other siblings are present.

Thousandth Paper Crane

Prologue

Steps echoed through the silent hall of the funeral house. Careful not to make any noise, they found the room they had been looking for. The door of Chapel 6 opened and the new visitors entered. Automatically, his head turned to take a look. He excused himself from the visitors he had been talking to accommodate the new acquaintances. He cleared some creases of his black long-sleeved polo before putting back the tired smile.

Eiji and the others followed him with worried eyes as he made his way to the newly entered visitors. "Is there really nothing we can do for him?" he asked as his voice cracked in the end. Fresh tears threatened to flow as he blinked his eyes. He, too, was not over yet at the loss of a dear friend but seeing his bestfriend in this state didn't make anything better for him.

Oishi just pulled Eiji closer and let his head rest on his shoulder. He can't say anything to comfort his lover. He can't say that 'Everything will be fine soon.' because he himself knew that he would be lying. All he could do was to remind Eiji that he was just by his side.

The others looked down, helplessness in their eyes. Everyone was tired, not only him. But the pain he was going through, they know it was incomparable to theirs. The loss he had to take, it was nothing compared to theirs. And the tomorrow he had to face, it was completely blank and empty unlike theirs.

Tezuka stood up, making the others looked up at him.

"Tezuka?" said Oishi but it was not loud enough for Tezuka to hear as he walked farther from them and towards Fuji.

Fuji felt a warm hand on his shoulder and he abruptly stopped. He turned around to see one of his closest friends. "Tezuka."

"Go and take a rest with his family for awhile. We can take care of things here."

"But—"

"Go!" Eiji appeared behind Tezuka with the others.

"Thank you," Fuji's eyes softened and gave a small smile before he approached the white coffin. He looked down at the man he loves, lying peacefully inside. He caressed the glass gently, hoping that his hand can get through the glass and hold his lover once again, hoping that he could share his warmth to him again. He felt like crying but he blinked back the tears. His lover was dead for three days now but he hadn't cried a tear yet. Seeing a lover not cry for his beloved's death, it was really rare. Where was he getting his strength? Why was he not crying? How was he able to handle the pain and hold back the tears? How can he still smile?

Instead of joining the family of his dead boyfriend in the spare room to rest, he chose to sit at the corner of the room, staring blankly at the coffin. His dull eyes were far and he was so caught in his own world that he did not even notice when his sister and brother arrived at the chapel.

"Where is Syuusuke?" his sister asked Inui, who was nearest to them that time.

With a worried look, Inui turned his head to locate his friend. "I'm not sure if leaving him alone for now is better than accompanying him."

"Let's just leave him be for now," Yumiko replied.

"Aniki…" Yuuta frowned.

"Syuusuke will come around soon. He just needs some time."

"Some time? Can't you see he had not cried yet! Not even a single tear graced his face! It is because he can't accept that he's dead and won't be coming back that's why he can't grieve! He can't cry!"

Everyone turned to see the outburst of Yuuta. Syuusuke stood up from his seat and approached them. With a swift move, he hugged his younger brother from behind. Yuuta stiffened at the sudden hug but relaxed when he confirmed that it was his brother.

"Thank you Yuuta, but I am fine," Syuusuke said.

Yuuta turned and faced his brother. Tears welled up at the corners of his eyes. Syuusuke was already worn out, his usual sharp eyes were now dull and dark bulges were visible under them. Obviously, he had gotten no sleep for a few days now. His skin was paler than usual and he had indeed become thinner. The condition of his brother was far from 'fine' that he was saying. "No, you're not Aniki."

"Really, I'm fine."

"NO. YOU. ARE. NOT. Why don't you go home for now? Take a rest!"

"I'll stay. I can't go yet when he's still here."

"Can you hear yourself Fuji Syuusuke? He's gone! He won't be coming back no matter what you do! Why can't you just accept that he's gone?"

"Stop it," his slightly closed eyes opened, revealing the dark blue eyes overshadowing the usual bright cerulean ones. Everyone might feel the chill in their spines if they were in a normal situation but instead of the usual fear, this time they felt pain and worry. Nothing but sadness and suffering were reflected in his eyes.

At the same time Yuuta felt guilty about what he had just said, he can't take back his words. It's the truth. And he needed to show his brother that. "I won't. He's gone now. HE. IS. DEAD."

The sound of slap broke through the silence. Not only Yuuta, but almost everyone's eyes widened at what Syuusuke just did. The younger brother palmed his stinging cheek.

"I-I'm s-sorry. I-I didn't mean to do it Yuuta," Syuusuke said, just realizing what happened. Never in his life he hurt Yuuta intently. He loves his brother so much that it was unlikely for the idea of inflicting pain to him would flash in his mind. So, what did he just do now?

Slowly walking back, his hands trembled. His lover was dead, he knew that. But accepting it was just still hard for him. He was still hoping that everything was just a nightmare and he would be waking up soon. His head was in total chaos and he didn't know what to do anymore.

"Syuusuke…" Yumiko called, advancing to his backing away brother.

"W-wait Nee-san," said Syuusuke as he tried to recompose himself. Then, he bumped Yukimura who was standing just behind him.

Yukimura automatically held Syuusuke's shoulders. "S-Seiichi…"

Yukimura smiled at him and then looked at his siblings and the others. "I'll take him home for now."

"But Seiichi—!" Fuji tried to protest.

"You need to rest. You think he wants to see you in this state?"

Fuji didn't respond. He just looked down. Yukimura looked at Sanada and he quickly understood what he was trying to say. Sanada approached them and ushered Fuji out of the room.

"If only Echizen were here," Oshitari whispered but was loud enough for the ones around him to hear. He tried to look unaffected as possible but his eyes gave a tired and worried look at the door where Fuji and Sanada exited.

"Don't ask for impossible," Atobe responded with a tear escaping his eyes. He himself might not even notice it. If there's someone whose feeling was near to Fuji, it would be Atobe. He used to love the boy at the coffin, after all.

Following the two outside, Yukimura left quietly after everyone had calmed a little and returned to their previous places.

"He is out there," Shiraishi uttered as low as possible when Yukimura passed by him.

"I know." With that, he swiftly closed the door, taking note of the boy leaning against the wall.

"Don't go yet," said Yukimura, calling the attention of the boy.

The boy moved his gaze from the tiled floor to the serious man standing a meter away from him. His eyes widened. "You—"

"Fuji still needs you so stay by his side as much as you can," Yukimura said as he started to walk away, "whether he knows it or not. Whether he hears you or not. Whether he sees you or not." His voice faded but he was sure the boy caught up to that when the boy's eyes saddened more, if that's possible.

Widening the distance from the chapel and him, Yukimura could still hear the cries of his two friends' hearts when they both said their names at the same time.

"Ryoma…" Fuji whispered as he closed his eyes.

"Syuusuke…" Echizen said, a lone tear dropped on the ground.

to be continued...

A/N 2: A bit confusing at some parts? Sorry, but I can't give more that what was written yet. I need to let the story unfolds and clears itself to the readers in the following chapters.

[edited: 01/30/2012]