By Spirit Wolf
The grass shone with the warm sunlight. The soft breeze caused each individual blade to dance a dance of hope. The birds sang with the joy of life, oblivious to the sorrow.
Everyone was there. Everyone who had known the deceased.
There were many tears. Speeches were given by almost everyone present.
Izumi had just finished hers. She headed back into the crowd, her face twisted in sadness. She had tried to use some of her worst puns to lighten the mood, but she hadn't succeeded.
The priest stepped forwards once more. "Would anyone else like to speak?"
There was silence; almost everyone had already said all they had wanted to say.
But then, a form politely made his way to the front. He was a young man, rather slimly built and with dark bluish-blackish hair waving in his large eyes.
He stepped up to the front and faced the crowd. His face was carefully neutral; he had wanted to keep his sorrow inside until he was alone.
He stared into the distance and tried to speak. "I..." His voice came out weak and strained, so he paused and started again, speaking as clearly and neutrally as he could.
"I... haven't known Akito for very long, but I knew from the moment I met him, that he was a man with many layers. And he was also a man who didn't know it. He had courage - a deep, powerful courage. He was one of the truest people I've ever met. We're lucky to have known him."
He paused before moving on to the second of the two deceased. He focused his eyes ahead and spoke. "I've known Yurika for many years. We were best friends." A smile formed as he sifted through his memories. "She was... she was always looking at the bright side of things. She always found a way for things to work out. She..."
He paused as he became aware of the wetness on his cheeks, and his throat tightened without warning. He tried to continue talking, but his throat wouldn't allow it. He tried to think of what to say next, but no words came. Finally, he decided to finish his speech.
"If... if you've got someone you hold dear, someone... someone you... you love..." Suddenly, he felt himself break down. Tears streamed down the sides of his face, collecting at his chin and dripping softly to the ground. His throat locked up, and he found himself unable to finish his sentence.
It felt like he had been standing there forever, unable to see the faces of the crowd clearly through his own tears. Finally, he managed to croak out a whisper.
"I... I never got to tell her..."