The Funeral of Hearts
an anniversary story by -y a k o s o k u-

Origional Authors Note: I will officially be on Fan Fiction for one year on September 3, 2005. I know that is nearly a month away but I wanted to get at least the prologue out. I was inspired for this by -what else- buying flowers for a funeral. I am experimenting with a new way of writing as well as another approach at POV's, so bear with me please. Don't forget to read and review.

Revised Authors Note: I'm finally fixing this story. You might have to re-read it. Sorry. Heh.

Disclaimer: Unless unbeknownst to my knowledge I inherited Disney and Squaresoft overnight, I do not own any characters or ideas from Kingdom Hearts or any of the Final Fantasy games.

. The P r o l o g u e .

"What about these ones, Kairi?"

"Oh… sure" I had stated blandly. Placing the order for the flowers made it all too real to me that he was gone.

"Are you sure?"

I looked up for a second, partially meeting with Selphie's green eyes, I quickly diverted them to look at the arrangement she had settled on. It was a cross made of some sort of bark that looked like cinnamon, there were white lilies and roses tied in the center and everything was propped up by a canvas. It was lovely.

Doing my best to force a smile I nodded. Lately there hadn't been much too get the slump out of my stance and the dull look out of my eye. I'd taken an abrupt liking to salty and chocolate covered food and all my tissues were disappearing at alarming rates.

Selphie paused to admire the pretty flowers then handed over the money to the young man behind the counter. I took in an exaggerated breath and the man asked if I was alright. I smiled and denied my sorrow before bolting for the door.

So, in short, my life was in shambles and no-one was there to help me fix my own messes. Constant harsh breaths escaped my mouth making swirling patterns in the air. I loped aimlessly around the rainy streets of Amity Island; kind of funny how almost everyone on the Island isn't too friendly anymore. Cliché.

I stepped in what I thought was a shallow puddle of rain water, unfortunately it wasn't so shallow. With the rain pouring down on my coat and my head not being covered by any form of a hat or umbrella, I looked and felt like a wet cat. My hair was a dull mop of unkempt brown while my makeup slipped off my face. I sniffed in the air and choked on smoke as a car conveniently passed by. I leaned against a store-front window and stared at my reflection; pathetic creature staring back at me. I resisted the urge to cry.

' I want him back, I whimpered, I can't do this alone.'

A hand tapped at my shoulder and I turned around just enough to see they were holding an umbrella. Judging by the size it was a man. The man walked forward a little and draped an arm around me as we walked forwards. I wanted his comfort so much that I didn't even care to look to see who he was and then I reminded myself how stupid I was being. I looked up at the tall man to knit my brow.

"When'd you get back?"

"Some time last night."

'Hah. Some man this was', I smiled and that made him laugh.

I leaned my shivering wet body against him and he pulled me into an embrace. I'd like to imagine in my mind that I remained calm, however, in such a case as this, tears were inevitable. He cooed all the words I wanted to hear into my ear and I ended up drying my own tears this time.

"I'm sorry" I laughed, a few crumbing sobs escaping in the giggles. I took in a breath to make my voice sound normal again.

"Ah, its okay, Kai." He kept the umbrella over both of us as he walked me to my house. He seemed more quiet, which was unusual for him. I suppose the death had shaken him up too.

'Well, of course it would! Stupid Kairi, stupid Kairi!' I slapped my forehead and my companion looked at me worried.

"I'm just thinking." I smiled goofily. Its funny how this morning I didn't think it possible to smile and now I'm cracking them every five minutes.

"How've you been this summer?" Elevator talk. He put away his umbrella as sunlight hit my face, by morning it will have looked as if the rain had never even came, another perk of a tropical island I suppose.

"Good until… well, you know."

"Yeah," He smiled, "I really missed you two. I just feel awful because I haven't been here at all this summer. I should have been here for him…"

"Don't sorry. He wouldn't want to acknowledge that fact you were even stronger than him while he was sick. And you needed a break, too. I can't lose you too, you know." I playfully nudged him and he grabbed at me at the sides, a place I've always been ticklish. I tripped forwards laughing and he caught me just in time before I knocked myself silly. He had horrible balance and after catching me I succeeded in pulling him down to the ground with me.

We sat there laughing just like old times and the weight on my shoulders seemed to give a little slack. I hadn't realized how much I missed him this summer, now it was just us. We used to be a three-piece suit and now it's just us. The two of us. I relinquished a sigh big enough for both of us and stood up. I smiled at him and spoke a wordless thank you then walked into my house's white-fenced yard; when I turned he was still sitting on the ground.

School will start again soon; I hope high-school isn't as bad as I've heard. We're all a full year behind for missing so much school due to the final confrontation of Kingdom Hearts.

The viewing is tomorrow, I'm not sure if I'll be able to go. Hopefully, with Selphie and the so-called "man" by my side I'll be able to say good-bye to one of my best friends.

The day after is the funeral will be one of the hardest days of my life. None-the-less I will move on. I'm sure he wouldn't be too pleased to know I was crying for him.

I will always cry for him, because he cried for me. I'll cry because I loved him once and while of course I was young, I still truly loved him, and I probably will always wish we were together.

Love is just funny like that, not ha-ha funny mind you, ironic funny. Love twists words around in sentences you already have planned, it makes you blush when there is no reason to, love makes you shiver even though it's hot outside and it makes you say things you might regret later. Love is an ode to cruelty, and a dance for hearts to shatter to, it ruins lives but glues them together, love is a literal contradiction, not to mention, a funeral of hearts.

Read and review please. (: