Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha
Passing
Xx~~*~~xX
Grey clouds hung in the air, threatening to release their stored precipitation on the small crowd below. But for whatever reason they decided hold back as if they, too, were paying their respects as part of the solemn ceremony currently in progress.
"Thanks for organizing all this, Fate-chan," Nanoha said, wiping her eyes. "It means a lot to Vivio."
"It was no problem," Fate replied, studying the other woman, then sighing and embarcing her. "But don't hold back; I know he meant a lot to you, too. It's okay; we all loved him"
"Oh Fate-chan..." Nanoha managed to get out, her voice cracking, a few tears leaking out. "He wasn't with us long enough... and every time I remember holding his small, furry body... I can't help it..."
Fate patted the other woman's back. "There, there, it's okay, let it all out."
"S-sorry, I promised myself I wouldn't break down like this," Nanoha said, pulling back a bit as her own daughter was crying and clutching at Nanoha's black dress; she had to be the strong one right now.
The little girl could barely speak through her crying. "M-mama... h-he- was..."
Nanoha crouched down to hug her daughter. "It's okay, dear, we all felt the same."
"I m-miss Yu-Yu..." she started to say, then broke down again.
"We all do," her mother replied softly, stroking the young child's hair and back.
On the other side of the grave, Vita sighed and shifted uncomfortably in her small, black dress. "I don't see why we have to go through all this. I mean, sure I miss him, too, but..."
Hayate reached over and hugged the girl, nearly suffocating her against her stomach, sniffling. "We know how you feel, too, Vita, it's okay. I didn't know him as well as I'd like, but you had more contact with him. So if I feel sad because-" she paused, her voice cracking a bit, "-because I didn't know him enough, didn't make time to get to know better, I..."
She broke down, burying her face in Vita's hair, while the little girl managed to find a way to breathe and hug her in response.
Signum placed a hand on Hayate's shoulder, noting the little Takamachi girl and Nanoha crying across the way, and sighed. "He will be missed. While life must be treasured while we are alive, it can also be celebrated in death."
Shamal wiped her eyes with a tissue, but twin trails of wetness continued down her cheeks. "If only there was something I could have done... all my medical knowledge, and I couldn't save him!"
"I know you did everything you could," Hayate declared through tears, releasing Vita and turning to hug Shamal; the two women cried together.
"We are gathered here to remember someone special," Lindy announced gesturing toward the casket with her gaze, which began to lower. "He wasn't with as long as we'd like, but he was near and dear to each of us. He didn't seem to do much on the surface, but his subtle actions affected us all. And so, we commit his body to the ground, then his spirit may join with the ethereal mana all around us, and thus live forever in our hearts."
Vivio suddenly broke from Nanoha and clutched at the casket. "NO! I don't want him to go!"
Nanoha and Fate were suddenly there, gently pulling her away and hugging her.
"It's okay, Vivio," Fate offered. "It was his time."
"I... loved him a lot, too, dear," Nanoha soothed, sniffling. "But we'll stop by the pet store tomorrow to pick you up another pet ferret."
"I don't want another ferret!" Vivio cried. "I want my Yusho back!"
Yuuno sighed. He missed the Takamachi pet ferret, too; he almost felt some kinship to it, and was honored when Vivio named her after him.
Xx~~*~~xX
Author's notes:
April Fools! =D
