AN: This contains Taira near the beginning, but is predominantly Yamara. If you're a Rabid Taira Fan Who Flames Yamara Indiscriminately, flame at risk of public ridicule on the forum. If you're that offended by Yamara, USE THE BACK BUTTON! ::enunciating:: Not that hard.
Now for the other thing that could offend some ppl... this is a songfic. To a religious song. I excised the reeeally blatantly religious verse, but there are still some implications. Read the note for flamers above.
Sora knelt weeping in front of Tai's gravestone. He had made a brave stand against a gang war. But occaisionally courage isn't enough.
spoke a quiet voice.
He was a good friend,Matt said in the small consolation that was all he could do.
More than that.
We rise again from ashes
From the good we've failed to do
We rise again from ashes
To make ourselves anew
If all our world is ashes
Then must our lives be true?
An offering of ashes
An offering to you
Sora, stop beating yourself up. You know Tai. For all he was your fiancé, you couldn't hold him back.
I could have done more. Told him there was no way he could stand up to all those people.
We offer you our failures
We offer you attempts
The gifts not fully given
The dreams not fully dreamt
Give our sufferings direction
Give our visions wider veiw
An offering of ashes
An offering to you
While we're recriminating helplessly, I could have done more too. I could have followed Tai and died too, but given him a bit of moral support as I fell.
The sarcasm was palpable.
Instead, I vowed to end this stupid war by other means. And Tai's death only strengthened my resolve.
Sora's face was still tear-streaked, but her crying lessened.
Will you honor Tai's memory? Matt quietly asked.
Yes, I will. replied Sora with the same quiet resolve. Or rather, we will.
Then rise again from ashes
Let healing come to pain
Though spring has turned to winter
And sunshine turned to rain
The rain we'll use for growing
To create the world anew
From an offering of ashes
An offering to you
Thus was formed the most famous husband-wife team of peacemakers in the gang-wracked Tokyo of the early 21st century.