'No More Sorrow'
Chapter 7
Cemetery
I yawn and stare up at the ceiling. It's a brand new day and it's pouring out. Great. I whip off the blankets and sheets and stumble to the door, lifting up the pajama top a bit to see the ice in perfect condition. I nod happily and exit, walking gradually down the early morning lit hall and staircase, traveling to the living room and plopping onto the couch, snatching the remote and flipping through TV channels. There's an anime, there's a news channel, sports, weather, and finally one news channel with a rather disturbing headline. I raise the volume and lean in towards the screen, still having the coffee table and some floor distance in between.
"Is it really okay for engineers to 'plow down' the Kai Cemetery with all the relatives, loved ones, friends, cousins, uncles, boyfriends, and even young girlfriends Resting In Peace in their graves? We find protestors are at the scene and objecting to this unfair and unjust act to the memory of those buried in that very place. One woman even brought a gun to the scene to reassure that her dead son's grave will not be disgraced by this threat of construction."
I slump back. Kai Cemetery is where…I push up and leave the TV on, Mommy still sleeping and Kaki still devilishly planning in her room from lack of sleep. I swing the door open and ditch the umbrellas, dashing into the slippery cement towards the Cemetery. I cannot let them destroy that area. That's where Dad lies.
Get Away
I pant and huff as I near the black towering gates. Construction vehicles are all lined up in front of the gates and bystanders gather. I push through, screaming 'No, No, NO' over and over until I get to the front, dashing past the gates with a flower bundle I picked up along the way tight in my right fist. Someone tries to stop me, but I hurry past and slip on some mud, the cold seeping through the pajama top (yeah, I know) and my body shivering. I shake it off and kick myself up, skidding to a halt in front of a grey, weathered tombstone.
Here Lies
Isis Kia
Depressed and alone, so he couldn't see the road.
Beloved Father, Husband, Son, Brother, Friend
WE MISS U DADDY!
I kneel down to trace the messy letters from all those years ago at his funeral. I carved those in with permission from the church, them saying it was a good way to let him know that I'd always have him in my heart. So I traced these letters with my seven-year-old writing skills and this is the result, a weathered tombstone about to be plowed down. I stand and clutch the bouquet. I huff and start singing a song I heard once and it reminded me of this in a way my old man would find humorous.
"I will not make the same mistakes that you did.
I will not let myself cause my heart so much misery."
People catch the tune and turn to me, gasping at the sight of blood dripping out of my mouth. It's happening, but I don't care.
"I will not break the way you did
You fell so hard
I've learned the hard way to never let it get that far.
Because of you I never stray too far from the sidewalk!
Because of you I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt."
Some people who know English start to join in due to their shared woe and misery.
"Because of you I find it hard to trust not only me but everyone around me!
Because of you I am afraid…
I loose my way and it's not too long before you point it out
I cannot cry
Because I know that's weakness in your eyes
I'm forced to fake a smile, a laugh everyday of my life
My heart can't possibly break
When it wasn't even whole to start with!
Because of you I never stray too far from the sidewalk!
Because of you I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt!
Because of you I find it hard to trust not only me but everyone around me!
Because of you I am afraid…
I watched you die
I heard you cry every night in your sleep
I was so young
You should have known better than to lean on me
You never thought of anyone else
You just saw your pain
And now I cry in the middle of the night for the same DMN thing!
Because of you I never stray too far from the sidewalk.
Because of you I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt!
Because of you I try my hardest just to forget everything!
Because of you I don't know how to let anyone else in!
Because of you I'm ashamed of my life because it's empty!
Because of you I am afraid…
Because of you."
Taking a short breath, I see a few bystanders crying and those few whispering to others, making them cry and pass it on.
"Because of you."
The rain falls and I cough up blood, one of the construction workers sighing. "Look, everyone needs to get home! I don't want you ending up like that poor girl! We'll move the graves before we start just go!"
I shake my head and stand in front of Dad's grave. "YOU'RE NOT DISTURBING THEIR REST!" People nod and throw fists into the air. "THEY WERE BURIED HERE AND WE WANT THEM TO STAY-"-COUGH, COUGH-"THAT WAY!"
Bystanders start to come inside, standing next to people and standing strong. The rain beats down harder and people share umbrellas, but of course there are the heartless who remain outside and cheering for it to go on, which I find WAY over the line (more over the line than 'X' Negative). I sit next to Dad's grave and set the bouquet down in front of the 'WE MISS U DADDY' message, hugging my knees and whispering the song over and over. Like I said, my dad would have found that song funny in this situation. He would've said 'you know Maki everyone has to laugh at times otherwise they'll just grow up to be old sourpusses' and then he'd do this weird, constipated looking face and Mom and I'd laugh and have a good time. That's not the case anymore. I can no longer see that kind smile, those glittering eyes…hug him at night as he wished for the guardians of good to protect Mommy and I. I won't let Dad be disturbed in rest. Not now. Not ever.
"DUDE!" I scream, construction workers staring at me. "DON'T YOU SEE IT'S POURING OUT? DON'T YOU SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME TO PROTECT THIS CEMETERY!" People stand and nod. The construction workers all cock their heads. "WE CARE ABOUT OUR LOVED ONES! YOU CAN'T-"-COUGH, HACK BLOOD, COUGH-"TAKE THEM TO SOME OTHER PLACE WHEN THEY WERE BURIED HERE FIRST! YOU CAN'T!"
I feel someone's hand on my shoulder and look up, slightly frightened. It's Kukai. "Yo!" he smiles. "Need some help?"
I nod and he sits down next to me (not on my father's grave DUH). "Thanks," I shiver.
He nods and holds his umbrella over me, slumping a warm coat over my trembling shoulders. A few representatives stand from the cemetery and walk to the gates, stopping before the line and talking to the workers about something.
Get Away
After a few hours, the representatives both return with PSSED looks all over their faces. Kukai rubs my back for warmth and I stare at the soggy grass below us. Why would anyone want to plow down a cemetery? I mean that's just plain cold, don't 'cha agree? The rain's still falling and we're still here, the construction workers trying to get us out under peaceful circumstances. Honestly I feel like stapling their heads to a furnace and leaving them there just because of all this haste so early in the morning and about plowing down graves. Besides, dead bodies under a place? Who wants the place smelling like a mummy's tomb in Egypt? I sigh and hug my ribs, hacking up yet more blood that splatters all over the grass. The abdomen is frigid as Heck to certain people and my exhales turn to frost in mid-air. Why is it this cold for me, but nobody else? Is it Sorrow? Is it the 'X' Negative?
"MAKI-SAN!"
I look up to see Nana and Quartz flying over, both stopping in front of me without a single breath lost. "Guys?" I whisper. "What are you doing here?"
"WHY THE HECK DID YOU RUN OFF!" Quartz gasps, falling backwards in the air to float on her back.
I chuckle and hold out a hand, so Nana flies onto the palm and Quartz gradually lies on the palm as well, just on her back. "Do you know what this place is?" I ask kindly. Nana and Quartz look around with their big iliac or teal eyes, looking up to me with transparent confusion. "This is a cemetery, where people are buried, and people want to tear it down."
"What?" Nana squeaks. I nod. "Why?"
I shrug and Daichi flies over to us. "Hey Kukai, you could've woken me up!"
"Sorry Daichi," Kukai laughs nervously, scratching the back of his neck. "I just wanted to help out protecting the cemetery."
I grin and stare up into the umbrella, Kukai clutching the trembling handle to make sure he doesn't go numb and not be able to be sure if he dropped it or not if turned around. Nana sits on my damp head and Quartz starts remaking the clothes into something warmer and less mud-covered, so I'm eventually wearing a black turtleneck, dark jeans, the black combat boots with silver buckles, and a simple gray jacket with one button in the middle and long sleeves rolled up and sewn to match my arm length. Quartz rests on my knee in front of my chest and stares at the flowers in front of the grave.
"Hey Maki," I hear Kukai mutter, "who's grave is this anyways?"
"My dad's," I mumble.
He nods. "I'm sorry for your loss. I hope he's having a good rest."
"Not for long if these construction DCKS don't clear out."
"Maybe someone's paying them to do this?"
"They get paid for everything they do," I remind him. "It'd have to be something else. Blackmail maybe."
He shrugs and Daichi with Nana start cheering on the protest efforts. Quartz plays a tiny flute, her being my wish for culture and all (meaning music, books [even though she's a bit of an airhead], art, ext.). I yawn and stand up to stretch, Kukai following this example because we might be here longer than anyone would guess.
Get away
The watch on Kukai's wrist ticks with annoyance. It's really only been ten minutes of sitting around in the rain with silence. I sigh and keep my ground, until I see a umbrella come around with a glint of blue. I focus on that instead of what the construction workers are devising and watch as it enters the graveyard. It walks over to us so I'm able to see the midnight hair and the black school uniform with belts (I believe) wrapped around the legs in a rather random fashion. "Ikuto?" I raise a brow.
I hear his famous chuckle and Kukai stands with alarm. "Relax," Ikuto smirks. He sits on the opposite side of the grave and smirks at me. "Hello Maki. Is this your dad's grave?"
Wow. Straight out question. I nod, a little stunned honestly. Ikuto nods as well and turns to the gates, watching the construction crew get into their vehicles and some remain on the side lines. I turn to Ikuto. "Why are you here?" I wonder.
He smiles kindly as if yesterday never happened. "I want to help you."
"Me," I point to my chest. He nods. "You want to help me, Maki Kia?" He nods again. "Well, alright…just no funny business!"
"Why would I in a cemetery?" he wonders.
I shrug. "You're just like that I guess."
I hear motors start and turn to the gates. CRP. "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IF YOU DO NOT LEAVE NOW, WE'RE GOING TO PLOW YOU DOWN TO!"
Kukai turns to me and I stay put. I'm not moving from this spot. I cough up some blood and Ikuto rubs my back in an attempt to make me feel better. I weakly stand, making Ikuto and Kukai stare at me, and I slip something from my sleeve, cool and sharp. I prick my thumb and feel the warmness drip down to the grass. Kukai places a hand on the letter opener. "Hey, stop that. It's not good."
I dig it in deeper. Ikuto stands, shaking my right shoulder. "Hey, snap out of it."
"USELESS…USE less…Useless…useless…"
"Useless…"
"Maki, not this again," Ikuto shakes it more aggressively.
"Dude what are you doing?" Kukai stands.
"Maki!"
People turn to see the blood fall. "Dead…dead…dead…"
"D…De…"
"MAKI!"
I see the blurry shape of a construction worker speeding over. I turn my head slowly to the tombstone. "USELESS DEAD! USELESS!"
I watch the rain beat down on the silk-soft petals. I feel drained of all life, but at least I have reason. I scrunch my eyes tight and sneeze, the force making me drop the knife and take a stride back. I clutch my head and sneeze again. That's when people start shouting, and shouting, and shouting, and-
"WAKE UP ALREADY!"
I open my eyes wide to the ceiling, looking around to my room. Without paying any heed to Ikuto, I dash out of the room and turn the TV on.
"Well, construction for the Kai Cemetery will proceed as planned," the spokesperson announces. "Due to the collapse of a twelve-year-old who went in her pajamas to save a grave therefore made them decide to move the graves and tombstones to a nearby location…"
I drop the remote and blink. I failed to save Dad's resting place.
A.N: Okay, several things…
1) SHOULD I PUT DEATH REBEL SOMEWHERE? YES OR NO?
2) I'm a bit hyper when it comes to idea cramming in my head
3) Someone help me with the idea cramming, because I swear I thought of nothing but doing a third one and we're on chapter 7. That's NOT good people! IDEA CRAMMING HURTS!
4) I hope you enjoyed this chapter
5) I have to thank Dayfeather, xDemonChickx, and Nightstream of StormClan for their reviews.
6)Song is 'Because of You' by Kelly Klarkson (I THINK that's how you spell it...) suggested by Nightstream of StormClan (well, she gave three suggestions for the 'Maki's Song' concept and I picked that out of the three for this chap) but she still suggested it!
One last thing…
7) PLEASE REVIEW! Who doesn't love reviews u know?
