Chapter Nine: Funerals and Reveries

Naturally, despite all of the shocking truths that had been dumped on her, Serena was forced to continue on. However, her resolution not to lose or succumb helped her through it. She bore this new knowledge with fortitude, and forced herself to focus on preparing herself for her parents' funerals. She knew that it would be difficult for her to see them cold and dead, even though she'd seen them both during their last moments.

The blonde knew that her friends were worried about her; they'd been calling nonstop, always asking her if she was all right, if there was anything they could do. She wanted to tell them everything, but she also knew that that path was out of the question. They were safer not knowing.

The day after Diane had revealed the secrets of her mother's family to her, Serena went to her father's funeral. It was as painful as she'd predicted. Sammy had ended up bawling like an infant, and Maria had wept a great deal as well. Serena had managed to cry silently, but her tears flowed like a river. She only vaguely heard people speak their condolences and their memories of her father. It was like a wall had formed around her, keeping her in an almost dazed state.

After the graveside service, she, for some reason, decided to stay behind. Maria had been concerned, but Serena insisted that she wanted to be left alone. Serena wasn't sure why she wanted to remain behind; it wasn't like her father was going to start pounding on the coffin, demanding to be let out.

Serena stared in silence at her father's grave. The sun beat down on her head. She frowned. It was abominable that the sun was shining on a day like this. It should have been raining with freezing cold winds. But no, the weather mocked her; the sun shone warmly while her heart felt like ice in her chest.

So immersed was she in her thoughts that she didn't notice when the sky started to darken. Time had no meaning to her. All she could think about was how she had to accept that her father was gone, and how she couldn't accept it. She'd thought that she'd finished with denial, but apparently, it was not so.

Finally, a faint breeze pulled her from her trance. Serena looked around. It had gotten late; the moon was starting to rise. So she knelt down next to the grave and whispered, "Goodbye…Daddy." Then, she stood, turned, and walked away.

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Amara was worried. She knew that Serena was sad about losing her father, and that it had been a shock for her to find out that her mother had died; that was to be expected. But the Inners had told her, Michelle, and Trista about Serena's frightening episode; by all accounts, she'd become hysterical and started screaming. That was in no way normal.

The wind soldier was taking a walk through the streets, trying to think on how she could help her kitten. It hurt her to think of sweet, pure, happy Serena going through the pain she was suffering. For a millisecond, she almost wished Seiya were there; her was annoying, but he could make her Princess smile, and Serena hadn't had much of a reason to smile. Amara wished she could give her a reason.

However, Amara pushed the thought of Seiya away. Sure, Darien had pretty much made sure Crystal Tokyo was history when he did what he did, but at least he wasn't an alien. Yeah, the Starlights had protected her Princess when no one else could, but she still disliked them.

The wind soldier was about to head home when she saw a familiar figure coming up the sidewalk. It was Serena. However, this Serena was not the happy, bouncy girl she had been almost a week ago. Serena's face was pale and tearstained, her hair left to tumble down her back and cascade around her knees. That was when Amara remembered; her kitten's father's funeral had been today. But it should have been long over by now.

"Kitten?" she called.

Serena lifted her head at the sound. "Amara," she said softly. "What brings you here?"

"I was taking a walk. But what about you? It's not safe for you to be walking around after dark."

"I could say the same for you," Serena replied with a weak chuckle. The chuckle turned into a choked sob.

In a rare moment of gentleness, the older girl wrapped the other in a hug. "How do you feel?" she asked.

"Like my life's crashing down around me."

"I'm sorry you have to go through this. If I could do something about it, I'd do it in a heartbeat."

"I know you would."

"Would you like me to get you home?"

"Sure."

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Two days later, Serena attended her mother's funeral. This one was just as painful as her father's, but easier to get through. Her friends had insisted on being there for her, despite her assurances that she would be fine. They weren't going to let her wander streets by herself anymore.

That day, the weather was appropriate; it was pouring down rain. The sky was dark with gloom, and everything was covered in a heavy coat of rainwater. Serena stood safely under the shelter of the umbrellas her friends had brought, leaning on them for support. As she left, she murmured softly, that no one might hear her, "Mother, why all the secrets? Fighting alone is never the way to win." She sighed softly as she thought of what was to come.

Rae heard the sigh, and placed a hand on her shoulder. "It'll be all right, Serena. We're all here for you," she whispered.

Serena smiled at her hot-tempered friend. "I know. It's just hard."

"I understand."