So guys...summer. No school. That's great and all, but I'm a little upset with all I have to do anyway. Vacations are great and all, but I also have to take classes...why can't school just leave summer alone? Why does it have to interfere with what is supposed to be break time? At the same time, though, my mom is probably right in saying I'll be bored out of my mind. As soon as this story is over, I won't be able to write again until I'm hit with some spark of inspiration, and the down time in between writing is torturous. I'll probably be doing a lot of reading this summer. There has to be something to pass the time, right? Obviously there's friends, but it's not like they live across the street or anything. I can't see them every day. Even if I did, it'd probably grow to be a pain and I don't want that.
Onto what you actually came here for.
The sky overhead floats blue, grey rainclouds lurking in the distance prepared to encroach at a moment's notice. The wind sits still, and the sun glares down. As I step out from the car, birds rush to sing their songs before the oncoming storm rolls in.
It's the day of the funeral.
I smooth out my dress awkwardly. All the fabric in contact with my skin had to be cotton, considering it's one of the few materials I know I can touch, but around the waist silver lace wraps like a belt. The skirt flows down a little past my knees, and the thin straps are covered with the same silver lace as the midsection. Sayu saw this dress when she brought me out shopping, and insisted it was made for me. Neither of us had in mind a funeral when we bought it.
Of course, with it I still wear my leather gloves and boots. Sayu had wanted me to wear a pretty silver necklace of hers, but since I wasn't sure if it'd stay around my neck or fall through me, I had to refuse. She allowed it because my 'tattoo' already looks like a choker.
"Shall we?" I look over to Light standing next to me, his hand extended to escort me. He's dressed in his finest suit, which is expected for such an occasion; however, his presence strikes me as absurd. I'm not mistaken to think that Kira is responsible for the death of Ryuzaki. No one on the team doubts it. For L's killer to be present at his funeral is nothing less than ridiculous, and yet, here he is. And he even wears a saddened expression.
"I can't even remember this person," I sigh, disguising a grimace. I take his hand anyway, allowing him to lead me inside. The building is a catholic chapel, designed to mimic the gothic architecture of olden Europe. Its spires stretch towards the sky as if to spear it. Its shadow, taller than itself, casts off to the left of the structure. A beautiful place it is, certainly. But its grandness seems to swallow anything joyful that dares approach it, leaving the atmosphere surrounding it heavy with grief.
The inside is alight with color, caused by sunlight streaming through the stained glass. Somehow, though, the reds and yellows and blues serve to only make the shadows seems all the darker. Before the altar is a sleek black casket, surrounded by black and white roses. None of the colored lighting reaches the coffin.
There aren't many here. There's only us, from the investigation team, and a priest of some religion prepared to perform the service. I'm the only girl in the room.
And then there's the person lying in the open casket. From where Light and I stand in the entrance, I can just barely see strands of black hair poking over the rim. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep the image of that boy out of my mind. My only recollection of what he looks like comes from that picture I saw that day in the investigation office, but every time I recall the photograph, my chest collapses with pain. I don't want that to keep happening, and I definitely do not want to experience it on such a solemn occasion. Something about everyone's mood already has proven suffocating enough.
"I'm going to go join my father, if that's alright," Light tells me, releasing my hand.
"That's fine," I mumble, holding my now free hand in my other. "I'm sure he needs the comfort of his son at his side right now."
With an appreciative nod, he sits beside his father in the back row. I scan the area, unsure where to sit. They're the only two together, all of the others spread out to grieve alone.
Taking a deep breath in, I walk to the front and take a seat in the first row. Then I begin to regret my decision. Maybe I should go sit in the back. I mean, I might have known him in the past, but the me now doesn't know who this dead man is. Just me being here feels a little...dishonest.
A thought crosses my mind and I turn to Matsuda, who's situated only a few rows behind me. "Matsuda?" He lifts his head, his eyes faintly red, but dry. As if he's trying not to cry. "Where….where is his family? And friends?"
"Don't know," he mutters, voice cracking. "We don't have any way of contacting them….if he had any of them…"
Gradually, I nod, twisting back to face the front. I see. This man….he's kind of like me. He's alone in the world. The only people to even show up at his funeral are his coworkers.
What am I doing? I'm sympathizing with a corpse! Moaning, I rest my forehead against my folded hands. Like this, whoever I was before might as well be dead. What I am right now is little more than the corpse of whomever Kezu was. Kameko is just a parasite surviving inside of this hollowed shell. Of course I can relate to a corpse. I myself am one!
I lift my head when the priest clears his throat, claiming the attention of everyone. "Should I begin?"
"Wait!" Light jolts from his seat, his outburst startling his father next to him. "Can I….I want to look at his body before we start."
The priest waves him the go ahead and he approaches the casket. I must say, his acting skills are superb. Everything about him as he passes me speaks of distress. His slumped shoulders, his downcast expression, his hesitant footsteps: anyone would be convinced. As long as they didn't know.
He leans over the coffin, face drawn in despair as he clenches his teeth and fists in mock anger. It isn't too difficult to predict his next move. He's already declared he'd take Ryuzaki's place as the next L, and he'll be able to lead the investigation any which way away from him. He's not thinking about revenge. He's thinking about his victory.
Finally, after a long silence, he leaves the corpse to retire to his seat. Before the priest can speak again, I rise to my feet. It may not be the greatest idea in the world, but I'm curious. I want to gaze upon the face of this man at least once before he's laid to his final rest.
I can't even hear the breathing in the room as I draw closer to the casket. My heeled boots resonate with every step, filling my ears with a peculiar ringing. I pass by the bouquets of roses, contrasting grimly black and white. A few of them rustle as my dress brushes against them, and their gentle scent wafts under my nose.
And then I'm standing at the side of the deathbed, staring down at the unmoving face of the one sleeping there. His black hair looks as if someone has attempted to smooth it down, but it stubbornly refuses, with much of it sticking out in every direction. His suit is of the same color, even the tie as dark as a moonless night. His pale skin makes his ebony eyelashes pop, his pale lips relaxed in a near smile. Even dead, blackish blue bags sit contently beneath his eyes. How he is now….it seems so peaceful. He looks so...beautiful.
"AHHHHH!"
My entire body wracked with agony, I collapse to my knees and cover my head with my arms. My chest! My chest feels like there's a hole drilling into it! There's a knife twisting inside of my lungs! A fire charring me from the inside! And my head! The pressure! Needles swim through my blood and tear at my veins!
My ears pound a high pitch ringing as the shouts of others vaguely bleed through it. But I can't make out their words, nor do I care what they're saying. Somebody! Anybody! Make it stop! Make it go away!
The world before me sways, the light distorting and stretching and blending with the shadows. I scream until my lungs refuse to replenish any air. And then, the world is swallowed by darkness and I feel my head slam against the ground.
Oops. Maybe you shouldn't have done that, Kezu. She's developed a habit of passing out, hasn't she? It's not exactly her fault, though. Anyway, writing this chapter was a delight for me! The imagery! I basically melted while writing it! Sometimes there are moments like this where I finish writing something, and it comes out exactly how I wanted or better. They're such delightful moments! It can be so difficult to convey the precise mood I want sometimes, but I'm extremely satisfied with what I've done here. It was a bit short, though, so I'll apologize about that. I'll do my best to make the next one a bit longer.
Till then, Kisses from Snowyneko! :3 MEOW!
P.S Sorry about the cliffhanger :P