Chapter 10

Ypres, Belgium; 7:55 PM

BOOM!

Another cloud of smoke appeared in the town center. People screamed and ran. Yuri and Alice stumbled from the smoke, everyone else followed behind.

"Why in the hell did we have to use the teleport Margarete?"

Yuri questioned as he stopped himself from falling forward anymore and helped his wife to keep steady and take some good breathes.

"Because we would have never reached here in time…"

Margarete answered with an innocent tone. Alice looked back to her and the others.

"Where are we?"

"We're in Ypres."

Alice turned back when her husband answered her question. She then saw he was then looking forward at a huge arch in the distance. He then spoke again. He pointed his finger towards it.

"…And that's the Menin Gate."

He then turned to face Margarete.

"Am I correct in guessing why you brought us here?"

Margarete nodded and smiled. Yuri nodded but did not smile.

"What's the time?"

Margarete quickly looked to her watch.

"Five minutes to eight."

Yuri thought to himself to a minute. He then looked to everyone.

"Come on, we've got to see this."

He then took his wife's hand, and led the way to the Menin Gate. Everyone followed. Lily came to Kain's side.

"What is the Menin Gate?"

Kain looked to Lily.

"It's a war memorial. I won't tell you the exact details on why your mother brought us here, because I don't want to spoil it."

Lily nodded. She then asked him again.

"How many names?"

"Hmmm?"

"Well, all great war memorials I've been to have names. How many does this one have?"

Kain thought to himself for a minute, and then answered.

"Fifty-four thousand, eight-hundred and ninety-six."

Lily went silent with shock; they then continued to walk on. Once they arrived, a huge crowd had formed. They all found a way to the front then stood and waited in silence.

"Why are these people gathering?"

Alice and Lily both asked to same question to Kain and Yuri. They both replied.

"You'll see…"

Then, at the strike of eight o' clock in the evening, a man stepped out into the middle of the road and stopped the traffic. He then stepped back, and with a powerful voice shouted over the noise.

"Quiet please!"

Everyone then fell dead silent. Four men then stepped out and lifted up their bugles, took a deep breath; and began to play the Last Post. The song played at every soldier's funeral. Once they stopped, a man stepped out and faced them. He then said.

"They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the setting of the sun and in the morning, we shall remember them…"

He then stood away again, and the men began to play again. During this second part, people with poppy wreaths walked across the road and walked up some steps to a shelf that held many other wreaths. They placed them on the shelf, gave a little bow; and walked back. The ceremony then finished and the traffic resumed as normal and everyone walked away.

Alice looked to her husband to see him crying. She gasped in shock.

"Yuri…are you…?"

He looked away for a minute, and then answered.

"Yes Alice, I am crying."

[Authors Note: Hi Guys! Yeah, that was a short chapter; call it a mini special. I might post more in the future. Do not think though I am counting that as an actual update. Nope, I will still post a new one tomorrow (Saturday). Mini specials can come on any day, the day before, the day after; or even on the same day as the actual update!]

[Extra Authors Note: All right Guys, I am holding a competition. The aim is I want you to write a one-shot (aka one chapter story) about Yuri on the front line. It can be no shorter then 1000 words. The winner will get a sneak peak of what has to come and a chance to do another fan-fiction with me! Ends March 31st, good luck!]