Btw, my new KnB story is up. It's an assassin au titled Deadly Shadows in case you want to check it out. And yes, the title sucks.
Anyway...Thanks for all the comments so far. I'm looking forward to the new ones already!
Btw, if there is something you want to see in this or another story, you can ask. I may or may not comply though. Also, if you have any questions, feel free to ask.
And again, I try to keep things pretty realistic both medical and tradition wise (although the latter is probably a major fail...) but if anything seems off to you whether you know for sure it's wrong or just think it might be, please let me know. It would be a big help.
Okay. I'll stop talking now so you can read what you clicked to read in the first place!
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"Tetsuya, it's time." Akashi woke the sleeping bluenette. It was Wednesday, 8 A.M., day of the funeral. Of course, Tetsuya didn't reply. He hadn't spoken since Saturday and he still hadn't eaten. Akashi wondered if he even had the strength to reply sometimes, but it was no use asking.
"Come in Daiki, Taiga." He called and the two mentioned teens entered. Both were already dressed in suits and Kagami carried a spare suit while Aomine pushed a wheel chair with a portable oxygen tank attached. They dressed Kuroko in the suit and Akashi placed him in the wheel chair.
"Is that everything?" Aomine asked shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
"Think so." Kagami replied and lightly ruffled Kuroko's hair. He half hoped the boy would get mad, but he remained expressionless as ever.
"Let's go then." Aomine held the door open and Akashi pushed the chair into the hall way with Kagami behind. The rest of the GOM was waiting for them in the hall while the rest of Seirin would meet them at the cemetery.
Beside the GOM stood four men, Hiroki's team, who had just flew in from their post in Africa. Akashi had spoken to Ihejirika on the phone and informed them where to meet with Kuroko.
"You must be Kuroko-sans team, correct?" Akashi addressed the four men. A black man dressed in what Akashi assumed was some type of African attire stepped forward and bowed.
"Yes. I am Ihejirika, the one you spoke to on the phone. I assume you are Akashi?" Ihejirika spoke after straitening. He spoke in English since not all of the team spoke fluent Japanese. Only Hiroki's team, Akashi, Midorima, Kagami, and Kuroko could actually understand what was being said. Kagami quietly translated for the other members of the gom.
"Yes. And you are?" Akashi answered in English as well before throwing the other three men a questioning glance. The shortest of the men, Bishan from India, stepped forward and introduced himself with a bow as well.
"I am Bishan."
"My name is Hadrian." A man with a French accent bowed next.
Last was a German man who bowed more hesitantly before speaking. "Kasimir."
Akashi nodded and bowed slightly in return.
"Where is Tetsuya?" Ihejirika asked. To everyone's surprise, it was Kuroko who answered.
"Hai. Here."
The group looked down at the boy in the chair and did their eyes widened. Akashi had given them the basics, but it was different in person. After a few minutes were wasted to process it all, Ihejirika walked up to Kuroko and bowed at a full ninety degree angle.
"I'm so sorry Tetsuya. Your father was a wonderful man and a great co-worker. Believe me when I tell you we all miss him dearly." As he spoke, the other men bowed deeply, although they didn't get on the ground. Kuroko shook his head while Akashi told the man to straighten. Kuroko reached out his hand which Ihejirika took in his own.
"Thank you for staying with him. And thank you as well Bishan-san. Ihejirika-san said you were with him too." Kuroko let the tears fall as he squeezed the African man's hand. Bishan nodded.
"Dr. Midorimacchi is here" Kise announced, drawing the attention away from the prior situation and giving Kuroko a moment to compose himself.
"Are we ready to go?" Dr. Midorima asked and they all nodded. They made their way to the limos waiting outside and got in. No one spoke during the ride and Kuroko took the time to rest in Akashi's lap.
"We're here." Akashi announced as he woke the sleeping boy in his lap. Kuroko nodded. They were greeted by Seirin who had arrived a few minutes prior. A few whispers spread among the team since many of them hadn't seen Kuroko since the game. Riko silences them with one evil glare though and it was silent again.
They made their way to the tent where the proceedings would occur. Since Kuroko was the only family member and didn't want to sit alone, Akashi, Kagami, and Aomine sat in the front row with him. Hiroki's team took the second row and the rest of the GOM and Seirin took the remaining rows. Dr. Midorima took a seat in the very back so he wouldn't be in the way.
"I guess it's a good thing we came." Hyūga whispered to no one in particular. Kiyoshi and Riko who were next to him nodded.
"It's just us, the GOM, and I'm guessing his coworkers." Kiyoshi observed. "It's kind of lonely since only five people here even knew the man."
"Hush guys. It's about to start." Riko hissed and they all went silent.
The priest began and Kuroko gripped Akashi and Kagami's hands tightly. It was a short speech and no Eulogies were given since Kuroko wasn't strong enough and no one else felt like they could. Once the priest stepped aside, it was the chance for the viewing. Akashi pushed Kuroko up to the casket followed by Ihejirika, Bishan, Hadrian, and Kasimir.
"Sei-kun…." Kuroko whispered and looked up at the red head. "Could you help me stand?"
Akashi nodded and placed his arm around Kuroko. Kuroko's body shook despite barely holding any of his own weight and dizziness hit him like a giant wave. As it passed, the bluenette bent over till his lips touched his father's eyelid. He placed a gentle kiss on it and then on the other eyelid, the way his father did for him at bed time when he was little. As he pulled away, his lips curled into the tiniest of smiles despite the tears in his eyes.
"Good night Otou-san." He whispered almost inaudibly. He caressed his father's cheeks with his free hand for a moment before turning to Akashi who placed him back in the chair. Akashi whispered a quiet thank you to the man and wheeled Kuroko away.
After those who wished to view had finished, Ihejirika, Bishan, Hadrian, Akashi, Kagami, and Aomine picked up the casket. Kasimir was injured so he couldn't carry it. Akashi took one of the front positions in Kuroko's place and Midorima pushed Kuroko's wheel chair. The rest filed in behind and they made their way to the grave site.
The rest was quick since the clouds above were beginning to break. The casket was placed in the ground and everyone threw in a handful of dirt. The priest said a few more words and then it was over.
As everyone else walked away, Akashi stayed with Kuroko by the grave.
"We can stay as long as you want Tetsuya." Akashi told the crying bluenette. Kuroko shook his head.
"It's starting to rain." Kuroko commented.
"I have an umbrella." Akashi pulled out a black umbrella from under the chair and opened it.
"We shouldn't keep the others waiting though."
Akashi tilted Kuroko's chin so they were looking eye to eye. "Tetsuya. If you aren't ready to leave yet then we won't. We will stay as long as you need to. It's not about them or me, it's about you." He spoke sternly earning a small sad smile from his lover.
"Thank you Sei-kun. Perhaps a few minutes longer please."
"Of course. Take your time."
They stayed motionless for a while watching the men fill the hole with dirt. The rain fell as if mirroring Kuroko's tears. It wasn't until the hole had been mostly filled up that Kuroko nodded to Akashi that he was ready to go.
"Good bye Otou-san…" Kuroko whispered as he was wheeled away.
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Well that was kind of hard to write. Hit a bit close to home and all but I mostly like how it turned out. I chose a more christian/american style funeral since it was simpler than trying to get the customs right for a Japanese funeral. Since his father works overseas in this story and some funerals are done that way in Japan, I figured it would be okay.