Here's another chapter! Sorry for the lack of updates as of late;;; I'm super swamped with CST/ITE and my internet has been acting up lately for whatever reason... ;-;

I'm thinking ahead a bit and I might have this story be between 15-20 chapters, but I still don't know yet. I don't want to rush things along in the story and leave out some things that might make the story more interesting. But as of now, I really don't know what I should add because I have a lot I want to convey, but I don't know how;;;

If you have anything you want to see or to suggest, let me know! 3

…

In the days that followed Makoto's passing, she was in a trance. Just as everyone else had, she deeply mourned. However, her emotions were haywire, leading to a blank stare and not much talk from her. Mitsuru was first to take action in planning for his funeral. Eventually, most of them took part in the decisions. Where and when to have his tsuya*, funeral and cremation, and where to have him laid to rest. Every time the words were said, she felt herself weaken inside her heart. With every passing minute, she knew he was gone, but she remained in agony.

Nobody knew of any living relatives of his. It was known that his parents already passed. So they did their research on his public records and found they were buried at a temple fairly far from Iwatodai. Upon contacting the temple, they became in contact with a few of his relatives. Although having not known him well, they offered to be of assistance and attendance. And soon, within a short amount of time, the remaining S.E.E.S. members traveled with his corpse to the town where the temple was located. The trip was mostly filled with silence. Nothing much was said and nobody bothered to change that.

...

March 10th, 2010

Late Morning

Temple

…

Black. Everyone was dressed in black. Including Koromaru.

From their seats behind of what relatives did show up, Yukari could see his elaborate display. Thanks to the wealthy Kirijos, it was quite the show. The framing display was aligned in a flashy, golden shine. Dozens upon dozens of colorful flower arrangements, mostly of white lillies and carnations. In the middle of it all, laid his coffin with his framed portrait set atop. It was his school portrait, him in his school uniform with his common front on his face. It didn't do the true him justice.

Her mind was in a flurry. She could hardly pay attention as the priest did his shpeal. With her eyes glued onto Makoto's, he was all she thought about. Him and his unborn son she carried. She had told none but the other girls of the dorm of her state. Not even his relatives knew of the child. And they never will...

It was Fuuka who nudged her when it was time for the burning of the incense. With a blank stare, she lit them, watching deeply into the flames. The scent strongly carried with the rest, but she hardly took any mind. All she did was watch the flame burn further down the stick and the smoke rise into the air. The priest's words were only mumbles to her ears.

Once the end of the tsuya came around, everyone gave their condolences to one another. Some of his relatives talked to the S.E.E.S. members. Most thanked Mitsuru for her financial aid, but not all was directed towards her. The rest of them too got their deepest of prayers, despite their prying on what kind of friend he was. Many otained word on Yukari and his' relationship and surrounded her with both love and prying.

"How did the two of you get together?"

"What kind of lover was he?"

"It must be so hard to lose a lover at such a young age…"

"Did you two have intercourse? You better not have, young lady…"

Even after all those questions, she could hardly remember her responses, let alone most of the conversations. Some were accepting while others were disapproving and judging. It was fairly easy to tell who truly carried for him and who thought of him as a burden.

None of the relatives stayed for vigil, but considering her relationship with him, they welcomed her to, despite against tradition. This too was offered to the rest of S.E.E.S., but they declined for her. So, below the display she laid, looking up at the display from the ground. Light from the looming moon outside gleamed upon the golden frame of his portrait and water shined on the flowers.

"Makoto…" Her voice came out soft, yet hoarse. She hadn't been there for long and tears were already starting to form. Curling up into her futon, she let her wails ring out and the tears stream down her face. Her body trembled. She couldn't stop. The tears kept coming and the sobs kept escaping her throat. Her pain she kept in all day continuously spilled out. Nothing was barricading them now.

"Why…?!" She sat up and sobbed to his portrait. "Why did you leave me?! Why did you leave me with your child?!" She lowered her head to the ground and pounded her fist on the wooden floor. Her banging echoed, by the time one faded off, another sounded.

"Why did you leave me all alone?!" She howled, lifting her head up to him with eyes closed. Salty tears ran into her open mouth as she bawled. His face could hardly be seen from behind all her tears. It made her cry harder, as if his presence had already vanished enough.

With a shaking hand, she reached out to him. With all her might, she tried to grasp what she wanted to believe was still there. He had to be there. He just had to be. There's no way he could just leave her like this. If she could just reach out far enough…

Her body fell to the ground with a loud thud, having reached too far forward. Her elbow throbbed, but not as much as her heart was. Soon, her sobs had slowly decreased into soft heaves. She buried her face into her folded arms, her sounds muffled. Every now and then, her shoulders shook.

"Makoto…" She quietly sobbed, looking into the ground. "I… I want to see you… again…" Giving short sniffles, she wiped her nose on her sleeve, not giving a care.

"If you were still here, I would keep our child…" She continued, her voice tuned low. Lifting her head, she met with his eyes once more.

"We would raise it together…" She gazed deeply into his gray eyes, focusing on them. "We would be a family… With a mother and a father… A-And we would even… get married…" A few tears streamed down her cheeks and she let out a series of sobs before regaining somewhat control.

"I don't know… what to do…" She examined his static gaze. "I know I said I wasn't going to be as weak as my mom, but… Now I know why she was doing what she did... After losing the love of her life, she too was lost… Just like… I am now…"

She tore her gaze from his portrait. So much of her mind was on him. Not that he shouldn't, but it was absurd how much was. Memories of him with her was all she could ever think about. After all that time, those plans to go to the mountains, to Destinyland, all fell through...

"If I knew you were going to go, I would have asked for more…" She gave a soft snort. "Call me selfish. I don't care. I really do wish we would have done more together…" She traced her finger across the hardwood floor, lost in thought.

Letting out a sigh, she looked back up at him. "I don't even know how you'd feel about being a father…" She slowly storked her arms with her fingertips. "You didn't really have much to say about anything. Sometimes, I would wonder if you were even thinking half the time…"

"But I'm fairly certain you would be more careful with your life," She went on to say. "And I guess now you wish you didn't leave for that reason…" She removed her gaze and stroked her hand over her mouth. Considering what happened to his parents, along with her father…

Letting out an exasperated sigh, she sat back up in her futon, her hands clasped in her lap. "If you were only here, maybe I could make a smarter decision…" Taking a moment to look at him one last time, she cracked a small smile before lying down.

As she wrapped her blanket around her body, she swore she felt a familiar warmth surround her.

…

March 11th, 2010

Late Morning

Temple

…

There they were again, standing before his open casket. With the priest's blabber and his relatives.

Not feeling quite as different from the day prior, everything felt like deja vu to her. The priest was chanting a sutra again. Incenses were burned in offering. His relatives were talking of what they remember of his life. Nothing much gave her enough interest, other than her lover in the casket before them.

When the ceremony ended and everyone else had a turn to say their farewells, she approached at last.

Just as he was merely weeks ago, his face was young and relaxed, his eyes closed. His deep blue locks were neatly brushed, a bit neater than he had it. His body was dressed in a black suit and his hands clasped together utop his torso. A smile softly spread across her lips. He was just as dashy as he was when they were last together.

She resisted the urge to reach out and stroke his face. Instead, she took the bright red roses she held and placed them directly below his chin. They parted from one another to make way for his chin, framing it in a beautiful display.

Biting her bottom lip, she continued to stare at his peaceful face. She kept her hands clasped together in front of her, rocking on her feet.

"I guess… this is farewell…" She spoke in a whisper. Unsure, she kicked the ground, lifting up some gravel and moving it a distance. After either losing sight of it or watching it stop, she looked back up to him. For what only seemed like moments, she gazed at him. So long that the others returned to watch his casket close.

Not giving a protest or a movement, she watched as his body disappeared under the lid. Then as he was lifted into the hearse and driven off.

…

She couldn't bring herself to go to the cremation. Before they went, her friends dropped her off at the hotel. So she laid there alone in the silence of her own company.

For the hours they were gone, she stayed in constant lamenting. Thoughts of him continued to echo in her head. Some of their last times together and a few of the moment earlier today in front of his casket. The thought of his corpse being reduced to ashes kept coming now and again, causing bursts of angry sobs.

They returned hours later with small portions of his remains, along with one for her. She acknowledged it, but asked them to just put it in her luggage. It was explained to her about tomorrow's events, but she hardly listen. She fell into a deep sleep…

…

March 12th, 2010

Late Morning

Temple

…

She was hesitant, but she went to the graveyard to watch them place his urn into the ground.

As they had planned, he was placed with his mother and father's urns at the Yuki gravesite. Everyone in attendance intently watched as the gravekeeper carefully engraved his name below theirs: 結城 理

Despite not knowing exactly the cause of his death, they were certain he was resting alongside his parents. They were for certain he was at peace.

As for Yukari… She was in turmoil.

…

February 1st, 2021

Late Morning

Temple

…

In the present day, there she stood in front of his grave, alongside Hisato. The boy was a mixture of curiosity and uncertainty. He stood a bit behind his mother, holding her hand.

"Don't be shy," Yukari spoke with a soft voice and gentle smile. "Go say hello…"

He looked up at his mother. She gently pulled him forward with a tug, making him take a few steps forward. His gaze intently at the monument, reading the engravings for a short moment.

"H… H-Hi, Dad," Hisato gave a small wave, then put his hands behind his back. "I'm glad to finally meet you…" He rocked back and forth on his feet, going silent. So Yukari kneeled down behind him and put her hands on his arms.

"He's so much like you…" She whispered to the monument, her smile remaining. "He's a really kind, caring boy… I'm sure you're as proud of him as I am…" She gave Hisato a kiss on the forehead, making him give a giggle and a smile.

Hisato continued to look at his father's name on the stone. "I… I want to be as strong and brave as you one day, Dad…" He shuffled his feet and stared at them, then looked back up. "Mom told me what you did for us and the whole world… I want to do something for everyone too!" He gave a wide grin, giving a small laugh.

"He's know you will…" She whispered into his ear. "And so do I…"

The young boy looked at his mother with wide eyes. "Really?! Do you really think I can?!"

She nodded, smiling. "Yes, I do,"

He turned back to his father and jumped up and down. "Don't worry, Dad!" He gave a big thumbs-up. "You can count on me! I'll do good for you, Mom, and the rest of the world! Just like you did!"

Seeing him like this made her so warm in her heart. She was glad to see that he had the same love for his father as she did for him. It was almost as if he was really here. He brought his father to life in the form of words and excitement. Such a refreshing new life… She couldn't wait to see what he could do for the world...

She just hoped not to the extent of his father...