With Your Half-Wired Broken Jaw
Chapter 25

AuthorNotes: here you are!! Let's see if you like what I've done! :)

The ceremony was brilliantly beautiful. It was decorated in an astray of colors. It was held at Ardelia's old house that had burnt down due to her using her premature scepter that refused to bond with her and underneath her favorite tree. She would be buried in a handcrafted casket made by the clan members of Jessibelle's clan. It took forever to convince Jessibelle that Ardelia would rather be buried under her favorite tree. Koenma got to work on the license for harboring a dead body in the backyard of the renovating house that Hirachi was going to surprise Ardelia with but as he stared through his house and to the crew setting up the funeral's last touches, clad in a black suit with tears collecting in his eyes, he couldn't believe he would never be able to tell his daughter that they were getting their old house back.

He had the epiphany the day she didn't want to move so far away from her school and from her friends. He figured if he couldn't find a house within distance, he'd collect the insurance money he earned from the fire and use it to rebuild the house back to its prime. He knew it'd cost more in remodeling than rebuilding it but it was a sacrifice he wanted to make for Ardelia, but now he wouldn't be able to tie a huge bow on the front door and surprise her.

"Mr. Quintus?" Hirachi looked over to see Ardelia's friends heading over. Yusuke Urameshi had made sure the group was early so they could pay their own respectful condolences to the father. Yusuke's arm was wrapped around Keiko's waist who was dressed beautifully in a black, knee length dress with black flats. Yusuke was wearing a nice set of black slacks and a white button up shirt under his black blazer. Kuwabara was behind him wearing a black jumper suit with Yukina beside him who was wearing a beautiful long black dress that had long sleeves and a deep, low neck. She had to wipe away tears from her eyes to keep them from falling, in case humans were around and saw gems falling from her eyes. Hiei was adjacent to Yukina wearing his usual black cloak with his usual blank expression. Kurama was nowhere to be seen. "We wanted to make sure we were here early," Yusuke stated, holding out his hand. "I'm so sorry for your loss." Hirachi sucked in his bottom lip and grabbed Yusuke's hand before pulling him into a hug.

"You guys were her best friends, I'd like to believe," Hirachi sobbed. "She'd be so h-happy that you came." Yusuke forced a small smile as Hirachi glanced around before wiping his eyes and clearing his throat. "Where's Shuichi? Is he not coming?" Yusuke frowned. He had no idea where Kurama was. He had knocked on his bedroom door but received no comment or voice so he figured Kurama was going to meet up with them later.

"He has something to do before heading over here," Yusuke stated. Hirachi nodded and motioned for them to head on through the house and to the backyard. Yusuke led Keiko through who squeezed his arm tighter as she saw the funeral starting to become completely finished. The casket had come out beautiful. It was a dark wooden color with a darker finish on it. It had golden trimming with golden enchantments along the top and sides. It had a large bunch of white lilies on top tied with a black ribbon and a framed picture of her was beside it; it looked like a school picture.

The tree casted shadows on the whole funeral and as the group took seats in the front row on the left, some red birds fluttered around the casket, creating a harmonizing effect over the whole thing. Yusuke sighed and laced his fingers with Keiko as more guests appeared. Most of them were teachers from the school and neighbors and Yusuke noticed some of the clan members from Jessibelle's tribe. He recognized them by the robes they were wearing. They were all black but each had a single design of color along the hem of the bottom.

And then Jessibelle came in wearing a beautifully created black gown that flowed like a wedding dress and had a veil that covered her face. She walked in with Hirachi, who had his head down and they took their seats in the front row on the right. Yusuke glanced back, wondering where Kurama was. The ceremony was about to start. The priest walked in the same time Koenma made it, in his adult form and wearing a black hikama set, taking his seat behind Yusuke and frowning. "Where's Botan?" Yusuke whispered. Koenma shrugged and Yusuke sighed, watching the priest. The priest walked to the front and stood beside the casket, holding a black bible. Hirachi looked over at Yusuke and Yusuke immediately shrugged. So the priest went on…

Meanwhile, Kurama was standing at the cliff side behind the boys' house, wearing a pair of black slacks and a black silk shirt. He had talked the others out of cremating Ardelia's body. Jessibelle wanted her daughter's body cremated and thrown in the creek beside her clan's residence. Kurama strongly argued it, resulting in the ending effect of burying Ardelia's body, full and intact. Kurama didn't want to go to the funeral because it would be admitting she was dead. He didn't want that. He didn't want to believe she was dead. He wanted to believe that she was still out there, striving to come back and looking for him. He knew it was pathetic but he wanted to hold onto that feeling.

Kurama sighed and looked to the skies, looking for something but when he saw a flicker of something, he gained some hope as that something flew down toward him. It was Botan. She was dressed in a pair of black slacks and a nice black shirt as she hovered before Kurama with a grim expression. "Kurama, I can't say I have found her soul. It seems to be lost, which is for good reason. She's probably in a different country and I'd like to go see the ceremony before I continue this anymore," Botan stated, frowning as Kurama's eyes hardened as his jaw locked.

"Ok. Thank you for your services, Botan. Enjoy the ceremony," Kurama stated, turning his head away. Botan frowned and went to reach out but thought against it.

"You should come, Kurama. Ardelia would've wanted you there," Botan stated. Kurama didn't say anything as Botan sighed and flew off in the direction of the ceremony. Kurama took a deep breath and headed toward the boys' house. He didn't know what he'd do but he knew he didn't want to go to the ceremony of the woman he loved. He headed upstairs and toward his bedroom where he shut and locked the door behind him and sat on the edge of his bed, staring down at his hands. He had never told her he loved her.

That thought brought a set of unshed tears to his eyes and he quickly pushed his hand against his eyes, trying hard not to cry. Ardelia wouldn't want him to cry about her. He couldn't cry. But his heart seemed to want the release as his hand got drenched in his warm tears and some managed to seep down his cheeks. He couldn't stop himself from sobbing as his body seemed to weaken even more.

He had never told her he loved her…

Back at the ceremony, things seemed to take a plunge. Although Keiko had never really truly met Ardelia, she heard a lot about her through Yusuke and Yukina. And being a sentimental person, Keiko had her head buried in Yusuke's chest as she pushed Kleenexes against her face. Yukina had to leave so Kuwabara led her out; everyone on the left side knew why but some of the human visitors seemed to whisper about it. Yusuke didn't care as he comforted Keiko, frowning as the priest closed Ardelia's casket, which Yusuke couldn't look at. Some workers came in and the casket began lowering in the ground.

Hirachi couldn't contain his whimpering as he watched his daughter's body be lowered into the ground. It seemed unreal to him as the workers began burying the body and the visitors walked up to him to send more condolences and take their leave to the inside of the unfinished house for the free food and refreshments. Hirachi stayed at his seat as Jessibelle did a prayer for her daughter and headed out with the rest of her clan members. Yusuke looked over at Hirachi and sighed. The old man seemed so broken. Yusuke glanced behind him and saw that Hiei was nowhere to be seen, as well. "Where'd Hiei go?" Yusuke asked Koenma who sighed.

"Do you really not know, Yusuke? Where do you think Kurama is?" Koenma stated. Yusuke made a face as Koenma made a weird expression. "Kurama loved Ardelia. Do you really think he could come to this ceremony with some sense in him? Imagine if it weren't Keiko." Yusuke frowned. Koenma stood and place a hand on Yusuke's shoulder before heading over to Hirachi to pay his condolences.

"It was your entire fault," Hirachi stated. Koenma gasped, taking a step back. "If you hadn't of taken her away from me and shielded her in a dojo, she wouldn't be dead right now. I don't want your condolences. Get your portion of the free food and get out." Koenma made a blank expression and behind heading off the property. Yusuke frowned as he stroked Keiko's head.

"Keiko, we should get going. I want to make sure Kurama's alright," Yusuke whispered. Keiko nodded and quickly wiped her eyes before standing up with Yusuke. "My condolences, Mr. Quintus. I'm sorry Shuichi didn't make it but… I have a feeling he can't part with the idea she's…" Yusuke didn't say it. No one needed to say it. Hirachi looked up at him and nodded.

"Thank you, Yusuke. Tell Shuichi he's welcome around here."

"Will do, sir," Yusuke stated and headed out with Keiko. The two headed through the refreshments area just when Botan headed into the house, sighing. "Botan, where were you?" Yusuke asked as Keiko excused herself to grab a cup of water.

"I was doing something for Kurama," Botan stated, sighing and looked behind his shoulder. "It took me longer than I thought." Yusuke sighed.

"What'd he make you do?"

"He wanted me to find Ardelia's soul and bring her to him. I guess he has some unfinished business with her," Botan stated, shrugging. "He wouldn't get into details about it."

"Did you find her?" Keiko asked, coming back into the picture with her bloodshot eyes. Botan shook her head.

"I haven't found her soul yet. It's either lost or it slipped somewhere beyond my jurisdiction," Botan stated. "Where's Koenma? He might have some answers."

"He left," Yusuke answered. "He'd probably at his office already." Botan nodded. "They just placed Ardelia's body underground and now it's the mourning stage. I'm taking Keiko home and heading to the house to see if I can comfort Kurama any." Botan frowned.

"I don't think any comforting will help Kurama at this point. He's practically dead too," Botan stated. "You should've seen him." Yusuke took a deep breath in before running a hand through his hair.

"I'll figure something out. I can't have Kurama be depressed all the time. It wouldn't be good for someone like him," Yusuke stated. Botan nodded and finally, Yusuke said farewell to Botan and headed out to take Keiko home.

…::::…

"Do you know why you are here, child?" a heavenly voice stated. The scene was bright and with a big white glow to it. It would hurt any normal set of eyes. The room was clad in complete white décor with large pillars and white linoleum flooring leading to a large white throne where a beautiful, faceless woman sat. Her face was so bright in light that it was unable to be seen. She was clad in a white gown that had diamonds weaved within the fabric.

"Not exactly."

"I have brought you here because you made the ultimate deed of sacrificing yourself for love. And that my dear, is my specialty." The woman stood from her throne and walked down the aisle way. "Not many can perform that ritual with success and when they do, it's for some beneficial act. But you, my child, did it to protect your loved ones and that is the greatest deed a living being can perform." She reached out her arms and a figure began forming.

I raised my head toward the beautiful maiden's face, confused. What was she talking about? I knew about the ritual and loved ones but why was I here? I thought I'd be thrown through judgment and sent onto the other world. But the woman seemed to have a different aspect. "I am the great mother and on my mark alone, I give you two choices, my child," the woman stated. I narrowed my eyes. "You can either return back to Earth with a new body and new memories and a new life…" I didn't like that option. I'd have to find Kurama and start over.

"Or you can return to your old life in the current state you were in when your body died and prove yourself in strength, will, and love," the woman stated. I remembered the pain I was in, in that elderly body but I had no idea what my body's pain was like. It could be immense or I could be going through embalming right now. I was so conflicted. What if I chose the latter option and end up dying from blood loss or I was going through an autopsy? What if I chose the first option and don't even remember Kurama, my love? I was so confused. But I think I knew which option I wanted…