Disclaimer: I wish they were mine... but they're not

A/N: I actually got myself to cry while writing this chapter… I really shouldn't have done it right after Thousands Of Pieces…^^' I'm not entirely satisfied with it, though… something's bothering me a bit, but I can put my finger on it… *frustrated sigh*. I hope you'll still like it, though.

Quick word to the reviewer:

SpookyMuffin13: Well I'm glad I "taught" that to you then, because those kind of thing are very important to know^^ And I'm really glad you like this story so far^^

Yoshikochan: Well I do admit that, at the very beginning, I was thinking of going along those lines… but then, I decided against it, because I felt Ashura didn't deserve that.

Kayla-chan1990: Ah, I'm proud of myself then! I know how hard it is to feel sorry for characters you dislike (which seems to be your case with Ashura) so yes, I'm glad this chapter managed to almost make you feel sorry for him :)

Sinclair: I must admit, in the first time of TRC's publishing, I too thought Ashura must be some kind of abusive man, or something (we knew nothing of him, after all, aside that Fai was afraid of meeting him) but then, when we discovered Fai's past, I really felt sympathy toward Ashura. Yes, he's made mistakes, but I think he always tried to act for Fai's best interest… I think he would have done anything for him, really, so yeah, it was only natural to describe their love here as really strong because, had they been lovers in the manga (which I don't believe, I think their relationship was more or a father/son one) their love would have been strong
Ah, thank you for correcting my German then^^' I changed the sentence in the previous chapter^^ I don't think I'll need to translate anymore German for this fic, but thanks for your offer^^ I'll probably go and see your Gallery on Deviantart during my holidays^^

Thanks a lot to all of you, anonymous readers and people who added this story on their favorite and/or alert list, even without leaving a review!

25 White Lilies

There was a lonely sob among the assembly, Himawari's small voice echoing through the church. Fai's face was blank, his knuckles whites from clutching at his own trousers, his eyes red-rimmed with tears and exhaustion. He stared ahead of the building, barely acknowledging the few words addressed by Ashura's ex-associates… why should he care? They were presenting their respects to half of Ashura's fortune, not to his husband.

But then, the priest came to his place and everyone fell silent as he began to read:

"Death is nothing…"

oOo

"Do you remember that poem?" Ashura smiled. "Death is nothing… I have only passed to the other side… I don't remember the end." (1)

Fai shook his shoulders, his throat too tight to produce any answer.

"I'll miss you so much." He whispered, voice raw with emotion. "So very much…."

"Thank you."

Ashura walked up to Fai and embraced him, burying his face in his neck.

"Thank you… for everything."

oOo

Some things can sound impossible for years, until you find yourself doing them.

Fai had always thought he would shatter before the end and faint without being able to really accompany Ashura during his last moments… In the end, though, he managed to remain conscious the whole time, his eyes never leaving Ashura's peaceful face.
Of course, he didn't like being there, of course it was painful, oh so painful, but then again, what would have been unbearable would have been to remain away from him… because sometimes, the right thing to do happens to be the hardest one as well.

And so Fai found himself sitting at Ashura's bedside, holding his hand as his breath slowed down, his chest barely heaving now, his eyes closing themselves, never to open again.

No word was uttered, because none could be enough… what were words, after all, when someone was dying? There was no comfort possible at this moment, other than knowing it was their choice… to die, to be here for the one who was dying… both action were expressions of love and respect, something deep and permanent Fai shared with Ashura… something painful, yes, but comforting as well, in its own, strange way.

"Ich liebe dich."

"I love you, too." Fai whispered.

A soft breeze caressed the white lilies of Ashura's bedside table and, with a sigh, he finally fell asleep, knowing he wouldn't wake up.

oOo

Silent as a shadow, Kurogane made his way to the center of the room and joined him on the bed.
He sat there wordlessly for a long time, staring ahead, the small meat bun-shaped toy clutched in his hand. From the living room, they heard Yuui's piano playing a slow, melancholic tune, soon joined by Sakura's cristal voice. She was singing a song of pain and sorrow… a song of hope, also, but what hope could there be in such moment, for someone so prone to depression? Kurogane feared there was none.

"I never told him." Fai sniffed, more to himself than anyone else, probably not even aware that he was speaking aloud. "I never told him I was actually Yuui."

Wordlessly, Kurogane laced an arm around the blonde's shoulders and brought him close to his chest, his head resting in the crook of his neck.

White lilies fell from Fai's lap and, as they touched the ground, something wet rolled down Kurogane's collarbone.

End of White Lilies

(1) "La Mort n'est rien. Je suis simplement passé de l'autre côté. "

Actually, this was not exactly from a poem, not in the traditional meaning of the word.

When I was in my 2nd year of High School, a boy from my town died at the bus stop, and the Headmaster read that text during a ceremony held a few days later. He didn't read the very first sentence, though, thinking we weren't ready to hear it… I think he was right.

I'm not even certain it was really a poem but… it seems to me that it would be the kind of things Ashura would tell to Fai to try and help him.

Next Chapter: Blue Socks, Daffodils And Broad Shoulder. In which you can expect a lot of frustration, and a bit of sniffing, too.