Chapter Thirty-Seven: Six Feet Under
I'm soooooooooooooo sorry that I didn't update last week!!!! I got really tired and I couldn't update, and then it was too late by the time I remembered. I'm sorry!!!! Please forgive me! Bows head.
Kira cooked breakfast with a bright smile on her face, which was something she'd grown accustomed to doing with in the past three months since Hatsuharu and her finally became a couple. Yuki was still not talking to her much. True, some progress was made, he would say a quick forced hello to her in the halls, and such but that was the only communication they had. Yuki was still talking to Haru, however. Haru had told Yuki one month ago about his and Kira's relationship. Haru said that Yuki had simply smiled and congratulated him. Even Haru could not figure out if Yuki was happy or sad about this turn of events. Kira didn't attempt contact with Yuki for fear of angering him further. Which is something she defiantly did not want to do. But today she had to speak with him. There was something far more important than their squabble that he needed to know about. Thinking about this Kira's smile faded. She really wanted things to be better between her and Yuki.
"Something smells good!" Haru yawned stretching his arms as he entered the kitchen. "What's cooking good looking?" he asked setting his hands on her soldiers. Kira's smile quickly returned.
"Pancakes!" she answered. "If you can wait a minute they're almost ready." She flipped the last one onto a plate and set it on the table. Haru got out the syrup and utensils.
"I'm in a good mood!"
"Sleep well?" Kira wondered. Setting her own plate down and sitting next to Haru at the table.
"I did. But that's not why."
"Then why?"
"Because," Haru grabbed her chin and turned her to face him. He was very close. "I have someone pretty to wake up to." Kira smiled and lightly kissed him.
"That is so lame." She stated when they broke and began to eat her pancakes.
"Got me a kiss didn't it?" Haru pointed out.
"I was doing that so you'd stop saying it."
"Well in that case feel free to shut me up all you want."
"There you go, being lame again." Kira laughed and they kissed once more.
Yuki took a deep breath and slowly let it out. He supposed he should go down stairs and eat something. After all, Tohru had probably made something good for breakfast and saved him a plate. He needed to go to school anyway. He pulled himself out of bed and into his school uniform and headed down to breakfast. As he thought, Tohru had made something delicious, Pancakes. It'd been a while since he'd eaten any. Since the Summer Home to be exact. In fact, it was the same night that he'd told Kira he was in love with her. He pushed the thought to the back of his mind but it refused to stay there. He remembered he'd eaten them when he'd first met Kira. The very first time he'd met Kira. That was also the very first time he'd eaten pancakes. He was slowly getting over Kira. He suspected that her and Haru would be getting together after they'd broken up. He smiled at the thought. She'd always been in love with Haru. And even though neither of them could see it, it was obvious that Haru had always been in love with her. What was it that made him so attached to the thought of himself and Kira as a couple? Maybe it was…Serena. Syrup, she smelled exactly like sweet syrup. Serena was someone he'd always remember now that he could. She was the closest thing he'd had to a mother. Kira did resemble her remarkably! Perhaps that was why he cared for her, she reminded him of someone who wanted to be his mother. There was a knock at the door that interrupted Yuki's thoughts. Shigure answered.
"It's good to see that you're not hysterical. Please come in." He invited. Kira walked into the dinning room. Yuki's first instinct was to leave, to claim that he had a student council meeting or something. But, rethinking it, he decided that he wanted to face his problems and not run away from them. As Serena had advised so long ago.
"Yuki," Kira seemed to be straining her voice not to sound eager "I'd like to speak with you about something important. Alone." Yuki softly smiled and stood.
"All right." He agreed and led her by the arm out side. When they were a safe distance from the house, and Shigure's prying ears, they stopped. "What is it?" he asked trying his best not to sound cold.
"I…uh," it occurred to Kira just then that she had no idea how to ask him this, "did you like my mother, as a person?"
"Yes. She was very admirable." Yuki responded a bit confused.
"I know that you and I aren't exactly on speaking terms, but my mother really did like you. So I decided that despite any…disagreement we may be having," she chose her words carefully, "I should invite you." She finished.
"To what?" He asked.
"Tomorrow is the anniversary of my mother's death. Haru, Hakkai and I are going to go visit her. You're welcome to come with us if you'd like." Yuki smiled.
"I would. Very much so." He answered. Kira smiled back at him.
"Well then, I guess that's all. So I'll see you at the train station tomorrow at three." She turned to walk away.
"Wait!" Yuki grabbed her arm. She turned to him and he let go. "I… I'm sorry that it didn't work out between us. I wish it could have, but you and Haru are obviously meant for each other. I don't wish to stand in the way of that. I did care for you, but I don't think you were 'the one'." Kira smiled.
"Thank you. For saying that."
"I don't want to fight with you any more. We were friends once; I'd like that to happen again. Please?" He asked.
"Does that mean that you'll forgive?" Kira looked to the ground in shame. "For using you?" He put his hand under her chin and lifted her head.
"Yes." She grinned brightly again and jumped into his arms in a hug.
"Then of course!" she shouted with joy. There was a POOF and in Yuki's place was a rat.
"I think I may have been using you to get over miss Honda." Yuki said as he stood behind a tree getting dressed.
"Heh, heh. I guess you really can't be in love with two people at once." Kira laughed.
"Well I don't think that's quite true. I did enjoy our time together." He came out from behind the tree fully clothed again.
"That's because we spent most of it making out." Kira pointed out. Yuki laughed.
"True, true. But, all joking aside, thank you. I truly did treasure our time." He kissed her for the last time lightly on the lips. Their last kiss.
"Thank you for caring about me." She thanked.
"Same here. I don't think I ever did thank you, or Serena, for caring about me. I'm glad I remembered you though."
"Even if it did turn out like this?" Kira asked.
"Of course," he put a friendly arm around her, "I'm especially glad that it ended up like this."
"I'm telling you it was tulips." Hakkai argued.
"No it was daisies." Kira fought back. They were riding on the subway to Serena's grave. Kira was holding a bouquet of blue daisies. Haru and Yuki had given Kira and Hakkai their seats, and they stood holding onto the rail.
"And her favorite color was red. Not blue." Hakkai disputed.
"I know that but they don't sell red daisies."
"Her favorite flower was tulip's!" Hakkai insisted.
"Do they sell red tulips?" Haru asked Yuki. Hakkai and Kira had been arguing like this since the flower shop and there was no sign that it'd be ending soon. Yuki had to find a way to change the subject and fast.
"So, where is your mother buried?" Yuki wondered. Kira broke from her conversation with Hakkai.
"The old town that we used to live in. She loved it there. And lucky for us, it's only a train ride away." Kira explained.
"Is it the same town where you lived when we first met?" He asked. Kira smiled.
"That's the one. It'll be nice to see the old place again." She said.
"Yes." Yuki agreed smiling back.
The grave was already clean and there were flowers already set up. Beautiful violets set neatly on the grave. Haru bent down and smelt them.
"These are wild. Do you think Ananzi put them here?" He questioned. Kira slapped her hand to her forehead. "What is it? Did you forget something?" Haru asked standing.
"No. It was Ananzi, her favorite flowers were violets." Hearing this, Hakkai repeated his sister's movement.
"They were weren't they." He agreed.
"I can't believe Ananzi remembered and we didn't!" Kira sighed removing her hand.
"Well," Yuki comforted taking the daisies from Kira, "I'm sure she'll appreciate them any way." He set them on the grave neatly next to the violets. Kira, Hakkai, and Hatsuharu approached the grave.
"Hi mom. It's Kira and Hakkai. We brought Yuki with us! Do you remember him?" Kira greeted. "I…we got our memories back and he wanted to see you." She explained. Hakkai stepped up and traced the letters on the tombstone. 'Serena Shaeed. Beloved Mother, daughter, wife, and sister.'
"Hey mom. Long time. It's good to see you." Hakkai felt close to tears. Kira knelt beside him and put her hands on his shoulders.
"This is Haru. He's…very important to me." She introduced. Haru stepped up and even bowed to the stone.
"I've heard much about you. I'm Hatsuharu Sohma. I'm Yuki's cousin." There was a long strange silence. Not uncomfortable, simply different, almost depressing. "Is anyone else coming today?" Haru wondered. Kira snapped to attention and looked at him.
"What?" She asked.
"It says on the stone, wife sister and daughter. Is any of her family coming?"
"Oh. I'm not sure. They might, but probably not. They live out of the country."
"Why didn't your father come Hakkai?" Yuki wondered.
"He's going to come tomorrow. He had to work today. I bet he remembers to bring violets." Hakkai joked still kneeling. Yuki let out a small cough.
"Well I'm a bit thirsty." Yuki said. Everyone looked at him.
"I'm thirsty too." Hakkai agreed.
"So am I." Haru said.
"Hakkai, why don't you and I go find a machine and get everyone something to drink." Yuki suggested. Hakkai nodded. And stood to follow the rat.
"I'd like a sprite." Kira said.
"Me too." Haru added. They left and it was only Kira Haru and the cold grave before them.
"It's kind of sad isn't it?" Kira said. "Everyone eventually dies. From the moment we're born we start dieing." Hatsuharu walked up and put his hands on her shoulders. "I wonder what it's like to die? All these years your heart keeps beating one beat after another, and then it suddenly just stops. I wonder how that feels to take your last breath and know this is it?" Haru carefully wrapped his arms around Kira in a half embrace.
"When it's time to die, please let me go first. I don't think I could stand to watch you die." Kira put her hands on top of Haru's and closed her eyes, lost in the warmth of his touch.
"All right. But promise me that you won't die for a very, very long time." She asked. Hatsuharu nodded.
"I promise." He agreed and leaned over and kissed her warmly on the lips. When they broke the silence was now a warm one. "But are you asking me to do that because you want me to live a long time, or so you can live a long time?"
"Explain."
"Well, if you can't die until I die then you have to live at least as long as I do." Kira turned around to face him. She brought his face close to hers and kissed him again.
"I want you to live long and happy."
"Then stay with me always and I will." He agreed.
"I promise." Hakkai and Yuki came back shortly with everyone's drinks. It was soon time to leave and show Haru the old house that Kira and Hakkai once lived in. Hakkai stayed back at the grave for a moment.
"Thanks mom. For helping her find someone who loves her. Thank you for watching us, even after you've left. Yuki too. I miss you, a lot. She does too, even though she tries not to show it. I hope that you're happy wherever you are."
"Hakkai come on. We need to catch the train right after we visit the house." Kira called.
"All right I'm coming." Hakkai yelled back. "Please, continue to watch over us. I love you." He said and ran after his sister and her companions.
No matter how many chapters I write I'm always going to be a sappy, lovey, dovey person. But I can live with that. Thanks for reviewing to: Damakaza, Lucy (thank you!), Bad luck cat, lil1diva, Chuni Luni (Lock them in a closet! Damn! Why didn't I think of that!?), OnyxTears, StargazerBlue, Cybanne-chan, Sora Senpai, FoxLuvr, and Mikol. Thanks for reading, Pyra.