A/N: How's it going everybody!
Happy 2018! How was your Christmas guys? Did you get good stuff? What about New Year? Do all of you still have fingers? XD
Anyways, here we go!
Timeline: Two Months before the start of the fic
January 6, 2011
What a New Year indeed…
2011 had just begun, and already the Krakesagi family was at a funeral home. Why you ask?
Well… last January 3 of the New Year, both Mikoto and Anankos received a phone call from Grandpa Sumeragi. The retired Kendo expert had called to inform them that Grandma Ikona had just passed away.
And a great misfortune as well, since with Ikona's death, the Krakesagi siblings no longer have a living grandmother, as grandma Katerina died way back in March 25, 2000.
Of course, this was hard for Mikoto, as for obvious reasons, Ikona was in fact her mother, and I don't have to tell you that losing a mother, heck a parent in general can have a very big impact on not just the spouse, but any remaining children as well.
Sogitaku Parlor, Hoshido
"How's mom and Aunt Arete doing?" Hinoka asked, noticing Ryoma coming back to them.
"Not well." Ryoma lowered his head. "I can't say I blame them. At least Xander, Camilla, Elise and Lilith are doing their best to help them."
"How weird." Hinoka began. "We've never met Grandma Ikona once, yet it feels like we have."
"Well," Ryoma began. "They do say that even though you've never met a certain person until they pass, their closeness to someone near you leaves an impact to not just them, but others as well."
"Then it's doing a good job right now." Takumi said.
One Week Later
Hakado Cemetery, Hoshido
As the burial of Grandma Ikona concluded, officiated by Wrys of Talys, lunch had been prepared, and was in the process of being served.
As Corrin looked around, he can see that even though that Ikona had already been buried, some of the attendees were acting like as though they were in a party.
"Something on your mind Corrin?" A voice asked.
"Oh, Azura," Corrin said, slightly surprised. "Nothing really. I'm just wondering how even though someone had just been buried, some of them act like they've just won a raffle or something. It doesn't make sense."
"It's probably just their way of trying to make the most out of this situation." Azura the pointed to one of the crowds.
"Case and point, over there," Corrin turned to where Azura was pointing, seeing both his parents along with Arete and Sumeragi having a small chat, all four had noticeable smiles.
"It's quite clear that they're doing what they can to make the most out of the situation. Probably by remembering what they remember the most out of grandma's memories."
"Perhaps. But, isn't that what the eulogy is for?" Corrin asked.
"There's often more what they want to say about someone that couldn't be said during the eulogy." Azura explained, before heading to the table. "Are you coming?"
"In a while." Corrin responded.
A Few Minutes Later
Corrin was walking pass some graves, when he noticed one of the attendees looking over the grave.
The attendee, who was wearing a white brimmed-hat, a red long-sleeve polo with white vest, brown pants with black shoes and holding a long cane. A pair of black sunglasses rested on the brim of his hat. He noticed Corrin and spoke. "Aren't you one of Ikona's grandchildren?"
"Yeah? And you are…"
"Castillo." The attendee responded. "I'm a friend of your grandmother's friends."
"Forgive me if I'm being rude but, if you only knew grandma because of her friends, then why bother go to her in the first place?"
Castillo sighed, before responding. "Three things: One, to pay respect. Two, to comfort my friends at this time of grieving. And three, because even though I've never personally met your grandmother, I wanted to let her know that she'll never leave my memories."
'Isn't that kind of a stalker-ish attitude?' "Is that so? Weren't you afraid of being criticized for that?"
"No." Castillo shook his head. "My friends know my intentions are for good, and not for anything harmful or disrespectful. Besides… I've to pay a few close ones a visit as well."
"Who?"
Castillo pointed to three graves. "Them. Two of these graves belong to my two sons. One of them is a famous singer, who committed suicide, while the other was a war hero who died of cancer."
"And the third one?"
"My grandson." Castillo lowered his hat slightly. "Died due to a hazing incident. I've been visiting them ever since they all died those many years ago."
A slight pause
"Life's short young one." Castillo spoke. "The people you know, whether personally or not may be with you now, but when they die, they're gone for good."
Another slight pause
"That's why I attended. It makes me wish that I knew your grandmother a bit more. Perhaps she and I could've been great friends, and create some great memories…" Castillo then began walking towards the entrance.
"Well, I best be off now. I've to make sure I get home to the Mrs and the rest of my family before the time starts ticking away. See you around kid."
Castillo then left Corrin by himself.
'Maybe that's what Hinoka and Azura meant. Never meeting anyone makes you wish that you met them yourself, and see the memories that could've been made. Not too mention that remembering fond memories makes them seem alive.'
Back at the burial site
"Big brother." Sakura spoke, seeing Corrin arrive.
"Where have you been?" Takumi questioned.
"I was just walking around, that's all." Corrin responded.
"In a graveyard?" Ryoma raised a brow.
"What?" Corrin spoke.
"Nothing." Ryoma shrugged.
"Well Corrin," Hinoka began. "You may wanna start eating already. Mom came by and said that Aunt Arete had invited us to dinner at their house later. Grandpa Sumeragi will be there as well."
"All right." Corrin then began eating, keeping Castillo's words in him.
A/N: And we're clear!
This shot's a bit grim, considering the mention of death.
To be honest, this has been planned since mid 2017. The reason why it was delayed for so long is because the planned publication was coincidentally with death as well.
The siblings losing both grandmothers is an opposite to me when I was a kid, as by the time I was born, both my grandfathers had passed, and I've never met them.
To put that in perspective, the original submission was when Chester Bennington of Linkin Park died last July, so I had to reschedule it. The next time I planned to release it, a friend of my friends died in August, so I had to reschedule it again. When I did, the date coincided with the death of my friend's dad this January, so it had to be rescheduled to today.
I hope these reschedules are worth it.
Review Reply:
Daisymsmartheart: Nice to see you to. Glad you liked it.
Sonicwisp21: Glad you like it. Don't worry, it's ok to cry… *pat* *pat*
Anyways, we're about to reach the fic's first anniversary soon, and I hope I can get it done on time, Until next chapter, BYE!
