This is the end of the story. Another chapter will be posted for the glossary, poetry and songs.

Thank you for reading,

Samanda

Disclaimer: I do not own .HackSign, or any of the songs or poetry borrowed here. Proper credit will be given next chapter.

Stars Ascend To Heaven

Chapter Seven: Candle In The Dark

Written By:

Samanda Hime-sama

People filled the church. There was so many that they crowded the aisles and more stood along the walls. It was a crush in every sense of the word.

Tsukasa whispered to Mimiru. "I think Mimiru would have been surprised to see all these people here."

"She was loved even more than she knew." Subaru squeezed her friend's hand.

Tsukasa nodded, fighting tears. "Yes."

The service started then. It was sad but the priest tried to keep it uplifting for all the people that came to see Mimiru one last time. A few broke down crying while listening to the priest describe Mimiru's life and how she had lived.

Finally he said. "And now the floor is open to any who wish to speak of Mimiru."

Mimiru's parents, Mira and Tonami, spoke next.

"Thank you all for coming." Tonami's voice was hoarse.

Mira swallowed. "Mimiru would be happy to know that so many cared for her."

"We miss her so much already." Tonami whispered.

Mira took a shaky breath. "Please, God, take care of our little girl."

She burst into sobs and her husband helped her back into her seat. Natsumi, their younger daughter, clung tightly to her mother and sobbed. The family was lost to the rest of the world as they shared their grief with each other.

Bear got up and stood behind the podium. "Mimiru was special. That feisty spirit of hers gave us hope when a few of us had none. Without her, we would have lost a good friend. Right now she probably has a cheeky smile on her face and is up to some sort of mischief. I'll miss you, Mimiru."

Krim was next. His eyes were red but he spoke calmly. "Mimiru gave something special to everyone that she touched. Most of us are realizing it now, when we can no longer thank her for the changes she wrought in us."

Krim let out a breath. "I want to share with you something that Mimiru taught me a few weeks ago. I had come to visit her after she had stopped chemotherapy. I wondered why she was taking it so calmly. And she told me something that I'll never forget."

"I asked her if she was afraid to die." Krim's hands gripped the podium with a savage strength. "And she told me 'I'm only a little afraid. Dying isn't the end. God will keep my soul safe. Every day I live beyond what the doctors tell me to expect is another battle I've won, Krim. Can you see that?' I want to read to you one of her favorite poems."

And he recited Dylan Thomas' 'Do Not Go Gently Into The Good Night.' Sometimes he stopped to sniff back tears and others, his voice shook as he read. But he finally made it through the poem and stumbled back to his seat.

And then Subaru and Tsukasa went up together, holding hands to comfort each other. Subaru spoke first to the crowd.

"Mimiru was a normal teenager. What made her stand out to other people was her friendly heart and the hand she stretched out to other people. Nothing got her down for very long and her bubbly, cheerful nature drew people to here like a candle in the dark. For her, I chose Edna St Vincent Millay."

"My candle burns at both ends;

It will not last the night;

But, ah, my foes, and, oh, my friends -

it gives a lovely light"

Tsukasa looked out at the sea of faces. "Subaru sees Mimiru as a candle but I see her as a star. Mimiru's brilliance shone even from a distance. Most couldn't resist and came closer to see her. She caught them and held them fast to her without realizing it, much like the sun and gravity. And we, her friends, circled round her like the planets."

Tears streamed down her face. "Our sun has gone supernova but we still remain. We have to cling tightly to each other so that we are not flung into opposite directions at this time. We will not forget you though our star has ascended to heaven.."

Subaru handed Tsukasa a handkerchief. "Watch over us, Mimiru." Subaru looked towards heaven. "Keep all of us who loved you, safe."

More people came up and spoke of Mimiru but at the end, the only ones her family remembered clearly were these. Gestures of comfort and support were given to those in need as the service ended.

"All of us will meet again, right?" A20 asked Subaru.

Subaru hugged her. "Of course. Let's never lose touch."

"Good." Bear said. "Let's meet again in two months. All of us."

Tsukasa nodded. "Agreed."

"It's time for the hardest part." BT said from behind them. "Are you coming?"

Subaru took Tsukasa's hand. "We are. How about you, A20?"

"Yes," Midori said. "I still have something to do for Mimiru."

Roses were too much of a cliche. Mira and Tonami had decided on lillies and each person received one when they attended the grave side service. After all, they had been a favorite of Mimiru's and she deserved this last tribute.

Some of the people had chosen not to attend this but a little less than half had shown up out of respect. They waited in tearful silence broken by sobbing as the priest spoke the last part of the service.

"-Ashes to ashes and dust to dust." The priest concluded then closed his book.

He made one last sign of the cross over the coffin. Turning away, he was distracted by a few of the grieving.

A20 stepped up by the coffin's left side. It had already been placed on the platform that would soon lower Mimiru to her final resting place. A20 sniffled back tears and laid her lily on the casket. A20 then took her place by Mimiru's side. The mourners formed a line and followed her example before moving aside so the next person could say goodbye.

And A20 opened her mouth and began to sing.

She sang 'Amazing Grace' at her deceased friend's request. And if it was a touch wobbly in spots, no one said anything. If anything, her grief made the song even more powerful. A20 followed it with 'Down In The Valley'.

As she finished 'The Little Brown Church In The Vale' the last of the mourners put his lily on the casket and drifted away. Everyone left the graveyard and went to the wake in Mimiru's honor. Not even her closest friends could bear to see her coffin laid to rest.

They treasured their memories of Mimiru. And those that were touched deepest by her, tried not to forget. Some say that time makes memories fade and that the mind edits memories after so long. But the heart never truly forgets if there was love present.

And Mimiru was never forgotten.

Owari