Rain pummeled his hat and shoulders; it was for this reason that he had tucked Cornelia underneath his overcoat. He felt guilty now for bringing her; after telling her the bad news, his wife's sister could not look at the marionette without bursting into fresh tears, saying what good friends their two girls had been, close as sisters, and now they were both gone. He had left only when a neighbor arrived. She had braved the thunderstorm to borrow something but had forgotten her own errand when Gepetto told her of Mrs. Elliot's misfortune. The neighbor had rushed in to comfort her, and Gepetto had let her. While not as callous as Yuri, Gepetto had always felt awkward in that role.
Before leaving Gepetto had told Mrs. Elliot one last thing: where Alice was to be buried. He had tried to tell Yuri that typically family members determined where the deceased was buried. Now he knew better to try driving anything into that thick skull. As soon as Yuri had seen the tree it had been set. "I'm going to bury her here."
Gepetto caught sight of both the tree and Yuri. The fool idiot had taken off his coat in the pouring rain. Gepetto was about to ask where it was when he realized Yuri was praying. His head was bowed, his eyes closed and his lips were moving rapidly, almost stumbling, though the storm drowned out his words.
The tombstone bore the typical words: RIP, Alice Elliot. Below was another message, written in what was either Chinese or Japanese. Gepetto couldn't tell which.
Yuri raised his head, grasping the cross around his neck. He took it off and kissed the cross before setting it on the grave. "You don't have to worry, Alice," he said, lifting his head towards the sky. "I'm going to be just fine."
"What happened to your coat?" Gepetto asked, satisfied that he was not interrupting a prayer. He would have sworn the young man was trying to get pneumonia.
"She needed to be wrapped in something," Yuri replied, stiffling a sneeze.
"Not be put in a coffin, or a sheet?"
Yuri shook his head. "No." There was a particularly loud rumbling in the sky and lightning flashed so intensely the entire sky turned white.
"Hmph. How selfish."
"Huh?"
Gepetto was sure by now Yuri did not have deep ties with anyone but Alice. The funeral had been solely about him and her, without much regard for others. And truthfully it made Gepetto sympathetic; he understood that feeling of loss, and how it could eclipse everything else.
It was odd though. Yuri seemed to be leaving everything significant behind. He now wore only black jeans and a plain blue shirt- long-sleeved, for all the good it did him in this downpour. But then, people coped in different ways: some by sharing their pain with others, and some by keeping a momento of the past...and some by leaving every reminder behind and trying to move on.
"Well, let's go back to Zurich. You need to buy a new coat and both of us need to find a place to stay."
"I guess you're right," Yuri said. "It's damn cold out here." Suddenly he slapped his pocket, making Gepetto look at him. He chuckled. "I just remembered. I can't buy a coat."
"What, did you lose your wallet?"
"Nah, I know where it is."
"Then where is it?" Gepetto asked in exasperation.
"In my trenchcoat."
Which was now buried, wrapped around Alice. Gepetto shook his head. "Come on," he said, shrugging as he readjusted Cornelia's weight. "I'll buy you a coat."
"N-no. I don't need it."
"Yes you do," the puppeteer replied, just as easily. "And, Alice gave her life for yours. She'd throw a fit if you died now because your health was neglected."
Yuri thrust his arms together, both cold and irritated. "Jesus Christ, I'm not going to die of sneezing! All right, all right. I'll pay you back." With that he walked off towards Zurich.
Gepetto followed him. "Do you have a job?"
"Eh, no. But I can do just about any kind of odd job people'll pay for."
It figured. "I'll have to stick with you then, to make sure you pay me back."
"Old geezer! You don't trust me?" Yuri cuffed the older man on the shoulder. It wasn't a matter of trust; Gepetto was just glad for a reasonable excuse to accompany Yuri farther. With what little concern Yuri had for his own well-being, it would probably be best if someone stayed alongside him and made sure Alice's wish was fulfilled, for him to live. Gepetto would do that for his niece.
"Where are you planning on going?"
"Somewhere. Don't know. Just any place where I can do some good."
"Good?"
Yuri walked for several seconds without responding. Then: "Like Alice would do."
Gepetto nodded, understanding. They were both carrying out Alice's wishes, as each saw them.
"Course, I can't heal people that well, so I'll just have to thrash the punk who hurt 'em...achoo!"
Gepetto laughed. "Yes, you can blow them down with your sneezing."
"Shaddup."
Gepetto stopped for a moment to lift Cornelia up; she was slipping again and seemed tohave heavier. Overhead the sky still raged, lighting clashing in the sky. He scanned the dark sky and wondered how many more storms they would encounter. But he knew at the same time that, miles above the angry clouds, there was a vast expanse of blue sky.
AN: This is the end of the series! Well, maybe not. I'm considering a piece with Gepetto's thoughts on the resurrection attempt. If there's enough interest I'll do it, but be aware that first I have to replay that part and it may be a few weeks (I can only play on weekends) before I get there again. Any other requests will be considered; I am currently finished with Manmariana Island on this playthrough.