The night felt weird, Kurama laid awake for a while, a strange nod in his stomach. As the cool breeze slowly introduced the new season, he rolled to his side and checked his phone which didn't show any activity. Everyone must've fallen asleep already.

Night turned into day within the blink of an eye, Kurama never noticed falling asleep but somehow managed to grab a few hours of rest. He slipped out of bed and into his work attire, covid had taken its toll on the business but he kept working.

The day went like any other Sunday. He worked, the guests were happy and satisfied with their takeaway drinks and Kurama happily delivered a few more meals before going home.

"I'm home." He called out, hanging his coat in the hall and changing into his slippers. "What're ya cookin'?"

"You're home early." Shiori looked up, a lopsided grin plastered on her face.

Kurama checked his watch and laughed. "Five minutes to be exact."

The installation of a new kitchen has given Shiori more motivation and fun with cooking, experimenting with different recipes and spices as she enjoys exploring the new function of the induction stove.

"Hatanaka not home yet?" Kurama asks as he steals a slice of tomato from the salad bowl.

"No, luckily he's not home yet, means we can have a feast. I'll make him some bread with meatballs." Shiori chuckled. Hatanaka didn't enjoy different foods, he's a simple man, bread, meat, soda and a biscuit with his coffee. The food was always extravagant and different when he was known to come home late.

For the past few weeks Atsuko and Yusuke had come over for dinner multiple times as their kitchen was being renewed also, and seeing they couldn't cook for a week, Shiori had invited them over daily to join their food parties. Shiori and Atsuko have known each other since highschool and have been friends ever since so their bond was quite something. Though they didn't speak daily, they knew they could lean on one another when times get tough.

Kurama was taking the plates to the kitchen when the phone rang. Shiori checked the number and picked it up with a smile. "Hello Ats-"

"She's dead." Atsuko's voice was indifferent, Kurama could hear the slight tremble in her voice.

"What's going on?" Shiori asked, her eyes holding a worried look.

"She's dead." Atsuko's voice didn't change, not feeling the gravity of her own words.

"What?!" Shiori's eyes widened.

"She's dead." Atsuko repeated.

"W-who's dead? What happened? Are you alright?" Shiori shook her head slightly. Kurama kept his eyes fixated on her, his ears trying to pick up anything being said over the phone.

"Shizuru.. She's dead."

Shiori raised her hand to her mouth, mumbling a soft "Oh no.." as she sat back down at the dinner table, the phone still in her hand. There was silence on the other side for a while.

Atsuko's voice returned, the urgency not leaving or making room for any other emotion. She was in shock and she needed her best friend. "I need you here."

"I'm on my way." Shiori placed the phone back on the table and slowly turned towards her son. The realization that something was wrong was visible in the way she looked at him. Kurama didn't need words to understand and nodded.

"Go." He said.

To his knowledge, Shizuru had hit it off with Sakyo after the dark tournament, he had escaped the burning building to Shizuru's relief. The spark had started to emerge as soon as their eyes first met each other in the halls of the catacombs. Kuwabara was ecstatic, he was glad Sakyo was willing to give Shizuru the world, so much so that they moved into their own apartment a month ago.

But now Kurama heard she died. How? Why? Is it a joke? A weird trick to throw everyone off guard? He shook his head. No, it couldn't be a joke, who would joke about something like that. He continued cleaning as Shiori left.

She didn't return until late at night. Kurama had stayed awake watching tv as his thoughts ran through his head like an unannounced typhoon, jumping from conclusion to conclusion.

Her eyes were red as she entered the living room, to which Kurama stood up in an instant. Shiori just looked at him and nodded.

"It's true." She said softly.

Kurama's heart sank to his feet, how he hoped it was a joke. "How?"

"Her father found her on the couch, she was already stiff when they tried to stir her, she's been dead for a few hours at least." Shiori murmured as she sat on the edge of the couch, her hands rubbing over her face. "They found Sakyo upstairs."

"Are they both.." Kurama started.

"No." Shiori shook her head. "Sakyo is alive but he's unresponsive. They've stabilized him and the police are looking into his involvement."

"His involvement?" Kurama shook his head softly. "They think he has something to do with it?"

"I don't know yet. Atsuko didn't say much, she was called by Shizuru's mom and this is all we know now." Shiori said as she leaned back.

Kurama looked defeated, he thought of Kuwabara, how he was feeling, should he call him? No, it would be better to leave them for now. They have enough to deal with. He moved to the next best thing. "Want some tea?"

Shiori looked at him from the corner of her eye. "Yeah."

They didn't sleep that night, watching comedy shows to try and brighten up their mood though it would be completely in vain knowing what had transpired. That day, their life changed in an instant and there was no way they could heal it with a night of binging comedy shows. This will take time, this will take an investigation and this will take a lot of willpower to one day get used to this new normal.

As they watched movies and occasionally chuckled at jokes, the street lamps flickering as they illuminated the darkened streets. The rest of the world was turning in for the night, safely in the arms of the ones they love, covered by comforting sheets and settled on the soft mattresses of their bed.

It seemed so unfair. As everyone else lay comfortably in their beds. On the night of May 15th, Shizuru slept on the couch.