It seemed wrong, the day Kuwabara finally went back to school. He couldn't really think of any reason to go. What was the point, now that his mother wasn't there to get excited if he did well?
Once he arrived, Kuwabara discovered another reason for not wanting to be there. Everyone kept staring at him and whispering when they thought he wouldn't notice, even the teachers. Everyone knew what had happened, and most of the kids avoided him like having a dead parent was contagious.
Okubo, Sawamura and Kirishima stuck by him. They carefully didn't mention his mother, or anything pertaining to parents at all, for which Kuwabara was grateful. He didn't want to talk about it. He didn't want to talk about anything.
When recess rolled around, Kuwabara stayed at the edge of the playground, making no effort to join in the games of the other children. The idea of running around and trying to have fun just seemed disrespectful.
A shadow fell over Kuwabara where he was sitting, and he looked up to see Urameshi. "Go away," Kuwabara said. He didn't have the energy to fight today. He might never have the energy to fight again.
Urameshi didn't leave though. He just said, "I don't have a dad."
Kuwabara met his eyes then, and saw the same pain mirrored there. The pain of knowing what should have been, and never would be. The pain of knowing there was a hole in your heart that would never fill up again.
Urameshi sat down beside him, and Kuwabara didn't pull away. They didn't speak anymore. There was nothing more that needed to be said.
Words: 274
On a more cheerful note, I'm participating in NaNoWriMo for the first time this year! But don't worry, it shouldn't interfere with updating Bitter Enemies (hopefully).