Note – A nokansha is a person who performs a nokan, which is the traditional preparation of the deceased. This tradition is typically only done now in rural areas, or for richer families which still follow the older traditions. A kaimyo is a name given to a deceased so that they won't return should someone use their real name.

Aniki
Ashes to Ashes

Two dark eyes looked around at the adults, listening to the whispers as a small arm wrapped around Keith's small shoulders. The two siblings sat in a traditional room, the embarrassment from the bath episode still burning away at Shiro's cheeks. One of the women, who was an aunt if the eldest remembered correctly leaned over as she helped to set up the funeral. "The fact we weren't able to call in a nokansha to preform the nokan for aniki doesn't sit right. Even worse, there were no bodies to cremate due to the fire, so I don't know how we can have a proper wake."

"Shush..." One of the other aunts glanced over at where Shiro sat, noticing that the eldest of the two siblings had taken notice.

"Don't shush me. It's a curse, that it is, started because of that woman."

"Shush..." The other aunt nodded her head, making the first turn her head to look at the children, her eyes settling on the two. Shiro felt a shiver run down his spine at the darkness he saw there.

The first aunt stopped, turning her head away much in the same way as the villagers from the small village did. The room quieted up as Keith's head nodded up, his eyes blinking a couple of times in confusion before looking at his brother. "Can I go play?"

"No."

The younger's mouth twisted down as he sunk into Shiro's side.. "Meanie..."

The adults continued to move about, speaking to the children only when they needed to move the cushions for the wake. The two found themselves sitting next to the old man and his wife, the stern look sending shudders down Shiro's spine while Kieth remained oblivious to what was going on. The family filtered in, taking their seats. The eldest of the two brothers swallowed, realizing suddenly how big the Shirogane family actually was.

The old man cleared his throat, the look in his eyes making Shiro look over at Keith to see the younger's head tilt down. The older cleared his throat, carefully nudging his brother's shoulder as his mind tried to make sense of what was going on. At the front of the room was a rather large alter, and pictures of their mother and father were placed by the shrine. The number of flowers were honestly overwhelming. The old man said little, directed them little beyond indicating Keith should stay awake, plus having Shiro light incense at the urn.

Keith attempted to light a stick himself, only to nearly drop the item. The old man caught the item, and simply didn't push the matter, but the whispers from the aunts could be seen as Shiro looked over as they headed back to their seat. Many people also passed through, lighting the incense and leaving black-and-silver envelopes, and getting a small item in return. Shiro felt his eyes droop, but kept his head up by nudging Keith so they wouldn't get another look from the old man.

The wake as the adults called it continued into the night, the other relatives at the back leaving. Shiro wanted to ask why, and yet for some reason felt like asking why everything happened was wrong. The young man took a deep breath, hoping they could finally be allowed to sleep, only for the funeral to continue. A Buddhist priest chanted, and more confusion settled into the back of Shiro's head. The whispers continued afterwords when they were finally able to step back outside, Keith's eyes blinking as his small hand reached up to rub his eyes.

The old man disappeared to take care of business with the priest, so the toungues became free to wag within ear shot again. "No bone-picking ceremony, and she has as long of a kaimyo as aniki? She wasn't anywhere near as pure as him, considering the fact..."

The woman stopped as Shiro and Keith's grandmother came to fetch them, taking them to rooms in the back of the house. She opened up the first door. "This is where Akira will sleep until we settle on what to do with the two of you."

Shiro felt his teeth grind together, not liking the fact neither one was wanted. Keith hoever looked up at the woman. "Shiro won't sleep with me?"

"Takashi has his own room."

The mouth of the younger formed into a pout as a small hand reached up to take his older brother's, the tiny fingers sticky with sweat. Shiro looked at the ground. "What happens next, obaa-san?"

"We'll be having a meal as a family around noontime, and then you'll get to meet the cousins. Until then the two of you can stay in your rooms and rest up." The woman turned, expecting Shiro to follow after her, and Keith stepped forward after his older brother, only for the woman to stop. "No. You need to stay in your room."

"I want momma. Where is she?" Keith wrapped his arms around Shiro's arm, burying his small head into the elder brother's backside.

"She's gone."

"Papa. He can find her, right?"

"He's gone to."

"Shiro!"

"Takashi. Your brother's name is Takashi." The woman let out a sigh.

"He's only four. I don't think he understands. I'm not sure I do either. Can't we stay together?"

For a minute Shiro thought there was a look of pity in the woman's eyes, as if she cared, but then it left. "Only for today. It will be easier to round the two of you up once it is time to eat. Tonight though you two sleep in your own rooms."

Shiro followed after, Keith clinging to him, his small hands digging into the black Kimono. The room was in a nicer place, likely near the living quarters of the family head. A fountain clinked down as the water filled up the piece of bamboo at the small pond, and the room itself was on the large side. A futon was ready for Shiro, unlike the other room, making him wonder why the family choose to treat the two differently. Shaking his head, Shiro settled down with Keith on top of the futon, both falling asleep, exhaustion over taking them.