It was raining again as the crowd, dressed in black, approached the black altar one by one and placed red, white, and pink roses on the coffin. The fine wooden box repelled the water, and a pair of blue eyes watched as a drop slowly slid to the side and over the edge, falling to mingle with the other countless drips of water that were being poured from the sky. He stepped forward as Kiba turned to return to his row and set a white rose on the pile that had speedily enough grown with the somehow unworthy plant offerings. Naruto turned around and came face to face with Sasuke. Those black eyes of the Uchiha glimmered in unusual sadness as he took a step and placed a pink rose near Naruro's white. Together they walked back to stand next to each other as the line proceeded.
Tears fell in silence as the shinobi funereal continued. A few pictures of the deceased kunoichi, smiling, posing, even one serious photo taken before the Chunin exams, were placed in a semi-circle on the glossy black wooden box. One was the team photo, with Sakura smiling in the middle, Naruto and Sasuke on her sides, Kakashi overseeing them all from behind. The two younger ninja met it at the same time and saddened even more.
Sakura was dead. Lost forever. Another dream had been extinguished.
Kakashi watched the procceding blankly, grateful that his face mask hid his emotions. His silver hair was matted in the rain and the water was seeping through his light clothes and sending a deep chill to his core. But he moved forward as the line did. For a second he saw Sasuke and Naruto walk back to stand together. Maybe they'd learn from this unfortunate experience. Dreams don't come without a price. The copy nin stepped forward once and looked carefully at the scattered pictures and roses. As he noticed the team photo, a cringe of regret shot through his mind. He hadn't appreciated her abilities enough, hadn't acknowledged her efforts to become better. And now it was too late.
He placed a red rose on the top of the pile, near the pink and white ones he knew Sasuke and Naruto had laid. Stepping around and walking slowly back to his place in the lineup, Kakashi noticed Tsunade and Shizune standing quietly in line, each holding a pink rose. A closer look at the Hokage gave away her tears, falling freely and mixing with the rain as soon as possible. Shizune had her head down, but a slight shaking of the shoulders gave away her silent sobs.
(Meanwhile...)
A light drizzle began in the small clearing as a lone girl with light blonde hair stood quietly, one hand on her stomach, the other wiping tears from her eyes. A small stone tablet rested against a tree as the downpour increased. Yudina looked up, eyes vacant in thought. "I suppose it's fair. Those who chase their dreams have an 80 percent chance of dying. That kunoichi, Ayumi, Zabuza, Haku...and here I am." She clenched a fist on her midsection, eyes closing. "We're all that's left of their dreams, my child. You, me, and your father. It's up to us to not forget them."
She stood there a while longer, once opening her eyes and staring at the tombstone in front of her. Just a small thing. It would probably deteriorate within a few months, or be destroyed or taken in some way sooner. Yudina blinked slowly, face radiating sadness as she once again took in the hand-carved marking:
Ayumi Edochi: A kunoichi who sacrificed everything for her dream.
Yudina turned around and began walking away. Sorrow still hung around her as the funereal ended and she headed back home. "It is also sad, oneechan, that your dream was not fulfilled."
