Disclaimer. I don't own Sekaiichi Hatsukoi.
Warnings: angst
Prompt #3: Funeral
-.-.-
The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and it seemed like the perfect day.
Too bad it wasn't.
Onodera stepped out of Takano-san's car in a daze. Dressed in all black, from his shoulders to his toes, he felt the heat of the sun and sweat on his skin. He paid no attention to it at all. The colors around him blurred at the edges. Green mixed with grey, blue mixed with white, creating a scene that had been painted - all of the colors tangled together at the edges, and each color wasn't exactly the same shade as the next.
"Come on over here," Takano-san whispered softly, soothingly. The man took his hand gently and steered him towards the ever growing crowd of black in the cemetery. Onodera saw the people there, dressed in black like himself, yet he was vaguely aware of the people in front of people milled about, women dabbing at their eyes and men looking away at trees, the ground, at anything besides the coffin.
"Everyone." The voice, deep and baritone, rang out through the crowd. Silence descended. "We gather here on this sad day, to say goodbye..."
The black crowd shifted with the wind. Onodera wasn't crying, no, instead, he stayed within his daze. And it felt like an eternity before everyone dispersed.
Takano-san stood off a couple feet away from him. His mind was in disarray. Why'd she have to-to, why, why, why? Questions of wondering, questions of questioning, there were just so many questions.
A warm hand slipped into his, and he knew it was Takano-san's.
"You okay?"
His heart felt heavy, weighed down by pain, and suddenly it felt as if he had all of the weight of the world on his shoulders. Wetting his unexpectedly dry tongue, Onodera swallowed thickly. "I don't know." He wasn't emotionally stable enough to lie, perhaps, throw caution to the wind and say he was fine. Death was a part of everyday life. Yet he knew, that his brutal honesty was probably even scarier than any lie he could have told.
Their hands were tightly intertwined now. "If you want to talk," Takano-san said in that soft, gentle tone he had adopted for today, "I'm here." And his words reminded him of something similar, a memory in high school, when he had offered to lend an ear if he ever needed to get it out of his system.
"It's going to rain today," Onodera stated quietly. "Can we go now?"
"Of course." They were off, Takano-san taking the lead on their path to the car. Getting in with little conversation, it was quiet and sorrowful.
Takano-san was a good man, Onodera couldn't help but think, when the first wet drop hit his hand.
-.-.-
Author's Notes:
1) The line "It's going to rain today," may be familiar with those of you who have watched Fullmetal Alchemist. Quoted by Roy Mustang. This line holds so much meaning in it that I wanted to include it in somehow. And the fact that I've actually never written (and posted) something in that fandom. ^^;
2) Anyone want to take a guess on who died?
3) A rather short one-shot, but hey, if it's packed with emotion (or I hope it is) simplicity works well, in my opinion.
4) I would like to note that it is common for Asian countries to wear white to funerals. This was the traditional Buddhist color, however, Japan has adapted to Western customs, namely wearing black to funerals instead of white.
5) Masterb2, my wonderful, darling editor, thank you so much! Love you bro! [I am somaking you a special Christmas gift ;) ]
Thank you for all the favorites, alerts, and/or reviews! They mean a lot~! Thank you for reading! Reviews are lovely.
-Eraser Bitz