This chapter made me cry while writing it, but I think it's a beautiful piece of work. Nothing much else to say here, but please review, as always! I will add an English translation to the verse in Latin listed further in the chapter.

Chapter 4

Dark, ominous clouds littered the sky, blocking out the weeping sun. A chilly wind swept over the land, sweeping the grass and whistling through the trees. The dying leaves rustled together like chimes, and the birds sang to one another, beckoning their mates and offspring into the safety of their nests, built in the protective crevices of tree's giant branches.

The scent of rain lingered, the grass damp and bouquets of roses set up at gravestones dripping with the musky precipitate which had fallen roughly an hour previous. The air was humid and chilly, and it made the nose run. Maka and Soul stood to one side of Tsubaki and Black Star while Kidd, Liz, and Patty stood at the other. Dr. Stein, Krona, Marie, and Spirit stood opposite the weeping parents.

They had yet to lay their white lilies, gazing sadly at the small black coffins. They were the smallest Stein and Spirit had seen in their near forty years of living in Death City. Spirit shuddered at the thought of it being Maka (or even Soul at this point, since he was Soul's father-in-law). He bit his tongue to refrain saying anything, since he didn't want to cause any more distress for the parents in mourning.

Sid and Mifune stood to the side in silence, Mifune holding Angela's hand lightly. Mifune would miss babysitting the two, still upset about the way they'd died. It wasn't right. He'd promised to lend a hand in helping track down their killer, agreeing to give the final blow to Black Star and Tsubaki.

A mirror at the foot of the casket had been situated so that Lord Death could also witness the twins being laid to rest, as well as give them a final blessing. Justin cleared his throat as he finished the burial recital, and nodded towards them, taking a few steps back. He kept a calm, quiet demeanor, holding the copy of his book, watching as they set down their lilies one by one.

Krona stepped forward first, unsure of what to say. What was right? Would Tsubaki and Black Star be offended if he said goodbye? He blinked a few times, biting his lip as he contemplated. Finally, he settled on a sincere apology. Stein followed, taking a deep breath. He had plenty he wanted to say, though it was directed more towards his former students, being as they were still alive. Marie sniffled and rested hers beside Stein's, sighing heavily. They'd been wonderful, strong students.

Mifune went next, reaching into his pocket and placing a piece of kelp-flavored candy on the top of their caskets as well. Tsubaki saw, and let out a chuckling sob, her eyes lifting slightly. Black Star even smiled sadly, and nodded at Mifune. Asa and Shira had hated the bitter-tasting candy, but didn't refuse when Mifune handed it to them.

Kidd placed his, digging his nails into his palm as he saw one of the lilies was out of place. He fought to remind himself, this was not the time, nor the place to worry about such a thing. His knuckles turned white and he scowled, keeping his gaze fixed on the ground as he fought to ignore it. Liz noticed his actions, and looked at the lilies. She gave a slight tip of her head as she understood what had made Kidd so frustrated. She calmly placed hers, put the stray lily in place, then stood next to him and took his hand.

"It's alright. I fixed it." She whispered. She felt him relax, and let the breath she'd been holding go.

Patty placed her lily next to Liz's, along with two stuffed giraffes.

"Play with these, ok?" She said to them. Liz gasped and turned to her sister, beet red.

"Patty!" She hissed, reprimanding her sister. It wasn't something she should say, not at a funeral!

"No, it's ok. Thanks, Patty." Black Star interrupted, trying to spare the girl some shame. Patty offered a grin and nodded at him.

"Kidd, would you place one for me as well?" Death asked, since he couldn't physically be there.

"Yes, father." Kidd stated obediently. Death cleared his throat, and they looked at him, listening as he began to speak.

"Do not judge a song by its duration, nor by the number of its notes. Judge it by the richness of its contents, for sometimes those unfinished are among the most poignant." He began, hands moving as he spoke.

"Do not judge a song by its duration, nor by the number of its notes. Judge it by the way it touches and lifts the soul, for sometimes those unfinished are among the most beautiful… and when something has enriched your life, when it's melody lingers on in your heart, is it unfinished? Or is it endless?" He recited. The others contemplated what he'd just said. Tsubaki, moved by the small speech, smiled at Death.

"Thank you, Shinigami-sama." She said, bowing her head lightly. He nodded at her, smiling beneath his mask, though they couldn't see it.

The poem gave Soul an idea of how to express his thoughts on the process, and the gears began to turn in his head. His fingers itched, and he fidgeted with the lily he held in his hand. He decided he'd sit down and play the piano in Gallows Manor later in the evening.

Maka tapped him, bringing him out of his musing, and they stepped forward, resting their lilies on the caskets. They looked up as rain drops began to fall, and stepped back so that Tsubaki and Black Star could place theirs. The funeral director had withheld their lilies for last, telling them there was "something special" about them.

Tsubaki and Black Star approached Mr. Charon, who handed the two their white lilies. Confusion spread across their faces, and they looked back at the man. Tsubaki fondled the petals of hers. It wasn't as silky smooth as lilies usually were, nor were the leaves and petals as thick. The stem was abnormally bent, and could be twisted in and out of shape and alignment. She wondered why they'd been given fake lilies.

"Even after the others have withered away, yours shall still remain intact, like your love for your children. They may be gone, but your love for them never will be." He spoke wisely, offering them a kind and knowing smile.

Tsubaki stared at him, tears welling in her eyes. The beauty and power behind the gesture surprised her, and helped her put into words what she'd been feeling, as well as quell some of the fears she'd been having. Mr. Charon was right. Just because they were saying their final goodbyes to their children didn't mean they would stop loving them.

She sniffled and lay her lilies down, telling them she loved them, and would miss them. She stepped back and wrapped her arms around herself as Black Star stepped forward and set his down. He wrapped an arm around Tsubaki's waist and held her close, not caring about the rain which was now pouring down on them like a shower.

They watched as the caskets were slowly lowered into the ground, and stepped patiently aside as the groundskeepers began to shovel the soil back into the holes. When they were done, Tsubaki stepped forward and knelt down, pressing her open hand into the freshly laid soil. She withdrew her hand, and left an imprint of her own hand.

Black Star did the same, smiling. It somehow made him feel better, and as he looked at his now dirty hand, he rubbed his fingers together. Feeling the grit of soil solidified what they'd just done. The hard part was over now, he felt. With Tsubaki at his side, they could power through and figure out what to do from here on.

The funeral director wheeled away the mirror that Death had used to attend the funeral, leaving the mourning people to take their time. Spirit approached Maka and Soul, taking them aside to talk to them, voicing his previous thoughts and fears.

He gave a solemn and relieved look as Maka thanked him and hugged him, even saying she loved him. It was a rare occasion, and he took it to heart, proud of himself for improving the almost non-existent relationship with his daughter, and proud of her for forgiving him and allowing him to make the effort. Soul was deeply moved upon hearing Spirit consider him as a "son", since he hadn't talked to his own father in years.

Angela yawned, and Mifune realized he had to leave. Not wanting to part without saying at least something, he rested a hand on Black Star's shoulder, who was still knelt down at the foot of Shira's grave.

"You're a brave kid, Black Star, and you are as well, Tsubaki." He said, looking at her as well. She gave him a soft "thank you" in response, and he turned his attention back to Black Star.

"My door is open, if you want to talk. I must go; Angela is tired." He offered, explaining his sudden leave and bestowing him with a compliment he hoped would reach them. They never ceased to bring change to his life, whether pleasant or upsetting, and he was glad he hadn't killed Black Star when they'd raided Arachne's palace.

Black Star didn't answer, but nodded to show he'd heard. He didn't have much to say at the moment, feeling sleepy and tired. He was struggling to contain his emotions, let alone figure out exactly what they were.

Sid didn't say anything, and left quietly. He'd been wondering what to say. He'd thought of pointing out the idea that if Stein had been able to bring them back as zombies, as he was, their children wouldn't be the same. There would always be something off about them which would always estrange the relationships they had between parent and child. He'd noticed the same situation between himself and those he'd been close to in life. They couldn't look him in the eye, and shied away from him, as though feeling immense guilt. It'd taken weeks for Naigus to associate with him like they'd used to in life.

If Black Star or Tsubaki ever asked, he decided he would tell them then.

Tsubaki stood as Stein called out to her, and she walked over to him. He reached into his pocket and took out a candle, still in its plastic wrapping. He handed it to her and held her hand, patting the back of it lightly.

"This will magnify your emotions, and help you and Black Star to maintain an open communication. Whether you want to or not, I want the both of you to set aside a time, maybe an hour or so, and talk every other day. Doesn't matter about what." He explained. She nodded and thanked him, placing the candle in her purse. Marie pulled Tsubaki into a hug and patted the back of her head.

"I'm sorry this has happened. I can't put into words how I feel, but just know I really care. You two are good people. You can always come chat if you need to." She whispered, trying to watch her words carefully. She could be overly passionate sometimes, and mix her words up, which would only create mass irritation since someone would take the wrong message home.

"Thank you, Miss Marie." She replied, though Marie would probably be the last person she would talk to, along with Spirit, since she didn't know either one all that well.

Krona began to speak, stuttering over his words in nerves. He squeaked and froze when Stein set his hand on his shoulder, but when he recognized the ring on his hand, Krona relaxed.

"I don't know what to say. I've never had to deal with this before." He admitted, casting a sideways glance at something other than Tsubaki in embarrassment.

"You're alright, Krona. You've helped a lot just by being here." Black Star stated, joining hands with Tsubaki.

"Re-really? But, I haven't done anything." He argued, fidgeting with his fingernails. Black Star sighed, and shook his head slowly.

"What I mean is, well, um, thanks, Krona." Black Star stated, trying again to get his point across in a way that Krona could easily accept it. He held out his hand, offering for a shake. Krona smiled and accepted it, taking the thanks to heart. It made him feel much better, simply knowing that by seemingly doing nothing, he'd helped out. It didn't make sense, but the light and bubbly feeling in his chest told him otherwise.

"No problem! Hey, take us with you when you smash that guy! I want a whack at him!" Ragnarok shouted, popping up out of Krona's back. He punched the air for emphasis. Krona reached up to silence his weapon by pulling him down by the arm and clasping a hand over his mouth.

"Shut up, Ragnarok!" He hissed, worried the statement would cause Black Star and Tsubaki to be displeased in him. Ragnarok withdrew, and Krona spewed apologies repeatedly.

"It's ok. It's ok!" Tsubaki tried to console him. No use; Krona was wallowing in a pit of despair and agony, and wouldn't hear them. Stein and Marie shuffled him away, waving at them as they left. They'd catch up with them later after Krona had calmed down.

Black Star and Tsubaki turned back to stare at the gravestones they'd selected for their children. Two grey twin baby angels stood watch. The one at the head of Asa's grave played a harp, so chosen for her sweet and gentle nature. The one at the head of Shira's played a trumpet to reflect the boisterous and leading nature she'd had in life. A strand of silk made of stone connected the two, and wrapped around the base, careful not to cover the epitaph.

Those we have held in our arms for a little while we will hold in our hearts forever.

As the rain began to beat down on them even harder, Kidd looked at his watch. It was nearing four, and the sky would be darkening soon. It would get even colder than it already was.

"I'm going to head home. Ready to go, guys?" He asked them in general. Maka and Soul nodded, then looked at Black Star and Tsubaki. They shook their heads.

"Go ahead. We-we need a moment." Black Star told them, not turning to face them.

Understanding, Kidd nodded, and turned to leave. He paused, and looked at the umbrella he'd brought that he had forgotten about. It was leaning against a nearby tree. He opened it and held it between them. They looked up, then at him.

"Take it. I don't want you two to get sick from being cold and wet." He explained. They nodded and Black Star took it, leaning against his shoulder and stepping closer to Tsubaki to shelter her even more from the cold rain.

Satisfied, Kidd walked away, Liz and Patty at his side and Maka and Soul in tow, leaving their friends to mourn alone.

Tsubaki knelt down, and Black Star knelt with her, keeping the umbrella over the both of them. She dug in her purse for the candle Stein had given her, unwrapped it, and propped it up beneath the umbrella. Black Star fished around in his pockets for his matchbook he carried, "just in case", and struck a match, lighting the wick.

The candle lit and the flame lengthened, drops of wax spilling over the sides and onto the grass. The light in the darkening surroundings filled Tsubaki with a slew of emotions, and she leaned into Black Star's shoulder and took his hand, squeezing it tightly. His fingers were cold, and she was sure hers were, too. He popped the handle off of the umbrella and stuck the end of the umbrella into the ground, and wrapped his arm around her, kissing her temple.

"I miss them, Black Star." She whispered, voice thick with pain. He winced, and gritted his teeth as her words rang in his ears.

"I know, honey. I know, I miss them, too." He answered, holding his hand to his eyes in sorrow. Sobs shook their bodies as they wept for their loss, crying out as flashes of their children's happy faces appeared in their mind's eye.

"They were happy, right? They were happy, and good, and-and, we did well, right?" He asked, remembering his promise and determination to ensure they had pleasant lives.

"Of course, yes, they were! We never… we never…" She trailed off, wanting to say they'd never failed them, but how could it be true, when they'd failed to save them from the man who'd killed them?

Black Star shook his head, feeling angry.

"I failed. We failed them. He killed them, and we couldn't do a thing." He spat, fury coursing through his veins. His voice thickened, turning deep and menacing, and she shook her head, then nodded in agreement.

"We'll get him. We must. We owe it to Asa, to Shira." She decided. He looked at her and nodded, and held her face in his hands. He kissed her lips, her cheeks, her forehead, then pulled her against him to hug him tightly.

"We kill him even if it means our lives." He swore, burying his face in her hair, the scent of the gardenia shampoo and conditioner she'd used soothing him.

A powerful gust of wind picked up and they looked at the candle, hoping it wouldn't burn out. Instead of blowing out, it flickered once, twice, wisps of thick black smoke forming at the wind's futile attempt to snuff it out. They stared at the smoke for a while, trying to understand what they'd just seen. Their children's faces, smiling and joyful, formed from the curvatures and dissipation of the smoke before finally being carried away from the wind.

They blinked a few times, feeling an eerie, yet soothing chill sweep over them.

"Did you see that?" Tsubaki asked, wondering if she had indeed been seeing things in her state of distraught. Black Star nodded in confirmation, and let go of the breath caught deep within his chest.

The flame burned brightly again, this time higher and more radiant as before. They smiled and held each other tightly. Tsubaki glanced back at their daughters' gravestone, feeling hopeful.

Light shine strong, our woe be gone. We love you, Shira, Asa. With all of our hearts.

Upon arriving at Gallows manor, Black Star and Tsubaki took a moment to gather themselves, apologizing to Kidd for the destruction and loss of his umbrella. He waved it off; there were plenty more where it'd come from. They went to their room to change into some dry clothing, and met back in the living room upon Soul's request.

Soul went immediately to the grand piano in the corner of the living room, pulled out the chair, flipped up the cover to the keys, and readied himself. He hadn't played the piano for almost a year, and hoped they wouldn't mind if he was a little rusty. Considering he'd be playing with his entire being and practically pouring his heart and soul into the piece, it'd still be a beautiful piece of work.

He rested his hands on the keys. They were soft, sleek, and slender, the ebony-black keys a stark contrast amid the ivory-white. He pressed his foot against the pedals, testing out the pressures. The seat he sat in was cushioned and he was thankful for it; sitting on a wooden stool made his butt hurt after a while, especially when he'd rock back and forth to keep time with the music.

He struck a key, and "C" resonated through the room. The others silenced, and turned to watch, taken aback by the gesture he was making. He took a deep breath, and began to play, letting his fingers do the work and sound out the melody he'd had in his head all day. It was slow, the range of the tune small, something in minor.

Maka listened, and her chest ached. The song he played was sorrowful, full of regret and woe, but the countermelody rang out a light, heavenly tone. The piano offered a wonderful timbre, and the size of the room reverberated the song throughout their ears, giving them a full exposure to the elements of the music he played so passionately.

The crescendo from mezzopiano to mezzoforte, the quickened tempo, and the disjunction of the theme he played sent a chill down all of their spines. The turbulence of the piece made Tsubaki's heart cry, and she shivered, her breath caught in her chest. The blood rushed through her body at top speed as the piece hit a pinnacle of dynamics. She was glad she'd been sitting down; she might have fallen over from being so strikingly stunned.

The music stopped for a short moment, then continued, soft, sweet, and not quite as sad as before. Maka walked up to stand beside him as she saw a few teardrops trickling from his eyes. Adding further to their surprise, Soul's voice accompanied the majestic piano as he began to sing, his voice light and mournful.

Lacrimosa dies illa,
qua resurget ex favilla
judicandus homo reus.
Huic ergo parce, Deus,
pie Jesu Domine,
dona eis requiem. Amen!

As he sang the final chord, the notes from the piano rang out beautifully, leaving the patrons in the room speechless. He let his arms drop, and only lifted his arm to wipe at his eyes with his sleeve, sniffling quietly. His chest ached, and he knew it'd been a good piece.

They didn't lift their hands to clap, too mesmerized by the intensity of the music and the number of emotions it'd evoked within them. Soul collected himself and stood from the piano bench, and turned to face them. He was shocked to see not one of them had a dry eye. He hadn't meant to make them cry.

He scratched the back of his neck in nerves, stuffing the other hand in his pocket and shuffling one foot while leaning heavily on the other.

"Um, sorry, was that too much?" He asked. They all shook their heads, chuckling to relieve the immense tension he'd left in the room. Tsubaki walked up to him and pulled him into a hug. He cast a shocked glance at his wife, and then at Black Star. They could only shrug. Soul hugged Tsubaki back and patted her a few times.

"Thank you, Soul. That was a beautiful way to say goodbye, something only you could do. Thank you." She told him. He nodded, and agreed silently.

"That day of tears and mourning,
when from the ashes shall arise
all humanity to be judged.
Spare us by your mercy, Lord,
gentle Lord Jesus,
grant them eternal rest. Amen."

This is a passage from Mozart's Requiem, titled "Lacrimosa". I wrote this chapter while listening to the entirety of Requiem.