And here's the funeral! Plus, we get a surprise guest in this chapter!

Chapter 12: The Funeral

The next day, everyone in Shanghai Secluded Valley has gathered around to attend the funeral of Manny's parents and everyone in Musaki's relatives decided to come by as a family to pay their last respects. Musaki started walking out of Oak Sung's house, taking a deep breath and trying to keep himself composed over this as he didn't want to break down in hysterics as he shares that grief with everyone else, though he never really met them before.

His biggest regret would be not meeting them for the first time and his life has pretty much been blank since his parents died 14 years ago that he had lost track of his family relatives and he feels a deep amount of it as well as sorrow for Manny. As soon as he walked out of the door, he sees Manny sitting there with his head hung down and he sits down next to him because he could tell from the look on his face that going to see his parents get buried might be too much for him to endure.

He puts his hand on Manny's shoulder in hopes of getting his spirit lifted up a little and he asked, "You okay?"

Manny didn't even respond. All he could do is just let out a sad sigh and when he slowly looked up at his half-cousin, his eyes were all red and puffy and Musaki could tell that he was crying. Manny lets a couple of tears fall out from his face and he finally said, "I don't know if I can face myself. Seeing both of my parents laid in a coffin lifeless...it just adds to the guilt too much."

"I know it's overwhelming for you...but they're your family. It would mean a lot to your parents if you did come for them. Heck, it would mean a lot to the entire family if you came because we all grieve the same way you do." Musaki added.

Manny fell silent for a minute and then turned away from Musaki because he knew he was right. He just wasn't sure to admit the fact that everyone in the family are attending to see his parents get buried. But at the same time, he loved his parents so much that he would be willing to do anything for them, even if it means attending their funeral. Saying goodbye to them would be really hard for him and it hit him the ultimate hardest of all. Manny then lets out a soft sigh and a sniffle and replied, "I guess."

Musaki stood up for a minute and then gives Manny a huge hug for support. Musaki then whispered, "Family will always stay with you...through the good, bad and the ugly."

Manny takes a deep breath for a minute and tried to muster up every ounce of strength he can gather to get through this and when they see Oak Sung and his wife coming out, they could tell that they're ready for the family gathering and they followed them on the way to the funeral. Right away, Manny looked at Musaki and asked, "Am I doing the right thing?"

Musaki then looks at Manny deep in the eyes and he replied, "You're doing this for the family. That's good enough for me."

Later on, they all arrived at a little garden further from the valley and as everyone entered, everyone passed by the coffin to see Manny's parents for the last time to pay their last respects and the sight of that made Manny more anxious than ever and when he slowly walked up to see them, he felt the same way his parents' bodies were; numb. He was at a loss for words and didn't really know what to say, but the more he thought, the more emotional he got as it became too overwhelming for him. To know that a full week has passed by so quickly since their death, Manny doesn't know how to describe it in words other than it was a tragic loss.

He looks at them and he whispered, "Mom...dad...I am so sorry...for everything."

He then felt someone's paw from his shoulder and when he looked up, it was only Shao. Manny lets out a heavy sigh as Shao gives him a deep hug and shared that grief with him. Shao then whispered, "I'm sorry for your loss, Manny."

"Thanks, Shao." Manny said, tearfully.

Shao then looks at the coffin and sees Manny's parents for the first time and he could tell that this death hit Manny the hardest and then he looked at Manny and asked, "That's them, huh?"

"Uh-huh." Manny replied.

Shao lets out a deep sigh and he said, "It's a tragic loss."

Manny totally agreed with Shao for a second as this tragedy was nothing short of a loss. He then walks where Musaki is and everyone sat down on the ground as the funeral starts. Just then, Oak Sung walked in fron of everyone as he said some words to everyone in the Valley.

"We are gathered here today to say our final farwell to Xiao-Li and Kumiko Akio. What is said about them...they were good people, not to mention great parents to their only child, Manny. We should not be able to discuss about the tumultous relationship they have endured, but of the joy they really had. Xiao-Li brought out the best in us and lifted up everyone's spirits and has become nothing more than a great cousin to my son, Sakamoto. These two were like the best of friends though they were barely related, but nevertheless...a bond like that has never been more stronger that Xiao-Li's. Kumiko...is a very beautiful, gifted gem that has always lightening up everyone when she walks in a room or even in our home. Though they had their issues with each other, it does not compare to the love they had with each other." Oak Sung said.

As he went on, everyone in the audience is a little teary-eyed during this whole thing and Manny lets some tears fall down from his face and Musaki sees him looking like he was about to cry, so he reached out for support as he places his arm around Manny's shoulder for comfort and Manny didn't know what to make of it, but he accepted it regardless.

Just then, Musaki turns around and to his surprise...a familiar grey wolf appeared out of nowhere and he walked in with a little bowtie around his neck and spiky hair groomed up and when he walked towards Musaki's row...Musaki was definitely shocked to see who it was.

"Arizona?" Musaki asked, whispering.

Soon enough, Oak Sung looked up and sees Arizona standing there and he asked, "Arizona...you came here?"

Arizona looks up at Oak Sung and he replied, "Yes. Just to support Musaki as well as his half-cousin for this family tragedy."

Oak Sung didn't expect that to happen, but he was definitely pleased that he would do something for Musaki's relatives and soon enough, another round of guests came forth in shades of black, white, green, orange, blue and yellow standing beside Arizona as they all let out a bow of respect and Musaki was surprised to see his adopted family coming by as they looked at Musaki with the utmost sympathy they had for this tragedy.

Musaki widened his eyes at that and he said, "You guys..."

"We all came here for Musaki. If that means much to him, then it means a lot to all of us." Shifu spoke up.

Oak Sung lets out a smile for that and he said, "Xing-Fu is really lucky to have a family like you."

Shifu looks at Musaki as they all sat down in different rows as the funeral proceeds and all the while, everyone lets out different eulogies on Manny's parents and in every word they gave them, Manny definitely feels every ounce of emotion he could possibly feel despite the fact that he had been through so much during their parents' split.

Then, Manny was called to play a little instrumental song as he got his little flute and when he faced everyone else, he started playing a somber and beautiful tune that will tug everyone else's heartstrings almost as if he's performing it to his parents. It brought in tears in everyone's eyes, took their breaths away and completely captured everyone else's heart.

When the funeral was over, everyone placed the coffin underneath a tombstone so that they can rest in peace. For Manny, letting go of a grief is a big challenge he'll take, but with Musaki's comforting support, he'll try his hardest to get through this. Meanwhile, everyone pays their sympathy to Manny giving out comforting words for him and it was something he definitely needed.

Not long after, Arizona comes up in front of Manny for the first time and he wasn't sure what to say because he met him for the first time and he said, "It was pretty beautiful, what you played."

Manny lets out a deep sigh and he replied, "I made that for my parents. I just wanted to do this for them."

Arizona nodded his head and said, "I'm sure they'll appreciate it. My name's Arizona. I'm friends with your half-cousin, Musaki."

"I'm Manny. Musaki never told me much about you." Manny said, shaking his paw.

"There's a lot of things about Musaki you don't know about...other than the fact that he's a great person. You're a lucky person."

"Yeah."

Arizona lifts his chin up and he said, "Things will get better. I hope everything turns out well for you."

Manny nodded his head softly as Arizona walks off and he lets out a deep sigh and seconds later, he sees Shifu, the Furious Five and Po for the first time and it was like the legendary kung-fu masters have come to pay their respects to Manny's parents. It was totally out of the blue, but it did mean a lot to him to come out. He looks at all of them and said, "I'm not worthy to be in your presence. I mean...you're awesome, but...why me? Why'd you guys come here?"

Tigress looks up at Manny and she then said, "For Musaki. We felt that it would be important to him that we attend your parents' funeral because he's our family as well."

That completely made him feel like he was important and having the best kung-fu masters in China come to support Manny in his time of need was rewarding. Just then, Musaki walks by, still surprised by their unexpected appearance and he said to Manny, "That's my adopted family. I've been with them for 4 years now. This is Master Shifu, the Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five."

"We've met." Manny said.

Manny bows to them as he departs and Musaki looks over at all of them and he asked, "Why'd you guys came?"

"Lil' Saki...we've bene thinking a lot about what you said about family being important and that it's the only thing we have. If it means that much to you, it means a lot to us too." Po replied.

Musaki smiled at them for a bit and he said, "Thank you guys for coming over. It's almost as if you're a part of this family too."

"We are." Shifu added.

Didn't expect the kung-fu masters come in, huh? A few more chapters left!