[b]Kirigakure, graveyard Kichiro Kakurenbo, Team Shun[/b] Unusually for the Village Hidden in the Mist the skies were perfectly clear for once. The odd songbird whistled in the background while the wind played with the grass. As the sealed casket was slowly lowered into the grave, sunlight reflected off it's black polished surface for the last time. Such a poor dramatisation, Kichiro mused, it should have been raining for a scene like this. However if he was honest he preferred the sun lit funeral. Bright and cheery fit his mentor far better. "Goodbye Sensei." his teammate intoned softly. For once Mahiro had left his distinctive heavy armour behind, clad in sollemn black like the rest of the funeral-goers. It was honestly a bit confusing to see the giant boy without at least one large obvious piece of metal on him. Kichiro glanced over at his other teammate, the silent Harumi. She too was dressed formally for the occasion. Far too formal, he reflected. As a relation of his sensei stepped up to cast the first bit of earth down into the grave, Kichiro confided in his teammates. "This is wrong." he said simply. "... Sensei's dead Kichiro." Mahiro replied. Kichiro faltered but continued on. "I know and we are not seeing her off properly." he said. Mahiro's eyes flashed dangerously, but he carried on. "Think about how Ryoko-sensei acted, how she was, what she would have wanted. Look around here. Black, depressed, muted? I propose we return here once the official proceedings have been completed and then truly say our goodbyes, like we want to say them and how we want to say them. For me that will be festively, in full colour and splendour." he said quietly. While he wanted to wave and jump about with full emphasis on certain words, he respected the other funeral-goers saying goodbye in their own way. "You're batshit insane." Mahiro replied and Harumi nodded once in agreement. Kichiro did not care in the slightest. "I am me, and to close on this note feels like an insult ratter than a gesture of respect." he said uncharacteristically seriously. For the first time since their Sensei died, Mahiro smiled genuinely even as tears still rolled down his face. "I never said I disagreed." the swordsman said. ---- The sun had just cleared the horizon when they returned the following day, shining down on fresh wisps of the mist that gave the village its name. To the surprise of both boys, Harumi was actually the one that brought Sake. "See that sensei, your ploy to corrupt her has finally paid off." Mahiro said jovially to the gravestone. His armour clinked as he raised his glass in a toast. "Indeed. Our fair maiden, now at last fallen to decadence and corruption through your loving influence. Who knows what depths she will steep to now that she is no longer fettered by chains of morality or good taste." Kichiro added as he placed one foot forward, leaned back and held out his cup like the world's greatest pearl as he too toasted. Harumi hid herself between her broad rimmed hat and the high collar of her brown great-coat. "S'wrong." she defended herself quietly as she toasted as well. The three drained their cups in unison, and promptly made their tastes known in unison. "EYEEURGH!" "Definitively an acquired taste." Kichiro managed, as he hopped back on a single leg. "And now I understand why Dad forbade me to touch this stuff." Mahiro agreed through teary eyes. "Sensei... liked this?" Harumi asked in confusion. "Apparently drank it like water." Mahiro said. A short silence descended over the three of them. "Now THIS is goodbye Sensei. For real this time, no formal corset to force us into unnatural poses. From the bottom of my heart, from my true being... from the actor behind the mask. Fare thee well where ever your journey takes you now. I did not forget your lesson, rather than say in grief that you are no more I will live in joy that you once were." Kichiro bowed deeply to the grave. Harumi stepped up next, and silently poured the remaining sake over the grave. "It's the circle of life... but it still hurts." "I'm not the smartest. I'm not... that good with words like Kichiro is." Mahiro said next, as he struggled with the words. With a wordless angry scream he suddenly punched the ground. "I can't. Just have you leave like that. You were supposed to be invincible damnit!" he raged. Exchanging a brief look, Kichiro and Harumi simultaneously laid their hands on his shoulder. Said shoulders shook as Mahiro sank to his knees. It was quite some time before they finally left the graveyard.