Closure Amanda F. (Karasu7729) "Ashes to ashes..." The slow grating knell of the distant church-tower overpowered the boy's whisper. Quatre shoved pale fingers through a mass of wind-swept blonde, one toe nudging the earth uncertainly. Dust...to dust. Troubled, his gaze swept quickly beyond the stark reality of the little cemetery, settling on the surrounding countryside. A rickety white fence sprawled about the grounds, dotted with spidery chinaberry trees. Beyond the yard, a faint breeze rustled the unmown grass with a papery hiss. The ruddy haze of 3 O'clock sunshine dappled the ground beneath his feet, drawing his attention to the Oak beside him. Quatre's fingers grasped at the gnarled trunk, anchoring himself as he scanned the mottled tombstones. Mother and Father. Beloved Wife. Gone...but not forgotten. The strangled cry of a certain Peacecraft girl yanked him from his reverie, depositing him firmly in the present. Relena crushed a handkerchief to her face, sobbing dramatically into her cloth-covered palm. She took Hilde's proffered arm, and resumed her hysterics against the other girl's shoulder. Strong fingers splayed along Quatre's back, silently conveying reassurance. The blonde boy tacked a luminous half-smile firmly in place, grateful for Trowa's comforting presence. "Relena-san," the ex-Sandrock pilot chastised gently, "There's no need to carry on like this. Heero was a soldier; kitto he wouldn't approve." Quatre's smile faltered as the Peacecraft straightened haughtily, anger staining her cheeks. "Who are you to tell me what Heero-kun would approve of?" she managed between sobs. "You're scarcely an acquaintance -- merely a chance encounter in this ghastly conflict! We were in love, don't you see? We were going to marry, Heero and I, as soon as the war ended. And now that it has... I--" Hilde squeezed the Peacecraft's shoulder, encouraging her. Relena sniffed loudly, dabbing at her face with the handkerchief. "I wrote him, when it was over--I told him everything! Oh, I knew exactly what he'd been dreaming of, and I'd say yes, of course I would, so he wouldn't even have to trouble himself to ask! I'd chosen June, and the most gorgeous cathedral--even the rose-colored bridesmaid dresses... Oh, god! Quatre, it--it just isn't fair!" "Life is what you make of it, Onna," a wry voice suggested. "Wouldn't you agree?" "Wufei!" The Winner heir's face lit up in a genuine smile. "You came!" "Aa," the Chinese boy remarked, arching one brow in amusement. "I've come to ensure my comrades are honored with a proper burial." Wufei glanced ruefully at the weeping Peacecraft. "Although why they requested burial rather than space--" "It's what they wanted," Trowa offered, shrugging with disconcern. "Besides," Quatre insisted, "it's a beautiful little place, and such a lovely day for it. Why, I can just hear Duo saying--" "Have you all gone mad?!" Relena stomped her foot, hands clenching her hips in dissaproval. "My fiance is dead, and all you can do is chat amongst yourselves -- marvelling at the bloody weather! It's not pretty, do you hear me? It's NOT! This," she sneered, jabbing one finger at the right-hand mound of earth, "is WRONG! He should be buried with honors in the Peacecraft family cemetery, not some backward little country churchyard! Besides, isn't this the sort of plot they bury married people in? Look, fenced in and room enough for two, husband and wife! What's he buried next to that Maxwell boy for?" "As Trowa pointed out, Relena-san," Quatre soothed, "it's exactly as they wanted it. As to their reasoning, well, kitto that's not for us to know. Don't you think we should honor the wishes of the deceased?" "Yes, yes, of course," she agreed impatiently, "but maybe that was before that baka Maxwell boy got him killed!" "OI! What's that supposed to mean?" Hilde snapped, peeling the Peacecraft from her shoulder. "Don't you see?" Relena hissed, as if all were intrinsically obvious. "My Heero-kun made it through the war for me! He suffered terribly, but he bore it like a soldier -- all so he could have me in the end! And just when my fairytale was finally, finally coming true -- that fey-looking Deathscythe boy stole him away from me!" "Re-le-na!" Hilde exclaimed, grating out the syllables of the Peacecrafts name. "There was a storm that night, remember? Their car went off the ledge for God's sake!" "That's exactly what he wants us to believe! He was jealous of me, jealous! He wanted Heero for himself! He couldn't take it that Heero was going to marry me, so that, that fa--" Hilde's palm cracked across the girls cheek before she could even voice the term. "How dare you! Duo was NOT gay, and even if he WAS, he--he--oh my god, you spoiled little BITCH!" Quatre sighed noisily at the resulting backlash of sound. Trowa's fingers applied gentle pressure against his back, suggesting departure. The blond head bobbed slightly in weary agreement. Wufei followed suit, dry leaves crackling softly beneath his feet. The shrieking of slighted women muted slightly as they mounted the final hill, closing on the cemetery gate. "Well, I suppose that went about as well as could be expected. Anou...Maybe it wasn't precisely the kind of closure they wanted," Quatre reflected. "Ch. Women. What did you expect?" The gate snicked closed behind them, and Wufei slipped the latch into place. "Still. It was rather refreshing. At long last...a sense of terminus. Secreting the past in a quiet resting place." "Aa," Trowa mused quietly. "Maybe one of these days they'll return the favor." . . . . . . . . . "Say it again, Koi." "...." "Come on, you know you wanna." "Fine. Omae-o-korosu." "Tease. You rushed it all out at once. C'mon. Do it right." "Hn. Omae o korosu." "OOOO you make me go all tingly!" "Ch. If that's so, where the hell are you going?" "Why? Do you want me, Koi?" "Kisama. Only a baka like you would ask." "Hmmm. Uh--I'll be back in a sec. Just goin' to the liquer store." "Nani?" "Cause they're gonna be back from buryin' us in an hour, Man. An after dealin' with You-Know-Who." "Hidoi." "Yeah. Anou--you gonna let me go then?" "Iie. You've been captured by the enemy." "Oh rea~lly? And what are you gonna do about my friends, huh? I got powerful friends, an' they'll be here any moment to rescue me!" "Ch. I'll leave a fifty on the coffee table and lock the bedroom door." Owari 5/13/00