Hakuouki: Dragon Circles in Quiet Summer

Chapter 39

~~3rd POV~~

They had waited an extra day just in case, by miracle, that she would return from death but nothing had happened. She remained cold and utterly dead. No sign of change. Souji had convinced himself that she was still asleep, that she needed more time.

The demons came, bearing condolences and gifts to the morning clan. Amagiri had to be removed as he began a fit of outrage after realizing he had failed his family's lifelong duty to the ancient clan.

Karou had came to pay his respects to the girl he loved from a distance. His sister by promise. He left her the Yukimura sword, seeing the end of the bloodline. He took the bodies of Osana and Takeo, wordlessly, only to come back to wait just a little longer to see if she would rise again.

Mei, set in her despair, just sat in Sakura's tree watching everything from Sakura's favorite hideout spot that overlooked all of headquarters. Yamazaki had soon joined her, sharing the guilt and feelings of failure.

Everyone was silent and busied themselves with cleaning up the mess of blood and furies. The captains although couldn't help but feel empty. Kondou had refused to get up from bed.

Hijikata wrote in his poem book but swore the end of it with Sakura's song.

Sannan had cleared his laboratory of the remaining vials of the Water of Life and burned his research on furies. All the furies he had once had, was killed in the former battle, killed by Sakura herself.

The trio had drunk with no merit, but relived the memories of Sakura's impressive drinking, geisha dress ups, and drunk episodes that left them laughing through the pain.

Saito had took his old spot of looking up Sakura's tree. He always watched her, always believing that she would fall one day and he would catch her. His best friend, companion, was no longer there to share her food or open him up tithe world any longer.

By coincidence or by cruel fate, Sakura's old savior had come to fulfill his promise to visit her. He was turned away after he was informed of her vary recent death. He had frowned and left quietly.

The Tatsumaru demons had all agreed that it was time to send her off. Souji was sent away so they could prepare her. He went outside and sat at the tree that was once her's, the tree that she dies at.

Fuyu had ordered that she would not be masked in fancy clothes or royal colors like in her many investigations and missions. She was a warrior, and she was dressed in her usual attire but they had bandaged her scarred arm. Everyone had silently agreed that she looked the same as when she had came. Even her once cut hair was restored at some point.

Yui had gathered all the men under the cherry blossom tree. "We have already moved Sakura to her burning site. Since this is not a normal situation, we would like to offer to bring you to our sacred grounds to witness her parting through rituals... But I would recommend coming. Our rituals are unique. Sometimes the ancestors will allow us to see or hear the deceased's final gifts or words to help the living move on. Our previous leader was able to tell us that Sakura would be the next leader of our clan." She informed and they all agreed at that. Although Souji was hoping she would somehow be reawakened or use some tricks again to come back through the ritual.

~~~

She laid on a pyre, her fans tucked into a clean red sash that replaced the one that Souji kept. The Yukimura and Tatusmaru sword was at her hip. Even the customary bracelets she had once wore was over her bandaged arm.

Even the other demons were allowed to witness the sacred rituals. Fuyu handled everything as everyone stood back against the trees that surrounded the clearing.