I've Always Been There (Kaoru x Reader)

Chapter Twenty: Three Days Untill The Ball/The Funeral

~(Y/n)/s POV~

"Okay, that should so it." I flattened out the black dress I wore, (pictured above), and slipped on some black flats. I had my hair straightened out, not wanting to do much with it. But, then I changed my mind, and pulled the top half up into a little ponytail. I pulled on some black gloves, and finally grabbed the folded up paper on my desk.

"Okay, you can do this." I took a deep breath, and made my way downstairs, meeting my family in the foyer, who all were also dressed as you would for a funeral. My father and brother in black tuxes, and my mother-in-law wearing a beautiful black dress. "Thank you guys, for coming."

My father put a hand onto my shoulder, and placed a caring kiss onto my forehead. "We're here for you, sweetheart." I smiled lightly, and we made our way to the limo.

I took in another deep breath, my body slightly shaking as we pulled up to the funeral home. I sat inside the limo as I watched people flood into the home, many crying faces, and some recognizable. 

That's when I saw the twins waiting out front, both sporting black tuxes, and seemed to be waiting for someone. Their eyes caught attention on my limo, assumingly seeing me inside, and they waved, giving sympathetic smiles. 

I took a final breath, and finally stepped out, my family already had made their way in, letting me gather myself for a minute.

"Hey, (Y/n)." The twins walked up to me, both engulfing me into their arms. I released a shaky breath, hugging them back. "You guys came?"

"The whole club is here. We wanted to be here, for you. Plus, Kairi was also our friend. We didn't know her long, but she meant a lot to you-" Hikaru said.

"So she meant a lot to us." Kaoru finished. I hiccuped, and went to wipe my tears, but Kaoru beat my to it, cupping my cheeks with his hands, and wiping my tears with his thumbs. "Let's head inside, they're waiting for us." I nodded, took each one of their hands, and walked inside.

"(Y/n), you made it." As we entered the doors, I was greeted by an attendant, who handed me an obituary, and bowed to me. Kairi's parents greeted me, and I gave them each a hug. "Thank you for coming, (Y/n)."

"Of course." I gave them weak smiles, and they led me into the main room, where everyone had been being seated. They took me to the front row, where I saw a majority of Kairi's family, and I sat in a chair that had my name plate placed on it. I picked it up, and took my seat, fiddling with the paper in my hands, and staring down at the obituary. A picture of Kairi sat on the front page, it was a picture taken I assume at the beginning of high school. She sat on the edge of the fountain, sporting the school dress, her hair up in her usual side ponytail. 

She looked so happy. So alive.

I looked back up, seeing the pasture walk up to the podium, that sat behind an open casket. He opened up a bible, and then took a glance around the room.

"Kairi Suzumoto was sixteen years old, a freshman in high school. She is surpassing her parents,  Mother Hinoe Suzumoto, and father Yoshiki Suzumoto." He went on, pretty much reciting the obituary at first. 

"I knew Kairi, she was always here at the church every Wednesday and Sunday morning. She loved helping out. She spoke so fondly of all her friends, and always had a smile on her face." He took a breath, trying not to cry himself. He steadied his breathing, glancing down the to casket. "She never seemed to let anything trouble her. She was a free spirit. But at the same time, a wallflower, that sat on a bush full of roses."

He spoke on her for a while, reading some passages from the bible. He finally stepped away, and her parents stepped up, smiling at the room.

"My baby girl had so many friends. When she loved, she loved with her whole heart." Her mother then looked to me, and I stiffened up. "Her best friend, (Y/n)(L/n), she always spoke so fondly of you. Whenever she would become sad, or angry, she would just take a breath, and tell herself that she would just speak to you, and everything would be okay. You kept my baby happy, even when things went dark for a while, she still kept hope for you."