The ceremony was a closed casket. Yuriko understood why – there was no way to make her grandfather look alright after the hell he had been through. Many people came, not all of which she recognised. Old students from the training in his dojo, cousins and nephews and nieces from China, people who were part of his crime organisation. Then there was his daughter, Jun Lei, and herself.
Yuriko couldn't bring herself to cry again. Already, she had shed so many tears for her grandfather. She knew he wouldn't want her to turn into a sobbing mess once more, but it was hard not to. Everyone else was tearing up, holding them back, or simply sniffling into the shoulder of someone else.
She was wearing a black jacket and a shirt with dark pants, too afraid that something terrible might happen again even after two days of silence since she saved Jayce. A green flower was in her hair, lined up with the pin in the front. Her mother scolded her lightly for not wearing a dress like a proper lady, but she simply ignored her. She had to be prepared. There was no time for breaks, even for mourning.
Yuriko stood in the front of the crowd of people dressed in black, staring at the hole in front of her. The coffin had already been lowered inside, and now they watched as people came forward and threw in flowers and pictures. She was holding a green rose, gripping it in her gloved hands. Not everyone was Chinese or Japanese, so she understood their own ways of grieving.
However, those grieving weren't the only ones there. A circle of police surrounded them, facing outwards, keeping reporters and people from interrupting. A news cast was in every direction, discussing the ordeal. She felt eyes on her. They knew who she was, and the funeral only proved exactly that point.
Finally, the dirt was thrown over the casket. Many people left by then, but some stayed to watch, including Yuriko and Jun Lei. Some, the Japanese people specifically, approached them and gave them small envelopes with grievance money – Okoden. Every single one of them her mother denied, saying she did not need it at all. It was true, they were rich, so they didn't need money. Especially money that was simply given to them because they lost the only person that connected them.
After the grave was covered, the rest of the grievers left – all except Yuriko and Jun Lei. They stared at the gravestone, erected to signify the resting place of Xiu Romanov. Soon enough, her mother stepped forward after everyone was gone, kneeling down beside the stone and laying her hand on top of it. Yuriko stood beside her, setting the green rose on the grave.
A moment of silence between them, watching the grave as if something might happen. Alas, nothing did, bringing them unwanted suspense. Yuriko knew her mother did not want to leave, because as soon as she did, the reporters would swarm the area like rabid animals. To be honest, she didn't want to leave, either – questions would be asked as soon as she stepped out of the protective circle.
Then, a sharp whistle caught her attention. She turned to look, still seeing the crowd, but searched it with her eyes. Yuriko saw someone raise their hand and wave, and her eyes locked with a person with a sad blue gaze – Jayce. She stared at him for a moment, seeing the car behind him, and knew it was time.
Turning back to her mother, she placed a hand on her shoulder. "I have to go."
Her mother looked up, then back around. With a sigh, she sniffled back her tears, and stood. "I should go, too… We can't hold them back forever."
They stared at the grave for a moment longer, then hugged each other. Yuriko could feel her love and affection in the embrace, holding onto it for a few seconds before they pulled apart. Looking back at the crowd, they walked together, heads down as they passed the police officers. Almost immediately, questions flew wildly through the air.
"Yuriko Romanov, do you know why your grandfather's dojo was targeted?"
"Yuriko Romanov, are you really the vigilante known as Wakizashi?"
"Yuriko Romanov, do the terrorists Flower and Vin have something to do with your other life?"
"Yuriko Romanov, what are you going to do?"
"Yuriko Romanov-!"
Finally, she reached Jayce, who wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her through the crowd. She kept her head down and her voice silent, despite how much she wanted to scream for them to shut up. Her mother parted ways, ignoring the questions that were thrown her way and heading to the white limo on the road.
Yuriko was taken to the black car by the entrance to the graveyard, Jayce pushing her into the back and climbing in after her, shutting the door in the reporters' faces. They continued to yell and shout through the window, but Yuriko stared forward. Matsuda was in the driver's seat, and he glanced back at the two of them, wearing a nice suit.
"Are you ready?" He asked them.
They both nodded. Matsuda started the car, looking forward again as he started to drive. Within what felt like only moments, they were at his house, a small two story home squished between two others that were the same. Upon entering, they stood in the middle of the kitchen where the table and chairs were already moved. Akari, the girl with the healing abilities, was already there.
Standing around in a circle, Matsuda murmured the words from his book in the strange language, some kind of old Latin. Then, they were surrounded by the mist, swirling in a vortex before it parted. That time, no voices intruded on Yuriko's mind, only the serene quiet as they stared out at the crashing waves of the island where she first met the twins.
Everyone took a seat on the stone benches carved from the rocks, but nobody spoke. They all stared at the ground, silent, unsure what to say. Yuriko could hear their thoughts, so it was anything but quiet for her. Matsuda was cursing himself for failing to save Petal, Akari was upset because she couldn't do anything to comfort anyone, and Jayce… Jayce was wishing he could trade his life for Mystic's and Petal's.
"I can't believe this is all that's left," Jayce finally said, his words soft in the ramble that was to come. "Flower… She betrayed us all and went off to destroy Japan, taking part of Vinny with her. Petal was killed, and Mystic is missing. There was no way she could have survived… We don't even know where the other half of Vinny is. For all we know, he could be dead, too."
Nobody answered him for a few moments. Everyone was silently mourning, trying to hold it together. Yet, something was different. Yuriko could hear them – Matsuda, Jayce, Akari – but one other joined the fray. She raised her head, looking behind her at the house. A shadow dipped from the window, and she stood up quickly. Everyone looked at her, confused.
"Matsuda," She said. "Did you check the house?"
"Yes," He raised to his feet. "Why?"
"Because he's in there." Yuriko started towards the building.
"What?" Matsuda followed after her, Jayce and Akari behind. "That's impossible. I checked every room with Tanaka."
"You didn't look hard enough," She responded, opening the door.
The house was dormant, but she could see that the lights were on. Walking into the kitchen, her eyes darted to the stove. She hovered her hand over it, finding it too hot to touch. It was recently used. Looking in the sink, she saw a pot that was freshly warm – he was boiling water. Looking through the rooms and down the hall, she found Matsuda was right. There was nobody inside.
Alas, there were still the invading thoughts in her mind. They were scared, and had every right to be. Yuriko was furious. She closed her eyes, following the images, delving deep and cycling through the memories. Then, she opened her eyes again, and headed straight for the bedroom. Stopping in front of the bed, the three individuals behind her watched as she grabbed it under the frame and practically threw it to the side.
Underneath was her prize – a sliding trap door. He must have turned into something small to fit into it with the bed above. She grimaced, grabbing the handle and throwing it open. The thoughts grew into a panic as a cat scurried out, running towards the door frantically. Akari screamed and stumbled back, while both Jayce and Matsuda tried to catch it. Matsuda was the one to grab it, holding it up. It yowled and shifted, forming back into Vinhatri. He was struggling relentlessly, dressed in a sweater and sweatpants.
"Let me go!" Vinhatri yelled, but Matsuda held his arms firmly.
"Vinny, calm down," Jayce tried to convince him. "It's okay-"
"No!" He cried out, looking about ready to bawl. "You're going to kill me! Even if you don't, then they will!"
Yuriko stormed forward, grabbing his collar and pulling him from Matsuda, throwing him to the ground in the bedroom. He yelped, scooting back away from her until his back was against the wall. Her eyes were flaring with rage, walking forward until she was right in front of him and crouching down.
"I won't kill you," She said darkly. "I will only make you wish you were dead." He looked at her with fear, shivering and shaking. "I have some questions, Einarsson. And you will answer them, or I will hurt you."
"Yuriko-!" Matsuda scolded, but she threw her hand up to tell him to silence himself. Which he promptly did.
"Now, Vinny," Yuriko said slowly. "Where is Flower and your double?"
"I…" He swallowed. "I don't know…"
She sighed, grabbing his hand and pushing a pressure point between his thumb and wrist. He cried out, struggling to rip from her grasp, but she held strong. "Where are they?" She said louder.
"I don't know! I don't know!" He cried out, wiggling in pain. "Please, I don't know!"
"But you know where they will be," Yuriko hissed. "So tell me. At least think it!"
He squeaked, his mind turning to a point where Flower and the other half of him were talking. They tried to convince him to join them, but he refused, and they trapped him in this dimension. They told him all the places they would attack, and he didn't know why. Yuriko knew – it was because they were aware she would find him, and they wanted her to come after them.
"Where?!" She yelled, pushing harder as he spasmed.
"A-A hospital! A dojo, a festival!" He yelped, his mind flashing images of it all. "A-An apartment building, and-!"
Yuriko pulled back, grimacing, letting go of his hand. He whimpered, holding his arm and panting. She turned to Matsuda, her eyes darting back and forth, thinking. That building… she saw it, and it looked so familiar. Then, it struck her. She walked forward, the three staring at her in shock of the torture she had committed. Yet, she was too angry to care.
"Matsuda," She said. "Take me back to the other world."
"Why?" He questioned.
She simply answered, "My mother's apartment building is the next target."