Part 13 Graveyard

 A/N: I wrote this chapter since yesterday was the day of the dead in my country, me and my sister went to look at the candles that everyone put and it was really pretty! I got inspired so here. Also ik the image is skk, but like i found it on facebook and halloween wasn't that long ago so yeah.

For some reason, Ranpo seemed more closed off today, he wasn't his usual cheery self, instead of loudly pointing out the answer to the question the teacher asked, he just sat there, deep in thought.

Even at lunch he didn't talk much, only responding with "yes" or "no".

Poe was getting really worried, He wasn't sure why Ranpo would be like this, but when he asked him if he was ok (multiple times) he always said yes or I'm fine.

Atsushi and Dazai went on a walk together to chat about their very annoying boyfriend problems.

"Hey isn't that Ranpo?" asked Dazai, as he pointed to Ranpo who was carrying a bag with something.

"Yeah, he's probably buying candy or something I don't know" he replied, but when they walked further, they saw it was more of a souvenir and gift shop, it had magnets, flags, pins, key chains the usual, but also candles and flowers.

(these are the kind of candles)

"Weird, well maybe he's gonna surprise Poe" guessed Dazai.

"I don't know maybe, we'll see. I just hope he's ok." mumbled Atsushi, concerned about how sad he seemed today.

Even though Poe tried all day to cheer Ranpo up, but to no avail.

It was getting late and Poe decided to buy Ranpo's favorite snacks.

After he purchased them, he walked over to Ranpo's dorm and knocked, there was weirdly no response, he knew he was upset today but before when he knocked he'd answer.

"R-Ranpo? I brought your favorite snacks? Are you ok?" Poe questioned as he tried to listen through the door.

He then remembered the spare key that Ranpo gave him, he opened the door, to find the room was empty.

He was extremely worried, it was pretty dark outside, coupled with Ranpo's sense of directions, he would be lost for ever.

He ran out and asked everyone if they saw him. Dazai and Atsushi of course told him about the store.

"That store sold candles? Then maybe-" Poe ran of before finishing the sentence, he walked through the streets, he didn't know the town very well so Karl helped him.

They finally arrived at the grave yard. He walked in, seeing a lot of candles lighting it up.

It would be a beautiful but sad sight.

If Poe wasn't worried sick about his boyfriend, he would have loved how little people are there.

"Ranpo?" he asked a familiar figure.

"Yeah?" he answered quietly.

"Are you visiting your parents?" asked Poe, he wanted to be sure just in case.

"Yeah, I try not to get affected by today but I just get distracted by the whole thing." he responded.

Poe sat down next to Ranpo, they could see better now due to the candles and them being closer to the ground.

"You could have told me... I would have visited with you" offered Poe.

"it's fine... I just don't like talking about it ok? It makes people pity me.... And I hate that." he explained.

"I'm not gonna pity you Ranpo, but I want to be there for you so that you're not dealing with your sadness alone" said Poe, holding Ranpo's hand.

"thank you..." replied Ranpo. They sat there, Ranpo even opened up a little.

"Sometimes I feel really bad, because I would be more sad if Fukuzawa died than them..." he trailed off.

"I know, it can happen. But you were really young when they died, you've spent most of your life with him so it makes sense." assured Poe. "i had this neighbor who would be always nice, once she read my work and told me it was very good, that cheered me up because back then I didn't like my writing. I also helped her with decorating eggs once for Easter, she told me I could pick any candy from the candy bowl, and I picked the nut that she had there. It was weird but I felt sadder about her death than my parents death."

(based on a conversation I had with my sister yesterday, about how we would be sadder if our old neighbor died than our grandparents or aunts/uncle's)

"People are so weird!" laughed Ranpo. "It's stupid as well you know, sometimes you have shitty grandparents, but you know if they'd die you would cry and be upset"

"I guess, but sometimes even when you know a person is toxic you cling to them because they were like a parental figure or something important" said Poe as they stood up to go home.

"Poe- Thank you for this." thanked Ranpo as they tried to maneuver their way through the graves.  

A/N: 860 words :0 that's so many omg