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Makena followed Shuri into the elevator, having just came from seeing T'Challa. Shuri wanted to hurry up and finish up attempting to recreate the Heart-Shaped Herb. Makena's hand shook anxiously as the elevator took them to the lab.

She glanced over at Shuri who was holding her hands together. "Time is running out. Please allow me to heal my brother of this illness. And I will never question your existence again." Shuri spoke to herself.

The elevator opened and they both rushed out. "His heart rate is dropping fast, where are we?" Shuri asked one of the people who helped with projects and such.

"We are finishing a sequence now." He replied but it definitely wasn't fast enough for Shuri. She needed to take things in her own hands.

"Griot, give me the control," Shuri said to her AI.

Makena walked over to one of the desks and grabbed the elixir that Carol had given her. If the Heart-Shaped Herb wouldn't pull through than this was their only hope to help heal T'Challa. It was a long shot but she had to try. 

"As you wish, Princess," Griot obeyed.

Makena ran over to one of the shelves and pulled out two bottles of a liquid she needed for the elixir. Makena glanced over at Shuri and heard Griot speak, "King T'Challa's heart rate decreased to 31 beats per minute."

"Princess, you should go by his side," One of the assistants advised.

"I have to think. Everyone get out." Shuri said and one nobody moved she was forced to shout. "Get out!"

Everyone began to leave, minus Makena who continued her work in silence.

"What is the confidence rate?" Shuri asked Griot.

"It's 29.1 percent."

"Print it!" Shuri ordered, referring for Griot to start printing out the Heart-Shaped Herb.

Shuri walked over to the printer as Griot tried to warn Shuri that there was a chance it would not work. "I don't care! Has to work."

Shuri pulled the Herb from the machine and Makena turned around and sighed, seeing it was no glowing like it should've. Shuri clearly didn't notice because as she went to head to T'Challa's room, Ramonda was already standing there, a heart broken look on her face.

"Griot?"

"Yes, Princess?"

"What's my brother's heart rate?"

Ramomda sighed, a tear escaping her eye and she spoke softly. "...your brother is with the ancestors."

Makena stopped what she was doing and her hand came over her mouth in shock, tears escaping her eyes.

"No," Shuri cried. Makena walked up the stairs and Shuri dropped the Herb, immediately throwing her arms around Makena and crying into her shoulder.

Ramonda walked over, putting her arms around the girls and they both moved to hug her. All of them cried together.

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Makena leaned against the balcony, a tear escaping her eye as she looked on the view of Wakanda. It was midnight and the kingdom looked more beautiful with the night sky's and the bright lights from the buildings.

She couldn't sleep, the thought of waking up without T'Challa as Wakanda's king just bothered her. She lost another important person to her, and yeah, a few years ago she probably would've given up. But now she had a reason to stay. Shuri needed her so for her to give up would be selfish.

"What are you doing up?" Makena turned around, seeing Shuri sitting up in their bed. A frown of confusion washed over Shuri's face seeing Makena's pocket knife in her hand. "And why do you have that out?"

Makena pursed her lips and walked over to her side of the bed and set the knife on the nightstand. "Go back to sleep, baby. Big day tomorrow," Makena mumbled, pressing a kiss to Shuri's forehead.

"Were you going to do it?" Shuri asked, not liking how Makena was avoiding the question.

"No, I wasn't. I don't need to. And I wouldn't put you through that." Makena said, sliding under the covers. Shuri nodded softly and wrapped her arms around Makena, laying her head on Makena's shoulder.

"I love you. You don't have to say it back." Shuri mumbled before falling back asleep.

Shuri knew Makena hadn't really experienced real love so she understood why Makena had yet to say it back. She knew Makena say it when she was ready but for now, Shuri was willing to wait. She'd wait a more than a million years for Makena.

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Makena stood on the right on Okoye and the left of Shuri, wearing traditional white clothes in honor of T'Challa. It was the first time she wore a dress in years. But she did it for T'Challa. Makena blinked with a soft sigh, hating how vulnerable and emotional she felt.

"We give thanks for the gift of King T'Challa. The Black Panther. Son of King T'Chaka. A descendant of the revered King Bashenga, the first 'Black Panther'. We release you. Glory to the ancestors." They had spoken in Xhosa, everyone repeating what the woman said.

The Dora Milaje uncovered T'Challa's coffin and lifted it from the ground. They walked down the street, everyone singing T'Challa's name. Makena walked short ways behind Shuri and Ramonda. Makena was never fond of funerals. All the emotions and such made her feel so weak.

But T'Challa's funeral made her feel strong. Like she could get through anything life threw its way at her. That's the power T'Challa had. He made people feel strong, special, and fearless. But more importantly, he made people feel loved, and protected. Nobody could ever replace him.

Makena watched, tears clouding her vision as Shuri set down T'Challa's, Black Panther helmet. Shuri and Ramonda put their hands on the coffin, almost feeling like they were holding T'Challa's hand. Ramonda walked back and Shuri went to but ultimately turned around and cried softly on T'Challa's coffin. Mumbling small 'sorrys' in Xhosa.

Ramonda set her hand on Shuri's shoulder and it took her a few seconds before she backed up to her spot. The aircraft had levitationally pulled T'Challa's coffin from the ground. Everyone did the Wakanda 'X' and watched as the coffin was sent into the craft. As the craft flew off, they dropped their hands and bowed their heads out of respect.

Shuri cried to herself, reaching one of her hands out to hold onto Makena's. One of the few people after her mother and brother to give her comfort with just a touch was Makena.

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a.n: did the funeral separately as i wanted to give it its own chapter. legit could not stop crying when I wrote this

RIP Chadwick Boseman, I'll miss him forever <3

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