Without You
Not now. We still need to find our princess, and then we were going to fight
Galaxia together. Together! And now I have to face her alone. I wanted you to be
by my side. I'm not going to fight with Taiki as a duo. I want you to be here.
Do you know how painful it was for me? I feel every on this planet,
every time a star disappears. When yours was gone... damn it... I felt so cold
inside, like a part of me was suddenly missing. It hit me harder than anything
else ever has. I've lived through my family dying, losing all of my friends...
now you? It isn't fair. But then again, nothing is.
It's my birthday today. You weren't supposed to die the day before, that's
just too terrible. What kind of present is that? But... I don't really care that
it's my birthday. We're planning your funeral now. Rather, Taiki is. I don't want
to have anything to do with it. I still haven't stopped crying. My eyes are red.
I thought they were green.
I never knew that Galaxia was so powerful. One of her stupid lackies ed
you. Couldn't she have ed me too? I would've liked that. I have no purpose now.
We can't find the princess alone. You were our leader.
You should've seen Usagi. She wouldn't stop crying either. Ami, Rei, Makoto, and
Minako were there too. I don't know if you noticed them. We were all gathered around you
in your hospital bed, and she was sitting beside you, holding one of your hands within her
own.
She was the one who last spoke to you, since you kept whispering words of reassurance
to her. What about me? I didn't even get to say goodbye. When you died, I winced. I felt
you leave, your star disappearing. I kept my eyes closed until Taiki put his hand on my
shoulder. Everyone had left and I had just stood there, not noticing. I still couldn't
believe what had happened. He led me out of the room and we left, he drove us back to the
apartment. He was silent for the rest of the day.
When we got home, I quietly went
to my room and sat on my bed. I pulled out our photo album, which was stuck under
my bed. I stared at a of you and me at the beach that Taiki had took... That's
when I started to cry.
Taiki is still being silent. I have no one to talk to. I wish you were here. Anyone
that I trust. I want the princess. I could talk to her. I don't trust anyone else.
There's no one to comfort me. Taiki doesn't seem to care, I don't know if he even
noticed me crying.
I didn't go to school today... I doubt I will for a while. When the funeral is
over, I promise that I'll visit you every day. You always liked roses. The red ones
you used in concert. I'll put some there for you, okay?
...and my tears can water them. Wait for me in heaven, or wherever you are. If
I don't make it through the battle with Galaxia, I want to be able to see you then.
Seiya... you're still an idiot. Why'd you have to die? Why? WHY?!
"...Yaten?" Taiki opened the door to the boy's room, finding him curled up in
a small ball on his bed, crying into the pillow. Taiki sighed, closing the door.
The noise startled Yaten, and he looked up to see his tall brown-haired "brother".
He sniffled and reached over to his nightstand for a tissue, wiping his eyes.
"What?" he asked quietly, sitting up.
Taiki sighed softly. "I thought it would be good to bury him in his red suit...
The one for performances. He was wearing it when he died, and I know how much he
liked it... We'll return the school uniform tomorrow, and we can donate his old
clothing to some shelter..."
"He turned back into his original form when he died, didn't he?"
Taiki blinked. "Beneath the suit, I'm sure... But..."
"I don't care if they ask questions. I want him buried in the outfit beneath
that." Yaten said, his eyes fixed on the open photo album still lying on his bed.
Taiki sighed. "I suppose... But why?"
"Because that's who -she- really is."
"Fine... Whatever. Are you coming to dinner? It -is- your birthday."
"Maybe... I just want to be alone for a little longer, okay?" Taiki nodded
and left, closing the door quietly behind him. Yaten took a deep breath and fell
back onto his bed, letting it out. He stared at the ceiling, wrapping his arms around
himself, closing his eyes. "...Seiya..." Yaten fell asleep soon after.
(Yaten? Yaten?) A familar voice echoed through Yaten's head. He blinked,
looking around, surrounded by nothing.
"A dream...?" Yaten whispered, raising an eyebrow. The voice chuckled.
(Not quite.) it told him. Yaten shivered. The voice was coming from all around him.
"What the...?" The short boy thought hard. That voice... "Seiya?!" The form of his
friend appeared before him, but it looked strange. As if he were only half there. Yaten
hesitated for a moment, but then broke out into tears and quickly hugged Seiya, holding
him ly with no will to let go. "You're so warm... it's as if you're still alive...
Seiya..." Seiya smiled, hugging him back. He held him for a minute, but his smile soon
faded and he loosened his grip.
(Yaten... But I'm not... You know that.) he said softly, patting Yaten's back. Yaten
shook his head.
"I don't care, just give me this moment..."
(Happy 17th Birthday... You'll always be the older one. Yaten... You can take care
of yourself now.)
"I don't want to... Now be quiet..."
(We can't stay here forever. I'm only here to say goodbye.) Seiya replied, sighing.
"...That's right.. I didn't get to really say goodbye, so... Seiya!! No.. There's
so much I still need to tell you... I love you... my only family now..."
(Yaten... I know. But.. if you need anyone to take care of you, you have Taiki. Don't
just ignore him. He hurts too, he misses me too.)
"I know..." Yaten sighed, still holding Seiya ly.
(Find the princess... For me, please? And if you still need to talk to me... You said
you'd visit my grave, right? Talk to me there... I'll try my best to hear you.)
Yaten nodded, sniffling. "Okay..."
(Now... goodbye...) Seiya whispered. Yaten blinked, the form of his companion slowly
disappearing in his arms.
"No.. Seiya, no! Not yet... Seiya!!" But it was too late, all that was left were
quickly fading sparkles surrounding him. "...Seiya.."
Yaten woke up, still crying. He took a deep breath, once again wiping his eyes with
a tissue from his nightstand. He stood, moving to the door and slowly opening it.
"Taiki? ...Is dinner ready?" he called out. Taiki smiled from the kitchen.
"Yes!" Yaten smiled. A real smile, he didn't have to fake it. He was happy. Seiya
would be with him in spirit, no matter what. And he had to go on with his life.
"Coming!"
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And so ends this dedication...
Niiyama Shiho
March 21, 1970 - February 7, 2000
With love, forever, Samantha Reinert.
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