Reminisce
Disclaimer: I don't own Saiyuki or Shien. I do own the blatant self-insert/OC.
Author's Note: This was made for RowenaDeVandal's One Thousand Words or Less Challenge: July.
Coldness swept over his features. His slanted eyes opened more than it has since a year's time past. Kneeling down at the grave in front of him, he placed a lone lotus down. It was her favorite flower.
The lotus had a symbolization as the plant's stalk is easy to bend in two, but is very difficult to actually break. This has been used to represent a close unbreakable relationship between members within a family. The relationship between her and Nataku, Shien thought ruefully, remembering how much she cared for the young war prince.
He could picture her in front of him, as if she never died. Long black hair tied up in a high ponytail, cascading down her back like a waterfall. Green eyes that spoke of her feelings, how it once shined in feisty delight. She was smaller than him by more than half a foot, but that didn't stop her from trying to make herself taller.
"Shien, you'll take care of Nataku if I can't, won't you? You're in the Heavenly army under his command, so you should be able to watch over him." She had her hands on her hips, giving him the sternest look she could muster.
"I'm sorry…I failed you. He's in a puppetry state and nothing can bring him out." Shien gripped his head as more memories flooded through.
"Shien you slow poke, hurry up! You have to be faster than that if you want to join the Heavenly army!" Her teasing smile made his lips curl into one.
"The festival is going on. The lights are so pretty and the decorations are nice too. Why don't you go win me some prizes?" He watched as she ran around, looking as if she received a bunch of presents for no apparent reason.
"This view is beautiful. Where did you find a place like this, Shien?" Seeing her whirling around with such a carefree smile breached his barrier around his heart.
At first, it was one drop, and then another, and then another, until streams of tears rained down Shien's face.
"Shien, you know I love you, right? Please don't stop me from doing this!" She walked away from him, following the path of her heart and the destiny she created, not what was planned for her.
"If I had joined you as you went against the orders of Heaven and joined with Konzen, Tenpou, Kenren, and Goku, would things have been different? Would I have been able to save you? Could I have saved Nataku and you?"
Shien shakily stood up, forcing himself to try to stand still. The memories that ran through his mind were stopping, yet Shien knew it would be burned forever in his mind and heart until the day he died.
"I love you too…and I always will. One day we'll be together. We'll just have to be patient until that time arrives."
Well, how's this for Shien. He's so underappreciated! I personally love him as he's one of my most favorite characters in the series.