Author's Note:

This is the first fanfic that I've ever decided to publish on the internet. After seeing the deaths of Kamina, Kittan, and Nia, I thought it only fitting that Simon and Yoko got together. I felt so bad for Simon when he caught Yoko and Kamina together, feeling so small in the shadow of his big brother. Anyway, hope you enjoy, please rate, review, and do whatever else fanfic readers do. Ah, and rated M for language and sexual themes. I also do not own Gurren Lagann or any of the characters within.

Yoko lay silently on her bed… she had another sleep-less night. Most nights, she'd turn out the light, remember all of the fighting she, the Dai-Gurren Brigade, and all of their allies have gone through, and she'd sleep peacefully. She'd know that the peace they had was a result of all the hard work and determination of all of her friends.

That was most nights anyway… this was one of the nights where her recollection of their battles brought her nothing but pain. Instead of resting in peace and tranquility, she'd be haunted by the ghosts of those she loved. Instead of feeling that sense of pride and accomplishment from the victory they earned for all of the Spiral beings, she felt a deep, dark emptiness wreaking havoc on her very soul.

Kamina… Kittan… both had stolen her heart and died in battle. She knew they chose their path and they fought for the peace that all of the Spiral beings now enjoyed. However… no matter how many times she'd tell herself that on these sleepless nights, she could not dull the roaring ache in her soul. The painful tears threatened to break through her eyes.

She missed them… she missed the feeling of having someone close to her heart… She missed having a strong, caring man warming her soul and banishing the loneliness that pained her on nights like this. The tears flowed slowly down her face, her chest clenching tightly… She didn't want to be alone… she didn't want to be forgotten… she wanted someone with her. She wanted someone strong and warm filling the dark hole that coldly raged within her.

She didn't know how long she laid there crying before she fell asleep… she didn't know how many tears fell from her eyes before her dreams took her… But she didn't care… so long as the dream eased the pain… she didn't care.

Simon sat on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea. He didn't know why… but he'd had this powerful impulse to come here and just relax. His cruel mind had been haunting him with his memories of Nia. He remembered kissing her… holding her close… only managing to do so once before she ceased to exist.

"Nia…" Simon muttered quietly. He didn't know how much he could carry on. He'd already given the responsibility of maintaining and protecting the universe to Rossiu. The Anti-Spirals were gone. Humanity had its future within its own hands. Simon promised the leader of the Anti-Spirals he'd protect the universe… but he honestly believed he could no longer remain in this shape.

Simon almost felt without a purpose. As a man who knew nothing of his destiny, who realized his destiny, who fought against his destiny, who was betrayed by his destiny, and who triumphed and created his own destiny… he felt as if there was nothing left for him. He had done the unimaginable… just like Aniki said… he used his drill to pierce the heavens.

But now what? He'd fought for freedom of all Spiral beings… and he fought to reach the one that he loved. Now the Spiral beings had peace… and now Nia was gone. What else was he to do? The Dai-Gurren Brigade was no more. All of them had moved forward… seizing the tomorrow that they fought so hard to obtain.

Simon contemplated edging off of the cliff. He had done the unthinkable… maybe now it was just time for him to rest. Time for his inner turmoil to be silenced, and time for his soul to experience the peace he'd fought for. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath of the cool air.

Simon…

He knew that voice… He missed that voice. He'd spent dark and lonely nights wishing he could hear that voice again…

"Nia!"

Simon… how could you even think of leaving this world?

Nia appeared before him, floating in mid-air… Simon could hardly believe his eyes. "Nia! What are you doing here?" he asked, his heart swelling up just from seeing her once again. She floated forward and held his face in both her hands, and kissed him.

Nia leaned into him, her soft lips touching his, her weight pressing against him, forcing him to lay back against the grass with his feet hanging over the cliff. Simon… I love you, Simon. Her lips hadn't left his… her voice echoed within his mind. She wasn't real…

Simon didn't care if she was. His heart warmed at feeling her close again. His soul was at peace with her lips against his. Wherever Nia came from… whatever she was at this very moment… he didn't care. He just didn't want her to leave him with his loneliness again.