Please Remember Me
By Shinku Yousai
God, I can't die, I'm only thirteen! I may be a Celestial Warrior of Suzaku, but I'm only a child! Why did I do this to myself? Why am I letting myself die? Of course I know why. Because if I do not, the monster that has taken hold of me will kill my friends and that is something I will not allow. How can I have been so weak? How could I have let that evil Seiryuu seishi take hold of me? My friends are telling me that I am strong, but I know that is not the truth. I let Miboshi get inside of me and nearly killed them. If I had been strong, that wouldn't have happened. Thank Suzaku I stopped him. Go, Miaka, I have helped you. Go and stop the Seiryuu, you must! As it was my duty to protect you, so is it your duty to go now. I have finally been of some use. But now I'm going to die! Onegai! I don't want to die! I can feel my life-blood seeping away. The pain is almost too much to bear. My knowledge is no help now. Because of it I know that my death is near, but the pain will stay until I die. I know my blood will leave me body and then my spirit, too, will abandon this mortal vessel. I will be strong, now, even if I was not before. I will not be afraid. For what is death but a pleasant sleep? I have saved my friends. I die with that satisfaction. But I had so much to live for! I'm only thirteen! I was an innocent boy, no more! Why here? Why now? I'm afraid. I don't want to go! No, I must be calm. It will hurt less if I am calm. I will go to sleep and dreams will take me to a place of peace. But it hurts so much! I know I am still alive because of the pain. Tasuki, Mitsukake, go, leave me! Help the others! I have protected my miko. I am a Suzaku shichiseishi, and so are you! Protect her, as I did. Go, so you do not see my pain, my fear, my tears...
I am going now, I know. Keep going! Keep fighting! Protect Miaka, protect yourselves! I am leaving you now. It is getting dark, and as my life leaves me, the pain leaves me, too. Peace is coming, and serenity. My duty is completed. My destiny as a Celestial Warrior of Suzaku has been fulfilled. My fear is gone. Now I feel the peace that comes from a death in the service of others. My friends...
I am but a child, a young boy who had no desire to do anything more than study and live the life that should be granted to all, but now I have upheld a divine duty. Will they remember me when I am gone? Will I remember them? Please remember me...
*Authors Note* I was listening to Loreena McKennitt's 'Dante's Prayer' when I was writing this, which is where the title comes from.