A/N: Warning of character death. Not just a character, but the sweetest guy of them all... and I don't even like character death. I'm really sorry. But I'm not feeling well right now, and whenever that is the case, Jadeite will suffer. Especially if it's Angsty April.
On the plus side, I always thought Jadeite and Makoto who are both loyal and straightforward would make a good match, and this is the first time I let them be friends.
Happy Easter, and please remember, comments make me happy (even if I may not deserve them in this case).
Death doesn't scare him.
He's faced death before. Of others, his own.
There must have been more deaths than one, but one he remembers the most clearly.
The rumbling, moaning, crunching sound of the castle, and with it the world, being torn to pieces. The heavy, deadly rain of stone and past sins that he won't be able to hold off for long any more. His heart beating quickly, his whole life concentrating on one point in time and space, on one person. On her hair, her eyes, her smile.
The moment of fullfillment when he realizes that finally, he's able to give her what she needs: Consolation.
Not power. Dark Energy. Hope. Triumph. More power.
Not the satisfaction of success.
But the certainty that failure can't take everything away, that she will always be offered dignity, and admiration, even when she doesn't deserve it.
She makes it all‚ worthwhile when she accepts his gift.
Looking back, his death has been the best part.
Because what came after it? In the next life, everyone else has what they love. Kunzite and Zoisite have the Master, not to mention each other, Nephrite still hasn't blown it with Mercury beyond hope.
And yeah, they're all united again.
Which is nice.
Which is not enough.
Not nearly enough.
He laughs more, because if he gets gloomy, they start to fuss over him, and he can't deal with it.
But the most important person, the most important everything in his life isn't there.
The princess didn't bring her back. He doesn't dare to ask about it.
But he'll never be whole again.
That's why he thinks he's the only one who understands Jupiter when she won't stop crying over the loss of her man.
A good man.
No doubt.
But.
A mortal man.
Her fellow senshi who are closer than sisters to her don't understand. They know what grief is, but they live happy, fulfilled lives. As much as they try to support her, they don't feel it. They don't know how you do it, live life when there's barely enough of you left to remember your name.
He's the only one who has the patience for so much pain.
"Why does everyone have to die? Will it always hurt like this? Will it always be like this?"
And he can't answer this.
All he can do is get down on his knee and hold her hand.
And silently thank her to cry all the tears for them both that he isn't allowed to have.