-Written by Seito no Senshi

~Existence.~

Today, is the wedding of Ma-Ku and his beloved Gina. All are present at the wedding, including Kakyuu-sama and we Starlights. He is a good soldier; always showing loyalty to the Princess.

"Bié shuo huà!" Yaten snaps at some random people, just as the wedding starts. They stare at her, not understanding what she said, and she sighs, and repeats what she said in our native language. The Japanese and our Kinmoku-sein language are very similar; so we resort to using Chinese whenever we want something to stay with in our group.
"Pardon. Don't talk." They nod, and face Kakyuu and Ma-ku at the front. Yaten goes behind the back, appearing behind Kakyuu with us. She sits down and quiets.

'We are gathered here today, to witness the joining of two harmonious souls.'

'Two people have shown that they love each other. Today, they want to bond and seal that love.'

'Should anyone object to this union, speak now, or forever hold your silence.'

'Ma-Ku-san. Gina-san. I give you my blessing. I wish you happiness in your life together.'

"Does your heart prompt you to do this?"

"Yes, it does."

"Does something warn you against this bonding?"

"No, nothing does."

"Is the love you proclaim to this woman as strong as your lips say it is?" the priest stares at Ma-Ku, who gazes back fearlessly.

"Yes, it is."

"Can you See anybody else?"

"No. I can't."

"Will you love, cherish and protect her?"

"Now and forever."

'Does everything about you encourage you to go through with this?'

'Yes, they are.'

'Does something hold you back from this bonding?'

'No, nothing does.'

'Are your feelings as strong as you say they are?'

'Yes, they are.'

'Is your heart held by another not this man?'

'No. It isn't.'

'Will you love, cherish and protect him?'

'Forever and eternity.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Seiya walked up to Ma-Ku smiling coolly.

"Congratulations," she murmured. The man turned to him, eyes shining.

"Arigatou, Fighter-sama!" he shook her hand quickly, and then stopped, eyes suddenly serious. "Is everything alright?" Seiya smiled inwardly, happy for Gina. He was a good man, and would attend to her needs like no other could.

"Quite alright, really." Ma-Ku raised an eyebrow.

"Does she not return your love?" Seiya stared at him, shock playing over her features.

How the heck did he know?! I gave him next to no information about what was going on! Kami-sama, he isn't even a bloody empath!

Her voice betrayed nothing when next she answered, through.

"I'm doomed to being an unrequited love, until the next one comes along." Ma-Ku raised an eyebrow and she sobered. "The one that I can See doesn't return the feelings. It's not her fault, just mine for falling for her like this." She grinned, and walked off. But those who knew her well saw inside her soul.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Yaten sighed, holding the red rose close. A tear ran its way down her cheek landing on a petal.

'It's not her fault, just mine for falling for her like this.'

Her heart was being shredded into tiny pieces; she didn't want to hurt Seiya, she didn't want to hurt Kakyuu or Taiki.

~Love me tender,
love me sweet,
never let me go.
You have made my life complete,
and I love you so.~

Throwing down the rose, she turned and headed into the crowed, eyes searching desperately for her.

This pain and hurt had to stop. She couldn't do this to Seiya, she couldn't push away the guilt.

'She's not here…'

'She can't bear to be here…'

'Would you be able to?'

~Love me tender,
love me dear,
tell me you are mine.
I'll be yours through all the years,
till the end of time.~

The wind whipped her hair around her face, but she brushed it away and continued on.

Oh Seiya, Seiya, Seiya…

Gasping for breath, she stopped near the center of the maze. And words left her mouth, ones that had been told to her.

"You're like a rose. You are so beautiful, and so delicate." Her hand touched her heart as she continued on. "But you have your thorns. And if someone isn't careful, they will hurt themselves." Seiya stared at her, eyes ever expressionless. She hesitated once, then stepped forward, closer to her.

"Wo xihuan ni."

"Ni shanghài wo de ganqíng." a tiny smile lifted the corners of her lips. "And you expect to be welcomed back with open arms?"

Yaten stepped into her arms, standing on her tip-toes to gently kiss Seiya's lips. She laughed softly, as she was lifted and spun in the air.

Watashi wa anata no tameni kore wo shite imasu.

Watashi wa anata wo kizutsuke takunai.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Thanks to Yoko-sensei and my mother for help with the Japanese and Chinese (respectively)! Some accents are absent, because note pad is stupid and Ff.net is worse.

CHINESE DAILOGUE:

Bié shuo huà- Stop talking/Don't talk!

Ni shanghài wo de ganqíng - You hurt my feelings.

JAPANESES MONOLOGUE:

Watashi wa anata no tameni kore wo shite imasu- I am doing this for you.

Watashi wa anata wo kizutsuke takunai- I don't want to hurt you.

The chapter title: "Existence". For something that never happened. A different path. This chapter was the original ending to Love Me Tender, but I didn't like it, because it was too... simple. Just, not, right. So I decided not to put it up with the original story. Well, its here now, for those that might not have been all that satisfied with the original ending.