A/N: This is the chapter that I had envisioned first before ever even writing this story! I hope you enjoy.
Chapter name is after a song by Megurine Luka, a vocaloid. Youtube it if you're curious. Though the lyrics I copied are from an English piano cover. It just fits better.
Chapter Fifty Four: Just be Friends
After a breakfast filled with catching up and laughs, Fighter returned to her room. As expected, it was exactly as she left it. After all, she'd been gone four days. She crossed the room to her piano. Typically, she preferred her guitar. But sometimes the mood was just perfect for piano. After fiddling around for a short while, she found a sad melody that she liked, and played it as she envisioned all that her and Maker had been, and what she hoped they'd soon be again.
Maker looked towards the wall that lay between her and Fighter's rooms. She heard piano music coming from it. She crossed the room, sitting nearest the wall in a chair as she pulled out her journal, intent to write out her excitement of Fighter's return so quickly.
As the sad melody started forming, Maker felt herself wilt as the excitement abandoned her. The development of her's and Fighter's relationship would surely mean the end of all communication with Healer. But hadn't it died long ago? A part of her knew deep down there wasn't much to start with, anyways.
Is this what really became of the love we once both dreamed of?
I always knew the truth
at the bottom of my shy, beating heart
That making a choice
wouldn't mend but tear us more apart
Love was never my thing,
It's so confusing and it stings.
There are no words that can excuse
all the mistakes that I've made
Maker couldn't bear it a moment longer. She hurled the notebook across the room, stylus too, and strode out of her room purposefully.
Healer leaned against the balcony, enjoying the sunrise. She couldn't stand being apart from Maker. She needed someone with that calm, caring demeanor to settle her stormy heart. She squeezed the railing tightly, looking down, planning her words.
"Maker..." Healer whispered. The brunette beauty turned around slowly, and Healer jumped into her arms, embracing her tightly.
"I love you...please..don't make me be alone..."
Suddenly Healer's image burned, as if that moment could never happen. She struggled to bring that daydream back, but every time something different happened. Maker's face changed to someone she didn't recognize. She shook her head forcefully as tears slid down her cheeks. She was going insane! She had to do something..now!
Kakyuu said serenely on her throne, shivering slightly at the coolness of the early morning. Maybe Healer was right..maybe she should fight for the things she wanted. Or at least let Fighter know how fond she was of the starlight leader. She glanced out the window. Fighter was most likely exhausted. She'd give her some time to shower, and do whatever she desired before confronting her. She'd waited her entire life, she could wait a little longer. Kakyuu smiled faintly at the memory of when she first stumbled across Fighter on the street. Her heart belonged to Fighter since that fateful day. She'd wait however long was necessary to receive Fighter's affections.
Maker knocked loudly on Fighter's door. The piano music promptly stopped and Fighter's muffled reply came from the other side.
"Yes?"
"It's Maker..."
Immediately the door swung open. Maker was a bit surprised at this, and blinked her lilac eyes a few times trying to regain her composure. Fighter's expression was curious to Maker, she looked excited, almost as if she were anticipating something.
"Let's go inside." Maker said calmly, gesturing into the room. Fighter nodded and allowed her in, closing the door behind her, turning the lock. Maker raised an eyebrow, yet said nothing. Fighter stood facing the door, her hands resting on it.
"Seiya, I know..that you're probably very upset with me. We've hardly talked since we first came to Earth. I know I've hurt you..but I beg you..please...please listen!" Maker pleaded, her face contorted with emotion, her contralto voice cracking from the strain, as if merely speaking were difficult.
Fighter turned around, and gasped silently. Maker was fighting back tears. Had she ever seen her comrade so desperate?
No...not since they lost their princess.
"I was wrong. I realize that now. I need your love. I want to be how we were...in our previous lives."
The smallest smile graced Fighter's lips. Here she was, thinking of what kind of speech to prepare, but Maker had come to her.
Fighter felt tears begin to streak down her face.
Plop, plop
They landed on the top of her fuku, continuing on no matter the resistance, like a shooting star, like feelings.
"I wanted to tell you sooner, before you left..but you were just..never around. Every time I tried, you left the room, or avoided me. Why would you do that?" Maker's voice was becoming more shaky with each word. She stared expectantly into Fighter's eyes, her lilac eyes searching her heart.
"Because it hurt to see you everyday, and remember everything we were, and would never be!" Fighter all but screamed, sobbing heavily, unable to say another word.
Maker's expression softened, and she brushed a few tears from Fighter's down turned face, forcing her leader to look up at her.
"When you left for Earth, I realized, how fortunate I was that you waited so long for me to return your feelings. I felt more pain than I ever remember, being keenly aware that you may not ever return."
Maker lurched forward, gripping Fighter's shoulders with her hands.
"I love you Seiya..."
In that moment, Fighter leaned forward, firmly pressing her lips against Maker's. The kiss was immediately returned and Fighter gently cupped her comrades cheeks, the tears still flowing.
It was everything either of them had ever dreamed of, and so much more. In all the memories they'd gained from previous lives, nothing compared to this bittersweet, beautiful moment.
Healer had checked everywhere for Maker. The library. Her room. Even the training area. Giving up, she decided to go find her leader and ask where Maker was. She raised her hand to knock on the door, when she heard something from within.
"I love you too, Taiki.."
Healer froze. It was as if the world stopped as her heart shattered like a broken star seed. She couldn't believe it. Maker confessed? Fighter returned it? It..It was no different from back then! Healer dropped to her knees, holding her head in agony as she remembered...
-Flashback-
"Maker, I love you, with all my heart.." Fighter said sincerely, reaching up to kiss the taller girl on the cheek. Maker smiled lovingly down at her, and wrapped her in an embrace. Healer watched from around the corner, feeling utterly broken. They'd only been at the castle a short while, training, yet Fighter and Maker were already lovers. It wasn't fair! She'd known Maker before Fighter! Her and Maker had worked hard to get into the palace before Fighter ever awakened as their leader. It just wasn't...fair...
-End Flashback-
Healer gathered herself up, racing down the hall. In her misery, she did not see her princess who was approaching, merely running past, hands covering her splotchy face.
Kakyuu stopped, turning, watching her starlight race out of the building. Her heart ached for her. Belatedly, she reached her hand out for her, but she was long gone. Kakyuu frowned, what had upset Healer so? She wished to go to her, but she knew if she didn't tell Fighter now, she'd never get the courage to. Besides, she'd see to Healer once she'd calmed down a bit. Nodding to herself, Kakyuu made her way down the hallway with slow purposeful steps. As she approached Fighter's door, she gained a sense of affection, longing, and bittersweet joy.
She hesitated, suddenly not knowing whether or not this was wise. She reached for the handle, yet it was locked. That meant Fighter wished for privacy. She wanted to respect her starlights wishes, but..she so wanted to tell her how she felt!
She heard a soft giggle from the other side of the door and was dumbfounded. Who was in Fighter's room? Did she even want to know. She heard it again, and it was undoubtedly Fighter.
"M-maker! I already confessed my undying love! Why do you keep tickling me so?"
"Because you're so cute when your giggling like that! Besides, I haven't done it in a few centuries!"
"That doesn't matter!"
Kakyuu smiled softly, stepping away from the door. She slowly made her way back down the hallway, after Healer. She permitted her crimson eyes one lonely tear down her porcelain face as she walked away from the one person she'd ever even remotely loved, content that she had achieved true happiness. She took long slow breaths as she searched for the petite starlight, knowing full well what she'd discovered.
Poor Healer...she must be an utter wreck
Soon, Kakyuu heard whimpers echoing. Turning slowly down a dark corridor, she spotted Healer's silver hair glistening in the darkness.
"Healer?" Kakyuu asked gently. Healer picked her head up slightly.
"Please..princess...leave me alone.."
"Why would I ever do that?" Kakyuu asked in confusion, closing the distance between them.
"Everyone else does. I'm used to it now..please...go!" Healer screamed. Kakyuu sat on her knees in front of the girl, slipping her arms around her shoulder's gently.
"I won't leave you alone. I promise."
Healer raised her vivid green eyes to her princess's warm red ones. In the dimly lit corridor, her princess still shone with brilliance. How did she not notice is so easily before? Is it only that the shine of the sun can only be seen when there is darkness? When there are no stars to contend it's brilliance?
Healer leaned into the embrace, accepting it fully, sighing in relief as abruptly the rest of the world was cut off. It was her and her princess. For a moment, she almost panicked. What was she thinking? Letting her princess comfort her like this! But before she could protest Kakyuu tightened her arms, as if she'd known her thoughts.
"I thought..I thought if I fought hard enough...that Maker and I could be together.."
"I know you did.." Kakyuu said softly. "But somethings just aren't meant to be. Fighter learned that on Earth, you learned that a few minutes ago, and I learned that just now. But you know what? If it wasn't meant to be with Maker, that means the perfect person for you is still out there, waiting to be discovered."
Healer thought long and hard, trying to find fault with her princess's words. Surely two people could have the same soulmate? And one be doomed for eternity to be rejected?
Even if that were possible, she didn't quite want to believe it.
"Come on Healer, let's go to my room where it's more comfortable." Kakyuu coaxed, standing slowly, still embracing the silver haired starlight. They made their way to the royal chambers, Kakyuu's arm st ill around Yaten's waist.
Healer's head found it's way to Kakyuu's shoulder, and she made no protest about the change in location.
A/N: Honestly? I feel it was anti-climatic. I wanted it to be big and bad and dramatic!...and somehow feel I failed sigh what do you guys think?
Don't worry, next chapter will be just as surprising!
