Rekindle the Flame
written by Neko-B
the_ugly_barnacle@hotmail.com

It had been forever since I'd last seen him. Aries, that is. He left his family and everybody else he held dear to go and "find himself," as he put it. I watched him leave me again, and he didn't ever look back. There's nothing here for him, I guess, but that doesn't make the pain go away.

He said that he loved me, and that I'd never leave his heart, but I doubt that greatly as of now. When we broke things off it was as though I was losing a part of myself. For an over-confident, self-indulged bastard, Aries really isn't half-bad. I can go as far to as that I'm in love with him, and I've told him this many, many times. But I don't think he knows that my feelings have never changed. I was afraid to say anything because of how he might react.

Now, he's standing before me, with a confused and almost fearful look plastered on his strong face. His hair has grown past his shoulders now in soft and silky locks. That look of hope that had been in his eyes was gone, and in its place was hopelessness.

"Brother," I said.

"Sister," he replied.

There was an awkward moment of silence. There were so many things I wanted to tell him, things that I needed to tell him, or else I was going to explode. Maybe I'm just a lovestruck, weak-minded fool. But you think I care?

"Aries, I have something I want to tell you," I whispered.

"Go ahead." I thought I saw a trace of a smile form on his lips.

"When I was younger, I was in love with you... and I've realized that I still am." As I spoke, a single tear cascaded down my cheek.

I watched as Aries's face went through a series of expressions: shock, fear, doubt. "Usay, you... you can't possibly mean that," he said in a tone just above a whisper.

"Oh, but I do," I whimpered. I took a step closer to him and placed my hand on his cheek, and he flinched at my touch. I don't blame him. I've done so many things to hurt him in the past.

"But, Usay, it's... not right, you and I. We share the same blood." He took my hand and took it off of his face. I let it drop.

I chuckled, stepping closer to him. "Who told you that, Aries, the humans?" I asked him. "We are above them, Brother. It doesn't say anywhere that two Saiya-jins who are related cannot be in love, does it?"

Aries gave me a sorrowful look. "It's just... not right. I don't feel right about it, Usay..."

"Aries, I don't care what people say," I told him firmly. "Can you honestly sit there and tell me that you don't care about me anymore? You did once, what happened? What happened to that Aries I fell in love with?" As I spoke I pressed my hands against his chest and rested my head on his shoulder. I could feel his heartbeat in his chest, which was racing horribly.

"...I feel it too, Usay. But please, don't make this any more difficult than it already is..." He began to stroke my thigh-length hair soothingly.

I looked up into his golden eyes. "Can't we try this, once more? I love you too much to lose you again, Aries. Please, please don't leave me, like everyone else has. You're all I have left." I clenched my hands into fists and grabbed at the black shirt he was wearing.

I suddenly felt something warm on my forehead. Aries had kissed me there. "Okay, Sister," he whispered. "We can try." He lifted my chin up to meet his gaze, and looked at me with more passion than he had shown towards anyone. Very slowly, he leaned closer to me and pressed his soft lips against my own. I threw my arms around his shoulders and kissed him back, letting out all of my affection in a kiss I have been dying to have for years.

"Brother," I whispered when we parted.

"Sister," he replied, just as softly.

I always knew he'd come back for me.

(owari)