A Dream is a Wish

By Cassandra

Chapter II

Aoi

I am pleased that she's smiling now. She hasn't been for the longest time since we have reunited. I would always find her in a dark corner, looking far away to the distance and yet seeing nothing. Her dark moods always made me worry.

It wasn't that it wasn't normal with her. Yes, she is after all naturally dark in the sense that she seldom smiled and wouldn't unless the hime wanted her too. Yet I've always known that with all her heart she wanted to be free of those frowns and feel joy consume her completely.

And he was the only one who could give her that joy.

Her life, her love.

Her Seiya.

I've always known that she had feelings for him, well, her also. Fighter and Seiya were the same person after all.

I bet I knew before she even discovered that he made her blush with just a look. Empath I may not be but I know her enough to see the certain changes in her to realize that yes, my dear Healer has changed indeed.

Here we are now. The two of us walking leisurely under the sun as we have never done before. Our arms linked close together as I allowed her to lead the way towards our destination.

I smiled at her as I listened to her laughter and words. Her eyes shone with healthy light. Her voice tingled with undisguised happiness.

She was so beautiful.

And she was so happy.

As I wish that I could be.

The hat on my head was gently being blown off by the wind. With a hand, I carefully pat it down but it wasn't enough. It flew from my fingers and was taken by the wind.

A slender-fingered hand caught it and an irreplaceable smile greeted me as I reached to get it back.

"Be careful Aoi-chan." His deep baritone rumbled within his chest to come out into the sweetest tone that I could ever hope to hear.

I smiled back into those beautiful gray eyes as I usually did, taking the hat from his hold.

"Thank you Kira."

"Pleasure."

I sighed and turned ahead.

I glanced back to my dear friend just as the hime materialized beside her. I listened to their friendly chatter, but my thoughts always went back to him.

His voice made me glance back to look at him once more.

He was talking with Taiki. His eyes shone with amusement and vigor as he spoke enthusiastically with the Starlight scholar. Lustrous red hair fell back elegantly against his broad back and flew with the wind when it came. His gestures were elegant and fluid, familiar and dear.

My dear Kira-chan…my dear best friend…nothing more, nothing less.

Somehow I couldn't take the longing away from that thought.

As much as he'd hate me saying this, he's as dense as his rival was. Why wouldn't he notice me? Doesn't he see how much it has been torturing me all these years to love him and only get his friendship in return?

Then again, I have been nothing more but friendly so why would he treat me more than as a friend?

Sometimes I wish…

Again, I turned to her when I heard her laughter.

"Aoi-chan are you listening?"

"Keeper are you all right?"

I nodded, smiling placidly as I always do. "I'm fine."

Feminine chatter again filled the air between us.

I remained silent as I observed her.

She looked so happy and so at peace. She's so lucky.

All because of him…

"Aoi-chan, your hat is falling off again."

Our fingers touch briefly and smiles met as if synchronized.

For a moment I thought I saw something promising within those silver depths. Only for him to turn away, closing like a flower bud in the night.

Almost disappointed, I turned ahead and smiled at my princess and my friend.

He probably would never know…