Title- The Last Act of a Dying King

December Challenge- The Shitennou
Theme Five: Ties


Something ties us to each other. It is something stronger than science, logic and thought, something that cannot be explained-- only felt. It is love.

The alleyway was cramped and unpleasant, but it served his purpose well enough. In this dark and dismal place he watched the brilliance of life go flashing by in colors and sound. He let them fade out of his sight, and focused his trained eyes on his target. Amongst the bright colors of daylight, he could spot his ebony hair anywhere. The young man lounged casually on a side bench with his eyes buried in a leather bound book. He seemed oblivious to the world all around him, lost in a fantasy world or philosophical ideals, but his attire got him many stares. He was wearing a full tuxedo in the middle of the day, a fact that even raised his watcher's eyebrow, but he found himself smiling in amusement. Others would say he was studious to be reading well after school hours, and probably eccentric for his taste in fashion. But his silent watcher knew the truth.

He was searching for an answer, an escape.

A sudden sharp pain exploded in the watcher's chest, and he had to move his focus unwillingly. He clutched at his chest, warding off the attack with what strength he had left. There wasn't much time left. She had found the others, and her assimilation had been swift and merciless. He started to to dream when the first of his brethren fell, and as each came once more under her devil wings, more and more memories returned. It wasn't long before all of them were captured and his memory completely restored. He was finally whole again, but his peace would be short lived. Soon all ties to this world would be cut, and he would become an unwilling puppet once more. Soon she would come for him and claim him, the last of the noble Shitennou.

The pain slowly ebbed away, and once more Kunzite opened his eyes and viewed his last hope. He had been called here, coming from oceans away just to look at his prince with free eyes one last time. The young man had begun to leave his seat ahead of Kunzite's schedule, and he knew he had to do something before he moved on. If he left now he would never get another chance to set things right. Quickly he stepped out of the shadows and nimbly crossed the street, making a B line straight for his target. He only had one chance to set things right; one chance to save the most important tie he had in the whole universe. To any bystander nearby it looked as if the white haired man suddenly tripped, and the result sent him bumbling into the nearest citizen.

The book clattered to the pavement as the surprised owner lost his grip. It wasn't long before he was righted by a pair of strong arms, and Mamoru found himself gazing into piercing blue eyes. The face froze him for a moment, and he felt as if it was familiar somehow. The man before him reached down and retrieved his book, gently placing it in his hand with a small smile. His eyes seemed to try to speak to him, but Mamoru couldn't remember the words quick enough to catch it.

"I'm sorry about that. I swear the sidewalk just came up and grabbed me," Kunzite said.

"Oh, no problem," his prince answered, and Kunzite saw the door to the jewelry shop open, and finally the blonde emerged. She was staring at a paper in her hand, her blue eyes filled with over exaggerated sadness. She was just as he remembered her, albeit a bit younger, but he could practically see the shimmering white dress flowing off her body. She was muttering something about diamonds and death, and quickly Kunzite focused back on the grown man before him. He wanted to stay and speak with his prince, to tell him the truth, to ask for his forgiveness. He wanted to comfort him and give him counsel, but his time was up.

"Have a good day. I hope I never see you again." With that Kunzite turned and strode away down the street, leaving a perplexed man in his wake. He stared at the retreating man's back, trying to make sense of the feelings swarming in his mind. Who was this strange man with a shaking smile and strange words? He had not said his last statement harshly, but with a voice full of something else entirely.

Mamoru could no longer ponder on such things as something hit him square in the forehead, distracting his thoughts. He caught the assailant in his free hand, and stared at the crumpled piece of paper strangely.

"That hurt," he muttered, and found the person responsible for his ailment. He marveled at the school girl, and all thoughts of the strange man vanished at her turned back. Something was off about her too, as if he had seen that hairstyle somewhere before. She was walking away from him quickly, and Mamoru suddenly had an urge to make her stop. So he said the first thing he could think of, even if after he chastised himself. "You lumphead. Are you trying to give me a lump too?"

Mamoru didn't think it was possible for something to turn around that fast, and soon found himself caught by another pair of blue eyes.

"Th-these aren't lumps, they're called dumplings. Dumplings!" She pointed to her golden hair for emphasis. Mamoru felt at a lost and had to turn his eyes away. He let the test become his next victim, stretching out the paper and noting the score.

"Thirty. You need to study more, dumpling head." She stared at him incredulously, before narrowing her eyes and stalking up to him in a rather exaggerated manner. Quickly she plucked the offensive test from his hand and shoved it back into her pocket.

"Mind your own business!" she shouted, pushing her nose impossibly fair into the air. He couldn't find something to say to that, intrigued by her weird behavior, but his silence seemed to appease her. She smiled and made an unladylike 'humpf!' before turning on her heels and continuing on her way.

From his initial hiding spot, Kunzite watched the scene unfold with a sad smile. His prince, the one man who had ever seen anything more in him, stared after the petite blonde for a long moment before turning to see where she had come from. He seemed to suddenly be attracted to the jewelry store, but Kunzite's vision was slowly becoming erratic. The pain in his chest returned and like a broken house of cards the strong pillar crumbled down to the ground, clutching his haunting wound.

His time was up now, and he had done all that he could. He had led Endymion to the one thing the prince of Earth had given everything up for, and hopefully destiny would be better to them this time. He could feel his heart growing cold in his chest, dropping like a heavy stone into his gut and making him feel ill. She was closing in now, and it wouldn't be long before he would no longer be in control. He had no fear of her finding out he knew the location of the prince and princess, however. He knew she would wipe his memory clean without even a second glance, so was her consuming hatred of this new world. He could only pray that he had made some difference, that whatever would come his prince wouldn't be facing it alone like he and his comrades had forced him to long ago.

The alleyway became colder and darker, and seemingly impossible feat, but Kunzite knew why. He could hear her heels click on the dank cement, advancing towards him with confidence and poise. He sighed, giving up the fight. It was over now, and he had no choice but to submit.

"Now what have you been up to?" she purred above him, and he imagined her smirking devilishly. He turned back towards the street, but Mamoru was long gone by now, and would now forever be out of his reach. Kunzite could only hope for forgiveness, only pray that somehow he had redeemed himself for his horrid past.

'Forgive me, Endymion.' he thought. He felt her oppression grow nearer, and shivered as she laid a hand on his quivering shoulder. His vision began to darken, and it wasn't long before he saw nothing at all.

'Forgive me.'

I love Kunzite. The end.