Title: Love me When I'm Gone
Author: Illuma/Dying Dreams
Fandom: Magic Knight Rayearth
Rating: T
Warnings:
Characters: Fuu, Satoru, Hikaru, Lantis, Umi, Caldina
Feedback: Feedback is always welcome!
Summary: Hikaru has a secret she's been keeping from everyone. After the last time they were summoned to Cephiro, they found a way to bring Lantis, Ferio, Ascot, Caldina, Lafarga, and Presea to Earth. They all thought they'd have a happy ending. They all thought everything would be alright.
A little over one year after their return, Hikaru had gone to her new doctor for a routine visit. It was at that visit that she found out about her sickness. She suffered in silence with it for eight years, not telling her beloved friends. The only people that knew, was her family. She couldn't bear telling anyone else. How long did she have before she would have to leave this world, and her loved ones behind? For now… only time will tell.
Author's Notes: I think this story is going to make me cry later. And... this chapter is short cause I can't think anymore. T-T
Disclaimer: Still not with the owning.
Chapter 3
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Silence filled the place. Only an hour ago had Doctor Hitari and her assistant left the Shidou Dojo. The good doctor had bid them farewell and departed. There wasn't anything she could do to console the aching hearts of the people who hadn't known about Hikaru's illness. It wasn't something they had expected, even coming from a doctor. None were sure that the shock would have lessened had it come from one of the Shidou brothers, or even Hikaru herself. But the fact that there was nothing they could for her hurt the most. The fact that they were going to lose her at all, was almost too painful to bear.
Tears were shed all around, little puddles of wetness forming beneath them on the wooden floor. It was painful to admit what they had been told. It was painful to admit that they would lose one of the most precious things to them. The pain couldn't stop. No, it wouldn't stop. It would keep hurting, no matter what they did. It would always hurt. The pain of knowing they would lose her.
The first to speak was Fuu, her voice soft and almost going unheard, "It can't be true. None of it is. It's a mistake. Some horrible mistake." Her voice was so soft, barely even audible to herself.
"I'm sorry," Satoru said from somewhere in front of the gathered group. "I'm sorry we didn't tell you sooner. Hikaru kept promising she'd tell you. She told us everything would be alright. I'm sorry."
His brothers didn't say a word, and silence once again enveloped the room. Thoughts of anything else obscured by those few simple words echoing in their minds.
"At most I'd say a year, maybe less."
A year was nothing. A year wasn't going to give them enough time to do everything they would want to do for her. A year could never even come close to easing the pain they would feel when she finally left them. Even if there was some way she could make them feel better nothing would ever be the same. Nothing would be right again.
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What seemed like hours passed before Hikaru emerged from the room and entered the one her friends and brothers were in, stopping at the threshold as she held onto the wooden frame for support.
"I know I screwed up," she said softly, causing heads to turn and lift to look at her as she stood there in the doorway. "I know that I should never have kept this from you, and that I should have told you as soon as I had found out. And I know that nothing I can do can ever change what I did. But all I ask now, is that until that time comes, that you'll all be with me until it does. I don't want to be alone anymore. I don't want to be afraid. I've already accepted that I'm not going to be around to grow old with my beloved friends. All I ask is that you accept this and stay with me." Hikaru turned then, one hand covering her mouth as she tried to hide her tears from them.
No one moved or spoke, but Lantis slowly rose from his position on his knees, steadying himself when he almost fell, and approached her, his arms reaching forward to wrap around her as he pulled her away from the frame and into his arms. He never wanted to let her go. He wanted her to always be with him, to be able to hold her like this.
He felt her shift as her small hands grabbed his shirt front as she buried her face in his chest. He could feel her tears soaking his shirt, but he didn't mind. This was hard and painful for all of them. News like this would never be easy for anyone to accept.
"Hikaru," he whispered softly, gently kissing the top of her head. "Listen to me," he whispered, speaking for her ears only. "I understand why you didn't tell us. You were afraid of everything. It was something you didn't want to accept. But you know we'll always be there for you. No matter the circumstances. We were there for you in Cephiro, and we're here for you now. It won't ever change. Things might be awkward, but my feelings won't change. I'll always love you Hikaru, no matter what happens. I promise."
Hikaru sniffled, her arms suddenly moving to wrap around his torso. "I'm so sorry," she whispered back. "If only I had told you, things would be so much easier. It wouldn't be this painful."
Lantis stopped her words with a finger on her lips. "No. The thought of losing you will always hurt. Your strength is what gave us all the hope we yearned for. You are our Pillar, Hikaru. Just knowing that we still have some time left with you is all we need," he said softly, speaking to her and her alone. "You don't have to say anything to anyone. You don't have to explain to us why you didn't say anything. It no longer matters. Just let us be here for you."
Hikaru nodded slowly against him. She knew it had been her mistake to keep it from them, but if they could be so understanding for her, then it was alright. As long as they didn't hate her, nothing else mattered anymore. Slowly she left Lantis's arms and was suddenly embraced by Fuu, Umi and Caldina. All three of them were crying, and she felt the dam suddenly burst as tears began to flow down her cheeks.
Why did things have to happen this way? Why couldn't she be allowed to live a normal life with her beloved friends and her lover? Why couldn't things be simple?
But that would be expecting to much. A simple life with few complications was the dream of many, and none would ever achieve that dream. Humans are denied that simplicity with how they live their lives. One event can cause a chain reaction that can either end in a good way, or a bad way, but until the end they are left clueless; with the occasion that they learn beforehand.
As Hikaru stood within that small circle, three of her most precious people holding onto her like a lifeline, she felt some sort of contentment. She knew her time was limited, a year at most to spend as much time as possible with them. Life could never be easy or simple for anyone. It wasn't made to be that way.
She had come to terms with everything long ago, and soon perhaps they would be able to perform one last miracle. If Doctor Hitari gave the ok, there was one last thing she could do for her love so he would never be lonely when she passed. She just hoped with everything she had, that it would be ok.
TBC...