Seiya's Greek Wedding by: Kounellii
Comments: I'm going to try and finish this story before Christmas. I wonder if you can recognize the song reference of this chapter's title (One of my faves).
Disclaimer: I don't own Saint Seiya. The one and only Masami Kurumada does.
-+Down on Bended Knee+-
The sun's last rays illuminated the surface of the ocean, coloring the passing people in pale orange and pink against all the blackness.
Where did I put that stupid thing? thought Seiya, frantically. He ran his callus but young hands through his jacket pockets uselessly.
There was no way he would go in without it! He glanced up again for what must've been the fiftieth time that night at his few, but close friends, standing in line to be seated. The MiraCosta hotel's restaurant was very busy, especially since it was overlooking the sea by Tokyo Disney. The attraction of the sea, whether by day or night, always pulls in people…
Absentmindedly, the young man swept back his bangs, holding it flat on top of his head as if the gesture would trigger his memory. On a side note, like other people, he actually looked more intelligent with his fringe pinned back… must be the sight of a clear forehead. He let his thoughts run aimlessly, knowing that his good, and often time more-considerate-than-his-other-friends friend, Shun,selected the hotel's restaurant out of convenience for Shiryu and Shunrei.
"Hehehe" chuckled Seiya out of the blue.
Both out of relief and amusement. Seriously, it was his first time noticing that Shun and Shunrei share part of the same name. He mused over this. Perhaps it was because he's never used their names in the same sentence before? Or maybe his brain racked itself for a joke to relieve the tension.
With Seiya, you never really know. But that's what's charming about the Pegasus. He may give you a straight answer, but his actions are pretty roundabout. A natural enigma.
He scoured the narrow street behind him. Should he backtrack now? He stood on tiptoe again and peered through the wide glass pane.
They hadn't moved more than a few feet in line. Considering it was Shun, Seiya couldn't imagine why he would forget that even with reservations the restaurant was just too popular for its own good. Nobody was ever in a rush to leave anything with an ocean view.
Well, sea view.
Anyway, thought Seiya, scolding himself again for wandering in his thoughts. He was now holding himself up on the rim of the window sill instead of on the tips of his toes. His warm walnut brown eyes watched their movement.
Hyoga and Shiryu were facing each other at an angle to also include Shun, Shunrei (Ha!), and last… but never least at all, Miho, in their sight. He suddenly felt his heart jolt itself to a fast pace, almost as if he forgot it was beating earlier even when he couldn't feel it.
Seiya wasn't good at reading lips, but he still tried to. His focus zoomed in on her. The table that was right in front of the window he was peering through obscured the lower half of Miho, but he could plainly see that she was wearing a turquoise and black bubble dress.
"Wow…" he whispered. It was a lighter color than the blue of Miho's hair, but it seemed to compliment it.
A sharp rap on the glass brought him back to earth. Seiya could tell that the older man was yelling at him. But he couldn't help but notice that his date was giggling. When she had seen that she had caught Seiya's eye, she winked and tipped her head in Miho's direction.
The man caught sight of her reaction and seemed to put two and two together. He made a wide "O" with his mouth. Definitely out of comprehension of Seiya's situation. The older man mouthed out a, "Gomenasai," fixing a kind smile in his direction.
Seiya scratched the back of his head as he usually did out of complacency. He let go and landed with a soft thud. Now it was truly night time. The long row of street lamps however, provided strong light.
He fingered his evening blue bow tie again. He wanted to be prepared. Seiya checked the golden lion head buttons on his cuffs, making sure they weren't lost too.
A few tourists noticed the young man, wondering what he was looking for as well. To their eyes, they could see Seiya's head bent low scanning the ground, left to right like a bloodhound, complete with the same set of deep brown eyes.
Now just a few groups of people were ahead of them. The blond Russian looked up at the fancy floral-bordered clock above the maître d'. He scowled.
"I know, Hyoga. Our reservation was over an hour ago," remarked Shiryu, with a slightly tired tone.
"Yes it was. Wouldn't Seiya-kun be walking in around this time?" asked Shunrei, trying to make conversation to distract from the agitation. She rearranged her silk lilac-colored shawl.
If Miho wasn't frowning earlier, she was now. She looked to her left and right as she replied.
"Yeah, he usually does. I really can't believe him sometimes. I was with him last night, um, I mean-" she twittered as she tried to grasp a way to cover up what she just said.
Too late as she sweatdropped at her friends' knowing smiles. Hyoga snickered.
"Well, well, that explains some of the mystery, eh Shun?" he asked. Hyoga laughed. It was obviously rhetorical.
Shun grinned but kept his laughter in. He didn't want poor Miho to be any more embarrassed than she already was. She was still struggling to come up with a white lie.
But Shunrei laughed and playfully placed her hands on her friend's shoulder to console her. Without anyone noticing, Shiryu gazed at his childhood friend very lovingly. A few patrons leaving the restaurant sighed in longing as they passed Shiryu. They wished he would look at them like that.
"Hyoga, you can stop laughing now," snapped Miho, blushing quite fiercely. She stomped her foot, but really, she wanted to hit him, but they weren't that close. He wasn't Seiya.
The Swan Saint laughed a little more to tease her. But he stopped short, catching sight of someone at the corner of his good eye. Out of sheer normalcy, he wore a black eye patch.
Miho, who had been snarling for a bit at Hyoga, suddenly gained a blasé attitude. She beckoned her friend over.
A young woman with pale blonde hair, half up and half down for the occasion, was very beautiful. She rushed in as fast as she could on her twinkle blue heels and tight grey minidress.
"Hi Hyoga!"
"Oh, um, hi Ellie! I had no idea you would be here," he replied, in a bit of a daze. His head felt suddenly lighter than usual.
The others looked on and snickered. Seiya and Shun, at Miho's urging, tried to remind Hyoga that the girl he saved was still interested in him. But Hyoga would always put off meeting with her.
This forced Seiya and Shun to use their last card: downright deceit. So it was no coincidence that she was there. Although to Shun's credit, it was his clever idea to plan this seemingly "impromptu" dinner outing, when really he had invited Ellie a long time ago.
Shiryu greeted Ellie, "It's nice to see you again. I thought for sure Hyoga would sniff this one out."
Hyoga did a 180. He asked in harsh surprise, "What exactly do you mean by that, Shiryu?"
"They've been telling me you've been too shy to talk to Ellie (Hyoga shook his head in denial at her), so Shun planned out a nice evening for the both of you. A few months ago to tell you the truth. It was right after you told them you'd be flying to Japan."
Miho laughed delightedly (and a little wickedly).
"We're all in on it. But Shunrei-chan insisted that we make it a group outing since it's your first date and all. She didn't want you two to just sit staring at each other."
Shiryu wrung an arm around Hyoga's shoulder, "So I had the idea that it would be a very great opportunity to visit too."
"Ahem."
The small circle of friends turned around.
"Your table is ready."
"FINALLY!"
They shuffled in after the maître d', appearing to be a rowdy group as they laughed at Hyoga's cursing. Ellie kept protesting, "Oh, you guys! That was too much!"
The table could fit eight people, but they only needed seven. And that seventh person still did not appear.
Soon the laughter grew feeble and the teasing lost steam. After they ordered their meals, the conversation concerned catching-up and idle comments about the surrounding guests. Every few minutes, at least two of the party would check the entrance for any sign of Seiya.
Every group of friends has that bond between them that allows them to more than tolerate the other guy. For them, Seiya's presence was sorely missed. He was the kind of guy you could tease endlessly and he'd never run out of retorts. If he did, you could make fun of the lack of it. Everyone and anyone felt like they could talk to him, without hiding anything. Seiya just seemed like the type who could take what you say and not judge you, or at least the judgment wouldn't hurt because somehow you knew he was fair and would change his attitude toward you if you justified yourself.
Who else could laugh so fully or let his face mirror exactly what he feels and thinks, as if he had no thought of what it means to be an adult. A true kid at heart, that it made you jealous when you think about how kids feel like they can talk to and tease him as if they were colleagues.
This time, Hyoga sent one of his rare texts to his missing friend.
"Hey seiya, where r u? Dinner is here already"
He hoped that the mention of dinner would get him a response. Hyoga turned his head, his eyes wide in surprise, but quickly regained his nonchalant face.
"Ellie, can I ask you something?"
The other blonde faced Hyoga, looking at him with curiosity. She sharply inhaled at the sight of him.
"HYOGA?" Shiryu, Shunrei, and Shun called out in undisguised shock.
Hyoga had moved aside his chair and was kneeling on the blood red carpet. It was too soon for that!
A quick flash of blue appeared and a hand was seen gripping Hyoga's collar.
"OI! DON'T YOU DARE STEAL MY THUNDER HYOGA!"
"SEIYA?" they cried.
Hyoga slowly eased himself back onto his chair, removing Seiya's hand simultaneously. He grinned.
"Just wanted to warm up the audience for you, Seiya."
His younger friend was huffing and puffing, immediately taking in its meaning. Without another word, Seiya nodded confidently.
Now all the patrons stood up from their seats, trying to see whether they were fighting or not. Those waiting in line jostled on their feet to get a good look at the commotion. They watched as the young man in the elegant blue suit walked around the table. He stopped in front of a very pretty young lady with her blue hair in a ponytail flipped inward, clenched tightly in her hands.
Without saying a word yet, he rested his eyes on her, which seemed to calm her anxiety. She looked at him in pure wonder without worry. The young man broke into a charming smile because he did not want her to be worried about anything all.
Not for the rest of eternity.
He instinctively tugged up his pants at the knees as he bent down on one like a royal prince before his princess. The crowd walked forward, forming a wall around table 7.
When he looked up at her, it was as if he were pleading with all his heart. His big brown eyes welled up with emotion with all his hope and prayers that what he wants will finally come true.
"Miho. Miho, you've been there for me for as long as I can remember. I know I've been away for most of our memory too, but I've settled that part of my life now. I've grown up; I can take care of you. I won't leave you for anything, I promise!"
Miho's heart was beating in her ears. But she heard every single word he said. Tears ran down her face freely because she didn't know they were. All her heart and mind could see was her Seiya.
He sniffled and his smile quivered a little. He pulled out a small black box. When he opened it, the light seemed to dance upon a tiny diamond ring. It was a ring of white gold. It was all he could afford.
He took a deep breath, summoning all his strength because he was scared that he'd faint any moment. He held the ring up like an offering.
"Miho, will you marry me?"
A sharp intake of breath swirled all around the room. Women were breathing hard between their cupped hands and men were clenching their fists like they would to cheer on their favorite boxer at a match, but silently.
Her eyes were closed which worried some onlookers. Shiryu, for the first time in years, looked worried. Shun's eyebrows were furrowed in wondering anxiousness, thinking as Hyoga was, that maybe Miho wasn't ready and how crushed Seiya would be in the next minute or two. But Shunrei and Ellie calmly looked on, knowing exactly how Miho must be feeling and the history between the two.
She was reminiscing on the long years of waiting, the wishing that her man would only answer to her, not to war. She needed to take a moment to weigh the sadness and tears she shed over him for the sake of her own destiny. Miho wanted to make this choice not because she's endured so much and that he owed her but because she can't breathe without him. Because she loved him.
Right before everyone's eyes, she let herself drop down on her own knees and ring her hands around Seiya's shoulders.
"I do, Seiya, I really do."
"HURRAH!" erupted the room in a deafening sea of noise.
Seiya pulled her into a tight embrace before he slipped the little ring around her finger. The couple tried to stand but they kept falling back down, laughing uncontrollably. Their friends and complete strangers patted their backs or wrung hands with an exchange of congratulations.
After Seiya and Miho shook hands with almost all of the patrons and staff, Shun quietly stepped back. He let the scene sit in his sight. He wanted to keep the memory for as long as he could remember.
Because this is what they were fighting for.
EXTRA: I saw a few pictures of the sea view at the MiraCosta hotel which I chose because I searched hotels with an ocean view in Japan as the romantic setting. Don't forget to leave your congrats;)