[ Watashi ]

[ Tomodachi ]

[ Saint Seiya ]

[ Clamp ]

[ Fanfiction ]

I drank the hot coffee thoughtfully, watching out the kitchen's bay windows. The sun was shining brightly outside, there was no trace of this night's storm. I shook my head, thinking I was already late. I should have been seeing to the horses by now. I smiled, thinking I was a fool to try to deceive myself and pretend everything was okay. The fingers of my right hand absentmindedly felt for the bandage on my left arm, and I winced a little. The pain was almost completely gone, but if I spent my time touching the wound... Suddenly, I saw the reflection of my "guests" in the bay window and sighed, saying :

"So... To sum things up, you are gods. Right ?..."

I repressed a sudden overwhelming desire to burst out laughing. I turned towards them, putting my cup down on the table.

"You..."

I looked at the tall and handsome man with dark looks.

"Are Yasha-ou, and you..."

The beautiful young woman with golden eyes smiled to me.

"Are Ashura-ou. You both come from a place named Tenkai, some kind of Heaven... You have been on our world for a long time now... Is that correct ?"

Ashura nodded, and I shrugged.

"One wonders why it is gods waste their time on such a... Godsforsaken world..."

The young woman bowed her head.

"Tenkai is no more. We are the only ones left. Our world is gone, we had no choice in coming here."

I finished my coffee and looked at her, seeing sorrow on her face.

"Is that so ?"

Yasha gave me a cool glance.

"You don't seem to believe us."

I chuckled, unable to control myself.

"Believe you ? There's no one who could believe this kind of thing passed ten years of age !"

The temptation to believe them would have been great a few years ago, but even one's dearest dreams and wishes eventually died one day. I had learnt that lesson well. Suddenly, a bright light illuminated the kitchen, coming from Ashura. I tensed. There was a flame floating above the palm of her open right hand. She looked at me steadily.

"Now do you believe us ?"

I tore my eyes from the flame and shook my head.

"It could easily be a trick you know..."

I smiled tiredly.

"And anyway, it doesn't matter who you are. I don't care... So long as you don't use that... thing... against me."

I looked at the giant saber and shivered in rememberance. They both seemed sad and disappointed I didn't believe them. I sighed inwardly. What had they expected ? That I fall on my knees and pray to them ? One was admittedly foolish... But up to a point. I got up and went to the hall. As my right hand closed on the door handle, I turned to them.

"I have to go, I have business to attend to. Don't worry, I won't call the cops on you..."

Impulsively, I added with a gentle smile :

"You are welcome to stay if you'd like. This is my folks's home, they're in Greece for six months, so you can take their room if you wish... But please... Don't mess it up too much and... Don't shock the neighbours, okay ?"

Ashura smiled and I laughed as I saw Yasha blushing furiously. Shaking my head, I closed the door. I didn't even know why I had said that. Hardly like me to take complete strangers in like that. Instinctively, I liked them a lot, even after what had happened. I would have been completely unable to explain my attitude. Oh well... Maybe they were gods after all...

I dried my dripping hair with a towel, and brushed it summarily. As I was about to leave the bathroom, I heard voices and remembered I was no longer alone in this house. Cursing, I drapped a towel around my body and opened the door. As usual, I had left my clothes in my room. Shit. I ran quickly in the corridor, hoping they wouldn't notice me and sighed with relief as I closed the door behind me. Damn. This would take some getting used to. I began dressing up, berating myself at the same time. Why, why on earth had I told them to stay ? Who was going to pay for their food ? My brain must have short-circuited during a few seconds.

It was night outside. It would have been a very good day in other circumstances : Cloud had managed to get an accessit in the Grand Prix, and both Pascale and I had been extatic about it. This had been the achievement of years of patient training... And all I felt was that my peaceful life was gone forever... I was in a really bad mood. I opened the door to the terrace, and suddenly saw Ashura and Yasha very busy holding one another and kissing passionately. I froze, and tried to get back inside discreetly, but she saw me and freed herself from her companion's embrace, smiling :

"No ! Don't go ! You don't have to !"

Oh yes. Yes I had to. Seeing the expression on my face, she came towards me and stopped me before I could get back in. Her hand lightly rested on my forearm.

"What's wrong ?"

I shrugged, fighting the familiar ache in my chest.

"Nothing is wrong. I don't wish to disturb you is all."

She held my gaze for a long time, and I felt myself drowning in her deep golden eyes. It was suddenly like she knew everything about me, like my soul was laid bare for her. She smiled sadly.

"Don't you have someone to love ?"

I bowed my head, feeling tears stinging my eyes and a big lump in my throat. Why did it hurt so much all of a sudden ? I was used to the pain... I whispered :

"No..."

Her fingers very gently reached out and softly wiped a tear I hadn't been able to hold back. She nodded.

"I understand. I can see your sorrow... I am sorry, it isn't fair, loneliness hurts you so much... You deserve better..."

My fingers closed on her right hand and took it away from my face. I bit my lower lip and said :

"Please don't do this... Leave this alone..."

There was nothing anyone could do about it anyway. I moved to leave, but she hugged me, whispering :

"Don't go... Stay with us... Let us try to help... You've been so kind to us, let us be your friends..."

A hand gently pressed my right shoulder and I looked at Yasha. He smiled softly.

"We owe you... And it's much better if you share your pain with someone rather than keeping it for yourself. Eventually, it will poison your soul..."

His eyes searched my face.

"I only hope it hasn't done so already."

There was a strange warmth emanating from them, engulfing me. It was like the light of the sun, dissipating the pain, ripping it to shreds. I closed my eyes and surrendered to the feeling. It went on a long time, and then stopped. My sorrow had withdrawn to the back of my mind, bearable again. I looked at them.

"Are you... Are you truly gods ?"

Ashura smiled.

"You will have to decide that for yourself."

Yasha's dark eyes locked on mine, and he said :

"Aren't you going to ask us what was wrong about Ashura when you met her yesterday night ?"

I shrugged.

"No. I gather if you had wanted to tell me, you'd have done so by now... And I certainly don't want to be caught in the middle of affairs concerning gods !"

He shook his head.

"It may already be to late for that..."

Well... It was true they were living under the same roof as I... I smiled helplessly. As long as it didn't go farther, I didn't mind... And I hadn't yet decided whether they were really gods or not.

Damn gods rotted Autumn weather ! I shivered, closing my raincoat tighter around me. The sun had almost set, and the rain was pouring down. Of course the cursed bus was late. Had to be. At times like this, one would have liked to have mister Murphy available to vent one's frustration. I was going to be late for my training session with Sakamoto-sensei. No help for it. Hell. And there wasn't any traffic at this time of day. I couldn't even hitch a ride. A strange sound came to me beyond the rain.

I strained my ears. I knew that sound. It was... Yes, like when a Buddhist prayer stick hit the ground and the metal rings clashed...

"Dark light engulfing the stars..."

Suddenly, my surroundings vanished.

"The center of the Six shimmers..."

The sound of the rings went on insistently. The strange voice was coming from nowhere and everywhere at the same time.

"Black or white, Order or Chaos..."

The horizon lit in red. I suddenly saw flames ravaging a city, laying it waste, then another, and another. There was blood everywhere, death walked calmly upon the earth, collecting its due.

"There is only one Fate, and no escape..."

I looked helplessly at the devastation, heard people crying, dying, and shuddered, hugging myself.

"The bright Stars of Heaven are no more..."

Suddenly, I saw a dark shape atop a pile of corpses, head thrown backwards, and heard laughter. Cruel, horrible. The figure held a sword from which blood dripped endlessly on the dead bodies.

"The time of the world of Men has come..."

I felt tears streaking my face and shook my head desperately, unable to move, to cry. Unable to free myself from this nightmare. The dark shape raised its sword to its face and began drinking the blood falling from it, still laughing.

"Once awaken, Destruction can never be set aside..."

There was nothing left. Nothing left alive in the world. Slowly, the solitary figure turned towards me, and I cringed, terrified.

"The core of the Star with Six Points is black..."

I couldn't move ! I couldn't ! The dark thing stopped beside me and chuckled evilly. No... No ! Suddenly, I thought I saw pointed ears.

"You will be the end of every living thing."

The sword pierced through my body and I fell backwards, unable to cry my terror and my pain. The blade was so cold... So cold...

"NOOOOOOO !"

I didn't hear my own voice. I didn't see anything. Freed all of a sudden, I ran, unaware of where I was going or where I was. No... No... I could still see it in front of my eyes, I could still feel all these people's dread and pain, I could still feel the death, I could still feel the icy blade piercing through my heart... Suddenly, a violent light blinded me and something struck me savagely. I felt blood coming to my mouth. The pain was so intense it seemed unreal. There was a sound of brakes and I hit the road violently.

"Damn it... Hang on... Hang on... Please..."

It hurt. It hurt so much I couldn't think properly. I moaned weakely, unable to restrain myself. Something touched me very gently, and I felt fingers brushing my face. I slowly opened my eyes, but was unable to focus on my surroundings. My head was resting on something soft. There was someone so... So close... I tensed as the pain raged through my body again, stronger. I couldn't bear it, I couldn't...

"I never intended this..."

That voice... I... Darkness swallowed me.

End of Part 3.

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