[ Watashi ]

[ Tomodachi ]

[ Saint Seiya ]

[ Clamp ]

[ Fanfiction ]

There was a deep sound. A sound I knew, a sound I loved. A sound that my mind associated with peace, with rest. With immensity. Majesty. Beauty... Slowly, the fog lifted and I saw high mountain peaks in the distance. This place... The red disk of the sun appeared above the mountains, illuminating the sea, and I shook my head in disbelief. I chuckled. This place, this place was Greece. Oh yes I knew it so well. I loved it so. A place where you could live outside of time, forget everything and find strength... My refuge.

I took my shoes off, and walked in the sand towards the sea. The sound of the waves was the only thing that could be heard in the dawn. I let the waves reach me and shivered, smiling. The sea was cold. I jumped back, and looked towards the hills, revelling in the sight of this small lost pocket of peace.

"What are you doing here miss ?"

I turned on the right, surprised. There was a young man looking at me with a mixture of curiosity and perplexity. His hair masked partly his face, hiding his eyes. He wasn't Greek, that was sure. I shook my head.

"I don't know. This place..."

I smiled fondly.

"It is my little heaven on Earth..."

I chuckled.

"I was sleeping. I guess I am still in the room. I must be dreaming, right ?..."

I shrugged.

"Forgive me, I shouldn't expect a dream to answer... But this is a beautiful dream anyway. I am happy..."

He got up and came to me.

"You are dreaming yes. But I am no dream, miss."

Odd behaviour for a dream. No matter. I felt safe, at peace. So I decided to play along.

"Oh, forgive me. By the way, I am Fiona. What's your name ?"

A shadow of a smile appeared on his lips.

"I am called Kakyou. I live in dreams. And of course I Dream of the Future..."

I nodded wisely. I should have known. And yet another fortune-teller ! Great, was everyone on this planet a Seer ? Ugh, my brain really spent its time making up weird characters.

"You do not believe me miss Fiona..."

I smiled gently.

"Sure I do. I'm dreaming. So as long as I stay here, everything that happens is true in this world. So you really are a Seer."

His hands gently rested on my shoulders.

"No. I walk through dreams. I am not a character your imagination created. I am..."

He sighed.

"I shouldn't be here, just as you shouldn't."

I cocked my head to the side.

"Don't tell me I can't be in my own dream !"

He looked at me earnestly.

"This is more than a dream. It is more solid. More real... I cannot be here. I am dying. He is killing me. My lifeblood is soaking the place in which my body rests. I should be dying. What could have been strong enough to pull me away from my death ?"

I felt a cold fear in the pit of my stomach. This... This wasn't part of any dream my imagination could have come up with. I asked him :

"Who is killing you ?"

He smiled sadly.

"Kamui... The Accompanying Star..."

Fuuma.

Shinken dripping with blood.

Sound of blood falling on the floor.

Those eyes...

His hands squeezed gently.

"Hey, it's okay miss. Death is my wish..."

Suddenly, the wind rose up, coming from the sea.

The sea was quiet.

Deadly calm.

The wind was howling.

Two silhouettes. So far away.

Wings. Black, and white.

White feathers. Black leathery wings.

Lightning.

Clash of swords.

The sea suddenly turned crimson.

Blood.

The wind fell.

One... Only one of them was still standing.

The waves began hurling themselves on the shore again. It was as if nothing had happened. There wasn't anybody standing on the horizon. As if... A dream ?

"So... This is how it will end..."

I turned towards the Dreamer called Kakyou. He was smiling.

"I do not know what Power allowed me this last glimpse of what will be, but I am grateful. I am happy..."

He looked at me.

"And I am also sad..."

My hands closed on hiw wrists.

"What do you mean ? What have you Seen ?"

There was a raw fear clawing at my heart. He shook his head.

"The end..."

Suddenly, my fingers passed through his wrists. I looked at him helplessly. He was becoming transparent, he was disappearing, he...

"No ! Don't go ! Tell me ! Help me !"

His ghostly right hand stroked my hair.

"I cannot stay. I am dying. And I will at last rejoin the one I love..."

He looked beyond me.

"I can only say this, miss Fiona. Never give up. Never..."

With that, he vanished. I looked down at my hands, whispering :

"Damn you... Answer me..."

I turned back towards the sea.

There wasn't a sea anymore. The mountains were gone.

A park. In Spring.

Tokyo Tower.

There, in the distance.

Suddenly, I saw something black at the roots of a cherry tree. The remains of the battle I had seen. Obscurely, I knew that. Although the landscape had changed, the fight had happened. But... I asked no one in particular :

"Who won ?"

And what would the consequences be ? How could I know ? This piece of black wing, I had no idea...

"But I think you do my lady..."

My hands closed into fists, and I said :

"You are not here. You are a figment of my imagination. Nothing more."

Hands closed on my shoulders, hugging me gently.

"Is that so my lady ?"

He chuckled softly.

No. I closed my eyes. No he couldn't be here. He couldn't be ! I said in a tight voice :

"You cannot reach me. Not where I am. Not with my friends protecting my sleep. I am having a nightmare is all."

He laughed.

"Of course this is a nightmare my lady Fiona. But believe me, real enough. Nothing can protect you from me. No shield can prevent me from reaching you. There is no escape. Simply because you let me touch your soul. Once. I am in your heart. You cannot forget. And so you are open to me..."

His lips brushed my neck.

"But have no fear, I didn't come here to end the game. Not yet. But I would hate it if you hid the truth from yourself my sweet lady..."

I twisted myself in his arms, freeing myself and facing him. I gritted my teeth.

"What do you mean, Sakurazukamori ?"

His right hand stroked my cheek.

"Anger my lady ? Or fear ? Or hate perhaps ?..."

He smiled.

"It doesn't matter. Go. Go see for yourself, if you are brave enough... Or do you wish me to tell you ? I would have thought not."

Damn him. Damn him for knowing what was in my heart. I whirled around, and walked slowly to the cherry tree.

Heart... Empty.

Heart... Shattered.

Soul... Devoured.

Soul... Consumed.

Self... Dead.

Not...

Not... True...

Not... True...

Tears... Salty.

Tears... Silent.

Cold.

Ice.

Void.

I carefully picked it up in my right hand and cradled it against my heart. It was not...

"It's a lie..."

I bit my lower lip and tasted blood.

I opened my eyes and looked.

Soft raven black wing.

Raven wing.

Ku...

I stood up.

My fingers closed.

Crushing the fragile feather.

I faced my enemy.

This was not his doing.

I knew.

This came from the Dream of Kakyou.

And yet...

I smiled.

I laughed.

I focused my whole self.

And demanded.

And was answered.

Shura-to.

My left hand closed on it.

The Jewels were burning my soul. It didn't matter. I looked at Sakurazukamori and said :

"Come. Come if you dare. This is a dream. Come, and I will unleash Chaos. I will free the Seals. I will destroy this world of dreams..."

I laughed at him.

"Come, and you will die with me. My lord."

He looked at me during a long time, then chuckled, smiling fondly.

"My lady, you amaze me. You prove me wrong, and it is no easy thing to do. I bow to your courage and the force of your will. You still can surprise me..."

He turned and walked away. As he was disappearing in the trees, he looked back and said, smiling :

"This hunt is the sweetest I have been given. I shall relish its every moment, my beloved prey."

He disappeared, and I fell on my knees in the grass. A cherry blossom petal soflty brushed my left cheek. I stayed there, my eyes seeing nothing. My heart feeling nothing. Dead.

"Open your eyes."

"Please come back."

"Fiona, you promised me love..."

"Ashura will be sad if you don't wake up. So wake up."

People.

Friends.

Love.

White feathers.

Black. Raven black feather.

Alone.

The only part of...

No.

No I couldn't wake up. I couldn't live. I refused to.

"Fiona..."

A light.

Soft.

Safe.

"My friend... Don't let him win that easy. Don't let Fate win..."

Steve... I whispered to the light :

"You know then ?"

The light embraced me.

"Yes. If you wish me to, I will keep silent. No one will ever know."

I nodded.

"Thank you."

The light closed around me.

"No need for thanks my friend. But I must ask for your forgiveness. He is so strong I couldn't keep him at bay... I failed you..."

I found somewhere the courage to smile.

"No. The one who failed was me. When I let him touch me. You... Never did."

"Thank you Fiona. Please don't give up. Who knows the true meaning of the Dream ? You cannot be sure..."

I chuckled.

"Hell no, you're right. Screw Fate. Screw Dreams. Screw the damn Vision. And Screw the Future."

I let the voices reach me, and bring me back to the waking world.

"Fiona..."

I held him close, I hugged him desperately, swallowing back my tears, swallowing back the pain. It wasn't true. It wouldn't happen. I would kill, and kill again before I let that happen. I would sell my soul to the darkness. But the nightmare, the Dream would be a lie. He would live. By the Goddess he would. He would, or...

"Fiona, love... I am here. With you..."

I looked at him and kissed him fiercely.

Time stopped.

Black raven feather.

No.

Never.

Never.

Time started again.

"I love you."

He smiled tenderly, stroking my hair and whispering :

"I know beloved. I know..."

Suddenly, I realised Ashura, yasha and Subaru Sumeragi were also by my side. Ashura smiled gently :

"Well, I'm certainly glad you finally decided to wake up. You're lazy !"

Yasha smiled as well. Subaru shook his head.

"He was in your dreams, wasn't he ?"

I nodded wordlessly and he bowed his head.

"Damn. I am sorry. I felt him. But I couldn't reach you. It was as if the dream in which you were... Was different, shielded. I don't know. Forgive me..."

I shrugged.

"There is nothing to forgive..."

I smiled all of a sudden.

"Besides, you know I think I even frightened him for a while..."

He chuckled.

"Is that so ? Well, good for you then Fiona..."

Kujaku cut him gently.

"Forgive me my friends, but would you leave us alone ? I have something to discuss with my lady..."

They looked at him curiously, and dutifully went out of the small room.

He closed the door, and came back to me, kneeling beside me. I smiled.

"So, what's up ? You want to do some courtship in private ?"

He shook his head. Very gently, he took me in his arms, whispering :

"I know Fiona. I am a Seer. I do know what it is you found. And I do know the meaning of it..."

I froze, grief choking me. He stroked my back.

"Cry my love... Don't keep the pain inside..."

I wept. A long time. He kissed my face tenderly.

"We will fight it. Together. I promise you. And we will find a way out."

He held me tight.

"Forgive me for causing you pain. but I didn't want you to keep the knowledge and the sorrow hidden. Not when I knew..."

He kissed me with an infinite tenderness.

"The meaning is not clear anyway. Please, don't let it obsess you. Please keep on hoping..."

There was such a fierce, strong love in his purple eyes... I hugged him back, closing my eyes. We held each other like this during what could have been an eternity, and then he smiled.

"Okay. Now let me tell you of the plan to get that thing called Shinken back... Or then again, maybe that can wait for a while..."

End of Part 8.

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