Don't ask where this fic came from. My other personality temporarily
took over and produced it while I was tied up in a corner screaming
for help. Of course, I don't own these people and would make no
claim of it. You should have known that, silly. ^-^
Alone
By Murasakikaze
Why did this have to happen? I knew it would have happened
sooner or later...but why sooner? I was alone now, but then again,
wasn't this what I had always wanted? I had shoved them away
whenever they were trying to help me or make me smile. Now they
were gone. They had left me and it was my fault.
The wind is so cold, but not as cold as my heart. I had realized
it too late how much they all meant to me. The battles, the adventures,
the fun, the games; I had pushed it away from me like a disease
and now it was a sickness that I wish I had.
I raised my head and stared at the gray sky against the gray earth.
Everything seemed dull and yet before it had been a cheerful glade
that we had shared. It was supposed to be a picnic, but I had refused
to come. Why had I done that? Why didn't I spend the last few
moments with them? With the people who were so dear to me that
not even I knew it?
A cool wetness splashed against my cheek and I let it fall. It was a
tear, but not mine. I never cried and I never would, not even now. It
was the sky who wept for the loss. The heavens opened and poured
their grief down upon me. My clothes were soaked, but I still didn't
care. All I cared about was them.
"I'm....sorry...." I whispered and turned to leave the grave site.
-----
(Earlier)
"Zelgadis-san didn't come?" Amelia took out the large picnic basket
and spread the cheerful checkered cloth out on the ground. It was a
perfect day and the mage had said it wouldn't rain. She looked up at
the sky and watched a puffy white cloud float lazily by.
"Nah, Zel said he had 'other business' to attend to," Lina grumbled.
"He's such a killjoy sometimes."
"Don't call him that!" Amelia turned back to the group and
discovered
Gourry already digging into the basket. "Wait for a minute! I still
haven't
eaten!"
* * *
Zelgadis sat on the edge of the clearing and watched them eat for a
moment. They would be surprised, he mused, they certainly would. Lina
was grousing about his 'other business,' but if she only knew what it
was.
A smile slid across his face, a luxury for him and the first in a long
time.
He adjusted his hood and was about to step out into the clearing when
something went wrong. What was that movement he had sensed and
why were Amelia and Lina screaming?
-----
I was foolish and careless. Why hadn't I seen him? The archer had
stepped out and let three arrows fly. Each had struck their target. I
touched the headstone and sighed. I truly had lost them and now
they'd only see me in their eternal dreams. L-sama, why hadn't I spent
my moments with them?
-----
Amelia stepped up to the gravestone and laid a bouquet of flowers
down.
She looked like she hadn't slept for days and maybe it was true. They
had
all been through a lot. Even Lina had cried at the funeral, allowing
Gourry
to protect her for once. Now she stood and stared at the grave silently
with
dull eyes.
"He would have wanted a warrior's death...not what he had," Amelia
choked out. "To be mistaken for someone else and assassinated...."
Gourry momentarily let Lina go and allowed her to walk to the grave.
She kneeled down and laid a long broadsword down by the flowers.
"Goodbye, my friend," she whispered. "Good luck and eternal rest in
the
Astral Plane..."
Gourry helped both the girls walk away from the recently dug grave.
Just
before he left he said his final goodbye. Zelgadis stood and watched
them
leave.
"Yes...they had found their target..." he said and touched the red
stain on
his pure white tunic. He turned to leave. "Now...I truly am alone..."
~*~*~*~
Comments, criticisms, questions on why my brain suddenly flew out the
window? Send them to me at muteki@juno.com
~Murasakikaze
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