Chapter Text
Shion knelt before the fallen warrior, cupping the beautiful, beaten face in his palms by way of supporting the limp body, and saw a faint flicker in the once-brilliant eyes.
People said that, when one was about to die, his whole life would flash before his eyes. Shion wondered what Albafica might be seeing, sadly reflecting on his comrade’s lonely life.
The feeling he didn't like – guilt – crept into him. He was the Gold Saint living furthest from Pisces, but he was also the closest, in a way. Yet, he knew almost nothing about this man.
Silently, Shion mused on their limited exchanges. He often passed the twelfth Temple on his way to see the Pope, and a few times came face to face with the recluse Saint. In the beginning, they only exchanged faint smiles, but by and by they started exchanging words.
Eventually, Albafica even told him why he avoided people, that is, in fear of poisoning them.
But it never got past that. Shion was busy, and spent his spare time mostly to spar with his old friend, Dohko.
Albafica too never stopped at the Temple of the White Ram. Not even on that fateful morning, when he left the Sanctuary out of concern for the village.
Touched, Shion bent to kiss the perfect rosebud lips, which were poisonous no longer.
“Sleep well, my friend,” he whispered in the other’s ear.
Fighting off tears, he prepared to pick up the broken body from the ground.
Suddenly he caught a slight movement from the corner of his eye, and for a moment thought that the enemy was still alive, but then realised that it was only a breeze gently ruffling the Spectre’s silver hair.
When he looked down again into the beautiful deep-blue eyes, he saw that the flicker was gone, and the eyes were completely glazed.
Bracing up, he moved his hand over his comrade’s eyes to close them, and then made to leave the battleground with the lifeless body in his arms.
To be continued...