Chapter Text
“Please, don't let her die.”
Zeno's body was sprawled over the dewy grass as his eyes stared into the heavens. Kaya, the love of his life, was slowly dying, and there was no way for him to save her; the most he could do was pray and hope the dragons would open their ears to his request and spare her.
/“Kaya,” he whispered, gently taking her hand in his as he intently watched her breaths, terrified that if he looked away for a moment that by the time he got back, she'd be gone. “Kaya,” he breathed, “please...hold on.”/
-
Zeno awoke to rays of vibrant sunlight streaming through the home's windows, flooding the house with a glorious, brilliant yellow. Bluebirds chirped happily and robins danced in the sky above. He smiled: maybe this glorious day meant that the dragons had heard his prayers. Maybe this was their way of assurance that they'd listened and granted him his one and only wish.
As he made his way into the middle of the house, however, he was met with the sight of a pale, weakened Kaya, who grasped the edges of her blankets with the little strength she had left, blood spurting onto the floor as she coughed. Quickly, Zeno ran toward her and sat, adjusting her head upright, leaning her body onto his. “It's okay, Kaya,” he whispered, his arms wrapping around her as he noticed the familiar flowery scent she'd had since the day he'd met her. “You smell so nice, miss.”
Zeno was greeted with a weak punch to the arm, to which he chuckled at. Kaya began to cough out more blood, the blood trickling to the floor and onto his own clothes as well.
“I – I'm sorry, Zeno.”
Zeno was already grabbing a cloth to gently wipe the blood from her mouth. “Don't apologize, Kaya. Just rest.”
“Z-Zeno...”
Kaya was interrupted as another coughing fit came over her, more blood spilling from her mouth, struggling to breathe as Zeno rubbed her arms and held her closer to him, whispering a prayer in her hair. “Please,” he urged the dragons, “save Kaya.”
“Zeno...” Kaya croaked, Zeno quickly grabbing her hand and meeting her gaze. “I...I...please...don't feel like...you couldn't help me – “
“Kaya.”
“There's nothing either of us can do. It just – “
“Kaya.”
“Zeno, just – “
“Kaya.”
Snapping out of her rambling train of thoughts, Kaya directed her gaze toward him as he took her hands, clasping them in his as he leaned in, locking his gaze with hers. “Kaya...marry me.”
Kaya's eyes widened as her heart began to pound inside her chest, a sweet, calming wave passing over her in the midst of her dying state. “Wha...what?”
“Kaya,” he spoke again, squeezing her hands and meeting eye-to-eye. “Kaya, will you marry me?”
Tears streamed from her eyes, trailing down her cheeks and dripping onto Zeno's clothes. Her body racked with sobs as she smiled and nodded, Zeno throwing his arms around her in one last embrace. “Kaya...my beautiful Kaya...”
–
Zeno sat holding the remains of Kaya's hand in his own, his lips stretched into a bittersweet smile as he lowered his mouth and pressed a chaste kiss to her bones, lingering for a moment, desperately hoping to smell her flowery scent again, to hear the beating of her heart, to hear her sweet laugh, to hear her be alive.
“Thank you for everything, Kaya,” he spoke, gathering his cloak and making his way out of the door. “I will never forget you.”
And so Zeno slowly closed the door as he took a long, deep breath in and exhaling, heart aching, spirit crushed, yet he walked on and on and on until he was to be reunited with his brethren and King Hiryuu himself.