betweenrealities | [Fic][Saint Seiya] Close Your Eyes, O Warrior

Title: Close Your Eyes, O Warrior
Fandom: Animanga – Saint Seiya
Summary: On his deathbed, Shion meets an older Shun, smiling his smile, announcing it is time for him to finally have his right. [Set years after 'His Duty as A Human']
Warning: AU. Character death.
A/N: This is something totally random that came to me when I was in shower. Well, Shion has to die sooner or later, right?
Disclaimer: Not. Mine. Happy now?

Shion opened his eyes slowly, and for the first time in months, he did not have the painful feeling that has been invading his body attacking him the moment his eyes adjusted to his surrounding.

"Where-?" Looking around, he noticed that not only there was no source of light yet he could still see clearly, but also he had no problem moving his body.

"Physically? You're still in your temple, sleeping." A gentle voice on his left made he whirled around carefully, body still not used to being free from pain.

He looks older, was the first thought that the Pope had seeing the smiling young man.

"Well, they think you're still sleeping, at least."

The Lord of the Underworld did appear older than how he looked like years ago when Shion last set his eyes on him. His face had matured although the feminine gentleness was still apparent. His once huge eyes have narrowed to be more adult-like, and while the naivety light was no longer there, he was still able to retain the innocence, kind gleam. His hair was longer too, reaching his waist, and for someone who had been training as a Saint, he has a slender waist. The smile was still on his lips, altough it was smaller and more controlled than when he was younger.

In the four years they had not seen each other, Shun seemed to have grown to a good-looking, well-balanced young man. Deep in his heart, Shion was glad his decision to leave did any good to him.

"They think? What about spiritually then?" Meeting Shun, of all people, in his dream, the former Aries Saint could actually guess what was happening to him.

"This place," the boy waved his hand, "is the plane between the worlds of living and dead souls. Surely you know what this means, Shion?"

Well, at least he did not have to get used to the boy calling him by his name. "That I died while I was sleeping?"

The smile became wider. "Yes, and I am quite sure most people would like to die in their sleep. Less painful, it seems. Or maybe it is not of your taste?"

Shion shook his head, smiling at the joke. "While I don't mind fighting, but I guess my body is too worn out for anything more. If this is how I die, who am I to fight, anyway? At least I died naturally. It's rare to come by when you're an Athena's Saint."

The smile on the young face turned sadder. Shun kneeled down beside him, his hands on his knees.

"I'm sorry that you have to go through all this. After being killed once, only to be revived twice, it must have strained not only your body, but your soul as well."

Noticing how Shun must have somehow blamed himself, Shion put a hand on one smaller hand. 'Still smaller, even after four years…'

"Now, I don't mind that, if it means I can help in any way. But I guess even being revived has its limit, since I'm here with you. By the way, do you always do this, tending to dead souls? Because I'm sure there are a lot of souls you have to deal with every second."

Shun smiled at the attempt to change the subject. "Well, there are others who do this. I can't tend to all souls by myself. Only special cases, with special souls."

"Oh, I'm special then? I'm honoured."

The Lord of the Underworld laughed. The Holy Pope was glad that part did not seem to change.

"Of course you are. More so than others. Rather than those despicable country leaders, I would rather see you."

"I'm glad to hear that."

There was a short silence after that; both did not know what else to say. Shion did not bother to ask how life was after Shun had left Sainthood. He was sure, while painful and hard to adjust, it was fine overall, judging by how well-grown Shun was after four years.

Suddenly Shun rose to his feet and looked down at him.

"Well, it's time. I'm not supposed to talk to you like this, but I think Thanatos is giving me some sort of a leeway. I hope you don't mind…"

With that, Shion's body glowed with a bright yellow light. Sensing this is his end, he did not close his eyes, as he continued to watch Shun. And he did the unexpected.

He bowed low. So low that Shion had the urge to tell him not do it as it was not suitable for someone of his position.

When he looked up again, Shun's eyes were watery, yet he continued to look on determinedly.

"Thank you for your guidance, and your courageous way of life, Athena's Holy Pope, Shion of Aries."

And Shion left with a smile.

"Lord Shun?"

Aiacos took a peek inside the dark room. Without any sort of light to light it, the room was as dark as one in the underground level, even with its position on top of the castle.

"Shh, Aiacos," an unexpected, quiet voice replied.

"Minos? What happened? Is the Lord still sleeping?" Which was a rarity of its own. The 18-years-old Underworld Lord was usually awake by this time, to make sure everything planned for the day earlier on would follow its course.

"No, not really. Just come in, but quietly. You don't want to disturb him."

As he walked into the room, and his eyes starting to adjust to the room's darkness, the dark-haired Judge took in the surrounding. The room was not as dark as he expected it to be, with a few candles being lighted. What he saw next, however, made him ignore everything else.

Instead of on his bed, Shun was sitting on large couch, seemingly resting, or more likely, sleeping. His head was on one of the armrest, and an arm dangling from the couch. Despite the uncomfortable-looking position, Shun looked peaceful. A three-pointed spear (1) was leaning against the other side of the couch, with Minos standing just beside it, as if guarding the couch's occupant.

"Lord Shun is doing something important. We can't disturb him until he wakes up on his own," Minos said in the same quiet voice he used earlier, his eyes still on the sleeping young man.

With that, Aiacos understood. Still, it was a rare event for the Underworld Lord himself to guide a dying soul to the Realm of the Dead. "The dying soul must be an important one, then. Who is it?"

The sudden dark look on the other Judge made him quirked his eyebrow. But before he could ask more, another voice replied instead.

"It's Athena's current Holy Pope, Shion."

He looked at the owner of the voice, walking quickly to his side.

Shun blinked his eyes open a few more times, before looking up with a small smile at his two Judges. "Or should I say, former Holy Pope?"

Aiacos kneeled down beside the couch as Shun fixed himself to a proper sitting position. "How was it, my Lord? How do you feel?"

It must be painful for him, Minos thought; the late Athena's Pope was one of the people who stood by him when he made the decision to join their side.

Shun let another smile, a sadder one this time. "Sad, but I supposed that is expected. But I can't do anything about it. He has his time overdue."

The young Lord looked down at his clasped hands, which Minos and Aiacos noticed by now seemed to be holding something precious.

"My Lord, is that…?"

"Of course, what else can it be?" Slowly, Shun unclasped his hands, showing a bright, glowing sphere.

"It's beautiful," Minos breathed out.

"As expected of a soul of a man who fights only for his Goddess," the boy, slowly standing up, gently cradled the bright soul to his chest, smiling down at it as if it was the most precious item in both worlds.

"A soul befits all his rights for a place in Elysion."

'Rest well, and get your final sleep, Athena's warrior Shion.'

(1) I'm making Shun used the weapon originally made for Pandora. I hope no one minds.

A/N: What was I thinking? I honestly don't know why I'm writing this, or why the time-span was so long apart. The idea just came to me, and won't leave until I write it down. I hope no one mind Shion's dying.

Before any confusion happens, I guess I should explain this. Shun does not live in Elysion, or even in the Underworld, for that matter. He lives in the palace where the gate to the Underworld is situated in the living world. He guards the gate as well; to make sure no mortal being will go through the gate. He goes down to the Underworld often, but the last time he went to Elysion was during the Holy War. He never steps in there since then. The Judge who stays with him most of the time is Rhadamanthys, along with some other Spectres.

Now, can Shun still be considered a mortal? That will remain a secret, for now.

A/N 2: This will be the last installment that I have in mind and has been written down. Questions have been asked if I will stop writing for 'HND' to give way to my 500themes challenge, and the answer is NO. Though my writing time will be focused on the themes, I will not stop writing for this series. More will come later, but I can't promise how frequent they will be. 500themes is not the only thing that comes into my life now; my teaching practicum will be for three months starting July.

So for now, thank you for all your support for 'His New Duty' universe. I love this universe a lot, and your support have encouraged me to write even more. I will not give up this universe and I know I will come back and write more, so please be patient with me.