Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Gundam Seed/Destiny.

Do you remember the place where we said our goodbyes? That day, the Sakura petals scattered the walkway. The scent of the blooming flowers stay there forever and ever. The beauty of the trees is always there, no matter what month or season you come across the path. When it’s spring, flower petals decorate your clothes and hair. When it’s summer, the sun glitters beautifully through the vibrant green leaves. When it’s autumn, the walkway is full of colourful foliage that crack underneath your weight. And when it’s winter, snow beautifies everything with its brilliant white hue. Can you see it?

I believed that the walkway was the only magical place in the whole universe that I ever wanted to reach out and touch the night sky. I remember feeling myself slip away from my body one night as I stared at the sky- you were sleeping by my side. I saw something that day, Kira. And I want you to see it too. Go there. Go to Copernicus, Kira, and I assure you, you will see what I saw that night. I’m asking you this as your friend: go to Copernicus. You won’t regret it, because now…I can’t go there anymore. It hurts too much, but I know you can. So…go for me and see what I saw that day.

-Athrun

I refolded the letter and placed it into my jacket. I wrapped the scarf around my neck tighter. The winter in Copernicus was brutal, especially today of all days. I could see my breath. I could hear myself breathing. No one was outside. It’s so deserted.

I heard the snow underneath my feet make a soft squeeze sound as I treaded through.

I was never fond of winter. The cold made me feel sick. The snow hurt my eyes. Lastly, the black skies never seemed welcoming. All it made me feel was that it welcomed only those who weren’t fond of light or warmth. I was fond of the two.

I stood in front of the pathway, my eyes on the ground. I shivered slightly, feeling colder by the second. I breathed on my hands, rubbing them together to get some blood flowing through them. They felt numb.

“Kira…?”

I looked up and saw Lacus standing in the walkway. I could feel everything slip away. The sight was…magnificent. She stood in the middle with the Sakura trees lining the walkway. However, unlike the usual winters I met with each year as a child, this year, the trees were in full bloom with snow draping over their branches and petals. The grass was covered in a beautiful blanket of white hue. The petals decorated themselves beautifully on top of the snow.

The wind blew and I saw Lacus’ hair sway with the breeze, the petals following suit. It looked as if they were dancing along with her hair, making her look even more beautiful than her usual everyday self; the moonlight in the distance made her glow.

“Lacus…” I could only breathe. I was speechless. I was in awe. She appeared like a goddess with the petals around her and the snow underneath her feet with the moonlight giving the illusion of white wings. She was an angel bestowed upon me.

“Athrun told me to come here,” she said all of a sudden, walking towards me. “He wrote in a small letter, ‘Come to Copernicus. There you will see Kira’s heart and your place in the snow.’ Do you know what he’s saying?” She smiled, pushing back a few strands of her long hair behind her ear.

My eyes widened and I could feel hot tears rolling down my cheeks. Lacus looked alarmed by my reaction. “What’s wrong, Kira? Are you hurt somewhere?”

I shook my head, wiping the tears away, but they wouldn’t stop spilling out from my eyes. “Stupid Athrun…” I mumbled. “He didn’t have to do such a thing.”

She gave me a perplexing look, but I shook my head as if to tell her nothing was wrong with me. I took a deep breath; the cold air entered my lungs and made me feel as if I had eaten ice cream in the climate.

“I’m fine,” I eased her nerves. “Let’s go, shall we?”

She nodded slowly and I took her warm hand in my cold one as we left the walkway. I took one last glance behind me and smiled, reluctant to leave the place where we said our goodbyes.

To Athrun:

The tree continues to bloom with petals despite the cold. The snow littered around make such a beautiful sight; however, I think the snow is finally melting.

Thank You

-Kira

XXX

Yasashii- Fin

XXX