Chapter 1
.
.
.
— SolutaryPoison
Albafica was returning from an ordinary mission. Fortunately, he had only found a few low-class specters circling the Sanctuary and with the free time left over, the Gold Saint of Pisces took advantage of it and visited his beloved village, near of the Sanctuary, to make sure they were all right.
As a duty of every saint after a patrol, Albafica will have to inform the Pope of what had /happened/ on his mission. The lonely young man would have to cross the twelve houses of the Zodiac to get to his goal, the Pope's hall. As he approached the first house, Albafica hoped he would have no problems passing by it.
Not that Aries Gold Saint was a problem, but his blood was. Anyone who comes too close to that lonely saint would have a painful and immediate death.
This was the curse of the Golden Saint of Pisces.
When he began to climb the stairs leading to the first temple, Albafica feels a huge cosmos coming from the guardian of the first temple.
— NoneSoDutiful
As the Grand Pope released him from a certain outgoing task for terminable time, Shion was mandated to another task held in inner Sanctuary.
He had been supervising the combat training that held for Silver Saints to increase and improvise their skill through cosmos; the life force which provided immense power.
The sky began to turn into goldish red as the end of the day would come soon when he sensed another huge cosmos, which was typically owned only by Gold Saints, that came approaching the porch of Aries Temple.
Thus, Shion turned his solemn gaze to the stairs and found a familiar face of certain Gold Saint.
The one Gold Saint with long, baby blue hair and characterized by typical withdrawn behavior.
Pisces Albafica.
Now Shion fully turned his well-built body that framed by his gold cloths, to welcome Albafica's return.
"Good day, Albafica," said him as a welcome-back greeting.
The Pisces Saint's reserved demeanor simply made Shion displayed a thin, casual smile in initiative.
— SolitaryPoison
Albafica smiles gently back.
Shion was one of the only people Albafica smiled at. He couldn't get attached or let anyone get attached to him, for the safety of everyone. So, Albafica was always cold and arrogant for those who dare to get too close.
"Hello, Shion. " Albafica said in his deep, calm voice to Shion, when he had finally climbed those stairs.
Shion always ignored Albafica's warnings to stay away when he saw the blue haired hurt, using the pretext that he didn't fear his blood. But Albafica always rejected this approach, saying cruel things and even pushing him.
But Shion was always stubborn, and instead of being annoyed, he continued to try.
Albafica was happy to know that there was someone who cared about him, and for this very reason he wanted to protect the green haired from himself.
"I need to talk with the Pope, I have to pass through this house. "
Again the calm tone of the Pisces could be heard.
— NoneSoDutiful
Shion would be lying if he said that Albafica's faint smile just now gave no impact to him.
Beneath his solemn appearance, Shion could feel relieved which initially he ever considered it as an odd ease that strangely came out of nowhere and upon his nescience at the first time he received Albafica's smile, Shion realized that it was an actual feeling of joy where Albafica finally accepted him.
That Albafica no longer put him out of the zone. Eventhough, Shion still found it quiet difficult to get closer.
It had been Albafica's nature to be so secretive and Shion wouldn't recklessly race himself into the solid border Albafica made.
Slowly and gradually, Shion let the thorny rose to bloom by its own self; cultivating for its beauty that beyond beautiful.
Shion seemed to nod his head as he unhesitantly came approaching the Pisces Saint.
"You got my permittance," said him and upon realizing that he had to let Albafica passed his temple, Shion immediately casted a query.
"How was your duty going? Did everything run smooth?" he asked the others.
Strangely, there was an uninvited urge to talk more with the guardian of Pisces Temple before him.
— SolitaryPoison
Albafica followed his way again until Shion's voice stopped him. "I really have to go, Shion. "
"But yes, I found some specters, nothing else. "
The voice that would have be cold and harsh was in a quiet, peaceful tone.
Albafica knew that kind of strategy didn't work with Shion. Despite liking Shion's company, Albafica didn't want to strengthen that friendship any longer. The safety of Shion and others was more important than his possible happiness.
In fact, seeing that everyone around him was fine already made him happy. He didn't care to be seen as a cold and arrogant Saint, if that means the safety of the ones who he loves.
Albafica sighed, returning his way. When he had already seen the end of that temple, Albafica secretly desired Shion to make him company.
He stopped for a few seconds without looking back. He punished himself mentally for being selfish at this point. He had no right to want such cruel and selfish things.
Albafica returned his way again, annoyed with himself.
Rugonis would certainly be very disappointed with his disciple.
— NoneSoDutiful
The refusal was clear enough for whoever with a good eyesight to see. Shion responded nothing towards Albafica's nonchalant utterance but his solemn brown eyes still followed the others' movement in firm pace along with the clang sound of the Pisces gold cloths.
Intending to make a way out of Aries Temple through another gate of the house.
Shion was left in total silence, staring at Albafica's back that gradually move further and further with him standing still behind. Shion might have no right but he felt quiet ache on his chest upon getting such cold attitude from Albafica but the ache was not disappointment, he surely assumed.
Shion just concerned about Albafica who kept pushing people away. How longer would he see Albafica to endure the pain created for the Pisces itself? While the greatest weakness of humans was loneliness.
And before Albafica's figure fully vanished from his eyesight, Shion decided to spoke up in quiet firm tone. Resulting his voice echoed through the house of Aries.
"You know i don't fear your blood. Right, Albafica?" he asked and he was sure that it was clear enough to be heard by the said Saint.
Another clang sound followed to echo inside the majestic temple as Shion made his own way to make another approach to catch Albafica. He was known as a strong-willed man.
He was a proud of Aries men.
Albafica should had known and to give up upon something he considered as a goodness for him was nowhere to be found in his mindset. Not even a slight intention to give up.
And once he could kill the distance, finally could catch Albafica's steps, Shion spoke up again.
"And you don't even ask me back," he said, ignoring the demanding tone in his baritoned voice.
Shion just wanted to see Albafica to be more open towards him. Shion then softened himself.
"I'm also intending to go to see Grand Pope. I have to deliver my report about the combat training today." And his brown eyes still solemnly watched Albafica's back.
There was a little wish; Albafica would turn his gaze fully to him again.
.
.
.
[ to be continued ]