Disclaimer: St. Seiya is copyright Kurumada Masami and Toei. No infringement or disrespect of the intellectual property rights held by the owners of existing copyrights in Saint Seiya or its derivative works is intended by this amateur work of fan fiction.

Author's Note: This story is dedicated to the Japanese artist Tohru Mizunomori, whose gorgeous fan art of Shion and Saga was a direct inspiration.

A special thank you to Sagakure for giving me extensive Saga & Kanon information in early February 2005 when we discussed this fic. I have made minor deviations from canon for the sale of drama and characterization.

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Chiaroscuro
by Silverr

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~ 1 ~

Welcome

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He'd never been able to recall very much about the first time they'd met the old man, or at least nothing that seemed important - such as whether Other had been present or not.

He had what felt like memories: Kissing the Pontifex's ring. Delicate sunlight and birdsong, suggesting an arrival near dawn. A cool breeze playfully teasing strands of the old man's ridiculously long, pale hair, and the odd spots on his forehead, which at first glimpse were startling because they looked like an extra set of eyes. The sotto voce murmur of adults discussing the death of the Gemini Master. And threaded through everything, the waxy-sweet smell of gardenias. It didn't seem likely that the scent had come from the old man, his bony hand poking like a scrawny turtle head from the blue velvet sleeve, so perhaps they really had been carrying flowers. Or had he borrowed that from their legend? the legend that said that he had entered Sanctuary clutching flowers from the Gemini Master's grave? Flowers that were carried for weeks, the story would go, until the petals dried and fell off one by one ... He wasn't sure. Perhaps he had invented it all? Everything except the image - so clear it had to be a real memory - of the old man squatting down, childlike despite his old age, and addressing him in a conspiratorial whisper. "Welcome, Saga. I see your other is being shy today."

This had panicked him until he realized that his brother was meant. He nodded.

"What's his name?"

Should he tell the truth? Or - no, better to be safe, and give the names their father had tried to force them to use.

But as if reading his mind, the Pontifex said, "No, his real name."

The surprise was so complete, like being struck by lightening, a million kilohertz jolt, that Saga was thrown out of balance and revealed one of the oldest secrets. "Our name is Saga," he'd whispered back, immediately bracing for the blow; but instead of pain, he was unexpectedly swept away in the unrivaled joy of seeing approval in the old man's fierce red eyes.

~ to be continued ~

Themes: #3, Jolt; #11 Gardenia; #16, invincible, unrivaled; #17, kilohertz; #19, red

Concept: 28 May 2004
First post: 25 March 2005
(54) 24 Mar 2009