THE MAD BANANA STUDIOS
In cooperation with
HOROSCOPE PRODUCTIONS
Present…
SAINT SEIYA ALPHA/OMEGA: YOU'RE JUST MY LOVE
*An Unofficial Third Installment By The Mad Banana*
NIHIL OBSTAT: Except for the original characters and song lyrics, the Mad Banana does not claim property over Masami Kurumada's idea, nor the production of Omega. Plus, any song inserts that you think familiar is not part of its property, either.
IMPRIMATUR: This is the Mad Banana's depiction of a what-if third season of the popular Saint Seiya spinoff, after her fascination with Sailor Moon Soundtracks, musicals, and Heartcatch Pretty Cure. She believes that something still happened after the end of Omega itself, that will surely rock each other's lives and the whole Sanctuary. Expect singing parts and lovey-dovey mayhem that you cannot find even in the classic version like watching Pretty Cure where 80% of its characters are male.
Please be warned that the Mad Banana is not a native English speaker, thus there might be some parts or words that you may find confusing, so anyone who would volunteer to be this series' beta will be appreciated. Aside from that, ratings may change depending on the scene or language used, but since this writer is no fan of cuss, need not to worry, there will only be instances that you will find cuss words here.
And due to the nature of her work, don't expect too much, although she can update from time to time, and to keep her writing this story, reviews will be appreciated. Comments, suggestions, even violent reactions are also welcome, and she will see how she will address your demands.
OVERVIEW: Set a year after the end of Omega, a forbidden love will spark another threat of the Holy War. The goddess Leto won't tell any details unless defeated. The Omega Saints must band again – with a little help of a roaming pop star with a surprising secret and a vague past connecting to what the enemies are looking for. Young men, find the song within your heart, and feel your Cosmo burning!
Prologue:
YOU'RE JUST MY LOVE
In times of senseless wars, the goddess Athena rises and calls upon her soldiers: those who fight for love and peace, using their own bodily limits, donning armors made by the power of the eighty-eight constellations. They are called SAINTS. Chosen by the starts to protect their patroness and the universe, they were given abilities by Heaven greater than man, all for the sake of the Earth.
Since the Age of Myth, Athena has sought help from the constellations to grant power over eighty-eight chosen men and women who chose to aid her in her duty to protect the Earth. Many have died and wounded, but their Cosmo, their spiritual manifestaion of their power, continues to burn. Some say that the souls of the fallen Saints merged with their holy armors called Cloths so their will can be passed to the next owner and to the next generation.
Over the millenia, all Athena could think and pray of is the welface of the Earth. However, in the New Age, during the short time of peace, she had committed the biggest taboo a goddess could make, and thus could compromise the balance of things and peace on Earth...
That is...to fall in love. With her own Saint.
00000
"Seiya."
It is the time of peace, something that Earth has not felt for a long time. The current Athena, Saori Kido, is now certain of her feelings towards her own Saint: the former Pegasus, now Sagittarius Gold Saint, Seiya. Although she is also certain that what she is harboring now may cause her own downfall, as well as her other knights and the Earth itself, but learning from her sister, the goddess of love, Pallas, who fell in love too with her own knight, the former Holy Telegenesis Sword Titan, what is more to lose, anyway?
After all, before she became Athena, she was Saori Kido, adopted granddaughter of one of the richest scions in the country;
And before Seiya became a Saint, he was just an ordinary orphan who joined in the ranks to find his only sister who got separated during the first war.
During Seiya's fight with Titan, both warriors threw away their sense of duty as guardians to their goddesses, and fought man to man, in the name of love. Titan severed his ties to his former master, the god of time, Saturn, to declare his love for Pallas; while Seiya decided not to regard Athena as his mistress, but as Saori, the woman he had loved and protected for twenty-five years. As both declared their love for their goddesses, Saori's certainty has strengthen, knowing that she felt the same way to Seiya, if not for these countless wars.
And now that peace has regained once more, is it not the right time to settle everything together, without a war to engage?
That night, as Saori requested, Seiya decided to see her in her room in the Sanctuary, his Sagittarius Gold Cloth discarded, revealing his body Saori has once seen many years ago. He remained ageless, as Saori is, like the first time he donned the Pegasus Cloth. His cheeks was flushing wildly like when he was thirteen. For Saori, he hadn't change a bit.
"I hope I haven't broken any rule yet," he joked. "But I still hope...in all these years...
Saori."
She touched his lips with her finger, gesturing him not to say anything more. She ran her fingers to his jaw and his bare shoulders, how his muscles have developed for the past twenty-five years and remained young and full of vigor. She thought that even time has passed, there won't be any problem to start over as normal human beings in love.
"Twenty-five years," she said painfully. "Have you waited that long?"
Seiya shook his head. "You're always there for me."
She smiled. "That's supposed to be my line."
"I know that it has been a long time. But my heart..."
"I know. Me too."
And Saori made her first move: she sealed his lips with a kiss that Seiya thought would never come. Her eyes couldn't take the emotion anymore as tears streames from them.
"I have loved you," Saori confessed, "and for that, I have endured long enough to fulfill my duty. I'm sure you're feeling the same thing."
Seiya nodded. "This time," and he embraced her tightly, "I won't hold back. Yes, we both have endured long enough."
They touched each other's lips again.
Moonlight bathed each other's bodies as they held each other tight, exchanging kisses, gazes, breaths and touches. Saori's skin was as pure as the light from the full moon, as warm as her Cosmo. Finally Seiya could feel everything he had longed for from the woman he had loved for twenty-five years. So as Saori, as she felt total security in her man's strong arms. That night, they didn't regard each other as goddess and Saint, but as a bride and her groom on their first night together. And as they slept, the song from the room's shining carillion lulled them together, accompanied their first night...
And probably their last. For the thought of this secret affair can be the biggest mistake they could commit, as one innocent saw them by accident.
00000
The next day. As Seiya was about to leave the Sagittarius Temple for his patrollng duties, Sanctuary Guards blocked his way, led by two Gold Saints which he didn't expect...
"Sh...Shiryu!? Fudo!?" the Libra and Virgo Gold Saints came to him without warning, each with grave faces. "What are you..."
"Guards," Shiryu commanded, "arrest him."
The Sanctuary Guards didn't hesitate to grab the Sagittarius Gold Saint by force. As he was about to avoid them, Fudo intentionally used his Cosmo Binder to restrain him while in his Gold Cloth.
"Forgive me, Seiya," he said.
"What's the meaning of this!?" he demanded.
"It's best for you to keep quiet for the meantime," Shiryu answered. "You will find out soon enough. All the Gold Saints will be waiting for you in the Trial Hall."
"Trial—what!?"
Before he could get a good answer, Seiya was dragged out of his temple for a crime that he never thought it will be, that may cost his Gold Cloth, and possibly, his life.
00000
Saori was crying inside her room in her temple. She didn't have anybody but Integra, currently the Gemini Gold Saint.
"I'm so sorry, My Lady," she said, when she delivered the news about Seiya.
"It's not his fault," Saori wiped her tears. "Shouldn't you punish me instead?"
Integra shook her head. "The Sanctuary needs you. You know the law. It won't be fair for other Saints if the Sagittarius gets better favors from you, thus it's normal to speculate..."
"I LOVE HIM!"
The female Gemini Gold Saint didn't answer right away. But deep inside she knew that the goddess was hurt. She is still human before she became Athena, so who could ever blame her heart?
"I understand how you feel," Integra said. "You have been a human before you accepted your fate. But as long as you have Athena's blood in your veins, us Gold Saints cannot tolerate the crime he has committed to you. You know very well that Athena is a maiden goddess, you cannot have a consort, most especially NOT to a Saint."
"But why should he be the one to suffer? I have controlled my emotions for the past twenty-five years. Is it already the time for me to choose someone I could be with?"
"It's your right to be selfish sometimes. But, My Lady, the lives of the Saints and the future of the Earth is in your hands, you can't just disregard them for something more personal. Please understand...
The moment you accepted your fate, that was also the time that you've already abandoned your human life as Saori Kido. You are now Athena, nothing more, nothing less."
Integra's words are all true. Saori chose to be Athena for the sake of the world, that means abandoning things a normal human or a Saint does – including the right to love and be loved. It pained her truly to know such fact, and in this bind which she cannot escape, it will be impossible for her to balance her life as a woman and as a goddess. If these are according to the laws of the ages, she is willing to accept it, if she would be able to do something for her love, even for a little bit.
"I'm willing to bear everything," she said, "but please... Let me see him one last time. Let me see Seiya..."
But Integra shook her head. "As much as I want to, the Great Pope Harbinger told me to stay here and watch you. You need to stay here until the trial is over."
The trial, indeed. That was the day, held in emergency, when her Sagittarius Saint faced his punushment for loving an immortal.
Saori didn't say anything more. After all, there were just doing their job to protect her and the world. And if by means splitting them apart, so be it. But the painful truth will be something that she, both as an immortal and as a woman in love, will bear as long as she lives.
00000
The House of Aries.
The master's apprentice, Appendix Raki, was crying in the staircase, feeling guilty over something that should have not become a major issue anymore.
"This is my fault," she sniffed. "if only I stayed quiet, Athena and Seiya would definitely get a happily ever after...!"
"Yet if you did stayed quiet," commented her master, Aries Kiki, "do you think it will solve anything?"
"But still..."
"Ah, what happened to those lessons I've taught you? Did you just hear it and let it pass to your other ear? Athena can't love a mortal, most especially her own Saint, and no Saint should fall in love with her, or it will be punishable by banning him from the Sanctuary for good or worse, death..."
"I know that!" she complained. "But..."
"Do you find it unfair?"
Raki made a few sniffs before she nodded. Kiki sat beside her.
"Listen, Raki: there are some things that are meant to be and should be followed by everyone. In their case, it's very obvious. I know that you find it unfair, but she is a goddess, and Seiya, despite having a Gold Cloth, is still a Saint of Athena, and therefore not exempted to the rules written by our forefathers. Athena, in the first place, is a virgin goddess, she never had a consort, and now if her heart as a human will prevail over her heart as a goddess, it will cause imbalance in the Sanctuary. Although Seiya loved her in her mortal form, it's still eminent that she is still our goddess. So we cannot do anything about it. Seiya broke the ultimate law, he has no other choice but to face his ordeal."
"But they love each other..." is only Raki can say.
"I know that. But as long as there are threats, and as long as she remains as Athena, mercy cannot be applied here. And Seiya knows that, too."
Raki just nodded in silence. After all, what can a mere apprentice do to break the law that binds two people in love? She couldn't help but to pity them both, as they were still enjoying the peace, yet despite that, they still cannot be, and will not be together even if they want to.
00000
PAK!
The most hurtful thing a friend would do is to be the one who will give him several lashes before the verdict, something that the former Cygnus (now Aquarius Gold Saint) Hyoga was forced to do so to Seiya.
The Sagittarius Gold Saint's upper torso was bare, with several lashes on his back reaching to his arms, shoulders and neck. He was tied between pillars and was currently facing his pre-ordeal before facing the trial. "It's not my style to do this," Hyoga was holding his whip tightly, "but you've gone too far. You know the law, don't you!?"
"Not..you too..." Seiya was trying to catch his breath.
"Tell me... How long have you been in love with her!?"
He managed to give a smile. "The first time...I've met her... That was...the time that...that I told myself... She's the one... Hyoga... But I don't...understand this...at all..."
"You've loved her without realizing what will happen. You're the most impossible man I've met, honestly. I know how you feel, but in this world we live in, you are just her Saint, and you've just committed what is considered a crime to the ancient laws..."
"Is it wrong to love Saori!? You've seen her suffer many times, yet she chose to bear it as a goddess. I've served her long enough just to get through those wars. How could the law be so cruel to her!? Why is she has to be Athena!?"
"Shut it, Seiya, if anyone hears you..."
"I don't care if I die here right now...but Saori... She doesn't... She doesn't..."
He broke down to tears. It was probably the first time in a long while since Hyoga last saw him crying. He is fully convinced: this is pure love – if not for the stupid law.
Later on, "Are you done, Hyoga?"
Shiryu came, stern as usual, probably to fetch the accused to be sent to trial.
"I'm just done," the Aquarius Saint said coldly.
"Release him. The Grand Pope is waiting for him at the Trial Hall."
Hyoga released Seiya from the ropes, dressed him in sack robes, and took him to the Trial Hall. As he prepared him...
"Listen, Hyoga," the prisoner tried to make a request, "I know that I have no right to do this, but...
If ever you'll have a chance to see Saori, do tell her that I'm sorry..."
He didn't answer right away since it was a request from a prisoner. But as a friend, he had second thoughts. "I can't promise that," he said, "but let's see what I can do."
"Thank you..."
In times of trial, these friends must set aside personal matters to abide the law, something that Seiya may understand, but will never get the sense of it.
00000
The Trial Hall.
Almost all Gold Saints were there to witness the trial of the accused fellow Gold Saint, with the exemption of Gemini Integra who was given a task to stay with Saori while on a temple arrest. The Gold Cloths of Taurus, Cancer and Leo were still vacant as they were still training possible candidates. Other Cloths like Aquarius, finally given to the former Cygnus Hyoga. The Scorpio Gold Cloth was given to the former Ophiuchus Shaina after years of service as a Silver Saint. Meanwhile the Capricorn Cloth was given to a reserved-looking woman in tight lavender bun and glasses but wearing a mask, and the Pisces Cloth was given by another female Saint with bright orange short hair tied in a golden headband.
Seiya stood in the middle, in front of the Grand Pope, the former Taurus Harbinger, who was presiding the trial.
"Just doin' my job," he told Seiya before they started. "Nothin' personal."
He didn't answer.
The whole Sanctuary knew Harbinger as a man who doesn't like formalities and such, but he is always commended by Athena as one of the most hardworking and always fulfilling his duties without question. So if you will ask his opinion about Seiya's violation of the law, he found it extremely stupid.
"Anyway," she started, "Sagittarius Seiya, Gold Saint of the Archer Constellation, you are hereby accused of violating the ancient laws blah-blah, by falling in love with Athena, or Saori Kido, whatever, as I have heard, and as such, condemned by the entire Sanctuary. How do you plea about this? I guess I know what your answer is."
That is how he delivers he speeches and other serious matters, but no one objects (although the Capricorn Gold Saint would really like to interrupt just to tell Harbinger to mind his manners) due to his position.
"Can I state my plea?" Seiya asked.
"Shoot it."
"If you think that falling in love with Athena per se is a crime, then I plea myself guilty, and you can punish me accordingly. However, I fell in love, not with Athena, but with Saori Kido. Everyone knows her childhood, how she started to manifest her Cosmo and her duty as the goddess of war. But before she became Athena, she was Saori. I didn't fall in love with her because of her Cosmo, but because on how she had handled herself in times of disaster, even in times of peace. I've seen different faces of her in my entire life as a Saint and even before I became one. We knew each other since childhood, and for that, I must admit, I began to harbor feelings towards her at those times, but due to her duty and mine, both of us were not able to share that feeling. We both seized the opportunity just now, since we have achieved peace once again, although we both know that this is just temporary.
But please, fellow Gold Saints, let me share this to you and pondr about it. If you are in my position and you have fallen in love with the mortal side of the god you serve, will you also do the same thing? Will you beat the odds, even if this will cost your power and position? I have already thought about the possibilities before I decided to open up to her, and I am ready, even to give up being a Saint, just to be with the one I love. I know my duty as a Saint, and she knows that too, but now is the right time for her to decide for her own happiness. I know that there will be more wars to come, but Athena – no, Saori will need someone by her side for her to remain strong. That is why..."
"Are you saying," the Capricorn Gold Saint interrupted, "that you find Athena so weak that you're porposing such an imprudent suggestion? Saying that in front of the Council is just making your crime heavier, by making her a fool, and that will eventually lead our enemies to find a way to defeat her and our legion!"
"I'm not saying that she's weak! But remember that she was once a human who happened to be a reincarnation of Athena. She has a human side too that needs consideretion-!"
"Remember that by the time she accepted her role as a goddess, her humanity has become out of the question. Do not talk about Athena that lightly on being human! In order for the world to stay protected, she had already discarded her old self and thus was able to display a Cosmo greater than us, Gold Saints-!"
"Saori is still Saori, no matter what you say! At least give her the freedom to love!"
"We'll let her do that or it will be the end of the world, insolent mortal!"
"Just shut up, you two, geez!" Harbinger covered his ears. "I just let the guy talk, why did you suddenly interupt!?"
"I'm just saying, Great Pope," she stated her side, "that regardless of his reason to commit such crime, the accused, Sagittarius Seiya, should be aware of the law. The LAW states that whoever will make even an attempt to harbor any personal or mutual feelings towards Lady Athena should be punished, and the most apporpriate punishment for that is to strip off from his Gold Cloth and be executed."
The Great Pope just whistled in disbelief.
"I would gladly accept my punishment if that would be the most appropriate," Seiya replied. "But I beg you... Leave Saori out of this. Let her live the way she wanted, just...
Don't...don't make her suffer anymore."
The whole council was silent. All were moved by his words, except for the Capricorn Gold Saint who just shook her head in disbelief.
While Harbinger just sighed (This is the part that I hate the most, he muttered). "All in favor of Capricorn Latravia's suggestion, saye Aye."
"Please wait," Capricorn Latravia interrupted again. "Before you vote, let me remind all of you here that if ever, at any form or event, will support the cause of the accused, he or she will be branded traitor to his or her kind and should be dealt with accordingly. Remember that we are under the oath of the ancient laws, as part of our duty as Saints. I would just like to remind you to remember your duty. We have sworn our loyalty to Athena and the ancient laws bound by it. Whatever his reason is, we cannot, and we will NOT, tolerate what he has done."
"Whatever, lady," Harbinger scratched his head, "you've talked enough..."
"I am done. Thank you," and stepped back.
"SO, as Capricorn Latriavia suggested with additional pointers whatsoever," and they resumed the vote, "anyone in favor of her 'suggestion', say 'Aye'!"
Each and every Gold Saint present at the time of the trial was aware of that fact. Even with their great power, their own Gold Cloths were bound by the laws of the ancients, and if anyone of them will break even just one of them, just as Seiya did, will compromise the integrity of the whole Sanctuary and Athena, herself. They are still bound to protect her as a goddess. And as such, only for the sake of keeping everything in balance, the first person whom Seiya didn't expect to raise his hand and say 'Aye' in favor of Latravia's suggestion was...
"Shiryu..." Seiya just muttered his name. No trace of disappointment or whatsoever, for he knew that he was just doing his duty, especially as the Gold Saint of the Scales Constellation, whose main duty is to keep the balance within the Sanctuary.
Others obliged to follow Shiryu's example, like Hyoga, and even Kiki and Shaina. They knew how he felt at that time, and even respected his heart as a man, but putting the laws in question is already a different thing. Seiya knew that they were just doing their duty. Nothing personal.
The rest followed, all in favor of Latravia's suggestion, not counting Integra's vote for not being present for the time being. And thus, even Harbinger didn't feel like giving the verdict, but he gave it anyway:
"So majority of the vote goes to Latravia," he said in disappointment. "Alright, by the power vested in me by the mighty Athena blah-blah, I hereby condemn Seiya, former Gold Saint of the Archer Constellation, to be removed from his position and to be put in the Immortal Prison for three days until his scheduled execution in the Fields of Null, where he will be forcefully deprived of his Cosmo and will face death by stoning. So starting today he'll be removed permanently as a Saint of Athena..."
"PLEASE WAIT!"
As Harbinger already delivered the verdict, Athena – or Saori – came almost in time before it was finalized. Integra followed soon after, and she was catching her breath.
"My Lady!" Latravia exclaimed. "Integra, why did you let her come here!?"
"Forgive me," the Gemini Gold Saint said, "but she insisted-!"
"Please reconsider the trial," the goddess begged. "Don't do this to Seiya, he didn't do anything wrong!"
"But, My Lady-!" Latravia was about to intervene again when Fudo, who haven't voted yet, stopped her.
"I think it's the best way if we let Athena, herself, speak," he said. "As a goddess, she has the power to pardon an accused."
"Fudo is correct," Saori tried to harden herself. "You didn't alow me to witness the trial of the accused, Seiya. As a goddess, I cannot tolerate that."
"But..." Latravia was about to explain—
"I will not hear any excuses from anyone of you!" she said, thus silenced the whole room. Even Latravia has no choice but to back off.
"You have already given the verdict without weighing his reason and the gravity of his action. You ran the trial without my presence. Despite what I have done and what happened between us, I won't allow anyone to act without my consent!"
No one dared to speak. Not even the Capricorn Gold Saint who really wanted to push the execution. Not even Harbinger who just gave the verdict to her to review. And above all, not even Seiya, who looked at her like a true goddess and not the Saori he spent the night with.
"I understand that mine and his actions have been inapporpriate in accordance to the law," she started after giving the paper back to the Pope's hands. "I understand, too, the ordeal he will endure should the law finds him gulity. But after reading the verdict and taking considereation of what he has contributed in the Sanctuary for the last twenty-five years, I have already decided...
Pardon Seiya...and I will make sure that he will not meddle with my feelings again."
Her answer gave him a shock on his face.
"In order to maintain and attain peace and love in this world, I, Athena, will now, and forever, discard any personal and mutual relationship to any man, and will enter as a bride of war. I am now married to the ancient laws, for all eternity. As for Seiya, have him retain his Cloth after you take him to Immortal Prison if you really wish to punish him, but let him live and serve me as a Saint, and nothing more."
The whole Trial Hall remained silent. No one dared to speak still, nor react, except for Latravia who gave a contented smug. Seiya's eyes were filled with tears. He can feel his heart been torn apart after hearing his love's decision. Saori, on the other hand, showed no emotion at all. She remained her composure as the dignified goddess of war as all Saints revered...
But deep inside...her heart is crying.
I'm sorry...Seiya... I just don't want you to sacrifice that much for my sake anymore... You have endured enough...
Saori...if you're only doing this to save me, this is something that I cannot accept... I you can't be with me anymore... I can't endure it like you're begging me to do so...!
"Very well," probably, out of the Gold Saints present, only Capricorn Latravia showed contentment, "it seems like our goddess has already made a decision, and that's indeed a wonderful news. However, My Lady, if you really are certain, the punishment still needs to be carried out. I agree to let him leave, but at least remove him from the ranks of Gold Saints and..."
"Oh shut up, old hag," Harbinger interrupted, "she has already decided!" meaning to say, if Athena already gave a word, it is already considered final...
Until suddenly one of the Sanctuary Guards rushed to the Trial Hall. "Pardon my intrusion," he said, "but something's happening in the Sanctuary! It's-!"
The guard suddenly shrieked and collapsed.
They were all surprised to see the guard suddenly collapsed and noticed something on his back. It's like his armor melted gravely that it even reached to the skin and gave a foul odor.
"Acid...!?" Integra said grimly.
"We're under attack," the Pisces Gold Saint guessed. "I think we should postpone the trial for the meantime—!"
"The verdict has been set!" Latravia said. "We cannot move that! We'll protect the Sanctuary, but do tell the guards to take Seiya to the prison right now-!"
"Wait! Wait! I need that guy!"
Someone suddenly spoke from the acrid mist. A man appeared in silver and mint armor, with silvery flared hair with mint streaks. He has icy mint eyes, normal-toned skin and a careless smirk. All were alarmed at this new intruder.
"Who are you!?" Shiryu asked.
"Be careful with him," Fudo felt something about the said man, something far more sinister. "His Cosmo can match ours."
"What!?"
"Ow, sorry 'bout that," the intruder scratched his head. "I should have introduced myself earlier. But you see, I'm in a little hurry, so I'll make this quick..."
Then he started to form minty balls of unknown but powerful Cosmo from his single hand.
"My name is Thomas," he said. "Mercury Thomas."
The Gold Saints looked at each other. They have never heard of anyone by the name of Mercury Thomas before.
"First time hearing my name?" Thomas guessed. "Anyway, two things: I need that guy alive," he pointed at Seiya, "and I need that lady," pointed to Athena...
"Dead."
Hearing that from Thomas, they were all alarmed, especially Seiya. It's not new anymore that no god wants her alive for personal reasons, but learning that someone wants him alive is something he suspected.
"Protect her!" Latravia commanded.
"What do you want with him?" Harbinger asked about the prisoner.
"Sorry," Thomas replied, "can't tell the details. As I said, I'm a hurry. Need that guy before she comes."
Who is she?
"You will tell everything, intruder," Latravia was about to attack, "whether you like it or not-!"
But as Thomas glared at her, a laser-like acid shoot from his eyes, and about to hit her, if not for Kiki's Crystal Wall. But they were all surprised that even his Crystal Wall was almost penetrated by mere laser acid, although it also hit the Capricorn Saint.
"I'm not talking to you, lady," he said.
My Crystal Wall, Kiki gulped, it has just been easily melted in just one glare! Fudo's right after all...
"Going down to business," Thomas went on, this time a bit annoyed, thinking that they were wasting his time, "hand me that guy, or you'll all die."
"Then fight me!" Seiya moved in, discarding his sack robes, ready to fight Thomas.
"Fool!" Latravia barked. "You don't have your Cloth anymore. You even have no right to protect Athena!"
"i can still fight without my Cloth!" he insisted.
"If you wish to die, the go ahead. But you're still under probation-!"
"Just stop that probation thingy for now and protect these two, will ya!?" Harbinger finally snapped in.
Thomas smirked as how the (former) Sagittarius Saint shielded himself from Saori, without the fabled Gold Cloth. He quickly scanned him from head to toe. His back was sore and heavily bruised from scourging, but he saw no sign of weakness from him.
As Saori saw her love's back, she almost fainted with those wounds that he endured out of his love for her. But she has to be as strong as Seiya who was about to face the intruder back then without a Cloth.
"Quite a bold move there," he said. "I heard about you. Saint Seiya: Hero of the Sanctuary, the God-Slayer, the Miracle Warrior, the Knight of Athena. The ex-Bronze Saint who joined the ranks of the Gold Saints. No wonder the princess would love to have you..."
"Who's this princess you're talking about!?" Hyoga demanded an answer.
"...Why should I tell you?"
"Will you tell me if I fight you?" Seiya glared at him.
"What's the use? You're badly hurt, you'll be beaten anyway. Plus she needs you alive, so sorry, i just need to get YOU!"
Thomas didn't hesitate to get Seiya alive, as he was about to grab his harm, Saori blocked his way and used her rod against him. But the intruder threw a ball of acid at her right away, as she was about to be hit directly...
"AAAAAAAAAAGH~!"
Seiya didn't hesitate to jump right in front of the goddess and pushed her away, thus made one of the balls to hit his shoulder.
"Seiya, no!" Saori cried.
He collapsed and grunted with the pain from the acidic Cosmo ball. She immediately rushed to him. The rod was snapped into two when a drop from the acidic Cosmo hit its handle that caught Shaina's attention...
This guy is really powerful, she gulped. Not even Athena's rod can't withstand the acid!
"You're too reckless!" she was shaking. "You don't have your Cloth...!"
"I told you," he panted, "I will...protect you...with or without my Cloth...!"
"This is bad," Thomas scratched his head again. "If she found out that he's wounded, I'm dead," and he glared at Saori. "You know what, this is your fault. If I only have the Mystic Crystal, I should have killed you right away."
They looked at each other. What Mystic Crystal is he talking about?
"Anyway, you're wasting my time," and formed another ball, "your favorite Saint can't protect you anymore-!"
"THOMAS, YOU STUPIIIIIIIIID~!"
As he was about to release the ball, someone jumped from above and hit his head. Apparently, he is not alone in this invasion.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" it happened to be a girl in twin magenta pigtails and in a black and pink armor similar to Thomas but wears a pink and black gothic lolita dress underneath who followed him. "I told you to wait for me, didn't I!? I thought you'll let me see Seiya!?"
Everyone was stunned by the arrival of the said girl, most especially Athena, who seem to have seen her before. And from her childish look despite wearing similar armor like Thomas, Fudo guessed, she has a tantrum close to a toddler...
Latravia, for some reason, was dead silent.
"M-Miss Leto!" Thomas was surprised to see her. "Why are you-!?"
"I HATE YOU!" the girl called Leto shouted at him. "You promised to take me! Now you're lyong to me!?"
"You know that it's dangerous out here!"
"Are you underestimating me!?"
"It's not like that-!"
For some who went silent at their unexpected banter, Latravia thought it was the perfect time for them to escape for now, although deep in her heart, she's starting to get scared just by looking at the girl.
"What are we standing here for!?" she yelled at her comrades. "We need to protect Lady Athena! We need to get her out of here-!"
"SEIYA!"
Unexpectedly, Leto noticed their main target right away. Whatever her main reason is for obtaining the (former) Sagittarius was something already beyond their comprehension for the meantime, as they need to deal with these new enemies. But the mysterious girl was too quick, when she glanced at her target, she immediately hit him with a simple, yet powerful Cosmo similar to a lasso to make him numb, allowing her to pull him out of the crowd in just a blink of the eye.
"How did she-?" Integra was shocked.
"YAY!" she was so happy as a little girl who had just got a new toy. "I got him! I finally got Seiya!"
"Give him back!" Shiryu demanded. "We still have to-!"
"Thomas," she called her companion, "I finally got what I wanted. Just do whatever you want. Bye-bye!"
"H-hey!" Thomas tried to stop her but she already created a space hole that would let her leave the Sanctuary with her captive.
Seiya's strength and even his Cosmo was somehow sucked at Leto's Cosmo Lasso that he couldn't move anymore. Saori even tried to use her Cosmo to pull him back, making the girl a bit annoyed.
"I said he's mine," she pouted.
"Hold on, Seiya!" she didn't listen. "I'll pull you out-!"
"Stop it, Saori!" he begged. "Don't waste your Cosmo anymore!"
"But-!"
"I'll be alright...just focus on protecting the Sanctuary. Right now I've been punished already. So let it go..."
"No, I can't-!"
"Remember that I love you...My Athena..."
"NO, SEIYA-!"
"I said HE IS MINE, WOMAN!" Leto's Cosmo burned in her eyes as she glared at Saori's while pulling the prisoner away from her. And she disappered into space, along with her love.
Everything was so sudden that the Gold Saints didn't have a slightest chance to stop Leto. Her Cosmo allowed her to move and see quickly and even immobilize anyone. The biggest question now is who she is and what does she want with the Legendary Saint...
Yes, it was so sudden, that all the mighty Athena could do back then is to scream his name.
-0-
They have travelled together for a year, and they thought they have got the peace they have longed for. But seeing her again in another place and chance, they never thought that is will be just the beginning of a new Holy War, and a new mystery to solve with this mysterious pop idol whom the Pegasus accidentally stole her first kiss...
Chapter 1: IT ALL STARTED WITH A KISS! COME FORTH, PRETTY EQUULEUS!
(MB: For comments, suggestions, violent reactions, please feel free to read and review. The Mad banana won't tolerate flames in her works.)