disclaimer: I am a girl and Kurumada definitely is a man... so...
weird idea that popped up when I saw Aphro's face...
btw this can be related to Halycon fics, set few months after first chap I guess... BTW if you squint you might find it as shonen-ai...
Nicknames
It was simply a normal day for gold saints, at least normal by their standard. Milo and Camus was doing one way conversation, simply because Camus didn't take his eyes off of his book and only nod or shrug in response of Milo's blabbering. The Scorpio saint however didn't mind as long as his best friend listen to him, beside Camus know next to nothing about how to woe a girl. Why rose always seems to be ultimate species of flower to attract girls and so on.
"Why don't you ask Aphrodite instead? Everyone knows how knowledgeable he is about rose." Camus spoke long sentences for the first time since conversation began. The ice saint simply though the topic became less and less reachable for him. And better stop Milo before the ridiculous topic fried his brain. Not to mention they were actually too young to talk about this.
Milo rolled his eyes, "Yadda!" He whined childishly, "How to talk about girls with someone whose gender is unconfirmed?"
Camus groaned, "Just in case you forget Milo… the last time you called him transvestite, your temple ended up looked like a giant Swiss cheese."
"Courtesy of piranha rose…" Milo grumbled. "And he asked if I like the new interior!"
"Anyway…" Camus began, "It's your fault to invoke his wrath in the first place." he pointed out as flipped his book to the next page.
Milo pouted, he didn't like it when his friend chose to side with somebody else. It's his fault to insult the Pisces saint but… "Who know he can throw a tantrum like a girl? Rather than aim it at me like a man he supposed to be, he chose my poor temple and pets!" It was quite a sight when Camus found Milo wailing at the sight of his aquarium. It contained four scorpions with various colors, all of them were rare species and Milo loved his pets. The Pisces saint in a fit of rage decided Milo's pets also need new decoration on their aquarium, depended on how you look at it can be beautiful sight. How various color of scorpion stark against red and white roses was quite a beautiful sight but in the other hand it was a very beautiful funeral for Milo's pet. You can guess how they died.
Camus sighed, his Scorpio friend never learned. "What did you have learn from calling Aphrodite girly?"
Milo looked around warily, "He is not here… isn't he?" He shivered, the last time Aphrodite seemed popped out of nowhere when he called the Swedish boy names.
"If you are worried, how if we change our topic? I prefer conversation of something useful over girls, rose or Aphrodite any day…" Camus drawled tiredly.
Milo nodded, "Okay… it's not like I am interested to have him to decorate my temple again." He sighed, Milo's eyes rolled up as thinking of another topic. "Say Camus… once we gain our cloth, won't we get ourselves a title too?"
Camus nodded, "I guess so… most of gold saints in the past had it. I heard all Aquarius saints in the past always titled with ice or water related names." He replied for once looked interested with Milo's suggested topic.
"So…" Milo trailed off with a glint of prankster on his eyes, suddenly Camus though this topic might not be a good idea after all. "Your title would be Camus the ice cube saints?"
Suddenly temperature on Milo's temple dropped several degrees, "Care to repeat that again?" Camus asked coldly, he literally breathed ice particles out of his mouth as he spoke. The Scorpio saint shook his head hastily fearing the icy wrath of Camus.
"Uhm… how about other gold saints? Err… Shura for example?" He stammered trying to distract Camus. "His attack is Excalibur so he must be titled with sword related name!"
Camus nodded, seemed to agree to ignore the 'ice cube' title for now. "I guess… but in the past nicknames wasn't always related to our attack. My predecessor for one, he was from the same generation of our Pope… in history it mentioned that his name was Aquarius Degel. He was known as the most intelligent saint, so he was nicknamed as Professor, genius… and so on."
"Oh… then how about Athena's fanboy for Shura?" Milo suggested with a grin on his face.
Camus sighed, what would make his friend to learn from past experience? "Milo… I doubt Shura would like that even though he loves Athena more than the life itself."
"Come on… he got his very own Athena statue on Capricorn temple! I am sure if he allowed to… he would turn his temple to gallery of Athena that full of her merchandise!" Milo's grin if possible became wider.
"I suggest you to keep that for yourself Milo, if you dare call Shura Athena's fanboy…" Camus trailed off as flipped another page, "I am sure your temple will looks like sashimi instead of Swiss cheese, courtesy of Excalibur that's it…"
Milo raised an eyebrow, "What's sashimi?"
Camus sighed, "Japanese dish made of fresh raw seafood that sliced really… thin."
The Scorpio saint gulped, "You don't think… Shura would…"
"Here the easier comparison, bread loaf…" Camus said tonelessly, "And yes… I think Shura wouldn't hesitate, especially since everyone knows how loud you cried last week for what Aphrodite had done to you."
Milo blushed, "Don't remind me… it's so sad I lost my scorpions…" He mumbled as faked a sob. "I was so sad when I saw my Icicle, Popsicle, Chilly, and Icy died…"
Camus glared at Milo who was still pretending to cry, "Are you implying something for naming your pets like that?" He asked coldly.
"No…" He replied with innocent tone.
"On second though I regret not being able to give death that fitting your scorpion's name." Camus huffed, "Rather than died among roses, your scorpion would be so much better died frozen. Scorpion popsicle… how lovely…" He commented cheerfully, at least cheerful and cold by Camus's standard.
Milo swore some wall of his temple already covered with thin layer of ice, was Camus trying to recreate his temple to a mini cocytus? "Uhm, Camus… let's talk about other saint's title ne?"
"So who's next?"
"Uhm…" Milo mumbled trying to think one of his fellow friends. Then suddenly he was reminded of some popular rumors among lower saints. "Camus… it's not like I am interested or like to talk about him but some rumors make me curious."
"Who's on your mind? Saga? Aiolos?" Camus asked.
Milo shook his head, "Nah… those two are our role model, whatever their nickname would be must be something grand. I heard some people though Saga is god incarnate already…"
"Seriously? Well so who?"
"Aphrodite…" Milo grumbled.
Camus raised an eyebrow, "Please tell me you wouldn't think of trying to invoke his wrath again."
Milo shook his head, waving his hands frantically. "No! I have enough of his rosy decoration… it's just… rumors that circulate among our lower peers make me curious."
"What kind or rumors Silvers, Bronzes and Pawns are talking about Aphrodite?" Camus asked tonelessly.
Milo wrinkled his nose, "His beauty…" The Scorpion saint snorted, "Apparently some pawns were wondering if Aphrodite is the fairest among all saints…"
Camus if anything wasn't really cared about what lower ranks were talking about, especially if it rumors about gold saints. They were idol for lower ranks, someone they looked up to despite of their young age. But some rumors about them sometimes were so exaggerating and doesn't make sense, it can be down from DeathMask latest victim, Aiolos's record in archery, even six years old Camus was not unscathed from having rumors or topic of him people liked to talk about, last time he heard from Milo people were talking about if he really breathing ice out of his mouth. Really… really… ridiculous.
If there was anyone from gold saints, which had no rumors or anything they could talk about were the Asian gold saints. Shaka from India and Mu of Jamir, if asked why these two had no rumors about them? Simply because these two never ever left 12 temples area for long, therefore they were not well known. Shaka never interact with his fellows unless it's necessary, the Indian boy even never trained with them and they had no idea of what he was capable of. Pope Shion in the other hand seemed to know what Shaka's capability was and deemed the boy was too dangerous to use his attack against his peers for spar, or didn't have proper control over his massive power yet. Camus though the later was the reason, since Aiolia told them that once in a while golden burst of cosmos can be seen from Shaka's temple. Aiolia was shuddering when talking about it to him and Milo, he said it was so massive to the point it felt frightening and abnormal even for gold saint in such young age. There were so many mystery about Shaka but he didn't think Milo could ever got a chance to ask the Indian, not after their last encounter.
Flash back
Shaka never opened his eyes since he came to sanctuary, and amazingly managed to move around swiftly without bumping to anything. Milo off course was curious about Shaka's eyes and asked.
"Hei Shaka… can I ask you something?" Milo asked after one of their training session when Shaka usually just meditate on the side without participating. Mu who usually accompanied him was chatting with Aldebaran as keeping rock ten times his sizes floating in the air.
Camus was standing beside Milo and wondered if this was a good idea to quench Milo's curiosity. Shaka seemed uninterested to talk with Milo but replied for the sake of manner, "Yes… what do you want to ask?"
Milo grinned, "I am just wondering… Are you blind?" Milo asked innocently, Camus slapped his forehead at how direct Milo was in asking such thing.
Shaka was silent for a while, Camus somehow felt uncomfortable with the silence since Shaka as if was staring at them through his eyelids. "No, my eyes are fine."
"Then why you close it?" Milo asked again. "You know… grownups said it was rude to not look at the eyes when talking to someone." Milo added innocently, at this point Camus though putting Milo on ice coffin was a splendid idea.
Shaka pursed his lips before replied coldly, "Not your business…" then he walked away leaving Scorpio and Aquarius in a daze.
Surprisingly before Milo could yell at Shaka for being rude, Mu sent a message via telepathy to them. 'Please don't ask Shaka that… he never opened his eyes for the sake of our safety.' Milo and Camus looked at Mu who gave them apologetic look. The Tibetan raised his forefinger to his lips then smiled warmly at them, Mu waved them a goodbye then rushing after Shaka.
"Wait for me Shaka!" He yelled, at first Camus though Shaka had no intention to wait for Mu but surprisingly the Indian slowed down after a few steps then stopped long enough for Mu to reach him. Mu smiled as he took Shaka's hand then walked away with him. From afar Camus and Milo can see how Mu chatted animatedly with Shaka in a language they couldn't understand, maybe it was Indian or Chinese.
Camus and Milo snapped awake from their daze when Aldebaran patted their back lightly, "Yo!" The gigantic saint greeted them cheerfully.
"Hi, Aldebaran…" Milo replied, "I see you are a good friend with Mu, do you have any idea what's going on?"
Aldebaran scratched the back of his head, "What do you mean?"
"I mean…" The Scorpio saint trailed off, "Shaka is so close with Mu, even though you are a good friend of Mu, it seems Shaka is not that close to you."
"Oh… well it's not like I don't want to, Shaka is not easy to befriend with." Aldebaran explained.
"What are you talking about boys?" Aiolos asked as approached them with a bow on his hand.
"Shaka…" Camus answered.
"Shaka?" Aiolos laughed out loud, "He is good actually… he might not friendly and seems like to isolate himself but actually he is a kind boy."
Milo frowned, "He doesn't look like it, if anything I think he is arrogant and cold. It seems to me… the only people whose presence Shaka can tolerate is Mu."
Aiolos raised an eyebrow at Milo then turned to look at Camus beside him, "No offence Camus but… Milo, don't you think Camus also looks cold outside but a very good friend and kind inside?" He grinned when heard Camus cleared his throat, the Aquarius saint must be embarrassed especially when he saw Milo nodded. "The same for Shaka… you see… I don't know the details but it seems before come to sanctuary Shaka lived in the bank of Ganges River."
"Ganges River?" Aldebaran repeated.
"Do you know where is that Camus?" Milo asked curiously.
Camus sighed, "Milo… Shaka is an Indian. Of course it's in India… it's the largest river of the Indian subcontinent, flowing east through the Gangetic Plain of northern India into Bangladesh. It's a sacred river that they believe able to clean past sin…" Camus explained smoothly.
"Oh…" Milo's mouth formed an O, "By the way Aiolos, I still can't understand what do you mean."
Aiolos gave him a sad smile, "Since he was born Shaka was isolated from society in India, I don't know the details but it seems people there honored him as prophet or some kind of demigod."
"That's explain why he is so arrogant…" Milo snorted.
"Milo…" Camus and Aldebaran warned him.
"Do you know how hard it was for our pope to take Shaka away from India?" Aiolos growled, "They didn't want to let Shaka go, claiming he should be caged on temple to stay pure and not polluted by the world. Our pope was so enraged at how they treat Shaka, no child deserve such a isolated life!"
Milo's eyes widened, even Camus looked shocked at Aiolos's revelation. "You mean… he was always alone in India?" Milo stammered.
"Yes…" Aiolos rubbed his forehead, "Well…that's why, Pope though Mu's personality would fit nicely with Shaka's so he set up a play date. Mu seems to know more about Shaka from his master, since then Mu become so protective of Shaka, well… can't blame Mu for it since it's so hard to gain Shaka's friendship."
"Does his closed eyes have something to do with his status as demigod?" Aldebaran can't help but asked.
Aiolos shrugged, "I don't know… judging from Mu's reaction it seems to be a very touchy subject for Shaka. Anyway… we better not bother Shaka about it anymore." All of them could only nod in agreement.
End of flashback
Camus shook his head, trying to distract his mind from unpleasant memories. Back again to rumored beauty of Aphrodite, Camus can't see anything about this rumor that might spark Milo's curiosity. "Err… so what if they think Aphrodite is the fairest among us? Don't tell me you want to compete with him for such a ridiculous title."
Milo looked offended, "Hell NO! A manly man like me would never want such title upon himself."
"You are six…" Camus reminded him.
"Okay future manly man then!" Milo replied.
"Whatever… but I still can't see what's so interesting about Aphrodite and so what if he might be titled as the most beautiful saint?" Camus asked in confusion. "With changing his name become Aphrodite, it's not surprising if he would like that title… seems he has aimed it for a long time."
Milo scratched his head…" Well… you see Camus… I just find that title of Aphrodite is arguable."
Camus suddenly have a very bad feeling about this topic, "I am not sure I want to continue this topic…" He muttered, but damn curiosity always got in the way. "But what do you mean by arguable?"
"I just think there's someone among us that if not equal… might be more beautiful than Aphrodite." Milo grinned.
Camus was so shocked at Milo's opinion that he accidentally ripped the page he was reading, "What? You can't be serious! Are you telling me there is someone that more effeminate than Aphrodite?"
"At least in looks… say Camus, don't you think Shaka and Mu also looks like girl?" Milo asked innocently. "Don't you think they are pretty?"
At this point Camus had ripped the book in two, "Milo… I think one of your scorpion climbed on your bed last night and stung your brain."
"Did you forget Aphrodite killed all of them last week?"
"Oh… okay, whatever possessed you to think Shaka and Mu are effeminate… I don't think…"
Scorpio cut him in, "Both of them have long eyelashes… long straight hair, doe eyes… fair face…" He listed on.
"I get it! Alright!" Camus groaned, "And your point is?"
"Aphrodite might have to compete with them for the title of the fairest saint." Milo muttered thoughtfully.
Camus shook his head before his eyes widened at the sight behind Milo, he gulped and though, 'Here we go again… episode 2 of Aphrodite's wrath.' Camus slowly pointed at fuming Aphrodite to warn Milo. The Scorpio saint looked back and paled when he saw the same fair face that looked like a demon from last week.
"What. Did. You. Say. Milo?" Aphrodite growled angrily.
"Nothing!" Milo squeaked in fear.
"Don't lie… I was here since you asked Camus if Shaka and Mu are pretty." He said as his eyes narrowed dangerously at the younger saint.
Milo gulped, "I was just being honest here!"
"Idiot…" Camus muttered under his breath.
"So you think Shaka and Mu are more beautiful than me?" Aphrodite asked as putting his hand on his hips.
"Err…" Milo wondered how to get out of this problem, "I don't know…" He admitted.
"It shouldn't be that hard to compare us!" Aphrodite yelled impatiently.
"It's hard!" Milo objected, "You never been around Shaka and Mu close enough for me to compare!"
"Oh… alright! I guess I will do as you suggested."
Milo and Camus paled, "Which suggestion?"
"Didn't you say I have to compete with them to be titled as the fairest saint? So… let's go to Virgo so you can compare us… I bet Mu is there too!" Before Camus and Milo can escape the Pisces saint grabbed both of them by elbow then dragged them along with him to Shaka's temple.
Meanwhile (Temple of Maiden)
"Hm…" Shaka took a deep breath, enjoying the fragrance of tea Mu brewed for him. "Assam… such a nostalgic smell." He commented as took as sip.
"Nothing can beat the taste of homeland, right Shaka?" Mu said as poured his cup with the same tea. "This Indian tea… the malty flavor, I understand why you like it."
Shaka shook his head, "I like it… but it's not my favorite."
"Oh… what's your favorite tea then Shaka?" Mu asked as he put down his cup.
"My favorite is herb tea you brewed for me last time…" Shaka admitted.
Mu blushed, "Come on Shaka… you flatter me. I don't think it's as good as your homeland's tea."
Shaka chuckled at Mu's shyness, "But I like it better… faint scent of jasmine mixed with peppermint, not too sweet but the sweetness still linger on our tongue after we drink it… it's perfect."
Mu's face reddened, "Thanks!"
"You are wel…"
"SHAKA! MU!" Aphrodite called from the entrance, Virgo and Aries turned their attention to Pisces saint.
Aphrodite was holding Camus and Milo who struggled to release themselves from Aphrodite's grip. Shaka even though he can't see, can tell in what state the three were in. "Mu, did you see what I feel?"
"If you are talking about Aphrodite drag Milo and Camus here… guess yes…"
"Why they are here?" Shaka asked.
Aphrodite heard Shaka's question so he answered, "I want to compete with two of you for 'The fairest saint' title." He announced smugly.
"I think my hearing was deceiving me…" SHaka commented.
"So does mine…" Mu agreed.