Disclaimer: I still don't own Saint Seiya, therefore I continue to just stare at the Gold Saints from afar like some creepy Gold Saint-stalker.

Author's Notes: And here I actually managed to get another chapter out right on schedule - helps that this one was already written. Special thanks to MMBC for reviewing chapter one - having you approve of my Camus and Milo chibis made my day! Please enjoy more of them in this chapter. Also thanks to Teakwood, who took time out of his campaign-filled day to read over this and listen to me ramble on about how awesome Milo and Kardia are (and who doesn't mind that I bombard him with Gold Saint fanart every time we talk, even if I've already shown it to him before). To everyone else who read chapter one, and now chapter two, please enjoy, and don't be shy about dropping me a review. ^.^

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End of Innocence

Chapter Two: Aquarius, Part Two

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"This is so cool! I had no idea there were going to be other new Gold Saints here aside from me, or I would have told you about it before. But my master, he said I shouldn't brag, that some people might have a problem with a kid my age getting that kind of promotion, so I was trying really hard to not say anything. So you're Aquarius, huh? That's kind of fitting if you trained in Siberia. Ice, water, it's a lot of the same thing, right? How long have you known you were going to be chosen? My master didn't tell me until I was summoned, but I heard some Saints know from the moment they're born which Cloth they get. So there are four of us, right? But twelve Cloths. Huh. I wonder who the other ones are. Maybe we'll –"

A sharp laugh from behind cut Milo off, and a hand landed on top of his head to ruffle his hair. "The gods have certainly blessed you with an inquisitive mind, didn't they?" Aiolos asked, coming up behind the four boys. "I can almost forgive you for sneaking around before – clearly you have more curiosity than that body of yours can contain. But you might want to tone it down a bit. You're giving Saga there a headache."

Saga, who had been leading the new arrivals along the path leading up to the Temples, looking at Aiolos over his shoulder. "No more than you do on a regular basis," he replied calmly, earning him a grin from the broader teen. "I thought it better to just let him get it out of his system."

Aiolos grinned, stepping around them. "Anyway, to answer your question," he said, "Seven of the Gold Cloths, including yours, are already claimed. There's the four of you, Libra is in the hands of the master of the Five Peaks training ground, and then the two of us." He clasped Saga's shoulder. "Saga here holds the Gemini Cloth, and I –"

"Aiolos is the Sagittarius Saint!" Aiolia burst out, beaming up at the older teen in clear idol worship. "He's the strongest, fastest, bravest Saint ever!"

Aiolos grinned. "In the eyes of my little brother, at the very least," he said, winking at Saga. The other teen just shook his head, but Camus thought he saw a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Little brother – that explained that.

Milo turned to look at Aiolia. "So you're the Leo Saint and your brother is the Sagittarius Saint?" he asked. "Do family members become Saints a lot? Is it hereditary? Like, if I have a brother, could he be a Saint? Or if a Saint has kids, could they become Saints? But not always the same Saint, right? I mean, there's only one Saint per Cloth."

"Sometimes it runs in a family – they say that Cosmo is tied into bloodlines," Saga replied, a flicker of…something…passing through his eyes.

Milo nodded. "Cool," he said, reusing his favorite word. "So what about the other Cloths? Aries, Taurus, Cancer, Capricorn, and um…um..."

"Pisces," supplied the quiet voice of Shaka. The blonde boy was walking slightly behind the rest of them – and he still hadn't opened his eyes.

"Right, Pisces. That's the fish."

Aiolos wasn't even trying to hide his amusement now, and Aiolia couldn't keep back his laughter. Camus just stared at Milo. He didn't think he'd ever heard anyone talk so much, so fast, and with such… randomness in word choice as the Scorpio youth seemed to be capable of.

"The Aries Saint has already been selected, but is receiving specialized training before being inducted to Sanctuary," Saga replied. "The boy is the Kyoko's trainee, and your age. The remaining candidates have yet to be determined, though they will all be brought here once the Kyoko decides. Until then, the four of you will continue your training both individually and as a group."

That made Camus pause. "But our masters returned to their training grounds," he said, looking at Saga in confusion. How were they supposed to continue their training without their masters?

"Just because your former masters will no longer be overseeing your training does not mean that you have completed it," Saga replied. He looked at Aiolos, who gave a slight nod. "The four of you should know enough about your specialized techniques to lead your own training, and Aiolos and I will be guiding you in general combat training."

Seizing the opportunity before Milo could begin asking more questions, Saga motioned to the building ahead of them. "Although there will come a time when you will all assume your positions at your respective temples, the Kyoko has decided that for now you will be sharing living quarters within these barracks."

Camus felt a rush of relief at that. He knew that the Gold Saints held individual living quarters within their temples, but he didn't think himself ready for solitary living. He was used to having his master, and one or two other trainees, around. He wasn't especially social but… there was a difference between choosing to be alone, and being forced into separation.

"Do you two live here, too?" Aiolia asked. He looked at his brother brightly as the older Saints led the four of them into the clean, but well furnished, building

"No, Saga and I have been living in our temples for awhile now," Aiolos replied. He motioned around the first room. "This is the common room, and down those halls," here he pointed to three separate hallways leading off from the main room, "are where the bedrooms are located. There's a kitchen, but I don't imagine any of you cook, so you'll be having meals with one or both of us unless Shion requests your presence. There are six bedrooms total, two down each hallway. You'll be doubling up."

"Why?" This from Shaka, turning his head in Aiolos' direction. "If there are four of us, and six rooms?"

"Eventually you'll be joined by the other trainees," Saga replied, "and the Kyoko would rather you start sharing now." The firmness of his tone indicated that there would be no argument. "Shaka and Aiolia will share one room, and Camus and Milo another."

Much to Camus' dismay, Milo grinned broadly at that, giving the new Aquarius Saint a bright, eager look. At that moment Camus was absolutely certain he was never going to get a full night of sleep until he was able to move into his temple.

"We'll give you some time to claim rooms and get situated," Aiolos said, "and will come back for you at mealtime. Some of you have had to travel quite the distance to get here." He motioned to Saga, and with that, the two Saints excused themselves and left the four alone for the first time.

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"I'm not convinced leaving them on their own so soon is such a good idea," Aiolos said with a shake of his head, one hand resting on his hip as he and Saga traveled the Temple path towards Gemini. Although only two of the Temples had guardians present now, the restrictions in place still required them to travel through the others. "They're only six years old."

"And they've been trained as Saints for nearly that long," Saga replied. "You know their advancement in training is one of the reasons why they were selected for their positions."

"Advancement in training is not the same as social maturity," Aiolos replied, "no matter how strong their Cosmo is. You and I had more time."

"Yes – because we were born sooner." Saga shook his head and looked at the Sagittarius Saint. "The stargazers say that Athena will be born within the year. The Kyoko is preparing for her arrival, and part of that preparation is assembling as much of her guard as possible. And of the eighty-eight Saints it is the twelve Gold Saints that are the most vital. If Athena is born soon, it will still be many years before she reaches her full maturity. They will have time to grow into their roles." Saga paused. "Is this because of your brother? You've known Aiolia would be the Leo Saint for far longer than he knew."

Aiolos gave a sigh. "It's partly because of Aiolia, although I know that he'll adapt easily enough. But I'm the least worried about him. I know him the best. The other three… we don't know anything about them, Saga."

"Shaka has spent the first years of his life raised and training at a Buddhist monastery in India," Saga said quietly. "When he was a year old he had already received recognition as a Bodhisattva. It wouldn't surprise me if, once he comes into his full maturity, he has the strongest Cosmo of us all."

Aiolos' eyebrows lifted at this revelation. "That explains the fact that he spoke the least out of all of them," he replied. "I assumed it was just because Milo talked enough for ten people. So who told you all of this – Shion?"

Saga nodded. "He gave me some of their background. As for the other two, Milo trained here in Greece, on Milos Island, and according to his former master has a reputation of being…trying at best. Although he didn't come right out and imply it, Shion got the impression that Milo's likely used to getting his own way and having the run of the place. Hence the blatant lack of decorum and the constant chatter.

"As for Camus, he was described as having a calm personality and high intellect, and he's already mastered several ice-based techniques. In all honesty I could see him being a better match for Shaka in temperament, and Milo more suited for Aiolia."

"Probably why Shion set up the room assignments the way that he did," Aiolos said with a laugh. "So from those backgrounds, do you think they'll be able to manage themselves without supervision?"

Saga paused, and then gave a slight shrug of his shoulder. "Who can say? All we can do is wait and see."

"That's a big help."

By this point the two had reached the steps of Gemini, and as one both of them stopped and turned to look back down the path. They were high enough now that they could see the top of the communal living quarters where they had left the children. "It almost doesn't seem fair," Aiolos said softly, "taking away their childhood like this."

"It's the sacrifice all Saints must make," Saga replied. "It is our duty, and our destiny."

"It still doesn't feel right." Shaking his head, Aiolos turned back to make his way through to his own Temple. "I'll see you at mealtime, Saga." Without waiting for a response, he disappeared into the darkness of the Gemini Temple, leaving its guardian alone at the head of the stairs.

Saga stood for a moment longer, looking down at the building, before turning and going inside as well.