A note before I start: I've taken in some suggestions, and I'll be touching up on the former chapters very soon. The most significant difference would the Yelena's age - I've elevated her from the 8 to 11. Basically everything else remains identical.
Also, I love you, my constant reviewers!
Virgin of Aquarius: I'm glad you think so, and so happy I managed to portray Camus and Yelena so believably for you to enjoy! Completely unrelated: I'm an Aquarius. ;) Team Hyoga/Camus/Degel all the way!
Thrudgelmir2333, I both love and hate you for being such a honest critic of my work. (But I lean more on the love side, tbh.) Do keep me in check, please!
On to the story!
Previously:
"Indeed," Camus replied in a low voice, walking up to the girl until he towered over her slight form. "Indeed. Tell me, Yelena, do you want to become a Saint?"
"No."
"No?" Camus murmured, voice heavy with disappointment. He was expecting the refusal, but it couldn't soften the blow of rejection. He had finally met someone who did not shy away from the natural coldness of an Aquarius Saint, and she just refused training.
"No," Yelena confirmed, crossing her arms and taking a step back. "And you can't persuade me to think otherwise."
"I see." Camus sighed and turned to the windows, wishing for the guidance from anyone. How was he supposed to deal with the girl? He couldn't just leave her out here with all the knowledge about the Sanctuary. However… training was not the only way you could become permanently attached to the Saints. "Will you tell me why?"
"I'm proud of who I am, Saint Aquarius," Yelena shrugged, and Camus could feel her gaze burning holes into his side. "I don't want to give up my name and face. It's not fair."
"I might agree with you," Camus said, placing a loosely curled fist underneath his chin, "but the Amazon masks are the tradition of the Saints. You cannot change that."
"I said nothing about changing things," the girl huffed. "I just said I'm not doing it. There is no forcing someone to become Saint, is it?"
"No, there isn't." Camus frowned at his reflection, the path clearing up by minute. He disliked it immensely – he could sense a great potential for Cosmo manipulation within the girl, and it was a waste not to use it – but he literally had no other option at the moment. "But I cannot allow you to stay out of Sanctuary's jurisdiction."
Yelena cocked her head, eyes focusing on the spot next to her and slightly above her eye level, before returning her gaze to him. "Why?"
"You know far too much," Camus turned to her with a blank expression. "You have not signed your life away to Athena, but you said you were taught by a Gold Saint, which means -"
"Which means I don't have a choice," Yelena finished for him, shoulders slumping and head bowing. A moment later she fell on her knees, but Camus did not step forward to help her: he saw her controlling her descent. She wasn't in that much of a shock, she just needed time to collect her wits, just like a true Aquarius.
For the what felt like millionth time in the last ten minutes, Camus regretted being unable to convince her to come into training. She would've been a marvelous saint – in fact, Camus would've trained her personally as his replacement, had she accepted.
"Alright. What options do I have?" the girl asked after a few moments, breathing in deeply and clasping her hands in her lap before she lifted her gaze.
"Only two, I'm afraid," Camus said, sitting down and crossing his legs so he wouldn't have to stare down at her. That was simply unnerving. "You can either spend time with me in Siberia training ground – which I believe you will have no trouble with," he added with humorous chuckle, getting a small smile from the girl as a result. He had guessed her country of origin correctly – good to know his deduction skills were not rusty. "Or you can come with me to the Sanctuary and stay as the servant of the eleventh House."
Yelena pressed her lips tightly together, appearing deep in thought. "I can't say the Siberia idea is not nice – I haven't been home for the last two years." Camus nodded, familiar with the bouts of homesickness every non-Greek Saint experienced. Even he, the infamously detached Saint, sometimes felt pangs of longing for Lyon, his hometown. "But… Master wants to go home," she whispered with an oddly nostalgic tone, and Aquarius frowned in confusion. Aiolos wanted to come home? Didn't he betray them in the first place?
"I see." No, he didn't see, but he had to act like he understood the girl's and former Sagittarius Saint's motives. Besides, even if he didn't understand them right now, he had time. Yelena will be attached to his House – she will be near him at all times. He'll figure her out in a year, maximum. "Then I suggest you pack up and say your goodbyes quickly. I'm overstaying my welcome here as it is."
Yelena tilted her head for a second, then shook it and stood up. "I don't think you're overstaying your welcome, but as you wish. Saori likes you, and her word is basically the law here. They treat her like a little goddess sometimes, I swear – good thing I was around to deflate her."
Camus narrowed his eyes at the emphasis she put on the word goddess, cataloging it and then banishing it from the forefront of his mind. He had to return to the Sanctuary, give the report to the Pope and explain the newest addition to the Aquarius Temple.
You did it.
Aiolos sighed in relief when he spotted the glimmer of interest in Camus' eyes. He was a bit worried Yelena had been a bit too subtle in relaying the message to the other Gold saint, but apparently, she knew exactly what she was doing. Yelena smiled slightly, taking care to turn her back to Aquarius Saint before she did it, and exited the room.
"Of course I did it," his student preened, setting down the corridor for the east wing – the residential wing where all the boys slept. "I can deal with a fellow Aquarius."
Don't let it get to your head, Aiolos warned her, falling in step with her and placing his hand on her arm. Unlike a few minutes ago, Yelena did not stiffen at the phantom contact between them. You still have to deal with keeping your wits around Saga at all times.
"You let me worry about Saga," eleven-year-old huffed, turning around the corner and entering what she unofficially called 'the orphan town' – a long corridor filled with eight military-style bedrooms, steel cots, white and dark green sheets and all. "You better not get us into trouble because of your little brother."
Aiolos frowned, the pain of the separation hitting him head on. He was going to see Aiolia after all this time. It had been nearly six years since he had died: six years since he left his brother to deal with the fallout of his spontaneous decisions without telling him why he did it.
It had also been six years he had been keeping secret from Yelena just why Shura attacked him that night. The girl was not aware Saori was reincarnated Athena – she had thrown out the comment on Aiolos' urging, not knowing what he meant to imply. However, he knew that silence was not going to last – Yelena was far too smart to be easily fooled, and Aiolos was not that good at lying. The only reason she hadn't found out earlier was because Aiolos refused to talk about the night he died, and Yelena respected him enough not to press for details.
I can control myself, Aiolos finally said as the pair arrived at the doors of the farthest room – Hyoga's, Shun's and Ikki's room. I will.
Yelena nodded and opened the door, the kids inside falling silent as she entered.
"Big sis Yelena!" Shun cried out from his bed, scrambling off it and running to clutch at her leg. "ImsososorryIdidntmeantodoit -"
"Shun, Shun!" Yelena gently pried the green-haired boy's hands from her pant leg, kneeling to put herself at his level. "Shun, look at me." The boy looked at her, big green eyes watering, and Yelena couldn't help but smile, wiping away his tears. Aiolos took a step back, closing his own eyes before the tears spilled: he could see himself and Aiolia in Yelena and Shun's place so easily, it was painful.
"Shun, I'm not – okay, I'm a bit angry." Yelena sighed, taking Shun's hands in her own. "You must never experiment with the Cosmo without someone who knows more close by. I didn't say anything at first, because it usually takes a while for trainees to start working with Cosmo, but I'm telling you now. Never, ever use the Cosmo without me or your Saint teacher, okay?"
"Okay," Shun nodded, rushing in for a hug. Yelena returned the hug, taking a deep breath before looking at the other children.
"Come here, kiddos. You won't see for a while."
Maybe never, Aiolos could hear the grim undertone in her words, and his heart went out to the poor boys who would either drop out and become foot soldiers or die on their paths. He was aware of the reality, but it didn't mean he couldn't sympathize.
"You're going away?" Hyoga, the boy Aiolos often likened to Camus and Yelena's only remaining friend demanded as he rushed into Yelena's open arms, the other boys not far behind with their hugs and questions. Why are you going? Where are you going?
"I'm going with Aquarius Saint to Sanctuary," Yelena revealed with a bittersweet smile. "I have no choice."
"Will you be a Saint?" Shun, the naïve yet observant child, asked with a shaky voice, and the rest of the boys froze. Yelena had not skimped on telling how difficult parts of Saint training will be, and Aiolos knew they were probably imagining their big sister going through all that pain.
"No," Yelena shook her head, smiling to dispel her boys' terror. "I'll be a servant in eleventh House."
And ninth, Aiolos added, briefly hugging her from behind. Don't forget to keep my home somewhat okay.
Yelena just rolled her eyes at him, but Aiolos simply smiled, not insulted at all. That was just how Yelena reacted to him 'being a silly idiot', as she put it.
"Oh thank God," Ikki muttered, a sentiment echoed by the rest of the boys.
"Yeah, so no worries," Yelena ruffled Shun's hair, patted each of the boys' heads and stood up. "Now get me everyone here so I can say goodbye, and some final things, okay?"
The eight boys scattered to the other rooms to let everyone know Yelena was leaving.
"Talk," Yelena said in a commanding tone, and Aiolos narrowed his eyes at the insolent tone.
Who is the Master here?
"You're hiding something from me," Yelena accused with burning eyes, and the Sagittarius winced at the fury he could read in her face. "What, exactly, did you 'forget' to tell me in the last six years, Master?"
I… Promise me you will not judge, Aiolos begged his student, collapsing onto his knees and folding them into a cross-legged position. I did some things I shouldn't have in the name of the higher goal.
"I will not judge until I hear the whole story," Yelena promised him, sitting down on one of the beds in the room. "Now spill."
I told you Shura killed me while I was running away from Sanctuary on Saga's orders as he pretended to be Pope, Aiolos said, head bowed. What I didn't tell you… Saga tried to kill baby Athena, and I saved her. Saga spun it like I tried to kill Pope and present the false Athena to the Sanctuary. I had to run, only stopping to scribble the message in my Temple, hide it and pick up the Cloth.
"Wait…" Yelena raised her hand, eyes wide and mouth open. "The Sagittarius Cloth Kido has… you gave it to him?"
Yes, in a sense, Aiolos confirmed, rubbing his biceps as he remembered the coldness of that night. I told no one what happened, not even Aiolia. When I got away from Shura, carrying Athena, I ran into Mitsumasa Kido – my savior. He promised to take care of Athena himself, and I suppose he took the Cloth as well: I was already on my way to the Praeserpe Cluster when that happened.
"So Athena…" Aiolos could hear the dots connecting in Yelena's head as she saw the truth. "Athena is Saori Kido?!"
Yes.
Aiolos could not do this anymore: he faded from even Yelena's gaze, nestling himself in the depths of her heart. He needed to rest before their journey to Sanctuary. As he was right now, he would not be able to face either his brother nor Saga and keep his wits, and too much rode on his shoulders for him to let it happen.
Athena's and Yelena's safety were his first priority.
Saga rubbed the shoulder pad of the Pope uniform, cursing under his breath as it chafed at him, unhappy with the wearer. Ever since he donned the heavy mantle and robes of the Pope, the clothes found a way to express their unhappiness with him, and Saga believed they would drive him to madness quicker than his shadow self, lurking at the back of his mind and waiting to strike when Saga was preoccupied.
"Sir? Aquarius Camus is here," one of the guards at the gate startled him out of his thoughts, and the former Gemini Saint quickly composed himself for the audience with the most perceptive of the Gold Saints. Saga was under no illusion he had managed to fool Camus. No, Camus knew, but decided for whatever reason to keep his mouth shut and behave like everything is normal – probably because he believed that was better for the Sanctuary.
"Let him in," Saga ordered, and guard bowed.
"Yes, sir. However…"
"Yes?" Saga asked impatiently, wanting to get this over with. Camus didn't have a particularly difficult mission, and the faster they could finish it, happier they would be.
"He brought a guest."
Saga blinked, momentarily taken aback. A guest? Oh well, he will see.
"Let them in."
The guard went outside, leaving the doors open for the Gold Saint and his guest to come in.
Camus came in striding confidently, his cape flowing behind him and Gold Cloth gleaming in the filtered light of the Pope's audience room. The icy Cosmo the man usually exuded, however, looked to be in some sort of tumult – probably because of the guest he brought, Saga mused as Camus kneeled in front of the Pope's seat, revealing the guest walking behind him.
The first thing Saga noticed was the cascading blonde locks and icy blue eyes of the girl standing with her arms crossed behind Camus. The second thing he noticed were the armlets around her biceps decorated with the sign of Aquarius. And the third thing… the third thing was her blue-silver Cosmo interlaid with gold.
Who was the girl?
"Welcome back, Aquarius Camus," Saga said formally for appearance's sake. "I see you brought a stray with you."
The accusation was said with a mild tone, but inside Saga was panicking. The armlets were only worn by the servants of the Twelve Houses, and they were usually the former Saint trainees that suffered some debilitating injury. This girl was no Saint trainee, even with the strange Cosmo she wore around herself like an armor; in other words, she was a liability. If she figures things out…
If she figures things out, then Saga's shadow will kill her, and Saga would not be able to deal with another death on his consciousness.
"I could not leave her in the outside world Pope, and she refused Saint training," Camus explained in a cool voice, unruffled by the scolding. "This was the only other option I could think of."
"I see. Please give me your report, then I will hear out girl's case."
Aquarius Saint launched himself in succinct, yet detailed description of the dealings he had had in Japan, reporting only successes like usual, which left Saga free to observe the girl's behavior. She watched him with narrowed eyes and furrowed eyebrows, gaze searching for something on him. In a lot of ways, the gaze reminded him of Camus, but it held the traces of something Saga just couldn't identify.
"Thank you, Camus," Saga said perfunctorily when the other man finished the narrative. "Now please, explain the girl."
"I have a name, you know," the girl snapped insolently, the ice in her eyes thinning and showing molten fire burning in them. Oh, so she has a temper AND an ego, Saga noted with surprise, and he felt his shadow sneak closer to listen to the proceedings.
"Yelena!" Camus scolded her with a cold glare, which she returned for a few seconds before folding and muttering an apology under her breath. "I'm sorry, Pope, she had been a leader for too long to let go of all her habits."
Saga waved away the apology, but he had to admit he was intrigued now. How in the universe did Camus manage to find the girl, and what kind of life she lived before? She didn't look much older than ten or eleven – who would put a child like her as a leader? "She's new to this -"
"She's not," Camus interrupted, crossing his arms. "That's the problem. She knows the procedure, and she still refuses to adhere to it."
"Like you didn't break rules left and right when you were younger," the girl – Yelena, was it? – fired back, looking completely unimpressed with the Gold Saint. "You're an Aquarius, aren't you?"
"Being an Aquarius does not mean you can be an insolent brat to your superiors, Yelena," Camus shook his head and amped up his glare. Saga worried for a moment the duo would bring the temperature inside to the absolute zero simply by glaring at each other. "And you know that. Or did your Master forget to tell you that?"
"Don't you dare drag Master into this!" Yelena positively hissed, and Saga found himself at the edge of his seat, his shadow now even more aware and interested. Master? This girl was a puzzle inside and out, and Saga had to understand her. He had to, because he couldn't afford to have loose canons this close to him, and right now, Yelena was exactly that – a loose canon. "Not after what you did to him!"
"It wasn't I who killed him," Camus snapped, his legendary patience also fraying and temper igniting. "And he deserved it after everything he did!"
"Of course you'd say that!" Yelena snorted and took a step back. "He ran through your House that night, didn't he? Have you even looked into his eyes, or did you just assume?"
"I assume nothing, as you should know," Camus retorted, and now Saga was a bit afraid. The Cosmo around the two was starting to pick up, and ice was forming around the arguing pair's feet. "I collect evidence."
"Then how did you arrive at the moronic conclusion that Master tried to kill Athena and Pope?!"
In that moment, the gold tint separated completely from girl's natural silver-blue Cosmo, forming a silhouette of a person Saga knew so well, even if he couldn't see any distinguishing features.
Aiolos. Aiolos is her Master.
Saga gasped as the shadow inside him fought him for the control (Murder her! Murder her, now!), barely managing to beat him into submission. When he opened his eyes, he was met with knowing looks from the duo, who had stopped arguing during his crisis.
The only thing Saga could stutter out was:
"How?"