Title: Only the Book Knows

Serie: Saint Seiya

Rated: G

Genre: General, Master/Student dynamic, no-couple.

Characters: Shaka, Shiva

Warning: None, except some OOC. Before Saint Seiya.

Note: I'm starting to wonder WHY I'm stuck each year doing fics about characters that I don't know about... This year it's Shiva. My only consolation is that I have to work with Shaka also. So, I wanted to play with the fact that Shiva is Shaka's student. I apologize if Shiva or Shaka sounds a little bet OOC.

This is my gift for Anca.

Disclaimer: I do not own Saint Seiya or its characters. If I did, Seiya would have been send in a volcano a long time ago.

Only the Book Knows

It was a day like any other ones at Sanctuary; all trainees had already started their routine and already started some of their classes (many would think they only learn how to fight) while older Saints were now in the arena, training. Only a few of the Gold Saints, like Milo and Death Mask, had joined the morning training along with Aiolia and Shura. The arena was mostly filled with the Silver Saints posted in Sanctuary.

It was not until the end that Milo and Death Mask, being the ever investigators of anything nefarious, decided to gather the younger Saints and started to some education on their own, knowing every well what would cause a LOT of trouble with their teachers. Unfortunately, Shura and Aiolia had left, leaving the other Gold Saints to their own little plan of corruption.

Shiva had been curious about what he heard among some of the older Saints; he knew it had to be embarrassing if some of the other Silver Saints were either blushing furiously or just let a weird laugh out. It was there he made his first mistake; he decided to hear what they had to say. Some of the older Saints, some Golds among them, decided to give a particular class to the younger ones.

Sex education.

Even thought it was practically part of what a normal education for young people would be, the way some of the others were explaining just scared some, embarrassed others and left the rest of them confused.

It was why Shiva ended it up in the library half an hour later. He wondered where the older Saints get all their information, because if it was by experience, they were seriously corrupted Saints and he would consider them nothing but trash. As he looked around, he finally found what he needed and decided to consult the book on the spot. He started to read and kept doing it, even if he knew he would rather die being found out reading a book about sex.

"Shiva?"

Shiva dropped the book that he was holding and turned around, discovering who had discovered him. He was mortified; of all the people he never wanted to be found reading such books, it had to be found by his teacher, his model. Shaka. He had to be found by Shaka, of all people. He was so shocked that he realized too late that Shaka had collected the book he was reading from the ground and looked at it.

"Shiva, what is this?" asked Shaka, a little puzzled.

"Well... Erm..." replied Shiva. "A book... About sexual education..."

He felt so embarrassed; he thought for sure that Shaka was going to scroll at him about feeling the need to found out about such a trivial human need. He was waiting to get a lecture, but none came. It was when he looked at Shaka that he felt completely lost for words. Shaka, for once in his life, looked as confused or, to be more exact, clueless.

"Master Shaka?" asked Shiva.

"I was wondering about the subject," said Shaka. "I really don't understand it myself... But why such a book would be in this library? I mean..."

"You never..." started Shiva, surprised.

"My master never thought that such trivial thing was important," added Shaka. "And I never thought about it either to be honest."

At this revelation, Shiva realized something; Shaka was so pure that it was close to be ignorant about something that weren't related to Sainthood. It wasn't like he wasn't like that himself, but Shiva was aware of some rather more human activities, no thanks to some unmentionable Saints.

"Have you ever thought about reading about it?" asked Shiva.

"Not really... Why do you ask?" replied Shaka, ever so serious.

"Nothing..." quickly replied Shiva. "I think it's better than finding out about this with books."

He was not about to tell his master that some Saints had decided to educate the younger ones about such a human need. He rather died that open his mouth about it.

"Perhaps," added Shaka after a while. "But don't let this distract you."

"Yes Master," said Shiva.

"Good."

Shaka left his student, heading out to go back to its temple. Shiva was about to read again when he realized something; Shaka still had his book. It took a moment to realize it, but when he did, he was even more petrified.

Karma had a very bad sense of humour lately. He just knew that was going to haunt him for a very long time.

- 1 week later –

And he had been right about it. Karma liked to bit back. Very hard.

Shiva had tried to get the book back for a few days, but after many failed attempts, he tried to forget. His weird behaviour got Agora curious and after some annoying questioning, Shiva told everything to Agora; from the little lesson from the Gold Saint up to Shaka leaving with his book. His follow disciple just started to laugh, while trying to reassure him that Shaka probably already returned the book to its rightful place in the library, somewhere no one would find, and that the two nefarious Gold Saints would get what they deserved to have tried to corrupt younger Saints. He also told him that maybe discuss it with Shaka would be for the best.

Even if Agora had tried to reassure him, he really felt anxious and very much nervous about this. It was why he decided to go and meditate. The only place he ever meditated in Sanctuary was in the Virgo temple. He wanted to avoid it, but in the end, it would just make things worst and he was a Silver Saint for Athena's sake!

He entered the Virgo temple and searched for his Master. It took him a while, but finally found him in his private chambers, reading. What he was reading made him stop in his tracks and made him speechless. In the middle of small living room, Shaka was reading the exact same book that he was reading a week ago. And seeing his Master's reaction, Shiva could tell that he was not really impressed with this, but he noticed something he never saw before: confusion.

"I'm starting to wonder why some of the others seem to enjoy this kind of intercourse," said Shaka, mostly to himself. "What so interesting about sexual relationship? I mean, it's just human bodies connecting to one another..."

Shiva's jawdroped; was his master this clueless? Shaka had admitted the previous week that his own master never thought he would need this kind of knowledge, but he never realized that it was this bad.

"Master," said Shiva carefully. "These kinds of books only give part of the explanation... Part of the knowledge comes from experience. And I mean interacting with others."

"Which is very unnecessary," added Shaka, still reading the book. "None of this would help someone to find some kind of balance..."

If he had never had any discussion with his master and knew him for this long, he would have thought that Shaka was completely cut from any form of human contacts and lived as a hermit. This is where he made his second mistake.

"Maybe it's necessary for the emotional balance..." said Shiva, realizing his mistake. Too late to take it back.

"And you would know this because?" asked Shaka.

"Err... Well... Some of the other Saints had mentioned this," replied Shiva, trying to hide how embarrassed he was. "They didn't say this in exact terms..."

"I suppose so," replied Shaka, closing the book. "But I still don't understand it and I don't find this necessary for a Saint. And I'm sure I won't need that as a Saint."

"But as a human, it is necessary to have an emotional balance," added Shiva. Oops. Mistake number three.

Shaka looked at him, seemingly confused, but not saying a word. It was there that Shiva was starting to belittle himself to say these things without thinking. Maybe this whole ordeal was finally getting to him and talking with Shaka about this was his way to raise the red flag that he need to be away of Sanctuary to meditate this off.

"Learned that in the basic psychology classes..." said Shiva, trying to explain himself.

"Very well..." added Shaka, accepting that excuse. "But Saints aren't normal humans."

"But none the less human," said Shiva. "Your master really never talked about this with you?"

"No and I understand why," replied Shaka.

If Shiva wanted to found out why his master's master found that unnecessary, he had lost his chance to ask because Shaka decided to start their meditation session before taking care of the more physical part of his training.

He knew that Karma wasn't done with him yet.

- 3 days later –

And it came back in the form of another discussion with a rather amused Agora.

After Agora asked for the follow up on what happened with his discussion with Shaka, the only advice he gave was to talk again with their master about it. Agora did find amusing that Shaka still had the book with him. The only said that proved that Shaka was human and curious. Shiva disagreed with this mentally. Shaka was a Saint that many qualified to be the reincarnation of Buddha, than again... Buddha was human before being illuminated.

Again, for a second time of the week, Shiva found himself at the Virgo Temple and in the private chambers of the temple. He found his master reading another book and noticed the one from the other day on the coffee table. He walked toward the table and grabbed the book.

"Done reading it?" he asked.

"Yes and I really never want to even approach the subject ever again," replied Shaka, hiding his face in the other book.

"Why?" asked Shiva.

"Too graphic..." replied Shaka.

Shiva was speechless for a second time; if Shaka really thought the sex education book was graphic, what would he think of the description Milo and Death Mask did for the younger Saints the other day? Maybe Shaka was better not knowing about this little bit of information.

"I mean... The book even mention about procreation and birth..." started Shaka.

"I really don't want to hear that Master," interrupted Shiva.

"No wonder Master didn't want me to know that..." added Shaka. "Now, I wonder who ever put this into your head..."

And Shiva couldn't agree more and maybe it was time someone got some bad karma in return. Maybe Agora had the right idea after all; talking with Shaka was a good idea.

- Later that day –

When Shiva had told his master that it was the fault of two Gold Saints, Milo and Death Mask to be more precised, he would never expected his master to actually see his Master react and deciding to take care to deliver their rightful punishment in the form of missing clothing. Many were laughing at the cursing Saints and others, the more serious ones, were vaguely amused. No one would expect Shaka to do it, except Shiva and Aiolia. They both knew that neither of the Saints would ever found out about it to execute their promised revenge.

Only Shiva and Aiolia knew it was Shaka; he had found out, after a long discussion that Aiolia joined, that Shaka's master had been a prankster and had rubbed off a little bit on the Godly Saint. He also found out that he never played a prank on someone unless he or she truly deserved it. No body ever expected him to do it too; why would the Virgo Saint even have a sense of humour? Everyone thought he was too innocent for that and too stuck on his meditation for that.

Shiva had learned a lot in the last few days and Shaka knew his student was not going to tell anyone about his prankster side. These secrets were safe and this cemented their relation as Master and Student.

The End

Author's note: So happy it's done. I decide to make this story a pre-serie one. I mean, not knowing Shiva a lot and basically having almost nothing on his personality, I wanted to make something out of this. I hope you liked it.