Saint Tenma: Rebirth Chapter 4: Reunion of Intertwined Soul, a saint seiya fanfic

Sorry for long author note, if possible I don't want to write any but… some things need to be explained here to avoid confusion and I don't want something I put effort into going to waste because no one notice…

I am just realized I didn't put a very important explanation about Tenma regarded as future Sagittarius Saint, and that he was raised in sanctuary as gold trainee. It's simply because everyone would be suspicious if they raised a boy in 12 temples that 'just' a bronze candidate. So Saga made that one up, off course lower rank don't know about Tenma's origin. No one want to know Tenma's name simply because it's Asian, and it heavily implied there is a prejudice about race in sanctuary in manga. They keep say Greece this and that but they are more leaning to European saint only… funny they forgot their Pope is Asian or maybe Lemurian considered Greek.

Shield/Scutum saint named Gardna is a saint I make up to be Jabu's master. This cloth does exist but no one have it I think… He pretty much exported from YugiOh card Big Shield Gardna XDDD. I also export characters from other manga, Agni from Kuroshitsuji… servant of Prince Soma from India. I change his character a bit too… he is quite a bishie you know? Sorry for Agni's fans if you dislike what I did to him... after all Shaka is not prince Soma =_=

Interaction between Shun and Tenma is purely friendship so don't get any idea… just DON'T! THIS IS NOT YAOI! Sorry… for what I write made me feel I need to shout this out!

Sana: I know Shun is not implied as Alone's reincarnation in canon, but I did this because my story will last till one more arc after this one ended. I just need the purest soul is always the same soul in all era but does not mean they are the same people! Sui, sadly this Kagaho's brother have nothing to do with my I refuse to belief in previous life Shun died because of suicide!

ps: Once again I get caught in 'I want to finish this chap till this happen no matter what' so... added with my habit for come out with plot bunnies on the spot the story at least become 3 times longer than I though. And somehow I can't satisfy myself with a short one... -.-' So excuse my mistake... and I change the title for this chap!

pss: I ALMOST FORGOT THAT I WILL MERGE CHAP 2 AND 3, SO this two I fixed it a bit and merge it... actually these two chaps since the very beginning meant to be one chap, just go reread it and you can tell... it was just me that time who was too impatient to post new chap! Added with fact my exam was just ahead so... -.-' I am so relieved I merge it at last!

~Reunion of Intertwined Soul, the everlasting fate~

Cepheus Daidalos sipped his tea calmly as he listened Crystal Saint talking fondly of his new disciple, he didn't drink anything alcoholic even though he was in a tavern because it's not wise to be drunk when sun still up out there and his disciples were exploring the city. It was a rare event for most of 88 Athena Saints were gathered in sanctuary to introduce their disciples. Daidalos almost disappointed when he though this kind of event would never been held again in sanctuary due to tragedy seven years ago. But the Pope deemed it necessary to keep in contact with their comrades and built trust among their disciples, future Saint of Athena. So far he was pleased that he could exchange knowledge of training and also quirks trainee from certain country had.

Crystal Saint was disciple of Aquarius gold saint, but he was polite and friendly. He was nothing like rumored coldness his master was infamous for. Daidalos smiled when he saw Crystal shook his head, "I only have two disciple Daidalos, and Isaac is a very energetic and strong willed boy… he will be a good saint in the future. But he is a bit hyper sometimes…"

The Cepheus saint nodded in agreement, "Energetic and strong willed… definitely a personality a future saint need." He muttered, "And the other one? He is one of new trainees we got this year, isn't he? One of 100 boys from Japan… one of my disciple also one of them." He asked curiously. "I think Shun know your disciple…"

Crystal chuckled softly, "Well… I am sure yours know mine, and about Hyouga… it's almost unnerving how alike his personality with my master." At raised eyebrow of his friend, he quickly added. "Not exactly, it's his bearing that had uncanny resemblance of my master. If we ignore he is quite a family person… other than that…" Crystal trailed off but paused, as he can't help to hold his laugh.

"Oi oi…" Daidalos chided, "I know teaching mini-version of your master is amusing, but I want to know if Hyouga have any problem with our saint training?" He asked with narrowed eyes.

The disciple of Aquarius saint titled his head to the side, recalling Hyouga's training with Isaac. "Well… he just started but so far 'no' technically." He answered calmly.

Daidalos sighed at that, he expected that much. Shun was an intelligent child and quick to understand concept of cosmos but in sparing he kept get pummeled to the ground, and never countered any attack. As if he is afraid of harming his opponents. "Mitsumasa Kido… Do you think this Japanese man gave our disciple quite a proper preparation before sending them to us?"

Before Crystal saint could answer that question someone cut him in, "I don't think so…"

The two mentors looked to the source of voice, a saint with dark purple cloth was walking toward their table. He had bigger build than Daidalos, wild and long black hair, gray eyes, and tanned skin. Crystal smiled at their newcomer as Daidalos pulled a chair for him to sit. "Hello Scutum saint, Gardna… long time no see since you visited my island last year." Daidalos greeted him as their eyes trailed the Scutum saint till he took his seat.

Crystal cleared his throat, "But Gardna … why did you say that? I though you taught a trainee named Greg for Unicorn Cloth, is there any Japanese trainee assigned to you?" He asked curiously.

The Algerian saint groaned at the name Crystal mentioned, "That Greg? That's a lost case Crystal! I told that brat many times…" He trailed off with frustrated tone, "That stupid big body is not gonna help him to gain his cloth! I already got a new disciple named Jabu! Japanese like yours… not perfect but good enough for me compared to that muscle brain Greg!"

Daidalos and Crystal cringed, that was quite a sore subject. Even among silver saints there was some people who trained their disciple for brute strength instead of cosmos. For what reason they didn't know, but that's not a wise choice because a well trained trainee in cosmos can easily beat anyone three times their size. Gardna was a saint, who despite of his bulky builds never ever though brute strength of raw muscle was important for a saint. He hated it when his disciple mistaken his body build as a reason for him to be so strong, that's why Greg didn't gain his cloth even though he already in training for ten years when usually it finished after seven years. Either you failed and became mere cannon fodder or gained your cloth, Greg even not qualified to take the test.

Daidalos took a sip of his drink then said nervously, "Please don't tell me you have threw your disciple off of a cliff like you said you wanted to do last year…" A pause, "You didn't do it, do you?"

A smirk painted on Gardna's lips, "I wish…" Daidalos and Crystal almost fell from their seat, "Come on… I didn't do it! But that brat is pretty much dead…"

Their eyes widened in disbelief as they straightened their posture, "What did you say?" Crystal saint asked incredulously.

Algeria is training ground with the lowest death rate so there was no way Greg died in training. That's pretty much the very reason the boy managed to survive despite of his slow progress, and Gardna hated to kill needlessly. He was never one who pushed his disciple to death despite of how many death threats he roared every day.

"I don't like Greg but he was almost dead because he deserve it… I have no pity for fools who get themselves killed!" Gardna muttered calmly, " Well, he was still alive. And back to your first question… Jabu, the boy I trained is prepared with quite a good training for a boy their age in Japan, but off course that training is nothing compared to saint training." He explained as shrugged nonchalantly. "The boy got a bit of issue, he has crush for a girl named… err… ojou? Yeah, Ojou from his homeland, but that's what driving the boy to go through my training with gusto everyday, so I didn't give a damn." Then concluded, "So basically this Japanese guy certainly tried to prepare them even though not up to our standard, but better than nothing at all…"

"…"

"Well… but you didn't throw Greg off of the cliff, do you?" Daidalos asked again nervously.

"I didn't! Who am I? Guilty? I never pummeled my disciple around volcano and laugh when they tripped and fell to molten lava!" Gardna yelled indignantly, "If you are so curious… it's not my fault the brat almost got himself killed when he provoked Pegasus Saint." Then he quickly covered his mouth in horror, and then looked around if anyone other than Daidalos and Crystal heard him. His friends however paled at the last name the Scutum Saint mentioned. Luckily everyone in the tavern was too busy minding their own business, including few saints who didn't mind drunk when sun still up. "Oops…"

Daidalos hissed through clenched teeth, "Your previous disciple was almost killed by Pegasus?" He asked in low voice that even Crystal who sat beside him could barely hear it.

Gardna shook his head, "No, you see… as all of us know, well trained saint versus muscle head three times his size would result to the muscle head to get pummeled to the ground." He whispered nonchalantly, "Few months ago Pegasus accompanied Capricorn Shura to my training ground for a short visit, and if there was any trainee he would like to take as his disciple. Somehow Greg managed to be alone with Pegasus when I and Lord Shura was talking, the brat tried to provoke Pegasus and attacked him."

"And what happened?" Crystal asked in low voice.

The Algerian Saint shrugged, "Dunno for sure… but Greg left a nice body print on the ground, me and Lord Shura only took our eyes off of them for five minutes…" He said nonchalantly, "But mostly Greg was unharmed, all bruise he had I think is from when Pegasus crushed him to the ground. I doubt Pegasus attacked him even once before that…" Then he sighed, "As for why I don't care that brat died or injured gravely is because it's Lord Shura himself who almost sliced him in two with Excalibur." He whispered carefully so no one but Crystal and Daidalos could hear him.

Daidalos and Crystal gasped in shock, "Lord Shura did?" Crystal asked, he only ever heard about Capricorn Shura from his master but that only about his reputation as a very loyal saint with stoic demeanor. But then again Camus never ever liked sharing any information about his fellow gold saints, all he knew was overheard and never been told by Camus' own volition.

Gardna sighed, "Lord Shura was so furious when Greg started to gloat about his desire for power, and that he never cared about Athena to provoke Pegasus to attack him." That earned him choked gasp from the two saints. "Yes… the brat deserve it, Pegasus seemed furious and so am I…" He shook his head, "But gold saint is faster than us and before I knew it… Greg was..."

The silver saint of Cepherus gulped, it never ceased lower ranked saint of how powerful their gold saints were. "As much as I hate to ask this… what happened after that?" He asked calmly.

The sound of tapped finger on the table sounded louder as Crystal Saint and Cepherus saint was holding their breath, anxious of what enraged gold saint did afterward. "I sent my disciple to healer's hut, major blood loss but his vital organs were not harmed. And then I apologized off course… but it seems Lord Shura didn't hear me; he seems a bit off after he almost killed my disciple. Well I think Lord Shura though he had killed Greg, that boy barely had any cosmos so once he gravely injured… it's like he is already dead to us." A pause then he added in lower voice. "You know why… Lord Shura didn't take it well…"

Crystal Saint looked down, "Sagittarius Aiolos… for Capricorn Shura, killing one of us, even a disgraceful trainee must be quite an unpleasant reminder."

"Che…" Daidalos scowled under his breath, "And here I think that for sanctuary to hold a convention means everything can be as it was before that tragedy…"

Gardna narrowed his eyes as his mind wandered to what happened few months ago, "Daidalos… wound in our skin can be easily healed and disappeared without trace." He muttered then jerked his thumb to his chest, "But in here… it can last even beyond death."

Flashback

He had caught Pegasus alone and managed to corner him, asking what's so great about him that made him treated in such special way in sanctuary. Pegasus was half of his age, with small build and looked so frail compared to Greg even in his Pegasus cloth. The boy had ignored him and refused to answer or fighting him. He hated the boy because Pegasus was granted everything Greg had worked hard to get. And then he tried to taunt Pegasus with insult to Athena, goddess who he never believed even exist more than a mere myth.

He almost overjoyed when Pegasus' face turned to absolute fury, his face that looked so innocent like a child that never went through saint training had turned to a face of furious warrior. And before he knew it, Greg found his face crushed to the ground with a force he couldn't believe such a frail body could have. He stand up shakily as his whole body felt sore after the impact, and that damned Pegasus dared to walk away as if he had finished Greg off. The trainee was about to open his mouth to throw another insult, but a roar he knew so well came right from his back.

"Greg! How dare you said such a thing!" Gardna roared to his disciple from behind.

The Algerian trainee spun with terror painted on his face, he though his master and Shura was far away to hold their conversation. "Master… I am just…"

Tenma turned back, his face was still furious and struggling to hold back his killing intent. "Shura… " He called then suddenly his eyes widened. "Shura! Stop!" Gardna had no clue of what Tenma was talking about, but soon before he knew it the boy attacked Shura who was in the middle of executing an Excalibur wave that aimed to his disciple.

"Excalibur!"

"Pegasus Ryu Sei Ken!"

Blood splattered to the ground, and his disciple fell on his own pool of blood. Gardna's face twisted in horror, as he rushed to Greg's side. He had no much hope to think Greg was still alive but he was! His pulse was weak but he could be saved! Then he turned his attention to Shura, shocked the Gold saint seemed to be unharmed and no trace of attack aimed to his surrounding, Gardna then realized Pegasus never aimed Shura but attacked to get on the way of Excalibur and decreased it's power, bent it's way slightly but enough to keep his disciple from sliced in two.

Pegasus looked at him with intense gaze, and Gardna couldn't help but unnerved. "He is still alive! Major blood loss but once you sent him to healer's hut he would be fine!"

He nodded in agreement, "Right! Hevelius! Goyle! Come here with a stretcher! Greg is injured!" He yelled telepathically. Soon two trainees rushed to his side, startled at how many blood soaked the ground. Gardna wasted no time to explain as he commanded the trainees to put Greg on the stretcher and sent them to healer's hut.

Gardna calmly listed any available choice he could do after this; get his disciple killed for treachery seemed inevitable. But Shura had not prevented any effort of saving Greg; he could always stupidly hope the infamous loyal Capricorn Shura will just walk away as if it never happened. Yeah, as if… "Lord Shura…" He began, "I have no excuse for my failure, my disciple have dishonored Saint's ethic code and Athena herself. Please forgive me…" He said as bowed deeply, "As for my disciple… I…" Gardna looked up slowly, Shura seemed ignoring him. Maybe he really would be doomed, Gardna thought grimly. Maybe him and the rest of occupants of Algeria training ground were doomed.

"Shura…" Tenma's voice snapped Gardna from his thought, the boy was right in front of the Capricorn saint, looking up to Shura intensely. "Shura… let's go home…" The Scutum saint could guess that Shura was in no condition to hear Tenma, and he was startled when Shura suddenly fell on his knees. Tenma groaned as crossed his arms on his chest, "Are you there Shura?" He asked again, because Shura was kneeling Tenma was pretty much in eye level with him.

Gardna gaped in shock when suddenly Tenma took off Shura's headgear then delivered a head butt right on Shura's forehead. In theory it was a very wrong way of using the said technique, because the point was striking a sensitive area with a less sensitive area, such as striking the nose of an opponent with the forehead. "Pegasus? What did you have done to Lord Shura?" Gold saints trained him so he must be aware of... Err… on second thought Head butt is not a technique he though would fit the image of gold saints. And he doubted Tenma wanted to harm Shura in any way.

Tenma openly ignored Gardna or maybe he was just too busy with Shura, the Capricorn saint was indeed despite of being a gold saint can't help but became dizzy because of the last attack, his eyes were swirling because of the impact. "SHUUUUURAAA! Snap out of it!" And now Pegasus was shaking the gold saint back and forth much to Gardna's disbelief. "Come on! We gotta back soon, our report won't delivered themselves! Our duty! Duuuuuty!"

The last part got Shura's attention as he snapped awake, "Tenma…" He muttered in a daze.

Garna gulped nervously but asked what bothered him anyway, despite of the risk. "Erm Pegasus… are you alright? I mean your head and Lord Shura too…"

For the first time Garna felt Tenma acknowledged he was there, if he ever remembered that. "Ah… Scutum Saint Garna, you are still here?" Definitely forgotten. "You sure it's ok to leave your disciple in healer's hut without you?"

The Scutum saint nodded, "Uhm… yes, and your head?"

Pegasus laughed at dumfounded face of Gardna, "Nah… don't worry! Even Shaka said my head is even harder than Aio!" Was Tenma talking about the same Virgo and Leo saint they knew? "And Shura… Oi! Shura! Can we go home now? Our report won't write themselves too!"

"Tenma…" Shura sighed, "I was…"

"Scutum Saint, Gardna…" Tenma called calmly.

The Algerian straightened up; he felt like had been just addressed by his superior. By such a young child, he gasped as his gray eyes met Tenma's. Dusty color of fertile earth, color that supposed to be dull yet looked so vibrant and deep. Why those eyes seemed so… ancient? An eyes that as if had seen so much pain and suffering. "Yes, Sir?" Did he just call a child that was just a bronze saints as Sir?

"Me and Capricorn Shura will return to sanctuary because it seems there is nothing to talk about anymore, is there?" Tenma asked calmly, and he didn't wait for Gardna to answer. "As for your disciple…" The Pegasus saint drawled tonelessly, and the Scutum saint hoped he could find a hole. "I have no authority to decide his fate for this violation of saint's code, however… he did it to taunt me. I really hope he didn't mean it…" He added sternly.

'Oh please, the boy obviously mean it. That muscle head respected a goddess? He respect me because I am obviously stronger than him!' Gardna thought grimly, "I assure you that… the boy deserve death, as much as I dislike to get my disciple killed in disgrace." Gardna muttered regretfully.

Tenma sighed, "Once he recovered, you better dump him to nearest city you think he can live in. And let's say this never happened."

"WHAT?" Gardna blurted out in disbelief.

"You hear me…" Tenma said tiredly, "No matter what as a saint I can not allow someone like your disciple to stay in our rank, no matter what position he has. So just dump him somewhere you are sure he can survive and write him as run away trainee!"

Shura snapped back to his sense as Tenma's offer to Gardna sank in, "Tenma!" He stood up abruptly, "You can't just let that boy… to… he has…"

Tenma rolled his eyes, "I am so angry that I want to wash his face with dirt again until even his master can't recognize him anymore!" Tenma stated grumpily which made Gardna gulped nervously, "But seriously Shura! That boy not even meant to be a saint in the first place! We don't like him in our order… so we dump him out of the order!"

"But Tenma! To be so lenient…" Shura growled at the boy who barely half of his size. "This boy threatened you… insulting our goddess, you think we will just let this slip?"

The Pegasus didn't back down even when Shura towered before him, "Oh come on! You even didn't really want to kill that boy!" He said as threw his arms to emphasize his point.

Shura was taken back for a moment but quickly regained his composure, "I have to kill that disgrace! It's a duty that we…"

Tenma raised an eyebrow at that, then turned his attention to Gardna who somehow had became their bystander. "You have to… yes… as a saint we have to…" He corrected absentmindedly, "Scutum Gardna, that boy is no longer your disciple right? You will dump him somewhere once he recovered, right?"

Gardna's eyes went wide in shock as Tenma's words sank in; the boy was trying to get him to void Shura's duty of eliminating Greg. Once the boy was no longer his charge, not Shura not any saint was obligated to eliminate Greg. "Yes…" He answered curtly; he dared not to say more in presence of a gold saint.

Tenma beamed at that, "There, so Shura… the bastard no longer our business so we can off on our own merry way…"

"Tenma!" Shura growled in frustrated voice, "You… can't just…"

The Pegasus saint smiled as he delivered finishing blow, in which Shura had choice but follow him. "I think we can get Aio for a nice loooong talk later, shall we?"

Shura paled at that, "Tenma, you know that I don't want Aiolia to…"

"Save it!" Tenma snapped, "We will talk with Aio later, even if you like it or not!" He turned his attention to Gardna, in which the Scutum saint though 'Oh, so I am exist again?' "Take care of your EX-disciple Scutum saint, and see you later!" he beamed as dragged Shura who no longer could say even a word of protest, and after a flash of cosmos both of them disappeared to the thin air.

End of Flashback

"And that's how I ended up dumping Gred to the nearest town, and get myself a new trainee for Unicorn cloth…" He said gleefully.

"…"

Gardna groaned at dumbfounded face of Crystal and Daidalos, "Come on! At least I didn't throw him off of a cliff!"

"And we suppose that's a good thing… HOW?" Daidalos asked incredulously.

Crystal chuckled nervously, "Daidalos… I think he was talking about no one died in the end. It's good enough, right?"

BANG!

Daidalos was about to retort when suddenly the door of the tavern was slammed open with violent bang. Almost all customers on the tavern were saints, as the Silver Lyre Tavern was famous place for them to do gathering outside sanctuary. All saints blinked at menacing figure of the newcomer, wondering what this trainee was doing because they recognized the clothing as their standard training clothes. Of all saints in the room Lizard Misty suddenly approached the man nervously, this invited confusion, as Misty was one of the strongest silver saint.

Misty was slowly regretted his choice to approach the newcomer, but he though someone had to do it. "Uhm… welcome Lord DeathMask… may I know do you need something?" The sour face of his really said he needed something, and at the mention of his name all saints on the room gasped.

DeathMask snorted at horrified face of occupants on the room then turned to the silver saint, "You are… Aphrodite's disciple right?"

The Lizard saint gulped, "Uhm… not officially, Lord Aphrodite only help me with my training once in a while." That was true, most of gold saint didn't bother to take disciple, as they were busy with their duty. And if they had spare time they would use it for Tenma, one of few reason the boy became target of envy. Once in a while to prevent pent up jealousy few gold saints went to training ground to supervise lower ranked saints, off course it was done in group but sometimes few trainees who catch Gold saint's attention could get 1 on 1 tutoring.

The Italian saint rolled his eyes, "Well… good, looks how much Aphrodite rub off on you and I won't imagine how if you are his official disciple." He muttered nonchalantly, "Anyway…" He took a deep breath, "DID ANYONE SAW A BRUNETTE ASIAN BOY WITH BROWN EYES? WEARING RED SHIRTS, PANTS, AND WHITE CLOTH?"

Everyone thought they were about to be deaf at volume DeathMask used, and Misty almost fainted on the spot for being the closest one to DeathMask. The silver trio was holding their heads as their eyes swirling, Daidalos stood up abruptly wincing at headache he got. "Ouch… that must be cosmos enhanced…" He concluded wryly.

Crystal was the second one who managed to recover, "Yes… my master did complaining about DeathMask is the loudest among them when he though I didn't pay attention." The Crystal saint mused, "That's Lord DeathMask alright… the most vicious one among gold saints."

Gardna groaned, "Aww my poor ears…"

DeathMask wondered why lower ranked saint was so damn weak, even Tenma… well if it was him DeathMask yelled at the boy would not cringe instead he would yell back. And they said Tenma was a weak kid when they never saw him fighting. He spotted three saints seemed quite fine when the others were not. He walked to their table haughtily then pointed at the one who sat in the middle, "You are… Camus' disciple right? Corona Borealis saint… Crystal."

Crystal blinked but quickly regained his composure, he bowed politely as greeted his superior. "Yes… I am the first disciple of Aquarius Camus, do you require something from me Lord DeathMask?"

The Italian saint smirked at politeness of Crystal saint, "As expected of Camus, very good in teaching his student some manners." He muttered gleefully, "Anyway… is the answer of my previous question is yes or no? Did you see any Asian boy?"

The trio looked at each other, "Well…" Crystal began, "If it's Asian boy around seven…" He trailed off.

"He is seven!" DeathMask snapped impatiently.

Daidalos smiled nervously, "Uhm… as you know Lord DeathMask, usually it would be easy to find a boy with Asian feature in Rodorio but… today many saints bring their disciple with them, and due to recent event. There were at least seventy out of one hundred Japanese boys wandering in Rodorio by now." He pointed out nervously, around seventy due to in just few months around thirty percent of trainees reported died or run away because of harsh training. Something that was not strange to happen every year.

The Italian saint paled at implication of Daidalos' explanation, "What?"

"In fact…" Gardna added, "Three of us have Japanese trainee wandering around in Rodorio by now, mine is brunette but I am sure you aren't looking for one who wear purple shirt. Right milord?"

DeathMask was fighting an urge to bang his head to the nearest wall, and he recalled just last month Tenma was running from main temple to Taurus to tell all of them he had mastered cosmos suppression perfectly. One reason of why it was so difficult to track him down whenever he disappeared this month. It was easy to look for him in Rodorio because of his striking foreign look and red clothing, but there were around seventy Asian now in Rodorio? He recalled Tenma also took his robe with him, so his cloth can't be a good clue.

The silver trio thought DeathMask was about to snap, well… if his reputation as gold saint that barely sane was anything to go by. "You three… " He growled as pointed at them one by one then jerked his thumb to Misty who was still struggling to recover. "And him… Camus' brat!" Crystal needed few second to register that DeathMask was addressing him, "Four of you go and look for all dark brown haired Asian boys out there! I need a brat named Tenma! And fast!" He barked.

Gardna blinked, "Uhm… Lord DeathMask, you are looking for Pegasus Tenma?"

DeathMask gave a look that as if asking if he was an idiot, "Who else?"

"Uhm… Lord DeathMask… if it's Pegasus." Misty trailed off as walking slowly to their table, "He even among Bronze saint has a very unusual strong cosmos, isn't that how usually you and rest of gold saints track him down?" He asked nervously recalling what Aphrodite ever told him about their goose chase.

"Sadly the brat learned how to suppress his cosmos since last month." DeathMask huffed, "Wonder what that Buddha was thinking to teach him that!"

BANG

"MASTER!" Leda and Spica yelled as storming to the tavern with panic clearly written on their face.

Daidalos raised an eyebrow, then his eyes widened when he realized that he was short one disciple, "Where is Shun?" He asked, hoping the frail Japanese boy to follow his fellow trainees to enter the tavern, but he didn't.

"He is missing!" Leda answered.

The Cepheus saint couldn't resist his urge to slap his forehead, and of all disciples he had it was Shun who was lost. Due to Shun just started his training his cosmos was weak and they had to track him down manually, "How?" He demanded.

"Uhm…" Spica fidgeted, "We were swept away by sudden wave of crowd in Rodorio market, and because Shun is err… small, I think he was swept away farther than us." He explained nervously.

DeathMask was suddenly overcome with disgusted feeling, like he had walked pass by something important without knowing. "Okay… so your brat is also missing, I guess… we can look for yours too along the way." He grumbled halfheartedly, he didn't want to show sympathy but no one deserved dying of worry for his or her disciple.

The silver saints were surprised DeathMask offered assistance, Daidalos bowed politely. "Thank you Lord DeathMask, I assure you… I will find both Pegasus and Shun."

Crystal smiled at his friend then asked, "So what's this Shun looks like?"

Daidalos sheepishly described his disciple, "Err… He had green hair and eyes with the same color, a bit small for boy his age and…" He trailed off, should he tell them the most striking trait of Shun that he looks like a pretty girl?

DeathMask blinked and recalled the child he saw before, "I didn't see any Asian boy, but I saw a little girl that matched your description perfectly…" He muttered as rubbed his chin with thoughtful look, at Daidalos' widened eyes Deathmask frowned, "What? You are looking for a boy not girl, right?"

"Uhm…" Leda fidgeted nervously, not sure if he could speak on his master's behalf. Especially this person was a gold saint, even though he didn't wear his cloth and looked like some kind of bandit instead. Bet if this guy wear suit he would look like a mafia instead of a saint. "I think… there is a little bits my master left out about Shun's looks." He flinched at Deathmask's demanding look, "Shun… he looks like a girl." He muttered timidly.

Spica decided to help his brother as he added, "So maybe… you did see him Lord DeathMask…"

"You can't be serious!" DeathMask growled in frustration, how the hell there was someone out there that can have the same issue as Aphrodite? On second though Aphrodite did a good job in reproducing his silver clone that currently standing not far for him, DeathMask made a mental note to warn Daidalos to keep his pretty boy disciple away from Aphrodite till convention ended.

Daidalos looked down, "Err… it's true Shun is a little androgynous…" He muttered sheepishly, not sure why he was embarrassed for some reason.

Spica can't resist temptation to retort, so he did. "A little? Master! You gave Shun an amazon mask when he came to Andromeda Island because you think he was a girl!" Crystal and Garna snickered at blushing Daidalos.

Daidalos was not thankful Spica reminded him the reason he was embarrassed to point out Shun's androgynous looks. But Leda came to his rescue, well… not really. He was just can't resist to remind Spica of his own embarrassing moment. "And you looked like a lovesick puppy when the first time you saw her…. Err… him!" He said smugly.

Spica blushed deep red, then retorted. "Oh yeah? Like you know that…"

"ENOUGH!" Deathmask yelled which scared the two trainees out of their wits. "Stop your bickering or else!" Then turned his attention back to silver saints, "So like I said…" He trailed off grumpily, "Let's move out and look for them, Daidalos… you are going with me! Let's hope your brat is smart enough to not wandering too far from the last place I saw him. And as for you… Scutum and Crystal, look for Pegasus Tenma for me will you?" They nodded obediently, "Misty… stay here, and watch Daidalos' brat… we don't need more missing brats!" Misty nodded.

Daidalos nodded in agreement, "Thank you milord, Misty… thanks. Can you tell Marin to take care of June a bit longer when she come back later?"

Misty shrugged, "No problem…"

Leda and Spica blinked, they can take care of himself in Rodorio! It was not the first time they came here! But they were too scared to say otherwise to a gold saint, and suddenly they remembered. "Um Lord DeathMask? You are looking for Pegasus?" Leda asked timidly.

"Yeah… so what?"

Leda answered timidly, "We saw him around twenty minutes ago near Lugonis Florist, leaping around rooftops."

DeathMask sighed, "Twenty minutes ago? Tenma is a saint! Twenty minutes is enough for him to run from east side of Rodorio to the west side… when he is lazy." He sighed, "Anyway… let's move out, Tenma can take care of himself but Daidalos… I just realized the last time I saw your brat; he was not in a good part of Rodorio. How the hell he ended up in slum area anyway? He might be in trouble by now. Especially with that face…" He muttered grimly as walked out of the Tavern followed by Silver saints. Daidalos paled at what he heard and prayed Shun would be all right.

Whitechapel, slum district of Rodorio

Shun was walking around the alley tiredly, he had try to find his own way or looking for someone he could ask but unfortunately the only living being he encountered after that scary man was stray cats. He was lonely here, and he didn't know where he was. It as if he was wandering around aimlessly in a labyrinth, and this time no one was around to help him, not Ikki, not Master Daidalos, June, Spica, Leda…. No one. He didn't want to depend on anyone too much but at the time like this at least he wanted a companion.

Shun was startled when he bumped at someone's leg, and he fell flat on his back. Groaning at the pain, then sat up shakily. He blinked when realized he was shadowed then looked up, there were two men who were staring at him. Both of them wore ragged clothes, messy hair that saying they didn't know comb had been invented. Their teeth were yellow, they gritted their teeth menacingly at him with a cigarette on their mouth. They were easily three times his size with scars on their arms and face. Shun was never one who marked someone by their looks but he can't help but think these two were up to no good, and especially not good for him.

He gulped nervously, "I am sorry Sir!" He apologized politely, then stand up and dusting his clothes. "I was spacing out so I didn't pay attention to where I was going…" He explained sheepishly as backed down slowly, silently counting from one to three to turn around and run away. "So please excuse me…"

But when he was in the mid of turning around one of them caught him by his shoulder, and the Japanese trainee winced at how hard the man's grip on his shoulder. "Wait a minute little girl…" Shun was never feel so scared when someone mistaken his gender in daily basis, but this man made it sounded like spell of doom for him. "You didn't expect a sweet apology like that would be enough, hm?"

Another part of Rodorio

Hyouga was seriously regretting his decision to join Isaac on his exploration, he could walk around on his own without Isaac once he got a copy of Rodorio's map from Crystal saint, but Isaac's dejected face ruined his resolve. He wanted to buy a rose just for a small offering to his mother, one he will throw away to the ocean once they returned to Siberia. Rose can wait for later but accompanying hyper child like Isaac was really draining, and he knew his master asked them to stick with each other not for Isaac to keep watch on him, it's another way around. Crystal saint winked at him when he let them go, then looked at jumpy Isaac, no doubt that meant 'keep Isaac out of trouble' che… But as if adding to his misery when Isaac excitedly dragging him to an ice cream stall they met Jabu. And now they were sitting on a bench right beside the ice cream stall.

"So!" Isaac began cheerfully, "You are one of 100 Japanese boys who started saint training few months ago like Hyoga?" He asked Jabu who in the mid of licking his blueberry ice cream.

Jabu nodded as licked the bits that left on his lips, "Yep! I am training in Algeria for Unicorn cloth!"

And how these two get along so fast didn't make him happy in a way, because 1 plus 1 was two hyper kids. And the fact Jabu got himself lost that he was separated from older trainees who accompanied him, it guaranteed they will stuck till it was time to return to Silver Lyre tavern, because Jabu's master was there too. Jabu refused to look for older trainees from Algeria because they kept teasing him as lover boy; Hyoga thought that was true though.

"Hey Hyoga! Why you didn't order an ice cream instead of an ice tea?" Isaac asked curiously.

Hyoga calmly sucked the straw; "I want to drink tea so I ordered an ice tea in such a hot weather…" He deadpanned then turned his face to another direction.

Isaac gave him a look, "But we drink tea almost everyday in Siberia! And in such a cold place like our training ground we can't enjoy ice cream!" He whined.

And Hyoga gave him an answer that was as cool as cucumber, "Were you accusing that I suppose to be bored of tea?" He asked calmly, "How about you? We saw plenty of ice in Siberia that I wonder how you are not sick to see an ice cream here…"

Isaac didn't catch the sarcasm at all, "But ice in Siberia is tasteless!"

How Hyoga hoped he could meet Shun, Shiryuu and Ikki, so he can dump these two on their own. His old group knew what so called minding their own business, Hyoga didn't hate Isaac but he was too hyper for Hyoga. "Okay… look, can you please talk with Jabu about something? I want to think, and I need my quality time." He pleaded in desperate tone.

"About your mama?" Isaac asked curiously.

Hyoga almost growled, "Yes! Now go talk to Jabu or else…" He said as turned his face away to look at the sky, ah… a cute butterfly…

Isaac shrugged; it must be the hot weather that caused Hyoga to be so grumpy. Then he turned to Jabu, "So Jabu… I know you guys got send by a rich man for saint training, but you must have something in your mind to be a saint."

Jabu nodded as his face became dreamy and red, Hyoga didn't need to hear because he could guess what Jabu would say. "You see… fighting for Athena is cool and all… just like my master, but you know… it's okay for me to have my very own princess I would like to protect right?" Isaac nodded but his face didn't say he really got what Jabu was talking about. "So after six years… I will return to Japan for Saori-ojousama." Then he rubbed the back of his head, as sighing dreamily. "I hope in the future she will welcome me as her knight… Unicorn saint in your service Ojou-sama…"

Silently even though he was not involved in the conversation Hyoga was commenting on his mind, 'As if Jabu… if anything Saori will welcome you as her horse, at the very least in the next six year you will be promoted from horse to unicorn…" How he wished to tell this hilarious statement to his friends who though Jabu's obsession of Saori was disturbing. And he was sure everyone on his group especially Ikki would be happy to know Jabu was training for Unicorn cloth! How fitting of him!

Isaac in the other hand was quite pleased, Jabu was willing to fight for Athena and he had a girl waiting for him in Japan. It was like story of a knight who fought in battlefield for his country with a princess who was waiting for him, beside no one forbid saint to have a love life! "Cool… so this Ojou is waiting for you in Japan?" Hyoga took a mental note to tell Isaac later that Ojou was not a name; its translation in Greek was lady.

Jabu grinned, "Off course… I saw her looking at the me from balcony when I was about to hop on the bus!"

"Oh!" Isaac somehow felt excited to hear someone's love life, not like he really got about crush and stuff but it sounded fun! And it was like story from books Aquarius Camus left in their hut! "Wow, so it's a romantic separation?"

Once again Hyouga was commenting on his mind, 'because Jabu was the first group to go he didn't know Saori and her grandpa were watching every single group that left. And I bet Jabu even didn't remember her grandpa was there beside her…'

Jabu huffed proudly, "Yep! And everyday through our harsh training I remind myself that Ojou-sama is waiting for me! Even my master was so pleased of my effort as he kept smiling when he trained me!" He boasted proudly.

"Woah! You are awesome Jabu!" Isaac praised with awe.

'I bet you were yelling her name in your training as motivation, or some kind of charm. And your master must be thinking that you are hilarious lover boy.' Hyoga thought amusedly, and in another side of Rodorio Scutum Saint Garna was sneezing in a hot summer day.

"Hyoga! Can I have one more cone?" Isaac asked eagerly.

Hyoga groaned, why his master had to give him all the money? He had to babysit two hyper kids and managed their budget too? "Look, Isaac too many ice cream in such a hot…" He trailed off as looking in horror at how messy Jabu and Isaac was eating their ice cream. They had ice cream around their mouth like moustache, and some stained their clothes. "Isaac! Jabu! Don't make a mess!" He growled as he took a tissue package from his pocket then handed it to them. "Seriously! Both of you should mind your manner! Even if it's just ice cream!"

Jabu rolled his eyes as he wiped his mouth with tissue, "Oh, shut up Hyoga! You spent too much time with Shiryu!"

The future ice saint was counting from one to ten, telling himself that he should get out of here. He could go to look for Shun and Shiryu. He was not sure about Ikki though when he heard about rumor of Death Queen Island. He hopped off of the bench, "Okay… listen!" He said sternly, "I am going to the nearest florist and bookshop! I will give you two enough money to but two more cones each… but I suggest just buy one more and buy yourself water, or other kind of snack!" He said as handed the money to Isaac.

"But Hyoga! This is the first time you come here, you will get lost!" Isaac warned.

Hyoga huffed, as he took out a small folded map from his pocket. "I will not get lost Isaac! I am sure I can manage on my own with this map! So see you later!" He said as turned back.

Isaac stopped Hyoga from going in which the blond boy didn't take kindly as he snarled, "I am sorry Hyoga! But I… you know, I have bad sense of direction." He admitted sheepishly.

"…"

There goes his plan to looks for his friends, and he thought if it was in the middle of the town Isaac won't get lost. Hyoga recalled Isaac did get lost a couple of time in Siberia, which understandable where everything was white and they found their way home with landmark. "Okay… give me around twenty to thirty minutes. Wait for me here and don't move! I will be back by that time!" He said as walking away slowly ignoring cheerful OK from Isaac.

Unknown to him a tall teenager with deep blue eyes was watching the entire conversation. His lips twitched in amusement as Isaac went back to hop on the bench and ordered two more cones for him and Jabu, then they chatted about something that made both of them laughed in the same time. But the observer had no interest to watch them anymore as he decided to follow Hyoga instead and as he walked pass another pedestrians, they felt some cold air blew out of nowhere in hot summer day.

And back to our future Andromeda Saint…

Whitechapel, slum district of Rodorio

"You didn't expect a sweet apology like that would be enough, hm?" The man snarled at Shun menacingly.

Shun was helplessly tried to free himself from the thug's hold on his waist, his feet were dangling in panic. Shun told himself not to cry because if anything it would just pushed him deeper into trouble, no one could help him now even Ikki. He had to try by himself, "I am really sorry Sir! I didn't meant to annoy you or anything so please let me go!" He couldn't fight so at least he should try to convince these men.

The man turned his face to his friend, grinning evilly. "Hey! This brat is so polite and pretty, not to mention her foreign look! How much she would worth if we sell her, Gotz?"

Gotz smiled at that, "Oh… lots! She is quite a catch!" He commented as licking his lips, his eyes were gleaming with greed. "I bet this brat at least worth three times of usual deal, Sam."

Shun's eyes widened, they wanted to sell him? But he was a human not thing! "Sir! Please let me go!" He squirmed as hard as he could, "I am a boy not girl! And you can't sell human!"

Sam laughed at Shun, "You hear that Gotz? The brat said she was a boy!"

"I am!" Shun was getting desperate as he was almost out of energy to squirm. "My teacher is waiting for me! I am a saint trainee! I need to go back to him!" He hoped if he told them that he was a trainee maybe that can scare them away, because all peoples in Rodorio knew how strong a saint was.

But they laughed at Shun's words, and then glared at the Japanese boy. "You? A saint in training? Like I will believe that… "He snorted, "If you really are one, how if you try to break free from big bad guy like me?" He mocked.

Gotz reached out to touch Shun's cheek, "With skin this white and smooth you think… you can fool…"

"WHAT THE HELL YOU ARE DOING DOWN THERE?" Someone yelled from above and the next thing Shun knew the man who was holding him got a kick printed right on his face.

Shun yelped when he was thrown away from the impact, but before he could land head first, someone caught him in the midair, and they landed on their feet. Shun blinked as he felt someone was supporting him to stand with standing behind him and one hand on his shoulder, "Hey! Are you alright?" His savior asked as Shun inched away once he regained his strength.

The future Andromeda saint looked at the boy who saved him, the boy had white robe that covered most of his body except his head because he didn't wear the hood. It was a Japanese boy with tanned skin, brown hair and eyes with lighter shade of brown. Shun nodded timidly, "Thank you for helping me…"

The boy grinned, "No problem!"

"Brat! How dare you kicked me on my face!" Sam yelled angrily as stood up shakily, a nice footprint was visible on his face.

Shun yelped and then took hold of the boy's hand, ready to run away from them but the boy didn't bulge even an inch. "Off course I dare! You guys picked on someone one-third your size shamelessly; you deserve more than just that, thugs!" He growled back, "How if you pick someone your size or bigger than you?" He mocked as smirking widely. "And then you can call yourself a man!"

"Someone as big as you brat? You are barely taller than that little girl!" Gotz said as laughing at the boy.

Sam nodded in agreement, "Are you playing hero or something kid? You want to save your princess? How if you go back to your mama and ask her to read you a fairy tale?" He mocked.

The brown haired boy raised an eyebrow, "What princess? He is a boy!"

Silence…

Gotz's left eyebrow twitched, "You didn't really believe bullshit she said, do you?" He asked, "Or maybe you really need get your eyes fixed!"

"My eyes are fine! And I think it's you who fail your biology!" The boy barked back, at dumbfounded look he got he added. "Oh my mistake… I doubt you even ever knew what's biology mean!" He stated haughtily which seethed the thugs in rage, "Anyway… shoo! You better go in five second before I decided your ass worth no mercy!"

And off course they didn't listen as both of the massive built men charged straight, ready to torn the boy apart. Shun was startled when the boy pulled him to dodge to the left side faster than he could see, he took off his robe then threw it right on them. Sam and Gotz yelped in panic when the robe covered their sight and they crashed to the ground.

Shun's eyes widened at how easy the boy toyed the men three times their size, "Wow!" But he was more shocked when he saw the boy without the robe; he knew he ever saw this boy somewhere. He was that Pegasus saint!

Tenma whistled at twitching men underneath his robe, no doubt they hit the ground full force, how idiot! Then he turned back to Shun, "Yo! Hope you won't mind little violence here… by the way you are not from sanctuary right?" At Shun's nod he grinned, "From which training ground? Liberia? Algeria? Or maybe Sicily?" He asked cheerfully.

Before Shun could answer his eyes widened, "Look out! Behind you!"

Tenma sighed as he blocked a punch that aimed to the back of his head without looking back, "Oh please… can't you see I am a saint? How if you start running and I promise won't catch you!" Tenma promised as turned back slowly. Then sighed when another man repeated what his friend did and Tenma caught the fist. "Okay… can you please just run?" He offered again.

Gotz growled, "How that tiny hand could… DAMN BRAT!" he yelled as he tried to apply more force on his fist.

Tenma rolled his eyes, "Okay… this means I get to kick your ass…" He mumbled tiredly then let go of their hand. Their eyes widened when Tenma disappeared from their sight and the next thing they knew their face once again planted on the ground, they were still conscious but then a hit on the back of their head knocked them out cold.

Shun was frozen on the spot as his eyes locked on Tenma, who was dusting his hand complaining about dirty hair, then took his discarded robe and used it as napkin. "Uhm… are you alright?" He asked worriedly.

Tenma blinked at Shun, "Off course! You didn't think two thugs could do anything to a saint, do you?" He asked as raised an eyebrow, at Shun's yelp he quickly added. "Okay, you are just worried… I get that!" He grinned, "By the way… I just realize…"

"Yes?"

"Which training ground you came from again?" Tenma asked curiously.

Degel of Bluegrad BookShop

Flower could wait for later and Hyoga was afraid he would spoil it when wandering around the bookshop. He only had half an hour but he would make the best of it, his blue eyes widened in awe when he saw book of constellation. It was new and printed this year, he liked the old one they had in Siberia but he though a new one like this was better beside it was the same edition! The book unfortunately was in a shelf that higher than the Japanese boy. Hyoga tried to stretch his hand as long as he could; he won't go back to Siberia without it! He was startled when someone's hand reached out right beside his and chilly air stroked his skin gently, Hyoga blinked when the stranger took the book he wanted and handed it to him.

Hyoga bowed politely, "Thank you sir, I can't reach it by myself…" he admitted sheepishly as looked up to the man who helped him. It was a man with white long sleeved shirt and black pants which even though simple gave him a sophisticated look.

"Are you Hyoga?" The man asked with toneless voice.

The blond boy blinked, "I am sir… how do you know my name?" Hyoga asked with shock clearly sipped to his voice.

The man narrowed his eyes, and then said. "Why you want that book Hyoga? A child your age usually won't read a book that thick."

Hyoga was taken back at the question, "Uhm… I don't mind the thickness, this book even though it's thick… in previous edition I like the illustration of constellation, it also provided how to spot it in the sky and mythology behind the said constellation." Hyoga explained, unsure why he complied the man's question. "Uhm I am sorry if I am being rude and all… but do I know you? You feel familiar… somehow."

The man can't help but gave the boy amused look, Hyoga barely started the training but able to feel how similar someone's cosmos with his master's, he had a good intuition. "My name is Aquarius Camus, master of Crystal saint…"

Hyoga's eyes widened, "Master's master?" Then he quickly covered his mouth when realized he was almost yelling because of shock, "I am sorry uhm… Lord Camus, for… being rude." He said unsurely.

Camus shook his head, "Just call me master like you would Crystal, and Hyoga after I paid that for you, would you like to accompany me for the rest of afternoon? I will send a message to Crystal if you agree." The Aquarius saint offered.

The future Cygnus was fighting his urge to jump in happiness, he got to spend his time with his master's master! "Uhm I would love too Master but… you don't have to pay the book for me… master Crystal gave me enough to pay."

"Nonsense…" Camus muttered softly, "All books you have in Siberia hut were bought by me. Library of Siberia is part of my private collection Hyoga, and I wouldn't be happy if you use pocket money Crystal gave… to add one more book to our library." The Aquarius saint explained as he led Hyoga to the cashier.

"Alright master!" Hyoga beamed.

Albafica florist

After they paid the book Camus and Hyoga went to florist shop that was just across the bookshop. Hyoga was so excited when he found so many kind of roses and Camus was quite knowledgeable about flower even though he was no Aphrodite and picked a big rose with the reddest hue among hundreds they put on the display. The staff put the rose inside a transparent cylinder package that filled with jelly, and made few holes on the upper side then gave it to Hyoga inside of a plastic bag.

"Master Camus… may I ask you something?" Hyoga asked politely.

Camus nodded, "Feel free to ask…"

Hyoga beamed, "Is trainees from Andromeda Island, Rozan and Death Queen Island came to this convention?" He asked hopefully.

The Aquarius saint pondered Hyoga's question for a while, "Hm… Cepheus Daidalos, the one who is in charge of Andromeda Island would never miss this kind of social event." He answered and Hyoga's smile widened at that, he could meet Shun! "As for Rozan… the one in charge of that training ground Roushi…" Camus trailed off, wondering how he should explain. "He is too old Hyoga, he never came back to sanctuary for years. And Death Queen Island, well… no one ever stepped out from that island before their training ended." At that Hyoga's shoulder fell, at least Shun was in Rodorio by now.

"Thank you master Camus… and I hope you don't mind I go back to my friends first." He said shyly.

Camus shook his head, "I don't mind… I already met Isaac a couple of times Hyoga." Then sighed, "I am sure you find Isaac as quite handful." At this statement Hyoga blushed deep red, wondering if Camus saw something Hyoga didn't want him to see.

"I guess…" He said as turned his attention back to the road, and they already return to where Hyoga parted with Isaac and Jabu. Hyoga's eyes widened in horror, as he saw no one sat on the bench, and without a word he ran to the ice cream stall leaving Camus behind, "Mister! Where were my friends going to?" He asked in panic.

The owner of the stall blinked, "Uhm, the two boys who were eating ice cream there? They left five minutes ago, I heard they said you are taking too long." He said apologetically, somehow he felt guilty for not stopping the two from leaving.

"But! Isaac's sense of direction is horrible! And Jabu didn't know Rodorio at all!" He groaned as pacing back and forth in panic, and then realized he left Camus behind. Hyoga sprinted back to Camus then bowed, "I am sorry Master Camus… it's just… Isaac and Jabu are…"

Camus cut him in, "I don't mind Hyoga and trust me… " He said as recalled how many times Milo got himself lost when they were six, and Camus had to find him. Luckily Milo got better when he was older. "I really know how it feel when an idiot get lost…"In which many question mark were hanging above Hyoga's head.

"Hyoga!" Someone called. Camus and Hyoga looked back, and found Crystal and Gardna was running toward them, "Master Camus?" Crystal called, "Ah… I didn't know you are in Rodorio."

Camus sighed, "I met Hyoga around here Crystal… and may I know why you and Gardna are running in panic like that?" He asked in scolding tone.

Crystal winced; he must be looked awful running around in panic. When his master always said that a saint had to keep their composure and all. "Uhm… Well master, under Lord DeathMask' order…"

"DeathMask?" Camus almost raised his cold voice.

Gardna and Crystal nodded, and the Scutum saint decided to join conversation just in case because Crystal seemed cornered by Camus' presence. "Yes… Lord DeathMask need our help, so we are running an errand for him Lord Camus."

The Aquarius saint crossed his arms on his chest, "Where you met DeathMask?"

"In Silver Lyre Tavern, master…" Crystal answered nervously.

Camus began to feel a headache, "Crystal… please tell me DeathMask is not running around Rodorio on his own and looking for someone."

No one dared to answer that; because it sounded they had just made a terrible mistake for leaving Daidalos with DeathMask, "Uhm…" Crystal began, "He is not alone… he is with Daidalos, and yes… he is looking for Pegasus and one of Daidalos' disciple who got lost."

Camus sighed at that, "Shaka will kill DeathMask if he know…" He mumbled under his breath. "And Aiolia… if there is anything left when Shaka was done…"

Crystal looked around, "Uhm… sorry Master, but… Hyoga where is Isaac?" He asked to his disciple.

In which Hyoga gave him a look that creepily reminded Crystal of how Camus looked like when Milo was pulling one of his infamous prank. "I only left for twenty five minutes, I left enough money to occupy themselves with snack or whatever they want…" He began in annoyed tone, "I told them to not go anywhere and they did!" He stated sternly, "So master… may I refuse to look for Isaac the next time he got lost in snowfield?" He asked sweetly, which meant as sarcasm.

Crystal sighed at amused look Gardna shot him, and Camus was slightly disturbed at how Hyoga behaved. His friendship with Isaac creepily reminded him of his with Milo. Crystal blinked when he recalled Hyoga used plural when he asked about Isaac, "Hyoga… is Isaac with someone?"

"Yes!" Hyoga drawled impatiently, "He is with one of my acquaintances from Japan, the name is Jabu." Because Jabu was too annoying to be his friend so he refer him as acquaintance.

Gardna's horrified face was quite hilarious, he stammered. "My disciple got lost too?"

Crystal backed away from Camus when he realized that telling his master that both of him and Gardna couldn't take care of their disciple was a very bad idea. He just wanted to give them a bit of freedom to explore the city on their own, and because Hyoga was smart enough to use map he though no one would get lost. Gardna and Crystal were frozen on their track as chilly air flowed from the gold saint.

Camus gritted his teeth, "So… what's with all of you silver saints? Is this the day for you to let your disciples got lost?"

The Crystal saint shook his head violently, "No master! We just want to give them a little freedom to explore Rodorio!"

Gardna nodded frantically, "Lord Camus, we are sorry for this humiliating event but we didn't mean it to happen!"

"Off course you did not!" Camus drawled dangerously, "And what are you waiting for? Gardna! Go and find your disciple!" Gardna nodded dumbly as holding himself back to not run away in that very second. Then Camus turned to his disciple, "Crystal leave Hyoga to me! So go find Isaac before dusk! Even Rodorio can be dangerous at night!" Hyoga was standing right beside Camus, startled at how cold the air in summer like this. But Hyoga if anything was really awed at Camus' display of power and completely forgot his master was being scolded. "And if you see DeathMask again, tell him that he has two hours till sun sets and if he can't find Pegasus by that time…" Camus trailed off angrily, "I will not save him from Shaka and Aiolia again!"

"Yes Sir!" The silver saints chorused as sprinted away leaving the seething in rage gold saint of Aquarius and Hyoga who was staring at Camus with starry admiration on his eyes.

'Master Camus is so cool!'

Sanctuary (Temple of Maiden)

Unknown to Camus actually he didn't have to save DeathMask, because situation in sanctuary was a bit too busy…

Aphrodite was scared out of his wits, not for fear of DeathMask's life because Shaka and Aiolia had returned to sanctuary. In fact Shaka and Aiolia stormed through Aries to Cancer with frustrated face, off course they did ask what Tenma was doing. Aphrodite couldn't answer right away added with the fact he guarded Cancer temple when the guardian was off to Rodorio, but he was so relieved when they told him Tenma for the rest of the day would be with DeathMask. Shaka and Aiolia received emergency message about dry seasons in one of training ground got worse, and they were getting problem with food and water, therefore Shaka had to arrange supplies immediately. Aiolia also had his hands full for sudden flooded mission report that afternoon. And after one pile another pile arrived much to their frustration to the point Aphrodite lent them a hand.

And back to why Aphrodite was scared, it was simply because he had lie to Shaka without thinking twice. He told Shaka that Tenma was training with Deathmask in east ground, when usually Shaka was never one that could be deceived; the Virgo saint was too busy to pay attention. Aphrodite was sure if Shaka found out and Aiolia too, he was doomed!

Aphrodite peeked from document he was doing at Shaka who was definitely very busy, "Aiolia, please finish that report in two hours or you are dead." Shaka said calmly as he stamped the piled paperwork. Shaka was in his worse time as he was having his tranquil fury time, Aphrodite never understand how Shaka could be so calm and soft-spoken when he was angry.

Aiolia was in no better condition, and the Pisces saint also wondered how these two could be close friend. Shaka was close with Mu was understandable but Aiolia and Shaka was like heaven and earth. Aiolia snapped, "I get it Shaka! Don't throw death threat with indifferent face like that! It's not my fault if I couldn't finish this right away as those new bronze saints are not capable to write a proper report!" He groaned, "Galan! Come here!" He barked to his retainer.

"Yes, Lord Aiolia…" Galan was Aiolia's retainer, an Ex-trainee with massive build, dark skinned Greek, whose one of his hand was artificial due to an accident when he was a saint in training. "What do you require of me milord?"

Aiolia threw three thin files to Galan, which caught by the retainer with ease. Then the Leo saint turned his face back to his document, "Told those three bronzes to rewrite their report in one hour! And if they are complaining… told them to personally say it to my face!" He roared as another quill broke on his hand. "And make sure to tell them to write a professional one, NOT a half-baked report like that!"

Galan bowed deeply, "Off course milord…" He said as turned back, walking away to entrance of Shaka's office. Shaka and Aiolia shared the same office just to save time of traveling between Leo and Virgo, where Milo and Camus sometimes shared the same office too. And due to Shaka being the Pope's assistant his office was bigger than Aiolia's.

"Aphrodite!" Aiolia called. "Where's document I asked you to sort out?" He asked impatiently.

The Swedish saint flinched as he hurriedly took the pile of finished document, "Okay Aiolia! Document for training ground of west Europe!" He said as put it carefully to a couch beside Aiolia's desk because there was no more space on his desk. "So far no problem for west Europe training ground, and we have dispatched three bronze saints and one silver to make sure no more EX-trainee turn criminals." Aphrodite explained as flipped through few thick files.

Aiolia, sighed in relieve, "My goddess… what's with these flooding paperwork today?" He whined.

"If you have time to whine let your hand work too." Shaka drawled calmly, in which the Leo saint groaned in response. "Agni! What are you doing?"

Aphrodite sighed at panicked retainer of Shaka, who carefully brought a high pile of paperwork. Shaka's retainer was an Indian like him; Aphrodite heard Agni had served Shaka in India even before he became gold saint because he was the son of chief servant of temple where Shaka was raised. Unlike Shaka his skin was dark, short white hair, and similar built with Galan. Even though he wore tunic like other Greek servant he still keeping his turban.

"Where should I put this?" He asked timidly, no one could blame Agni to be timid if his master seemed ready to explode. "There is no more space in your desk Lord Shaka…"

There goes another precious quill, this time by Shaka. "Just put it on the couch, carpet, wherever you want…" He drawled dangerously.

Agni flinched, "Jo ajna(as your command) Lord Shaka!" He replied in panic as dropped the pile to the nearest coach without ceremony, thus it scattered and Agni rushed to collect it back to one pile.

"This is Greece. Don't slip to Hindi, Agni…" Shaka sighed. "How many times I told you that?"

"My apologize Lord Shaka!" Agni yelped as kneeling to apologize with his arm rose ready to completely lay on the floor in submission. Aphrodite giggled softly, sometimes this retainer of Shaka was a bit of Drama queen, and unlike his appearance was softhearted. And he was just like other Indian who knew Shaka, regarding the blond Virgo like a demigod, much to Shaka's chagrin.

"Stop that! And rather than wasting your time on the floor go to Scorpio temple and tell Milo if he can't complete documentation file he was assigned to do in two hours…" He trailed off, and Aiolia could guess what next. "He is dead."

"Jo…" Agni began.

"Agni… can you please just scram?" Shaka asked politely, and in the next second Agni was gone from Shaka's office.

Aiolia sighed as shaking his head, "Shaka… please stop throwing death threat like that." He pleaded; his hand didn't stop stamping as he spoke.

Shaka glared at Aiolia, "Please keep your mouth shut Aiolia… or …"

"Fine!" Aiolia snapped as he stamped another document.

Aphrodite sighed in a long-suffering way, this would be the most tiring afternoon they ever had or maybe night too. He prayed DeathMask could find Tenma before Aiolia and Shaka realized Tenma was not in sanctuary, if they knew… Aphrodite shuddered at mere imagination of what they would do to him and DeathMask. But the Pisces saint had no long while to muse as, "Aphrodite! This paper is not supposed to be in this file!"

Aphrodite groaned, "Yes! I will sort it out again!"

Whitechapel, slum district of Rodorio

Shun was so relieved he managed to get away from the two scary thugs, but he was worried because the thugs even though unconscious were twitching weirdly. "Uhm… will they be alright?"

The young Pegasus saint raised an eyebrow, "They wanted to harm you, but you are worried about them?" He asked in disbelief.

"Why not?" Shun asked back, "I mean… they are bad and all, but it's not like I am hurt and they looks like that…" He said as looking with pity at the twitching thugs.

"Err… in case you didn't have proper grasp of situation you was in…" Tenma trailed off, unsure if he had to explain what's going to happen to Shun if he didn't come in time. "Once they catch you, they usually will bring you to… erm…" Tenma stammered, "They will bring you to bad guys whose business is slave trading, and then sell you to them…"

Shun's eyes widened in fear, "But! I am a boy not a thing! How they can sell human?"

Tenma scratched his head, sighing in a long-suffering way. Whoever the master of this boy, he had to teach him that the world was not as easy as that. As how Shaka phrase it… sick moral? If he remembered correctly Andromeda Island where Shun was training was famous for it's hellish environment. How such a frail boy like Shun could be send there? "Well… they can and they could." Tenma stated, "They will even put anyone they catch to an auction… parading human like goods in store." The Pegasus saint informed Shun with indifferent tone, even though inside he was boiling with rage for such inhuman crime.

Tenma held his gaze firmly at Shun; ready to receive an outburst when he heard human could be put in an auction. But Shun did nothing of the sort; he was blinking his green eyes curiously. And then he asked, "What's an auction? A festival?"

The Pegasus saint blinked then realized Shun was one of the new trainees and as fluent as he was, Shun was not familiar with word that not usually used in daily conversation. "On second though… you better of not knowing." He decided tiredly as began to walk away.

"Uhm wait!" Shun called.

He laughed, "I am not going to leave you defenseless in here, you should follow me and I will bring you back to where your master is waiting." Tenma said as he offered his hand kindly.

Shun nodded as he took Tenma's hand shyly, embarrassed to show how scared he was if Tenma decided to leave him alone. And Pegasus saint seemed nothing like someone who would do something like that, and he had helped too. Shun looked down then asked timidly, "I am sorry but… we have not introduce ourselves." He gulped, "My name is Shun… Amamiya Shun, I am Japanese trainee from Andromeda Island, fourth disciple of Cepheus Daidalos… I am training for Andromeda cloth." Shun said politely, it was standard information a saint or anyone belong to their rank to introduce themselves to their comrades.

The Pegasus saint smiled as shaking Shun's hand, "My name is Pegasus Tenma… bronze rank saint from sanctuary training ground. As for master… I don't have one." He admitted the last part sheepishly, even though eight gold saints taught him, and he was not their official disciple. They told him all about being a saint, but never their signature technique, something master and disciple supposed to share. Tenma's technique was his own creation, a technique he created from scratch and vague dream of battle he had.

Shun had heard Tenma was trained by gold saints, so why he didn't say so? But Shun knew when to not ask question that was better of never asked. As they walk away from that alley Shun tried to began a conversation, "Your name is Tenma right?" At his nod Shun chuckled softly, "It suits you and your cloth!" He commented cheerfully.

Tenma raised an eyebrow, "How it suits me? No one ever told me if my name has special meaning, as far as I know… I was named after the previous owner of my cloth." He said with thoughtful look.

The future Andromeda saint titled his head to the side, wondering if Tenma never met any Japanese before or it was because prejudice issue of race in saint rank. "My name Shun means twinkle… if it's written in different kanji it's mean can be fast or talented." Shun explained with fond voice, and then he added. "You know… name is first special gift our parents gave to us, that's what my brother told me." He admitted sheepishly. "And I think I am understand why you are named Tenma… it's really suits you." Shun said shyly as he recalled how alike Tenma was with a Pegasus when he leaped high above the ground, soaring the sky freely as if he had wings.

Tenma blushed deep red; somehow he was embarrassed someone said something good about his name. Usually many people scorned his name, wondering what the Pope was thinking to give an Asian name to him when his looks didn't help him any. "Uhm… I think your name also fits you Shun, well… when you are not exactly twinkling." He joked which made the Japanese boy pouted at him. "Oh come on, it's just not possible literally, but!" He exclaimed as jerked his thumb to his chest, "I think you are in here." At Shun's blush he laughed, "What's with us blushing like a girl? And by the way what's Tenma means in Japanese anyway?" He asked curiously.

At his question Shun pointed at Tenma's cloth, he blinked. "Tenma means Heavenly Steed, Pegasus off course." Shun said as smiled at him.

"…"

"You know there is various way of writing name in Japanese alphabet, but yours I am sure the Ten is from Ten for heaven, and uma which in Japanese means horse!" Shun explained slowly.

"…"

"Tenma?"

"HA ha ha ha ha ha…" He laughed out loud as banging his fist to the nearest wall, "What the hell? My name means Heavenly Steed?" He asked out loud.

Shun nodded, bewildered at Tenma's sudden burst. "Yes… it means heavenly steed, Pegasus."

Tenma was rolling on the floor now, his eyes were teary, "Oh my Athena! I doubt our Pope was aware what's my name means! So I am Pegasus Pegasus? Ha ha ha ha…"

"It's not that funny…" Shun pouted, "I mean… I saw you before on the street, leaping above rooftops as if you were flying." He said as smiled gently at Tenma who was lying on the floor, looking weirdly at him, "I mean… it's really like you were soaring the sky with a pair of wings on your back, like a Pegasus…"

The Pegasus saint locked his eyes at the pair of green orbs, Shun's eyes had different shade of green Aiolia had, Aiolia's eyes were full of determination and unwavering bravery. Shaka's blue eyes were mystic and because it were rarely seen, it always seemed mysterious and ethereal. Aldebaran's eyes were dull but full of warmth and kindness, he could go on and on about his brothers just from their eyes. But none of them had what Shun's eyes had, it was innocence and purity, maybe childish… something all gold saints grew out quickly because of call of duty.

He smiled, "Well…" he trailed off as stood up with a jump, "You sounds really dreamy when talking about flying." He pointed out with a grin.

Shun returned his smile, shrugging. "It's just… seems so fun, you know… fly on your own without plane or anything…" He admitted sheepishly, "I wish I have wings like you Tenma."

Tenma blinked, "Wings? I don't have any…"

"But your cloth is Pegasus." Shun said as looking at Tenma's white cloth, as if trying to find anything that looks like wing.

"When my cloth is assembled back to Pandora box, it does have wings." He beamed, and then laughed. "Sadly that wings would fold and form this mitpa." He said as pointed at armor part that covered his lower body.

"Mitpa?" Shun repeated.

"Uhm… that's Greek for armor part to cover lower body, despite of my face looks Asian and also my name…" He trailed off tiredly "I am really a Greek Shun…" at that Shun blinked, "Anyway Shun, I am wondering if you want to try flying?"

"…"

"…So?"

"Eeeh?" Shun yelped, "But I can't fly!"

Tenma smiled as he turned back then bowed a bit, "Now hop on Shun!"

"Eh! But!" He stammered embarrassedly. "That's…"

"Oh please… piggyback won't hurt your manly pride or anything!" He retorted dryly, "Even Alde sometimes piggyback me, or others who sometimes forgot what's so called limit in sparing…" Well in their case they didn't have any choice, Milo, DeathMask, Aiolia and Shura sometimes needed help to go back after overworked themselves, and Aldebaran was too kind to leave them sleeping outside. If it was Shaka or Camus, they will at least throw a blanket and let them sleep on the cold ground. "You won't piggyback? I will scoop you up in bridal style instead, how is that sound?" Tenma threatened jokingly.

Shun cringed at that, "No! I will hop on!" He yelped as hop on Tenma's back.

Tenma grinned as he felt extra weight on his back, and then frowned. "Shun?"

"Yes?"

"Hold on tight!" He exclaimed as jumped as high as he could till they reached the rooftop. And before Shun could say anything Tenma leaped once again and this time their back was facing the ground.

Shun was scared but also excited in the same time, the scenery of Rodorio looked so magical when he saw it upside down. "We are flying!"

Tenma just laughed as they landed on a rooftop but in the next second they were in the midair again, "So… how it feels? This is not really flying but close enough ne?"

The future Andromeda saint laughed, "It's amazing! Tenma you are so cool, you can fly!"

Tenma grinned, "Oh please… your praise is starting to get into my head!" He chuckled softly then said, "Once you master your cosmos…" He trailed off as once again leaping using the rooftop as footing, soaring the sky without wings. "You will be able to do this too Shun."

"Really?" Shun asked hopefully.

Tenma nodded with a big grin formed on his lips, "Off course, this is nothing compared of what a saint really capable of." He paused, "Say… sun will set in one and half hour, I am sure your master won't mind if I fly you for half an hour!"

"EH?" Shun yelped as Tenma took another leap.

"I am a saint Shun, I know your master have many disciples so he must be divided his attention to each of you… just take this as a free offer from me as your… friend." He stated the last part unsurely, he never had friend his age. His family and friends were gold saints, their kind servants and Pope. In fact he was the youngest occupant of twelve temples. "I mean ask for tips about cosmos, despite of my looks… I am quite an expert in cosmos theory." He admitted sheepishly, "Well… more like have to be one, because I start my training since I was… two and half? Or three? I don't really remember." He shrugged.

Shun blinked, "Um Tenma… you were toddler when you started?" He asked in disbelief.

Tenma shrugged, "What did you expect? I was raised in sanctuary since I was just a baby!" He pointed out dryly, "You at least need six years to be a saint, that's normal standard… but that's for trainee who started their training when they were five to ten." Tenma explained slowly, "But if you started training younger than five like me… it would be easier."

"Uhm…" Shun grumbled, "How it's easier? I mean… our training in Andromeda Island is quite harsh, I barely have any strength by the end of the day!" He pointed out tiredly, "How that kind of training is easier if you are younger?" Shun asked curiously.

"You get used to it." Tenma deadpanned, "Your training feels harder because you have no mastery of cosmos." He informed with lofty tone, "Shun… what you are learning now is to tap cosmos, which come easier if you are younger…"

"How come?"

Tenma sighed, "Well… that's how our body work when it comes to understanding of cosmos." Tenma said as looked back to him. "It's all in your mind actually… you think what I am doing now is amazing? Do you think fist of saint who could crush the ground apart and render the sky is impossible?" He asked serenely.

How long a Saints train depends on all kinds of factors like the trainee's given potential, the teaching methods of the Master, and what else. Gold saints who mastered cosmos since they were young could be called genius, but that was more to the fact they had sheltered life from mundane world. Cosmos and knowledge of mundane world was like spear and shield, the older you were the more you know of mundane matter and the shield would be thicker, acting as boundary of cosmos to reach it's full potential. It was like once you were older you would think what cosmos could do for you as something hard and almost impossible, and your body would instinctively trained harder for it, when those who began since they were child would not be limited by such perception. Tenma understand that, the theory in fact was not complicated but sure sounded absurd for how much mind could limit cosmos in a wrong way.

Shun titled his head to the side, "I think it's amazing… but because I already see what you did, I don't think it's impossible." He stated shyly.

Tenma chuckled, "What I want to know is… do you think you can do it too someday?"

His shoulder fell at that, "Uhm… I am not sure, but I will try my best!" He exclaimed unsurely.

The Pegasus saint sighed, "Shun?"

"Uh huh?"

"You should…" He trailed off.

"BRAT!"

Shun yelped when someone jumped on their way, "Tenma look out!" But much to Shun' shock, Tenma out of reflex kicked the man who jumped right in front of them, and once again Tenma managed to print his boot on someone's face.

Tenma deadpanned, "What Masky is doing?" He asked as he landed on the rooftop and DeathMask fell like a fly.

Rodorio, Cyllene Road

Daidalos was trained by previous Cepheus saint therefore he didn't have any experience of dealing with gold saints, spending his time with DeathMask was quite… memorable. He was a gold saint but he was far cry from a saint, he glared at every moving creature on his sight, and all townspeople of Rodorio backed away from his way. But for some reason Cepheus saint could tell that townspeople were not scared to death of DeathMask, they backed away as if that was something they supposed to do, like some kind of habit. He also caught amused look they send to DeathMask's back, Daidalos suspected that they already knew what DeathMask was doing, and they though he was hilarious. It must be not the first time DeathMask was looking for Tenma in Rodorio, Daidalos though as sweat-dropped.

And suddenly DeathMask saw something in the sky, Daidalos didn't have time to look at the same direction by the time DeathMask leaped to whatever he saw. And the next second what Daidalos knew was DeathMask got kicked on the face and fell, off course DeathMask managed to get his footing and landed in a loud crashed sound as ground he landed became a crater.

"Damn brat!" He cursed loudly.

Daidalos' eyes widened when a boy who matched DeathMask's description landed not far away from them and he had Shun on his back, "Shun!" Daidalos called as ran to his disciple.

Shun hopped off of Tenma's back carefully, then squealed when he saw Daidalos. "Master!"

Daidalos hugged his disciple tightly, "Shun… you have no idea of how much I am worried about you!" Daidalos said in scolding tone as he released Shun slowly, "I heard you were in dangerous backstreet area, how you end up here? I was looking for you!"

The Japanese boy looked down in shame, "I am so sorry master Daidalos, I didn't mean to get myself lost! Nor getting myself in trouble and worry you… I am so sorry… forgive me master…" He said as bowed deeply.

Daidalos sighed at petting Shun's hair gently, "I know you didn't mean to worry me or anyone else." He stated loftily, "Just be careful next time okay?"

Shun beamed, "Yes Master Daidalos!"

DeathMask was looking down at Tenma who gave him apologetic look, which in his opinion was not convincing, he bet the brat was laughing inside for his red nose. "Masky… sorry for kicking you up there." Tenma apologized sweetly, "But you know what I would do in reflex if something suddenly appeared in front of me like you did." He added.

DeathMask growled, "Is that how to say an apology? Sounds more like you call me stupid!"

"Think what you want." Tenma deadpanned. "It matters not to me…" He stated haughtily as puffing his chest mockingly.

"Don't parrot Shaka, Tenma!" He barked angrily.

The Pegasus saint huffed, "I will parrot anyone I want." He quipped with a grin.

Daidalos gaped at what happened in front of him, just like Gardna said. Pegasus was a child with no fear of gold saints, he treated them like a friend and brother not his superior. Daidalos stared dumbly at bickering Tenma and DeathMask, and the gold saint seemed equally stubborn to win the argument. "Oh Athena…" They looked like two bickering children rather than saints.

DeathMask growled, "When we go back to twelve temples brat… You are dead!" He hissed threateningly through clenched teeth.

"You said that all the time, Masky!" Tenma laughed out loud, "How if you change your threat once in a while?" He suggested cheerfully.

"How castrating you sound?" He asked sarcastically, he even didn't notice he did as Tenma said, "Better?"

Tenma rolled his eyes, "You said that three days ago, and also last week I think…" He deadpanned. "You won't lose anything if you tried to be more creative in anything you feel you need to be."

"What did I say about parroting? Now you parrot Camus?" He growled threateningly.

"Masky… blood pressure! I think from how red your face is, at least one third of your blood is in your head." Tenma stated jokingly.

Shun approached them slowly, unsure if he had to interrupt them. "Anoo… excuse me."

"What?" DeathMask growled at Shun, and the boy backed away as yelping in shock.

Tenma kicked DeathMask's shin as yelled, "Masky! Don't growl at Shun!"

DeathMask gritted his teeth as pain shoot up to his head, "Tenmaaaaaaa!"

"Anyway… shouldn't we go back?" Tenma asked lazily, "You will get into a trouble if we don't…" He reminded the older saint as smiled at his newest friend.

DeathMask snapped, "Whose fault is that?"

"I wonder who refused to bring me to Rodorio in the first place today?" Tenma wondered out loud.

The Cancer saint sighed, "Brat… you know why I…"

Tenma hissed through clenched teeth, "Save it! I know." He turned his face away, "I am sorry…" He said as looked down, "But I am really want to come when I heard so many trainees from all over the world came to Rodorio today…"

Daidalos frowned, wondering if the rumor that Gold saints were protective of Tenma was true. He knew Tenma was said as future Sagittarius saint, heir of Aiolos. The fact the boy's origin was unknown, the Pope one day held a Golden Round and announced Tenma who was still a baby to be the future Sagittarius saint. The only make sense explanation his peers ever came out with was, if the boy was raised since he was just a baby it was unlikely he would betray sanctuary like Aiolos did.

Tenma in a way was a child who was raised to be a saint like other gold saints, but because he was born and raised in sanctuary he didn't know what so called outside world. He was trapped in sanctuary with surreal bound. He was like a Pegasus with clipped wings, however Daidalos wondered if this Pegasus was the one who hold sanctuary together or precisely gold saints from breaking apart. Daidalos was well aware Aiolos' betrayal affected Athena's order, he who regarded as gallant saint, admired as role model by many saints even by other gold saints. His betrayal and disgraced death made all saints wonder if Athena was really a good goddess who worth their pledge, if someone like Aiolos would go as far to betray her. But Gold saints managed to hold them back together, they showed that Athena was a goddess who was worthy with their hard work through years of servitude for Athena. At first gold saints was the rank that seemed would break apart because of crisis of trust that caused by Aiolos' betrayal but somehow they managed to recover from it so quickly, they even managed to fix their relationship with Aiolia and Shura. And then held all rank back to what it was before Aiolos' death.

Pegasus Tenma…

The boy who was raised by eight gold saints, Daidalos could see that even DeathMask who was the most vicious gold saint was so attached to him. He even went as far to comb every corner of Rodorio to look for him, Tenma was so important for gold saints, as if he was their very core. How ironic that many of lower ranked saints and trainees were jealous and despised him, when the boy was the one who united gold saints and unite all Athena saints back.

Daidalos chuckled softly to himself when he realized he had just figured out why Tenma treated specially among them, it simply because he was that special. He titled his head to the side; curious when he looked Shun was talking to Tenma. Shun looked so happy, the happiest he ever saw since Shun arrived in Andromeda Island.

"I am really… thankful you saved me and brought me back to my master Tenma…" Shun said as bowed deeply. "I also have a lot of fun!"

Tenma grinned, "No sweat! It's so fun for me too!" He chirped.

Daidalos who approached them raised an eyebrow, "Uhm… excuse me, Shun… Pegasus saved you? Were you in trouble?"

Shun flinched, "Uhm.. I…"

"Shun!" Daidalos called him sternly, "What happened?"

The future Andromeda saint gukped, "Err two men though I was a girl…" At his both of Daidalos and DeathMask blushed deep red in embarrassment, and Tenma groaned. "I didn't meant to run into his leg and annoyed him master! I really didn't!" Shun explained pleadingly.

Daidalos sighed, "Shun… I don't think you are capable of annoying people on purpose." He stated, "And then?"

"They caught me…" Shun stammered as trembling at the horrible memory, the feel of being helpless on his suffocating hold. "They said… they wanted to sell me! They didn't believe I am a boy! A saint in training!"

Daidalos' eyes softened, he felt sorry for Shun to experience such thing. "Shun…"

"How they could…" He stammered.

Tenma cut Shun in, "Forgive me for my interruption however… may I tell you the chronology instead, Cepheus Daidalos?" He asked calmly, "He is still not comfortable to be reminded of what happened."

The blond saint nodded, deep down impressed such a young boy could decide to take charge of situation, "Shun… stay here, I will talk with Pegasus for a while… "He said as petted Shun lovingly, "I am sorry if I demand an explanation when you are not ready to give me one."

Shun shook his head, "It's okay… I will be strong…"

He smiled at that then turned to Pegasus, "Well… let's talk Pegasus…" he said as walked away from DeathMask and Shun to have a private talk. "I am really grateful that you saved and brought Shun back to me… Tenma, for that I owe you one.

Tenma returned his smile, "It's nothing Cepheus, as for what happened… I wouldn't say I arrived just in the nick of time…" He explained grimly. "Shun got hurt…"

"What?" Daidalos' eyes widened in disbelief, "He seemed fine to me…"

Pegasus narrowed his eyes, "He hide it well… the thug who caught him surely left bruise on Shun's waist when he was holding Shun." He explained bitterly, "I was above when that happened." Tenma said as pointed at the rooftop. "I am sure if you took off Shun's shirt you will find a two handprint on his waist." He pointed out regretfully.

"How do you know?" Daidalos asked, "Shun even didn't show any pain on his face…"

"When he hopped on my back." Tenma shrugged, "I noticed his heartbeat quickened and he flinched when my arms brushed his waist, I piggybacked him so… it's easy to notice this." He sighed tiredly, "May I know why Shun was so stubborn to hide it? At first I offered him a little trip up there just to cheer him up, I won't notice he is hurt if he didn't hop on my back."

Daidalos sighed, shaking his head. "He didn't want to worry anyone… to be a burden." He stated, at raised eyebrow of Tenma he added. "Shun seems to believe all this time he depend on his brother Ikki too much, he burdened him… and now they are separated Shun didn't want to burden anyone like he did Ikki."

Tenma understand that well, he after all was always though his presence burdened gold saints. They had duty as saints but they still spare their time for him as much as they could. "I see… I suspect he did the same in training ground when it comes to injury when he was training?"

The Cepheus saint looked down, "That's why I really tried as hard as I could to pay attention when Shun was training." He stated tiredly, "He sprained his ankle in the first week of training… I didn't know till it swelled purple…"

"I see… anyway Cepheus Daidalos, Shun will recover quickly though, I am sure of that!" He stated with a grin, "He is stronger than we though."

Daidalos nodded in agreement, "I know… he is a strong child."

"By the way Cepheus… when it's good and all… Shun seems to be a bit too pure and kind for his own good." He stated lamely. "When there is nothing wrong with that… he is worried about the thugs after I knocked them out cold, someone who wanted to kidnap and sell him… " Tenma trailed off, "I am just afraid this would almost bordering to suicidal later once he fight for real."

"I also… afraid that would be the case in the future…" He admitted sadly, "I am his master Tenma… however I don't have a heart to take away his kindness to make him a better warrior. I just cant!"

Tenma sighed, "Well… " Deep down Shun's kindness and purity frightened him for some reason he couldn't understand, however he didn't hate this quality of Shun. If anything Shun was the first child his age Tenma could admire, not for physical strength but his heart. "Actually… I don't know why but I believe he would be strong enough to fight with that pacifist belief." He paused, "I just knew it…"

Daidalos was startled at Tenma's sudden statement; he spoke as if he knew Shun so well that he had knew him for most of his life. There was no even a tint of doubt on his voice. He couldn't stop himself from asking, "How you can be so sure?"

Tenma laughed at that, "Heh… funny you ask that, I did say I just knew it." He stated jokingly, "My gut feeling… or something like that, Cepheus… I am a brat! If I believe in something I don't need too many mumbo jumbo, but if there is any reason…" He trailed off with a smile, "Maybe because I saw how hard he tried to stand up against those thugs, he didn't cry or scream like other child our age would… "He grinned, "I just think isn't he so strong even though he has no mastery of cosmos like we did?"

Daidalos chuckled softly, what a boy he was. He was really a child but in the same time could see better than adult could with his childish eyes. "Well, I see…" he nodded, "Let's go back before we angered Lord DeathMask for waiting too long."

Tenma shrugged, "Nah… Masky won't kill anyone in the middle of the town."

"Uhm is that so?" Daidalos asked unsurely.

"So Sir… I am really…" Shun began sternly, "A boy! And I didn't looking for my mother!" He stated stubbornly.

DeathMask stared dumbly at Shun who seemed very offended for what was said to him in their last encounter. He was sure Shun knew he had figured that out since he met Daidalos, it was just Shun though there was a need to confirm it. It seemed this girly brat had manly pride in him, and DeathMask had bruised the said pride. "Yes kid… I got that already, to be honest my mind was not working straight that time so you should excuse my misunderstanding." Tenma was the only brat DeathMask had to deal with in daily basis so he had no idea of how dealing with other brat, if it was Tenma… when he was offended by a remark he would explode or sulk in the corner for a good ten minutes, and then he would be okay enough to chirp from Aries to Pisces.

"Really?" Shun asked hopefully, pleased he had cleared the misunderstanding.

On second though the brat had the same recovery ability as Tenma, "Yeah… yeah… now shooo! That master of yours seems have finished whatever shitty business he has with Tenma."

Shun gasped, "Sir! You shouldn't curse like that!" He reminded DeathMask innocently.

The Italian saint growled, "Oh… I am totally would tell Daidalos to keep you faaaaaaaar away from Aphrodite!" DeathMask exclaimed as his hands scratched his messy blue hair in annoyance, he didn't need another girly boy to tell him about his language every single fucking time he speak. "Daidalos!"

Daidalos instinctively took a step back, "Yes Lord DeathMask?"

"If Aphrodite ever came to Andromeda island make sure this brat is nowhere on his sight! For his own good! For sanctuary's good because Athena knows we don't need someone like Aphrodite spawned!" He yelled with his eyes bulging, as if boring hole through Daidalos' head.

He didn't really understand why he should keep Shun away from Pisces saint, he knew Aphrodite was said as the fairest among 88 saints of Athena but just like his rose, Aphrodite was feared for his ruthless way of fighting. He never met the Pisces saint but he also heard DeathMask was Aphrodite's best friend, so… "I accept your advice Lord DeathMask… I will make sure of that." He offered timidly to the fuming Cancer.

"Good!" DeathMask snapped.

Tenma rolled his eyes, "Masky… what nonsense you have on your mind this time?"

"Don't start!" He growled, "If anything my warning would do our society a good favor!"

"Whatever… Shun raise your hands like this!" Tenma said as he raised both of his hand as high as he could.

Shun titled his head to the side in confusion, "Uhm… banzai?"

"What is banzai?" Tenma asked curiously.

The Japanese boy raised his hands, "In Japan if we do this we always yell banzai! It's like hurray, but it means long life!" Shun chirped happily, at this point Daidalos and DeathMask were totally clueless of what Tenma and Shun were doing.

Tenma grinned at that as they both lowered their hands, "Oh! Anyway… BANZAI!

"Banzai!" Shun yelled as he raised his hands, imitating his Pegasus friend. But much to his shock suddenly Tenma yanked his shirt, exposing his stomach. "Waa! Tenma what are you doing!" Shun yelped as blushing deep red.

DeathMask gaped, "Woi Tenma! You…"

"I am just checking Masky." Tenma muttered tonelessly, "And Shun… you shouldn't hide it, that's quite a handprint…" He commented as looking at two handprints on each side of Shun's waist. "It must be hurt…"

Daidalos had been told about this but still he couldn't believe it could be that red, the thug must be pretty strong, and a cruel and sadist one at that, for he was not hesitate to resort violence against a child. "Shun…"

Shun looked down in shame, "I just… didn't want to…"

Tenma cut him in, "You are really too kind for your own good." He stated, "Anyway… hold still for a moment." He said as his hands glowed in bluish white cosmos, slowly hovering above Shun's bruises. Shun gasped in shock when he felt sudden warmth that was not belong to human's skin on his waist, it felt funny and unnatural but in the same time comforting and calming. And he felt his pain subsided slowly, "Tell me if it's hurt… I will ease my cosmos if it's too strong for you." Tenma said as smiled at Shun.

Shun nodded shyly, "Thank you Tenma…"

Daidalos looked at DeathMask in disbelief, "He could use cosmos for healing?"

It was a skill all saints possessed, they could heal themselves faster than normal human. But most saint let their cosmos healed themselves naturally just like other human waiting their wound to heal, only few saints capable to concentrate their cosmos to heal wound faster than natural way, especially because it took quite a long practice of cosmos to be sufficient for healing, off course all gold saints were capable of this. He didn't expect Tenma could, especially he was so young, and didn't seem have patience for this kind of skill.

DeathMask laughed, "Well… Aiolia taught the brat how, Tenma was so stubborn about he want to treat his injury by himself when he was around…" He trailed off with thoughtful face, "I guess that was when he was four and half I guess, the brat has zero skill with bandage as he keep mummified himself and dislike disinfectant." DeathMask explained with a grin.

"But to be able to heal with cosmos need a long practice." Daidalos pointed out.

"Nah…" The Italian saint shrugged, "Tenma always trashed himself after a long and hard training, and we simply have no time to fix him and he hated infirmary… so after finished with the training we could just leave him on the ground till his cosmos recovered enough for healing." He said with a grin, and Daidalos gaped then mouthed 'harsh!' Even Daidalos would insist to treat his student's wound and wouldn't let them training till they couldn't move a limb. From what DeathMask said, gold saints seemed very harsh when it comes to Tenma's training and won't hesitate to push the boy to his limit. "Well… the brat using his own body for practice… and because it happens almost everyday, no skill, no talent or no patience… he has to heal himself too many times, he is bound to be quite good… he just can't be that stupid." DeathMask stated as laughed out loud.

"Thank you for your compliment." Tenma said sarcastically, "That's so kind of you Masky, especially when you broke my bones sometimes… lucky I manage to fix it!" He reminded DeathMask cheerfully. "I become so good now was thanks for that!" In which Daidalos drew conclusion, if Tenma was capable to fix broken bone… it can be safely assumed gold saints like DeathMask won't hesitate to train him till his bone broke. What a… hellish training...

"You are welcome brat…" He replied with a sneer.

Tenma turned to Shun, "There… the bruise is already gone, feel better?"

Shun nodded, "Yes! It's not hurt anymore… like magic! Thank you Tenma!" He muttered softly as he lowered his shirt.

Tenma raised an eyebrow, "How many times you thanked me for one day Shun?"

Shun blushed, "Erm lots?"

DeathMask laughed, "You have quite a brat here Daidalos, by the way I wonder what Crystal…" He paused, as everyone's attention was drew to two running saints who were approaching them. "Gardna and Crystal? What a time, I just found the brat I was looking for."

Crystal panted wildly, as he stopped abruptly with Gardna in front of them, "Thanks God for that, milord… I…" He trailed off tiredly, "I met my master and he was not happy when he knew what we were doing…" He admitted sheepishly.

DeathMask groaned, "So Camus was already back from Canada? Oh well, at least I found Tenma…"

"Masky I already knew Camus was back." Tenma pointed out, "It was so easy to spot his cold cosmos from miles away! How come you didn't notice?"

"I was looking for you! So excuse me if I didn't notice that walking ice block is around!" DeathMask drawled in annoyance. "Oh shit! What the hell annoyed that penguin this time?"

Gardna was not sure if he had to answer that, "Uhm… we also… lost our disciples?"

DeathMask stared at him, "What's with today and missing brat?" He asked to no one, forgetting he was not one to talk.

Flower Nymph Café (Rodorio)

Camus and Hyoga were having small talk on the second floor of the café, enjoying tea and a small basket of homemade cookie. Camus chose the second floor because he wanted a quiet place to talk with Hyoga and he had paid the owner to book the whole second floor so no one would interrupt them. The ice saint didn't approach Hyoga for no reason, he wanted to ask Hyoga about Mitsumasa Kido. Camus was not sure he had to do what Shaka told him too, trying to get close and asking for information about Mitsumasa Kido from Hyoga. He enjoyed Hyoga's company and he didn't want to misuse Hyoga's trust in him, but then again as a saint and Hyoga was a saint in training, they should not allow anyone trying to use saint for personally gain. "Hyoga… do you enjoy your training as a saint?" He asked.

Hyoga nodded as he sipped his ice lemon tea, "It's harsh… but it's really fun… and I proud I could be one of Athena's saint one day, to protect earth…" He admitted sheepishly, at first he only wanted to see his mother but as time progressed and he saw Crystal and other saints worked so hard to protect earth, he was sure his mother would like him to do the same.

"Hyoga… I am glad to hear that." Camus said as he closed his eyes, "I am sorry to be blunt Hyoga, but I don't like to be cryptic." He stated loftily, "At least not now, and not to you when I feel there is no need for it."

Hyoga was taken back at sudden statement Camus made, "Uhm what do you mean Master Camus?"

Camus sighed, "Hyoga… you know our existence, saints since mythological era have protected earth from the shadow… unknown by history record of outside world." He explained as crossed his arms. "And to be honest when we didn't mind taking you and other ninety nine Japanese children as trainees, we mind the man who sent you." He stated sternly, "If he planned to take advantage of you after you gained your cloth. Hyoga… out of one hundred children, since the very beginning we doubt even five of you could survive the training… so we won't stand it… if you guys trying so hard and in the end used by Mitsumasa Kido."

Hyoga was silent for a while then looked down, "Master… I won't deny we were sent not by our own choice." Hyoga said slowly as he raised his head, locking his blue eyes to Camus' deeper blue. "However… I hope you believe at least that I have no intention to serve that man, and I am willing to answer everything you ask about him." Camus nodded at that, he was relieved Hyoga was observant enough to have a good grasp of situation. "In fact unlike other orphan Mitsumasa Kido gathered… I know more than they do." He stated confidently.

Camus' eyes widened, "What do you mean Hyoga?"

"I don't know why he sent us and what he would do to cloths once he get his hand on it, everyone was only told they should return to Japan as soon as they gained their cloth." Hyoga informed Camus honestly, "To be honest… I think it's just for his own pride, like how his charity activity is nothing but a façade to raise his status in society's eyes."

The ice saint stiffened, as cold as his demeanor looked like he was boiling inside for someone dared to drag children just for their selfish gain, "You seems to be as knowledgeable as you claimed about Kido… Hyoga, and aside from that you sounds really despise this man."

Hyoga's blushed red but then he chuckled, "I won't deny that… he told us to draw a paper from a box to decide which training ground we would be send! And two of my closest friends end up taking the most hellish one! " Hyoga's usual calm voice turned bitter when he reminded what happened to Ikki and Shun, "And the man who was in charge of us, instead of at least feel bad for them… he gleefully announced how hellish Death Queen Island is! He announced they would die!"

Camus suspected Hyoga would cry anytime by now, judging by his glassy eyes. But Hyoga wiped his eyes then looked at him with determined eyes. "I see… so Kido treat this like a game?"

Hyoga nodded as he continued his story, "More or less Master Camus, I have no intention to go back to that man six years later." He stated, "As for the very reason… I won't… it's about something I know that other children doesn't."

"And what it might be?" Camus encouraged Hyoga.

Hyoga looked down in shame as he answered in strangled voice, his fish clenched painfully on his lap. "That man… Mitsumasa Kido is my father…"

Camus' eyes widened in shock but he quickly regained his composure, "So you hate him for sending his own child? That he used you… his son?"

Hyoga looked up, a pained smile on his lips. "Master Camus… all of us are his sons." He stated in strangled voice, and at Camus' widened eyes he explained. "He had children with women all over the world, so he could choose the best one among one hundred as his heir…"

"You didn't think he might use saint training to choose?" Camus asked calmly.

Hyoga shook his head, "I don't know… but I don't think he want us anymore. We have been discarded like trash." He stated, "He has a granddaughter our age named Saori, He has chosen his heir Master…" Hyoga paused, "I don't think any of us care who will become his heir nor his wealth even if the truth revealed one day because none of us like him… but maybe out of one hundred I am one of few who have reason to loath him more than anyone else."

Camus didn't say anything as he was waiting for Hyoga to continue.

"My mother really loved him… she told me that he was a great man, but when we went to Japan to meet him... our ship sank and my mother sacrificed herself so I can board on the remaining boat which only enough for one more people…" Hyoga muttered with strangled voice and tears began to pool on the corner of his eyes, "When I arrived in Japan… what I got was news he called my mother to bring me to Japan... for a one year training preparation before we were sent to saint training! I can accept my mother died for me but I can't accept she went through so much for that man, who even didn't look at us… his sons as human! He treated us like objects!"

Hyoga held back his tears; shocked he let it out in front of Camus and he was ashamed for it. He had held it back for one year since her mother's death, he never cry because he felt weak and he didn't want to show it when he was in Kido's mansion. Where who knows how many eyes Kido had in his residence. The ice saint shook his head, "Hyoga wipe your tears, but you don't have to be ashamed you cried… you have every right to cry. However I have to ask you to hold it back till you finished… because with what you told me… maybe I could prevent whatever Kido have on his mind in the future. This is for you and your brothers… so stay strong."

Hyoga nodded as he wiped his tears away, straightened his posture. "Yes, master Camus… I will tell you everything I know."

Camus nodded, "That's an attitude I would like to see…" He paused, "Then how much he knew about us? Because from what I heard you guys receive quite a training as preparation however not up to standard for saint training, you should know this first hand."

Hyoga smiled at that, he nodded shyly. "Erm… Kido seems to have a very minimal knowledge about saint." Hyoga stated, "He knew roughly of our hierarchy from bronze to gold and saint's mastery of cosmos, and about our training ground… I suspect he located it with Kido Foundation's network."

The French saint shook his head, "If it's satellite or something like that… I doubt it because few training ground was hidden well enough or has barrier."

Hyoga's answer to that was quick, "He is good with loosening tongue with money."

Camus raised his hand to his face, sighing. 'Shaka won't be happy if he knew this matter is three times more complicated than we expected. And the fact this man is wealthy enough to sway someone from our rank. I swear Milo and Aiolia would scream if they knew. They after all the one though it was okay to accept the 100 Japanese children as trainee.' Camus though grimly, noting he and Shaka had to arrange to investigate this more to find out who had betrayed sanctuary. "Hyoga… do you know how he could come to knowledge of our existence?"

"Ah about that… he didn't tell us at all but i know..." Hyoga trailed off, "I overheard him talking to Tatsumi, the man who was in charge of us about it." He muttered calmly with thoughtful expression.

The ice saint couldn't help but smile at how much Hyoga knew, he was a very observant boy. "So what did he say?"

"He knew since seven years ago…" Hyoga stated, "He was exploring a ruin in Greek that time, around Athens maybe? He said someone… a Greek for sure... told him about Saints and Athena are exist, I didn't know what he said after that because he was walking away but… anyone who told him surely didn't say anything more because Kido claimed he was looking more information after that by himself."

Camus' eyes widened at that, especially at what year and where Kido found out existence of saints. They found Aiolos' corpse but they didn't find his Pandora box, what they found in that ruin was Aiolos who died with content smile on his face as if he had finished what he should do. The man Kido found might be Aiolos, no it was him for sure! And maybe… "Hyoga… did Kido ever show you a golden box? A centaur made of gold maybe?"

Hyoga shook his head, "Kido have many antiques in his home." Hyoga stated, "He never showed us any… but he is very cautious when it comes to security, he ever donated one of his collections to be exhibited in museum for charity. Hyoga shrugged, "No doubt… a fake one." He stated confidently. "Kido have a very good connection with scientist, he donated so much for them… and he has his own group of scientist. I heard they are good in machine and biotechnology. The fake antique he donated to museum that good enough to fool curator... it was result of Kido's scientist group for sure."

Camus had an urge to bang his head; the man definitely had the cloth with him. To locate a cloth who had an owner was no big deal, locating one with no owner was difficult, especially because gold cloths and few special cloths had their quirk. If they refused to show themselves they will not emit even a single trace of cosmos as if they were death. And Sagittarius cloth did just that, there was no trace of it. And added with the fact that man might do something to fool them from looking for the cloth, the only one who was capable to track down the cloth better than anyone was Mu. Unfortunately MU will not cooperate, and no one wanted to cooperate with him beside they were not in condition to ask Mu that anyway.

"So Hyoga… what do you want to do once you gained your cloth?" Camus asked trying to change topic as even for him, all informations he got from Hyoga was taking a toll of him.

Hyoga looked down shyly, "Master Camus, I will admit at first my primary motivation to come to Siberia is not something you would approve… " He stated, "But after I saw Master Crystal and other saints who came to visit us sometimes… I admire them, and life they lived for Athena. They made me feel so tiny…" He admitted shyly.

"And what's this first motivation if I might know?" Camus asked tonelessly.

"My mother's ship sunk in Siberia… therefore I want to be strong enough to be able to see her again." He confessed, but he didn't sound embarrassed, determined even.

Camus frowned at that, "Hyoga… you know even if you see her one day, she is nothing but corpse." He stated sternly.

Hyoga smiled at that, "I know master Camus… I know what I will find in that shipwreck is my mother's body, she will never return to me…" he muttered sadly with serene smile, "But… I just want a reminder of her, to see her face so I won't forget her."

Camus didn't expect that, "Hyoga… what do you mean? Should a photograph sufficient enough?" He asked coldly, "Do you know how dangerous the cold sea is? And why you sounds so scared that you will forget her?"

He shook his head, "There is no photo or anything belonged to her except my cross left, it sank together with the ship." He explained with painful face, clenching the cross he had on his chest, hidden beneath his shirt. "As for why I am scared… it's because from all orphan Kido gathered… at least those I know of… none of them remembered their mother anymore." He stated with strangled voice, "Because their mother died when they were too young or they were placed in orphanage as soon as they were born. " Hyoga took a deep breath, "I know it's foolish of me to be scared I will forget my mother's face like them when I just lost her one year ago, but I am really scared! I am scared I will forget my mother who sacrificed herself for me, even if a moment memory of her face seems blurry in my mind scare me!" He said as tears once again soaked his face, but he wiped it hastily, "And off course… what I want from diving to the deep cold sea is just to see her face, or photo… but I don't think there is any photo…"

Camus raised his hand, "Hyoga enough! I am understand what you mean… when your fear seems illogical for me, I have no right to say anything because I am not you… nor I know what you feel however… " He trailed off, "I want to ask once you are a saint, will you put your mother's corpse as something more important than your duty?" He asked sternly. "You know this sentiment might endanger you…"

Hyoga sighed, "Master Camus… I did say I really want to be a saint, I admire all saints I met…" He admitted shyly, "Especially you and Master Crystal… and I know my mother will not approve me being hindered by her cold body, she sacrificed her life for me to live my life… I won't throw my life away foolishly."

Camus smiled at that, maybe he didn't need to worry too much. Hyoga had take his own decicion of how he could live a life as a saint. "Very well… and Hyoga… how if I return to Siberia to live with you, Crystal and Isaac sound? I hope you won't mind me around."

What Camus got in the next second was excited squeal from the future Cgnus saint, Camus smiled at how happy Hyoga was at the news. Camus let a thin smile formed in his lips, oh yes… he found the next Aquarius saint, his heir…

Rodorio, Cyllene Road

"So Hyoga and Jabu are around in Rodorio?" Shun asked hopefully even though he didn't really want to meet Jabu, he was mean to Shun. Gardna and Crystal nodded dumbly, as they didn't really pay attention to what Shun asked, wondering where the two boys ran off to."Tenma! We could meet Hyoga! And maybe Shiryu!" Shun didn't mention Ikki because Daidalos already told him that Guilty who was likely Ikki's master was very strict and disliked this kind of event, off course Daidalos left out about how violent Guilty was with his disciple.

Tenma didn't know what to think about the prospect of meeting another trainee from Japan, Shun was nice to him but… "I know Hyoga is Crystal's disciple… but who is Shiryu?" He asked curiously.

"He is training in Rozan! Do you think trainees from Rozan came with their master to sanctuary?" Shun asked back innocently.

The Pegasus saint shook his head, "Uhm Shun… there are no trainees just trainee."

"EH?"

Tenma raised his forefinger; "There is only one cloth in Rozan together with Libra which belong to the master of Rozan so… this Shiryu you were talking about must be the only disciple there. Roushi also never took a disciple before and…"

"Roushi never came back to sanctuary for more than two hundred years brat…" DeathMask cut him in, "He is busy watching waterfall and I bet your friend is doing the same by now…" in the same time Roushi and Shiryu who were meditating in front of waterfall sneezed.

Tenma narrowed his eyes, he always felt something squirming on his chest whenever they were talking about the old Libra saint. He never met Roushi, and he didn't want to. There was strange feeling that telling him to not see him no matter how curious he was. "Right…"

"Oh well…" Shun looked down, "At least I could see Hyoga." He turned to Daidalos, "Master is it alright if I see Hyoga?"

Daidalos nodded, "That's if Lord DeathMask didn't mind you tagging along."

DeathMask was about to say he didn't want to see Camus, but Tenma cut him in, "Off course! Just leave Shun with us, and later we will drop him to Silver Lyre once we are done!" Tenma offered excitedly, one of his boot stomped on DeathMask's left foot.

"Tenma…" DeathMask growled.

"Save it Masky! I have something to say to Camus immediately, and he won't be happy if I delay it!" He stated then waved a good bye to silver trio as he dragged Shun by his hand. "Let's go Shun!"

"Uhm!" Shun nodded as they began to run.

"Woi! You damn brats!" And DeathMask sprinted to follow the two.

After DeathMask was gone from their sight Gardna just realized something, "Hey guys… did Pegasus call Lord DeathMask… Masky? Did I hear that right?"

"…"

"… Did he really?"

Crystal smartly took a conclusion, "Don't tell a single soul… if we want to keep our soul attached to our body." He stated as the other two nodded sagely.

Review please!

next chap: Replay of Demon training, and Mu's regret

Naw... I hope you like this chap! One of reason I do long chap is because... I can't get enough Shun! I already hold myself back for three chaps without him... and last chap he only got so little ^^;

I hope I didn't make Tenma seems too strong, in fact I didn't want to make him as strong as gold saint by 7 yrs old, or as strong as they were his age. Not like I want to say he is weak, in fact in LC he only need two years training! And he obviously stronger than average bronze. And no he hadn't master 7th sense! There is a reason why he hasn't later! Shun just started his training so... but I can deal with his training later!

As for Camus and Hyoga... I just found I need to make them in different way, so from now on both Isaac and Hyoga would be trained by both Camus and Crystal saint, but off course Camus will go back to sanctuary once in a while ^^ as for why Camus think Hyoga could succeed him well... Camus is not as cold as original story, dealing with a brat like Tenma in daily basis will melt someone ne? Camus in fact since few years ago spend less time in Siberia, because he was needed in sanctuary and I set situation in sanctuary is more welcoming for gold saints to be home there... it was stated in episode G most gold saints rarely present in sanctuary notably Aldebaran and Camus... So there is background from episode G I used ^^Hyoga changed not because I like him or anything I did state I only fave Shun and Seiya out of bronze group... I just feel so-so for Hyoga and Shiryu but because as you see gold saints' unity is stronger so does lower rank saints ^^/ I just feel this kind of environment could change people for good! And also because I hate Hyoga fawning over a corpse for no good reason!

I ever read a review mention, galaxian tournament is not a pleasant arc... I admit but that have to happen!

I change few characterizations here from original, notably Kraken Isaac, that's on purpose. And Hyoga too… but I am not sure, as I wasn't paying attention to other Bronze… maybe you found me weird to fave Seiya and Shun but not Shiryu or Hyoga who seems more popular than Seiya. So don't sue me -.-' if they are OOC but I will try to characterize them at least interesting. And other… sorry in this chap Shaka is mean, I just think he can snap when stressed.

Shiryu, Mu and ROushi will appear in next chap...Saori and Seika too!

As for who is Shun's master... he got to stay with Daidalos, well... I just think that's better and I want to keep Shun from knowing too much about internal affair of sanctuary!

I planned to insert what happened four years ago with Shaka and Mu, but the mood in this chap is just not fit for another scene of angst... so I will insert it in next chap

next chap in side story: SHun's first day in Andromeda island, I already give some clue of what happened in this chap up there XDDD So you already get a spoiler ho ho ho poor Spica and Daidalos XDDD I make Spica and Leda as good because... well... I just feel like to do that.

ja ne!