Hi...thanks to all who have been following this story. I am sorry for the late update, but this chapter sorta sucks. And a little out of character. That's why I was hesitant to post it. I was thinking whether it's better to skip it and just go with the next chapter (which can be done without breaking the plot), but I need to convey something about Shiryu and Shunrei's relationship. So yeah, here goes. Hopefully next part of the story will be better.

Oh and THANK YOU for those who have fav'ed and reviewed Dead. I did plan to write another CaMilo one-shot based on SoG but my writing bug suddenly takes a vacation, so the current plan is just enjoying the series as it goes and wait for it to return, because it doesn't like to be pushed. Hopefully not for too long. :)

There was quite a sight in the Aries Temple that night, a sight that had not been seen for centuries since before the last Holy War. Three people-two young men, one young boy-were eating dinner by a warm fireplace in the kitchen, talking and laughing merrily.

"Have you ever tied your hair, Shiryu?" Kiki blurted the question that had been on the tip of his tongue for days. They had covered a lot of bases, from Mu and Shiryu's mutual liking of Chinese food (which, not surprisingly, had originated from their masters' mutual enjoyment of the same cuisine), books they read (mostly Chinese folklores), and their early training days.

Shiryu smiled at Kiki. "I did, when I went swimming or sometimes when training. But Shunrei often told me to keep it unbound."

Mu smiled wryly and poured more ale into his cup. "Not fair isn't it, when she always braided her own hair?"

Shiryu blushed a little. "Well...she said a dragon king always has his hair loose." He chuckled in embarrassment. "Vain, isn't it?"

Mu shook his head. "You like her."

Shiryu did not answer, but gulped his own ale to hide his awkwardness.

Kiki saved him by shoving a picture in front of him. "You look a lot like this guy. He is a saint from Japan, too."

Shiryu looked at the picture, which was a replica of a very old self-portrait. The young man in it had long black hair like his, only it was tied back in a ponytail, and his features suggested he was indeed of a Japanese descent. He wore the Capricorn Gold Cloth, and crossed his right arm in front of him like a sword.

"Capricorn Izo," Mu answered Shiryu's unspoken question. "From the eighteenth century."

"You're the second saint from Japan with Excalibur," Kiki stated proudly.

Shiryu studied the picture, mixed emotions quietly playing on his face. "Fate is funny, huh?"

Mu smiled wistfully. "Shura'd picked his successor well."

They drank in silence for a moment in remembrance of their dead comrade before Kiki asked again, "Do you have brothers or sisters in Japan, Shiryu? Like Seiya, Shun and Ikki."

Shiryu shook his head. "Even if I do, I can't remember them. I had been in the orphanage for as long as I can remember. Sometimes I recall seeing faces when I was much younger, and playing with a dog...but it's all very blurry."

If Mu thought he couldn't possibly sympathize more with the young saint, he was wrong. While his friends still had memories of their parents and siblings, Shiryu had nothing. Being a true orphan himself, Mu understood the feeling.

"But I can't complain about my childhood," Shiryu said with a smile. "Lushan is a beautiful, peaceful place to grow up in. I could watch all four seasons as they come and go. And I had the company of Roshi and Shunrei. Compared to my peers, I might have been a little luckier, though my training was in no way less arduous."

They talked more about life at Lushan, then Kiki became sleepy and Mu carried the boy to his room to tuck him in. When he went back to the living room, he could hear Shiryu washing the dishes. Smiling a little, Mu walked over to the couch when he saw a book protruding from one of the bookshelves. He recognized it as the book Shiryu had read earlier. Out of curiosity, he pulled it out to find it was a Chinese-language encyclopedia about human sexual and reproductive function.

Shiryu entered the living room then, and upon seeing the book in Mu's hand, turned beet red. "I was just...um...browsing around and...it's nothing, really..."

Mu smiled and returned the book to its shelf. "Nothing to be ashamed of. You're fourteen, your hormones are raging, so it's normal to be curious." Shiryu looked very flustered, so unlike his usual calmness as the Dragon Saint, and it struck Mu then that as brave and chivalrous as he was, Shiryu was still a kid. A kid who had just begun to understand the workings of the world and notice his opposite sexes.

He went to sit on the couch and motioned Shiryu to follow suit. "I take it you're very attracted to Shunrei."

It took some time before Shiryu answered. "She is the only woman I ever know, and I've always regarded her as my own sister, but that changed several years ago, after..." He hesitated.

"You don't have to tell me," Mu assured.

Shiryu glanced briefly at him, then sighed. "We used to play in the river together, and Roshi never restricted us. One day we were bathing there as usual, and I was thinking of surprising her, so I dived and suddenly appeared behind her. She was mad, of course, and began hitting at me. I tried to defend myself and...and accidentally touched her chest." He swallowed. "Something was...different. We've changed, and we realized it that instant. We just stood there motionless, our wet bodies plastered against one another...and then she slapped me across the face and ran away." He shook his head. "I went to Roshi afterwards to ask what was wrong, and he just laughed and chided himself for being an old fool, forgetting how fast we grew and how lacking in social knowledge we were. And then he told me about how we were not kids anymore, but quickly turning into man and woman, and we should do some things separately from then on to prepare ourselves to complement each other after we become adults." His fingers played absently with the edges of his shirt. "I didn't understand then, but I understand now. Things were awkward between Shunrei and I after the incident, but Roshi must've talked to her as well, because soon she warmed up to me again. Only this time it's a little different. She always looked at me coyly, and spoke to me softly. And I always felt this strange palpitation whenever I was near her." He glanced worriedly at Mu. "You don't think I am a...pervert, do you?"

Mu couldn't help but chuckle. "Of course not. Like I said, you're a teenager, and Shunrei is too, and with no other boys and girls in the vicinity, it's only normal that you develop attraction toward each other. I'm not an expert in this, having lived like a hermit most of my teenage life, but I've learned about this from books, as you can see yourself. I'm sure as you grow older, things will fall into place for Shunrei and you."

Shiryu looked thoughtful. "Do you think...I can marry her one day?"

The innocent question struck Mu's heart. "I don't see why not."

Shiryu shrugged, looking down at his lap again. "I like her a lot. I miss her and want to be near her, but I don't know if this is true love. I am attached to this life, and I can't turn my back on it. How can I love her when I have to constantly leave her behind?"

Mu was at loss for words. Finally, he said, "This may sound cruel, but the reason you are fighting, the reason all of us are fighting, is exactly to give Shunrei, and all the people in the world, a happy and peaceful life. The two of you will not even stand a chance if darkness rules the world. I believe that one day, if you persevere and do not give up, you will get to lead a life that you both deserve."

He knew Shiryu was old enough to know there was a very slim chance he could live through to share a life like that with Shunrei, but Mu did not want to quench the small hope that burned in that innocent heart, and sincerely hoped that every word he said would turn out to be true.

And Shiryu seemed to appreciate it. "Thank you, Mu," he said sincerely. "It's nice to be able to talk about this with someone close to my own age."

Mu nodded with a smile. "Anytime. I've been living in seclusion for years, and though Kiki is fun to have around, he's still a child. So it's nice to have someone like you, who I can treat like a friend."

Shiryu smiled modestly and stood up. "Well, I guess I should leave you to rest. I've been bothering you a lot the last few days."

"Not at all," Mu said, getting up as well. "But I agree we better sleep early today. You may need to exercise your body again after the coma, and I'll have to meet up with Roshi and the other saints to figure out what to do next."

"You mean you'll teleport to Lushan?" Mu nodded. "Would you send my regards to Roshi and Shunrei?"

"Of course."

"Thank you. Good night, Mu."

"Good night, Shiryu."

It was sometime though before Mu could sleep, and when he did, he dreamed of a dragon swimming its way along a river into a vast, open sea.