Mu rose early, then washed himself and ate some breakfast before preparing to meet Roshi at Lushan. Assuming Shiryu was still asleep, he prepared some dumplings for him and Kiki to eat later.

But he was surprised when he stepped outside.

Shiryu was standing by the entrance to the Aries Temple, wearing only the black trousers from the night before. Facing away from Mu, he brought his palms together in front of his chest in what seemed to be a meditative pose. The dragon tattoo on his back looked alive as his muscles swelled and subsided with each deep breath he took.

After a moment he lifted his head and began to do some wushu exercises. His movement was both graceful and powerful, his limbs strong and agile. The sun had risen, peeking shyly between the grey clouds, highlighting Shiryu's well-toned torso which was now covered in fine sheen of sweat. Sometimes morning breeze blew his loose hair and long black strands flew about his face, but they did not break his concentration. Mu realized then that Shiryu seemed to have grown a few inches taller than when he had been at Jamir. The stumpy body of a sturdy boy in growth spurt was gone, replaced with a longer, leaner form of a young man.

Something inside Mu stirred.

Shiryu suddenly stopped, realizing he was being watched, and turned around. "Morning, Mu," he greeted cheerfully, a hand involuntarily moving up to brush back the hair that had fallen to his face. Some stray silky strands fell back like curtains to his bare, broad shoulders and chest, sticking to the muscled, sweaty flesh.

Don't waste those grandpa clothes on your heartbreaker look, eh, kid?

I won't be surprised if even Gold Saints are tempted to jump into his bed before long.

"Mu?"

Jolted out of his trance, Mu tried to smile. "You look taller," was all he could think of saying.

"Really?" Shiryu looked down at himself. "It's only been a few months since you last saw me."

"I meant compared to when I saw you the first time," Mu elaborated, his gaze carefully trained to Shiryu's face instead of the hip muscle it had wandered to. "You must be nearing fifteen now if not there already."

Shiryu looked a little embarrassed. "Well, actually..."

"Shiryu!"

They both turned to see Seiya, Shun and Hyoga running toward them, Seiya jumping to hug Shiryu and nearly tackled his friend to the ground. "You're better already! It worked!"

"Happy birthday!" Shun and Hyoga said in unison.

"Thanks," Shiryu said with a surprised laugh, then pried himself from Seiya's hug. "What do you mean, 'it worked'?"

"We tried to send you some of Athena's cosmo within us yesterday to help you recover, because it looked like you had a hard time recovering from that stab in your heart," Shun explained, his eyes shining with happiness and relief at seeing his friend alive and well. "It was Shaka who gave me the idea, and apparently you are up and about now."

Shiryu looked speechless. "Thank you all," he said quietly. "That's probably the best gift I have ever received."

Of course, Mu remembered. It was early October, and Shiryu was a Libra, just like his master. A memory suddenly surfaced in Mu's mind of his late master, Shion, cooking a delicious Chinese meal and teleporting God knows where every October 20th.

"There's more," Seiya said excitedly. "Milo is holding a feast in his temple to celebrate our recovery and your birthday. He thinks we deserve some rare down time. The other saints will be there to. You and Mu must come along."

"Well, I need to clean myself up first." Shiryu turned to Mu. "Are you coming with us, Mu?"

Mu smiled with a slight shake of his head. "I have to go and talk with Roshi."

"Oh, right," Shiryu said, remembering, and opened his mouth but closed it again. Mu guessed the boy wanted to ask him if he could bring Roshi and Shunrei along when he teleported back to Sanctuary.

"Don't worry, Shiryu. In fact, I think you will see Roshi before long. Do you want to leave any message?"

"Tell Shunrei not to worry about me," Shiryu said after a moment.

"Alright," Mu nodded. "Well, happy fifteenth anniversary, Shiryu."

"See you later, Mu."

Mu turned away from the group of boys, who now chattered excitedly as they walked back into the Aries Temple. But it was only an hour later that he teleported to Lushan, after walking off the assault of alien sensations within him.


"You just missed lunch," Roshi said as Mu walked up to where he sat at his usual spot near the waterfall. "But I have asked Shunrei to save some rice cakes for you."

Mu smiled wryly. "Thank you, but I am not hungry yet. I probably will bring it back for Shiryu though. He must have missed her cooking."

The old master chuckled. "That boy really takes after me. Resiliently clinging to life. I am glad he survives his fifteenth birthday."

Mu sat behind him. "We can only hope he will survive his sweet sixteenth as well."

There was a stretch of silence. "It is exactly the reason I call you here today," Roshi said finally. "Siren Sorrento came to see me and told me that Poseidon is going to wipe out mankind from the surface of the earth with great flood and recreate a new world."

Mu felt as if thunder had struck him right where he sat. "What?! What about Athena?!"

"Naturally, Poseidon wanted Athena by his side. He has tried to reason with her the last few days, trying to make her see that the world has become too corrupted and a clean slate is in order. Athena, of course, insisted that not all human kinds are evil, that people have the power to change and we must give them a chance to discover love and kindness. But now the time of negotiation is up, and I am afraid that Poseidon will force Athena to sacrifice herself for the humans she is so fond of, if Sorrento's word is any indication."

Mu looked aghast. "Then Roshi, we need to alert all the saints immediately and head out to Poseidon's temple!"

Roshi sighed. "Have you forgotten, Mu?" He turned to face the Aries Saint. "Poseidon is not our only problem. And therefore you Gold saints must not leave the Sanctuary at any cost."

Mu felt as if all blood had drained from him. "What do you mean?" he asked, rising to his feet.

"The seals that imprison Hades and the 108 specters have begun to lose their power. It may happen any day now, as I have told you, and we as the strongest saints of Athena must save our energy for this inevitable battle. Yes, I think it will be inevitable," Roshi said, answering Mu's unspoken question. "And so, the job of saving Athena will have to be left to Seiya and his friends."

Mu paled. "But Roshi...I don't understand. I remembered what you said, of course, but I didn't think we should not fight," he tried to reason. "I mean, this is Athena we are talking about. The Bronze saints are no match for Poseidon's marine generals. If we Gold Saints...no, if only some of us can just go and help them, Athena will be freed in no time. And we will not even break a sweat. And then we can all face Hades together!"

Roshi shook his head. "You haven't listened, have you?" he said sadly. "I said the seal that imprisons Hades can break any moment now. We should not divide our force and risk weakening our guard in the Sanctuary." He looked directly at Mu. "This is not just about Athena anymore. This is about guarding the mankind. Hades will rely on his specters to unleash his evil plans because he is a god. Shall he choose to break free before Athena returns, at least we can hold back those specters for her."

"But...but..." For the first time in his life, Mu did not know how to reply. That was because he knew Roshi was right. "But are we going to just let Seiya and his friends do everything? They have only just recovered. What if something goes wrong? What if Athena get killed?"

Roshi fell silent for a moment. "We need to take that chance. You are right, Mu. A thousand things can go wrong. But Seiya and his friends are not the same kids we saw several months ago. They have awakened the seventh sense. They have been tested. They have set themselves apart from the other Bronze Saints, nay, even the Silver Saints, through their loyalty and determination. We have to give them some credit. And they have been born and trained for this. We must let them do the job in order for them to grow. Same with Athena. She has to step up her game to be able to fight Hades."

If they can get out of there alive, Mu thought, but did not say it.

Roshi was not fooled, though. "I am not one to beat around the bush. I am prepared for Seiya and his friends not to come out alive of this," he said bluntly. "But there have always been miracles when they are concerned. They have surprised me time and again. Who would have thought that Shiryu would regain his sight? Or that he would return from death yet again even when I was sure he would not make it?"

Mu let out an involuntary choked sound.

Roshi glanced sideways at him. "You have grown attached to that boy, haven't you?"

"He has suffered too much," was all Mu said.

Roshi hid a small smile. "Always a charmer with his selfless heart. Ah well." He looked up at the grey sky. "You can't help it. I only feel sorry for Shunrei. Maybe I should not have let them grew so close."

Mu smiled bitterly. "No, Roshi. I believe Shunrei has helped Shiryu to become what he is now. An honorable warrior."

Roshi sighed deeply and they sat together for a while, each with their own thoughts on the tragedy that was about to unfurl. Finally the older man looked up. "Ah, here is Shunrei with the rice cakes."

Mu turned to see the young Chinese girl he had seen the last time he came when Deathmask attacked. She too had grown into a lovely, shapely young woman, with an expression of quiet understanding and acceptance that was not there before. Somehow the sight made Mu feel sorry, though for her or for himself, he was not sure.

"How are you, Mu-xiansheng*?" Shunrei asked with a voice as sweet as nightingale. "Roshi asked me to save some of these for you. Would you mind if I ask you bring some gift to Shiryu as well? It's his birthday today."

"I know," Mu nodded with a smile as he received the food and the package. "Thank you for your thoughts. Shiryu will love both of these."

"Is...is he alright?" Shunrei asked, worry on her face.

"He is alive and well, and promises to return soon," Mu said reassuringly.

The worry in those delicate features turned into relief and gratefulness. "Thank you, Mu-xiansheng."

"Now, Mu," Roshi said, standing with the help of his staff. "If you would come with me."

Mu followed him to the lower cliffs beside the waterfall. The Dragon Cloth box was there, placed neatly among the rocks.

"Roshi..." Mu began, shocked. "Have you..." It was then that he noticed that the old master's hand was shaking.

Roshi nodded. "This is the least I can do for my beloved student." He turned to Mu. "Take it back now, Mu, while the blood is still warm. Our conversation here has finished. You know what to do."

Mu nodded with great effort, then with a flick of his finger, he made the box disappear into thin air.

"One last thing, Mu," Roshi called before Mu teleported himself after the Cloth. "Do not tell Seiya and his friends about Hades yet. They need to fight without extra burden. And whatever the outcome of the battle will be, the fight against Hades will solely be our business."

"I understand, Roshi," Mu said simply before disappearing into thin air.

Roshi smiled wistfully. "Your master will be so proud of you, Mu."

*xiansheng = Chinese for 'mister'