Disclaimer: I don't own Saint Seiya characters!

Author's Note: Chapter made with a big help of my dear friend, Nica-Angel. Thank you, dear!

Epilogue

Kanon looked at the dark tombstone with the written name of his twin.

How long it was been already? Weeks, months? Maybe years? He stopped to count the passing time, it was just like he saw the body of his dead twin just yesterday, just a while ago. He still could remember the pale skin of Saga, the pale face of Camus, who brought the body to the Third Temple. He still could remember the red blood on the clothes of Saga and hands of Camus. And he could remember these all feelings that filled them that day.

He still could feel them. They weren't fading away. He was sad, disappointed. Shocked, happy, angry and mentally devastated. He lost his brother, and whatever the others could think, before the rape they two managed to create deep brotherly bond between them. He lost his fellow, who these past two years before the incident, was really reliable Saint of Athena. But also this monster, which was always causing him pain, disappeared. The nightmare, man who made Milo to suffer the worst pain ever was dead.

He couldn't believe that Saga was gone. He couldn't even forgive his dead brother. For many reasons. But now he couldn't tell it him, because Saga was dead.

He couldn't tell him how much he hated him for what he had done to Milo. He couldn't tell him how angry he was at Saga for escaping. He couldn't tell him how sad he was about his death. He couldn't say that everything wasn't lost and maybe someday they would have their brotherly bond again.

He could say it only to the cold, dark tombstone with the name of his twin.

"So… You chose the easiest way, Saga…?" he murmured for the hundredth time.

Yes, it was the easiest way Saga could take. Escaping from the guilt, escaping from the consequences. Now Saga would never have the chance of redeeming himself, being forgiven by Milo. He would have no chance of having a new life, without this existential pain he was living with for so many years.

Kanon knew already everything about the darkness of the hearts of everyone who allied with Hades. But actually he didn't give a shit about that. It is not like only it forced Saga to do every evil thing in his whole life. But he could understand a little now, that Saga didn't have an easy life. Now, when Saga was gone, when every bad emotion stopped to control his mind, he could see this a little better. When he had the chance of thinking about it, Saga was in pain as well. It was a different pain; pain of not being able to stop these bad things he caused, being not able to prevent the pain Saga caused himself. Being frustrated about the evilness, that was controlling him for such a long time. Of course it wasn't excusing Saga, it showed how weak he really was. But now… Kanon felt compassionate enough to be sad, that Saga would never have the chance of having life without the pain. That he would never have the life Kanon had right now. Without sadness, without suffering. Without pain and evilness.

With a long sigh he sat dawn in the front of the grave and for a while he was just thinking quietly. Right now… Actually right now he missed Saga. The Temple of the Gemini was so quiet these months. It frightened him to be alone in that big building as the Gemini Saint… alone. He didn't like that. There was no one to mess with; there was no one to joke with. There was no one to argue… He didn't have anyone to laugh with like in the past, he had no one he could be a little mischievous for. It was a little sad. Yes, he was the only Gemini Saint, he had the position he always dreamed of, he had the position of Saga, after many years of being in the shadows, being this "cursed one" he had his family, his pride as the Gold Saint of Athena… But there was no fun at all to be the only one. Now he couldn't just have fight with Saga about who should wear the Cloth, he couldn't mock with him, laugh…

"You coward…" he murmured under his nose. Oh, for Athena's name, how cowardly it was to kill himself! To run away from the responsibility of his mistakes! "You coward…" he repeated almost soundless.

What else he could say? Saga escaped. Maybe it was too painful for the elder one to live with that heaviness of his crime. Maybe he just had enough of the guilty. Or maybe it was really that darkness of Hades that pushed his brother to suicide. Maybe without it Saga would be able to endure this guilty and maybe someday redeem himself. But they wouldn't know anymore, because Saga was gone. There were so many possibilities Saga left behind! There were so many chances of atoning for his sins!

"But you know what?" he started. He was here for the first time alone, without any eyes following his every move, he was here for the fist time after the funeral… and when he started to talk to the tombstone, he couldn't stop. He had to talk with his brother, after all these months. He wanted to say to him many things; he wanted to say how much he was frustrated, how much he was sad, angry… there was so many things left to say… But the only way to tell everything was to sit here, in the front of the stone with Saga's name engraved on it and talk till he would be empty with words. "When you died… I was happy. The happiness was something I felt the most. Because you were gone. This nightmare that again destroyed my life disappeared. Because now Milo didn't have to look at your face, he was free from this suffering. I know he let you die. He said it himself, that when he was looking at your death, he just let you die, he accepted the path you chose. And I was happy. Finally I was able to do everything to redeem myself, without being afraid you would mess with it again." He sighed. When he was thinking about it right now… He felt ashamed of himself a little. Saga was the way he was – cursed with evilness from the day of their birth, selfish, but strong and most of the time really kind, good man. He did many painful things to Kanon, to Milo… To their fellows. But he was really reliable, trustworthy person. How could he be so happy about his death? About the death of his brother? But he couldn't help that. These last emotions were covering his senses and he really just felt happy. "But… I envy you a little. You are free. You have no worries anymore; you are not in the pain. You used the most cowardly way of settling everything, but now you are in peace. I did so much and I can to much more for Milo. I want it. But despite everything… It seems I'm not worth of being forgiven. What is wrong with me, dammit?!"

He gasped his hands. It was so frustrating. For all these month he tried to make Milo forget about this rape. He really tried to redeem himself, to erase this sin from his life. Every time Milo was irritated, he was ready to give his body, so Milo could strike as much as he wanted. His body covered already many marks of Scarlet Needle. They were covering him all in many various places. He didn't regret that – he was ready to receive much, much more. But anyway, everything seemed to be in vain.

"What should I do, Saga…?" He asked the tombstone. "Is there any chance that Milo would be cured from this pain? From this nightmare? Is there anything I could do to bring that cheerful, full of energy kid back? Tell me, because I don't know anymore…"

He really didn't know anymore. He used his imagination to the fullest; he tried really hard to make Milo happy, when Saga was gone. He did everything in his mighty but there was no progress. He still felt not worth of being forgiven by Milo.

He sighed just before sensing Milo's presence. He stood up, looking surprised at his beloved Scorpio, who was standing a little hesitantly a few meters away.

"Are you here again?" asked the Scorpio, approaching Kanon.

Kanon smirked.

"Again? It's the second time…" he murmured.

Yes, it was the true. He was here for the second time, including the funeral. He… just couldn't make himself to come here earlier. He was afraid he would destroy the place in the uncontrollable anger.

"I just never though you would ever be able to come here…" Milo said, stopping beside him, and looking at the name engraved in the dark stone. He was here also the second time. Actually he didn't want to be at the funeral, to look at these all people, who were crying for this lost soul, that were talking so many beautiful things about Saga. But if he wouldn't be there, it could mean he was just too weak, too scared of the dead Saint, who couldn't hurt him anymore. And right now he was just amazed how easy it was for him to follow Kanon's cosmo, and appear here, in the front of Saga's grave. It wasn't like he forgot, because he couldn't and never would be able to forget. But right now, when Saga was gone, when it wasn't painful to look at Kanon's face anymore… He stopped to hate Saga so much. There was no point of hating someone who wasn't able to suffer from this hate.

"Me too…"

Kanon heard the sigh and then… the warm hand of Milo tightened gently around his one. He looked surprised at the Scorpio.

"Milo…?"

Milo looked at him, with a slight smile.

"For all this time you did pretty much for me. When I wanted to kill myself for the first time, for the second time, after Saga died… You were beside me much more than others. And after yesterday you begged me for the forgiveness… and after I send you away again… I could think clearly for the whole night… And I think it is finally the time…" Milo said, still looking at the tombstone of Saga's grave. He gasped his hand tighter around Kanon's hand and looked into the blue eyes of the Gemini. "Kanon, I forgive you."

Kanon gasped strongly from the surprise. When yesterday Milo sent him away again, he thought that after all he wasn't worth of the forgiveness. He was sure, Milo would never do that, having this grudge against him for the rest of their time. He was so frustrated at night, that he couldn't sleep. After all, he really behaved perfectly, caring for Milo, being beside him just when the Scorpio needed him, helping him, supporting for these whole months. He even forgot about the hatred for Camus he felt, and started to get along with the Aquarius. He stopped to be harsh for him, he stopped to make everything difficult for Camus. They cared about the same person, didn't they? And he though, that finally Milo was ready to forgive him.

But right now he couldn't believe his ears. He wanted to hug Milo tightly, he wanted to cry just like a baby. His dream come true, he had the chance of being Milo's lover once more time. He could finally try. Maybe it would fail, maybe Milo would never want to be with him as a lover again, but now he had a new chance, right? Beside now he was so happy about being forgiven, that it didn't matter for him. It could wait!

"You don't have to say anything. I see how happy you are. And I'm now relieved I was able to forgive you after all. I wanted to do that. After all I still love you, Kanon," said Milo, smiling. Yes, he really still loved Kanon. It still was there, in his heart. And now he really felt relieved, calm… happy as well. Of course, he had this shadow in his mind; shadow, that maybe he would be hurt by the Gemini one more time. But if he would just hold tightly that thought, that anxiety, then maybe something amazing would miss him in the future. He could see how much Kanon changed for the better, and it was making him happy. And he had soft heart – he hoped that Kanon would be so wonderful person for the rest of his life. "And… I see that Camus is so like Camus, right now… Just like he should be. I noticed how much you helped him as well. It really touched me, because I remember you two never got along pretty well with each other. It was really nice of you. Probably he is like that thanks to you. I'm really happy, because I can see that someday he would be really someone important for me."

Kanon felt like the warm fingers again tightened stronger around his hand. It was so nice to feel Milo's warmth in that way. He really missed that for a long time. He allowed himself to be selfish a little again, and right now he didn't care about Camus. He was just enjoying this moment, wanting it to last as long as possible.

He smiled widely, feeling the tears falling down his cheeks.

With a long, frustrated sigh Camus of the Aquarius sat under the big, apple tree on the cliff that he, just like Milo and Kanon, loved pretty much. Usually he wasn't here too often, but when he had some problems with his own mind, he liked to sit there and look at the horizon, thinking and trying to solve his worries. But this time it seemed his big problem wouldn't disappear so easily.

He couldn't say that he always was really close to his fellows. Firstly, under the fake Pope, Gemini Saga they didn't trust each other too much. Of course, they were exceptions. He created friendship with Milo, but that was all. Everyone was acting for their own purposes, less or more right; they weren't family. He himself liked much more to spend his time on Siberia than in the Sanctuary, filled with the distrust. And after his first death, it seemed that the rest of the Gold Saints created some form of 'family'. They started to trust each other, rely on each other. But he wasn't the part of this family, because he was dead. And after they were resurrected by Athena, when the Holy War was just the past it was really hard for him to approach them. With this still undiscovered darkness, he sought the presence of his fellows. But for a long time he couldn't be the part of this 'family'. They distrusted him at the beginning.

But after many efforts, when he finally had their trust, when their presence was really comfortable for him, when he felt wonderful… the rape happened and he left to Siberia.

He knew that the others Saints had no idea about the rape. He wasn't surprised. Kanon and Milo surely didn't want them to discover it, because then twins would be punished really hard. And since their fellows weren't aware what the crime of twins was, they started to consider his sin as something really bad.

And now… Now he was again alone. He lost his family. Yes, mostly because of his own weakness, of his stupidity. But it didn't change the fact he felt alone. The Gold Saints were treating him really coldly, like he was someone they had to be nice with, but they didn't trust him. Like he was someone they were observing, just to tear him apart when he would do something wrong. They weren't harsh like Kanon at the beginning, but Camus could feel, that most of them wouldn't care too much if he would disappear forever.

It hurt him. He knew he deserved, but it hurt.

And Milo seemed he didn't want to forgive him at all. For these whole months Camus tried to do everything to regain even small part of Milo's trust. He tried to erase his sin; he wanted to help Milo with everything he could. But it seemed it wasn't enough.

For these few months he tried to be better person. He fought pretty hard with this darkness inside his heart; he started to treasure every smile of Milo, every happy look inside these bright, blue eyes. It had no matter for whom these smiles were dedicated, he was using them to be better. He was using them to get rid of this darkness. After all, Milo's smiles were really important. Just because of his stupidity he almost lost them forever. So now he had to do everything to maintain this fragile life of Milo on this world. He had to make Milo to feel safe. Right now it was his destiny, his purpose of being alive. As someone who wanted to be the Scorpio's friend.

Of course it wasn't easy. Milo distrusted him, at the beginning Kanon was doing everything to see Camus failing miserably. And this darkness was only waiting for the opportunity to take his soul again. Even if Camus was nursed his love for Milo, even if he wanted to make it just the pure feeling, not wanting anything from Milo, but giving as much from himself as he could; even if he was happy about giving Milo everything he had; even if he tried to be happy because of Milo's happiness… It was still there, waiting. For it only small opportunity was enough.

And he had to admit, that despite everything he was doing to maintain his sanity, despite everything he was doing for Milo he would be gone if… If Kanon wouldn't help him.

Yes, because of Kanon he managed to fight back every time this darkness approached too much. He was still amazed that the Gemini wanted to help him, but he really appreciated that. Thanks to him, Camus was able to do for Milo much more.

It was about month after Saga killed himself. Camus couldn't tell he was on the straight path to be forgiven. Even if he was doing for Milo everything he could, even if he decided to nurse his love for the Scorpio, not expecting anything from him, he was slowly breaking. Kanon was doing everything to make his way to Milo's heart difficult, his will of helping Milo was slowly crushed by the darkness of Hades and it seemed even his desire to help Milo wasn't enough. Apparently he was just too weak to push back this darkness; it seemed to be pretty strong and really furious when he decided to fight. Even the Pope couldn't help him. He had many doubts if he should be here. If this darkness was about to rule his heart again, then maybe it would be better if he would disappear before he would hurt Milo again? There were many ways of disappearing – more or less shameful – but he actually was too hesitant to make the decision.

And actually, because he hesitated, he was given the chance again, even if he didn't deserve at all.

He was sitting here, under this apple tree and thinking what he could do more to bring himself back and bring old, cheerful Milo back to them again. He didn't even notice the presence of the Gemini, until Kanon sat beside him with thoughtful face. At first he wanted to run away, because he was sure Kanon again had many harsh words to say, but when he was ready to stand up and leave, Kanon just shook his head and said:

"Sit. I won't mess with you this time."

Camus gulped, surprised. Really, the voice of Kanon wasn't rough. It was his usual voice, deep, nice voice he was using in talks with their fellows.

"I want to talk with you, Camus," Kanon said after the long while of silence. "I want you to know, that I won't mess with you anymore. I won't make it so difficult for you to approach Milo." He looked at the Aquarius shortly. "I'm not sorry for what I was doing to you until now, because you deserved, but I will stop now."

Camus blinked a few times.

"Why…?" he whispered, hesitantly.

"Isn't it obvious, Camus? Because we care about the same person. I agree I was really angry that you received the second chance from Milo. I was working pretty hard to have my chance, but you just appeared and get it instantly. But I was ignorant. I know that my crime was much worse than yours, beside you were friends much, much longer, that I was lover of Milo. Beside I can see how much important it is for him to be able to forgive you. If I would be harsh for you forever, if I would try to make you fail, then it would bring more harm than help."

Camus couldn't believe these words. They two never liked each other too much. It was because they were a little envy about how much of Milo's heart belonged to each other. And to be honest, Camus never expected such words from the Gemini.

"And there is something more," added Kanon after the short while of silence. "I know from the Pope about the darkness. He told me about it just after Saga's death. That it is the real thing, difficult to handle especially for you. I actually don't care about that, for me it isn't the excuse for what you and Saga did to Milo. But Pope Shion said it is a dangerous thing that changes people and I believe him. You changed pretty much since our revival, and I want to believe it was because of Hades." For a long while he was only looking at the horizon, being aware of questioning look Camus was giving him right now. "I know you are breaking again, Camus. I know you are close of being defeated. I can feel it. And I will try to help you to fight."

Camus gasped strongly. Did he really hear these words?

"But don't get me wrong, Camus. I won't help you to redeem yourself in the front of Milo. It is something you have to do by your own. But I will help you to survive, so you would be able to atone for your sin."

The Aquarius was so surprised, that he wasn't even able ask 'why'. Why Kanon decided to help him? They never liked each other, so why the Gemini was offering him his help?

"And before you would ask why, I will answer. Like I said, we care about the same person. And because you are close of breaking. And if you break, it will hurt Milo. I don't want him to suffer again because of loosing you. He really cares about you. He is watching your behavior and really wants to forgive you. It is really important for him, because if he won't give you his forgiveness, he would lose his friend definitely. And if you will break, he would never have the chance of forgiving you. So just know that if you will need help, I will be there for you, Camus."

And after these words he disappeared form the hill, leaving the Aquarius with muddle in his head.

Camus sighed, remembering that day. He was really touched back then, Kanon offered him the help he really needed. He had no one in that time, his fellows were really cold with him, Milo was out of his reach and Kanon acted really roughly as well. But then the Gemini changed his attitude and came when Camus was slowly breaking. He came to help him survive.

And Kanon really helped him many times since then. The French had a few days of doubts, when this damn darkness approached him really closely. He was really close of breaking again. Because he had really awful nightmare, because Milo just shoed him from his sigh, because his fellows were really harsh for him. Because his efforts of regaining Milo's trust seemed to be in vain. And every time he almost gave up, Kanon was coming to save him. They had many sincere talks. Camus opened his soul in the way he never expected to do with someone else than Milo. He, of course, said to Kanon that no matter what would happen right now, he would still love Milo, without wanting anything in return. That he would be happy to see Milo happy. That it was enough for him to do many good things for Milo. Kanon talked with him too. About how much he loved Milo and how much he hoped he and the Scorpio would be together again. How much Milo was important for him.

He was really grateful for this help. Thanks to Kanon he was able to survive, he was able to atone for his sins towards Milo. And even if this darkness was still present, Camus could feel its strength weakening. It was slowly heading back, and Camus had the hope it would disappear someday.

And even if he never ever thought it would happen, he and Kanon created some attachment with each other. It wasn't enough to call it friendship, but they weren't common fellows as well. The fact he had someone he could rely on, someone to help him, was filing him with the feeling of happiness. Thanks to Kanon he could find the strength to fight for his soul, and thanks to Kanon he had the chance of redeeming himself in front of Milo. It was enough for him to survive.

With a long sigh he stood up rapidly. There was no time for sitting around and thinking about himself. He knew that Milo forgave Kanon already or was about to do it. He could feel this between them. This new bond, this comfort. This new trust. And for him that meant Milo would be able to forgive him as well.

He gasped his fists strongly and after the last look at the horizon, he left the hill, heading to the Scorpio Temple.

It was the time to ask Milo for the forgiveness again.