Disclaimer: I don't own SS chara
Chapter 14
Even If It's Only for a Day
Two days later.
Hades smirked when staring at the large amount of money Shion gave him.
He then burnt the money into pieces.
"Poseidon has nothing to do with this," he said in a low voice.
How could Hades know it…?
He knew the Goldies borrowed the money from Poseidon…
"And have you forgotten our agreement, Aries, that you and your inferiors must buy this house with the salaries I give you, not by the money given by Poseidon or anyone else?"
Shion didn't answer. He was frozen. The same as the others. Their eyes never left the money which slowly turned into ashes…the money Poseidon gave them…ten million Euros…
Now it has become trash…
Hades sat on his throne. Rhadamanthys as usual was standing beside him. Rhadamanthys looked quite silent, he didn't tease or smirk at the Gold saints as he usually was.
"Let us see," Hades said silkily. "Poseidon is not a type of person who will come to Japan and give Athena's saints numbers of money that is beyond anybody's imagination. Poseidon is also not a type of person who will come to this mansion to recruit one of Athena's saint to be his servant. So I conclude that it was you who visited his abode in Greece to ask for his worthless money then exchanged it with Gemini Kanon. You have left this mansion without my permission. You know…it is too much. Too much…"
Hades sighed in irony. "I will not hire you…all of you…until the next three months."
The room rang with silence.
"Who will serve me today?" asked Hades coldly.
"Shura and Camus," answered Shion. His fringe was totally covered his eyes.
"Aquarius," said Hades. He looked interested when looking at Camus. "You know, I think I will not force you to serve me right now. You need some time to lament your best friend's death, don't you?" he jeered.
Camus wasn't affected. His expression didn't change even a little: he stayed stoic and cold as usual.
But Aiolia was affected.
"YOU %^&*(&**%^&%$%*($%^^%^^!!!" he shouted. His fellows had to grab his body to prevent him jumping at Hades. "IT'S YOUR FAULT! MILO'S DEATH IS YOUR FAULT!!!"
"Stop it, Aiolia…," whispered Aiolos as he clutched Aiolia's hand so tight.
With a total indifferent expression, Hades got up and walked away from his throne. "Come, Rhadamanthys," he said lightly. "I want to have a rest right now. The journey to Rumania was not a notable one. You stay away from my room, Aquarius and Capricornus. I do not want to be served or disturbed right now. I want to be alone,"
He walked calmly to his room, followed by Rhadmanthys behind him. He still didn't care about Aiolia, who still yelling numbers of impolite words at him.
When Hades has arrived in front of his room, he told Rhadamanthys, "Leave me alone."
Rhadamanthys bowed his back before leaving his master, while Hades soon entered his room.
His nostrils immediately smelled very familiar scent.
"Hmmm…," he murmured. He looked at his surroundings, and jeered when seeing a stray of purple hair on his floor.
"Too much, Athena," whispered Hades silkily as he knelt and picked the hair. "Too much…"
Xxx
At eleven pm in the kitchen…
Camus's eyes faded when he poured the water into his glass.
His shadow again…
The same blue hair and blue eyes which have traveled throughout his mind since yesterday. It was just like the sneak peak of a movie: the moments he have passed with Milo suddenly came to presence and appeared in front of his eyes with random orders…
Then all of a sudden there was a certain memory which was clearer and more omplete than the others.
It happened about eight months ago. At midnight.
Camus heard knocks on his door. Though he was still very sleepy and tired, he got down of his bed and opened the door.
It was Milo. His startling blue eyed filled with mourn.
"I dreamt about it again," said Milo immediately.
"About what?"
"Andromeda Island."
Camus gazed at his best friend for a moment.
"I…," whispered Milo. "I killed children…one of them even just being born…"
He clung his forehead against Camus's and suddenly hot tears fell from his eyes…Camus never saw Milo that mournful…
Reluctantly, Camus encircled his hand around Milo's back to hug him.
At that moment he discovered that hugging Milo wasn't a difficult thing to do…
"They--," Milo whispered as his tears repeatedly fell on Camus's hair, "They wanted me to spare their life—they begged me not to kill them…but I did it…Scarlet Needle—and I laughed and stood on their bloods…they…they called their mothers before they died…but I…"
"Husshh…"
"I laughed out loud…"
Camus's throat was like being choked when Milo began to sob uncontrollably. Milo's back was shaking, made Camus never stopped patting his back.
"Come on," said Camus after quite long time. "Let's get in…"
He brought Milo inside his room, then closed the door. Both of them sat on Camus's bed.
"I know you feel remorseful because of that incident…," Camus spoke when Milo has been a little bit calm down. "But it has happened, nobody can change it…what you're able to do now is only asking for the dwellers' forgiveness, including Shun and June, though both of them have forgot it since long time ago.
"Some of the dwellers might not be willing to forgive you, but at least you've tried…"
Milo nodded a bit. He still tried so hard to fight for his tears.
"I'll accompany you to go to the island tomorrow…," Camus continued.
Milo nodded once more.
Camus patted his back and tightened his hug then. He gazed on his sheet and didn't realize that his vision got blurry feeling Milo crying on his chest.
"You've changed, Milo…," Camus said. "You did it because you didn't know it was wrong…"
As time went by, Milo finally stopped sobbing, though his eyes were extremely swollen and a bit empty. He fell asleep on Camus's lap.
When the morning came and Milo has awoke, he found Camus running his fingers through his blue hair.
"You're awake," Camus smiled slightly.
Milo replied his smile and gazed at him in peacefulness.
"Thanks," said Milo.
"No problem."
Milo woke up slowly then leant his back against the headboard.
"Now's your turn."
"What?"
"You haven't slept since midnight, have you" smiled Milo.
"It's alright."
"We'll go to Andromeda Island…you have to take a rest before we get there."
Camus finally did what his best friend asked. He lied on his bed and began to close his eyes to sleep. Milo was right…he hasn't slept for hours. But it was ok anyway, after all he couldn't sleep while his best friend was in grief.
When he was about to have a sound sleep, he could hear Milo whispered.
"Thank you for never leaving me. I myself will never leave you…"
…………
But now he left…
He left, and Camus didn't even have any chance to say goodbye…
Camus's eyes were a bit empty. He sat on the chair and never stopped gazing at the table. His shadow never left him…the blue eyes…the blue hair…never…
He was the only best friend he had, and now he was gone…
"Camus…?" suddenly there was a call.
Camus raised his head. He saw Mu looking at him anxiously.
"Oh…thanks God…," Mu whispered and taking a very deep breath. "I…I have called you three times, but you did not reply or raise your head…I thought…," Mu didn't continue.
Recently, Mu indeed was a bit paranoid…everybody could say that he was still strongly affected with Milo's 'death'. The Aries got anxious when Shura had a flu, when Shion and co took flight to Greece, when his fellows were sleeping, when Camus didn't answer his call…he was too anxious his fellows would die at anytime.
"I was looking for you and I found you here…," Mu said slowly. "Wo…wouldn't you return to our room…? Everybody is waiting for you."
"I'm alright, Mu," Camus replied and smiled slightly.
"But if Hades—"
"Hades is in his room now. I just want to be here alone."
Mu nodded slowly. He turned silent for a while. He wanted to say something encouraging to Camus, but he realized he didn't manage to say any words.
Finally he sighed, turned around, and left the room. Seemed like Mu didn't feel comfortable with the situation right now.
Camus was alone again.
And lonely…
He still sat silently on the chair, still gazing at the table.
"You're thinking about Milo?" a voice came after quite long time.
Camus raised his head once more. He saw Shura looking at the contents of the refrigerator.
"No," Camus answered.
He was very surprised finding his own voice was almost broken… Suddenly he also felt like running out off air…he couldn't breath well and his lips were a bit shaking… It happened right after Shura mentioned his name: Milo…
"If you want to cry, just cry, Camus," Shura gazed at his junior impassively.
"I don't want to cry," Camus stood up and paced slowly. Now he felt extreme heat in his eyes…
Shura watched silently when two teardrops streamed down Camus's cheeks…
"…why…," Camus said after quite long time, with broken voice. "Why didn't he tell me…?"
He finally sobbed softly when Shura hugged him tight…
Finally he cried…as usual his tears were always delayed…when his fellows's tears have been dry he just began to cry…
"He…," Camus whispered in the middle of his sob. His heart completely melted right now… "…he always…told me about unimportant things…hoping I would laugh or…doing some stupid things…but he didn't tell me anything…about his heart disease…"
"Listen…," Shura said softly, as if he encouraging his own little brother. "I've watched both of you since you were children…and I see that none of even a word he said is unimportant for you…"
Camus closed his eyes and let his tears falling on the floor….. He hated it…he hated the fact that Shura was right…none of even a single word Milo said was unimportant for him…. Even though it was only related with a dull game or the like, he always treasured it…
He still cried. Only Heaven Knows when his grief would end…
Xxx
Meanwhile in Sanctuary, Milo was standing on the treads in front of the Scorpio temple. The wind blew his hair gracefully…feels like it's been a long time since he was standing here…looking at the view down there in Greece.
He took a breath as he took a seat on the treads.
Suddenly he heard his phone was ringing. He didn't have any will to pick it up, after all it would be very odd if a "dead" man talking on the phone. He let his answering machine receiving the call…
…and he was so startled hearing a voice he yearned more than any in the world…
"Hey…," he heard it from his answering machine.
Milo stood up and soon marched at his telephone. He gazed at the answering machine, sat in front of it…and he was so moved when he heard his voice again…
"I called only to say goodnight…"
In Kido's mansion Camus looked at the floor with swollen eyes.
Back then, when he was still being hugged by Shura, he was suggested to do something which could set aside the burden from his shoulders. Shura told him that maybe he needed to tell someone about all his feelings right now. Camus unconsciously said he only wanted to talk to Milo. And here he was now…talking to Milo's answering machine which existed in the Scorpio temple.
It indeed gave an effect. His burden slowly left him…
"It's just…," Camus said after quite long time. "I haven't even told you that…I always feel happy to see your curls in the midst of the air……because it means I won't feel lonely anymore…," he feel heats in his eyes again, and soon the warm tears streamed down his cheeks…
Milo put his hand on his eyes when his tears fell…
You've always just said such thing when you think I'm dead…
Coward…
"Even if it's only for a day I want you to come back…I…want to tell you everything…everything I need to tell…," Camus began to sob softly.
Silence again…
Milo could hardly hear Camus's sob, because he was busy to control his own…. He didn't know what he exactly felt right now…sadness…? Happiness? Grief? How could he know…?
His emotion affected his lungs, and finally, his heart…he felt pains, yet he tried to fight against it.
"But you won't come back…," Camus whispered when he managed to control his voice.
"I will…," Milo replied, though Camus couldn't hear it.
As time went by, finally Milo let out a smile. Now he found out what feeling that mostly dominated him…. It was happiness…he was happy to hear how much he meant to his best friend…and he would always be…
When it has been five minutes, Camus said…, "Goodnight, Milo…"
Milo whispered, "Goodnight…"
"We'll always be best friend…," Camus whispered again, "Though you've left us…you will never leave my heart…"
A minute later Camus put down the phone.
Milo took a deep breath as he stood up and held his chest afterwards. The pain got ruthless and harsh …
Ever since he wore Hades's pendant, he was so easy to get relapses. Moreover today he forgot to drink his medicine and Camus's call also influenced his emotion, which of course ended in fatal result…
Milo stood up and was about to walk to his room to take his medicine, but then his knees fell on the floor.
Heart failure again…
Thanks God he still had a chance to grab his phone and pressed the Pope hall's numbers, though with shaking hands…
"Princess…Saori…," he whispered after hearing Saori's voice. Only two words, and his body immediately fell on the floor…hurt…it really hurt…now he only hoped Miss Saori could come to his temple before something worse happened to him…
He really regretted this…if only Camus didn't call…he wouldn't feel the great emotion which would cause him to get weaker like this…
No…if only he never knew Camus…he wouldn't feel this mournful…he wouldn't feel this anxious nor sad, he would never shed a liter of tears in this autumnal night…
But yet…at the same time he also felt so thankful of knowing him…
Because you are the snowflakes which will never be hurled by the wind blows…
The snowflakes in my heart…
"Milo…!"
She came. She marched at Milo, looked confused for a while, and soon went to his room to take his medicine.
"Here, drink this…," she said as she pulled Milo's head into her arms and helped him to drink it.
"Poseidon, Princess Saori…," Milo whispered afterwards. "We'll go to Poseidon's castle…tomorrow…"
"But you're still ill…"
"It's ok…," Milo's tears fell. "We have to finish this soon…"
Saori finally nodded and stroked Milo's hair softly.
"I understand, Milo…," she whispered. "We'll go there tomorrow…"
Xxx
The last four chapters in Home Sweet Home:
Rhadamanthys scowls.
"Would you leave me alone, you winged rat?!" he snarled at Biki, who never stopped cheeping beside him, as if he wanted to give him some sign.
And the ex-deity is trying to use the 200-years-ago technique.
Hades hummed in a low voice. In his hand there was a paint brush which has been liquefied by his blood.
"Death is salvation, my dear siblings…" he jeered as he stared at Athena and Poseidon's paintings.
Meanwhile Kanon is enraged.
"YOU'RE STILL ALIVE?!" his voice thundered.
The Bronzes gave the most important helping hand.
"Who'll steal Hades's pendant?" asked Athena as she looked at her bronze saints.
"I will," replied Seiya, Shiryu, Hyoga, Shun, and Ikki at once.
"Have you forgotten we only have one Helm of Invisibility?" asked Poseidon, irritated.
"Ok, then. I will steal it."
And someone is bidding the beloved friend farewell.
"Have a wonderful journey, Biki…," said Shaka, smiling as he released Biki to soar away in the open and bright sky. "I will never forget you…"
Will the group be successful to destroy Hades's pendant?
Aiolia opened the mansion's door.
Athena, Poseidon, Kanon, Sorrento, and the Bronze Saints appeared in front of him.
"I have bad feeling about this…" murmured Aiolia then.
And can he get together with his best friend and fellows again…?
He looked at the fireworks in the sky before heading to the intensive room and facing the surgeries.
Home Sweet Home: The Youngsters Begin
Home Sweet Home: Thrilling Destruction
Home Sweet Home: Après
Home Sweet Home: Where the Heart is
Camus frowned his forehead when Athena gave him a book.
A Place Like Home, written by Aquarius Degel.
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