Disclaimer: I don't own Saint Seiya characters!

The Awaiting Future

Camus left quickly the coliseum, walking really fast, hoping that Degel wouldn't follow him at this moment. He didn't want to be stopped right now, because he knew he would give up to Degel's argumentation. He didn't want to be lectured as a stupid child, because he knew Degel would be completely right. Only one word was needed right now and his legs would stop and force him to listen. And if he would listen he would start to analyse everything. He would start to thing if he did right thing and then it could end differently.

And the thing Camus really didn't want right now was analysing. He was still too shocked and confused, even if his mind seemed to be calmed. For the first time in his whole life he felt like that. Not able to think logically, not able to decide, he had no idea which path he should take now. If Degel would force him to analyse, the future Saint would change his mind, thinking that maybe Milo wasn't happy with Degel, or in the end he still could be worth the interest of the Scorpio Saint.

But Milo was happy! Camus could see this happiness, deeply inside the eyes of Milo, on the face, when the blue haired Greek caught the future Aquarius and kissed him with the passion. He had no doubt! This glance, these features, this smile. He knew them very well. Milo always looked like that when his soul was happy, when Milo felt comfortable and safe. For a long time Camus wasn't the one that his beloved was smiling for. And right now these wonderful smiles were given to Degel.

Camus had absolutely no idea what he should do. It was the first time in his whole life he felt helpless, so confused and sad. Did he make the right decision, leaving his beloved Scorpio to Degel? Wasn't it too dangerous for them all? Or maybe it should be like this? And why he felt the enormous need of running away? Was it the way betrayed person felt?

This kiss… he could still see this passionate kiss. The way Milo touched Degel, the kind movement to link their lips. The greedy fingers over his body, searching for him… It was their kiss, his and Milo! Camus never thought the Greek could kiss someone else in that way. He never thought Milo could give this wonderful thing to someone else!

Was it exactly what shocked him the most? The fact that his beloved Scorpio shared their kiss with someone else? As if he owned this slight, lustful caresses? Like it would be his forever? But to be honest with himself, didn't Camus think for all the time that Milo belonged only to him? Wasn't he selfish enough to be sure the Scorpio would be forever with him, like a toy belonged to its owner?

Degel didn't look as a person who would treat someone this way, like some toy, thing without its own will. And in Camus' eyes Milo deserved for a better person. The Scorpio deserved to be happy with someone not treating him like some kind of property, like animal or kid. After so many years spent with such a selfish person like Camus, the young Greek deserved for the best Camus could give him. The future Aquarius already took so much from Milo, not giving anything instead, so it seemed to be damn, right time to free Milo from this burden. To free Milo from selfish lover, who thought only about himself.

And… and right now Camus thought freeing was exactly the best choice. Leaving him with Degel, giving him some wonderful time with Saint who would never treat him like Camus did all the time. It could be his final gift. As an apology and as gratitude for everything Milo did for him. If… if it wouldn't affect the future in fatal way, Camus would do everything for Degel to survive. If it wouldn't destroy many things in the future, he was ready even to replace Degel in fight with Poseidon, so Milo could live with his new, wonderful man till their deaths.

With a long sigh he sat dawn at the edge of a cliff, surrounded by many young trees that in the future would be cut off by mere humans. In his turbulent thought the French didn't even notice when he approached one of the farthest boundaries of Sanctuary, where the Royal Garden was placed by Pisces Albafica as the defence for the Athena's territory. But Camus didn't care. He was so thoughtful that his legs could even bring him out of the Holy Land and he wouldn't notice it. It didn't have the matter for him right now; it was only good to be far away from Degel and from Milo.

The Aquarius looked at his trembling hands, having his heart almost dying from the pain. This feeling was the worst he even had. Being killed by Hyoga wasn't so painful, being struck by Milo with his Scarlet Needles wasn't so painful. Even dying in the front of the Willing Wall was much nicer thing. He couldn't almost breathe from this enormous pain. As if something gasped his heart and tried to crush it.

Camus lied to Degel. The Aquarius really lied and right now he was feeling this lie inside his heart. Of course he loved Milo. How could he not love this wonderful, cheerful man bringing the light to the darkest places of the world? How could he not love this Saint, who always made everyone to feel safe? How could he not love someone who filled his existence with his smile, laughter, bright eyes and warmness? Camus would be the biggest hypocrite if he would insist this love never existed. Milo appeared in his life long time ago, he filled it with the warmness and light. Camus never felt lonely, knowing that somewhere Milo was living for him, that the Scorpio could come at any moment and talk with him, smile to him, kiss him… The French felt really happy with his beloved Scorpio. Many months after the Holy War he couldn't imagine his life without him. These nightmares he had every night, this shadow following him everywhere. Milo could get rid of everything. And he always did, helping Camus with his all strength.

So how could he not love Milo?

And right now, looking inside these violet eyes of Degel and still seeing this happiness of Milo, it was really hard for him to say that this love maybe never existed. When Milo would be gone… the loneliness would return. And right now it was something frightening Camus the most. Being alone, without his beloved Milo. With the awareness that there was no Scorpio living for him anymore. He couldn't even imagine how the morning would look like without the warm kiss of Milo, and his strong arm around Camus' naked body. How it would be to sleep alone, knowing that no one would slip under his blanket and hug him tightly. How it would be, knowing that when nightmare would fall in the dark night there was no one to wake him up and make him feel safe. There would be no one to tell him that there is nothing to be afraid of and the Holy War is only past, that Hades was already gone and he would never have to wear this cold, filled with hatred armor. And he didn't have to be afraid of dying alone anymore…

After so many years…

He took one deep breathe. He had to calm down finally. It happened, Milo just kissed Degel, maybe for hundredth time already, so sulking and being depressed wouldn't fix anything. He had to take some long walk, or go for a mission, calm down and talk with Milo. Not now, of course. The Aquarius was too afraid he would destroy than fix anything with harsh words. This image of the Scorpio and Degel kissing was boiling his blood all the time, and it would be really stupid to go find his lover and predecessor being at the edge of madness.

"You should be careful," he heard above his head the melodic voice that pierced all his thoughts, bringing him fully to the reality.

Camus looked at the tall man, standing at some distance from him; man with really pretty face, blue, wonderful eyes and body covered with the shining Gold Cloth of Pisces.

"You should be more careful, Saint of the Aquarius from the future," repeated Albafica, looking at him with kind but deeply sad and lonely eyes. "If there would be any stronger wind, you would be dead after few seconds," added the guardian of the twelfth Temple, sitting few meters away and looking at his red, poisonous garden.

"Dead? So quickly?" Camus raised his eyebrows in curiosity. He knew that Aphrodite's roses weren't so strong to kill someone far away from them and surely they couldn't kill so quickly. Does it mean Albafica's roses were much stronger?

The Pisces Saint smiled lightly.

"The petals of my poisonous roses are able to fly even here with the wind. And only a few of them are able to kill in the matter of seconds."

This time it was Camus who smiled, watching carefully the waving sea of red flowers at the feet of a cliff.

"I believe I can defend myself from your roses even without my armor," he murmured to Albafica. "In the future I had to develop some tricks to defend myself, because I wouldn't live long enough to end in the XVIII century," he added with a smile, thinking about Aphrodite and feeling… sad.

The Pisces Saint looked at him with surprised eyes and it was the first time Camus saw him so… lively. This look was so energetic that seemed to be a little strange on the always calm face of Albafica.

"You are fighting with yourself in the future?" he asked really seriously. "Lady Athena allows that?"

"Oh, no, it is not like we are enemies," Camus denied with a laugh, really wanting to add 'not anymore', but stopping himself. "It is just… Your descendant is a little different than you," murmured the Aquarius, noticing that he never had the opportunity to talk with Albafica about the future Saint of Pisces.

"Different? What do you mean? I heard that your fellows are the same as we," asked the young, beautiful Saint, again showing such an interest that Camus never expected from him.

Camus nodded slowly.

"Well, Aphrodite is really short-tempered person, I could say. And when he is angry really strongly, he can't hold his temper. It is not like he wants to kill us. It is rather he knows we won't be killed so easily, so he could release his stress. But instead of this, he is really reliable Saint, believe me," said the French.

Albafica blinked a few times, surely wasn't sure what to say. When the other Gold Saints started to talk how their successors were, he himself started to think what kind of person was the future Pisces. He never asked Camus or Milo about it, because he wasn't interested so much about this, but hearing now from the French, how his descendant behaved was strange.

But before he managed to ask a little more, the low ranked guardian appeared behind, looking as someone who was searching for them. Both Gold Saints stood up as the third one approached them. He bowed his respects and said:

"There were some suspected moves at the south side of Greece, I received a report just a while ago. A few people came from there, saying that some demons burned their village."

"Did you report it to the Grand Pope?" asked Albafica.

"No, not yet. After hearing this report I was going to do that, but I saw you and I thought I should inform you two about this," answered the guardian.

Albafica nodded thoughtfully.

"They could be Specters," he murmured under his nose.

"I think," started Camus seeing the chance he wanted to have, "I would go and check it. I have nothing to do and it could be important."

The Gold Saint of Pisces looked at him and was already opening his mouth to protest when he decided to not say anything. It could damage Camus' pride if Albafica would say that without his armor it could be too dangerous. This cold man would be in the future the Gold Saint of Athena, someone who fought already with Hades. Even without his armor he could be able to fight.

So he only nodded.

"Then I think I should go to the Pope. It is really something new. If it is the doing of Specters it could mean the war is starting already. I will inform him about your action, Camus."

He said goodbye to his companion and alongside with the guardian he disappeared between the trees, heading to the Sacred Hills of the Sanctuary. Camus took the last look at the Royal Garden and hurried as well.

It could be just doing of some burglars, or just some awful accident with the fire, but if the Specters showed themselves, it really could mean that the Army of Hades was gathering finally and soon the Holy War could begin.

So he had what he wanted. The mission, maybe not the long or dangerous one, but he could leave the Sanctuary even if for a day or two. He could take the break of the Holy Land, from Milo and Degel. He could calm his thoughts and think over the way of fixing everything between him and his lover. He could take a break from this Sanctuary, reflect all his actions and think over everything one more time. Far away from there.

He knew it was him who should fix it. It was him who failed, right? Leaving his beloved alone, sinking into this new life without him, as if Milo really couldn't understand the importance of the chance they gained. But the truth was that, Camus wanted to do everything as fast as he could and in this hurry he completely lost himself, starting to be insensitive about Milo's needs. About their passion, about their love. No wonder the Scorpio gave everything to Degel, someone who treated him way better. Like Camus should from the very beginning.

It wasn't the best excuse – their new, forced way of living. Camus never should let himself sink into this alone. He should slow down a little, show Milo everything he learned or found interesting. He should share with his beloved Scorpio everything he could, everything he gained. That was what for the lovers were right? To be together, to live together. To share their happiness.

Why he noticed it just now? After it could be too late for fixing everything? Why he was so blind all the time, not hearing Milo's pleas to notice him finally?

And he called himself a smart, wise man? He was stupid. He was completely idiot. Really wise and smart man wouldn't lose someone as wonderful as Milo, as valuable as his love and compassion.

Could it even be fixed? Could Milo forgive him his mistakes and lack of emotions?

Sunk into his thoughts he didn't even left the boundaries of the Holy Land when he almost bounced against another Gold Saint of Athena. The wild eyes of Kardia looked at him a little surprised, when Camus jumped out almost from nowhere with his top speed.

And before their meeting started to be awkward due to the thing they both knew about Degel and Milo, Kardia smirked under his nose as always.

"Why are you in such a hurry, Camus?" he asked, feeling his heart twitching in this disturbing feeling he felt for a while now.

"For a mission," answered the Aquarius. "Something strange occurred at the south of Greece and I'm going to check it."

Kardia frowned. He felt strange, knowing that Camus was setting for a mission. He… somehow knew he shouldn't let it happen.

"Do you really have to go there today?" he asked hesitantly. He allowed the impulse to lead him. His intuition or rather instinct always was good and he believed that if something told him that Camus' mission could bring more harm, then he should stop him. But how?

"Of course I have. Why do you ask?" Camus looked at him with the surprise.

"Because I think… It is not good day to have missions, Camus," he added, looking inside the dark eyes of his companion.

Camus frowned a little, not sure what Kardia wanted to say.

"I think whatever makes you say that, won't have a chance with me, Kardia. I'm the Gold Saint of Athena, so you think I would be scared of your words?" he asked maybe a little cooler than he wanted to. "Don't worry, Kardia. Even without my Cloth I'm capable to handle some mission."

And after sending Kardia another questioning look, he left him.

Kardia sighed and gasped his fists. He wondered if Camus would change his mind if Kardia would tell him everything. That around the Aquarius Saint he could smell the scent of death…