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Eikostí̱ tríti̱ epeisódio:
The Breaking Ice
"Milo!" he heard just after some single seconds. The Scorpio blinked a few times, shook his head and looked around. Exactly when he appeared in the Pope Temple? And how? Just a while ago he, Camus and Lady Athena were on warm sand in far land of Aphrodite, surrounded by the hum of clear, sea water, hearing the singing of birds but now he was here. In the Sanctuary, in the highest Temple of the Holy Land. Milo was sure that just a while ago he entered the portal heading to Greece and then the Pope was standing in the front of him with a worried face. "Milo, are you all right? What happened?"
The young Scorpio Saint blinked again, looking at the Patriarch. Yes… What happened? He still couldn't understand anything. Everything he remembered seemed to be only a dream, or rather nightmare. The world of coral statues, wonderful palace and the queen of fairies. Warm, golden sand, tainted by the fresh blood of Camus, the words spoken in desperation, strikes, screams pain and tears. Did it really happen to him?
He looked at the pale face of his lover that was lying in his arms without any move. The eyes of the Pope followed this route and when they stopped at the senseless body, they widened from the surprise and horror.
"Oh, my Goddess, Camus!" The Head of the Sanctuary froze, looking at one of the Gold Saints, right now lying in the arms of Milo. "Is he… Is he dead?" he couldn't stop this question. The cosmo of the Aquarius was so weak, actually undetectable, that it could mean…
Milo moved his eyes form the Pope to Camus. The face of the French was paler than usual, almost white as a snow of the Siberia. The lips almost lost its pink color, and Milo could bet they were as cold as ice right now. He couldn't even feel if Camus was breathing right now. There was no sound of inhaled air, coming from the man he loved.
"I… I don't know…" he murmured weakly, looking scared at Camus. Was he dead…? Was he killed by him…? "I just… He was…"
What he was saying? He sounded just like a madman right now. He couldn't even think properly, logical. Completely not like him.
"Shion…" they heard melodic voice of Athena. The Goddess left the portal and looked at her two faithful Saints and at a man who "spoke Her words".
"Lady Athena, what happened?" asked the Patriarch, who couldn't hold this questions anymore.
The lady smiled to him and after a while turned his eyes at Milo.
"My Scorpio, I think you should take care of Camus right now, if you don't want him to really die," she said warmly. "Take him to his Temple and stay with him for a while. I have to talk with Shion and then I will go there as well."
The Greek looked at her almost unconsciously and left the temple without a word. He quickly had to get hold of himself. Right now Camus' life was the most important.
Pope Shion observed him leaving, but the first moment Milo was out of the chamber, he looked at his Goddess, who with a worry on her face sighed deeply.
"What happened, Lady Athena?" he repeated again, wanting finally to gain the answer.
"Many things, Shion. I still can't believe we managed to get them both back. For a long while I was so scared that we will lose them completely."
She silenced for a long moment. She sat down at the throne, looking very tired.
"It was really Aphrodite, Shion. She took Milo just for her own entertainment. And she erased the memories about him from your minds. Do you remember him right now?"
Shion nodded. Indeed, just before he saw Milo, walking out of the portal every memory came back to him. It was strange feeling, having his memories to be put into his head again, but he was glad to remember.
"I almost lost them both…" Lady Athena murmured under her nose. "Aphrodite just… forced Milo to fight with Camus."
"Forced him? How?" the Pope looked at her surprised. Was it possible for Gods to really control humans like that? Possess them and force to do something?
"Oh, dear Shion, I have no idea. It seems that Milo has really strong instinct that takes over him in the dangerous situations," answered Lady Athena. "I have no idea how she managed to do that, but apparently she woke up this strong instinct inside him, making him to believe that Camus is dangerous. I will ask Milo about it later, but right now let him take care of Camus."
Shion nodded, still couldn't believe in this. It was almost like… like dealing with Saga's split personality again. What if Milo had two personalities as well? What if some day it would take over him and he would start to kill everyone around? It was a serious problem here and as the Great Pope he had to take care of it. He had to talk with Milo.
And why he never noticed this? It passed enough time after their resurrection to notice something. Or was this personality so good at hiding that no one noticed?
"Oh, Shion, don't think like that…" the voice of Athena woke him up from these horrible thoughts.
He looked at Lady Athena with almost distant eyes.
"I know what are you thinking, Shion. I thought about the same. It is almost like with Saga. The other personality. The other soul inside the same body. I know this. And I fear it as well. But it seems that this is only instinct, Shion. When I faced for the first time our Gemini I felt different. I felt some other soul screaming inside the same body, crying for the salvation. It wasn't the same sensation like facing Milo today. I could feel in him only frightened soul that was just pushed back by instinct to protect his soul. That's all. But of course I would be wrong as well, Shion. We have to look after our Scorpio right now. I would like to not repeat the same story as with Saga."
Shion nodded. It was necessary to watch over Milo. He couldn't let him end like Saga, killing his comrades. Not Milo. And not now. He hoped that Camus would help them as well to save Milo's soul.
But before he managed to ask or even do something more, the strong knocking sounded in the chamber, and after a short while the door opened. Aiolia, Aldebaran and Saga entered the Chamber with clearly worried faces. They bowed before them and then looked at him and Lady Athena.
"We just met Milo and Camus. What happened to them? Why Camus looks like he was dying?" asked Aldebaran instantly.
"Milo was like a crazy man. He just looked at us with madness inside his eyes and run down," added Aiolia quickly.
Lady Athena sighed deeply.
"We just… I, Camus and Milo faced just one of Goddesses."
The three Gold Saints froze at these words.
"Faced…? Alone?" asked shocked Saga.
Lady Athena nodded.
"We have to. Oh, it was so long day and I'm so tired, Shion tell them," murmured the Goddess of Wisdom.
The Head of the Sanctuary nodded.
"Some time ago we received a report that in Brazil certain woman was talking about her husband, but no one even could remember her having one. Right now we know that it was Goddess of Beauty, Aphrodite who was taking the men all over the world, all over the time, erasing every single memory about these persons."
"Taking them? But what for?" asked Aiolia. Shion looked at Lady Athena questioningly.
"And how this woman could remember his husband? If the memories were taken away," murmured Saga.
"This woman could remember him, because she loved him. I think if these is some strong bond between two people, even powers of Gods is not enough to make them forget. She was using them as her puppets," said Lady Athena. "Aphrodite was forcing them to love her. She was choosing every man she found interesting. And the same happened to Milo."
"But…?" started Aldebaran. Any of them couldn't understand this. Milo was taken by some Goddess and no one even noticed this?
"You wouldn't notice it. The memory was brought back to all of you like nothing happened. But for whole day we couldn't remember Milo," added Shion.
"But how Milo is back, and our memories as well? We couldn't remember Milo, so how it is possible that just after one day he is again in the Sanctuary?" said Aiolia, trying to understand everything, but being not able to. Was it just luck?
"There are two reasons. Firstly she couldn't make me to forget about Milo," whispered the Goddess.
"And the second one is Camus, right?" Saga said definitely.
"Yes, he was. Only he remembered Milo and it was him who came here and said about Milo's missing," confirmed the Pope. "And Lady Athena with him hurried to Aphrodite's palace to take Milo back."
"But why Camus looks like dying? Why he had wounds of Scarlet Needles all over his body?" asked Saga.
"Basically… Milo was forced to fight with Camus. But fortunately our wise Saint managed to stop Milo and we are all here," Lady Athena cut shortly. "I think you shouldn't bother Milo too much right now, he is really confused and worried about Camus," she added after a while, finishing the conversation. She really was tired and definitely worried about Milo and Camus. The Aquarius almost died and without him she wouldn't be able to take the Scorpio back. She hoped both of them would be all right.
The Gold Saints bowed and left quickly to not worsen his Goddess' mood.
Kneeling beside Camus' bed, Milo of the Scorpio closed his eyes, raised the cosmo within his body and tried again. The despair inside his body was mixing with the determination, but he was so close to crying into the hand of his beloved boyfriend that for him it was sure – soon he would sink into complete desperation. Even his body was at the edge right now. Probably only minutes were separating him from sinking into the darkness. But he had to manage this time as well. And the next one. And again. As long as it was needed.
His own poison he injected into Camus' body didn't want to leave at any costs. Even if Milo knew he could neutralize it with his cosmo – he did it already a few times – it was still in Camus' veins, spreading through the whole body and causing him pain.
Why it happened? It was the first time actually. When he confirmed the loyalty of Kanon he neutralized most of the poison in Gemini's body with his last strike – the same that stopped the bleeding. But right now it didn't work. The poison was still there, in his Camus. Was it because the one striking… Was it because his instinct took control over him? The Greek could feel hatred in these wounds of Scarlet Needle. Was it the reason why the poison didn't want to leave?
This hatred… Milo could clearly remember form where this hatred came. His mind wasn't so blurry right now and every memory was coming back. Aphrodite messed with his memories about Camus. She showed him something that never existed. And she caused him pain every time he tried to think about his beloved one. All these images were still inside his mind, just before his eyes, still trying to convince him it really happened. Camus killing Lady Athena without any hesitation; Camus kissing that girl in France and walking away; Camus saying he didn't love him… Everything inside his head, fighting with these true memories.
That was why he changed into that monster in the front of the Aquarius. Oh, how much he whished it never happened. What Camus would think about him after that? After his lover changed into controlled by instinct monster, attacking him with hatred and causing pain?
Of course Camus knew about his troublesome changes since many years. But Milo did everything to not show him this second face of his soul. And what now? He only proved what beast he truly was. Not able to control himself. Not able to defend his lover. Camus surely would hate him right now…
That damn poison. Even after the third try it was still present inside Camus' body, still threatening his fragile life. Milo could only imagine what pain his lover felt now.
"Oh, Camus, darling. I hope you will forgive me everything…" he murmured, putting his head at the soft blanket and tightly holding Camus' hand and doubling the effort in removing the poison. He really wanted to save his beloved French, to watch him opening his dark eyes and smiling to him.
What if it would never happen again? What if Camus would wake up and turn against him? What if…?
And with these sad thoughts he fell asleep in a matter of seconds, not even noticing what was happening to him.
The thing that woke him up surely wasn't the pain in his back, that appeared after sleeping in this uncomfortable position for many hours. The thing that woke him up was a slim, cool hand stroking his blue curls, hand that gently was touching his hairs in the way he loved so much. For a few moments he couldn't understand what happened. Why this hand was stroking his hair, when it should be motionless? Why he felt so relaxed even if just while ago he was desperate and depressed?
And after this long while of confusion passed, Milo raised his head rapidly and looked into tired, dark eyes of Camus that was fully awaken, lying in the bed comfortable with really thoughtful expression.
The pink lips raised in a slight smile, when the Aquarius saw his lover consciousness.
"Good morning, darling," the French said weakly.
'Darling...' Camus called him 'darling'… Does it mean he didn't remember anything? Or he just… just accepted the fact his lover was a monster inside?
"Camus…" The Scorpio whispered quietly. "Camus, how do you feel?"
The aquamarine haired Saint smiled.
"It hurts, Milo. Your poison is much stronger than the last time. But don't worry, I'm strong enough to overwhelm it quickly," answered Camus. But the truth was that, it hurt as hell, even more than at the moment Milo was striking him.
"I'm so sorry, darling. I tried to nullify the effect of it, but I couldn't do that… I'm so hopeless… I'm so sorry..." Milo lowered his head, not able to look inside these dark eyes.
But the next moment the slim hand forced him to raise his head.
"Don't worry so much, Milo. I know you did everything. Beside you weren't yourself, Milo. I can understand it," Camus said.
Milo gulped loudly, feeling the hot tears under his eyelids.
"But Camus… I just allowed her to… to almost kill you! I'm so weak, that I allowed my instinct to hurt you! It is unforgivable, Camus," Milo whispered with trembling voice.
"I don't care."
Milo blinked a few times. It was something strange. These words were something strange to be heard from Camus' mouth. The Aquarius always was telling him that it was a weakness to allow the instinct control him this way. Always, since the day he told the French about it. And now he didn't care…? How could it be?
The Aquarius smiled, seeing surprised face of his lover.
"I know. It sounds strange. I agree," he said softly. "But… I really don't care, Milo. Without this strange side of yours you wouldn't be the same. And I love you the way you are… Lady Athena said that the reason why I could remember you when everyone else forgot was because our love is so strong. That it is the power of human's love. It is silly a little, but… Why else only I could remember you, Milo?"
Milo frowned. Finally he understood what happened. Some of the facts he already put together, but now everything was complete. So, he was taken by Goddess Aphrodite and because Camus didn't forget him he could be rescued.
He smiled warmly and lay beside his lover, gently hugging the sore body of Camus. It was so wonderful to hear such words from Camus' mouth. These strong words, with this beloved voice.
"Oh, Camus…" he whispered into the aquamarine hairs. "I'm so glad you love me so much. And I'm glad I love you so much. I'm really sorry, Camus. For hurting you so horribly. For almost giving up there and betraying you. I will never do that again…"
He heard slight chuckle and then the cool hand touched his cheek.
"I'm glad you didn't gave up, Milo. For a long while I thought I lost you forever."
The Scorpio tightened his hug.
"I think… I think I wouldn't survive this…" added Camus after a while.
Milo sighed really long. He raised his head an placed really gently kiss on the cool lips of his lover.
The ice… was breaking…
