Woohoo! Yet another chapter. I'm on a roll! I'm planning on having things pick up this chapter (again).
Disclaimer: I do not own Saint Seiya or any of the included characters. They all belong to Masami Kurumada.
"So Sanctuary is an absolute disaster, but no one is willing to go against the Pope and say something is wrong. Or they just don't care enough to do so." Aiolos summarized what Hyoga had told him.
"That's about the size of it." Hyoga responded.
The entire group of Saints, plus Tatsumi and Saori were once again gathered in the living room of the villa discussing what Shiryu and Hyoga had learned while visiting their masters.
"Did you learn anything more than that, Shiryu?" Aiolos inquired.
"I'm afraid Master Dohko couldn't even tell me that much." Shiryu replied. "He mentioned 'that night' but I didn't get a chance to ask what he meant."
"Why not?" Seiya asked.
"We were interrupted by the Gold Saint of Cancer."
"Emilio? He was there?" Aiolos asked, looking slightly alarmed.
Shiryu blinked in confusion. "Master Dohko called him Deathmask." He told the Sagittarius Saint.
Aiolos's expression turned grim. "Anything else?" He asked.
"He claimed the Pope sent him to kill Master Dohko." Shiryu said.
"So we know Sanctuary is a mess. And that the Pope is sending Gold Saints to kill people. But that doesn't tell us what to do about it. Nor does it help us with the fact that there will likely be more attempts on Saori's life." Esmeralda pointed out.
"And all of ours too." Talus added. "We've made targets out of ourselves by siding with the real Athena. And Saga is sending out Gold Saints. It's only a matter of time before one is sent after us."
"Speaking of which." Aiolos muttered. "I assume you've all sensed the approaching Cosmo."
Everyone except Saori and Tatsumi nodded.
"They're headed this way at pretty high speeds." Ikki said.
"We need to intercept them." Talus added.
"No." Aiolos said. "Ikki, Seiya, Shiryu, Hyoga. You four will go. The rest of us will stay here to protect Saori."
For once, no one argued as the chosen Bronzes donned their Cloths and headed out of the villa in the direction of the approaching Cosmos.
It didn't take long to reach the spot where the approaching Cosmos had stopped. It was the top of the same cliff where Seiya had fought Misty. Ikki dropped into the clearing, followed by the other three Bronze Saints, and stopped dead.
In front of him stood two Saints. Judging by their Cosmo, they were at least Silver level. One had spiked armor and carried chains with spiked balls on the ends, the other one had strange disk-like weapons attached to his hips.
"Who are you?" Shiryu demanded of the Silver Saints.
One of them, the one carrying the chains, sneered. "A lowly Bronze, demanding my name? What need do you have of my name, when you're already as good as dead?"
"They're Auriga Capella and Cerberus Dante." Seiya piped up, and Ikki almost snorted at the irritated look on the chain-bearing one's face. That one was probably the Cerberus Saint, going by the spikes.
"You know us? How flattering. Now prepare to die!" The Auriga Saint said. "Saucer Attack!"
The Silver Saint threw one of the disks, which promptly multiplied into dozens of disks.
"Scatter!" Ikki yelled. The four Bronze Saints dodged in different directions, splitting up to avoid becoming easy targets.
"Dante!" The Auriga Saint called. "You deal with the punks. Phoenix is mine."
Ikki gritted his teeth. Auriga was definitely cocky if he thought that Cerberus would be able to deal with Seiya, Shiryu, and Hyoga all at the same time. That, or Cerberus was very strong.
Hyoga dodged to the side as the Cerberus Saint sent one of his spiked balls flying at him. The Silver Saint was proving to be a fierce opponent, managing to keep all three Bronze Saints on their toes with his attacks, while simultaneously preventing them from hitting him back. Already, he had deflected Shiryu's Rising Dragon, and either blocked or dodged an entire barrage of Seiya's Meteor Fist, which was quite a bit faster than it used to be.
Dropping back to the ground next to Shiryu, Hyoga had an idea.
"Shiryu, can you catch one of his chains?"
"Are you mad?" Shiryu hissed as Seiya dodged another of Cerberus's chains.
"Maybe. I have an idea. Just trust me." Hyoga hissed back.
Shiryu gave him a doubtful look, but lunged for the Cerberus Saint's outstretched chain, grabbing it and pulling it tight.
Hyoga straightened up "Seiya!" He yelled.
Seiya, apparently seeing what Shiryu was doing, grabbed for the other chain, managing to latch onto it, though he couldn't quite get a good grip on it. It would have to do.
Hyoga drew his fist back, focusing on the cool mountain air. "Diamond Dust!" He shouted, throwing his attack towards the middle of the chains. It worked like a charm. Frost built up on the chains, turning them an icy white.
"Pull!" Shiryu yelled to Seiya, who had gotten a better grip on the chain. Both Bronzes gave a sharp jerk, and the now-brittle chains snapped in the middle.
"Hit him!" Seiya cried.
"Lushan Rising Dragon!"
"Diamond Dust!"
"Pegasus Meteor Fist!"
The three attacks hit the Cerberus Saint from three different directions, and Hyoga watched with disturbing satisfaction as the Silver Saint toppled off the cliff's edge with a scream.
Before any of the three Bronzes had a chance to celebrate, a yell drew their attention to Ikki's fight.
Another of the Auriga Saint's Saucer Attacks forced Ikki to throw himself out of the way. He was entirely on the defensive and at a disadvantage against the other Saint's attacks.
"I've heard of you, you know?" Auriga jeered at Ikki. "Rumor has it you killed the master of Death Queen Island. I expected you to be more dangerous."
Ikki growled and drew his arms back. "Phoenix Rising Wings!" He focused his attack straight at the Auriga Saint, only for the man to dodge. Ikki nearly snarled.
"I don't care what you've heard about me."
Auriga scoffed. "You might care when you know I've heard that the Phoenix was said to be the most fearsome of Athena's Vanguard. But now I see that the legend was wrong. You're just a mewling kitten. Hardly the terrifying Phoenix."
Ikki's eyes narrowed. He didn't appreciate being called a mewling kitten, even by someone who was beating him.
"You think so?" He asked. "Fine then. I'll show you how terrifying the Phoenix can be."
He drew back one fist, focusing his Cosmo into it. "Demonic-"
"Promise me you'll never use it."
Esmeralda's voice echoed in his head, desperate and pleading. Ikki hesitated.
Years ago, on Death Queen Island, during a long night spent in the hidden library, Ikki had found a book detailing the many skills of the Phoenix Saint. One that had caught his interest at the time was the Demonic Illusion Fist, a technique designed to tear the victim's mind apart. At the time, Esmeralda had caught him reading the details of the technique and had freaked out, begging Ikki to never use the technique. He had promised, if somewhat reluctantly.
He couldn't break that promise.
"Oh? What's this? Can't do it, can you?" Auriga said condescendingly. "Good. All the simpler for me to kill you. Saucer Attack!"
The saucer flew towards Ikki with alarming speed, giving the Phoenix Saint no chance to dodge. He yelled as several of the saucers impacted him, sending him flying back into a tree. Ikki slid to the ground as the yells of his fellow Saints reached his ears.
"You're friends won't be able to reach you in time. Now die!" Auriga cried, raising his arms to throw one last saucer.
Before the Auriga Saint could throw the weapon that would inevitably end Ikki's life, a figure slammed into the Silver Saint, throwing him to the ground before leaping away to land in a fighting stance in front of Ikki.
It took a moment for Ikki's greyed vision to clear enough to make out the figure in front of him, but the green armor was all too familiar.
"Shun!" Ikki gasped, but his brother didn't turn to look at him.
"Who the hell are you?" The Auriga Saint demanded of Shun, glaring at him venomously.
"Canis Minor Shun. But you'd know that if you were paying attention in Sanctuary." Shun replied.
Canis Minor, Ikki thought distractedly, That explains the ears.
"May I would. Maybe I wouldn't." Auriga sneered. "But who cares? If you're so eager to die with your friends, then so be it."
With that comment, the Auriga Saint threw yet another of his attacks. This time, the saucer multiplied and then started to glow a bright yellow.
Shun glanced back briefly at Ikki, and the Phoenix Saint was sure he saw the hint of a spark of amusement in Shun's eye, the first emotion he'd seen since they'd met again. Then he turned back towards his enemy.
Lifting one arm out to his side, Shun spoke softly. "Gomeisa Flare." He swept his arm in an arc in front of him, and a series of spots of light swept from his fingers, impacting Auriga's disks and shattering each and every one.
Ikki stared, startled by the strength of Shun's attack.
Auriga Capella was also clearly startled by Shun's strength, taking a small step back. Then he grinned.
"You're stronger than I expected for someone trained by the student of a traitor." He spat. "Not that it matters. I'm going to-"
He was cut off as Shun disappeared, reappearing just in time to slam an elbow into Auriga's stomach, driving the air out of the man's lungs. Without waiting, Shun spun around, slamming a kick into the back of Auriga's knees and sending him crashing to the ground. Shun then retreated a few steps, watching patiently as the Auriga Saint gasped for breath.
"Damn you!" Auriga wheezed. "You're going to regret going against me!"
"I don't have time for regrets. Not anymore" Shun replied impassively. Slowly, almost meticulously, Shun lifted his arm to point at the Auriga Saint. "Gomeisa Flare."
This time, Shun attacked with a single point of light, which shot toward the Auriga Saint and pierced straight through the man's unprotected neck. Auriga jerked, one hand going to his neck as shock spread across his face. Then he collapsed forward.
Ikki pushed himself up, his shock echoing that last look on the Auriga Saint's face as he stared at his younger brother.
"Shun?" Ikki asked slowly. "What did you just do?"
The Canis Minor Saint turned to face his older brother, his eyes above the face mask as blank as Ikki remembered them from that day in the Colosseum.
"Are you stupid?" The boy asked instead of answering Ikki's question. "You never hesitate in a fight. Always take your enemy out. Before they can take you out."
Ikki flinched slightly at that. Shun was right. He shouldn't have hesitated.
"Ikki!" Seiya's voice called. Ikki turned to see the other three Bronzes headed towards him, all looking concerned.
"Are you okay?" Shiryu asked.
"I'm fine." Ikki answered. "Shun helped me." He turned back to his brother, only to freeze.
Shun was gone. Again.
Phew. I like this chapter. What do you guys think? Did I get the fights right?
See you next time!
