I don't own Saint Seiya, or any of its characters, please do not sue me.
A Lifetime in Exchange for Seven Days
Chapter 1
[Santuary, Greece]
It's 4 o'clock in the morning, Sanctuary is as quiet as a grave yard, the whole place is dark and seemingly very lonely. Rain fell down onto the Earth quickly, but not harshly, yet still enough to soak through layers of clothes.
Saori stepped on this soil quietly, tuning down her cosmos, not wanting to wake up anyone. She looked up at the magnificant statue of Goddess Athena, herself, that caused so much scars on her Saints' bodies. Taking slow steps, she began climbing up the grand stairs that leads up to where she's supposed to stay, supposed to. Now... only Saga is up there.
Looking beside her, the Aries Temple right beside her, looking ever normal, she smiled and continued up, passing the Taurus's Temple, then the Gemini's temple. Surprisingly, she felt a cosmos, probably Kanon's cosmos, looks like Julian's no where to be found again, most likely off somewhere with Sorrento. Passing on, she passed by the Cancer Temple and the Leo Temple, only to come face to face with the Virgo Saint, surprised, she paused in the rain before him.
"Welcome back, Goddess." He said, cutting through the quiet atmosphere.
"How did you know I was coming?"
"I felt your prescense... not your cosmos."
Saori smiled, she should always remember his title 'The Man Closest to God'. Shaka held out a white cloak and wrapped it around her tightly. "Saga's up there, my guess, he's up already."
"Thanks." Saori walked past him and then paused and turned back to him again. "How did you know that he's up?"
"I felt his annoyance for all those work he has to do."
Saori giggled and turned up the stairs again. She'll never forget the long walk in the Underworld, the many barriers they faced, all those times will be cherished always. Passing by the lonely temple of the Shooter, Sagittarius, she felt the long gone cosmos of Aioris, finally back from the Underworld, giving the whole Sanctuary a lively look, a honorable feeling.
Passing by a garden full of poisoned roses, she came face to face with the grand palace, quiet and powerful. Looking ahead, the 2 soldiers that are supposed to be on guard are fast asleep, mind no where to be seen. Gently shaking her head, she pushed open the huge double door to reveal an empty hall, she gently shut the door behind her, careful not to make much sound.
Then, still wrapped in Shaka's cloak, with dripping lavender hair, soaked all over, she began walking up the familiar stairs reaching the second floor, leaving a trail of water behind her on the marble floor.
She poked her head through a doorway and into Saga's room, to her diappointment, he's not there. She slowly backed out of his room, she closed the door behind her, so... Shaka was right. Leaving watered finger prints on his door, trailing down the stone door.
She moved onto another room, ducking she looked undernearth the door at the faint light emitting out from inside the room. She looked up at the door from her squading spot, imagining how he would look behind this door. He'll be in his black shirt and blue pants, dark blue jacket and that serious look to his eyes. She squaded there, thinking, imagining how he'd look when he sees her.
Surprised? Definitely.
Unbelievable? Most likely.
Confused? Probabaly.
Happy? Maybe.
Feel like in love? Most likely... not!
After who knows how long, she felt as if she's in Camus's temple, cold as an ice cube, the door moved. Saori's eye widened, is she imagining things? The door can't be opening, she hasn't even thought of a reason yet. Just like that, the door opened and was replaced by Saga. He looked around the empty palace and lowered his head to find her starring up at him.
They starred at each other, just looking, as if everything else around them had just disappeared and vanished. As if they're the only ones on Earth, as if they're the only ones that mattered. Finally, Saga snapped out of his trance raised his voice unbelievably, every sort of emotion mixed within.
"Goddess, what are you doing on the ground?" Without a second thought, he pulled her up and dragged her inside. She said nothing, her lips are too cold to say anything. Immediately, she felt his jacket being wrapped around her, giving her the much needed warmth. It was then that she realized that she's still cluntching onto Shaka's cloak, which is already soaked to the maximum. Gently, she opened up her hands and it fell onto the ground as she turned around to face him, her mind still blank.
"Goddess, what are you doing here?" He asked, surprised? Oh yeah.
She opened her mouth, wanting to tell him everything, she has seven days, the last seven days as an unmarried, free woman, and she just wanted to spend those days with him. No, she definitely can't say that. "Nothing, I just felt like coming home."
"Home?"
She smiled up at him and nodded, like a little girl with no worries. "Yeah, home. This is my home, isn't it?"
Saga looked at her for a moment, as if trying to figure out how much of what she said is actually true. Then he smiled at her fondly and nodded as well. "Of course Goddess, this will always be your home, welcome back."
Saori laughed softly and held out her arms, he looked at her curiously. "Don't I get a welcome back hug?"
Saga's smiled froze on his face, he looked at her awkwardly and shifted his weight around nervously. Saori blinked and glanced down, a little smile on her face, yet how much heartache is actually hidden behind that smile, only she knows. She took in a deep breath and looked up with a playful smile. "I was just kidding."
The air around them suddenly got thicker, tension covered them up. Saori cleared her throat and turned around slowly, letting her eyes roam all over the room and paused at the large desk and the piles of work on top of it. Guilt ran through her involunarily as Saga stepped up beside her.
"Saga, since I'm here now, I'll do the work." She said, now fully understanding why he felt annoyance when doing this.
"And I'll be with you always." He said sincerely, gaining a small laugh from Saori.
"I really wish that you meant it."
Saga looked at her confused, she... doesn't believe him? "Of course I meant it, I'll help you with this Sanctuary."
"No you won't, you'll have to marry someday." She pointed out, pretending to be playful. 'And same with me.' She added on silently.
"Goddess, are you okay?" He aksed instinctively, something just seems out of the ordinary about her. Usually... she's so much more easier to talk to, she never used to say things that were so confusing.
"I'm fine, it's probably just the long plane ride and the rain."
"You should rest, I'll take you to your room." He urged and led her out of the room. They turned onto the still dim staircase that leads up to the third floor, the cool air wrapped its fingers around Saori, she pulled his jacket around her tighter. "We have to have a check on the heater, this place is freezing."
"Goddess, how long are you going to stay?" He asked, stopping in front of her room as she stopped as well.
"A week."
"Only a week?" Perhaps, a little disappointment?
"Do you want me to stay longer?" Say yes.
"It's... it's your choice." He stumbled over his words. "Anyways, have a good rest." He then turned around, ready to leave. Saori moved forwards and hugged him from behind tightly, and buried her face into his shirt, he stood there rigid.
"I missed you." She murmured into his back and stayed there in silence.
"Goddess?" Saga let out nervously, not knowing what to do.
Saori took in a deep breath, being able to hold back her tears. Then slowly, she let him go and turned back into her room and gently closed the door behind her and slid down onto the ground, her face in her hands. Her hair like a big curtain, covering her up.
Outside the door, Saga turned around rigidly, still not sure if he heard her correctly. However, he definitey felt the shake of her body when she was so close to him. Her whole body was shaking, as if she was crying. He reached up, wanting to knock and check if she's okay, then thinking, maybe it's the best to leave her alone right now.
[Downstairs]
Shaka turned his head towards the stairs as he heard the faintest of sounds, knowing that Saga's coming down. "How is she?" He asked, perhaps a bit teasingly.
Saga looked over at him and sighed, setting his feet down onto the ground. "How was she when she arrived?"
"She was soaked." Shaka answered easily and carelessly, receiving a roll of eyes.
"I know that, I meant..."
"She's hiding somethinng." Shaka interupted him seriously and stood up as well. "What do you think it is?"
Saga lowered his head for a moment before frowning and looked up at Shaka gain. "I have no idea, maybe she's worrying about Sanctuary under my control?"
Shaka patted his shoulder reassuringly, "have some faith. She trusts you with her life, and would do anything to...." He suddenly trailled off, earning a strange look from Saga.
"Go on." Saga raised his eyebrows and waited for him to continue, however, Shaka just smiled and stepped away from him. "What?" Saga urged.
"I think I know what's wrong with her. Anyways, you better get ready for the morning meeting that you don't want to be late for." And just like that, he disappeared from the room.
Saga put his hand down from the out-stretched position and made his way upstairs again, walking into his room, he wondered about Saori's strange behaviours. At that moment when she was so close to him, he suddenly had the urge to turn around and return her gesture. Like a candle, that feeling slowly died away as she pulled away. He sighed and turned on the shower, letting the cool water wash over his face.
What Saori mentioned before rang a sudden alarm in his head. True, he's already 28, dead twice, one of the older Golden Saints. It's not as if he hasn't thought about having a family before, it's just that... it never seemed like a burden until now. When Saori mentioned it, he suddenly could picture her holding a child's hand as a mother. Which is impossible, considering she is a Virgin Goddess.
Or, is it?
She's only 18 this year, just passed her birthday, she's beautiful, so beautiful that she doesn't seem to be from this world. She has as nice figure, like a model's and on top of that, she owns a huge world wide foundation, her money is beyond counting. She owns the Sanctuary and supports all the Saints with whatever they want. Who wouldn't want to marry a girl like that? Even though she is a Goddess, she's still just a normal girl, who's to say that she won't fall in love as Saori Kido?
With a deep sigh, he turned off the water and was embraced by cold air, now he knows why Saori wanted a heater check. Shaking his head, what's first should be first, the meeting is starting in 10 minutes, and he doesn't want to be late.
[Main Hall]
Saga stood before them and continued on his daily ranting, the Saints are clearly very bored, even he feels bored, thank Goddess that it's almost over. "And finally, the final announcement of the day. Goddess Athena had just arrived, she'll be staying here for a week."
The hall was quiet before murmurs rose up, Saga gracefully walked down the stairs, into the noisy crowd.
"When did she arrive? How come I never felt her cosmos?" Mu asked curiously, as the guardian of the first temple, he should have felt her cosmos when coming in. Saga smiled and rubbed his forehead.
"You were asleep, I was awake and couldn't even feel her cosmos coming in."
"It's not that." Shaka stepped in and smiled. "She tuned down her cosmos, I was only able to feel her presence." He then turned towards Saga funnily. "She wanted to surprise you."
"Surprise? It was more like a scare!"
"No matter what it was, you'll have to take care of her for a week."
[Later]
Saga stepped through the grand palace door and was greeted with a view of Saori coming down the big flight of stairs. Before he can open his mouth, Saori interupted him. "Saga, I need to discuss something with you." She came down with another dress, revealing her shoulders with long sleeves and the dress just sweeps the ground. Her hair tied up in an orderly fasion, a few strands of hair around her face and neck, a diamond necklace, and a lighter shade of rose on her lips, looking beautiful and elegant, nothing like her soaked feature before.
"Of... of course Goddess." He stuttered, surprised at her attire in so little time.
Saori smiled and stepped in front of him, holding a document in her hand. "This document was made a long time ago by the first Athena. And since I'm this era's Athena, I have the right to make decisions as well." She then held up the document and right in front of his eyes, she ripped it apart and opened her hands, letting the ripped up document fall onto the ground like leafs in autumn.
"What... what document was that?" Saga asked immediately, not believing she did that.
"It's the document concerning female Saints." She turned around walking towards the wall length windows with Saga behind her. "That rule has been around forever, today I break that rule, because of it's unfairness to the females. Right now, the female Saints do not need to wear their masks, and they're free to love and marry whomever they want." She turned around to look at him while leaning back onto the large window. "The offical document is on your desk, you need to sign it and pass it down."
"Of course Goddess." Saori smiled, Saga looked at her curiously. "May I know why you decided on this new rule?"
"Because," she sighed and hugged her ams. "I know how it feels to marry someone when you can't beat them." Her voice lonely and hollow.
"Why? Are you going through this right now?" Saga took a step forward, forgetting the urgency in his voice.
Saori laughed softly, hiding her true feelings inside. "Probably one of my past lives." She then took in a deep breath, putting on a cheerful smile. "And, tell everyone in the Sanctuary to come attend a party tonight, right here."
"A... party?" Saga blinked, surprised.
"Yeah... why? Is there a problem?" Saori blinked and tilted her head.
"No, of course not Goddess." Saga smiled, and shook his head. "Give me your definition for 'everyone'."
"Every living person you can find in Sanctuary."
Saga nodded, Saori then turned towards the stairs again. "Great, you can rest now, I'm going to look at all those paper works." She said, a tone that made no one disobey her.
"Yes Goddess." Saga said respectfully.
"And Saga?" Saori paused at the top of the staircase, and turned back to face him. "Stop calling me Goddess, just call me Saori, and that was an order not an option." She added on playfully and disappeared into the hallway.
Saga looked after her, after who knows how long, he sighed and headed for the training ground where everyone should be. Stepping outside of the palace, he clearly felt Athena's cosmos, telling everyone that she's here. Looking up at the clear blue sky, the rain earlier on seemed only like a dream. Ever since Saori got here, he feels like a statue, she totally took over his job, well, technically they're her job, but....
Saga sighed and rubbed his temples as the familiar sounds of the training ground reached his ears. But, she's still too young, she's only 18, just as her fun life had started, yet she's already focusing on her destined work. To think that she'll spend the rest of her life doing this, painful.
"Master." The trainees bowed as he stepped close, the Gold Saints looked at him and nodded as a greeting. The trainees stepped back to their training positions as the Gold Saints stepped into a circle, with the Taurus Saint, Aldebaran, blocking the sun for them. Now, the sunny day is just annoying.
"Goddess Athena wants us to attend a party tonight." Saga said shortly, but was enough to surprise everyone.
"Party?" Milo piped up immediately, his eyes twinkling, he loves parties.
Saga rolled his eyes dully and shook his head. "Milo, I can assure you that you won't be able to meet anyone that'll willing spend a night with you." He said dryly, earning a short chuckle from everyone, Milo just rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath.
"Anyways, pass the news on, she wants everyone to attend."
[Palace- Meeting Room]
Saori opened the door to find a lady sitting on her desk, looking through her files of work. Her long black hair tied up messily, her golden eyes sharp, a bow and quiver full of arrows on her back and wearing an ancient Greek dress. "I see you have your hands full with these paper work."
Saori closed the door behind her. "Artimes, long time no see."
The Goddess of Hunting looked up with a warm smile and jumped off the desk to face her older sister. "Athena, I heard about your 'marriage', how can you do this?" She asked unbelievably, a sense of betrayal in her voice.
Saori sighed and leaned back onto the door tiredly, Artimes continued on. "Hestia wanted to come as well, but something tied her back."
"So... what's the point of your visit?"
"My point is to call off the wedding, no way are you getting married! Zeus is having a fit up there! If you're really getting married, father might even come down here and zap him for himself." Saori gave her a funny look, Artimes shrugged and looked at her strangely. "And why are you getting married anyway?"
Saori walked away form the door towards the windows that over looks the training ground, she opened up the full window, letting the sun extend past the windows. The sounds of the soldiers entered their ears. Artimes followed after her and looked at all the Saints and turned towards Saori, understanding what she's thinking. "Your Saints? You really care about your Saints, huh?"
She then turned around to lean on a wall while looking at Saori strangely. "And your Saints haven't said anything about it?" Artimes inquired strangely."
"I didn't tell them."
"What? Why not?" Saori just ignored her, Artimes rolled her eyes. "Why are you here if you don't want to tell them about your wedding?"
"I'm here to see someone."
"Who?" Artimes's eyes widened in alert, it's impossible. "Who ties down your heart? Is it that guy that accompanied you in the Underworld?" Saori said nothing but to look at her funnily. "Is it that guy whom came back from Poseidon and asked for your forgivenss?" Saori shook her head unbelievably. "Or, is it..."
"You can stop asking now, I'm not going to tell you, I'd like to keep him safe from him up there."
"Yeah, but Zeus would torture every single one of your Saints until you give up." Artimes stated calmly.
"Well, I guess I just have to face him head on. After all, the battle of Heaven hasn't come yet."
"I don't get you." Artimes shook her head, and pushed herself away from the wall and looked at Saori seriously. "To tell you the truth, Zeus sent me to tell you that Mt. Olympis will awlays welcome you no matter how you turn out, and that you're always his daughter."
Saori turned to her and smiled gratefully. "Tell father my thanks, and tell him that I'll take care of myself, and I'll go visit him sometimes."
Artimes nodded and a silver light covered her and soon Artimes disappeared from the room, Saori turned towards the training ground again. Seven days, she only has seven days, will that be enough?
[Night- Grand Palace]
"I wonder why the Goddess has called this party?" A soldier asked his friend, not believing that he's actually going to see the Goddess.
"I don't know, but I'm really excited to see the Goddess!" His friend answered back, looking at the stairs intensely.
The party had began, everyone is here in the Grand Hall, the lighting so bright as if it's still day time. The place was polished up and filled up. Even the female Saints are here, the first time ever, without their masks, showing their real prescence.
Soon enough, Saori's shadow appeared on the top of the stairs, a new dress on her, long enough to sweep the floor, her hair still up, and golden jewleries decorating her. A smile appeared on her face as she came down the stairs, greeting some of her Golden Saints.
"Goddess." They greeted simultaneously.
"Yo! Saori!" Kanon greeted easily, earning disapproving looks from everyone around him, Saga rolled his eyes and whacked him on his back.
"Have some respect Kanon."
"Saga, it's all right." Saori reassured him, Kanon then flashed a victorious smile to Saga, whom rolled his eyes unbelievably.
"Saori, here's a welcome back present for you." Milo said goofily, his eyes twinkling as he walked forwards. Saori looked at him strangely. "Here you go." Opening up his hand, a ferocious scorpio opened its mouth towards Saori.
She yelped and stumbled back, bumping into Aphrodite whom caught her easily and looked at Milo in annoyance.
"Milo!" Saori said unbelievably, her heart thumping like crazy.
Milo laughed and closed his hands, the scorpio disappeared as well, earning a cold whack on his head. Camus glarred at Milo annoyed. "Milo, behave!"
"Do you want to be sent to the other dimension?" Saga warned.
Milo jumped back behind Saori, using her a human shield. "Saga, you're so mean! How can that girl still like you?"
Everyone froze at the statement, Saori frowned mentally, everyone looked towards him strangely. Kanon turned to his brother surprised. "Since when did you have a girlfriend?"
"I...."
"Some girl from a nearby village was helped by Saga, and has been clinging onto him ever since then. She's actually quite pretty, I don't get why Saga's not interested in her." Milo stated, still hidng behind Saori, his hands on her bare arms.
Saori looked up, her eyes locked with Saga's, somehow Saga suddenly had the urge to explain things to her. Like a boyfriend that was caught doing something wrong. "Saori, I..." Saga started, but was interrupted by Milo.
"Saori, are you all right? You're freezing cold! Is it Camus's fault?"
"No, I guess I'm wearing too little, and without any action."
"Then, let's go dance." Without a second word, Milo dragged her off immediately, brushing past Saga. He reached out a hand wanting to hold her behind, but his fingers were too late as the long white dress and the long lavender hair danced past his fingers just a milimeter away, just like that time..... that time when she peirced the golden knife right into her throat in front of him. He reached out, wanting to grab onto her... her hair, her dress seemed like air, seemed like wind, they slipped away from him and he could only watch as she slipped back and fell down onto the ground, dead, ready to meet Shaka.
"Saga, are you okay?" Aphrodite asked as he stepped down from the stair way and closer to him, Saga turned towards the Pisces Saint and smiled thinly. "I'm fine, why don't you go dance as well?"
Aphrodite gave him a look before stepping past him into the crowd, leaving him alone. He sighed and picked up a glass of wine and carelessly gulped it down his throat. What was that look that he just saw in Saori's eyes? Was it hurt? Was it pain? Was it jealousy? Was it...
"Saga, what are you doing here all alone?" A quiet voice asked him.
Saga jumped and turned to see Shaka sitting in a corner quietly, a soft smile on his face. Saga shrugged and looked at him. "Nothing."
"I heard your conversation, Saori had a strange reaction didn't she?" Shaka asked hintingly, Saga frowned, not picking up on his hint.
"Huh?"
"Didn't she look as if she was hurt by the news of you having a girlfriend?"
"She's not my girlfriend!" Saga stressed, they've been over this for how many times in the past few years. Sure, the girl's pretty and she's very... clingy of him, but that doesn't mean that he likes her.
"Whatever you say. However, Saori's reaction was very strange, she looked as if she was hurt by that news... possibly even jealous." Shaka said slowly, Saga's breath caught in his throat, exactly what he thought before, could it be true? Hurt? Why would she be hurt? Jealous? That's just impossible! She was just talking about his marriage earlier on this morning. "Anyways, you should at least show you face around the crowd, or else everyone'd think that Saori's abusing you, telling you to work when everyone's having fun. I'm going to meditate, so don't bother me."
Saga looked at Shaka unbelievably and then shook his head, he's right, he should show his face around the crowd at least for a while. Taking a few steps towards the crowd, someone on the balcony caught his attention. Her long white dress floating in night air, her backview lonely, without a second thought, he changed his direction and headed towards her.
[Balcony]
"Saori... are you all right?" That's the first thing he asked as he stepped onto the balcony, Saori turned her head to face him quickly. Undoubtingly, he saw the loneliness and sorrow in her eyes, but just as quick, her eyes returned to their usual calm state.
"Saga, why aren't you inside?"
"I could ask you the same thing. And besides, aren't you supposed to be with Milo?" He stood beside her, their arms barely touching, he joined her to look out at the Sanctuary's beautiful night scene. Saori laughed softly, her voice cutting through the night air softly.
"I think Milo's impressed with some of our female Saints' faces." She said hintingly, Saga caught on and they both laughed at that.
Under the night sky, the two of them just stood there and talked, the room behind them is alive, full of people's voices. Outside, they barely have to speak, even a whisper can be heard. Under such an environment, Saori's afraid that even her deepest thoughts might be picked up by Saga, even though he has no permission to use his cosmos to feel what she's thinsking, and he would never do that.
People always say humans are selfish, they'll do whatever it takes to get what they want. Whatever they want. She was born a Goddess, will she be willing to do anything to get what she wants? Turning, she looked at the profile of Saga silently, then slowly dropped her gaze, perhaps... being a human is better.
Her marriage, a deal she made to keep her Saints alive is something that she'll never forget for the rest of her life. No matter how long she lives... 100 years, 200 years, 300 years... or even more. Maybe, her next reincarnation will feel her emotions as well, just as she feels the other Athenas' emotions towards different things. Perhaps then, the Goddess Athena of that era will have enough courage to pursue after her dreams, to finally free the pain from all these years of burying inside their feelings, to finally put all the pain of all Athena's to rest and gain happiness. Yet, when will that day come? She can only hope.... it won't be too far into the future.....
[Later- Upstairs]
They walked onto the third floor of the grand palace, their lone footsteps echoing throughout the entire hall way. Saori walked on slowly, and lazily, as if her feet weighed a ton. Everyone had just left a bit earlier, and they decided that the main hall will be cleaned up tomorrow, seeing how many people got drunk tonight and left here on other people's back.
Stopping in front of Saori's room, they turned to each other, both of them tired and sleepy, just wanting to get the day over with.
"Good night Saori."
She nodded and slowly looked up at him, then stepped forwards and closing the gap between them, she put her right hand on his cheek, holding his face loosely.
Suddenly, all sense of sleepiness disappeared, Saga looked at Saori alerted. Her eyes misted, almost closed, clearly sleepy. What is she going to do? Does she know what she's doing?
She stood on her tiptoes and using her right hand, she pulled his face down. Just enough for her to leave a kiss on the corner of his mouth and then release him. "Good night Saga." Turning, she opened and closed her door, once again, the hall way is quiet.
Saga stood there, frozen to the ground, not knowing how to move, his placed his hand to where she kissed him and just starred at the closed door, shocked. Yet, for the first time in his life, he had the urge to go into her room and return the favour. This isn't right, this definitely isn't right.....
TBC.....
Thanks for reading, please R&R.
A Lifetime in Exchange for Seven Days
Chapter 1
[Santuary, Greece]
It's 4 o'clock in the morning, Sanctuary is as quiet as a grave yard, the whole place is dark and seemingly very lonely. Rain fell down onto the Earth quickly, but not harshly, yet still enough to soak through layers of clothes.
Saori stepped on this soil quietly, tuning down her cosmos, not wanting to wake up anyone. She looked up at the magnificant statue of Goddess Athena, herself, that caused so much scars on her Saints' bodies. Taking slow steps, she began climbing up the grand stairs that leads up to where she's supposed to stay, supposed to. Now... only Saga is up there.
Looking beside her, the Aries Temple right beside her, looking ever normal, she smiled and continued up, passing the Taurus's Temple, then the Gemini's temple. Surprisingly, she felt a cosmos, probably Kanon's cosmos, looks like Julian's no where to be found again, most likely off somewhere with Sorrento. Passing on, she passed by the Cancer Temple and the Leo Temple, only to come face to face with the Virgo Saint, surprised, she paused in the rain before him.
"Welcome back, Goddess." He said, cutting through the quiet atmosphere.
"How did you know I was coming?"
"I felt your prescense... not your cosmos."
Saori smiled, she should always remember his title 'The Man Closest to God'. Shaka held out a white cloak and wrapped it around her tightly. "Saga's up there, my guess, he's up already."
"Thanks." Saori walked past him and then paused and turned back to him again. "How did you know that he's up?"
"I felt his annoyance for all those work he has to do."
Saori giggled and turned up the stairs again. She'll never forget the long walk in the Underworld, the many barriers they faced, all those times will be cherished always. Passing by the lonely temple of the Shooter, Sagittarius, she felt the long gone cosmos of Aioris, finally back from the Underworld, giving the whole Sanctuary a lively look, a honorable feeling.
Passing by a garden full of poisoned roses, she came face to face with the grand palace, quiet and powerful. Looking ahead, the 2 soldiers that are supposed to be on guard are fast asleep, mind no where to be seen. Gently shaking her head, she pushed open the huge double door to reveal an empty hall, she gently shut the door behind her, careful not to make much sound.
Then, still wrapped in Shaka's cloak, with dripping lavender hair, soaked all over, she began walking up the familiar stairs reaching the second floor, leaving a trail of water behind her on the marble floor.
She poked her head through a doorway and into Saga's room, to her diappointment, he's not there. She slowly backed out of his room, she closed the door behind her, so... Shaka was right. Leaving watered finger prints on his door, trailing down the stone door.
She moved onto another room, ducking she looked undernearth the door at the faint light emitting out from inside the room. She looked up at the door from her squading spot, imagining how he would look behind this door. He'll be in his black shirt and blue pants, dark blue jacket and that serious look to his eyes. She squaded there, thinking, imagining how he'd look when he sees her.
Surprised? Definitely.
Unbelievable? Most likely.
Confused? Probabaly.
Happy? Maybe.
Feel like in love? Most likely... not!
After who knows how long, she felt as if she's in Camus's temple, cold as an ice cube, the door moved. Saori's eye widened, is she imagining things? The door can't be opening, she hasn't even thought of a reason yet. Just like that, the door opened and was replaced by Saga. He looked around the empty palace and lowered his head to find her starring up at him.
They starred at each other, just looking, as if everything else around them had just disappeared and vanished. As if they're the only ones on Earth, as if they're the only ones that mattered. Finally, Saga snapped out of his trance raised his voice unbelievably, every sort of emotion mixed within.
"Goddess, what are you doing on the ground?" Without a second thought, he pulled her up and dragged her inside. She said nothing, her lips are too cold to say anything. Immediately, she felt his jacket being wrapped around her, giving her the much needed warmth. It was then that she realized that she's still cluntching onto Shaka's cloak, which is already soaked to the maximum. Gently, she opened up her hands and it fell onto the ground as she turned around to face him, her mind still blank.
"Goddess, what are you doing here?" He asked, surprised? Oh yeah.
She opened her mouth, wanting to tell him everything, she has seven days, the last seven days as an unmarried, free woman, and she just wanted to spend those days with him. No, she definitely can't say that. "Nothing, I just felt like coming home."
"Home?"
She smiled up at him and nodded, like a little girl with no worries. "Yeah, home. This is my home, isn't it?"
Saga looked at her for a moment, as if trying to figure out how much of what she said is actually true. Then he smiled at her fondly and nodded as well. "Of course Goddess, this will always be your home, welcome back."
Saori laughed softly and held out her arms, he looked at her curiously. "Don't I get a welcome back hug?"
Saga's smiled froze on his face, he looked at her awkwardly and shifted his weight around nervously. Saori blinked and glanced down, a little smile on her face, yet how much heartache is actually hidden behind that smile, only she knows. She took in a deep breath and looked up with a playful smile. "I was just kidding."
The air around them suddenly got thicker, tension covered them up. Saori cleared her throat and turned around slowly, letting her eyes roam all over the room and paused at the large desk and the piles of work on top of it. Guilt ran through her involunarily as Saga stepped up beside her.
"Saga, since I'm here now, I'll do the work." She said, now fully understanding why he felt annoyance when doing this.
"And I'll be with you always." He said sincerely, gaining a small laugh from Saori.
"I really wish that you meant it."
Saga looked at her confused, she... doesn't believe him? "Of course I meant it, I'll help you with this Sanctuary."
"No you won't, you'll have to marry someday." She pointed out, pretending to be playful. 'And same with me.' She added on silently.
"Goddess, are you okay?" He aksed instinctively, something just seems out of the ordinary about her. Usually... she's so much more easier to talk to, she never used to say things that were so confusing.
"I'm fine, it's probably just the long plane ride and the rain."
"You should rest, I'll take you to your room." He urged and led her out of the room. They turned onto the still dim staircase that leads up to the third floor, the cool air wrapped its fingers around Saori, she pulled his jacket around her tighter. "We have to have a check on the heater, this place is freezing."
"Goddess, how long are you going to stay?" He asked, stopping in front of her room as she stopped as well.
"A week."
"Only a week?" Perhaps, a little disappointment?
"Do you want me to stay longer?" Say yes.
"It's... it's your choice." He stumbled over his words. "Anyways, have a good rest." He then turned around, ready to leave. Saori moved forwards and hugged him from behind tightly, and buried her face into his shirt, he stood there rigid.
"I missed you." She murmured into his back and stayed there in silence.
"Goddess?" Saga let out nervously, not knowing what to do.
Saori took in a deep breath, being able to hold back her tears. Then slowly, she let him go and turned back into her room and gently closed the door behind her and slid down onto the ground, her face in her hands. Her hair like a big curtain, covering her up.
Outside the door, Saga turned around rigidly, still not sure if he heard her correctly. However, he definitey felt the shake of her body when she was so close to him. Her whole body was shaking, as if she was crying. He reached up, wanting to knock and check if she's okay, then thinking, maybe it's the best to leave her alone right now.
[Downstairs]
Shaka turned his head towards the stairs as he heard the faintest of sounds, knowing that Saga's coming down. "How is she?" He asked, perhaps a bit teasingly.
Saga looked over at him and sighed, setting his feet down onto the ground. "How was she when she arrived?"
"She was soaked." Shaka answered easily and carelessly, receiving a roll of eyes.
"I know that, I meant..."
"She's hiding somethinng." Shaka interupted him seriously and stood up as well. "What do you think it is?"
Saga lowered his head for a moment before frowning and looked up at Shaka gain. "I have no idea, maybe she's worrying about Sanctuary under my control?"
Shaka patted his shoulder reassuringly, "have some faith. She trusts you with her life, and would do anything to...." He suddenly trailled off, earning a strange look from Saga.
"Go on." Saga raised his eyebrows and waited for him to continue, however, Shaka just smiled and stepped away from him. "What?" Saga urged.
"I think I know what's wrong with her. Anyways, you better get ready for the morning meeting that you don't want to be late for." And just like that, he disappeared from the room.
Saga put his hand down from the out-stretched position and made his way upstairs again, walking into his room, he wondered about Saori's strange behaviours. At that moment when she was so close to him, he suddenly had the urge to turn around and return her gesture. Like a candle, that feeling slowly died away as she pulled away. He sighed and turned on the shower, letting the cool water wash over his face.
What Saori mentioned before rang a sudden alarm in his head. True, he's already 28, dead twice, one of the older Golden Saints. It's not as if he hasn't thought about having a family before, it's just that... it never seemed like a burden until now. When Saori mentioned it, he suddenly could picture her holding a child's hand as a mother. Which is impossible, considering she is a Virgin Goddess.
Or, is it?
She's only 18 this year, just passed her birthday, she's beautiful, so beautiful that she doesn't seem to be from this world. She has as nice figure, like a model's and on top of that, she owns a huge world wide foundation, her money is beyond counting. She owns the Sanctuary and supports all the Saints with whatever they want. Who wouldn't want to marry a girl like that? Even though she is a Goddess, she's still just a normal girl, who's to say that she won't fall in love as Saori Kido?
With a deep sigh, he turned off the water and was embraced by cold air, now he knows why Saori wanted a heater check. Shaking his head, what's first should be first, the meeting is starting in 10 minutes, and he doesn't want to be late.
[Main Hall]
Saga stood before them and continued on his daily ranting, the Saints are clearly very bored, even he feels bored, thank Goddess that it's almost over. "And finally, the final announcement of the day. Goddess Athena had just arrived, she'll be staying here for a week."
The hall was quiet before murmurs rose up, Saga gracefully walked down the stairs, into the noisy crowd.
"When did she arrive? How come I never felt her cosmos?" Mu asked curiously, as the guardian of the first temple, he should have felt her cosmos when coming in. Saga smiled and rubbed his forehead.
"You were asleep, I was awake and couldn't even feel her cosmos coming in."
"It's not that." Shaka stepped in and smiled. "She tuned down her cosmos, I was only able to feel her presence." He then turned towards Saga funnily. "She wanted to surprise you."
"Surprise? It was more like a scare!"
"No matter what it was, you'll have to take care of her for a week."
[Later]
Saga stepped through the grand palace door and was greeted with a view of Saori coming down the big flight of stairs. Before he can open his mouth, Saori interupted him. "Saga, I need to discuss something with you." She came down with another dress, revealing her shoulders with long sleeves and the dress just sweeps the ground. Her hair tied up in an orderly fasion, a few strands of hair around her face and neck, a diamond necklace, and a lighter shade of rose on her lips, looking beautiful and elegant, nothing like her soaked feature before.
"Of... of course Goddess." He stuttered, surprised at her attire in so little time.
Saori smiled and stepped in front of him, holding a document in her hand. "This document was made a long time ago by the first Athena. And since I'm this era's Athena, I have the right to make decisions as well." She then held up the document and right in front of his eyes, she ripped it apart and opened her hands, letting the ripped up document fall onto the ground like leafs in autumn.
"What... what document was that?" Saga asked immediately, not believing she did that.
"It's the document concerning female Saints." She turned around walking towards the wall length windows with Saga behind her. "That rule has been around forever, today I break that rule, because of it's unfairness to the females. Right now, the female Saints do not need to wear their masks, and they're free to love and marry whomever they want." She turned around to look at him while leaning back onto the large window. "The offical document is on your desk, you need to sign it and pass it down."
"Of course Goddess." Saori smiled, Saga looked at her curiously. "May I know why you decided on this new rule?"
"Because," she sighed and hugged her ams. "I know how it feels to marry someone when you can't beat them." Her voice lonely and hollow.
"Why? Are you going through this right now?" Saga took a step forward, forgetting the urgency in his voice.
Saori laughed softly, hiding her true feelings inside. "Probably one of my past lives." She then took in a deep breath, putting on a cheerful smile. "And, tell everyone in the Sanctuary to come attend a party tonight, right here."
"A... party?" Saga blinked, surprised.
"Yeah... why? Is there a problem?" Saori blinked and tilted her head.
"No, of course not Goddess." Saga smiled, and shook his head. "Give me your definition for 'everyone'."
"Every living person you can find in Sanctuary."
Saga nodded, Saori then turned towards the stairs again. "Great, you can rest now, I'm going to look at all those paper works." She said, a tone that made no one disobey her.
"Yes Goddess." Saga said respectfully.
"And Saga?" Saori paused at the top of the staircase, and turned back to face him. "Stop calling me Goddess, just call me Saori, and that was an order not an option." She added on playfully and disappeared into the hallway.
Saga looked after her, after who knows how long, he sighed and headed for the training ground where everyone should be. Stepping outside of the palace, he clearly felt Athena's cosmos, telling everyone that she's here. Looking up at the clear blue sky, the rain earlier on seemed only like a dream. Ever since Saori got here, he feels like a statue, she totally took over his job, well, technically they're her job, but....
Saga sighed and rubbed his temples as the familiar sounds of the training ground reached his ears. But, she's still too young, she's only 18, just as her fun life had started, yet she's already focusing on her destined work. To think that she'll spend the rest of her life doing this, painful.
"Master." The trainees bowed as he stepped close, the Gold Saints looked at him and nodded as a greeting. The trainees stepped back to their training positions as the Gold Saints stepped into a circle, with the Taurus Saint, Aldebaran, blocking the sun for them. Now, the sunny day is just annoying.
"Goddess Athena wants us to attend a party tonight." Saga said shortly, but was enough to surprise everyone.
"Party?" Milo piped up immediately, his eyes twinkling, he loves parties.
Saga rolled his eyes dully and shook his head. "Milo, I can assure you that you won't be able to meet anyone that'll willing spend a night with you." He said dryly, earning a short chuckle from everyone, Milo just rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath.
"Anyways, pass the news on, she wants everyone to attend."
[Palace- Meeting Room]
Saori opened the door to find a lady sitting on her desk, looking through her files of work. Her long black hair tied up messily, her golden eyes sharp, a bow and quiver full of arrows on her back and wearing an ancient Greek dress. "I see you have your hands full with these paper work."
Saori closed the door behind her. "Artimes, long time no see."
The Goddess of Hunting looked up with a warm smile and jumped off the desk to face her older sister. "Athena, I heard about your 'marriage', how can you do this?" She asked unbelievably, a sense of betrayal in her voice.
Saori sighed and leaned back onto the door tiredly, Artimes continued on. "Hestia wanted to come as well, but something tied her back."
"So... what's the point of your visit?"
"My point is to call off the wedding, no way are you getting married! Zeus is having a fit up there! If you're really getting married, father might even come down here and zap him for himself." Saori gave her a funny look, Artimes shrugged and looked at her strangely. "And why are you getting married anyway?"
Saori walked away form the door towards the windows that over looks the training ground, she opened up the full window, letting the sun extend past the windows. The sounds of the soldiers entered their ears. Artimes followed after her and looked at all the Saints and turned towards Saori, understanding what she's thinking. "Your Saints? You really care about your Saints, huh?"
She then turned around to lean on a wall while looking at Saori strangely. "And your Saints haven't said anything about it?" Artimes inquired strangely."
"I didn't tell them."
"What? Why not?" Saori just ignored her, Artimes rolled her eyes. "Why are you here if you don't want to tell them about your wedding?"
"I'm here to see someone."
"Who?" Artimes's eyes widened in alert, it's impossible. "Who ties down your heart? Is it that guy that accompanied you in the Underworld?" Saori said nothing but to look at her funnily. "Is it that guy whom came back from Poseidon and asked for your forgivenss?" Saori shook her head unbelievably. "Or, is it..."
"You can stop asking now, I'm not going to tell you, I'd like to keep him safe from him up there."
"Yeah, but Zeus would torture every single one of your Saints until you give up." Artimes stated calmly.
"Well, I guess I just have to face him head on. After all, the battle of Heaven hasn't come yet."
"I don't get you." Artimes shook her head, and pushed herself away from the wall and looked at Saori seriously. "To tell you the truth, Zeus sent me to tell you that Mt. Olympis will awlays welcome you no matter how you turn out, and that you're always his daughter."
Saori turned to her and smiled gratefully. "Tell father my thanks, and tell him that I'll take care of myself, and I'll go visit him sometimes."
Artimes nodded and a silver light covered her and soon Artimes disappeared from the room, Saori turned towards the training ground again. Seven days, she only has seven days, will that be enough?
[Night- Grand Palace]
"I wonder why the Goddess has called this party?" A soldier asked his friend, not believing that he's actually going to see the Goddess.
"I don't know, but I'm really excited to see the Goddess!" His friend answered back, looking at the stairs intensely.
The party had began, everyone is here in the Grand Hall, the lighting so bright as if it's still day time. The place was polished up and filled up. Even the female Saints are here, the first time ever, without their masks, showing their real prescence.
Soon enough, Saori's shadow appeared on the top of the stairs, a new dress on her, long enough to sweep the floor, her hair still up, and golden jewleries decorating her. A smile appeared on her face as she came down the stairs, greeting some of her Golden Saints.
"Goddess." They greeted simultaneously.
"Yo! Saori!" Kanon greeted easily, earning disapproving looks from everyone around him, Saga rolled his eyes and whacked him on his back.
"Have some respect Kanon."
"Saga, it's all right." Saori reassured him, Kanon then flashed a victorious smile to Saga, whom rolled his eyes unbelievably.
"Saori, here's a welcome back present for you." Milo said goofily, his eyes twinkling as he walked forwards. Saori looked at him strangely. "Here you go." Opening up his hand, a ferocious scorpio opened its mouth towards Saori.
She yelped and stumbled back, bumping into Aphrodite whom caught her easily and looked at Milo in annoyance.
"Milo!" Saori said unbelievably, her heart thumping like crazy.
Milo laughed and closed his hands, the scorpio disappeared as well, earning a cold whack on his head. Camus glarred at Milo annoyed. "Milo, behave!"
"Do you want to be sent to the other dimension?" Saga warned.
Milo jumped back behind Saori, using her a human shield. "Saga, you're so mean! How can that girl still like you?"
Everyone froze at the statement, Saori frowned mentally, everyone looked towards him strangely. Kanon turned to his brother surprised. "Since when did you have a girlfriend?"
"I...."
"Some girl from a nearby village was helped by Saga, and has been clinging onto him ever since then. She's actually quite pretty, I don't get why Saga's not interested in her." Milo stated, still hidng behind Saori, his hands on her bare arms.
Saori looked up, her eyes locked with Saga's, somehow Saga suddenly had the urge to explain things to her. Like a boyfriend that was caught doing something wrong. "Saori, I..." Saga started, but was interrupted by Milo.
"Saori, are you all right? You're freezing cold! Is it Camus's fault?"
"No, I guess I'm wearing too little, and without any action."
"Then, let's go dance." Without a second word, Milo dragged her off immediately, brushing past Saga. He reached out a hand wanting to hold her behind, but his fingers were too late as the long white dress and the long lavender hair danced past his fingers just a milimeter away, just like that time..... that time when she peirced the golden knife right into her throat in front of him. He reached out, wanting to grab onto her... her hair, her dress seemed like air, seemed like wind, they slipped away from him and he could only watch as she slipped back and fell down onto the ground, dead, ready to meet Shaka.
"Saga, are you okay?" Aphrodite asked as he stepped down from the stair way and closer to him, Saga turned towards the Pisces Saint and smiled thinly. "I'm fine, why don't you go dance as well?"
Aphrodite gave him a look before stepping past him into the crowd, leaving him alone. He sighed and picked up a glass of wine and carelessly gulped it down his throat. What was that look that he just saw in Saori's eyes? Was it hurt? Was it pain? Was it jealousy? Was it...
"Saga, what are you doing here all alone?" A quiet voice asked him.
Saga jumped and turned to see Shaka sitting in a corner quietly, a soft smile on his face. Saga shrugged and looked at him. "Nothing."
"I heard your conversation, Saori had a strange reaction didn't she?" Shaka asked hintingly, Saga frowned, not picking up on his hint.
"Huh?"
"Didn't she look as if she was hurt by the news of you having a girlfriend?"
"She's not my girlfriend!" Saga stressed, they've been over this for how many times in the past few years. Sure, the girl's pretty and she's very... clingy of him, but that doesn't mean that he likes her.
"Whatever you say. However, Saori's reaction was very strange, she looked as if she was hurt by that news... possibly even jealous." Shaka said slowly, Saga's breath caught in his throat, exactly what he thought before, could it be true? Hurt? Why would she be hurt? Jealous? That's just impossible! She was just talking about his marriage earlier on this morning. "Anyways, you should at least show you face around the crowd, or else everyone'd think that Saori's abusing you, telling you to work when everyone's having fun. I'm going to meditate, so don't bother me."
Saga looked at Shaka unbelievably and then shook his head, he's right, he should show his face around the crowd at least for a while. Taking a few steps towards the crowd, someone on the balcony caught his attention. Her long white dress floating in night air, her backview lonely, without a second thought, he changed his direction and headed towards her.
[Balcony]
"Saori... are you all right?" That's the first thing he asked as he stepped onto the balcony, Saori turned her head to face him quickly. Undoubtingly, he saw the loneliness and sorrow in her eyes, but just as quick, her eyes returned to their usual calm state.
"Saga, why aren't you inside?"
"I could ask you the same thing. And besides, aren't you supposed to be with Milo?" He stood beside her, their arms barely touching, he joined her to look out at the Sanctuary's beautiful night scene. Saori laughed softly, her voice cutting through the night air softly.
"I think Milo's impressed with some of our female Saints' faces." She said hintingly, Saga caught on and they both laughed at that.
Under the night sky, the two of them just stood there and talked, the room behind them is alive, full of people's voices. Outside, they barely have to speak, even a whisper can be heard. Under such an environment, Saori's afraid that even her deepest thoughts might be picked up by Saga, even though he has no permission to use his cosmos to feel what she's thinsking, and he would never do that.
People always say humans are selfish, they'll do whatever it takes to get what they want. Whatever they want. She was born a Goddess, will she be willing to do anything to get what she wants? Turning, she looked at the profile of Saga silently, then slowly dropped her gaze, perhaps... being a human is better.
Her marriage, a deal she made to keep her Saints alive is something that she'll never forget for the rest of her life. No matter how long she lives... 100 years, 200 years, 300 years... or even more. Maybe, her next reincarnation will feel her emotions as well, just as she feels the other Athenas' emotions towards different things. Perhaps then, the Goddess Athena of that era will have enough courage to pursue after her dreams, to finally free the pain from all these years of burying inside their feelings, to finally put all the pain of all Athena's to rest and gain happiness. Yet, when will that day come? She can only hope.... it won't be too far into the future.....
[Later- Upstairs]
They walked onto the third floor of the grand palace, their lone footsteps echoing throughout the entire hall way. Saori walked on slowly, and lazily, as if her feet weighed a ton. Everyone had just left a bit earlier, and they decided that the main hall will be cleaned up tomorrow, seeing how many people got drunk tonight and left here on other people's back.
Stopping in front of Saori's room, they turned to each other, both of them tired and sleepy, just wanting to get the day over with.
"Good night Saori."
She nodded and slowly looked up at him, then stepped forwards and closing the gap between them, she put her right hand on his cheek, holding his face loosely.
Suddenly, all sense of sleepiness disappeared, Saga looked at Saori alerted. Her eyes misted, almost closed, clearly sleepy. What is she going to do? Does she know what she's doing?
She stood on her tiptoes and using her right hand, she pulled his face down. Just enough for her to leave a kiss on the corner of his mouth and then release him. "Good night Saga." Turning, she opened and closed her door, once again, the hall way is quiet.
Saga stood there, frozen to the ground, not knowing how to move, his placed his hand to where she kissed him and just starred at the closed door, shocked. Yet, for the first time in his life, he had the urge to go into her room and return the favour. This isn't right, this definitely isn't right.....
TBC.....
Thanks for reading, please R&R.