GS: This took longer than usual, because for a full week after I posted last, I couldn't receive any of my reviews due to the FF.Net information back-up. But it's all cured now, and I gotta say, I'm relieved everyone's…enjoying this.

Midori: Questions to answer, author-lady.

GS: I'm gettin' to that…Okay, first of all, about the 'Why Shun?' and not Shiryu or even Seiya, it's because I honestly don't think Seiya could pull it off, and Shiryu's a bit bulkily-set to pass as a girl, you know what I mean? Shun's very thin, with small shoulders, so obviously pulling it off would be much easier for him. Not to mention, from the profile I've seriously thought he could pass for Shaina if he wanted to. But it all basically boils down to 'Because I wanted to, and I'm the author, that's why.' ^_^ Kay?

Disclaimer: I don't own Shun or anything else related to Saint Seiya. However, all the Amazons, their culture, and especially Meilu, belong to me and me alone. You got that?

Among The Amazons

Chapter 3: Roommate

"This way."

Shun had to jog a bit to keep up with Tania. She was somewhere around 20 years old, and about a head and a half taller than he was, with longer legs. And besides all that, he was still not used to moving in this stupid skirt.

"This is the place." she motioned to a small cabin just in front of them. "It's not much, but it's comfortable enough."

She opened the door, lighting a candle against the impending twilight. It was kind of barren, with a table for eating, a separate room that he assumed was the bathroom, two chair and two neatly made beds.

Tania dropped his suitcase onto the bed on the right, glancing over at the other with a chuckle. "She's not gonna be to happy about this…"

"Who?" Shun asked, setting down his bag.

"Your roommate." Shun dropped the bag, rather than setting it down.

"Roommate?!" he squeaked.

"Of course." Tania lifted an eyebrow. "There's limited space on this island, and quite a lot of girls to train. You'll be paired with your roommate for just about everything…meals, training, living quarters…but don't worry. She's been here quite a while, she'll show you the ropes."

"Speaking of which…" she glanced out the window, towards the sundial. "She should be nearly finished with high-ropes course. I'll go break the news to her…make yourself at home."

With that, she left.

Shun stared at the exit a moment, then sighed and sat on the bed. This was gonna complicate things a bit

He dug into his bag, pulling out the photograph from the very bottom. He smiled a bit as he held it to the light, laughing under his breath…This picture was from several years back, before any of them knew who they were or what they would become. He wasn't quite sure who had taken the picture, or why. All he knew is that he'd come across it in a scrapbook once and liked it enough to take it.

There they were, a bunch of ready-and-waiting, seven-to-nine year old kids. Smack dab in the middle was Seiya, being pinned to the ground by Hyoga and not enjoying a minute of it. The blonde, on the other hand, seamed to enjoy it quite a lot. Shiryu was knelling next to them on the left, trying to mediate through his laughter. And to the right stood Ikki, taller than all of them and looking vaguely amused, a certain little green-haired boy peaking nervously out from behind him.

His thoughts were suddenly broken by a loud, angry voice from the outside. "YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!"

He tucked the picture back into his bag, pushed the skirt down a bit and went to the open door. He peaked out to find Tania facing down a raging girl that he assumed was his new roommate.

She was about his height…maybe a bit taller, closer to Hyoga's or Shiryu's, but not as large as his brother. Her hair was long and dark brown, streaked unnaturally with a dark blue-purple, and pulled back into a long, straight, ponytail. Her eyes were dark green, almost matching the forest around them, and her skin was quite pale. She was dressed in the same uniform as the other Amazons…the same short skirt that reached their knees, sleeveless tunic-like collar, tied sandals and a belt around the waist. He now noticed that the belts were different colors…Hippolyta's had been gold, Tania's was green…this girl's was purple, like the streaks.

"Roommate?! What do you mean, roommate?!" she screeched.

"Take it easy, Meilu." Tania raised her hands. "You knew when you moved out on your own it wouldn't be just you for long. You're too young."

"But…But…"

"This 'Andrea' girl seams rather nice, if a bit shy. You two should work very nicely together." Tania clapped the smaller girl on the shoulder, turning away. "Just play nice, alright? You'll be with each other a long…long…time."

She turned and left back down the trail. The girl with the two-toned hair took in a deep, almost painful-sounding breath, spun on her heels and marched towards the cabin.

Shun quickly redirected his gaze to his bag, as though he was looking for something. The girl came bursting in and narrowed him with an icy glare. "So, you're the new girl, eh?" she sniffed sourly. "What's your name?"

"Andrea." he whispered quietly, smoothing the skirt down nervously. He looked up with what he hoped was a gentle smile. "You are…my roommate?"

"Looks like it." she muttered, taking a seat on her bed. She crossed her legs, sitting Indian-style and leaning against the wall. "The name's Meilu. Nice to meet'cha."

Shun sighed just a little. Okay…intro over. Info time.

"Um…so have you been here long?" he asked quietly, as though making conversation.

"Most of my life, yeah." Meilu shrugged. "As long as I can remember…I think my mother was one, but I'm not certain…"

"How can you not be certain?" Shun asked, curious.

"None of your business." Meilu snapped, and he shrank back a bit. She leaned back again, calm once more. "Anyways…I've been here as long as I can remember, so it doesn't really matter where I came from. I know this place like the back of my hand."

"I see…" Shun looked out the window, thinking quietly. "Anyplace I should look at early-on?"

"You'll see most of it in prelim training." Meilu waved a hand nonchalantly. She stood, crossing to lean over his bed and point out the window, up and down the two trails. "Rope courses mostly up that hill…archery range up on the right…The hot springs are down that way, whenever you wanna take a bath."

Shun gagged at that last comment. That was something they hadn't thought about. There were going to be suspicions if he never took a bath during his time here…oh, damn…

"But there are a few places you can never go, at least not alone." Meilu's voice brought him back to paying attention. Forbidden places? Definite hiding spots for the Gold Cloth.

"Where's that?" he asked, rising his voice a bit higher.

"See that mountain over there?" Meilu pointed to the direct center of the island, where a huge mountain towered over the surrounding area. "That's the most sacred place on the island. Even set foot there, without being a part of Hippolyta's guard, and you're dead…period, the end."

She stood, crossing to dig into a large trunk that stood at the end of her bed. "The only other place to avoid is the caves on North Eastern shore…In the cliffs." she dug deeper into the trunk, loosing her consintration, then resumed. "It's a maze…a training mission. But only the really experienced Amazons go in there, and even then we never see some of them again…"

She stood, carrying a large, white bath towel. "I'm headin' for the baths before sundown." she called over her shoulder. "Your uniforms should be in that trunk…put all your stuff in there too. Other than that, make yourself at home."

With that, she was gone.

Shun waited for about ten minutes, until he was sure she was far gone and there was no one else coming. Then he reached into his bag and pulled out the small, black radio, turning it on quietly.

"…Saori-san?" he whispered into it. "Guys? This is Shun. Can you hear me?"

There was a little bit of static, then a familiar response. "Loud and clear. How's it goin', Shun?"

The green-haired boy smiled just a little. Seiya. And probably the others, too, all gathered around. "It's okay so far." he sighed, lying out on the bed. "But there's a bit of a compication…"

"What kind of complication?" Saori asked, voice even but laced with worry.

"…I've got a roommate."

"WHAT?!" He pulled the radio a little bit away as Ikki, Seiya, and Hyoga projected their surprise in an increasingly loud voice.

"What do you mean, roommate?!" Ikki exclaimed, sounding shocked.

"Apparently, it's a rule here…" Shun murmured. "The early trainees have partners that they're supposed to do just about everything with…training, eating, and sharing living space."

"This could be a problem." Shiryu muttered in the background.

"It's something we couldn't help." Saori sighed. "The best plan is to get this done as fast as possible, and get you out of there before your roommate learns anything. Speaking of which, do you have any idea where they might have hidden the piece of the Cloth?"

Shun sighed, then very calmly began his report…

TBC…