The Children of Lotus

Chapter I : Unexpected Occurrence

Disclaimer

The characters in this story belong to Masami Kurumada, Toei and Bandai.

The night was bleak and gloomy in the Athena's Sanctuary, all the graves from the fallen Athena's Saint were opened and all the bodies, corpses and skeletons that were buried there have disappeared as if all the bodies and corpses have come back to life— and it is true because the God of the Dead and the King of the Underworld himself has brought all of them alive again to turn them to betray the Goddess Athena and behead her so the darkness will reign over this world.

The Athena's Sanctuary itself is almost unrecognisable, the once was a mighty and impressive place, standing stupendously on the hill, with its great and enormous temples and now almost of all the temples have been left in ruin. The once was big columns of each temples has broke apart and leave the temples shattered to an almost irreparable shapes.

And the grim and sepulchral atmosphere comes with the invaders of the Underworld and in which in those invaders army there are some traitor that once was the Saint of Athena and of course this is unforeseen for the remaining Gold Saint of Athena as this is the first time in the history of the Holy War with Hades— that he dares to revive the fallen Saints.

And the first to see this atrocity is none other than the Guardian of the first temple himself— Aries Mu. He had to see and even fought with his comrade-in-arms and even had to fought his own teacher and father figure. And now, after such an exhausting and intense fight with one of the spectre of Hades, the lavender-haired man were hurriedly running from the ruined Cancer Temple the next temple— or to be exact the next two temples as he saw light and big cosmos were thrown out from the Temple of the Virgin.

This night has been a dreadful nightmare for the Aries Saint, as since the sun goes down he has been witnessing such horrible and agonising scene, where he had to kill and fought with his comrade-in-arms again as an enemy, and to see his deceased master but he had to defy and also fought with him, and it is not end there as he was also fated to see one of his best friend and comrade-in-arms fallen in front of him without even having the time to properly mourn him.

His nightmare doesn't seem to stop there either as now he was sure that something will happen with the Virgo Saint. He wouldn't deny that he has a special affection for the Virgo Saint that he keeps for a long time as he knows that it would be impossible for his affection to reciprocated by the Holy Virgo Saint.

"Shaka... what will you do?" the Aries Saint murmured as he keeps running up the stairs. He heart beats desperately and although he knows that this is his destiny as the Saint of Athena, he still couldn't repressed his affection for the Virgo Saint. He knew very well that those kinds of feeling are not allowed for him, but what can he do when his heart is already set for the other? That he felt nothing could erase that feeling from his heart even for the last thirteen years he keeps yearning and longing for the blond Virgo Saint.

The guardian of the first temple didn't think about it anymore and immediately transported to the Virgo Temple, although he knows very well that it is prohibited to do that but right now, it can go to hell— literally.

And when he arrived at the Virgo Temple, he arrived at the horrendous scene of the scattered bodies of the spectres and also, the remains of the once was the beautiful and elegant Virgo Temple. As he look around he saw a big door which he knew well where it leads to— The Twin Sala Garden.

After seeing that door he immediately go to the door and feeling many recognisable cosmos and it is none other than the one of the guardian of this temple and the other three were his deceased comrade-in-arms' cosmos— They were Gemini Saga, Capricorn Shura and Aquarius Camus.

"No, if Shaka did this in the Twin Sala Garden... it can only means one thing... no... this cannot be..." murmured the Aries Saint while he felt such pain and suffocating feeling in his chest that he will lose another companion and friend again but this is much worse as he has a special affection for this one— and he surely will lose his one and only impossible love.

Although he never confess, he always act upon his feelings and he couldn't deny that he always longs to be with Shaka just like in their childhood. Talking together, training together and even sometimes sleeping together but that was only a faint memories. As now after the tragedy of his master's death, Saga's betrayal, and the death of Aioros, everything between them has changed, they are not the inseparable friends that they were used to be but just two Gold Saints that trying to do their duty well — Even if one them has developed a feeling much stronger than that of friendship.

If Mu being honest, it hurts him so much to see how much Shaka has changed from his childhood, he is not the Shaka he used to know anymore. Shaka has changed to be a very cold person who is always avoided him different than he used to in his childhood— well, at least in his childhood Shaka never treat Mu coldly and always has warm and soft spot for the lilac-haired Aries and it was not a secret that in his childhood the Virgo Saint was always seen with the Aries Saint.

Even now after the battle of the twelve houses Mu never managed to gain that closeness again with Shaka although we can say that he tried his best to be close with Shaka again but the Virgo Saint always avoided him.

And now, the lilac-haired Saint will lose his dear childhood love in this fateful war with the God of the Underworld and he couldn't help but to shed his tears and his pain.

But what can he do right now? He knew very well that this is Shaka's wish to die in the Twin Sala Garden he had told Mu in their childhood that his fate was to die between the Twin Sala Tree as the Shakyamuni Buddha. And even if it tears him apart, he will respect Shaka's wish and he will not let anyone to cross this door.

.

.

Behind that closed door that leads to the sacred place in the Virgo Temple— The Twin Sala Garden. Inside the standing the owner of this Virgo Temple with his bright blue eyes opened while holding the sacred rosary.

In front of him there are three other saints who were supposed to be dead but they has been revived by the God of the Underworld. And here they were fighting with the saint that is called as the man closest to god.

"Are you give in yet?" said Shaka loudly while keep holding his sacred rosary tightly, ready to removed their remaining senses. Shaka already knew the plan of his revived comrade-in-arms, and that is why he tried to make them desperate and so they had no choice but to use the forbidden technique— Athena Exclamation.

Shaka could see the desperation started to rise in the revived saints in front of him, and he knows that it will not be very long for them to use the forbidden technique and everything will go according to his plan. He has a planned to go to the Underworld with Athena and thus defeating Hades.

"Alright then, we don't have a choice but to use Athena Exclamation!" said Saga in desperation, and Shaka smiled faintly that this is exactly like he had planned.

"Hurry up then, before I removed your last senses!" exclaimed the Virgo Saint, and he knew that his death in this world is not the end. He will go to the Underworld and he will achieved his duty to keep the world's peace and even if he died with it without saying the biggest secret.

Shaka closes his eyes for a while and then in his heart he murmured this words, "I am sorry for everything, I hope you can understand why I did this, you always understand me, right?" He knew well that he will die with this secret, but what can he do when his own fate and destiny didn't let him to confess his secret. But it's okay because even if he cannot confess, he still has the beautiful memories of his childhood.

The three revived saints were getting ready for launch Athena Exclamation and Shaka also getting ready in his place, he took a breath and said, "What are you waiting for? Go attack me with Athena Exclamation!"

And the revived saints didn't hesitate anymore and immediately launch the forbidden technique. "ATHENA EXCLAMATION!!!"

And with that a powerful blast of cosmos were formed and immediately annihilate the while Virgo Temple and creating a powerful light that goes straight into the sky and Shaka, he saw a blinding light that slowly claiming his sight, and little by little he feels his body numb as if he was detached from his own body and—

.

.

The sounds of birds chirping invaded the ears of the blond Virgo Saint, slowly making his consciousness return and with that the soft and calming fragrance of lilac flowers suddenly filled his nostrils. The blond Virgo Saint were confused because isn't he supposed to be in the Underworld? He didn't expect that the Underworld would smell like a field of lilac flowers like this— He thought it would smell like a field of rotten body with a slight of desperation— if desperation can be smelled.

He slowly opened his closed eyes and the ray of sunlight immediately invaded his sense of sight, he blinked several time to get use to the light and faintly he saw a cascade of lilac hair that spreading loosely around the bed.

Wait... bed? But isn't I am supposed to be in the Underworld? There is a bed in the Underworld? Thought Shaka to himself and with that his consciousness came to him fully and he then feels something hot hitting his chest, and then he slowly lowered his gaze and to his surprise he saw that he was embracing the owner of the unruly lilac hair.

Shaka was so surprised and he reflexively released his embrace and move away a little from the lilac-haired man who were sleeping while snuggled into his chest and he got up to sit on the bed.

"Mu!?" Shaka whispered in astonishment. But what the hell is he doing here? Was Mu died too because of the Athena Exclamation and we're now in the Underworld? He thought to himself while now looking around the room and it look strangely like the Sanctuary. But he didn't recognised the room. This is not in Virgo... Oh, Buddha where am I now? And why Mu is here?

Without Shaka know, the movement he made makes the sleeping man besides him wake up from the embrace of Morpheus— or rather from the embrace of the blond Virgo Saint.

The lilac-haired man rubbed his eyes and then smiled softly to the blond man in front of him and with a big smiled he approached the Virgo Saint and then dedicated a fleeting kiss in the blond lips that pulled Shaka from his thought and now looking horrified to the smiling lilac-haired man.

"Mu?!" Said Shaka who was absolutely dumbfounded by the action of the Aries Saint. He never thought that Mu would dare to kiss him. Yes, kissed him. Aries Mu has just kissed him on the lips!

Shaka was blushing terribly when he saw Mu was naked in front of him showing his bare chest that was marked by several hickey and kiss mark. And because of that too Shaka realised that he was also naked!

What ... is .. happening..? Where.. am.. I... actually?

"Good Morning, Shaka..." Said the Aries Saint while smiling brightly and then he get up from the bed showing all of his glory in front of Shaka who couldn't help but to blush to the brim. "W-What a-are you doing Mu?" said Shaka nervously but he couldn't stop to stare at the beautiful body of Mu.

Mu raised one of his tikas confused by Shaka's question. He then said "I am going to get dressed and then I will make some breakfast." He then picked up his scattered clothes on the floor and then after he get dressed, he approached Shaka again to give another kiss his lips again and said, "Are you okay, Shaka? You look so confused,"

Shaka didn't know what to answer and just opening his mouth slightly trying to produce any coherent word. Mu's face were full of worriment now and then he said again, "If you're still tired because of the mission it's okay.. rest more, I will make breakfast and I will call you when it's done."

He then kissed one of Shaka's cheek and then walking out of the room and leaving the astonished Shaka alone. Shaka still glued to his place trying to process all of this, he still doesn't understand what was actually happening. He then look around again and he knew this is the Sanctuary but this is not his room, then looked to his left and there are two photo frame on the drawer.

He took one of them and the picture showed him two babies in Mu's arms while he's sitting in a chair in front of a garden wearing a white robe while smiling brightly at the camera. This photo makes him even more confused than before. Mu has babies? B-But since when? He didn't remember Mu had an affair with a woman. At the thought that Mu had an affair with a woman made Shaka furious. He felt an immense anger and jealousy at the thought, especially when Mu just kissed him.

But he also didn't think that Mu were capable to have an affair with a woman, he didn't think that Mu is that kind of a person. Shaka keeps looking at the photo and Mu looked so happy in that picture, he smiled so brightly like never before, his rosy cheeks were lifted and his emerald eyes reflected happiness in his being. And the garden is also strangely familiar, Shaka then looked at the picture even more closely and it's— The Twin Sala Garden!

B-But what was Mu doing in the Twin Sala Garden? The only person who have access to the sacred garden was him and although Mu is the only person outside of him and the previous Virgo Saint that already entered the garden well, in his childhood, but right now Shaka never brought anyone there anymore not even Mu.

Shaka sighed while keep frowning because of how absurd things was since he woke up, he then put the picture on the drawer again and took the other frame and this one surprised him even more as in that picture showed Mu, two blond infants, Kiki and himself.

The sapphires eyes of Shaka widen as he saw that picture. He was baffled because of that picture, he couldn't believe it. All of them looked so happy, even he was smiling faintly in that picture. In that picture, both Mu and him were sitting side-by-side while holding the two blond infants and the one that Mu held is a spitting image of Shaka. He looks so much like Shaka from the colour of his hair, the shape of his unruly bangs, and even the smile is the same!

It is really hard even for him to find the difference if not for the characteristic dots of the Lemurian that he has, other than that he really looked like Shaka like two peas in the same pod.

And then the one that Shaka held has green emerald eyes just like Mu but with blond hair like him that were braided, and the face of that child is much more delicate than the other one makes Shaka think that the one he held was a girl and she's smiling brightly in Shaka's arms. And both of the blond infants have the red dots just like Mu.

And behind them was Kiki who looked bigger than he remembers hugging both Mu and him with his arms while also smiling so brightly and when looking at that particular picture he thinks that they were like a — family.

Shaka is much more confused than before after seeing that picture. What is actually happening and the Holy War? Shaka then quickly gets up from the bed and then get dressed to see out of the window, and when he looked at the window he only can only see the training ground and a part of Rodorio that was seen from afar.

That scenery is very different than what he used to see from his room in the Virgo Temple. Usually he can see the temples below him and now there's no temple below this one and that can only mean one thing— He's at the Aries Temple now. B-But what is he doing in the Aries Temple? And that is also means that he's in Mu's room now... But how did he ended up here? Was it Hades trick to deceived him?

He then tried to alarmed his cosmos and concentrate to find if this was only an illusion and he keeps concentrating but nothing. He finds nothing suspicious and everything seems to be normal. He then started to look around again to find something, because he was sure even if it's the greatest illusion technique there will be some weaknesses in it.

But nothing, there was nothing suspicious here. And also, why Mu didn't even worry about the Holy War? He looked so relaxed and even casually kissed him. And also, why did Mu and him were naked though? Did they do something indecent?

Shaka who was thinking why Mu and him ended up in the same bed then suddenly remembering Mu's naked body, he's so beautiful. Shaka thought.

The rosy pale skin adorned by his long lilac hair, his chest that were full of red marks and also his pectoral seems a little bigger than he remembers, his slim waist and a somewhat wavy hips and his round butt— Shaka shakes his head at the thought and he can feel blood were running to his face and well— his manhood.

What the hell I am thinking about? Thought Shaka to himself and he slapped his cheek to drive those minds dirty minds away. But now he has a big problem between his legs and it seems that it doesn't want go away soon, Shaka was really annoyed by this fact as this is not the time to have an erection much less those dirty thoughts.

Although, he is the so called the man closest to god— he has a very well kept secret and that is he was fell in love with his childhood sweetheart, Aries Mu. Nobody knows this secret maybe except for the Shakyamuni Buddha who actually helped Shaka to realise this fact.

And then why he didn't confess to Mu? Well in part it was because of his duty, as an Athena's Saint he had to prioritise his duty above everything and especially his heart, and the other part that it was his own fear that Mu might not reciprocate his feelings.

And actually, Shaka for most of his life, he tried so hard to deny those feelings and affections for Mu. And he actually managed at one point to convinced himself that he wasn't capable to love someone until the salvation of the Shakyamuni Buddha who is none other than his own master help him about his feelings. The Buddha said to Shaka that love is not something to be denied on the contrary it was something that needs to be cherish with all of our hearts— loving and to be loved by someone is the best feeling in the world that human can ever have in their lifetime.

And after that realisation Shaka didn't denied his feelings for Mu anymore but he still didn't confess because he feared that it will be a hindering for his duty and also, he knew Mu enough to say that Mu is also someone who prioritise his duty and he will not let his those kind of feelings to affect him.

You may be wondering how in the world that Virgo Shaka who for the most of his life, lives exclusively and almost never get in touch with the world and other human being and the Virgo Shaka who really hates to be with people, fell in love with the lilac-haired Aries Saint?

Well, let's be honest if everyone that knew Aries Mu in his childhood would definitely fell in love with the boy as Mu was the sweetest and the most adorable kid in the Sanctuary, nobody thinks otherwise. Little Mu was so soft-spoken, well-mannered, and also very kind and considerate in which he retained until adulthood and little Shaka couldn't resist the charm of the lilac-haired Aries and well, now he is falling into the abyss of loving the guardian of the first temple.

And a thought came into mind the of the now confused Shaka, that could all of this was a dream? He wouldn't deny that many times in his life that he dreamed to have a family with Mu and to finally confess to Mu and lived together.

Shaka then slapped one of his cheeks to check if this was a dream and he feel a little burned feeling and a little pain after he slapped his cheeks. So this is not his dream?

He still couldn't believe it— he still believe that all of this were a dream because there's no way for Mu and him were being naked in the same bed and also sleeping while embracing each other? Well, although Shaka and Mu did that in their childhood but they were obviously not naked! and because of that, he slapped himself several times more and all of them were hurt.

Maybe I am in an illusion? Thought Shaka. He's getting desperate and he tried to think who has the capability to make dreams so realistic like this, and above all— he is on Hades' side.

Hypnos! This must be Hypnos' work. Thought Shaka again, he must have been set an illusion to me and this must be Hades' plan to defeat Athena. And Shaka immediately accumulate his cosmos so, he can launch his ultimate attack that can also set an illusions— Treasure of Heaven.

But just when Shaka want to launch his attack, someone entered the room— or rather two people entered the room. They were the two blond child that Shaka saw from the pictures.

"Papa, Mama said breakfast is ready..." said the braided blond child. Who was the person that they called 'Papa'? Thought Shaka, and he raised one of his eyebrows and he then looked behind him just in case there's someone there— but no, there is no one there.

"Papa, why are you acting so weird? Hurry up, Papa... Mama and brother Kiki are already waiting for you," said the little girl again, and the boy who just look exactly like Shaka except for his eyebrows, started to look annoyed, "Papa... I am hungry already and brother Kiki will be late for the training if you're not hurry up."

Shaka then looked behind him again— this time with his eyes opens just in case he is mistaken, and no there is no one this time either. Shaka then turned his body to the two little blonds again and he dared himself to ask who were they're referring to.

"Did you two just talked to me?" said Shaka while pointing at himself and both of the little blonds nodded at the same time. "Me? Am ... I.. the one... you called.. as 'Papa'?" Shaka asked the little ones again and the boy immediately answered, "Yes, of course you are, who else?"

And the little girl added with a confused face, "Yes, you are our Papa..." and Shaka couldn't help but to drop his jaw and wait— WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW !?

Author's Note:

Well, this fanfiction is just occurred to me and I think it will be good to write it down. I don't think this will be a long multichaptered fanfic and rather a short one.

As usual, I apologise for the grammar errors, spelling mistakes, poorly chosen words, and any other mistakes as I am not a native speaker of English.

Thank you for reading.