Author's Note: I originally posted this chapter on April 25. It was five days past due, not just because of the quarantine, but because there are alot of characters. The original outline chapter was meant to be where everyone shares a little bit. It was supposed to be something simple. But in order to maintain the pace and flow, I had to weave them together, by switching back and forth. The result was that it was over eighteen thousand words, which ran counter to the idea of just simplifying this arc. Not only that, due to pacing, I actually had to cut out Shaka, Mu, and Shion's section (they would've been put in later in a different chapter). There was also another reason. When I write things, I like to hide a bunch of details out in the open just to see if people even spot them. The problem with having so many characters is that any foreshadowing gets buried.

As the old saying goes: Editing is everything. So I'm reposting the chapter, but just like when the story briefly split between Aiolia's side and Aiolos back in the House of Sagittarius, this is something that will need the same treatment.

So why the delay? Because the story was written with plot weaving in mind, I still have to go through to make sure it still flows. But I also added a little bit of new stuff too and even enforced some details.

Because it is split, I am able to re-add the section with Mu, Shaka, and Shion as its own part.

So here we are and here is a quick rundown for the next three days:

Today

The Dollhouse: Silvers, Deathmask and Aphrodite, Shura and Aldebaran, Aiolia and Marin

Tomorrow:

More than Friends: Saga and Aiolos (yaoi warning)

May 3:

Not-Crane-Yuzuriha: Shion, Shaka, and Mu (Unreleased)

All parts take place on the same day.

I don't like putting notes in the front of stories, but I felt it was important this time around.

One more thing: Choosing Sweden, has nothing to do with the country's stance of not performing a lockdown due to COVID-19. Yes there are things about the quarantine and lockdown that did make it in, but the country was picked, solely on the fact that it is where Aphrodite was from and it gives something for the Pisces to flaunt. Since this is all about showing the Golds before the shit hits the window and with him having a larger part, it was very important to show his good side as much as possible.

Sorry about the trouble, but I hope you enjoy it.

Sagittarius and Gemini: The Event

5Ca: The Dollhouse

House of Aries

"Where the hell have you been, Misty?" Dante as he waved his hand at the top of the House of Aries main floor.

The moment he reached the top of the main floor of the House of Aries, the Silver Leader found a seat and began to pull off his boots. "Well, it's not my fault it started raining. Half of the roads are unpaved and dreadfully muddy. I could either move at Mach 1 and limit the filth on my footwear or Mach 5 and risk the entire entourage," he spoke as he slowly fanned his magnificent body over. The Lizard Saint turned his head back and forth expecting a random bark but was surprised by the silence. "Oh Dante darling, you didn't bring any of your pet dogs to keep all of us company?"

"Nah, the Lemurian servant to the Aries Saint asked me not to since it causes the birds to molt too early, or some shit."

A rain of thistle seeds followed. "Well you got to admit, they are fun to feed," spoke Capella, holding one of his saucers upside down to hold a large pile of seed, where he and Asterion tossed the food in different spots to watch the flock flap back and forth. "But other than that, I didn't expect it to be so boring over here."

Asterion shrugged as he tossed more seeds. "Well, maybe that's the life of a Gold Saint. As Albiore would say, you can't have a Gold Level by wishing for it. I heard some will physically train between eight to ten hours before they go and meditate for another four to eight."

Dante's grizzled mug turned toward him. "Damn, if I had that schedule I wouldn't bother even changing out of my Gold Cloth. I would be like, fuck it, I am one of the twelve most powerful fucking people, I don't have to change my clothes. After that I would just crash in my bed." The group laughed before the Cerberus turned toward the Lizard. "Alright fearless leader, any news as to why several Golds are not in their Houses or did they all went: fuck it and took off?"

Asterion turned his head toward his Silver comrade with an awkward look. "A number? I heard the whole damn Sanctuary is empty, including the Pope!"

Dante's blood went cold. "Fucking shit, I was just joking earlier! Are you serious?"

Misty flashed his cosmos causing the flock of birds to fly off into the safety of the open dome. "Everyone, please remain professional about the status of Sanctuary. If you must talk about it, use the Cosmos!" the Lizard chastised. Even though the closest person was a little old lady selling flowers, he wasn't going to allow his Silvers to openly blabber at the front doors of Sanctuary. "But, yes, It is empty! Like the tomb of the Phoenix Saint, Sanctuary is indeed empty."

Their leader's words did not soothe their nerves, especially Asterion. "Why would they do that? Do you think it's another Holy War?"

"Of course not. If it was the Holy War, it would be the opposite. But I'm certain that it was for a very important reason."

O|===================|O

Sweden

"Okay, what do you think? The dresser with the red frame or the blue frame?" asked Deathmask as he chewed a toothpick between his lips. He's seen furniture stores before, but what made it different was that it felt like he was in a full mock bedroom with lamps, beds that he could lay on or interact with. "Personally, the red looks badass, but the blue would compliment the spirits I summon. So what do you say? What would complement the feng shui of my humble abode?" he chuckled.

The Pisces rolled his eyes. They all came to IKEA to purchase a new table for the Gold Saints, but the Pope was permitting them to purchase their own furniture. "Feng shui? With all the trainers you leave lying on the floor, it all looks like Feng Shit to me."

But the Cancer raised a hand to his face and held an invisible monocle over his eye. "Hence, the dresser, 'Dite," the Cancer smugly and cooly mocked back.

Aphrodite chuckled a bit before he pursed his lips and flipped a stray lock away from his face. While his House could always use nicer furnishing due to the amount of Nobles who came for the Pope, it was clear that his flair for style was greatly needed. "Well if you are being serious, I would say that you have far too many blues in your room already. The red would add some much-needed boldness and contrast in your bedroom. Of course, if you don't put anything in said drawer, does it matter?" At that moment, the Pisces paused, noticing a slightly sad look to his face that he never intended to invoke. Of course, he should've put a little more thought behind his tart nature, especially with recent events at the House of Cancer. "You still haven't found anyone to replace Miss Maddie, have you?"

At that moment, the Italian leaned on the edge, scooting a fake fern sideways. She was his caretaker and the closest thing to having a mother. He was shocked when it all happened so suddenly. She made him a bowl of pastina and on her way home to visit her grandchild, she had a misstep on the stairs and that was it. Her family asked if he would say some words at the funeral and he politely declined, not wanting to be seen by her loved ones, crying like a bitch.

She was one of the few people who came to his house and didn't seem repulsed by the concept that its guardian can open a dimension straight to hell. "How many people would want to work in the House of the Dead?"

The Pisces' tart tongue eased. While the chance to work in the household of a Gold Saint was seen as lucrative and a means of raising one's status, some Houses find the task difficult. In his household, if someone missed a dose of antivenom, there was a chance they may not wake up the next day. But despite the heavy risks, he was positioned next to the Pope, which made it a fairly simple task to recruit. But Houses like Cancer and even Gemini are hard to fill since they were always so dark, giving the impression they were far more dangerous than they were, as well as their location not being ideal. "You need to sell yourself. In Astrology, the House of Scorpio is the House of Death, and yet every guardian will hold countless parties over there." He raised his hand. "Just put out a message to prospective candidates and let them know that Cancer is the House of Family."

Deathmask cackles. "What a fucking joke." They say that Astronomy will reflect their abilities, but Astrology would dictate their personalities. He can see that with his two neighbors. Saga received the House of Music and Arts and goddess knew the Magician of the Zodiac deserved that. Aiolia was the House of Love and if he wasn't worshipping his brother, he was crushing on Marin. "The only family I ever had was my sister." He sighed heavily and his voice was drained of any sort of mischief. "Now she's dead, for the crime of being too pretty." Unable to stand anymore, he walked over and crashed face forward into the red blankets, his legs sprawled out, causing a few customers to awkwardly exit the display room.

Aphrodite sat next to him. For a moment the Cancer was very uncharacteristically quiet. "DM?" he whispered.

"She was there one moment and gone the next."

"The peaches should be ripe by now. Wait here, okay Angelo?"

That was the last time he heard his real name again.

Aphrodite bit his lip. It felt like Deathmask was talking out loud as if no one was there, but yet it was directed at him. He wasn't sure if the Cancer wanted to be left alone or not, but decided to stay by him as he had always done in the past. "Are you certain she's dead?"

"I asked the former Cancer Saint: If you are as powerful as you say, then you could find her...and he did...at the bottom of a deep lake, naked, and surrounded by the rest of the dead as if in another world."

Aphrodite reached over and rubbed his back. He knew he should not talk about it anymore, especially when he knew that it was starting to sound like what happened to her was very much mafia related.

The Italian was foul-mouthed whether he was in battle or not. He wielded his ability to trash-talk his opponents like a samurai. For him to hold back on the details must have meant it was far too horrific, even for one who took pleasure in the dealings of his predecessors. Why did it feel like all of them had family that experienced a horrific way to die? His parents were over by the shed when some propane mysteriously exploded. He thought they were missing and called the police. Turned out their bodies were blown into the middle of the garden, surrounded by their flowers, perhaps their last moments alive was them staring straight into the sky.

"(Excuse me, girl. Is he okay)?" a local asked in Swedish.

Aphrodite jerked his head as a couple of workers stood there. That was the nice thing about the common tongue in Sanctuary being Greek since it allowed them to talk about things in the open without too much worry. He maintained his calm demeanor. How sad that he's been mistaken as a female so many times that it doesn't phase him anymore. "(He's fine. He lost someone important to him...recently)." He produced a warm smile and watched the two nodding understandably and headed off to help a customer in another bedroom section.

Deathmask raised his head, the whites in his eyes had now shifted toward a lighter pink. Every time he thought of her, the same thing always happens: first his body crumbles and the world blurs in sadness before his heart is set on fire at the hypocrisy of the world. "You know, when Kanon went missing, everyone tried to find him...even the fucking blind. Hell, the orphans in Rodario at least have their picture placed on the walls even if they are ignored most of the time. My sister got nothing. The orphanage I was at even tried to call the police, but they treated it as if she ran away like she was a whore. I told them: bullshit, she would never leave me like that!" Deathmask sat back up, shaking his head. "If I had my Gold Cloth back then, they would've thought twice."

And the Pisces agreed. "It's hard to believe that just five years ago, we were nothing. Right now, we are two of the most powerful people in the world."

O|==================|O

"...a person who comes from or has a strong link to a country that is in Latin America would be called Latino. However, a person who comes from or has a strong link to a country would be Hispanic," Albiore spoke as he sat on the stool next to Musca Dio on the main floor of the House Taurus. "So you and I are considered both Latino and Hispanic since our home countries are in Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America. However, the guardian of this place is from Brazil. Because Spanish is not the main language, he is Latino, but he isn't Hispanic. Another guardian is from Spain. So he would he Hispanic, but he's not Latino since he comes from a country in Europe. That is why if you're going to use that joke, it is better if you call it the House of Latinos and not House of Hispanic. I know the latter has better alliteration but," he paused when he sensed Dio receiving a message.

"Oh thank the Goddess," muttered Dio before he brought his fingers to his temples. "What is it, Misty?"

"Oh, seeing how you were doing."

The Fly Saint rolled his eyes. "I'm bored and so is Al. Every time I crack a joke, he somehow turns it into a lecture."

"Sounds like he misses teaching already."

"Yeah no kidding. At the rate he's going, I may end up with a degree in Humanities and Linguistics. So what's up?"

"I need you to ask him something."

"Couldn't you ask Albiore directly?"

"I could, but if he has to relay a message to someone, he tends to keep it truncated."

"Damn...and that's why you're our leader!"

"That I am! Anyways, ask him this."

Dio nodded and listened to the silver leader. "Yo, Albiore, Misty was wondering what are the chances of an attack occurring here with Sanctuary being the way it is?" he emphasized after being warned to not say that it was empty out loud.

The Cepheus shook his head and switched to his cosmos for the Fly Saint. "Old saying: there's no such thing as a surprise attack when it comes to Sanctuary. They have those who can read the future and those who use Star Hill to help predict it as well. But, if the worst-case scenario occurred and Hades invaded earlier than expected, the Golds could all be suited up and theoretically return in about thirty seconds."

"Well why would they need us here if they can move that fast?" asked Dio.

"Just because they can move that fast, doesn't mean that they want to. Think of the village here. How will the people react if they see several streaks of light speed heading straight for Sanctuary all because some low level Mariner scout came in to examine why this place is quiet or some lost curious tourist?" He shook his head. Rodario is highly steeped in a tradition where the people tend to take justice in their own hands.

Dio nodded. "Yeah, I guess that's true. Any idea as to 'why' they are all gone?"

"A couple. While we know that Hades and Poseidon are still sealed, there are still minor deities who could cause a bit of damage. Perhaps they are performing a massive check to ensure that the other shrines of the enemies of Athena are still inactive? Another possibility is that they dedicated a day where they test their skills and perhaps do one large session dedicated to sparring?"

O|==============|O

"I wonder why Aiolia wanted to head off alone? What do you think, Little Horns?" Aldebaran questioned his Spanish companion.

Shura's gaze was tight and focused as he switched to his cosmos. "Marin was in the cafeteria. While we were there, I kept a vigilant cosmos read for any sudden shifts and hers was the only one that stuck out like a sore thumb."

"Ah, I did notice you were quiet at the table several times." Aldebaran nodded his jolly head. "Marin does make sense, but why were you performing cosmos reads when we are here to relax?"

He raised a sharp brow. "We had the Pope with us? Why wouldn't we be less vigilant? His safety is our concern, second only to the goddess!" reiterated the Capricorn.

"We are surrounded by Swedes trying to calm their kids and debate which bedroom set to go with." Aldebaran chuckled. He received his Cloth two years prior and remembered the peacock stage that a Gold Saint experiences where one felt a bit too much pride in their Cloth. "Look, he has Shaka next to him and they both can read the stars and the future. If this was going to turn into a dangerous situation, he wouldn't let us roam around like this."

Shura's worried gaze wouldn't wipe away though. "But you see how slow the Pope moves now."

Aldebaran turned downward. He could tell that Shura thought he was taking a lax position on this, but he wasn't. "Actually, he still has light speed, he just talks about how much it causes his joints to ache afterward. But that's also why Mu is there too. If they can't move, when you combine the barrier abilities of Mu and Shaka, it is easily capable of surviving Athena's Exclamation. If they have to run, Mu can easily use his telekinesis with ease. If they can't handle it, they just send us a quick message and all seven of us will be by his side in less than a second."

The Taurus understood the idea of defense far greater than all of them and one key lesson was that you stood a greater chance of your guard breaking if you don't allow any sort of rest in between. He reached over and patted the Spaniard's back. "Here, let me share some old advice that one of the door guards passed onto me from one of our predecessors: You don't have to always be on guard, to protect those you love." He gestured over around the corner. "Come on, I know you don't need anything, but I need some help with finding a good bed and it seemed like you've been to this place before."

The Spaniard paused. Perhaps he's been a bit too edgy. Even his men, most at least ten years his senior, say the same thing. He supposed if there was a good time to learn to ease up, now was it. Besides, it was nice for them to casually interact aside from all the times he had to run to the Pope's Chambers because another diplomat didn't realize people from Brazil don't speak Spanish. He headed over toward the various mock bedrooms and began to press his hands on a few. "This one is quite soft and it's sturdy too."

"Yeah, but the frame is hideous. I don't want something that makes it look like I'm going to give someone a lap dance," he said as his hand tapped the metal rods, allowing it to echo.

Shura let out a burst of laughter. It was something his soldiers would say and made him miss them more. "Don't worry about the frame. You have to buy them separately. Just go ahead and lay on it and see what you think. You can always find something that makes you feel less of a prude later."

The Taurus did and a pleasing look followed. "Wow...now this is a million times better."

"I know. I've sat on your bed before and it was like laying on a table."

Aldebaran turned his head. "True story, it is a table."

"You're kidding!"

"I wish I was. My guess was that one of my predecessors broke the original bed."

"Well what did he do? I mean you're not that heavy!"

"I am not heavy, but my Cloth is." Having Mu as his neighbor had taught him quite a bit about the Cloths themselves. The Lemurian described the process of crafting the Gold Cloths much like creating a cake where the majority of the ingredients are the same, but subtle additions can mean the difference between it tasting like vanilla or chocolate. His was very thick and dense, crafted specifically for physical defense. "Anyways, he either was too humble or didn't have the time to go out and have it replaced. I can tell the table was from the kitchen since there are clear chopping marks from a knife." He stretched his limbs and if people weren't walking back and forth, he could take a nap right then and there. "Mmm, this one is nice, but I don't think it will last long."

The Capricorn agreed. Aldebaran sank so deep that he could easily hide if one placed a blanket over him, no one would be the wiser. "Yes, you should probably get something firmer." Shura took a few steps before he turned around. He walked over and gave a few beds the butt test before he stopped. "Try this one." He waited for the Taurus to come over to lay down. "Well?"

"Oh yeah. The frame isn't bad. I should just get this one." Aldebaran turned his head and noticed an odd look on the Spaniard's face before he got up and approached the child section. "What is it?"

It felt so haunting. Shura walked over toward a display with a blue wall. "That's the same bed I used to have at home. Even the same layout."

Aldebaran gasped. "Same layout?"

Shura nodded. "I told you, my family used to come here." He walked over toward the dresser. "Most would come, not just for the furniture, but also for ideas on how to arrange things. I nicknamed it the dollhouse."

"Oh, because every spot is a fake room that you can interact with?"

"That, and I found it incredibly boring," he laughed. "After a while, I figured out a way to convince my family that I would only go if we stopped at McDonalds afterwards and got some potato wedges with some Creamy Deluxe Salsa."

"Why do you eat so much junk food, Shura?"

"I prefer to call it fast food. The less time I spend eating, the more time I have for training."

"But you weren't training for Holy War back then?"

"True, but I still had to further my breast stroke in swimming on Mondays and Tuesdays while working on my swinging for tennis during the rest of the week, Aldebaran."

Apparently back then, Shura was just as active with training. "By the Goddess, you are a true Capricorn!" Aldebaran's laughter was full of heart, but halted when he noticed that such sentiments were not reflected back despite it all being a compliment.

Shura shook his head. "I'm not sure if I am sometimes."

"Why do you say that?" He pointed over. "Here, we can talk about it in your bedroom."

Normally the Brazillian's humor cheered him up, but today, it made it worse. "I would, but I actually burned it down."

Aldebaran raised his body up. Did he seriously say that? "You burned it down?"

Shura nodded. "It was an accident." Normally he would beg the person not to say anything about it in fear the other soldiers would hear about it. But this was Aldebaran, and everyone knew he would never gossip about it. "When I was a kid, I always followed all the rules. But one day I was curious. My father was a smoker and I wanted to try it. One day, he left his matches and the kit in the car. He asked me to get it. I got inside, and...I tried it. It was a bit tricky and messy too since my father preferred the type that you roll up on your own."

Aldebaran was very surprised. Shura, of all the Zodiac, was the only one to refuse to drink only because he wasn't old enough yet and not due to religious or distaste. But he didn't want to interrupt, because he could tell it was a tale that would not end well.

"I didn't like it and as I said, it was messy with it being a roll-up, never realizing the seats were covered with so much oil. Tobacco was all over the seats, the match burned my finger and caused me to drop it on the seat. " Shura folded his arms. "I was four years old. I panicked. Everything lit up so quickly. I ran and told my dad. His last words to me were 'you idiot' before we heard the car blow up. Dad went running upstairs for Mom and told me to run to the neighbors. I don't know what happened, but they never got out. All that was found was ashes, with only the gold from their rings left intact."

Aldebaran patted his back. He could see it was a hard story to tell. Not only that, but in Astrology, Capricorn was the House of Kingdoms, basically status and authority. He was surprised Shura was even able to admit it since he always seemed to have trouble accepting any sort of failure. "I'm sorry. Will you be okay?"

But the Capricorn shook his head. "It's alright. It was hard, but Aiolos is a good neighbor and someone who I've always found comfortable to talk about it to where it still hurts but I don't have nightmares about it. It's just," he pointed over.

"I understand. You bury it, but something pops up that makes the memory as clear as day." If Shura was willing to share something so personal, he should oblige. "Before my calling to the Second House, I had saved enough money to purchase a Pelé soccer jersey. It was a counterfeit, but I could care less. I just wanted something that I can wear on major game days. So I left to go buy it, unfortunately the place was out. I came back, my home was surrounded by several people. There was a gas leak and our place filled with carbon monoxide, a colorless odorless gas. My brother went out to check on the dog and when he came back, everyone was dead. He ran out, but he succumbed as well."

It was Shura's turn to be left speechless. "By the is it that everyone in the Zodiac's parents have to have a such a bizarre death?"

Aldebaran paused. "Huh, yeah it does seem like it." None of the others liked to think of it, heck even he hated it as well. But as he paused and stared, it did seem like those that he knew of seemed to be orphaned in bizarre ways.

Shura- a fiery death, nothing but gold was left

Aiolos- His father fell from some great height

Aiolia- three wolves

Saga- suicide

Those were those that he remembered. Sometimes the Taurus wondered if there was a pattern to it all. But he looked up and could see how much guilt the Capricorn felt, especially if he was forced to live with it. "I know it can be hard, but I'm sure those above forgive you and Athena wouldn't choose you to be a Saint if you weren't a good person. Mistakes happen."

Shura nodded once more. "Yeah, that's actually what the Pope said to me too. He said to use this new life of ours as a form of rebirth. So," he tilts his head back and forth. "I know everyone says I'm uptight, but I just always have this feeling that if I do make a mistake, I'll just get someone I care about killed."

O|====================|O

The Crystal Saint stared at the iron skillet. He grabbed the bottle of cold-pressed olive oil and splashed it onto its hot surface, watching it silkily cover every inch before he reached over and tossed a fine fillet of tuna. "Les poissons, les poissons. How I love les poissons! Love to chop and to serve little fish!" he sang before he turned his head toward the large orange fur ball with her equally black companion patiently sitting tentatively by her side. Judging by the oddly placed carpet that was covered with a quarter of an inch of fur, it was clear that this was the norm for this place. "My my, you two are quite spoiled, aren't you? I don't think the guardian here doesn't need illusions. Why one could mistake you two for dogs considering your girths," chuckled the Russian.

Shaina sat against the pillar, one of the few places where light still enters the House of Gemini while still fulfilling her dreadfully dull duty of guarding Sanctuary. Curiously, she lifted the bottom edge of her mask and while the sound of the sizzling meat made her a little hungry, the aroma was enough to make her knees weak. "That smells amazing!" She turned her head and watched Ivan grabbing the handle and producing a fancy flip of the filets of fish. "I didn't know you could cook."

Ivan produced a burst of hearty laughter. "Well, where I train at, when the only protein to eat is fish and reindeer, you get quite good at mastering a variety of ways of preparing it." He scooped up the large piece and divided it in two. He sets it down and the two immediately devour it, with Neptune nearly swallowing it whole. He turned to the pan and grabbed a spare plate and slid the final piece upon it. He lays a bit of fresh parsley on top before he walks over and carries it to the Amazon. "For the other kiska…"

Shaina gasped and a light blush came about her face when he held the fork with a carefully decorated large piece. She was not one to gush. "Aww, thank you!" She lifted the bottom edge enough to keep her face hidden, but allowing her to eat and by the wine of Dionysus, each bite was like heaven. "You know, every ice Saint is supposed to be emotionless and not… dancing while cooking." She swallows. "Oh, and this is amazing!"

Ivan the Crystal Saint let out another deep laugh as he rested his hands on his hips. "I know, I get the same thing. We're supposed to be. Even my Master tries, but even though he hides it, he tends to fail just as miserably as I would." He snaps his fingers. "Speaking of which, I should see how he's doing!" He brings a hand to his cheeky grin before he closes his eyes. "Master! How's your first visit to IKEA?"

O|================|O

The Frenchman stood in the Living Room area at a set of shelves. His face was still stoic, but in his heart, he missed his first student quite a bit, despite it being only a day and was looking deeply for the promised moment that Ivan was going to check on how he was doing. "Not bad."

"Are you going to buy anything?"

At first, the Aquarius thought he was going to just sit in the cafeteria with one of his books, but like always, Milo didn't want to wander alone and dragged him by his side. Although, the more he browsed, the more he liked. "A bookshelf, not for my House, but in our cabin in Siberia."

"That sounds splendid! About time too! I feel like every time we add a new tome on the shelf, we are playing a game of Jenga where at any moment, it will come tumbling down."

Camus nodded. Even with his endless patience, returning a book to the shelf should not feel like brain surgery. "I agree. Good luck with the House of Gemini." He ended the conversation, as always, preferring to keep things short. He studied the shelf before him. The simple design that he was looking at, judging by its dimensions, seemed to hold the greatest number of books while managing to fit in the living room. He could care less about the style. The world was not going to end because he mixed an orange shelf among their heavy oak collection in their living room. He writes the information down with a pencil and a scrap paper. According to Aphrodite, all he had to do was take the info to the cashier later and he'll pick it up then. Sounds easy enough.

The Aquarius turned his head to examine his Scorpio friend. Maybe if Milo was almost done, they could perhaps just walk around and explore the rest of IKEA? It would be a change of pace from the desolate Siberian wastelands or simply lounging on the main floor of the House of Scorpio to read books in one of their Frogs of Aristophanes collections.

Camus walked over toward the fluff of purple hair that gently rested on the tight leather jacket that despite its thickness, still managed to show off those muscular shoulders that he loved to wrap around. He takes a moment to glance back and forth. The place was packed, but as long as they were surrounded by the cosmos of strangers, he didn't mind offering a small bit of affection. He leaned over the Scorpio like a warm blanket, before Milo turned his head and produced a quick kiss before he returned to his business. Camus lets a small hidden smile before something catches the corner of his aquarium eyes: lots and lots of papers filled with numbers. "Trying to decide which one you want?" he asked.

"Decide?" Milo laughed. "Oh no, I'm buying all of it!"

Camus' mouth went dry. "What?" he choked. "You are buying all of that?" He snatched the top paper. "Seven tables?"

"I liked the color. Not many tables color coordinate that well with my burgundy rugs."

"Three love seats?"

"Of course! Mrs. Schfurwatt bestowed me three torchieres so they will look smashing together."

"SIX COUCHES?"

He fanned his hands out. "They were fifty percent off! What a fantastic deal! It's like a buy one, get one free sale! I'm surprised this place isn't empty with people not leaving with no less than two couches. I even knocked off an additional ten percent on the blue couch when I discovered a small stain on the corner." He gestured over. "Now come. I heard there is this section called the 'As Is' where we can find better deals! We must hurry before all the good stuff is gone!"

Camus sighed. Thank Athena that Milo only left Rodario to perform missions for Shion. This was probably Milo's first, and after the Pope finds out about this, his only trip to a massive store. Although he had to admit, it wasn't the worst Milo had ever come up with. Perhaps once Milo is confronted with the conundrum of trying to carry all of his purchases from the third house to the eighth, he may think twice. Nonetheless, it was for this reason that he hopes that no one ever teaches him, or the rest of the Scorpio lineage, about Amazon.

O|================|O

"Are you sure you don't want to look inside?" turned Aiolia as he strolled in pace with the cloaked Eagle Saint.

She turned her head. "You're asking me to fill my tiny house with furniture and yet half of the rooms in the House of Leo are barren."

Aiolia shrugged. "I'm not going to buy things just to make a few vacant rooms more occupied. Besides, those were old lion dens...and even after a couple of hundred years they still smell like it too." The two laugh. "Are you sure you don't need anything?"

Marin shook her head no. "Although, the refrigerators were advertised as having twice the storage as the last model."

The Leo gave another hearty laugh at her sarcasm. "Okay, I get it. But seriously, if you need something, I can pick up whatever you need." He watched her tilt her hooded head in happiness. He gazes at her mask. Many wonder how an Amazon could move outside Rodario with ease. Truth was that most simply avoided it unless necessary. But not Marin. Some would go full-on prosthetics, spending hours trying to look perfect or risk going without the mask in hopes they don't run into anyone that knew of the rule.

But she keeps it simple. She took an old mask, painted it the color of her skin, and applied a little lipstick. Due to the overhead shade of the hood, from a distance it was convincing. But the real beauty of it was that up close, even though It may not look real, but because there was enough effort on it, people think or she tells them she had an accident and she's trying to be normal.

Just another feather in Marin's clever cap.

She turns to the white sidewalk and the long row of carefully spaced trees. "Honestly, I think this is what I need, just a nice peaceful walk. It reminds me of Japan." Over in her homeland, she remembered how she and her brother walked to the subway and went to school that way. But in Greece, she had to maintain her guard if she hoped to go and purchase fruit without getting attacked.

Aiolia looked around. He's not one to pay attention to such things, but even he admits that Sweden was very beautiful. No trash whispering in the wind nor splashes of dust and sand from the unpaved streets. The air felt amazing there, so clean and perfect. However, that didn't mean his homeland had nothing to offer. "You know, the main trail to my old house is quite nice too. The Chamomile is in bloom. We can grab a basket, collect the blooms and when we reach there, I can make you tea." He expected a quick retort over the fact that a meathead like him liked collecting flowers but instead, there was a bit of hesitation.

"I know, it is nice there too, but it's…"

Something was wrong. Aiolia knew since it was rare for Marin to be this tongue twisted. So he spotted a dark blue bench and invited her to come and join him there. "What's wrong?"

She sighed before she walked over and took up his offer. The truth was that it was a matter that has been going on for years, but she was too proud to admit it. "Someone broke my windows...again." Sometimes she debates on whether to replace it this time around, but it does serve as a cheap warning at night. She felt a sharp rise of cosmos in him, but that's okay since she knew it was normal for him and that classical quick Leo temper.

"Again?" his voice was like it was on fire at that moment.

"Yes… and I don't know why today, but I'm just sick of it," she gritted her teeth. "It may not be a great area, but it's always my house that gets damaged or vandalized. I am a Silver Saint. I have the second-highest rank in the Army of Athena and yet I still feel like I don't belong."

The words hurt, but he knew it was true since, despite her attempts to hide it, he would see the remains of old broken glass and discarded rocks. "You belong! They are jealous because unlike you, they would probably get killed trying to aim for a Cloth. If they think it is okay to believe otherwise, let them kick the hornet's nest and show them. Personal defense doesn't mean a personal fight."

"Oh don't get me wrong, I do remind them. Sometimes it must be a bruised arm and at worst a broken one. It grants some peace, but they always come back. They are learning to come in more than three or four now...as if it will help. But I am tired of it. I just want to go out and purchase a bag of apples or some fresh fish without having to look over my shoulder every few seconds. I'm managing now, but once I'm old enough, I will have to take up a trainee and fulfill my silver duties of finding owners for the unclaimed Cloths. It's one thing to defend myself, it's another when I have a young child with me." She patted his arm. "Be glad you don't have to worry about being seen as a traitor, even if you're not."

But Aiolia shook his head. He was not ignorant. Unless you were Greek or Italian, you were a secondary citizen. "No, I'm not glad! I will never be happy if they act like that towards you." But he softened his face. This wasn't about him, it was about her. "Just know, that not everyone is like that."

Marin smiled beneath her mask. "I know. The Nikolopoulos brothers are proof of that," she laughed. She knew that they both left their last name, but she liked how musical it sounded. Besides, Aiolia didn't mind. But Theo the Leo, on the other hand, was off-limits.

He sat closer, smiling a bit that it was how she saw him and his brother. "That's right. I may not know what it is like to be in your position, but know this: I will never call you names. I will never hate you. The entire world can hate you, but I will never join them even if it means they hate me too."

Marin tilted her head in happiness. Even though she never said it, if she hadn't met him, her perspective of Greeks would be drastically different. Even though Aiolia, a native Rodarian Prototypo and with heavy connections to Sanctuary may never need it she had to say something. "I will never hate you either."

Aiolia turned toward the sky. It was beautiful and even with the cloak, she was beautiful too. It was almost like her hair blended with the twilight sky and the flesh covered mask in a way made it appear she wasn't wearing it. He parted his lips as if he felt this was the moment he should say it. Finally, as if he had split the Wailing Wall itself, something finally came out. "Marin?"

She turned her head toward him.

Why was this so hard?

Why can he laugh off a broken ankle but can't say three words? "Sparkling pear soda?"

She raised a brow. "What?"

He was such an idiot. Of all the things on his mind, was his new favorite Swedish drink. Now he had to keep going. "Would you like more sparkling pear soda?"

But she was no fool. In fact, she found it a bit adorable. She could tell by the handprints of sweat that he was that nervous. She wished she could just pull off her mask, but in Amazon culture, if she did it, it was a gesture that heavily implied she wanted to have sex with him right then and there. As much as she cared about him, she didn't feel ready for that. But, there was nothing wrong with admitting feelings. Perhaps he needed a little help? "Sounds good. Anything else?" she spoke a gentle and cheerful tone.

Aiolia took a deep breath. Okay, round two. He got clocked the first time, better not mix it up the second. His eyes widened before he gritted his teeth as he felt a cosmos approach him. "See you..." he muttered.

Marin could feel it too, her eyes filled with annoyment. "See you in Greece," she spoke. "Cover me."

"No problem," Aiolia grumbled as he folded his arms and burned his cosmos enough to cause his blond curls to wave up and down, masking the Silver-level cosmos. He was certain that he looked fairly strange but right now, he could care less. Another opportunity to admit his feelings had now passed. At least there was another thirteen years of peace and tranquility before the world goes to hell from Holy War. He turned his head. "Hey DM!"

"What's up, neighbor!" Deathmask approached him and sat next to him. "Damn man, why are you flaring your cosmos like this?"

"Just pissed that we ate all of IKEA's meatballs," he made up. It was stupid and dumb, but it was true and the only thing he could think of.

"Can't help it, they were fucking delicious! It was there fault they didn't make enough to feed the Zodiac with a disposable income!" The Italian laughed.

At that moment the Leo relaxed and couldn't help, but laugh too. "I only ate ten plates."

"Same here. Aldebaran, on the other hand, treated it like a buffet."

Aiolia smiled. "Yeah, I remember. He felt so bad when the two women told him he ate them all." He raised an eyebrow. Even though the two of them don't talk due to their schedules or simply hanging out with others, it was amazing how well the two of them got along when they did sit together.

"I remember that too, but he shouldn't feel too bad. The tip we all left for them should be more than a month's worth of wages," the two turned to see Aphrodite approaching them. The Pisces turned his head, "so did you ask him yet?"

"Ask me what?"

At that moment, the Italian rolled his eyes. "Uggghhh. Milo...bought-a-shit-load-of-furniture. Now he's going around asking for help in getting it up Sanctuary."

The Leo frowned. "He couldn't buy..."

"Eight," Aphrodite blurted. "There are at least eight couches...two on preorder that must be carried from the House of Gemini to the House of Scorpio. I'm not even counting all the other stuff think."

Deathmask chuckled as the Leo looked like his body was sinking into the bench. "Eh, it's Milo. Offer him any stripper for his birthday, and he'll ask for Helen of Troy."