Chapter 3: Friend or enemy

Previously: Hades pays respects to a long-distant past only to find that his past has returned in a close confidant that was lost in his past.

Disclaimer: Meme12 does not own Saint Seiya or any of their characters. She does however owns the following OCs: Sorako, Cain, Heros

AU- Everyone is alive, what if Hades and Athena form a treaty? Contains shonen ai, F x M pairings and OCs

Sanctuary

Saori was quiet as she gazes out of the balcony from the main temple. She was worried about the God of Death who had been more withdrawn lately. Hades had always been a much quiet god and she never knew much about him even when from her memories of Olympus. But as she begins to get along with the god, she realized that Hades seemed to be carrying a guilt that she could not fathom. Initially, she figured that it was the guilt for initiating these wars for so long but the guilt and regret had never faded from his gaze. In fact, it almost seemed to deepen no matter how she had shown him the positive changes that had occurred when the treaty had been formed. The purple hair goddess recalled Hades reaction to her question and the nostalgic smile that followed. The purple haired goddess couldn't help but wonder what her uncle had been pondering about. "Who have you lost uncle Hades?"

Elysium

Hades felt time stopped as he gazed into those emerald eyes. His mind flooded with memories of the being cupping his face. "…Sorako…?" The emerald eyed being smiles gently. "It has been a long time since we met Lord Hades, how have you been?" Gently, fingers came up to wipe away the tears that the god hadn't known he had been shedding as he slumps onto his knees. "Is it…truly…you… Sorako…?" Said male smiles again as he presses his forehead against the god. "No matter where the wind blows…my wings will stay here." At those words, Hades openly sobs into the male's chest. It was too nostalgic…the warmth and the ever-familiar scent of cherry blossom overwhelmed him. As Hades sobs, Sorako gently pets his head to soothe the ruler of the Underworld. It was a gesture only known to the previous Hell Judges and Hades could only grip the figure tightly to convince himself that this was no hallucination. "Sorako…how…?" The male just smiled as he cups Hades's face in his palms once more. "It is…a long tale but that can be for another day." New waves of tears trailed down Hades's face as his basked in the warm hands cupping his cheeks. This gentleness, the warmth…in a split moment, Hades relieved the happy memories from a time that he had almost forgotten…buried in his deepest darkest despair from losing Cain…and everyone else due to his folly.

"Dry your eyes Lord Hades. Your tears are not meant to be spilled." Sorako murmurs as he rubs away Hades's tears and takes the gods hands into his. "Hey, do you still remember what you have just said?" Hades blinks and Sorako continues with a smile. "That you want to see everyone again?" Hades's eyes widened for a split second before he lowers his head. "…It's…" Flashes of flames, blood and broken bodies…dulled, lifeless eyes staring at him… "It's not possible… He…you all…your souls…" Sorako tilts his head as Hades gazes back with anguish filled eyes. "You were…all gone. The seal took everything away and I lost…I lost…" Hades choked on his words as the male continues to wipe away his tears as he patiently waits for the Lord of the Underworld to compose himself. Hades swallows before looking into the eyes of his most trusted warrior. "I…lost Amber."

Silence swept through the fields of Elysium as Hades immediately looks away fearing the anger that will come. Instead, the Lord of the Underworld was engulfed in another embrace. "S-Sorako…?" "It's alright Lord Hades. I believe you had not meant for it to happen." Hades stiffened in the embrace. "What did you say…?" The arms around him tightened. "It's alright Lord Hades. What's passed has passed. We have all the time now to look towards a new future…" Sorako trailed off when he noticed that Hades had not responded. "Lord Hades…?" The brown-haired male was taken aback as he was suddenly flung aside by Hades's cosmo. Steadying himself, he looks up to see that the Lord of the Underworld had summoned his blade and glaring at him. "Who are you?" "Lord Hades, do you not remember…?" Hades grits his teeth as his shouts interrupting the male before him. "I asked who are you!? How dare you impersonate my beloved warrior and trespass on these Holy Grounds!?" The bewildered Sorako raises his arms in a surrendering pose and slowly approaches Hades. "Lord Hades, you must be overwhelmed…" The male steps forward only for Hades to point the sword threateningly in his face. "Not another step! You…you are not Sorako…!" Hades looks up, the tears streaming down his cheeks as his trembling hand levels the blade at the male before him. "Sorako…will never dismiss his jewel…his Amber so distantly…" The brown haired male worriedly stepped forward. "Lord Hades…" Hades bit his lips harshly as memories of his warrior embracing a small child flickered in his memories. "He will never dismiss his own child like this!"

At those words, Hades's cosmo exploded drawing the attention of the Twin Gods who came to defend their Lord only to stare shell-shocked at the intruder before them. "Impossible…you…" Thanatos murmured as Hypnos stared dumbfounded at the male before him. "…Sorako is that you?" Said male smiles softly at the Twin Gods. "Lord Hypnos, lord Thanatos, it is a pleasure to see both of you once more." Hypnos swallows, his body tensed as he stares at the male before him. "How…? You were…!" "Destroyed along with everyone else?" The Twin Gods flinched at the words as Sorako stares at them with a sorrow filled gaze. "I always thought that Lord Hades would stay away from the Holy War and that both of you would be wise to prevent this… Did your promises to Cain mean nothing?" Hades flinched hard as Hypnos froze and Thanatos growls at the name. "Do not go there Sorako! You don't know the pain of our Lord after his demise!" The Twin Gods paused and found themselves slammed to the ground by a massive cosmo. "Hypnos, Thanatos!" Hades exclaimed only to freeze as Sorako appeared directly before him, a slim hand gripping his with unimaginable strength as he pushed the sword down and away from him. "Lord Hades, you have yet to answer my question. Do you want to see everyone again?"

"Sorako…I…" The brown hair male smiles and continues speaking completely disregarding the god's discomfort and the groans of the Twin Gods as they try to fight his power. "Lord Hades, I found a way… I found a way to bring everyone back…Lord Cain included. We can all be happy again…a family once more…" Hades felt his stomach sink with each word. He was beginning to fear this man before him. Who is this man? He has Sorako's voice, his face and cosmo but…why does he feel like a complete stranger…? "I've returned here to ask you to join me Lord Hades. Together we can bring them back and recreate our family once more." Gazing into those familiar orbs, Hades wanted nothing more than to say yes. If there was any way he could go back to those days of warmth and laughter with everyone…he would do it. However, the Lord of Death was fully aware that it will come at a price and bring about an irreversible consequence that could devastate the world…the only thing left that Cain loved.

"I…" The conversation was cut short when a familiar blast of purple energy comes hurling towards them. Sorako barely blinks a he holds up a hand to block the energy from crashing into him. "H-How…?" "Oh my, it's as strong ever this Terrible Providence." The male smiles softly but the smile doesn't reach his eyes. "Let me return the favor." Without a word, Sorako deflects the attack right back to Thanatos who is sent flying and crashing into the fields. "Thanatos!" Hypnos shouted only to find Sorako's hand in his face as he slams the male into the ground, stunning him in the process and stopping the initiation of his attack. "I'm just trying to have a conversation with Lord Hades but both of you keep interfering." Hypnos coughs as he tries to dislodge Sorako's hand from his face. "I did not want to do this Hypnos but I suppose it will work for this case..." Wordlessly, Sorako pulls out a milky white orb. "For everyone's sake." The orb begins to glow ominously as Hypnos struggles fruitlessly under Sorako's grip.

"Sorako stop!" Hades screamed as he released a charge energy, that nicked the male in the shoulder. Hades froze at the expression of his old comrade. There was a foreign anger laced with insanity in those normally gentle and kind emerald orbs. The normally calm and soothing cosmo also warped into one filled with hatred, anger and despair. "Hypnos took the moment to knock Sorako off him and teleported himself in front of Hades, shielding the male from the insane man before them. "…Why…? Why are you not willing to aid me when the answer is right there before us…?" Hades felt the panic sink in as he tries to approach the crazed male to soothe him. "Sorako, please calm down…" "You said you would give everything to have us back… Is that a lie...?" Sorako murmured in anguish as Hades tries to reach out for him only to have Hypnos hold him back. "No, Sorako please…listen to me. Whatever you are doing…it is too dangerous!" The male remains silent only to look up abruptly with a wide smile and an empty gaze in his eyes. "I see…you haven't seen any evidence yet… I will have to revive them to show you first!" Hades felt his heart sink as the foreboding sensation multiplied tenfold. "Please open your eyes Sorako!" "Lord Hades, please wait for me. I will revive everyone and soon we will be a family once more…" With those words, an antique doorway began to materialize behind Sorako. "I've already retrieved the item I needed Lord Hades. Soon, Lord Cain will return to you." Hades's eyes widened at the blue gem in his hands as Sorako gave one respectful bow and stepped through the doorway. "No…no…. SORAKOOOO!" Hades screams, struggling futilely in Hypnos's grip as he watches the door slams shut and dissipate into butterflies that vanished as quickly as they emerged.

Unknown area

The antique door materializes in the darkness and Sorako skips through happily, humming a tune. "You have returned safely milord." Sorako turned to face the cloaked being with a gentle smile. "There was no need for you to wait for me. I wouldn't take long." The figure bowed. "I was concern especially since there was an interruption." Sorako pauses abruptly, his smile plastered on his lips with an eerie blank gaze. The male realizing his slip up hastily went on one knee. "My apologies milord I was worried about you so I…" The male could not even finish as he was abruptly slammed headfirst into the floor by an unseen cosmo. "My meeting is a private one and I appreciate that the next time… I would not like an eavesdropper. Am. I. Clear?" The male could barely raise his head as he choked out. "Y-Yes milord." The energy dissipated as quickly as it came as Sorako regained his cheerful demeanor once more. "That's good. Come on now, we have work to do." The male holds out a hand to his comrade who grasp it carefully in wariness as he jerk the male back to his feet. "Did you have what I ask for?" The cloaked male nods as he produces another orb from his sleeve. Sorako beams brightly at the orb that glowed and pulsated with light. "Well done, thank you for lending me your strength." The figure nods as he follows Sorako. As they walked, the fires along the walls blaze into life, revealing marble flooring and a long corridor. Both males walked along until they came upon a doorway. Sorako pushes the door open and struts in boldly while his companion enters in a more reserved manner.

"Everyone I finally met Lord Hades! He is doing really well. He also misses us very much but…he didn't seem happy when I told him of our return…" Silence met Sorako's ears but the male happily carried on while his companion watches on. "That's alright, Lord Hades will smile again that's why…" The male trails off as he pulls out the necklace. "We all need to come back…for his sake." He strolls towards a basin and slips the pendent in it. The basin glows and the torches blazed to light revealing a room with several coffins surrounding the basin. The male walks around the coffins, not forgetting to stop at each one, muttering a soft prayer or hello. Eventually, he looks forward to a crystalline structure at the far end of the room. Before it, a pillar with nothing but a circular indentation. Sorako steps forward, placing the orb in the indentation and murmurs a spell. The orb glows and glowing ghost fires emerges within the room. Sorako smiles as the flame orbs were immediately absorbed by the pillar. There was a split second of silence as the pillar begins to glow and pulsate. Seeing the reaction, Sorako bursts into a wide grin, clasping his hands together in joy. "It's working! All my efforts have paid off…!"

Spinning around, he turns to stare at the coffins behind him with a gentle smile. "Everyone…let's come home…together." With those words, the orb begins to glow once more as several ghost fires begin to emerge. Each ghost fire hovered over their respective coffins before dissipating though the marble covering. There was a split second of silence as the coffin lids begin to crack and shatter as several figures slowly sat up from the confinements of their coffins. Sorako watched the scene with a beaming smile as bloody tears trickle down his cheeks. "Welcome home…everyone…"

The cloaked male watches the scene from afar, when a dull pain strikes his head. Memories of silver hair and a bright grin flickered in his vision. He placed a palm on his face, dull eyes flickering to purple for a split second before it dissipated. "What's wrong Heros?" The male snapped out from his haze, seeing his master calling him, head tilted in interest. "It's nothing." Sorako stares for a moment before smiling brightly. "Then come forth and meet everyone." The male straightens before stepping forward. The gears have been set in motion and there is no time to chase the ghosts of his past.

To be continued

Please read & review, this is meme12 saying sayonara matta o!