Disclaimer: I do not own Saint Seiya characters

Sky of the Afternoon

With a long and a little trembling sigh Kardia of the Scorpio left the last stairs of the Sacred Hills, and looking at the darkening sky he allowed his legs to lead him forward. His thoughts and even body were really heavy under all the things, that happened these past few days. The new emotions he started to feel, so many doubts and untold things were surpassing his always high spirit. And today this whole, strong impression, that he shouldn't let go Camus alone for this short mission and the fact he ignored his intuition…

Well, it wasn't like he pitied Camus. The young Aquarius bore the name of Athena's Saint, and being the Knight of a Goddess was really risky by itself. Camus could be put beside one of the bravest and strongest fighter in the Sanctuary, Kardia was impressed that even without his armor, protecting the fragile, human body, the French managed to win a fight with Specters. The risk of being wounded or killed, fighting for Athena was really high for them whenever they went. From the very first day as the Saints they were aware that someday they could die. Maybe before the Holy War, maybe on the front lines, battling with Hades' army, but they had the same fate awaiting for them.

But…

But when Lady Athena left his Temple, leaving them with unconsciousness fellow… It was like looking at dying Degel. As if in the Temple of the Scorpio, it was his friend, Aquarius Gold Saint, lying in his bed, covered in blood and slowly sinking into the darkness.

He hated to admit something like this, but he would never like to watch Degel dying. He wanted to die fast enough to not see senseless body of his friend and this cold life disappearing. And maybe it was just a influence of the past events, but honestly, he couldn't even imagine the world without Degel. Not only as someone who could maintain his life thanks to the cold cosmo, of course, but because since a long time ago they two were friends. If Degel would die right now… He, the Scorpio Saint would search for Hades and pick a fight with him, in which both of them would lose their lives and he could join his Aquarius in the Afterlife.

It was frustrating for him even to think in this way! He, Scorpio Kardia, the proud Saint, who care so little about others, who was wild and loved to fight… behaved just like a sissy woman. Like Milo! Before, he was laughing at his successor, who was following his lover all the time, acting just like fanatic about Camus, didn't leaving his side at all. He couldn't understand how the future Gold Saint of Scorpio was able to attach himself to another human being with such a force. A Saint who fought and died in Holy War and then got resurrected, a Saint who went through a lot of pain and hardships in his life allowed another person to be his weakness. How could that be, he was thinking these few months back. But now… When only a thin line separated Camus from death, when the future Aquarius felt excruciating pain… Kardia just couldn't calm down. When his eyes were deceiving him, turning future Saint into Degel; when he, Kardia of the Scorpio got a glimpse of what was linking Camus and Milo, he just felt stupid. If that really would be Degel, dying slowly in this bed, wouldn't he be as much devastated as Milo was at this very moment?

He should really stop Camus from going to that place; he should listen to his own intuition and never let future Saint of Athena to go for this mission, and for sure not alone. No one knew what exactly happened at the border of Greece, who was disturbing their country and what for, but Kardia and everyone around could more or less say what exactly occurred over there. He could feel the traces of evil cosmo emanating from the wounds of Camus and from that poison within his damaged body - only Specters could have such a rotten aura. A Gold Saint or no - without his Cloth to bust his strength the young Saint would never be able to win against few strong opponents; and as much as Kardia didn't want to admit it, the pawns of Hades couldn't be taken lightly. Camus knew from the very beginning, that if at this destroyed destination he would met Specters, then he would be having a suicidal fight.

And now he was giving his life up.

Kardia really wasn't a man to pity his fellows who died on missions. All of them had their own pride and awareness of the danger they could encounter on their way. Camus wanted to go by his own, being aware of the consequences, that could come from a fight without his armor. Kardia agreed with him - here or in his own times any Saint should be prepared to fight even without the cover of a Cloth - that's what being a Saint meant. But the truth was that… They already had their wars already; even being wild and proud warrior, Kardia had some compassion for them to. And now they weren't Gold Saints of Athena. Now they were just some humans with an extraordinary powers.

He sighed again, being really confused and still not looking where he was going, lost in his thoughts. The body of Camus was still in the front of his eyes. Body covered with blood and trying to reach for poisonous roses and die quickly without any pain. Or at least in pain less enormous than this one he was feeling at that moment. Did Camus just give up? Or his mind was so confused and blinded, so influenced by pain, that he wanted only to feel nothing at all? When Kardia was running to the Sanctuary with senseless body, he could see the grimace of pain on the pale face. And Degel's successor surely wasn't a person to grimace just from slight pain. As a Gold Saint he was used to many different kinds of pain and all of them were enormous. Did this pain just influence such a cold mind in a way when only desire to die was left? Many times in his life he encountered pain so powerful that it could drive people crazy, but could be there a pain so enormous, that even a warrior trained to fight against it could lose his sanity and willingness to live?

Kardia looked at the surrounding area and after a couple of minutes he just realized that his legs led him to the coliseum - the same coliseum when a few days ago he saw Milo and Degel kissing in the darkness of the night. His look darkened at the memory of that event. Everything went quite unexpected and wrong from that point onward. Things he never expected to experience, things he couldn't even name were flashing through his mind; anger was mixing with uneasiness and desires. Everything could be different right now, if that kiss never happened; he wouldn't be fighting with himself over feelings toward his friend - feelings he didn't want to acknowledge himself; Camus probably wouldn't be dying right now, with his life maintained by Milo. They would be still searching for a way to send them back to the future or just preparing to an upcoming war. Both future Saints would still be playing with each other inside that small hut and maybe someone more willing to survive would go fight against these few Specters.

Maybe.

He turned around and his eyes met the violet eyes of his friend.

Aquarius Degel left the chamber where Milo, burning his cosmo slightly, tried to maintain Camus' life. He still couldn't believe what happened. Just a few hours ago he talked with this man; maybe it wasn't the most pleasurable conversation as the future Warrior of Athena wanted to give away his love to someone else, but they talked together. Camus was alive and nothing seemed to go into such a desperate situation. Maybe young French lost his willingness to fight for his lover but for sure he wanted to make his Milo happy and even made some silly efforts towards it. And he was completely fine. And now his successor was lying in a bed covered with blood, with his life vanishing second by second, encircled by darkness and pain. That body wasn't moving, the heartbeat was fragile as a crystal, breath could be barely heard between other sounds of the day.

And the thing Athena said to him…

'It's like he gave up already. He doesn't want to survive…'

How could it happen? Camus didn't deserve to die in a place like this, far away from his friends and his place; he didn't deserve to die in a upcoming war that he already had. This young man should be between Saints from the future, living day by day and trying to forget all these horrible things he experienced during his duty as Athena's Warrior. Yes, he should be in his times, with Milo by his side, without worries and hardships. It wasn't fair that someone, who already fought and gave up his life for victory of a mankind would die like this - closed inside his own regrets of silly mistakes.

And Milo… What was going through the head of the Scorpio Saint, when he was lying beside his unconscious lover, trying to rescue him with his cosmo?

Whatever it was, Degel was sure that Milo got trapped in real suffering. The Aquarius Saint could see it clearly on a pale face, inside these blue eyes that now were filled with worry and desperation.

Oh dammit! It shouldn't end that way. As silly as it was, Degel of Aquarius was filled with regret. If he wouldn't let Milo kiss him that night and the time inside his library everything would be different right now. Even if Camus would still go to fight with these Specters, at least he would try to survive the battle. Degel could say exactly what his successor was thinking at that moment. If he would die then Milo could be free from his coldness and go into the arms of someone he deserved. If he would disappear from this world, Degel would have easy way to Scorpio's heart and everyone would live happy ever after.

What an illusion. They would never live happy until the end of their lives. There was a Holy War knocking to their doors already and Degel knew he wouldn't survive it. He couldn't survive it for the sake of the future that could be changed so easily by such a small thing. And how Milo could live happily, when right now he was dying from fear about his lover's life. There was no mistake - Milo of the Scorpio loved Camus so much he was willing to follow him into the arms of a Death. Kiss with Degel? It didn't matter. Never. Just an small illusion, desire for feelings that Camus tried to hide underneath a thick layer of coldness. Nothing more. Just an infatuation of a person Milo wanted Camus to be and - looking how much of his life Camus was ready to sacrifice for a young Greek - for sure was somewhere deeply inside his cold heart. That illusion was broken so easily; how could anyone think it could survive?

With a long sigh Degel stepped down the last stairs of Shion's domain and wondered what to do now. He didn't know what he should do - should he go back to his Temple and lose himself into the arms of knowledge coming from books? Or just go for a walk and try to figure out how to help Camus and Milo, how to save Camus from dying miserable death? The Aquarius Saint knew he wouldn't be able to read; firstly he would have to pass the Scorpio Temple and met again this desperate and depressed cosmo flowing out of Milo's soul and for sure he wouldn't be able to focus enough on following the letters not to mention to follow the sense of the words. Taking a walk could be actually good thing to do know, he could settle his heart about Milo and maybe even clear his thoughts enough to think.

Without any hesitation Degel turned around and led his steps into the first place that came into his mind - coliseum. He didn't know why he wanted to go there but this place just dragged him now. Maybe it was the influence of his disturbed mind. After all, everything started over there - couple of days ago he allowed Milo of the Scorpio to place a passionate kiss on his lips, starting a storming process inside his body and soul. Maybe everything could be ended there as well? Or at least solved to the point, where Camus would survive this nightmare and both of the future Saint would start over again?

And just by the arrival at the coliseum Degel saw him. Scorpio Kardia was standing at the bottom of the place with thoughtful expression over his face and with clenched fists so much that the cold Saint wondered if he didn't pierced his skin with nails already.

The Saint of the Scorpio Constellation. Kardia, his friend, someone he trusted with his life, someone he respected as much as the Pope and Athena. A wild man, who tried to live to the fullest in these times, trying to take everything from every single day. And someone who would die long time ago if he, Degel wouldn't help him through his cold cosmo.

Maybe it was the influence of the events happening today, but at the sight of his friend, Degel's heart gasped in interesting but a strange way. Now, thinking about it through the perspective of past years, he couldn't imagine his world without Kardia. That man, with wild blue eyes and sometimes too harsh behavior was Degel's sparkle in these dark times. Hades was building up his army of Death, people were dying around but this man, Kardia could brighten every single day. Aquarius couldn't say that any of day they spent together was boring in any way. Maybe the Eight Guardian didn't like to read books and wasn't so wise as the Pope, but it was impossible to get bored in his presence. He couldn't read stars but surely could read people through. He didn't have any interest in studies and books, but had some knowledge about life he gained through his hardships. There was always warmth coming out of the Scorpio Saint, warmth that Degel loved and needed.

He approached his friend quickly, deciding finally that it was the time to reveal his feelings he had about this Scorpio Saint. In the upcoming war it could led them to unnecessary troubles, but Degel knew it could also fill them with necessary hope.

Just when he was on the last stairs, Scorpio Kardia turned around and Degel met blue, wild eyes that changed their expression an instant. Thoughtful look was replaced by storm and… anger?

"So, Degel, happy now?" asked the Golden Scorpio, looking at his friend with darkening eyes, but still lost in thoughts about events from this day. Bright sun started to hid itself behind many dangerous hills, encircling the Sanctuary.

"Happy? What are you talking about, Kardia?" answered Degel with a question, wondering what got into his fellow in such a situation? What happened?

"Now, if this Saint will die, you will have an easy way to your little boy, isn't that good, Degel?" added Kardia before he could stop himself. Why he was so angry, looking at Degel? Or was it disappointment? Or... Or another feeling he didn't know how to name. And definitely he said it more aggressively than intended.

The violet eyes of Aquarius Saint widened from surprise. How... How Kardia knew about it? Did Camus told him? Or he witnessed one of these stupid kisses by himself? When then? He and Milo kissed just twice, once in the library when Camus discovered them and then, the very first one here... In this coliseum.

"Why are you so surprised? It is not something that could be held hidden forever, isn't it? So tell me, are you happy now?" asked Kardia again with voice too aggressive. But he couldn't help it. He felt as if someone stole his precious treasure, like he lost someone he didn't want to and realizing these feeling were making him really mad. He shouldn't feel like that. Degel was supposed to be just his friend and doctor. Nothing more.

Degel gasped. How Kardia could think like that? One of his fellows was dying in pain, probably he wouldn't be able to survive and now this man in front of him was asking such a stupid question. How he could be happy about Camus' death? What he could possible gain from it? Milo's love that never existed...

And then he saw it. That expression he couldn't name before. It wasn't anger. It was jealousy.

"Oh, Kardia..." he whispered.

How it could be? How both of them could be so blind? And why it took an unexpected arrival of future Saints and upcoming death of one of them to realize? They were such children! Everything was right in front of their eyes, yet both of them, bathing in a pride of a great Warriors of Athena didn't even notice when friendship turned into something quite different.

He laughed. It was laugh of defeat and realization of his own stupidity. Kardia didn't expect his friend to react that way for his questions, he took one step back with hesitation.

"Don't 'oh, Kardia' me now. Just admit, that it could be good for him to die. It would be perfect, you could have him forever," Kardia hissed, this strange feeling raising inside his body. It was an anger mixed with resignation and an the same time with desperation. He wanted Degel for himself and the same Degel was being snatched away by someone with his face...

"Why are you so angry then?" the question fell over the Scorpio Saint.

Why.. Why he was angry...? But it wasn't just anger. It was... It was...

Exactly, what it was? He couldn't name that feeling and he didn't like it at all. And most of all he couldn't understand Degel's expression. He expected the Aquarius Saint to be in some way happy. Or maybe not happy, but at least relieved the future Aquarius Saint could be out f the way soon. But what he saw inside the violet eyes wasn't happiness nor relief. It was determination, some kind of decision and warmness. Something that shouldn't be there.

"I'm sorry, my friend," Degel started with quiet voice. Indeed, why they were so blind all the time? "We are both stupid idiots, that never realized what was lying in front of our eyes. And I'm the biggest of us both." That wasn't something Kardia expected to come out of Degel's mouth.

"What are you...?"

"Actually yes, I'm kind of happy now," he interrupted his friend. "Not about Camus dying but about them to come to our times. Without them I wouldn't be able to realize what is happening in my head," whispered Degel, still fighting with his own thoughts. Was it wise to say everything to Kardia? "I'm glad that what you witnessed in this coliseum happened between me and him, because it revealed simple things between us. And I won't regret it, even if it didn't matter more than a small lesson for me."

Kardia snorted under his nose, but in fact he wasn't so sure what to think now. What Degel was talking about? What he himself was thinking about?

"You are talking rubbish now," he stated, looking firmly into the violet eyes of Degel. What was this strange sensation inside his belly?

The Aquarius chuckled quietly.

"I'm such an idiot, that without Milo I wouldn't realize one important thing. I'm trying to be composed all the time, an inapproachable Saint that threw away his heart," he continued, realizing that indeed, for many years he tried to be the coldest and calmest person in the Sanctuary, that would never be moved by any emotion. And also he realized that he actually had a heart. A heart he received from Scorpio Kardia many years ago.

He stretched his hand and touched warm cheek of his friend, that was really soft but also tense. For a while he thought that this man would withdraw and break their touch, but Kardia stayed in his place, with unreadable expression of his eyes. Two, blue as a darkening sky above their heads, eyes were drilling Aquarius Saint, allowing the cold Warrior to slightly stroke his cheek with strong but soft at the same time hand.

"It's past friendship for a long time now, Kardia..." he added and moved towards his friend, sinking his hand into the blue curls. He just went with the flow of the moment, wondering if he made right decision.

Their lips met under the clear sky of the late afternoon...