Disclaimer: I don't own Saint Seiya characters!

Two Universes

He saw many stars together, which in the dark space were creating endless Galaxies, so cold that could bring death to the one looking into them. He saw thousands of these galaxies mixing into two separate and amazing Universes, that could fill his existence in just small seconds. And two black, infinite holes, in the centre of each of these universes, swallowing all the light that passed nearby. Did he saw a falling comet as well?

That was everything he, the Scorpio Kardia saw in these two, violet universes, that were Degel's eyes. He never saw them so close to his own, or maybe he should say he never saw them in such a way, such an mesmerizing, two orbs filling his whole sight. He knew he could sink into them completely, he would give up to that coldness and die, inside of these two black spots in the middle.

What was this strange sensation inside his belly now?

What was the feeling that was filling him now? When the two pairs of lips were connected in a fragile and delicate caress under the afternoon sky? Why it felt no nice to have Degel so close to himself, to feel this warmness coming out this person in the front of him? Why it was so wonderful to have a kiss in this place, the Coliseum which since the Myth Ages was a place filled with blood, pain and broken dreams of the Saints? And for Athena's name, why he felt so happy and filled at the moment? These long and cold fingers that were sunk into his blue curls were giving him thrills through all his body; somewhere in the corner of his mind he hoped it would never end. That nice and satisfying touch of Degel, playing with his hair could drive him crazy just now. All of these lost and messed thought inside his head were sorted just under these eyes in the colour of the violet, that despite having two cold universes inside, seemed to be warm like never before. Everything seemed to click into its place, even if he still couldn't name all of these feelings inside his body, he felt, he knew it was right. It was exactly what he was searching for in these couple of months.

Degel, his Degel with firm and warm eyes being finally within his reach.

But then Kardia gasped and broke their delicate kiss, surprised by everything that gone through his mind. But he couldn't break from this glare of violet eyes that in this afternoon seemed to be filled with different kind of determination than usual.

"What the hell are you doing, Degel?" he asked. He wouldn't be himself if he would just surrender like that. He, the proud Scorpio Kardia couldn't be caught in such an desires and feelings! But for Goddess sake, how much he desired to have Degel close one more time, to feel his lips on his own and have these long fingers playing with his hair...

Degel sighed slowly as if he couldn't believe himself what happened. But there was no turning back from this point. He already decided he would pull it to the very end. He couldn't hold it anymore, now when everything was revealed. There was no point in turning back - Aquarius Degel gave up his cold personality, he surrendered finally to his feelings and actually didn't regret it.

"That's my resolve and an answer for everything that happened these past few months," he just whispered, still looking firmly into blue eyes of Kardia. "Stop struggling, Scorpio. You know what is happening right now."

Scorpio Kardia smirked under his nose. There was no way he would admit everything he felt right now... Or would he? Was there a point in hiding it and suppressing now? Degel for sure could read through him pretty easily - through all their friendship not even once the Aquarius Saint read his emotions and thoughts in wrong way. Not even a single time.

And to admit to himself, he was glad about that. Honestly, everything just felt right, as it should. His disturbed thoughts calmed now, he knew why exactly. This man, standing in front of him, with cold and mesmerizing eyes, with that always cold attitude was supposed to be his forever. Or until they die in this Holy War. It was like they meant to be together.

But even so, Kardia couldn't admit it at loud. He would never give that satisfaction to anyone, even to his Degel.

"What are you doing, Aquarius? Just because you little boy run away to his lover, now you try to replace him?" he asked, not even knowing why he said such a thing. But he saw what he saw. Degel and Milo kissing in this coliseum, linked in a caress just like they two were linked a minute ago. What game Aquarius Degel was playing with him?

For a moment the Eleventh Guardian closed his eyes and it was like an end of the world for Kardia. The long sigh left the throat of a cold Saint.

"Not at all, Kardia. It was him, trying to replace Camus with me. You know it very well that my successor is much more composed and colder than me," he said, opening his eyes and looking at Kardia. Even in a shadow of the past events, even with Camus dying slowly now in the Scorpio Temple, he wanted Kardia to be in his arms, he wanted this wild man to sink into all of these feelings they both had, to surrender to the truth Degel saw inside these wild eyes. They felt the same for a long time, their friendship started to change long time ago and it wasn't simple friendship anymore. It was something more. It was longing for another person. It was longing for the warmth and hope. It was a desire of someone they could hold dearer that friends, desire to hold that person in their arms and never let go. It was something they both realized just now, when two guest from the future showed them the source of all of these feelings. Without them Kardia and Degel would stay blind until the end of their lives, without knowing what was driving them crazy. They would live stupidly, ignoring what was happening to them, never knowing this miracle that occurred in a times when only despair was supposed to be with them. Being a Saint of Athena had just one purpose - to fulfil the duty, to die defending her and fighting for her. There is no place for hope and love and happiness in such a life. But... It cannot be just like that. Even a small thought of hope could do miracles. They were alive beings - they felt, they lived, they struggled and they loved.

Yes, that's how it was - they struggled in their lives, friendship was just a beginning. Maybe it was just fate that brought Camus and Milo from the future, but both of them put Degel and Kardia into the right track to each other.

It passed a long while in silence before Degel dared to speak again, sorting his thoughts and words inside his head.

"Like I said, I do not regret what happened with Milo. I'm quite content about it, since it just showed me the right way to you, Kardia," he said, and the Scorpio Saint could see something like two small blushes coming out on Degel's cheeks. "Don't you think it is exactly how it was supposed to be?"

That question hit the exact spot. Yes, that how it supposed to be. Kardia couldn't agree more to that.

"In our lives we were just too blind and too proud to admit everything just like that. We would continue being ignorant to the very end," continued Degel. "I know what I feel now and I know you are the same. It is hard to admit and accept, but we are far beyond that." It was so easy now to say it at loud. He never expected this to happen; even if he was always satisfied with friendship with Kardia, now he knew something was missing all the time.

"But.." started Kardia hesitantly. How could this happen. How would this end? Could they just accept that an instant? As it was written in their lives - to be together and maybe even die together.

He tried to smirk under his nose and really tried to fight with these feelings and thoughts but he couldn't.

"Oh, stop struggling, Scorpio," murmured Degel one more time with the force that surprised Kardia to the core. This cold man never was so firm and determined with him. The Aquarius Saint approached his friend one more time and crushed their lips together with force that could destroy all the Gods with one hit.

Kardia of the Scorpio surrendered finally. There was no point of denying now - he wanted Degel to be his and he would never let him go. Milo could give up, because he, Kardia would never let Degel to go away from him.

His hand caught the green strands of Degel, as they never felt them before, while the other one encircled around the Aquarius Saint, pressing the together.

That was exactly how it should be.

The rising sun broke through the empty and really simple window of the Scorpio Temple, slowly illuminating the small room, bathing in its rays everything it found of its way. The stony floor got brighter colours and whoever would look at it would see the polished stones marking many ages of Saints that were entering or leaving this room. The light fell on the walls, completely empty as if the current owner tried to keep the space as simple as possible. It got to the bed, big and looking really comfortable, that actually didn't fit with its size and style to simple and empty space; just as if it was chosen by completely someone else than current inhabitant. The sunbeams passed through a silhouette, lying and probably sleeping on the bed and after its long journey landed over the foot of someone, who was sitting in the darkest place of the room.

Scorpio Milo looked at the glassless window, and through it he saw slowly brightening, morning sky of the Sanctuary. He could hear bird's singing, being lost between many sounds of the morning. If he would focus on these sounds his sharp ears would bring him the cold clinging of metal - probably some of the guardians were practicing the sword fight somewhere over the area. Through this noise he would be able to separate the screams and laughs and some voices of the trainees and their mentors, that were already setting themselves for morning trainings. He would also hear some sounds coming out of the nearest Temples or even Kardia, lurking around this very own building.

But Milo of the Scorpio couldn't care less about it. His tired eyes were looking through the window but he couldn't actually think about what there were seeing. He couldn't even tell how long he was in this state. He didn't know how much time passed already. Just hours? Maybe days? Or maybe even months? It could be long time as much as a short moment. The only thing he was focused on was Camus. And his own cosmo being send to the senseless body, lying on bed. And he only knew he shouldn't fall asleep, because it could mean death for the most important person in his pitiful life.

These couple of hours ago - or maybe months, who knew - Kardia brought dying Camus from outside of the Sanctuary. Milo still didn't know how everything happened; the only thing he heard was that Camus went just to check some rumours about Specters being on the edge of the Greece. Apparently all the rumours were true, as the future Aquarius Saint nearly gave his life in the fight. He still could remember the rush to get Lady Athena, he could remember that Degel said it would be better for him to stay outside for now, and then after a few minutes he was let in the room with unconscious man on the bed. And Pope Sage saying that Camus was blocking them and probably didn't want to be saved and he, Milo of the Scorpio could be the only hope.

So there he was, sending his cosmo straight to the body of his beloved, trying to maintain his fragile life, trying to persuade Camus to survive and let them save him. It was so tiring, to keep the flow going through, but he didn't have any other option. And honestly, he would refuse any other option. For him trying to save the Aquarius Saint was more than enough. Milo wanted to save him. Milo wanted to be there and give away all of his cosmo to his lover, give away everything to see him opening these dark, blue eyes.

That was what he should do. As a punishment for betraying him. He, Milo of the Scorpio in his childish desires betrayed his Camus with another one. Just because he felt ignored too much, just because Camus didn't give him enough attention, he just turned his eyes to someone who looked like Camus but behaved move warmly and openly.

To Degel, the predecessor of Camus; Aquarius Gold Saint from over two hundredth years before their Holy War.

Replacing him...

Now, even the slightest thought about it caused Milo enormous pain. How he could just turn away from Camus? And how he could treat Degel as replacement? Because it was exactly that. He tried to replace Camus with the better version. In some terms not with other, new person but with someone who looked the same but acted more suitable for Milo. That wasn't fair for both of the Aquarius Saints. He just deserved what he owned. Even the slightest possibility of Camus dying was too much to bear; oh, how much he was praying to Athena in these long hours, praying so his beloved would stay alive. Sending his cosmo was a fair price for the punishment, Milo was ready to pay more. If his efforts would make any good difference then there was no room for hesitation in his resolve.

And after that he was ready to ask for forgiveness.

Milo felt so devastated. Not only he and Camus ended up in XVIII century because of their stupidity, but also for a couple of months they were searching for any way to go back, but without any results. And after these few months they heard there was no way back from the old Sanctuary to their own. That was something really painful for Milo. In these times his beloved Camus changed. Probably only temporary but at that time it didn't matter. The Aquarius Saint sunk into the new life, being dragged by his curiosity more and more into all the things he never experienced. And then blue haired man started to feel ignored. He knew he was right; in some way Camus forsaken him for all these new things. But was Milo right of feeling betrayed somehow? For a long months they believed they would go back to their times, so was it so strange for one of the Gold Saints to try and collect every single information about the life from so long time ago? They could get a lot of important resources that in XX century were considered lost forever. He himself should be much more interested in seeing and listening, than he really was.

And instead of jumping into the conclusions and feeling betrayed and left alone, he probably should accompany his lover in all these discoveries.

But no, he, the proud Scorpio felt ignored and hurt, so the first thing he did was laying his eyes on someone else. On someone he dreamed Camus to be. What kind of a partner would do that?

The worst one.

Yes, he was the worst. And now he had to suffer from all the consequences.

But why, oh, for Athena's name, why Camus had to pay for Milo's mistakes as well?