In a beautiful white dress, Saori looked at her reflection in the mirror as the veil was attached to her hair. Today was her wedding day. Everyone knew it was happening. Her bouquet was fresh and she wore a pair of glass slippers. She was an elegant bride, but smile was nowhere seen on her face.

"Ojou-sama," Tatusmi said. "Please reconsider. You still have time."

"Tatsumi," Saori said. "I have made up my mind. This is my life. And everything is already set. Everyone in Japan knows I'm getting married. I can't go back."

"But will you be happy?"

"Happiness and marriage are two different things," Saori said. "Like the Saints...their happiness and their duty to the goddess don't go together. They have chosen their path, and I've chosen mine."

Although she sounded quite determined, she was rather restless before the ceremony began. Jabu and the Bronze Saints worked around the guests and Shun came earlier to congratulate her. Shiryu was still at Roshan but he sent a huge package of herbs as wedding gift. Hyoga was here too, though his face was stony as always. Only one person was missing - Seiya.

"Saori-san!"

Saori saw Seiya standing right in front of her.

"Seiya!" She went to him. She was the bride but a bride to marry someone else. "I didn't know that you are coming."

"I...I come here to tell you..."

"Tell me what?"

After a long hesitation, he blurted out almost painstakingly, "Congratulations."

Nodding, Saori replied, "Thanks."

The ceremony began. Seiya took a seat among the guests.

"Seiya is here?" Hyoga whispered to Shun.

"Don't worry," Shun said. "He said something nice and Saori-san doesn't look upset."

Step by step, Saori walked down the isle. Soon, she stood before the priest and her groom - Julian - lifted the veil.

"I, Saori," she began. "Take thee Julian, as my lawful wedded husband, until death do us apart."

"I, Julian," he said. "Take thee Sorrento-"

Saori could not believe her ears. All guests were stunned - including Shun, Jabu, and Hyoga.

"Julian," Sorrento stepped up. He was still holding his flute, which was a gift from Julian.

"Should I continue this ceremony?" The priest asked.

Julian ignored the priest and he kept looking at Sorrento. Meanwhile Saori saw Seiya among the audience, trying to hold down his laugh. His facial expression was full of I-told-you-so.

"I vote Seiya as the new groom!" Shun shouted.

"Seiya! Seiya! Seiya!" Rest of the Bronze Saints clapped.

And Saori woke up.

What a strange dream!

She got out of the bed and thought for a moment. Julian had called and asked to meet her. She had been telling him no but he insisted. By now, she knew for sure that she didn't want to be with Julian. While Julian may be family, she certainly didn't see him as a romantic partner.

Oh why did he said Sorrento's name on their wedding ceremony instead of hers?

Then she recalled the conversation she had with Seiya the day prior.

This was getting complicated.

She got dressed and rushed down the stairs.

"Saori-san!" Shun greeted her.

"Hi Shun, I'm heading out," she said.

"Are you going to see him?" Shun asked. "You sure you don't want one of us to come with you?"

"Positive," Saori replied. "Look, Julian is not dangerous. His true passion is with the sea and music. I'll tell him that this isn't going to work. He'll be okay with it.

With that said, she rushed out.

Three days earlier

After Jabu left, everyone noticed that Saori stayed in her room more than ever before. She didn't say much to anything and if asked, she replied that she's fine. Her mind was full of thoughts. Although she had discovered her powerful cosmo, her heart hadn't came to term with her real identity. When Jabu told her his decision to leave Kido mansion, it bothered her more than she thought. She wondered if she saw Jabu as a brother, or a friend, or a Saint whom she cared for.

And was she thinking as Goddess Athena or a sixteen year-old teenager?

As she buried herself with these thoughts, her phone rang.

"Saori, it's Julian."

"Julian?" Saori was surprised that he called.

"Are you okay?" He sounded concerned, which he hardly did.

"I'm fine."

"I'm back in Tokyo," he said. "Let's meet. We can take a walk or eat dinner."

"Julian, let's not meet," Saori said. "I'm not in the mood and it'd be for the best that you leave Japan as soon as you can."

"You sound like there's a bunch of terrorists after you."

He was not too far away from the truth.

"Everything is fine, Julian, really," she said. "I got to go. Talk to you later."

She hung up.

And in the next two days, Julian texted her again and again, over the same subject. Annoyed, Saori called him.

"Julian, stop!" She said as an order.

"No, I will not stop until you come to see me!" He insisted. "Saori, you are my fiancee! I care for you and I want to see if you are okay. So many things have happened-"

"Like what?"

"Like what happened at the Galaxy Tournament. Is it still on hold?"

Only now Saori even remembered the Galaxy Tournament. "Yes, it is, but-"

"No but, obviously things are not okay," Julian said. "I can't let you do this alone. At very least, let's meet and talk it out."

"Fine."

Not that she wanted to, but only to get him off her back.

"You wound must be healed," Seiya said to her. He saw her wondering outside and joined her. "Finally out of your room."

"I'm going to see Julian tomorrow," she said.

"Are you going to tell him about the ring?"

"Only if he asks."

"And tell him that a Gold Saint crushed it into pieces and you are a Goddess?"

"Sure, like he'd buy that," Saori chuckled. "He would be entertained and write a symphony."

"Really?"

"No," she shook her head. "Julian has an obsession with the sea. He read all the stories and tales about the sirens, sea monsters, and mermaids. When he was twelve, he found a fish on the beach and he tossed it back into the sea. He insisted that fish took human form and is searching for him. He and his best friend Sorrento...they went to music school together. Julian told me that Sorrento bears the soul of that fish he rescued."

Seiya burst out laughing.

"Are you sure you are the person he wants to marry?" He asked. "Not that guy Sorrento?"

Saori's face darkened.

"Relax, I'm only kidding," Seiya took a step back. "Do you want me to come with you?"

"To see Julian?" Saori said. "No way! Do you know how awkward it'd be?"

"Sorry, I only want to see you safe."

"Seiya, are you protecting me because I'm Goddess Athena?" Saori asked. "If I'm only Saori Kido, would you still want me to be safe and sound?"

"It's late," Seiya said, avoiding answering her. "Good night Saori-san!"

While Saori was sleeping, tormented by her nightmare of marrying Julian who said Sorrento's name instead of hers, Seiya was sleepless himself.

Are you protecting me because I'm Athena? If I'm only Saori Kido, would you still want me to be safe and sound?

Interestingly, he never saw her as Goddess Athena, not even after Tatsumi told him.

"Still up?" Hyoga asked. He grabbed a bottle of beer and handed one to Seiya. "You know you can't be with her."

"Who? Miho?"

"You know who I'm talking about," Hyoga said. "Everyone can see it."

"See what?"

"Saori-san is Goddess Athena," Hyoga said. "We are her Saints."

"I don't know what you are talking about," Seiya said, drinking his beer. "When I was in Greece, Marin trained me to be a Saint. We are to dedicate ourselves to our duty - to protect the Goddess. She's going to see Julian tomorrow and I got a bad feeling about it."

"That Saori-san may face danger or that's she's staying with Julian?"

"She's not staying with that Julian," Seiya said with confidence. "When's their wedding? Before or after she goes to the Sanctuary?"

"You are her Saint," Hyoga said, getting to the point. "You can't love her."

Seiya finished the beer in one gulp and went out of the mansion. Half drunk he stumbled back to his house. By the time he got back to the Kido mansion, Saori was already gone.