Seiya had fought in many battles, and only now he realized that he was willing to endure the pain and overcome the barriers for her. When he was trained in Greece under Silver Saint Marin, initially he believed he wanted to be a Bronze Saint so that he could see his sister again. But, unconsciously, he also wanted to impress Saori as Pegasus Bronze Saint. When he fought in the Galaxian Tournament, he knew she is watching. When she was being attacked, he came to her rescue without a hesitation. For her, he had battled against Silver Saints, Mariners, Gold Saints; and now Specters of Hades.

And he succeeded, much to Hades' surprise.

Sitting in his throne, he saw Seiya appeared before him. He was no longer Pegasus Seiya, but Sagittarius Seiya. The Cloth he donned was no only a Gold Cloth but also a Divine Cloth. In his eyes, Hades saw determination.

"Seiya, isn't it?" Hades rose from his throne. He looked at Seiya with admiration rather than anger and abhorrence. "You have come here even though you know the consequences."

Eternal punishment in Tartarus.

"I've come to see Saori-san," Seiya said.

"I don't know any Saori-san," Hades replied. "But I do have my niece Athena. She's a goddess and you are a mortal."

"Where is she?" Seiya asked.

"I can't let you see her," Hades said. "You shouldn't have come here."

"This is between Saori-san and I," Seiya said. "She wants to see me as I want to see her."

"Want and have are two different things," Hades said. "Underworld has its own rules, not even I can defy it." He stopped and twisted a ring on his finger. "Seiya, when you saw me, what do you think of me?"

"Dark, cold, and hardened," Seiya replied. "You are everything Saori-san isn't."

"You think I'm heartless," Hades said. "You know nothing about me. I, too, have loved." He went over to the crystal ball next to his throne. With his hands over it, an image of an innocent young woman appeared. She was laughing and ran with flowers in her hand. "Sasha...my Sasha..."

Two hundred years ago...

A young girl hummed a song while picking flowers. She was only fourteen. There was a particular flower she looked for but she couldn't find it. Not too far away, a painter was watching her. Finally, he seemed to have found his muse.

The girl finally found the flower she was looking for. A smile appeared on her face. The painter was besotted.

Wind blew the flower from her hand and the girl went chasing after it. However, the wind blew it further away until the painter caught it.

"I believe this belongs to you," he said. "It's beautiful, like you."

"Thank you," the girl said, taking the flower back. "My name is Sasha. What's yours?"

"Alone."

"Alone?" Sasha giggled. "That's an interesting name."

"Yes, I have been alone," the painter, Alone, said. "But not anymore."

He took her hand in his.

Sasha looked into his eyes and her fingers interlaced with his. Together, the two laughed; planted garden; picked flowers; and Sasha became Alone's muse. He painted many portraits of her. On her sixteenth birthday, he placed a ring on her hand.

"Two more years Sasha," Alone said. "Just you wait. In two years, we shall marry."

Sasha nodded and wrapped her arms around him. Little did she know that she was hugging the Lord of Underworld.

Yes, Alone was Hades. But instead of ruling Underworld, he had spent two years in the mortal world because he was in love with Sasha. Zeus, the King of Olympus, wasn't content with that. He ordered his daughter Artemis to shoot Sasha with her arrow. Hades must resume his role as King of Underworld, Zeus told Artemis. In his arms, Sasha began to cough. Soon, she was choking blood. Helplessly, Hades watched as Sasha deteriorated in his arms. Although he was the ruler of Underworld, he couldn't reverse what had happened. Slowly, Sasha wasted away. Before her death, she removed the ring he gave her and placed it on his finger.

"Alone, you will always have me," she whispered. "Always."

From Olympus, Zeus saw Sasha died in Hades arms. He too was enticed by her beauty and innocence. Before her soul could enter the Underworld, he had her brought to the Olympus to serve him as his cup bearer. His wife and queen, Metis, did not agree. She sympathized Hades and believed Sasha belonged to the Elysium Field. One day, she showed Zeus a new mantle she made for him. While Zeus was admiring the mantle, Metis had her messenger Iris took Sasha to the Underworld where she received her judgment and was sent to the Elysium Field.

Zeus was livid after he found Sasha gone.

"Why are you mad?" Metis asked. "Sasha is where she belongs. Hades will forever remain in the Underworld, where Sasha is. He will never be a threat to you for he loves Sasha too much to leave the Underworld."

Indeed, everyday, Hades would look into his crystal ball to catch a glimpse of Sasha living happily in the Elysium Field. He had no desire to be in any realm but his own.

"Sasha, my Sasha," Hades murmured as he saw the image of his beloved. He then looked at Seiya. "You are a brave warrior, and I admire you. No wonder Athena thinks so much of you. Had you been any other mortal, I'd have you thrown into Tartarus without a hesitation. But with you, I will not. Instead, I will make you one of my Specters."

Seiya didn't mutter a word.

"Being my Specter, you will be in the same realm with Athena," Hades continued. "You will not see her, but at least you will be in the same realm."

"That I do not accept," Seiya said. "It is not why I am here."

"You decline to be my Specter?" Hades asked. "This is not an offer I give to anyone. I know what it is like to be separated from a loved one. You should be grateful instead of asking for too much."

"But I am not here to be a Specter," Seiya said. "I am here to see Saori-san."

"Then you will have to defeat me," Hades said, his tone turned cold. Pulling out his sword, he donned his Surplice. "If you want to see her, defeat me first."