DISCLAIMER: I don't own Saint Seiya characters. Satisfied??
Setting: After Hades, after my own fic "Powerless"
Summary: Athena, who had returned to her dwelling in Olympus Mountain, visited her Saints in Kido's mansion to raise some chaos again.
Note: The title is inspired from Alexander Pope's poem "The Rape of the Locks"
The Tale of Milo and Camus's Locks
"Happy New Year!!"
Saori suddenly appeared at Kido's mansion door. She beamed, her eyes were bright. In her hands there were a lot of foods for dinner.
"Athena!" beamed the Saints. Seiya marched at her and helped her bringing the foods. "How are you doing, Saori-san?" asked Seiya. Strange…suddenly his childishness was gone…
"I'm fine, Seiya, how's home?"
"Fine. Ummm…," Seiya hesitated. "There's some chaos sometimes, but never mind."
Shaka approached Saori. He smiled. "How are you, Athena?"
"I'm fine, Virgo Shaka," beamed Saori. She and Shaka smiled to each other for quite long time.
"Quick, take their picture!" hissed Kanon to the others. "Shun, where's your camera?!"
"Here, here, I bring my camera!" hissed Mu. "Where is Milo? Milo, take their picture!"
"K!" hissed Milo. He received the camera, then…BLITZ! They got picture of Greek goddess and the man closest to god standing face to face and smiled to each other. Wow…they'll surely made to be the couple of the year! (chuckle) Greek goddess and the man closest to god!
"Ehem!!" Seiya coughed. There was fire in his eyes.
Shaka turned his head to Seiya. "You need some cough medicine, Seiya?" he asked calmly.
"Saori-san needs resting," glared Seiya without being afraid Shaka would gladly send him to his six worlds if he was upset. "Come on, Saori-san, I'll take you to your room."
"I can accompany you to wander around the garden, Athena," said Shaka.
"Waow, that's very good idea!" beamed Saori. "Garden always reminds me to our 'trip' in Elysion."
"Yes…I myself never forget that time," replied Shaka. Smile never left his serene face.
"I'd really like wandering to the garden with you, Virgo Shaka," said Saori cheerfully. Poor Seiya…now he realized that he couldn't win the Virgo Saint…
"But before, I want to say something to all of you," said Saori, facing the Gold Saints. "We have to make some resolutions, in order we'll be better person in this New Year. I want you to do something for New Year resolution."
Everyone turned silent. This wouldn't be very good…Athena's request was usually beyond the Saints' imagination…
"Gemini Saga and Kanon," said Athena.
Saga and Kanon twitched. "Y…yes?"
"Everybody knows you're twins and they hardly can recognize which one is Saga and which one is Kanon. Next time you have to wear something that can show your difference."
"What…what kind of thing should we wear?" asked Saga anxiously.
"I don't know…maybe a necklace with "S" pendant for Saga and "K" pendant for Kanon," Athena shrugged her shoulders.
Saga and Kanon looked at each other. Well…the request wasn't too bad…at least they didn't have to humiliate themselves as usual.
"Taurus Aldebaran," said Saori. "I need you to be a chef in my taco restaurant in Brazil sometimes."
"Waow, that's good idea!" beamed Aldebaran.
"Your taco is really good," smiled Saori. "For Pisces Aphrodite…I have a sister—her name is also Aphrodite--," Athena's expression was a bit changed. Seemed like she didn't really like her sister. "She sometimes needs beauty consultant, so I hope you can visit our dwelling sometimes to assist her."
Hearing that, Aphrodite's eyes sparkled. But behind him Aiolia and Aiolos were hissing. "Wasn't Athena's Aphrodite a goddess of beauty?" asked Aiolia.
"I don't know, the Olympians are sometimes weird," murmured Aiolos.
"Sagittarius Aiolos," said Saori, looked at Aiolos.
Aiolos smiled at her. "Yes?"
Saori gazed at him, then smiled and shook her head. "Um…you don't need to do any resolution. You've done very nice job, Aiolos. So next…Aiolia, there's a producer who offers one of my saints to become an actor—I think you're the one who suits most. Cancer Deathmask, your souvenir shop is quite good, but some people are afraid with the scary-faced masks—maybe you can change their faces to be more cheerful. Aries Mu, you've done good job on your washing machine repairing service, so keep it going. So are you, Capricorn Shura—the scissors' factory has a very massive growth, keep it going. Libra Dohko is in Sanctuary with Aries Shion…I'll talk to him later. And the last, Aquarius Camus and Scorpio Milo, in this New Year you have to cut your hair."
"WHAT?!" Camus and Milo shouted. For a moment they forgot that it was a goddess who talked to them, but soon they managed themselves to calm down.
"W…what, Miss Saori…?" asked Milo with pale face.
"You have to make your hair shorter. Like Aiolia," explained Saori.
"B…but…why us??" said Milo in despair. "Why not Shaka or…or the others??"
"I receive a lot of letters from your fans, they want to see you with short hair," said Saori. "I own a barbershop in the district of Shibuya, you can cut your hair there."
Milo and Camus looked at each other with zombie-like looks.
"And Virgo Shaka," said Saori, faced Shaka.
"Yes, Athena-sama?" Shaka a little bit bowed his back.
"Take me to the garden now."
"My pleasure."
Shaka offered his hand to Athena, and Athena grasped his hand. Suddenly there was a crack. Everybody directly turned their heads to Seiya, who'd broken the spoon in his hand. It didn't affect Shaka and Athena—both of them walked away and headed to Kido's mansion garden (oooh…poor Seiya…)
Everybody then discussed Athena's New Year resolution. Only Camus and Milo who were unable to speak. Their faces were still pale and their wonderful eyes opened very wide.
"Hey, duo, you'll cut your hair, won't you?!" giggled Kanon. "Then I have to take your picture now, so I can compare which one is better: long hair or short hair!"
Then Kanon took the camera and…BLITZ! He got Milo and Camus's picture. Pity it didn't make Camus and Milo's face turned normal.
Xxx
Camus paced in his room. This is not happening…this is only his hallucination …Athena's not here…she's in Olympus mountain now…
But he was very upset when he glanced at the window. From the window he saw Athena sitting under the tree, chuckled together with Shaka. Then Shaka gave her a beautiful bouquet created from ginko leaves and cherry blossoms.
Camus couldn't help to smile slightly. So romantic. That scene somehow reminded him to his past. It was about 9 years ago. At that time he met the first (and the last) person he fell in love with in Russia. A woman who'd filled his almost-frozen heart.
He soon forced himself to return to reality. Oooh…cutting his hair…? He gazed on the mirror. What would the world going to be…? Imagining himself with short hair was almost the same with imagining Aiolia with long hair! Well…ok, maybe it wouldn't be too bad if Aiolia had long hair…but Camus…? Camus with short hair…?!
The handsome man decided to leave the room. He had to see Milo—he must know how to solve this silly problem. He passed Hyoga's room, and his already-bad-mood turned worse seeing Hyoga's books were scattering on the floor.
"HYOGA!" snarled Camus with extreme anger.
Hyoga, who was lying comfortably on his bed, jumped in the air.
"Sensei!" gasped Hyoga after he was successful controlling his breath. "You want to give me a heart attack…?!"
"Probably!" replied Camus as he entered Hyoga's room. "How many times I must tell you to take care of your books?!"
"I'll take care of them later, Shihyou…"
"No excuse! Return them to its shelf NOW!"
"Alright, alright!" growled Hyoga angrily. He got down from the bed and began to pick his books harshly. "You're only my teacher, not my father, so next time stop asking me doing this kind of things!" snapped Hyoga.
Camus blinked.
"I've adopted you," said Camus after some moments.
"You're still not my father!"
"Really? Then why you always said "thank you for being my teacher and my FATHER?!""
"I don't know! Maybe that time I was possessed by some demons or something—"
"You don't know what you're saying, Alexei!" snapped Camus.
Hyoga directly turned his head to Camus. Alexei…? He'd almost forgot his first name was Alexei… Why Camus called him with his first name…?
Stupid question…, thought Hyoga. Camus must be very angry now…
"Take care of the books!" snapped Camus then. "And don't expect me to keep nurturing you if the books are still scattering on the floor when I come back here later, Alexei!" then Camus left Hyoga's room.
In the middle of his walk Camus couldn't stop panting. Just because his anger towards the haircut thing he snapped harshly to his child…. But he couldn't forget Hyoga's growl…"maybe I was possessed by demons". Did Hyoga indeed never really love him…?
Camus took a very deep breath when he arrived in front of Milo's door. He knocked the door. No answer.
"As if I give any damn," he growled, then he snapped open the door. He found Milo sitting in front of his desk, his blue eyes were unfocused.
"What are you doing here?!" snarled Camus.
Milo didn't turn his head to Camus. "Sitting," he answered. Now…if Camus expressed his anger with screaming and shouting, Milo expressed it with quietness and depressed look, as someone who'd been locked in sanatorium for years.
"What do you mean "sitting"?! Let's end this, Milo, let's go to the hairdresser NOW!"
"This is only nightmare, isn't in, Camus…?"
"No, this is not nightmare. Satisfied? Now let's end this!"
"Do we really have to cut our hair…?" whispered Milo, still lost in thoughts. His eyes were completely empty.
"Yes, Milo, we MUST cut our hair because a goddess orders us to!" replied Camus impatiently. "Now let's go, and if I have to ask you again, you'll be sorry for having been born!"
"Would you carry me on your back…?"
"WHAT?! Carry you on my—"
"I can't walk…," whispered Milo. "I've lost my power to stand up…"
Camus was really sure that his best friend had gone insane. "Milo…"
"Please…we're brothers, aren't we…?"
"What do you mean I have to—your weight is heavier than mine, do you think I'll be able to—"
"Shaka is so skinny but he could carry Aldebaran-size springbed very easily…"
"Shaka is a man closest to—"
"Please…carry me on your back, Camus… I can't do anything now…"
Camus sighed, staring at everywhere. What sin he had done so he had to accept this punishment…?
The handsome Aquarius saint didn't have any choice. He sighed, then did what Milo asked: carrying him on his back. Fortunately Camus was able to carry Milo even though Milo was heavier than him.
"Thank you…," said Milo as he laid his head on Camus's shoulder.
Camus rolled his eyes. Then he left the room to head to the barber shop with his best friend on his back (who'd probably had been possessed by the spirit of six months years old baby).
xxx
Camus walked on the sidewalk of Shibuya in silent. People were staring at him who carried an adult man behind his back, but he didn't care. The weather was cool, the sky was slightly cloudy, but in a lovely way. It was very different with Camus's heart—his heart was facing very big storm. He would lose his soft hair…his
long dark hair…the thick long hair with short fringe…. And Milo would lose his wonderful long wavy blue hair…. This was the worst disaster they'd ever experienced in their lives, worse than the Wailing Wall incident.
"Hmmmm…"
A sound from Camus's back. Camus twitched; he almost forgot Milo still hanging on his back.
"You smell like winter, Camus…," said Milo. He smiled and closed his eyes, took a very deep breath. "If I was a girl then I would easily fall in love with you…"
"Stop saying stupid thing or I'll desert you and let your hair being cut by a gardener," growled Camus.
"Okay, okay…just kidding," said Milo in hurry. For some times he came back to normal. Then his eyes got empty again when he imagined a barber cutting his hair. He tried to think about something else—anything but hair!
"Hey, Camus," said Milo then.
"Hmh?"
"Do you still love her?"
Camus knew whom Milo meant.
"Hmmm…," answered Camus. Milo knew that it meant "always".
"If you love her then why you sank her ship to the bottom of the sea?" asked Milo, for about hundred times.
"There's more important thing than my own feeling, Milo," answered Camus. His cold mask gradually melted. His eyes got warmer.
"You love her son more," said Milo in understanding.
"Maybe…," Camus's heart shrunk when he remembered his quarrel with Hyoga moments ago. "And what about you?" asked Camus then.
"What?"
"You still love her, don't you?"
Milo smiled slightly, feeling the wind blew his face slowly.
"She's dead, Camus," said Milo.
"But you'll always remember her."
"Always."
Camus gave his rare smile to his best friend.
He wasn't a scorpion. Only a very soft-hearted and faithful man whom he firstly met in his childhood.
"Oh, look! We're arrived!" gasped Milo, pointed to the barbershop right in front of them.
Camus's face turned into horror seeing the barbershop, while Milo didn't know he had to be relieved or not wit their arrival.. On one side he was relieved he didn't have to talk about his painful lovelife, but on the other side he also felt uneasy thinking about his fate after entering the barbershop.
"K, Milo," sighed Camus in despair. "Get down of my back now."
"What?"
"Get down of my back—I don't want everybody inside thinking that I'm babysitting a 21 years old offspring."
"Oh…ok…," then Milo got down from Camus's back.
Camus and Milo took a very deep breath before entering the barbershop.
Xxx
Meanwhile in Kido's garden…
Saori frowned her forehead. She couldn't stop thinking…she felt she'd made a mistake, but what was it…?
"Athena," Shaka's voice awakened her. "There is a butterfly on your hair," said Shaka as he gazed on Saori's purple hair.
Saori touched her hair, and the butterfly directly flew away.
Suddenly Saori's eyes widened.
Hair! That's it! She made mistakes related to HAIR!!!
"Shaka, please take me to my barbershop in Shibuya!"
Shaka was baffled. "I beg your pardon?"
"Camus and Milo! I have to stop them now! Come on, Shaka!" Saori stood up and pulled Shaka's hand. Shaka was so confused with Athena's action, but he followed her anyway (he always followed her…).
"Wait, Athena," said Shaka as he and Athena ran on the sidewalk. "Why do you have to stop them? You want them to cut their hair, don't you?"
"I've just remembered!"sighed Saori, panted. "The fans who want them to cut their hair are only 2 percents! The rests like seeing them with long hair! I have to prevent them to cut their hair, otherwise the merchandise with their pictures won't be in demand and sold out as usual!"
Shaka couldn't prevent his sweatdrops. What a materialistic goddess, he thought. But then he smiled, feeling Saori's hand still grasped his. That is alright, she is still pretty anyway…
Xxx
"Do you know the movie Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street?" asked Milo when he and Camus had sat on the hairdressing chairs. Milo's eyes got empty again, and he couldn't stop staring at the haircut stuffs in front of him: scissors, shaver, hairdryer, and whatever the names of the damn tools were.
"No," answered Camus, who seemed unable to think about anything anymore.
"In that movie the barber cuts the visitors' hair, then slits their throats," explained Milo. "After that he cuts their bodies into pieces and turns them into meat pies."
"So?"
"I hope the barber is like that," said Milo, nodded his head. "I'd better turn into pie than seeing my hair turns short."
Camus didn't listen to Milo's words. He was too busy imagining his look when he had short hair…
"Hello, handsome!"
A barber greeted cheerfully. He approached Milo and Camus and started to stroke their hair. Milo and Camus were so frozen…the barber was as big as Aldebaran and looked like he was a gay…
"Heaven…," thought Camus and Milo in despair.
"So, what haircut models do you like to have, handsome?" asked the barber, still stroked Camus's and Milo's locks.
"A…anything…," whispered Milo. Really, he'd better had his throat slit than being in this situation…. If he had short hair then he wouldn't look handsome anymore…
Camus looked like he was so ready to bury himself in Siberian glacier.
"Okay, then! Hugo! Rugo!" the barber called his assistants. Seconds later two pretty boys came.
"Do your best to these very handsome men," said the barber cheerfully. "They have very nice hair and they wanted it to be shortened."
"Ready, Sir," said Hugo and Rugo. Hugo then took place behind Milo and Rugo took place behind Camus.
Camus's and Milo's eyes widened when seeing the two barbers took the scissors, and they closed their eyes in horror when the barbers were ready to cut their hair.
"I promise I will turn my faith to Odin after this…," whispered Camus.
"Ready? We'll cut your hair," said Hugo. He and Rugo moved their scissors to the hair…Milo and Camus's face gradually turned very pale…and…three seconds later the scissors would slash their wonderful hair severely…three…two…o…
"STOP!!
Suddenly there was a scream from the door.
Everybody turned their heads, including Camus and Milo. Saori stood at the door, panting, with Shaka beside her. She really looked like a woman who tried to sabotage a wedding ceremony.
"Don't cut their hair!" ordered Saori.
Milo, Camus, and the barbers were completely baffled.
"Why you're suddenly popping up here, Miss Kido?" asked the Aldebaran-sized barber.
Saori, still panted, approached Milo and Camus, who still looked at her as if she was an alien (she WAS an alien…).
"I….suddenly realize…I've made mistake," panted Saori.
Milo and Camus stood up and stared at Saori, while Saori smiled and held Milo and Camus's shoulders. "No Scorpio and Aquarius Gold Saints with short hair."
"You mean…," whispered Milo in disbelief. "We don't need to cut our hair…?"
Saori nodded, smiled.
The Scorpio and the Aquarius still stared at Saori.
Really…? So they didn't need to cut their hair…? Milo's wavy hair would stay long as usual…and so would Camus's dark hair…?
Milo blinked several times to make himself sure that he wasn't dreaming. Goodbye, Hugo and Rugo…
His brilliant blue eyes turned brighter and brighter. Then he yelled in delight (he directly came back to his normal state) and seemed unable not to hug everyone in the barbershop: he hugged Camus so thight, then embraced Shaka, even pulled Saori into his arms (made Shaka looking fiercely at him). Hugo and Rugo had an honour accepting the Scorpio saint's embrace as well. Milo didn't hug the Aldebaran-size barber though (he thought it would endanger himself…)
"Great!!" Milo laughed happily. "We don't need to cut our hair! Come smile, Camus, we don't need to cut our hair!" Milo circled his hand to Camus's shoulder. Camus finally managed to smile after 100 percents sure that this miracle was not a dream. With this wonder he didn't have to turn his allegiance to Odin. As usual he didn't know how to express his gratitude, so toward Athena he did similar thing as Milo, but further: he kissed her cheek briefly (so lucky becoming a goddess…being hugged and kissed by handsome men…)
Milo beamed seeing Camus's action, but Shaka of course couldn't help to glare as before.
"What are you doing, Camus?" asked Shaka in a calm yet deadly voice.
"Ummm…," Camus was slightly blushed.
"It's common for a French-man, Shaka," said Saori cheerfully, but her cheeks were blushed as well.
"I see," said Shaka, still glaring at Camus.
So the haircut thing was cancelled and everyone was happy.
"Let us go back home," said Shaka.
"Shaka, you're willing to leave your beloved garden just for picking us up?" giggled Milo.
"It is all for Athena," said Shaka as he turned around in dignity. "If it were not for her, I would not leave Kido's mansion only to meet trivial thing like this," he added as he walked calmly to the door.
Saori and Milo laughed, even Camus couldn't help to chuckle slightly.
"Let's go home," said Saori as she followed Shaka. "Umm…and I need to think another New Year resolution for both of you, Camus and Milo."
"Good!" beamed the Scorpio and Aquarius Gold Saints altogether.
"So…," said Milo then. He once again circled his hand to Camus's shoulder. "Would you carry me on your back?"
"Yeah," said Camus. He stroked Milo's hair very harshly and pushed his head so low. "In your dream, damn you."
"Ouch! Stop that, you bunch of crap!" Milo giggled and he stroked Camus's hair also and pushed his head as well. Camus once again chuckled on the event.
"Let's go, Fridge, I really want to see Kanon's face when seeing us still having long hair."
"Yeah, I want to see his face as well."
xxx
Epilogue
Kanon indeed looked like he was possessed by some uninvited spirits seeing Milo and Camus's hair were still in its usual length.
"You said you want to take our picture," grinned Milo. He took the camera from the table and portrayed himself, then photographed Camus who stood in the dining-room with Hyoga.
"Done!" said Milo cheerfully as he gave Kanon the camera. "You've got the 'before and after' thing!" then he walked away and joined Aiolia, Saga, and Shura.
Meanwhile in the dining-room…
"I'm sorry, Camus…," murmured Hyoga without looking at Camus. "I didn't mean to shout at you."
Camus smiled slightly. "It's okay, child. It's not your fault."
Hyoga finally managed to look at his teacher. He smiled as well.
"My mama," said Hyoga. "She also called me "Alexei" when she was mad at me."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Camus nodded, gazed on his student with unusual warmth in his eyes.
Minutes later, Camus and Hyoga turned their heads hearing some hissings near the window.
"Come on, take their picture!"
"Look at that…Shaka's never be that romantic!"
"Can't you believe it…? …he made a bouquet again for Athena!"
Then…
BLITZ! BLITZ!!
"I wonder what Zeus will say seeing his daughter has a romantic feeling towards the man closest to god!"
"(chuckle) He must be very upset!"
Camus and Hyoga joined their fellows who were really enthusiastic looking at Shaka and Athena from the window. Shaka looked having very nice conversation with Saori.
Seconds later there was CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!!
Seiya broke three spoons at once now. But poor him…nobody was tactful to turn their heads from Shaka and Athena just for examining his condition. Seemed like Seiya needed to make his own New Year resolution: trying to be the man closest to god. XD
XXX
A/N: Well…I'm inspired writing about Camus's connection with Natassia after re-watching Sanctuary chapter in which Shaina is helped by Seiya during their childhood (when Shaina's hand wounded and Seiya covers it with the scrap of his cloth). You know…Seiya and Shaina have quick meeting in their childhood, but it is really an unforgettable meeting. Since Natassia is Hyoga's mother, and she also lives in Russia, Camus must've met her even only once (before she passes away, of course). Maybe I'll make a fic about this (not in "The Sketches" :)). I'm sorry…maybe you hate this idea…but that's how I see Camus.
Next will be the last fics for "The Sketches"…(sob)…Thank you so much for reading, hope you enjoy it. And once again :D please review.