DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN SAINT SEIYA CHARACTERS. SAINT SEIYA IS UNDER THE AUTHORIZATION OF MASAMI KURUMADA

Chapter Four

Since the meeting was over, there hadn't been any significant chaos in Kido's mansion. The frequency of the Goldies' screams and shout decreased drastically, and they always welcomed the new days with smiles and cheering on their faces. All looked very excited waiting for the time when they would be healed and doing normal activities as before.

"I feel veeeeery relieved," Ikki sighed and stretched. He and the other Bronzies were in the terrace right now, enjoying teas and cookies. "I mean, they'd been like kindergarten students for about two weeks. Lucky now they've come back to normal."

"That's the negative side of having big powers," said Seiya. "They were so shocked by the fact that they're now worse than normal people."

"Don't you look after Roshi, Shiryu?" asked Shun.

"He said he's alright. He pitied me who hardly get leisure time. Well…I'm not objected taking care of him everyday anyway, but he kept forcing me to take some rests," said Shiryu, shrugged his shoulders. "He even asks me to come back to China, but I refused. How can I take vacation in this kind of situation?"

"Camus also asks you to go to Siberia, doesn't he?" asked Shun to Hyoga.

"Yes, I refused as well," said Hyoga. He frowned his head. "You know, speaking of Camus…I feel like there's something disturbing him since the meeting, but I don't know what it is. Yes, he always looks cold as usual, but I can tell that he sometimes looks very thoughtful, seems thinking about something."

"Yes, I sometimes see Mu acts the same way," said Shiryu, his chin leant on his hand.

"What's wrong with them anyway? The situation can't be worse than this, can't it?" asked Ikki.

"I think they're only nervous," said Seiya, eating his cookies. "I mean…who's not? That will be the most complicated operation in the world. Curing the injuries caused by Ten Bu Huo Rin or Aurora Execution isn't as simple as curing plain bone fracture, is it?"

"Hmmm…yeah…," said Hyoga.

"Hey, what if we do something which can cheer the Goldies up?" suggested Shun. "Well…they've cheered up anyway, but there's no harm to refresh their minds more."

"How?" asked Hyoga. "I think nothing can cheer Camus up except that 2000 pages astronomy book he reads every night."

"Well…maybe we can take them somewhere?" said Shun. "Tokyo Dome City Attraction will do."

"I think Shun's right," said Ikki. "They have lost their childhood moment, after all. I think bringing them to ride merry-go-round isn't bad idea."

But the Goldies thought it was a bad idea.

"Very nice. Saga will ride roller coaster and I'll only support him from my wheel-bed," said Kanon sarcastically.

"But don't you guys need refreshing?" asked Shun in desperation.

"I think Kanon's right," said Aiolos wisely. "It will be too early to go to a playground. I mean, Shaka's still unconscious now."

"But though he's conscious he won't be interested to go riding roller-coaster, will he?" Seiya whispered.

"I think this is just about empathy, Seiya," said Shiryu. "They think it won't be too good to have fun while their friend is still coma."

Seiya sighed. "Sometimes I just can't get the way they think about something."

"Where's Camus?" asked Hyoga after realizing his teacher was not in the common room.

"I'm here."

Hyoga turned his head. His teacher moved his wheelchair forward, accompanied by …(there's no need to write it). Both of them looked tired.

"We've lured Deathmask for hundred times, heaven!" growled Milo. "We tried to get him out of the room, but as usual he began to throw things to us, and wailed 'YOU COME FROM TARTARUS AND TRY TO KILL ME! GET THE $%#$$ OUT OF HERE!!"

Saga wrote something on the paper and gave it to Camus. Camus read it. The paper said: "Just let him alone, it's no use luring him anyway. He has no hope before the day of the medical treatment."

"The problem is," said Camus. "If he doesn't practice to get out and meet people from now on, how can we bring him to Graud Foundation to be cured?"

"Well, just ask the doctor to come here," said Aiolia.

"What if Deathmask directly throw a metal-chair to the doctor's face when he appears at the door?" asked Milo.

"The doctor's lucky then…," mumbled Shura. "Deathmask can do worse than that…"

"We can give him initial therapy when he's sleeping," said Ikki suddenly.

Everybody turned their heads to him.

"Err…," murmured Ikki, seemed surprised by the Goldies' reactions. "Well…just silently entered his room when he's sleeping and…you know…I know some methods of psychotherapy which can help him. Maybe it won't work fully for Deathmask's case, but I think it'll be good if we can calm him down with it, even a little."

"Why're you've just told us now?" asked Aiolia.

"I've just remembered," said Ikki innocently. "What time he sleeps?"

"Ask Aphrodite," said Shura. "All of us here completely don't know anything about Deathmask's daily schedule."

"Where's Aphrodite?" asked Shun, just realized that Aphrodite wasn't in the common room.

"He's in the garage, burning the rose bouquet his friend has sent him," mumbled Aiolia.

"K, I'll go there," said Ikki as he walked to the garage, and the other Goldies separated themselves from each other. Hyoga approached his teacher then. "You don't wear fur coat anymore," said Hyoga, acknowledging that Camus had worn sleeveless t-shirt as usual.

"Yes, you know I've practiced to release my fur coat," answered Camus, smiled slightly. "I love cold weather anyway. Though it's difficult to get along with the weather, I try my best to enjoy it."

"Great," beamed Hyoga.

"So you don't have any difficulty to sleep again?"

"No," Hyoga began to be blushed again.

"Good. Now you can read Russian folk-tales by yourself."

"Err…," Hyoga hesitated for a moment, then said, "Would you…would you sometimes enter my room and read it for me again?" he got more blushed.

"Why?"

"Because it…it makes me feel like having a father."

Silence.

"Eh…I'm sorry," said Hyoga as he saw that Camus didn't say any word after that. "I always say that I've considered you as my father…I'd never thought about your feeling about that…I'm sorry if you are objected…I…," Hyoga took a deep breath. "I just can't help it."

Silence again.

Then Camus moved his wheelchair to Shaka's room. But not before he asked, "Who says I'm objected?"

Hyoga was startled. For about two minutes he didn't believe what his ears were hearing. But finally he took a breath in relief and put a wide smile on his face.

"Thank you…," he whispered.

SAINT SEIYA

The day of the operation finally came. All Goldies went to Graud Foundation, waiting for their turns. Even Deathmask was finally willing to get out of his room—seemed like Ikki has succeeded in giving initial treatment for him, though he sometimes still closed his eyes and muttered something about he was about to be attacked by dead people.

Saga and Kanon had entered the medical room with all their friends encouraged them. An hour later the doctor got out from another room and informed very good news: he said that Shaka would gain full recovery three days later. All Goldies couldn't stop cheering hearing that.

When it came to Camus' turn to enter the operation room, Hyoga held him so tight.

"You'll be alright," said Hyoga, his eyes sparkled with optimism. "You'll be able to walk again."

"Thank you, Hyoga," said Camus as he gave his rare smile to his student. He turned his head to Milo then, who grasped his shoulder. "Good luck," said Milo.

Camus nodded, and soon, after receiving cheerings from the other, the scientists took him to the room.

To be Continued