The Lion, The Sheep, & The Scorpion
Mav's comments: This chapter's title has ½ in it because it's like Lion King 1 ½, the back story. Special epilogue between Aioros and Shion too!
Disclaimer: I don't own Saint Seiya although I wonder if Kurumada would let me write a movie script for itXP
-+Saint Seiya ½+-
Dirt kicked up into the air as a gust of wind sailed by the abandoned ruins where Saga stood.
Where are you Kanon? thought Saga anxiously. His dark green eyes narrowed as he clutched his head. Another voice seemed to whisper into his ear, Why don't we ask him to join us?
Shut up! thought the young Gemini fiercely. The voice only laughed.
The afternoon heat was beating down hard, yet Saga continued to stay in the same desolate spot that he's always been in; always the one waiting for his twin.
"SAGA!" yelled a rather high-pitched voice, nearly making Saga, er, rain down on his nether region.
Looking wildly around for the one who called him, his eyes widened as he saw the Gold Saint of Pisces frowning up at him.
NO! He's not supposed to know! thought Saga frantically, a million excuses flying through his mind. Unfortunately, the evil laughter in the back of his mind wasn't helping.
"Uh, ahem. Aphrodite, w-what brings you here? In fact, why don't you explain to me why you're not training," said Saga, trying to keep a stern tone in his voice.
Very smooth, snickered the evil voice.
No thanks to you, snarled Saga inwardly.
But Saga quickly blushed as he realized that he was making a face while thinking that. Aphrodite's eyebrows went up.
"Well, as I have just told you, Aioros and the others are looking for you. And you know how Aioros is: when he's got a plan, he involves everyone. When nobody could find you, I thought about coming here."
"What do you mean, Aphrodite? How do you know about this place?"
The young Pisces, sensing that he stumbled upon something he shouldn't have, carefully answered, "I've seen you a couple times, um, walking back to Sanctuary from this direction…"
Saga gave a sigh of relief and then lowering his head, he fixed his eyes straight onto Aphrodite's and said, "Well, don't let me catch you near here again. Swear to me that you won't tell anyone about this place, okay Aphrodite?"
Guess I'd better not mention I've seen his twin too. "Of course. Now can we go see Aioros?"
Saga laughed. "Sure, I don't want him leaving any arrows in my bed like last time."
Meanwhile back in the cave…
Mu watched Icarus lead them further into the cave.
Milo asked, "Mr. Icarus, are we almost there yet?"
Hmm… should I really show it to them? Saga would just KILL me if I did… oh well.
"Yeah, but before we get there, we're going to have to split up."
"WHAT?" yelped Milo and Aiolia.
"And why would we need to do that?" asked Mu, or rather, he stated it.
"I haven't been this far into the cave, Mu, since I was your age. And if you were looking ahead, instead of looking at our behinds, you'd notice that there's a fork in the cave."
Kanon smirked at Mu, who was trying not to blush. Not wanting to admit he wasn't paying attention, retorted, "Can't you remember which way you went? You're not an old man, even my Master who is 50 times older than you doesn't have a poor memory."
"Yet," sneered Kanon. That stung Mu.
"How dare you!" cried out Mu, who was held back by Aiolia.
"I don't know if you're new around here, but the Master of Sanctuary is an honorable old guy, so whatever you say, we'll make you eat your words!" cried Milo defensively. Aiolia nodded.
"Is that how you speak to the one who saved your life?" snarled Kanon, his temper rising.
"You saved our lives Icarus, but man, why are you making fun of the Master for?" demanded Aiolia.
"Why? WHY? You brats don't know anything about him! Even though he's your so-called Master, he's deceiving you! He's nothing but a decrepit, old-"
"Milo, Aiolia, let's go. We'll take one side, and Icarus can take the other. We'll see what he's left here that seems so important to him."
"B-but Mu! Wait!" cried the two as they hurried after Mu, leaving Kanon fuming.
In the Garden of Narcissus…
"This garden is friggen' huge!" shouted Deathmask.
"That's not nice, Deathmask. Don't say huge or Aldebaran might think you're talking about him," teased Shura.
Aldebaran stuck his tongue out, but wasn't angered in the least.
Saga breathed in the various fragrances of the white narcissus and purple orchids growing on either side of the worn dirt path they trodded.
The least excitable of the bunch: Shaka, Camus, Shura, and Aphrodite were walking just ahead of Saga and Aioros, taking in the sights. And indeed, this counted as one of the rare occasions Shaka actually kept his eyes open.
Saga watched as Deathmask and Aldebaran raced ahead towards a young Olive tree.
"I knew Deathmask would win," said Aioros, startling Saga. They watched as the two young saints' gestures from afar clued in on who won… with Deathmask jumping up and down with a gleeful smile on his face.
Turning to his best friend, he quietly asked, "Oh? You didn't have faith in Aldebaran?"
And Aioros smiled. "Of course I did. I had faith in Aldebaran letting Deathmask win."
"What?" asked Saga, stopping in his tracks. But Aioros laughed at his friend's bewildered expression. Aioros has some great insights on people… maybe he'll be chosen to be the next Master…
"NEVER!"
Aioros stopped laughing. Everyone turned to look at Saga. Covering his mouth, Saga hastily added, "I mean, I never thought of that!"
The other saints returned to their walk. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Aioros staring at him.
"Well, I've never thought of it that way. It does seem like something Aldebaran would do," said Saga rather sheepishly.
Aioros just nodded and continued walking beside him in silence.
"Aioros, thanks. I-I'm not feeling well these days... so I appreciate you not asking me about it. But you know, I'm glad your plan was to just take a stroll."
And Aioros immediately brightened up. "Just take a stroll? No way! We're having some barbecue and a SLEEPOVER right here in this garden!"
"NOOOOOOOOOO!" screamed Saga, remembering the last sleepover.
Back to the cave…
"Are we there yet?" asked Aiolia nervously. A loud thump on his head was heard.
"OUCH! Would you stop it Milo? Jeez, you're always so mean," whined Aiolia.
"Just shut up already! You ask that every 10 seconds. Man, you're such a baby," retorted Milo.
"As if you're one to talk, NAIL-BITER! If we get lost, all we have to do is follow your bits of nails floating in the water!"
The two began rolling around, exchanging pinches. Yes, pinches.
"Mu! OUCH! Look what Milo's doing to me!" cried Aiolia.
"Hey monkey! Mu's not here!" shouted Milo. They scrambled up and saw what appeared to be another fork.
Mu had unknowingly left them behind when he walked down the left passageway all the while only thinking about one thing: revenge.
I'll teach him! I will break what he treasures the most! thought Mu angrily. He stomped onward, until finally, he saw an iron box sitting on top of a tall slab of rock. Mu took down the box and flipped the lid open.
Mu's angry expression eased into curiosity as he held up wooden miniature pieces of the 12 Zodiac animals.
"Found it huh?" asked Kanon, all trace of anger gone in his voice. His heart softened upon watching Mu's little face light up; examining each toy delicately as if it were made of glass instead of just wood.
Mu spun around, blushing a second time. "It's, I, these are beautiful… and can't possibly belong to you," added Mu, not wanting to forget Kanon's insults.
"You know what? You can have it. Take it as my apology to you guys," said Kanon.
Mu's eyes widened. As Kanon began to walk away, he put his little hand in his. Kanon blinked down at him.
"I cannot accept this. It's yours isn't it?"
Kanon smirked. "You say that, but I saw that your heart already did. Now let's all go home."
And this time, Mu smiled at him.
-+EPILOGUE+-
"So Saga was like, 'Noooooo! I will not drop my pants in front of Misty!'" recalling his dare, the ghost of Aioros immediately laughed and spun in midair.
"BUT HE STILL DID IT IN FRONT OF ME!" screamed the ghost of Shion, pulling at his transparent green hair.
Aioros snorted as he continued with his story in a more somber tone, "Yes… that was on the sleepover a couple of nights before I caught him about to stab her."
Shion took a deep breath. "And that's why you came to spend your afterlife with me up here on Star Hill?"
"Hey, I was lonely out there!" retorted Aioros. Shion just heaved another sigh.
The End
EXTRA: Sorry for not updating in a while but I hope you enjoyed this last bit. Please review!