A/N: Ah…the eighth chapter is finished. ^^ There'll be a pet in this chapter, inspired from Haruna Shimamura's doujinshi.

Chapter Eighth

The Secret Singing Contest

The twins worked in the corridor in silent. This was totally out of everybody's mind…fixing the completely-destroyed ceilings before three pm—that as easy as removing Olympus mountain to Japan! No chance they would end this crazy job less than six hours; that was a mansion's ceilings anyway, not an anime-miniature sold in a hobby shop.

"Damn ghost," Saga swore slowly as he hammered the nails. He was upside, fixing the ceiling, while Kanon was downside, picking the ruins one by one and struggled to set the chandelier aside. He wasn't turning his head when an unpleasant laughter suddenly roared next to him.

"What, Rhadamanthys?" Kanon asked indifferently. "Hades bought you new Teddy Bear doll?"

"What a very moving view," Rhadamanthys jeered. "The Gemini twins cooperate to do a very high-class job."

"You have two choices, Rhadamanthys: shut your big mouth up or a nice trip to an asylum."

"How does it feel, Kanon?" asked Rhadamanthys, pretended not to hear Kanon's insult. "To be a slave for almost the entire of your life…"

"Don't listen to him, Kanon," Saga suddenly said lightly. "He likes bluffing and torturing people because he's lonely and doesn't have any friend."

Kanon burst into laughter, while Rhadamanthys's jeer vanished. "What do you mean by that?!" he snapped.

Kanon, just as Hyoga, blinked on Rhada's reaction.

Strike two…

"Oh, you don't have to feel heartbroken…," Kanon showed a fake sympathetic expression. "Many people don't have any friends as well, you're not alone."

"Don't forget about Zelos, Kanon, that freak also doesn't have any acquaintance, he and Rhada would make a very great couple," cackled Saga, once again replied by Kanon's roar.

"And Cyclops!" sniggered Kanon. "Want to join tea time with him in Shaka's rosary, Rhada?"

The twins almost rolled because of their loud laughters. Kanon wasn't scared of Rhadamanthys—he had prepared himself in case Rhada punched him or slammed him to the floor.

But Rhadamanthys only stood up silently in his place.

Saga and Kanon almost began to feel a little real sympathy towards him, if only he didn't let out a frightening chuckle.

"Scorpius now is taking care of Aquarius's wound in your room," said Rhadamanthys after some moments. "Lord Hades doesn't know it. But don't worry, I will let him know Scorpius doesn't do his cleaning job this time."

Saga and Kanon's identical grins disappeared in a second, exchanged by horror look.

"Don't you dare telling him!!" Kanon snapped.

"Oh, I'll obey you, Kanon," laughed Rhadamanthys sarcastically. His laughter got louder and louder as he walked away from the twins, ready to tell his beloved master about Milo's disobedience.

"Rhadamanthys!" Saga shouted, but it was useless.

"Damnit!" Kanon slammed his broom harshly. He and his brother looked at each other in anxiety, imagining about what would happen to Milo after Hades knew he chose curing Camus than obeying him…

The twins' attention suddenly shifted to a bird which was flying to their direction.

The bird entered throughout the window, flying calmly yet happily. It was very cute and tiny and yellow in colour. It flew encircling Saga's head before flying down at Kanon and encircling him as well.

"I bet it will turn into Rhadamanthys's dinner," murmured Kanon gravely.

"Hey, I know that bird," Saga gasped, his eyes suddenly sparkled. "His name is Biki. It was Shaka's."

"…Shaka?"

"First time Shaka arrived at Sanctuary he brought a yellow bird. It was Biki, yet Biki left him after he succeeded gaining his Gold Cloth."

"Then what's Biki's doing here now?" Kanon was extremely puzzled. He and Saga's eyes never left Biki, which finally flew away from the twins and headed to the place they didn't know (but still in the mansion's territory).

"I don't know," Saga spoke in the mixture of thoughtfulness and amazement. "I even wonder whether Shaka knows Biki is here…but Biki isn't an ordinary bird…"

Kanon gazed at his brother. He didn't want to underestimate Biki, but what chance did an eight centimeter-height bird have in the 'battle' against Hades and his specter…?

The answer was easy.

Biki flew happily inside the mansion, looking for someone. When he had found his hunting, he made a clearly audible sound.

Rhadamanthys turned his head hearing the sound. His eyes narrowed seeing a small bird dared to fly inside the house.

"Shuuu," he tried to set Biki away. But Biki kept flying inside the house, even heading to the next corridor. Rhadamanthys ran after him, tried to capture—in his perception—weak creature. Biki didn't give up—he flew entering a room in the corner, the one Rhadamanthys hadn't explored. Rhadamanthys followed him…

…and he was startled after entering the unlocked room.

It was Hades's gallery, full of photographs and paintings. There were the photos of Hades's biological family, the pictures of Hades's castle before Hades occupied it, even Athena and Poseidon's pictures.

The wyvern stared at Saori and Julian's photographs. Why did Hades keep them? Was it because Hades actually respected his two siblings…?

Rhadamanthys turned his head when Biki cheeped. Biki had perched on the small table…

…near Pandora's photograph.

The ex-specter stepped slowly towards the photograph. Only the photograph. Where was she now? In Germany…? Or else…? Was she revived as well…?

Biki flew away, left Rhadamanthys standing silently in front of Pandora's photograph…upon which Rhadamanthys had totally forgot about both Biki and the Scorpio saint.

Xxx

Meanwhile in the Goldies's room…

As what Rhadamanthys had said, Milo (still wearing his pajamas) was there taking care of Camus's wound.

"Milo, this is only an unimportant wound," said Camus for the hundred time as Milo very carefully released Kanon's T-shirt's scrap from Camus's upper arm. Beside Milo there was a medicine box. "Only a small pain, it's not like Scarlet Needle or the—ouch…"

Camus whined slowly. Milo cleaned his wound with cotton that had been moistened with cold water and it made him hurt.

"Hush…," Milo said softly. "I must know whether there's poison or not."

"You mean the pendant contains poison?" asked Camus, tried so hard not to frown his forehead.

"Who knows?" Milo shrugged as he examined his best friend's wound. Seconds later slight smile appeared on his handsome face. "Ok, take a deep breath, Fridge. No poison," then he began to cover Camus's upper arm with bandage.

Camus watched Milo in silent as he cured his wound.

"Hey," Milo said then.

"Yeah?"

"You're so reckless, aren't you?" Milo raised his head and smiled at his best friend. His wonderful blue eyes were sparkling. It was so pure…so sincere, that Camus couldn't help to look at him the same way.

"Not as reckless as you," Camus said.

Milo chuckled on his reply.

Some moments later the wound had been covered well with the bandage. Milo returned the medicine in the box, didn't realize that Camus kept gazing at him.

"Milo…," he finally said as he leant his back on the headboard. "Shaina called me about an hour ago. She asked about you."

"And you said?"

"You're alright. You're not too affected with Hades's presence."

Milo took place beside his best friend and leant on the headboard as well. He looked at somewhere else.

"She loves you," said Camus quietly.

"I love her," Milo replied.

"But?"

"It's not that easy, Camus."

Camus wanted to ask more, yet he decided not to. From past till present, when Camus asked him about why he never wanted to tell Shaina about his feeling, he always answered "It's not that easy". Yet Milo never let Camus knew why it was.

"K, then…," Camus finally sighed. "You decide. Now do the cleaning job, Milo."

"Arrgh…," Milo groaned, made Camus almost smiled.

"If Hades slashes your arms I won't be willing to take care of your wounds," Camus said.

"Owh, really?"

"Absolutely."

"Really??" Milo chuckled as he ruffled Camus's hair, while Camus finally let out a smile. "Milo, stop it…no wonder all people think we're abnormal."

"I'm not objected if we are…"

"Stop it!" Camus snarled; the later only giggled louder than before. "You're too serious, Camus," he said hilariously.

After Milo stopped his giggle gradually, he smiled. His wonderful blue eyes looked at Camus in warmth and peacefulness.

Camus looked at him as well. So often they looked steadily to each other. No words, no gestures. Only looking at each other's blue eyes like that.

Finally Milo turned his eyes on another direction. Something interrupted them. Something small with yellow feather. Biki had entered the room.

Milo hummed a little and paid out his hand to the bird. The bird then flew at him and perched on his lower arm.

"It looks familiar," said Camus in wonder as he looked at the bird.

Milo was about to reply when Biki suddenly spread his wings and flew outside the window. He cheeped cheerfully and finally perched on his master's shoulder, who was doing his gardening work.

Milo and Camus stepped to the window, staring at Shaka and Biki in astonishment.

"Shaka, didn't Biki leave you years ago?" asked Milo.

Shaka only smiled and said, "He comes back."

"Why?"

"He just wants to," answered Shaka simply. Smile never left his serene face when Biki flew encircling his head.

"But why?" Milo asked Camus, who smiled slightly. "Years ago Biki left Shaka because he felt he didn't need him again," Camus said. "If Biki comes back now, it means the opposite. Biki is his best friend, after all…"

Milo nodded and smiled after gaining an understanding.

"Yes…," he said. "Best friend."

Camus replied him with his rare smile.

Xxx

Three pm. Miraculously Saga and Kanon had finished fixing the ceilings, although not very perfectly.

Hades could see the flaw.

"Not very good," Hades said coldly. "It will not endure rains. You salaries are reduced forty percents."

Saga and Kanon could only stared at the floor.

"Who will serve me tomorrow?" asked Hades then.

"Deathmask and Aiolia," murmured Saga.

"They would better be good. Tomorrow I will invite Minos and Lune to dinner," Hades turned around and stepped away. "Come, Rhadamanthys."

Rhadamanthys, who had waited for his master in the corridor's end, nodded and followed him.

"I will go doing inspection to Graud Foundation," Hades told Saga and Kanon.

After Hades and Rhadamanthys disappeared, Saga and Kanon looked at each other.

Grinning.

xxx

"Young man…! There's no need to feel down, I said…young man…! Pick yourself on the ground, I said…young man…!"

Most of the Gold Saints now were standing on the table, performing karaoke. Heaven was what they felt now, Hades and his dog were away…! They finally had found perfect time to have fun, singing Village People's song. Shura, Aiolia, Kanon, Deathmask, Aphrodite, Aldebaran, and Saga were singing on the table, encircling their hands to each other and kicked the air with their feet. Milo marched at them to join them as well, passed Camus and pulled the book Camus read.

Camus only stared at his best friend, felt so irritated for Milo had annoyed his reading time. Nevertheless he couldn't help to smile when Milo got up the table, encircled his hand around Saga's shoulder and began to sing with the others.

"Young man…! There's a place you can go, I said young man…! When you're short on your dough…! You can stay there…I'm sure you will find many ways to have a good time…"

"One, two, three, four!" Shura yelled in delight.

"It's fun to stay at the…Y-M-C-A!" sang the others. "It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A!"

Mu couldn't stop laughing seeing his fellows's actions, the same as Dohko, Shion, and Aiolos—Aiolos couldn't even refuse when Aiolia grabbed his hand and pulled him on the 'stage'.

Shaka meanwhile was sitting near the window with his beloved Biki. He'd better watch the situation outside (so that he could inform his fellows immediately when Hades came back). He wasn't really fond of music, everyone could tell… Yet he sometimes laughed slightly responding his fellows' craziness.

"Put your hands up!" laughed Kanon.

"Come on, Fridge, put your hands up!" yelled Milo cheerfully at Camus. The later only smiled slightly—it was better for him to simply become a viewer.

After the Y-M-C-A song ended, all of them discussed the next song they had to sing.

"By the way," said Kanon irritably in the middle of their discussion. "Tomorrow Hades will invite Lune and Minos to dinner."

His fellows groaned and kicked any stuffs that were close to them. But soon Aphrodite made them relaxed.

"Don't worry, there's still a little arsenic left."

Everybody turned cheerful again. Of course they wouldn't do Aphro's lunatic suggestion, but at least his joke was cool enough to decrease their depression.

Finally they chose Def Leppard's song Pour Some Sugar on Me.

"Pour some sugar on me!! Pour some sugar on me!!" tuned Saga and Milo who still used the table as their stage.

"Milo, you rock!!!" screamed Shura excitedly, pretending as a concert-supporter.

"I wanna lick you, Milo!!" shouted Aiolia.

"I wanna bring you home!!" yelled Kanon.

"Milo, you are HOT!!" screamed Shaka.

Everybody stopped singing and looked at Shaka in shock. Even the DVD player was completely jammed.

"Why everyone seems to be out of character these days…?" whispered Shura.

Some minutes later Milo and Saga were about to continue the song when suddenly Biki cheeped loudly.

"Hades is coming," said Shaka calmly.

Now everything became so chaotic; everybody had to return everything into normal (heaven…they had only thought about having fun without thinking about the consequences…). Aiolia almost turned outside down when setting the CD's aside and picked all the stuffs that would lead them to death if Hades knew it.

"The ghost is coming!"

"The ghost is coming!! Hurry up!"

"Hurry up! Kanon, set the DVD player aside! Aphro, there are dusts on the table…! For heaven's sake, Deathmask, return the couch at its original place!"

"HELL YOU SAGA! You yourself don't do nothing!"

"I'm nervous, damnit!"

The situation was so hurly-burly. Luckily five seconds (five seconds!) before Hades and Rhadamanthys entering the house, everything had been on the right corners and the right place.

When Hades had been inside, Milo was sweeping the floor calmly, Aiolos was in the dining room, wiped out the table, and the others did the similar cleaning jobs. They all did what Hades had ordered them.

Seeing nothing odd happened, Hades stepped to his room without words.

All Goldies couldn't help to breath in very…very…very huge relief…

xxx

Athens, Greece.

"I am coming, Poseidon-sama," said Sorrento as he bowed his back in front of his master.

"Have you got the news?" asked Julian Solo. He sat on the chair which resembled with that in Poseidon's castle. He was exactly the same person who fought Athena's saints some times ago, also the same deity who helped the Bronze saints when they fought Hypnos and Thanatos in Elysion. White classic tuxedo, light-blue hair, very handsome feature. He was as handsome as his brother, only his aura wasn't dark. Yet he wasn't dazzling as well. He didn't have his brother's aura, and he didn't have his niece.

"Yes, Poseidon-sama. Meio-Hades has occupied Athena and her saints' dwelling since three or four days ago."

Poseidon gazed at his servant impassively, then drank his wine in silent.

"Poseidon-sama…"

"Yes, Sorrento?"

"May I ask you something…?"

"My pleasure."

"Why do you want to know about all of these?"

Poseidon smiled as he drank his wine once again. "Counting the days," he answered.

Sorrento baffled. Poseidon laughed slightly seeing his servant's innocence. "Waiting for the days when they finally decide to ask for my assistance," explained Poseidon then. "Athena's saints are maybe too arrogant, thinking that I'm Athena's enemy. But they couldn't help to turn their heads on me at last, seeking helps."

"Poseidon-sama…if it happens, will you give them your assistance again?"

"Let's see," Poseidon said lightly. "I don't like Hades. I don't like Athena as well, moreover her saints. So what do you think I should do?"

Sorrento shook his head, felt curious on his master's plan. "No, Poseidon-sama. I have no idea."

Poseidon smiled once again. He looked at his wineglass, seeing his own reflection.

"I have thought about it," he said finally as he smiled secretively.

xxx

Next in Home Sweet Home:

Aiolos was full of rage.

"You make me so upset, Aiolia," he said in a very low voice.

"Stop whining, Bro, I'm just trying to have good time—"

"Don't call me 'Bro'! I'm not your brother!" snapped Aiolos, made Aiolia got completely stricken.

And what was the pendant for Shaka?

Shaka looked at the pentagram that hanged around his neck in amuse. The pentagram didn't even have the slightest glint.

"That's it?" Shaka asked calmly. "Is that all the strength Hades's pendant contains, Biki?"

Meanwhile, the Bronzes never stopped being thoughtful.

"Poseidon?!" Hyoga, Shiryu, Shun, and Seiya snapped in shock. "Is Shion crazy?!"

"Sort of plan B, he said," sighed Ikki.

"Shion is really weird," murmured Shiryu. "When he got plenty of time to visit Olympus mountain to see Athena, he didn't do it—remember that he chose Shunlei's cooking instead of Athena? And now he doesn't even think to ask for Athena's help to get the mansion back—he prefers to think about…Poseidon…"

"He hides something…," Seiya gazed at nowhere. "Absolutely…"

Home Sweet Home: The Lion and the Virgin's Tales

Home Sweet Home: Cardiac, Corazon, Coeur, Kokoro…Heart

Milo gazed at the pendant on his chest. It was shining…so bright…

xxx