A/N: Hello…sorry for the late update ^^. As usual, thank you so much for those who have read and reviewed, that really means so much to me…
Disclaimer: I don't own Saint Seiya Characters
CHAPTER 11
Valediction
"Milo..."
Milo didn't open his eyes. He saw a little child running happily under Ganymede constellation, under the shower of January snow.
"Milo…wake up…," the young woman's voice was once again filled with sobs.
He knew how it felt to be dying. Often. Like those in front of the Wailing Wall…and right now.
When he was dying he always could clearly see certain things that happened in his past. In the form of dreams, he saw wonderful things.
His former dreams appeared once more, like kind of three different sketches with certain thread. The pictures in which Camus watching Pingu, his sleepwalking, the onion soup…
"Whenever you want me to cook the soup again…just tell me…I'll cook it for you…"
So many promises to be fulfilled…
So many responsibilities to be done…
"Milo, wake up, please…"
…
"Milo…?"
Slowly, very slowly, he finally opened his wonderful blue eyes.
xxx
Kido's mansion.
Camus has traveled around every corners of Kido's mansion, but he still couldn't find Milo. He only found the pendant which was left on Hades's floor.
"Have you found him, Camus?" asked Mu when Camus has entered the common room. All Goldies were gathering there right now.
Camus shook his head slowly.
"Don't worry about him, you know him so well," said Kanon encouragingly. "When he found out Hades has to leave this house, he must jump in the air cheerfully then immediately blasted to Shinjuku or somewhere else."
Camus watched his fellows in silent. He really wanted to believe in Kanon's words, yet he couldn't forget the sudden feeling that haunted him some moments ago. He felt strange…as if something very serious has happened to his best friend.
He tried to sweep away the bad thoughts in his mind. Just imagine he's in Shinjuku and having fun…buying some clothes or something, he thoughts. Yet although the thoughts of Milo buying clothes could make him felt better, he still felt something had gone wrong.
"So Hades is away!" yelled Shura in delight. "Let's sing YMCA again!"
"No singing, Shura," Shion said sternly. "We'll talk about the plan to meet Poseidon."
Everybody turned quiet. They realized they hadn't really talked about Poseidon, as they were afraid both Hades and Rhadamanthys could catch them in the act.
"Two hundred years ago, Athena asked Degel and Kardia to apply for Poseidon's assistance," Shion started. "It was done because Hades's wickedness had been in excess of any usual crimes. Therefore…"
Shion paused when the phone was suddenly ringing. Saga marched at the phone and picked it up.
"Hello?"
Saga listened for a while.
His heart was beating so fast when hearing the news the caller told him…
"What are you talking about…?" Saga whispered after he went quiet for so long.
He listened again, and right now his throat was like being choked.
No…
No, it can't be…it's impossible…
"What do you mean with—he never has such disease…," Saga whispered. He listened again for a while.
"Fine…thank you…," he said. The conversation ended.
His fellows were so anxious that they couldn't even asked about what was going on.
"He passed away…," Saga whispered after silence for a long time. "Milo passed away…"
…………………..
"Hades's pendant killed him…he…," Saga's voice broke. "He has heart disease…the same as Scorpio Kardia…"
"What are you talking about, Saga?! Where is he now?!" Aiolia suddenly marched at Saga and shook his body. "Who called you?! How come Milo suddenly disappeared from this house?!"
"Hyoga…," Saga answered. "It was Hyoga who called me…"
"Hyo—"
"Hyoga and Kiki were trying to enter this house, as usual… When they passed Hades's window they saw Milo collapsed then immediately brought him to the hospital…but Milo…died…two hours later…"
It was so difficult to mention the word "died"…
Now was Aiolia's turn to shed tears…
"It…it can't be…," he whispered. "Now…we—we have to go to the hospital and check whether he's really dead or not!" Aiolia marched on the door. He waited his fellows to move, but no one did. No one had even the slightest will to leave their places…
"Why're you still standing there?!" snapped Aiolia. "Let's go to see whether it's really Milo or not!"
Then Aiolia discovered by himself that no one wanted to go to the hospital because they didn't want to see Milo's corpse….
Mu's tears fell. Then Kanon's. So was Aldebaran's. Then the others, except Camus. Camus didn't cry at all.
The room soon was covered with sobs and laments. They really couldn't believe it…this was impossible…the candlelight in Kido's mansion…the most sociable young man among them…the most loyal one…. So funny that his pranks had been the most irritating things for the Gold saints to cope…but why was now it became the things they really yearned…?
Was it true they would never see his blue curls again…?
It felt like forever until finally Shion broke the silence.
"Poseidon," he said with broken, yet clear voice.
"Shion…they still have to cope with Milo's death…can't you understand…?" whispered Aiolos.
"We've got no time," stated Shion. "Hades will come back within three days, we have to be quick. In three days some of us will go to Greece to see Julian Solo."
Shion watched his inferiors sobbed thicker than before.
"The pendant has killed one victim," stressed Shion then. "Who can guarantee it won't kill more? If you want more victims died because of the pendant's evilness than fine, we won't ask for anybody's assistance."
"Alright then, Master…," said Mu as he wiped away his tears. His voice was extremely broken, his eyes were extremely swollen. "Who will go there?"
Shion mentioned Dohko, Shaka, Saga, and Kanon's names. He really meant to pick those who had the most outstanding powers. Shion himself would join them.
"For you whose names I have mentioned, prepare everything right now. Once again we don't have all times."
Shaka, Dohko, Saga, and Kanon did what Shion had ordered. Shion followed then.
On the way to the Goldies's room Shaka was about to approach Camus, but he finally decided not to.
Meanwhile the others were still doing laments. Most of them still dropping many tears, mourning someone who has been so special in their hearts.
Milo…Milo…, Aiolia whispered as his tears fell.
They were so busy crying their hearts out that they weren't aware Camus was walking to the Gold saints' room as well.
"May I go to Siberia for a while?" was the only question Camus asked when he met Shion in the room.
Shion gazed at him. He didn't know why Camus suddenly wanted to go to Siberia, but soon he could understand: people had their own ways to cure their pains…
"Yes," Shion nodded and smiled slightly. "Sure."
Camus replied with slight nods. He stepped to the cupboard and took a few clothes, then put them in his rucksack. Shion still gazed at him. He wondered what Camus felt when he opened the cupboard which was also keeping Milo's clothes.
When Camus finished he directly stepped to the door.
Suddenly Shaka called him.
"Hm?" replied Camus.
Shaka hummed a little, and second later Biki came and perched on Camus's shoulder.
"Bring Biki with you," said Shaka.
"What for?" asked Camus with no expression.
"Biki wants to accompany you."
Camus gazed at the bird for a time, then nodded once more. "Thank you," he said as he left the room.
The others continued packing their clothes. They have just realized they've watched Camus since he'd entered the room.
Shion felt his vision got blurry when he put his clothes into his luggage. He remembered…two weeks ago Athena suddenly came to his temple and told him about Hades's revival, the selling of the house, the fact that Hades would buy it, and many others.
But she didn't tell him it would bring death…she didn't tell him Hades owned a pendant which could destroy somebody's heart…. All the things she told was Hades would occupy the house, and probably they would need Poseidon's assistance to solve the problem.
Shion tried so hard not to cry. He also tried so hard to erase slight hatred he suddenly felt toward his goddess…
xxx
East Siberia, four hours later.
Camus laid his back on the back of the couch and stared at the ceilings.
Have you really passed away…?
He couldn't understand this…he and Milo had very strong bond—if Milo had passed away he must feel it. But strangely his intuition was vague… He still didn't want to believe Milo has died. On the other side he was so afraid of thinking Milo was still alive…he was afraid of hoping too much…
He really wanted to go to hospital Saga has mentioned to check all by himself. Yet when he entered the Golds' room to ask for Shion's permission, his mouth failed to say it; instead he was saying, "May I go to Siberia for a while?"
That was completely insane…Siberia had nothing to do with this. Then he realized: maybe he needed it. Maybe he needed to go away from the damn house to cope with this.
Camus closed his eyes. He still couldn't cry. No…no…he couldn't feel anything. He couldn't hate, he couldn't be sad, he couldn't feel angry, he couldn't…he couldn't feel…he was completely numb…
Milo…
Why didn't you tell me…?
Camus decided to go outside. Maybe the cold breezes and the white land could make him got better.
He was wrong.
Even when he stood in the middle of the land he still couldn't feel anything. People would think it was normal for he was a warrior of ice whose feelings have been blocked and sealed. But it was totally untrue: he could feel. Despite of his coldness he had a heart of snow…so soft…so pure…. And once again, he could feel…
Now he couldn't…
Camus wondered whether Milo felt the same way when he was killed in the twelve temples battle. But how could he understand Milo's feeling; he himself couldn't understand his own…
"Camus…!"
Camus switched his vision to the front. Someone called him. A woman, for the exact.
"It isn't true, is it..?" whispered Shaina when she finally reached Camus and clutched his arms so tight. "I heard that he's…," she couldn't mention the word "dead". "I….I don't believe it…! I have to confirm it to you….they said you took a flight to Siberia and I immediately come here as well…"
Camus only gazed at her impassively.
"Tell me it isn't true…," tears began to fill her eyes. "You're his best friend…you must be able to feel whether he's really died or not…"
"I don't know," said Camus. "I can't feel anything right now…"
"He can't die now…," her tears fell, shortly the Siberian wind turned it into ice drop. "Tell me it isn't true…tell me he's alright….tell me this is a prank and I'll be alright, Camus…I beg you…"
When Camus didn't say anything she soon lost all strength that was left in her. She sobbed in heartrending voice…then dropped her knees on the snowy ground. All her tears became ice soon after she dropped them, but she didn't care…
Really…she was ready to sacrifice her feeling…so ready to see him having relationship with another woman…
But please don't take him this fast…please let me let him know that I really care about him…
I haven't told him how much I love him…
She sobbed the way she never sobbed before. The ragged wind of Siberia that slapped her face was nothing compared to the extreme pain in her heart…
Camus only gazed at her solemnly. Still he couldn't cry. He let the wind blew his hair until his fringe totally covered his eyes.
Just like a sad sketch: a man was standing silently in the middle of white land. In front of him there was a woman who sobbed and did laments.
Two people who loved and lost…
xxx
The next day.
Morning has come. The hut was lit by the ray of the pale sun. He sat on his couch with laying his back on its backside. His eyes gazed at mantel of the fireplace which was perched by Shaka's beloved Biki. His left arm encircling a young woman's shoulder, a woman whose head was attached on his chest—she was sleeping deeply.
Camus brought her to his hut after she had been crying for about an hour. He and Shaina then took a seat on the couch. Suddenly Shaina fell into his arms, collapse. Camus could only hugged her and decided not to move from the couch, as he didn't have any strength to stand up.
At midnight she opened her eyes, and cried again. Her tears soaked Camus's t-shirt. She kept crying until finally she was tired and fell asleep.
Camus still couldn't cry. He even didn't say any word to encourage her. All he did was only hugging her, sometimes stroked her hair.
She woke up when it has been eight a.m. Her eyes were extremely swollen; it seemed like she has run out of tears. She looked at Camus's eyes, so did the opposite.
"You didn't cry…," Shaina said softly.
Camus didn't reply.
Shaina then released herself from Camus's embrace. She stood up, combed her hair with her hand, and walked to the door.
"I have to go," she said, still with a very soft voice.
"I'll accompany you."
"You don't have to," she smiled. "I can go home all by myself."
Camus stood up slowly and stepped at her.
"Do I look horrible?" Shaina asked with childish tone.
"No," answered Camus, smiled slightly. "You're beautiful."
She let out wide smile. "Thank you…Thank you for everything."
"Take care of yourself."
"You too."
She got out of the hut and walked away, facing the wild wind and the distressing weather.
Camus watched her until she was out of sight. He came back and directly grabbed the phone. Suddenly he thought of calling Hyoga.
"Hyoga?" he asked after he pressed Hyoga's numbers. "Are you still in the hospital…?...how…how's Milo…?"
Camus listened. His eyes went impassive after hearing Hyoga's answer. "Oh…," he murmured. "So he has been cremated…"
At the hospital, Hyoga nodded softly. "Yes…yes, Sensei…"
For quite long time Hyoga didn't hear anything from his teacher, until finally Camus said. "Ok…take care of yourself," and ended the conversation.
Hyoga gazed at the phone with tears filled his eyes. His hands were trembling. Really…lying to his teacher wasn't like lying to the others…
He turned his vision to the bed, gazing at the man with blue hair who also looked at him in silent.
"Milo…," whispered Saori as he grasped Milo's hand. "Are you sure with this…?"
Milo smiled and nodded slightly. "I'm sure," he said. "It's easier to defeat Hades when everybody thinks I'm dead. I can totally help you to do you plan, Princess Saori…."
Saori gazed at the young man with uncertain feelings. She still could clearly remember the unpredictable things happened yesterday…
She teleported to Kido's mansion, just wanted to see the condition of her house and sneaked to the window to steal a look at her saints. Yes, she had a plan, but she needed to have a knowledge about how her house was right now, so the plan could be done perfectly.
Then she heard screams of pain from her former room. She marched to the window of her former room, completely shocked seeing Milo who was suffering excruciating pains. She wanted to get in, but the window was locked. She then took a stone and ready to destroy it. At the same time Kiki and Hyoga appeared from nowhere—they didn't even have any time to be surprised on Saori's presence. Kiki suggested they'd better teleporting to the room. Three of them teleported and Saori instantly ran to Milo, who began to collaps. She thought Milo had passed away when she took the pendant off, hugged him, and cried on his shoulder. But when Hyoga examined his veins, he still could feel very weak heartbeats. In a very panic state Kiki held Milo's hand and soon teleported to the hospital. Minutes later Kiki came back to teleport Hyoga and Saori.
Hyoga was about to phone the other Goldies whilst Milo was brought to the ICU by large numbers of doctors, but Milo kept talking in his sleep….
"Don't…tell…anybody…," he whispered. So weak…so soft…yet Hyoga, Saori, and Kiki could clearly hear it.
"Don't…tell…Camus…Don't…tell…any…one…"
The time when Milo was under the intensive care of the doctors were the most agonizing moment in their lives…. The doctors did whatever surgery to Milo for about four hours. When they got out, one of them stated that Milo had a very acute heart disease which could kill him at anytime, and that his heart almost damaged because of something that couldn't be explained by medical knowledge… It was miracle Milo was still alive…. The damage surely would result in more frequent heart failures in the future, from which the doctors said Milo must be given more surgeries when his condition had been quite stable.
"Um…Princess Saori," said Milo then. "We can delay the surgeries, can't we…?"
Saori nodded in sadness. "I think the scientists in Graud Foundation know how to cure you…but right now it's too risky to entrust your life to Graud Foundation since it is still under Hades's possession…"
Milo replied with slight nods. He then looked at Hyoga and Kiki, who stood in grief.
"I think since we have known about you presence, you have to tell us everything, Princess Saori," said Milo. He smiled as he ruffled Kiki's hair. "Don't tell anyone, especially your master, will you?"
"Yes, Milo…," replied Kiki, tears filled his eyes.
"When you want to trick your enemy you have to trick your friends as well," said Milo when he looked at Hyoga. "Don't tell anyone especially your master, will you, Cygnus?"
Hyoga didn't answer. He sank his body on the couch. He could imagine the Gold saints', especially Camus's feeling…for thinking that Milo has left them forever…
Milo considered Hyoga's gesture as 'yes'. He a little bit bowed his head when silence began to wrap the room.
As time went by, Milo began to feel heat in his eyes…then hot tears finally streamed down his cheeks. He didn't know what he really cried for…. His heart disease…? The woman he loved…? Kido's mansion? His fellows…? Or else…? He didn't know…he suddenly wanted to shed tears, and there he was…
Saori couldn't help to cry as well. She thought that these all were her fault…
"This won't last forever, will it…?" Milo asked softly as he looked at Saori's eyes. "We'll get Kido's mansion back and everything will turn normal…"
"Yes…," whispered Saori.
Other warm tears streamed down Milo's cheeks…
Now he knew why he was crying…
"Because I still have a lot of promises to fulfill…," Milo's voice broke.
"I know…," sobbed Saori as he hugged Milo and stroked his blue hair softly. "This won't last forever, Milo…. I promise…"
The room was once again filled with thick silence. Both Hyoga and Kiki only could hear Saori and Milo's sobs. And their own…
I'm sorry I have to do this…, Milo whispered in his heart.
But someday I'll make you know I don't bid you valediction this fast …
For I still have a lot of promises to fulfill…Camus…
xxx
Next:
Home Sweet Home: Saori's Secret