Chapter 17

Après

"That's it?" asked Kanon after he discovered he still managed to talk.

"No…," Athena answered, her fringe totally covered her eyes. "It's not over…."

"Wh…what do you mean, Princess…?"

Athena suddenly snapped Poseidon's trident, then threw it harshly to the floor.

Poseidon widened his eyes. "What are you doing, Athena?"

"I'll tell you what I'm doing," replied Athena. She raised her staff high, and Poseidon was enraged when he acknowledged the thing Athena was about to do… "No, don't do that—"

"Yes, Poseidon!"

"NO! ATHENA—"

Poseidon was late—he was unable to reach Athena when she swung her staff at the trident and destroyed it into pieces, just like what she did to Hades's pendant.

…

Poseidon panted…

…it was destroyed…

His beloved trident…was destroyed…

"You…"

"Forgive me, Poseidon…but the root of this mess is your trident…," whispered Athena. She looked definitely devastated. "Hades envied your trident…that's the reason why he handcrafting those cursed pendants…"

"You mean it was only me?!" snapped Poseidon. "You mean you don't have any responsibility with this?! He envies you as well, otherwise he wouldn't sabotage your house and—"

"Right," cut Athena.

Poseidon blinked when Athena threw her Nike staff on the floor, producing a "clank!" sound.

He stood stricken on his place when the staff slowly quivering…

…then broken into pieces as well as his trident and Hades's pendant.

"Athena…", her saints whispered.

"Always about the thirst of power…," Athena whispered again. She dropped her knees to the floor…then gazed at the fragments of Hades's pendant, Poseidon's trident, and her staff with tears filled her eyes.

"Why did you do this?" asked Poseidon quietly. "Why you destroy your Nike as well? You always use it for justice, but you choose to destroy it."

"Not only my staff…," said Athena. "Maybe we also need to break all of the Olympians' attributes…. Zeus's thunderbolt, Apollo's harp, Aphrodite's arrow of love, the Helm of Invisibility…all of their attributes… We always envy each other…that's the reason. That's why the Olympians never could get along with each other…because each of us always envy the other's, trying to seek more and more powers, trying to surpass each other…. Jealousy, Poseidon. You think why Shakespeare's kind-hearted Othello killed the one he loved most…? You think why he killed that Desdemona…? Jealousy…."

She looked definitely exhausted that she suddenly turned to speak about Shakespeare.

Poseidon knelt in front of her. Slowly he put his hand on her shoulders.

He couldn't believe he could do this…he couldn't believe he could show compassion to a woman who's been his enemy since the era of myths. As if it wasn't enough, he also could understand the burden Athena had to endure. He could feel how tired she was…

At least he agreed with Hades about one thing.

Maybe he indeed has really changed…

Poseidon then helped Athena to stand up. "It won't be a bad idea, destroying the deities's attributes," he said. "I will be very glad to assist you."

Athena looked at him steadily…

…then she finally let out a smile.

"Thank you," she whispered.

She then turned her head to her saints. Her eyes gazed at the one who wasn't supposed to stand there.

"Why you did it, Rhadamanthys…?" she asked. She voiced the question which has been haunting all the people there.

Rhadamanthys approached her. He was quiet for a while, seemed thinking about the best words to start.

"I want to ask for your help," he said unexpectedly.

"What help?"

"Please revive Lady Pandora."

Then he knelt in front of her.

"I will do anything," he continued with bowing his head. "Please revive her…Athena."

Athena soon knelt as well and grasped his shoulders warmly.

Meanwhile the others were once again mesmerized by the event happened in that hall…. Nobody had ever thought one of the judges of Hades could betray his master and kneeling in front of his enemy for the sake of a woman… Nobody had ever thought his love toward Pandora could be that tough…

"I will do anything," Rhadamanthys said again. "I've thought about this. Since I saw Lady Pandora's picture at lord Hades's gallery, I've known I need her to come back. Lord Hades won't ever fulfill my request, but I really hope you will."

"Rhadamanthys…reviving people is not my territory," said Athena softly. "It wasn't me who revived my saints…I have no power to revive anyone…"

Rhadamanthys looked disappointed for a while…but soon he nodded in an understanding which even startled Athena herself.

"I see," he said.

"But maybe I can ask for it."

"Really?"

Athena smiled and nodded. Of course she didn't tell him reviving people was not as simple as saying "I want blab la bla to be revived". There's more to it than meet the eye.

Rhadamanthys nodded as well then. Athena guided him to stand up, and afterwards, he said, "I have no business again here."

He walked to the door, apparently wasn't aware that all of the people's eyes now were staring at him.

"Where are you going?" asked Kanon quietly.

Rhadamanthys turned his head and rolled his eyes. "Going to the bar with Minos, Lune, and Aiacos? Minos probably will collapse when I tell him lord Hades has vanished, but that's a risk."

"Hmmm," replied Kanon.

"Why? Do you expect me to stay with the Gold Saints here?" Rhadamanthys smirked.

"You're kidding," grumbled Kanon, but there was slight smile on his face.

"Oh, before I forget," said Rhadamanthys, "You know all of your rooms are locked by lord Hades. The keys are kept by me in my room. Feel free to take them back."

"Thanks."

"And give my regards to your bird, Virgo Shaka."

Shaka blinked.

Before he could ask what Rhadamanthys meant, Rhadamanthys has walked and passed the door.

Finally, the same as Hades, he left the house…

…forever…

"I wonder where he will stay," murmured Dohko.

"Speaking of the word "stay"," said Athena slowly as she looked at Poseidon. "Regarding that your trident has been destroyed, Poseidon, surely the spell you've given to Kanon has broken as well, hasn't it?"

The others blinked.

Yes, of course it was…

No wonder Kanon felt as if a big burden left his head and shoulders when Poseidon's trident was destroyed… The spell which bounded him about he would serve Poseidon forever surely has gone.

"Kanon…," Saga suddenly hugged his brother tight. "You're free!" he yelled in delight.

"Don't be too glad, Gemini," Poseidon soon cut. His eyes narrowed. He looked impassive when Saga and Kanon looked at him with frowns.

"If Gemini Kanon is really a man," he said in a low voice. "He will keep staying with me to wash what he had done to me some moments ago. You know, I still don't think tricking a deity is as simple as tricking a five years old child."

Kanon's heart shrunk. He gazed at the floor.

Athena helped him.

"If you still want Kanon to be your servant, Poseidon, please be fair. He is my saint as well, please…at least you permit him to stay with you two weeks in every month, then in another two weeks, he'll return to Kido's mansion."

"Two weeks in Poseidon's castle and two weeks in your mansion?" Poseidon raised his eyebrows. "That's too much. Three weeks in my mansion and a week in yours, I will accept that."

"Two a half weeks in your mansion and one a half weeks in mine," Athena bargained again.

"Twenty days in my mansion and ten days in yours. This is the last bargain," stated Poseidon, slightly snarled.

"Julian…can't you just forgive him…?"

"No way," replied Poseidon stubbornly. "And haven't I said if he's really a man, he would stay with me to wash his sin. If he's not willing to wash his sin, then he is not a man. That simple."

"Athena, it's alright," murmured Kanon at last, still gazing at the floor. "Regarding that it's lord Poseidon, ten days in your mansion is more than enough. I will keep being his servant to prove that I am responsible towards my fault."

Slowly he raised his head. The only thing that disturbed him now was he was so afraid he would disappoint his brother with this…

Yet when he looked at Saga, he saw him smiling with proud. Saga's face was beaming when grasping his shoulders firmly.

"You know," said Saga warmly. "You're the only saint which is seized by two deities."

Kanon laughed, so did the others.

"Saga really reaaaaaaaaallllllllyyyy cares about you, Kanon," chuckled Shura, and the others's laughters became louder and louder. Saga and Kanon only replied with glares.

The atmosphere immediately turned relaxing. Mu approached Kiki and told him about how pale he was.

"I'm alright, Master Mu…!" said Kiki cheerfully. "I'm healthy now, see…I've recovered—" Kiki suddenly coughed, caused Mu to shook his head and laughed slightly. "You still have to take a rest, Kiki," he said as he patted Kiki's back. He then turned his head to Shaka. "Do you happen to understand about what Rhadamanthys means?"

"No, I do not have any idea," said Shaka thoughtfully. "I have some theories though…I think I will just ask Biki about this…," he smiled serenely as he patted Kiki's back as well.

The Bronzies meanwhile were encircling Shun and forced him to tell them about his "adventure" when he stole Hades's pendant.

"I don't want to talk about it…," sighed Shun.

"Come on, Shun, pleaaaaaaaazzzzeeee…!!!"

"It wasn't as entertaining as you've thought!" Shun slightly snarled.

"Shun, I have to discover what my brother did so he could get away from being strangled by Hades," said Ikki flatly.

Shun took a deep breath, then said, "Lyre Orpheous's song—"

"WHATZZ??!! YOU THOUGHT ABOUT ORPHEE?!!" cut the bronzies with exaggerate excitement.

Shun got slightly blushed. "Yes…well, technically…"

And he began to tell them the whole story.

In another corner, Aiolia and Marin smiled to each other.

"It's over," said Marin affectionately. "I've told you about being patient."

"Yes, it's proven," said Aiolia. "Ummm…you know…," he got a bit blushed. "I wonder if…ummm…well…I'll order two tickets of opera…no, not opera…play, I mean…from Homer's Odysseus…a story about Trojan War…I wonder if both of us—"

Aiolia didn't continue, because Marin suddenly cupped his face and kissed his cheek.

She smiled beautifully then. Aiolia smiled as well before caressing her hair. "I interpret it as 'yes'," he said, replied by Marin's beautiful laughter.

"All turns normal," said Shion as he gazed at his inferiors, who seemed very happy and free. Dohko sat beside him, replied him with slight nods. He chuckled when seeing Aphrodite was enraged, for Deathmask suddenly seized his mirror.

"Give me my mirror, Masky!" he snarled.

"What are you gazing at that mirror for?!"

"I've realized I've turned paler since an hour ago; I wonder if the color of my face has turned into normal!"

"It's just…," sighed Dohko after several minutes. He now gazed at Aiolos and Shura, who discussed about the best day to renovate the house (of course they didn't want to keep up those gothic interiors…). "We still can't forecast how long," he continued.

"Just think positively, Dohko," said Shion encouragingly. "Saints indeed will never have a rest. But at least as we're unified as one…everything'll be alright," his eyes turned gloomy when he looked at Degel's incarnation who looked more silent than the others. "Though there's been something missing…," said Shion in a soft voice.

"Come on!" Seiya finally yelled in excitement. "Maybe we should celebrate our gathering with little party!"

His idea was replied with enthusiastic tones by the others. Athena's eyes were sparkling when she offered Poseidon to join this party.

"As you wish," responded Poseidon, though there was slight reluctance in his voice.

"Maybe karaoke will be really fun!" beamed Aldebaran.

"Great, Aldebaran!!"

All people were wandering happily to the common room.

"Sensei?" Hyoga called when seeing his teacher was still standing at his place.

"Yes?" Camus smiled looking at his student.

"You'll join the party, won't you?" asked Hyoga enthusiastically.

"Umm…no…I think I'll just stay in my room…"

"Come on, Sensei, at least join us for some moments or so."

"I'm a bit sleepy, child," said Camus. He still smiled. "It's ok. You join the party and have fun," Camus said as he grasped Hyoga's shoulders firmly, then turned around and heading to Rhadamanthys's room to take the keys of his and his fellows's bedrooms.

"Sensei…."

Camus turned around again, looking at his student. "Yes?"

Hyoga was about to tell him…he would do anything to make his teacher glad, including telling him that Milo was alive, that Milo couldn't stop thinking about him since he was leaving him.

But no words came out…except…

"Goodnight…"

Camus smiled once more, nodded, then continued his steps.

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After Camus has taken the keys from Rhadamanthys's room, he put them one by one into the keyholes of his fellows' door.

The last room he reached was Milo's.

He stood up in front of Milo's room for some times…before finally unlocking his door then opened it.

Milo's room was still the same. Nothing changed. Hades didn't change the decoration as he did to the rooms outside. Camus bet that none of the saints' bedrooms were renovated, because he was sure Hades wouldn't blaspheme his hands even to enter the saints' bedrooms.

Camus looked at the surroundings for a while. All were in their right places, the cupboard, the computer, the television, the bed, the desk. He then stepped slowly to Milo's desk which located straight underneath the window. He opened the window before sitting in front of the desk. Fireworks were still decorating the skies, producing amusing explosion and bright stardust.

Camus smiled slightly, remembering that Milo would be really happy to see those fireworks. Maybe he would even choose to see fireworks than karaoke.

His vision then turned to the photograph on Milo's desk. He reached it slowly, then gazing at it, smiling. It was his and Milo's photograph. Both of them looked so happy: Milo hugged him from behind, laughing, and Camus himself was smiling. Camus couldn't believe he'd ever smiled that cheerful and wide.

His deep blue eyes kept gazing at the photograph…and soon his vision got blurry when he remembered every moment he has spent with his best friend…he remembered Milo always stayed beside him everytime he needed him…he remembered he hasn't enough telling him he was so proud to have him as his best friend…

And above all…he felt pain in his heart remembering that he could never do the same as Milo did… He never acknowledged Milo got heart disease…probably Milo even got heart failures several times but he didn't know it… He felt he never could stay beside Milo when Milo needed him…

And now he couldn't fix it. Because he's gone… Camus has lost all chances…

Two hot teardrops finally streamed down Camus's cheeks…

"Milo…," he whispered. He began to sob softly when he put his hand on his eyes and let his tears dropped on his and Milo's photograph… He could only cry alone in Milo's room, realizing that he really longed for him more than anything right now…

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About thirty minutes later in center hospital…

Milo looked outside the window, gazing at the fireworks which colored the sky. He smiled slightly, thinking about his fellows who surely were celebrating their freedom from Hades now. He has been informed by Saori that Hades's pendant has broken and he has returned to his abode in Olympus mountain. At least one of his burdens has left him now.

He turned his head when hearing the knocks on the door.

"Come in," he said.

The door was opened and Saori appeared. She smiled at him, so did the opposite.

"How are you?" she asked when she approached his bed.

"The best," Milo smiled warmly.

"I'll take you to Graud Foundation tomorrow."

"Thank you, Princess," he was silent for a while before asking. "How's home?"

"Oh they made a party," Saori answered with slight chuckle. "I had to ask for their permission after twenty minutes, I said I have some business to do."

"Yes…," he went silent again.

Saori knew what Milo was about to ask, though.

"Shaina is alright," she said. "She joined the party and looked happy. There are some times when her eyes turned gloomy, but it wasn't for long. And Camus…," she bowed her head a little. "I didn't see him in the party. Hyoga said he went straight to his room."

"He doesn't like party," Milo chuckled slightly.

Saori smiled and grasped Milo's shoulders.

"Better you take a rest now," she said softly. "You have to go to the Graud Foundation early in the morning tomorrow."

"Yes, Princess," he changed his position and laying his head on the pillow.

He smiled at Saori before closing his eyes. "Goodnight, Princess…."

"Goodnight, Milo…," she smiled. "Have a nice dream…"

He did have a nice dream…

He gazed happily at the fireworks in the sky…with his best friend beside him….

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