This is Kathrine, Ducky's beta. Yeah, sorry for the long wait in the updating. Lots of miscommunication and screwed up emailing going on here. For some reason I wasn't able to send the attachments back to her every time I tried. So it's not really her fault for now having the next chapter out to you. But I have a new computer and it seems that everything has been fixed, so expect things to come along a little (or a lot) quicker that it has in the past. Thank you for your patience.
Chapter 4
Hyoga entered his room and sat heavily on his bed. His body was weary and his soul felt cold. A shiver ran up his arms and he rubbed at them absently to chase the chilled feeling - in vain. He took off his shoes and pants and laid down on the bed, pulling the sheets over him.
He stared at the ceiling, letting his thoughts drift. He had really done it. He had broken his oath towards Athena. He was a Saint no more.
Athena would be forced to follow her own rules and punish him for what he had done. His friends would probably despise him for it. Especially Seiya. His sense of duty being as strong as it was.
All he could hope for now was that Ikki would understand at least, and forgive him. He would definitely be glad that he was gone, given the danger Hyoga had always been to his brother.
He felt tears sting his eyes, but they stayed unshed. He had given up everything for his friends. For his friendship to them was all that really mattered to him. They were like pieces of his soul and his only reason for living in the first place.
He felt a dark heaviness invade his body and thoughts, slowly creeping up on him. His eyes were hard to keep open and he closed them as his physical and mental exhaustion caught up with him, pushing him into sleep.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
He didn't awaken for a long time and slept through the next morning. Even after he did awake, he had a hard time getting out of bed. He had never been a heavy sleeper before. All Saints, or trainees, were used to getting up at an early hour to train. But his whole body was still aching.
He finally managed to sit up, knees pulled up, elbows leaned on them and his face buried in his hands.
He did indeed feel stronger than the day before, just like the old woman had said, but the wide chasm in his soul was still as cold and deep as it had been at first.
"Like a bird that can't fly anymore?" he remembered her words. And that was exactly how he felt. As if some part of himself was simply…missing.
Hyoga sighed and got up. Stepping in the bathroom, he took a shower and absently dressed into new clothes. He then opened the small box on the sink, took out one of the lenses, applied some liquid on it, put it on his eye and then repeated the same with the second lens for the other eye.
He blinked a few times and then looked at the mirror, glancing at a young man he didn't recognize. He still had the same features, but the darker hair and the dark-brown eyes looked alien to him. But something else was wrong in the mirror image. Something he couldn't pinpoint exactly. As if something important, something defining him as Hyoga, had disappeared.
He closed his eyes for a second and left the bathroom to start packing.
His plane was leaving in four hours.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The check-in went smoothly and nobody seemed to question the veracity of his identity. He was really thankful that Dimitri Kavolsky had booked him a first-class ticket, since he was still aching and exhausted. So he spent the whole flight relatively comfortable, sleeping.
Once the plane arrived in Moscow, he had to take a shorter flight to the remote part of the land, where Natasha Karow held the people under her command with power, money, and authority.
Of course, she was not a real queen or even royal, but she had the money to keep control over all people on the land she owned, which was a small country in itself. From what Hyoga had gathered from the files, she had built herself a palace and was in one way or another responsible for the people's income and survival. All of the people were her employees in one way or another, since she held all of the power in her hands. Life in Russia had never been easy, not in the times of the Czars, nor after their fall.
Natasha was smart enough to make sure her people had a relatively good life, which ensured her their loyalty. Also, they would willingly overlook that she was a little eccentric. And none of them cared for outsiders, especially a young Japanese boy she held against his will.
They probably couldn't care less about the people in Tokyo she threatened either. If they even knew about it in the first place, which Hyoga doubted seriously.
Hyoga retrieved his luggage and stepped out of the small Airport-terminal into the freezing wind of Russia. He stopped and felt the biting cold creep up his body, despite the warm, thick coat he had put on. He suppressed a shiver, and looked at his breath, which turned into white mist, each time he exhaled. He had just left the airport in Moscow and only now did he truly feel the cold. It was a sensation he wasn't used to anymore.
The few times he remembered that he had felt cold, had been during his fights with the other ice-Saints and with Hagen. But it had been different. It had been an attack. Violence and aggression, combined with pain. This was a passive cold; something he had last felt as a child, in the earliest days of his training. It was not painful, like in the fights, but unpleasant enough, and unusual.
He ignored it and moved on his way to the only hotel in the town.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hyoga spent the next two days strolling through the streets of the town and the forests around the castle, which lay a few kilometers outside of town.
It was an old-looking building in a classic European style with thick, protective walls and a couple of high towers. It was bordered on one side by a forest and a wide field on the other side. Only one single road led towards it, and Hyoga realized that there were very few cars, mostly dogsleds or snowmobiles. It was early harvest, and the snow which covered the ground was thin, but hard for cutting and sharp as glass, because of the chilling nights.
He could use this to his advantage.
He knew that he would have to flee with Shun, once he had found him and disarmed the bombs. They would have to flee through the woods, trying to reach the border of Natasha's sphere of influence. The snowmobiles could not go there, because of the difficult ground, and the dogs would only cut their paws in the hard snow.
Hyoga sneaked from the forest towards the castle and stopped about one hundred meters from the steep wall, hiding behind some trees. The former Saint didn't want to be spotted yet, or his rescue mission would end before it had even started.
He searched for a good hiding place and found a hollow trunk of a dead tree. Contently he swung his well-filled travel bag from his shoulder, stuffing it into the hole. Then he covered the opening with a couple of loose branches to hide it from the eventual passersby.
After having taken care of everything, he threw one last look back at the castle. "Soon, my brother. I will get you out of there," he silently wowed. Then he retreated as carefully as he had come.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Igor was annoyed. He was Miss Karow's right hand and disliked the days of new employment. He considered himself above this task, but his mistress demanded that he would check out the new employees carefully. She was a cautious woman, almost paranoiac, and trusted only a very few number of people. He was one of them. And she was on her guard especially now. Miss Karow was not stupid and knew that Athena's Saints would not just give up their companion so easily. She supposed that they would try everything they could to get him back, without endangering Tokyo's inhabitants. He was convinced of that too, but he didn't think any offensive action on their part would occur in the immediate future. They would first try to search for the bombs, and then talk to her again about a diplomatic solution. Maybe try to get Russia's government to help them, which of course would prove to be fruitless. They had better things to do, and Athena and her Saints had no proof of their claims.
Athena was a Goddess and her Saints were the best, almost inhumanely strong warriors. But they were also very predictable.
He opened the heavy wooden door, which led to the large courtyard in the center of the huge fortress, in between the main house, stables and rooms for the employees.
About twenty young men and women stood in the cold wind, waiting for him. By the wall, a few meters off, stood three men and one older woman, who would instruct the new ones in their duties.
He had read all their files and applications and all he needed to do now, was to take a look at them to determine, if he would stick with his first choice, or if any of them could be a danger to his mistress.
They were searching for two maids, one stable boy, one for kitchen-help, and two new servants for the mistress' new boy-toy. He smiled at this. The young warrior had the face of an angel, and was very beautiful. That was the reason why she had chosen him, but her interest would falter sooner or later. It had happened before. She would make his life a misery and in the end kill him, like all her previous boy-toys. He would have servants, and could go almost anywhere he wanted in the castle, but he was still a prisoner. And the chains holding him were his honor and duty as a Saint. Before, she had always needed to guard her chosen ones. Not this time. He wouldn't dare to oppose her, as long as she still had the bombs.
Igor directed his attention back to the aspirants gathered. He called first for the stable boy, and three young men approached. He remembered their files. Especially the one being his favorite choice. He exchanged a few words with them, and nodded then. His first impression of the files confirmed itself and he dismissed two of the boys, who walked away with disappointed faces. One of the men by the wall, a short, thin man came closer and led the remaining boy towards the stables.
He then called for the aspirants for servants for the young Japanese boy.
Eight men of all ages stepped in front of him. He smiled. He had been especially careful in selecting them. He had taken his decision and after a short inspection and a few exchanged words, he dismissed all, but two, who got led away by an elder man.
He called for the kitchen-help and the last male of the group stepped forward.
He scrutinized the young man, who was quite young – barely an adult – for a moment. He had first wondered at the fact that he had received only one acceptable application in the first place, but all the others he had received, had been so unfitting that he hadn't even ordered them here today.
The boy with brown hair had his head lowered in an almost timid way, as he stepped before him.
"Look at me, boy," he ordered.
The boy lifted his head and looked at him with expressionless dark brown eyes, hidden behind some wire-framed glasses.
Igor frowned. Those eyes were so devoid of all emotion, it was unsettling. They were strange…empty, and somehow fascinating.
He finally nodded and a large man came closer and led the boy away. Only then, did Igor realize that he had forgotten to ask any questions. But since this was the only aspirant for the Job, it was not really important anyway.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Hyoga was led into the castle by the man who had introduced himself as Ivan, chef of the kitchen, and led down some stony stairs.
"What is your name, boy?" He asked in a deep voice.
"Mikhail Tovish", he answered.
"Well, Mikhail Tovish. I can tell you right now that you're in for hard work. But if you are doing your job well, we will get along just fine."
Ivan led him into a large, old-fashioned kitchen, where several people were gathered together, working. As they entered, the others stopped their work and looked at him curiously.
"This is Mikhail." Ivan roared in his deep voice. "He will work here from now on. Alexei, come here and show him his work."
A young man in his late teens, early twenties hurried over to them. He had semi long dark hair, almost black with a reddish tone, and deep blue eyes. He grinned at Hyoga, before he took his arm by the elbow and gave him a short tug, to lead him wordlessly away from the large man.
"Hello Mikhail. I'm Alexei. Nice to meet you. So now I'm finally not the youngest anymore, it seems," he said with a wide smile and a sparkle in his eyes.
Hyoga didn't answer, but gave him a short smile.
Alexei showed him around and explained the work, what was expected from him.
"At first you will be expected to do all the dirty work around here, as long until the next young fool, stupid enough to apply for a job here will come and take that from you," he said with a wink of his eye in Hyoga's direction. Hyoga could not keep from chuckling. He liked Alexei from the first moment. The encounter with the older boy reminded him strangely of his first encounter with Isaac.
Alexei led him to the back area of the kitchen, where there were some big vats with a wooden plate on top as a cover.
"I'll show you where to bring the waste. There is a pig-farmer from outside town, who picks them up once a day. We have to carry it outside, though."
He stepped to one side and took hold of one of the two big handles, which were nailed on either side of it. Hyoga took the other handle, and together they lifted the heavy vat from the floor. Hyoga had to strain to lift it. With his Cosmo, he would have carried the whole thing without effort, and the fact that he needed so much strength for this simple task brought on a small flicker of regret, but that vanished as soon as he thought of his reasons for being here. It had taken a great amount of will power to stay indifferent as two of the aspirants had been selected to become Shun's personal servants. It would have been a much easier way to approach him, but more difficult as well. The background-check for those men was certainly more thorough and he had seen nobody around his age among the applicants. Maybe by purpose, maybe by coincidence but he would have attracted more attention for sure. He needed to be patient. His time would come. He needed to stay calm the first days. He was sure; he would be supervised closely for the time being, like all new ones.
He had risked and given up too much to spoil it all with foolish actions. Even so, he wished to see his friend as soon as possible, and knowing that he was so close, yet still unable to see if Shun was all right, was tearing at him.
"Damn, you're stronger than you look!" Alexei's voice ripped him from his thoughts as they moved their heavy load along. "I thought you wouldn't be able to lift this, even with my help. Most new ones have trouble with this until they build enough muscle for the hard work. Barely anybody who applies for this job thinks that force is needed in a kitchen."
"I grew up on a big Farm," Hyoga answered, remembering his fake background. "I had to help my father a lot with all the work."
"And what are you doing here then? If people as young as you come here for a job, they are mostly orphans who want to make something out of their lives. All others don't come here before they are at least two years older than you are."
"My parents wanted me to see a little more of the world, than just our farm", Hyoga responded carefully, knowing that people here had the tendency to consider Russia as the whole world deserving to be known.
Alexei sighed. "You're lucky, you know. I never met my parents, they ran away together when I was still a baby. I grew up with my grandmother, but she died early on when I was only a kid."
Alexei's look had a taken a deep shimmer of affection and profound sadness. He must have loved his grandmother very much, Hyoga thought. He could perfectly sympathize with the older boy, and a flicker of memory of his own mother came to the surface of his mind.
He studied Alexei a little closer. There was something else in his look, something hidden, almost longing. Hyoga dismissed it. He was here for a purpose, and this boy was not important.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Alexei spent the rest of the day, showing Mikhail his work, telling him the customs and rules here in the castle. He liked the younger boy. Mikhail was closed off, and didn't talk much, but it showed that he was used to hard work. He did everything without any complaining, and seemed to have a sharp mind.
They finished in the kitchen at eight O'clock and Alexei decided to show Mikhail around the rest of the castle.
He showed him the stables and the outer limits of the castle. The inner part, where the young mistress and her people lived, could not be penetrated easily without authorization. Hyoga accepted that with a short nod.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
At last, Alexei showed him the sleeping quarters. It was a tiny room, with two narrow, very small beds, which almost filled the whole room. Only a little nightstand stood between the two beds.
Hyoga sat on the unoccupied bed, with its sheets still folded on the top of the futon. Alexei came in as well and let himself fall on the other bed, laying on his side, facing Hyoga, head propped up on his elbow, grinning widely. "Guess who is your roommate?"
Hyoga met his eyes and smiled vaguely. He wouldn't have minded under normal circumstances, but he had been prone to nightmares, since the loss of his Cosmo three days ago. He just hoped he would not give himself away and that Alexei was a deep sleeper.