A/N: so as pointed out some time ago we will be moving on with the happenings and from now on will there be a large number of mixed feelings in the upcoming chapters…

Warning: language, mentions of child abuse – in other words, if these themes bother you then leave it out…

VIII. I don't believe in stereotypes

As fate would have it the time Shion could freely spend with Mu was over and he needed to head out to find those who were also destined to wear a Gold Cloth. Going through all the ten temples had Shion taken one small part of the cloths which would not be too heavy to carry around and made his way to the entrance of the Sanctuary. It brought both warmth and sadness to his heart to see everyone gathered beside the path leading to the gates either waving at him with a smile on they faces, wishing him a safe journey and good luck, some of the younger trainees had even picked flowers for him. Mu had followed him dutifully till the gates where they parted after hugging and a promise to return as soon when he had found the new saints.

And with that Shion had teleported away.

It was already a whole week later and Shion was making his way through one of the poorer villages of Greece trying to not let the disgust show on his face. He had decided to start the search here in Greece and then move over to new countries if none of the cloth parts should react which was the ground why he was currently walking along the dirt path between houses which looked about ready to collapse. By all means Shion had nothing against people who lived in poverty; by Athena he come from the XVIIIth century! His problem was with the people who allowed places like these to still exist and not trying to give these people paying jobs so that they could afford better living conditions for them and they families. His senses were on high alert against attacks and also asto not to step into something undesirable, the air was even outside by some of these so called 'homes' suffocating.

"I dearly hope for you that this is the right direction I need to go." he mumbled silently to the humming golden finger in his pocked.

He had woken up three hours ago and had been about to make a good use of the hotel's swedish buffet table when he felt the humming from one of the cloths, demanding that they immediately head out. As for any arguments about going after he had some cereal or at least an apple... they were thrown out of the window because Aries had enough with the nagging of his fellow cloth and forced the protesting pope out of the dining room, the hotel lobby and the building itself and they were already down the street.

Shion bit back a sigh at the situation, but he had a duty to fulfil, his stomach would have to wait for some time till he found whom he was looking for and it seemed that the Gods have decided, that with him having entertained them with his failing attempts at first time parenting, that they would be gracious to him. He had just passed a small alley on the dirty street when suddenly two flashes of blue rushed past him and ducked into the alley, his currently on alert psychical abilities supplying him with the main feeling coming from the ones whom had passed him… fear. Stopping in his tracks he could hear them hiding behind some of the overloaded wood made trash containers and then he felt it the finger started burning, but instead of relief felt Shion only grief, he will need to rethink his return to the Sanctuary, but that could wait then soon hit the sound of running his ears and the pope found himself face-to-face with a dishelmed looking man with dirty hair and beard, his clothes were ragged and seemed to have been often patched up.

"Did you see my son running around here with that thing?" he asked in a gruff voice and all pity Shion could have felt for that man got vanquished by the fact that he dared to refer to one of his own children as nothing more then an object. Back in the alley he could feel the older of the children hugging the younger, shaking one closer they fear mounting.

"To be honest I have seen two children run down the street." he could feel the children tense and he was sure that one was already looking around for an escape route or at least some type of weapon. This displeased Shion even more and he was not about to let these kids return to the place they had probably come from.

"Where did he go?" again he made no mention about the second child which unnerved Shion, it made him remember how Defteros was treated, how all of the second ones were treated.

"They had run in that direction and climbed over that fence if my eyes are still good." Shion said pointing at the fence at the end of the other little street on his left, he could feel the children exchanging confused looks with each other while they father started running into the pointed out direction. After diming the coast clear made Shion his way inside the little alley and peaked behind the children's hiding place. "Gentlemen, I doubt that this is the most sterile place for children your age to play hide-and-seek." he said in a gentle voice to the tensing boys, ignoring the distrustful looks he was getting sadly even in this era was it not uncommon that young children living in poverty or on the streets get picked up only to be sexually exploited.

"Why did you lye to our father, after that fence is a pig stall." one of the boys, the one with darker hair stated, his green eyes filled with suspicion and determination to protect his younger twin should the older man prove to be one of those coming to the village every second week to buy children from they families.

"Then I daresay will he be a bit busy." the strangely dressed man said with a little laugh before holding his hand out into they direction, but he didn't touch or try grabbing them like the older boy had though he would, he just held it out towards them. "I know that it counts as impolite to leave out introductions, but I fear you father may have realized by now that I have fooled him so we should go now."

"We won't go anywhere with a stranger." the older boy said while hugging his brother closer who let out a whimper at which the man strangely winched and there was some type of sadness in his eyes.

"And this is a good example most children should follow, but I think this time will it be better to break this rule young man, if not for anything other then for your brother's shake." the man said and no matter how hard the boy tried he could not make the stranger's words out to be a threat against his brother, in fact he sounded genuinely concerned towards him which he had never experienced beside himself before.

In this village they lived was it a long-lasting belief that when twins are born is one of them good and the other evil and if not killed because no one is sure which is which then the bad twin will always be treated nothing more then an object and punished whenever the good twin did something bad by accident because the evil one was trying to corrupt him. It had frightened and disgusted him to see his twin beaten, starved and even bound out by a chain in the back garden only because of him accidentally spilling some of the water because the bucket was too heavy. This was the ground why he had grabbed his brother's hand, when hearing they father talking about selling him to one of those men who come to take away children and never let them return, and decided to run away, but both of them had tired to fast because of being so much undernourished then he always shared the little food he had gotten with his twin not caring if one of them should be evil or not, he would not abandon his brother or let him be taken away from him. Then he noticed that they were outside of the alley, he was stunned that he had not even noticed that he had taken the stranger's hand, but had no time to think about it then beside him his brother tensed and then hit his father's harsh voice his ears.

"So you knew that they were hiding in the alley you old fucker." his father spat and both boys were stunned when the man had suddenly drawn them behind himself, blocking they father's path, he could not see his face, but the both boys could hear the anger in the older man's voice.

"I'm generally known as a just person and one who doesn't judge others without knowing they full background, but I can't avert my eyes at the sight of someone abusing children, leave alone children whom are they own flesh and blood." Shion growled as he stood between the twins and they father, the terror emitting from the younger one drew some pictures in his mind about the sever beatings he needed to endure together with the humiliation to be treated like a dog. He was sure that if his master would be here then this man would be already on his way to the underworld after Hakurei would be through with him.

"Then keep it that way sir and step the fuck out of my way to get the boy and that thing back home to they mother." the man said and took a threatening step closer, but Shion made no move to stand aside.

"It truly seems to me that you are an unfit parent if you consider one of your children nothing more then an object." Shion spat back, he could feel the man's anger boiling and he was sure that soon he would start a fight, but the pope had no desire to go down to his level.

"Don't you know that when twins are born one of them is always the evil one and this thing had been trying to influence my son since the start."

"I don't believe in stereotypes and as it happens the man who had raised me as a father was himself an older twin" at this felt Shion the older boy look up in surprise" and his younger brother was also a respected and caring man, they were twins with both having flaws to they character, but still cared about others and protecting them." finished Shion and took out a little bag filled with gold coins from his robes and tossed it to the man who caught it. "As stated you are an unfit parent and thus I will be taking these children under my wing, but I also understand your living situation." Shion said as he watched the father look into the bag and then leave in the direction of his home before a little tug on is robes made him look down at the two children.

"You were really raised by a twin sir?" the darker haired boy asked and Shion smiled kindly down at him.

"That is true young man, and as I have told your father neither my teacher nor his brother were evil people, they were just like any normal human being with good and bad to them. Only because one was born as twins is something to be envied and not scorned on then as twins you have a much more special bond then most siblings." Shion said as he held out his hand again for the older boy to take. "I think we now have also a little chance to introduce ourselves, my name is Shion."

"I'm Saga and this is my younger brother Kanon." Saga said as he gestured to the lighter haired boy clinging to him, Shion nodded, but then he saw something on the younger ones neck which displeased him and Saga had a good guess what it was when following his gaze. "It was a form of punishment that he sleeps outside so that he will not give me bad ideas as I sleep." he explained.

"Saga, how old are you two?" Shion asked in a forced calm tone, he had the urge to send a wave of Stardust Revolution down the street.

"Ten." was the reply.

"And since when was this type of treatment established?" he needed to stay calm to not scare the children and yes they ARE heading back to the Sanctuary without any delays.

"Since we were around five I think…" Saga replied timidly as he watched the man mumble something under his breath before kneeling down in front of them.

"Boys, firstly I swear to you that from now on will no one dare mistreating either of you like this and secondly, Kanon may I get that collar down from you?" Shion asked gently, watching as the child looked over at his brother and only at his nod did he step closer and trying not to flinch visibly when Shion laid his hands on the collar.

It angered the pope to notice the fingerprint sized bruises not only on Kanon's bare arms, but also under the collar which in his option had been put on to tightly and had even left some marks on the boy's neck which will hopefully heal when treated with some salves. After having that offensive thing taken down threw Shion it into the alley, to be honest he would have loved to Stardust Revolution it just like he had done it with the mask Defteros was forced to wear, but he could not risk frightening the boys. After standing up again at taking Saga's hand, Kanon refused to let go of his older brother, started Shion to lead them to a bit more scheduled place and set out to explain before one of they boys jumps to bad conclusions.

"Now gentlemen I know that this will sound weird, but we will now result to teleporting to get to where I and from now on also you will live." Shion took in the sceptical looks he was receiving. "I know that this sound weird, but you will have to trust me, though this being your first time teleporting you may feel a bit queasy after our arrival, but it will settle after some deep breaths I promise." he said while holding both of his hands out indicating that both of them need to take one.

True to his word after the flash of teleportation died down sat both children on the ground, they faces slightly green and even Shion felt a bit unwell, but that was due to his not having had eaten anything since yesterday when he so brilliantly decided to leave dinner out. After all three of them felt better watched the pope how both boys were looking around in awe at the scenery in front of them, he had teleported them into one of the many gardens near some of the temple ruins which made the place look like an ancient reminder of the past which it actually was for this place existed since the Age of Myths.

"Children" he said to gain the attention of his two new charges "welcome to the Sanctuary, your new home."

Owari