Disclaimer: I do not own Saint Seiya: the Lost Canvas. It belongs to Shiori Teshirogi (and Masami Kurumada).

Characters: Leo Regulus, Cancer Manigoldo, Capricorn El Cid, Aries Shion, (Mysterious) Shadow, Libra Dohko, Taurus Alderaban

Mentioned: Sagittarius Sisyphus, Aquarius Degel, the Pope (Sage)

I"O"I

Two weeks passed in peace and lack of Cancer's activities allowed El Cid to hope that his plan was blissfully forgotten, defeated by inevitability of everyday's chores. Neither Manigoldo nor Regulus showed up in his or Shion's temple since the day of their first meeting. Sisyphus left on another mission and Dohko was still away on his own mission. Still, no preparations were made due to their absence.

Watching grim weather behind the window, El Cid sighed and winced as the memory of the meeting emerged from the depths of his mind.

''So, to sum up, we must either check the weight of the cloth alone -but before that somewhat get our hands on them- or just lift them with their owners still in them. Who's for the first option? Second one? Good. Any questions?''

''Shouldn't we just ask their permission?'' asked El Cid, resigned.

Exactly. Why not?

A knock to the door, however, shook him out from his thoughts.

''Hello,'' Shion smiled, shaking off the raindrops from his coat and hair. The sunny days were over now. The upcoming autumn brought only dark, rainy days with long evenings just like the one tonight.

''Finished for today?'' Aries asked, indicating report for Sage that El Cid just finished writing. The paper was laying on the table, bright rectangle drawing attention in the upcoming dusk. El Cid nodded and motioned his guest to go inside.

''Any signs from our usurpatory chief?'' asked Shion, meaning Cancer's voluntary leadership upon the cloth experiment. He sat down in the seat Capricorn indicated, watching the other lit up additional candles to allow more light into the room.

He looked around curiously. It was rare for him to visit his companions, especially a bit elusive Capricorn Saint. He used to explain it by tight schedule of the day, but deep inside the part of him knew that he just had no wish to disrupt other's day. Quite frequent visits of Dohko were enough for him if it comes to socializing. In fact, he really appreciated the time Dohko spends with him, even when it seemed to be tiring at times.

And that was why he didn't want to lose it.

''Not at all.''

There was a moment of silence. The Capricorn watched him from his chair opposite to the table they were both sitting now by with polite interest.

Shion sighed. It was late and there was no point in stalling this conversation, so he choose to be honest.

''Why did you let yourself be dragged into this experiment?''

I"O"I

Slightly exasperated sigh was the first sign that his campaign has been drawing near its' end.

What is more, it seemed like this fight was the lost one.

''Stealing someone's cloth is considered a serious crime,'' Shion explained patiently.

''But as long as we consider both cloths and saints, our results will not be authoritative!''

Shion groaned inwardly. It didn't help that El Cid agreed with his plan. Actually, out of all the people he was going to talk to Shion was sure that Capricorn Saint would be the easiest one to convince.

Here came the more difficult part.

Manigoldo frowned and eyed him attentively.

''Besides we're not gonna steal anything. We are only borrowing it,'' added Cancer, emphasizing the last verb with gesture of his hand. ''And we're only gonna do it with the Sagittarius cloth.''

For some reason, it didn't make Aries feel any better.

''Why only this one?'' he asked, suspicious.

'' 'cause I'm sure that Libra will hand over his cloth himself .'' Cancer rubbed his eyes sleepily. The midnight didn't serve well his conversational skills.

He began to feel frustration. ''See, it only seems to be so... difficult. With some luck, we'll get the cloth without anyone noticing. But we need to be well cooperated. We'll talk 'bout it later, ok? I mean... earlier. Now no offence, but I really need to get some sleep. And I think it wouldn't hurt you to do the same.''

''Fine.'' Shion reluctantly got up and walked toward the doors of Cancer's room. ''But...'' he paused hesitantly and turned to the host.

''What?'' Manigoldo raised his eyebrow.

''Promise me you won't do anything reckless without giving me a shout, alright?''

Cancer's smile could melt even Degel's ice.

''Sure!''

I"O"I

Funny Aries and even funnier Capricorn, thought Manigoldo, as six hours later he was striding towards his neighbor's temple. Their lack of determination one day would be the end for them.

Fortunately, they had him.

''Beautiful day, isn't it?'' He stopped hearing the familiar voice. He turned around to face the speaker.

''Ah, Alderaban!'' Manigoldo smiled half friendly, half mischievously, what in his canon was the normal greeting expression. ''What you doin' here?''

''I was just passing by.'' Taurus waved his hand dismissingly. He was holding some papers in his one hand. The reports? Manigoldo frowned. He has forgotten that today it was Alderaban's turn to collect paperwork.

''You are lucky that you don't need to submit reports. Today there are really many of them,'' Taurus sighed. ''Actually, I wonder who is going to read all of those files. Pope is going to hold audiences with every returning Saint anyway, and part of the written reports are hardly legible, especially Dohko's.''

The last part of the sentence caught Manigoldo's attention.

''So you say that Dohko is back?'' asked the Saint, well known in the whole sanctuary for general lack of interest in other's well-being. He rubbed his chin, looking suddenly thoughtful.

''Well, not yet. I speak in general.''

''Ah.''

Alderaban got the impression that there was a hint of disappointment in the Cancer's voice. ''What about you? Are you going to visit Regulus now?''

Manigoldo considered the question carefully.

'''changed my mind,'' he decided at last, turning to the opposite direction he had been going to previously. ''Time for some sightseeing. See ya!''

He could feel Alderaban eyes at the back of his head as he walked away.

I"O"I

''I heard that you run into Alderaban this morning.''

Manigoldo looked up at his host. Regulus was making some provisional meal for himself and his guest, combing through the cupboards in search of ingredients. It was already evening and both Saints were equally tired and with no doubts, hungry, although Manigoldo didn't point that last thing out to the younger Saint.

It was not his habit to sponge on his brothers in arms (or, in this case, brothers in crime).

''Yeah'' the Cancer hid the yawn with only the partial success. ''It was his turn to collect the reports today.''

''Mhm''

''Strange Dohko and Sisyphus aren't back yet, isn't it?'' the Cancer watched with slight and reluctant awe the process of cooking in Leo's performance. All ingredients had been finally found and put on the fire in a large pot. For some reason it reminded him of his rather infrequent visits in his teacher's brother land, Jamir. Libra is always late, but that lengthening absence of Sisyphus seems bit odd,'' added the Saint.

''Well...'' Regulus paused to reach for the almost-ready dinner to present it proudly on the table. ''It's nothing unusual for him. Usually after missions he reports back to Shion's master. I suppose he's now in Jamir.''

Manigoldo nodded, indicating his gratitude for a treat. A meal, although looking somewhat unrecognizable, didn't discourage him from at least tasting. He had been starving for too long as a kid to be picky now. He took the first bite experimentally.

''Hmmm... Manigoldo?'' asked Regulus after the moment of silence.

''Yeah?''

''May I ask you something...?'' the young Leo prodded his own ration, suddenly not hungry.

''Sure!'' Cancer grinned from above his own plate. The first encounter with Leo's gastronomical talents turned out to be much more interesting than he had anticipated them to be.

''Why are you doing this?'' asked Regulus, hesitantly. Manigoldo raised his eyebrows, still chewing food. He swallowed it after a while. ''It was me who had the idea to do this silly experiment…''

Manigoldo's smile turned into something deeper, but more dark and evil than that one from the moment before. ''Well… let's say that I have some accounts to settle…''

I"O"I

Leo's dinner turned out to be better than it has looked and Pope's pupil left his young companion full, sleepy and satisfied. His visit's goal was to establish Leo's morale and determination. Fortunately, his resolve didn't seem to be shaken (unlike those of Aries and Capricorn).

Good.

They should make their move soon unless they want to let the cloths go out of their reach again.

Deep in thoughts, he didn't pay attention to the world around him on the way back to his temple. Had he done so, he would notice the slightly unnatural shadow of one of the buildings he was passing by. Its unnaturalness lied in the fact, that it had been moving stealthily, all the time keeping safe distance from Cancer Saint.

It had been following him until he has reached his temple, and left few minutes after the light in the window went off, announcing Manigoldo's sleep.

I"O"I

It was early morning and the sky outside the windows was still grey. Shion yawned and flexed his arms. Persistent knocking to the door repeated and made him flinch. It was his luck that he had got up only five minutes ago. Had he not done so, he would be frantically looking for clothes now.

''Yes?'' he asked, swinging the doors open a bit.

''Forgive me, Shion'' Dohko smiled sheepishly, barely visible from behind the box of cloth which he had been holding. ''I tried my best to not damage it but I failed. But these are only a few scratches!'' he assured quickly. ''With some luck we won't need to... Shion? Are you alright?''

I"O"I

In the next (and the last) chapter:

One question, many answers...

''Actually, I think that wasn't the case here,'' Sisyphus shook his head and sat down on the stairs leading to the Sagittarius Temple. ''I believe that out of all four Saints, it was only Regulus who really wished to know the weight of the cloths. The other's questions were… slightly different.''

... infectious curiosity...

''...that's not fair''

Sisyphus only laughed.

''So... what about flying?'' Alderaban looked at the Sagittarius with slight amusement in his eyes. ''Come to think about it, I've never seen you flying too...''

… and history of a certain bet.

''Manigoldo'' said Sage in a very calm voice.

…