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Chap oo2
As the hours passed, feel as many but count as less, finally the last team of Silver Saints arrived to the throne room. Saori was there, waiting patiently as Whale Moses and Ophiuchus Shaina kneel down in front of her and said those words she was waiting but didn't like at all.
Many Saints were send to find that 'peculiar and strange' cosmos, as Gemini Saga explained without truly saying the purpose of this. They were orders from the same Athena, for sure not everyone would doubt about it. Some would just ask to themselves out of curiosity or to their close friends trying to find the reason for this mission, because for sure at least someone should know about it. But there were few others, who did a strange connection.
Whale Moses did a reverence and moved outside, being asked that he should still looking for that cosmos and give immediately answer if he could. And as he did this, the woman stayed to just stand up and give a step closer to the leader of this army.
"My Goddess, I would like to ask you something. But not like a servant, in fact I would like to ask you something as Saori." Shaina explained herself, showing some worrisome.
Saori Kido nodded, knowing for sure what was the reason of this question. She very well knew Shaina and Shiva were close friends.
"I saw many of the Silver Saints coming around to look for this cosmos. But I didn't see her, and I hadn't feel her cosmos since last night. Is Shiva ok? She looked tired last night, even Aghora took her back to the temple."
"It is just that, Shaina." Saori gave a fake smile. "She has been sick, looks like something didn't did well to her stomach."
"But... I can't feel her cosmos. Maybe I should visit her sooner or later."
"Later will be a good idea." Shaina turned as Lotus Aghora entered the room, being followed by Ikki and Hyoga. "My sister asked us to don't have visits, she doesn't feel too well."
"Really?" Shaina crossed her arms looking at this tall man. "But I bet she would love to have extra attention if she doesn't feel well."
"Yeah, that's Shiva." Aghora smiled warmly. "But as well, she wouldn't like anyone see her in this condition. I'm not kidding, she looks very tired and is throwing up a lot. So, don't worry, I'll tell her you send good energy when I go back."
The Ophiuchus Saint looked at him a bit angry but sighed then. It was right what he said, for sure Shiva wouldn't like to show lack of her glamour looking all emaciated.
"What about her cosmos?"
"I said she is tired. She put it very low."
Saori could see the doubt on Shaina's face, before she could ask anything else, the Goddess stood up from her throne.
"Anyway, we need to talk about some matters about Rodorio." Athena said with a smile. "Aghora? Boys? Come with me, please."
"Boys?" Asked Ikki a bit indignant about it. "Excuse me?"
"Just shut up, bro." Hyoga didn't wait to push him out of there.
They walked to the back of the throne, where a private room was for the Goddess. Meanwhile, Gemini Saga gave the same orders to Shaina about the strange cosmos, asking her to leave the main temple in a very polite way. But she wasn't satisfied with all this and, as she placed her mask once again over her face, decided to give a visit to the Virgo Temple.
"Boys? Really?" Ikki was ranting.
He was murmuring, while the others were coming close to Saori to give the news. Obviously, as a God, Hephaestus left without a trace of cosmos and for sure use the speed of the Silver Saint to run away without being noticed. The only trace he left was some guards hurt as the ones he left behind in the Virgo Temple. But there was something else that they didn't expect.
"Looks like didn't leave with empty hands." Lotus Aghora explained with arms crossed and some tiredness of his voice. "Shiva stole..."
"Hephaestus." Interrupted the Phoenix Saint quickly.
The Lotus Aghora just sighed and looked a bit angry. Those were expressions not many people knew on him, but after all, he was human.
"Sorry, you are right. Hephaestus stole a book from the library." He said finally. "Looks like, maybe some time ago, Shiva found it out of curiosity as she always does and, having her memories, the God took it from us."
"Is that book important?" Saori asked.
"Looks like. It has spells of old times, as my master told me. He is trying to find which kind but looks like they meant to be about healing."
"Spells?" Ikki asked curious. "As in witches?"
"Maybe what we call cosmos can see as magic new days, Ikki." Hyoga nodded. "But either way, if Hephaestus wanted it, then must be important."
"That's sure, Sherduck, but the question is, where is he now and why to use that spell in specific?
As if they were discussing this, Aghora just kept in silence, thinking with the same pose as before. Saori looked at him, indeed was a brother who worried for his young sister, there was no doubt about it. But, while Ikki's voice began to go up in their discussion, the Lotus Saint woke up from that small trance. He sighed and looked to Athena.
"Anyway! Hyoga just gave me an idea." Said Ikki quickly.
"I did?" asked his friend a bit curious.
"Obviously, if Hephaestus isn't here, just mean one thing. He went back to the Death Queen Island. Or whatever it last from that horrible place." He explained with a smile. "The armours always come back there."
"How do you know?" asked Saori.
"I trained there, I had the Black Saints as neighbours, of course I know that."
The Goddess nodded thinking in this possibility. Or, better say, a fact about the final place Hephaestus would go.
"Saori, may I go now?" Aghora interrupted right away with a step forward. "I had told you all I know."
His voice was different, his tone was tired. Even to Ikki an Hyoga, was impressive to see and hear such difference on him.
"Yes, Aghora. If you or your master know something new, you can tell me any time."
The Lotus Saint did a reverence and turned around just waving his hand to the other saints. They knew very well that horrible feeling and must even be harder. Aghora never left Shiva's side since they met, while Seiya and the others left away years for the training to then see each other again later. Their bond was stronger.
"How many Saints do you think will be necessary to arrive at the Death Queen Island, Ikki?"
The Phoenix Saint felt a bit surprised by the question and crossed his arms to think about it. He smiled and moved his shoulders, as he was sure but in the same time he doubt about an idea on his head.
"Maybe four of them? It depends. I don't think Black Saints are that strong anymore, much less organized." But Ikki chuckled moving a bit his head to disapprove. "Don't tell me you want to send an army there."
"Why? If it is what we need to do to find Shiva."
"Oh, great." that tone of voice, both Hyoga and Saori knew it very well, such sarcasm. "It is ok if we decide now to go and yell thru all the Sanctuary 'hey, do you remember that annoying peacock Saint that some of you want to slap and others want to be inside her skirt? oh, guess what, she has been possessed by a God that, by the way, just ran away. Who wants to die?'. Because, that sounds such a wonderful idea."
"Ikki, please." Saori sighed a bit angry. "Just say what you want to say, you know I hate when you talk like that."
"What I try to say is if you want others to go and fight, you need to explain them to whom they are fighting to."
"I normally don't like to say it, but Ikki is right." sighed Hyoga. "If you tell to everyone on the Sanctuary about this, they will freak out. Six years ago, we had two gods kicking our ass, I don't know if it is enough time so everyone is ready for another one. Specially, knowing the new enemy arrived in something so close as the student of a Gold Saint."
Saori Kido closed her eyes thinking about it. The other option was to bring the few people who knew or the Gold Saints. But who would go? Many of them had duties there in the Sanctuary, some others would hurt Shiva without matter who she was. For Shaka and his close friends, all this was too personal to even try. As well, she thought, what if Hephaestus kept being there in the Sanctuary? They would need someone to protect them or even calm the same warriors.
Then, the other option. Aghora didn't look so great with these horrible news, he couldn't do it. But there was someone who wasn't so attached to Shiva.
"Would you go?" Saori asked finally. "Do you think you can handle this mission alone?"
"You are asking me to go for Shiva?"
"I know you don't like me but... do it for me as your Goddess, even do it for Shaka who loves his student. If you want me to pay you...
"Calm down, woman." Ikki chuckled. "I didn't say no, I was just wanted to be sure you asked it to me. I count like three men and those Saints already knew me as their leader. But, by the way, about the payment...
"No, wait, wait." Hyoga decided to interrupt. "He can't go alone! I should go too, then. He said was necessary four man, if he is three then he needs one more, don't you think so?"
Athena smiled because of this and nodded to them. The way they somehow celebrate, giving each other a high-five, for this mission made Saori think about Shiva. She felt the anger and the sadness on the same time as she thought about how that god decided to took the body of her best friend, how he dared to come and do it knowing she meant so much to her human side.
"Good plan." Ikki sighed but looked like a glimpse of a realization arrived just in that moment. "Fuck...
"The kids?" Hyoga asked being sure for the answer.
"I think being excited of having a fight after so long made me forgot something very important. But, maybe Shaka will take care of them without problem."
"Lovely married couple." smiled Hyoga seeing the angry face of Ikki. "Anyway, we should get ready. Saori, we promised you we will bring back Shiva!"
"Thanks a lot." Saori smiled standing up as those two left the room... obviously, Ikki holding Hyoga very hard from the neck.
She was now alone one more time. She trusted on those two saints, but still was worried for her friend. Saori was worried if they needed to use violence or the simple fact that her best friend would change after this attack to herself. Shiva was a strong saint, but remembering how Shun suffered, and he had the god inside for short time, made Saori sighed.
The Goddess needed to calm herself as the doors opened again, this time with three Saints of higher rank. Shaka being the last one, maybe because he found himself in the path with Ikki and Hyoga. Wasn't a maybe, as he asked almost immediately about this mission they had and Saori explained the best she could.
"We could go, Athena." said the Gemini Saint.
"After what happened with Hephaestus earlier, I don't think is a good idea." added the old Aries Saint, who was now in civil clothes. "The best is to trust on them. And Saori is right, they don't have bonds with Shiva to do something out of the feelings. We should just ask them to don't hurt her too much."
"Agree." now the Virgo Saint was the one who gave a step forward. "Either way, I will explain later to Ikki about what we know so far. Or part of it. The thing is, Miss Athena, I found out about the spell book." Shaka moved his hands as he explained while the other Saints were paying attention to this. "It was a book about healing and control of the bodies. Someone decided to put the called black magic with healing one. The problem isn't just that, because I'm afraid a god could easily make an army of dead corpses."
"What's worse than that?" Saori asked surprised by this.
"The whole book talks about the use of the dark dimension cosmos to use it for the spells."
"Excuse me?" Saga quickly interrupted. "Dark dimension cosmos? Are you sure? That's impossible"
Saori Kido, the new Athena of this world, just opened her eyes widely. For a moment, she felt like a kid who hears the adults talking about important matters she couldn't understand. She felt terrible because of that so didn't wait any moment to stand up once again and ask an explanation about this new information. After all this, Saori thought, she would need some more classes with Shion.
"Well, the Dark Dimension isn't so known between many saints." the Virgo Saint closed his eyes and took the attention of Saints and Athena as he began to explain.
This knowledge was only known to the high ranks, and still not everyone knew about. This place, this new dimension, was almost exactly as the one we humans live, except here lives the spirits of those who can't go to either heaven or hell, or whatever name or believe they gave to this, explained Shaka thinking that not everyone has the same faith. In some way, this place was the limbo. The souls, full of anger or pain, deep sadness and looking for revenge or simple death finished here, making this place full of those matters in negative energy. Not many people can cross the path between them, much less survive there, but with training and hard work it is possible to use the cosmos that emanate from this dimension. For reasons unknown, by these time, only the Virgo, Cancer and Gemini Saint could use it. Somehow, Cancer Deathmask as many others saints doesn't exactly enter to this realm of darkness but use their energy to open the bridge between the life and death. Meanwhile, Gemini and Virgo saint, break the thin layer of time and space between those two dimensions to be able to absorb the energy and use it easily and open the portals they need. Gemini Saints use it against their enemies to throw them to their new path while the Virgo Saints open a bridge to the different realms and, with even harder train, can walk to this dark dimension without problem.
"Of course, the cosmos energy we need is most of the time a lot. Heavy to bear, so we don't use it often or with all the intensity it has. Cancer Saints doesn't bother too much because their connection with death, at least the few ones that had walk this path. For them it is almost easy to do what they do." Explained Shaka. "But they can't never use fully this energy or walk to this dimension. We both, Gemini and Virgo, needs a small cut on the layer, because the energy of that place is even heavier than here. We need a small amount to few things."
"Generally, this dimension of the live ones, use its energy to keep every creature alive, the world keeps spinning. We use this energy to fight and make our cosmos stronger, but as well that energy doesn't divide equally and that's how people born with or without enough cosmos to fight like we do." Gemini Saga decided to help with the explanation his friend began. "Meanwhile, this other world, has too much energy without use. Everything is death there. They are like virus, they move and procreate but aren't exactly alive. Still, is energy."
"It is believed that the Gemini constellation has this energy because the duality..." Shaka said, not so happy looking at Saga a bit embarrassed.
"It isn't necessary to explain how this bad use of energy is show in people like me." the Gold Saint smiled, but not proudly.
For some seconds, Saori closed her eyes to make an organization of all this information she received. She still had doubts about it but decided to leave them and move to the important ones of this moment.
"You are telling me then these spells need this energy. And not everyone can do it. Should, then, be worried of Hephaestus having this information?"
This time was the old Aries and Pope who sighed and walked a step forward. He didn't look so happy and was looking for the words he needed.
"Not ever mortal knows or work with it, but the Gods..."
"I'm a goddess." Saori said, not angry but showing this time her rank between them. "You are going to explain something I should know? Something you never explained me?" Shion nodded a bit ashamed of this detail. "Our enemy has the lead over us. Great."
Those words were mostly to herself than for the Saints.
"I'm sorry. I never thought we needed this information."
"At least, explain me now, what happened with the Gods and the Black cosmos?"
"Well, they can use it freely." Shion smiled ignoring a bit the mistake the goddess did in called it Black and not Dark. "Their cosmos is stronger than ours and are purest. You, on the other hand, maybe will need training because you born as a human. I believe, lamentably, Hephaestus will not have this problem. He is using a vessel, yes, but the cosmos keeps being pure energy of this realm. He had use this cosmos of the Dark Dimension before and I'm afraid he will keep using it."
Athena couldn't understand, still, why this information never arrived to her. But this moment wasn't the time to scold them off or rant about it. She nodded as she understood all this. Saori needed to take the baton of leader and Goddess of the Military victory.
"Shaka, please go with Ikki and Hyoga and just let them know what danger can do this cosmos. For some reason you kept it in secret to low ranks, so keep it like this. Don't give them more information they need." the Virgo Saint did a small reverence to turn around and walk away from the room. "I would like to know why Hephaestus used this cosmos energy before."
"That, I don't remember." the oldest saint explained. "You see, living too much time doesn't mean my memory is the same. But, I know where to find it, for sure the Pope private library, and I will look for it immediately."
"I want to help, Shion. If there is no problem."
"Not at all, Saga. After all you were once Pope and you still Gemini Saint, you are in your right to this information." they both did a reverence. "We will come back as soon as possible. If you need us, you know where to find us."
The woman nodded to let them know they could go now and, without need to but still doing it, asking to keep all this in secret even to the highest rank. Only they could know about this. Shion and Gemini Saga left the room, and as well left Saori to rest a bit from all this. She needed time, think, and try to find Shiva's cosmos. She wanted to believed she hasn't lost her, not yet and not without using all the resources to stop this God and whatever he wanted to do.
For the oldest child of Phoenix Ikki, Helena, wasn't something new to know his father was going to a mission and what that meant. When they weren't family yet but Ikki send her letters and visit her time to time, he decided to explain in the most human possible way about his death that could happened any time. Of course, wasn't something easy to do, especially when the Holy War was so close to them. Helena knew it but his younger brother was lucky to be in time of peace, Ario was just a bit sad about the news.
"I will come back as soon as possible." Ikki smiled to the kids. "I know I said these days would be holidays, but this is important. And, your good dad Shaka will take care of you. Which means, as well, Aghora will be around."
They three were sitting down on the floor of the Virgo Temple entrance, while Shaka was standing up at his back. He chuckled.
"I'm not a babysitter, Ikki."
"But you are my friend, and legally Ario is your son too, which means I can throw him to you any time."
"No! Dad!" Ario was impressed. "Don't throw me! What if he doesn't catch me?! Dad Shaka has the eyes closed!"
Ikki chuckled to hold him.
"I'm not going to throw you literally, son, I meant I can make Shaka take care of you for some time. And he will. So, don't worry."
"Is it dangerous?" asked Helena a bit serious. "Will you really going to come back? You need to!"
The Phoenix Saint smiled as he placed the kid over his lap and nodded to Helena.
"I promise you, I will come back."
"But you said sometimes you can't keep promises. Are you sure?" Helena said, this time, showing more worrisome and some anxiety. "Ikki, please."
The fact that she called him by his name and not father as she used to be, made Ikki sighed of sadness. He knew exactly why, this young girl was still afraid of losing someone special from her, someone who take care of them and a father figure. He moved his hands to let her know to come close so he could hold her in a hug as well. Ikki kissed both of the kids on the forehead and promised, once again, he would come back. After all, was an easy mission. He already knew about the dangers of the possible cosmos that Hephaestus was using, as Shaka said, but Ikki still believed on himself and his best friend to do this mission without fear and doubt.
After this moment, Ikki stood up with both kids in each arm as he was strong enough. Virgo Shaka looks thoughtful about all this but smiled looking the kids a bit more relaxed than before.
"Hey, dad?" Ario smiled. "I think about it and... maybe would be fun if you throw me!"
The Bronze Saint couldn't hide his laugh and nodded after looking that Shaka did the same. Helena didn't want that fun, thank you, she said to then jump to the floor. Ikki held the young body and, being close enough to Shaka, just gave him a small push so Shaka hold it fast. But Ario didn't look happy.
"Throw me harder and higher!" he said moving his arms.
"What?" Ikki said without understand this son of him. "You are not a volleyball ball, kid. That's enough for today."
As if the sun or Ikki's energy hit him hard, Ario 'melted' on Shaka's arm as he left his body fall totally to then do a weird moan. Ikki didn't have time to his son's tantrums so he gave two steps back.
"Fine! Shaka, throw him, just be careful."
"Are you sure?" Shaka asked looking how the kid was already smiling with the arms open.
"Hadn't you throw anything in your life? Think it is like a punch to me, in that way you will not fail your aiming."
Virgo Shaka nodded and fixed the kid on his arms to throw him better. He aimed, Helena closed her eyes without want to see that, even if it wasn't so long. And she was right. Shaka didn't exactly knew how much energy to use, making Ario fly higher than he thought. Ikki gasped as he moved backwards again and... fall. For a second his thoughts move fast to think that he was the most irresponsible father and idiot in the world.
As he hit the floor, he could see that Cygnus Hyoga was already icing the floor to can slide faster and, answering to Ikki's worries, catches the kid. Ario was now head down while Hyoga hold him from the hips and legs. But he wasn't scared.
"Yes! Again, again! Higher!"
"I don't need an DNA test." said Hyoga still a bit scared. "This is your son, totally."
Ikki stood up with a jump and looked at Shaka with a murder glimpse to his own soul.
"You said like a punch!"
"Not with the energy of a fucking punch, idiot!"
"Dad said a bad word!" Ario yelled pointing at him.
"Fine, fine. Sorry." Shaka sighed, trying to hide a smile.
Wasn't it fun for the kid? and he survived. That was enough for him.
"Ok, Ikki, if you finished practicing how to catch babies on the air, can we go now?" Hyoga said holding Ario in a better way. "They are waiting for us."
The Phoenix Saint, still angry, nodded to then receive a hug from both kids once again, and the Cygnus Saint smiled receiving the same.
"You take care of them, and don't throw him to Aghora." Ikki said as Shaka was walking at his side to the stairs.
"Don't worry, he is busy anyway, he decided to meditate." the owner of the temple smiled and pat his back. "You worry for your own life, they will be waiting for you and I'm not very good to give bad news."
"Don't ever say that." the young man sighed but nodded. "I will come back."
"Did you finish with your kisses?" Hyoga said fixing the Pandora Box at his back to then realise both of them looking at him as if he is going to fall by accident from the stairs. "You know what? I will wait for Ikki over there! Take your time. Bye, Shaka."
Ikki sighed and just chuckled with this. He was such an asshole. Now that he was going to go, his thoughts realised something.
"Hey, Shaka, by the way." he took the attention of the Gold Saint. "Does Shaina know about all this? She is one of the friends of Shiva."
"Oh, well, we decided not to tell her. We don't want her angry or anything, we are keeping this as close as we can." he smiled. "She came some minutes ago to ask me about Shiva but I didn't let her enter to the room. She just told me to say hello to her and that's all."
"I think is a good idea. Fine, then, that stupid duck is right. I need to go. Please take care of the kids."
"They are mine as well, so don't worry." Shaka placed his hands over Ikki's shoulder. "I ask you, Ikki, do not hurt Shiva. It still her body."
"I will try my best."
The Phoenix Saint pat his shoulder as well to then keep walking downstairs. Shaka didn't have other option but trust on him, after all, was one of his closest friends now and they both worried for each other. The Virgo Saint smiled; the best man for this mission was indeed Phoenix Ikki