Chapter 7: A 'Friendly' Get-together

Shion stared at Athena as if she had grown another head. The pink haired teen was smiling as sweetly as she can. Kardia, who was there on the goddess' request, stopped midway from biting his apple. The pope of Sanctuary had smacked his head out of defeat.

"We are going to a what?" the Scorpio saint demanded.

Athena's smile widened. "We are going to a friendly get-together with the Spectres," she replied like it was the most normal thing on the face of the earth.

The blue haired male raised both of his brows. The blond one had his mouth hanging open. "The hell?" Shion yelled.

"Watch your tone, Aries Shion," Pope Sage snapped. Taking a very deep breath, he walked towards the only rose in the room, placing his hand on her shoulders. "Like the lady said. We are going to a ball. Spread the news to everyone and remember to be formal." His voice was commanding, leaving no room for arguments.

"What about De~Gleed!" the blonde asked.

"I wish to see her there. She would be delighted to come and meet new friends," the pink haired teen chirped. "Off you two go."

Kardia growled then dragged the still frozen Aries saint. "Come on, no use arguing," he murmured. He finally took a bite from his apple then faced the dead weight he was dragging. "Where's Gleed anyway?" he asked.

Finally snapping out of his thoughts, Shion looked up. "I have not seen her aver since she went with Pisces, about yesterday afternoon… Oh my Athena! They're doing something inappropriate!" he panicked and scrambled to his feet. He dashed down towards the Pisces temple yelling about saving Gleed from 'the seducer of Sanctuary'. Kardia smirked at his companion's paranoia then frowned when his gut twisted for some unknown reason. He started to walk towards his own temple.

"Kardia!" Dohko called out as he jogged towards the Scorpio saint.

The sadistic male raised a brow then stared at the thing carried by his fellow gold saint.

"Kardia, I need your help. Could you please lend me one of your rooms? Miss Gleed needs some rest. She suddenly collapsed when we were heading for here."

"You just passed your own temple, nitwit. Why not let her stay with you?"

"Pegasus and Leo are there. I need to train them. Please, help me out. Her pulse is irregular."

Kardia sighed. 'Will I let her stay so she could break my balls again?" he thought to himself as he stared at the sleeping figure in Dohko's arms. 'I could get my payback.' He smiled wickedly and took the Aquarian from the brown haired male. "I'll take care of her. Go do your training," he stated and went inside his home.

His room had two beds, one for himself and another for Degel. Once in a while, Degel have to sleep with the Scorpio saint because of his heart problem. The blue haired male placed the female on Degel's bed and stared at her peaceful face. A smile emerged to the male's face as he brought a nail file and started sharpening his scarlet colored nail. "Payback," he smirked.

Gleed woke up from a throbbing pain. She jolted up into a sitting position to gaze at Kardia stabbing her right wrist with his scarlet needle. Another jolt. "Scorpio Kardia!" she yelped

Kardia smirked. "Glad you're awake," he stated and stood up. "I thought I'm going to have to let that rose loving fish here to heal you."

The female patted her body for any holes that might have been placed there by her sadistic companion. A sigh of relief escaped her lips. "I can't believe I am still in this body," she whispered. She noticed Kardia examining her with only his eyes. That made the female blush. 'Why am I blushing? I never blushed when Kardia did that to me when I was a male,' she thought and forced her eyes to stare at his ocean blue eyes. 'Dear Zeus, such beautiful eyes.'

Kardia immediately let his eyes travel across the room. "Athena invited you a friendly get-together. She said that you are required to show up," he reported.

Violet eyes widened. "Oh dear," she started. "I can't look like this. What would I wear? What if the spell wears off in the middle of the program? What…" She started to rant, sounding like a music player on fast forward. She got up and paced to and fro, still ranting.

Kardia's brows rose. "Gleed," he started.

The female, still in her ranting streak did not listen.

"Gleed." This time it was louder.

Still ranting.

The Scorpio saint was now shouting the female's name. Finally snapping, he stood up from his sitting position and grabbed each of Gleed's shoulders. "Shut the hell up, Dr. Penguin!" he yelled and shook the Aquarian. He started shouting curses in Russian, Degel's main language.

The female's violet eyes stared at him in awe. Her mouth was slightly agape. Kardia stopped, his eyes widened. "Are you speaking Russian, Scorpio Kardia?" she asked. Her face darkened. "And did you just called me Dr. Penguin again?"

Kardia felt the hair on the back stand up. He stepped back from Gleed and glared. "You sound like Degel," he commented, his eyes narrowing.

Both scorpion and water bearer stared at each other for a couple of seconds before Gleed shook her head, thinking of a way to get out of this mess. "Why does everyone say that Siberians are cold hearted," she commented.

"You are Siberian?"

Gleed nodded. "I better find Shion-kun," she stated at started walking towards the door. "And a gown… and an escort… and~!" Something grabbed her arm, twisted her around and pinned her on the wall. Shocked violet eyes stared at lusty blue ones.

"I will be your escort," Kardia breathed, his filed nail ghosting the female's sides. "It should be fun."

"If I say yes will you stop doing what you are doing?"

Kardia grinned and took a step away. He shrugged then turned around, his back facing Gleed.

The Aquarian slipped away and got out of the temple. "Shion!" she bellowed. Within seconds, a yellow haired male came running towards her. "Let's get ready!"

"Welcome," Athena greeted each of the figures coming inside the hall. Hades inclined his head as everyone greeted him, sketching everything that he considers beautiful. Saints and Spectres mingled with each other like they were best of friends. Both males and females wore their formal attires, some started dancing, and some trying to prank their friends. Everyone was having a great time.

The announcer cleared his throat, gaining everyone's attention. "The goddess Athena with the god Hades," he announced as both the pink haired beauty and black haired painter walked down the stairs. "The gods Hypnos and Thartaros." The gods of sleep and death followed the main immortals. Every guest was clapping and nodding their heads at the four gods.

Sighting the Aries saint, Athena jogged towards her subordinate and smiled.

"You look dashing, my goddess," the blonde complimented and kissed the back of her hands. He gave a sweet smile and bowed.

The pink haired teen looked around and frowned. "Where is Miss Gleed?" she asked. She watched with curiosity as Shion's eyes turned dark.

"She will be coming," he answered, covering his anger courteously. Hades came behind his sister and inclined his head towards the Aries saint. The blonde also nodded.

"You seem to be jealous over something, Aries saint," the black haired teen muttered.

Shion's eyes widened. 'How on earth could he read minds?" he thought. He laughed nervously and waved his hands. "Why would I be jealous, Hades-sama?" he asked.

"It seems you~!"

"Miss Gleed is here!" Athena chirped and pointed at the figures entering the hall. Every eye inside the dance hall focused their attention to the new comers.

Hades' own eyes widened. Shion's cheeks were turning pink. Kagaho, who was with Garuda, smirked. Valentine's glass of wine came smashing on the floor.

Gleed, noticing that everyone was staring at them, bowed her head in embarrassment. "This is humiliating," she muttered.

Kardia, her partner, grinned. "It's rare for them to see someone as pretty as you," he commented and lead her to Athena. "Lady," he greeted and bowed.

Gleed fumbled a bit and curtsied in front of the gods. She gave an awkward smile. "Nice for you to invite me, Lady Athena."

Hades was still staring at her. He snapped from his trance when Athena elbowed his gut. "Ah, what is the lady's name?" she asked.

"GLeed," Athena replied. She then turned her attention to the beauty. "I see you have met the Scorpio saint," she stated, starting a conversation with the teal haired angel.

Time Skip

Athena and Gleed watched as males started looking for partners for the cotillion. Miraculously, nobody dared to ask for the hand of the Aquarian. [Reason: Shion was sending death glares at everyone that comes to Gleed. Kagaho was verbally threatening anyone who thinks that Gleed is Hawt. Sysiphus was dragging anyone who thinks they could have Gleed. Aspros would have sent them to Hell]

Kardia, being her escort, held his hand towards Gleed and smiled. "May I have this dance, milady?" he asked.

Gleed hesitated a bit but to hell with it took the outstretched hand and walked to the dance floor. Placing her delicate hands on each of his shoulders, she took a deep breath and waited for the music to start.

Kardia grabbed her lithe waist and pulled her towards his chest, closing the space between them. "Don't step at my foot, Dr. Penguin," he warned. The reply he got was a sharp pain on his right foot.

The music started, the lights dimmed, the atmosphere lightened. Everyone who was on the dance floor started swaying with the music. Spectators watched and commented.

When the time came to switch partners by twirling to random figures on the floor, Gleed got yanked into a broad body. Looking up, she gulped.

"Nice for you to come my way, Gleed," Aspros stated and turned her around. He then grabbed her buttocks which Gleed slapped him for.

Violet eyes reflected disgust and embarrassment. "Try that again and you will live your life inside a very cold tomb," she threatened.

"Oho, so you could now fight one of Hades-sama's Spectres."

Gleed glared. It was taking every ounce of her self-control not to send the former Gemini saint to an early death. She was to retaliate when the Cancer saint grabbed her and twirled her away from the blue haired Aspros.

The spiky haired crab hugged her from behind and smirked. "You look way more beautiful with me."

"You really want your revenge, don't you?" Gleed muttered, reading the male's thoughts.

Manigoldo smirked. He took hold of her shoulders and harshly crashed their lips together. Gasps were heard from those who saw the scene.

Gleed pushed herself away from the Cancer saint and stumbled into Harpy Valentine's arms.

"Crucify Ankh!"

"Scarlet Needle!"

"Leo Punch!" [Sorry, I don't know all the techniques]

"Black Rose!"

"Another Dimension!"

"Typhoon's Gust!"

[ETC.]

Every known and feared technique from the high ranking Spectres and also from the Gold Saints was released. Their techniques were all directed towards the Cancer saint.

"O-Oi!" the crab yelled.

Yeah! Good luck, Valentine... :D