REWRITTEN
o-o-o-o-o
Koga released a tried sigh as Shun finished bandaging her arm, leaving her fingers free. She blinked and smiles at him as he stood back.
"It'll be unlikely that you'll regain full feeling." Shun commented, his lips pursed.
"I thought so." Koga lamented, rubbing her thumb against her other finger tips. It felt weird, she still had sensation but it was warped. She couldn't think of the right word to describe the feeling yet.
"Though the healing seems to be coming along nicely." Shun added with a smile. "It's likely you'll be able to get rid of the bandage in about a week's times."
Koga nodded, but was overcome with a yawn; she covered her mouth sheepishly. Shun chuckled in amusement.
"Tired?" Shun asked playfully.
Koga grinned, scratching her jaw. "Maybe just a little?"
Or a lot, her mind said instead.
Shun hummed. "Perhaps earlier nights then? I'm more than sure I saw you up past midnight last night."
Koga's eyes widened at the reveal but quickly covered it with another sheepishly look. "Yeah."
"Now scram." Shun waved her off playfully, his eyes softened as he continued. "And try and sleep tonight, Koga. You can only go so long before you'll become sleep, it'll affect your health."
Koga pursed her lips and nodded with a nervous chuckle. "I'll keep it mind!"
Shun nodded his head in parting, his eyes narrowed as he watched her departing form before leaving moments later, his own destination in mind.
His strides were swift as he started his climb up the stairs of the Gold Saint's Temples: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. All the houses were empty (not including the houses that currently didn't have a Gold Saint), Shun knew they were all busy and spending most of their time helping around Sanctuary with repairs and other problems.
As he reached the top, his pace slowed. He briefly allowed his thoughts to drift to how the ascent felt like nothing now, compared to when he was younger. He shook it off and entered the current room being used for meetings and general things while everything is being sorted.
This was where he knew Athena and Seiya would be located. He was right and both turned to greet him as he entered.
"Shun." Athena smiled, despite her tired appearance she was still as stunning as usual. "What may I owe for this meeting, friend?"
Shun pursed his lips as he came to a stop and Seiya frowned. "Is there a problem?"
"I thought I ought to bring it to your attention if you weren't aware, but I believe Koga's been having some trouble sleeping." Shun explained.
Athena tilted her head and nodded. "I thought so. I'm not too surprised either, facing what she has."
"Would you like me to speak to her?" Seiya asked, turning his attention back to his Goddess.
"Perhaps a few nights more." Athena suggested, her grip on her staff tightening in worry. "While talking might help, this may also be temporary. If it gets any worst, letting her know we are here to lend an ear wouldn't be such a negative thing."
Seiya nodded.
"Thank you for informing us, Shun." Athena thanked with a smiling.
"Of course." Shun bowed his head and made his exit, knowing the conversation was done and he had people to tend too.
"If you plan on waiting for Koga to come to us, you'll be waiting a while." Seiya voiced once Shun was gone from earshot.
Athena sighed, giving a tight-lipped smile. "I know but I meant what I said, Seiya. If she will not come to us, then we'll meet her halfway."
"More like the entire way." he murmured, only half joking. Athena shot him a look at his words and Seiya grinned. "What? This is Koga we're talking about."
She still didn't look impressed.
"Anyway, Kiki, I and a few others are a planning a trip to Athens to acquire some more food since Sanctuary isn't currently in the best of state with such things." Seiya commented. "And since Koga's lacking in the clothes department, I'll be making sure to get her some."
Athena smiled, watching the protective fatherly gaze enter his eyes. Though it was true, Koga's clothes had been severally damaged so she was being forced to use some Trainee clothing which was a bit too small for her and Seiya had spotted several other Saints watching her. However, Athena was more than sure it was because they knew what Koga had done and not the tightness of her clothing.
Athena chuckled softly.
o-o-o-o-o
Yuna lingered behind the other Saints that had come to Athens to help with transporting food to Sanctuary. She watched as some of the citizens turned their gazes upon them, mostly children while others continued with what they were doing, unfazed by the sight.
Seiya glanced over his shoulder at Yuna, briefly watching her before placing down the sack he had on his shoulder into the cart. He wandered over as she paused at a stall, looking over the various things it held then circled to look at the entirety of the area in a state of awe.
"Did you not pass through Athens after escaping Babel?" Seiya questioned as he stepped up beside her.
Yuna jumped, visibly startled before shaking her head. "No, we took a different route that led us around the city limits. Seemed safer that way."
"Probably." Seiya hummed in agreement before tilting his head. "Could I ask you for a favour?"
Yuna blinked twice. "Fa…vor? Yes, what is it?"
"Could you get some clothes for Koga? The trainee ones she has on at the moment are a bit small for her and I thought you might be the better one when it comes to picking female clothing."
Yuna chuckled as Seiya sheepishly looking expression. She nodded. "Of course."
Smiling, Seiya handed Yuna a piece of folded paper and money. "I got Koga to write down her sizes—she didn't say anything about what type of clothes except for a no-go on skirts."
"Gotcha!" Yuna nodded and began to walk down the street that mostly consisted of clothes shops. She took the time to glance about the first shop she went, eventually settling on a wine-red dress with a black belt and quarter length leggings (since she remembered Seiya saying Koga wasn't fond of skirts, so that would naturally include dresses—but Yuna knew Koga could look cute in it). She was internally amused when she stumbled on some ancient Greek style gold sandals with wings at the ankles, oh she was getting them for Koga.
After some more hunting, Yuna was able to find a store that sold underwear so that she could Koga a new bra since the redhead's old one was on its last legs.
She left the shop feeling accomplished and began to head back to the meetup point that was set up by Kiki and Seiya when they had first arrived in Athens. She joined them and within half hour started the return trip to Sanctuary.
o-o-o-o-o
Koga blinked owlishly at the outfit that Yuna had brought, Thank the gods, she brought leggings. She would have murdered her blonde friend if she hadn't gotten her some.
Koga shook her head and gingerly began to remove her shirt, groaning as her shoulders popped and ached in protest. Once she's stripped down completely, Koga tugged on her new bra and made a mental note to ask Yuna to tighten the straps. She pulled on the leggings and then the dress followed by the belt.
Koga snickered at the sandals as she pulled them on and tied them up.
There was a knock at the door.
"I'm decent!" She shouted and Yuna opened the door as Koga stood to her full height once more.
"You look lovely." Yuna commented with a smile.
"Think so?" Koga's brows went up as she glanced over herself in the mirror. She didn't think she looked any different, expect for longer hair—when had her hair gotten so long? She shook her head as she turned back to her friend.
"Could you tighten my bra straps?"
"Sure." Yuna stepped up and Koga held her hair out of the way as the blonde could do so.
"What should I do with my hair?" Koga asked, running her non-injured hand through it, "I don't like it when it's in my face."
It was true, up until they started their ascent up the twelve houses she'd had her hair always pulled into a ponytail. The band had snapped during the fight with Mars and… Aria's death.
"What about a side fishtail?" Yuna offered. "Do you know how to do that?"
Koga shook her head.
"Let me then." Yuna smiled and ran her fingers through Koga's hair, beginning to part and gather the necessary pieces. Neither spoke, neither needed to, the silence was nice for them compared to the often-busy Sanctuary.
Koga wasn't sure if she liked silence all that much anymore—at least the kind of silence where she was alone with nothing to do (often accompanied by the familiar static white-noise), it let her mind wander and that wasn't something she particularly liked the last few days.
"Koga?" Yuna's voice brought her back to the present.
She blinked and glanced at Yuna, realizing she'd finished the fishtail. "Hmm, thanks."
Yuna smiles and nodded, she looked like she wanted to question Koga's strange distant behaviour but decided against it.
Koga briefly let her thoughts drift to the fact that up until she arrived at Palestra, she hadn't been all that chatty—sure she talked when in the company of others to fill the room but Koga rather liked silent company more. She'd often sit with her mum on the decking of their home and water the waves in silence.
But silence had become something Koga… not so much fear but rather avoided, afraid that in the silence that surrounded her, her mind would recall all that Abzu had done while they had control of her body.
She exhaled and smiled. "Let go, yeah?"
Yuna returned the smile.