REWRITTEN (12/09/18)
o-o-o-o-o
"I'm glad I let Yuna chose your clothes." Was the first thing Seiya said as both Koga and Yuna entered the room.
"So am I." She drawled, the insult silent and a bit of an inside joke between the father and daughter.
Seiya pointed a finger at her. "Watch it missy."
Koga just grinned making Yuna chuckle at their banter.
"But truthfully, why don't you like wearing skirts?" Seiya questioned, puzzled. "You look lovely in them, sweetheart."
Koga shrugged. "Dunno, I guess if I don't have leggings on underneath I feel a bit exposed." She tugged at the bottom of her dress as if to subconsciously prove a point before half-heartedly shrugging again.
"Wow, how much money did someone give you to get you to agree to wear a dress?" Soma questioned, smirking playfully as he, Ryuho and Haruto all sauntered into the room.
Koga glared at him, a pout tugging at her lower lip at the insult. "Just cause you've never seen me wear one doesn't mean I've never worn one."
"But I thought you just said you didn't wear them." Yuna pointed out, a slight quirk of her lips giving away her want to smirk.
"Logically, I had to have worn them beforehand to know I don't like them." She pointed out, her right foot tapping against the ground.
She got a few raised brows at the wording of her sentence and it settled in Koga that she'd always portrayed herself as a bit on the dimmer side of things with them. Only a few knew how bright she really was, her mother, dad, and Shaina being some of them. She tended to keep her intellect on the down low so that her opponents would misjudge her. It worked well, truthfully and disappointedly.
"Wasn't expecting such wording from you, Koga." Haruto noted, pushing his glasses up with a curious glint in his eyes.
Koga blinked, tilting her head and played dumb. "I do happen to know 'big' words too, you know."
She got laughter from Yuna, Ryuho and Soma. Seiya smirked to himself, shaking his head but kept his words to himself—he never understood her desire to make others think she was dumber than she was. She was proud of her intellect; he and Soari knew she was. Topics she'd always expressed interest in and got the chance to study, she would always see through—even if they weren't what she'd expect.
She knows five languages for Athena's sake!
That was just one of her many talents, it had honesty surprised both himself and Soari at her intelligence and desire to learn about the world but perhaps it was because she was confined to the island with limited access seaside town. If so, he couldn't blame her.
o-o-o-o-o
Koga stared down at the Saints that had all begun to gather down at the lower Sanctuary. The scattered Saints from Mars' attack had all begun to return and the entire place was generally a busy one with the reconstruction of the Temples and Training grounds.
She'd be down there if it wasn't for Shun denying her because her arm was still on the mend. Her fingers twitched at the thought, Gods she hated herself at that moment for allowing Abzu to grab her arm like they had.
She gave a frustrated sigh, clenching her right hand into a fist as she brought it up into her eye line. She'd feel the occasion pain from certain movements and actions or if she used it too much but it was nothing to what it had felt like when she'd received the burn.
She closed her eyes, feeling the wind as it caressed her cheeks and fluttered through her fringe—maybe she should cut it. She reached up to the hair in front of her eyes, it was getting a little long after all. The entirety of her hair was getting long and she wasn't sure if she liked it enough to keep it.
Feet against stone brought her back to the present, she twisted her head to glance over her shoulder. Her eyes landed on Eden, he stood several feet back, hands shoved in his pockets as he tilted his head at her.
"I'm surprised to see you out here alone." Was all he offered.
Koga hummed and turned back to the view. "I needed some air."
There were too many people. She didn't really like crowds anymore either it seems, hopefully she can get over that one quickly. But the silence she had been stood in wasn't the silence she had come to fear, the soft and quiet chatter and constructing below was enough to ease out the static noise from her ears.
Eden moved forward, his movements slow as he if was approaching a feral and scared animal and Koga tilted her head this time with curiosity but said nothing, waiting for the Orion Saint to speak. He would, and she didn't have to wait long.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
"Don't say 'I'm fine' because we both know you're not, Koga." Eden's voice was matter-of-factly.
"I'm just peachy." Koga drawled, side eyeing him as he turned his head to look at her.
"Better." He sighed, turning to look down on the other Saints like she had returned to doing.
They stood in silence, comfortable and Koga become increasing aware that if she moved one step to her left she'd be touching Eden and her heart lurched at the thought.
Damn, now's not the time for her to get these weird feelings around Eden again, so go away weird feelings, come back some other time.
She snorted under her breath at her stupid thought train and it caught Eden's attention.
"Something the matter?"
"Just thinking to myself and the stupidity of some thoughts." She answered, then several seconds later: "Thanks."
Eden blinked. "For what?"
"You've been one of the few people to ask: 'are you okay?'" She answered and turned to face him. "Because I'm not and I hate myself for not being. Had I not let Abzu grab my arm I could be helping them down there. Had I not allowed Abzu to control me I couldn't have hurt you all and nearly cause the end of the world and most of all I wouldn't be haunted by everything Abzu did because I remember doing everything they did. I remember feeling them attack you all, hurt you all and leave those corrupted spots on you and I would have killed you had your mother not saved you."
Koga let out a deep breath, brows raising at the relief that rushed through her. "Oh, that felt great. That's the first time I've said that out loud. I sort of feel better just saying that, thank fuck."
Eden watched Koga closely with soft eyes. "Then that's the start of the healing process."
Koga turned back to him, meeting his eyes. Brown to green and it felt like the world around them no long existed for that moment. Like they had their own universe, even if it was only for a few moments before they returned.
Koga's heart lurched again and—ouch, seriously stop doing that, you stupid organ.
"You think so?"
Eden nodded, then asked: "Why do you pretend to be dumber then you are?"
Koga blinked several times, eyes turning curious as she looked back to him. "How'd you—"
"You have these spontaneous moments of high intelligence that seem to come out of nowhere and had you really been dumb, wouldn't have had. So that only means your hell of a lot smart then you allow people to think." Eden explained and Koga chuckled.
"Yep."
"Why?"
"Because the likely hood of being misjudged is a lot higher and the opponent is more likely to engage you because they think you're the weaker one." Koga answered honesty, and another honest thing she'd admit was Eden seemed to be the only one to notice this all 'I'm not very smart' act. Haruto might be catching on but he'd not confronted her about it so until then, she'd just gonna assume he doesn't know.
Feeling like their conversation had come to an end, Koga turned, having every intention of going down to the temporary kitchen and helping Shun.
"Where are you going?"
Koga stopped mid-step, turning to look over her shoulder to the Orion Saint. "Going to see if Shun needs help in the kitchen." She went to continue onwards again but instead she back tracked and faced Eden.
"Thank you again, we may not have gotten off on the best foot but I would be glad to start anew." To Eden, Koga's eyes seemed to sparkle as she held out her hand. "Hey, my name is Koga, it's nice to meet you."
Eden smiled lightly bringing his hand to hers. "Hello Koga, I'm Eden."
Koga gave a goofy toothy grin and—she did something Eden didn't expect—she leant forward, pressing her lips to his cheek. She pulled back a second later but to Eden it felt like minutes had passed and she sauntered off as if she'd not just done what she had, even daring to throw a wave over her shoulder.
The only think that flung through Eden's mind was: ah. He felt as his body tingled and his heart did a strange odd beat that almost hurt his chest. He raised his hand, letting his fingers brush against the cheek she'd kissed. He could still feel the lingering touch of her lips, if was an odd feeling but he kind of liked it.
He swallowed the lump that had lodged itself in his throat and glanced in the direction Koga had disappeared in. He couldn't help but smile.
o-o-o-o-o
Koga stared at her hands as they shook with adrenaline, her heart beating like a hummingbird's wing. She bit her lip, fighting the teen-girl-with-a-crush grin that threatened to overtake her face. Her cheeks felt warm, no doubt they were red.
Ah, Koga understood her heart's odd reactions to Eden now but that didn't mean she had any idea what do. She'd never experience anything more than platonic love before. She liked it though. She liked the flutters of her heart that Eden make it do, she liked it very much thank you.
She'd never really thought about anything to do with romance before, she'd had no need to and the idea of reading a book that's main plot was about the romance between two characters had never really piped her interested. Sure, if it was in the back ground— seeing the characters happy or even sad when they'd lose them (she'd admittedly always enjoyed bittersweet endings) could make the story more of an interesting read.
And she was getting off topic—the point was she'd never experienced romantic love before, so she had no idea what to do and if Eden even liked her back. They were definitely 'friends', they'd come a long way from their first meeting but whether he felt anything more than platonic for her was a mystery.
It bugged her—gruh.
Koga sighed pushing herself of the wall and set off towards the make shift kitchen they had.
o-o-o-o-o
By the time that Koga arrived back at the room both she and Yuna had been given, the other was already fast asleep. Koga made sure to keep as quiet as possible as she went about getting ready for bed.
Koga ran a hand through her now loose hair as she discarded her day closed for her tank top and quarter length pajama bottoms she'd been given for night ware.
She plopped down on her back, her left arm laying over her face as she lay still for several moments. Her chest rose and fell as she breathed, finally she rolled onto her side and snuggled into the covers and falling asleep.
o-o-o-o-o
"Mum… I don't understand what's happening to me." She whispered, body nearly convulsing as her insides bubbled. She'd felt it before. She felt it back in the House of Pisces and again a mere ten minutes ago.
She felt as this... this power—this Dark Cosmo began to build up under her skin until she just couldn't… couldn't keep a hold of it, despite her rapid attempts at tugging and tugging at it not too.
She cried as finally, the build-up of Dark Cosmo exploded from her, overtaking her light.
o-o-o-o-o
Koga fell to her knees. "This can't be happening!" She rested her head against the dirt, clenching at her chest as her heart beat painfully. "My heart... my heart is being crushed..." She gasped out in pain, back arching.
She squeezed her eyes closed. "Damn it!" She muttered. "I... I am Koga! Athena gave me her light." Koga held her head up again, she could feel the colour leeching from her skin leaving a grey tone and her eyes burned with tears. "I am Pegasus Koga!"
She pushed herself up but her foot slipped and the remaining hold she had snapped as her mind was engulfed in the darkness.
"Koga!" Koga heard Yuna's cry as they arrived just in time to watch another burst of Dark Cosmo explode from her body.
As the Dark Cosmo receded it revealed her standing form. She stood tall, head tilted skyward as the remaining dark Cosmo uncurled, forming into the shape of wings.
They all noticed the grey skin, the red hair all combed back to reveal the entirety of her face. She lowered her head to displayed now pricing ruby red eyes.
Amor gasped, breath hitching. "This... this is the God of Darkness, Abzu!"
o-o-o-o-o
"Koga-chan!"
"Wake up, Koga!"
She ignored them and continued walking.
o-o-o-o-o
She looked to the corner of her eye to see the two Bronzes Saints (SomaandRyuhoSomaandRyuhoSomaandRyuho) coming towards her. She threw them back with just a simply expel of Dark Cosms.
o-o-o-o-o
She gave a small wave of her hand and the attack vanished, the familiar gust of wind hit Haruto and sent him flying too.
o-o-o-o-o
Shehethey spun around and grabbed Soma's wrist before he had a chance to move it, shehethey raised herhistheir Cosmo as shehethey tightened herhistheir grip. Shehethey raised herhistheir arm straight up and Soma was lifted, blasted with Dark Cosmo before shehethey threw him.
"Soma!" Three voices cried in shock and horror, shehethey couldn't name the people the voices belonged to—it didn't matter anyway. Shehethey stood up straight again and turned towards the tree.
The Blue Dragon took the chance to run towards herhimthem.
"No, Koga-chan!" His arms wrapped around herhistheir waist making herhimthem stop again. "Don't do it!"
Shehethey faulted, the (familiarfamiliarfamilarsofamiliar) grip stirred something within herhistheir mind, the Dragon noticed it. The stirring stopped when shehethey released Dark Cosmo onto the Dragon to releas herhimthem, corrupting his body as shehethey did. Shehethey were angry that he'd even dared touch herhimthem.
The Dragon fell to the ground, body seizing.
Shehethey might as well deal with the others too, turning to face the four with a small smirk on herhistheir lips. Shehethey zoomed toward them, hitting the Wolf first then kicked the Eagle out of the way.
~§~
He dodged them again, they took a breath, growling as they stared at the boy, face full of rage at he continued his annoying assault upon them. The entirety of their eyes flashed red.
They gritted their teeth in frustration, lips pulling into a snarl. A small exhale escaped their mouth as Orion placed the ball of his foot on their forehead.
"I will not lose!" The rocks where their attacks had hit finally gave way and collapsed as EdenEdenEden (his name was Eden) continued. "I won't let you lay a finger on Athena!" Eden pressed down and launched himself off her. Their head flung backward painfully but it didn't matter as they raised their Dark Cosmo further.
"This is the end." Orion activated his seventh sense, the dark spots flashed and grew as he used his Cosmo.
"Roar, my Cosmo! Orion's Devastation!"
They growled, closing their fists in an attack. They both unleashed their strongest attacks. But they were so much more powerful than the little human, raising their hand and the Dark Cosmo flew up and hit Orions's.
Their attack was pushed back slightly (they allowed it to, false confidence to the little human boy), then allowed their Cosmo to expand around the large ball that was the human's attack. Shrinking it down in size, squeezing until it was nothing, Orion stared at it in shock.
They stared at him before uttering. "Be gone."
They opened her fist, the ball exploded silently, forming a ring but then a larger flash of light exploded in a greater size. It distorted their sight momentarily, the colousr the saw inverted.
His scream was like music to their ears.
Beautiful.
o-o-o-o-o
"Lionet Explosion!"
They smirked, raising a hand, stopping the weak attack by smothering it with their Dark Cosmo. They sped before the Cub and kicked, he was thrown to the side with a spot of corruption exploding onto his body.
"Rozan Hyaku Ryu Ha!"
They raised their Cosmo as Dragon attacked them, the Dark Cosmo grabbed the dragon illusion and crushed it. They used the chance to punch Dragon's shield, it smashed into pieces and blasted a spot of corruption on to his arm.
"Hakurouken: Toga Shissou!"
The Wolf's attack, much like the previous two, met the same fate. The ninja went flying with a cry as corruption exploded onto his skin.
"Koga!" Cub screamed.
They looked behind them when the cCub called out theirhisher name.
"I'll... I'll stop... yo—" Cub was cut off as they zoomed past, he was getting on their nerves. Soma turned to look at them before his chest exploded with Dark Cosmo. He collapsed like the rest.
o-o-o-o-o
The Eagle leapt at them again. "Divine Tornado!"
They released their Cosmo, sending the wingless Eagle flying with a scream.
"I believe in you!"
They stopped for a moment annoyed by the useless uttering of the human, they continued onwards.
"Blast Scythe!" The Eagle attacked but like every other time, they stopped it and sent their own in return.
o-o-o-o-o
The Eagle was granting their nerves, they held their hand out and called upon their Cosmo. They willed the darkness to grab a hold of the wingless Eagle and hoist her into the air painfully.
They released her, she dropped to the ground.
They shifted their wings, lifting from the ground and moved closer to Athena. They stopped mere feet away, smirking. They smirked their head tilted. "Now for you to simply fade into the darkness, Athena."
o-o-o-o-o
Koga woke up with a scream on her tongue but found itself lodge in her dry throat, releasing a strangled gasp instead. She was thankful though, she'd have woken up Yuna had she screamed. She fell back against the bed, chest heaving as she began to hyperventilate.
Shaky hands found themselves covering her mouth to stop the sounds of her sobs from disturbing Yuna. Her friends didn't need to be inconvenienced by her nightmares.
But they weren't nightmares really—just memories of when Abzu had been in control.
She pressed the heels of her palm into her eyes as she tried to stop the tears, managing only to control the verbal side of the crying but not the waterworks. It took her a while of just lying there, in the bed, telling herself that it was over, that Abzu was gone and they could no longer hurt anyone because of her.
She snagged a glance at the clock, three twenty-five in the morning. She sighed and sat up, shoving the covers back as she needed out of the room, she needed an open space to breathe and not a four-walled room.
She didn't bother with shoes as she nabbed her sketchbook, pencil and rubber before wandering from the room.
Sanctuary was peacefully silent. Of course, there were some Saints still wake but most were down at the Training Grounds and surrounding areas, not the upper side of Sanctuary.
She arrived at the top of the stairway of the Twelve Temples. She dropped down on the top step and opened the sketchbook to the next blank page, an idea already in mind.
Koga began to draw, her hand lightly sketching out the positioning of a body that was sitting with a puppy laying on the person's lap. She then went onto mapping out the person's features, short curly hair with a long dress, wide innocent eyes, bare feet and a small smile.
Koga's lips quirk upwards as she started shading in the drawing of Aria and the puppy, Yuna had told her what had happened and it had always been a mental image that Koga wanted to sketch. As she continued to shade Aria, she failed to notice that Seiya had taken to leaning against one of the pillars watching her.
After a few minutes, Seiya pushed himself of the pillar and stepped forward, sitting down next to his daughter who had seen him walking toward her from the corner of her eye.
"Can't sleep?" He asked taking a glance at her drawing, smiling when he saw who it was. Koga simply nodded her head.
They sat in silence, the extremely quiet chatter of the Saints still awake down at the bottom could be heard alongside the night animals. The wind that evening was cool and refreshing against their skin.
"While most are accounted for, there are still missing Saints. Geki offered to go out and look, even in his current state—he won't take a no for an answer." Seiya hummed making light conversation and Koga snickered.
"Sounds like Geki alright."
Seiya laughed quietly, being mindful of those asleep.
Koga's movements slowed to a stop, the draw looked complete (but Seiya knew Koga well enough that she'd no doubt add even more detailing) however she didn't look like she'd continue.
"Are you okay?" Seiya asked. It was the third time he'd asked since their return to Sanctuary after Abzu. Both other times she'd said "I'm fine" but he knows her better than that. He'd raised her and he sure as hell knows his daughter to the point of knowing she's not fine. Far from it.
It frustrated him that she wasn't speaking to him about her troubles, her nightmares and new found dislike for crowds or certain silences. Yes, he had noticed thank you very much.
Koga placed the pencil down and ran her hands down her face, rubbing her eyes as she did.
"No, I'm not, alright?" Koga stressed, dropping her sketchpad beside her. "But I need time to… process my thoughts and everything."
She turned to her father, suddenly look far older than a seventeen-year-old. She looked defeated, tired and just… lost.
"Eden asked me the same question earlier and…" She trailed off, pondering her words. "And talking about it was relieving but I need to figure more before—before…"
"It's okay." Seiya soothed, reaching out and tugging her to him, Koga curled into his side. He rubbed her shoulder. "No one's expecting you to be okay, especially your mother and me. But we'd like for you to come to us, you're our daughter—we want to help you through this okay?"
Koga nodded, sniffling. "M'sorry."
"Don't be, never be, Koga." Seiya responded with a stern tone. "Healing takes time and if before you can talk about it, you need time to think for yourself, then that's okay. It's a hundred percent completely okay."
Seiya stood, tugging Koga with me. She blinked up at him. "What's the matter?"
"C'mon, I want to show you something." Seiya answered, gesturing for her to follow him. Koga raised a brow at her dad but stood either way. She grinned, chest feeling lighter than it had moments before as she ran down the stairs after her father.