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CAPITOLO IV

The guys decided to move their baggage to the respective rooms, even Shiryu and Shun invited to his other young brother to leave his in the guest room so any time he needed to change or anything he could use it. Of course, Seiya accepted because didn't want to have his things with Athena around, Athena the dog. They decided to do this while Ikki was finishing to prepare the food and the "ragazza magica" was getting ready for the dinner in her own room, the one that was in the end of the hall, the one that Hyoga saw when they entered to the apartment.

Andromeda, Dragon and Pegasus Saint were getting everything ready in their room. Seiya was smiling big enough when he jump to one of the bed to lay a bit.

"Smells delicious." He smiled. "Looks like indeed, Ikki knows how to cook." As Shiryu and Shun were opening a closet to leave their baggage inside, he stretch. "I hope you don't mind a sleep a bit in the bed, after all I will have the sofa."

"Well, Ikki explained me is a sofa that can be bed." Shun smiled taking Seiya's baggage and finding somewhere to fix it. "And what do you think about the girl?"

"She just say good afternoon, present to us and run to her room." Shiryu answered doing the same than Shun, looking a place for the Seiya's things. "We will talk with her in the diner, for sure. Ikki told her that." But in that moment they were really having problems about the fixing of the things. "Maybe we can put our backpacks over there…" he pointed the top of the closet. "And the three baggage here in the floor."

"I can help in that!" Seiya jumped both beds to be in the middle of them, but his energy as always was a lot, enough to lose the balance.

Of course the whole closet shook with this hit. Seiya hit, as always, his head and Shun and Shiryu worried more about him than the things that fell down, but just one box was in the edge of the top of the closet.

"Are you ok, Seiya?" Asked Shun worried.

"Stupid closet." The Pegasus pat his own head.

"You should be more careful. All these are Ikki's things and even some looks old." When he finished he give a soft pat to the closet just to make emphasis on it. Lamentable, he didn't know that thanks to this the closest moved enough to make the box fall directly to Seiya's feet.

"Ah!" Seiya yelled because the repeated pain thanks to that furniture and lay down in the bed. "I hate that thing! I bet it is sent by Hades!"

This made the other two saints laugh, but Shiryu came close to help him and didn't realize Shun decided to fix the box or at least place the things that fell under the whole space of floor between the closet and the bed. The box was open and looked like broke from certain places, the things that were inside were now here and there, Shun took them quickly enough to turn the box and see it.

When Shiryu said the things of this house might be old, Shun knew that box was even more old that what he could think. It was made from wood and had a layer of a polish that now wasn't totally in the whole box. In the middle, carved with lot of details, there was a sun with the symbol of Athena in the middle. But what made Shun stop and get Shiryu a bit nervous was the things around and how it was decorated. As a perfect circle, rounding the sun, there were the representation of the twelve Zodiacal Signs. They wasn't simple symbols like the clock in Athena but something more artistic and full of little details. The Andromeda Saint could find there was a brave lion roaring and showing the claws and in the top of its head there was the Leo symbol covered with flowers and fruits. There was a woman wearing a Greek cloth with eyes covered and holding a balance with a hand, the Libra symbol was decorated in the same way than the Leo's one. But what paid his attention even more was the one that was exactly below the sun and was covered all in a rustic gold. Every frame was covered with gold but the Virgo sign was filled in every corner. A woman was covered with flowers and plants and she was holding both hands praying.

"What's that, Shun?" Asked Seiya but the other Saint was already seeing the objects.

There were some books Shun opened just to discover there were written in Hindi, with some annotations in Greek. There were two or three diaries written in a mix of Greek, English, Hindi and even Japanese and Chinese and some other languages he couldn't recognize. At this moment Shiryu saw all this and felt a nervous in his stomach and in his throat.

"Shun, those are Ikki's things. Maybe you..."

"There's even some clothes!" Seiya pointed some pieces of cloth. "Looks like these are Shaka's things, not Ikki's."

Shun held in his hand some postal cards from different places around the world. Some were from Russia, Paris, even Italy. And with the few Greek Shun knew, he could read Mu's name and even Saga's. But what most surprised him was two or three with his brother's name on it. It was written in Japanese. He was so into the read of those things he didn't realize Ikki was already asking what happened. Now Seiya and Shun were seeing it and suddenly something more took their attention. There was a cloth with leather belts and was big enough to take their attention. Shiryu didn't know what to do about all this so he just walk towards the door and saw Ikki coming close.

"Guys, leave those things now."

But it was too late because they already opened that package. It was full of letters in different languages but mostly in Japanese and Italian. Shun didn't open them but some were already outside the envelope and he could read that all of them had dates before the Holy War and after the time they fought against in the Sanctuary. And all of them have Shaka's names but too Ikki's.

"Everything fine?" Ikki asked when he got inside the room.

Shun and Seiya turned with all those things in hands. They could see how Ikki's face changed in a second, he was surprised with a bit of nervous and anger. All of that was easier to see when he move almost pushing Seiya to kneel down and begin to place everything inside the box.

"Brother?" Shun was still with some letters in his hands. "What's this? Why do you have Shaka's properties here?"

"Shiryu, help me." It was the only answer from Ikki.

"Yes." Shiryu kneel down and took the letters from Shun's hand with an expression that meant the Andromeda Saint shouldn't ask more.

But he didn't see this.

"Brother? Is everything ok? That's why you went to the Sanctuary with Hyoga and Shiryu?" But Ikki just put everything inside the box to close it. "Ikki?"

"Stronzo di merda." The Phoenix said seeing the box. "It is broken... it is..." he sighed to stand up with it. "I will need to fix it... if I can."

"It is my fault." Seiya said sitting in the bed. "Maybe I can help..."

"No." Ikki was with a strong voice but sadness in his eyes. "You shouldn't touch this box." He then turned to his young brother. "Not even you. This is mine and are my things."

"But, brother. You have Shaka's things, it means is something important and I would like to know why..."

"And I would like to know why you ask so much." Ikki answered with an angry face. "I just don't get why you can't understand I'm not like you. I don't need to be open, I don't need to tell you everything that happens in my life." He sighed as he was tired walking to the door.

"Ikki, we doesn't need to know everything." Seiya said. "But maybe just the important things so we can help you in anything."

"Help me? You?" Ikki laughed. "You already have problems, all of you, and you had tell them between you and I hadn't see any better."

"You doesn't need to hide us things." Shun said a bit sad. "Especially to... to me"

In that moment, Ikki just turned to see him. He was now showing nothing but tiresome.

"Why? Because you are my direct brother?" Shun and the other two were now in silence. "Look, you need to understand that I tell things to you and I don't tell things to you, and is the same to everyone. Maybe Shiryu knows something you don't and for sure Hyoga knows things Shiryu doesn't know. You know things they doesn't know. Stop trying to see me as one of you, I'm not like you." He sighed. "I love you, the four of you, as my brothers, but I'm not going to be like you expect me to be."

The silence was there now, as Shun was feeling a bit guilty and Seiya was thinking Ikki was being again that "asshole" he met before, Shiryu was thinking that maybe he was right but again his voice and the way to say it could be harsh for the Andromeda Saint. But Ikki wasn't thinking in all that, he was still seeing the beautiful box that now was broken.

"Hey! Ikki!" suddenly Hyoga's voice could be heard. "I need your help here, assbird!"

"Going!" he turned to see the other.

Maybe they were expecting something from him, but the Phoenix Saint just leaved his eyes found Shiryu and, without changing still his expression, just thanked for the help and moved out of the room. The three Saints kept in silence, they didn't know what to say or do, but Seiya then just smiled and began to fix his things with some commentaries. This made Shun smiled, but still he felt terrible. Maybe later could ask when Ikki calmed down.

Seconds after this, because the room was almost in front of the main room, the Phoenix Saint entered with box in hands and saw how Hyoga was lied on the bed with the eyes closed.

"What do you need?" Ikki left the box in a table he had and kneel down to see it closer.

"Ah, you are here? Great…" Hyoga crossed his hands back from his head and smiled. "I just needed to ask you where I should place that thing."

Ikki turned exactly when Hyoga pointed Shaka's holy Rosary. It was over the bed, as if Hyoga put it there. The Phoenix Saint rose up to let his body lay while taking the Rosary with his hands. He saw it and place it over himself, still holding it.

"You know… I told you if you find something from him… you should hide it." Ikki said seeing the ceiling. "Why did you call me?"

"I heard you screaming and saying some things to your brother, so I thought you needed to escape from there." Hyoga opened his eyes and gave him a smile. "It looks like you hadn't tell them about… Virgo Shaka."

"I don't need to." Ikki said. "I know they will be surprised and then try to tell me things like 'he is in a good place now' or some stupidity like that." His voice began to show some sadness. "But he is dead now, and I still don't understand why…" Ikki took a silence. "I don't need to talk about him."

"Yes, you need."

Ikki turned to see his brother. Hyoga was still with a smile but his eyes were again with that deep feeling Ikki never liked to see; the sadness that wasn't easy to remove and normally would make the Cygnus Saint weaker and someone different from the Phoenix's best friend.

"No, I don't want."

"I don't care if you want, you need to." Hyoga kept talking. "You was the one who was at my side after all that Poseidon's shit. I didn't want to talk about it, and you told me I needed to let everything out." He laughed. "You heard me cry and sob like… three? Four hours? You heard all the fucking story of Isaak and my master Camus. You didn't say a word, just listened to me." He smiled once more with a warm sense. "I do appreciate it. And that's why I know you need to talk about it. Two years can hurt terrible in silence…"

The Phoenix Saint held the Rosary once more and saw each one of the beads. He touched them and sighed to close his eyes. Hyoga didn't say anything, he just saw the ceiling and waited patiently. Ikki wasn't someone who liked to show his feelings, but now that was mature and older Hyoga was expecting to change that.

"I miss him."

When he turned to see his best friend, Hyoga just realized he was holding tight the Rosary and sighed once more. The Cygnus Saint didn't wait to rose up and sit on the bed.

"Do you need some time alone?"

"No…" Ikki opened his eyes that had some watery signs. "Just… just not now." He smiled and rose up to sit in his side of the bed. "Can we talk about this later?"

"Of course." Hyoga said with a smile but then removed it when the thought about something. "How… did she…" he wasn't sure to keep the question. "How did she take it?"

"She miss him and sometimes likes to talk about him, but I think she took it better than me." Ikki laughed. "I learn more things with her at my side, and I'm afraid she doesn't learn so many things with me."

Hyoga laughed about this making a joke that maybe Ikki was right. He received a slightly push and he gave it back, just to begin a little fight. But the little fight was interrupted when they heard someone knocking the door.

"Dad?"

Ikki and his brother and best friend rose up and smiled to the little girl.

"Yes, darling?"

She had a beautiful chocolate like colour in her hair and big green eyes. Her dress was full of flowers and didn't have shoes now.

"Hello, uncle Hyoga." She waved her hand. "May I come in?"

"Yes, Helena." Ikki sat down in the edge and opened his arms. "Come here." The girl smiled to run to his arms and receive a hug. "What do you need, princess?"

But the eyes of the girl now were seeing the Rosary.

"Why did you remove it from the bead head?" she asked curious. "Are you going to hide it too? But… but no, you shouldn't."

The older of the house just sighed and moved to leave the Rosary over his bed.

"No, I shouldn't and I will not, promise." He smiled. "Now, what did you need?"

"Ah! I heard something felt down. Is everything ok?"

"Yes!" Hyoga smiled coming close. "One of you uncles decided to be a child and almost made the closet fall down."

"That's dangerous… well, not for Saints like you." She smiled. "And when is going to be the dinner read? I'm feeling hungry…"

"In some minutes, I'm just waiting the soup." Ikki answered.

Helena kept in silence but the expression in her face was something that Ikki knew well. Since that fight in the Kanon Island with Shaka's students and after the whole Sanctuary's problem, Ikki decided to visit this girl every time he could and till certain point wanted to adopt her. It wasn't possible because his age, but his beloved Shaka helped and adopted Helena by himself. Now that he was old enough, that all the Holy Wat finished, and that Virgo Shaka, someone who was almost like a father to Helena, wasn't around, Ikki knew every little detail in Helena's personality and their bond grew to this point. Helena was his daughter and Ikki was her dad.

"What else?" Ikki smiled. "I know you want to ask me something else."

The ten years old girl smiled slightly.

"Can I take a biscotto before dinner?"

"Yes, can I too?" Hyoga said jumping from the bed to the floor. He wasn't even sure was "biscotto" meant but maybe was something good.

"No, if you both eat cookies you will not eat my dinner!" Yes, Hyoga was right.

"But, dad, your food is delicious… I just want one cookie!"

"Me too!"

"Hyoga, shut up."

"Don't talk like this to uncle Hyoga." Helena said crossing her arms. "He is your brother, you should respect him."

Ikki sighed. Maybe after all he was right about thinking he learned more about this little girl.

"Ok, fine. You win. Give him a cookie too and even go with the others and asks them if they want one. But just one, ok?"

Helena nodded to kiss him and then jump to the floor. The girl smiled holding Hyoga's hand and bushed a bit because even if he was his uncle, wasn't he handsome? Ikki saw this with a smile, but it removed when saw Shun coming close to the bedroom.

"Hey, uncle Shun." Helena smiled being already outside. "Do you want a cookie? Dad told me I can eat one and I should offer some to you."

"Yeah, why not." He smiled. "I will go to the kitchen with you, I just need to talk with your dad." Shun indeed knew how to talk calm do his new niece.

Even if she was something new, something that just learned an hour ago, Shun already showed a soft side to talk with kids. Maybe he was perfect to be an uncle.

Helena nodded and again moved towards the kitchen with Hyoga. Meanwhile, the Andromeda saint entered to the room and sat at Ikki' side. Both were in silence now.

"I'm sorry."

They saw each other, because said it in the same time. Shun laughed but Ikki was still with a serious face. The little brother just sighed after it.

"I will not push you, not anymore." He kept talking taking the chance. "I do understand you are like this. I was just… worried about how you react about it."

"And I should told you why I have the box." Shun opened widely his eyes.

"No, you don't need to, brother."

"Yes, I do." He smiled. "A year ago, Shiryu, Hyoga and I went to the Sanctuary. I don't know if you know this but the Golden Saints needs to give everything to the Sanctuary after they die or, in some cases, give all to his family." Ikki took a deep breath. "They make a written where they need to state who is their family and if they accept give those things to them. Every year it needs to be change."

"I see. That's why Dohko gave things to Shiryu, isn't? He and Shunrei where his family. And Camus left things to… to Hyoga." Shun felt a bit sad but kept asking. "Why did Shaka left things to you and Helena?"

"Helena is his daughter too. Even legally talking and… well…" Ikki kept a silence. He tried to smile but for first time in so many years, Shun could see some watery look on his eyes. "Shaka and I weren't friends, and Helena is my daughter so that made her his daughter."

"You wasn't friends? What do…" but his eyes opened even more and his jaw drop. "You and… you and Shaka…"

"That's why he left me some things." Ikki sighed. "He left some others to Shiva and Agora, after all they were like his sons. But he gave me some things, some important things for both of us. And… even Helena has some books and carpets." He laughed. "I'm sorry for not telling you before, I would love you see them play together. Shaka was… was a great Saint." He said. "But it doesn't matter, not anymore."

"It does, Ikki." Shun pat his back. "You are crying, so it does matter."

The Phoenix Saint looked impressed and yes, Shun was right. He suddenly cleaned his eyes and took a deep breath to rise up.

"Anyway, I loved Shaka and he loved me enough to leave me some of his properties and the box and I tried to hide them. I didn't want to tell you or the other because… well, I didn't need to." He crossed his arms. "But, to be honest, Hyoga knew about it."

"Why? No, wait…" Shun rose up and smiled. "You don't need to tell me. I understand you say this only to the person you want to. I'm not mad, and I'm not jealous." he then took some silence. "But… at least let me do something about it."

"There is nothing to do about, Shun." Ikki was being again a bit rough with his smile. "He is dead, Helena and I are without him… I hide all this from you."

"I don't mind you hide all this and, please, stop saying that. He isn't with us anymore but he left you things, and not just material things." Shun smiled and gave a step forward. "And I don't want you tell me all, how and why you two began or anything… but you are my brother and I just want to… help you a bit."

"How?"

"May I hug you?" Shun said just to make surprised. "I know is stupid and you might thing is corny, and I will totally understand you don't want to, but I would feel like I help you."

The Phoenix Saint laughed because this. He just nodded and opened his arms. Maybe was indeed corny and something without sense for him, but he didn't realize what it could do.

Shun didn't wait to let himself give a last step forward and hugged Ikki. In that instant, when his arms were around and placed his head on Ikki's shoulder, the older felt something in his chest. He hugged him back and, without noticing, began to sob and cry over Shun' shoulder. The young brother didn't know what to do but kept the hug some more minutes.

"Hey, Ikki! Helena says if…" Seiya interrupted himself when saw this scene. "Oh… well…" he moved a bit to hide himself from the corner of the door. "Ikki! Helena says if she can take another cookie?!"

"You should yell." Shiryu said coming close. "Why don't you j-" but Seiya pulled him before he could enter to the room.

"I think Shun broke Ikki."

"What?"

In the other side of the room, Ikki left the hug to clean his tears and took a deep breath. He smiled to Shun and pat his back.

"I just…" Ikki was still with a smile like if he couldn't believe was happened. "I think you should go and tell to my daughter to wait, dinner will be soon."

"Ah… yeah, of course." Shun smiled in an awkward way. "So, take your time, don't worry."

Ikki nodded as Shun was moving to the door, things made that the Dragon and Pegasus moved fast but without making noise away from it, but again Ikki's voice stopped his young brother.

"Thank you." He said with a smile.

"No need to thank." Shun said taking the handle. "You are my brother after all…"

Both brothers smiled before the Andromeda saint closed the door.

I hope you are enjoying this story :D there is only one chapter left! (and maybe an extra I had thinking about but will be after the SS Sibling Week). I know this whole story had being centered in Ikki, but I felt it was necessary to show his relationship with the other four now that he is mature. Yes, I ship him with Shaka and, even if not like a lovely couple, even as best friends. Anyway, the next years I would like to make one for each brother, so I hope the next year I still can write some ffics in this awesome event. (Maybe Hyoga or Shiryu? yeah, maybe...)

If you don't remember who Helena is, she little girl is the one who was in the Kanon Island when Shiva, Agora and Ikki fought. She helped to Ikki and I had always think that Ikki didn't forgot her (plus my hcs he loves to be a dad and felt bad because her grandfather died because "his fault").
Another hc for the Phoenix is that when he is mature he doesn't fight so much against his feelings and show them a bit more, plus he is a pressure pot full of feelings that some day needs to explode... and maybe a little hug from his lovely brother can be a detonator from this.

Anyway! I hope post the next chapter tomorrow or the Monday! Thanks for keep reading ! It means a lot to me.