The Ties that Bind
Disclaimer: I don't own Saint Seiya or its characters or profit from this fanfiction.
Chapter Four: The Fond Memories of an Old Tiger
Libra Dohko's Point of View
By: Lady Mochizuki

Author's Note: Autumn grew up thinking her name was Kaida Akiko, as it was Keira's wish to keep Autumn hidden from her father, Sea Dragon Kanon, and her uncle, Gemini Saga. Like her grandfather, Shion, Autumn and her mother are descendants of the people from the Lost Continent of Lemuria.

I first met Autumn in February when she was three months old. I feel bad for Shion and Keira, who will never witness Tatum's (one of my nicknames for Autumn) firsts. I swear if I knew what I was getting myself into when I agreed to take Autumn in. I would not have changed the last eight years for the world.

Sighs.

Autumn will be my demise because I can sense a mischievousness and a strong sense of justice and truth in Autumn, as I once did in Belladonna and Briana.

Hm.

Tatum has Briana's personality. I sometimes wanted to strangle Autumn for some of the things she'd pulled. Yes, she's Kanon's and Keira's daughter, all right. Athena helps me. How many times have I wanted to strangle this one for trying my patience?

Oh well.

My misadventures, as I call them, started when, at five months old Tatum, I noticed she could move things with her mind. At first, it was only noticeable once she began to move larger objects like myself, Zoom, or her playpen so she could listen to the waterfall's roar. She babbled at the Great Lushan Waterfall, but I later discovered Autumn conversing with the Dragon Armour.

I woke up later than usual one morning because Autumn is a night owl. And I discovered Autumn and Zoom were gone. I search everywhere in a panic, looking for my little one. Oh, Keira, forgive me if Gemini Saga had come and taken Tatum or, worse, killed her. Later that day, I felt an unfamiliar cosmos surround the area, and then suddenly, Aries Mū and Virgo Shaka stood. Mū was holding Autumn while Zoom rode on Shaka's shoulder. I sighed in relief, of course. The memory dust must've worn off of Mu because he had that look of happiness on his face.

Sighs.

Mū told me Autumn had teleported herself and Zoom to India, where he and Shaka were having tea. Mū had lied to Shaka. The little one was my granddaughter, Kaida Akiko, so now you know how Autumn got her pseudonyms. I smiled at Shaka and thanked him for bringing my tiny Akiko home. Shaka only nodded as he slowly detached Zoom from his shoulder and teleported back to India. Shaka didn't believe Mu, but he just let it go.

Mu sighed, knowing later he would have to tell Shaka the truth about the memory dust and why he didn't remember Tatum.

Mu told me he had gauged Autumn's psychic powers, and I could tell Mu was a little jealous as he spoke because, at this point, Autumn's ability matched his now, but it may grow more substantial like her grandfather, Shion. Tatum was only five months old.

I swear, as young as Autumn was, I had to be on my toes with her around. So Mu came up with an amulet to suppress her psychic powers, but I shook my head no and said,

"As her guardians, we should teach her how to control her powers instead of suppressing them. Furthermore, Keira would kill us if we thought of suppressing those powers that could save Athena one day."

Mu laughed as Tatum yanked his hair to get his attention. Autumn started babbling at Mu. Mu stayed for a while and played with his niece. A week before Tatum turned six months old, Mu saw her sitting in her playpen, babbling with The Dragon Armour and The Aries Armour. Mu looked over at me and said,

"Autumn inherited Briana's power to talk with domestic and wild animals."

I nodded in acknowledgment while exclaiming to Mu,

"My adopted granddaughter is a genius."

Autumn turns towards Mu and me with a broad smile.

Mu left shortly afterward, promising Autumn that he would visit again.

I watched as six-month-old Autumn scooted across the floor as her great-grandmother did. I watched proudly as Autumn would scoot race with Zoom, and Zoom would win, of course, but he would always hold up Autumn's arm in victory with his tail, which made her smile widely. One day, Autumn stood up and walked to me with the biggest smile, and the peace went. Because it was "Tatum, come away from there," or "Autumn, don't touch that all day."

I swear this one constantly had me on my toes; Tatum reminds me of Briana in energy and personality.

At nine months old, Autumn pointed at me and blurted out, "Papa." I tried to correct her, but she stubbornly shook her head and repeated herself. Mū, who came to visit us, told me,

"In Tatum's eyes, you're her grandfather, and there's no getting around it."

I grunted in defeat.

"I don't think Master Shion would mind at all either," Mū added, smiling.

I sighed heavily, gave in, and encouragingly smiled at Tatum; then she walked over to Mū, pointed at him, and said, "Unko!" Mū smiled widely.

Soon, other words followed, and I had to watch what I said in front of the little one. I'm laughing out loud.

As my little one grew older, more and more, her personality and attitude came out; Autumn seemed to enjoy challenging my patience and seeing how far she could push me.

November 19, 1972

I threw a birthday party for Tatum, and Mu, Shaka, Death Mask, and Aphrodite came to help Autumn celebrate her first birthday. The memory dust had worn off Shaka, Death Mask, and Aphrodite, who had promised never to tell anyone about Autumn.

Autumn had fun that day, as she should.

At age two, Tatum would mimic my movements as I flexed my cosmos. I would correct Autumn's movements. So, I took it upon myself to teach Tatum, much to her godfather's displeasure. Of course, I was hoping it would keep Tatum out of trouble.

March 3, 1974

I felt Keira's cosmos slowly slip away, and a few moments later, a shooting star streaked across the sky as I heard Tatum fussing, so I headed in only to find Zoom cuddled close to Autumn. I only smiled at the sight. Is Tatum an empath as well?

I would look out the window to check on my hellion when I discovered Tatum had entered the Bamboo Forest instead of going to the rice farmers below my home to work. I would go tearing after Autumn to find her wrestling with tiger cubs under the watchful eye of their mother, or Autumn is stalking me with the cubs, or I find Autumn talking with a wise old King Cobra or riding on the back of a water buffalo. Autumn was three years old. At least Autumn was staying out of trouble.

That was asking too much from Autumn.

Autumn, the sneaky four-year-old brat, had climbed to the top of the Great Lushan Waterfall and jumped off. I felt my heart go up in my throat as I heard one splash and saw Autumn's head pop up and swim to where I was. The little one climbed out without any broken bones. I thanked Athena and God for keeping Autumn safe and walked away from the child, seething with anger.

An hour later, out of the corner of my left eye, I saw Tatum's head pop up around the corner, watching me as I saw Tatum boldly walk in as she hugged me around my neck. I felt my anger disappear as I kissed her forehead. Damn, brat reminds me so much of Briana.

Autumn found two abandoned ferrets, and I didn't say no when Autumn brought them home. Taking care of the ferrets would teach Autumn responsibility and accountability; thus, Ryu and Tatsu, the ferrets, joined our little family. Autumn was four years old—my little Fox.

It did calm Autumn down a bit.

Of course, those looking in didn't know anything but thought I was raising my granddaughter Akiko, who lost her mother and was abandoned by her father. I didn't bother to correct them.

I continued to train Autumn; I asked her if she could split The Great Lushan Waterfall in half. Unfortunately, I did not notice the presence of a Lion and Sea Goat here and watching us. Autumn had spent five months syncing her cosmos and splitting the waterfall in half as a fox showed itself within the water.

I cheered Autumn's success as Leo Aiolia and Capricorn Shura came forward, seeing great potential in Autumn to become Saint of Athena. Autumn refused to leave three-year-old Ryu and Tatsu, the ferrets; two-year-old Kelekona, the Red Akita Inu; one-year-old Draken, the Golden Eagle; and six-month-old Bombay Cat named Luna (Zoom's daughter) behind. Shura and Aiolia relented and allowed Autumn to bring her animal companions.

November 30, 1979-

Tatum was on her way to Sanctuary as I prayed for her safety, and I prayed for the poor soul who got stuck with my little hellion.

To Be Continued!