author's note:

Hello. for those of you who don't know it, in the manga Milo was a blond and Camus was a redhead, but in the anime colorists chose to make their hair blue and green to give more contrast to the illustration and speed up coloring process. in my story I'm giving Camus and Milo their original hair colors but at some point they dyed their hair. At this point, Milo changed it back but Camus hasn't, and Kanon finds it horrible.

Hope you like this chap. if you have any comment please use the reviews to let me know

Regards

Mu had told Kanon a general meeting approached and kept hinting at it every time they met. The Gemini hadn't blatantly refused to go, yet he didn't agreed to either. For some reason Saga held such events up in Athena's hall instead of in the Colosseum as it had always been, making all saints climb all the way of the 12 temples once every two months. Not once had all the saints gathered there so far. Attendance wasn't supposed to be optional, but Saga hadn't implemented any measure to guarantee it. A few minutes before starting, all gold and most silver saints, along with the Japanese bronze kids were in there when Mu sensed a different cosmos approaching.

"He is here!" Mu sudden turn to the door called Dokko's attention.

A very awkward silence got hold of the main hall when Kanon entered wearing the gold cloth. Still not everybody knew about him. Some silver saints even though pope Saga had stepped down or something.

His eyes met with Mu's, who couldn't help but to smile a little, but before he could say anything

- Hey, Kanon! - Called Milo. – so you finally decided to show up

Kanon turned in his direction, and he found really unsettling the contrast between the Scorpio and the Aquarius, who was standing next to him. Milo's eyes as usual brimmed with that defiant determination, framed by the golden curls of his hair. But Camus eyes were dull, like they have seen too much already, and were darkened further by that artificial greenish color he had dyed his hair with, he was completely eclipsed by his friend. Kanon didn't like it one bit.

The Scorpio got a very bad feeling when the Geminis eyes passed beyond him to the Aquarius's. Upon noticing, the French faced him. As Kanon stood in front of him they stared intently at each other and a weird silence shrouded them.

All of a sudden, Kanon grabbed one of Camus bangs and pulled from it not very gently. Camus didn't even moved, but he was obviously not pleased

- How many bottles of what did you drank to even consider this was a good idea? - Said Kanon in French throwing the bang to Camus face.

"Kanon speaks French?" It came as a surprise for most of the other gold saints...

- You just came here and that's all you got to say? - Mumbled Shura in Greek more to himself than to Kanon

- Breaking news… - replied Camus stoic

- Where were you when some assholes played such a hideous prank on him? – Kanon turned to Milo – You were supposed to take care of each other…! You were not involved, right?

- What? He came back from Siberia already like that - Answered Milo in French, which was and wasn't a surprise for the others

Mu, surprised at the familiarity between them, paid close attention to the exchange.

- What in the world is wrong with you? - Said Kanon giving Milo a knock in the head

- Hey! What did I do? - Replied the Scorpio

- Well I don't know, but I can tell you what you didn't do. You did not prevent him from looking like a victim of an inkwell! - At this Camus frown deepened - How could you allow your friend go around like that? What kind of friend are you?

Milo blinked in disbelief.

- Since when does Camus takes advice from me? From anyone, for that matter.

- Advice? Nobody in their right mind would take advice from you. But that's not it, atrocities like this deserve knocking him out, chain him up or even nail him down in the worst case!

- I'm not his mom to prohibit him do anything!

- You don't need to be his mom, you just need to care!

- He didn't even told me! One day he was just like that! What could I do? He's old enough to think for himself

- Well obviously not!

Temperature in the room was going down. Kanon turned to Camus

- You should at least picked up black. Well, you were never famous for your good taste...

Camus was grinding his teeth, he then looked intently to Milo, who almost jumped out of his skin and stepped back

- ... I'm pretty much used to it by now.

- Its hideous

- Who the hell asked you!? - Camus was about to punch Kanon in the face but the Gemini grabbed Milo and made him trip forward to use him as human shield.

- No, not me! - While falling, Milo managed to spin around and grab Kanon so Camus would hit him instead. Kanon lost balance because Camus bad mood made the floor slippery with ice, but as he was about to fall he grabbed Camus fist and all three of them ended up in the floor. They landed terribly. Kanon on top of Milo and Camus on all fours. Aquarius and Gemini's fists were frozen together.

- Smart move, penguin prince - Said Kanon trying to stand up, but he couldn't do so because of the ice. - let me go.

- Get off, you slack. - Said the Scorpio pushing the Gemini off himself. Kanon fell to the side…

- No wait - Dragging Camus along - Huff!

- Eh? Camus! I'm sorry.

- Quit messing around, you two! - Camus broke the ice and stood up.

- But Camus...! - Said Milo accepting Shura's help to stand up

- Not telling the truth is as good as telling a lie. - Said Kanon as he stood up too

- Didn't you bit your tongue? – replied Milo

- It takes one to know another - Kanon shrugged

- Not everyone needs to know everything, you moron!

- Milo, you are the moron, - Said Shura also in French, surprising many - You just implied you agree with Kanon

- What? - Milo blushed up - What side are you on, gloomy goat?!

- How's that different from being a hypocrite? - Interrupted Kanon

- It's called discretion! - Said Milo trying to salvage the situation and failing miserably

- You, discrete? Ok. But I'm not known for being discrete

- For the sake of world peace!

Hyoga got scared by the swelling vein in Camus' left temple

- You know I'm not fan of peace either.

- It shows. Let's make it clear your opinions do not count as mine!

- Take the beer glasses off. It's basically a fact! - Kanon pointed at Camus

- It's your damn opinion alright! - Snapped the Aquarius in Greek - And you can shov...

- Athena! - Exclaimed Shura on time to cut Camus eloquence with a hand to his mouth.

Camus bit his tongue before he finished the phrase.

Cygnus was stunned, he had never seen his mentor mad before, much less he had ever heard him say anything that sounded like a bad word.

- Thanks everyone for attending today… - Saga was beyond surprised to find his brother there. For a fleeting moment he dared to hope for an improvement in their relationship, but Kanon's attitude told him otherwise. He knew how to annoy people by staring alone, and that's exactly what he was doing. Suddenly Saga wished he hadn't attended at all. He decided to ignore him and proceeded with the meeting with a sigh.

After a long while…

- Well, if there are no more comments, the meeting is dismissed...

Milo immediately hid behind Kanon as Camus turned around and strode out of the room

- Kanon, Milo. - Called Saga. - Camus is no longer used to deal with both of you at once, I don't think anyone is. So please give him a break once in a while.

- But, Saga, I didn't do...

Kanon hit him in the stomach with an elbow and Shura made him lower his head. The Gemini also bowed in respect – Yes, your holiness.

Those words spoken by Kanon, sounded to Saga more like an imprecation than anything else, but since Shura didn't even give a bad look to his little brother, the older Gemini decided it was only in his head and disregarded the event.

Both Kanon and Shura made Milo spin around and walk to the exit as if escorting him out, completely disregarding all other saints following them.

- Saga - called Shion at the end of the meeting - Milo, Camus and Shura already knew Kanon?

- yes - Saga hesitated to answer.

- How did they meet? During one of his sneaks in?

Saga nodded - They met almost since the kids arrived here. They trained together often

- So every time they skipped training, they were with Kanon...

- If asked surely they'll say Kanon is the reason they got the gold cloths so young, at around 8 years old or so each. Kanon sort of coached them from the shadows and served his own training.

- You already knew this?

- Yes…

Outside Shura and Milo followed Kanon.

- stay away from Saga. - Warned Shura without looking at his friend – Camus mad is bad enough

- But I didn't do anything! You! - Milo turned to Kanon - There was no need for your stupid comments back there.

- Says cleverness incarnated - Kanon shrugged

- guess some things don't change – said Shura to himself, then he added – I foolishly hoped you both had grown out of rioting out of nothing, my mistake

"Really?" many saints were intrigued, almost nobody knew about Kanon existence and now he happened to be one to make the ice prince lose his cool?

Milo gave Kanon a killer glare just one bit shy form a Restriction.

- drop it, you know it doesn't works on me - Maybe it was a Restriction… - you know, for a reunion, I'm kind of disappointed, I don't remember it being that easy to trigger him off. I wasn't even trying. - Kanon turned to Shura as if looking for an explanation.

- You picked the wrong thing to bully him about - Concluded Shura after a brief consideration, but not fully convinced himself. – Or it was the wrong timing.

"Bullied?" Dokko, Hyoga and many others were baffled. Nobody ever thought Camus was someone anyone could bully. What the hell was Kanon bullying him about as to make him lose his temper like that? He spoke mostly to Milo, after all.

- Come on. There's no such thing as a wrong thing to bully anyone about. It wouldn't be bulling otherwise. Besides you are missing the very important fact that I was only telling the truth. Since when that's a bad thing? Or do you honestly think I'm wrong?

- Four out of five I agree with your opinions; four out of five I disagree on how you manifest them

- Well I missed Euphemism 101. Sugarcoating atrocities is not my style

- But aced records at Sarcasm Advanced, didn't you? - retorted Milo

- A wise person once said if you have nothing good to say, don't say anything. - sentenced Shura.

- So what you mean is to shut the hell up.

- However you choose to interpret it, it's a good advice

- If it's so good then why aren't you following it? Not everyone can be as permissive as you both. Silence implies consent, so it was my moral obligation to speak up. Otherwise I'd be an accomplice.

- How come we are the ones at fault here? – that was more an ironic statement from Shura than an actual rhetorical question.

- I wonder how many people in the world are capable of turning morals upside down with such ease – mumbled Milo

- Excellence don't come easy… ok, how about this? - then Kanon made Shura trip so he could catch him as he fall and spun him around to get him in a Disney kiss pose. Then with an unexpected and sensual charisma he looked into Shura's eyes and said - it's atrocious.

That alone made many uneasy.

Mu felt a volt of embarrassment and jealousy at the same time.

But against all odds Shura placed a hand on the collar of Kanon's armor and pulled himself closer so he could purr to his ear in an equal sensual voice - Please take me to see how that turns out

- What had just happened? – mumbled Angelo to himself in complete disbelief

- Huh? - Kanon wasn't expecting the rebound. Shura's reaction amused him. - Will do. - He said letting Shura stand up.

- Me too. - Said Milo unimpressed - I'll be cheering from the front line. – And gave him a thumbs down Kanon ignored.

- Hey, I'm not a charity. However this unfolds, it's sure to be an epic show, yet if you think you can afford it, you'll learn what dealing with the devil is.

- However it unfolds? There's kids in here – Aphrodite was disgusted. True many of Athena's saints were far from being actual saints, but he hadn't met anyone else with the guts to publicly voice the possibility of profiting with either a fight or a fuck between them.

- Just give the others a chance to evac the Sanctuary before you unleash the end of the world on our heads. – said Milo.

- Where is the fun on that?

Although Mu could sense that under it all Kanon was sincerely concerned about Camus. "But what are they even talking about? What did Camus do?"

- Jokes aside, why the hell did he do that for anyways? Don't you know? – Shura shrugged, Milo shook his head. Kanon looked forward, then he added to Shura - Well I regarded you as a person with criteria and care for your friends. I was not around, and Applehead is a lost cause. So what's your excuse, Goat?

- It's simply not of my business.

- Despite of that, you haven't seen the guy in ages. – Complained Milo - Seriously that's all you got to say? - At that moment Milo got distracted by a few snowflakes in the air and a thin layer of ice in the wall.

- Well indeed I haven't seen him for a while. That's the more reason for something so aggravating not to go unnoticed. It's almost unrecognizable! I know people change with the pass of time, but gimme a break. Although I honestly thought it was only a silly experiment gone wrong or a prank someone played on him.

- the fact you used Saga's hair as a brush and survived doesn't means just anyone else would do that to a comrade. - Shura just happened to notice the extremely white ceiling.

- Improvising is what you do in an emergency when you are short on supplies

- As I recall it was more like taking advantage of a sleeping person…

- You are Athena's saints. You are not supposed to be caught off guard. Or what? You wanted me to use my own hair? Not a chance. Besides, you do remember who braided our hair together, right? – Milo tripped and Shura winced.

- Served you right! I regret nothing!

- Not even causing Camus to miss his entire free afternoon trying to keep Saga from killing me with some scissors?

- it could have been faster to cut your hair than to try to untangle it… - mumbled Milo

- Shura, please remind Milo to cut his hair if you happen to see him with dreadlocks. – Then Kanon stopped in his tracks

Milo took his hands to his hair – We are talking about Camus! You went too far, making a storm on a glass of wa… oh… Dear Athena... – said Milo once he saw the hall around the corner - Saga is going to fret...

It was frozen, and a trail of icy footsteps marked the way out

- are you honestly more concerned about whatever lecture we get from Saga than sorting things out with Camus? – Asked Kanon to the youngest of the trio – you need to rearrange your priorities.

- I must have missed the cloudy with a chance for new ice age in the weather report today - Said Shura matter-of-fact-ly

"Was that a joke?"

At the back of the group, Mu could hear Aioria mumbling to Aldebaran

- That the most I've ever heard Shura speak.

The Leo nodded.

- I'll go with timing. It was the wrong timing. Or wasn't it? – Kanon gave Shura a meaningful glance - the good thing is this is only a glass of water – he added to Milo. – just picture what a full bucket would do… - then he mumbled to himself - I've been trying to destroy the world the hard way for years, it's been under my nose all along, good thing it's never too late for a change in strategy…

- I'm going to get him... - Milo turned around. He meant the older Gemini

- No you won't - Both Shura and Kanon grabbed him and prevented him from going anywhere

- It's too early for headaches - Said Shura.

- And he having a headache usually means I'm going to have one too, and those concerned with world peace don't want that.

Sagitta Ptolemy was about to step in the ice.

- No! - The three gold saints' simultaneous warning made him jump out of his skin

- What are we going to do then? - Said Milo deeply concerned - "mad" doesn't even covers it

- "We" sounds like a crowd - Shura crossed his arms

- What?

- You can't add this to my tab - Said Kanon considering how to deal with the corridor.

- The hell no! - Snapped Milo with his scarlet needle ready

Kanon lost his patience. - Basic threatening tip, free of charge, because I'm that generous - He turned around, grabbing Milo's wrist with one hand. – If you must resort to threats, be sure to have something, anything to back them up. – Kanon then spun him around and held him over the ice by the neck - Because a blown bluff backfires. - Milo once again glared at Kanon, so he shook the other a little – What is wrong with you? Quit trying to restrict me already, it's annoying. My grip could slip, you know?

- At this point I doubt he does that on purpose. – said Shura not concerned in the least.

Milo grinded his teeth. There was no way he could successfully escape from Kanon avoiding the ice. And begging was out of question.

- I'm not giving you the satisfaction – Milo crossed his arms and closed his eyes – Drop me and let's see who gets it worse. With these many witnesses there's no way you'd ever step on the sanctuary again if I so much as touch the ice because of you.

- Nicer try. – conceded Kanon, immediately creating the illusion they were at the edge of a cliff, then in sheer darkness, then in the hall upside down – still flawed, - then Kanon astral projection walked down a few steps from the frosted corridor - but you are getting there.

"There'll never be any reliable witnesses and he doesn't even needs to be here to defend the Gemini temple." Milo shivered. His understanding of the situation pleased Kanon.

- Let him go and I'll give you a tour around the best eating and drinking spots in 60 miles radius. – said Shura

- You have been living with this guy around for 13 years and you haven't learned anything? You disappoint me by the minute, Applehead. - so instead of dropping the Scorpio on the ice, the Gemini just knocked off his helmet and set him down clear of the menace. – Triple win situation and no fight!

- What does Shura win? – asked Aldebaran to Aioria. He only shrugged

- Weren't you too fast to agree?

The helmet fall down with a distorted noise, and bounced several times repelled by the hostile cosmos in the ice until it ended up sliding around like a hockey disk and producing a high pitched sound, making evident it was still being moved around.

- Call it a greetings courtesy not to make you pay my bills… six? - asked Kanon

- More or less - answered Milo while standing up pale. He then called for his helmet but didn't put it on since it was freezing cold

- I counted seven seconds.

- It must be a new record. Darn, my timing for generosity is always off. I was too fast to agree indeed, lost leverage on a good one. Oh, well, easy come easy go, right Milo? And Camus hasn't even tried to make it into a weapon, right?

- Not that I'm aware of – said Shura

- What a waste of murderous intent. – Kanon concentrated his cosmos to build a small sphere and then shoot it against the ice. It melted right away but left the corridor completely damp.

- Don't do that again… - Milo meant threaten with dropping him in the ice

- Me? You don't do that again. – Kanon meant threaten him in general

- Your name's on that thing! - retorted Milo as the younger Gemini began walking – the day will come you'll get trapped on Camus bad side and then we'll see.

Kanon rolled his eyes – Shura, explain him – and turned around to leave

- The same trick can't work more than once, Milo. - said Shura following Kanon out

- Eh? – The Scorpio blinked surprised - I knew it! That scar on your leg was suspicious enough. Masochist! I can't believe you haven't learned not to piss him off

- I learned to evade it, counter it and dispel it. Way more productive. Get some sunglasses! - Kanon made Milo walk in front of him, the Scorpio was glaring again. - I bet you 10 of your nightshifts. If I go down to Aquarius and invite him lunch, despite the frown and the scowl, he'll go. While you get to next holy war in an ice coffin.

Shura let go a long sigh

- What's with you, Gloomy Goat?

- My head hurts like I'm 10 all over again – he said in Spanish with a frown

Both Milo and Kanon blinked surprised. Then the Gemini let go a laugh more like he was mocking Shura, while Milo scratched his head embarrassed. Mu noticed a change in all three of them. Like they suddenly became more confident around each other.

"They speak Spanish too?" Well several saint found that impressive

- There's nothing funny about it. - Said Shura still in Spanish and with his stoic expression - Tell me now if you have finally decided to be a daily annoyance to remember carry a couple of aspirins and popcorn with me.

- Haven't decided. You carry your stock just in case – Kanon patted Shura's shoulder and kept walking

- On other topics. When is your birthday again? 30 or 31? – said Shura

Kanon stopped in his tracks as if hit by lightning. Dokko feared they would start fighting or something.

- 30! - Screamed Milo in Greek - The twins' birthday was yesterday! Happy birthday for yesterday.

- No, don't... - But before Kanon could avoid it, Milo hugged him so hard he pretty much squeezed the air out of him. Of course it was intentionally, but Kanon turned grim and his eerie cosmos shrouded him. Milo let go of him as if something had bitten him. The Gemini used his light speed to knock off the Scorpio and Capricorn helmets off their bearers' heads and knock them together. – You go fetch Camus. – He said in Spanish shoving Milo forward - I want him up and about by 7 o'clock sharp. And you, - he held Shura by an arm – get me something strong now.

- And by that you mean?

Both him and Milo called for his helmets seemingly unaffected, but they didn't put them back on. Instead, Shura passed his fingers through his hair.

- Above 40%, good quality, spiced, not so dry

- 40%!?

- And where am I supposed to get that?

- None of my business. Do so.

- Shouldn't we fill you in on Sanctuary drinking policies first? – said Milo

- Any of Athena's saints is well aware of their own limitations. The world will end before I'm found drunk senseless.

- Then we should fill you in on our drinking policies. – said Shura as if inviting him to Capricorn

- That's a whole different matter – conceded Kanon and so they kept on walking towards Shura's temple.

Who the hell was this newcomer who spoke so many languages and found it natural to order gold saints around as if they were cadets? And more importantly, how is it possible that said gold saints allowed such a treatment? Yet, nobody said a thing, Kanon's cosmos had been intimidating, but how were they acquainted?

Milo suddenly laughing broke the tense atmosphere - Penguin prince... - He mumbled in Greek - How did you came up with that? - He asked Kanon

- Isn't it obvious? - Said Kanon without a trace of a smile - I'm amazed it didn't occurred to you earlier.

- It's not that it didn't occurred to me, it never occurred to me to say it to his face. I like my head where it is - Milo leaned on Kanon and kept on laughing - Brilliant - He said

- Coward, laugh at his face. - What good is it to be his friend if you can't? Otherwise you are just making fun of him.

- You are going to get me killed.

- Fish die by their mouth. I wonder if scorpions too.

So from Pisces temple down to Aquarius, Kanon and Shura escorted Milo without further exchange. The Scorpio himself looked like a dead sentence prisoner. By then not so many people were following them anymore.

Once in Aquarius, both Shura and Kanon threw their capes over Milo, in a mocking gesture of keeping him warm, and pushed him towards the temple private chambers.

Once in Shura's chamber, Kanon fell on the nearest couch waiting for Shura to bring him the demanded drink

- Are you friends with Aries Mu? - Asked Kanon when he got a lowball glass and Shura served him whiskey on the rocks

- Not quite… - Said Shura falling to the next sofa with his own glass

- What are your impressions of him?

- Well, he is very quiet and sharp, a very gentle person and very committed to our duties, very responsible... When Shion was around, he remind me a chick following mother hen around... - Added Shura once his initial approach didn't conveyed enough info for Kanon. Shura sighted and went on - He almost never approached other people. Too focused on training. He spend a lot of time with Saga and Aioros, but not quite in friend's terms. The only other person I ever saw him spending time with was Shaka, and eventually Aldebaran, but they were all gold saints by then… He disappeared from the Sanctuary one day, presumably a deserter. – that called Kanon's attention - Saga tried everything to hunt him down to no avail. He might have turned to Dokko for that purpose. He came back to greet Athena and has stayed at Aries ever since.

Shura just looked at Kanon pondering what he just said. Just like with Saga, asking direct questions lead nowhere. If there was something he should know he just ought to wait for them to tell him.

- Hn... Or I have spent a freaking long time sober or this is a really good whiskey... - Said Kanon after having a drink

- Maybe both - Shura dropped the previous subject. Kanon obvious change of topic was a clear indication it was no longer of his concern.

- Where did you get it?

Up in Aquarius, Milo was freezing. Not once the blizzard from the ice world make him shiver like Camus cosmos did. Everything was covered in white crystals and the saint could see his own breath. Luckily that was regular ice. He grabbed the three capes in hopes he could get warm. When he finally reached the private chambers the door was only half closed but thick frost made it difficult to open. Milo pushed it only enough to slide inside. He felt like walking into a freezer the moment he stepped into the living room, but Camus was not there. So he kept walking towards his comrade's room. Now, that door was sealed shut by ice.

Milo sighted and used his scarlet needle to pierce the crystals. Luckily enough those were common ones too and not the ice coffin type. Soon he was able to reach the actual door but he had to run into it to get it to open.

With the windows closed by large stalactites and all lights out, it was pitch darkness in there. The Scorpio had to wait until his eyes got used to the almost total absence of light so he could figure out Camus body face down on his bed.

- Hey, Camus. - Milo approached kind of nervous but got no answer from his friend. With his head low he walked up to the bed and sat on it. - Camus, come on, talk to me.

- What do you want? – It was all Camus said

- Well, I'm sorry for not asking this before but... Only after Kanon's comment it occurred to me you were never the fashionista type, so I'd like to know why the change of looks is such a big deal, there must be a reason. I mean... I did dyed my hair blue as a tribute to the missing Gemini... Why did you?

Camus sighted

- Surt

Milo flinched by hearing that name

- All three of us were red heads. Many people thought us siblings when they saw us together in Siberia. They did treated me as such. But after... What happened...

Milo placed a hand on Camus back. He couldn't believe Camus had been hiding like that all those years. Kanon was right, he was the worst possible friend ever.

- Camus, Surt is gone. Besides it was an accident, you don't owe him anything. Don't you think you did enough already to fulfill your promise to him?

- Yeah, like betraying you, my goddess, my brothers and the oath I made… again. All those deaths... You could have died too. - Camus crossed his arms under the pillow and hid his face on it - I don't deserve to be here. But if I have to, at the very least I don't want to look anything like him!

- Camus, you must let go. You must go back to be yourself. We got this splendid chance at a new life, please don't waste it hiding in guilt and regret... Nothing you do will ever change what happened. But there's still a world out there we swore to protect. We are not perfect, we are human, and we screw up royally. But we can change. We are all here, we can try again...

By those words the ice began to melt

- I don't know... - Camus gave Milo a side glance - How... What should I...

Milo punched the window open before they got damped in all the humidity.

- There's no rush. - Milo laid back on Camus bed - I can help you find out - Added the Scorpio with a warm smile. A faint ghost of smile tried its best at Camus lips. In the end he just nodded.

- Kanon is right. How did I let so many years go by without asking you about something so important? Had I paid more attention maybe we would have had less of a conflict earlier.

- Don't feel so bad. I didn't asked either why did you dyed your hair.

- Don't ever tell them.

- You look better blond...

Hyoga returned later in the afternoon. Since Camus had frozen the whole temple, he hadn't been able to go back to his dorm, so he spend the day out with the other bronze kids. General meeting days were free days. Since the lights were off and the doors in general were left open, Cygnus assumed Camus wasn't around. Yet a strange figure in his dorm called the boy's attention when he passed by the open door.

His mentor was laying on the bed asleep, resting on his side and facing the wall as usual. The odd thing was Milo asleep next to him, with his hand on Camus' shoulder.

Memories from the last visit of the Scorpio to Aquarius came to Hyoga's mind and the kid blushed up. Milo wasn't serious on what he said... Was he? On their defense, they were both still clothed and even sleeping over the sheets. None had bothered to even remove their sandals. But the closeness between the two was bothering the Russian. What was really their relationship? Hyoga didn't know Milo existed until their battle. Although after his mentor's death, he had the feeling the Scorpio began watching for him instead. He even gave his blood to repair the Cygnus cloth.

And how could they rest so peacefully with that much light coming in from the window? And after the weird argument they had at the meeting hall...

Hyoga didn't thought he could close the window without waking them up. So he only closed the door. Soon Camus would have to go meet Shura for the night guard. So Cygnus returned to the kitchen to make dinner wondering if he should make some extra in case Milo decided to join them... But right then, he felt two cosmos at the temple entrance and he went out there to check who it was. He found Shura and Kanon calmly walking inside

- Hey Russian - Called Kanon - Is your mentor still here?

- Yes...

- Go call him, please – said Shura

- He might still be asleep

- Same difference – added Kanon

Hyoga hesitated, but complied. Camus didn't tell him not to let anyone in or not to wake him up. He approached his mentor's room but as soon as he knocked the door some loud tumble and crash was heard from inside.

Hyoga opened the door to find Camus standing on the bed against the wall and Milo sitting in the floor pretty away from him and rubbing his back. Both of them were startled, they looked around confused until recognition sank in

- What is it? - Asked Camus to Hyoga

Before Hyoga could explain himself Kanon voice came from the kitchen

- Come greet me you, sorry pair of slackers. It's too early to be asleep.

- That damn trickster and his idiotic illusions. - Said Milo rubbing his back some more while standing up.

- Coming! - Called Camus jumping to the floor and tearing the pillowcase from the pillow, since he had stepped on it with his sandals on. He discarded it to the floor to replace it later

- Having fun, you joker? - Said Milo as soon as he stepped out of the room

- Not really. - Answered Kanon. He must have thrown something to Milo's head, judging for the way he suddenly moved out of the way once he reached the kitchen. But Hyoga couldn't see what it was.

Camus followed him still tired, and perhaps with a headache, judging from his expression when he passed by his apprentice.

- Rested well? - Greeted Kanon

- I hope I will when I'm laid to my grave next time. - Contrary to what Hyoga expected Camus was as indifferent as usual. Nothing at all like the way he behaved in the meeting earlier - I'll take comfort in knowing you'll do more than miss me if I end up dead because of your pranks.

- Uuuu that's more like it. - Said Kanon teasingly, giving him a bag. He seemed satisfied with the answer.

Camus took the bag and opened it.

- Dinner? What time is it?

- Almost time for you to go on duty, but we still got plenty to spare

- Yesterday was 30... - Said Milo sitting at the table. He meant the date

Kanon glared at him while sitting down.

- Sadly he is now... 31, 32? - Added Shura, he meant his age

- If you can't remember how much older I'm than you, don't expect me to clarify it

- Sorry, I forgot your birthday - Said Camus taking the food to the stove.

- You were not the only one. - Said Shura - He himself forgot it

- I'd jump of joy but I hit my head on waking up, so I'm currently not at my best.

Hyoga had never heard sarcasm come out of his mentor's mouth

- You ought to take better care of yourself, Camus. What would Hyoga do all alone in such a big temple?

- He is more capable than most people...

Hyoga felt really weird. After almost 7 years of solitary training in Siberia, not too long ago he and Camus began a daily routine there in the sanctuary, where there were noise and movement everywhere every day. And all of a sudden they were having guests... And what guests...

Scorpio Milo, who always seemed so tough and severe one could assume he was always in bad mood, was now falling for Kanon's taunts and making silly comments. Gemini Kanon, once as evil as they come, was joking and laughing too exchanging more than one smart remark with Aquarius Camus, who Hyoga thought was not a person anyone could joke with. And Capricorn Shura, well the Russian didn't know him much, but so far had looked like a very calm and stoic person, maybe the kind not to know what a joke actually was, had been pretty quiet, breaking his silence only to instigate a new round of smart comments and comebacks between the others; not once did the Spaniard man smiled, but he did seemed amused.

Not long afterwards they ran out of food and drinks and it was time for both Camus and Shura to leave for the night guard. Just when they went for the door while the other three picked up the mess they've done, Milo stopped everyone

- You two. I still haven't forgiven either of you. - He said in an angry tone to both Shura and Camus - What you did was irresponsible, egoist, coward and downright stupid. You can't aim to be Athena saints with such a weak resolution on you, you can't be throwing the towel whenever you find a difficulty. Whoever told you being a gold saint was easy? You knew it, you accepted it, now bear with it with dignity! You giving away your lives like that... It was not yours to do so, so carelessly! Given how we are all back here, I expect of you to behave ad doc and quit whatever nonsense drove you to such unbecoming decisions. - Everyone was stunned by Milo's harsh words. Before anyone could answer anything he turned to Kanon - And you better think of a way to make amends with Saga. You can't keep avoiding him forever, especially since he is pope, he needs all of us. And is part of our duty to support him. We are all together on this. You wanted to be a gold saint, granted. Now act like one! ... - Milo took a deep breath - End of statement - He quickly picked up the dishes and took them to the sink without further ado.

The whole thing was more like a childish rant than an actual scold but it had an effect, although Hyoga wasn't quite sure about what it was.

Shura and Camus went out. The other three stayed behind straightening the place mostly without saying a word.

Once that was done, Milo went for the door but Kanon noticed he was going in the opposite direction from his temple

- Where are you going?

- To have a word with Saga, it was his birthday too.

- Don't expect him to be too cheerful about it

Milo didn't answered, he just kept going

Kanon only looked at him wondering just what kind of mess he was going to be thrown in because of his friend. In the end he decided he would deal with that later and turned to leave but noticed Hyoga had also come out to perhaps greet them for the night.

- Night, Russian

- The problem of looking strong is that people often forget to ask how are you doing - Said Shura once he and Camus left Scorpio temple behind - Despite Milo looks always impossible to bring down, he must have had it tough all those months we left him alone. It was all too abrupt and truly there was no need for us to die

- I'd like to think we didn't do it because we wanted, but I'm starting to doubt that's the case. He does believe we choose it, the easy escape... To die before facing any further consequence of our mistakes and dump all our duties on him and the others...

- Yet here we are, like nothing ever happened

- Makes me feel all the worst. Shura... I don't think I deserve to wear the Aquarius cloth anymore. It used to be a privilege for me, now it feels more like a punishment. Whenever Milo looks at me I feel like turning around and flee and yet the fact he still deigns to talk to me its all that keeps me sane. I'm honored to still be his friend

- Is it enough to be only his friend?

- What else could I aspire to? He remained loyal to his vow at all times. As soon as he realized he had been tricked, he turned against the real villain with fierce determination never wavering in his resolve. Not only I knew pope Ares wasn't acting on Athena's behalf but I also knew she wasn't in the sanctuary and I failed to do anything about it. I played along instead of doing like Aioria and going out to find the truth even if it meant fighting my friends, like it happened when he faced Shaka.

- Whoever told us being a gold saint was easy... The best we can do is as Milo says: wear the cloths with dignity and fulfill our duties until we have to pass it down to someone else. There's much we need to atone for, - Shura immediately thought of Aioros - But I still hope one day we can overcome all that and become the saints we were meant to be.

Finally they reached Libra. They found Shiryu, Dokko and Sunrei having dinner outside in a small fire.

- Out for duty, guys? - Greeted Dokko

- Good evening - Answered Shura, his eyes were trained on Shiryu who looked back at him rather puzzled

- Won't you like a snack for the shift? There's plenty

- We just had dinner.

- We'll be fine.

- Dokko - Finally Shura turned to him. - Would you mind if I train with you from time to time?

- Absolutely, whenever you want.

- We got to go. - Said Camus - Enjoy your dinner and good night

- Have a nice shift!