As the sun drifted from its place high in the sky, Kanon's feet began following a road they found, taking him across some people and eventually a few houses. by the time he was fully aware of his surroundings, a young woman accidentally sweep the dust of the sideway to him.

- Oh, I'm very sorry! - she said, but he didn't even noticed

- Hey imp! - called an old man from the second story of the building - Come on in – He said when Kanon looked up

The girl looked puzzled at the old man and then at Kanon. He didn't looked like an imp in the least, but still he went into the building, it was a bar

The old man was coming down the stairs, as the girl began sweeping inside. He was clearly a foreigner.

- I never thought I'll see you again, runt - said the old man in English, walking behind the bar and inviting Kanon to sit. They weren't open for the night yet - How long has it been?

- Nearly 14 years - said Kanon in the same language sitting down on a stool

- I thought you were dead

- Might as well

- That bad, huh? - Kanon leaned on the bar - you taking something?

- Hn, may I, Captain? - he said with a tired smirk

- You seem no stranger to good booze

Kanon shook his head

- Can't pay

- Not charging

- What you have - his answers were sharp since he wasn't quite fluent in English

The old men looked at Kanon for a brief moment, then he reached for a secret door in the nearby cabinet, from where he took out a bottle. He then put out a low ball, put some cold stones on it and served Kanon, then himself

- That's some devil's whisky - Kanon took the glass

- Can tell? - said the old man with a grin. they clung their glasses and took a drink. Kanon sighed and relaxed. - need a place to stay?

- Not really... - said Kanon gratefully rising his glass - I'm the new Gemini saint at the Sanctuary - and taking a sip. The lack of enthusiasm didn't go unnoticed

- And your brother?

- He is now pope...

- Sounds like a big deal.

Kanon puffed

- I'm no saint, Captain. - said Kanon - Lots of people died because of me, murdered a few myself, real scum but none the less...

- Your face tell me you did not enjoy it and you are not proud. It ain't so bad – Kanon didn't seem to hear what the old man said

- Most didn't deserved to die - he finished his glass

- That you cannot know. But at least they don't have to worry about tomorrow

- I just took it out on them

- Took what out on them? - asked the old man carefully. Kanon did not answer - something your brother did to you?

As Kanon remained silent the old man poured him another glass

- All of it... - he said while he looked at the whisky getting poured. His voice was low - he tried to kill me and left me to die, that's why I didn't came back... I left, barely escaped, joined the first chance for retribution, but someone beat me to trash him good. I thought he died... but then we met again... and here we are, serving Athena. Our sins are known, being guilty she forgave us.

- Athena? - Kanon nodded

- But it doesn't seems right. At least I should not be here.

- Where else?

- In some fish belly, perhaps.

- And would that bring all that people back? - Kanon shook his head - Guess you are more useful alive than dead then. Make sure that's the case. Or do you still want revenge?

Kanon shook his head

- I want to believe him...

- Then do so.

- huh? – Kanon looked up at the man

- If he betrays you, it'll be on him. Forgiveness it's a very rare treat, few can give it, most of those who receive it don't know what to do with it. But it must be treasured and respected. Forgive and being forgiven can be at times harder than punish or getting punished.

Kanon looked behind the man, to the framed gun hanging on the wall near the ceiling...

Shura, Milo and Camus arrived at the main hall almost at the same time. Shion had summoned them there, where he waited along with Athena and Dokko

- Good morning guys – greeted Dokko

- Good morning

- Welcome Scorpio Milo, Capricorn Shura and Aquarius Camus. – said Shion - Sorry for the short notice and thanks for attending. The reason we called you today is because you seem aquinted with Gemini Kanon and we were wondering about your relationship with him - All three saints tensed up. - Would you care to tell us how did you meet him?

Without even moving, without even making eye contact, the three saints agreed to remain silent

- Huh? What's the matter? – Asked Shion surprised

- Won't you tell us? – asked Dokko as confused

- Athena - It was Camus the first one to speak - Please forgive us, but we wouldn't want to disclose anything about Kanon that can be used against him.

- It is not our intention to judge him. – Replied the holy girl - He has already been forgiven. But we would like to know more about him.

- Ideally we would discuss matters with him, - added Shion - but we have failed to approach him. That is why the next best thing to do is to ask people who knew him.

- Kanon is our friend. - said Milo.

The meeting took too long to be over...

Mu hadn't been able to take Kanon out of his mind. If he had been thinking of him a lot before, after what happened between them, the Hellenic was a recurrent thought in his mind. The Lemurian had been a bit disappointed on how at the meeting Kanon attention had been drawn away so drastically by Milo, Camus and Shura that the Gemini hadn't even remembered Mu was in the room too. When the Aries saw him at the door, suddenly he hoped to at least spend lunch together and he couldn't shake his disappointment when that didn't happen. More so since he hadn't seen him ever since. "Maybe he indeed has a lot going on to have the time for anything else." Mu sighed "What's wrong with me? Now I'm acting like a teen, disillusioned because his crush didn't even noticed him around" he reprimand himself.

- Mu, hey Mu - Called Aioria for the fourth or maybe fifth time.

- Eh? What? - Once again Mu was so into his own thoughts he had forgotten he was having lunch with Aioria, Aldebaran and Shaka, at Leo temple. Being brought back to reality so abruptly, the Aries noticed his serving was already cold.

- You haven't touched your food. Are you in love or something? - Teased the Leo

He wasn't expecting Mu to blush up like he did. "Am I?"

- Mu is that for sure!? - Aldebaran startled remark didn't gave either Aioria or Shaka time to get shocked at the unexpected revelation. - I told you to stay clear of that guy.

- Since when do I need your permission, Aldebaran? - Mu stood up defiant, surprising everyone

- Hey, guys, guys... - Aioria hurried to stand between the two of them.

- I think that answers your question, Alde.

Shaka's statement made Mu look at his own fist. "Was I really going to punch Alde for Kanon? Guess there's no other way around it"

- I'm sorry, Alde. But seriously I don't need anyone reminding me how screwed I am. I can see that.

- Sorry, Mu.

- How so? - Asked Shaka

- He happens to be one of the most unlikely and unavailable people out there. Just my luck. - "or am I simply masochistic?"

- Isn't there anything that can be done? - Aioria was truly concerned

- Wait, I guess. What's the worst that could happen that hadn't happened before? - That was a very hurt statement.

- Mu, is it worth it? - Shaka looked at Mu. Yeah, he had actually opened his eyes, although the others didn't noticed.

- Too early to know.

- And who are we talking about? - Asked Aioria

- You are better off not knowing. - Mu glared at Aldebaran who was about to spill the beans - Although... It won't take long until you find out on your own.

- Well, it's time for me to get going - Shaka stood up.

- So soon? - The others stood up too

- Lots to do.

- We should lunch together more often.

- Sure.

But as soon as Shaka walked by Mu, he kissed the Aries lips.

- Sorry for not being able to keep you attention longer.

- Shaka...? - Mu's eyes finally met Shaka's

- If there's anything we can help you with, please don't hesitate to ask. - And so, the Indian left. He couldn't stay there anymore.

Later on, almost at nightfall, a very troubled figure stared at the sea ramming against the shore.

"Kanon..."

"Athena..."

She was speaking directly to his mind. She must have been at her chambers, he was down at the rocks of cape Sounion

"What are you doing there?"

"Waiting..."

"That place holds nothing but bitter memories for you. Why do you keep reliving them?"

"I'm waiting for them to disappear."

"If you must wait there, just don't forget I'll be also waiting for you"

"I'll always go back to you, Athena..."

Out at the sea, a storm was building up

- The man is out there again - Said a little boy as he went into the storehouse at a fishing village

- The same? - Said his mother

- Yes

- What man? - Aioria had been in the village early that day and decided to help the people prepare for the rough night as the storm approached.

- He appeared a few weeks ago. He comes early in the morning and sits in the rocks looking at the sea. I haven't seen him eat a thing. And this one time he stayed there until next morning.

- If he is still there we should invite him into the village. It's dangerous out.

Indeed the storm was already raging.

- Hurry! Everyone! - Another kid stumbled in - A fishing boat just sank by the cliff

Before the others even stood up, Aioria had already jumped outside. It was still early in the evening but the roar of the sea and wind was deafening and it was pitch dark.

But by the time Aioria reached the shore, a golden pillar of light had parted the sea

People approached in awe, Aioria proceed with caution. That there was a gold saint cosmos, but whose?

Someone was walking the road through the waters towards the shore.

- Kanon...

- He is carrying the people from the boat! Hurry! - Someone screamed and many fishermen and towns people went to meet him.

Kanon had indeed parted the waters with his cosmos. He carried a huge man on his back and had two others in his hands, grabbing them by the waist. Before him one of the fishermen helped another to walk the difficult road of the sea bottom

As the people approached, the survivors waved hands and called the attention. Soon they got the help they needed to reach safety. But just as the townspeople picked up the huge man Kanon was carrying and went out of the sea, the road leading there became unstable... Or rather Kanon's cosmos making it became unstable.

"Athena!"

Aioria rushed down the rocks he was in. Was Kanon hurt? His cosmos gone, the sea was about to swallow him. But Aioria got to him first and pushed the waves back just as the other saint had done.

- Kanon!

But Kanon had fallen to his knees shaking, he wouldn't move

- Hey, Kanon! - "a panic attack? Why?" As Aioria lifted Kanon from the ground to get out of there, he couldn't help to look around and then he saw it. "The prison" they were right before the prison in the cliff, surrounded by a raging sea. Aioria could perfectly see how the water covered it each time a wave broke against the rocks - Come on! Stand up! You are not caught up there anymore, move! - " The storm is worsening" - Kanon! - But he had passed out. Aioria carried him out of the sea

- Who is that man?

- Is he a saint?

- Aioria, do you know him?

- He saved us!

- How is he?

- Tired - Aioria turned to the temples - He is the new Gemini saint. I'll take him back

"So even scared of the sea, he jumped in to save those people. How long was he trapped there? That's got to be a very cruel punishment for whatever Kanon did. But he is out now... Isn't he?" Aioria did hear Kanon say to Saga that it was all Cape Sounion again at the time the two of them fought the first time, and that he will go back to his prison... "What is it with these two?" Then Aioros came to mind along with the words Saga said in the Gemini temple "I loved him"

Finally Aioria reached the Gemini temple. And there were Aldebaran and Mu waiting. They had been with Shaka

- We felt Kanon cosmos burning

- What happened?

Aioria suddenly got upset

- If you could feel it, where is Saga?

Neither saint got what he meant by that. They just moved aside so Aioria could enter the private chambers. Mu got some blankets, Aldebaran started a fire in the fireplace

- Is he alright?

- After parting aside the sea to help some sailors from a wreckage... - Aioria and Mu stripped him of those drenched clothes, dried him and placed him on the bed. - He should be fine

"But he is not" was the finished phrase in both Mu and Aldebaran's mind

- It happened around the water prison at cape Sounion... - Both Aldebaran and Mu flinched - Let him rest.

- Athena... - Saga turned around startled. He had indeed felt Kanon's cosmos burning, but failed to do more than just turn to the general direction in which it was.

- Kanon called to me today - Saga didn't reply - Good thing Aioria was there to help him. He is safe...

Kanon woke up too tired to make any sudden moves. Instead of trying to figure out the place he was in, he rather laid there, eyes closed, warm and comfortable, not caring to think. Eventually a sun ray struck his face and he had to move away. He sat up and shook his head. He was on a bed against the wall and there was a wooden chest nearby with some food on top. The light came from the sun coming down beyond the open window across the room.

- What happened?

It didn't took him long before hunger made him dress up and check on the food left for him.

Nothing great, but what actually called his attention was the flatware.

- Mu... - It was the kind he made.

When Kanon reached the Leo temple, Aioria was there as if waiting for him

- Kanon!

- Aioria...

The saint was standing in the entrance to the Leo temple

- Care to have a word with me today?

Kanon nodded as he went up the final steps

- What is it? - Both walked inside the temple

- I heard part of what you and Saga said at the Gemini temple a few days ago.

- So you were there... - At the time Kanon got the feeling they were not alone in the temple but he could not really pay attention to anything else. He wondered who else heard them. The saints reached a balcony in the temple, it had a great view of the west side of the sanctuary - If you heard me say anything about Aioros you didn't felt right, please let it slide Aioria. I was just ranting at Saga.

Kanon's words only contributed to increase Aioria's uneasiness

- Won't you apologize?

- ... I'm sorry you heard us. That is all. - Kanon leaned against the wall looking outside with his arms crossed

- What was your relationship with my brother?

- None, really. I never met him. I must have seen him at some point but I can't put a face to his name after all this time. I used to live at Rodorio since only saints and disciples were allowed in the sanctuary. Of course that didn't prevented me from impersonating Saga to get in every once in a while, but I would more often met Shura, Camus and Milo than him.

- ... And what about Saga? What was his relationship to Aioros?

- Do you really want to know? - Kanon's voice was soft. He still looked out. As Aioria didn't avert his gaze upon him, Kanon sighted - I'm not sure, Aioria. Once Saga began training under pope Shion, I scarcely ever saw him. I'm sure there was something going on, but Saga never spoke to me about it. I found out about Aioros other ways.

Aioria avoided thinking about which ways.

- Were you close, Kanon? You and Saga... - The Gemini looked at the younger man confused - It may be none of my business, but... Don't you think Saga must have felt alone?

- What?

- Aioros and I were very close too, we had a very hard time when he began training also under pope Shion. I did live here, but that didn't help in the least, we almost never met. I remember me throwing mayor fits because of it. Aioros used to smile at me and encourage me to keep up the training. And I did just so he could be proud of me.

- He... Saga did try several times to convince me of joining him. I declined at first... Because I thought I would only be in the way. He made everything look so easy, things that took me a lot of effort to do seemed to be natural for him. He was very severe and disciplined. I felt I disappointed him. I didn't want to embarrass him by my poor performance, so I stayed behind...

- He indeed made everything look easy. But it was not, Kanon. Saga might be a prodigy, many consider him the most powerful of our generation. But he didn't get to where he is out of chance. Training was severe, hurting and fainting were not rare. I saw both him and my brother work day and night to carry on their duties. I saw them fail many times and give in to failure out of exhaustion. Yet somehow they recovered and kept at it once again. They even had to take care of the rest of us before we got our cloths. They were only teens in charge of a bunch of not so ordinary orphans. I know I didn't make it easier, and I know some of the others didn't either. And Shion was especially strict with them because they were the oldest. "You ought to be wiser, you ought to be responsible". And they endured, and they guided us. Aioros and Saga worked very hard for the rest of us, no blood, sweat or tears could hinder their resolve. Atrocities aside, we admired them and we still do because of this. Kanon, please consider that maybe his invitations were actually a call for help.

Kanon remained silent, carefully considering Aioria's words.

- No, I can't accept this, Aioria. – He said finally - You think Saga needed me and he turned to Aioros because I refused to come over, because he was the closest person around. Well, maybe. But weeks would turn to months without me hearing any news about him. You have no idea what I risked by sneaking in to find him and most of the times I failed. And when I found out about them it only became worst. He just forsake me, for whatever reason he had and I can't forgive him. Still, I do need to know more about them. Since you are asking me I assume you had no idea until now, but you lived here. If you know about anyone that could know more about them, please tell me who.

- I have no idea, only pope Shion comes to mind... or perhaps Mu…

- Hey, angleworm – Ikki was approaching from the road down

- Huh? Chicken boy... – Said Kanon when he turned around

- I've been looking for you

- What do I owe the honor?

- Hoo genma ken! – Ikki unleashed his attack towards the Gemini.

- Ikki, release him! – demanded Aioria when he saw Kanon caught in the Phoenix technique

- You are being deceived, Aioria. I missed him entirely.

In fact Kanon was standing near the exit, his body relaxed but his face expressionless. His illusion vanished.

- Although the Phoenix fist is dreadful, your illusion fist has way more practical usages. – called Ikki - I've only seen it once, yet I can tell it is different and more powerful than Saga's Demonic fist.

- A victim of the Demonic fist requires to kill someone or at the very least to watch someone die in order to be free. Victims of my refined Illusion fist just do what I want until they themselves die. Being so far its only survivor you think you can handle it?

- It's only fair I try

- How about a trade?

- What catches your eye?

- Your Phoenix fist. I'd like my victims creating their own nightmares instead of me figuring out what would freak them out. I'm not a telepathist as Aries

- Sounds like a deal

- Not yet. You are Aioria's apprentice but you don't seem to respect him much vanishing from the premises whenever you want.

"How does he know that?" Wondered the Leo.

- So we start as soon as you get Saga's authorization.

- Like you are one to talk. What difference does it make?

- So if I kill my brother would you kill yours? Others' mistakes don't justify your own. I don't want to be held responsible for whatever happens to undisciplined reckless chicken kids. That's all.

As Kanon left the Leo temple, so did Ikki. The later began climbing the steps to the Pope's chambers without his mentor being able to prevent it.

- Phoenix Ikki? - Shion and Dokko were greatly surprised to find the kid waiting with that bad boy attitude outside the Pope's studio. - What are you doing here?

But before he made up his mind about answering the door to the studio opened and Shaka, Shura and Angelo came out. They were also surprised to find the phoenix there, yet they only greeted him as they did the older saints.

- got a minute... Pope? - said Ikki. It was obvious he was trying to be polite yet he had no idea how to so the best he could manage was not to sound as harsh as usual.

Saga standing by the door hadn't seen him until he talked. He also had no idea how to handle him, they have never spoken since they fought

- Good evening, phoenix Ikki. I have an appointment with Pope Shion and Libra Dokko... - Saga turned to them

- We can wait - said Shion really curious about this.

- Come on in, have a seat

Ikki saw the chairs and the desk... No that was not his style.

- Actually I came to request your authorization to train under Kanon

That was more like it.

Saga was stunned before even reaching his desk. Since Ikki hadn't closed the door behind him, Shion and Dokko heard and were just as baffled

- Kanon?

- I already discussed it with him, he sent me here.

From such a statement Saga could conclude it was Ikki's initiative. How did he managed to locate Kanon?

- What exactly did you discussed? - How did anyone managed to discuss anything with Kanon?

- He agrees to be my mentor only if you authorize it.

Since when Kanon wanted his authorization for anything? And what interest would each other have in such arrangement?

- Aioria is your appointed mentor, yet you haven't been around at all

- If attending to Aioria's training is what it takes to get the authorization, I'll attend

- That is not the point. Having two mentors simultaneously is unadvisable. Besides, for training to work you must be committed to it, otherwise is useless. And you are clearly not interested in anything Aioria has to offer. Which makes me wonder what interest do you have in Kanon?

- You think I look down on Leo Aioria, but that is not the case. His trainings simply won't take me where I want to go.

- And Kanon's will?

- That's what I want to find out.

They looked intently to each other's eyes. Actually they didn't mean anything by it. Saga was thinking, Ikki was waiting.

- Aioria remains your appointed mentor. You'll train with him at least four days a week. We'll meet again in a month to see how it is going.

- Thanks. - Ikki bowed. He was so lost in his thoughts he forgot about Shion and Dokko in his way out.

- I wonder what specific interest does Ikki have in Kanon? – said Shion

- They are both harsh and ruthless in combat... – added Dokko

- It surely has something to do with their illusion techniques.

- Why did you agreed?

- They don't really need to ask my authorization for anything. If they want to train together, who is going to stop them? Also if Kanon weren't interested, he doesn't need me to turn down Ikki. It felt like they wanted to prove they can play by the rules.

- And do you think Kanon can handle Ikki?

- well it seemed to me it was Ikki's idea to begin with so at least Kanon has Ikki's cooperation, something Aioria couldn't get. If it weren't for Kanon, Camus and Milo wouldn't have acquired their cloths so early on. Although his methods might be questionable, I'm sure they'll manage. Ikki is a tougher nut than the others were.