Echoes of Humanity

Mu stared at the retreating back of the Virgo Saint, desperate to resist the pull that begged that he follow Shaka. It would be unfair to the other man, at the least, to break into his brief respite. Instead he turned, looking around for something to keep his attention. There was absolutely nothing, he realized. The small groups were tight and gathered around each other, with no room for intrusion. Aldebaran most likely would have welcomed his presence, but the Taurus Saint was speaking with Milo and Aiolia, the first of which Mu had no interest in speaking with. Despite having determined that the situation between them had been resolved, one conversation with the emotional Saint had been enough for Mu, at least for tonight.

After several moments, Mu finally walked outside, taking the longest path possible down towards the Aries Temple, strolling slowly and staring at the stars. Power radiated from them, bright and shining down on him from their places in the sky. They were inanimate, and he knew he shouldn’t feel like they were watching him, but somehow they seemed to be examining him. He bit his lip, trembling slightly. Everyone else was watching him, it seemed. Athena, Milo, Aldebaran. He was fairly certain Aiolia was watching him in his own peculiar way. He was even watching himself. Which he supposed was a good thing, since it meant that he wouldn’t do anything unreasonable.

Yet, he realized with a start, he had no idea what unreasonable was anymore. He tried to blame it on Milo, but knew quite clearly that the Scorpio Saint was just an excuse for him to reexamine his own heart. Which meant he could still blame it on Milo, since the blue-haired man was the only excuse available to him.

“I am going absolutely insane.” He murmured to the voyeur stars. He had the sudden, irrational urge to see Shion. His master had at least been slightly better emotions than Mu. Although, thinking back on it, Shion had probably been denying a lot of things himself, over the years. Mu thought he probably should have listened the one time Shion had tried to give him some speech about what love was. But even then he had denied that he would ever feel such an emotion, and had told Shion exactly that. His master had looked at him sadly, and let him walk away. Shion had never tried to bring it up again, and now he was dead, everything he knew about living lost in the blood that had spilled so many years ago.

Eventually, Mu slowed to a pace that barely took him forward, watching disinterestedly as a handful of people passed him, heading towards their beds.

Besides, Mu reflected, as cruel as Milo’s words had been, he had just been pointing what Mu himself already knew. He needed to reexamine what he felt, even what he thought, and there would be no rest until he reached a reasonable conclusion.

The thought came concurrently with his reaching the Virgo Temple, and Mu stopped, staring at the towering and familiar structure. Then he found himself walking forward, into it. He decided it best not to wonder why.

“Shaka?” He called, when he was a few feet in. An affirming answer came from the bedroom, and he walked, slowly towards the doorway.

Shaka was on his knees on the floor, tucking a fresh pair of sheets onto the mattress. Two bedrolls had already been laid out, and a third lay by the door, apparently to be taken to another location. Mu looked at the Virgo Saint for a moment, and then walked to the other side of the bed to help him.

“Are you alright?” Mu asked when they had completed the brief task. Shaka sat back against the wall and gave him a look that radiated mental and physical exhaustion.

“I am…extraordinarily tired.” The blond replied. Mu smiled sympathetically.

“I’m sorry.” He said honestly. Shaka shook his head.

“There is nothing you can do about. I simply hope that my guests will understand that I do not wish to sleep in the same room as they are.”

Mu looked at the Virgo Saint. “I think that they will.” He said. “They are, after all, reasonably similar to us.” Even as he said the words, he searched his mind for something that he could do to alleviate Shaka of some of his anxiety.

Shaka rested his head back against the wall, looking at Mu with a wretched expression that led the Aries Saint to believe that the blond wished to be anywhere else but in his temple with three kids coming down to spend the night with him. Mu couldn’t help but be glad that he was not being faced with the same situation, and that he had the freedom to retreat to a place other than Sanctuary.

Mu’s brain froze over for a second. It was a dangerous, bad idea. He knew it was, and Mu was fairly certain that he should hesitate, given the situation between them, but he had to make the offer. Shaka might not even accept, since he was so used to Sanctuary. Taking a deep breath, Mu checked himself to make certain the question was coming from his heart and held no ulterior motive.

“I was about to return home.” He asked quietly. “Why don’t you come with me? If nothing else, I can guarantee you silence.”

Shaka’s eyes had widened at the question, and he was silent for a long time while he considered his answer. Mu waited, understanding the weight that the words held, and the weight that would come with Shaka’s reply.

“If you’re sure it won’t be trouble, I think, it might, be acceptable.”

“Of course it isn’t any trouble. Besides, I owe you.” Mu replied with a smile, unsure whether he was relieved or not.

“It will terribly disappoint my guests.” Shaka said, sounding surprisingly sincere in his regret. Mu shook his head.

“I know I repeat myself, but I’m sure they will understand. Besides, if they are true fans, it will be enough for them to sleep in your bed.”

Shaka gave him a wry look. “Perhaps I should safeguard my undergarments and toothbrush.”

Mu blinked. “I think you really do need to come with me, Shaka. You seem to be developing a sense of lewd humor, and that is not acceptable.”

Shaka shrugged. “Even I am allowed the occasional bad joke.”

Mu grinned. “I suppose. But it is still a sign that you’re overtired.” He stood. “Why don’t you prepare and come to the Aries Temple when you’re ready? I need to set out bedrolls for my own, eh, guests.” He added, already turning and heading to the bottom of Sanctuary.