Echoes of Humanity

Shaka remained sitting for a long time after Mu left, even after he could no longer see the back of the Aries Saint through the darkness. Then he pulled his attention back to the present, and continued to set up the room for his unplanned guests. He folded a blanket, laying it on the foot of the bed, and began to spread the two bedrolls in other corners of the room. They would have to do without pillows but, given that none of the three had grown up in training grounds with any sort of elaborate living quarters, there was a chance that they hadn’t even seen one since they had been very young, if ever. Glancing over at the bed, Shaka hoped that they would be adult enough not to fight over it. Perhaps he shouldn’t have made it.

The Virgo Saint shook his head. As little as he wanted to spend time with them, these boys were to be Saints. They had been raised to a far greater level of maturity than many other young men their age, and deserved the benefit of the doubt.

Taking a final glance at the room, Shaka went to the small, well organized pile of clothing that served as his wardrobe, looking it over critically. He considered changing back into the Virgo Cloth, but that seemed as though it might be excessive. He could think of no reason that he would need physical strength or protection against Mu, and while he would, of course, take the armor with him, it did not see particularly practical to wear it as his only clothes. After a few moments, he shed the jacket he had worn to the gathering, folding the garment carefully and placing it with the handful of other dirty clothes that were waiting to be washed. Then he pulled a clean, medium length robe from near the bottom of the pile, belting it above the still unsoiled leggings he still had on.

As he finished, noises outside his temple got his attention. Quickly pulling a wool cloak from the pile, Shaka hurried to the door. As expected, the three students who he had offered his bedroom too were standing there, looking up at the Virgo Temple as though they were slightly frightened to enter it.

“Welcome.” He said, pausing. They were obviously waiting for permission to enter, although Shaka was not certain that he was the one with the power to grant it. “Please, come in.”

The three young men nodded in unison, deeply enough so that it could almost be considered a bow, and the two younger boys waited for a moment, letting their master enter first. Shaka simply led them to the bedroom, pointing out a few things along the way, and opened the door.

“Please make yourself at home.” He said. The men looked around, and Saint turned to Shaka.

“There are only three places for sleeping?” He asked quietly, but there was a knowing tone in his voice that made Shaka believe that he had already guessed that the Virgo Saint would not be staying.

“I have been offered accommodations elsewhere.” Shaka replied. The two students looked slightly disappointed, but their master nodded.

“I hope you rest well.” The Saint said. “When will you be leaving?”

“As soon as you settled.” Shaka replied. “I’m sure you need rest.”

“You have told us what we need to know.” The man replied kindly enough. “We apologize for throwing you from your own home.”

“Do not apologize.” Shaka replied. “Please,” He paused. “Sleep well.”

His guests smiled in a manner that left Shaka feeling a bit uncomfortable, as though they knew, without a doubt, that he was leaving because he couldn’t stand their presence, even if it had nothing to do with them personally.

“We thank you again.” One of them said, and then mentally withdrew themselves, dismissing Shaka as he had dismissed them. Shaka stood looking at them for a moment longer, then nodded and walked out. As he reached the exit of the Virgo Temple, he heard one of the students ask who was going to get the bed. He almost paused to hear the master’s answer, but chose to decide that it was none of his business.

Tossing his cloak sideways across the back of his neck, Shaka stopped by the Virgo Cloth, bracing himself to pull the large box up, and began down to the Aries Temple. As he passed the Taurus Temple, he caught sight of Aldebaran, the big man speaking with the individuals who had become his guests. Shaka was surprised to see that he had apparently taken the three visitors from Andromeda Island. The Chameleon Saint raised a hand as he walked by, and the two students seemed torn between staring at him and looking at the ground, as though they couldn’t quite decide what they thought. Aldebaran waved, the look on his face first surprised, and then satisfied as he watched Shaka pass.

Shaka was unsurprised to see that the guests of the Aries Temple had also arrived by the time he reached the bottom. Then Pegasus Saint and Kiki were speaking to each other at the front of the temple. Although Shaka himself had no idea as to what they were speaking of, it seemed to have them both highly engaged. Seiya was smiling easily, and Kiki was bouncing up and down, gesturing wildly. Further away, The Cygnus and Andromeda Saints were speaking with much less animation. Hyoga had his back to both Shaka and Shun, and the youngest Saint seemed to be trying to convince him of something. Shaka adjusted his path to the north somewhat so he wouldn’t interrupt them on his way into the temple, but kept some attention on them as he continued on. He was surprised when, as the Cygnus Saint tried to walk away, Shun reached out, grabbed at Hyoga’s arm, and then suddenly threw himself at the blond, wrapping his arms around Hyoga and holding him tightly. The Cygnus Saint only tried to escape for a second, and then simply stood there, not relaxed but neither tense. Shaka quickened his step, having the feeling that he probably wasn’t supposed to have seen what he had.

As he entered the Aries Temple, Shaka was not surprised to see Mu speaking quietly in the corner with the Dragon Saint; the Aries Cloth assembled beside him. Shiryu was alternating between nodding and shaking his head in response to whatever questions Mu was asking, and they both looked up as Shaka approached.

“You came.” Mu said, and Shaka couldn’t help but think that there was relief in his voice, as though Mu thought that perhaps the Virgo Saint would not. “Were they offended?”

“I think that they were expecting it.” Shaka said wryly. “I guess my lack of desire to have them present was transparent.”

Mu smiled slightly, but said nothing. Instead, he turned to Shiryu, nodding to the black-haired boy. “You will have to excuse me now. I thank you for answering my questions.”

Shiryu smiled and bowed. “Of course. It was good to speak with you again.”

Mu dipped his head, then looked at Shaka. “Are you prepared, then?”

Shaka only nodded, and Mu gestured to him, walking several feet from the temple. “The simplest way to do this will be for you to take my hand.” Mu said to him, holding out his own. Shaka said nothing, but took hold of the offered hand tightly, wrapping his fingers around Mu’s own. The Aries Saint smiled at him.

“I know that you’ve done this before, but please hold on.” He said, closing his eyes. Almost instantly, Shaka felt the stomach-lurching sensation of teleportation, of the earth dropping from below one’s feet and the momentary complete loss of sensation before feeling returned, the ground once again stone.