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The Blackmail of Souls - Book One	By : MoonWingPamela Category: +S to Z > Saint Seiya Views: 4057 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Saint Seiya, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
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Chapter Three:

CHIBURI

A
finger of late-morning sunlight poked through the curtains of Seiya�s bedroom and blazed across the floor, disrupting the
comforting darkness. The Pegasus Saint
slowly opened his heavy eyelids, cursing the yellow-white ribbon that invaded
his senses and beat wildly against his skull like a trapped sparrow. He rolled over and groaned loudly, burying
his face beneath a pillow. Several
months prior, Ikki had introduced him to the
pleasures of alcohol, but as Seiya lay in paralyzing
nausea, he couldn�t decide whether to thank the Phoenix Saint or exact an
appropriate revenge upon him. Seiya occasionally wondered why none of the Saints were
addicted to any mood-altering substances�at least none that he could overtly
detect. Considering the inhuman demands
that were often placed upon their still-developing minds, bodies and souls,
they certainly had every right to seek a quick and convenient release, or
escape, from the insanity of their lives.
He was not quite sure why he had drunk to excess the night before. Perhaps it was in celebration of seeing his
sister in Tokyo
hotel, or maybe it was to temporarily dilute the sorrow that had battered his
heart since the unceremonious parting with his brothers. But more likely, it was a morose and
long-overdue tribute to his stolen childhood, and the highly unlikely chance at
a normal life.

Though the
maddening flutter of bird�s wings behind his eyes gradually eased, it was
quickly replaced by a sickening ache that coiled up from his stomach and nested
in his head. The inside of Seiya�s mouth was sour and dry, and his tongue felt as
though it was made of sandpaper.
Desperate for a glass of water, he suddenly wished he had been blessed
with telekinetic powers like Kiki. The Bronze Saint sat upright and swung his
legs over the side of the bed. As his
bare feet met the cold floor, he surveyed the haphazard scattering of empty
sake bottles that littered the room then looked down at himself
with disgust. He had not even bothered
to remove his clothing before passing out in a drunken stupor. He raked a hand through his thick, disheveled
hair and attempted to shake off the tangle of cobwebs that immobilized his
thoughts. A strange emptiness surfaced
from somewhere deep inside, and as Seiya concentrated
on his Cosmo, he suddenly realized a thread was missing. His gut instantly flooded with leaden worry.

�Hyoga�� he whispered, then quickly glanced at the small
alarm clock on the small table next to his bed.

�11 AM! K�so!� he muttered angrily.
He moved swiftly into the living room and snatched the telephone
receiver from its cradle. With trembling
fingers, Seiya began to dial the number of the Kido
mansion, but a sharp knock at the front door startled the young Saint. A stern voice called to him from outside.

�Seiya! Are you there? Sameru desuka?�

In
the blink of an eye, the boy sprinted across the apartment and flung open the
door.

�Tatsumi! What are you doing here?�

�Saori-sama sent me here to collect you. There�s been an unusual...incident,� the man
calmly stated.

�What
is it? What�s happened to Hyoga?� Seiya demanded, almost
pleading.

�It
would be best for you to return with me to the mansion now,� Tatsumi answered curtly.
Before Seiya could respond, the Kido
manservant turned and headed down the stairs to the waiting black
limousine. Though outwardly Tatsumi seemed unmoved by whatever disaster had claimed the
Cygnus Saint, Seiya could sense a palpable fear
within the man. The boy paused,
frowning, then slipped on his sneakers and grabbed a thick woolen sweater that
hung on a nearby hook. As he slammed the
door shut behind him and raced down the steps, the numbing winter air stung the
hot tears that began to pool in Seiya�s mahogany
eyes.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hyoga clung fiercely to the shadow world of oblivion�

�no�

Timeless
black slowly cascaded into hazy white�

�why�

Distant
vibrations moved through him like approaching thunder�

�won�t�

A
trembling voice flitted through his consciousness on dove�s wings and wrapped
around his soul, comforting him�

�they�

�You�re
safe now�everything is going to be all right�I love you��

�let�

�Don�t cry�I
love you too,� he felt himself saying, the words tumbling around him like
leaves on the wind�

�me�

The
boy leaned in, their lips meeting in urgent desire. They existed only for each other�

�die�

Sudden unwanted consciousness ripped him away from the infinite
bosom of death�

�No, no, no,
no�!� his
mind screamed in a liquid torrent of denial.
Icy panic drove needles into his heart as his eyes tore around the
sterile white room. �Why can�t they leave me in peace?�

But he already knew the answer, even before he felt the
warmth of Shun�s body pressing against him.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

�The Mistress
awaits your presence in the study,� Tatsumi stated
obligingly. Seiya
noted an almost gentle quality to his voice, surprised by the man�s apparent
concern.

�Thanks�� the
Saint began, but suddenly realized he was alone in the foyer. He headed for the doorway that led to the
study and entered without knocking, immediately slumping into the nearest
chair.

Saori�s knuckles shone white against her charcoal-colored
pantsuit as she clamped her hands tightly together. She leaned a shoulder against the window
frame and peeked through a slim gap in the drapes, as if she were afraid to let
the outside world know she was there.
She glanced at the boy who sat in weary defeat across the room, and
shared in his sorrow. After all the
Bronze Saints had done for mankind, they deserved better lives. Though she mourned the evils that continually
plagued them, Saori was relieved by Seiya�s presence.

�Please, can�t
you tell me what happened? Where�s Hyoga?� the Pegasus Saint begged, his nerves raw from
exhaustion.

Saori breathed in sharply and cast her violet-gray eyes
downward. Seiya
had known for quite some time that she felt ultimately responsible for the
destinies of the Bronze Saints. He could
see the girl was deeply pained by whatever terrible fate had befallen his
Russian brother. Believing a Saint�s
life was a nightmare, Seiya couldn�t pretend to
understand what daily existence must have been like for Saori. Although she had a relatively carefree early
childhood, her youth ended quickly after the death of old man Kido. It had been Saori�s
duty to take up the reigns of the Graude
Foundation. She had successfully
established herself at the head of the powerful conglomerate, but Saori Athena was still struggling to find her place in a
modern world that had no interest in ancient gods. Seiya always
imagined Athena as a constant, separate entity dwelling inside Saori, but he knew being a goddess incarnate had to be a
bit more complicated than just having a split personality. He also knew there was nothing he could say
that would ease her burden.

�Hyoga�s here...in the infirmary,� she answered, choosing
her words with careful deliberation.
�According to the medics, he was clinically dead on arrival��

Seiya�s body stiffened, confusion furrowing his brow. �Hyoga
was�dead? But�how did he get here?�

Saori shook her head dejectedly, wishing she had all the
answers. Not only had one of the Bronze
Saints died under extremely distressing and unknown circumstances, but
someone�or something�had managed to breach the mansion�s security system and
deliver his body completely undetected.

�His last known
location was Siberia, so we assume that�s
where�it happened.� Saori�s
heavy heart darkened her expression, but she continued to explain the details
of the Cygnus Saint�s condition as clinically as possible. Remaining unemotional in the face of
overwhelming tragedy had become Saori�s forte, much
to her dismay. �Hypothermia had set in
almost immediately, and he had not been...um...gone for very long, so we were
able to revive him. Hyoga�s
in a coma, but alive...thanks to Professor Hakase.�

�Hakase? Couldn�t you�uh�that is, I mean, couldn�t
Athena�?�

�I tried�but
without his Cosmo, there was just nothing for me�Athena�to reach for. I guess there are limits to what the Goddess
can do,� she replied sadly. There were
some things she found difficult to admit�even to Seiya. �It was almost as if�� Saori continued
hesitantly.

�As if what?� he gently urged.

�Well, it just
felt as though Hyoga did not want to come back.� She studied Seiya�s
face with genuine concern, and attempted a weak smile. �You look terrible.�

Embarrassed by
his appearance, he could not argue with her.

�Why don�t you
go upstairs and freshen up a bit, then meet me in the kitchen. We can continue our discussion there,� she
gently suggested.

The Pegasus
Saint wanted to see Hyoga right away, but he did not
want his other Bronze brothers to find him in such haggard condition. Seiya nodded in
agreement then obediently headed to the stairway.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The low, droning hum and
mechanical click of the various monitoring devices irritated Hyoga. A tangled
umbilical of wires stretched from his skin to the machines like multicolored
spaghetti. A cheerful swath of afternoon
light streamed intrusively into the room from the small picture window on his
right. It was far too bright, but Hyoga could not muster the energy to rise out of bed and
close the curtains. Though the clear
fluid that dripped precisely into his bloodstream from an intravenous tube left
him extremely lethargic, puzzlement and angry indignation burned behind his
eyes. He simply could not fathom how he
had arrived at the Kido mansion. He knew
he had perished near Anadyr
less than a day ago�of that he was certain�but a troubling, persistent dream
slowly trickled into his memory. After
he had slipped loose of the mortal world, he imagined liquid silver arms
reaching out to him. They felt similar
to the aural filaments that had bound him to the Saints, but it was much
stronger and more ancient than he could fully comprehend. Hyoga tried to
break free of it, but the blinding white phantasm enfolded him in a careful
embrace and ushered him into a plane of existence where he was neither living
nor dead. As the hallucination became
more cohesive, a strange yet oddly soothing voice played over and over in his
head; �I cannot let you die like this��

For a long while, Hyoga lay in
silent misery, tight-lipped and emotionless, staring at the walls with lifeless
eyes. Shun had once told him that the
opposite of love was not hate, but apathy.
At the time, he had doubted the boy, but Shun�s
words rang out in his mind as true and clear as the pealing of a bell. Hyoga felt
nothing. His heart was a cold and empty
grave. He took no notice of the sleeping
young Saint who sat by his bedside. Nor
was he moved by the mass of lustrous green hair that blanketed his chest. He may not have been able escape the clinging
stranglehold of the Bronze brotherhood, but at least he was no longer tethered
to their collective subconscious. Hyoga had rid himself of the wretched Cosmo and the
constant brushing of the Cygnus wings against his soul.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Seiya exited the second-floor bathroom of the Kido mansion, rubbing a soft,
plush towel through his damp hair. The
hot shower had worked wonders on his aching body and mind. He felt refreshed, relaxed, and ready to face
Hyoga and his brothers. He was particularly glad to be out of the
clothing he had worn for the past two days.
All of his personal belongings had long ago been moved to his apartment
at Tokyo Bay, so he was forced to plunder Shun�s closet where he luckily found a gray sweat
suit. He had not asked permission to
borrow it, but he was sure the boy wouldn�t mind. The feeling of Shun�s
clothing against his skin was strangely comforting to Seiya.

As he passed the door to Hyoga�s room, the
Pegasus Saint impulsively grasped the doorknob and entered. Seiya couldn�t
recall the last time he had been inside the Russian Saint�s room, but he was
not surprised to find it quite similar to the other Saints� bedrooms. There were very little items decorating the
walls or flat surfaces, so his attention was immediately drawn to a pair of
objects lying atop a simple wooden chest of drawers. He wandered over to the bureau and picked up
a thick, worn book. He thumbed through
the pages of the heavy volume then closed it, studying the cover. It was written entirely in Russian, but Seiya could read the title, with some effort.

�War�and�Peace�by�Tolstoy,� he murmured aloud. Seiya replaced the
book and reached for the other item. He
held it at eye-level, peering closely at the tiny diorama enclosed beneath the
clear dome. The plastic scenery reminded
Seiya of a snow-covered Siberian village, but there
was no writing on the old souvenir to indicate where it had come from. He shook it gently then watched as the
glittering bits of white confetti dispersed and floated down transcendently
over the miniature rooftops, settling again at the bottom of the water-filled
snow globe. Seiya
returned it to the top of the dresser and wondered how often Hyoga had stared at the eternally peaceful scene forever
insulated from the rest of the world�and how often Hyoga
wished he were a part of it. Seiya was suddenly saddened by the painful realization that
he did not know Hyoga as well as he thought. Perhaps none of them did. He turned to leave the room and found Shiryu watching from the doorway.

�Shiryu! I
didn't see you there,� he said, mortified that he had been caught toying with Hyoga's personal belongings. �I was just�um��

Shiryu moved past him and stood near the window, his back toward Seiya.

�What�s happening to us?� he asked
quietly.

Seiya
didn�t know if he was referring to the all Bronze Saints�or just their
relationship. He could offer no answer.

Shiryu
pushed the curtain aside and peered through the frost-covered glass. The bright natural light filtered through his
eyes, transforming them from hyaline green to sun-dappled sea blue.

�Hyoga�s
not one of us anymore�� Seiya began, but Shiryu interrupted, glaring angrily at him.

�Don�t say that! Don�t ever say that again! No matter what happened to him, Hyoga will always be one of us! He�ll always be a Bronze Saint! If it was you in that hospital bed�!� the
onyx-haired teen shouted then suddenly paused.
Though Shiryu instantly calmed, Seiya was taken aback by the older boy�s unexpectedly
emotional outburst. The Dragon Saint
breathed in deeply, recapturing his control.
�Suppose you were lying in the infirmary instead of Hyoga,
what would you expect from us, Seiya?�

�I�m sorry. I didn�t mean��

Shiryu
shook his head and displayed a tiny regretful smile, signaling to his friend
that he need not continue. �I�m the one
who should apologize. I know how much
you care for Hyoga.
You�re as worried as the rest of us.�
Shiryu longed to enfold the Pegasus Saint in a
repentant, loving embrace, but he feared Seiya�s
rejection. �I�m just happy you�ve
returned!�

Seiya
stared at the floor. He could not bear
to watch as Shiryu�s trusting face flood with dashed
hopes. �I�m not staying,� he mumbled
sheepishly. �I only came to find out
what happened to Hyoga.�

�You�re leaving again?�

Seiya
nodded slowly.

�You won�t help us?� It was more an accusation than a question.

�Gomenasai. I-I can�t...�

An awkward silence passed between
them, but then Shiryu's demeanor abruptly
softened. �What will you do?� he asked
quietly.

Seiya
looked puzzled.

�What will you do�when you find
her?� Shiryu repeated.

He hadn't given it much
thought. Would he remain a Saint of
Athena or attempt to live a normal life with his sister? Shiryu did not
wait for his response. Without a word,
he turned and left the room, descending quickly to the first floor. Seiya knew he had
let Shiryu down...he had let them all down...but he
could not abandon his search for Seika.
He was so close to finding her, he couldn�t allow anything to stand in
his way...not even the needs of his brothers.
He sighed and treaded despondently toward the curved sweeping staircase.

As he neared
the kitchen, Seiya could hear the light sounds of
metal utensils and dishware. He pushed
open the swinging door and was greeted by the sight of Saori
preparing two cups of coffee. He was
somewhat surprised by her effortless familiarity with the minor domestic task. He seated himself at the kitchen counter as Saori placed one of the cups in front of him. He bowed his head, staring at the reflection
of his eyes swimming on the black surface, allowing the rising steam to caress
his face like a gentle hand. Seiya lifted the cup and reluctantly sipped at the hot,
bitter liquid. Though he enjoyed the
rich, sweet aroma of coffee, he hated the taste of it. He glanced at the nearby containers of sugar
and cream, but the thought of indulging himself while Hyoga
lay in a coma seemed inappropriate and selfish.

�Okay, so Hyoga�s alive. Why
can�t I feel his Cosmo?� Seiya quietly lamented. Saori realized the
question was not directed toward her, but Seiya
needed some kind of answer. She sat on
the stool next to the Bronze Saint and picked up a shining silver spoon,
absently stirring her own filled cup as she spoke.

�We
know very little at this point, I�m sorry to say. The Professor�s assistant reported seeing an
extremely bright flash of light and hearing what sounded like a hurricane-force
wind in the hallway outside his office, but nothing more,� she explained in a
manner that suggested such occurrences were commonplace. �And suddenly Hyoga
was there...along with another badly injured Russian man.�

Seiya raised his eyebrows, silently questioning her. Saori shook her
head.

�We haven�t
been able to get much out of him. We�re
not even sure he knows what happened to Hyoga�or
himself. The poor fellow seems to have
been through quite a traumatic ordeal, and it appears he�s lost his capacity
for rational thought. So far, all of our
questions have been met with incoherent ramblings about demons and angels. I�m afraid this situation is going to require
some special assistance, and in his delicate mental state, we dare not try any
drugs on the man. Instead, I�ve asked Mu to prevail upon the Virgo Saint to aid us with his
unique abilities.�

She placed the
spoon on the counter and wrapped her hands tightly around the warm cup. �There�s something else, Seiya. We�ve made inquiries to the Russian
government concerning the identity of the man, and their response has been less
than friendly to say the least. They�re
demanding his immediate return, and if we don�t comply, they�ve threatened to
lodge a formal complaint with our government.
However, it�s also quite obvious they�re trying to conceal something, so
I don't believe their threats are too serious�for now anyway.�

Seiya had little patience for politicians and governments
in general. They were the same the world
over�completely useless. �You think
there�s something in Siberia they don�t want
anyone to know about?�

She
nodded. �That appears to be the
case. If Hyoga
stumbled onto whatever it is they�re trying to hide, then we may all be in deep
trouble.�

�Saori-san, surely you�re not afraid of�� Seiya began, but the girl interrupted.

�Until we know exactly what�s going
on over there, I am very afraid. I don�t
want anymore Saints ending up like Hyoga!�

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

As Ikki paused outside the door of
the infirmary room, his thoughts cascaded into an avalanche of uncontrollable
emotions that spun and collided within him.
The perplexing discovery of Hyoga�s body along
with the wounded Russian man, and the unknown circumstances surrounding the
Cygnus Saint�s death filled Ikki with
apprehension. Until Hyoga
awakened from his coma and was able to relate the details of whatever unknown
danger had claimed him, Ikki had to assume they were
all susceptible to the same threat. It
was the one of the few things he and Saori had been
able to agree on.

He slipped softly into the room and stood just inside the
doorway, trying not to disturb his brother who slumbered in a chair at Hyoga�s bedside, his head resting angelically against the reanimated
Saint�s arm. Even as he slept, the
green-haired boy clung desperately to the Russian�s limp, unresponsive
hand. Not surprisingly, Shun had stayed
by Hyoga�s side from the instant his body appeared in
the laboratory. As the Phoenix Saint
studied the motionless pair, his heart bristled with envy. He was certainly not blind to their special
bond, but he would never risk alienating his younger sibling�s love by
attempting to keep Shun and Hyoga apart. Ikki knew he had to
accept Shun�s affection for his Bronze brethren, no
matter how painful it may be to witness, especially after his own moment of
weakness with the remarkable Gold Saint Mu. He was almost ashamed at the relief he felt
upon learning that Mu had departed for the House of
Virgo. He was certain the sublime,
lavender-haired being had no intention of betraying him to Shun, but Ikki could not shake his anxiety whenever Mu was near.
Consumed by guilt since their encounter in the glade, Ikki tried to maintain an unimpeachable disposition, but he
couldn�t help wondering if Shun somehow already knew of his deceit�and his
undeniable attraction to the older Aries Saint.

Ikki contemplated Hyoga�s breathtaking profile and the long, golden lashes
that feathered out from his closed eyes.
It occurred to him the Russian boy was the only one among them who was
truly alone. Ikki
thankfully had his brother Shun, somewhere in the world Seiya
had his blood sister waiting to reunite with him, and Shiryu
had his stepsister Shunrei. But Hyoga, an only
child, had lost both his mother and the Crystal Saint, one of the few people
whom the Cygnus had greatly admired. Ikki cocked his head as a rare, warm glow of sympathy
colored his cheeks. It seemed Shun was
the only one who understood and acknowledged Hyoga�s
inner agony. In the short time the five
of them had been united as a team, Shun had developed a unique connection with Hyoga that was clearly evident to everyone around
them. At least Hyoga
knew he was loved by Shun�truly and unconditionally. And while he respected the Siberian Saint as
a warrior, Ikki�s possessiveness and jealousy over
Shun would forever drive a wedge between the Phoenix and the Cygnus.

Suddenly, Hyoga turned his head and glared at Ikki.
�What are you doing here?� he snarled.

�Hyoga! You�you�re�!�

�Yes, I�m
awake,� Hyoga responded in a quiet, condescending
tone.

�Nii-san?� Shun yawned, roused by Ikki�s inadvertent outburst. Still drowsy, he could scarcely believe his
eyes. �Hyoga��
he whispered

It took all the
restraint with the boy to keep from throwing himself onto the bed and holding
the Cygnus Saint in his arms until the sun burnt itself out and the Earth
turned to dust. Though greatly relieved
to find him fully conscious, his mental connection with Hyoga
was still broken, and to Shun, it felt as if a limb had been severed. The loss was overwhelming, and grief pummeled
his chest with sledgehammer blows. The
sight of Hyoga lying listlessly in the hospital bed
attached to strange medical devices completely devastated the Andromeda
Saint. Hyoga�s
appearance had changed so drastically that he seemed like a stranger to
Shun. His usual golden complexion was
disturbingly waxen, and his normally loving, vibrant eyes were vacant blue
spheres. Shun quickly scrubbed away the
wet, salty trails that slid down his face.

�The
Professor said you were very lucky,� Shun explained in a trembling voice. �If you hadn�t made it back here when you
did�� The young Saint swallowed hard against the lump in his throat, and
quickly changed the subject. He chose
his words carefully, speaking gently to the stricken young Russian.

�Hyoga, your Cloth did not return with you.� Shun was aching to find out what had happened
to his Cosmo, but it did not seem the proper time to begin interrogating Hyoga. �Don�t worry
though. Saori
believes it�s still in Siberia. We�ll find it for you!�

Hyoga did not need
confirmation from Saori. He already knew where the armor had gone the
instant it faded from view the night he died.
The Cygnus Cloth had once again imbedded itself deep within the ancient,
impenetrable glacial wall from which it originated.

Shun stood up,
still gripping Hyoga�s hand. He still hadn�t noticed the saffron-haired
boy�s abnormally distant demeanor. �I�ll
fetch Hakase and let the others know that Hyoga�s okay!� Shun announced, attempting a cheerful
fa�ade.

�Not just yet,
Shun.�

�Eh?� He blinked at Ikki. �Why, nii-san?�

�Before this
place is swarming with people, I need to ask Hyoga a
few questions.� Ikki
had watched Hyoga closely from the moment he spoke,
and found something odd in his demeanor.
Perhaps it was nothing. After
all, he had obviously been through a traumatic ordeal, but Ikki
could not dismiss the suspicions that unexpectedly invaded his thoughts.

�What happened
over there?� Ikki asked abruptly.

�That�s none of
your concern,� Hyoga answered evenly.

Any sympathy Ikki had been feeling toward the Cygnus quickly
dissipated. Hyoga
may have been able to deceive his too-trusting brother, but to Ikki, the truth blazed across Hyoga�s
face like a beacon. There was no
mistaking Hyoga�s soulless and frigid aspect, for he
had seen the same look in his own eyes not so long ago�and it disgusted
him. Ikki�s
upper lip curled in a discernible sneer as he glowered at the bedridden
Saint.

�Enough! Why don�t you tell Shun the truth?� he
challenged, hoping to elicit some kind of emotion from Hyoga.

Shun could not
comprehend Ikki�s anger. Hyoga was back from
the dead, and no longer in a coma, which should have been cause for thankful
prayers and celebration.

�He didn�t lose
his life in some great battle!� Ikki declared.

�I killed
myself,� Hyoga added without hesitation.

�W-what are you
saying? I don�t understand!� Shun
stammered in wide-eyed bewilderment.

Hyoga stared at them with stony indifference.

�No one did this to me�I wanted to
die.�

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The medical wing had been a recent
addition to the mansion, and construction was only partially complete. Yellowish plastic sheets wafted eerily in Shiryu's wake as he jogged briskly toward the room where Hyoga lay. The
semi-transparent material hung over skeletal walls and doorways to keep heavy
layers of construction dust from drifting throughout the rest of the house, but
Shiryu thought it made the hallway look like
something out of a cheap horror movie.
As he hurried down the tenebrous corridor, a smile tickled the corners
of his mouth. The Dragon Saint could
feel Seiya�s unmistakable presence in the Kido
mansion. Shiryu
was not surprised he had joined them once again, if only briefly. The Pegasus Saint�s drunken announcement the
prior day had been unusual, but Shiryu knew the
instant Seiya felt the supersensory disconnection
with Hyoga,
his unshakable loyalty would draw him to the mansion without hesitation.

Shiryu
slowed his pace as he approached the infirmary room. There would be plenty of time to speak with
the cinnamon-haired boy later. In the
cleansing light of day, Hyoga�s condition was all
that mattered to him. Shiryu had waited with Ikki,
Shun, Mu, Saori and Tatsumi in the infirmary during those first anxious moments
while physicians and scientists darted around Hyoga
like tireless worker ants. Though
comatose, the Russian boy�s condition had finally stabilized, and the concerned
group realized there was nothing more they could do. With the exception of Shun, they reluctantly
headed to their separate quarters for much needed rest, but Shiryu
found sleep evasive, and he suspected the others had experienced the same. He passed the time pacing nervously in his
bedroom, and though his first instinct was to find solace in the company of his
brethren, he decided to pray to the gods instead. He was almost thankful when Saori asked the Aries Saint to call upon the House of
Virgo. The temptation of Mu�s inviting embrace was becoming difficult to resist, and
he was weary of trying to convince himself that he wasn�t upset by the thought
of Ikki and Mu together.
And while Hyoga�s miraculous return from the dead
somewhat relieved Shiryu, deep feelings of regret
continued to gnaw at him mercilessly. He
had felt a disturbance within Hyoga days ago, yet he
had chosen to ignore the warning. If
only he had�

Ikki�s
angry voice suddenly boomed from behind the closed door. When Shiryu heard Hyoga�s quiet voice respond, he sagged against the wall in
relief, but his guilty conscience would not be assuaged. He breathed in deeply and tilted his head
slightly, listening again before entering.

�Well, it looks like Hakase�s voodoo science did its job,� Ikki
remarked sarcastically. Hyoga�s unyielding silent apathy infuriated the Phoenix
Saint. �What is wrong with you? How could you just give up? We�re Saints of Athena!�

�We�re also her victims. Can�t you see that?� Hyoga
answered, but his words carried no emotion.

�You weak selfish
bastard!� Ikki snarled, his hands curling into
fists.

�Nii-san,
please don�t...� Shun implored in Hyoga�s
defense. Professor Hakase
had indeed cured the Cygnus Saint of his physical wounds, but it was evident
his psyche had been severely damaged as well.
What could have caused him such utter despair? Did Hyoga really
feel he had nothing to live for?

�Yamete!� Ikki snapped at
his younger sibling. He pried Shun�s hands away from Hyoga and
roughly pushed him aside, sending the boy stumbling across the room.

The sound of
the scuffle immediately drew Shiryu into the
room. �Ikki...�
he murmured, astonished by the Phoenix Saint�s anger toward Shun.

Ikki glared a warning at the stunned Shiryu
then turned his rage back on the stone-faced Russian.

�So, you no longer wish to be a
Saint? Allow me to help you!� Ikki suddenly
flared his Cosmo.

Hyoga
seemed to take no notice of the Phoenix Saint�s wrathful display, but he knew
what Ikki was preparing for him...and he welcomed it.

�PHOENIX...!�

While Shiryu stood frozen with bewilderment in the doorway, Shun
moved instantly between Hyoga and his brother.

�...AKERU
KEN!�

But Ikki saw the boy too late.
The pinpoint attack struck Shun�s forehead
full force. As the young Saint fell
backward, Hyoga grabbed and held him, ignoring the
intravenous needles that ripped from his veins as the heavy, stainless steel
bed frame scraped several feet sideways across the seamlessly tiled floor.

�Ikki! What was that?� Shiryu
hissed angrily. He ran forward to help Hyoga support the stricken Shun. Mute with horror at what he had done to his
brother, Ikki could not answer. Shiryu stepped
toward the Phoenix
and gripped his arms, shaking him roughly.
�What did you do?�

�H-Hyoga wanted to forget�about us�� he stammered slowly. Ikki pulled away
from Shiryu�s iron grasp and moved dazedly to his
brother�s prone body. The boy�s glassy
eyes stared into nothingness, his youthful face etched with terror and
dismay. �Shun�� Ikki
whispered, but received no answer.

The room fell silent, punctuated only
by the cold, mechanical drone of medical equipment.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Mu emerged
slowly from the mist surrounding the bleak outer steps of the House of Virgo,
gliding smoothly over the landscape like a skater across a frozen pond. In contrast to his young prot�g� Kiki, the Aries Saint�s method of teleportation was
measured and deliberate. Instead of
simply darting from place to place, as was the habit of his energetic,
flame-haired apprentice, Mu slipped ethereally to and
from his destinations, fading in and out of view like soft moonlight through
passing clouds.

�Shaka?�
he called out as his footsteps echoed throughout the vast emptiness of the
temple. Fleeting white puffs billowed
from his nostrils with each breath, and though quite accustomed to colder
environments, Mu shivered beneath the warmth of his
linen tunic and breeches, brown canvas boots, and thick woolen tippet.

�Shak��
The final syllable was lost as the golden image of the Virgo Saint suddenly
appeared like a radiant sunrise in the dismal interior of the 6^th
House. Draped in a
dove-white satin robe that clung provocatively to his lean, muscular physique,
and apparently oblivious to winter�s bone-chilling presence, Shaka advanced silently toward Mu,
his bare feet scuffing lightly across the stone floor. The Aries Saint stared in mute admiration,
entranced by Shaka�s astounding beauty and gloriously
long tresses that shimmered like burnished saffron in the shadowy recesses of
the temple. Although his peers were
undeniably impressive enveloped in their gilt Cloths, Mu
preferred the casual seductiveness of his fellow Saints� personal
wardrobes. As Shaka
neared the lilac-haired visitor, he reached out and wound his honey-skinned
arms around the paler man, catching him in a fervent, unbidden embrace. Mu reacted
automatically, lifting his arms and hooking them around the Virgo Saint,
captivated by the permeating scent of jasmine.

�I�ve missed you,� Shaka half-whispered, his unflinching gaze a tempest of
gold flecks in a raging sapphire sea. Mu wanted desperately to feel gladdened by his former
love�s unexpectedly affectionate welcome, but he was troubled by a nebulous
specter of fear that fluxed just beneath the surface of the Virgo Saint�s
eyes.

Without warning, Shaka planted his mouth firmly against Mu�s,
tasting the memory of Ikki on his comrade�s
lips. �You�ve bedded a Bronze Saint,� he
calmly noted, releasing the Aries Saint from his grasp.

�Perhaps,� Mu
answered reticently, unnerved by Shaka�s abnormal
demeanor. There was nothing to be gained
by denying the truth, but he refused to volunteer any further details of his
encounter with the Phoenix Saint.

�Why do you persist in courting such
inexperienced partners?� Shaka demanded. �You know I�ve always loved you, yet you
continue to play these ridiculous games!�

Mu was
unprepared for Shaka�s startling admission. Only a few years had passed since the end of
their brief, wonderfully intense relationship, but it seemed like a vague,
distant dream to the Aries Saint. At the
time, Mu had deemed the termination of their union
necessary, though looking back, he couldn�t recall exactly why. �For
the good of Sanctuary�� he thought bitterly. It had been a trying time for all the Gold
Saints. Sanctuary was in
turmoil�loyalties were strained, allegiances shattered�and hearts challenged. Unable to face the truth, Mu
had failed the test. His youth and
impulsiveness had betrayed him. Instead
of trusting the strength of those closest to him, the Aries Saint chose to run
away�to hide in the solitude of Jamir. The isolation of the inaccessible mountaintop
mirrored his aching soul, but he was eventually able to convince himself that
he need never again share his bed or his love with another. Mu had even managed
to find a certain degree of happiness by turning all of his attention to
perfecting his healing skills and training young Kiki. But he could not dispel the many lonely
moments on the secluded craggy peak when burning memories of Shaka tortured and consumed him. For half a decade, Mu
yearned for his former love, and the day finally came when he could no longer
bear his reclusive existence. He was
preparing to return to Sanctuary, to find Shaka and
beg him for another chance, but the Aries Saint was forestalled by the arrival
of a determined young Bronze Saint whose unyielding courage and self-sacrifice
captured his soul. By the time Dragon Shiryu departed Jamir to fulfill
his destiny, the Aries Saint had fallen deeply in love
with the coal-haired boy.

�Don�t you want to know why I�m
here?� Mu asked pointedly, attempting to guide the
conversation toward more urgent matters.

Shaka did
not answer, but continued to leer at the doe-eyed man.

�Athena needs you,� Mu stated emphatically.

�And what about
you? Do you need me?� the Virgo
Saint pressed enticingly.

Mu�s brow
knitted in confusion as he tumbled the words over in his mind, searching for an
appropriate response but finding none. Shaka�s sudden and extraordinary display of emotionalism
sounded a warning within Mu. A biting wind cut through the ominously
silent temple, causing the top of the Virgo Saint�s loose-fitting garment to
slip down, revealing the cause of his erratic behavior. Two thickly braided bands of iridescent
violet fabric looped over the golden man�s bare shoulders, forming an �x�
across his chest. It was the Cestus, Aphrodite�s legendary belt that gave the wearer the
ability to excite love and passion in others.
And while Mu remained unaffected by its
influence, which he attributed to his non-human physiology, the powerful cords
seemed to be having the reverse effect on Shaka. At any other time, the Aries Saint might have
enjoyed and perhaps even encouraged Shaka�s highly
uninhibited state, but Saori needed the Virgo Saint
lucid�and without delay. Mu grabbed at the Cestus,
intending to rip it away, but Shaka easily avoided
the attempt. With the blinding speed of
a viper�s strike, he removed the silk sash from around the waist of his
milky-white robe and ensnared Mu�s hands, binding
them tightly together.

�Shaka! We
don�t have time for this!� Mu implored as he
struggled to loosen the seemingly unbreakable ribbon that tethered his wrists.

The Virgo Saint held the ends of
the sash taut and breathed in deeply, concentrating. Cold, ancient marble began to melt and bleed
away as undulating visions transformed the temple. Shaka pulled Mu into his consciousness, creating fantastic images and
sensations within the Aries Saint�s mind.
He could have simply willed himself away from Shaka,
but possessed by indomitable curiosity, Mu could not
leave the illusion. Though deeply
concerned for his ex-lover�s mental state, he knew above all else that Shaka would never try to harm him. Mu had to find out
how the Cestus arrived into the Virgo Saint's
hands�and what part he was to play in the Shaka�s
fantasy. Surely Saori
could spare them a few moments.

The unreal world slowly came into
focus, unfolding languidly like the bejeweled tail of a peacock, culminating in
a serene, riparian spectacle. Winter�s icy touch was suddenly banished as
dizzying sparks of warm summer sunlight danced around them, filtered through an
arborous canopy. The tree-lined
riverbank burst forth with a rainbow of flowering plants while a softly tangled
melody of unseen wind chimes and songbirds lilted above the gurgling waterway. Still bound by Shaka�s
lasso, Mu began to pluck at his sweltering, thermal
clothing. He shrugged the heavy shawl to
the ground and kicked off his boots, relishing the feel of the lush, delicate
grass beneath his feet. A playful breeze
fanned open the Virgo Saint�s robe, and as Mu beheld
the perfection of Shaka�s nude body, the pressing
matters at the Kido mansion crept farther from his thoughts. Though completely aware they had not left the
temple, Mu was utterly entranced by Shaka�s imaginary playground.

Shaka
tugged on the silk leash and guided Mu toward a long,
white gondola floating at the water�s edge.
Though the current was swift and powerful, the vessel was fixed and
still, waiting for them. As they stepped
aboard the elegantly carved boat and seated themselves amongst the colorful,
oddly shaped cushions that lined the interior, the gondola began to move of its
own volition, drifting lazily along the gently twisting river. Peace and relaxation claimed Mu�s body, and he did nothing to prevent it. He leaned back against a thick cluster of
pillows and closed his eyes, turning his face toward the artificial sun. As Mu basked in the
startlingly realistic solar heat created by Shaka's
mind, he no longer cared that his hands were tied.

As he watched Mu
lazing in the sunshine, a crooked smile pulled up the corners of Shaka�s mouth. It
was strangely satisfying holding such complete control over the Aries Saint,
but there was a part of him that did not enjoy the baffling need to conquer the
beautiful creature that lounged sedately at the rear of the gondola. Shaka absently
brushed his fingers over the Cestus, and a brief
flicker of subconscious guilt awakened a disjointed memory within him. He had received another visitor before Mu�s arrival at the temple, and was presented with the
unusual but lovely gift. Though he
strained to recall who had given him the belt, he could not remember the events
immediately prior to slipping the cords over his shoulders. The brief distraction quickly faded as Shaka once again succumbed to the seduction of the Cestus and the alluring presence of the Aries Saint. His smug, hungry grin reappeared as he slowly
crawled toward Mu and straddled the lavender-haired
man. He sat upright, resting on the
Aries Saint�s thighs as he removed the binding from his hands. Mu was startled but
remained motionless as Shaka angled forward, tying
the sash around his head and over his eyes.
The Virgo Saint grasped the front of Mu�s
shirt, and as easily as a sheet of paper, deliberately ripped it down the
middle, eagerly smoothing his palms over Mu�s ivory
throat, granite chest and lean belly.
The Aries Saint moaned at the familiar caress of his former love, and
had already reached full arousal when Shaka slipped
his warm, seeking hand inside the front of his breeches. The Virgo Saint breathed a soft sound of
approval and released Mu�s erect member from the
confines of the unyielding fabric. As it
buoyantly sprang forth, Shaka bent down and kissed
the plum-colored mushroom tip. Rendered
sightless by the blindfold, Mu wanted desperately to
reach out and explore every inch of his partner�s perfect body. He longed to feel the smooth heat of Shaka�s skin beneath the cool silk robe, and entangle his
fingers in the Virgo Saint�s voluminous citrine hair. But his arms and legs were spread-eagled,
restrained at the wrists and ankles by the sudden appearance of four leather
straps bolted to the bottom of the gondola.

The Aries Saint writhed helplessly
as Shaka snaked his rosy-pink tongue down the entire
length of his throbbing shaft. Long-buried
sentiments of the past bloomed fresh within Mu with
each familiar sensation, flooding him with emotions as powerful as the current
that carried them downstream. But
fragments of doubt scratched at the edges of his joy. Without the Cestus,
would the Virgo Saint need or even want him?
Mu was not sure how he might respond if Shaka was indeed attempting to find a way back into his
heart. The possibility of another failed
romance with the radiant man of Buddha was too painful to contemplate. While Shaka
continued demonstrate his incredible oral skills, it occurred to Mu that he was right about Ikki. Though the young Phoenix was a remarkable lover for one with
so little experience, the Virgo Saint was extremely gifted in the sensual arts,
and was quite familiar with Mu�s body. His thoughts drifted briefly to Shiryu. He was
saddened that the boy had not given him the chance to find out what kind of
lover he might be. The Aries Saint
yelped in surprise as Shaka suddenly bit down hard on
the rough linen of his trousers, pinching the sinewy muscle of his inner
thigh. It was an unsubtle reminder that Shaka was in complete control of their utopian dream world,
and ruminations of outsiders would not be tolerated.

Shaka had
grown impatient. His body and mind were
besieged by a monstrous lust he had never known before. He wanted to destroy
the beautiful man who lay before him.
Hidden from Mu�s awareness, repulsive yet
oddly erotic imaginings infested Shaka's thoughts,
burrowing into his brain like corpulent maggots. The Virgo Saint became a dark creature of the
night, a black-winged demon with an insatiable hunger for pain, fear and
blood. He envisioned piercing Mu�s flawless body with terrible claws and licking the
wounds as they wept sticky sweet crimson.
With voracious glee, he sank cadaver-white canines into perfect
alabaster flesh, draining the life-fluid from his lover, to the very edge of
death. He yielded to the grisly urge to
rend Mu�s smoothly muscled abdomen and bury his hands
in the Aries Saint�s hot, slippery guts.

Though shielded from the
nightmarish images, Mu still sensed the sudden,
frightening change within the Virgo Saint.
�He�s not responsible�it�s the Cestus!� Mu desperately told
himself. He renewed his struggle to
break free of the straps and blindfold.

�Shaka? Can�t we do this�elsewhere�please?� Mu begged, wishing he could see the Virgo Saint�s eyes, but
his plea was ignored. He tried to
teleport out of the fantasy, but Shaka�s hold on his
consciousness was unwavering. In
desperation, Mu burned his Cosmo, sending disruptive
ripples throughout the imaginary landscape.
Shaka was fixated so intently on his dark
thoughts that the brief fluctuation went unnoticed. Though it was not enough to completely
destroy the illusion, it was enough free one of Mu's
hands. He swung his arm up and outward,
raking his fingers across Shaka�s chest and hooking
the Cestus.
The Aries Saint yanked with all his might on the belt, pulling it
roughly from Shaka�s body.

The cloud-white gondola, glistening
blue river and blazing summer sun abruptly vanished, leaving the two Gold
Saints once again facing each other in the cold, empty House of Virgo. The erotic scenario had only existed in their
minds, and though they had not moved since Shaka�s
construction of the stunning illusion, Mu felt
physically drained�weakened by the Virgo Saint�s powerful mental control. Mu glanced down at
his clothes. They had also returned
fully intact, but they could not protect him from the shock of winter�s icy
grip that slammed him forcibly back into reality. His legs turned rubbery and gave way. He sank to his hands and knees, gripping the Cestus tightly in his trembling fist, cursing the unknown
villain who had brought the powerful belt to the unwitting Virgo Saint. The silk sash that Shaka
had used to bind him brushed softly against his skin as it slid loosely down
his wrist and onto the temple's stone floor.
Mu stared at it, shivering as his arousal
waned, selfishly and regretfully wishing he and Shaka could return to the warm, verdant dreamland. He glanced up at the golden man. Shaka stood
motionless over Mu, numb and unseeing. The Aries Saint drew in several frigid
breaths, trying to clear his own thoughts and calm his shaken nerves. He rose unsteadily to his feet, tucked the Cestus deep inside his tunic and hesitantly reached out a
hand toward Shaka�s shoulder. The instant Mu�s
fingertips grazed his topaz skin the Virgo Saint shuddered and sighed, finally
released from the aftereffects of Aphrodite�s belt.

�Mu?� he
whispered in disbelief. His thoughts
were muddled, but as the veil of uncertainty lifted from his brain, contrition
eclipsed Shaka's bewilderment. �Mu! I�I'm so sorry!� he lamented. �What�what have I done? Are you injured?�

Mu shook
his head, concern for the Virgo Saint shining plainly in his eyes. Buffeted by remorse, Shaka
grasped the compassionate hand that lay against his shoulder. The men remained silent for several moments,
each contemplating the unsettling incident that had transpired between
them. As they stood in solemn communion,
the late afternoon sun dipped low in the heavens, casting shadows in the far
corners of the temple.

Suddenly, thick black flagellum
lashed out from the darkest recesses, winding around Shaka�s
wrists and ankles, instantly sapping his strength. The Virgo Saint howled in agony, crumpling
into a rigid heap, his body convulsing violently and uncontrollably, as though
electrocuted. Mu
blinked, unable to accept the nightmare his eyes beheld, then immediately knelt
beside the writhing Saint and began clawing at the sticky, unyielding tendrils
with his fingernails.

�If this is another one of your
illusions, it is not amusing! Please, Shaka, make it stop!� Mu
implored, but it was no fantasy. The Aries
Saint searched his memory; quite certain he had never before encountered such a
creature, yet there was something disturbingly familiar about it. As he continued to pull uselessly at the vile
substance, he was unaware that several offshoots of the ropy ooze stretched
toward him, licking at his back, yet the blackness could not touch the Aries
Saint.

Shaka
weakened rapidly, moaning plaintively as the unearthly slime tightened around
his limbs, flaying the perfect skin beneath.

�Shaka,
listen to me!� Mu shouted. He grasped the tortured man's shoulders and
shook him roughly as blood began to seep around the deepening wounds. �Burn your Cosmo, Shaka! You must try!�

But the Virgo Saint could not hear
him. Though his body twitched spasmodically,
he had been rendered unconscious. Mu silently thanked the gods and prayed that wherever Shaka's wonderful mind had found refuge he could no longer
feel pain. The Aries Saint was reluctant
to attack the tendrils out of fear the vulnerable Shaka
might be struck in the process, but as the hellish blackness began to pull his
lover slowly back toward the shadows, he rose swiftly to his feet and flared
his Cosmo. Glowing with anger and the
ancient power of the Gold Saints, his aura poured forth like a beacon.

�STARLIGHT
EXTINCTION!�

Blinding prismatic light engulfed
the temple, reaching its Stygian target with ease. As the cleansing light began to fade, Mu emitted a sharp gasp of astonishment. He had used his most potent and lethal
attack, yet the gelatinous lobes appeared unchanged. Dread eroded his rage as the tendrils
quivered slightly then fell away from Shaka's body,
retreating into the pitchy crevices of the temple. Mu dazedly lifted
the injured man into his arms, trying to comprehend the nightmare he had
witnessed. Could the shapeless,
monstrous thing have been sent as punishment for Shaka's
transgression with the Cestus? Mu shook his head,
unable to calculate a rational explanation.
He could only blame himself, and his weakness for Shaka's
love. Had he not tarried, but insisted
the Virgo Saint return with him to the mansion without delay�by force if
necessary�Shaka need not have suffered. Mu held him tightly
as they faded out of sight, materializing moments later in the Temple of Aries.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The soft flannel drawstring pants
tickled lightly against Hyoga's legs as he moved
unseen through the darkened hallways of the Kido research building. He relished the cold still air that embraced
his bare upper torso and feet. Though a
handful of scientists toiled in the sterile testing rooms, the remainder of the
mansion's extensive medical wing was deserted.
The Russian boy had fashioned a long-sleeved shirt into a makeshift
haversack and filled it with hundreds of small glass bottles pilfered from
various laboratory supply cabinets. The
vials clinked lightly gently together as he treaded carefully toward the
infirmary and slipped back into the room he shared with the injured Shun. Fortunately for Hyoga,
the lack of appropriate space caused by the construction had forced Saori to transfer the wounded pilot to a nearby Graude-owned hospital, and Shun had apparently fallen into
a complete vegetative state. After a
brief search, Hyoga found his clothing, which had
been laundered, folded and tucked neatly into the small nightstand next to his
bed. He dressed quickly and glanced at
Shun, studying his motionless form. The
boy was curled into a tight fetal ball, his thumb wedged between his colorless,
slack lips. Ikki's
blow had trapped his consciousness somewhere deep in the caverns of his
mind. This was the legacy of the Saints,
to bring pain, torture and death to their enemies, their loved ones�and even
themselves�all in the name of a god�s honor.
Defending the so-called justice of one deity over another and then
forcing it upon the world made no sense to Hyoga. As he stared with icy reserve at Shun, he
almost wished he could revive the deep feelings he once had for the young
Andromeda Saint, but no emotion came forth, only bitter realization that
settled over him like a heavy cloak.
They may have been born innocent, but none of the Saints would die pure
of heart�not even Shun. There was
nothing he could do for his former comrade.
Even if he had the power to reverse Ikki's
attack, Hyoga was not sure he would help the
boy. He gathered up the shirt containing
the stolen chemicals, turned away from Shun and crept quietly out of the
room.

As the door slowly swung shut,
formless black tentacles whipped upward from underneath the bed and wound
tightly around Shun�s entire body, wrapping him in a
ghastly opaque husk. The boy whimpered
and struggled feebly against the unending blackness that fluxed into every part
of him like a suffocating mist. His body
seemed to liquefy and blend with the fleshy slime as it oozed slug-like back
into the shadows beneath the bed, leaving no trace that it had ever been in the
room.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Lexie
Bloodstone maneuvered the sleek red sports car skillfully over the snowy,
moonlit road that led to the Kido mansion, glancing briefly at the pallid man
seated on her right. She had been
captivated by his supernatural appearance from the first moment they met and
more than 6 years later her admiration had not waned. His ashen skin shone luminously under the
soft lunar glow that poured through the windshield and the ivory-colored
overcoat he wore made his features seem even paler against the frigid winter
backdrop. He had loosened his enviable
platinum mane from its usual thick, long braid and wisps of the shimmering
threads fell forward into his face. His
mesmerizing silver eyes glimmered vibrantly, reflecting the muted light like
polished chrome, and while unnoticeable to anyone else, Lexie
could easily detect the tortured emptiness that lay just beneath his seemingly
emotionless surface. Though he never
fully explained the details, she knew he had suffered a horrifying existence
prior to their meeting. He once
possessed great power, but a lost battle against a dishonorable opponent had
sealed his fate. For centuries he had
survived an unimaginable nightmare few of his kind could have survived. Somehow he had managed to escape, but it
nearly destroyed him, leaving him a feeble apparition of his former self. Fortunately, he and Lexie
met when they needed each other most, but as the years passed the girl began to
wonder if it was more than just chance that had brought them together.

Lexie
slowed the vehicle, bringing it to a stop at the imposing gated driveway. Concern inscribed a frown across her face.

�Do you really think Saori Kido will just welcome me with open arms after the
way she threw me out the last time I was here?� she complained. �Why do we need her at all?�

�You are well aware of the reason,�
he responded patiently. �The Brood is
gathering strength and it will not be long until��

�Yes, I know�� she interrupted,
pouting sullenly. �But
what about the others? I�m as
good as any of them!�

A rare, tiny smile played over his
lips. He had grown fond of the brash
young female, and her willingness to sacrifice herself was touching. He might have accepted the offer had her
abilities been awakened and developed sooner, but she knew there was only one
who could aid him.

Lexie
carefully nosed the automobile closer to the gate and lowered the driver's side
window. A sharp voice crackled through
the intercom mounted on the mortar and stone gatepost.

�State your business��

She rolled her eyes
impatiently. �I'm here to see Saori Kido�� she began then paused, toying with the idea of
giving a false name. �I'm Lexie Bloodstone.�
She stared defiantly into the lens of the security camera positioned
just above the intercom. Her
announcement was answered with silence, but a moment later, the heavy wrought
iron gate swung slowly inward. The girl
made a soft sound of surprise and grinned at her passenger.

�Well, that was easier than I
expected! I may have misjudged Saori.� Their
previous encounter had ended badly, and despite her best efforts to dislike the
powerful young heiress, Lexie could not suppress the
odd closeness she felt toward Saori. It was if she had known her for many
years. �I just hope Ms. Kido doesn't
hold a grudge...�

Her mentor said nothing. The events to follow would be difficult for Lexie, but she was owed the truth�finally. She had never relinquished the search for her
past, and to keep it from her any longer would be cruel and unfair. After all she had done for him it was the
least he could do to repay her. He
doubted she would forgive his deception, but his task had only begun, and the
concerns of one girl could not stand in his way.

Alone inside her bedroom, Saori paced nervously, her thoughts a tumult of worry.

�Why
hasn't Mu returned with Shaka? What could be delaying them?� With Shun in such dire condition, they needed
the Virgo Saint's help more than ever.
Her measured gait slowed then stopped as she sensed a strange and
disturbingly powerful energy approach the mansion. Her goddess aura suddenly flared beyond her
control. Saori
stared down at her body in bewilderment.

�No�please�Seiya��
she whimpered piteously as Athena once again surfaced, burying Saori far within the depths of her mind.

Lexie's
heart pounded with nervous excitement as she edged the car parallel to the
familiar white doorway and stepped out into the crisp winter air. She headed toward the house, turning to
glance at her footprints silhouetted against the thin layer of snow on the
gravel-covered driveway. It was then
that she noticed her partner had not exited the vehicle. Lexie ran to the
side of the car and wrenched the door open anxiously.

�What is it? What's wrong?� she asked, leaning inside and
hovering over him protectively.

�The maw worm�the Brood�� he panted
in a low voice, barely audible.

She immediately bristled and
scanned their surroundings, her eyes darkening with wary anger. Though snow and night shadows obscured the
estate grounds, it would not be difficult to locate the black malevolence. �Here?�

He shook his head slowly,
recovering quickly. �No�they are
gone�but I can still feel their residue��

The argentine-hued man suddenly
paused and dropped his gaze to his nimbus form.
Lexie stifled a gasp as a jagged, electric
halo of azure light enveloped him. She
had never before witnessed the manifestation of his energy and the dark, raw
force of it startled her. Lexie shivered as she watched his eyes change from
fathomless silver to the color of dried blood.

�Ah, I have waited eons for this
moment!� he murmured with dark delight.
He lifted his hands and slowly turned them over, studying the dancing
phosphorescence that surrounded them. As he emerged from the car, his aura
illuminated the night, splashing neon blue radiance over the landscape. He glanced at his worried partner and emitted
a deep, rumbling chuckle. �Do not fret,�
he soothed, amused by her obvious distress.
�All is well, my dear guardian.
There is nothing to fear��

Lexie
winced. His gentle, melodious voice had
changed as well. It boomed and echoed
around her, emanating from an unearthly plane as dark and frightening as his
eyes. He was no longer the fragile,
anemic victim who needed her protection.

He patted her shoulder reassuringly
and smiled. He had often mentioned that
his strength would eventually return, but the drastic shift in his appearance
had taken her by complete surprise. His
spectacular recovery was indeed a relief, but it also signaled the end of their
alliance. Her past was still a mystery to
her and she dreaded the idea of being alone once more.

�It was inevitable,� she agreed,
struggling to bury her sadness and trepidation.
�I just didn't expect it to be so sudden�and different.� Lexie reached up,
briefly gripped the hand that lay against her shoulder then turned and strode
purposefully toward the mansion. �At
least we have a definitive answer to one question. Saori Kido is
Athena.�

As if on cue, she appeared in the
doorway, her gold-white aura clashing with electric indigo.

Lexie was momentarily paralyzed. �Saori!� she
breathed, awestruck by the goddess.

The sapphire imbued man moved past
the stunned girl and approached the mansion steps. �You are the Daughter of Zeus,� he stated
with certainty.

She nodded once. �I am Athena�and you?�

�Do you not recognize me, Pallus Athena? Have
I changed so much? Perhaps the time you
have spent in that human vessel has impaired your memory.�

She carefully studied the man's
face then suddenly clasped a hand to her bosom.
�I-I do know you!� she breathed.
�You are�!�

He smiled and bowed his head
graciously. �Yes, Athena. I am Prometheus.�

�But�how�why are you here?� she
fumbled, revealing Saori's human presence within the
goddess.

�How I came to be here is a lengthy
tale best saved for another time. As for
why I am here�novus ordo seclorum, Athena. I
need your help.�

As she moved toward him, a clamor
of hurried footsteps from inside the mansion brought Shiryu
and Seiya to the open doorway. They too had been summoned by the stranger's
energy. The pair stood panting in the
wintry night air, troubled by the appearance of the goddess.

�Athena! We felt an unusual presence and��

The Pegasus Saint suddenly
paused. His glance traveled from the
strange imposing figure bathed in ethereal blue light to the calm young woman
who waited patiently at his side.
�Seika�� he whispered, hesitant to utter her name aloud should the image
of his sister merely be a cruel hallucination.
But the Dragon Saint saw her too.
Lexie's obvious resemblance to chestnut-haired
boy was astonishing, and it was Shiryu's soft gasp
that told Seiya he was not dreaming.

Shiryu
strained to pull his gaze away from the girl who looked like Seiya, and was instantly caught by the eyes of
Prometheus. Trapped like an insect in a
spider�s silken threads, he could not turn away from the Titan. He felt weak, unable to move as the
constraints of time and space began to slip away. If the platinum-haired deity suddenly
commanded him to fly to the ends of the universe and back, he would have gladly
complied. A slow, suffocating,
honey-thick sensation coiled around him, leaving Shiryu
in a state of paralyzing euphoria. In
the passing of a heartbeat, he had become completely enraptured by the shining
god, who seemed unaware of the effect he was having on the Dragon Saint.

Prometheus blinked, and as the hold
was broken, Shiryu nearly lost his balance. Breathless and shaking, he hurriedly shifted
his attention to the ground. �If that was merely a taste of the Titan's
power, what kind of gods were these who existed long before the Olympians?� the
boy wondered nervously.

Lexie
glared impatiently at the two young Saints, quite disinterested in their
arrival. She abruptly turned her back on
the pair, increasingly perturbed by Prometheus' fawning over the goddess. It was time to focus on more important
matters. �Pardon me for disrupting your
happy little reunion,� Lexie interjected, her words
tinged with sarcasm. �But this house has
been invaded by an extremely dangerous entity.
Athena, is anyone else inside?�

�Entity? How odd�I felt nothing, until the arrival of
you and Prometheus��

Lexie
tried to suppress her annoyance, wondering if Saori�s
consciousness was still fully aware while under Athena's control. Though they shared one body, Lexie felt pity for the girl, and scorn for the
goddess. �Of course you couldn't feel
anything. You're not a Titan.�

Seiya
tensed instinctively. He would not allow
anyone to speak to Athena in such a disrespectful manner, including his own
sister. �Seika! You shouldn't�!�

She whirled around, sparks of anger
dancing vividly in her eyes. �Why do you
keep calling me that? Who do you think I
am?� she demanded loudly then paused as a casual memory suddenly emerged. �I recognize you��

The Pegasus Saint held his
breath. �Does she finally remember?�

�At the hotel in Tokyo�you were there, in the lobby��

Seiya
nodded vigorously. �Yes, yes! I tried to follow, to stop you, because
you're�!�

Prometheus calmly interrupted. �Pegasus, wait�not yet. Please be patient.�

Seiya
swallowed hard against the threatening tears and choking sadness that tightened
his throat. �Why should I? Do you know how long I've waited�what I've
been through�?� he snarled. But a sudden
thought burned through his despair, and he stared at the stranger in disbelief,
his dark hazel eyes wet with sorrow.. �He
knows Lexie is Seika�he knows she's my sister!�

�Do not question his bidding!� Lexie admonished angrily, ignoring Seiya's
emotional outburst. �He is Prometheus,
creator of man and giver of fire! No
Olympian can transcend the power and might of a Titan!�

�She's certainly unencumbered by
objectivity,� Athena noted, glancing at her peer.

�Ah, yes�it pains me to admit that
I am to blame for her disdain of the gods of Olympus,�
he admitted. �Of course, it was several
hundred years before I was able to confine my own hatred to just one��

Athena's expression was one of
understanding, but further discussion was curtailed by Tatsumi's
anxious appearance in the doorway.

�Mistress Sa�oh, Athena!� he called
out timidly. �Hyoga
and Shun are missing!�

Shiryu
and Seiya turned in unison and stared at the nervous
manservant. �What do you mean
'missing'?� Seiya demanded.

�How can that be?� Shiryu questioned.

Tatsumi
shrugged apologetically. �The entire
house and laboratory have been searched.
The only evidence we've found so far is one set of footprints in the
snow leading away from the mansion, but the trail ends at the road just beyond
the grounds of the estate. We have
reason to believe Hyoga made those tracks. Also, a sizable quantity of rare chemicals
appears to have been stolen, as well as some money belonging to Lab Technician
Maruyama.�

�You think Hyoga's
a thief?� Seiya angrily challenged.

�What about Shun? He was in a deep coma!� Shiryu
observed, hoping Seiya would remain calm and think
before reacting. �He couldn't have
simply gotten up and walked away.
Someone must have moved him.�

�So now you're going to tell me Hyoga's a kidnapper?� the quick-tempered Pegasus Saint
ranted. �That's just stupid!� He fought the urge to race toward the medical
wing; to the room Hyoga and Shun had been
sharing. He had no doubt Tatsumi investigated the matter thoroughly, and if the
Andromeda Saint had truly disappeared Ikki would make
his usual spectacular return within moments.
Seiya fixed a hard, suspicious glare on the
Titan god.

Tatsumi
remained fixed to the steps of the mansion, mesmerized by the ghostly being
swathed in blue lightning. Though the
night air was bitterly cold, shimmering beads of sweat clung to his scalp and
forehead. �No one saw or heard
anything,� he continued. �It's as if
they simply disappeared into thin air.�

�So it begins�� Prometheus noted
gravely. �The very young, the aged, the
weak and the injured will be the first incised from this planet�s
population�then it is only a matter of time until every man, woman and
child�every living thing�is expunged.
Athena, it is a certainty your Saints were not the only ones to vanish this
day.�

�Impossible!� Seiya
protested angrily. �I don't believe
you!�

�But�it's true�� a nebulous voice
drifted around them. With eerie
tranquility, the Aries Saint materialized from the moon shadows that stained
the snow-covered ground, his Gold Cloth reflecting the Titan god�s cobalt
aura. Kiki
accompanied his mentor, tightly clutching the older Saint�s hand. The impish boy seemed unusually troubled, and
kept his eyes fixed at his feet, occasionally reaching up with a small fist to
swipe at the enormous tears that trailed down his plump red cheeks. Mu�s usual pleasant
countenance had hardened, his sensuous mouth drawn tight into a thin line of
worry.

An unconscious smile flicked across
Seiya�s lips.
He felt almost naked without his Pegasus Cloth, but he knew Athena would
not condone such an obvious display of aggression. Opposing the Titan god alone was strangely
intimidating, but his determination was bolstered by the arrival of the Gold
Saint. With Mu�s
help, the insanity might be stopped after all.

�We�ve just returned from the
temples. Virgo Saint Shaka
was injured in a�training mishap, but before I could tend to his wounds, he was
taken before my eyes�and I was powerless to prevent it.� Since Mu learned
that it was Kiki who had delivered the belt to Shaka, he was careful to omit any mention of the events
that had transpired at the House of Virgo.
After seeing the disabled Gold Saint, the lad immediately
confessed. Though still a child, Mu often forgot that Kiki was
rapidly maturing, and perhaps without knowing exactly why, the boy could be
ruled by the same thoughts and emotions that swayed his elders. Mu was aware of Kiki�s noticeable interest in Shiryu,
but the Aries Saint believed it was simply a harmless boyhood crush. His pupil, however, considered it quite
serious. When Mu
admitted his own desire for the Dragon Saint, the young apprentice was overcome
with jealousy. He contrived a plan to
deflect Mu�s interest away from Shiryu
by utilizing the little-known Cestus. Shaka and Mu were former lovers, making the Virgo Saint the obvious
target. Shaka
was unfamiliar with the Cestus, and wore the gift
without suspicion, but the unpredictable effects of Aphrodite�s belt and the
unnerving disappearance of the Gold Saint filled Kiki
with inconsolable penitence. As Mu glanced down at the tearful boy, his expression
softened. There was no guarantee the
Pisces Saint would drop the matter of the stolen Cestus,
but Mu would do everything he could to keep Kiki�s transgression a secret.

�Mu��
Prometheus whispered.

The lavender-haired Saint
contemplated the towering specter with mild alarm. �Do I know you, sir?�

�No, but I knew your people,� the
Titan responded earnestly.

Mu�s
thoughts careened with a thousand questions, but incredulity and wonderment
held his tongue. Something deep inside
told him the extraordinary stranger spoke the truth.

Shiryu
seized the opportunity to speak in the fleeting silence. �God Prometheus,� he began with careful and
deliberate respect. �May I ask what has
become of our comrades and the others you claim were taken? Are they�dead?�

�The Saints, perhaps not�but the
others�� he responded evasively. �Had we
more time, it would be my pleasure to explain all that has occurred, and all
that is about to transpire, but fear not�you will soon understand.� He suddenly paused, as if listening to the
voices of an unseen world. �We can tarry
no longer. Metis
awaits, Athena.�

The nearly forgotten name stunned
the goddess. �Metis�Metis? She lives?�

�She�exists,� he replied
cryptically.

Seiya's
patience had run out. �I don't know
what's happening here, but no one is going anywhere until I get some answers!�

Athena moved slowly and gracefully
toward Seiya.
�I realize this may be overwhelming and quite confusing to you,� she
replied. �But it is important you
understand one thing. This is Prometheus. He has come to us seeking aid, and he will
receive it. If the Titan god insists
danger is imminent, we can believe him�without question.� She stood before the tormented young Saint,
allowing her words to settle into his mind before continuing. �Do you trust me, Seiya?�

�Of course!� he responded
defensively, as if the question wounded him.

�Then give your trust to
Prometheus.�

There were times when submitting to
the will of the goddess bruised the boy's ego, but he bowed his head in
compliance. �Yes, Athena.�

�We may require your assistance at
a later time, Pegasus,� the Titan added with vague reassurance. �But for now, there is only one who can
fulfill my immediate needs�Dragon Saint Shiryu.�

Lexie
turned away from Prometheus in disgust.
Athena and her helots had not only usurped her rightful position with
the god, they were departing with the only companion, friend, and mentor she
had known since the loss of her memory so many years ago. But Prometheus had trained her well. She buried her emotions as her breath plumed
upward in short resentful bursts, clearly visible in the icy night air.

�I will not order you, Shiryu, but I beg you�please accompany us,� the Goddess of
Wisdom added.

He could not deny her request. He closed his eyes and nodded solemnly.

�You may not survive,� Prometheus
quietly warned, impressed by the youth's unwavering loyalty.

Shiryu
stole a quick glance at the magnificent god.
�I understand,� he answered without hesitation, clenching his
fists.

�Shiryu,
you can't�!�

�What choice do I have, Seiya?� he replied, trying to conceal his anguish. �What choice do any of us have? It's our fate��

Seiya�s
Cosmo smoldered within him, pushing dangerously close to the surface. If he couldn�t convince Shiryu
to defy Prometheus and Athena, he had to find a way to go with them. Yet how could he leave Seika? Indecision tore at the Pegasus Saint. Either way, he would once again be parted
from someone he loved.

�I�I'm sorry, Shiryu��
he stammered.

The raven-haired boy shook his head
in confusion. �For
what?�

�For not letting us�for not
allowing you to...� Seiya�s
soul ached with regret as he struggled to find the words. �I wish we could have�gotten closer�and now
it might be too late��

�Don't worry, I'll return safely�� Shiryu soothed, his eyes beaming with adoration. Though only a year older, he always felt
wonderfully vulnerable in Seiya's presence.

�How do you know?� the boy asked
plaintively, his voice rough with sorrow.

Shiryu
kissed the younger Saint deeply, as though it was his last. �My love for you will always bring me
back. You are my life,� he murmured
breathlessly then gently but firmly pushed Seiya
away, as if touching him had become unbearable.
Shiryu turned his back on Seiya,
his hair sweeping over the boy's face like a silken black veil. The Pegasus Saint's tea-brown eyes glistened
with tears as he breathed in, trying to etch Shiryu's
scent into his memory.

As the Dragon Saint moved to follow
Athena, Seiya reached out and grabbed his shoulder,
tugging him back. It was all happening
too fast. Confronted with Shiryu�s imminent departure toward an uncertain end
terrified Seiya beyond reason. He could no longer ignore that which his soul
had embraced long ago. The boy from the Rozan
Peaks owned his heart,
and somehow Seiya had to make him stay.

Suddenly, the Pegasus Saint�s body
heaved violently backward. He slammed
against the facade of the mansion, shaking the entire structure to its
foundation and shattering its windows.
He slumped to ground like a broken marionette, trailed by a shower of
wood, mortar and glass fragments. Tatsumi yelped sharply, darting away from the mansion and
the lethal downpour. The assault
occurred with such explosive force and blinding speed that both gods and Saints
had been caught completely off guard.

�Seiya!�

Shiryu
sprinted to his fallen friend and knelt at his side, trying to straighten the
boy�s tangled limbs. Almost instantly, Mu and Kiki appeared next to him.

�Let me help,� the Aries Saint
gently urged. Shiryu
reluctantly complied and rose slowly to his feet, unable to breathe as Mu searched for a glimmer of consciousness within Seiya.

Though it appeared to be a simple
blow that Seiya should have been able to withstand
quite easily, it had somehow drained his life force to the threshold of
death. Consumed by rage, Shiryu glared at Prometheus with open contempt, but his
anger withered as he discovered the true source of the attack. Lexie stood calmly,
one hand outstretched, enveloped in a brilliant violet glow, jagged and
irregular, like the Titan god's. The
girl lowered her arm, unconcerned by the injured Pegasus Saint.

�That was a warning. Do not interfere,� she remarked coldly.

�Lexie,
you really must learn to control yourself!� Prometheus admonished. �There is no need for concern, Dragon
Saint. Your friend will recover
momentarily. His Cosmo is quite
remarkable. Without it, I'm afraid he
would not have survived.� The Titan
turned to Athena. �I do apologize,
Goddess. My guardian is a formidable
warrior, and rather headstrong at times.�

�Rather like someone else I know,�
the goddess admitted, displaying a tiny relieved smile. Lexie's resemblance
to Seiya was becoming more evident.

As if on cue, the Pegasus Saint
emitted a low moan and began to stir under Mu�s
healing touch. Shiryu
immediately reached down, offering his hand to Seiya.

�What happened?� he asked, his body
trembling uncontrollably as he fought to stand.

Shiryu
knew his answer would hurt Seiya even more than the
attack, but he could not conceal the truth from him. �It was Seika.�

Seiya
could not speak. He stared in the
direction of his sister, and though his vision was still blurred, the pulsing
glare was unmistakable. �No! It can�t be!� he whispered, sickened by the
sight. His thoughts immediately flashed
to his encounter with Seika in Tokyo,
replaying the events in the hotel lobby that had rendered immobile. He assumed his foe was the man he now knew to
be the Titan Prometheus, but a visible tremor of horror shook the boy to his
core as he realized it was Seika who had assaulted him that day.

An unspoken command drew Lexie to Prometheus.
As she stood before him, anxious and expectant, he leaned over, resting
his hands gently on her shoulders. The
Titan knew the moment he released the girl their bond would be forever severed,
but he could not face the alternative.
If Lexie discovered his deceit, she would
despise him until the end of her days.
He spoke softly into her ear, discernible sadness clouding his sanguine
eyes. The time they had spent together
would become nothing more than a nebulous dream to the girl, as Seiya had been to her for so many years. �You are Seika, and the one for whom you've
been searching is here�Seiya is your brother.� Overcome by the shock, her knees began to
buckle. Prometheus held her tightly as
the world she knew disintegrated, washed away by a deluge of memories from her
past. The Titan gently laid her
unconscious form on the ground then quickly turned away. �Goodbye, Lexie
Bloodstone,� he whispered.

Seiya
stumbled toward his sister and dropped to his knees beside her body, cradling
her head in his lap. �What did you do to
her?� he shouted at the god.

Suddenly, a gargantuan cyclone of
volcanic fury twisted and expanded in the driveway. Yellow-orange flames licked outward,
vaporizing the surrounding ice and snow into a hissing landscape of steam. A black silhouette took shape and solidified
within the burning column, and as the blaze dwindled away, the Phoenix Saint
emerged, a fiery wraith, smoldering with vengeance and pain.

Shiryu and Seiya had witnessed Ikki�s anger, but they had never before seen the Phoenix in such an uncontrollable
rage.

�Where�is�Shun��
the incandescent boy growled hoarsely, his words punctuated by short, rasping
breaths. His shoulders hunched up
menacingly, like a feral dog backed into a corner. His eyes were terrifying and
indistinguishable, unseeing slits of red madness.

Before an
explanation could be offered, the Bronze Saint sent a spiraling plume of fire
at Prometheus.

�Phoenix! No!� Athena called out, but the irrational
boy was beyond hearing.

The Titan
calmly turned his wrists outward, releasing thick metal chains the color of
deep garnet. The heavy links swiftly
unfurled, rattling sharply as they shot toward the Bronze Saint�s oncoming
inferno, snuffing it out as easily as the flame of a candle.

Mu saw his chance and moved toward Ikki
like a flash of lightning. He wrapped
his arms around the dark youth and teleported safely away. The Aries Saint had no way of knowing if the Phoenix could defeat
Prometheus, and there were already far too many Saints missing or injured. He simply couldn�t allow the boy to risk his
life until they found out more about the Titan god.

Seiya
watched helplessly as Mu and Ikki
faded from sight, along with his hopes of confronting Prometheus. As quickly as it had started, the calamitous
visitation was over. An abrupt calm
settled over them all. The fearsome,
beautiful god withdrew his chains gradually then turned his back on the
remaining group. Without further
utterance, the Titan moved away from the graveled driveway and strode
deliberately through the snow-laden estate grounds. As though attached by an unseen lead, Shiryu and Athena began to follow obediently, but the
goddess suddenly paused, returning to face Seiya. The undisguised affection and tenderness that
radiated from her pale lilac eyes spoke more to the boy than mere words ever
could. She briefly laid a compassionate
hand on his shoulder then rejoined the Titan�s march away from the
mansion. His confidence obliterated, Seiya turned his head away as the three receding
silhouettes blurred into one, transforming into hundreds of thin flickering
black streaks that dissolved one by one until the last stroke disappeared
completely.

While supporting Seika�s shoulders
with one arm, he slid the other beneath the knees of the prone girl and rose
unsteadily to his feet. He held his
sister gently against his chest and carried her toward the disfigured mansion,
tormented by the impulse to follow Prometheus.
Though Shiryu had no way of knowing, the
question he asked Seiya only a day ago had been
answered. The Pegasus Saint was finally
reunited with his sister, but he could never abandon Athena or his
brothers. As he carefully picked his way
through the mosaic of broken glass, the sound of soft footsteps approaching
from behind startled him.

�Kiki? I
thought you left with Mu.�

�He felt it
would be best if I stayed here,� Kiki replied as he
walked alongside the Bronze Saint.

Seiya nodded slowly in acknowledgment, but was so
preoccupied by the unconscious girl in his arms that Kiki
doubted he heard his answer at all.

�Seiya, why did Shiryu leave?�

�Well, as a
Saint, it was his duty to go,� Seiya explained. It was a difficult truth to accept.

�Will we
ever see him again?� Kiki asked fearfully, clasping
his fingers at the back of head and nervously rubbing his hands over his
wildfire bramble of hair.

�Of course, Kiki! He�s with Athena. Everything will be just fine. Shiryu will be back
before you know it!� He glanced down at
the child and forced a smile, trying desperately to mirror Shiryu�s
indomitable spirit. �Now then, would you
do me an enormous favor?�

�Sure! Anything, Seiya!� Kiki announced,
happy to be of use to the Pegasus Saint.

Though
somewhat envious of the boy�s innocent certainty of faith and hope, Seiya found an undeniable comfort in it as well.

�I�ve got
to get Seika inside, so would you please find Tatsumi
and make sure he�s okay? There may also
be others in the house who were hurt in the�um�accident.�

�No
problem, Seiya!
I think Tatsumi ran off in this direction�� Kiki called over his shoulder as he bounded toward the
night shadows cast at the side of the mansion.

As Seiya
neared the front steps, Seika�s eyelids fluttered and opened. �Seiya�is it really
you?� she breathed, gazing warmly at him with loving recognition. She reached up and brushed her fingertips
gently across his cheek then slipped back into unconsciousness.

Conflicting emotions besieged Seiya, weighing down on him like a millstone around his
neck. He wept with joy at the cherished
smile he had locked in his heart since his abduction from the orphanage and
wondered if he would ever have the courage to tell Seika that it was only the
memory of her that sustained him through all he had suffered. But a burning hunger for revenge and the
agony of cruel heartache pierced his elation.
Prometheus had somehow awakened Cosmo within Seika, and for that the
Pegasus Saint would never forgive the Titan god. Seiya paused at the
doorway and lifted his eyes heavenward.
The pinpoints of starlight and pale sliver of moon he sought were
obscured by a dense layer of somber gray clouds and fat tranquil snowflakes
that drifted down like heavy white ash.
�Please, Shiryu,� he whispered hoarsely. �Come back to me��

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Shun could not determine how long
he had been trapped in the void, naked, his senses starved. Though he was acutely aware of his own
shallow breathing and the dull pounding of his heart, an eternal emptiness
permeated his entire being.

Ikki�

He wanted to be strong, and tried
to straighten his fetal-curled body, but his limbs would not obey. A hazy scene played over and over in his
mind. His nii-san
had struck him for some reason, but it was an accident�it had to be. The unceasing sensory deprivation and
ponderous drumming in his chest began to drive him mad, and he withdrew to a
place of safety, somewhere deep in the labyrinth of his mind. A sudden warm sensation spilled down his
inner thighs and pooled beneath his buttocks.
A forgotten memory of shame propelled him to the distant past where he
grabbed a tattered old brown teddy bear and tiptoed past the dozens of sleeping
children to Ikki�s bedside, trembling and sniffling,
his enormous blue eyes spilling over with hot tears.

�Shun?
What is it?�

�I�m scared��

�My poor Shun! Want to sleep with me?�

The boy nodded
and quickly clambered under the warm blanket, snuggling happily against his
older brother. Ikki
knew it wasn�t only fear that brought Shun to his side. The child had soiled his bed again. He prayed nightly his sibling would soon
outgrow the problem, but until then, he would rise the next morning before
anyone else in the dormitory and remove the urine-soaked bedding, as he had
done innumerable times since arriving at the strange mansion. Ikki would make
sure no one would ever discover Shun�s disgraceful
secret. He wrapped his arms protectively
around his brother, his life, and tenderly kissed the top of his head. Shun felt safe, and there he remained as his
mind sank deeper into the dark abyss that entombed him.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hyoga could
not pinpoint exactly what had drawn him to the U.S.
seaboard city of Miami, Florida.
He only knew that he needed a radical change from everything that was
familiar to him. Six months had passed
since his arrival in colorful metropolis, but the longed-for escape from his
memories was not so easily accomplished.
As he prowled the city with a machine heart, bitterness fed on him like
a vampire, slowly draining him of all emotions, and day by day, thoughts of his
former life began to drift further away from his memories. Simple existence became his only objective. On the streets, honor and equity were
non-existent. To him, the world
consisted of only two sides�those who had died, and those who were waiting to
die.

Hungry and tired, Hyoga scuffed along a busy downtown sidewalk in the
stifling noonday heat, pausing at a storefront window, suddenly troubled by his
reflection. He had lost considerable
weight, and dark circles smudged his eyes, making them appear bruised. Though not unclean, his once enviable yellow
mane was a disheveled, tangled mess. He
scarcely recognized the face staring back at him, and ruefully wondered if it
was the loss of his Cosmo that had created the stranger in the glass, or the
recent awakening of his darker appetites.
He shoved his hands deep into the empty pockets of his worn, tattered
blue jeans and turned away from the window, returning to the bustling current
of apathetic pedestrians.

As he continued his long trek
toward the inhospitable marrow of the city and the isolated abandoned warehouse
that served as his most recent temporary haven, Hyoga�s
thoughts slipped back to the genesis of his spiraling disintegration. It began soon after the birth of the designer
drug he created from the supplies he had stolen from the Kido lab. With his knowledge of chemical compounds, it
was surprisingly simple to concoct the highly addictive substance. Unconcerned by any possible harmful side
effects, he christened the euphoria-inducing powder Diamond Dust and sold it on
darkened street corners to all who asked.
Its immediate popularity caused an unwelcome stir among the local crime
lords, and though Hyoga produced and sold only enough
to cover the expenses of his daily needs, he was pulling customers away from
syndicate dealers. The components
necessary to formulate the drug were rare, expensive and unobtainable. When his cache finally ran out, so did the
Diamond Dust and Hyoga�s money. The former Saint soon became just another
transient scavenger, a nameless object of scorn, ignored and despised.

Though he was no longer a
competitor in the illicit drug trade, a bounty had been placed on him by
several criminal organizations that wanted to reproduce and sell Diamond Dust,
but he paid little mind to the threats. Hyoga knew his compound contained certain vital elements
that simply could not be identified even under the most intense scientific
analysis, which made the formula that was locked away in his head an extremely
valuable commodity. He had done his
utmost to maintain his anonymity, deliberately avoiding the mainstream
population, leaving no trail that could be followed by those who wished to find
him, but to the experienced pushers it was child�s play to coax information out
of opiate-addled junkies. It was only a
matter of time before he was discovered.
He would not attempt to take his own life again since it was apparent
that the gods would not allow it, but should his days be shortened by another�s
hand, so be it.

Night had fallen, but the summer
evenings in Miami
could be as thick, hot and humid as the days.
Hyoga slumbered fitfully on the cool concrete
floor of the warehouse, his mind racing.
He sighed and sat upright, listening intently. A few of his senses remained razor sharp, a
lingering effect of his extinguished Cosmo.
In the corners and around the walls, Hyoga
could hear the scuttling of cockroaches and other insects�and the cacophonic
arrival of unwelcome intruders. They
laughed and shouted, pitching glass bottles through the few unbroken
windowpanes. Hyoga
wished they would leave, but he knew from their raucous approach that his wish
would not be granted. Hyoga rose to his feet and began preparing himself for the
inevitable meeting. He stretched and
jogged in place briefly, then practiced several roundhouse kicks, trying to
work the blood back into his stiff, achy muscles. There was one aspect of his Cosmo that he
truly missed. It had always kept him
ready for battle. Drowsy and desperate
to find sleep, he almost considered avoiding the confrontation, but the
trespassers had irritated him and he was in a foul mood. He scanned the cavernous space, noting the
placement of various pieces of debris that could be used as weapons if
necessary.

Ready to vent his frustrations, he
moved quickly to the center of the vast floor as the sound of expletives and
breaking glass neared. Since there was
no electricity in the hollowed carcass of the building, the only source of
light came from the lustrous moon glow that poured through the endless row of
windows, illuminating the lone form of Hyoga in the
black velvet darkness. Five young
Hispanic males tumbled through the warehouse in a raucous group, suddenly
pausing at the sight of the blonde boy like a pride of hungry lions spotting
prey, momentarily spellbound by the spectral image of Hyoga. Finally, one of the dark youths found his
voice.

�Oye! Quien es, esse?�
he barked loudly.

Hyoga
remained motionless, staring at them with cold detachment.

�Yo! Puta! Are you deaf?
I�m talkin� to you, maricon!�

�I hear you very well, musor,� Hyoga answered calmly.

The thugs glanced at one another in
confusion then laughed.

�Man, you talk fuckin�
funny!�

�And he looks like a girl! Hey, what are you?�

The largest member of the gang
stepped forward. He appeared to be older
than Hyoga, but still a teenager. Even in the dim shadows, the Russian could
clearly see his leering grin. �We've got
orders to bring you in, but maybe we should have a little fun first. Since you�re so pretty, maybe we�ll give you
a break,� he alluded. �If you suck my
dick, we�ll let you go.�

�Yeah, suck it! Suck it!� the others taunted, their howls
echoing sharply off the gray walls.

The leader waited until the noise
died down then scowled menacingly at the Russian boy. �Chupa mi pinga, usted puto,�
he growled.

�Sovershennyj��
Hyoga snorted in disgust.

They gasped and shuffled backward
as Hyoga suddenly leaped upward, somersaulted and
landed a few steps in front of them.
With leg raised, he instantly spun around, striking his heel solidly on
the jaw of the nearest teen, sending blood and bits of broken teeth spraying
across the gray cement floor. Before any
of the others could react, Hyoga released a crippling
flurry of elbows, fists, knees and feet on the stunned group. With blinding speed, he downed the gang one
by one. A delicate sheen of perspiration
coated Hyoga�s skin as he surveyed the damage he had
inflicted on the strangers, feeling oddly satisfied in the silent
aftermath. As he turned away from the
human wreckage that littered the warehouse and moved toward the doorway, sudden
black pain exploded against the back of his skull, sending him face-first to
the cement, unconscious.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

�So, this is our elusive little
chemist,� the statuesque caramel-skinned man spoke, motioning toward the blonde
boy lying dormant on the floor of the exclusive high-rise suite.

The leader of the Cuchillos gang nodded, swallowing nervously.

Hyoga
began to stir, roused by the sound of the man�s deep, seductive voice and the
intense morning sunlight that flared through the massive tinted windows. It took him several moments to realize he had
apparently been out cold for hours. He
delicately fingered the tender, stinging lump that protruded from his scalp and
opened his eyes. Gazing upward, he tried to focus on the vaguely familiar youth
standing next to him.

�This one homeless child managed to
beat all of you?� the strikingly handsome man continued, rising from behind his
extravagant and imposing granite desk.
�Then, Guerrero, can you explain why I need you or any of your pathetic
cohorts?�

The gang leader opened his mouth to
speak, but no sound came forth.

�You were
instructed to bring him to me, but you decided to play games instead. If I hadn�t sent Victor as a backup, you
would have lost the quarry.� The man
beckoned for the massive, well-groomed bodyguard to approach. The color drained from Guerrero�s face as the
bald colossus advanced and stood impassively behind him.

�You�ve proven your incompetence yet again�and
for the last time.�

Suddenly, the guard raised his
enormous fist and delivered a solid blow to the side of the gang leader�s
head. As Guerrero fell to the floor,
motionless, the brutish Victor paused to straighten his suit and tie then
immediately exited the office. The
abrupt act of violence brought Hyoga instantly to his
feet, obliterating the flexuous haze from his senses.

�Well, Mister...?� the darkly
compelling man addressed the young Russian.

Hyoga quickly glanced
around the lavishly decorated apartment for a possible escape route then warily
locked eyes with his ruthless captor.

�Svatoy...Nicolai
Svatoy,� the boy answered roughly, tasting blood in
his mouth from a small cut on the inside of his lip. The lie came easily, but the expression on
the man�s face told Hyoga that he knew the name was
false.

�I�m pleased to make your
acquaintance, Mr. Svatoy,� he smiled warmly, moving
elegantly around to the front of his desk.
His impenetrable amber eyes burrowed into Hyoga�s
as he reached a hand outward. �I'm
Salvador Zane.�

The introduction was not
necessary. Hyoga
refused the offered handshake, scrutinizing the man closely. Expensively attired, pleasingly muscled and
remarkably appealing, Zane seemed too young to be the most notorious and brutal
crime lord the city had ever seen.

Zane tilted his head inquisitively
and dropped his hand, more amused than annoyed by Hyoga�s
behavior.

�I�m sure you�re aware very little
occurs in Miami
that I do not know about. You, however,
are a mystery. You�ve accomplished much
in only a few months, but it would seem you simply washed ashore like a piece
of driftwood, or dropped out of the heavens.�
He casually crossed his arms and leaned back, resting his firm buttocks
against the edge of the desk. �You�ve even
earned a nickname among your customers.
They call you El Fantasma Ruso�The
Russian Ghost. Rather simplistic, but
not completely inaccurate. You managed
to avoid my associates so effectively that I began to wonder if you actually
did exist. Of course, you don�t believe
in ghosts, do you?�

The office door unexpectedly opened
and the bodyguard entered. Hyoga noticed someone else trailing behind the lumbering
...and his heart stopped. A beautiful
youth strode into the room, the thick rubber soles of his black leather boots
echoing sharply off the polished marble floor.
He was shirtless but wore a floor-length black trench coat that swirled
dramatically behind him as he moved. His
ears and nipples were pierced, and the strong midday sun streaming in through
the row of high, narrow windows glinted off the small silver hoops adorning his
body. Onyx-colored cargo pants hung
dangerously low around his waist, exposing a few downy-soft pubic hairs. A length of heavy silver chain served as his
belt, the ends dangling loosely against his thighs. Glossy black vinyl opera gloves covered his
arms, which added a surreal yet oddly erotic quality to his appearance. The boy�s entrancing blue eyes were
impenetrable, and his short, green hair was styled in a wild, irregular thicket
of jet-black spikes. Though the disguise
was bewildering, Hyoga immediately recognized
him.

�Shun�� he whispered. The sight of the Andromeda Saint so far from
home, in the company of these violent strangers and so completely changed, was
mind-boggling to Hyoga, but he could have never been
prepared for the horror that was to follow.

�Ah, mi amado!� Zane announced brightly. �Will you take care of this trash for
me?� He looked down at the still body of
Guerrero and nudged him with the toe of his expensive leather shoe. Emotionlessly, Shun reached inside his coat
and produced a large, menacing knife. As
the gang leader stirred, moaning softly, Shun dropped to one knee and clamped a
hand over the young man�s mouth. Without
a moment�s hesitation, he plunged the shining weapon deep into the defenseless
gang leader�s back, viciously twisting the blade upward. Hyoga could hear
the nauseatingly distinct sound of metal penetrating flesh and bone. Guerrero�s eyes flew open and his body
stiffened, rigid with sudden shock and pain.
He struggled briefly, but Shun held him in an iron grip. Guerrero convulsed as blood gushed out of his
nostrils and bubbled out grotesquely from between Shun�s
tightly closed fingers. Thick, dark
crimson dripped down the Andromeda Saint�s hand and onto the antique Persian
rug that lay beneath his victim. As the
young man�s eyes rolled back and fluttered shut, Shun leaned his head in closer
and breathed in deeply, as if trying to inhale the very essence of death. He held Guerrero in the intimate embrace a
moment longer then removed the knife with a violent jerk. As the body slumped forward, a warm spout of
life-fluid sluiced out of the ugly wound, splashing gruesomely across Shun�s face.
Guerrero�s head lay against the floor, blood filling his slack mouth
like rainwater pooling in the jaws of a hideous stone gargoyle. It spilled out slowly, obscuring the
intricately detailed pattern of the rug in a widening black stain.

Hyoga
wanted to look away�he tried to look away�but could not move his eyes from the
horrifying scene. He was trapped in a
paralyzing nightmare over which he had no control. Hyoga prayed that
he was still half-dazed and hallucinating when he sensed a feeling of pleasure
emanate from the Andromeda Saint during the brutal slaying. Shun had killed the youth with cold-blooded
ease, and in a show of disrespect, wiped the frightening blade clean against
Guerrero�s shirt. As Shun stood up and
slipped the monstrous dagger out of sight, the bodyguard moved in and quickly
rolled up the corpse inside the rug then hoisted the ghastly bundle casually
over his shoulder, exiting the office swiftly and efficiently, as if he had
performed the sickening duty many times before.

With the glassy, detached gaze of a
shark, Shun glanced briefly at Hyoga then turned his
attention to Zane who continued to lean blithely against his desk. He moved eagerly toward the powerful man,
wedging himself comfortably between the crime lord�s elegantly long legs. Zane wrapped his arms around the boy, bending
his head down to kiss Shun�s pale neck. To Hyoga, the small
display of affection was as disturbing as the unconscionable murder he had
witnessed. His mind screamed over and
over �This is not Shun! This is not Shun!� but his heart knew it
could be no one else.

�Mr. Svatoy,
this is my paramour, Quinton Sinclair.�

�Quin,�
the boy corrected indignantly.

Zane seemed somewhat astonished by
the comment, but continued speaking as though Shun was nothing more than an
object. �Lovely, isn't he?�

Hyoga's
jaw muscles clenched tautly as Zane�s fingers possessively gripped the back of Shun�s neck.

As Zane returned to his seat behind
the massive desk, Shun silently followed him like a bored, spoiled pet,
perching lazily on the sturdy arm of the throne-like chair. Already fatigued and queasy from his deteriorated
condition and the injury to his head, Hyoga tried to
remain unaffected by Shun�s presence. He hoped Zane would not notice the
microscopic glimmer of sorrow in the Russian�s eye whenever he looked at the
boy, but the man was uncannily observant.
Zane casually but purposefully reached over, pulled down the front
zipper of Shun�s pants, inserted his hand and began
manipulating the boy to arousal. Shun
closed his eyes as obvious pleasure washed over his face. He purred and turned his body so that Zane
could more easily gain access to him, unconcerned that the dumbstruck Hyoga and Zane�s stoic bodyguard were witnessing the
voyeuristic act. As Shun moaned and
bucked his slim hips to Zane�s rhythmic stroking, Hyoga
was consumed by an overwhelming urge to leap across the room and pummel Zane
into an unrecognizable pile of carrion.
The sound of tendons popping into tight bands was clearly audible as the
Russian tightened his hands into steel fists.
He wanted to scream...to bury his head in his hands...to run from the
room...anything to block out the repulsive scene. Though enraptured by Zane�s touch, Shun threw
occasional arrogant glances at Hyoga, devouring him
with half-open, lust-filled eyes.
Repelled by the young Saint�s complete lack of dignity or shame, Hyoga felt his cheeks burn with color. He shifted his gaze to Zane, focusing pure
hatred on the man while trying desperately to ignore the writhing boy. The cruel man studied Hyoga
with cold intensity, like a snake watching a mouse just before striking. The unholy spectacle seemed to go on forever,
and Hyoga knew he would not be able to control his
rage for much longer. In an attempt to
regain his composure, he bit down painfully on the tender inside of his mouth,
swallowing at the taste of his own blood.
Suddenly, Shun�s body stiffened and he threw
his head back, emitting a sharp gasp. Hyoga could not bear it, closing his eyes to the sight of
Shun climaxing in Zane�s hand. The man
chuckled at Hyoga�s noticeable distress as he
refastened the boy�s pants and began slowly licking the salty-sweet cream from
his fingers. Slightly out of breath, his
cheeks blushed bright pink, Shun returned to his
position seated on the arm of the chair as if nothing out of the ordinary had
occurred.

Though Zane had finished devouring
the remnants of the boy�s seminal fluid, Hyoga could
still detect Shun�s unmistakable scent, and it was at
that precise moment he realized no matter what the boy had done or whom he was
with, Shun would always belong to him.
He knew beyond any doubt his love for the Andromeda Saint was as
infinite as the spaces between the stars.
He inhaled deeply, covetously filling his senses with Shun�s intoxicating carnal fragrance, but his rapture was
broken by Zane�s intrusive yet alluring voice.

�Despite what you may believe, I�m
a fair man,� he began. �Obviously I
could utilize some rather unpleasant and barbaric methods to obtain the secret
of your Diamond Dust, but I�m quite sure you�d die before revealing the
information I require. However, I see no
reason why our association can�t be mutually beneficial. You present yourself as a person who has
nothing to live for, but I�m willing to bet there�s at least one reason why you
continue to struggle for survival day after day. Whatever that reason may be is none of my
concern. I�m simply offering you a
straightforward contract. I�ll provide
everything you need to create Diamond Dust for my exclusive distribution, and
in return you�ll be generously rewarded.
Should you accept, I will, of course, own you. But as my property, you�ll be treated like a
king wherever you go, and you�ll have access to everything else I own�homes,
cars, boats, private jets�whatever you desire.�
Zane paused and reached over, pulling Shun�s
hand into his. �Within reason,� he
warned. �You�re free to decline my
offer, but then I would be forced to put a bullet in your brain.�

Hyoga
glanced at Shun who had once again retreated into disinterest. Though he ached to spit in Zane�s face, grab
Shun and flee to the most remote corner of the planet, he grudgingly
assented. �I accept,� he growled.

�Splendid!� Zane smile
broadly. �Well, I�m sure you�d like to
freshen up, and it does appear you�re in desperate need of a new wardrobe. Victor, would you please look after the
lad? Tonight we celebrate!�

As Hyoga wearily followed the giant out of the office, a
renewed purpose burned within the Russian boy.
He had to find a way to remove Shun from the clutches of Salvador Zane,
but without his Cygnus Cloth or his Cosmo, it might prove to be the most
dangerous challenge he ever faced.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

To be continued�
- 2
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The Blackmail of Souls - Book One

To be continued�