Encounter

Epilogue.


Vacation was over and everybody was returning to their daily activities. After being in Osaka for a week, Athena and her Saints had spent their time whether staying at home or visiting the different places in Tokyo.
They never agreed on who was a better soccer player, Seiya or Aldebaran; after all, they felt they were playing for the same team. Miho and the children were the ones who enjoyed such a blessing the most, since they could learn everything the others were willing to teach them.
Everything seemed fine. At least for most of them.
It had been more than a week since Shiryu had seen Ikki for the last time. The man had left the mansion, or so he had been told. He had not taken anything with him, though. No clothes—nothing at all. Thinking about where he might have gone, was also mayhem for Shiryu. To him, behaving as Ikki had implied—as a woman, much worst, as a jealous one—had left him marked and insecure of himself. However, Ikki’s reaction did not say much about the other, either.
From the library’s window, Shiryu had been observing the Saints coming and going al day long; picking up their belongings and souvenirs; almost ready for their return to Sanctuary.
Suddenly, Shiryu notices someone was knocking on the door and shouted annoyed, telling the person to come in. Bewildered, he observed Milo of Scorpio crossing the door.
“I haven’t seen Ikki lately, I was wondering if you could do something for me.”
Shiryu did not responded and gave Milo an uncanny look he could interpret perfectly, for he had seen it in Aioria before.
“Anyways, here it is,” The man stretched his hand, willing to give Shiryu the package he had got, but the other did not responded to it either. Milo gave up any effort on the matter and left the wrapped book on the table.
“Why?” Shiryu finally asked.
Milo looked at him in the eye, his facing was not showing one single emotion whatsoever. The man could fathom Shiryu’s fears easily, acknowledging what the other was talking about.
“So he told you, too, huh?” Scorpio responded, smirking.
“Too?”
“We never meant to hide anything from anyone... and for what I can see, you too have misunderstood the whole thing.”
Shiryu wanted to retort angrily, but the fact that Milo had not lost his self-composure made him withdraw. The same way that night with Ikki, Shiryu knew Milo believed they had not done wrong. “I’ve asked you something.”
“And I’ve got nothing to answer, Dragon.” Milo said approaching him, looking at him carefully, in an almost scrutinising way, “If as I think happened, Ikki told you everything, then, he must have told you the why. Now, why you don’t believe him is your concern. That you’ve decided to take it against him is definitely not my concern. I’m not here to explain myself to you, and I’m sure Ikki has already done it, so I don’t see how more words can make you feel better.
“That you’ve decided to let him go, like this has proven us we’ve been wrong all the time. It’s not that worthy to try to achieve that which your heart desires, Dragon. Sometimes it’s more than you can handle.
“If you see him again, please give him the book and thank him for his friendship.” Milo left the room quickly.
Shiryu rushed towards the book and opened it. Tearing the paper and watching dumfounded what it was. ‘Of Love and Other Demons’ he read on the cover, seeing also a post-it note stuck on it.
‘I found it and couldn’t help myself
This one is fancier than the one in Scorpio
I hope you enjoy Sierva Maria once again.
Be happy.
Milo’
Shiryu left himself fall on the nearest couch, not knowing what to say.
Milo, on the other hand, joined his fellow Saints and return to Sanctuary later the same afternoon. He decided not to care about Aioria or Shiryu anymore. His actions and Ikki’s had been spoken. It was clear to him that Aioria and Shiryu had not understood a bit of the reason why they had told them the truth. However, they did not need to live in their pasts. If the others wanted to go on like that, fine for them, Milo thought. Now, nothing but arriving home, having a warm bath and immerse on his books again was what matter to him.
There was light in Scorpio, he noticed. There was someone inside, yet the cosmos was not threatening and on the contrary, was almost welcoming him. He hurried to the inside, finding the intruder there, asleep on the big couch, a book in his hands and over his chest.
“Ikki!”
The man woke up alarmed. He had not been expecting anyone to be there, not even Scorpio despite it was his house. He sat and smiled, yawning; not able to control himself. “Hi.” He said yawning again.
“But…what—”
“I also think you’re worth a second helping, Milo.” Ikki interrupted him, inviting him to sit.
Milo nodded, leaving his bag on the floor. Scorpio had a new inhabitant.