revenge

Shaka wakes up, the Broaze Saints try to deal with what\'s happened and Ikki runs into Esmeralda

Chapter Three: That’s What Friends are For

Camus leaned against the wall in Virgo. His arms were crossed across his chest and his eyes looked towards the bed. Shaka lay resting, not making a sound. The anger tried to once again come to the surface, and once again Camus kept it under control, barely. Mu had done his best, using his powers and giving off a sense of calm. He had always been able to do that. Milo had
helped bandage Shaka up and use ointment here and there. Milo was also close to exploding as well and Camus watched as Mu send Milo a look, and Milo bowed his head.

Mu walked over to him, leaving Milo to keep on eye on Shaka. They had agreed that Shaka shouldn’t be left alone, Camus wasn’t ready to be left alone with him yet. He still had to apologize for killing him. Once that was done he could work on everyone else. Namely Milo. When he closed his eyes, Camus could still see Milo’s reaction to seeing him alive and as a ‘servant of Hades’. The betrayal in those blue eyes had nearly killed him.

“He will recover in time.” Mu said “Physically at least, but he is hiding from us now. He feels shame. We can’t leave him alone, he must know that we do not think less of him, that we are still his friends.”

“When do you think will he tell us?”
“When he ready. Try talking to him, if you can.” they looked back at Milo and Shaka. “Milo will keep an eye on him, while we inform the others of Shaka’s condition.”

The city of Athens was dreary and dark. The thunder was deep, the lightening flashed in the clouds and the rain seemed determined to drench the city. Ikki liked it. The city was as dark s his mood, but he needed to calm down. Shaka was in good hands. But he was the first. What the hell did that mean? He hadn’t had time to travel, so he couldn’t have time to get any locals mad. He had been too busy dealing with Hades, and there was no one left from there to cause trouble any more.

All Ikki knew for sure was that someone was pissed at him, and taking it out those closest to you. Walking through the city was supposed to draw the cowards out. If they had a problem with him, then they could damn well show up and take it up with him. Cracking his knuckles Ikki would have been happy to obliged them. At the back of his mind he knew that his brother was on that list. It was only a matter of time before they went after Shun. But who else wold they go after? Fixing a scowl on his face that had made some of their toughest enemies think twice, Ikki turned down another street.

Esmeralda couldn’t keep the smile off her face. It was horrible outside, the very forces of nature seemed fit to raise a civil war. She was inside, cuddling with Matt. He had been in a rare mood last night. His friends had shown up and dragged him away. She had been a little hurt by it, but didn’t blame Matt, it was those friends of his. When the phone rang, Matt answered it and then turned away from her. Knowing it was one of his friends she walked to the window and did a double take.

There in the mists of the storm was Ikki. He look liked he belonged. His blue/black hair slick with the rain, the curls dripping, his face flushed from the wind blowing through the streets, and typically he had that look in his eyes. She rolled her eyes, only Ikki would be out walking in this, challenging it. And since she was tired of being ignored she left the room and ran outside. He had just passed the hotel when she called him.

“We need to fix this Ikki!” Esmeralda yelled over the wind. She tried her best not to flinched when he turned around. He walked over to her.
“Let’s get you out of the rain.” he said
She stepped under the awning in the door way. “I know when I saw you a few days back it didn’t go well and we didn’t talk. We need to now.”
“I thought you were dead.” Of course that would be the first thing out of his mouth,
“It was a close call. I made it though.”
“Then why didn’t you come after me?”
“I was going to. That hurts your pride that I didn’t but you have only yourself to blame. I saw you on t.v, you attack childhood friends and stole the Gold Cloth.”
“Shun forgave me. He was the one that I had gone there for.” He saw the look on her face and let her hit him. “I changed my ways once before and I’ve done it since. It was your death that changed me the first time and it was Shun the second time”
“You still attacked your own brother.”
“He forgave me.” Matt choose that moment to walk out, he sent Ikki a glare
“Es, I’m going out for a few hours. Love you.” he gave her a quick kiss and smiled as he walked passed Ikki. With his heart pounding he ran once he was out of sight.
“You’ve made your choices and I’ve made mine.” Ikki said
“Are you going to fade away now Ikki?”
“I have to get back. Things aren’t good.”
“What’s wrong?” she looked so concerned that he had to tell her.
“Some jerk’s out to get me. No idea who, but will they come afer me directly and deal with this? No!, instead they tracked down a very good friend of mine and hurt him. It’s only a matter of time before the come after Shun, and it will be worse. I know Shaka fought back, but Shun won’t he hates fighting.”
“I don’t know what to say.” she didn’t, so instead she put her hand on his arm. “Is there anything I can do?”
“If you really want to help, if you hear anything let me know.”
“Anything Ikki, that’s what friends are for.”

With that Ikki faded into the storm and walked away. Well that went well, she thought and walked back into the hotel for a hot bath. Ikki sure a way about him. Not even a thank you. Well one step at a time.

Shun sat on his bed, looking out the window. Someone was after his brother, but they wouldn’t do so directly. So it had to be someone new. Everyone else knew about Ikki’s temper. So logically it couldn’t have been a lackey left over from a previous war, Ikki scared them. Walking off his anger in this weather would be good for him. Shun knew there was a kettle in the kitchen and some hot chocolate to be used for his return.

Hyoga was on his way over. He had stayed behind to talk to Camus, after he and Mu had informed them about Shaka. Of course Camus hadn’t wanted to talk to Hyoga, but really had no choice. Shaka would get better, but who ever they were dealing with was not playing fair. A schedule had been worked out, every hour a new Saint would sit with Shaka, it a was to show a united front.

When Hyoga walked into the house, he found Seiya and Shiryu playing a game of Go-Fish. Shiryu was winning. He walked by them and into Shun’s room. Sitting on his bed wrapped up in a blanket and staring out the window. It was like a moment from the past, before Hades, Shun would stay up waiting for Ikki more than not to come home, in a blanket, with a book and hot chocolate waiting. Looking at him, it was like nothing wrong had happened. That he was still innocent.

“Is ths the reason for why we survived Hyoga? To be picked off one by one by a nameless face?” Shun still looked out the window. “Not to help people anymore but to suffer for our crimes. For not dying in the Underworld?”
And then he says stuff like that. “Of course not. Shun how can you think something like that?”
“It’s not that hard. I just look out the window and see it all.”
“Ikki will be back soon.”
“I know. We’ll have to tell him of the plan. It won’t help, though.”
“It’s all we can do Shun. Stop being so pessimistic. That’s not like you.”
This time Shun turned around. “Who am I Hyoga?”
“You’re Shun.” that was the safest answer. Hyoga wasn’t ready for the next step. The door slammed open and Ikki stood there, soak through and dripping. “Kitchen.” was all Shun said.

Hyoga and Ikki went. The kettle was put on and Ikki was using a towel he had grabbed from the hall closet to dry his hair. Shun came in with some dry clothes and put them on the table.

“Strip.”Hyoga went to make sure the others wouldn’t walk in and Shun checked the water. “Did you enjoy your walk?”
“I ran into Esmeralda.” Ikki said, pulling off his shirt, it fell to the floor with a flop. “Told her what was going on, she wanted to help, so you’ll be nice to her if she shows up.”
“Are you okay with that?”
“Not really, but she’s on the outside, so maybe she’ll hear something.” off went the pants
“Or maybe she’ll hear nothing.”
Ikki looked at his brother. Damn he forgot about the new attitude. “We’ll see. How’s Shaka?”
“They hurt him bad.” Shun said turning around. Ikki had the dry pair of pants on.
“How bad.?”
“They raped him.” Hyoga answered.
“Look after Shun.” Ikki yelled and ran out of the house.
“How did things go with Camus?” Shun asked picking up his brother’s wet clothes.
“We came to terms. I asked him to forgive me for killing him, and he asked for my forgiveness with the incident”
“You mean with the deal he made with Hades.” Shun’s tone had been sharp and the others had entered the kitchen, they were about to leave when Shun caught sight of them. “This goes for you as well. I don’t know why none of you can’t say his name, but you should be able to. You weren’t his vessel I was. I can say his name Hades. See its easy.”
“Shun, maybe you should calm down.” Shiryu said. “We were all affect by this.”
“That’s what I’m talking about. You can’t say Hades, so instead you call that war, ‘the incident’ or ‘that time’. It’s making me sick. Just except what happened I did.”
“You didn’t have to see a friend become a god bent on destruction.” Hyoga said. “ You were...”
“I was what? Different? Maybe I should have just given up and let him use me. Maybe I shouldn’t have tried to get rid of him. Would that have been easier on you, if I had died.”
The boys just looked at him. “Shun, we like you alive.” Shiryu said.
“He talked to me before it happened. I heard his voice in my head, when you were all too busy with other things. Do you know why I fought him Hyoga? Do you know I did some of the things that I did? I have, so now it’s your turn.”
This time they watched Shun storm out.
“He looked liked him for a moment.” Seiya said.
“He’s also picking up some of Ikki’s habits.” Shiryu said.
“Guys what just happened?” Hyoga said.
“Think about it Hyoga.”

Ikki went walking through the Temples on his way to Shaka, not once stopping for permission. They never tries to stop him, just let him go on his way. Camus was talking to Shaka when he got there.

“I patched things up with Hyoga. I never thought I would get that chance.”
“That’s good.” Shaka said. His voice was barely a whisper. “Now what?”
“I’m talking to Milo later. The two of you are the ones I owe the most.”
“You owe me nothing.”
“I helped kill you.”
“You were sorry at the time. None of you could hide your feelings from me. It had to happen. I had to get into the Underworld with as much power as possible. It worked and Hades thought that you had done what he asked.”
“Shaka who did this to you?”
“I don’t know, their names, I never saw the faces of the others.”
“How many?’ Ikki asked walking over. They both looked at him.
“I’ll leave you be.” Camus said getting up. “Watch your step Ikki.” he said quietly.
“So they told you.” Shaka said closing his eyes.
“Why can’t you look at me?” Ikki said.
“You know what I found out down there? I found out how I felt about certain things. I have friends here Ikki. I have someone that I love, but I betrayed that love and so am unworthy to talk to that person, let alone look at them.”
“What do you mean by betrayal?”
“I’m attracted to men Ikki. Does that bother you?”
“No. You’re my friend Shaka.”
“Friends, yes that’s all we can be.” he opened his eyes one last time. “I enjoyed what one of them did to me. I should not have”
“I don’t know what to say, except I don’t hate you. I just want to know who hurt you and....” Ikki never finished his sentence. Shun’s cosmo had called out to him. “I have to go. Shun’s in trouble.”
“ Be careful Ikki.”
“I don’t hate you Shaka, remember that.” Ikki left and because he didn’t look back he didn’t see the tears fall.
“ Goodbye Ikki.” with that Shaka put up a shield around his Temple.

Matt looked at Shun walked down the alley. The kid was lost, he also had the same nose as Ikki. This was the brother. That will work. This time things would be different.

chapt. four will be up soon