Double Plus Good

Five: Sexcrime

The meal was, colorful, to say the least. Each dish was split in half, one side red, the other side blue, most likely done with food coloring. It tasted delicious; as always the resident chef had outdone himself.

Saga stood from the table and clinked a spoon against his glass. “May I have your attention, please?”

The conversation died to pure amicable silence, thirteen sets of eyes upon him. Saga smiled as he continued.

“My brother, Kanon, has something to announce.”

“Saga!” cried Kanon in a loud whisper. A faint blush appeared across his cheeks.

The older looked down at the younger. “Don’t you think it is about time to let everyone know? It is not nice to keep your friends in the dark.”

Kanon grumbled, stood with glaring eyes and reluctance, then took a deep breath. Saga sat down. He wondered how long Kanon could keep up the pretense of being annoyed, for he knew how over-excited his brother really felt.

It did not take long for a blinding smile to appear on Kanon’s face.

“Kanon. Stop glowing,” said Shaka from across the table.

Kanon ignored the comment, thrust out his left hand, palm down to show off the purple band, and exclaimed, “I’m married!”

Gasps, cries of ‘what?’, mutters of ‘who could it be?’ and the like erupted in the previous silence. The others stood and gawked at the ring, recognition and confusion etched on each of their faces. Only Deathmask remained in his seat, gloating with smugness.

“I was wondering when he’d pop the question,” said the Cancer.

“It was my birthday present,” answered Kanon.

“You knew!” accused Aphrodite, slapping Deathmask on the arm.

“Course I knew. ‘May this letter reach you in haste, without delay, so the time between us will be the single flutter of a hummingbird’s wings.’”

Aphrodite groaned. “Not with the poetry again.”

Everyone raised an eyebrow, or dot, at that, except for Saga, who shared a knowing glance with his beaming brother.

“Quit keeping it a secret, Kanon, and tell us who it is,” said Milo, clearly excited.

Saga was shocked that nobody knew, or even guessed who Kanon had been involved with. Even more shocking was that the relationship was kept like a well-guarded secret among them, with only Kanon, Saga and Deathmask having knowledge. Guess the others were not aware of how Kanon died during the battle of Hades, or rather, did not die.

Glowing, sparkling and shining, Kanon answered Milo’s inquiry. “Rhadamanthys.”

The room fell silent yet again, but this time it was not the joyous silence from before. There was a strain in the air, with eyes not only suspiciously glaring at Kanon, but also exchanging silent thoughts amongst themselves. Milo stared with wide eyes and a dropped jaw, looking quite stricken with disbelief that Kanon could become married to one who had been their greatest enemy. Saga had known that the others would react this way, for it had been how he reacted the first time Kanon told him, but before he could say a word to anyone, Deathmask spoke up.

“You guys should see the looks on your faces.” His smirk turned into a mirthful grin. “Is it really that much of a surprise? You do know that while we stormed the Wailing Wall, Kanon took out all three Judges by himself.”

The others looked imploringly to Kanon, asking with their eyes if that were true.

Kanon glared at Deathmask. “That’s not true. Ikki defeated Aiakos and Minos died when he tried to follow the Bronze into Elysium.”

“You just defeated that evil Wyvern.” Deathmask’s eyes glinted with knowledge only he, Kanon and Saga shared.

Kanon smiled. “True. In more ways than one.”

“’I had once believed my life took one form, down one dark path of duty and death,’” began Deathmask, only looking at Kanon.

“’But from the explosion life reborn like Phoenix from ash to a path so blindingly bright,’” continued Kanon.

“’Full of hope, of wonder, of possibilities unknown.’”

“’Leaving me helpless, scared, distraught, unnerved.’”

“’Yet I could not help but flow to the light, to the warmth that filled.’”

“’For it led me to my journey’s end; it led me to you.’”

The room silenced once again. Saga felt a slight jump in his gut at the words his brother had recited with the Cancer, for they were beautiful and touching now that he understood their meaning. He waited with held breath to see who would speak first.

“It seems,” began Shion, using a tone more curious than angry, “that there is a story here. Kanon? Care to elaborate?”

Kanon recanted the story of how he and the Hades’ Judge got into a relationship, beginning with the alternate universe they ended up in due to the effects of Galaxian Explosion, how they bore such hatred for each other at first that they went their separate ways, how they came back to the same point after years apart because the alternate dimension held nothing, the truce, the house, and the eventual (Kanon had said ‘inevitable’) tumble into love. Saga noted the parts of the story that had been omitted, things that perhaps Kanon only wanted to divulge to family, but overall, the story Kanon presented was thorough and truthful. When he was finished, the strained silence gave way to an understanding; the others looked thoughtful instead of ripe for protest.

“Since you spent over a century in an alternate universe,” began Milo, lips curved up slightly, “does that mean that instead of turning thirty-one, you are actually one hundred and thirty-one?”

“Doesn’t that make you the older brother?” quipped Deathmask, to which he was properly ignored.

“Actually, I am one hundred and seventy-six, but according to my body, I am still a mere thirty-one.”

“How nice would that be?” continued Milo, leaning back in his chair.

“How nice would what be?” asked Camus, who sat beside him without expression.

“To be able to spend a hundred years getting to know the one you love.”

Camus grimaced. “We would kill each other.”

There were chuckles, but Milo gasped and clutched at his heart with dramatic flair. “You wound me!” He then leaned in to whisper something into Camus’ ear. Camus turned bright red.

“Like I said,” said the Aquarius, unable to hide his discomfort, “we’d kill each other.”

Aiolos rose and lifted his glass. “I suppose this calls for a toast.” When everyone’s attention was diverted to him, he continued. “To Kanon and Rhadamanthys. May Athena, and Hades I suppose, bless this union.” He raised his glass higher, to which everyone at the table followed suit.

“And,” added Kanon, meeting Saga’s eyes and smirking, “may all our unions be happy ones.”

As the room sounded, “Here, here!” Saga watched Kanon meet the eyes of Aiolos, to exchange words without speaking. He felt his cheeks flush and wanted to hide, but he guessed he deserved a bit of embarrassment for making Kanon tell the story of how two mortal enemies ended up getting married. And what a disgustingly sweet couple they turned out to be! But Kanon deserved to be happy, after all the pain and loneliness of the previous thirty years.

Once everyone sat back down, Deathmask rose, a smile on his face, eyes directed at Kanon. He cleared his throat, which quieted down the others.

“’Though it may seem there are only words, encumbered by words, words, many more words.’”

Aphrodite groaned.

Kanon looked back, and as he spoke, he stood. “’Know there is one word that never needs voice.’”

“’It is the single word that lives in me, breathes in me, tells me who I am.’”

“’A word etched into my very soul.’”

“’My eyes.’” Deathmask began to lean across the table toward Kanon.

“’My face.’” Kanon began to lean across toward Deathmask.

“’My lips.’” A little bit closer.

“’My arms.’” Closer still.

“’My kiss.’” They were almost touching.

“’My sex.’”

There was a pause, dramatic flare, perhaps, and then they finished in unison.

“’It is love.’”

The room was silent, but it was a thoughtful silence, where the words that were just spoken seemed to echo sentiment around the room. Except by way of Aphrodite, who was gagging on his tongue.

“You two must have memorized the same book of bad poetry,” said the Pisces.

“Hey!” responded the Cancer, taking his seat. “I happen to like bad poetry.”

“You would,” deadpanned Milo.

Deathmask glared at Milo with a snarl. Saga could feel the fight brewing even though neither Saint moved from his seat. He wondered if this would be the day Deathmask would start a food fight, even though everyone disbelieved such an act would occur because Deathmask was proud of his cooking. Saga could not hide his amusement.

“At least I know how to read,” Deathmask said.

“That’s about all you know,” Milo shot back.

Deathmask was about to stand, but one hand from Aphrodite upon his arm kept him in his seat. The Pisces whispered something, to which Deathmask lost all his anger and even smiled. Saga did not have to guess as to what was said.

“Whatever, Milo,” said Deathmask now jovial. “I am going to ignore you for the rest of the night.”

“My prayers have been answered,” said Milo with a smirk.

The rest of the night was spent in friendly conversation, with only a single fight breaking out between Cancer and Scorpio, just a shouting match that would have eventually led to blows if it were not for the intervention of Aphrodite and Camus. Saga had no idea what they were fighting about, nor why Deathmask went back on his claim to ignore Milo, but he had stopped paying attention to their tiffs long ago. Once they were calmed down, their significant others announced that it was time to put the “children” to bed. The four of them said their good-byes and wished happy birthdays before retreating. Aldebaran, Mu and Shaka were next, followed by Aioria and Aiolos (who hugged Saga, to Saga’s dismay), then finally Shion and Dohko. Shura was the last, but he did not say good-bye as soon as the others were gone. In fact, he was standing by the table staring out into nothing as Kanon began putting the food away.

“Drachma for your thoughts?” asked Saga as he stood at Shura’s side.

“Huh? Oh, Saga. It’s nothing.”

Saga smiled at his friend. “I’ve known you for too long to believe it is nothing. You are not one to stare off into space for no reason.”

Shura had yet to meet Saga’s eyes. “I was just thinking.”

“About what?”

“About whether or not my happiness should come before another’s.”

Saga could tell, even in those few words, that this was something that had been bothering Shura for some time. The Capricorn was never one to allow things to linger, so for him to have posed a question without knowing the answer, he must have been worrying about it for a long time. Saga touched his friend on the arm.

“There must be a way for you to be happy without affecting another’s,” said Saga, sort-of knowing what Shura was talking about only because he knew the man for so long.

“You would think so, but I have my doubts.”

“How long?”

Shura started, like he did not expect the question. “Too long,” was the response.

“I am certain everything will work out for the best.” The statement was meant to comfort, even though it was a thought Saga did not really believe.

“Here’s hoping.”

There was a pause, to which Shura’s eyes moved from Saga’s face to his neck. Saga knew instinctively what his friend was looking at, and felt his cheeks flush.

“So,” began Shura with a half-smile, “I see he gave you your gift.”

Saga’s hand went to the charm that hung around his neck. Memories of the morning resurfaced when he had all but pushed them to the back of his mind. He smiled sadly. “Yes. He did.”

“So?”

“So what?”

“Are you guys, you know, back together?”

A sharp pang resounded in Saga’s heart. He did not want Shura to see the agony on his face so he turned his back on the Capricorn. His hand clutched his chest as he tried to even his breath. “You, better than anyone, should know the answer to that.”

There was pause, to which Saga did not think he would receive a response. He heard Shura take in a breath. “Yeah. I know.” There was a sad, curt laugh. “Just don’t let your own words about everything working out for the best come back to bite you in the ass.”

Saga could feel the other man’s Cosmos retreat then, heard the soft footsteps leave the Gemini temple. He found himself wishing things could have been different, that neither he nor Shura had to shoulder the blame for what happened to Aiolos. Or, at least, change time so that it was he who killed Aiolos and not Shura. At least then, the only person Aiolos would have to lay anger upon would be Saga. Then again, Aiolos had forgiven them both, hadn’t he? As long as he lived, Saga would never understand how one person could hold so much love in their hearts.

“Saaaagaaaa!” called Kanon from the kitchen. Saga looked to see his brother race out and stop just before smacking into him.

“K-Kanon?” He held his pounding heart.

Kanon’s smile was dazzling. “Did you have a good time, my brother?”

Saga smiled to hide his discomforting thoughts from his brother. “Yes. A wondrous time.”

He did not think Kanon could glow any more, but he was wrong. “Me too. And now that I’m hitched, we have to get you hitched as well. And I know just who to hook you up with.”

Saga could no longer hide how he felt. The smile dropped from his face and he stared at his brother seriously. “Please, don’t.”

“Why not?”

“I,” he faltered, “I can’t.”

Kanon put his hands on Saga’s forearms. “Saga. It is you who deserves to be happy the most. Besides, if you don’t have a boyfriend, we can’t double date.”

Saga smiled at the twinkle in his brother’s eyes. “Are you secretly trying to tell me that you want to sleep with Aiolos?”

Kanon looked affronted, but Saga knew it was an act. “How could you say that, brother? I am a happily married man. Still, the prospect does have merit.”

“Kanon!”

They laughed together, the previous tension melting from Saga’s body. Kanon kissed him, then dragged him to the bedroom, where they conversed on life, love and anything else until the sun came up. It was a very happy birthday indeed, for both Gemini twins. Only time would tell, thought Saga before he fell asleep, if this happiness could last. And if he could find it in his own heart to forgive himself, so that he could love and be loved by the one he cherished most.

~owari
06-15-2007