Echoes of Humanity

The next morning found Shaka lying in bed, doing his best not to stare at the ceiling and wondering why he had the urge to pace his temple. He’d been able to sleep for a while, but the rest had been plagued by some of the most confusing dreams he’d ever had. They’d been filled with a surprising amount of…pink…Sakura blossoms had merged into rivers of pink that had flown down a mountain and ended in a sea of violets. He’d awoken after it to see dawn just starting. While waiting for it to become light, he’d contemplated the dream. It had been a long time since he’d been unable to fathom a dream. Although being unable to fathom it wasn’t quite what was going on. After a few minutes of thought, combined with the fact that he’d awoken to find a strand of pink hair lying alone on his pillow and, of course, the ancient Sakura which was so closely tied to his destiny was never far from his mind. The question that had kept Shaka awake was not what the dream had symbolized, but rather why he was dreaming about Mu in the first place. He was vaguely certain that he knew the answer, but really didn’t want to know it. He rolled out of bed and ran through a morning ritual of grooming and waking, walked to the door and looked out at a morning that was cool, clear and calm. Peaceful. Confidant that nothing was amiss, Shaka went back into his temple and sat in the corner with his legs crossed. A few deep breaths later and he was deeply grounded in the well-practiced art of his meditation, the world falling away to both the most broad expanses and narrow points of the universe.

He forced himself not to think about Mu. There was a distinct air of the unthinkable in his thoughts, and Shaka was too well-trained to allow his thoughts to cross over that line. Instead, he focused on reacquainting himself with the pulsing river of Cosmos that throbbed in the very air of the universe, with the power that gave him the strength to do what was needed, whatever that may be.

His peace did not last long, however, as Aiolia knocked gently on the wall of the Virgo Temple, peering around a pillar to look at Shaka curiously. The blonde raised a curious eyebrow.

“We’ve been summoned.” Aiolia said, making Shaka raise his eyebrow a bit further.

“Apparently the Goddess sent a messenger, who is waiting for us to gather at the Aries temple before he delivers his message.”

“I see,” Shaka said carefully as he stood up, collecting his cape from where it was draped across a chair and joining Aiolia at the door. “What is the…mood…of this news?” He asked, unsure. He had felt no discernable turbulence recently, but it definitely did not seem likely that Athena would send a messenger, especially a non-Saint messenger, for a reason other than the most serious.

Aiolia shook his head. He obvious had no answer, but shared the same sentiment as Shaka, and neither spoke another word as they hurried towards the Aries temple, seeing the slightly blurry shape of Aldebaran as he walked hurriedly down the path several hundred feet in front of them.

As they approached the temple, Shaka began to hear footsteps from behind them. Milo, he assumed, since he could see the rest of the Gold Saints in front of him.

---
The messenger looked at them for a moment, seemingly counting in his head. “Is this all that will be present?”

Mu nodded. “The numbers here are often fluid. Many of those who spend time here are currently serving our mistress elsewhere.”

“I see.” The messenger said. “Then I will deliver the message. I was asked to read it aloud.”

“Please do.” Milo said, the words slightly short of snippy, and echoing the frustration of all the Saints over the possible contents of Athena’s message.

“I was sent to inform the Saints of Sanctuary that, one week from today, there will be an informal, but planned, gathering at the Main Temple. Presence is required of all there, unless specific permission is given.” The messenger said. When he had finished, the Saints stared at him for a long moment.

“Is that all?” Mu asked incredulously.

“Yes sir.”

Milo held out his hand. “Could I see the letter?”

The messenger passed it too him, and Milo stared at it for a long time, Aiolia and the two Bronze Saints reading over his shoulders with raised eyebrows.

Milo fixed a strange stare on the messenger, who was still waiting to be dismissed.

“Sir, are we to understand that your employer has asked us to go to a party?” He asked skeptically, an interesting combination of anger and glee coming through on his voice.

“I guess so. I was simply told to deliver this…here.” The man said. Shaka smiled at the confusion the man was obviously feeling at having been hired to deliver such a message to five men in gold armor.

“You have performed your task well, sir.” Mu said, apparently searching for the right words. “I thank you.”

“Of course.” The man replied, and turned away to walk back down to where his car was parked. For several moments, the Saints stared at each other, and then Aiolia broke the silence.

“I don’t believe it, but Milo’s right. We have been ordered to attend a party.” If anything, he sounded even more bivalent about the summons that Milo.

“Should we shop for dresses, do you suppose?” Milo asked cuttingly. Aldebaran fixed the Scorpio Saint with a hard stare.

“It is Athena’s prerogative to demand our time as she sees fit.” He said. Milo simply met his stare with an angry glare.

“I understand that, and I have no arguments. I just wish the letter were not so vague.” Milo replied, and most of the Saints behind him murmured agreement.

“It is not vague. You were with us when Athena came to evaluate Sanctuary. She is concerned with our wellbeing.”

Milo said nothing, although Shaka swore he could see a dozen responses begging to be let loose behind the Scorpio Saint’s cold eyes. Shaka shook his head mentally. Milo seemed to be somewhat stuck on his desire for the world to be made up of concrete, straight answers. Milo’s rudeness was not so much directed at the message but at the unexpectedness of the summons. He glanced at Mu, who was watching Milo carefully.

“We are all surprised by this, Scorpio.” The pink-haired man said suddenly. “I’m sure it will be less shocking when we’ve had a few minutes to contemplate the meaning behind this message. As for now, there is much work to be done, as I’m sure you all know – many of you were summoned away from it to hear this message. We should all get back to what we’re supposed to be doing.”

Shaka felt a brief moment of admiration for the Aries Saint, who had brought the present back to reality. The order behind the words was not harsh enough to be taken as an affront, but neither was it light. It was a very strong, inarguable suggestion, and the Saints immediately began to disperse.

Shaka was surprised when the Wolf Saint came to stand before him. “Sir?” The Bronze Saint began hesitantly. Shaka looked at him curiously. “Would you be free to aid me in preparing one of the nearby training areas? I was told to set it up…creatively…but am unsure what to do.”

“Creativity means thinking of things to do.” Shaka remarked, but hurried to continue when Nachi looked crestfallen. “I will of course help you. How far is nearby?”

“The undeveloped part of Sanctuary, sir. Uh,” The young man paused. “When would you be available?”

“I am free now, if you are.” Shaka replied, still slightly amused by the hesitancy the Bronze Saint seemed to be displaying. He seemed rather flighty, especially given the stoic beast he was named after. Maybe the constellation had been given its name by the Omega wolf of its pack. “Please, lead the way.”

Nachi bowed slightly, and hurried forward, Shaka following. He glanced at Mu on the way past, but the Aries Saint was folding up the summons from the Goddess, already turning back towards his temple.

The Aries Saint looked as frightened as Shaka felt and Milo had sounded.
___

Helping the Wolf Saint had taken longer than Shaka had expected, and darkness was already beginning to fall by the time he returned to the Virgo Temple. Most of the Saints had already finished their tasks for today, and Sanctuary was covered with a heavy silence. Nachi had dismissed himself to go spend the night with Aiolia, the Leo Saint supposed to offer profound lessons in whatever profound trait it was that made him strong enough to be a Gold Saint. Shaka imagined it was probably unadulterated stubbornness. The Virgo Saint had no idea what he would say if the Bronze Saints were rotated to him, and in some way hoped that they would be assigned elsewhere before it came to that.

But, it was entirely unlikely that they would, with today’s note. It was most likely the Bronze Saints would remain until the gathering, and Mu and he were the only Saints who had not yet been asked to pass on their wisdom to the new generation.

The gathering. The Wolf Saint had questioned him about it while they had worked, asking why both the Gold and Silver Saints had seem so agitated by the summons. Shaka hadn’t had an answer, and instead responded with a question of his own, asking why Nachi had not been agitated by it. The Wolf Saint had been unable to form a decent response, and they had parted soon after.

Pouring some water from the pitcher on his nightstand, Shaka washed the soil of the day’s work from his hands and face, cringing at the dirt that washed from his body. He had not been aware that he had allowed so much to get on him. Sighing, the blond dried his hands, looking out at the waning day.

As he always did before the day ended, Shaka ran a quick analysis of Sanctuary. He was surprised to still feel Mu’s cosmos emanating from the Aries Temple. Such news as they had been given seemed to be of the type that would have the consequence of Mu fleeing, and yet he was still in Sanctuary. For a few moments, Shaka tried to make himself pretend that he didn’t care; that he was neither interested nor concerned about Mu’s business, but the attempt quickly failed. Sighing deeply, Shaka decided that with all the times Mu had come to visit him, perhaps it was time for him to call on the Aries Saint.

He was no more than halfway between the Taurus and Aries Temples when Mu came to the entrance, watching him with an expression that seemed to indicate that that he was not at all surprised by Shaka’s appearance. He stepped forward when Shaka was within hearing distance.

“Are you here to see the announcement?” He asked, certain that he was correct. Shaka shrugged.

“Why would you think that?\" The Virgo Saint replied.

Mu smiled slightly. “Everyone else has read it at least twice. Taurus and Bear Geki just left, and Aiolia was here earlier today.”

“Why does everyone seem so surprised?” Shaka asked honestly, making sure that he was mentally including himself in everyone.

“I think that half of them expect that we’re all going to be stripped of our titles.”

“And you?”

Mu shrugged. “I think that is a simple attempt by the Goddess to help in our interactions with each other. I believe she is agitated enough by our anonymity, even to other Saints, that she wishes to do something about it.”

Shaka smiled. “And yet you looked fairly pale, when the messenger spoke.”

“I’ve lived, mostly alone, on a mountain for ten years. Even if they are Saints, the concept a large number of people in one place bears little appeal for me.”

“Ah.” Shaka said. “So you’re simply introverted.”

“That,” Mu replied, cocking his head. “And absolutely terrified to think about what Athena might be expecting of us.”

Shaka laughed quietly. Mu looked affronted. “What?”

“Your honesty is so refreshing, and yet strangely naïve. It amuses me.”

Mu was silent for a long moment. “Oh.”

“I mean no insult.” Shaka said hurriedly.

Mu looked at him, expression wry. “I know.” He paused for a moment. “If you aren’t here about our summons, why are you?”

“I am here about it. I’m just not here to read it.”

“I see.” He hesitated again, and Shaka realized that their conversation was getting nowhere quickly. Thinking of something to say, he realized that he really didn’t have anything to say that would progress the conversation. He also realized he probably should have thought about what he planned on saying before entering the Aries Temple. Looking around, his gaze landed on a small corner table, where Mu had laid out some food.

“You were taking supper?” He said, suddenly, “I’m sorry.”

Mu shook his head. “I had not yet begun. For that matter, you’re welcome to stay, if you…want?”

Shaka found the place of hesitancy odd, as though instead of being conflicted about wanting his company, Mu was conflicted about something else, but said nothing.

“If I’m not intruding on your food or time.”

“Firstly, this food belongs to Athena, not me.” Mu said. “Secondly, this is one of those moments when I have absolutely nothing to do other than wait and see if more people have questions about the summons.”

Shaka smiled. “Then I guess I will join you.”

Mu looked oddly relieved. “Thank you. I appreciate your company.”

“You are getting far too appreciative of me.” Shaka said lightly, and was slightly confused at the thick veneer of guilt that seemed to cover Mu’s eyes for a moment before the Aries Saint averted his gaze.

“I admit I find your company enjoyable.” Mu replied, then quickly waved towards the food. “Please take what you want; sit wherever you like. All I have to drink is water.”

“That will be more than enough.” Shaka said, relieved to hear that the pitcher was indeed filled with water. He wanted nothing more than the purifying cleanliness of the beverage to stave off the thirst that his work with the Wolf Saint had brought on. He walked over to the table, deftly catching an empty cup Mu tossed his way. Cocking his head at the meager offerings, Shaka chose a crisp-looking apple and, and cut a large hunk of bread from the half-eaten loaf on the table before stepping back, walking to put a pillar to his back and setting his choices on a ledge beside him. After a moment used to choose his own meal, Mu walked up beside him. For a brief moment, Shaka was surprised at how close Mu was, but then the Aries Saint stepped back and they were no longer close enough for it to be noticeable as odd.

“So, how was working with the Wolf Saint?” Mu asked.

Shaka shook his head. “The boy needed far less help than he thought. It is simply a lack of confidence, rather than creativity and knowledge.”

“He’s young,” Mu said by way of reply. “and has been guided since his training started. Very few of the Bronze Saints were actually asked to think on their own – they were trained to follow orders.”

“I know. I don’t hold it against him. I just feel like it might have been a waste of both our time, since I was only confirming his thoughts.”

“It’s not a waste of time unless the finished product is a failure.” Mu said reflectively.

“Definitely not a failure.” Shaka replied. “It’s actually quite an interesting ground. It is almost an obstacle course without an actual set pattern.”

“Sounds exciting.”

“I imagine that many of the younger Saints will be able to benefit from training on it. Although small, the terrain is utterly unpredictable.”

“Perhaps not only the younger Saints.” Mu said. “I shall have to go see it myself at some point.” He looked reflectively at the pear in his hand, and then back up to Shaka.

“So, what do you think?”

Shaka was unsurprised by the change of topic, nor did he wonder what the topic was changing too.

“I think you’re right. She simply wishes to create more connectivity between the Saints.”

“Do you believe that it will work?”

Shaka thought for a moment, and decided to reply honestly. “No, I think it will make little difference.”

“Is it even needed?” Mu asked.

“Connectivity? I’m not sure.” Shaka said. “I think in many ways we are moving together on our own.”

“I see….then…” The Aries Saint tried several times to get his next thought out, and then turned away, looking out the window.

“What is troubling you so deeply, Mu?” Shaka asked, suddenly concerned.

Mu refused to look at him, and Shaka considered himself lucky to receive an answer: “Do you think that it might be dangerous, to become too connected?”

Shaka froze. His mind read every level of the question and tried to guess which one Mu was asking from. There was only one that he both desired and dreaded, and Shaka was filled with a deep sick feeling as he realized it was almost certainly from that place where the question had come.

“I think very few of us have to worry about such an occurrence.” Shaka said.

“But what about those who do? What if it begins to interfere with thoughts, actions?”

Shaka bit his lip. “We just have to make sure that it does not.”

“I know all of this, Shaka!” Mu suddenly snapped, and the shake in his voice answered every question that Shaka had. Still standing by the window, the Aries Saint turned so that he was half-facing the Virgo Saint, and he was quiet for a very long time.

“Shaka?” He murmured.

‘Yes?” Shaka replied just as quietly.

“What would you do if I started laughing maniacally?” He sounded completely serious.

“Hope that I didn’t get the joke, as insanity is unimaginable in you.”

“What if I did go insane? What if something happened, and I thought something so beyond the realm of reason that it could be categorized in no other place but insanity?”

Shaka paused. He knew what was going on. It would have been far too easy for their roles to be reversed. Had Shaka started the conversation, they would be, and most likely they would be giving each other the same answers. He had to be completely certain, though. “Would you mind telling me what this is about, Mu? I can’t judge without information.”

Mu was shaking his head before the Virgo Saint has even finished. “I cannot.” The look he attached the words was filled with more meaning and sadness than any words alone, though. Shaka winced, and reached out. Mu ducked his head, at the same time reaching up to grab Shaka’s wrist with his own hand, but the angle he was at was poor, and Shaka ended up touching Mu in a manner that seemed more than a caress than anything else. They both froze, and the sound of a clock or anything else could have been heard ticking away in the long moments that they didn’t move. A single slip of the wrist and the stage was set.

Although certainly not the first silence, it counted as the first officially awkward silence between them. The tense stillness of the air grew as they each asked the other for permission to continue whatever had just been started. Although Mu seemed motionless, Shaka was intensely aware that he could feel the Aries Saint’s body trembling underneath his hand. Carefully, Shaka reached up his free hand, undoing Mu’s deathly tight grip on his wrist and tangling their fingers together. Mu simply doubled over further, wrapping his arm around his stomach.

“Tell me, Aries.” Shaka said, surprised that he was able to keep his voice as level as he was.

“I cannot.” Mu repeated. “It’s not allowed.” He looked up suddenly. “Besides, you already know.”

“Do I?”

Mu relaxed the slightest fraction, as he snorted. “By now, I would certainly hope you do.”

Shaka allowed his thumb to caress the line of Mu’s cheekbone; felt the Aries Saint twitch under his hand as he did so. He was vaguely certain that Mu’s desire to laugh maniacally, while a bit exaggerated, wasn’t completely off the mark. The entire situation was well beyond the realm of reason and Shaka was quite certain that he was shaking just as hard as Mu, but the look in the Aries Saint’s eyes was keeping him so focused on the pink-haired man that he couldn’t be sure.

He was intensely aware of the fact that they were pulling closer, the distance between them decreasing. He was unsure who was doing the moving, but the space was definitely closing. Mu’s arm dropped, and then rose again to close around Shaka’s elbow, grasping the blond almost painfully. Shaka bent slightly, pressing his forehead to Mu’s, and they both shuddered at the contact.

“What if we get too connected?” Mu asked again. “What if we keep thinking about each other, about how nice camaraderie is, and how we want to increase that connection?”

“What if we get so connected that we forget that our first relationship is with Athena and the human race?” Shaka continued. He shuddered again, not relinquishing his hold. “It would be a problem, were that to happen.”

“So we should avoid even seeing if it’s possible, should we not?” Mu asked softly. Shaka bit his lip, nodded.

“We should.”

Mu pulled back, his expression both heartbreaking and determined. Shaka forced himself to let the Aries Saint go.

“Thank you for understanding.” He said, stepping back still further. “I should retire, now.”

Shaka didn’t hesitate. He understood everything that had just happened. They had affirmed and denied their relationship completely in the last five minutes. An understanding had been reached and they would never speak of this moment ever again.

“Thank you for dinner. I hope that the others don’t ask to read the summons into the dawn hours.”

“They shouldn’t. I imagine half of them have memorized it by now, anyways.” Mu said, forcing a smile. He trailed behind Shaka to the doorway, eyes never leaving the floor.

“I intend to return to Pamir tomorrow, and then I need to visit the Libra Saint, as I have some questions for him. If you could tell anyone who may ask?”

“I will do that.” Shaka said. “Rest well.”

Mu nodded. Shaka turned, and the Virgo Saint wondered how either of them were going to sleep, with the secret they had just buried laying between them like a millstone.