Fandom: Saint Seiya

Characters: All golden saints, although the chapter is centered on Camus and Milo.

Disclaimer: Saint Seiya and all known characters that appear here are owned by Masami Kurumada.

Warning: Post-Hades Saga.

Italic or italic text are flashbacks or thoughts.

Chapter dedicated especially to my beta Solar Knight Marie, thank you so much for your support all that time.

The beautiful twilight was appreciated from the huge windows in the Patriarch's Hall, shades of bright yellows, intense purples, fiery reds, it was an overwhelming spectacle. Camus felt dizzy, too many colors, sounds, scents.

From the moment he awoke with his fellow members of the golden elite, his mind was opened to sensations in a way he had forgotten, as if he was a child again.

After Athena bade them farewell by covering them with a cosmo blessing , his hardened heart began to intensify his palpitations, coming to a zenith when he was filled with joy when an excited Milo threw himself into his arms without saying a word.

The knight of the eighth house was euphoric; it was noticeable from his huge smile and on his bright blue eyes that were flooded with tears an instant later. The Greek trembled in the arms of his friend, the feeling overwhelming him and he needed an urgent exit: he broke into a bereaved cry.

For Milo it was a revelation the moment when the twelve golds ones stood in front of the Wailing Wall to shine united as a Sun. At that moment he realized that Camus and the other golden had not betrayed their goddess. Sadly they had no time to make peace, until this day that thanks to the goddess they lived.

The heart of Camus was filled with tenderness, drawing a small warm smile, his eyes also became wet, but he could control himself and tried to comfort the Greek. He was only attentive to Milo's sobs and the sweet resonance of their armors.

Camus didn't want to speak because he was sure that he would also burst into tears of joy, of pain, of relief, of gratitude. Milo forgave him for his terrible sins committed against justice, Athena and their friendship.

To distract himself he glanced around the hall and witnessed the stories unfolding with the other knights, the rams, Shion and Mu, along with Aldebaran and Dohko looked ecstatic. Moments before the knight of Libra walked around the place handing out greetings. He observed all kinds of painful, joyful or moving reunions among the knights.

Moments later Aioria greeted them, but the Golden Lion soon separated into the meaningful reunion with his brother. Camus felt a tremor sweep his spine as he heard Aioros' roaring laughter, had so long not heard that sound, it brought back memories of his childhood during the short time he spent in the Sanctuary. The brothers of the houses of Sagittarius and Leo were closely united in a strong and warm embrace.

In a more secluded place, Saga and her twin brother, Kanon, were also together. Then Saga looked at the owner of the armor of Aquarius and, after saying a few words to the ex-Marine, addressed them. As if it was rehearsed, all the golden knights that formerly wore a Sapuri walked towards Virgo Shaka. There was an exchange of greetings and apologies, and Shaka forgave them and assured them there were no hard feelings. He felt as if the weight of the guilt was finally removed from his shoulders.

Starting over was a tiring work, physically and spiritually, but he was willing to strive to be worthy of that divine gift.

As he returns to his best friend's side, the world moves around in a dizzying way, sighing for a moment as he adapts to that rhythm.

"Are you all right?" Milo asks him with a smile.

"Yes...", he doesn't want to lie to his partner, so he continues: "only slightly dizzy"

The blue eyes of the wearer of the Scorpion armor seemed to shine brighter when his singing laughter resounded. Milo puts his arm around his shoulders and the Frenchman appreciates that gesture because another episode of dizziness comes at him.

"I missed you," whispers the Greek, gently wiping away runaway tears.

"Me too, Milo," the Aquarian muttered.

The evening passed with dramatic scenes, painful reunions and continued with delicious sandwiches. Camus hadn't noticed that he was hungry until he took his first bite, which tasted like glory. Milo agreed with him for the way he appreciated loudly every time he ate a portion. They exchanged courteous words with Shura and Aphrodite, who joined them for a while. Deathmask, who accompanied them, looked a little tense, but was still included in the talk.

Milo realized that the Aquarian treated them with more gentleness than he used to in this kind of gentlemanly socialization. The promise was made to follow his example, but it would be another day. For the Greek it was a subtle and delicate task, it shouldn't be a radical change, because it would label him as hypocritical or false.

The atmosphere in the living room fell into a sudden calm. The Knights were satisfied by the consumption of comforting food and drinks, something they had forgotten to enjoy, by the workouts, the missions, the sense of imminent danger from remote times, even before the birth of all of them. It was discovering a new world.

After several minutes, the calm was interrupted by the shout of a cheerful Aioros, who started a Greek song and Milo joined the choir with applauses and dances together with the Taurus knight and Dohko.

The evening ended with a crack of earthenware crashing on the floor, a repentant Sagittarian, a cheerful Milo and an Aquarian who felt optimistic for the future that awaits them.

On the way to their respective temples, in front of the Pisces' Garden of Roses, a voice was heard asking them to wait for him. It was Camus' student, Cygnus Knight Hyoga.

Then the blond boy came to them and as he stood before his master, Camus saw the Cygnus knight falter and noticed that the boy wanted to hug him. The Aquarian took pity on the teenager and invited him with open arms. The blonde rushed to him immediately.

The saint of Aquarius felt that his heart was filled with various emotions: relief at seeing him again, pride at having witnessed his courage as a warrior, and sadness at not being able to understand him before.

At that moment Camus broke into a silent cry, which was only evident in the torrent of tears that pierced his cheeks and in the tremor of his body.

Milo was moved when seeing this scene and was about to cry again, but he caught his breath and calmed down. He stroked the blonde hair as a gesture of comfort and laughed at the young man. Before moving a few steps to give them some privacy, he put a strong grip on his best friend's shoulder.

When they got together again, they went down the steps of the Sanctuary. In the eleventh temple they went to the pantry, because Milo had invited him to Rodorio to get food if there wasn't enough in their homes. Confirming that there was normal provisioning, Milo invited Camus to his temple for a drink, and the Frenchman accepted.

"Good night, master, Milo", the knight of Cygnus bends in farewell and heads to rest in one of the guest rooms of the temple of Aquarius. They wished him a good rest and left the temple.

The friends crossed the temples of Capricorn and Sagittarius that were empty.

Camus recalled when he, Saga and Shura walked the same stairs in the opposite direction, it seemed like it was a long time ago.

In the limited time that they were in the underworld, Camus had the opportunity to talk with his were determined to even simulate treason. Each of their souls would be a sacrifice, they were aware that eternal damnation was near.

It was the right price to compensate for the damage he had caused during the raid of the bronze knights, including his beloved pupil. The pain in his heart he can bear with a mask of indifference on his face, it was something habitual in him, while carrying out one last mission.

Before he began it he confided them something that confused him, that if he had a powerful reason to appear to be the enemy, that was the protection of Athena, which is the main purpose of being a golden knight. Why was he frustrated?

Saga asked him if he had doubts or fear of executing Shion's orders, when the Aquarian denied those reasons, the Gemini knight thought that if it was the possibility of meeting the remaining golden knights, then what happened to him was that he wouldn't have time to redeem themselves in the eyes of their companions, in the case of Camus before Milo and Hyoga, mainly.

Camus was a perfectionist and needed a conclusion. He needed to close the circle that was his past life. And they had the minutes counted.

In the eighth temple of the Sanctuary the Greek serves the wine in glasses that he found in his cupboard.

They talked for a long time about what had happened with their companions during the few hours they had spent in the great hall of the Temple of the Patriarch.

They consider it an interesting evening, with moving, exciting and funny moments. At the end they agreed that Aioros is a celebrity inside and outside the Sanctuary.

The conversation is interrupted naturally, while they continue to enjoy the wine.

The pause in the conversation lengthens and Milo waits, the lesson he learned was well assimilated, he must be patient with himself and with others. Stop judging before acting.

Camus seems to hesitate to speak, and Milo waits with a sweet lull.

The Frenchman considers that Milo had always advised him wisely. That was of great value equally to the scorpion, because it made him feel appreciated by Camus.

"What troubles you, Camus?" inquires the Greek after his friend sighed deeply.

Although Camus is not in the habit of speaking much, even in the company of his best friend, Milo's intuition regarding the silence of the Aquarian knight is always correct, especially when nothing predisposes or distracts the guardian of the eighth house.

"Milo, do you consider it prudent that I continue to be Hyoga's teacher?" inquires the French.

After thinking a little, the Greek replies: "Camus, Athena herself gave us back our lives. I think that speaks volumes to her generosity, but also to the fact that we are worthy of it. All without exception, "explains the scorpion. "The Sanctuary would lose a good teacher if you quit. Besides, I don't think anyone else can take this much drama with Hyoga", he says at the end.

"Thank you, Milo", replies the Knight of the eleventh house, trying to hide, without succeeding, a smile, "you're still the same", rational and somewhat cruel.

Milo only gives him a smile that many magazine cover models would envy.

The Knight of Scorpio seems not to remember the scene they starred in when he helped Camus to appear before the goddess Athena before disappearing with the first rays of the sun that terrible night that brought them back to life for a few hours.

The next morning begins with Camus getting up early to the noise of thunder, making a coffee and checking that Hyoga is still sleeping, heading to the bathroom to take a shower.

He interrupts his plans because someone outside his temple asks permission to pass. It is Aphrodite of Pisces, who holds in his arms a huge bouquet of white roses, but they aren't of the roses he has in his garden, they are different. The Knight from Pisces explained to him that they were of the variety Sugar Moon when Camus asked him for its name. They talked for a moment before saying goodbye and thanking him for the gift, the Swede didn't accept the invitation made by the Frenchman to come and have a coffee, excusing himself in a hurry.

Camus understands that Aphrodite is making an effort to start this new life with something positive. The Aquarian plans to return the detail with another gift, or it could be a meeting for lunch or dinner. Before inviting the saint of the twelfth house he will plan the occasion well and ask Milo if he also wishes to accompany them.

He found a vase in the living room to put the flowers and pour water from the tap. He once read that to keep the roses fresh the water must be cold: he emits with his hands at the base of the vase some of his cosmo to cool the liquid and places the bouquet. He contemplates it for a few moments and enjoys the aroma and beauty of the floral bouquet.

In the shower, with the cold water to calm down after surviving the tidal wave of emotions of the night before, it was raining outside and the sky had not cleared.

Beneath the curtain of water, tapping softly on his raised face, with his eyes closed, Camus felt his heart swell with joy, felt every inch of his skin react to the icy temperature. Always, since he was a child, he liked to take cold showers; the feeling of well-being that it provoked him fascinated him. His mouth drew a faint smile, took in air that filled his lungs and closed the faucet to cut off the flow of water bit by bit.

He thanked his Goddess wholeheartedly for the gift he gave them the day before, because he recovered Milo and Hyoga, for returning to the Sanctuary, for enjoying life now.

As he felt the water slipping through his body, warm drops flowing from the bottom of his soul slid down his cheeks and the face of the Aquarian knight became a portrait of happiness.

THE END

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A.N. I want to thank to my beta reader Solar Knight Marie for her time and work in this fanfic. Finally! It's the end. Excuse me for the delay and the short chapter. I haven't updated it for over a year. I hadn't written a fic with so many chapters, it took me years, literally, but I finished it. I hope you liked it and left me your comments, congratulations or reviews. (That the last scene is Camus naked in the shower has me laughing, but so it was, it is dedicated with much affection for his fans LOL)

Thank you for your support, for following or subscribing to the fic.

It was a project I didn't want to abandon and here it is. I hope I haven't disappointed you.

The publication of this chapter, which signifies the conclusion of this fic was due mainly because during the time I didn't update my motivation was that I received favorites, comments and compliments. That is why it's very important that you dedicate some words or support the writers, it's very gratifying to see that your work likes someone else.

See you next time!

XOXO,

Aby

PS: I couldn't include the scene where Aphrodite gives the flowers to Milo, but my intention was for the Swede to give him some red roses of the variety called Drop Dead Red, forming a bouquet with other flowers of the same color as Milo's eyes.