Disclaimer: I do not own Saint Seiya, nor do I own any of the Saints themselves (unless you count the ones sitting on my bookself).

Author's Notes: I started writing this story over a year ago, long before I wrote Nigh Solace or started the Second Chances anthology. I've added to it over time, accumulating several pages worth of writing and all the while telling myself I wasn't going to put it up because 1) I wasn't confident in my skills as a Saint Seiya writer and 2) I didn't want to have more than one multi-chapter fic at a time. Well, I've basically decided that this is *silly*. So, here it is - my ultimate tribute to the Gold Saints, End of Innocence. I hope everyone who reads it enjoys it. ^.^ Quite a bit is written already in rough drafts, and as I'll be posting additional chapters as I polish and adjust them.

As per the usual, thank you to my wonderful beta Teakwood, who I am slowly but surely corrupting with bishounen Saints and their ilk. And, as always, please read and review. ^.^

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

End of Innocence

Aquarius, Part One

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

The young boy stood before the sprawling fields, orchards, and stone and wood buildings, his eyes slightly wide in amazement as he took in all that he could see. The clear blue sky, the stretched out green fields, the warm sun overheard – all of it was a far cry from the snowy tundra of the Siberian cold that he had spent the majority of his young years in.

Beyond the fields, orchards, and groves stood the training grounds, and he took a moment to drink in the sight of the illustrious Coliseum of Sanctuary. He'd seen it only in pictures; the thought of actually getting to train in such a place sent a rush through his veins. Other training grounds peeked out from the distance, teasing him with he could see. He knew, just from his lessons, that there were half a dozen other landmarks that he simply couldn't make out from the hill he stood upon, but it was the final point, standing further beyond in the distance, that caught and held his attention the moment his eyes focused upon them.

The temples of the Gold Zodiac. In their size and illustrious design he could see them clearly, standing out among the ridges, peaks, and slopes of the mountains in the backdrop. Their path would wind up through the mountainside, he knew – beginning with the Temple of Aries and ending with the Temple of Pisces before reaching the Kyoko's Chamber and Athena's Colossus. Not all the temples were visible from where he stood, some of them hidden by others from view, but he knew they were there. The homes of the twelve Gold Saints, defenders of Athena and guardians of Sanctuary itself.

His heart gave a nervous thud within his chest. He was here. He was finally here.

"Wow! It's bigger than I remember!"

Startled out of his reverie, the youth turned to his left. He found a boy about his own age standing next to him, shaggy blue-violet hair trailing down his back with nothing securing it, wearing clothing of traditional Greek design – which reminded him that he was going to need to invest in some lighter clothing to keep from overheating in the Mediterranean climate. Wearing his heavy furred tunic, pants, and boots, he felt decidedly overdressed and out of place.

The new arrival didn't seem to notice his odd dress, however, his gaze instead fixed on the same setting that he'd been taking in only minutes before. "Amazing," the boy said with a touch of awe. "It's only been a couple of years since the last time I was here, but you'd think that it'd seem smaller as I got bigger, right? But it doesn't."

"You've… been here before?" he couldn't help asking. He hadn't. He'd been taken from his family in France and brought to Siberia at a young age, but had never actually laid eyes on the Sanctuary until now.

"Sure. I trained over on Milos Island, right in the area, so my master brought me here a couple of times." The youth flashed him a grin. "This your first time? Pretty impressive, right? Where do you train? What's your name? What brings you here? How old are you?" The rapid-fire surge of questions threatened to overwhelm the other, blue eyes widening.

"I, ah…" Which to answer first? He was pretty certain he'd never met anyone with the capacity to talk so quickly before. "Siberia…I trained in Siberia. My, ah, my master brought me…my name is –"

"Camus!" The gentle, yet authoritative, voice of his master rang out from further ahead on the path, the Russian accent making him sound gruffer than he really was. "It is time! Come along!"

"Ah – my master," Camus said, looking at the other boy. "I must go, I've loitered too long."

The boy's expression drooped with disappointment. "Oh, all right." Then he perked up again. "Maybe we'll see each other again. I've never been to Siberia. I'd love to hear more about it. Is it really as cold as they say it is? I hear there's snow all year long up there!"

Camus opened his mouth, feeling himself grow flustered, but the insistent tone of his master saved him. "I'm sorry," he stammered out, "I have to go." Without giving the boy another chance to start a new barrage, he hurried along the path ahead of them.

"Don't forget to find me before you leave!" the boy called behind him. "Promise!"

Camus lifted his hand in a noncommittal wave and didn't look behind him. The truth was that the chance of him running into the boy again was slim. The boy, after all, was only a visitor and would likely return to his training ground once his own master had finished his business at Sanctuary. Camus, however, would not be returning to Siberia any time soon.

For it was Camus, not his master, who had been summoned to Sanctuary – for the highest of honors, and one that would change his life forever.

It was incredibly unlikely that he would ever meet the boy again.

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

Although the Kyoko's Chambers were located at the top of Sanctuary, few Saints were permitted access to those secluded rooms. Instead, the Kyoko held his audiences at the base of the mountain in a large antechamber, and it was to here that Camus' master escorted him. The young boy's heart pounded with nervous anticipation. He'd been preparing for this for years, but somehow he'd always felt as if it would still be years off. When he was twelve, perhaps. Or thirteen.

Not six years old.

With his master's hand resting lightly on his shoulder, two armed guards escorted them into the large antechamber, and Camus' heart quickened in one-two time. Seated at the far end of the room was a man whose mere presence commanded attention and respect, despite the obsidian mask that he wore to conceal his face. The Kyoko of Sanctuary, former Aries Saint of Athena, survivor of the Holy War of the 18th Century – Kyoko Shion.

His master stopped, and Camus halted, immediately looking up at him with wide eyes. The older Saint motioned for him to go forward – he was not permitted to advance. Only Camus could go forward now.

Tentatively the youth walked along the carpeted path, and as he drew closer he realized that he was not the only Saint trainee in the room. Already kneeling before the Kyoko were two more boys near his age; one had long blonde hair that trailed down his back near to his waist, the other short sandy locks. Neither boy looked intimidating in their own right – Camus knew he didn't – and yet…yet there was a presence about them that drew his eyes to them.

He didn't realize that he'd stopped walking to stare at the two boys until a throat was cleared, and a slightly muffled voice that spoke with gentle amusement said, "You may come forward, young Camus."

A flush struck Camus' cheeks when he realized that the Kyoko himself was speaking to him, and he hurried gracelessly to cover the last feet and kneel alongside the other two. He resisted the urge to glance at them and get a better look. The sandy-haired boy fidgeted alongside him, as if fighting that same urge and having less success; the blonde seemed not to react in the slightest.

A silence fell over the chamber, and though they were hidden behind the mask, Camus could feel the Kyoko's eyes upon the three of them. His mouth dry with nervousness, he waited anxiously to see what would happen next. What if…what if he wasn't found worthy? What if, upon seeing him, Kyoko Shion determined that he couldn't possibly be up to the task set before him? Camus knew he was destined to be a Saint, but…to be given such an honor at his age was unheard of.

"Welcome to Sanctuary," Shion said. "Raise your heads – there is no need to keep your eyes lowered. I was in the same position as you, once."

Tentatively Camus looked up, and saw that the other two boys had done the same – though to his surprise, the blonde still had his eyes closed despite the lifting of his head. The only other person Camus had ever known who did so was a blind man in the village he and his master lived in, but he didn't sense the same handicap from this youth. No one else seemed to find it odd, however, and he dismissed it from his thoughts. There were more important things to attend to.

He turned his attention back to Shion.

"The three of you," Shion said, looking at them, "have been chosen for a very specific and special duty. I'm sure you have all wondered at how you could possibly be called to such a task at your ages – and it is true that I would rather have waited until you were older and more trained before bringing you before me. But destiny and fate move to their own beat, and I am afraid we no longer have the luxury of time. The stars have foretold that our Goddess with soon return among us, and we must be ready."

He paused and turned his head slightly to the side. "Saga. Where is Aolios?"

From beside the Kyoko's throne stepped a teenage boy dressed in a simple lavender tunic and dark breeches, and yet for the all the simplicity of the design the garbs were obviously made of the finest materials. Hair of midnight blue hung loose around his shoulders, cobalt eyes briefly glancing at the three boys before turning their attention to the Kyoko. "He was aware that we were summoned here, Kyoko Shion," Saga said respectfully. "I don't know what would be keeping him. Would you like me to find him?"

"No… I suppose we can continue without him. I don't want to keep these three waiting like this much longer, I imagine their nerves are already frayed." He chuckled softly, and Camus blushed at the Kyoko's words. At the same time he found himself marveling – here was the Kyoko, the leader of Sanctuary in Athena's absence, and he was speaking before them as if they were his equals! Camus' master had drilled respect into him when preparing for the meeting with the Kyoko, and Camus had expected a stern, solemn man. The sandy-haired boy seemed to be fighting back a smile – at the mention of this Aiolos, his eyes had lit up.

Shion turned back to them, and just as he did, the doors to the chambers opened with a bang and caused everyone – Kyoko included – to jump in surprise. The guards immediately reached for their weapons, but just as quickly relaxed as two figures came into the hall. One of them was much smaller than the other, and being dragged along by his arm. The other, a tall youth of about Saga's age with short, windswept dark brown hair and a tanned complexion, was striding purposefully towards them.

Still holding his captive, he paused behind the three and lowered himself in a brief bow. "Forgive me for being late, Kyoko," he said. "I was on my way here when I found this one," he tugged on the arm, "sneaking around. It took me awhile to figure out where he was supposed to be. Seems he ditched his master and decided to explore on his own."

The boy scowled. "I was just looking around," he said defensively, and Camus reacted before he could stop himself, twisting around to stare at the boy – and instantly recognized him as the boy from earlier. Sneaking around Sanctuary without his master? Such audacity – Camus couldn't believe he'd dared. He braced himself for the reprimand that he was sure to come.

Instead the Kyoko merely fixed his gaze upon the boy. "Thank you, Aiolos," Shion said. "You may take your place alongside Saga."

Aiolos (so this was Aiolos) nodded and released the boy's arm, fixing him with a stern look before moving to stand alongside the other teen. Camus eyed the boy, watching as he stood fidgeting, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Clearly he knew that he had overstepped boundaries he shouldn't have, but was unsure of what the Kyoko's response would be.

The Kyoko looked at him for a silent length of time before finally speaking. "Your name, child?"

The boy looked at him sheepishly. "Milo," he said, and then hastily added, "Kyoko. Sir."

The sandy-haired youth glanced in Aiolos' direction and bit his lip as he tried to hold back laughter.

"Take a knee, young Milo." Hesitantly Milo stepped forward to do the same, next to Camus and at the end of the line. Camus waited for Shion to finish with him, send him on his way, and continue.

Instead Shion rose to his feet and stepped down from his dais, coming to stand before them. Starting with the blonde and working his way down the row, he placed his hand upon each of their heads. "Virgo Shaka," he said to the blonde. "Leo Aiolia," to the sandy-haired youth. "Aquarius Camus." Here, his hand upon Camus' own head. "And Scorpio Milo." Much to Camus' utter shock, a hand upon the head of the abrasive youth beside him.

Shion stepped back and looked at them fully. "Rise before me, Gold Saints of Athena. Welcome to Sanctuary."