Selene Pais

Selene Pais


Note: People haven't been reviewing lately, you should because this is what happens when you don't. I get all depressed and my chapters take forever to come out. The more you review the more we writters will be red red on to update.

More Note: People have been asking me for a sketch of Toa, so here it is. I didn't color it all the way because it seemed pretty enough. The scanner made it rather bright but hey, like I care, besides it gives it a nice soft look. And yes that's not the best picture I've ever drawn.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/Hiso-chan/Toa.jpg

Chapter Eta

Her hand, it was so cold as it cupped his face. The warmth that should have been there had been long since sapped as her lungs fought to keep breath with in them. That smile, so innocent and pure. He placed his hand over hers finding it hard to utter the words that he wanted to. He did not want to leave her alone, but he had to. Their famly was so poor and the master of Sanctuary said that he would take care of his family if he had agreed to under go training to become the next gold saint of Aquarius. At first he was going to refuse the offer but when he saw her tinny ribs sticking out, her skin caressing her bones he had no choice but to agree. Ever since then he had never seen her face to face, but he was granted the ability to write letters that a aparticular messanger would deliver and letters from her would be given to him. They where his life line after he had found out that his parents had parish in a bout of polio that had spread through the French country side that they had lived in. Toa, so strong, she could always managesmilsmile in times of hardship. She had the unnatural ability to accept things as they were and were to be. Ever since their parents had died, only a year after he had left, she had been alone. From time to time she was forced to steal food and hide away, but when the Pope's men had found her they had taken her in, fed her well and clothed her. They home schooled her teaching her many things including a few tricks to be able to protect herself. Camus recalled a time when the messanger even showed him a picture of her all prettied up and dressed in a beautiful maid's dress. It was the first day of her first job and the messanger flaunted the picture as if she was his own daughter. He could understand that, because every word she had written to him touched him. She was a special person and whom ever came in contact either fell in love with that aspect of her or they be came painfully jealous.

Running his knuckles over her cheek he was surprised when one of his tears trickled down to shatter on her exposed forarm and trail down to her inner elbow. He had heard her heart machine flat line three times that night and if he heard it one more time he was sure she would not be able to make it and his world would end.

"Camus," she breathed through her nose as her eyes glistened. "You've... grown to be so handsome."

"What are you talking about?" he managed to force a smile for his little sister. "We pratically look like twins."

She ran her thumb over his lips, the dip between lip and chin, then up to his nose like a blind person. "Your nose... it's cute."

"It's puggy."

"I'm dying, humor me."

"You're not dying. Mom and Dad won't let you leave me by myself," he sniffled a little fighting back more tears that threatened to spill. "And we haven't seen each other in fourteen years and this is all you can say?"

She smiled softly her breath shortening, "I still have your letters." Closing her eyes her voice softened, "I was in the middle of writting you again when Shun-chan got into trouble... Camus... Please help Shun-chan."

"I will," he petted her red bangs back. "I will, but in return promise me you'll get better. I-I still need you to write me letters, we need to hang out, and what about Ikki? You said you would try to ask him out? Damn it, I want nieces and nephews."

Toa gave a small sound as she drifted off, "Don't worry... Mom and Dad won't let me die, like you said... They said that they're proud of you."

Camus felt his hands shake as she fell back to sleep, her heart and lung monitors signalling that she was fine. Nevertheless, seeing her in such a state tore at him. Leaning over he placed a tender kiss on her forehead as tears spotted her skin. Patting her hand he slowly pulled himself up onto his feet and with much hesitation he let go. Her hand that was holding his still clutched onto his thumb. Looking down he shook his head as a silent 'no' played on his lips. When looking back at her, he could only remember the day he had to leave. She wasn't well enough to leave her bed, her face nothing but skin and bones as she cried and wailed for him to stay by her side. Saying that she didn't want to be alone when she died. Covering his mouth with his hand he tried to gently pull his hand away but her grip held tight. "Please... Toa, let go. I'll be back... I promise," he whispered as he pulled her hand away from his, tucking it comfotably by her side. Swiftly stepping out of the hospital room he pulled a handkerchief from his coat pocket and rubbed at his eyes, he could hear the steps of Ikki warrily coming closer. The solitary saint may try to put up the front that he had no feelings for anyone besides Shun but an elder brother always knew.

"How... is she?" Ikki's voice was rather meek.

"She'll be okay, she's not weak," he managed to reclaim his calm poise. Turning around he looked the youth in the eye, "But she said something strange."

"What?"

"She asked me to help your brother. Do you have any idea of what she meant?"

Ikki's dark eyes looked to the side, the frustration of not being able to help neither Shun nor Toa still flaired with in him. He didn't want to tell Camus all for the soul purpose that he would be ag fog for help, that he would be admitting to this weakness. A hand suddenly gripped the front of his shirt. With a stern shake he was brought to the attention of a rather irate Aquarius saint. His eyes narrowed dangerously and he pulled the man closer to whisper into his ear.

"I understand that you have pride, but it's getting in the way. My dying si had had just requested something of me and I shall fulfill her request," he roughly let go of Ikki, causing him to stumble back a step. "Tell me what has been going on... Now!"

The black haired youth growled not liking to be treated the way that he was. But the only thing he could do now was help Shun as mus as he could.

"Before I say anything, what garuntee do you have that you could help him?"

"..... I have none, only the reassurance that Shaka hand the fortunate timing of picking up on a strange spiritual fluctuation around Shun when meditating," Camus turned his back on his compnaion, wrapping his arms around as if to hold himself, he closed his eyes. There was a bizzar feeling that wove through the ari that reminded him of his parents. He gave a sigh and continued. "Shaka... is trying to keep an eye on him but there is something very... wrong."

"Shaka is being blocked."

The redhead looked over his shoulder. Ikki was always smart, that's what made him dangerous. He wouldn't have all the power that he wields if he wasn't adaptible, intellegent. "Yes... he is. Now then, I suggest that the best corse of action would be for us to find out if there is a way for Shaka to break through what ever is barring your brother from the rest of us. But in order to accoplish that I need you to tell me what has happened."

"Very well."

While Ikki explained what he had experianced and had been told the two had left the hospital. Camus had given the nurses strict orders that if something happened then to tell Seiya who would know how to find him. The little twits threw a fit for a while until he made it clear that would be the only way to contact him due to his lack of cell phone ownership. Once they were out on the streets Camus stuffed his hands into his pockets, his red eyes darting around catching glimpses of his surroundings as they traveled by foot. When Phoenix got to the point of telling about Shun's assult that messed up his legs they found themselves at an all night fast food joint.

"Why are we here?" he paused out side of it.

"Because I'm starved and I need to think."

"You of all people... use the word starved?"

"So? What's it to ya?" he gripped after ordering. "Just keep talking."

Once finished eating and the story was done Camus calmly placed down his drink. Ikki was obverting his gaze and looking out the window that they had been sitting next to. The more he thought about it or talked about it the more it sounded crazy. He expected some priest from a Cathlic school or church to just come out of no where and tell him stuff like, 'It shall be okay my son, god watches over you and loves you' and useless stuff like that. From all his experiances in life he could tell you one sure thing, there was no god. Athena and her little family was the closest you could get and he still considered them to be nothing more than people with extremely powerful cosmos, nothing more nothing less.

"Well... so far it sounds like someone with a serious hate for your little brother is targeting him," Camus spoke up.

"But who would hate him? I mean, come on he's SHUN of all people!"

"You don't need to shout, I know it seems odd that someone other than yourself would target him."

"Thanks for digging up unwanted memories."

"Look my point is that it takes a lot to hate the little guy. One ha be be naturally hateful or practically brain washed in order to do it. And from what you've told me I think we've got a classic case of 'I sold my soul to the devil in order to get vengance'."

Ikki looked at the man like he was crazy. This kind of nonesence coming from a gold saint? What kind of messed up thing will come next?

"Don't give me that look," Aquarious swatted the boy across from him. The bronze saint rubbed his sore spot woundering if that was why Hyogs sos soft on the eyes. If he looked any other way to his master he would get beaten for it. Or did Hyoga just look at this guy like his father, now wait that was the Crystal Saint. Come to think of it, by the sexual pattern that Ikki had seen the Russian display did that mean that the Crystal Saint and Camus had something going on there?

"Are you listening to me?!"

Ikki's body tensed right before he was swatted again. Okay, Camus could have a temper, he had to watch himself around this one. He rubbed his sore spot again looking at his companion in distain.

"Repeat yourself... please," Ikki mannaged to ground out the last word with much effort. Currently his pride was making him want to Demon fist the guy across the table.

Camus sighed, "I said that my parents where part of a Catholic church, my father was a priest there and my mother... well she was supposed to be Nun but you see how that turned out. Back on topic. From what I was taught from my father was that there are... things, that we usually mistake for the devil."

"You're really considering this whole 'dude sold his soul' thing aren't you?"

"Can't help it, all evidence point to it."

"You're seriously whacked."

Camus held up his hand as if to swat him once more causing the man to shut his mouth, "Thank you. Now then, as I was saying. People will mistake certain creatures for the devil. These creatures are what we know as demons that are just extera powerful. Most the time there must be some kind of packt that allows the human to wield the demon's power. From what I was taught each area of the world have their own kinds of demons, like races. Each 'race' has their own rules when it comes to a packt, but all must have a physical manufistaion."

"So... basicly we find whatever this manufistation is and break it, then Shun will be in the clear?"

"No, but you're getting it. We find the manuftiontion and get rid of it, the human who is targetting Shun must be dealt with while Shaka can take care of the demon."

"What's causing Shaka to not 86 this demon?"

"The packt, it's very strong when active. Think about it, it's the whole two is stronger than one kind of thing."

"Good point. So... now all we have to do is find out who is doing this to him."

"No."

"What?!"

"We need to find the item of the packt, once we do, we'll find both the human and the demon. Problem is... where do we start?"

"Wait!" Ikki stoodpushpushing his chair back as a thought just dawned on him, "Before this all started there was a woman, a shinto shrin maiden that told Shun something. She said that he would be the end."

"Then our search starts with her," Camus stood up with a half smile. The last time he was on a ghost hunt was when he was five, this was going to be fun.

To Be continued...