Saint Seiya: The Legend of Seiya

71 - Saori Kido

Silence.

The ceiling moving subtly through the clear water. A deep silence.

Suspended animation. A state of bliss.

With her eyes closed, it was as if she existed anywhere else.

When she reopened her eyes, she could again see the dark ceiling by the crystalline water that subtly shifted shapes.

She lifted her torso out of the water, finally letting it run all over her face and took a deep breath taking in the air again.

The audible beeps could be heard in the distance. She sighed and finally got up from the hot tub to wrap herself in a towel.

With wet and bare feet, she walked out into a makeshift bedroom suite where Alice was waiting. Saori dried off her body and wrapped her hair in the towel.

"About time." Alice commented, pulling a face from Saori. "Sit down."

Saori sat on a stool in front of Alice, who brushed open her long hair with a brush. It had been three weeks since the battle had ended and the kids were still sunk in that deep coma.

"How did you manage to heat the water?"

"With some creativity. I used the generator in an unconventional way." Alice replied.

"It was great."

"I know."

And she gently brushed her long wet hair. Alice knew that Saori was tired and busied herself with being silent, so that she would have a few minutes of peace; but like a curse or torture, the repeated beeps from the second floor would never let her forget her pain.

"What are people talking about?" asked Saori, finally.

"About you?"

"Yea."

"They talk about Athena. That doesn't leave this house." she said.

Saori didn't answer and Alice continued:

"It seems there are Saints and Soldiers who still don't trust you."

Saori was silent. She had given up her position at the Graad Foundation, but neither had she taken her place as the Goddess Athena. Mainly for the ancient inhabitants of Rodorio, who were so used to the rigidity of the Sanctuary's rites and customs. Among the forces of the Sanctuary, it was not rare for soldiers who even doubted that she was even the Goddess Athena, after all it was unthinkable that Athena could be anywhere other than her Temple. Never mixed with them. Much less living among them.

"I don't know if I care." said Saori. "Should I care?"

Alice stopped brushing for a moment, as if trying to find the best way to tell her.

"Well, you are the Goddess Athena, aren't you?" she finally said. "Maybe you should. But I'm biased on this, as far as I'm concerned you should flee this terrible place and go live on the beach."

"Are you going to prepare my baths on the beach too?" asked Saori, and it was Alice's turn to look very embarrassed.

Saori then pulled her friend's left hand to take hers and let her head hang lovingly on her arm. Alice stopped combing her hair and stroked her face; she tried to be the rock beside Saori, but it tore her chest that she was so sad, so confused.

"I just need some time." finally spoke Saori, not knowing if she needed time to go to the beach or to be the Goddess Athena.

"Your time or their time?" Alice asked, pointing to the ceiling, for on the second floor of that house were the five bodies that worried her so much.