AN: Italics is used as follows: Communication through "Cosmos" and 'thoughts'. Feel free to comment on what you would like to see
Mu was teaching Kiki how to mix stardust sand into a small amount of blood to repair parts of the Aries Cloth. Kiki was concentrating on not dumping too much into the small amount of his master's blood. Shion was still asleep on a mat near the two, his brow furrowed as a nightmare found him.
"Gently, Kiki. That's it. Now you need to mix in a little of the broken bits of orihalcon. Do you remember which one that is?" Mu, ever the gentle teacher, inquired. Kiki nodded enthusiastically as he put the extra stardust sand into the bag Master Mu used.
"It's the hard one that's almost indestructible! I can't wait to learn how to mold it with my cosmos!" Kiki bounced up and down, clapping his hands together excitedly. He looked over to Shion. "Grand Master Shion looks like he needs to poo!"
Mu ruffled his student's hair, reaching out with his cosmos to try to soothe his Master. A cosmos entered the temple, dancing with Shion's cosmos at the exact moment Mu had done so. The cosmos felt old and fiery. Master Dohko was here. The Old Master walked right up to Shion and flicked his head.
"Wake up, old man. I brought the special tea and I need to say something to your face." Dohko spoke to Shion the same way he always had. Honest and to the point. His tone was harsher than he had meant but his cosmos was soft as it wrapped around Shion, both cosmos singing in joy. Shion hummed quietly for a second.
"No. It's time to wake up!" Dohko picked Shion up and placed him in a sitting position. He then produced from his basket four tea cups, a bunch of food, and a tea pot that he started to boil with his cosmos. Shion blearily opened his eyes and smiled a little bit at Dohko. Dohko snorted.
"You are never going to be a morning person, are you?" Dohko's cosmos conveyed.
"Why would I ever want to wake up before noon if at all possible?" Shion was so tired.
"Food and tea first." Dohko assembled Shion's portion, not a lot of food but Shion had always had a hard time eating. Mu frowned at the small portion, glancing at Shion. Shion had his head resting on Dohko's shoulder, much too tired to actually eat. Dohko seemed to know what Shion was thinking, only speaking out loud for Mu and Kiki to understand.
"What do you remember?"
"Not much. I know we fought. I know it's been a couple hundred years since the crusade we lost our friends to but I can't grasp the memories." Shion yawned, Dohko feeding him small bits of the food. They had done this countless times before their duties separated them. Dohko couldn't help the sadness he felt. They were never meant to be apart. He had caused Shion so much pain and sorrow. He knew that Shion wouldn't remember and it brought him a sense of guilty joy. He and Shion could court again if Mu gave permission. It was so weird for Dohko as he was physically around 13 also and Shiryu was his legal guardian even though Dohko and Shion were almost 300 years old. Shion opened his mouth to say something but Dohko placed more food in his mouth.
"How much longer until you're awake enough for the serious talk?" Dohko stated. Shion tried to pick up the tea cup but missed. Dohko brought it to Shion's lips, making sure he didn't burn his tongue on the hot tea. The blend was soothing, a special mix Dohko had make just for him after they had started to court the first time around. Mu raised an eyebrow at Dohko. Shion nodded that it was time to start talking.
"I am sorry for what I did to you, Shion. I know I caused you immense pain. I want to make up for that. With Mu's consent, I'd also like to court you again in this time of peace." Dohko paused, watching Shion's brow furrow. Mu thought about it for a few minutes.
"What does Shiryu say?" Mu asked, thoughtful as he evaluated Shion's mental health and found that his Master was not ready for any type of relationship yet.
"That I would have to ask you for clearance and I could start courting at 18." Dohko was embarrassed to admit it but Shiryu took the role of guardian seriously and Dohko didn't help his case as he behaved like a child at times. It seemed that Mu took his role just as seriously.
"Shion, Dohko, I do think that you are too young and need some time to heal from all the heartache and abuses you suffered before you court each other. That being said, when the time is right, I have no problem with it." Mu noticed that Shion looked relieved with what had just been said. It appeared as if the hurts and abuses suffered in the name of Palla Athena and Sanctuary ran much deeper than anyone of this generation would ever know. Perhaps Saga or Kanon knew what had transpired. Dohko and Shion just coexisted with Kiki on Shion's other side as Mu set about finding the two Gemini Saints.