ஜ 1st Rise of the Phoenix ஜ

[uccellodifuoco.livejournal.com]

[There's a man walking through the Astral Plane today. His steps are firm and decided as he moves forward, giving his surroundings just a brief glare as he goes. It almost seems as if he knows where he's going... But he doesn't. The time travel must have had a side effect, or he has indeed fallen into a trap set by Chronos. He can barely remember where he was when he noticed the shop and entered it for the first time, or when he entered it the second time, the last clear memory he has is jumping to the lake of time and grasping Athena's chain of flowers to follow her and Shun to the past.

Ikki stops for a moment, a hand raising to hold his head for a second as he tries once more to remember, but nothing comes. It's fine, it doesn't matter anyway, where he is, how he got there... He has to find Athena and Shun, nothing else matters, if this is a prank or a trap he will break free from it and follow them, if not... He will get explanations later on, probably, once he finds them. He eyes for a second the flower bracelet on his wrist, convincing himself that he didn't miss the lead or get lost while holding it. He concentrates his Cosmos, making it reach out, searching, calling, for those of his goddess and his brother or for anyone who would hear it. And then he continues moving forward in silence, keeping his thoughts to himself and searching, for someone or a way out, both options work with him.]

Comments

[shunofandromeda.livejournal.com]

[Shun feels that cosmo and stops dead for a moment, hardly daring to believe it. He knows that feeling, it can't be anyone else..! He takes off towards it trying to reach the source of that cosmo. When he finally spies that familiar figure he can't help smiling]

Nii-san!

[uccellodifuoco.livejournal.com]

[Ikki takes a turn as soon as he feels the other cosmo, no doubting for a moment that it's his brother. When the boy appears in his line of sight, the older man can't help but let go a brief and small sigh of relief before the other gets closer.]

Shun. Where's Athena?

[Business as always.]

[shunofandromeda.livejournal.com]

[That question is only slightly surprising to Shun] She's around here somewhere. I was talking with her earlier. Only it wasn't Saori, it was another Athena named Sasha.

[And with that explanation he blinks back tears. It's his brother, he's finally here! And for once he's not beaten half dead when he sees him!] I'm glad you're here Nii-san. I didn't think you would ever come here!

[uccellodifuoco.livejournal.com]

[Ikki frowns at the way Shun answers "around here somewhere", but maybe the situation isn't as bad as he expected it to be. When Hécate warned him about Chronos' prank he got the impression that besides being forced to share the body of the Athena of the XVIII century said Athena was a baby or a child. But if Shun is so calm about it and says that he was talking to her maybe he got worried without reason.

Ironically, for that same reason he doesn't seem confused by the mention about it not being Saori, who knows if Saori will even be allowed some control of the body she has to share. It's not as if it's her body after all.]

I see, it doesn't matter what her name is, Athena is still Athena. We have to protect her no matter what. Are you both unhurt then?

[Ikki doesn't seem as moved as his brother. Inwardly he's relieved beyond words, as relieved as he felt when he went to Japan and saw Shun there even if he was set on killing them... Seeing that his brother had survived the training still relieved him. Just as now, seeing him well and unhurt, blinking back tears like so often, will he ever stop doing that when they meet? He's not a girl for Goddess's sake. The words, however, make the man frown again, almost offended.]

You thought I would stay behind while Athena [And you.] is in danger? Should I go back then?

[On second thought, maybe he misses that Shun is unhurt, that way the kid (his little brother will always be a kid for him) would be happy to see him. Sure, he said that he's glad but also that he didn't think he would go, how is he supposed to take that?]

[shunofandromeda.livejournal.com]

[Shun is slightly puzzled by that first questions but he answers anyway. He supposes Ikki is just being careful] I'm fine, Athena seemed to be doing okay too. She's from Shion's time, and asked about our Holy War.

[That second question isn't one he can dismiss as easily though.] I know that you would never abandon her Nii-san! I just haven't seen you in so long...[Something occurs to him as he looks at his brother] Has anyone told you want this place is yet?

[lamb_of_gold]

[It's very hard to miss Ikki's Cosmo, even if Mu doesn't know him well. The brief impression he'd gleaned, helping Shaka all that time ago....Well, needless to say, it had left something of an impression on the Aries.

And so the notice of the new Cosmo naturally invites curiosity, and Mu can't resist a small smile as he tuckes his helmet under his arm.]

Your Cosmo is a noticable one, Ikki. If you call much louder, you may attract unwanted attention.

Assuming Shun gets Ikki out of the dellusion that he's where he wanted to be...

[uccellodifuoco.livejournal.com]

[Ikki turns to look at Mu, his expression hardened and unreadable. He was expecting it, but it is still strange, to see the Aries Saint standing in front of him, wearing his Cloth and so very much alive. Even if he didn't know most of the Gold Saints as much as the others, he still lamented their deaths, as necessary as they were to bring a final end to Hades. The help the Gold Saints gave them even after death is something hard to ignore.]

There's no unwanted attention that I could attract. Even an enemy can be useful before his end comes.

[Translation: He just wants to find people, if someone turns out to be an enemy he will smash them after getting information from them.]

[lamb_of_gold]

[That gets an eyebrow raise.]

If I didn't know better, I'd say the Phoenix was lonely.

[uccellodifuoco.livejournal.com]

It's a good thing you know better then.

[Lonely? No, worried, yes, though by now he knows this place won't calm his worries. Ikki crosses his arms as he studies the other for a moment.]

How long have you been here?

[ram-of-gold.livejournal.com]

[Shion does not know this cosmo, he is certain of that. Yet it's heat feels familiar, reminding him of something. He can't pinpoint what it is that stirs that familiarity but he knows it is not associated with good memories. He goes look for the source of that cosmo after a moment, wishing he still had his Cloth. He isn't sure whether he expects trouble or not, but he can't ignore a cosmo like this. Lady Athena is on the Plane, he can't let something that might threaten her exist.

When he spots Ikki he stops for a moment and just observes him.]

[uccellodifuoco.livejournal.com]

[Ikki never met Shion directly, but he felt his Cosmos together with those of the resurrected Gold Saints. Out of the delusion that this is, after all, where he had intended to go -meaning the past, as it seems that after all it was his will that brought him here-, Ikki's also prepared for those encounters. It's easier with Shion, he knew him even less than he knew Mu.

He turns to look at the other with a stoic expression.?]

So we meet like this, Aries Shion... [He takes note of the lack of Cloth. It's not unheard of of Gold Saints not wearing their Cloths, but seeing that this is Shion and the Plane seems to be whimsical...] Or would you prefer another name?

[It's not as if Ikki has ever treated with a Pope to know how to act, not even with a fake one, figures.]

[ram-of-gold.livejournal.com]

[He's startled by hearing his name from this boy, but he doesn't show it. Given where he is, someone knowing his name should be the last thing that surprises him.]
So you know who I am. You may refer to me as Pope, however. Aries is a title I do not bear any longer [And that hurts to say. He knows that the title of Pope is a high and exalted one, one he should feel proud to bear and feel no sadness over the change. Yet Aries was his Cloth, the one he had worked so hard for. It's strange to just give it up.]

Who might you be?

[uccellodifuoco.livejournal.com]

Pope...

[He repeats it and it sounds as if he's testing how it rings in his voice. Honestly, he's not sure he likes it, but he never was one to respect authority easily. He refrains from mentioning how, despite knowing him, or of him, he had never met the man. Hécate warned him about altering time and even if this isn't the past, or destiny is cruel, he doesn't want to take any more risks.]

I'm Phoenix Ikki, saint from the XX century. It seems it will still be a long while before you reach there though.

[humandivinity.livejournal.com]

[She senses him when he reaches out. The flaming cosmos ruled by anger feels almost familiar to Sasha as she makes her way across the Plane. But his call doesn't go unanswered. She echoes Ikki's Cosmos with the vastness of her own, meeting it halfway and resonating to show she'd heard him.

By the time she comes before him, Athena has set her humanity as Sasha aside for now. The differences between Saori and Sasha are plain to see, from posture to the calm that surrounds Sasha. Hers isn't judging or hostile or even naive trust. But she will not treat him harshly.]

I heard your call.

[uccellodifuoco.livejournal.com]

[He found Shun and that brought relief to him... And questions once the illusion was cleared up, but still he had kept calling. He hold what he had said, Athena is Athena, no matter her human name, time or anything. And he wants to make sure she's fine with his own eyes. When she appears, he sees clearly why one could mistake her for the Athena of the XX century, but also why one would never make such a mistake. She holds herself gracefully but she lacks the same kind of refined elegance Saori had, neither are in her eyes or face traces of the emotions Saori used to wear on her sleeve. She seems kind, truly kind but firm, while Saori seemed like a little girl lost when she tried to be kind, and wavered when she tried to be firm in something that didn't fully come from her human part. Then again, maybe Ikki judges his Athena too harshly, but he doesn't care.

He stands for a moment, uncertain when she speaks, before finally kneeling down, not completely and not for long, it's painfully obvious he's not used to this kind of displays.]

I'm Phoenix Ikki, Phoenix Saint from the XX century. I'm glad to see you unhurt.

[humandivinity.livejournal.com]

[Yes, his cosmos swirls just like Kagaho's. She can see it as plain as day yet it isn't ruled by that rage, not at all. There's nothing evil about the Saint that only briefly kneels before her. She dips her head a little.]

I am a warrior as well as a Goddess, Ikki. At times I will be hurt when defending the world just as any other Saint would be.

[There's no rebuke there. She only gently reminds him of that as she steps close enough she doesn't have to raise her voice to be heard.] I am Sasha, the Athena from the Seventeenth century.

[uccellodifuoco.livejournal.com]

[That's new. He manages to hold his tongue, Saori did fight as well after all... At the end, after she was freed from the urn. But she had been alone so he supposes that time was their fault for not being at her side. But she didn't bother with waiting either, or even telling where she was going or what she was going to do. It's part of why Ikki is slightly surprised yet with the girl's current resolution.

But that doesn't matter now. He nods.]

You may be a warrior as well, but you're precious for us and the world. It's obvious we would prefer to see you unhurt and not having to fight.

[Isn't that why saints exist anyway? To help the Goddess and protect her.]

I was aware of that, Shun told me about you already. And that you arrived here not long ago as well.

1/2

[sosweet]

[Saga chuckles...

'So you are here as well... Phoenix...' Somehow, he feels relieved. Despite he has never been on good terms with Ikki (mainly because of their last fight), Saga admires his potential as a Saint as with the other Bronze Saints. But the Phoenix was different and the Gemini knew it...

... Both emerged from the Hell they went through, even if it were a different one for each other...]

[sosweet]

[From the shadows, Saga steps forward and behind the Bronze Saint, facing the other's back.]

As sneaky as always... Ikki.

[uccellodifuoco.livejournal.com]

[Ikki doesn't turn at first, instead barely tilting his head to spare the other a glance.]

Should I take that as a compliment since it's coming from you?

[Definitively, being warned didn't made it easier at times. He turns fully, facing the other.]

I didn't expect to meet you again like this.

[sosweet]

[He laughs amusingly, facing him with a smug smile.] I never said it was a compliment.

You mean being alive as I am now?

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

[Conan's trying to work out whether or not the Plane is over the effects of the candy. This means that the apparent seven-year-old is wandering the Plane, waiting to see if anyone takes a pot shot at him/tries to set him on fire.

... yeah, it's a great plan.

When he spots Ikki, he pauses -- this is not someone he remembers seeing before, but his style of clothing is reminiscient of those warn by Mu and Mu's friends. With that in mind, Conan decides to greet him.]

Hello!

[uccellodifuoco.livejournal.com]

[Ikki pauses at the sight of the kid, raising an eyebrow for a single moment. Figures even kids would be here.]

You alone, kid?

[That totally counts as a greeting.]

[holmes-fanatic.livejournal.com]

[Conan blinks. Not one for pleasantries?]

At the moment? I guess so ...

[uccellodifuoco.livejournal.com]

[Not really. Ikki eyes the kid and takes his answer as meaning that normally he's not alone, or that at least he has someone to return to or whatever.]

I see. What were you doing?

[This is a curious place to take a walk around after all.]