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Frustration filled Saori’s mind as she scanned through display after display of jewelry of all varieties; necklaces and bracelets being what she was really searching for.
It could be seen as overzealous for her to try to look for “perfection” in almost everything but naturally, the reincarnated Athena was an overachiever.
Her eyes eventually landed on a particular necklace. It had a centerpiece made of pink gold and pink sapphire that formed the petals of a stargazer lily. The leaves were made of cut emeralds and the chain was made of the same pink gold material.
Beautiful Saori thought to herself. Temporarily she closed her eyes imagining the necklace on the person she had intended for. It would certainly bring out the color of her eyes more. The bronze Andromeda saint, Shaun.
At first, Saori had set her sights on this particular as simply being a token of her gratitude and appreciation for their friendship but as time went on, she observed Shaun’s bravery and compassion, and righteous fury towards even her foes, it filled Saori with a sense of admiration she couldn’t place for a while. It wasn’t until she discovered Shaun was in some ways cursed to the same fate as she was: their shared connection to the gods, more specifically, Shaun once being the chosen vessel for their greatest foe yet, Hades.
It was then she realized why she wanted to keep her close by.
“Lady Saori?” A voice full of grace spoke to her.
Saori, however, was too entranced in her thoughts.
Maybe she should get a bracelet to match?
“Lady Saori.” The voice spoke to her again, this time louder.
Ignored once again.
Saori was finally shocked out of her trance when she felt the tiniest pinch of pain on her forearm. She quickly whipped her head around in surprise and was face to face with her private secretary and soon-to-be member of her saints, Alicia Benethol.
“Mii?! I’m sorry. I was lost in my own thoughts for a moment.” The goddess clears her throat before nervously tucking a strand of hair behind her ear
“There’s no need to apologize, Lady Saori. I was a little worried when you didn’t respond,” Mii replies before asking, “Is this the necklace you’re thinking about giving to her? If so, it’s an excellent choice.”
Saori looked back to the necklace in question and after processing her thoughts one final time, she nodded.
“Yes. I think so too.”
***
“This is the correct apartment complex, yes?” Saori asked, wiping the nonexistent sweat from her brows for what seemed like the fifteenth time.
In her right hand, she tightly held onto a pink box wrapped with a green silk bow.
She had been asking Mii the question constantly on their ride to Shaun’s home residence. The blonde only
“Yes…Lady Saori…it is. I know you’re nervous but trust that I have faith in you. I know Miss Shaun will love your gift.” Mii reassured the goddess with a comforting smile.
With newfound courage, Saori entered the building along with Mii and made their way up to the tenth floor of the building. Once they were in front of the correct door, Mii gestured for Saori to knock on it and took a step back.
The reincarnated Athena obliges, knocking on the door and waiting in silence.
After a few moments, the doorknob suddenly turns, and the Andromeda saint answers. Saori’s heart suddenly skipped a beat when they made eye contact with one another. She had noticed the pink sundress she was wearing and her mind raced with hundreds of compliments but she couldn’t find the correct one.
“Hello, Miss Saori! Oh, Mii! How have you been?” Her voice was as sweet as May and polite as ever.
Saori responds with a nod, cheeks faintly turning pink while Mii answers the question directed to her.
“I’m doing well, Miss Shaun. We apologize for the unexpected visit.”
“It’s no problem. Is there anything I should know about?” Shaun asks Saori.
“I’m not here on any matters revolving around missions or Sanctuary. Is it alright if I come in?” replied the goddess.
“Yes of course! Come on in.”
Shaun invited the two into her home before leading them into the living room.
It was comfortable and modern, perfectly suitable for someone like Shaun, which Saori believed.
“So, if I may, what brings you here today?” the Andromeda saint asked.
Saori momentarily prepared herself before taking a couple of strides toward the bronze saint. She held out the embroidered box with a faint smile.
“I want to give this to you. It’s a gift. For once, I don’t have words to express how much your presence and character have had an effect on me over the time we’ve known each other. I hope this can bring my thoughts to light.” Saori stated as she handed Shaun the box.
Shaun couldn’t help but smile at her words feeling more than grateful and graciously taking the box. Removing the ribbon, she opened the box to reveal the necklace and gasped.
Shaun couldn’t help but gawk at the centerpiece, especially with how coordinated the colors were and how brightly they glittered in the natural light of her room. Saori nervously glanced over at Mii who was all smiles, giving her a bit of relief.
“It’s beautiful. I love it, actually! But are you sure I should…” Shaun suddenly trailed off. Whatever she had wanted to say next would probably disappoint her goddess but Saori could care less.
She was relieved to hear that Shaun loved her gift and she quickly protested. “I’m glad you like it and that’s all that matters to me. I think pink goes really well with green, actually.”
Blushing, Shaun takes one more look at the necklace before facing the goddess again and smiling.
“Thank you, Miss Saori,” Shaun says.
“There’s no need for formalities anymore Shaun. We’ve known each other for quite some time. May I put it on you?” Saori asks, gesturing to the necklace.
“Are you sure?” Shaun asks.
“Absolutely.” Saori replies.
Shaun hands the necklace to Saori who walks behind her. After the goddess brushes the bronze saint’s back-length hair aside, she puts the necklace around her neck. Shaun looks at her reflecting in a nearby body-length mirror and smiles with Saori doing the same.
“It’s perfect.” the goddess compliments.
“Thank you, again, Saori. This really means a lot to me. I never got a lot of gifts when I was little. My brother always tried his best and even as I got older, the opportunity never came to pass often. But I will always cherish this.” Shaun confessed.
Saori nods, her mind scrambling for something to say until she finally bit the bullet.
“Shaun, I wanted to know if you were available sometime tomorrow afternoon. Since Hades’ defeat and with Seiya making a swifter recovery now, I have more free time on my hands than I anticipated. I would like to go out maybe for some sweets…with you…” Saori proposed.
After a beat, the Andromeda saint beamed, “Sure? I’d love to do that. Just let me know a time and a place and I’ll be there.”
Mii grins clapping lightly for the both of them, especially Saori. The goddess exhales in relief.
“It’s a date then?” Saori acknowledged.
Shaun took both of Saori’s hands into her own and squeezed them gently.
“It’s a date.”