File GS04-Pis-T002 - Aphrodite Revisited! Treacherous Beauty
File GS04-Pis-T002
Aphrodite Revisited! Treacherous Beauty
"And what next?" Makoto asked. "Shall we visit Aphrodite's rose garden today?"
"Oh yes! I'll fetch the gas masks." Himiko went to their room and rummaged through the boxes. About ten minutes later, she returned.
"Great. Let's go! I have a question to ask of Aphrodite..." Himiko looked thoughtfully at Milo.
They stormed up the stairs again, and once more Himiko only went past Aquarius Temple because Makoto dragged her along.
"I demand some escalators," Makoto panted when they finally reached the twelfth temple.
"I agree." Himiko sighed and looked wistfully down to Aquarius Temple.
"Hey, it's this way!" Makoto tugged Himiko into Aphrodite's realm. "Anybody here?"
"Just a moment!" Aphrodite looked out of the door. He allowed them only a glimpse of a millisecond, but that was enough to see that he wore his hair curled up with large pink hair curlers and that he had some white cream in his face that was decorated with cucumber slices.
"Did you see that, too?" Makoto asked incredulously and cleaned her glasses.
"You mean the alien with the cucumber mask?"
"Yep. - Let's go and look!"
"Do you think that's wise? I prefer to wait here."
Makoto sighed, but complied. They leaned against a column and waited for about 15 minutes, before the door opened again. Now an absolutely beautiful woman (?) man (?) whatever (?) with gorgeous middle blond hair exited.
"Bye-bye, Aphro-dear!" the man (the voice identified the apparition as male) called and disappeared.
"What was that?" Makoto marveled.
"Dunno. But whatever it was, it was really beautiful!"
"Incredibly so!"
"I guess this might be this Misty-person Milo mentioned. If I remember correctly, he's a Silver Saint - we should put him a little higher on our list of Saints-to-be-examined."
"I agree."
"Hello, girls. Here I am. Sorry you had to wait." Now that he had washed off the mask, Aphrodite looked even more beautiful than the day before, if that was possible.
"Hi!" Makoto admired him duly. She couldn't decide whether he or Misty was more beautiful.
"Good morning," greeted Himiko. "You look really pretty today. - Who was the other ...person?"
"Oh, that! That was Lacerta Silver Saint Misty, my significant other."
"He's also really pretty," Makoto said.
"I agree," Aphrodite smiled. "I hope you brought some protective gear if you wish to look at my roses now."
"Sure."
They put on their gas masks and followed Aphrodite who led them to the garden behind his temple. It consisted of hundreds and thousands of red, white and black roses.
"Beautiful!" Makoto said in awe. "Are there only these three colours, or do you have some others, too?"
"Well, I tried to cultivate blue roses, too, but somehow they didn't work."
"But there are blue roses, so what was the problem?"
"I wanted to create a deep blue variety that completely disintegrates a victim on impact, but I haven't succeeded yet."
"Sounds like quite a problem you have to solve there."
"That's the point. But I'm working on it."
"By the way, Aphrodite, is there a specific reason why Milo can't stand you? I had the impression there is, but Milo refused to answer."
"Milo?" Aphrodite laughed heartily. "Oh, that's easy. You see, Misty and I wanted to have a little fun and we dressed up as girls. We went to Athens and sat in a nice little cafe, when Milo and Aiolia showed up, intent on chasing some pretty girls. Well, obviously they didn't realize that it was Misty and me whom they desperately tried to convince of their advantages. You really should have seen their faces when they finally realized who we were..."
Makoto grinned. "I can see that! No wonder that Milo almost explodes whenever he hears your name."
"I guess he still hasn't forgiven me that I couldn't resist to kiss him..."
"Oh-oh... And that happened to Milo who always stresses that he is a 'real man'..."
"Exactly," Aphrodite giggled.
"I think that's perfect ammunition to tease him with!"
"Feel free to do so!"
"Why did Aiolia accompany him on such a tour?" Himiko wondered. "Didn't Milo say that Camus is his best friend?"
"Well, Camus doesn't like to tour the bars. He prefers stylish restaurants and a more refined company."
"Camus really seems to be perfect in every respect," Makoto said amused.
"Didn't I say so?" Himiko pulled out one of her pics of Camus and admired it.
"Well, Camus is a bit boring, if you ask me," Aphrodite said. "And the worst thing is that the restaurants he prefers serve only absolutely tiny portions. Nouvelle cuisine, or how he calls it. Otherwise I would have tried to set up a 'date' with him, too."
"Is that a hobby of yours?" Makoto grinned.
"Well, once in a while..." Aphrodite tried to look as innocent as possible. "It's too bad that I haven't found any weak spots where Camus is concerned. I think I have to dig a little deeper."
"Would you care to elaborate a little more on my Camus-sama?" Himiko asked. Obviously Aphrodite was a bit more talkative than Shura in that respect.
"What should I say... He's got a great wine cellar, he loves to dine in expensive restaurants, and he hates to be chased by girls. Or boys, which I regret..."
"He knows what he wants, it seems," Makoto observed.
"Indeed! But on the other hand that's what makes him pretty interesting." Aphrodite looked dreamily in the direction of Aquarius Temple.
"Obviously Camus has a lot of fans," Makoto marveled.
"Indeed. And there are likewise lots of people who are pretty envious of him..."
"Tsk," Makoto commented. "It's all his own fault. If he weren't so extravagant, no one would think he's that interesting."
"Poor Milo... He's so desperate to find any girl-friend, and Camus is someone who could have ten at every finger but doesn't want them..." Aphrodite laughed. "Maybe you should suggest Milo to behave a little more like Camus."
"I don't think that's a good idea," Himiko cautioned. "Milo already said that he hates to be only second best to Camus, and if we suggest that he should now also act like him... No, better not. His poor little ego wouldn't survive. And anyway, my Camus-sama is absolutely unique."
"Milo's poor little ego suffered enough injury in the last time," Makoto giggled.
"Indeed." Aphrodite grinned. "Maybe I should send him some flowers to cheer him up."
"He'll get a heart attack, if you do that," Makoto laughed.
"Exactly that's the point," Aphrodite said cheerfully.
"Hey, he has to fetch us our food!"
"Okay, okay, I won't do it...today."
"Good. We have enough problems to convince him to assist us."
"Well, then use him as long as you find him useful," Aphrodite suggested. "I can still tease him when you're back in Japan."
"Right," Makoto nodded. "Until then I need something to play with."
"And what about me? I want someone to play with, too," Himiko sighed.
"Well, you want no one but Camus. It's not my fault that he's difficult to catch."
"There has to be a way," Himiko insisted.
"Well, if you don't mind to pay a lot of money for almost nothing to eat, you might send him an invitation to one of the most expensive restaurants in Athens that serves nouvelle cuisine. I'm sure he will come because he usually never finds anyone who is willing to accompany him there."
"You mean this might work?" Himiko saw a small ray of light at the horizon.
"Possibly," Makoto agreed. "Who would go voluntarily into a restaurant that you leave as hungry as you entered it?"
"I will do it!"
"Why am I not surprised...?"
"Hm... But I need some nice stationary - yes, some handmade paper with deckle edge would be perfect... I hope Milo is willing to fetch me some from Athens."
"Ask him!"
"Sure!"
"So, and what's up now?" Makoto asked.
"Let's write a love-letter to Camus... - Okay, okay, just kidding," Aphrodite grinned. "Misty certainly wouldn't like it."
"I can understand if he gets a bit jealous when you flirt so freely with other people."
"It depends. As long as he's around he doesn't mind. He doesn't like it when I flirt around while he isn't there."
"Well, who would like to be deceived that way?"
"Oh, but I wouldn't do that. I love him too much to make him cry."
"I see. But I think we should go now. I'm sure Himiko wants to write her letter."
"Oh, yes!" Himiko beamed.
"Well, tell me how it went," Aphrodite said.
"Sure."
"Promise!" Himiko chimed and danced down the stairs. She almost stormed into Aquarius Temple to invite Camus personally, but Makoto dragged her along.
"Not now!"
"Sigh!"
When they passed Capricorn Temple, Shura intercepted them.
"Well, did you reconsider and decide to visit me after all?" he asked Himiko. He still thought that the petite blonde woman was really cute. She looked at him in puzzlement.
"Why should I - oh, sorry, nope. I just got the hint by Aphrodite how to conquer my Camus-sama!"
"By Aphrodite?! Now that's interesting..."
"I'm curious if it will work," Makoto said.
"It will! - Bye, Shura, I need to prepare some stuff..."
They left a slightly disgruntled Capricorn Saint behind.
- File GS04-Pis-T002 Closed -
