United Against Hate: Chapter 3

“Come on Cancer. You volunteered to help me out today.”

“I didn’t realize that helping you out meant you’d use my as a pack mule.”

Sagittarius giggled glancing over at him though she could barely see him under the mountain of boxes he was carrying close to his chest. “My apologies Cancer. I usually have some assistants from the castle to come with me.”

Cancer grumbled something trying to stand up straighter but stumbled almost losing his balance. He caught himself as Sagittarius put a hand against his back. He looked at her eyes wide but when he met hers, he relaxed and nodded.

“Thanks Sage.”

“Anytime. If you really need a hand please tell me. I don’t want you to fall over.”

“I know and I’ve got this. Least I can do after what we did,” he said looking ahead.

“You’re still thinking about that?” she asked glancing at him.

Cancer cast his eyes downward and nodded staring at one of the embroideries on the boxes, “Yeah. Hard not to feel guilty about it still.”

They walked along the streets of the city that surrounded Celestial in a muted sort of silence. Sagittarius had been worried about Cancer and the others, but she wasn’t their parent nor one of the ones with a close connection to the Zodiac in the past like Aries or Libra had been. The sun was setting beside them and the people were settling down, either going home or grabbing dinner.

It was nothing like Orrin which would just be revving up at this point. People often would leave Celestial to go to Orrin to relax and enjoy themselves. Likewise, many people from Orrin came to Celestial for things like food or pottery or metal working.

But that didn’t stop many of them from recognizing the two Zodiac and stopping to greet them. And by them, it was usually Sagittarius. Either shaking her hand or asking how she was and what they had gotten into today. Of the Zodiac Sagittarius was second only to Virgo in popularity amongst the people.

The pair of them started to cross a bridge going over a lower street when Sagittarius grabbed his arm slightly and pulled him toward the railing. “Set the boxes down Cancer. Breathe for a second.”

Sage was about the age of his parents, a little younger. So she slotted into the role of his aunt more often than not and kept an eye on him more than his brother.

He did as she asked and realized there were only three or so boxes but they were definitely large. He remembered one of the boxes, the one that was at the bottom of the stack had been a set of boots that were made specifically for her and another pair that she’d had made for Virgo without her knowing. The other two he’d lost track of in the process of their shopping.

Brushing a hand through his hair he turned his dark blue gaze onto the city and let out a heavy breath, “Your fan club is as ravenous as ever Sage.”

She glanced at him and smiled sheepishly, “I don’t have a fan club Cancer. I’ve just made a point to interact with the community and be involved. At least as many as I can. They’re our people.”

Cancer nodded slowly as he looked below them, seeing people bustling around them. “They’re more you’re people than mine.”

“What do you mean?”

“Come on Sage I know you see it too. You’re like. Aries and dad level observant.”

She glanced at him and raised her eyebrow, “I think that’s a compliment Cancer.”

“It definitely is,” he said and smiled at her for a moment. He looked down below them, staring at an empty cobblestone path, the last horse to pass by long gone. He pulled his pendent out of his shirt and stared at it. “And you know exactly what I mean.”

She nodded slowly frowning hard look, “I do. And for that I’m sorry. It’s not fair. It’s been almost twenty years since then. You’re not him. You’re your own person. People shouldn’t still judge you for the crimes he committed.”

“Yeah but,” Cancer looked away. “He helped me. He’s just as much my history as he is a part of me.”

“What are you talking about,” Sagittarius said looking at him. “You are who you are Cancer. Each of us is different from our previous selves. We’re our own persons. Sure we learn from them but that doesn’t mean we are them.”

Cancer didn’t look up from his position and Sagittarius walked over to him taking his hand and forcing him to look at her. He didn’t try to look away and when she met his eyes he looked sad. “Ever since we got back, Gem’s been obsessed with our past lives. Wanting to know about them. Get to know them. Even talk to them.” He shook his head, “If I had my choice, I’d never talk to my past life.”

“Cancer wasn’t always bad,” Sagittarius said softly. “He changed but the person I grew up with was a good person.”

“What’s to say that I won’t do the same thing? That I won’t change?” Cancer looked at one of his hands. “I’ve seen enough of the previous Cancer’s memories. The things that he was willing to do for his ambition. To unite the country by tearing it apart. The amount of people that he’d hurt along the way, the willingness he had to throw away his own family.”

Cancer shuddered, wrapping his arm around himself. He heard a voice that wasn’t his but sounded and felt like his own. Sagittarius stepped over and wrapped her arm around him tightly as he shook slightly. “I don’t want to be him, Sage. I don’t want to be him.”

“Listen to me Cancer,” she said smoothing her hand against his back. “We’re all ourselves. We may be similar to our past selves in some ways but we decide who we’re going to be in this life. If you’re afraid of being the previous Cancer then you know exactly who not to be. And you have your parents, your brother, and all of us to help you. No matter what. We’re a family Cancer and nothing changes that, okay?”

He stared at her for a long moment and finally nodded his head, wiping at the corners of his eyes. “Thanks Sage.”

Sagittarius smiled and motioned toward the boxes. “Come on. Let’s get these back to the castle. Maybe we can find something sweet along the way. I know that scone maker is around the corner before the bridge to the castle.”

“Sweets? That’ll ruin out dinner,” he chuckled.

“Now you sound like Leo,” she smiled and picked up her box and Cancer grabbed the other two.

They started moving forward together crossing over the small bridge and following the streets of the city working their way toward the castle. They didn’t get far until they saw another of their number trudging along on the streets. Most people on the streets were giving her a wide berth, especially without Virgo at her side.

“Is that Scorpio?” Cancer asked and Sagittarius glanced up before nodding quickly.

“Yeah that’s her. Scorpio!”

She waved at their fellow Zodiac and she looked up startled at her name being called. She narrowed her eyes but recognized them and waved back before walking slowly over to greet them. When she came, she plucked a box from Cancer’s arms and held it under her arm. 

“What are you two doing out? Wait. Shopping. Obviously,” Scorpio said shaking her head. “How long?”

“Since early this afternoon,” Cancer said.

“We’ve been hanging out,” Sagittarius glanced at her companion. “What about you?”

“She’s moping because Virgo has been busy all day,” Cancer smirked.

Scorpio glared at him, “Shut up crab.”

Sagittarius nodded, “Virgo’s been with King Raku a lot in the past year. She’s been with me as well, learning politics and navigating them. I think she wants to follow in my footsteps. Especially since seeing that other country you visited.”

“Things were rough over there,” Cancer said. “People are persecuted for existing. And two countries are always at war with one another. I know she definitely doesn’t want that for Nerodala. And honestly, I want to help her with that as much as I can.”

“So do I,” Scorpio agreed. “But it means she has to do a lot more studying.”

“And that means more moping around in the city for you?” Sagittarius asked.

“I am not moping,” she refuted. “I am just getting out of the castle. Staying inside all day isn’t for me.”

“Oh? Then what have you been doing all day?”

She paused not responding, not liking her answer, before finally saying, “Wandering the city. Waiting for V to be free.”

“Moping,” Sagittarius repeated. Scorpio grumbled but walked in silence with them. “Well you’re in luck. Nothing helps moping like jam and scones.”

“I feel like you’re just pushing this because you want sweets,” Cancer said.

“Perhaps I am.”

“Aren’t you too old for that?” Scorpio asked.

“Never too old for sweets my young friends,” Sagittarius replied leading the way.

True to her word there was the pastry shop. It was actually the second floor of one of the buildings. The first floor was a setup for display with drawn pictures of what was normally baked but also day old pastries that were given away. There was a smaller sign that said please take one and it was presently empty.

Sagittarius was immediately recognized by the man who worked behind the counter. Apparently, she was a regular and had a specialty, a type of coffee cake. But the goal of today was something sweeter and they were lucky that they were able to get the last batch. There were five left and a single jar of jam.

Sagittarius carried the box of their extra scones and jam while they each enjoyed the treat along the way. Sagittarius kept her eye on both of the younger Zodiacs. They were smiling and sharing a topic that she missed at the beginning of the conversation. But seeing Cancer with a lighter expression on her face definitely made her feel better.

They walked back together to the massive bridge that united the castle to the city itself. There was a sharp drop off to a small moat that surrounded the castle. The water filtered out to Aquarius Lake. The sun had set almost entirely and they had the torchlight of the cities behind them.

It was a strange thing sometimes to remember that they lived in this castle. But it was home and they didn’t know another one. Cancer could feel something pass over him as he stepped through the threshold of the castle. It was a good feeling. Taking another bite from his scone he sighed softly.

“Home.”

Sagittarius looked down at him and squeezed his shoulder. “Home.”

“Welcome back Zodiac,” one of the guards stationed at the front of the castle said. “Lord Pisces and Gemini returned not long ago.”

“My brother and father?” Cancer said raising his eyebrow.

“Yes.”

“Assuming you want to go straight up to say hello?” Sagittarius asked.

Cancer hesitated and then nodded. He suddenly felt an absence in his heart. He missed his brother. “Yeah.”

“Then go. We’ll catch up.”