Japan sighed, looking over the wrecked monuments and stone slabs he was perhaps all too familiar with. To his left, a broad shouldered Grecian seemed to doze.

"Hm… hey, Kiku?"

Japan and Greece were one of the few Nations on a first name basis. Japan turned his head. "Yes, Herakles?" Said man stroked a cat in his lap absentmindedly, his tired gaze never faltering. "It's nice outside," He said after a moment, picking up the cat and laying it down onto the grass.

Japan cracked a small smile and nodded. "It is, isn't it?" Greece nodded slowly. "I like it when it's nice outside," Herakles suddenly leaned a bit closer to Japan, making the other man blush and scoot away uncomfortably. "H-Herakles, what…"

He was silenced by a soft, but still firm kiss being planted on him. Kiku's face turned several shades darker, especially when Greece didn't show any signs of backing away and instead got closer to him. "You know I like to do it outside too," Japan made a small squeak when Greece clambered on top of him, nuzzling into his neck. "Herakles… n-now?" Japan asked, feeling his breath hitch.

"Why not?" Greece asked, making Japan shiver when he felt Herakles' warm breath tickle his neck. Kiku sighed, giving in and tilting his head up to give better access. He felt Greece smirk, probably in a triumphant manor, continuing to nuzzle Japan. Japan suddenly flinched, feeling something in his kimono.

Was that Greece's hand? No… Japan squeaked and suddenly pushed Greece off him.

The Grecian made a small noise before kneeling beside Japan after he had gotten shoved away. "W-what was that about?" He asked, tilting his head. "I felt something in my robes…" Japan replied sheepishly, grabbing his kimono.

Wait, was that a voice he was hearing?

Yes, Japan paused, listening, and sure enough, heard a high-pitched voice. It seemed to be saying something like, "Ack! No, no no…! I must have…" and that was all Kiku managed to catch. This freaked him out a little more, though after a moment, he realized that the voice sounded familiar, almost hauntingly so.

It couldn't be, could it?

But his suspicion was proved correct when a green glowing ball jumped out of his robes and onto the grass beside him. "Ack! I am… sorry, I guess, I must have gotten in the wrong robes or something…! Don't kill me, I'm not a bug, I swear…!"

Japan stared at the Poncle, dumbfounded for a moment, before reaching a hand down to the ground beside Issun. "Issun, it's me." Though it was just a black shape amongst the glow, Japan could tell the head glanced up, his bug hat's antenna bouncing as he did so. "How do you know me?"

Japan's smile grew. "Issun, I'm Amaterasu."

There was a pause, with small squeaks and wheezes of air being released from the Poncle, as if he was trying to talk, but didn't know what to say.

Finally, a sentence was uttered. "…Wow, Ammy, I didn't know ya rolled that way." Japan blanched as Issun bounced onto his palm and hugged his thumb tightly. "Ah, but who am I kidding! I've missed ya, Furball!" Japan laughed a bit though it sounded a bit nervous.

"I've missed you too." Greece looked over at Issun, brow cocked ever so slightly in curiosity. "…Who is this?" Issun glanced up and removed himself from Kiku's hand. "My name is Issun! The Wandering Artist, and Celestial Envoy to Ammy here! Well, I was, anyways…" Suddenly, he whipped out an old sheet of drawing paper, which held the drawing that had helped Japan all those years ago, fighting Yami. If he remembered, it was dubbed, "Amaterasu Descending from the Heavens". He smiled after seeing it and took it gingerly.

"I didn't know you still had one of these…"

Issun laughed. "Of course I do! Couldn't forgot ya, now could I?" Greece eyed the artwork before turning to look at Issun, obviously intrigued by the bouncing ball of light.

The Poncle glared up at Greece. "Stop staring at me like that. I know you're one of the gods too… but who?" He glanced down at the cats that surrounded Herakles distastefully. "I was known as Kabegami. …You're that little bug I played with alongside Kiku, aren't you?"

Issun fumed and began to bounce up and down quickly upon Japans' palm. "Don't call me a bug! I'm a Poncle, thank you very much, and not one of your playthings…!" Japan laughed a little. It had been a while sense he had heard that.

Issun calmed down, his light changing from red back to its usual green, and then looked Japan up and down. "But ah… jeeze, Ammy, couldn't you have told me you were a guy all along?" Japan shuffled, getting flustered. "Ah-well, I wasn't…"

"Oh. Well, you could have at least told me about your-um-'preferences', y'know! I'm your friend after all!"

Greece narrowed his eyes at that and gave Issun a small flick. "It's been a long time sense you last saw Kiku-" He stressed Japans' real name, as if trying to hammer it into the Poncle's brain "and things have changed."

Issun waved his hands. "Hey, no need to get all hissy over it, I'm just sayin'!" Greece frowned before turning to look at Japan.

"…Can I eat him?"

Japan blanched. "No, you may not! You may still be kind of a cat, but…" Greece sighed. "But he's annoying me…" Japan tilted his head, raising an eye. "Herakles."

"Fine…"

Issun laughed before suddenly turning serious. "But, ah, anyways… Ammy, have you heard about demons being sighted and running amok again?"

Japan jolted at the sudden conversation change, but nodded slowly. "Unfortunately, yes…" Issun bounced rapidly. "Then what're ya doin' just sitting there? You have all the other gods around ya, don't you? C'mon, let's go!" Japan looked around.

"A-ah, well, you see… the problem is… they've all changed. A-and I'm not sure if it's a good idea for them all to be traveling together…" Especially Germany and Italy, though they've been getting a little better… He bit back that last part though and kept it to himself. Issun didn't have to know about everything, not yet.

Issun heaved a heavy sigh. "Well, they're gonna have to deal with it! A-after all, have you seen what remains of the Moon Cave? I've seen it, and man, am I getting some evil vibes…" Japan blanched.

"Wasn't the Moon Cave destroyed when Susano and I killed Orochi?"

"Apparently not, my not-so-furry-friend. Something's up…"

Greece raised an eye. "And you're not making this up?"

"No! Why would I joke about something like this?" Issun snapped. Greece simply waved a hand at the Poncle, not answering the question that had been asked. Japan bit his lip.

"Issun, I met with the other gods a few days ago-"

"It went like a normal meeting with the Nations," Greece sighed.

"A-ah, yes, but that aside, Issun… you can probably tell, but it's not just me who has grown much weaker. All the other gods have too. After all, most, if not all have lost faith in us, and though their faith in their nation is strong, it just isn't the same as believing in us as gods. I doubt any of us have enough strength to take on… any large demon now."

Issun scoffed. "What about your godly forms? Where's good ol' Furball, eh?"

Kiku shook his head. "They may be powerful, but it's been so long, I do not think we can control them for too long." Issun whined.

"Jeeze… t-then do we have anyone that could help us? I mean, yeah, you're all weak, but with some training, I'm sure we can get you all back to tip-top shape. Well, as tip-top as you can be nowadays."

Japan pondered. "Well… there is Canada-san and Prussia-kun."

"Aaand who are they…?"

"Prussia is a descendant of Susano-" Issun waved his hand, chuckling. "Say no more. Related to Susano? I can imagine how they're like. What about this Canada kid?"

"W-well, Canada and his father… Canada is a Demigod, but he's mostly Moon Triber from France…" Issun sighed. "Oh no. More Half-Baked Prophets? Wonderful." Japan laughed a little. "Well, Canada isn't as bad as his father. He's more quiet and subdued. France is the flamboyant one."

"Ugh…" The Poncle bowed his head, seeming to be unfortunately reminded of Waka, before jumping up.

"Anyways! They've gotta be of some use, right? As I said, we're gonna start training the lot of ya…!"

Japan gazed down at Issun, eye raised. "If you're going to be planning on that, leave the training to Germany."

"And who…?"

"You know him as Gekigami. Nowadays, he represents Germany and is a fine drill sergeant. I would know…" Japan chuckled bitterly.

"Oh, he tried to impale us with his lightning. Hope he won't try that again."

"I hope he does," Greece muttered loud enough for Issun to hear. "W-what? You got some sort of death wish, Kitty-Boy?"

"From you…? A bug?" Greece leaned down close to Issun and used his finger to give the Poncle a little push. Issun hopped back up, his green colour changing to red as he bounded up and down, yelling.

"I. Am. Not. A. Bug!"

"You sure look like one~" Greece began to bat Issun back and forth using his hands, eyes taking on a certain mischievous light, pupils seeming to take on a slit shape like a cat. Issun yelped. "Stop…! O-or I'll use Denkomaru on you!"

Greece turned his head to look at the flustered Japan who didn't know what to do. "Denkomaru?" He asked. Issun rolled away from Greece and whipped out the tiny sword.

"This baby! My trusty sword!" Greece raised an eye and reached out to continue using Issun as a toy before Japan grabbed him. "Herakles, please stop," Japan mumbled, trying to tug the Grecian back.

Greece sighed before leaning back, placing a small kiss on Japans' nose. "Fine, Kiku," Japan blushed and stuttered at this, and even more so when Issun piped up again. "So… what are you two? Boyfriends? Friends with benefits?" Issun inquired, leaning forward.

"Because I'm no idiot, and if I'm not mistaken, you two were gonna get it on before I jumped out."

Japan could imagine a self-confident smirk as Issun said that, arms crossed and head inclined upwards. Greece paused.

"Well, Kiku has never addressed me as such… but I guess we are." He smiled a bit after he said that, glancing over at Japan.

Japan stuttered before nodding a bit, making Issun laugh. "What, getting cold feet, Ammy?"

"N-no… I-I…"

"Kiku's just shy." Greece said. Issun nodded, before raising his arm. "Anyways, let's get the gods together! We've got some training to do!" He announced, hopping up to sit upon Japans' head. "It'll be just like old times~ Except with more people." He added.

Japan nodded slightly, feeling an odd happiness bubbling up inside him. "Yes… it will be, won't it?" Greece frowned before sighing. "Alright, I'll go along with it." Japan smiled. "Well then, I shall arrange for us to meet again. Issun, you're in for a shock when you meet them though…"

Issun laughed. "I'm sure I can handle it!"

A/N: I wonder if he really can. XD This was a fun chapter to write… but that aside… THERE'S GONNA BE MORE PLOT NEXT EPISODE I SWEAR.

AND OH GOD I ACTUALLY WROTE THIS CHAPTER PRETTY QUICKLY, DON'T GET USED TO IT THOUGH GAIS.

Oh, and thank you for the reviews. They make me so friggin' happy! 3 Keep 'em coming, please~ :D