Karin: Hi guys! This oneshot was inspired by "Muscle Memory" by ComesFromCorn and the Hades and Persephone myth so here's my take on Mariya supposedly letting Kanako see him.


Title: Myth
Rating: T
Pairing(s): Mariya/Kanako
Note: In-universe.

Disclaimer: I don't own Maria Holic sadly.


VI. Myth

Long ago in the Kingdom of the Gods, there lived a beautiful maiden named Persephone. She enjoyed the lush green air and the bright blue skies, and the comfort of her mother's arms.


"Come now, Kanako-chan, don't be shy." her mother urged her. Six-year-old Kanako hid behind her mother's skirts, peeking out fearfully. The old woman across from them smiled as she had her hands placed on a little boy and a little girl's shoulders. Their ruby eyes stared curiously at her as she tried to become one with her mother. "They won't hurt you."

The blonde boy continued to gaze at her and approached carefully. The little girl stood back, giving Kanako a smile. The boy surprised her by peeking around her mother's legs and making her jump, causing her to fall back onto her butt.

"Clumsy." the boy said, but regardless, he held out his hand. Kanako glanced at it unsure, but the expression of 'I haven't got all day' from the boy make her squeak and grab his hand.


Her radiance was so brilliant that even in the frightful Underworld, it drew its dreadful king Hades to see her. The more he watched her, the more his passion grew for the young maiden. He had to have her.

So he stole her.


"Shizu, slow down!" Kanako complained. Shizu's grip on her hand was firm as he pulled them through the gardens. Kanako marveled at all the beautiful flowers—jealous that the Shidou estate had such wonderful plant life that wasn't in her own mother's garden.

"Quit complaining. We're almost there!" Shizu told her bringing to through the trees and alcoves. Kanako began to worry they wouldn't be able to return to where her mother was.

Finally they stopped and Kanako was able to catch her breath. Placing her hands on her knees, she huffed and panted. Shizu, of course, didn't look like anything was wrong with him.

"Why did… we leave Mariya-chan and mother?" she huffed out. Shizu grabbed her cheeks and pulled them. "Blahhh whyyy?"

"I told you to stop complaining." he told her. The five-year-old was quite demanding when it came to what he wanted. "Why did you kiss my sister?"

"Eh?" Kanako blinked. "It is what Mother does to me when she wants to tell me she loves me. I wanted to show Mariya-chan that I love her. Don't you and Mariya-chan do that?"

"Idiot! You don't kiss someone who's not related to you!"

"Not true! Mama gives Mariya and you kisses all the time!" Kanako held her ground. She crossed her arms as Shizu looked at her intently.

"Fine. We'll do it your way." he finally said.

"Eh?" Kanako blinked at him as he walked towards her.

Stepping forward, the boy grabbed her shoulders and pulled her lips to his. Kanako's eyes were wide, even when Shizu pulled away. There was a strong emotion shining in his eyes, something she couldn't decipher, and sure was unsure of if she could.

The moment was shattered when Kanako heard the voice of her mother calling for her. Excitement spread through her at the thought of her mother holding her in her arms again. Kanako grinned and was about to answer her when Shizu covered her mouth, tugging her away.

"Hey!"

"Come on, moron. I want to keep you longer."


Now residing in the Underworld, Persephone would mourn the loss of her mother in this strange new world she found fascinating and frightening. Hades gave her many gifts to show his love for her, but nothing could replace the comfort of her mother's smile.


Kanako pulled the curtain to the side again, looking for the moment her mother would arrive to come get her. Her mother hasn't been feeling well the past couple of months, and her father had to take her to the doctor. Anxious for their return, Kanako kept looking out the window of the Shidou estate for a single sight of her mother's possible return.

"Stop doing that. It's annoying." Shizu told her, gazing up at her from the checkerboard. It was only the two of them, as Mariya was playing with Yume and Miki. Kanako wasn't concerned by this. After all, Shizu often took her away from the others so they could play together instead all the time.

"I can't help it. Mama has been gone a long time." she answered him, fidgeting. Nonetheless, she returned to her seat and moved a red checker.

"They're probably making sure nothing's wrong." Shizu replied, taking one of her checker pieces. Kanako didn't appear to be reassured and Shizu sighed, getting up from his seat. He went over to his desk and dug through it, appearing to be looking for something. Returning to her side, he showed her a cross pendant.

"Pretty!" Kanako said, distracted from her worries. Shizu smiled one of his rare genuine smiles.

"It's for you since you like grandmother's rosary so much."

"Really? For me?" Kanako questioned, fingering the trinket. She smiled then, and hugged Shizu. "Thank you, Shizu!"

"Get off—I don't want to catch your stupidity." Shizu commanded. However, he was looking the other way and blushing. Kanako released him, holding the pendant close, and the worries still bubbling at the back of her mind.


Hades did everything he could to keep his beautiful wife at his side. He lavished her with exotic foods and gifts to suit her taste, but nothing could soothe Persephone for long. She refused to eat anything from the Underworld—rather starving herself than feasting. It wasn't long before Zeus came to retrieve her, and relieve her from her prison.


Shizu and Kanako stared at each other as Mr. Miyamae bid Shizu's grandmother farewell one final time. Kanako looked solemnly at Shizu, feeling loss twice as she had just lost her mother, and now would be losing her friend to move to another part of the country—the pain of losing their mother hit their father hard.

"We can still write." Kanako suggested. Shizuhmphed and crossed his arms, looking away from her as if he refused to believe that she was honestly leaving.

"You better come back then if you're going to write me." he told her. He stepped forward holding out his pinky. "Promise me you'll come back." he said.

"I'll be back." Kanako grinned, linking their pinkies together. Satisfied, Shizu let go and smirked.

"You still have my present?" he asked. Kanako nodded, holding the pendant around her neck close. She never took it off.

"Yes! I'll never take it off." Kanako promised again. "That way I won't forget you."


Persephone was glad to return to Mt. Olympus, but was strangely saddened to let Hades go. However, Hades was not a god who gave up easily. He would have Persephone.


Mariya shot the arrow, his mind in turmoil. He couldn't believe Kanako had returned. She was here at last with him again.

But she didn't remember him.

He couldn't believe she broke her promise. She wasn't wearing the pendant. She abandoned him. She left him waiting for her for many years, his heart aching for her to come back, and she abandoned him!

"Mariya-sama?" Matsurika pulled him from his thoughts. "What was that before?"

"What? The kiss?" Mariya replied in his falsetto voice. "No real reason. I just wanted to relieve some stress."

He remembered her skin. The way her face heated up under his lips. It reveled him—intoxicated him. To have her so close yet so far frustrated him to no end. Here she was, all his again, but yet truly never his! It was maddening!

He tried to reason with him then. After all, he had her back now. They could start anew. He could manipulate her like the rest of the population he has wrapped around his finger. Yet, would that really be enough? Facing her in the false form when he had no restrictions before? He had become even more greedy for her over the years—would any of it really be enough for him?

No. It wouldn't. He had to have more. He needed more of her.


"My dear wife," Hades beseeched her. "It would make me so happy if you could partake in this fine fruit with me before your departure. At least one good memory of our time together will sustain me." He held up the pomegranate, ready to be devoured.


"It's time to get ready, Matsurika." Mariya said, gesturing her towards one of the closets. Matsurika looked at him suspiciously, wondering why he chose a closet to change in; however, Mariya keep his sweet smile, letting nothing through to her.

He knew she would come. Kanako. She would come looking for him like she always had. They were linked together. Years apart would not change it.

He heard her steps coming closer. His heart pounding in his chest, his plan already set in motion, with no turning back now.

"Dammit Matsurika! You're going to kill me!"


Persephone smiled graciously, taking the pomegranate and placing it at her lips.


The door opened, and there she stood.

There was no turning back for her now. She saw too much.


She ate the fruit of the dead.


He had waited for so long. And now she would be his once more.


His Queen of the Dead.


Karin: Well there you have it. Hope it was okay. Not really a lot happened this oneshot. It was just a different twist to something we already know. I tried to grasp the characters but I failed those of you who do not know of the myth of Hades and Persephone-Hades fell in love with Persephone and wanted her for his wife. In some versions Zeus allows him to steal her from her mother and Hades traps her in the Underworld. She starves herself refusing to be his wife and Demeter, her mother, takes away the crops and livestock of Earth in vengeance until her daughter is returned to her. However, before being returned to her mother, Hades tricks Persephone into eating the fruit of the dead, thereby trapping her in the Underworld. She can only be with her mother 4 months out of the year, which is why we have summer and spring, and then when she is in the Underworld, it is fall and winter.

See ya Next time!


Replies to reviews:

SerenaKo413—I don't think I'm all that good honestly. You're much better than me haha. And thank you for the praise! I'm trying to come back alive after the big hit from my depression and what not so I'm trying to revive some fics of mine. I really hope you enjoyed this oneshot!

Orika—dear god she does. I feel bad for her.

Princess potato—I'm still working on the plot for the Harry Potter one but I know some stuff for that oneshot.

kstars—thank you for answering my question from last chapter! I'm still in the thinking stages for HP and I will try to think of a lemon.

Felix02—thank you! I hope you enjoyed the new installments. I think my chapters 1 and 2 are the best though, but I hope these were enjoyable all the same.