Chapter Seven: East Bound and Down

When we reach Apollo's Temple—I win the race, by the way— Theia is outside, pacing. As soon as she sees me, she stops. Not even just stops though. She freezes in her tracks and shrinks a little.

Suddenly, I feel really bad for her. For as long as we've been friends, this is probably the most major incident/fight we've had, and she probably feels like it's her fault.

As I continue walking toward her, I can see her face more clearly. She seems as though she wants to go curl up in a corner and hide.

I try to ease her guilt/fear by smiling as I reach the front of the Temple where she's standing, Travis right behind me.

"You ready to go? The gods can't save themselves," I say cheerily as an indignant roll of thunder sounds off not far from our location.

I glance at the sky and then shrug before looking back to my friend who has the strangest expression on her face. Understandable. Last she had seen of me, I had run off crying.

"Are you… Are you feeling okay?" she asks concernedly.

"Never better," I reply, then mentally slap myself. "Except for the fact that my friends' dads are missing, but we're going to fix that," I tack on quickly not wanting a repeat of earlier.

"You're… sure you're okay?..."

"Yep," I reply, still smiling before glancing around. "Where are the Muses?"

"They said they had told us all they knew and so I told them that Zeus and the others wanted to know and they left."

"Speaking of which," Travis begins, "I think it's time we leave Olympus and go to wherever we need to go."

"The Underworld," Theia says, still looking at me warily, as if any minute now, I'm gonna punch her in the face and yell at her.

I nod.

"Well, we've got a long way to go and a short time to get there, so let's head out."

Travis and Theia both nod, not even catching my Jerry Reed song reference.

Regardless of their tragic failure to catch the reference, we begin our walk toward the stairs so that we can reach the elevator and truly begin our quest.

Just as we're turning the corner of a building trying to get to the steps, another conversation starts up.

"So… If we're going to the Underworld, then that means it's Hades, right?" Theia questions.

The thought had crossed my mind, I must admit, but, honestly, I don't want to believe that it's him. I had been one among the last few left in fighting shape in front of the Empire State Building, at the 'Last Stand' as we campers call it. One of the very ones who would have been slaughtered if Hades hadn't shown up when he did.

I had even fought alongside him. Not long after Kronos had fled into the Empire State Building and Percy had followed, I had been surrounded by monsters. Lord Hades had seen me boxed in and—for whatever reason—he had decided to help me, and had appeared behind me.

We fought back to back, in the midst of a huge group of monsters, and we kept one another covered from attacks. We cut down any monster that came too close, and, almost entirely due to him, we managed to destroy most of the horde that had attacked us.

He could have let me die, as I most certainly would have unaided, but he didn't. He saved me and, more importantly, Olympus itself. Because of this, I feel a twinge of guilt for even allowing myself to think that he has something to do with the current situation.

The other gods, even my friends and possibly Chiron, might accuse me of siding with him, but I truthfully don't think that his hand is in this. He might be responsible, but…

"Just because it's the Underworld, doesn't necessarily mean that it's Hades," I reply, defending the dark god.

Travis nods exaggeratedly.

"Yep. I mean, after all, there's Hades and Persephone and Hades and Thanatos and Hades and… Wait. Did I mention Hades?" he asks sarcastically, earning a smirk of approval from Theia.

All I can do is roll my eyes as I stop walking, forcing them to do the same, and turn to look at them both. I can see that they keep looking around me to the stairs. They're anxious to leave and get started, but we can't go anywhere until this issue has been resolved.

You can't just blame someone because they seem good for it. That's what always gets the Big Three in trouble. The blame game. You know, it's like a messed up version of that Barney song. 'I blame you, you blame me. We're an angry family. With a great big boom, oh, look I smited you. You can blame me for that, too.'

That's what almost started up a war between the gods themselves, rather than gods vs. titans. You must keep an open-mind to assess all possibilities. No matter how little you may like them, which is the only reason I have not completely ruled out Hades. I know it's possible that he did it, I'm just cautiously hopeful that he didn't.

"There's plenty of people… er, gods that could be responsible," I state, getting the two heroes' attentions. "Alastor, spirit of blood feuds and vengeance; the Anaideia, spirits of ruthlessness, shamelessness, and unforgivingness… Then, of course, there's the Arae, spirits of curses; Moros, spirit of doom, and," I see Travis open his mouth to argue the point, but I cut him off and start to turn. "And yes, Travis. Hades to— "

I stop as soon as I've turned all the way around, because as I turn I see someone stumble over the steps. The figure's very presence chills my bones due to the aura radiating off him.

But, after taking in his current state, my heart goes out to him.

He sees us and tries to take a step, but begins to pitch forward instead. Rushing toward him, I catch him, only barely managing to do so, and as soon as I have, I want to move away. Immediately upon having caught him, it feels as though my very life force is draining a little just from touching him, because the broken and battered form I am supporting is that of The Lord of the Dead himself.

Hades.

Even as golden blood begins to stain my skin and clothes, the weight of the rather brawny Olympian leaves me struggling to hold him upright. I know that any minute now, my legs will give out sending both Hades and I face first into the marble floor.

I glance at Theia and Travis whose eyes are wide and mouths are agape. I can see right now that they will be no help.

"Bench," Hades mumbles, barely managing to point at the seat over to the left.

Obviously, he had realized that even though I am 5'11", I have a rather small frame, and he doesn't.

Either he realized that or he read my mind and really didn't want to be dropped on his face.

I support/drag him to the bench, and then support him as he sits down. Upon looking over him, I notice that he's breathing heavily and looks much like a mortal would if they were running a fever: lost, dazed, and confused.

Speaking of lost, dazed, and confused, Travis and Theia finally recover enough to rush over and stand behind me, only after I'd somehow managed to get him to the bench. A lot of help they are. Maybe I should have brought Nico. He would have been more than willing to help his dad.

"Dude, what happened?" Travis half exclaims, half questions.

Hades looks at him uncomprehendingly and so I decide to try a different approach.

I kneel down so that I'm relatively close to being face to face with the injured and hazy god; though even with him sitting on the bench and me kneeling, he's still much taller than me. Honestly, injured or no, I can't help but think that this might get me vaporized.

"Lord Hades," I say.

A second passes, then his eyes focus in on me, and he opens his mouth to speak.

"You are… that girl… from before… From the battle," he states, practically gasping for breath.

"Yes, Lord Hades. My name is Nakita. We want to help you," I reply, gesturing to Travis and Theia, who are still gawking. "What can we do?"

"Need… ambrosia or… nectar," he answers clearly in pain.

I sling my backpack from my shoulder and unzip it, immediately starting to rifle through its contents.

Finding the thermos of nectar first, I unscrew the lid and help him steady it as he drinks. Almost instantaneously, some of his strength returns. It is not much, but just enough that I don't have to help him, so I remove my hand from the thermos for fear of being incinerated.

After a moment, he puts the thermos down and leans back against the bench momentarily shutting his eyes. He still looks as though he is in pain, but not nearly as much as he was when we both almost took a nosedive into the marble walkway.

What seems like an eternity slowly ticks by before Hades opens his eyes, once more focusing in on me.

"Thank you," he says, sounding almost completely sincere.

"It's the least I could do," I reply, barely managing to smile.

He still doesn't look great and I can't help but wonder what had happened that the Lord of the Dead was in such condition to begin with.

He looks at me questioningly for a brief moment. Apparently, he is puzzled by my statement. After all, I can't imagine that many people are so kind to the god of the Underworld.

My theory is proved when his eyes take on a slight glow and a re-cap of the battle flashes in front of me. It's like a messed up movie projector, though, only showing certain fragments. Burning flames, shouting, blood, death. The images flash so quickly that my mind is almost overwhelmed until finally, the 'projector' settles on one particular scene:

Me surrounded by Kronos' hordes and then Hades appearing.

The scene plays out so vividly, I can almost hear the crackling of the fire somewhere off to the right where a car is burning, can almost feel my wounds leaking life-sustaining red everywhere. I almost have the urge to reach down to my side—what had been the worst of my injuries—and reassure myself that I am not bleeding.

The images continue until the last monster falls, then they stop.

Hades' eyes stop glowing and he nods knowingly, as if he suddenly remembers to what I had been referring.

Looking to me with a rather calculating stare, he replies, "Considering your… current status, I doubt it was the least you could do. And I think you may 'call it even' now if you wish."

I frown a little over his remark about my 'status', but I say nothing.

He obviously knows something more than I do, but I don't care. I have a father, whether my Olympian parent decides to claim me or no.

"So…" begins Theia, clearly trying to break the awkward silence. "What now?"

"I must get to the council room."

"Do you need our help?" I ask, receiving looks from both Travis and Theia. I send back a warning glare before returning my gaze to Hades.

"I do not require your help," Hades scoffs, barely managing to stand. He starts to take a step forward but then seems to hesitate before speaking once more. "However, you may need to hear what I have to say to my dear brothers."

That having been said, he holds his elbow out to me as if to offer his arm. Knowing that he is doing so in the hopes that—without him having to ask for it—I will help him, I loop my arm through his in such a way that I am indeed supporting the Olympian, though none but him and myself know it. Travis and Theia just think that Hades and I both have lost our minds, him in trying to be 'gentlemanly', and me in that I am acting like a 'lady' for once.

Despite their reactions and the cold chill slowly travelling up my arm, it is without further delay that we all turn and begin the long walk to the throne room.

The walk is silent and seems a lot longer than it really is probably because, with Hades' weight on my arm, it feels like my shoulder is going to pull out of joint. Not to mention the cold chill that had started crawling up my arm was now covering most of that side of my body, and slowly trying to make its way over to the other side as well.

After what seems an eternity, we reach the doors of the throne room. Almost immediately we hear sudden loud and angry booms of thunder that sound quite similar to the camp's Fourth of July fireworks show. Quite honestly, I jump out of my skin at the sudden loud noise that seems to have come from directly overhead.

Hades gives me a questioning look, probably at my reaction. Of course, it wouldn't faze him; he's accustom to it by now, I'm sure. After all, it can only be startling for so many millennia before it just gets old.

"HADES!" bellows the voice that can only be Zeus.

The god looks from me to the door and frowns, clearly knowing Zeus is about to blame him for whatever has upset him. He returns his gaze to me and nods, withdrawing his arm and I feel like a weight has been lifted from me.

The manner in which I had been supporting him—trying to accommodate the fact that he would not want anyone to know that I was helping him—had put quite a bit of strain on my arm and shoulder.

As he steps forward, placing me out of his line of sight, I discreetly roll my shoulder, stretching to make it seem as though I am just stiff. Hearing a loud pop, I realize that my shoulder had indeed been on its way to being out of joint.

A quick look back at Travis and Theia tells me that they have not caught on and are instead quite busy staring nervously at the sky, most likely watching for lightning bolts.

I shake my head and roll my eyes, turning to look at the door, and Hades, once more.

He takes another step forward and begins to say something, in all likelihood the same phrase that Mr. D had said to open the doors, but he pauses and glances at us.

"He has probably gone into his true form. You three wait here and I will tell you when you may enter safely. Unless, of course, any of you wish to be seeing more of me," he adds drily.

The three of us nod mutely. Funny, I guess Travis and Theia find the idea of being incinerated and taking a one-way trip to the Underworld about as appealing as I do. Go figure. I thought I was the only one.

"Yeah, whatever you say. No incinerating for me. I am good… Yeah," Travis volunteers, laughing nervously.

Hades arches an eyebrow questioningly at Travis, probably wondering what on Earth is wrong with him, and I quickly speak.

"Yes, Lord Hades. We understand," I say for all of us.

"Good. Now turn the other way because I am going to open the doors."

We do so and behind us there's a supernova bright flash of light.

Obviously I can't turn to know for certain—I am alive, after all—but I'm relatively certain that Hades has gone into his true form as well. I suppose if I were him, I would want to be on equal ground when entering a warzone, too.

I hear Hades mutter the same phrase Mr. D had and then the doors opening.

For a split second, there is utter silence and then…

"You bellowed, dear brother?" questions Hades, his voice taking on an amplified stereo effect.

The doors close quickly, probably at Hades' command, but I don't even have to eavesdrop to hear inside.

"You dare to show your face here, Hades, after you have taken my two sons?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Do not feign innocence, Hades! My sons, Hermes and Apollo! They are missing, as I am sure you know! I will not tolerate such an offense! You are in my domain now, brother!"

"So I gathered, but why do you think you can accuse me of capturing your precious sons? This is the first I have heard of it."

Clearly Zeus does not like or believe this answer because he yells even louder than I thought possible for anyone.

"The newest Prophecy clearly states that the heroes must travel 'below'. That is YOUR domain!"

I can't help but think back to the little ditty I had composed earlier about the blame game the Olympians—especially the Big Three—seem so fond of, and it is all I can do to keep from humming it. Somehow, I think it would not go over well at the present.

"And so you assume it was me? Need I remind you how many other things are in the Underworld?"

"Need I remind you, Hades," begins Zeus in a deadly calm tone that sends shivers down my spine, "what I can do to your son if mine are not returned quickly?"

There is a sudden crackle and the smell of ozone meets my nose. A gasp escapes me as I realize what Zeus means.

Nico.

"If you dare harm my son, you declare war, and I will send my Furies to every. corner. of the earth, until they find your daughter, and I will make her suffer."

My eyes widen in shock.

Thalia.

How can the gods so ruthlessly threaten each other's children? How can they be so cold as to resort to this? Nico and Thalia have done nothing except exist and Zeus and Hades throw around each of their lives as if it is nothing.

"How dare—"

"Father! Uncle! Please," exclaims the usually calm, measured voice of Athena. "Let us discuss this rationally. Clearly, Father, Uncle has suffered greatly at someone's hands. Mark you how he stands? He is in pain. Perhaps his attacker and your kidnapper are one and the same. Let us sit and talk calmly and be at peace. In such grave situations as this, we must work together in harmony, not be snapping at each other's throats."

"Agreed," says Poseidon, speaking for the first time since we had arrived. "For once, I agree with Athena."

I know the situation to be very precarious as those words must have been hard for him to say. He only would have said such words if there was no way around it, if peace required them.

"Fine," Hades responds, clearly clenching his teeth in an effort to restrain other words from escaping.

"Very well," responds Zeus in much the same manner.

"Now, let us discuss the matter," speaks Athena.

"The heroes stand outside, waiting to be allowed entrance, dear brother," Hades spits, and I can almost hear in his voice the sneer that must be on his face. "Perhaps you could leave your true form long enough for them to enter and hear the news I bring."

There's another pause and then the doors open, though, I don't want to risk turning around until I am told it is safe. Carefully glancing to Theia and Travis on either side of me, I see that they are of the same mind.

"Enter heroes," Zeus orders, his tone dangerous.

"It is safe now," Hades adds, probably knowing that we are unsure if Zeus cares whether or not we are incinerated.

The three of us exchange quick glances before turning and walking inside. Don't want to further annoy any of them...

How does Percy constantly smart mouth them? I can't help but wonder if it's not that Poseidon gene, because not even Travis is smarting off at the moment.

The sight we are greeted with upon entering the room is that of five gigantic Olympians, four sitting in their thrones and Hades sitting by the hearth, all towering far above us.

"Heroes," Athena nods to us.

"Lady Athena, it seems we weren't able to get too far, yet," Travis says nervously, trying to force a smile, though it comes off as more of a grimace.

I wince.

Travis has this disorder where if people are upset or there's tension in a room, he has to make a joke or say some comment. He simply cannot help himself. His mind thinks it and then the words automatically spill out. No warning, no way to stop them. They just spill out, often times getting him in trouble.

Of course, that would have to happen now. Almost without thinking about it, I start praying that none of them vaporize him. It really isn't his fault, after all.

Thankfully, none of the rather irritated Olympians seems to have been further angered by his comment. In fact, based from the expression on Athena's face, I have a feeling that none of the five present wish to incinerate one of the missing gods' sons. What rather scares me is that Poseidon and Athena exchange an almost sad glance after looking between Travis and Theia.

At another glance around, they all stand and shrink down to 'normal' size. Now they're all only a few inches taller than Travis rather than several feet taller.

Having done so, Athena nods.

"No, I suppose you have not, but you have done wisely to return. I am sure what Uncle has to say will be knowledge you require," she finishes, turning to Hades, obviously signaling him to speak.

Hades throws a cold glance at Zeus, one eyebrow raised.

"May I speak in your presence, Brother?"

"Please do," Zeus answers, through clenched teeth.

"Thank you," Hades replies somewhat mockingly.

He pauses for a moment, and I'm almost certain I see him flinch in pain, but then it is gone again.

I look around, yet no one else seems to have noticed it so I am not entirely sure if I had truly seen it or if it had been a trick of the firelight dancing across his face. Whether his pain was real or imagined, noticed by anyone else or not, his extended pause is noticed.

"Well, Hades," Zeus demands gruffly. "What is this urgent news?"

"I would not have come here had it not been necessary," he begins, once more pausing. This time I know I can't be imagining the flash of pain that flickers across his face before he continues. "I fear I have been left no choice. Clearly, the current matters and blame have been thrown onto my shoulders, but this is not my burden to bear."

I watch as Athena's eyebrows furrow in puzzlement.

"What do you mean, Uncle?"

As Hades opens his mouth to reply, his face suddenly contorts, and he drops to his knees.

"Brother!" Poseidon yells as he rushes forward, Zeus following with Athena and Mr. D not far behind.

I force my shock back and once more sling my backpack around. Dumping everything out on the ground, I find the thermos of nectar and quickly pick it up, dropping the backpack, and leaving everything else as it is on the ground.

I run toward them, unscrewing the lid of the thermos as I do. Carefully, so I don't get incinerated, I stop behind the one Olympian who might not kill me for interfering right now.

"Mr. D," I say softly, yet urgently, as I bow, looking down at the floor and holding the container out to him.

I glance up nervously, praying that he'll look at me before deciding to have grapevines eat the one who is interrupting at a time like this.

He turns in annoyance, but when he sees what I'm holding out to him, his expression seems to soften ever so slightly, and he nods as he takes it from me.

Without straightening, I back up, returning to my place between Travis and Theia, only then do I stand up straight. As I do so, Travis hands me my backpack. He had apparently replaced its contents during the point of time in which I had taken my life in my own hands. Children of Hermes. They just have to pack stuff. I think it's in the DNA.

The three of us watch in silent worry as Mr. D hands the thermos to Athena who helps Hades drink some of it while the other two Olympians look on, actually seeming concerned for their eldest brother; even Zeus, who had been threatening Hades' child not five minutes prior, appears to be worried.

Despite everything—brotherly competition, domain disputes, and family feuds—when one of their own goes down, they pull together. Almost as if by instinct, they realize that if one of them falls, it won't be long until all of them fall. Whether they like it or not, they all depend on one another. They all balance each other out. They all are part of a system. Yet, I also believe, maybe foolishly, that somewhere deep down they actually do care about one another, even if they would never admit to it.

"What were you saying, Uncle," Athena asks urgently as Hades takes in a labored breath.

"My domain… is not my own," he replies once more looking feverish, maybe even more so than he had when I had helped him earlier.

"What do you mean?" Poseidon questions, his brow knit with worry.

"I am not… in charge anymore…"

"Then who is?" Mr. D exclaims.

Hades' eyes take on a dark, hazy, almost haunted look as he tries to focus in on Mr. D.

"I… I don't know."

These words spoken, Hades seems to space out entirely and, for but a moment, the Olympians motionlessly sit in silence. Not much longer, though, and motion and sound is restored.

As Athena and Poseidon assist the disoriented Hades, Zeus summons Persephone. The sound of his wife's name seems to set Hades on edge because he starts mumbling about not allowing her to go back to the Underworld, not letting them get her—whoever "them" are, not even Hades knows.

When Persephone finally appears in the door, it is clear that she is worried, and I have no doubt that over time, Persephone has learned to love her former kidnapper, even if only enough to worry for him now.

Upon the goddess of Spring seeing her husband in his current state, she rushes the rest of the way to him and kneels beside him. Not wanting to intrude on the moment, I look away. Moments such as these are not meant to be watched by outsiders, and certainly not by mere mortal eyes.

Only when I hear a lot of motion do I turn around. Persephone and Poseidon have each taken Hades between them, each with an arm across their shoulders, supporting him. As they assist him in leaving the room—most likely to the infirmary—my mind begins to wander.

I cannot speak for Theia and Travis, but for me it is really strange, borderline surreal, seeing one of the gods in such a condition. Normally when we demigods see them, they are powerful and imposing. Most demigods, with the exception of Percy Jackson, often are quite wary around them, oftentimes struck silent. You never know when one of them might randomly take a disliking to you and so it is a good idea to have most of them okay with you.

The difference between the usual invulnerability and the current state of affairs—Hades injured and two major gods missing—is somewhat alarming. If whatever's behind all these events can do this to the Olympians…. What could it do to us?

Involuntarily, I glance at Travis and Theia.

No matter what happens to me, they will be okay. They will return to Camp Half-Blood. They will survive this quest. My own fate is unimportant to me. Whatever the Fates have in store for me will be my lot. It might take a while but Travis and Theia would move on and all would be okay.

Yet, as soon as I think this, another thought comes to my mind.

'Be safe, Nakita. Be safe.'

Chiron.

He might not be okay as quickly.

Suddenly, I wish the ancient trainer of heroes were here. He would know what to do. He would have the perfect plan, and he would have great insight into who—or what—is doing this. He would know.

But I'm also glad that he's not here.

Here is unstable. Here is dangerous. The thought of anything happening to him is intolerable.

Which is all the more reason for me to stay a strong leader and to accomplish the quest.

If anything happens to Olympus, Camp Half-Blood would once more become an army forced to save it at all costs. Many more campers would fall, and I do not want to see any more of my friends, my "family", fall again.

Just upon reaching this decision, I look up to see Athena staring at me as if she has been listening to my thoughts.

When she realizes that I have looked up at her, she smiles sadly before addressing Travis, Theia, and me.

"Heroes, it appears this quest shall be even more dangerous than at first thought. I am sure you realize this," she says, casting a quick glance at me. "I must ask if you wish to continue. If not, other heroes will be found, but know this: if you choose to continue, I am certain you will face many perils. Some may prove more than you think you are capable of overcoming. Therefore, before anything else is said, I must ask. Will you continue?"

I already have decided my own answer, and so I look to Theia who gives me a determined nod, and then to Travis whose mouth twists into a grim smile that looks so horribly out of place on his face. It just seems completely wrong.

Travis is not even supposed to possess such a smile, and suddenly I find myself remembering to a few years prior when that smile had first appeared, but thinking of the war now will do me no good. I must focus.

Forcing my mind from that line of thought, I return my attention to Athena.

"Yes, Lady Athena, we will continue."

Once more, she smiles, just as humorlessly as the last.

"Very well. Then you must journey to your next destination as foretold by the Prophecy."

"The Underworld," supplies Theia.

"Yes," she nods. "I do not know what awaits you once there, but I do know that you must be careful. Many dangers lurk in the Underworld."

"Like Cerberus…" Travis mutters slightly under his breath.

This time it is Mr. D who speaks, nearly startling me. I had almost forgotten he was still in the room.

"You heroes are worth absolutely nothing. I assure you, that three-headed mutt will be the least of your worries. Do you honestly consider Cerberus more of a threat than what has injured Hades so badly?" he snaps.

At this Travis' gaze fixes on the floor in a rather dejected manner, and I almost want to yell at Mr. D. Nothing Travis had said had merited that scolding. Nothing. He had not been saying that Cerberus would be the most dangerous, merely that it would be a danger and considering the fact that we don't know anything else of the situation, Cerberus is the only constant.

Apparently, catching the light in my eyes, Mr. D scowls.

"Do you wish to say something, Nakita?"

His voice is cold, challenging, his stare withering, and I force my own gaze to the ground. Ill-thought words will not help me in this moment.

"No, sir."

"Good."

Thus spoken, he exits the room, leaving Athena, the unusually silent Zeus, and the three of us to watch as he leaves.

Athena's frowning eyes stare at the door Mr. D had just exited before turning her gaze to us.

"Heroes. Do not mind Dionysus; he is merely worried, as we all are."

"But he is correct on one matter," says Zeus, speaking for the first time since Hades had left. "Cerberus is inconsequential to whatever has done this to Hades. It is very likely that the three of you will not survive this."

Gee, thanks, Zeus. That's definitely a confidence booster I need right now.

"But, since you will persist," Zeus continues, "you will do so with the gods' blessing. You will go to Hephaestus' forges here on Olympus, and he will outfit you with armor and do what he can for your weapons. Now, be on your way."

The three of us bow quickly and leave the room, intent on doing as we have been told.

With all that has happened and all we have heard, we will need every advantage we can have, and having armor given by Hephaestus seems a worthwhile advantage indeed.


Already we have reached the point at which I had stopped before. I have been typing all of my corrections and additions in like a crazy person trying to get all of this posted again.

You can expect the NEW material within the next few days, if not tonight, if all goes well. ^_^

I really would love to get some feedback, from old or new readers, about how the story is going. Like I said, the basic principle is still there (for now) but I added a lot of details and changed stuff around so that it would read better.

I'd love to hear from whoever is reading. :)

~Kanae~