A/N: Had a rough day today. Figured I could vent some steam through writing.

Gayathri: Soon.

UnknownReader: Thanks!

PJandLGequalsLove: Here ya go!

Simbylosis: I don't think that's the perfect way of describing it, but who am I to judge?

Aix98forever: Okay I'm gonna need you to change the name because that's just weird. And, no spoilers.

BTW, some corrections on the previous chapter in which I kept changing the name of Ashikaga's leader from Kiragi to Kiraga. The official name is Kiraga. My bad on that one.

Now, onwards.

Chapter 8

Annabeth was back at Camp Jupiter, sipping Roman hot chocolate with an astounding view over the whole of New Rome.

The view would've been beautiful if Annabeth's mind hadn't been so cluttered and confused.

After her brief visit to the Ashikaga Clan's base, she'd been left with even more questions than answers. Their meeting had to be cut short due to Lord Kiraga being summoned for an urgent meeting between clan leaders.

Lord Kiraga had been good enough to allow Annabeth to meet him personally. He'd expressed his interest in working together with Camp Jupiter to extinguish the threat of the Yomi. Annabeth had replied that she wishes so that they could arrange a formal discussion between the two sides without interruption, to which Lord Kiraga agreed.

But before that, he mentioned that Percy was, or still is, a member of the Ashikaga Clan. When Annabeth asked further, his explanation was brief. Percy had stayed with them in their base in Japan for a little over a year before he . . . turned.

According to Lord Kiraga, Percy already has the powers of the sea flowing within him. That made him a suitable choice to be a student of the Kuraokami way. He followed the path of the God of Rain and Snow. He quickly became one of the best swordsman the Ashikaga Clan has seen and soon, all of Japan. He'd made a name for himself for becoming a fearsome warrior.

When Annabeth confronted Asanagi about it, he claimed that he'd never heard of Percy until when Annabeth mentioned him.

Percy had become one of Japan's most valuable asset in fighting against the Yokai and the forces of the Yomi. That is until he decided to go rogue. Percy decided to reject their ways and not follow orders. Any attempt to subdue him was met with resistance.

At first, he was branded as a traitor and as an enemy. But then they've been receiving reports about Percy helping out demigods in closing Yomi entrances and then disappearing like the wind. No one could track him. Any attempts to fight him was futile.

Most of the twelve main clans don't really see him as an ally, but they don't see him as an enemy either. They keep him in their watch list as potential threats. Some clans, like the Ashikaga, supported Percy.

The Japanese branded Percy as a Ronin, a drifter, a wanderer. A warrior that serves no master.

What bothered Annabeth the most was the fact that Percy decided to go rogue. Percy was loyal to a fault. If the Ashikaga was as nice as they'd claimed, Percy would've been loyal to them.

And if, as Jason claims, Percy really did supported Izanami, then why is he closing off the entrances to they Yomi and why didn't he sabotage the Ashikaga's in the first place?

And if he really went rogue, was it because he was influenced by Izanami? Did he join her at that point? But even if he did, why was he still closing entrances to the Yomi?

The questions were swirling in Annabeth's mind that she almost didn't notice Reyna sitting down on the bench next to her. "You know, if you keep glaring at your chocolate like that you're gonna drill a hole through the mug." Reyna said.

Annabeth managed a chuckled. "It's been a crazy day." Annabeth said. "There's so many questions and I don't have the variables to solve it."

"Look, I want Percy back too. He's a friend of ours." Reyna said. "But I wouldn't be so careless."

"What do you mean?"

Reyna sighed. "People change, Annabeth. It's been three years. I don't doubt that he'll return to us and he'll still be our friend. But I also don't doubt that he's going to change."

"You don't think of him as an enemy, do you?" Annabeth asked with a bit of a challenging tone.

Reyna chuckled. "Of course not, Annabeth. I'm just asking you to be careful. He might not be the same Percy as we once knew."

Annabeth bit her lower lip. She did have a point. After three years being separated by his family and friends, Annabeth doubted Percy hadn't change.

"Maybe." Annabeth said. She wanted to say something else when the sound of an eagle interrupted their conversation. Annabeth looked above to see a huge bald eagle swirling around them before going to a nosedive.

Annabeth had seen Frank do this many times so she wasn't worried as Frank slowed down right before he hit the ground and he transformed back into Frank.

"Trouble." Frank said. "A Yomi entrance has appeared in the Field of Mars."

Reyna and Annabeth went to full alert. "Is everyone there?" Reyna asked.

Frank nodded. "We're preparing for everything, but there's something wrong." He said. "You need to come quick."

Reyna and Annabeth exchanged looks before they rushed towards the Field of Mars.

The place was unnervingly silent. Temporary walls have been built with spikes all over the place with trenches being dug. It looked like a war zone before the war actually happened.

The cohorts have been assembled in files. Hannibal was prepared in full Kevlar with a special mounted rapid-firing crossbow on his back, a new addition that Annabeth had helped in suggesting.

Even with all this preparation and the Yomi being wide open to them, the Yokai have not invaded. No ghosts or demons came out of the entrance, which made it all the more suspenseful.

"We're gonna need help from one of the ninja dudes." Frank said. He and Reyna exchanged looks before nodding.

Reyna took out a piece of paper and tore it in half.

In an instant, Musei appeared out of nowhere next to them in full battle regalia. "That was quick." Frank muttered.

"So, I know you don't speak but you can understand us, right?" Reyna asked. Musei gave a slight nod. "Good. So, we're gonna need your help on sealing this entrance but so far, no Yokai have entered this side of the world."

Musei studied the situation. Under the straw hat, Annabeth couldn't see hie face clearly. After he finished analyzing their current situation, he took something out of his breast pocket, wrote something on it and then folded it several times before he blew it out of his hand. It was a bird origami made out of white paper and it flew like a real bird would.

He responded with sign language, which no one understood. "Um, I'm not good with charades." Frank said.

"I guess we're gonna have to wait to find out." Annabeth said. "We have to prepare to face the Yokai when they come out."

"The one we entered wasn't this big, was it?" Frank asked.

Annabeth shook her head. "This is a much bigger entrance. I think the amount of Yokai that's going to be flowing out of the entrance is gonna be overwhelming. We have to keep their forces bottled in so that they don't overflow to New Rome."

Reyna nodded. "What do you suggest?"

"Divide the infantry into three squadrons. One squadron will cover the left side and the other will cover the right side. Arrange them in a funnel. The third squadron should be at the end of it facing the entrance to engage with the Yokai squadron." Annabeth explained.

"I'll take the archers and place them on higher grounds so they could get a clear shot at the enemy." Frank said. Annabeth nodded in agreement. "Archers! To me!"

There was a unison cheer before a group of Romans followed Frank armed with quivers and bows.

"The center squadron should be the one with the most people, since they'll be taking the full force of the enemy." Annabeth said as she turned towards Reyna. "I assume you'll handle it?"

"Leave it to me." Reyna said. She turned towards the remaining Romans. "Romans!"

The Romans snapped in attention as Reyna gave out the orders. The legion quickly assembled according to their instructions.

That left Musei and Annabeth. Annabeth wanted to talk to him, but she didn't know how to. If Annabeth knew how to sign, it would've helped.

Annabeth felt Musei tapping her on the shoulder. Annabeth turned towards him. Musei pointed at the Yomi's entrance and then unsheathed both of his swords. Both of them were katanas, which were samurai swords with only a single edge and barely any hand guard at the hilt.

"They're coming?" Annabeth asked.

Musei nodded in confirmation. Annabeth gritted her teeth and drew her swords. "They're com-"

Annabeth didn't manage to finish her sentence as the sound of a roar filled the evening sky. The atmosphere suddenly got heavier as the temperature dropped.

Then, all hell broke loose.

All kinds of monsters and demons charged through the entrance. Annabeth knew they were outnumbered just through the sheer intensity of them coming out of the entrance.

The plan worked at least for a while before the left flank was forced to retreat. Annabeth spotted Jason flying around and zapping enemies left and right, but it did little to the Yokai's enormous number.

Thalia and the Hunt would've been helpful right now, but unfortunately they're continuing with their journey.

The two sides clashed furiously. Ghosts and Tengu were flying around and picking off Romans and dropping them at insane heights. The archers tried to shoot them down, but it's risky. If they miss, they might end up hitting their fellow Romans.

Jason noticed the problem and flew up into the sky to take care of their aerial threat.

Annabeth was busy fighting with the middle squadron, slashing down demons and monsters alongside the Romans.

Musei fought like an absolute monster. Figuratively, of course.

The speed at which he moves was unbelievably fast that he appears to be moving in a blur. Everywhere he went, Yokai fell leaving nothing but dust. His combat technique was so refined and graceful that Annabeth feels like she's watching a very well-crafted dance choreography.

Annabeth ducked under the lunge of a white fox - Kitsune - and stabbing it in the torso. A Tengu lunged at her from the sky but she rolled out of the way and slashed its head off. Annabeth saw a bunch of Yokai that looked like the ghost girl from the Ring movie. Any attempts to attack them were futile as their weapons just pass through them as if they were literal ghosts.

When the ghost Yokai pass through anyone, that person will collapse instantly. Whether they're dead or just unconscious, Annabeth couldn't tell.

Out of the corner of her eye, Annabeth could see Hazel riding Arion as she sliced used her spatha to her benefit.

"Hazel!" Annabeth called out. "Can you handle the ghosts?!"

Hazel looked over towards the ghosts and shook her head. She said something back to Annabeth but it got lost in the noise of the battle.

If they can't find a way to handle those ghosts, their forces will be dropping dead by the second.

"Glad to see I'm not the only one stuck in this mess." A familiar voice said behind her. Annabeth turned around to see Nico grinning at her. "Hey."

"Nico?" Annabeth exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"I was in the neighbourhood." Nico said. "I'm gonna handle the Yurei."

"Yurei?"

"Ghosts." Nico winked. "You guys focus on the other Yokai."

"Wait, you knew?"

"Oh, you have no idea." Nico said. "But tell you about it later. We have a job to do." He said as he sprung into action.

Nico was wearing something that Annabeth would have never imagined he would wear. He legit looked like a ninja. As soon as Nico jumped into battle, the ghosts - or Yurei - scattered in all directions, as if trying to run away from Nico.

When Nico sliced one of them, their essence was absorbed into his Stygian iron sword, similar to how Greek monsters would get absorbed into his sword when they turn to dust.

Now that the Yurei wasn't a huge threat to them, they continued to push forward and contain the Yokai within the area of the Field of Mars.

Everything looked to be going great, until Annabeth felt the ground shook. It shook in intervals, shaking briefly for a bit before stopping and then shaking again. Almost like . . . giant footsteps.

Crawling out of Yomi's entrance was a very large skeleton. Giant skeletal fingers wrapped itself on the edges of the entrance. It seemed to be trying to widen the entrance by force as the Yomi entrance was getting bigger.

Then, a giant skull poked out of the hole with glowing purple orbs in its empty eye sockets. The white skull was definitely bigger than what they're seeing because only its head was sticking out and even that was huge enough to squash almost all of them with one giant headbutt.

"Oh shit." Annabeth cursed. "Fall back! Everyone fall back!"

The Romans had to fall back to avoid getting squished, but some got caught in the chaos. The giant skeleton stretched its giant hand out and swept across the Field of Mars, taking care of some unfortunate Romans and Yokai.

Thanks to the Odokuro, most of the Yokai has been wiped out by the swipe of its hand and the rest were stuck behind it. The Odokuro was now halfway out of the Yomi because its ribcage was out. Even with that alone, the Odokuro was at least twelve feet tall.

Reyna stood next to Annabeth along with Nico.

"Hey, nice seeing you here." Reyna said to Nico.

"Likewise." Nico said. "What is that thing?"

"Odokuro." Annabeth said. "I've read about it. It's a mass of dead soldiers who didn't receive proper funerary rites and they're hungry for vengeance."

"Okay. How do we kill it?" Reyna asked.

"We can't. It'll disappear once its energy and hatred disappear." Annabeth said.

"So you're saying there's no killing this thing?" Jason asked. Annabeth didn't realize that Jason had been standing next to her this whole time.

"Unless we can drain its energy, no." Annabeth admitted reluctantly. She hated knowing that the enemy is unkillable and it frustrates her.

Musei then appeared in front of her. He pointed at Odokuro then slid his thumb across his neck. Then he gestured at everyone.

"We can take it down?" Annabeth asked. Musei nodded. "How?"

He gestured at all of them and made the hand sign for wait.

"You want us to wait?" Musei nodded in agreement. "Why?"

Musei made a motion with his hands that looked like a bird flying. "You mean that paper bird you sent out?" Annabeth asked. Musei nodded. He then made one of the sign that Annabeth knew.

Friend.

"Your friend is coming?" Annabeth asked. Musei nodded. "How long will that take?"

Musei pinched his index finger and thumb together to create a little gap with them.

"In a little while, I'm guessing." Nico said. "We don't have time for that. If we don't stop that thing, it'll come out of the Yomi and destroy us."

"Yeah, I suggest we go for the kill." Reyna said. "We can tire it out and make its energy go away, right? We can do it if we work together."

Jason gave the idea some thought and looked to his friends. "So, any objections?"

"To be honest, we've faced worse." Nico said. "Let's do it."

Reyna nodded in agreement. "Romans! Tend to the wounded. We will delay the Odokuro."

"You're being insane, Reyna." A Roman argued. "That thing's huge."

"As your Praetor, I order you to stand down." Reyna insisted. "We're going to close off that entrance. You guys defend the city."

"But-"

"No buts." Reyna said. "That's an order."

The Roman looked like he wanted to argue but he just nodded. Frank then flew in as a dragon and landed next to them. Hazel arrived with Piper on the back of Arion.

"So, just like old times?" Jason grinned.

They nodded. "You're being nostalgic." Frank said. "Charge!" The seven demigods charged the battlefield towards Odokuro.

But before any of them could do anything, a fireball struck in the middle of the Field of Mars, blocking their path to the Odokuro.

When the dust cleared, Annabeth could see someone in the middle of the field. He wore a familiar orange shirt with one sword strapped on the side of his waist and another one strapped across his back.

"Who is that?" Annabeth asked although she knew the answer already. Her heart did jumping jacks at the sight of him. When he turned, Annbeth could clearly see those sea green eyes. And his smile. That stupid smile Annabeth found annoying at first but gradually become endearing.

"Percy?" Reyna muttered. "Is that him?"

"Oh my dear, you are correct." Another voice said. They tried to look for that voice but found that they were unable to move. Another person moved into their field of view.

The others probably don't know her, but Annabeth does. "Izanami?" Annabeth said thought it felt like talking with a stiff jaw. "What are you doing here?"

"Izanami? That's her? The Goddess of Death?" Frank asked.

"Watch your tongue, boy." Izanami threatened with a sweet voice. "Though this is just a manifestation of my power, it will take little effort for me to turn you into a pile of bones." Izanami then turned towards Annabeth. "As for why I'm here, well, I want to watch your friend in action."

"Percy?" Annabeth felt a ball of fire expanding in her chest. It's never a good thing when anyone has an interest in her boyfriend. The last time someone did that, they end up fighting the Primordial of the Earth, Gaia herself. "What's your business with him?"

"Oh, many things my dear. I'm afraid that's just a secret between us." Izanami winked at her.

"Let us go!" Nico said. "Percy needs our help!"

"He won't be able to take down that monster on his own. He's unable to seal the entrance as well."

"Such ignorant minds." Izanami said with a disappointing pout. "You really have no idea what he's been through, have you?"

"What are you talking about?" Jason asked.

Izanami grinned. "Observe." Izanami gestured at the battlefield where Percy and the Odokuro were in a standstill.

The Odokuro gave out a deafening roar - which was ridiculous considering the thing was all bones with no vocal chords - and tried to squash Percy like a bug.

Without moving, a stream of icicles flowed forward from where Percy was standing before one spike of giant ice erupted from the ground and blocked Odokuro's giant hand before spreading and encasing it in a giant ice block.

"Ice?" Piper asked. "Has Percy always been able to do that?"

"The Disciple of Kuraokami." Izanami said. "At least that's what they're calling him."

The Odokuro roared in anger as it tried to swipe at Percy with its other hand. Percy drew the sword on his back and sliced at Odokuro's incoming arm. At first, Annabeth thought the sword would just bounce off of Odokuro's bone and Percy would get swatted away.

But the sword caught on black flames and sliced through Odokuro's bones like butter. Its severed hand disintegrated as Odokuro roared in pain.

"Befitting his title of Amaterasu's Warriro." Izanami grinned. "The Flames of Amaterasu."

"No way." Jason said. "Those were Amaterasu's flames?"

Izanami nodded. "I know right? I'm surprised myself. And now you're going to see why they call him Ashura's Incarnation."

Ashura? Annabeth remembered the name. It was originally a term from Buddhism but was adopted into the Japanese religion. Ashura refers to an individual that has lost themselves to the thirst of battle and has no emotional connection to the world beyond seeking the next victim of their blade.

It means that Ashura is someone who has nothing in his mind but to kill.

Percy jumped towards Odokuro's head sliced its skull off with ease. He then stabbed his flaming sword straight into its eye socket. The Odokuro struggled for a bit with its body flailing wildly in search of its head, but then it went lifeless and disappeared into dust.

That was the good news.

The bad news was the only thing that blocks the thousands of Yokai from entering their world had now disappeared. The Yokai took advantage of it and stormed into the world of the living.

"Let us go, lady!" Nico said. "He needs our help!"

Izanami put one finger on her lips and gestured for Nico to keep watching

The seven of them watched as Percy took out his other sword. A bright orange aura appeared above Percy with a glowing avatar of a women. The avatar looked like an angel with a headdress that resembled the symbol of the sun and wings that spanned widely.

"Amaterasu." Jason muttered in amazement. "It's real."

"Who is Amaterasu?" Nico asked.

"The most important deity in Japanese religion." Izanami explained. "Goddess of the Sun and Universe. And she's technically my daughter."

Percy went into action and everyone watched in disbelief. Each swing of his sword brought forth waves of black flames. Each swing brought death and destruction to the Yokai.

Even though they were a considerable distance away from Percy, Annabeth could feel the intense heat from the flames.

Percy truly fought like Ashura's Incarnation, someone who's chasing death and carnage.

As he drove the Yokai back, Percy then jumped high to the skies and ran his sword through the entrance of the Yomi from top to bottom, almost as if he's slicing it in half.

The entrance to the Yomi burned up and disintegrated, leaving no trace of Yokai or Yomi.

"Ah, fascinating as always." Izanami said. "That was a good show, wasn't it?"

Annabeth still couldn't move and it doesn't seem the others could move as well. "Let us go." Jason growled. Sparks of electricity were flying off of him.

Izanami chuckled. "You're the Twins' student, I assume?" Izanami said. "Well, it does good for them to pass their powers to someone else. They were getting bored."

"Lady, I've never met you before but we're not keen on being rendered immobile like this." Nico grumbled. "Now let us go!"

"I don't appreciate your tone that much." Izanami snarled. "I think I'll start with -" Izanami never did finish her sentence as a blade was pressed against her throat.

"You'll start by releasing my friends and return to the Yomi." Percy growled.

"Hello, Percy." Izanami smiled sultrily. "How have you been? I'm just trying to get close with your friends. Though calling them your friends might be a bit generous. "

Percy's and Annabeth's eyes met for one brief moment and Annabeth felt bliss. That feeling she had of him was now overwhelming and almost intoxicating. Even if without Izanami's powers restraining them, Annabeth would've had a hard time holding herself back in throwing herself in to Percy's arm.

"Let them go." Percy said in an angry tone as he dug his blade a little bit deeper into her neck.

"Oh, I almost forgot!" Izanami said happily. "Annabeth, did you know that Percy missed you for the three years he was missing?"

"Shut up." Percy said but Izanami had no intention of stopping.

"And for a year, he was lonely and was even contemplating suicide." Izanami said sadly. "I almost let him do it too. But instead, I kept him company."

"That's enough." Percy said, digging his blade a little deeper. Black liquid started to pour as blood from where Percy's blade was at Izanami's neck.

"I made sure that he wasn't lonely. You know the hole that you left when he disappeared? I filled that hole, Annabeth." Izanami said.

Annabeth feel her world collapsing. What was Izanami talking about?

"I said that's enough!" Percy shouted.

"One night, he left me a little present." Izanami licked her lips hungrily as she rubbed her stomach.

Percy screamed in anger as he ran his blade into Izanami's chest, but she just disappeared in a cloud of black smoke.

Annabeth could feel herself being able to move again, but none of them were eager to because they were stunned silence.

"Percy . . ." Annabeth called but Percy wouldn't meet her eyes.

"I'm sorry." Percy said miserably before he disappeared in a pillar of flames.

A/N: Mic drop.