Well, this fanfic is almost done! I hope you liked it :) Again, thanks to everyone who's reviewed/favorited etc.! ;) Okay, here goes...

Chapter 12

*Yui's POV*

Much to my distress, Thoth appears in the doorway. Maybe it's just my highly emotional state, but I've never seen him look so gorgeous as he does now. His thick silver hair and jewel-like eyes glow against his deep honey-colored skin, and instead of its usual frown his mouth is slightly open, making him look vulnerable and even more attractive. When our eyes meet, I inevitably flick mine away, unable to trust myself not to start crying or leap out of bed and hug him, or both.

Hades told me that I need to confess my feelings. And he's right…so I'm going to try. If I start thinking now, I'll never get the words out. "I…Thoth…um," is all I can stammer, however. Why does he have to look at me like that when I'm trying to explain this?! So instead, I twist a corner of the sheets so tightly I think my fingers will fall off.

Thoth crosses his arms. "There is no need to apologize," he declares in a disinterested voice. "I fully understand the situation. I agree that you deserve someone like Apollon, who is courteous, considerate, and worthy of you. Please accept my best wishes."

This makes me angry, which is exactly what I need. Thoth is turning to go. "WHAT DO YOU KNOW, THOTH," I snap, in the harshest tone I've ever used in my life. This gets him out of his complacent trance. Who'd ever known Thoth Caduceus could be startled?

"Do you honestly think I love Apollon, when…. You don't get it…you…ugh! I like you. You know that, right?" I mumble softly to the covers, digging my nails into my palms. I peek up at him through my bangs, and the odd expression on his face makes me recoil. I'm miserable. What have I just done? If I'd said nothing, we could have gone back to the way it was before…when Thoth would shove me at walls whenever I asked him a question, when he'd harshly grade my homework assignments and reluctantly attend Host Club. Hades was wrong. It's always better to—WHAT IS GOING ON?

Thoth is at the side of my bed. He has a look of disbelief in his eyes, but he's smiling. It's a genuine, happy smile, one I've never seen on him. Oh, I think joyfully, he's really cute. Suddenly he twirls me out of bed and takes my hands, so that I'm standing on my good leg and he's steadying me. The next thing I know, he's kissed me.

Thoth KISSED ME!

It was my first kiss, too!

"Thoth-sama," I say to break the resulting lack of conversation, "can I call you Thoth-senpai?"

:) :) :) :) :) :)

*Thoth's POV*

Before I met Yui, I'd never known how happy I could really be. Then, when I did know her, I was sure, absolutely sure she could never like me. She was always so gentle, selfless, and sincere, while I was detached, harsh, and unkind. So, to protect myself, I distanced myself from her. My plan seemed to be working until that day, two weeks ago, when Yui started choking. I realized, if only subconsciously, that it would kill me to lose her, and from that day on I looked for a sign that she might like me too. There were many, I realize, looking back, but I didn't trust them. I almost gave up when Apollon entered the picture, but now I'm so glad I didn't…!

Yui is someone I want to spend my life with.

*Apollon's POV*

After the storm, I went right to my father. I'm still in love with Yui, and even though she doesn't return my feelings, I had to make sure she would be safe from now on.

Zeus wasn't sitting on his throne, as usual. Instead, I found him staring out a window at the sunny, wet garden, arms crossed. "I know why you're here," he said without even looking at me.

"Well?" I asked defiantly. "You'd better not try and kill Yui again." Normally I treat my father with the utmost respect, but I think he's lost the right to that.

He sighed. "You understand why I had to try, though?"

"Actually, I DON'T," I snapped.

Zeus sighed again, and I could tell he didn't want to explain. But I stood my ground, giving him the death glare I'd learned from Takeru, until he relented.

"I'd feared Thoth was becoming too powerful. If he thinks he can get away with anything, such as a romance with a student he teaches at my school, who knows what he will try next? I wanted to kill her to prove to him who wields the scepter here. But he just wouldn't let her die. And after he used his powers to save her, I realized that if I anger Thoth, he is far more of a threat than if I just let him have the girl."

That was his reason?! I stare at my father like I've never met him in my life.

"I see now that trying to end a life to solve this problem was too extreme, and I don't want to further anger Thoth. After all, it's much more important that you gods graduate and that our relations with humans are improved. [I thought this was extremely ironic, given recent events.] Please send my apologies to the girl and Thoth, if you think that appropriate. It won't happen again." And with that, Zeus picked up a bowl of pomegranate seeds and started munching.

Relieved but fuming, and wishing I didn't have such a father, I stalked out of the throne room without a word.

*Yui's POV*

After Thoth left, with a promise to visit every day and bring lots of cornbread, I couldn't stay in bed. I hopped around the room on my good leg, singing J-pop and doing a victory dance, even though it made my head throb. I was in this state when Apollon walked in.

"Apollon!" I exclaimed, feeling a little guilty. Although why should I? I reminded myself. I sat down abruptly on the edge of my bed.

Apollon's eyes looked sad, but he managed to give me a small smile. "It looks like you're feeling better," he remarked kindly.

"Y-yes…..Apollon, I'm sorry. I like you, and I want to stay friends with you…but…"

Apollon waved a hand dismissively. "It's okay, Yui. You love…who you love," he concluded, and I could see he was trying to make this easy for me. "I want you to be happy, and…I think Thoth-sama needs someone like you."

We sat in friendly silence. Few people, I realized, are lucky enough to know someone like Apollon.

When Apollon had gone, Melissa appeared with some food for me—rice balls and a new box of cornbread! I tucked into them happily. Between bites, I asked Melissa, "Would you please get my uniform from the dorm? And also my geography book, and a notebook and pen?"

"Kutanagiiii! You have a concussion. There will be no studying!"

"But I'm going to class tomorrow," I sing happily, bouncing on the mattress.

"That is out of the question!"

"I have to go or my teacher will be sad!"

I don't care what Melissa says, or even that I have a concussion. See you in class, Thoth-senpai, I whisper as I flick off the light.