In all of his years living in New York, and all of his visits to the Empire State building, this was truly the first time he'd been able to simply sit atop the mighty monolith and appreciate the splendor of the view it provided. It was easy to be enraptured by the view. In every direction, for as far as he could see, the view of the city filled the horizon. A modern marvel to the tenacity of humanity and the pinnacle of human achievement. It was relaxing and comforting. A feeling of familiarity in an age where his life was constantly filled with uncertainty.

He felt someone approach beside him, but he for the moment he did not address their presence. He was far too content to stand there in the late evening sky and soak in the view. There truly was something magical about New York at night that wasn't comparable to anywhere else he'd ever been.

"I used to come here by myself," said Hestia at his side, a melancholic smile on her wizened face, "Many years ago. The rest of the family didn't know, but I would sneak away some nights, and simply stand here. Watching the mortal world go about their daily lives." She inhaled deeply, closing her eyes as she basked in the cool evening breeze.

"It always served to remind me how far humanity has come. How great their potential truly is." She opened her eyes and her smile drooped into a sad frown, "I only wish that my brothers would have taken the time to appreciate the same sentiments. Perhaps it would have provided the perspectives they so desperately needed."

Percy nodded, but offered nothing more.

"I didn't think I'd be seeing you again so soon after your last visit," Hestia continued, not troubled by his lack of a response, "Not that I'm complaining mind, I don't entertain many visitors these days."

"What can I say," said Percy softly, "I'm a man of my word,"

"That you are," agreed Hestia with a light chuckle, "But let us not pretend that you are here to keep an old woman company. Come," she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, "Allow us to retire from this, admittedly rather splendid view, to somewhere a little warmer."

Flames danced across his body, and in the blink of an eye Percy found himself back in the comfortable and soft living room he had been in only weeks prior. The warmth of the hearth in front of him was burning brightly, and set him at ease.

"Now allow me to grab us some refreshments," said Hestia,

"Oh, no," said Percy quickly, "You don't have to-"

"I insist," said Hestia, and Percy sagged deeper into the chair. He knew it wasn't worth trying to talk her out of it. She bustled off to the kitchen to prepare gods only knew what. He didn't even know if she still had nectar and ambrosia for her to eat.

Sighing, Percy rubbed at the back of his ear. It had been a long couple of days. He hadn't been able to find anything in town about the Plain of Heaven. The days were ticking by, and the semester was coming closer and closer to starting. It wouldn't be the end of the world necessarily if he wasn't able to start on time, but it would certainly be obnoxious.

He had considered walking into one of the shinto temples around the city, but that seemed like it would have been inviting a fight. As much as he was willing to put up a fight for having his life in Japan, he wasn't willing to start a fight with a god in the middle of the city.

It didn't help that Rumi had been called away almost as soon as Percy had gotten to her agency. Something about some major badass coming back out of retirement and stirring shit up. She'd been vague about the entire operation, and he'd not exactly seen her since.

For what it was worth, that might have been for the best. Rumi could hold her own, but against a deity? She'd likely be dust within a matter of moments. Which was what made the entire situation all the more confusing for Percy. He was half-mortal himself, he wasn't invulnerable or invincible. So why the hell hadn't Amaterasu simply killed him already? Surely that was well within her power. It had sure as hell been easy enough for Zeus back in the day. A simple snap of his fingers and he could blast someone out of the sky. For someone in the peak of her power like Amaterasu, that sort of feat shouldn't have been outside the realm of possibility, and yet Percy continued to breathe.

Even more confusing was that he had not seen hide or tooth of a monster of god or even a demigod since his fight at the training camp. The apprehension was starting to drive him insane. He felt like he couldn't even be in the city for extended periods out of fear for a sudden attack. He hated the feeling of being on the back foot. It reminded him all too vividly of his life at camp. Constantly on the run, looking over his shoulder for threats that weren't even there.

It was no way to live, and it wasn't his style.

The Shinto had started the war, and Percy had escalated it. Sure, he had been the one to draw first blood, but the Shinto most certainly had the advantage. It wasn't a position that Percy wanted to be in, but given that he was working on absolutely zero information, he needed any advantage he could get.

Which was what drove him to New York in the first place. He figured that if there was anybody left on the planet who was capable of helping him, it would be Hestia.

His aunt returned from the kitchen, and handed Percy a steaming cup. Inhaling deeply, Percy felt his worries and anxiety slip away into the ether. He tilted the mug back and took a hearty gulp of the smoking hot coco. It wasn't quite his mother's but it was easily one of the most delicious things he'd ever tasted in his entire life.

"Thank you," said Percy,

"You're very welcome dear," said Hestia, as she settled herself down in the plush armchair across from Percy.

"Now then, what is it you need of me?"

"You make it sound like I'm just taking advantage of you," said Percy, rubbing the back of his neck,

"Relax nephew," chuckled Hestia, "I tease. But please, tell me what troubles you. I assume this is about your problems with the Shinto?"

"Yeah," said Percy, and then launched into an explanation of everything that happened at the training camp, and his current predicament.

Hestia hummed to herself, leaning back in her chair as her hand toyed a small circle around the rim of her smoking mug.

"Unfortunately, I do not know the location of the Plain of Heaven," said Hestia, and Percy felt his shoulders sag,

"Oh don't pout, you look like a petulant child," chided Hestia, "It should come as no surprise, how many know of the location of Olympus? It is the height of Shinto power, it would be vulnerable to attack should its location be known,"

"I know," groaned Percy, "But can you blame a guy for hoping a little?"

"No, I suppose not," said Hestia with a sly smile, "However I am not without some advice,"

Percy perked up and leaned forward on his chair, "Please, whatever you have I'll take."

"I don't have much," said Hestia warningly, "But I will share what I do. The little I know about the Plains of Heaven is that it constantly moves. It's like Olympus in that respect, only instead of moving with the power of the West, it moves where the Gods wish it to move."

"Is Amaterasu responsible for it?" Asked Percy,

"Not particularly," said Hestia, "To put it in terms that you might be more familiar with, Amaterasu is not Zeus' equivalent. There is no…king of the plains per se. As far as my understanding of the Shinto goes, the father of the gods disappeared millennia ago, leaving his children in charge of the High Plains. Amaterasu and her brother Tsukuyomi rule over the High Plains equally. If you want access to the High Plains, then you will need to find someone who has access to the entrance."

"Do you think that it's like Olympus or the Underworld?" Asked Percy, "And has an entrance in the mortal world?"

"It's certainly possible," mused Hestia, "But you would need to find someone who knows."

Percy released a breath of air from his nostrils as he ran a hand through his hair. That was useful information, but it didn't actually help his current situation much. He couldn't just waltz into any given shrine and summon one of the gods, could he? There was no way that any member of the Shinto pantheon would be willing to even entertain a conversation with him, let alone lead him to the pinnacle of power of the Shinto pantheon.

Then an idea hit him.

Maybe there was a god who would be on his side. Or if nothing else, one that might be sympathetic to his current situation.

And he was the one who got Percy into this situation in the first place.

It was time to track down Susanoo.

But Percy had other, almost as pressing questions he needed an answer to.

"Hestia…" said Percy slowly, unsure of quite how he should phrase his question.

"You wish to know why it is you're still alive and Amaterasu has not simply snapped her fingers and turned you into dust in the wind?"

"Oddly specific…" muttered Percy, "But…yeah, kind of? I mean, she should have the power to just smite me or something shouldn't she?"

"She most certainly should," agreed Hestia, "And under normal circumstances, I have no doubt that she would have certainly done just that."

"But these aren't normal circumstances…are they?" Said Percy,

"No, they are not," said Hestia, not looking at him.

"I'm sure you must have noticed that you're changing, Perseus," said Hestia, her voice low as she gazed into the fire, "The gift my brother, your father gave you…it's changed you. Given you more than that fancy little transformation you can't control,"

A horrible sinking feeling formed in the pit of Percy's stomach,

"I'm…I'm not turning into a god…am I"

Hestia did not answer right away, which did nothing to soothe Percy's mounting anxiety,

"I do not believe so," she finally said after far too long, "My brother's gift…it granted you tremendous power, but I do not believe it was nearly enough power to do that. At the end of his days, my brother was weak. I do not believe that he had enough power in him to grant you that sort of…blessing."

"More like a curse," muttered Percy, and Hestia smiled,

"That aside," she chuckled, "The power that your father left you…it has left you as something more than you were, but less than a full god."

"That is completely unhelpful," said Percy dryly, and Hestia laughed,

"A sensation you are familiar with, I'm certain," she smiled, "But it is that power that prevents her from using her power in such a manner. You are…simply too power to strike down so thoughtlessly."

"That's…both reassuring and deeply frightening at the same time." Said Percy,

"Indeed…but I believe you have other matters more pressing at the present moment," noted Hestia, and Percy nodded.

He would have the time to think about this new revelation later. For right now, he had more pressing issues to deal with.

It was time for a meeting with a god.

BREAK

Percy tugged at his face-mask and adjusted the hood of his sweatshirt. There were a couple of benefits to living in Japan, but the most pressing for the present moment was the cultural habit of wearing face-masks. It made it considerably easier to blend in with his surroundings.

At least, as far as a man his size with a robot arm could blend in.

Thankfully, Tokyo was such a busy city, that he could he move freely without worrying too much about being discovered.

The shinto shrine belonging to Susanoo was in the northern outskirts of the city, and it was just about everything that Percy had expected from a shinto shrine. Three sacred gates guarded the outer wall to the compound of the shrine, and several small walkways meandered around a beautiful garden in the center of the compound.

The flag of the rising sun marked the boundaries of the compound, and in the small temple at the end of the compound, a larger flag flew from the point of the buildings roof. It felt…strange to be standing in an active shrine for an alive and active pantheon. Even back in the day, when the Greek gods were still around, Percy couldn't have walked into a temple to his father and prayed to the man. It was a surreal experience all the way around.

Tugging the hood of his sweatshirt a little closer around his face, he strode forward and into the compound. He took a step onto the stone path of the shrine, and a strange sensation washed over his skin. It was like stepping through a light shower. He shuddered involuntarily, but pressed on.

The inside was beautiful. Ornate wooden floors, and beautiful murals covered the walls. They depicted what Percy believed were important moments in Susan's mythological history. One scene in particular drew his attention. It was the largest mural of the entire collection. It was an ornate drawing of what Percy believed to be Susanoo battling an enormous, multi-headed snake.

"Hello, how may I assist you?"

Percy was shaken from his inspection of the mural, and turned to the speaker. He was an older man, easily in seventies if not older. His bald head glimmered in the dull light coming from the candles in each corner of the room. He was dressed in an impressive display of dark navy robes, that oddly complimented his long and gray beard.

"Hello," said Percy cheerfully, "I'm here to talk to your boss,"

The old man raised one wizened brow, "If you are referring to the caretaker of this temple, then I am he,"

"Nope," said Percy, "Not you."

Percy looked up at the ceiling and cupped his hands around his mouth,

"Yo! Susanoo, you drippy fuck! Come out here, I need to have a word with ya!"

"I beg your pardon!" Squawked the older man in utter indigence, but Percy ignored him. He could feel the sudden change in air pressure in the room. He was suddenly aware that the old man's indignant stammering had ceased, and he turned around. The old man's mouth was open, as though he were in the middle of taking a deep breath, but he wasn't moving and no noise escaped him. Percy scanned around the rest of the room, his brows raised in confusion. His gaze landed on the candles around him. The flames were no longer flickering, and the noises from outside the building had ceased altogether. A sudden scent of sea-breeze and ozone perforated his nostrils.

He turned back to the old man, and nearly screamed in surprise. Beside the old man, was a new man. He was far younger in appearance than the old shrine-keeper. Appearing to be in his mid to late twenties, with thick locks of dark black hair that was fashionably tied up into a top-knot. He was wearing an immaculate three-piece suit of deep navy with a silver tie. He was clean shaven, and his eyes were a penetrating shade of gray.

But it was the aura of the man that was the most captivating. It was difficult to describe what it was like to stand next to a living god. But after so much time and exposure, Percy had become intimately familiar with the power they seemed to naturally emanate. The man before him was powerful. Far more powerful than Percy, and he wasn't even trying to hide it.

This was Susanoo, Percy wouldn't forget that smarmy smirk any time soon.

"The man of the hour," said Susanoo happily, clapping his hands together, "Percy Jackson. It's good to see you again, what's it been, two-three hundred years? You look good, you look good. Even with the arm! I mean I'm more of a traditional guy-think if you're going to lose an arm you should just deal with it-but I can get behind the whole mechanical arm thing, it's a good look for you! And I'm sorry about your family. Shame, a real shame, but you know what they say, nobody lives forever! Well except for me, I'm going to be around for forever!"

Speaking to Susanoo was like experiencing whiplash. The deity spoke at a mile a minute, and it was damn near impossible to keep up with the man.

"Now, no point in us beating around the bush," continued Susanoo, "We're both busy men, and neither of us are the type for small talk, so let's get down to brass tacks, but not here-too stuffy, no one actually talks in shrines. Never did, don't know where that trend started-come one!" He wrapped an arm over Percy's shoulder, and with a clap of thunder and the permeating smell of ozone, they disappeared.

In the blink of an eye, Percy found himself sitting on a comfortable, plush, leather sofa. The thumping bass of a club beat a steady rhythm somewhere under him, sending vibrations up through the sofa, and reverberating up his spine. He must have been in a private room over some club somewhere.

Susanoo appeared in a large armchair across from him, a saucer of strange smoking liquid materializing in his hand. He pulled the saucer to his lips and took a hearty sip, smacking his lips in delight before burping a cloud of noxious yellow vapor into the air.

"Now," began Susanoo, swirling the liquid around in his saucer, "We both know why you're here, to be honest I was expecting you to show up sooner." He shrugged, "Buuuut I suppose if you're anything like your old man, your a little slow on the uptake." He winked at Percy, "I kid, I kid, but seriously, I know why you're here. You and my sister's little spat, and you're looking for help. How am I doing so far?"

Percy had forgotten how irritating the god was. Not trusting himself not to say something he might regret, Percy nodded,

"Yeah…I figured as much," sighed Susanoo dramatically, "Though I guess it makes sense that you'd come to me. Not like it's a secret that me and my dear old sister don't have the best of relationships. That, and I suppose I do owe you one for what happened. After all, it's partly my fault that you're stuck here in the first place."

Percy blinked. He hadn't expected such a casual admission from the god.

"Don't look so surprised," laughed Susanoo, "You aren't dealing with the Greeks anymore little Percy. I know when I owe a debt," His eyes flashed gold, and ozone filled the room once more as thunder cracked overhead.

"And I hate having debts,"

"So you'll help me?" Asked Percy,

Susanoo's head tilted back and he cackled. Percy felt his irritation only grow.

He really hated gods.

"Oh man…" laughed Susanoo, rubbing at his eyes, "I like you kid, you're so naive I can't decide if it's hilarious or pathetic. You know I can't help you."

"Fucking ancient laws? Seriously?" Asked Percy in disbelief, "I thought that was a Greek thing!"

"Unfortunately not," shrugged Susanoo, "Sure they tend to vary from pantheon to pantheon, but every pantheon has their own set of ancient laws, and you want to know what's number one on that list?"

"Stay out of mortal affairs?" Groused Percy,

"Bingo," said Susanoo, with a snap of his fingers, "Not that many of us ever follow that rule, but…this is a special circumstance,"

"Of-fucking-course it is." Growled Percy,

"It's an unusual circumstance kiddo," shrugged Susanoo, "You're not just some mortal. You're a demigod, and more importantly you're not one of our demigods. That and you killed poor, Amewakahiko!"

"He'll reform," said Percy exasperatedly,

"True," shrugged Susanoo, before smirking, "Oh, you should have heard the things that my sister was saying about you! I mean, I'm not allowed in the Plains, but I still hear things, and boy oh boy. The shit she was saying about you," he whistled, and winked at Percy,

"Beautiful,"

"So you're not going to help me at all?" Asked Percy,

"Well I never said that explicitly," said Susanoo, carefully, "I can't…say…drop you on Amaterasu's doorstep and call it a day. That would be a no-no, a big no-no."

"Then just tell me where the Plains are," scowled Percy, "That's all I need. You tell me where they are, and consider us square,"

"Making a lot of assumptions there kid," snorted Susanoo, "Weren't you listening? I don't have access to the Plains, I don't know where the fuck they are, and even if I did, I sure as hell wouldn't be allowed to tell you."

"Then what are we doing here Susanoo," said Percy in exasperation,

"Peace, boy," Cajoled Susanoo, "As I said. I owe you a debt. It was my being tricked that dragged you here in the first place, and you could indirectly say that I'm responsible for this entire situation. That and the bastard who tricked me."

Susanoo sighed, and placed his saucer on the small table in front of him and leaned forward, his arms resting on his knees.

"Look, I can't tell you where the Plains are or how to get there, but here's what I can give you. You're not as in over your head as you think you are?"

"What do you mean?" Asked Percy,

"Well, don't get me wrong," chuckled Susanoo, "You're so deep in the shit, that you're past the point of drowning. I mean, you called out a fucking goddess and killed her grandkid. Don't get me wrong!" He said quickly, a wide smile on his face, "It was hysterical. I'm a big fan, but you still did it, and you're probably pretty fucked. But not as fucked as you think you are. Amaterasu wants you thinking that the entire family wants you dead."

He shook his head, "Nu-uh, not so much. Most of the family couldn't care less about you, hell I've even heard tell of a few of 'em even trying speak up on your behalf!" He waved a dismissive hand, "Nah, life ain't as bad for you as you think. In reality, the only ones that you really have to worry about are Amaterasu and her spawn. That's still like, twelve gods but still, not as overwhelming as it could have been."

Susanoo shrugged, before checking his watch, "Unfortunately, that's all the time I got for ya right now. Technically speaking, I shouldn't even be talking to you buuuuuut" He shrugged, and smirked nastily at Percy, "But I've never particularly been one for rules."

He stood up, cracking his back as he did so,

"Well, it's been good kid. But now you gotta go. Remember what I said, and try not to die out there, you're the best entertainment I've had in years."

He snapped his fingers, and thunder cracked once more over head. Percy blinked, as a bright flash of light encompassed him. When his vision cleared, he found himself back in the middle of the shrine. The old man was still frozen in place, his mouth as agape as it had been when Percy had first arrived. Turning his back on the shrine-keeper, Percy brought his hood back up over his head and began walking out the door.

The sun was starting to set in the horizon as Percy wandered out of the shrine. He frowned, it had been just before noon when he had gotten to the shrine, and it certainly hadn't felt like he had been gone for that long. For the umpteenth time, he cursed gods.

Sighing to himself, Percy reached into his pocket and grabbed his phone. Unsurprisingly, he had three missed calls and a host of missed texts from Rumi. He'd been gone before she'd even woken up that morning, which was saying something considering the woman's early schedule.

He dialed her number, and she picked up after the first ring,

"Where the fuck are you!" Snapped Rumi,

"Sorry!" Said Percy, rubbing uncomfortably at the back of his head, "I was in New York this morning, I left early and I didn't want to wake you."

"New York?" Asked Rumi, "The fuck were you doing there?"

"Went to see my aunt," said Percy casually, "Wanted to see if she had anything useful for me."

"Oh…" said Rumi softly, "You get anything?"

"Sort of," said Percy, "Apparently the Plains are constantly moving every couple of years. They don't stay in one place."

"That's not helpful," said Rumi blandly,

"I know," sighed Percy, "Welcome to life dealing with the divine. They get their rocks off on being vague and unhelpful."

"So you've learned nothing today,"

"I never said that!"

"Then spill jackass!"

"I met with Susanoo,"

There was silence on the other end of the line, as Percy's words reverberated to Rumi.

"Are you fucking suicidal or some shit?" She asked after a minute, her tone distressingly calm,

"Rumi-"

"No, are you fucking stupid?" Snapped Rumi, "What the fuck would possess you to do that?"

"Because he owed me one and I didn't think-"

"Oh you didn't think? You didn't think? There's a fucking surprise! Let me just tell the whole fucking world this shocking fucking update! Percy Fucking Jackson didn't think before he acted! He's the enemy Percy! The fucking enemy! His family wants you dead and you just called him out? Had a meeting? What?"

"Rumi!" Pleaded Percy, "Listen to me, because he actually gave me some pretty good shit, and I can trust him."

"He's a god Percy!" Countered Rumi, "Why am I the one that has to tell you that you can't trust them!"

"I don't!" Snapped Percy, "But he owes me! And he knows that! Plus he hates his sister as much as I do, now can I please tell you what he told me!"

Percy was aware that he was drawing stares from passerby's, but he was well beyond caring.

"Fine!" Squawked Rumi, "What the fuck did he tell you? I'll bet a years salary it wasn't anything useful."

"Depends on how you define useful…" Admitted Percy carefully,

"Did he tell you where to find the Plains?"

"No…"

"Oh what a surprise," Said Rumi, and Percy could hear the eye roll on the other end of the line, "You didn't learn anything from the fucking GOD! I'M SO SURPRISED!"

"BUT!" Percy almost had to shout to get over her shouting, "He told me that the rest of the pantheon wasn't pissed at me like she was."

"…What does that mean?" Asked Rumi,

"It means that I don't have to try and kill an entire pantheon, I only have to deal Amaterasu and her ilk,"

"Oh good," said Rumi sarcastically, "You only have to deal with one goddess and all of her fucking children!"

"You're in a bad mood today, huh?"

Rumi sighed on the other end,

"Sorry," she said, "Was a long day,"

"No luck on finding your villain?"

"No," Rumi groused, there a shifting on the other end and Percy could tell that she had just thrown herself down on the couch.

"Bitch is in the wind," grunted Rumi, "Looked all over Chubu prefecture and nothing. It's like she just disappeared into nothingness."

"She'll show back up," said Percy reassuringly, "Can't get away from you for too long."

"Ugh, I hope so. Just wish Hawks wasn't riding my ass so hard on this."

"I didn't know that he was working it with you."

"He worked with her when he was a kid. I think he did his first internship with her or some shit."

"Well that's weird," said Percy, "Didn't think he'd be the type to-"

Percy stumbled a little as a sudden burst of wind nearly threw him off his feet. At the same time, the hair on the back of his neck suddenly stood on end. A moment later, something hot hit him in the left shoulder, the force of which threw him back onto the ground. The crack of a high caliber rifle reverberated around the town center not a second later.

"Percy! Percy! " Rumi was screaming over the phone, but Percy was barely listening. There was a throbbing in his arm, but Percy was moving on instinct. A sphere of water erupted around Percy, and not a moment later, two more rounds slammed into the shield. The bullets hit the water, before their momentum was stopped entirely and clattered uselessly to the street.

His breathing came in heavier and heavier pants, as his vision began to darken around the corners of his eyes. He was confused, disoriented. What just happened? What was going on? Where was he? His mind felt like it was trying to wade through molasses. He reached up, and pressed a hand to his shoulder. Pulling his hand away, he saw that it was stained red with blood.

A dull panic spread through his chest, and he felt as though he were going to be sick. He'd been stabbed before. Had been dropped into lava. Had lost an arm and had his back broken, yet in all of his years, he had never been shot before. It was…surreal. There was a finality to a bullet that simply didn't exist with a sword. A sense that this was the end. It wasn't a mortal blow, far from it, but his mind was having difficulty dealing with that reality. He needed to leave, needed to escape.

Adrenaline pumping through his veins, and panic swelling in his breast, Percy stood up and tried scanning the rooftops around him, but he couldn't see anything. Not a surprise, he supposed. Stumbling forward, he tried thinking. Where could he go? After a second's hesitation he disappeared from the town in a spray of mist.

He landed with a thud on the ground of the living room of Rumi's agency. Rumi was sitting up on the couch, her phone still held up to one ear. She stared at Percy, her eyes darting from him, to his bleeding shoulder.

"Hi," said Percy as calmly as he could.

"Got a towel you don't need?"

AN: As always shoutout to Double0Sxvxn for being an awesome Beta and dealing with my bullshit and as always if you enjoyed this but haven't checked out my other work, give them a try you never know you might find something else you like. I'm also on discord now, where I and a bunch of other writers hang out, chat and brainstorm ideas, you just have to copy the link that's in my profile bio if you want to come and hang out with us. Stay safe, stay healthy and have an awesome week

All My Love,

LilDB