A/N: I know it might be a bit weird when I update fics after so long of a hiatus but... Frankly, I write when I have inspiration. And after reading some PJO-Naruto crossovers, I happened to have inspiration for this fic. And BTW, I've planned of re-writing the first chapter of this fic. It's a bit of a mess as it is now and might be a bit confusing for new readers...

Chapter 12: In which life goes on… more or less

28th February, 2005

I had to admit that I lost my track of time. I had thrown myself into training in the aftermath of Hannah's death and thus neglected both my wellbeing and social relations to other campers. It wasn't until I collapsed at the Arena in the middle of lesson and then woke up at infirmary that I… realized I'd gone too far.

"You know… Even for you that was stupid." Was the first thing I heard upon awakening. I groaned.

"I do not want to hear that from you Clarisse…"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever…" The daughter or Ares scoffed. "You've been out for hours. Which begs a question… when was the last time you ate? Or slept for that matter? Your eyebags have bags."

"…I don't know. Is it still February?" I sighed.

"Yes. Didn't you hear what I told you? You were out for hours, not days, hours."

"I did… I guess I'll go to see if there's something at the pavilion already." I made to get up from the infirmary cot but got pushed back to the pillows.

"Oh, no… Runt, you stay here. I'll go inform others that you are awake and relatively coherent. And get some food for you too." Clarisse got up from her chair and after a glare that dared me to object(I didn't) she exited the infirmary. I took a moment to asses my condition before heaving my torso up and against pillows so I was in half-sitting position. If Clarisse would indeed bring me food, I should be relatively upright to eat it.

"You got us worried, Clay." A new voice spoke up. I glanced at the entrance where Luke was leaning against the door frame. Under his arm was a packet. Following my gaze, the son of Hermes glanced at the packet and then chuckled when noticed my frown. "This came some moments ago. From your sister I presume."

"Ah, yeah… It's… the 28th today. I'd forgotten…" I grimaced.

"Oh, is this some special day for you then?" Luke sat on the chair, Clarisse had vacated and plopped the packet on my lap. I promptly began unravelling it. Frankly I was curious to see what Luna had sent for me despite having forgotten the day myself.

"You could say so… It's my 14th birthday today." I shrugged. It wasn't a big deal really. Okay, yes having a birthday was nice but this was the third time I 'celebrated' my 14th one.

"Your birthday? Why didn't you say anything?" Luke asked. I glanced up from the packet but continued my actions then. Damn, Luna had tied the strings too tight.

"Can you give me scissors?" I asked the older boy. Once he complied, I replied to his question. "I didn't think it'd matter. By the end of the summer I'll get the camp bead to mark a year alive anyways. And…"

"And?" Luke prompted me with arched eyebrows.

"The age doesn't feel right." I sighed, cutting the string and then the tape holding the box closed. "I'm… much older than I look. And even I'm not sure how old exactly."

"Part of the reason why you and Luna live alone in the house of Dusk?"

My thoughts trailed to the conversation we'd had in January. "Yes. It's complicated and to my knowledge only two people from the upstairs know the entire situation. In any case, repeating situations have made me… lose desire to celebrate my birthday."

"Now that won't do, Clay. Birthdays are important. And even if you don't want to mark them especially I bet many others want to have an excuse to eat treats."

I let out a short laugh. Kids… "Alright. Do what you want." I waved a dismissive hand at the boy.

Luke sighed. "Clay… Maybe you should rest some more. You are not yourself."

"I know… I'll eat and then get some more sleep. Don't worry about me."

So they had a party. I spent the time at the infirmary. Lee refused to let me out and made me eat under his watchful eyes. People visited me but generally I just went through the books, CDs and games Luna had sent me. She even included a bottomless box to which I could store everything and protect them from the Hermes kids. How thoughtful.

And generally I didn't mind other campers celebrating without me.

Now… If only Chiron wasn't threatening to put me on self-destruction watch. It was not a suicide watch even though that had happened on the camp too but apparently I was driving myself to the ground. That might've been true. I couldn't really say.

March

I had gotten better. It took a while but I was actually interacting with people. Luke, Candice, Lee, Clarisse, Lou Ellen, Mirco, the Stolls… I wasn't driving myself to the ground.

Life at the camp went on. We celebrated Annabeth's 12th birthday, got a new camper to Demeter cabin, I got finally the permission to participate Capture the Flag again… I could've in previous month too but I was too preoccupied with my thoughts and thus Chiron subtly extended the ban. I was probably good.

One day I was at my usual spot up at the Half-Blood Hill by Thalia's tree, talking with Luna when.

Bang, clang, clink…

Poof, fhssss…

"What was that?" I asked warily at the noise at background. Luna grimaced and glanced behind herself.

"I offered one demigod to stay with me at home until he decided where to go next…" She scratched the back of her head. "He doesn't know what he is though and I don't dare to tell… But he'll be safe here for a while."

"…Who is it?" I frowned.

"Leo Valdez. He is currently fixing stuff at the storage. Nothing major, just tinkering." My sister shrugged. "So he is a bit distracted while I call you."

"How long do you think he'll stay?"

"A couple of weeks? I doubt for too long…"

I nodded. It was possible. And I could guess that Luna wasn't going to let him stay for too long anyways, lest the plot of Heroes of Olympus saga would be altered. It was important that Leo met Piper and then Jason. But if the boy was up in New York it would be difficult.

"How have you been otherwise?" I decided to ask next.

"Just fine. Preparing to fail my exams, doing some more research, working on my projects, letting Thalassa have a break… You?"

"I'm… better. Thanks for asking."

"That's great to hear. I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you." Luna gave a sad smile to me. I mirrored it.

"It's alright. I'll… I'm coping."

"Could you tell me what exactly happened? I know it was a bit after I went back to school but…"

"No. It's… You don't need to worry about it. Just relax." My smile was probably completely fake but Luna let it slide.

"I miss you, Clay. Don't forget it. Ever. And be it hell or high water but I'll always have your back. No matter where we are."

"You are such a sap." I grinned. "But yeah… Right back at you Luna. I'll protect you with my everything."

We bid goodbye to each other and the connection cut. I got on my feet and stretched, sniffing the air. Spring was coming.

25th May

The winds were picking up again. They were stronger than they'd been for a while. Probably because the recess in between. Mirco was eagerly reading news next to Malcom, Candice and Lou Ellen. A screen had been rolled to the amphitheater to where we'd all been gathered. Apparently Athena had figured out which place would be hit next and Hephaestus had installed some cameras there. All demigods were thus invited to watch it. I couldn't get why.

"So… what's the situation?" I asked when I sat next to Luke. The eighteen-year-old demigod looked up.

"Ten minutes until the announced time. The godless stone kept in that museum is called Shadow Arrow. It's imbedded to a white gold bracelet and according to the leaflet we were given…" The blond boy gave me the slip of paper that he'd been holding. I noted many of the other demigods having similar papers. "That stone is Hades's."

"I see. Since the thief doesn't have other stones from the Big Three yet, they are paying extra attention to this one, right?" I read the leaflet but in the end it didn't shed much information. Nothing about the stone's abilities or security measures that Thalassa the Thief would face. Only a brief description and history of the thief, the background of how the stones came to be and why the situation was to be monitored.

I looked at the screen. It was showing a lit up room full of display cases and security guards. I had to suppress my laughter. It really resembled preparation for Kaitou Kid Heist.

A counter appeared to the left upper corner of the screen. Just a few minutes left. People leaved forwards in their seats. Even Chiron did so from his wheelchair. Mr. D had gone to Olympus where the council would apparently follow the heist together.

The lights went off in the gallery. The security tensed and began looking around. Generator hurred into action as emergency lights clicked on.

And there she was, wearing knee-length Greek style dress with boots and a cape, brown curls spilling out of the hood that obscured her face along with a domino mask. There was the Great Thief Thalassa, crouching over the display case containing the obsidian stone. But she didn't open it. Instead she jumped in the air, landed on the shoulders of one of the security guards, pushed him to the ground and jumped up again. There were twenty guards in the room and five were more or less down by the time other sprung to action. And Thalassa… she just jumped and dodged around the room, tricking them to crash and trip onto each other.

Because of the amount of people in the museum stand-by, the alarms by doors had been turned off. I had to wonder if she'd asked for Leo's in how to disarm any additions… But then, Leo had left a month ago already.

"Is she a half-blood?" Travis frowned from somewhere on my left.

"No necessary…" Malcom frowned but I could see from his voice that he wasn't sure. I had to admit it too: Thalassa easily passed for half-blood. She seemed to have a preternatural skill of predicting her opponents' moves and retaliate then. The acrobatics weren't something that were taught at Camp Half-Blood(or Camp Jupiter for that matter) but her movements told of finely honed skill.

We all watched in awe as the guards crumbled to the ground and Thalassa made a cartwheel across a long-ish display case along a wall and then back-flipped to stand on the middle one which contained her target. Frankly it looked like she was playing overly complicated game of Floor-is-Lava.

"Did she touch the floor even once?" I asked Luke, whose eyes widened fractionally as he began mentally going through the 'battle'.

"I don't think so…"

On screen the woman opened the glass case and fished the bracelet with the black gem. From the shadows of her cape, she drew a bronze dagger with aquamarine in it. I blinked. I bet that was the Wave Cutter. Dagger of celestial bronze, with Triton's godless stone in it. With skill, Thalassa removed the stone from the bracelet and tucked it and the dagger away. The silver bracelet was plopped back to its place. Then… She tilted her back and with a wide smile, she waved at the cameras.

"Oh, that smug little…" Annabeth began but was cut off by Chiron's stern warning. Apparently the daughter of Athena didn't appreciate the thief one-upping her mother's security plan. I had read from the leaflet that Athena had been acting as a security consultant for the museum.

Thalassa dropped down from the display case and cheerily walked to the door which she'd apparently jammed. She opened it and simply walked out, to the dark hallway behind.

"Now that was interesting…" I mused with a smile. I could easily see why Luna had picked this date to appear as Thalassa. Today was the last day of school. The day when she'd been told to repeat a year. Even if it had been a plan, it must have stung anyways.

So she vented her frustration by beating up some security guards.

With the summer beginning, it meant that campers returned from across the continent. Demeter, Aphrodite, Hephaestus… All those cabins were filled as well as the rest. Hermes cabin was now uncomfortably tight fit. I could only be grateful that I had a bed booked from being here for the year.

In any case, I had to admit that the pace at the camp picked up with the new faces. Capture the Flag was more exciting, the training in general was more intensive when there was more people to compete with…

And frankly it was much more fun. New people to interact with and also more people to blend in with. Even if the camp was no way empty during the school months and winter, I still had felt like being put on stage.

Now though…

I was lying on my bed and listening to one of the CDs Luna had sent me on my birthday. It was one of her favorite bands. Finnish bands. Yö was the name. It meant Night. And I agreed with her that the music was quite good even if it wasn't one of my favorites. It was surprisingly calm at the cabin eleven even if I was not alone there. Most rambunctious ones were outside, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air and warmth. Some, like me, took the opportunity to take a break, rest in shade and maybe even take a nap. Samuel was doing so in the bunk above my head.

"Hän tahtoi nimensä tähtiin, hän halusi olla kuolematon… Mutta silloin ennen tähdenlentoa, pakko kuolla on…"
(She wanted her name to the stars, she wanted to become immortal… But then before a shooting star, one must to die…)

I hummed to the melody. Some of the lyrics might've been depressive but then… It fit me perfectly. Me and my Finnish mentality. As I listened, my thoughts drifted to the blueprints Luna had shown me in April a bit after Leo had left. It was a draft of a magical arrow. Something that could destroy the very essence of immortals. It would require masterful craftsmanship, magic and just the perfect person to shoot them.

God Slayer she called them. But really they should've worked on any immortal being. While the rest of the camp might've balked at the thought of them even existing, I found them useful considering the two wars coming up in a couple of years. Kronos was rising and Gaea was stirring. We'd need all weapons available. And if Luna could devise a way to ensure neither was a threat ever afterwards… Well, who was I to stop her.

"How would it work?" I had asked.

"Basically it is a curse contained in the arrow. I need to research the materials a bit better but I can explain the spell that will take care of it all." Luna had gone to a teacher mode and spread numerous diagrams in front of her. "I use the power of 'What If'. The gods and immortals are stagnant beings and despite them going along with the time, they themselves don't change. But we humans, we have choices and by every choice we do, the path diverges, forming a web of outcomes. Sometimes the outcomes remain same as they are degreed by the Fates, but some are more flexible. And the gods are not flexible. If hit by this arrow, even just by stabbing, they'll experience different outcomes that could've have happened throughout the history. Throughout their entire existence. It is like poison to them."

"So it's like hitting stone statue with a nail and then letting the corrosion to the rest."

"Yeah, except that with this it's like numerous little nails at once. As they are already so old, they have more history to experience and affect them."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning that if one of the younger ones was hit with this some millennia ago, they could've been saved if someone knew how to do it."

"Okay… What about other immortal things?"

"Well, monsters don't go to Tartaros but die completely."

The arrow was indeed a terrifying thing. And I had no intention of telling anyone about it just yet. It wasn't even finished. Luna needed expert opinion and craft some safeguard spells. One she'd been planning would prevent immortals using the arrows. One needed mortal blood in order to use them. But the arrows were also so powerful that a god-grade bow would be needed. Meaning that demigods could use them. And Luna if she got a right bow.

"What are you listening to?" Someone asked. I opened my eyes. Chris Rodriguez, unclaimed but I knew he was son of Hermes.

"How did you know I was awake?" I countered.

"You breathing was deep enough. Trust me, living in this cabin teaches you a thing or two." Chris laughed.

"Oh, I know… Been here since October after all." I grinned back and sat up. "As for music… Something from home."

"Is it any good?" Without invitation, the boy sat at the edge of my bed. I didn't really mind though. It happened constantly at the cabin due the lack of space.

"It's in another language but you can give it a try." I removed the head phones from my head and offered them to Chris. He was a nice boy even if he was going to join Luke. But currently I didn't hold it against him, just like I didn't judge Luke for his future actions. I didn't delude myself into thinking I could prevent him from going dark… And I thought it better to have all the known factors in place… But I also knew that he'd repent in the end. And then I'd forgive him.

"Unless he does something directly against me or Luna…"

I got up from my bed. "Arts and Crafts are soon. I'm already heading out. Return those to my backpack once you are done." I told Chris. "I will check them for damage."

"Yes, sir." The boy grinned. He as generally quite easy going. A good middle ground between mischievous Stolls and… well, Luke.

It was in late June, quite near summer solstice when something interesting happened. And by interesting I mean something directly concerning me.

There was some fuzz and buzz among the campers and Chiron had been fetched. Apparently something had appeared by the tree but no one was really sure what it was. Curious, I headed up the hill with some other campers. Underneath Thalia's tree, just sitting calmly, was…

"Kuroto!" I gasped in surprise, getting the attention of other campers. Chiron turned to look at me too. I guess out of all the campers, he didn't expect me to call out.

"Clay? You know who this is?" The centaur asked me. I nodded.

"Yes, he is Kuroto. He's… not exactly mine but I found him last October, gave him a name and he stuck with me since then."

"What is he?" Annabeth frowned. I could see she was mentally going through mythological creatures but coming up blank.

"Kuroto is vetehishevonen. He is a Finnish version of a kelpie. I don't know how he got to America but he is perfectly friendly." I broke through the crowd and walked next to the black stallion. Kuroto neighed and I patted his muzzle. "What are you doing here, mate? I thought you'd be at the rivers…"

To my understanding when Kuroto wasn't with me or Luna or at the house of Dusk, he wandered the country and got to know the naiads of the rivers. He was a freshwater pony after all.

"I guess that you'd like to have him stay at the camp." Chiron offered. I looked up and smiled hesitantly.

"If it isn't too much of a trouble."

"Oh, we have space. And I think you mentioned practicing Yabusame once. Do you think you could show us some time?"

"Sure…" I blinked. "I just need some custom targets and arrows but yes. I'm used to Kuroto so it should go easily."

With that the matter was decided. Chiron herded the campers back to their activities and I went then with him to get Kuroto settled by the pegasi. He looked at the winged steeds once and snorted at me. I could tell he wasn't overly fond of them. Maybe he thought their capability to fly as a betrayal against the ocean born… I wonder what hippocampi thought of pegasi then as they were oceanic equines too.

When we left Kuroto to get acquainted with the other horses, the trainer of heroes instructed me to talk with the Hephaestus campers for the arrows. I agreed with him, naturally. Good thing that I still remembered what the arrows for the Yabusame looked like.

28th June

The arrows were just right. With both Hephaestus and Apollo cabins working together with me to make them, I got half a dozen of 'turnip-tip' arrows. Just enough for me. Even if I was distracted by the fact that Luna was alone at home now and probably exploring the Labyrinth. Alone.

Nevertheless, I donned my kimono top and the 'extra-sleeve', dougi, which prevented my left sleeve from catching onto the bowstring. I wore simple pants and boots that didn't clash too badly with my oriental style and prepared to leave then. On the way to archery range, I placed my quiver by my hip again and I climbed on Kuroto who was waiting for me at half-way point.

This was no way traditional, just a proof of my skill. Five targets were prepared instead of usual three. The distance was slightly greater too but the targets were closer to each other. I had less time to draw but trusted my new demigod reflexes to take care of it. I took a deep breath and guided Kuroto towards the 'arena'. Demigod, nymphs and satyrs were watching. I took a deep breath and readied my first arrow. At Chiron's mark I urged Kuroto into gallop. I drew back the string and focused on my target. Everything else disappeared.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

It was all in quick succession and I hit all the rectangular targets. Kuroto slowed down. Sound rushed back. The campers were applauding and whooping in awe. I couldn't help the smile that found its way on my face. So long and now I could finally let go of my restrictions. I could show them my true skill with bow, my tsuru.

Dropping down from the saddle, I was immediately greeted by the Apollo cabin. Lee, Michael, Kayla, Austin, Victoria… Will wasn't a camper yet but I had a feeling he'd be coming soon. And if I remembered the books correctly, there should be a lot more kids as cabin seven was second largest one. There was twelve Ares campers and ten from Aphrodite, seven from Athena… I counted only five Apollo campers. And remembered three were doing an infirmary shift after the latest bout of Capture the Flag(Athena's group won that one) and arena fights.

"That was awesome!" Lee grinned.

"So true. How come you're never this good during classes?" Kayla frowned playfully. "It's like you're missing on… purpose!?"

"You're missing on purpose?!" Michael exclaimed. "There is no way you're that good if you aren't…"

A golden glimmer appear above my head, drawing gazes. I looked up too. It had an outline of a sun with bow and arrow in the middle of it. I noted with amusement that the bow had the same shape than my tsuru. Maybe some of the gods crafted the symbols personally for each of their kids depending on what they had inherited. I remember Lee mentioning that he had a lyre and bow while Kayla had bow and laurels. Or maybe it was an Apollo thing since he was a god of arts.

"It's been decided." Chiron spoke. "Phoebus Apollo: God of music, poetry, art, oracles, archery, plague, medicine, sun, light and knowledge. Hail, Clay Gavin, son of the Sun God."

There was no kneeling. Just hugs. I thought my ribs might crack under the combined clutch of Lee, Michael and Austin. Kayla hanging onto my neck didn't help much either.

"It was about time!" Candice shouted from the crowd. "Honestly you…" She stalked forward and once I got untangled from my new siblings, she promptly hit me at the back of my head. "I still don't get why you asked your father to procrastinate… Jerk."

"Love you too, Candice…" I grinned. "And like I told you during winter solstice, I wanted to get to know people without my parent's reputation and assumed reputation hanging against me."

"Alright… That implies you knew for extended time." Lee shot a mock glare at me. At least I hope it was mock glare. "Any other hidden talents mister?"

"I play piano?"

"That's it." Austin threw an arm on my shoulders and began dragging me towards the cabins. "We are kidnapping and interrogating you now, brother."

I opened my mouth to retort but then just sighed. I just turned slightly to look at Kuroto – who I swore was laughing at me – which wasn't easy in Austin's tight grip. Honestly, it was like he thought I'd run.

"Kuroto, get someone to take the saddle off and give you some treats. You did good today."

Neigh, snort.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up…" I grumbled. Austin laughed too. I shot a dark look at his dark skinned hand on my shoulder. I didn't have a good angle to glare his face.

()

I was seated on one of the bunkbeds. My new siblings were seated around me. Even those who'd been at the infirmary and the ones who'd not immediately ran to me after my bout of showing off. There was altogether fourteen of us. Strange how I hadn't really paid attention to them prior this. It had even taken me a while until I connected faces to the names I knew canonically.

"Hidden talents, eh?" I chuckled.

"And whatever other secrets you've been keeping from people and that should be shared with siblings." Kayla smiled. I didn't like that smile. It was a dangerous one. Luna did it constantly and then something embarrassing or otherwise annoying would happen.

"Well…" I breathed out. "Anything specific you want to ask first?"

"Was it photokinesis or pyrokinesis you used on your first ancient Greek lesson when lighting up that paper before marching out?" Lee grinned. I blinked. I'd almost forgotten about the incident.

"Oh… I… Good question. I was just pissed off and I thought it through science. You know how you can use sunlight and magnifying glass to ignite stuff? I used the same principle somehow. Concentrated on a specific spot on the paper. I think it was photokinesis though. I've bended light away from myself too and made… mirages…"

"Like the time you fooled people into thinking the flags were still in place but in reality had taken them both and gone to Chiron, leaving everyone else running around?" Russel smirked. He had been in that game. I shrugged.

"Yeah."

"Anything else?" Kayla glared.

"Other than my brilliant aim with bow, with both hands, that I've been honing since I was eight? And the fact I've been practicing with piano since I was six? Nothing. Anything else for this third degree questioning?"

"Maybe you should clarify your family matter..." Lee began. "'cause there are whispers and not everyone here knows."

I considered it. And yeah, maybe they deserved enough trust from me that I should tell them about Luna. After all about everyone of the year-rounders by knew about her but since it wasn't active gossip the ones coming only for summer were still mostly in the dark. (and what a miracle it was that Chiron still didn't know about her…)

"Sure. I got a sister. Mortal and clear-sighted. Her name is Luna Cykes and she is a year younger than I. She… is brilliant but alive. Upon my arriving I made some strange word choices and ended up mentioning her to Chiron in a manner that he assumed she died on the way here."

My new sibling nodded thoughtfully.

"Don't worry, Clay. We're going to keep quiet about this." Austin smiled. "I wonder when Chiron is going to find out though."

"Maybe sometime next year? That's when I've been planning on wrangling a permission from Mr. D for Luna to visit camp."

"How?" Little Melody frowned cutely. She was currently the youngest of us cabin seven'ers.

"Hmm… Betting and bribery. That's how I got my permission to come and go as I wish as long as I inform him or Chiron beforehand." I tapped a finger against my bottomlip as I mused. A stray thought entered my mind and I smirked then. Grabbing a pillow from behind me with my other hand, I flung it then at Austin's head. Others caught on immediately and the cabin-wide pillow fight commenced. It was fun. A proper stress relief. Freeing.

I needed to pack and move my belongings soon though. And take a proper look at the cabin itself.

A/N: It was sort of funny how when writing this chapter I re-researched yabusame so I could be as accurate as possible. And then I realized I screwed up in Leap to Relatively unknown where it initially happens. Ten targets... Honestly...

Replies to Reviews:

-Guest(chapter 1):
It's because of this review that I'm going to rewrite chapter one. Because obviously there is something wrong with it if it garners a reaction like yours.

-Tsuki:
I understand. It happens to me too sometimes when a new chapter comes to a fic I'm following. But it's okay.
Good question. When I feel like?