Chapter 8: Traveling

~Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota. 1 Week Later~

3rd Person POV

The son of Susano'o woke up at first light from his campsite in Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota to continue his travels. He had been traveling my foot and vapor travel to known bodies of water from the Hunt's previous campsites for the past week on his way to the west coast. He decided to avoid Zeus' domain as much as possible after the Throne Room… discussion.

He hadn't seen much over the week, opting to use the Hunt's old sites when he could along the way and hardly coming across any monsters of notable size and strength; packs of hellhounds that carried a dozen and a half at the most. He strategically picked them off as much as he could, and rested amply after fighting them since he had such a long journey ahead.

He decided to go hunting for breakfast, before continuing the trek West and summoned his bow as he left his tent. He found tracks and followed them for 15 minutes until he came to a clearing with a lone deer in it. He drew his bow back and inhaled deeply before he faltered. 'There's something about this deer… It's aura,' he thought and put his bow away.

Percy approached the deer slowly and it picked its head up to regard the demigod. Percy still approached cautiously and put his hand out for the deer to nuzzle into. Percy smiled, thinking that it was his mother's doing when he noticed a scroll that was tied loosely to the deer's antlers. Percy removed it gently and patted the deer on the hind before opening the scroll.

It was written in beautifully scripted Japanese kanji that Percy seamlessly understood given his Father's heritage. The note read:

Son,

I have sent this deer to give you a message for when you reach the West Coast. Travel to Big Sur, California and seek out the Hare of Inaba. I have sent him ahead to aid you in your travels across the sea. Good luck.

Susano'o

Percy smiled softly at the note and dug through his memories from his father's teachings in his dreams about the myth of the Hare of Inaba. 'Deer are the messengers of the Gods in Shinto, so that explains that. I thought it was Mom,' he thought and dug deeper into his memories.

'The Hare of Inaba… he tricked some sharks into forming a land bridge so he could get from the Island of Oki to Cape Keta… how the Hades is he going to help me go from California to Japan?' Percy mused and dismissed the idea for a later date.

He looked up to pet the deer one last time, but it was gone. He decided that since the deer helped him that day and he would be seeking help from a hare in the future, deer and rabbit were off the menu for a while.

~2 Weeks Later~

Percy had finally arrived in California near the border with Nevada around Reno and he was beat tired from traveling. He still had another few day's journey before he arrived in Big Sur so he decided to rest for the evening in Tahoe and set up camp. He hunted for dinner and was sitting around his own campfire when his senses started going haywire, alerting him to auras approaching him and fast.

He quickly vacated the area and perched himself high in a tree for a better vantage point. A few moments later, the Minotaur came tumbling into the clearing near Percy's camp and looked around frantically. 'Either he's found my scent, or," Percy thought but didn't even have time to finish it when silver arrows sprouted from the beast's back.

Percy smiled as his mother and sisters came into the clearing and disposed of the monster and Percy hopped down from his tree, using the winds to soften his blow. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're keeping tabs on me," Percy said and the hunters whipped around, bows drawn, only to see their brother.

Phoebe ran to her little brother and wrapped him in a tight embrace, only to have the other sisters follow suit. Percy grinned widely and told all of them he had missed them and it was good to see them. "Are you sure it isn't you that can't stay away from us?" Thalia asked cheekily and Percy rolled his eyes. "Good to see you too, Thals. Settling in just fine?" Percy asked and Thalia nodded after giving him a rather lingering hug that didn't go unnoticed by Artemis and Phoebe. They settled into camp for the evening and Artemis pulled her son aside.

"How have your travels been so far?" she asked and Percy smiled at her. "Nothing of much interest. A few packs of hellhounds enemy wise. I received a note from Father a couple of weeks ago from a deer and thought it was you," Percy said and Artemis looked at him questionly. "Deers are messengers of the gods in the Shinto Pantheon," Percy started and Artemis nodded. "Father told me to seek out the Hare of Inaba in Big Sur for my travel to Japan," he said.

"From what I remember, the myth states that he tricked sharks into forming a land bridge between two islands in Ancient Japan," Percy added and Artemis pursed her lips. "Can he be trusted?" she asked and Percy frowned. "Well, since he tricked them, I can only imagine that he will try to trick me as well, but I can manage Mother," came Percy's reply and Artemis nodded.

"I'm worried about you," she said after a lull in the conversation and Percy sighed. "I know, Mother. But I need to do this. I need to connect with that side of me and get stronger so I can avoid another loss like…," Percy said softly, but the unspoken 'Bianca and Zoe' hung in the air thickly. Artemis smiled softly and nodded anyway.

They parted ways once morning came and Percy bid his mother and sisters farewell as he set out for Big Sur.

~3 Days Later~

Percy arrived in Big Sur near midday and figured that the Hare of Inaba would be settled near a wooded area on the coast. He stretched his senses out and was clueless for nearly a few hours. He decided that he would continue his search the next day and went to hunt for the evening. He tracked a few squirrels, since he felt guilty about hunting deer when he felt the aura that resembled the homeland.

He sprinted through the forest and came to the clearing the aura that radiated the hare. With his bow still drawn, he called out, "I feel you, Hare of Inaba." A rustling of bushes caught his attention and out came a rabbit of pure white fur. 'So you're Susano'o's brat,' the hare spoke in his mind and Percy tensed.

"Father said that you would aid me in my return to the homeland. Will you? Or will I have to hunt you down like all the other rabbits I have?" Percy said icily. The hare laughed in his mind, 'Yeah, you're definitely Susano'o's brat.' Percy gritted his teeth. "What will you have me do to achieve your aid?" Percy asked, still in the ice cold tone.

'Easy, wakai hito. I will help you, but you must beat me in a race,' he said and Percy scowled. "Explain," Percy said and the hare chuckled again. 'See that cluster of rock off the coast?' he asked and Percy nodded. 'Make it there by sundown before me, and I will give you my aid,' he said smugly. Before Percy could say anything else, the hare took off toward the coast with Percy hot on his tail.

The Hare of Inaba seemed to be up to his tricks again as he sprinted off the coast, running across the backs of sea creatures. Percy scowled and leapt in the water, using it to propel his way forward. 'He's using the sea creatures as a land bridge like in the myth,' Percy thought as he rushed several meters behind the hare when he heard the voices in his head.

'Milord, who is this rabbit?' they asked in his head and Percy formulated his plan. 'I need a favor from you,' Percy said in his head when a Great White spoke up. "Why should we listen to you, you little halfling?' the Great White asked and Percy grunted.

'He's a trickster of the Shinto, using you to get across the water. I ask you as a favor to my Father Susano'o and my sperm donor, Poseidon, aid me in slowing him down, and I will reward you with what you desire. I swear on my Father and the Styx,' Percy told him. 'So that's why you can command the water,' the shark said. After a moment of silence, the shark spoke again, 'Very well, halfling. I will require you to provide me and my brothers with a feast.'

Percy grumbled and mentally nodded to the shark. On cue, the shark and the other sea creatures disbanded the path for the hare, causing him to halt on the makeshift land bridge. The Hare of Inaba faltered and paused on the turtle he was seated on and mentally cursed. Percy rolled his eyes and altered his course to pick up the Hare as he glided by on the water's surface.

Another 20 minutes went by with Percy cradling the rabbit and they arrived at the outcrop of the rock. 'How did you bend them to your will?' the Hare asked incredulously. "Son of Susano'o, plus my sperm donor is Poseidon," Percy said and the rabbit went wide-eyed.

'A child of both Pantheons,' he whispered and Percy nodded. 'Very well, Son of Susano'o. You win this round. I will get you transport to Hawaii,' he said and Percy smiled. Percy turned back to the water and saw the Great White swimming idly. 'Poseidon… you're a useless bastard… but I own up to my favors. Give this shark and his family food for aiding me. DEAD fish only,' Percy said mentally and on cue a cloud of red appeared in the water 30 meters from the shark.

'Thank you halfling. If you need a hand in these waters, you only need to ask,' he said and Percy frowned. 'Percy. My name is Percy,' he said and the shark chuckled. 'My name is Mako,' the shark said and Percy laughed. 'Your name is a different species of shark,' Percy said and the Great White flicked his tail in annoyance.

Percy turned back to the Hare and he looked out to sea. 'That orca will transport you to Hawaii, but that is all the aid I can provide,' he said and Percy nodded in his thanks. The Hare disappeared shortly after and Percy hopped into the water with the orca. 'Milord,' it said and Percy headed to Hawaii.

~Several Hours Later~

Percy arrived in Hawaii on the island of Kauai and immediately set up his tent and retired for the evening. The next morning, he awoke and was going to hunt for his breakfast, but felt another powerful aura on the island. 'Greek, but who could it be?' he mused as he headed toward it. He came to a beach house on a strip of beach that seemed isolated from mortals, but he saw mortals all around it.

'It's almost like there is a barrier,' he mused as he turned to the house and saw two women; one of about 52 years old and another of about 30. He approached cautiously toward the women who were sitting in rocking chairs on the porch and their eyes followed him.

Not one for being caught off guard, Percy gripped the locket around his neck as he walked toward the structure. "Interesting," the older woman said as he stood at the foot of the steps. "I can tell you two are not normal. Who are you?" Percy asked and the two women stood from their seats, prompting him to summon Anaklusmos.

"You smell of the forest and moon demigod. Just like my daughter," the younger one said and Percy straightened up. 'Daughter? Leto… now she was imprisoned… but if the flame of the West moved so would the prisons,' he mused and he took two careful steps forward and lowered his sword. "Lady Leto?" he whispered and the woman seemed caught off guard that he knew who she was.

She nodded apprehensively and before she could react, Percy sprinted forward and crushed her in a hug. "Grandma," he mumbled into her chest and she tensed while the other woman went wide-eyed. After a moment, Leto allowed herself to relax and wrapped her arms tightly around the demigod.

"So you are Artemis' son," she said and Percy pulled away with tears in his eyes. "Adopted… but yeah," he said with a watery smile and nodded. Leto pulled him into another hug and let a few tears fall before the older woman spoke up. "What is your name, child?" she said and Percy tensed at his grandmother's side.

"It is okay, Grandson. This is my Aunt, Lady Rhea," she soothed to the boy and he looked at her skeptically. Rhea gave him a soft smile and said, "Hello child, I will not harm you." Percy smiled slightly but stood by his Grandmother's side.

"Come inside. We will eat and you can tell us your story," Rhea said and Percy looked at Leto and she nodded. They went inside and sat down at the table, Percy next to Leto and across from Rhea. He told his entire story; childhood and Poseidon's actions included.

Leto and Rhea cried when we explained his past, but smiled through the remainder of his story. Rhea was going to throttle her son for doing such a thing, much to Percy's enjoyment. "So Arty finally started thinking that the oath was ridiculous?" Leto asked and Percy smiled and shook his head. "I'm adopted. She hasn't broken it and I don't think she plans to. But she loves me all the same; even as a son of a Shinto God. Even though I'm a monster," he said, but the last part was inaudible and the others smiled. "So you are still my grandson; at least biologically," Rhea said with a smile and Percy rose from the table and hugged her fiercely.

"Why are you in Hawaii then?" Leto asked and Percy picked his head out of Rhea's stomach. "Father… Susano'o requested that I connect with my Shinto heritage and head to Japan to train. The Hare of Inaba guided me here where I found you two," Percy answered and the two Titans smiled sadly.

"Well child. Rest for the night and we will see what we can do to aid you on your journey," Rhea said and Percy's eyes grew heavy. He smiled, yawned, and nodded before heading to the spare room to sleep.

"He's quite the charmer," Leto said after he went to bed and Rhea nodded. "He looks so much like Poseidon, but I can't believe my son did that to him," Rhea said with a frown, causing Leto to grip his hand from across the table. "He is strong like my daughter and his mother. He will be fine, Aunt," Leto said and Rhea nodded to her.

The next morning, Percy awoke from a dream about a certain daughter of Zeus with a blush on his face and went to the kitchen for breakfast. "Someone had a pleasant dream," Rhea charmed from the kitchen and Percy blushed again. "Dreaming about a certain child of Zeus?" Leto teased and Percy gaped in shock while he blushed again.

The two women laughed at the boy's misfortune. Leto came up to him and grabbed his hands. "Be sure she is someone you can trust, Grandson," she said with a smile. "And make your own happiness. If that is how your heart feels, go get her," Rhea added and Percy smiled sheepishly at the two of them.

They ate breakfast causally after and it came time for Percy to set out. He hugged his two new family members and shed a few tears. "We have been able to secure you with transport to the Island of Midway, but that is all we could provide," Rhea said and Percy smiled gratefully. "Once you are there, you are on your own, Grandson. Please be safe and tell my children I miss and love them dearly. And to visit their mother," Leto added and finished sternly.

Percy was at the water when he turned around to the two women. "I swear on my Father and the Styx that I will free you of your prisons when I return," he said, full of conviction and the women went wide-eyed before giving him a tearful smile.

As he vanished into the waves, Rhea turned to her niece and said, "He is not the Prophecy child... yet." Leto just nodded and silently prayed for her Grandson's health as he disappeared among the waves.

~5 Days Later~

Percy arrived at the Island of Midway on the raft provided to him from his grandmothers. 'That's weird to think about,' he mused as he stepped onto the beach and felt himself in a strange limbo phase. His powers from his father and from Poseidon were damped heavily. 'This must be an area just outside the reaches of both Pantheons,' he thought as he set up his camp.

The next day, Percy made his rounds around the island, trying to figure out just how he would get to Japan from there. He made his way to the other end of the island when he saw a speck on the horizon approaching the island.

He squinted from the beach. 'That looks like… a tentacle?' he thought as the memories came flooding to his brain and his eyes widened. "Akkorokamui-sama," he whispered as the giant octopus monster lifted its head out of the water and stared right at the Son of Susano'o.

'You smell of storms… and something else; something foreign,' the beast said in his head and Percy gulped. 'I am a Son of Susano'o,' Percy replied and the octopus stared into his soul. 'I see you are troubled. I am a minor kami that gives spiritual release and your past is… troubled,' it said and Percy tensed.

'I will aid you, Son of Susano'o… but you must embrace your past and achieve spiritual release," Akkorokamui-sama said and Percy flinched at the mention of his past. 'And if I don't?' Percy asked shakily. 'It has been a while since I have feasted on a demigod, much less a child of the storms,' he said and Percy gulped, but steeled his nerves and nodded.

'Come to me,' Akkorokamui-sama said and Percy took a deep breath and entered the water. Percy arrived at the monster and a giant tentacle raised out of the water and pressed itself to Percy's forehead. With a rush of energy and a gasp, Percy was thrown back into his dark past.

~Spiritual Plane~

Percy POV

I woke up and began panicking instantly. I was back in my mom's old apartment at six years old again, waking up from my bed; waking up from Gabe. My breathing started to increase rapidly as all the anger and memories returned to me until a loud thud resounded through the apartment; Gabe had thrown the first piece of furniture.

I trudged slowly down the stairs, begging with every step that I didn't have to relive this memory. The night I lost my mother to my own anger; the night that I killed my own sweet mother. The night I became a monster. I emerged from the stairs just in time to see the first slap strike her face. I couldn't bring myself to feel angry at Gabe. I silently pleaded with the younger me to stop his course of action.

He did not obey. I watched in sorrow from the backseat of my mind as he charged Gabe and tipped him over again. I cried internal tears as my little six-year-old fists connected with the pudgy flesh over and over. I heard my mother beg me to stop and did everything I could for the small boy to do so to no avail. The lightning struck and everything turned white. I stared at my mother's charred corpse and then the memory restarted.

Hours of rewatching turned to days. Days to weeks. Weeks to months, and so on and so forth as my powerless body remembered the pain of killing my own mother without my consent. I was certain that I had long since cried all of my tears, but they still came with every playing of the memory. I begged to at least have the relief of meeting Artemis, but she never came. And when I realized that she wouldn't, I begged for the sweet embrace of death. It too never came.

And then it got worse. Instead of my mother's corpse, it turned into Bianca's and I had to watch as six-year-old me killed one of my sisters; the same sister whose death was my fault. I don't know how much time passed until Bianca's corpse turned into Phoebe's. I cried more tears internally as I watched the reiteration for more times than I could count.

'Do not cry, my child. Horrible monsters are incapable of crying. A monster who killed his mother shouldn't cry,' she whispered in my mind. "I-I can't, Mom. P-Please, I'm s-sorry!" I pleaded to the disembodied voice of my birth mother through the tears.

Phoebe's corpse then turned into Thalia's and I had to watch in horror again as I killed my newest sister and girl I had feelings for over and over. 'You are stronger than this, Son. You are my child; a child of Susano'o. Born of the Storms!' my father's voice echoed in my head, offering me brief hope that fled as soon as the memories flooded into me again.

It had to have been the millionth time I was reliving the event. The body constantly flickered between my birth mother, Bianca, Phoebe, and Thalia. 'You will overcome this,' a voice said and I choked another sob. My mother finally came, but I felt only guilt and sorrow. 'You are not a monster. You are my son; a Son of Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt. You are a Hunter of Artemis!' she yelled in my mind and the hope took hold again, but didn't die out instantly this time; it lingered.

The memory restarted again, but my gut told me it was different this time. I hated being right, because this time the body was my best friend; it was Zoe. I had to watch six-year-old me kill Zoe just as I did at Mount Othrys, but this time it was direct which was far worse. 'Why do you cry, Little Brother?' Zoe asked in my mind and I sobbed. "I-I already killed y-you once… I c-can't watch this again!" I screamed, but nothing changed.

'You must move forward, Little Brother,' she said and I shook my head vigorously. "I-I can't! I'm just a monster who got his birth mother, his sister, and his best friend killed!" I argued and she frowned at me like she always did when she was disappointed. 'You can. You are my little brother. A hero worthy of wielding Anaklusmos,' she said and I felt a tiny spark of hope.

'Embrace your past. Accept it,' she said and I shook my head again. 'You must,' she persisted. "I-I can't. You're asking me to m-move forward a-and forgive this monster?! All of the monsters?! Myself? Poseidon? Luke? Atlas?!" I yelled at her and she gave me the stern look she always would when scolding me.

'Tell me, Little Brother, what is so wrong with being a monster if he too has things he wants to protect? You deem yourself a monster and I ask, if you are a monster that wants to protect his friends and family, what does it matter? Forgiveness is not for them, but for yourself; acceptance is not for them but for yourself. You must accept that these things happened and if you claim to be a monster, enact your wrath on those who wish to harm you and your family. Accept that Bianca and I, were not your fault; and while your birth mother might have been, you still have a family to love you and that you would do anything for,' she said and my crying slowed and my breathing leveled.

"And if I can't?" I said softly and she smiled slightly again. 'You can. You are strong, Little Brother. Far stronger than I and far stronger than you think. I do not believe you to be a monster, but if you must become one to protect your sisters and your mother, then so be it. They will love you no matter what, just as I do,' she said and her eyes went wide.

The lightning struck and I watched again in horror as the energy singed her body to a corpse. But this time, instead of terror etched on her face, it was a smile; the same smile she gave to me on Mount Othrys.

She spoke one last time, but it was the blended voices of Zoe, both my mothers, Thalia, Phoebe, Bianca, and my father. 'You are strong and I will always love you,' the said and the spark of hope inside of me erupted into a raging fire.

I shakily stood on my feet and looked at both of the corpses that had caused me so much pain and suffering. Gabe's form flickered between himself and Poseidon, but I steeled my gaze. "You have abandoned and ruined me. Because of you, I have feared myself and thought myself a monster… Maybe I am a monster, maybe I am not. I don't care anymore. I will obtain the power I need to protect the ones I love and you cannot hold me back any longer" I growled.

With each word as I stood against my demons, the volume of my voice increased and I didn't realize I was shaking in anger as the tears fell. The form of the men vanished and everything turned a blinding white. I closed my eyes and took a deep, shaky breath. When I opened my eyes again, there was my mother, both of them, with Zoe, Bianca, Thalia, Phoebe, Leto and Rhea, and my father.

I wiped my tears and gave them a watery smile as they all embraced me. 'I love you,' they all said and the vision vanished as I exited the Spiritual Plane.

~Spiritual Plane Release~

I came back to the real world wrapped in Akkorokamui-sama's tentacle, meters above his mouth. I growled and drew Kurouzu and sliced off the tentacle holding me and fell into the water. I grunted in pain and quickly surfaced, pushing through the water and using my powers to make it viscous enough to stand atop it.

Slowly, I was raised up by a tentacle underneath me to look the giant octopus in the eyes. 'Well done, Young One,' Akkorokamui-sama said in my mind. "Sorry for chopping off your tentacle," I said quickly to avoid a fight with the minor kami. He chuckled loudly in my head. 'It is fine. I grow them back all of the time. How do you feel?' he asked.

I took a deep breath with my eyes closed. "Lighter. I'm not at peace… but I feel that the emotional burden has lifted greatly. A part of it will always be there… but I feel… better," I said and he gave me the octopus-equivalent of a smile. 'Good. As promised, I will transport you to the homeland. Good luck, Child of Storms.'

He placed me back in the water and a thick cloud of ink surrounded me. After several moments, the ink cleared and I was several hundred meters off the coast of Katsuura. As soon as I swam and stepped on the land, I felt an immense boost in my father's abilities and smiled. 'So this is what it feels like to connect with my father's homeland. There's an energy here, in everything around me, but I don't know what it is,' I mused before I set out for the Susa Shrine in the Shimane Prefecture.

3rd Person POV

Percy had a long way to go to get to the shrine to meet his father and decided it was best to set out early the next morning. He took that opportunity to explore the area and indulge in the culture of his father while he could. He saw some of the sites in the area and tried some of the food. He usually wasn't one for sushi given both his father's domain, but he figured he would try it anyways. It wasn't half bad after he got over the initial guilt.

It took him another five days to travel to the shrine in the Shimane Prefecture and he chatted with the locals everytime he stopped. They were mostly older, but all very nice and welcoming. He was glad that he was able to speak fluent Japanese due to his father and it made his traveling far easier, though more people spoke English than he initially thought.

He encountered a few creatures and monsters along the way, but most of them simply observed the son of Susano'o, unsure of what to think of him. He smelt of Susano'o, but also something incredibly foreign. One of the monsters that attacked him was an itsumade; a fire-breathing birdlike monster. Percy was shocked when the monster attacked him initially and almost lost his head and got his clothes singed.

The fight; however, wasn't very difficult. He felt the boost in his father's powers and was faster and stronger than he felt in the States. After a few cuts from it's beak when it dived bombed him, he lured it into chasing him. When it closed in for the kill, he ran up a tree and backflipped off of it. The itsumade collided with the trunk and Percy landed on its back.

The beast took to the skies and Percy held on tight before drawing Kurouzu and slicing the monster's head clean off. Instead of bursting into gold dust like the monsters of the Greek Pantheon, Shinto monsters evaporated into white smoke or mist. Percy sheathed his katana and treated his wounds before crashing for the evening.

He finally arrived at the shrine in the late afternoon and explored around the area until the moon was high in the sky. He entered the shrine and felt the aura of his father and one other. He wasn't sure what to do, but his body seemed to move on its own as he moved to the worship area and lit two sticks of incense and placed them.

He stepped back and bowed when he felt the presences enter the shrine. "My, how you've grown," Susano'o said and Percy turned around to face his father with a smile on his face. "Father," he said and got a smile in return. "This is Kushinadahime, my wife," he said and gestured to the deity next to him. Percy bowed his respects and said, "It is an honor, Kushinadahime-sama."

She circled him and inspected him thoroughly. "You will be an outcast here because you reek of the Greeks," she said and Percy grit his teeth. "I will not kill you. I have promised my husband that much, but your training will not be easy. Hopefully you will not die in the process, or maybe you will," she added and Percy pushed his spite down.

'I am not supposed to even exist and I am in her home,' he said to himself mentally. "I am humbled that you have allowed me to even come here, Kushinadahime-sama," he said and she rejoined her husband. "At least he is respectful," she muttered and Susano'o stiffly nodded.

"I have created a spare space in the back room of the temple. You will stay there for the duration of your training, though it will take place all over the country. Get some rest and I will see you at first light," Susano'o said and Percy nodded and the two deities disappeared.

'I have a feeling this is going to be a lot harder than I thought,' was Percy's last thought before he closed his eyes.

AN: I apologize in advance for any inaccuracies of Shinto culture. I'm trying my best researching and hope everything is as accurate as I can make it, but remember this is still a fanfic. I am adding the concept of chakra, but very toned down. Percy will have minor jutsu so to speak of water, lightning, wind, and earth.

Literally basic level stuff: liquid bullet and water dragon, simple chidori, gale palm and wind cutter, and mud wall. That is all I am giving him so it's not too OP (hopefully). No substitution or shadow clones or anything like that. It will mainly amplify his demigod abilities (infusing chakra to use vapor and lightning travel easier, but it's more draining as well). Until next time!