Morning sunlight brushed its way across Yui's face, waking her up. Grumbling, she pulled the duvet over her face, then sighed, and threw it away from herself, sitting up. She stretched her arms out, yawning as she did so, then went and looked out the window. Loki was leaning against the wall beside it, eyes shut, and arms limp beside him. He looked so peaceful, but she felt guilty that he'd sat out there all night for her. Watching him, she felt an urge to reach out and stroke his hair. Then, on impulse, and without thinking about what might happen, she stretched out a hand, and brushed the scarlet locks. He opened one eye, and smirked at her.

"Eh?" She said, blushing, and starting to pull her hand back, only for him to grab it and pull himself up so that he stood in front of her, his face inches away.

"Morning Koneko chan." He leant in, and she could feel his breath on her lips. She wanted to lean into him, to feel what his lips felt like, but she suddenly remembered that she was in her very thin pyjamas.

"Ah!" She cried, pulling backwards.

"Aw." He pouted, releasing her, "I guess that serves me right for making you jump." Then he smirked. "I will get that kiss though." He sang, and then grinning, he hopped down, and went around the building to the front door. Yui stared after him, resting her fist against her chest, where her heart appeared to be trying to break free. Sighing, she was about to get dressed, when she saw Takeru outside, pulling on his shoes.

"Ah! Takeru!" She called, making him turn and look. "Are you going running?"

"Yeah?" He called up. "Why? D'you wanna come Zassou?" He grinned.

"Yes! Just let me get changed!" She rushed back to her closet, and began pulling out her running clothes, getting changed as quickly as she could. Hurrying downstairs, she greeted her parents, who were chatting with Dionysus, Thor and Balder, with Loki dozing on the sofa. She briefly felt guilty that he hadn't gotten much sleep, but then smiled as she saw Balder place a pillow under the tricksters head. Pulling on her shoes, she jogged out to Takeru.

"Alright, lets go!" He cheered, and they began running. They ran around to the back of the shrine, down through the forest, speeding past trees bursting with green leaves, down to the river, and around a hill. It wasn't the magical landscape that the garden had been, but it was Yui's home. As they ran, she took the lead, taking Takeru to all her favourite spots. The red bridge over the river, the top of the hill where purple flowers blossomed in a clearing, the pond by the willow tree; with each place, she gained confidence, and Takeru smiled as she gasped out explanations and stories. Finally they came back to the shrine, and Yui doubled over, breathless.

"You know," Takeru grinned, leaning on the shrine, "you would be less breathless if you didn't try and tell me the history of this place whilst you ran."

Yui grinned bashfully, panting. "I know…I'll remember that for next time."

"Not that I didn't enjoy it, you light up when you talk about this place, it's wonderful, but I don't want you pushing yourself more than you're able." He took her hand, and pulled her over to the stairs, pushing her down so that she was sitting. Then he knelt down and took hold of her leg, "don't resist."

"E…eeeh?" She cried, flushing even more scarlet.

"I need to stretch your muscles out so that you don't get cramps."

"A…ah." She looked away, letting him manipulate her legs.

"You need to stretch properly, especially if you've pushed yourself. You're really bad at looking after yourself." He smiled, and she grinned, embarrassed. "But I'm glad you did, I wouldn't have found out all about your favourite places otherwise."

"Heh? But you said I shouldn't have talked so much."

"No, you shouldn't." He let go of her legs, and looked up at her, smiling warmly. "But I'm glad you did." He leant up to her, wrapping his arms around her waist, and stretching up his head so that she looked down at his face. Slowly they drew closer, and Yui felt dizzy, her heart was already pumping, and she wobbled slightly, sliding to the side. "Yui!" Takeru cried, catching her, and holding her upright.

"I…feel dizzy…" She muttered, and guilt crossed his face.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have…you're already tired…" He smiled awkwardly, and helped her stand up. "Lets go back inside." He paused as she stood up. "But…" He turned her to look at him, and held her face in his hands, "…don't think I'm giving up. I'll just have to wait until after you've eaten something." He grinned. "Get stronger faster, you're the only one who can keep up with me." He took her hand, and led her back to the house, and she looked down at their interlocked fingers, and felt warm inside. This felt nice, this felt right. Suddenly Loki's face swam into her mind, and guilt filled her. She really didn't want to complicate things, but she also couldn't bear the thought of picking one over the other.

They entered the hallway, and Takeru grinned, saying he was going to have a quick shower, Yui nodded, making her way her bedroom to get clothes and a towel, then heading to the other bathroom, where she washed the stress off with the cool water, refreshing herself with the chill of it. Drying off, she changed into a cute top and shorts, shaking her hair dry.

"Mum?" She called, entering the kitchen, which seemed to be empty apart from Apollon.

"Ah! Yousei san!" He got up, bringing over a bag of marshmallows. "Balder said he would make everyone a barbecue breakfast!"

"Eh? But…mum would never agree to that!" She said, staring outside where, sure enough, everyone was sitting around a barbecue.

"Balder is very convincing." Apollon grinned, taking her hand. "Come on Yousei san, let's go and enjoy it." She was pulled out into the sunlight, where the gods and her family were all sitting about as Balder and Thor made food.

"Ah, Yui san! What would you like to eat?" Balder said, coming over to her. "I've prepared all sorts of meat, and some vegetables in case you wanted them. I'd be happy to share my pork with you?"

"Hey! Look! I found these in your storage shed!" Apollon said, pulling Yui away from Balder, and picking up a box full of ribbons. "Why do you have so many ribbons?" He picked one up, "And why are they attached to sticks?"

"Oh, that's for ribbon dancing." Yui said, smiling, he really was like a puppy, getting into old boxes and finding old toys. "I'm not very good anymore, but I used to do it with one of my friends."

"How does it work?" He asked, pulling one free.

"Look, I'll show you." She said, pulling out a pair, and beginning to spin them.

"Uwah! You look amazing!" Apollon sighed, picking up a pair and trying to copy her, but tangling them instead, making Yui laugh.

"Here, let me help." She said, slowing down so that he could copy her. Soon all the gods were watching them as she taught him different tricks and movements, though he still managed to get in a tangle, and soon they fell over together as he accidentally wrapped the ribbon around both of their legs.

"Gomen'nasai…" He said, helping her up. "Perhaps I should let you do it alone?"

"I'm not very good at it anymore either though, I think maybe they were in a box for a reason…" She rubbed her head, smiling.

"I thought you were wonderful, Yousei san." Apollon said, taking her hand. She blushed, and felt his warmth, and couldn't help but drown in his eyes. "Would you…would you let me kiss your cheek?" He said, with an unreadable expression.

"Eh?"

"I just…missed you…a lot…" He blushed, looked away, then looked back at her with those piercing eyes.

"I…" she flushed at the thought, but before she could stop herself, she had nodded. He came in close, leaning into her, and pulling her towards him, putting one arm around her waist. She heard Dionysus suddenly talking loudly to her parents, and briefly realised they were being distracted, but then Apollon's face was next to hers, and kissing her cheek with his warm lips. She remembered the first time they met, Apollon was a very intimate person. She also remembered his parting words when she'd been sent away from the garden. This wasn't just affection. This was love. The warmth of his touch spread across her cheek, warming her inside somewhere. It felt light, like something barely there, and yet reassuringly there. She realised she had slowed her breath, and was about to run out of air when they broke apart, and Yui stared up at him, as he smiled with such innocent purity. "Thank you, Yousei san." He looked over at the others, and ran up to Balder, saying something about not having pork for breakfast. Yui raised her hand to her cheek, and touched it gently, it still felt warm. Closing her eyes she tried to remember the feeling and burn it into her mind so that she would never forget it.

"You look concerned." Came a voice from beside her, and she opened her eyes to see Tsukito standing nearby.

"I am…" she replied, looking at Takeru, who seemed to be glaring at Apollon's back.

"Sometimes the solution is not to choose." Her companion said, looking at them.

"Eh?"

"Just something to bear in mind."

She watched him return to the group, wondering what on earth he could mean, then called out for him to wait for her, running over to the barbecue.

Sunday wore on, and Yui spent the day showing the gods around the shrine. They were all interested in the ways that people showed their respect, and helped out when visitors came through. Takeru and Tsukito were the best suited to giving talks about the Japanese gods, what with being two of them, and Yui's parents were very impressed with their 'historical knowledge', though Thor had to kick Takeru before he went into personal details of the gods and goddesses interactions that mortals would not have known about, whilst Balder laughed it off as 'artistic licence', guiding the visitors into the shrine and away from the ocean god.

"What was that for?" Takeru grumbled as Thor gave him a look.

"We're meant to be inconspicuous."

"Except we stick out like a sore thumb. Especially Balder." Takeru grumbled.

"Only because he's more attractive than you." Loki said, pulling a face at him.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Takeru said, clenching his fists.

"Well it's easy to see that if he wanted to, he could sweep anyone off their feet." Loki danced over to Takeru, then grinned, "Apart from little Koneko chan," then in a whisper he added "she's mine."

"What do you mean you damn fireball?" Takeru said, reaching out to grab the redhead, who skipped out of reach.

"Nothing, nothing, just defending what's mine."

Takeru watched Loki trot over to Balder, and talk to the visitors with him.

"I never know if he means Yui or Balder when he's like that." Thor said, sighing. "But I don't think he's actually interested in competition. You know Loki, he's more interested in playing games than an actual fight."

"Speaking of playing games," Takeru responded, "I haven't seen Apollon in a while."

"He went to talk to Yui's parents about school."

"Eh?" Takeru frowned and looked blankly at Thor, who shrugged.

"We need to stay with Yui Kusanagi." Tsukito said, appearing from the shrine, "So it makes sense that we would attend school with her."

"When does school start?" Takeru asked, looking suspicious.

"Tomorrow."

"EEH?"

Yui heard the cry from across the courtyard where she stood with Dionysus, who was helping her tend the flower beds. Takeru sped across to her and was suddenly inches away, looking terrified.

"SCHOOL STARTS TOMORROW?" He yelled, and Dionysus looked up, also shocked.

"What? But we've only been here for two days!"

"That's because it's a weekend." Yui said, shrinking back from the enraged Takeru, "School is still running, but…I don't understand why you're so worried, you don't have to…" she looked from Takeru's sudden slump to Dionysus's resigned expression.

"We'll be accompanying you to school, of course." Dionysus sighed, "To keep you safe."

"Plus we need to try and blend in with everyone." Said Balder, who was just coming over, having finished the guide.

"No need to scream like a child." Loki smirked at Takeru, who sent a glare in his direction.

"You'll have to go to school as well." Takeru spat.

"Maybe." Loki shrugged, "Or I could skip class, like at the garden."

"Loki, you mustn't skip class." Balder said, frowning at his companion. "We need all of us to be there in case anything happens."

"Aaaw…" The redhead moaned.

Just then, Apollon appeared outside the main house with Yui's parents.

"Everyone! Yousei san's parents have said they'll take us to buy our uniforms!"

The group audibly groaned, apart from Balder, who smiled at them, and Thor and Tsukito, who had just come over.

"That is very kind of them." Balder said, going over to thank them. Yui got up to go to them as well, but Takeru caught her hand.

"Yui…" He looked embarrassed, then let her go. "…never mind."

"Eh?" She looked at him, confused, but then Loki was behind her, pushing her towards her parents.

"Come on Koneko chan, you have to teach us how to dress as well."

They spent the rest of the day in town getting the gods uniforms, though Loki immediately got himself a purple and black hoodie to wear over the top. Takeru found a green jacket, and Dionysus latched onto a red scarf. Each god gave their clothes their own flare, though the others mostly kept within school regulations.

"How are you planning on getting that past the teachers?" Takeru asked Loki, pointing at the clearly out of place hoodie.

"That's my secret weapon." He grinned, wrapping an arm around Balder, who smiled awkwardly.

"Loki, shouldn't you at least try to blend in?" He asked, gently holding Loki's hand.

"Eh?" Loki looked at Balder, an odd expression on his face, then he shrugged and slumped. "If you really want me to."

"Ah! Not if it's going to make you sad…" Balder said, looking guilty. "I'll talk to the teachers." He smiled, and Loki beamed at him.

"Balder you're the best!" He threw his arms around the blonde, and laughed happily.

"Balder, you're too easily manipulated." Takeru grumbled, leaning back against the shop wall.

"Hey." Loki said, glaring over Balder's shoulder. "I'm not manipulating him. I'm asking him. Besides, it's not like you're conforming to the school uniform either."

"I checked." He responded, eyes shut and arms crossed, "I'm allowed to wear this kind of jacket."

"Guys! Look at this!" Apollon called, standing outside the changing rooms, dressed smartly, but with the school waistcoat instead of the jacket.

"Ah! You look great Apollon!" Yui said, going over to him.

"Arigato Yousei san!" He said, smiling. "I can't wait for tomorrow! You'll be wearing the girls uniform won't you?"

Loki and Takeru suddenly jolted upright.

"Of course." Tsukito said, appearing behind Apollon, wearing the school uniform with its usual blazer. "Tomorrow we'll all be going to school together. I contacted Zeus and he's arranged for our entrance to be organised. We'll be in the same class as Yui Kusanagi."

"Ah! That's right! You'll meet my friends!" Yui said, smiling.

"That will indeed be lovely." Balder said, smiling at her.

"Right, I better go and pay for the uniforms. I still don't understand where your money came from…but I guess it's okay." She went over to the till where a young woman was looking longingly at the gods.

"Uwah…you have some very handsome friends." She said, "Aah I wish I had such lovely suitors." She sighed sadly.

"Eh? Ah! No! They're not my suitors!" Yui said, waving her hands in a fluster. "They're just my friends!"

"Oh? I'm not sure all of them know that sweetie. But anyway, what can I help you with?" Yui looked back over to the gods, Takeru was getting angry at Loki again, who was laughing and hiding behind Balder, who in turn was trying to pacify the ocean god. Apollon was showing off his clothes to Yui's parents, Hades and Dionysus, though Hades looked uncomfortable in his uniform. Thor was sitting in a chair, dozing, whilst Tsukito was reading the school handbook. Nothing about them suggested they were thinking about anything other than their clothes. But then she caught Takeru's eye, and his expression softened and he smiled at her, making her blush. Maybe they were paying her more attention than she thought.

Embarrassed, she turned back to the shop assistant and began listing the items they would be buying.

Yui went back over to the gods, handing Tsukito the change, and leading the group outside. Her parents said they had something to do, so the group said goodbye to them and made their way back to the shrine.

"Yui san, are you okay?" Balder said, walking beside her.

"Eh?" She looked at him, confused.

"Your face has been flushed since we were at the shop." He smiled kindly.

"Oh!" She brought her hands up to her face, covering her cheeks which turned an even deeper shade of red.

"Yui san…" Balder said, stopping, and taking hold of her hands. They fell behind the group, and Yui looked up at Balder. Her heart felt strange, tight. She knew she couldn't return his feelings, He was so dear to her, but it hurt that she couldn't love him the same way he loved her. The feeling of falling in love with Loki, Takeru, Apollon, but not being able to return the love of the kindest one of all, Balder, made her head feel hot and dizzy. The world began to shake, and she tried to say something, but only breath escaped her mouth, and she slid down, falling to the floor.

"YUI SAN!" Came Balder's cry, and then she heard feet running towards her, feeling someone lift her up, and Apollon's face swam into view, before disappearing as she slid into darkness.

"YOUSEI SAN! YOUSEI SAN!" Apollon cried, tears forming in his eyes. "NO, NO PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!"

"APOLLON!" Dionysus Shook the blonde's shoulders, "Look, she's still breathing, she's not gone, quickly, we need to get her back.

"What happened?" Takeru said, helping Apollon lift her up and walking beside him as he carried her quickly up the stairs.

"Um…" Loki began, peering over.

"We need to get her inside." Tsukito said calmly, leading the way back to the house.

"Guys…" Loki said, standing in their way.

"Loki we need to-" Dionysus began but the trickster cut him off.

"Look." He pointed at Yui. "She's glowing." The group crowded around her, and sure enough noticed that she was faintly glowing. "Quickly, into the shrine." He said, running over to the door, and lighting some candles with a wave of his hand.

Apollon laid Yui down on a soft mat, as Thor brought over a pillow for her head. Tsukito went to the house to get a blanket, and Takeru rounded on Balder.

"What did you do?" He spat, "She was fine, then you kept her back and suddenly-"

"Hey." Loki said, standing between Takeru and Balder. "Balder did nothing. If you think he did you're actually crazy."

"Why do you always defend him?" Takeru shouted, aiming a punch at the fire god, who caught it, flames licking his fist.

"Don't toy with me." He hissed, but Balder took his shoulder, looking at them both sadly.

"I'm sorry, I might have done something."

"No." Loki said, turning to face Balder, looking scared, "Balder you couldn't have. I know you, there's nothing-"

"Emotional charge." He said, simply.

"Nani?" Takeru and Loki said together.

"If she experiences strong emotions, she is more likely to advance stages of her transformation." Tsukito said, appearing in the doorway of the shrine with a blanket.

"I'm sorry…" Balder said, looking away.

"No." Came Apollon's voice. "This is my fault. She was already…if I hadn't…I knew and yet I…I asked her to let me…"

Loki and Takeru looked guilty, remembering their actions as well.

"If anything, it was my misfortune." Hades said, sitting down beside Apollon.

"Guys." Dionysus said, folding his arms. "We can blame each other and ourselves forever, but no one could stop her experiencing emotions. It just wouldn't happen. Remember what Zeus said? She's not experienced joy or heightened emotions since the garden. Any emotion is going to be an overload. It's not always going to happen, but right now it's not going to be anyone's fault. It's going to happen no matter what we do." He looked outside, where rainclouds were gathering. "We just need to protect her from danger. We can't protect her from what she's becoming." The room was silent as rain started to fall, and Apollon pulled his knees up to his chest, and buried his face in them. Loki sat down next to Balder, leaning on his friend, and watching Yui anxiously, whilst Takeru stormed outside and sat in the rain, guarding the doorway.

"They are still going to blame themselves." Tsukito said, settling next to Dionysus and Hades.

"I know, but at least they've stopped arguing." Dionysus said, closing his eyes and leaning back.

"Loki?" Thor asked, and the red head lifted his head up, looking at him curiously. "I know you like to fan the flames, but-"

"Hai, I know. Don't." Loki leant back against Balder again, closing his eyes.

Time passed, but finally Yui began to wake up, and her glow began to fade.

"Apollon?" She said quietly, and the god lifted his head up to look at her tearfully, before reaching out and pulling her into his chest.

"Yousei san. I was so scared."

"I'm fine." She whispered, hugging him back.

"Hey Koneko chan." Loki smiled, crawling over to her. "Try not to do that again, I think Apollon might actually transform."

Yui smiled, and was released by the blonde, who was also smiling through his tears.

"Yui san." Balder smiled, "Are you feeling alright now?"

"I feel tired, but not dizzy any more." She said, looking around, and spotting Takeru in the rain. "Eh? Take-" Loki covered her mouth with his hand.

"Let him sit in the rain. He's used to water." Loki was glaring at Takeru with thinly concealed anger.

"Loki." Thor warned. "You're only doing that because he got angry at Balder."

"Huh?" Loki said, stubbornly, glaring at Thor, but still he removed his hand, putting his arms behind his head. "Call the grumpy one if you want." He said, looking away. Yui looked over at Takeru, who was soaking wet.

"Takeru!" He turned around, fear on his face melting into relief.

"Zassou!" Clambering up, he ran over to her, dripping water all over the floor, and kneeling in front of her. "I would hug you, but you'd get all wet." He smiled.

"You shouldn't have sat in the rain." She smiled back, and Apollon laughed, Takeru joining in, before sneezing. Yui reached out to him, and touched his arm, when suddenly there was a spark from her finger, and Takeru yelped, falling backwards.

"EEH?" Yui cried as Dionysus ran over to help the ocean god up.

"I'm alright, it was just a little shock." Takeru reassured her, rubbing the back of his head.

"Probably leftover power surges from the transition." Tsukito said.

"I should probably…" Takeru paused as he began to get up, looking down at his clothes. "I'm dry…" He said, wide eyed.

"Uwah! Koneko chan! Your powers are manifesting, you can dry people instantly when they come in from the rain." Loki giggled.

"That's not funny Loki." Thor said curtly, but Loki danced out into the rain, splashing around.

"What's he doing?" Apollon said, looking confused.

Once he seemed soaked, he came back in and sat down beside Yui.

"Try it on me Koneko chan!"

Yui looked at him uncertainly, then at Dionysus, who shrugged.

"If he gets zapped, its his own fault." She nodded, and reached out, placing a hand on his clothes. Nothing happened. Sighing she sat back again.

"Aw…" Loki said, looking disappointed, before using his own powers to dry himself, steam wafting through his clothes. "I want Koneko chan to use her powers on me." He whined.

"It's not something she can control yet." Balder said, smiling kindly. "Though it might be an idea to try and practice, Yui san, so that they don't run out of control."

"How do I practice?" Yui asked, looking at the gods.

"I train physically." Takeru said, leaning back.

"I just focus really hard!" Apollon said, smiling at her.

"But I don't know how to trigger it." She said, and the rest of the gods frowned, thinking.

"I know how." Loki grinned, mischievously, before closing the distance between them, and holding Yui's chin with his hand. "Ki-su." He whispered, leaning in close, and making Yui blush, feeling his breath on her lips before Apollon and Takeru piled on top of him, wrenching him downwards and away from her.

"EH?" She cried, holding her bright red cheeks.

"Itai-tai-tai…" Loki winced, underneath the other two.

"Loki!" Balder cried, rushing over to help.

"It's fine." Loki grinned sheepishly as Apollon and Takeru got off him, "I expected that."

"But your theory is sound." Tsukito said, making Takeru and Apollon cry out again. "Heightening Yui Kusanagi's heart beat and emotional state could trigger her powers."

"But doing it right after she's passed out from a power surge might not be the best moment." Hades said, glaring at Loki.

"How do you know that I have manifested powers? Or that…what was it? Heightened emotions cause it?" Yui said, looking around in confusion.

"That was my fault." Balder said, smiling sadly.

"No it wasn't." Loki hissed, looking away.

"Yes," Balder said, looking at Loki, "I was the final trigger, no matter what happened before." He turned back to Yui. "When we spoke, and I held your hands on your face…that was when you fainted. After that you began to glow, which alerted us to the fact that you were changing."

"Then you electrocuted Takeru." Loki laughed, only to smirk at the ocean gods glare.

"But I don't understand. I've been feeling strong emotions ever since you guys came back." Yui said, feeling lost. "What made those emotions in particular cause a change?"

"We don't know yet." Apollon said, smiling. "But don't worry, Yousei san, we have plenty of time to work it out. We're not going anywhere." The others nodded, and Yui smiled at everyone.

"Everybody…arigato!"