Chapter Eleven – Waves of the Past

While Takeru had told Yui they would have a rematch of sword fighting to solve the club question, he showed no hurry at all to actually do it. On the contrary, as the days passed by, their routines slowly established itself in not only running together as the god also started to join Yui at evenings for sword training which, with his presence became more demanding, something Yui wouldn't complain about at all: Somehow, it was also more fun now.

It wasn't something she spoke of directly, it was something one could see in her eyes when she talked to the others about it and how sometimes she and the god would talk about other things.

"Do you guys think they are becoming friends?" Isuzu asked Arisu and Misaki, remembering how the girl had told that Takeru had even taught her some defensive moves, even saying she was improving (in his own way of saying it, of course). Isuzu still felt a bit weird with the idea of Yui spending time with Takeru now, since the god had showed nothing but a disinterest that pressed the line between this and despise.

It was nice, of course. And surprising, as they had thought Takeru would mere run with Yui until she seemed to be better enough so he could challenge her to another duel. Later, as she reflected about it on a night she caught a glimpse of them training under the stars, he had dismissed their first duel due to the difference level between them without putting Yui down about it.

"Don't know if they will be able to train today, though" Isuzu thought as she glanced towards a window. The rain threw itself against the glass, drops being small bullets that broke upon the impact. All that there was to see were shadows and lead in the shape of clouds holding into the sky and hiding it.

One of the bad things to be in what would be categorized as a boarding school was that you couldn't use the rain as an excuse to skip classes.

"I dunno. What you guys think?" Arisu looked to one and then to the other.

Isuzu had not a right answer: She wasn't sure she believed this or not. Despite everything, the doubts regarding what the gods truly thought hadn't been forgotten (even if Isuzu didn't think she would ever confront them about it), just swept to the end of her mind. But… All in all, spending time with Yui could make the god more tolerant to them (not that he had at once casted away the temper they were used to). Misaki gave the thought some time for a while, before she shook her head, uncertainty marking her face.

"I don't know either… I wish it was like this, but yet…" Yes, they were spending time together, and there even times they had a snack together however there was a line between spending time together and just simply being at each other's presence.

They couldn't say anything for sure just because Takeru seemed less annoyed all the time. Had things changed?

"Well, he has been more polite lately. In his own way, I suppose" Isuzu concluded. The other gods had also noticed a slight change in his demeanor and since Thoth didn't call any of them to speak of the matter, they concluded he knew about this too. For some reason, he hadn't called them to talk about the clubs either, something Misaki was grateful for.

It had surprised her that Thoth hadn't called her later for a lecture regarding how she had spoken to him.

"In his way, meaning, he is still a hedgehog. A porcupine" The blonde commented, hiding an amused air as she finished choosing her meal. While Ren and Yui weren't there, a cheerful voice came to them.

Balder was waving.

"Hi, Balder!" Misaki greeted him as they walked to his table. As usual, Thor and Loki were with him and while the thunder god greeted the girls with a nod, Loki leaned his face in one of his hands, his grey eyes growing cold.

"Hello!" The light god smiled, indicating the empty chairs. "Take a seat!"

Loki's eyes ran to his friends as a lightening and back to the girls with more coldness and annoyance.

"Eh, no, that's okay, thanks, we just came to nibble something, have you guys seen Yui or…" Isuzu started in an apologetic tone, holding a trail with coffee and some eggs. She couldn't say that dealing with Loki right in the morning was something she looked forward to, he would drain her energies.

Balder, however, interrupted her standing up and gently pushing Misaki to a seat at Loki's side before anyone had a chance to say a word.

"C'mon, c'mon… You're not going to eat standing, right?" And he proceeded to do the same with the twins, gently but firmly. It ended up with Isuzu between her sister and him while Loki was now between Misaki and Thor, who limited himself to watch his friend and the blonde for an instance before turning back to his open sandwich of cheese.

"Hm, and… Have you seen Yui or Ren?" Isuzu repeated the question slowly. With Thor seeming to act as if they weren't there and Loki throwing daggers with his eyes, she was uncomfortable. Arisu decided to pretend there was nothing wrong.

"No. Tsukito was here just now, but he was already leaving when we arrived" Balder told them with a shrug as he cut a piece of sausage that was still in his plate. A window shivered with the strong rain.

"I think we won't have clubs today" He carried on and looked To Misaki, who was chewing her toast with jam and then to the other girls. "What are you going to do then?"

"No difference to me." Misaki replied after swallowing. "I'm with the Student Council."

And in the moment, there wasn't much to be done in the school anyway. The work would be more if they had more real students, but again, the spirits could barely be counted as such. She and Yui had commented among them that it would be fun if Zeus allowed excursions to the human world, however they are sure the god wouldn't accept. The temptation of escaping, shackled or not, would probably be too strong to some of the gods for the "principal" to feel safe.

Yet, it would be easier to help them if they could spend at least some hours in a real human environment.

"The pool is right at the side of the school. No problem too" Arisu commented. It wasn't far and it had a sheltered path. Some people said you shouldn't take a shower when there was strong rain, but she doubted the electricity (if it was really that) would work that way in the Academy.

Isuzu thought a bit as Balder watched her.

"Well… Maybe I'll take the time to start that paper Thoth wants. Have you guys started yours?" When Zeus had told them they would be experiencing a "school life" as part of his project, he hadn't been joking and Thoth had taken the idea most seriously (really, no surprise there). As in a normal school, they didn't just have classes, but also homework and papers that he demanded to be given to him for grading.

Loki was relaxed in his chair, playing with his braid, but Isuzu thought she had seen something in his eyes that had nothing much to do with his usual amusement. It was as fast as the blinking of a star, so she had no way of truly identifying it. At his side, Thor just watched the conversation as if he hadn't heard or cared with the girl's question.

"Eh? Nah, not yet" The red haired god's reply left no doubt: He didn't feel like even starting the paper (not that Isuzu didn't understand the feeling). Actually, he just ended up doing the homework because it was better than to hear Thoth's lectures and put up with a detention and because, with Balder and Thor, it was usually fast and not so boring.

"Why don't we do it together, then?" Balder suggested as if illuminated by the idea. Loki stopped playing with his braid and lifted his head a little, with a quick movement not unlike that of a snake. Arisu could guess well that he didn't like the idea of spending time with any of them unless if it was to use them as trick's targets.

"Hey, could we, perhaps, just an idea, not talk of this right at morning? Geez" She interrupted and leaned forwards the table, looking from Balder to her sister as she crossed her wrists under her neck in an X gesture. "I mean really? Please, thank you."

"I second that!" Misaki giggled. "How on Earth is this a subject to be talked about during breakfast?"

Isuzu was about to pick her coffee cup when Loki suddenly leaned forward and picked it first.

"What is this, anyway?"

"Coffee and yes, you can have a look" The girl grumbled as Arisu rolled her eyes and which met with Thor's. The quieter of the three Nordic gods lifted his brow as if asking her what else one could expect from Loki. The girl limited to a slight shrug with a shadow of smile. Somehow, for the first time, she thought his face wasn't as rigid as it had always seemed… He looked just serene.

Loki stared at the liquid with distrustful eyes.

"If you want to taste it…" Isuzu suggested.

The god looked at her frowning before taking a little sip. At once, his face twisted and he gave the cup back with a cat-like hiss that they had heard from him before.

"How do you stand drinking this? It's bitter!"

It was Isuzu time to frown. She had mixed milk and sugar to it as she always did and the coffee wasn't strong. If Loki thought that was bitter, she could only image what he would think of pure coffee… The god picked something in his pocket, a small paper bag that, when opened, revealed small hard candy of several colors and threw one in his mouth.

"Is this what you always drink at mornings?" He still asked, looking at Isuzu as if he still couldn't understand why any person would even want to drink that at all.

"Well, sometimes"

"You're crazy then"

Isuzu didn't pay him the slightest attention for this, just tilting her head with a half shrug as she went back to her drink. Perhaps there was no surprise that Loki had disliked that. His taste seemed to lean to sweeter things, just as Balder's leaned to meat (although they all seemed to enjoy meat from what she had seen in their barbecues). The trickster god threw another pink candy in his mouth, seemed to think for a bit and then stretched the bag in the other's direction in a silent offer.

Misaki looked from it to Loki, as Arisu and Isuzu made an effort to not exchange glances. They recalled far too well of his previous pranks, the archery targets with explosives and everything. The taller girl spied the little bag as if expecting that a snake or plastic bug would jump off it.

Slowly, thinking the same, Misaki picked just one of those candies, a blue one. Nothing happened. Yet, she examined it… Loki himself had ate one, so perhaps there was nothing wrong?

The god, meanwhile, offered them to Balder and the twins with the same smile.

"No, thank you" After the incident in the barbecue, Arisu had made a personal vow of never ever eat anything that Loki offered, no matter how innocent the food looked and no matter how hungry she could be and the other girls knew this. Isuzu refused politely as well and even Balder seemed a bit unsure. He loved his friend as dearly as a brother, but after ages, one learned to be caution with him.

Misaki still held hers, but seemed willing to accept it as a kind of challenge.

"Loki, Loki…" She muttered in a warning way with a deadpan look. "Can I eat this and not take a fright?" Her green eyes narrowed with a total lack of trust and the Loki grumbled.

"Geez, I was merely minding my manners" He picked another candy. "No one is forcing you, you know?"

No matter how much she wanted to give him a chance of trust, Isuzu would rather tell the blonde that this wasn't a good idea, but there was no way of doing it without being rude and she didn't want to offend Loki, risking the little progress they seemed to be having… On another hand, he was eating as well and the candies had no wrappings around.

Still with her gaze on him with what could be challenge or acceptance, Misaki threw the small candy in her mouth.

"See, they are really good!" Loki commented. Arisu remained skeptic, but to her surprise, Misaki agreed.

"Hey… They really are… The taste changes!"

Arisu and her sister exchanged glances, unable to hold it back anymore. Both had expected the thing to let out some smoke, to explode or perhaps to be incredibly bitter, yet Misaki seemed to have truly liked it.

"See?" Loki asked in a superior way of who just convinced others that his amazing scientific theory is correct. Arisu didn't look at all impressed.

"Hey, you live for tricks and pranks. Don't blame us for being careful"

"What can I say? You can be far too innocent, make things easier"

"How long does he spend creating and doing those things?" Isuzu thought, not having any idea of how Loki did half of his tricks. And didn't he get tired?

The god was laughing.

As in those occasions, it wasn't a laugh of mockery or despise. Quite the contrary, it was a genuine happy sound that one would hear in an amusement park or in a circle of friends. This was what made them think that, while Loki didn't like them, his pranks truly meant no harm or humiliation and were really… Well, his way of having fun.

XxX

If this rain carried on, it wouldn't be possible to tend the garden today. Not that Dionysus was worried: It was a strong rain, but not enough to cause damage to the plants. Sincerely, he had enjoyed the idea of clubs as it was something else to do here besides studying (something he had no excitement for).

He was a rural god. His domains were not only grape harvest and wine making, but theater and the ritual madness. The kind of ecstasy that took over people's mind when joined in celebrations or festivities, making them lose their sense of individuality and right and wrong to be lost to their instinct. And madness was something he often cursed mortals with, when they disrespected him beyond his patience.

As such, he wasn't one that enjoyed just staying still for long. Directing his energy towards something he enjoyed and was connected to, made him feel better in here.

Turning a corner, he met his uncle who seemed to be caught in reading a book with a dark cover.

"Yo, Uncle Hades" He greeted him, lifting one of his hands. "What are you reading?" The ruler of the dead didn't walk away when his nephew started walking at his side. Even after ages, more than they bothered to count and even with all disgraces that had befallen due to Hades' curse, the younger god enjoyed when he could have contact with his uncle.

Their present situation had this good side: The opportunities Hades had of leaving the Underworld were incredibly rare, usually it was just when Zeus realized a meeting far too important to dismiss him of it.

Many of the other gods would rather avoid him, not only due to his curse, but principally due to his nature as a god of Death. Dionysus had told Amaya Ren the truth: For them, the afterlife was something even more unpleasant than to mortals, who knew they would die and learned to accept the fact, no matter if they still feared it. However, gods were immortal. They didn't feel the effects of age and growth like them, and the nature of the end of life felt more obscure. The truth was… Mortals understood death better than the gods.

So, as a god who ruled over it, Hades was more intimating to them. The others celebrated existence and life, he was the one who ruled over the end of all things.

And this made them remember that there were things beyond the stars, beyond their powers, that they couldn't understand. And perhaps, Someone who was higher than all of them.

Apollon and Dionysus were among the very few gods, along with their father, their other uncle and aunts, who enjoyed the times they could meet Hades.

"An astronomy book about the skies of the Academy" It was the response. With the school being in a different place where he lived, the dates in which you could see certain constellations were different than the ones he was used to. The fact that according to the book, there would be several events, such a meteor shower and eclipses, Hades felt gratitude for his younger brother.

His relationship with Zeus wasn't something to be classified as "simple". There were gestures that were so much fraternal as arguments and many times, Hades got frustrated at his brother's ways of ruling.

But in truth, it was like this among majority of the gods. Their relationships could oscillate, during years, between peace, care, grudges and hurt. However, small gestures like this made him remember that, no matter what, Zeus was still his little brother.

Like the others, he had been enraged when he had been sealed and forced to this Academy. The whole thing didn't feel just tyranny but (and there was no other term) a complete clownery. After ages judging souls, he knew enough about humanity.

Even more than he wanted to know.

"Great! At least you'll know beforehand if something special happens!"

Both stayed in silence for some seconds, before the younger god placed his hands in the pants' pockets.

"Hey, Uncle Hades… How do you think the others are?" He was referring to the rest of the "family", his aunts, half-brothers and cousins. "What do you imagine they thought of all this?"

"I do know that Artemis was quite bothered. She was worried with Apollon's disappearance and then they couldn't find you too. Then things were explained and she was most displeased with all of this, especially with Zeus' idea of keeping us all here should we fail to graduate" Both exchange glances full of knowing. Artemis didn't use to be violent, however, she and Apollon were extremely close and the threat of not seeing him again was enough to make her furious. Hades would be lying if he said that their connection didn't make him remember a time, more than millennia ago, in which he and his siblings had been as united… He just hoped they wouldn't ever grow apart as it had happened with him and the others.

Due to his position, Hades was the only one who still had contact with other gods from where he had come from. Thanatos, god of Death and Hecate, goddess of Witchcraft, sent him reports regarding how they were dealing with the dead and he had been satisfied in learning that they were keeping things in control, without the souls of Tartarus trying to rebel in his absence (well, most of them knew better). Taking advantage of this communication, they informed him of what they knew of the rest of his family and also asking their lord and king how he was doing.

"Zeus had to go back, without our knowledge, to explain to them. And Hera didn't like the idea, but she seems to keep her emotions to herself. Hestia, however, thought this would be a good thing." The reaction of his sisters was of no surprise whatsoever. Hestia had always cared for humans and how gods should comprehend them more. Hera acted as if she didn't care very much for her husband's other children, gods or not (Hades, however, knew how much Zeus' affairs tore her apart), but she had grown to keep things to herself and nowadays, no one could truly know what she thought or felt.

"Hermes must have found this interesting" The younger god guessed, holding a chuckle. He was about to comment what Athena probably thought that all this, despite having good intentions and purpose, and also of involving other gods and five human girls when they reached the second floor and, crossing a hallway, he stopped for an instance. He knew they were close of the official Arts Club Room, so he wasn't all surprised when he caught a low and melodic sound.

"Hey, listen." He muttered to the other. "It must be Amaya"

Having nothing else to do now was a field for the little curiosity that was born in him and he walked to the closed door with a small board saying "Arts Club" in cursive letters (as it usually was with the other club rooms, he had seen a board like this in the Astronomy Club door in the same floor).

He opened the door carefully and the piano notes became louder. As he had guessed, Ren Amaya was sitting by the piano, her own voice mixing to the notes that slipped in the air when she soon took notice of their presence.

"Dionysus, Hades! Hi" The girl greeted, a little surprise of seeing them. Dionysus waved in reply and came closer pulling a chair of the table in front of the shelf, sitting with his elbows leaning in the back of it.

Hades hesitated, but Amaya and his nephew gesture to him to come in as well and, despite worried that something might happen (the pulsation of the curse in his flesh as burning iron always warned him when he came too close of someone). The god, however, gave in and took a chair, still a bit away from them just in case.

"What are you doing?" The girl asked, hands resting in her lap and abandoning the piano, resting as well until they were awoken for a new song.

"Just walking around, taking a time of peace before having to bear Thoth's class" Dionysus told her, resting his chin in his arms. Amaya raised her brow, looking somewhat amused.

"He won't like at all if you fall asleep in class again…" She said in a joking manner, as it actually didn't make much difference. The red haired god would usually take a seat in the far back of the class to not be noticed in his nap. And even when Thoth did see it and would wake him up (and quite furious as well), the Greek god wouldn't care. Ren thought he was actually sleeping less in class… Not that he ever took notes, anyway, be awaken or sleeping.

"What can I say? His classes are boring" And he looked at Hades, in search of support.

"Dionysus, you were never able of being still for long, not even during meetings in Olympus" The God of the Dead said with a cautious amusement in his voice, of one testing the resistance of ice covering a lake. When Dionysus stretched the back of his head in a way alike of a child caught stealing cookies and Amaya ended up smiling and sending Dionysus a look of "he-got-you" and Hades felt a little lighter.

"I can only imagine" She said, crossing her arms and shaking her head solemnly. In the window, raindrops hit and slithered down as if racing and they could hear their shattering against the glass.

Dionysus still laughed a bit and then indicated the black piano with his chin.

"And what were you playing?"

Amaya didn't blush, but a light pink covered her face and Dionysus noticed she seemed a bit embarrassed suddenly.

"Ah, a song I know… Just practicing a little."

"Do you mind playing?"

Amaya turned her face to him with a quick move, blinking.

Ren had piano class back at home, however she had never took part in anything as events or presentations, except sometimes at family reunions or during Christmas when their parents and neighbors did a little party for everyone. But every time she played for someone the first time, there was a nervousness that grabbed her from inside out.

"Well… I…" She looked from Dionysus to Hades, who also observed her with some interest, as neither of them had seen her like this before. Taking a moment, she nodded and risked a jest. "Well, just remember that I am not Apollon, nor any goddess of music."

The red haired just waved.

"As long as you don't challenge him, you'll be fine."

Ren risked a shy smile and turned to the piano.

The girl's fingers went back to the white keys, already familiar with the notes. The human voice and the instrument joined in one sound.

Kaze wa tamashii o sarai – The winds sweep the souls away
Hito wa kokoro o ubau – And people steal the hearts away
Daichi yo, amekaze yo – Oh earth, oh rain and wind
ten yo, hikari yo – Oh sky, oh light
Koko ni subete o todomete – Please, harbor everything in this place
Koko ni subete o todome – Please, harbor everything.
Koko de ikite – And bloom here.

The girl was nothing exceptional as a singer, there was nothing special in her voice, but it was pleasant and good… The melody was quite different from what both gods were used to listen to, and therefore, there was a somewhat exotic quality. Thoth had already commented about cultural differences and the ways of music, but it was the first time they heard it.

Ren had her eyes fixated in the keys, but she wasn't really there. All her being, as it happens when we concentrate in something else, was totally immersed in her actions and the sound. She hadn't truly forgotten the gods' presence, but somehow they occupied a hidden corner of her mind.

Outside, the rain went on.

Tamashii yo, kokoro yo – Oh souls, oh hearts
Ai yo, omoi yo – Oh love, oh yearnings
Koko ni kaeri – Please, return.
Koko ni todomatte – And abide here forever

The gods watched the human girl playing the black piano, whose sound was unlike the lyres and flutes, which they were more used to.

Dionysus, relaxing in the chair, moved the head almost unnoticeably accompanying the melody. The rain's sound was just as pleasant, since he often wandered in the forests with his followers… Most didn't know, but even he, connected to the great pleasures and ecstasies (in a way that many times was destructive and even bestial), also knew how to enjoy such moments.

Hades remained sitting there, eyes on the girl as he kept still, hearing each note and the essence of the song. It would have been impossible to someone to have the slightest notion of what was going through his mind, but there were no signals of displeasure in his serious gaze.

Kaze wa tamashii o sarai – The winds sweep the souls away
Hito wa kokoro o ubau – And people steal away the hearts
Sore de mo, koko ni todomari – And yet, I shall remain here.
Utaitsuzukeru – And I'll continue to sing

Well, there was a truth, wasn't there? She would remain here during all year. Still so many months to go… It was hard to forget the subject, even if she and the others wouldn't speak of it as often as when they had arrived.

For some seconds, Ren became quiet and the piano's notes took over, connected in that soft melody before she sung again.

It was almost plea-sounding.

And her mind was back home once more. She couldn't avoid this anymore than she could stop the rain from falling.

Douka – Please.
Watashi no uta o tokete – Send my song to where it must reach.
Douka – Please
Watashi no uta o uketotte – Receive and accept this song of mine

With the lyrics involving a sort of request for souls and hearts, the gods couldn't avoid remember of some hymns mortals had for them and were also sung… And the memory gave the song, for them, a soft quality of a prayer.

Indeed, the last notes had been suave, as a gentle plea with traits not of despair, but hope.

Turning to the present once more, Ren's fingers rested over the keys and she looked back to the gods in silence, trying to figure out their opinion. Dionysus gave her a small nod of approbation.

"Where have you learnt this song?"

"It's from a series I know" Ren had actually heard it in an anime, but it would be complicated for her to explain it better and she didn't feel much like it. The gods already knew about "series" (though briefly) and she decided to leave things simple.

"It is pretty" Hades limited to comment. It had been pretty, maybe really because it had a trait of simplicity.

"I think it so" She agreed with a shadow of smile in her eyes.

"It's appropriated. Speaking of rain and wind" The other god commented, taking his arms off the chair and leaning them at his body's side and indicating outside with a gesture of the head, stopping for a second, suddenly thinking about something. "Doesn't your name mean something like this in your language?"

"Amaya is written with the kanjis of "night rain"… The girl confirmed. "And what you guys…"

Her words were swallowed by an explosion.

Light cut through the window and spread in the room with a fury that threatened to devour everything it touched and all colors became white. Ren and Dionysus stood and Hades came closer. After a second, heart beating faster, the human girl's mind registered this hadn't been a lightening.

"What was that?" Dionysus asked, also aware this hadn't been an act of nature. Hades studied the fields, not seeing anything unusual in the foliage that extruded ahead, no clue to what was that.

"What happened?"

"Let's search for the others, maybe they know…"

"The three ran out of the room, reaching the stairs when the air was ripped apart by a deep voice, a roar in the shape of words.

"SUSANOO, TOTSUKA TAKERU!"

"Oh, shit" Ren thought as the three of them rushed to the hall without needing to look at each other. None of them had even the beginning of idea of how Takeru was involved, but taking in Zeus' voice, it was worse than bad.

Running through another hallway, they reached the main hall as well as Apollon, Tsukito and the Nordic Gods, who were with the twins and Misaki.

In front of them, Yui looked to the top of the stairs, several emotions flashing in her face as veils: Indignation, tension, intensity of someone who is not being understood. A bit above her, Takeru… Inside a round cage, whose bars were of gold in which light tan inside as blood. Power emanated from that as exposed flesh, creating waves in the air.

"Fairy, what happened?"

In the top of the stairs, Zeus stood.

His eyes were pierced in Takeru, with a harsh coldness none of the girls had yet seen before. Ren felt her heart go faster against her will, instincts became a storm… Like when she had felt Hades' essence, now she felt Zeus'. However, considering the Lord of Olympus had no shackles, it was easier to feel it…

And it was dreadful.

Far more than the human mind could absorb in order to understand. In his strength, it came to her how easily they could shatter her sanity with a mere wish… And as one who sees just a little of the sea, she didn't want to consider what his full might was.

In that moment, the mere idea of the gods' true being was something she couldn't bear imagining.

And they scared her.

"Apollon! Takeru is with problems!" Yui turned to her friend, voice shivering with a fear too full of edges. "He saved me when I fell off a cliff and he broke his shackle. His powers…"

But then she turned to Zeus, a coldness that wasn't from the rain in her. It was all happening too fast! In a moment she was calling out for Takeru when she had seen him running. Then the ground had trembled under her feet before it broke apart… The sensation hadn't been of falling, but rather being pulled and a strong pain in her head had pushed the others, born from the rocks hitting her, to a mist that grew in her…

Then, after it, she had regained her senses and become conscious of the ache in her body and the needle in her skull. But Yui also realized she was being held by someone… And it was Takeru.

In all this, she had had barely time to take in his shape, which was now different from what she was used to. All Yui had had time to feel and know was that although it was a human shape, it was impossible to think of him as such now.

The next thing they knew, they were involved by a warm light and suddenly back to the Academy with Zeus forcing Takeru back into a human-like shape, telling he had destroyed part of the garden by breaking his shackled. By such act of vandalism, he would be suspended until he redeemed himself.

It wasn't even unfair, it was absurd! Takeru had saved her.

"Zeus-sama! Takeru was just…" She started, too caught up in everything to care how her insides twisted in the god's presence, too desperate for him to listen, to understand. Zeus paid her no mind and his voice overpowered hers, forcing the girl into silence.

"Totsuka Takeru. If you refuse to redeem, you'll be facing expulsion" He carried on, staring at the sea god as if the others weren't there. "The rest shall graduate without you"

"Eh, really?" Loki started with an uncaring tone. "So we can be expeled and leave if we break those things?" He crossed his arm behind his neck. "Meh, I think I'll give it a try"

A growl escaped Arisu's as her nails dug into her palms, the shock and fear of all giving place to rage for the Nordic's attitude. Misaki opened her mouth, not even knowing what she was going to say. Zeus continued in the same tone that didn't allow any other sound to exist.

"You idiot." He turned to Loki for a moment with a hiss before his attention hit Takeru once more. Although she wasn't the focus of those golden flames, Arisu felt her body turn empty. Something in her screamed for her to turn away, run and not look back. "Whoever said anything about leaving? Those who are expulsed shall still remain here for eternity. As a statue, that is."

Loki whimpered. That was even worse than what would happen should one of them fail graduation.

Isuzu wanted to cry against how Zeus carried on with threats, but her vocal chords had forgotten how work, killing her voice.

"BASTARD!" Takeru screamed punching the bars. Fury was back in him with more intensity that Arisu remembered and she knew that if it wasn't for the cage and shackle, the sea god would have tried to dismember Zeus with his hands. "Don't go saying whatever pleases you!"

With despise, Zeus hit his scepter against the floor. The cage dissolved and Takeru fell. Apollon ran to him, followed by the others as Zeus gave them his back and walked upstairs.

"Zeus, wait a second!" Misaki tried to call, but the god ignored her.

"Are you alright, Take-Take?" Apollon asked and Yui meant to offer her hand to help him stand, but was uncertain if he would accept it. Without looking at anyone, the blue-haired god stood with nothing but hate in his eyes, and walked away.

Hades still asked if Tsukito wasn't going after his brother, to which the Japanese god lowered his head without expression.

"I… I don't know what to do" He said quietly.

Yui didn't wait and bolted after Takeru.

XxX

Yui didn't understand why Takeru had said that it had been his fault until the god, not looking at her, had muttered that he had thought she wouldn't come due to the heavy rain… However, if he had waited, or at least went to speak to her before, then that could have been avoided.

The girl didn't know, but he wasn't speaking only about the problem at hand, but also how she had been hurt. There were bruises already in formation, some cuts in her legs and he had seen when a rock had hit her head as she fell… It was almost a miracle there hadn't been blood.

Humans were weak. They were disgusting, low, arrogant…

They were weak and he hated them.

To gods, humans are as fragile as butterflies… A scratch to a god was a deep wound to a human. And taking in their nature, he had assumed the human girl wouldn't do anything and just forget the jogging and…

Once again, he had been impulsive.

The girl now had insisted in talking to Zeus, not giving up explaining that there was no reason at all for apologies of any kind as he hadn't done anything… Without knowing that each word she offered had no comfort, but needles. Zeus wouldn't listen to what she had to say just how he wouldn't listen to what he had to say.

Because this was how things were, always. Once others assumed something as being truth, for them it became truth, so hard and immutable that it suffocated the one that was the subject of it. You could talk and talk, offer evidences all you wanted and they would find a way to fit them into their vision without having to change it.

Not standing it anymore, he had left Yui behind.

He hated doing that. He was used to being more of a warrior god than one who would run away.

Words, actions… They were worthless.

Yet, they burned. As much as you wanted them to hear you, to comprehend, nothing happened… And what remained was that sensation of cold empty. So why say or do anything, if it just worked to make you feel alone?

He knew this.

Decades and decades ago, when he was still a young god, he had been taken by an intense ire. The motives were foggy in his memory, just that remained was that energy that seemed to tear him apart from inside out.

It happened sometimes and, unable to keep it anymore, he had gone out, destroying things in his path… At first, he meant to just get rid of that feeling… But at some point, he had lost the notion of "himself" and what he was doing, consumed by the action. And it wasn't the first time this happened either.

But that time she had paid.

She had been one of the servants of Amaterasu, his sister… A lesser god with whom he had always been close… Most of his memories of the events were confused, as are the memories of actions we commit when taken over by emotions to the point of reason being devoured, not leaving space for thoughts, but he remembered her expression and her scream…

They lived in him.

He had killed her… She had been his best friend… And he had killed her.

And among all, even more clear, was the remembrance of what had happened afterwards.

He had screamed in the council, tried to explain that he hadn't had any intention of hurting her. She was his best friend!

The others merely stared at him, distrust, despise and even hate weighting over him and wrapping his body in more needles than the others born out of regret, mourning and self loathing. He had admitted his guilt, what he had done and the punishment… But he refused to accept how the others believed he had killed her by purpose!

The image of each of her smiles, the sound of her laugh and her voice mixed with the scream of surprise and pain, the smiling face stained by her growing small as she fell and the blood against her skin… And he hadn't been able to do anything.

"He killed her."

"I knew something like this would happen"

"Poor little thing, why she tried to be his friend? He destroys everything he comes close to"

"She thought they were friends."

"How can we call him a god? He is a monster"

His punishment hadn't bothered him like those whispers.

Or like the memory of her scream, the last thing he had ever heard from her.

XxX

"Where is the justice in this damn place?" Misaki's anger twisted in her voice, maggots in a corpse. "He can't really expect Takeru to apologize or whatever the hell it is!" She looked to the others, as if expecting confirmation, even without need.

It was too clear: Zeus wouldn't accept to hear anything regarding this matter.

After Takeru had left the hall, Yui had gone after him and Tsukito had followed for a moment before coming back to join the others in the studying room. They had tried asking if the Moon god if he had talked to his brother, but Tsukito denied and they hadn't asked anything else, feeling the delicate matter and unsure of what they could say. It wasn't as if they were especially closer of Takeru… Misaki had her hands closed over her knees, mind in the harsh expression of Zeus and the things that had been said.

"What is he thinking?" Isuzu muttered, not wanting to look to Dionysus and Apollon, aware they were speaking of their father. "I mean, didn't he hear what Yui said?"

"That he heard, he heard…" The Harvest god replied quietly in an unreadable tone and arms crossed. "But father, well…" It wasn't easy to deal with him in such situations. "He has a temper and he said that Takeru destroyed a part of the garden and broken his shackle, so…"

"What? You think he wants to use Totsuka as an example?" Balder wondered just to shake his head. "Wait, this doesn't matter. What matters is what is going to happen now. Do you think he will apologize?"

Misaki let out an exclamation of indignation, to which Balder raised his hands explaining.

"I know it isn't fair at all, but it sounds like the only way of solving things without more conflict"

They all exchanged looks at this. They knew that in theory this sounded simpler and easier, while in reality it was quite different, a web of feelings and details that started simple to soon turn into a monstrous mess.

"Take-Take is very proud… To him, redeeming for something he isn't guilt of…" No need to go on, it was clear: This wouldn't be just apologizing for something when there was no need, it would be humiliating.

The problem was, like Dionysus had said, Zeus had his own temper.

Ren, arms crossed, was caught up in her own thoughts.

"When he undid that cage and let Takeru fall… Better yet, when he made that cage at all, could it be he was reaffirming his authority? Reminding him that he is, for now, just a weak human who can't do anything against him?" The girl would have liked to deny it, but couldn't. As Balder had said, maybe he wanted to make an example out of the sea god to make sure no other god would try to break their shackles by force.

"Oh, what does it matter? Zeus' motives don't! Balder is right, I'm getting sidetracked from what's important!"

Loki watched the conversation in silence, seated at Thor's side. None of them took part in this.

"Kusanagi said he saved her."

"And Zeus really seems to give a damn about it!" Arisu didn't even try to contain her sarcasm. She wanted to take a deep breath and was unable too, looking at her sister with the corner of her eyes, almost envying her better control.

"Take-Take was just…"

Yui passed running, stopping by the door and panting, looking around the room quickly.

"Fairy? Where is Take Take?" Apollon asked, standing from his chair. The girl frowned, body fighting back for breath.

"I thought… Thought he was… Here…" Her voice died slowly, she swallowed an exclamation and took off once again, not saying any other word. The others blinked.

"What's gotten into her?"

"Wait, do you guys think…?"

"Takeru went to talk to Zeus?"

The ones of the group who were sitting stood, going for the doors. Apollon had a ferocious determination marking his face and even Balder seemed serious, unlike his usually gentleness. Loki didn't move, but Thor followed them with his eyes.

"Why this?" The red haired asked with a calm curiosity upon seeing the rest of them obviously willing to go to Zeus. Ren turned, face of a serenity that was cruel in its coldness as she evaluated the god and hissed.

"Because we are all together in this"

There was a silence.

It was the first time she spoke like this of the whole class. It didn't matter if Takeru wasn't close enough to them to be called a "friend", but he was part of their group.

The others followed the way, running once they were out of the room.

Arisu still waited a second, looking to the other two that didn't give signals of wanting to be involved, the thunder god also looked at Loki, stoic as always.

"Hey, are you guys really not coming?" She tried. Loki started to play with his braid, in a way that was more to emphasize his lack of interest than out of his habit.

"That's his problem, isn't it?" He asked, relaxing against the couch with a shrug. Thor didn't move, but his eyes became somehow sharp and went until Arisu without her being able to know what he thought of all this and in the moment, she couldn't care less.

"Loki, I can't BELIEVE what I'm hearing!"

"Hey!" The god growled, sitting straight and throwing daggers with his eyes. "Listen here, Zeus won't listen to us and you know this very well! If Totsuka wants to accept the humiliation, it is his choice. What can we do, even if we wanted to do anything at all?"

His words made Arisu stay still. Yes, whether they wanted or not, Zeus had all cards in hands, control was his and none of the other gods could challenge him in that state, so what was left to be done? As Balder had said, the only way out they could see was for Takeru to accept it.

And yet…

"Maybe… It would be good. If we could live like that. If all things could be simplified to this point and…" Her voice was a quiet muttering that soon died, but both gods heard her very well. "But things aren't like this. And even if you may be right… We need to be at his side."

"I stiiiill don't see the reason."

Arisu felt the previous anger running through her bones to consume them once more. Loki was being ridiculous! If he wanted a reason, he just needed to remember what Ren had said: They were in this together. Right now, it didn't even matter how the gods saw them or not, but rather the other way around and Arisu realized she and the others were at least starting to see them as friends.

And that was all that there was.

"I give up!" She growled, raising her hands to the head in a sign of resignation. "Screw you! Takeru doesn't need to face this alone, that's the point! And I don't know why in Hell I would expect anything different from you in the end!"

Loki's eyes gleamed with a mix of curiosity and threat. Thor had his eyes on her as well and while Arisu would also have liked to say something to him, she had already lost too much time.

She took off.

Loki ran to the door, seeing her leaving, hair waving in her back.

"What do you mean by that?"

She screamed, not looking back.

"I mean to say you're a really selfish bastard!"

XxX

"Takeru!" She called when she saw his figure in front of Zeus. "Don't! You have nothing to be sorry for!"

Yui stopped at the door of the room, catching her breath. Takeru looked at her with surprise and Zeus' eyes were lava against her. Thoth was standing at his side and showed no reaction, but didn't say anything either.

"You didn't do anything wrong, nothing that you need to "redeem" for!" Her words sounded harsher than Yui had meant to and Zeus' expression inflamed when he snarled at her.

"What are you saying?"

His aura burned Yui inside and she didn't know if he meant her words or more like her intruding. She resisted. Zeus truly wanted Takeru to admit something that wasn't his fault.

"Is this the only way? To lower the head and act like an obedient child…" Forced to be in the academy she understood, even if she didn't agree. But this? This burned her blood.

"Zeus-san, listen to me!" She insisted, part of her anger overflowing in her voice, even if she tried to control it, aware that it could worsen the situation (not hers, but Takeru's). "I already told you, I fell off a cliff! Takeru broke his shackle when he wanted to save me! That's what happened!"

The god remained quiet as she spoke. Thoth also didn't say anything, but at least his lack of expression also meant no signs of anger. Yui kept her eyes in Zeus', not wanting to give any sign of backing down.

"Wasn't this school made so gods would study about humans?" She continued, the words coming out with a will of their own. "But it doesn't matter how different we are, the wish to help someone is the same!" And this wasn't just for gods or humans, it wasn't even just for creatures of the same species. How many times didn't animals protect their owners or members of their packs? Geese would help each other as they flew, people tried to help animals and she had read about the inverse happening. A stray female dog had once been found protecting a baby that had been abandoned in the trash.

"This is not something you can demand an apology for!"

Golden eyes and caramel ones crossed in the air, pressing each other. None of them said anything. Yui's heartbeat was too fast and her blood buzzed in her ears. Indignation and anger and nervousness mixed in her…

A sound became louder and before the girl could turn back, an arm came to stay in front of her as someone stood in front of her… Apollon.

Looking around, the other gods were there, Tsukito, Balder, Dionysus and Hades, as well as Misaki, Isuzu, Ren and Arisu. Another sensation found birth, something curious and warm that soon spread through her body. Suddenly, as dangerous as Zeus was, part of her fear was more under control.

Zeus' face darkened upon seeing them.

"Get out!" He didn't scream, but his voice echoed in the room all the same. "This is nothing that concerns you!"

"Of course it does!" Isuzu replied, words exploding in her mouth as she fought back some cursing words. Apollon stayed close to Yui, as if he meant to fight back Zeus' aura with his own, shackles nonstanding. His eyes were green flames and his muscles were tense.

"It isn't true!" He stared at his father, raising his voice. "He is part of our class, so if this concerns him, it concerns all of us!" They all stared at Zeus, gods in their nature no matter the shape they were forced into.

"And there is something missing, if he isn't there" Dionysus commented, hands in his pockets as Balder confirmed his words. Arisu shook her head.

"There is no sense, graduating without one of us!"

Yui stood at Apollon's side, her attention back to the principal and indicating the others, emphasizing her words.

"See? We all think the same!"

The god's voice sounded between teeth, but it would have been better if he had yelled. That sound was carried of a something that Yui didn't bother to understand, but whose nature she noticed. It entered her ears, invaded her being as a life-threatening disease.

"And you intend to challenge me, human girl?"

Some of the gods frowned in anger, others looked at Yui worried, aware that now she was over thin ice. No god would ever stand disrespect from a human. Yui had done so before and now she was defying his authority more directly. Other humans had suffered punishments that would leave them begging for hell for this.

Yet, Yui was so caught up in the heat of the moment, that she didn't realize this at once. It was too much to hear that from Zeus. Any thought for the consequences or different left her and she stepped forward, fire in her soul consuming her to an unbearable peak.

"The person in this place who truly doesn't understand, be about humans or other gods…" She growled, until her voice rose. "IT'S YOU, ZEUS!"

There was just a second of silence before the girl went on. All gods looked at her in shock. It wasn't just because she had always been of such caring ways that it was almost scary seeing her angered… It was also because no mortal had ever talked to a god in such way.

"All of us here are at least trying to learn, not about each other as species, but also as individuals! No matter how different! And we are all able to admit our mistakes and learn from them!" And you don't was in the air, without a need to be expressed verbally. A bit behind her, Ren had her arms crossed.

"I do suppose it would have been better if he had let Yui fall and get hurt?" She inquired with a soft voice of poison. Right now, Yui was fire and she was ice, even her smile.

Yui went on, not looking at Ren, but nodding to her words.

"Takeru may have broken the rules, but it was an accident! And he had reasons, I told you already! Threatening him just to get an apology for this? It's disgusting!" She screamed the last world, not the acute cry of a child in a tantrum, but an adult indignation that burned the air.

Silence dominated everything as ashes falling, formed by the trail of flames of her voice.

No one found anything to say, not after what they had just witnessed. Slowly, their eyes went back to Zeus… Something in him seemed to oscillate between sensations, something only visible to his sons and older brother.

Yui, meanwhile, was slowly realizing what she had just done. Oh God, oh dear God in Heaven… She was aware from the beginning that provoking Zeus was the least sensate thing one could do, had tried to keep calm, but his refusal in admit he had mistaken things and Takeru's actions were not deserving of punishment had broken her control.

Now, the old fear was back and stronger.

"So, what are you going to do now?" Thoth asked Zeus and, curiously enough, he smiled as if this was all interesting or amusing. The other god stared at Yui as if piercing her…

"Zeus…" Some turned to Hades, who had his arms crossed and spoke almost softly, yet there were undertones in this. "Never lets anything pass him." And this time, the brothers stared at each other, the older one with a strange smile, his eye fixated on Zeus.

"You did this entire scene by purpose, to evaluate our reactions and fully aware of what would happen." No one dared saying anything. Zeus mouth twisted in the corners, almost enraged by the other's intromission but Hades knew his youngest brother far too well: He couldn't punish Yui, he needed her. However, he was one of the most prideful gods and also stubborn. To openly admit he was wrong, especially against a human and in front of other humans who, in comparison to him, were less than children…

However, Hades had presented him the only way out that would also guarantee no consequences later, be to Kusanagi or Totsuka.

"Isn't that so?" He asked, still with that softness that was deadly in itself.

More silence…

Then flesh hardened as if carved of stone, the god lifted his head, refusing to look at any of them and scowled.

"Susanoo, Totsuka Takeru… Continue to studies and get results. Don't fall behind anymore"

Yui realized she had been holding her breath and heard sounds of relief behind her coming from the girls, sighs and exclamations from the gods. Her eyes met Takeru's and the god gave her a little smile.

"Get going, you still have class today!" Thoth told them with the harshness of always, as if he had caught them playing instead of studying. "To the classroom"

XxX

"Yui, that was awesome!" Arisu laughed, passing her arms by her friend's shoulder as Isuzu nodded, looking impressed.

"I… Actually, I thought I had made things worse" No one doubted that if Zeus had no need of her, things could have taken a different turn. The girl's face was still a bit pink and she smiled. Ren caressed her head, again showing that calmness with a gentle look.

"But it was amazing! I must agree, Fairy!" Usually he would side with his father and be indignant if a human yelled at a god like she had done, but considering the details involved, he couldn't feel anything even close to this and turned back to Takeru. "Hey, Take-Take, after all, are you going to join any club?"

Back to the subject of the start, Misaki giggled.

The sea god, who had been in silence ever since they left the room except for a muttering thank-you, half impressed and half surprised, lifted his head to the blonde god, looking as if the question had caught him out of guard.

His mind had been quite somewhere else. If someone asked, he hadn't expected Yui to insist in speaking in his defense, let alone the whole class. He barely had ever talked to some of them.

"You already run every day" The Nordic god of Light said. "And train swordfight"

"This is already a club" Hades commented looking back. It was somewhat amusing… In the end, Takeru had been part of a club without realizing or making it official with specific terms. The god and Yui looked at each other. None of them had realized their training could be classified as such! They hadn't ever thought of it.

"In the end, it was the other way around… We didn't make a club for him based in what he liked, we started an activity and it turned into a club at some point!" Funny because, in the end, as the days had passed and they spent time together, Yui had even forgotten this case. And after what had happened just now, speaking of "clubs" made it all sound insignificant…

Even if it was just due to the terms used, and not the consequences.

In front of them, the gods still talked about the club, if it was running or "wrong club" (Tsukito badly interpreting when Yui trying to correct him and already taking notes) until Takeru turned to the girl, ignoring the others.

"Hey… Thank you…"

"Hh? Oh, no, I thank you. You saved me" It was the second time a god saved her from injuries or worse. Back when she was falling, she had heard his voice calling to her.

The sea god averted his gaze, thinking about the events of the last hours. They went against the mindset that had formed in his mind in the last decades regarding humans. At least the behavior of those girls had…

Yui wouldn't have heard his muttering of now if he wasn't walking at her side.

"I… I used to think all humans were weak" There was more to it. Perhaps one day he would be able to talk to her about it. "But… I guess you're quite strong"

Yui almost stopped, barely hearing those last words as Takeru stopped walking to smile at her. It was the smile she would see on her brother after he saw a particularly impressive movement in skate competitions.

"You are awesome, Weed!"

"Hey, the name is Kusanagi" Despite blushing to his compliment and enjoying it, Yui still tried to correct him, but Takeru just laughed.

Ana: Again, sorry it took long with this chapter, you can blame my college.

Thoth: Always finding excuses.

Ana: I did some research on Susanoo, but I don't know much about Japanese myths. From what I read, he had cases of uncontrollable rages from time to time and once he destroyed all fields of rice, also killing a young goddess that was one of the servants of his Amaterasu (he also had a competition with her, but I didn't read much of it). And... I really liked Yui yelling at Zeus. And considering how the Greek Gods were with the matters of respect (no kidding, some were cursed for things that today we would consider small matter), this just makes it even better.

Thoth: Well, it isn't as if he can get rid of her.

Yui: I admit, I got a little carried away, but he was getting on my nerves!

Ana: Zeus gets on everyone's nerves, don't worry. Well, I don't have much to say here this time...

CameronEmma:

Thanks so much! If I got this effect, then it means a ton to me!

Misaki: I almost did, but I controlled myself in the last minute. I really can't stand being called that, I know it sounds silly, but it gets so much to me...

Ana: You're blabbering, calm down, Misaki. But yeah, this gets to her and it isn't in the lines of "a nickname she dislikes". The gods aren't the only ones with issues here, anyway.

Takeru: What is this of shipping? And just because some of them may be, perhaps, not that bad, it doesn't mean anything!

Ana: You know, you're too much of a tsundere most of times for your own good. I do want to make a poll of it sometime, but I want to give it more time. About the girls' past... Now, that (along with details of the gods) will take time.

Thanks everyone for reading this and remember: Reviews are fuel to me. They are my virtual chocolate!