Chapter 28

"MO! Do we have to do this in public?!" Kanae complained.

Chiori giggled. "It won't be that bad. We've done it before."

Kanae sighed. "Yeah, but that was ages ago. People will recognize us. It's embarrassing."

Kyoko laughed. "Why would they recognize someone they've never seen before?"

Kanae gave her a puzzled look.

Kyoko shook her head. "Mnḗmē... We'll be singing as the group... Muse." She smiled brightly. "We can use our true forms... Besides, something tells me that Father would prefer it that way anyway." She told them remembering what Hera had told her.

Chiori furrowed her brow. "Isn't it kind of like cheating? We're the Goddesses of the Arts."

Kyoko scoffed a little, then winked mischievously. "We will merely be using the talents that we possess. It's not like we'll be forcing them to do anything they don't want to do when they listen."

Kanae laughed and nudged Chiori's shoulder with her own. "It's not like we'll be turning our critics into magpies."

Chiori sighed then smirked. "I have one of the songs written. I think it will convey what we feel for our men... Just as Father always liked for us to do."

Kyoko jumped up and held out her hand. "Lemme see, lemme see!"

Chiori giggled and gave her the lyric sheet.

Kanae stood and looked over Kyoko's shoulder. "It's a little racy for the Japanese, don't you think?"

Chiori rolled her eyes. "They only pretend to be offended. I'd be willing to bet it will be the most downloaded song by the end of the month with the performance I have in mind at the Gala."

Kyoko narrowed her eyes at her. "What do you have in mind? We can't be revealing ourselves."

Chiori broke down and told them. Kanae looked at her a little surprised. "I think that would actually be perfect. Everything can be explained by technology and special effects."

~xoxo~

Lory sighed. His three LoveME muses weren't quite ready to graduate yet. Certainly Kyoko had reluctantly accepted that old familiar feeling, but she still had not learned forgiveness. She was still holding that grudge against the boy that brought her to Tokyo. Of course he deserved it and more, but in order to be the benevolent goddess he knew she could be, she needed to learn to forgive and the boy was not making it easy.

Kanae may have accepted her two sisters and the relationship, but she was still distant from her human family and a good portion of her divine family. It was something she still needed to work on. She needed to learn that they could and would be there for her, as friends and as family.

His new little prospect, Chiori/Melétē was in quite a pickle. She had only recently discovered her divine heritage and to top it off she had been shunned and scarred since childhood. It had turned the most sweet, innocent muse of the three into something far more jaded and cynical. Not to mention, she no longer enjoyed her own talents. He needed to find a way to bring these three onto the same page. Perhaps a few special missions would help them see what they were doing wrong and lacking in when it came to the different aspects of love. Why couldn't he see that they seemed to working on that themselves? Well, he is still Zeus, after all.

"I would like for you to give gifts to others on Valentine's Day, instead of just me and Hera." He smiled brightly at the trio. "Something to show your appreciation to the ones that give you your power."

The three groaned at his demand/request. That would be a lot of chocolate, that is if they decided to give to all of their devotees.

Almost as if he had read their minds, he smirked and shook his head. "You don't have to give them to all of your followers. It would be unrealistic. I'm only suggesting that you give back to those that you are close to." He shook his head with a small smile.

A wave of relief fell over the trio. "Does this mean that you don't want a feast for Gamelion?" Melétē asked curiously.

He shook his head. "You may do as you wish for that occasion. It's not required. I would prefer that something like that come from the heart, not from a demand. The fact that you thought of Hera and me is far more than enough of a gift."

Aoidḗ nodded. "Father..."

Mnḗmē groaned a little and groused. "Mo, why did you have to go and start acting like a father..."

Zeus chuckled then pulled his three daughters into a hug. "It took me awhile, but Hera and I don't want to force you three into something meaningless. A feast for Gamelion, just for the sake of it being that date, would be meaningless. If you wish to do something on your own, then I'm happy with whatever you decide, but we would prefer that you share it with those that you cherish also." He kissed each girl on the cheek and smiled again. "Now, I'm sure you three have LoveME work to get back to, so I will leave you to it. Just remember that you only have a few days to show your admirers how much you appreciate them." He reminded them as he left the LoveME room in a flourish.

Kanae groaned. "I really don't know what to do about that demand."

Chiori flopped onto the sofa and sighed. "I can't think of anyone to make stupid chocolate for. If Eros was around, I would definitely do it for him... but..." She groaned. "I really just don't know."

Meanwhile, Kyoko had pulled out her notepad, sat at the table and began making her list. She looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully. "Hmm, I definitely want to make something very special for Deimos. I suppose I will give something to Phobos and Director Ogata. Bridge Rock should get something too. Oh! Definitely something to Reino and Euterpe. Most definitely Reino for taking care of her. Maybe something they can share with their band-mates." She froze a little.

Kanae looked at her with concern. "Something wrong?"

Kyoko looked over at her sister in horror. "W-We forgot! By the burning gates of Tartarus! WE FORGOT!"

Chiori looked at her in shock. "What?"

Kyoko looked at her sisters. "We forgot their birthdays..." She murmured with her eyes wide and filled with guilt.

"It's today... Isn't it?" Kanae asked hesitantly and Kyoko nodded stiffly.

Chiori rolled her eyes. "Please, it's still before noon." She turned to Kyoko. "You'll see Deimos this afternoon." She turned to Kanae. "You both still have time to find something for them and meet them later."

"You don't understand! We can't just run out and buy something! It has to be perfect! Not something purchased at the last minute with not thought put into it!" Kyoko ranted in a panic.

Kanae sighed. "Mo! Calm down... We'll just explain to them that we've been busy and that we'll give them their gifts later. They'll understand."

Aoidḗ pouted. "That's not the point."

"I know, but there's not much we can do about it right now." Mnḗmē comforted.

Melétē rose from the sofa and grabbed her clothing from her locker. "Come on. Let's change and look around. You at least need to get a few ideas on what you want to get them. Besides, I kinda want to get something for Eros." She told them.

"But... You don't even know who he is yet." Aoidḗ furrowed her brow, a little confused.

Melétē smiled sadly. "That doesn't mean I can't give it to him after I do find him. It would make me feel better."

They could kind of see her point and they appreciated that their sister at least wanted to spend time with them on this little trip. It felt like old times. The days they would spend in the markets, walking through and combing over the endless trinkets for ideas on what to gift to their lovers; Phobos and Deimos on the tenth day and Eros on the fourteenth day.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to pick up the chocolate for the others while we're out." Kanae groused as she grabbed her own clothing and left for the changing room.