Chapter 44

He absolutely hated being away from her. Certainly it was only for a couple of weeks more, and it wasn't like he hadn't spent lifetimes away from her before. However, this time it was very different. Something kept gnawing at the back of his mind, and he couldn't help but think she might be in danger. He felt like something was lurking in the shadows to take away their happiness, and he just couldn't shake the feeling. He'd been updated by Phobos each day of her activities, and she'd even spoken to him every night. So, he just couldn't justify the ominous feeling in his bones.

"Oi! Heel! You're up! Get off your ass, it's your turn." Murasame barked, walking towards him.

Cain looked up at the pest and sighed wearily. I suppose it would be a bad thing if I made him wet his pants in front of the entire cast. He glowered inwardly. The thought cheered him a bit and he let loose a small smirk.

Briefly, Murasame had thought he'd seen some kind of hellish specter where Cain had been sitting, but it was only in the blink of an eye. He shook his head and took a step back. Has to be the heat. He thought as he turned around and left to get a bottle of iced water from the catering table. Yes, I must have heat exhaustion or something. He's not really a Shinigami, they don't really exist. He kept repeating over, and over in his mind, shivering from the vision that had flickered before him.

"I'll be back tomorrow while you're in your audition." He told her, barely able to keep his excitement to himself.

She smiled softly, then pouted a little. "Not fair, I won't be able to meet you at the airport."

"It's okay. Ms. Woods is picking me up." They dare not speak their true names in public or over the phone. What would happen if someone was listening in? They would be exposed or thought of as crazy.

She giggled. "You know how much she hates it when you call her that." She playfully scolded.

He chuckled. "I know, she likes to be called Ten or your new nickname for her."

Kyoko pouted. "Well, it's the truth. She is the goddess of the makeup world."

He chuckled again and rolled his eyes. "You really shouldn't feed her ego like that, you know."

"She's earned a little ego polishing, after everything she's been through. People shouldn't be so thankless to her after everything she's done over the years for them." She countered.

"I think I would have to agree with you on that particular subject. Otherwise, I doubt very seriously there would be such an extensive population." He chuckled.

Hera the queen of the gods, goddess of marriage, childbirth, women, and family. Yes, she had blessed the Earth quite a bit over the years. What interesting things she would find once she picked him up at the airport tomorrow. Two new little golden threads of fate tied to Deimos' heart that weren't there before, perhaps?

"You're in a good mood." She commented as she looked up from her magazine.

The cheery little ravenette smiled brightly and chirped. "Of course I am. There is no way anyone will be able to best me at the audition tomorrow. Momiji will finally be mine."

Apátē smirked. She so loved shooting mortals down from their little happy highs. "Well ~, that is unless... another Erika Koenji shows up. Then... You might actually have to work for it." She said slyly as she watched her charge's face fall. "But... I'm sure you've nothing to worry about." She commented as she went back to pretending to read the magazine in her hands, and enjoying the sour mood that Kimiko had fallen back into. This is going to be so fun. She smirked inwardly.

She sighed after enduring the dark atmosphere for about an hour. Perhaps I took it a bit too far. "Really Kimi, you've nothing to worry about." Much. "I'm sure you're talent will surpass the rest of the applicants." If you don't count those with any talent at all. "You're a shoe in for the part of Momiji." If you don't piss off your uncle again with one of your tantrums. She finished after sufficiently fluffing her charge's ego. Hopefully the girl wouldn't make any mistakes that were too glaringly obvious.

Kimiko glanced up at her with a hopeful look. "You really think so?"

Apátē smiled softly. Wow, I really should have gone into acting myself. "Absolutely... You'll do perfectly. Just like always." Perfectly hideously. She was really starting to get bored with this one, too high maintenance. Maybe she wasn't the perfect little disciple after all. Hmm, maybe a politician next? Perhaps a lawyer? No... Too easy. Definitely not a challenge.

You're very warm and comforting. It was said, as the tiny being snuggled next to its sibling. Do you think Mother and Father will find us soon?

Shh... You shouldn't worry. They'll discover us soon enough. The second comforted the first. For now, I'll protect you. The first was soothed by the words, and gentle caresses of the second.

The one who holds us, feels uncertain. The second whispered. She's unsure of something. Do you think it's because of us?

Don't think of such silly things. Even if she does, we still have each other. The first now comforted the second. You'll always be my most important being. You're my other half. The first caressed the worried face of the second. You are my anchor, my strength.

And you are the light in my darkness. The second told the first.

Something was itching at the back of her mind, so much so that she just couldn't find it in her, to try and sleep. She really needed rest. An idea came, there was always a place where she could relax, and rest properly. She looked at her watch. "Hm... Ten minutes should be enough." She thought out loud to herself. She smiled softly, and began to shimmer. Mere seconds later, she was setting the alarm on her watch and her eyes had instantly closed as her head rested on a comfortable little pillow of moss, in a soft patch of grass, next to a calming stream.

"Isn't she beautiful?" The light one breathed out in awe to the darker one.

Silently the small dark being approached the sleeping goddess, and gently caressed her long dark locks. It looked up at its sibling and smiled softly, then nodded.

The light one sat behind the sibling and wrapped the darker one in its arms, resting its head on the other's. "I think we chose well."

The darker one looked up at its sibling and sighed. "Go back?"

The lighter one looked down and kissed the temple of the other, then nodded. "It's time. We shouldn't be here when she awakens." With that announcement, the pair shimmered into two little balls of light, twirled and spun around each other, and finally returned to their temporary home.