A/N: I apologize for the sporadic updating on this story and my others. There were things beyond my control happening in my life over the last couple of months. I will endeavor to do better, however, between now and the end of the year, it may still be sporadic. I apologize now for that. I lost a friend to cancer and my niece is about to have a baby. Happy and sad at the same time. Thank you for your understanding. Enjoy the new chapter! Next chapter, you will get a glimpse into Tsukito's thoughts and feelings.

Chapter 8 – Conflict

Maybe…just maybe, this was all a horrific nightmare and Yui was still in bed with her head lying on her pillow because it would explain how everything seemed to be falling apart around her. The building might still be standing, but that did not mean the structure was not about to crumble around them. Hey! One could hope something like that would happen. It might be her only saving grace at this point.

From the moment she had shown up at school that morning with an escort of gorgeous men surrounding her, Yui felt as if a target had been painted on her back. Eyes were boring into her person, and if looks could kill, she would be probably be buried six feet under or at least writhing in pain on the ground. Jealousy seeped from the girls pores surrounding them in a dark aura as if they had been possessed by a specter. If Yui were to ask why, she would just be playing dumb since she understood the impression these men made when first meeting them – it wasn't until after meeting them and talking to them for even a small amount of time that one discovered their flaws. And she didn't have a problem with those, to her, it made them seem more humanlike than supernatural.

Still, these were teenage girls and they (for the most part) were boy crazy. Even her closest friends had tried to flirt and obtain new boyfriends. Of course that plan backfired on them and went down faster than the Hindenburg thanks to Loki and Takeru; and though she might not say it aloud, she had never been more appreciative of their peculiar personalities as she had been on Saturday. Thus, in their eyes, Yui was the enemy because the new handsome exchange students were staying with her at her family's temple and she had the pleasure of their company inside and outside of school. It was not fair.

As the morning lessons (or what lessons the sensei managed to teach) wrapped up, the bell for lunch rang. The class as a whole stood and bowed to their instructor, and after he left, the world started to come to an end – well, maybe not exactly come to an end.

Falling into her seat, Yui sighed and took out her bento and was instantly surrounded by her otherworldly friends, and she could feel the glares intensify….even from the other boys in class. They were jealous about the attention the girls were giving to the strangers, and the girls were jealous the strangers were focusing on Yui. As much as it might hurt her friends' feelings, there was only really one of the men that she wanted to focus on her; however, when he did, she always questioned if it was because he wanted to or because he felt it was his duty.

"Fairy, aren't we going to the banquet hall?" Apollo asked, a huge smile lighting up his face.

She hadn't planned on going to the cafeteria, and had actually thought about eating lunch at her desk like she did many times before, her friends sitting around her as they talked about anything and everything happening in their lives and the lives of others. But now that the blond had said something, Yui noticed Chikako and Akane were keeping their distance from her today, probably a direct result of what happened on Saturday, and she couldn't bring herself to tell her friends to stay away from her during the lunch period. They were depending on her to instruct them and show them the ways of humans, to show them even more than before, the human heart and the emotions that went along with it. Her eyes drifted towards Tsukito, and she found him staring at her intently with a blank expression on his face. Sighing again, she nodded, "Hai. Let's go to the cafeteria." In her mind, she thought, "The cafeteria. The place with even more students who will probably feel like killing me." And as they were leaving, Yui could hear the mumbles coming from the other students in her classroom, accusing her of monopolizing the new students every minute.

Walking down the hall with her friends, students gaped and gawked at her and her escorts and it felt like she was put back under the microscope, "A-Ano. Did all of you remember to bring your bento my okaa-san made?" All eight heads bobbed up and down. "Then let's eat out in the courtyard." Yes, people may still stare, but at least it wouldn't feel so enclosed.

They never made it. Mere feet from the door that would allow them to bask in sunshine, their path was blocked by a mop of pink hair. Giggling, Haruko gave them a snide smile, "I have prepared a luxurious lunch for all of you. You will eat like gods!"

Yui almost face palmed, but she held back because she was too afraid of what her friends would say to that challenge.

Laughing, Loki lifted a brow and inquired, "And you know how gods eat?"

"Ah, um, Loki-san, it's just an expression. Let's go eat," the purple haired girl quickly stated and grabbed Tsukito by the arm and started to pull him around Haruko towards the doors, hoping the others would get a clue and follow, but again, their path was blocked.

"Kusanagi-san, you are more than welcome to leave. You weren't invited anyway," the tormenter snickered and snapped her fingers. The big bodyguards she had blocking her targets parted to allow Yui room to leave.

Normally, Yui believed she was a peaceful person and well-liked by her fellow classmates – of course that was before the appearance of the gods – but even she could feel her anger and irritation rising.

Takeru narrowed his eyes and said, "Do you consider yourself a goddess?"

Haruko gave a small flip of her log pink locks and smiled, "Of course I am. I'm the richest girl at this school and I can give you anything you want."

"That's not your money, that's your father's. As for what we want, if that's true, then move. You're blocking our way."

"Excuse me?!" Never before had Haruko been so offended.

Laughing, Loki spoke up, "He said you're a nuisance and in our way. Last I checked, you weren't invited to our lunch and you aren't a goddess." He paused and snapped his fingers, "Oh! Unless you're Hel." His eyes swept over her body and finally he shrugged, "Yeah, you could be her."

"Loki-Loki!" Apollo chastised believing his friend took it too far.

"Loki, that was mean," Balder shook his head in disappointment and he turned to Thor to agree with him.

The God of Thunder said nothing and just stared at the pink haired problem in front of them.

Haruko wasn't sure who this Hel person was, but she had a feeling the redhead just insulted her. Before she could respond though, another one of the boys with Yui spoke up.

Takeru wasn't sure who Loki was referring to, but he knew it was bad and asked with a smile, "Who's Hel?"

The redhead started to laugh and Thor believed it was his duty to explain because he knew Balder would not, "She is the ruler of Helheim, the realm of the dead. She is a hag who looks half human and half corpse."

Sucking in her breath, Haruko lifted her hand to slap Loki, however, Balder stepped in front of him and instead of making contact with him, she tripped and pushed Yui when she tried to regain her balance. The purple haired girl started to fall, but Tsukito caught her before she could fall and their lips connected – much to the horror of the other gods and the students surrounding them. Both Yui and Tsukito had been holding their bentos and those went flying into the air, landing on two other students in the crowd surrounding the small group.

"This is all my fault," Hades muttered.

Yui pulled back quickly, her face bright red with her blush, "Uh, thank you for catching me, Tsukito-san." She wasn't sure how to react or what to say. Her first kiss happened with the guy she liked, but it had been a total accident.

Taking in a deep breath, Haruko had to remind herself that she was a lady and therefore, she would not allow these people to make a mockery of her, "Be careful who you become friends with. It could have dire consequences for you and your time in this school. You don't want to hang around the wrong people."

"You know, I was on my way to the math prep room to get some tutoring help from sensei, and I noticed a lot of hot air coming from this direction," Michi snarled as she appeared in front of the small group. "Now, if I'm not mistaken, these people told you to get lost and to leave them alone."

"They did not!" The pink haired girl argued.

"I paraphrased. I'm sure I got the gist of it. Right?" Michi turned to the closest person in the group and asked.

Takeru found himself somewhat impressed with this girl and nodded, "You got the gist of it correct."

She turned back towards Haruko and grinned, "See. Now leave them alone. You're making them waste their lunch period arguing with you."

"I don't have to listen to a Yankee like you. Get out of my way!" Haruko tried to push Michi out of her way, but before she could lay a finger on the blonde, Michi moved out of her way and she wound up pushing Loki instead. Loki reacted and pushed the spoiled princess away. She hit a pedestal with a bust, which went crashing to the ground and shattered. Seeing a teacher coming their way out of the corner of her eye, Haruko dropped to the ground and started crying, tears falling from her eyes.

"How fake is that?" Loki's mocking tone could not be heard above the loud buzz among the other students.

"What is the meaning of this?" The sensei demanded.

Raising her finger, Haruko pointed it at Michi and then at Yui, "This is all their fault, Tanaka-sensei!"

Apollo, Loki, Thor, Balder, and Takeru were all quick to defend their friend with the others nodding in agreement, "That's not true!"

"Sensei, I hit my head," Haruko cried.

"Haruko-san, to the infirmary. The rest of you, to the office," Tanaka-sensei ordered.

Before they made it a foot, an explosion that could be heard throughout the school went off. Everyone in the area (except Balder and Loki) and the area itself, were covered in red powder. Loki had struck again.

It wasn't even the end of the first day of school and already they had made an enemy, Yui had lost her first kiss, and Loki was trying to destroy the building. Yuki wasn't going to ask if it could get any worse because she had a feeling the moment she uttered those words, the Earth would implode.

In the end, the principal ruled everything an accident, but he still forced the new students and Yui to perform extra cleaning duties while Haruko got off scot-free, and Michi wound up with a month of detention. If today was any indication, life at school was going to keep Yui on her toes until the gods' time on Earth ended, and just thinking about their time ending, caused an ache to settle around her heart. She never wanted to say goodbye to any of them again, but having to bid farewell to Tsukito, Yui wasn't sure she could ever do that again.