A/N: I apologize that it has taken so long to get back around to this story. It was never my intention to leave it for so long and I'm disappointed in myself for leaving all of you hanging for so long. It should be updating more often going forward and I have not abandoned it. Life got in the way. Enjoy the new chapter and another one should be up next week.

Chapter 12 – Thoth

Returning to the classroom, Takeru sank into his seat and heaved a sigh. He had run the whole way and found himself slightly out of breath, but at least he could claim he beat Michi to the main school building first. From there they had to go separate ways, so the race was over and he could claim victory.

And he would win the kendo match.

Never before had he felt as alive as when he was fighting her. How long had it been since he felt a rush like that? Well, there was the time they were trying to rescue Balder, but this was different. She challenged him at every turn and he liked it. Not that he liked her. He didn't. He couldn't. He wouldn't. In his eyes, Michi was just a means to an end. She would help him with his brother and Yui, and that is where their relationship would end. It mattered not that she intrigued him in a way that only one other person before her had. Yui had captured his attention in the garden, and now he felt Michi's presence drawing him in as well. It was probably because she was different and was actually skilled with the sword. That had to be it. Surely it couldn't be anything else.

"Takeru-san, where did you go?" Yui asked him across the aisle.

Without thinking, he answered, "Kendo match with your friend, Michi."

"EH?"

His quiet groan could still be heard by his brother and his friend, "Nothing."

"Takeru, why did you have a kendo match with her?" Tsukito inquired, confused as to why his brother would leave their little group.

What excuse could he give? If he told his brother and Yui the truth, they would probably try to stop him and deny their feelings for each other. His only option was to lie, "She challenged me and I accepted."

"How did she know you practice the sword?" Yui probed. While she knew her friend was on the kendo team, she didn't think Takeru or herself had ever mentioned the fact that he knew about such things to Michi.

"She overheard me ask about the kendo team here to one of the other students," his lies continued.

"Eh? Are you thinking about joining the team?"

"Takeru, we will not be here that long," Tsukito reminded him.

The Moon God's warning felt like a knife in the heart to Yui. No, they weren't going to be here that long, two months – maybe less - but that did not mean she needed to be reminded of that fact. Whatever question she had, died on her lips.

Takeru could see the brief despondent expression flitter across Yui's face before it was gone. It only lasted for a minute, and he was pretty sure his brother had missed it completely. Surely Tsukito wasn't in a hurry to leave. Right? "Ani…I know," he paused in order to pick his next words carefully, "but while we are here, we should try to experience and learn as much as we can. Don't you think?"

Considering his brother's words, Tsukito finally nodded, "Hai." His gaze flittered across his brother to Yui. Why was her head down? Was she feeling all right?

Did this mean he had to join the kendo team now? It hadn't been his intention, but it would give him the perfect excuse to meet with Michi without the prying eyes of the other gods. Plus they could plan and plot to their hearts content without the worry the others would bother them. Maybe joining the kendo team wouldn't be that bad after all…and it would help him to hone his sword skills. Yeah, those were good reasons. It certainly wasn't to spend extra time with a former Yankee. Not at all.

He couldn't wait until this afternoon when he could fight her again!

The afternoon felt like it dragged more than any other day. Takeru wanted the last bell to ring so he could rush to the dojo and suit up. He had a kendo match to win and a prize to collect. And then something happened.

Their two last classes of the day were government and philosophy, and today they had a new teacher. The gods and Yui never expected for a certain Egyptian god to waltz in. Ono-sensei introduced him as Thoth-sensei their new government and philosophy instructor.

Nine voices groaned in the background. No longer was Takeru fixated on getting to the dojo, now he worried more about his "new" teacher. Yui had known today was going too smoothly. Haruka had been leaving her alone today and other than Takeru disappearing at lunch, all seemed right with the world – or as right as it could be considering there were eight (now nine) gods attending her school. Tsukito didn't mind having Thoth has a sensei again. To him, the Egyptian god was familiar and made him more comfortable. For the others, they just wanted to survive school. They could all very well remember his attitude and teaching style when they studied with him in the garden. This was not going to be pleasant…at all.

As soon as the Ono-sensei left, the chattering from all but nine students began. First eight exchange students, and now one exchange teacher – who was also good looking – this was shaping into an interesting year indeed.

Slamming his fist down on the desk as soon as he heard the first murmurs, Thoth snapped, "Unless I ask you to speak, you are to stay quiet and listen. We will begin now!"

Shocked that a teacher would talk to them in that manner, the whispers ceased immediately and all eyes focused on the white haired sensei. There was something about him which made them fear crossing him.

So much information. The students were on information overload, but then again, what did one expect when their teacher was none other than the Egyptian God of the Moon and Wisdom, the one the Egyptians credited with being the author of all works pertaining to science, religion, philosophy, and magic. Not that they knew that. Other than nine souls in the room, no one knew the truth about him, or about how the nine thought he bordered on sadistic at times.

And when he was done teaching for the day, everyone – yes, everyone – released an audible sigh of relief. They were now free…until tomorrow.

Or so all of them thought.

Turning around, Thoth announced, "I need to see Kusanagi-san and the eight exchange students. Everyone else is dismissed." He waited until the nine students gathered around him and the others had left before he stated, "Zeus asked me to come and keep an eye on you."

"Thoth-sama…" Yui began and stopped when he slammed his hand against the desk again.

"I am not a babysitter. Do not cause me any trouble!" With that, he left the room and his former/current students alone.

"He's not going to be any fun. What can we do to loosen him up?" Loki snickered.

"NO!" Eight voices called out. The last thing they needed was to get on Thoth's bad side at school in the human world. Who knows what he would do to them.

Hearing voices in the corridor, Takeru remembered his previously scheduled date…I mean match. His eyes growing large, he rushed out the door, calling over his shoulder, "I have to meet with the kendo team." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either.

Once he arrived at the dojo, he rushed into the boy's locker room and changed as quickly as he could, hoping he would beat Michi there, but he didn't. When he left the sanctity of the locker room, he found Michi in her armor and ready to go. Damn!

"I was beginning to wonder if you had chickened out," she taunted him.

Shaking his head, he retorted, "No, I decided you needed a head start since you were so slow at lunch."

"HA!"

He slid on the protective gear, grabbed a shinai, and met her on the mat. It was time to claim his victory.

To her, this would be a hard fought win, but she would win because she refused to lose to this blue haired stranger. It mattered not that his eyes seemed to hold her captive or that she liked how his blue hair reminded her of the sea on a bright summer day. NO! She would not think of that. She only needed one more point.

"I want a rematch!" Michi growled after her coach had called the match in Takeru's favor. It wasn't fair. Someone had called her name and distracted her!

"Maybe another day, but now you owe me dinner," her opponent reminded her.

"I'll win next time!"

"Maybe, but in the meantime, you have to help me."

"Whatever!" She had already been planning on helping him, however, now that she lost, part of her wanted to run away and lick her wounds. She wouldn't though. She was better than that and would help him just like she had agreed to do.

"Tomorrow after school, we'll talk."

"Fine," she pouted. Was it wrong that her heart skipped a beat at the thought of one on one time with him?

Takeru left her on the mat and went to change. He had to admit, he was looking forward to meeting with her, and he wasn't sure it was only so that she would help him bring his brother and Yui together.

Elsewhere…

While Balder and Apollo argued about who would carry Yui's belongings, Tsukito took her bag from her and threw it over his shoulder. He wasn't sure why he had done it, except to say that it had felt right. Yui made him want to do things for her that he had never thought of doing for anyone else before. Not for his brother or any of the other gods he lived with. Only her.