Don't worry, faithful readers. I have not abandoned this story. I just had to graduate from college, go to two anime cons, begin work again, and deal with some personal stuff. So, hopefully you like this chapter as much as you liked the previous ones. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Persona 3 and its characters. It belongs to the geniuses at Atlus.
Persephone – Minako
Hades – Theo
Demeter – Mitsuru
Minako's breathing hitched. "Wh…What did you…"
"Those pomegranate seeds Theo gave you, those were harvested from the soil of the Underworld," her mother explained. "You are now bound to that realm." Mitsuru held Minako's marked wrist with both of her hands. "He will pay for this. How dare he trick you!"
Mitsuru's rant fell on deaf ears. The young goddess was crushed. She had begun to finally trust Theo and now-? What was this? She felt her cheeks become wet as tears fell. Her mother embraced her, massaging her back.
"I know, my dear. I do not want you going back either," the red haired goddess said. Minako didn't respond. She wasn't crying because she had to go back down to the Underworld. It was the method of how she was able to "gain" permission to go back. She had been preparing an argument to convince her mother. She was going to confess her budding feelings for the Underworld God, but now she had no idea how she felt about Theo. The two Earth goddesses sat there, rocks surrounding them, each crying for a different reason now.
During the six months Minako had to stay with her mother, Mitsuru apologized to the humans by making the next harvest the most bountiful they ever have had. The red haired goddess felt terrible for making the humans suffer from her neglect. Minako spent her time gathering flowers and eating by the river with her friends. They all asked about what happened in the Underworld, but Minako just smiled in reply. She needed to organize her thoughts and feelings before she had to go back.
Finally, the six months ended. Mitsuru insisted on coming with Minako to the Underworld entrance. She gave up after her daughter reminded her that Zeus would not appreciate her beating up his brother. The red haired goddess muttered something about executions and ice. Minako hugged her mother one last time and headed for the Underworld entrance.
Theo could not sit still. He paced back and forth in his room. Today was the day that Minako would return to him. His Minako. He was as nervous as he was happy. Mitsuru would no doubt know what he had done. He did what he had to secure his place in the young goddess's life, even if it meant tricking her.
"Master Theo!" a small demon called from the other side of his door. "Lady Minako is here!"
The Underworld God's heart flipped. "Send her here," he ordered, keeping his voice straight. He heard the demon run off. Theo fixed his already neat appearance as he waited. A couple minutes later, there was a knock. "Enter."
In came his beautiful queen. Her face betrayed no emotions as she approached. Theo smiled softly. "Mina-!" A loud smack sounded while his cheek stung.
Minako's hand throbbed after slapping Theo. She couldn't stop the tears that followed. "Why did you trick me?" she demanded. When she received no answer, she continued. "Why didn't you let me handle it? I could have convinced Mother to let me come back!"
"I did not know if you-wait, let you handle it?" Theo asked. "You…wanted to come back?"
"Of course I did, you idiot!" She barely registered what she was saying and when she had started smacking fists against his chest. "I wanted to come back with Mother's blessing! I wanted to tell her what I felt, but you had to go and ruin it!"
"What you felt?" Theo wrapped his arms around Minako as her punches slowed. Soft sobs came from her and her tears soaked into his cloak. "What were you feeling, Minako?"
"I…I…"
"Yes?"
"I wanted to tell her that I love you!"
I know this chapter feels rushed and I apologize for that. So many things to do, so little time, I'm afraid. I'll try to be quicker for the next chapter. Please stay with me. :) Thanks again for reading.