Warnings: OOCness, semi-OCs, lack of spellcheck, cursing
Notes: Reread the things about Artemis in previous chapters or this won't make much sense ;D

The Mythical Detective Mayura

XVIII: Artemis

"I can't believe she's alive." Loki commented from his position on the couch. "Mayura got upset over nothing."

Freyr was pacing. "What mine sister said was that Artemis did die, but managed to take over a human. Athena seemed very surprised but thankful. What form could Artemis possibly have taken...?"

Yamino sweat-dropped at the pair. "Miss Mayura should be home soon." He assured them.

"I have Artemis! Mou, you two won't believe this." Mayura said suddenly, slamming the door open and running to her brother and assistant.

Loki frowned. "What won't we believe?"

"Artemis...she's..." The detective giggled slightly. "Such a pervert!"

"What?" Loki asked suspiciously.

Apollo frowned. "Mine sister? Really? Artemis is such a lovely lady, though, with flowing locks like myself--"

"Flowing locks? Really?" The familiar person snorted, entering behind Mayura. "Apollo, you're just being silly now."

Loki's eyes widened. "Koutarou?! You're Artemis?"

Koutarou gave him a large shrug. "When Hades killed me, I looked for the first corpse available. I was at first annoyed to be in a male body, but he was freshly dead, so it was easy to take his body as my own. Plus, the ladies love this form. I'm quite pleased all in all." He chuckled.

"K-koutarou died?" Loki paled.

"Before you met him..." The former goddess explained casually. "I'm the only Koutarou you've known. Even if I could get my old body back, I don't think I would. I've started to like this one."

"Artemis! Nooo, how can you say that?" Freyr sobbed, clinging to the blonde's foot.

"Apollo, knock it off." Koutarou ordered, rolling his eyes as he pushed the god off his foot.

"So...you've known...about Mayura...the entire time?" Loki was twitching now.

"Of course. I'm amazed that Athena didn't notice me earlier, frankly." Koutarou said, crossing his arms and leaning against a wall. "For some reason, everyone always assumes that I'm evil."

"That's because you're a pervert!" Mayura said cheerfully. "Remember the time you flipped that mortal girl's skirt, or the time you watched that princess undress, or the time you went to Earth and spied on the women's bath--"

Koutarou covered her mouth. "Let's change the subject." He said, clearing his throat. "What sins have you gathered so far?"

"Why do you have to gather them anyway?" Loki questioned, ignoring the now-sobbing Freyr.

"Because Hades lives on sins. For every person whose sin is removed, we weaken him just a little. Also, if Athena--Mayura--can gather one piece of each sin, she can theoretically turn them into the virtues and turn them against Hades." Koutarou explained, heading over to sit on the couch.

"Virtues?" Freyr asked, joining the conversation.

"The opposite of sins, according to mortal beliefs. Humility, kindness, that stuff...the thought is that if Mayura can purify the sins, they become virtues and she can use the good things against Hades."

Mayura bit her lip. "Mou, but I haven't gotten them all yet. I have envy, wrath, sloth, lust and gluttony."

"Where'd you get those?" Koutarou was impressed.

"Envy from Suzuka, a girl who was jealous of her sister to such an extent that she killed her sister." Loki remembered.

"Lust from Aphy," Mayura said sadly. "She thought that love could only be physical because Hades corrupted her...then a client named Mamoru had gluttony. Eris, the goddess of chaos, had sloth because she let her evil minions do all the work without moving to do anything herself. Ares obviously contained wrath."

"Who would have greed and pride?" Freyr asked.

"Hades...but as the owner of all sins, he himself can't be purified by Mayura's staff. While most gods and mortals have one sin inside themselves that is stronger than the others, all of them are equal in Hades. The staff can only remove one sin at a time. Miss Mayura will need to fight him with all the virtues and defeat him that way." Yamino replied.

"Wait...I know who has greed." Mayura clenched her fist. "Someone whose greed can be removed, and whose greed is stronger than anyone else's. But...I have to go to Olympus."

Freyr's eyes widened. "Of course...but who will you take pride from in Olympus?"

"Mou, I'm not sure..." Mayura frowned. "There are plenty of gods, though. I'm sure one of them has pride."

"So what? You're just going to go up there and play it by ear? Don't you think that's dangerous?" Koutarou huffed.

"No, it's necessary." Yamino closed his eyes. "She could look for the sins on Earth, but if she really wants to defeat Hades, she needs to remove very strong sins. She can only find those in Olympus. Miss Mayura, I will go with you."

"This one, too!" Freyr said, jumping up.

Koutarou glanced around. "Very well, I'll go too...I do still have some magic, after all."

"How?" Freyr turned to him.

"The soul holds magic, not the body." Koutarou rolled his eyes again. "But you'll still need more help. Try Hercules."

Mayura blinked, thinking of Narugami. "Okay." She nodded.

"I just want one day."

Everyone turned to Loki, surprised by this comment.

"There are some things that I need to tell the detec--Mayura. Please give me one day with her." The blonde said, looking around the room.

Mayura glanced at her siblings hopefully.

"Not like there's a choice. One day won't change much. Go ahead." Koutarou muttered.

Freyr nodded. "If that is what you wish to do, mine sister, then do it."

Mayura smiled sadly. "One day..."

X X X X

D: Only approximately 3 chapters left...I'll update at 95 reviews. The next chapter is one you've been dying for!

Next chapter: Goodbyes and confessions...the calm before the storm.