So, I planned on Malachi's two parter in Book Three to be the only two parter in the story...but this chapter got pretty long, and I still had a bit to go when it came to Asuka's past. So here's another two parter! Hope you all enjoy!

Also, don't forget to leave a review and let me know what you think! I appreciate them all!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters (except the OC's) Percy Jackson & The Olympians, Heroes of Olympus, or Trials of Apollo. All of that belongs to Rick Riordan.

12. The Mask Comes Off - Part One

Talon

Being a fugitive is...pretty boring.

Okay, fugitive is a pretty strong word, I get it. But what else do you call someone hiding out in a temple, running from four gods trying to kill them?

Yeah, fugitive is the only word that really comes to mind for me. But hey, if you've got any suggestions, let me know.

After my crazy ass vision, I woke up, only to find everybody else asleep. I didn't even bother guessing what time it was, if everyone, even Annabeth, an early riser, is out, then it must be in AM time frame. I ain't gonna bother them.

I tossed and turned a bit, but couldn't fall back to sleep. I ended up replaying that vision over and over, thinking about Mary a lot, and Master some.

I knew why I saw her in the woods. It's a reminder that I'll never be able to move on. I still love her. It's been years, but I still can't let go of that guilt, no matter what Malachi, Sera, or anyone has said to me, even if I thought I could let it go, I turned out to be wrong. Last night proved it.

But I never saw her when I slept with all those other girls. The gazillion one-night stands in New York, or the girls at Aphrodite's Oasis. And that's what confuses me. Why wasn't she there then? Why wasn't the guilt shoving itself in my face?

But the answer came just as quick. Because you never cared about any of those girls. Asuka...is different. I haven't known her all that long, but there's something about her that's making my chest feel weird. Making it feel the same way it did when I first saw Mary.

Then my thoughts countered with reason. She's an immortal, you're not. She's from another country, scratch that, pantheon, and leader of said pantheon. Not to mention that she's pretty closed off, and probably prefers to be alone. There's a million reasons why it wouldn't work.

So that's that. A crush that I'll get over. Even if somehow something sparked, I'd probably screw it up.

A couple of hours after I woke up, I heard someone else shifting. I sat straight, trying to spot the person.

Of course it was Annabeth. She was trying to flatten her rat's nest hair.

A perk of being Nikandreos's kid, is that I don't wake up sore, or with any cricks. Part of the whole 'no pain' thing.

"Sup."

Her eyes were still shut. "Talon? What are you doing up?"

"Surprised someone woke up before you, eh?" I joked. "Nah, couldn't sleep. Had a vision."

"I couldn't either. The floors...ugh, I knew I'd be sore. I kind of miss the guest bed at the Castle." She perked up, "Did you say vision?"

"Yeah. It's pretty important. Has to do with Ouranos and his new band."

"Should I wake everyone else up?"

I debated, but it was pretty urgent. If what they said in that conversation turned out to be true, there wasn't much time.

"Yeah, they need to hear this."

Annabeth and I woke everyone else up, much to their dismay, but she promised them it was important. Didn't really make up for it.

"Is it even morning yet?" Goth Girl complained, rubbing her eyes.

"Most likely." Malachi said, quick to wake up and get the crud out of his eyes. "My sleep schedule hasn't changed in two months. I sleep approximately seven hours. If we went to bed at ten last night, then it is five right now."

All of us exchanged glances. What?

"But I woke you up." Annabeth explained. "You didn't get up on your own. How would you know it's been seven hours?"

"By the way my body feels."

"Either way-" I interrupted, "I hate to do it, but I had to get y'all up to explain my vision, while it's still fresh."

"Did Mr. Nikandreos send this one too?" Sera asked innocently.

"Yeah...he did. Here's how it went."

I told them about it, and held nothing back. Everything from their reaction to Asuka being Amaterasu, to their plan with the Yomi thing.

After I finished, there was silence. But Harper was the first to speak.

"Well, after hearing that, I think I'll just go back to sleep."

Annabeth was next. "This is bad. If they find Izanami...well, I honestly didn't think things could get worse, but yet again, I'm proven wrong."

"Matt won't be here for another two days." Malachi said, "We're on our own. We have to stop them."

"How?" Sera whined. "We are not strong enough."

"Well, I know one thing-" I announced. "-We ain't just gonna sit on our asses. We might be overpowered, but we can at least hold them off. Keep them away from here. From the people."

"Hold them off for two days?" Percy asked sarcastically. "We can't. It's either we win, or we lose. And if we lose, we die, which means Matt has to face them on his own, and that means he'll die, and-" He shook his head and rubbed his temples. "Man, I think I've got a headache."

Malachi didn't turn to me, but that's where his question was directed. "Does Asuka- Amaterasu, know?"

"Nah. I've only told you guys."

"That's interesting." He said. "Because she's not here."

I shot up to a standing position faster than I should've been able to, sitting on the ground cross legged. "What?!"

"Her aura's gone. I can't sense it."

"Nah. No way she'd go out there on her own. She's probably concealing it or something." I pointed a finger, trying to come up with an answer. "Maybe it lowers when she sleeps! Yeah, that's it!"

Malachi shook his head. "If you think so. But we should look for her, just in case."

Everybody stood up then, Harper grabbing her Eros sword.

"If she went out there to fight them, she's as good as dead."

"She ain't that stupid." I argued, "Now c'mon, let's go upstairs."

We all went single file, with me in front towards the main room. Just about every one of the Castle citizens were still asleep, so we tiptoed around them and finally made it to the front door, which thankfully, isn't a door. It's wide open.

When we all emerged into the sunrise, and didn't see Asuka, my face fell.

I looked to the left immediately, the place where I last saw her, and I felt my skin start to itch.

The blanket was there. Messed up, unkempt, like she'd pulled it off before leaving just a few minutes ago.

I scowled. "That selfish..."

"Damn, she really went." Goth Girl muttered.

Annabeth started to panic. "This is bad. If she goes down, that just decreases our chances of survival by a ton. And who are these people going to look to once we're gone? She was the only leader they had left."

"She'd escape before she gets killed." Percy said, looking up at the sky as if she'd come flying down any minute. "I'm sure of that."

"But if she does, she might bring company." Malachi grumbled. "It was foolish to leave, but at the same time...I knew it would happen. Ouranos wasn't just going to sit on his hands while we hid here. He was going to take that opportunity."

"Then she should've told us!" I shouted, not pissed off at them, but her. "My God, she just won't let anybody in, will she?! Won't trust someone else for a damn second! We could've helped!"

"We haven't known her for very long." Sera peeped, shrinking from my volume. "I could see why she doesn't fully trust us. After all, didn't she say something about her fiancé being the reason her mother was killed?"

"Yeah, she did say that." Harper remembered. "Must've been where the trust issues started."

"That shit doesn't matter!" I kept hollering, throwing my hands up in the air and storming around in a circle. "I don't care if we've known her for all of ten seconds! We have a common enemy, we agreed to work together, so that means she should let us in on what she's doing if it concerns Ouranos!"

"I agree." Annabeth said. "But we don't have the full story yet. She might've been kidnapped for all we know."

"I doubt it, Annie." Harper refuted softly. "Would've captured or killed us too while they're at it. Not to mention slaughter the people."

"Besides, I would've sensed a cluster of energies that powerful." Malachi reasoned. "Even in sleep."

Annabeth groaned. "I know it's unlikely, but I'm just trying to give her the benefit of the doubt."

Silence fell, and I looked off into the distance of the forest. Nothing appeared.

Sera came up behind me. "Should we go look for her?"

"No." Annabeth said. "She made her choice. We can't leave these people defenseless."

"And risk our own lives." Percy added.

"B-But she will die." Sera argued weakly. "Maybe...half of us should go, while the others stay."

I saw Harper in my peripheral come up to Sera and put a hand on her shoulder. "I know it's horrible to think about, Sera, but we can't take that risk. We should just stay here and wait for now."

"That's unlike you." Malachi noted, aimed towards Harper.

By this point, I turned around to face all of them. There was no sign of Asuka. She's gone, probably. Not coming back. We're in such deep shit.

Harper raised a thin brow, the one above her clear, capped over eyeball. "What do you mean?"

"I just figured you would want to charge in and fight them, even if we are overpowered."

"I mean, I do." She sounded ashamed. "I hate hiding, but I'm not about to commit suicide. Those guys are too strong." She lifted her chin up at him. "Why? How do you feel?"

Malachi looked at the ground, his fists clenched. "I'm conflicted. The smart thing would be to stay here. But my gut...wants me to go. I cannot let my father get any more leverage than he already has. We're the only thing stopping him from achieving his goal. The idea of standing by infuriates me."

"Hell, it infuriates me too." She said. "But if we go out there, the best we're gonna get is a stalemate. And we can't keep that up for two days. We're gonna get tired, or something's gonna snap."

That conversation stopped, and then all eyes fell to me. Sera leaned closer so I could hear her.

"What do you think we should do, Talon?"

I was just about to answer, when I saw a flash of light in the corner of my eye. It was bright yellow, like the sun.

Asuka.

I snapped around. In the sky, a giant comet of fire was coming down fast, aiming right toward the cluster of trees.

"What the heck is that?!" Annabeth yelled.

"It's Asuka!" Percy answered, shielding his eyes from the bright light. "She's about to crash land, by the way it looks!"

I didn't know what to do. Whether to jump out and help somehow, or what. But how the hell would we even help? Trying to stop that thing would be like trying to stop the literal sun from hitting the planet.

It only took a couple of seconds before the comet hit the forest, emitting a giant, fiery shockwave that burned away everything. Every tree, blade of grass, animal, you name it, it was disintegrated on the spot from the force.

We even felt the ground shake, and saw the barrier take a physical form for a moment when it rippled.

The entire area was in flames, left and right, in random spots. Bonfire level flames that rose twenty feet high, and small campfires that clung to burnt tree stumps. There wasn't a thing in sight. Just like that, miles of land obliderated.

"Was that her?" I called over my shoulder.

Harper clutched her sword. "Yeah, that's her energy. It's...flickering though."

"Flickering?"

"Yeah, like she's taken damage."

I wanted to shout for her, but fought against it. I didn't want to wake the others up, if they hadn't already been woken by the noise, or the miniature earthquake. Besides, it wouldn't help. Not like she could hear me.

We waited for over a minute, but nothing changed. The fire never dimmed, and the smoke never cleared. We couldn't see anything past twenty feet. If Asuka was out there, we wouldn't be able to tell.

My eyes were like pinballs, bouncing from corner to corner, trying to spot her. "Someone ought to go out there." I started forward, but Sera grabbed me.

"Wait, Talon! I think I see her!"

"Where?"

Her arm flew past my shoulder, finger pointed straight forward. "There! Just ahead!"

I squinted, and sure enough, a figure had just appeared out of the thickest part of the smoke, still clouded by some of it, making it a silhouette. I knew it had to be her. It came straight from that comet.

She didn't run either. I don't think she could, because as she got closer, it looked like she was limping heavily on her right leg.

"Oh gods..." Annabeth gasped. "She doesn't look good."

She was right. Once Asuka cleared the smoke completely and got about ten feet from the barrier, we could see her clearly. She looked in horrible shape. Her baggy ninja clothes had been torn in several places, burned in even more, with fabrics peeling off and hanging on the side, blowing with the wind. Her mask seemed to be the only thing that remained in one piece, aside from black singe marks and a long crack across the left cheek, all the way to the cat's eye.

Specifically, the area from her collarbone to her shoulder had been hit really hard. All of the fabric there had been burned off, exposing ichor-covered skin. It wasn't just a burn. That's one nasty gash, probably inches deep, and definitely inches wide.

"Asuka!" I shouted. "What the hell happened?!"

She walked through the barrier easily, and the slight soundproofing it provided faded. We could now hear her breathing heavily, like she was exhausted.

Her mask turned on me, body starting to sway and buckle. "I...I'm..."

Then she fell face first. Would've landed limp on the ground if I hadn't caught her.

I knelt forward and managed to catch her in my chest, arms propping up her shoulders on either side. I heard a whimper of pain under the mask, and realized that one of my hands was touching the bad shoulder.

I immediately let go and allowed her right side to press flush into me, as awkward as the position might be, it offered more relief than me shoving my fingers into that big gash.

As mad as I was, I still felt bad for her. She looked like she'd been through hell and back, and then some.

"Sorry about that, girl." I whispered, "You wanna lay down?"

She couldn't even answer, I only heard another muffled groan.

"Malachi, help me." I said, gesturing for him to grab her legs. "She's gone limp, man. She's out of it."

"O-Of course." He seemed pretty shocked at her state, but managed to break from his little trance and gently hoisted up her lower body. Together, we set her over on the same grassy hill she slept on last night.

I let go, but didn't go far. The others crept over nervously, as if she would explode. Harper piped up, "Holy shit...is she dead?"

"Nah, but she ain't far from it." I shook my head, "What the hell happened?"

"You know what happened, man." Percy said. "She went out there and tried to take them alone. It didn't end well."

"I-Is there some way to heal her?" Sera asked, looking at each of us. "Did anyone bring some ambrosia?"

"Yeah..." Annabeth dug around in her pocket. "...I think I've got a small block."

She pulled it out and held it in her hand. It wasn't big, but ambrosia doesn't have to be big to do the trick. This was about the size of her center palm.

I took it from her and started to take the mask off, but Asuka caught me by surprise. She reached up and grabbed my wrist firmly just before my fingers could grab onto the mask.

"Don't..." She croaked. "I...can..."

Weakly, and with ichor all over her hand, she reached up and plucked it out of my hand. It was damn pitiful to watch her shakily shove her fingers under her mask and shove the ambrosia into her mouth. Was it that big of a deal to keep the mask on? I didn't fully get why she couldn't take it off now. Her identity's out in the open.

But either way, after swallowing the godly food, she sighed with relief. It started working instantly, because Malachi perked up.

"Her energy's returning. It worked."

We waited patiently for her to get reacclimated. It was hard to tell, but I judged it based on her calmed breathing and still hands.

"That better?"

Asuka nodded slightly, "Yes...thank you."

"Alright." My soft voice was gone. The anger returned, and it sure as shit showed. "Now you got some explaining to do! What the hell were you doing out there?!"

"Yeah." Harper backed me up. "Why would you go out there alone?"

"I had a vision." She cleared her throat. "Of...Tsukuyomi, and Ouranos..."

My eyes widened, and I could feel everyone staring at me. "Were they talking about going to Yomi?"

Her mask flinched towards me. "And finding Izanami. Yes. How did you know that?"

"I had the same vision."

"Your father must have sent it to you too."

"What? Wait, he sent it to you?"

"Yes. He appeared while I was asleep."

"Why would he send it to both of you?" Annabeth wondered.

Before she could answer, Sera leaned down, her eyebrows knit with concern. "Would you like something for that cut? It looks horrible."

She was of course referring to the shoulder wound, healing slowly now.

"No. None of you need to worry, I'm fine." She actually started to push herself up, much to our protest.

"Uh, you might wanna sit down." Harper said, moving aside so Asuka could stumble past.

"I don't know why he sent us both the same vision. But I knew I had to stop it. It...didn't work."

"And you didn't think to tell us?" I barked. "We could've helped you."

"No. I didn't want to involve you...nor did I want to leave my people without protection."

"I get that. But going alone?" Annabeth sighed. "What were you thinking?"

Asuka shot back quickly. "I won't have any blood on my hands if I can help it. As leader of the pantheon, I must do whatever it takes to prevent casualties."

That got my little temper clock ticking even more, for some reason. "What, so you think we're just fragile little mortals that need to be left behind? I know it may be hard to believe, but we've been in fights before. Hell, we've got a better chance of taking them on as a team than you do alone!"

Annabeth stepped in front of me, putting a hand in front of my chest to calm me down. Didn't work, but at least I stopped yelling.

"That's enough, Talon. Look, right now, all I want to know is what happened." She faced Asuka. "Were you in Yomi? Did you face all of them at once? Did Ouranos recruit more gods? Walk me through it."

That actually seemed to work in calming her down. Asuka sighed and placed both hands on her hips, beginning to relay the information. "I left the temple about three hours ago, and travelled to the last place I knew to be Yomi. I'm sure you know that sometimes ancient locations can relocate, depending on where the heart of the pantheon now lies. I feared it would be somewhere else, but at least still in the country. To my relief, it was in the same spot."

"Were they already there?" Percy asked.

"They were." She answered. "Yomi is a gateway to our version of hell, so there is a powerful barrier in between its world, and our world. It takes tremendous power to break through. But now, Tsukuyomi has that power. I had to do something to stop it...so, I did. I attempted to contact other gods, old friends of mine, but it turns out when you go silent for eight hundred years, they don't exactly want to do you any favors. So, I engaged them all in battle, alone. As you can see..." She looked down at her healing wounds, which still looked pretty rough. "...It didn't go so well. I held my own for a few minutes, but if I'm being honest...they were toying with me. I stood no chance."

"Could've told ya that would happen." I grumbled, and I could've swore Asuka glared at me.

Annabeth frowned. "Shush, Talon. Asuka, did they manage to break through?"

"No. Before I left, I used my last bit of energy to strengthen the barrier. It should at least hold them off for the rest of the day." She moved her head around, which made a gnarly popping sound. "Which gives me plenty of time to try again."

"Wait, you're not seriously thinking of going back out there, are you?" Harper said.

"I am. None of you seem to understand. Now that I've returned as Amaterasu, and revealed my identity to all of those people, it is my sole responsibility to delay Tsukuyomi. Even if it kills me."

"If you die, and they find Izanami anyway, doesn't that make it pointless?" Malachi argued.

"If your friend Matt is as strong as you think he'll be post-training, then my goal is to hold them off until he arrives."

"So you're just hoping that he'll be strong enough to take them?" I said, shaking my head at her. She no more had a plan than we did. "He won't be here for another two days, woman! You'd be stupid to go out there and try them again! At least without our help!"

"Even then..." Sera muttered uncertainly.

"Do you think your friend wishes to find you all dead?!" She asked, her voice rising. "This is my fight!"

"He knows what we signed up for, Asuka." Percy reasoned, his voice calm. "He knows the risk, same as we do. And we're still willing to fight."

"We agreed to help each other." Harper added. "For bad or worse. We're here to stop Ouranos, and that makes it our fight too. It doesn't matter if we're in Japan or Antartica."

Asuka's fists shook, and I thought for a second, she might use some godly spell to knock us all out and ditch the temple. But at the last moment, they unfurled slowly.

"I know what we agreed upon. It's not that I don't recognize your skill, or your involvement in this fight...it's something else. A selfish reason."

"What, then?" I said, for everybody thinking it.

"You're all incredible people, and I don't want you to die."

That shocked us. Everybody, even me, had a physical reaction to that. Her voice dropped its firm, commanding tone and took on a much more vulnerable note. It was the last thing I expected her to say.

"But I thought you said we're not your friends." Sera recalled, looking like she wanted to put a hand on Asuka's shoulder.

"You're not." Asuka confirmed. "I don't deserve friends like you. We haven't known each other for long, but I can tell that the world needs you. It needs mortals and demigods like you far more than it needs the gods." She chuckled humorlessly. "The selfish, egoic, lazy gods."

She said that last part with such bitterness, you could literally feel it on your skin. Like it oozed out of her aura alone. But it wasn't really directed towards a specific god, or group, it seemed to be towards herself.

"Being a deity has its perks. I can read your past like a book; I know what each and every one of you have been through. I know your hearts, and your intentions. They are as pure and good as anything I've ever seen, despite the pain and suffering. That's what makes you heroes. Bringing you into battle with me would be like sacrificing a lamb. I just cannot do it in good conscience." She put her ichor covered hand to her chest. "Let me sacrifice myself instead, and atone for what I've done. It's the least I can do for turning my back on the world that needed me for eight hundred years."

We all stood in silence for several moments, speechless. Even Annabeth was at a loss for words. Asuka wasn't the type to spout this kind of stuff, or so I thought. We never really could get a grasp on what she thought of us. I always assumed she at least respected our power and stupid tenacity, but never thought twice about becoming friends with us or opening up. But here she is...calling us heroes.

Percy was the first to respond. "Don't sell yourself short. You're a hero too, Asuka."

"Indeed." Sera added on quickly. "You saved your people."

"And you've been through some horrible shit too." I said. "That didn't make you a bad person."

Her cat mask shook in disagreement. "You don't know the full story."

Malachi crossed his arms, "Then tell us."

"Yes." Sera nodded, "Let us understand."

"No. There's no time for that. I'm going back to continue the battle. All of you stay here."

Just as she started walking off, I darted forward and grabbed her arm. "We ain't going nowhere, and neither are you."

She stood dangerously still, only her head moving to look at me. "Let go."

"We aren't letting you go back out there." Harper walked up behind me.

"Then you'll let Tsukuyomi gain even more power?!"

Annabeth swooped in beside us, playing peacemaker. "Okay, let's just look at this logically for a second, please. Do we even know that Izanami is alive? What's the probability that they actually find her?"

"She may be dead. Gods fade away, that's true, but she isn't ordinary."

"Then maybe we should take the chance of letting them follow a potential dead end, stay here, and wait until Matt comes. It's better to make sure these people are safe than risk all of our lives out there."

Asuka thought about it, but not for long. "No. We can't take that chance. If he absorbs her energy, then we're all doomed. Right now, there's still a chance." She glanced down at my hand still wrapped around her bicep. "Now let go, Talon. I won't ask again."

"I can't let you go out there."

She didn't move for a second, but I knew she was about to snap. Maybe not full-on fight us, but break away from my grip and fly off. If she's really gonna be stubborn about this, then we'd have to stop her by force.

Everyone seemed to sense the tension, and I think we all sort of simultaneously agreed on what to do.

Just like I guessed, she pulled hard against my hand and the grip broke. Before she could fly off or teleport, Malachi lunged at her, hands outstretched, to which Asuka leaned back, grabbed his arm and threw him forward to a somersault landing.

She pointed a finger at him. "Don't."

We surrounded her, and she stood still, hands by her side, waiting.

Sera glanced at all of us nervously, "A-Are we really attacking her?"

"Not attacking." Malachi said, "Containing."

Asuka did a slow scan of our formation. "I don't want to hurt you."

"And we don't want to hurt you." Percy shot back. "So let's just come to an agreement here."

Annabeth pursed her lips, side eyeing him. "I think it's too far now to turn back, Percy."

Asuka's mask finally fell on Sera, and I knew what came next. She was gonna take us all out.

She blurred into an afterimage and sped over to Sera's front, quicker than we could make out.

Harper and Malachi shouted at the same time, "Sera!"

She reacted to their warnings, and thrust her hands towards the ground, white frost dancing off her palms and hitting the grass. From that, snow burst out of the little combustion and expanded into ice, creeping up and hardening around Asuka's shins.

But it wasn't enough to trap her completely, Asuka managed to jab Sera's neck with her index and middle finger, right on the pressure point. It was instant, Sera fell limp and collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Right as her hands fell to her side, Asuka ripped her legs out of the ice pillars, turning on Annabeth.

She didn't get so far this time, though. Percy stepped in front of her, his fist encased in sea green aura, aiming for a cross to the mask, but Asuka screeched to a halt, backing away from his attack with the swiftness of a dancer.

Then Malachi was there. With two long strides, he came up behind her and wrapped an arm around her neck, then the other behind her head. Before he could squeeze, Asuka elbowed him in the gut, grabbed his wrist, and spun out of the hold.

Figuring it would take more than a neck tap, Asuka dove into his center and delivered a quick strike to the sternum, aura covered and all.

But when Malachi didn't react, Asuka's head cocked the slightest bit in confusion. Seems she doesn't know about his little Achilles Curse trick.

She was fast enough to come up with a backup plan though. If she couldn't knock him out, might as well just move him out of the way. Without even moving her hands, Malachi entire body bent to the side and lost his footing, as if he'd been swept off his feet and shot with a missile. I knew telekinesis when I saw it.

Then it was Harper's turn. She jumped up with the Eros sword in hand, not swinging it at her, but holding it horizontally. Using her momentum and enhanced strength, she pressed down on Asuka's chest with the sword, knocking her to the ground.

That Goth Girl's really gotten used to that sword it seems, cause she was able to hold Asuka down long enough for both Percy and I to help. Percy pinned her legs down while I went for the arms.

"This is for your own good!" He shouted.

"What the hell are we supposed to do?!" Harper asked me, arms trembling from Asuka's resistance.

I said the first thing that came to mind. "Just hit her! We gotta knock her out!"

Harper didn't even have a chance to raise her fist. Asuka's aura glowed all across her body and combusted, throwing the three of us in the air. I landed pretty hard on my back, and used the momentum to flip up on my feet. Asuka was already standing again, slowly coming towards me.

"Talon, get out of the way."

"Not happening."

Inwardly, I knew I couldn't stop her. I glanced at Annabeth, who shrugged, eyes wide as saucers. I couldn't think of a single thing to do, any creation I could think of wouldn't work. A net, a rope, or anything else might work on a normal person, but Asuka's a goddess. I'd have to use...

That's it!

I don't know how I did it, but without even reaching out to Nikandreos in my head, I simply concentrated, and lost all connection to the outside world. Maybe it was just the intensity of the situation, or the sheer desire to keep her here, but I managed to tap into some of that strength pops lent me back at the Castle. Without him saying so.

When I looked down at my arm, it had golden light wisping off of it like smoke, Asuka's movements were slow now, each step moving at a snail's speed. I could literally see the leaf that fell off the nearest tree stop in midair.

Time had slowed down completely. I felt like I could do whatever I wanted, whatever my mind could think of, the power would follow.

What I wanted, was to knock Asuka out, and keep her from going back out there.

So that's what happened. I aimed my hands at her, like I was about to cast a spell, and her orange aura paled to my golden projection. She wore it like a coat, and it gently pushed her down on her knees, still moving in slow motion.

Then everything sped up to normal, Asuka still had my aura wrapped around her, and she plopped on the ground, face first, out like a light. The leaf that I saw fell to the ground at the same time, while Harper, Malachi, and Percy had gotten back up, ready to try their luck again.

But it was over. Asuka lay still.

I eyed my hands, the golden light was gone, but I remembered what happened play by play. That kind of power...ain't nothing else like it. Just what the hell is my dad capable of? To knock out someone like Amaterasu?

Was that even him? Or was it me? I didn't ask for that boost, I sort of just...felt it inside me, and tapped into it. I always thought that Nikandreos gave me some of his power when I was born, and that's why I can use it, but when I used it on her, it felt like it's been there the entire time. I've always had it.

But that can't be true. Can it?

The others, save for Sera, all stood in a line, staring at Asuka, then up at me, shook.

"How did you do that?" Harper asked, then shook her head a little. "I mean, I saw the light, I know how you did it, but-"

"I don't know." I said. "I ain't been able to tap into it like that before."

"Well, whatever it was, it worked." Percy stood next to Asuka cautiously, afraid she would pop up at any second.

"Indeed." Malachi said, "She is out cold. You seem to have put her in a deep sleep with your aura alone...by calming hers."

"Calming?"

"Yes. You overpowered it."

I didn't know what to say. I had no explanation for what I did, how I was able to just instinctively access that power, so I kept quiet. It both relieved me, and scared the shit out of me. That kind of power, if I don't know what I'm doing, it could go haywire in a second. Like when I shot Malachi and almost killed him. But then again...I'm relieved that this time, I had full control. Does that mean that I'm getting used to it?

The sight of Sera still on the grass broke my racing thoughts. "We'd better check on Sera."

Malachi rushed over to kneel next to her, but Annabeth was the one to reach down and check her vitals and neck for any bruises. When she finished, she looked surprised. "No injuries. Asuka got her right on the pressure point. It was instant."

"She was really about to knock us all out, huh?" Harper propped the sword on the ground and leaned against it. "Girl meant business."

"She's willing to do whatever it takes to fight this battle alone." Malachi's breath came out of his nose, a long, silent sigh. "Atone for her sins. I can relate."

"I hope we made the right choice here." Annabeth worried. "I mean, what if the worst scenario happens? What if they find Izanami within the day, get her power, and wreak havoc on the world? Maybe Zeus won't even be enough to stop all of them. What if we could've stopped it, and she was right?"

"It's too late to change our minds." I said lowly. "We built our hill, now we gotta stand on it. We wait here until Matt comes, and hope for the best. Hope that it takes them that long to break through the barriers and find that Primordial."

Percy scrunched his face, "The rest of today and two more after that? That's really cutting it close. At best, it'll take them all of today to break through Asuka's barrier, then tomorrow to break through the actual barrier, then the next day to find Izanami. Even then, that's a fat chance."

Harper glared at the ground. "And with the death sword and that dragon on their side...I can see it only taking a few hours, tops. You saw the way that monster broke through our defenses at the castle. Who's to say he won't bust through Asuka's barrier with one breath?"

I walked over and turned Asuka over so she could face the sky. "It's a fat chance we gotta take. We made our choice, now we're sticking with it."

Everybody fell silent. I could tell we all had doubts about what we just did, and wondered what would really happen if we gave it a shot by going out there, but the uncertainty outweighed the curiosity. Our guts were telling us to stay here for a while.

Finally, Annabeth glanced up at the fully lit sky, marking a clear morning. "Well, if we're going to be here, we'd better check on everybody. See if we have any food or water, because those people will starve being cooped up for days on end. If we find any, bring it to me, and we'll figure out a way to divide it. Sound good?"

We all agreed, and walked in a group towards the temple, splitting up once we got inside. Nobody but me looked back at Asuka to make sure she still hadn't moved.

She hadn't.

So the good news is, we didn't die.

Specifically, the world didn't burn and get destroyed while we tended to the Castle citizens, so that's a good sign that Ouranos hadn't decided to eradicate the human race yet.

Or, for all we know, he had, and we're the only survivors left.

Sera had gotten pretty nervous about it, and kept pestering Malachi to sense for their auras. He didn't sense any sort of spikes or flares, so we took that as them still struggling with the barrier. But to be honest, the idea was stuck in our heads. Being here, without having any real idea of what's going on, is always gonna make you worry.

But helping out the thousand or so that Asuka saved certainly took our mind off things for a while, because it was a lot of work. Annabeth had stood up in front of the crowd, and speaking the best Japanese she could, asked everyone if they had any food to show it to her.

As we feared, there wasn't a lot. The only stuff that had been brought was literally any that just happened to be in their hands when they were teleported, and half of that had already been eaten. There might've been enough to feed ten, for a single night. Which meant we had to get to work. It didn't exactly mean much for us to stay here and protect these citizens if they all died of starvation. Oh and thirst, can't forget that.

Actually the thirst thing was way easier than we anticipated. Since Percy had gotten so good at controlling water, he was able to swipe it straight from the misty morning air and create a giant ball of clear, drinkable water that more than made up for our lack of the bottled stuff. No, that was a piece of cake compared to the food issue.

The six of us spent the latter half of the morning staring out from the barrier at the destruction Asuka's comet had caused. There wasn't a standing tree for at least three miles, which meant no animals to hunt.

But, we figured that there definitely had to be some that got caught in the attack, so with some arguing and protesting, we eventually agreed to send the daughter of Athena herself out there to check for bodies. Since she's the least likely to get aura detected.

Annabeth quickly ran around the area, finding all sorts of poor animals that got caught in the crossfire. Unfortunately, the ones closest to the landing site had been disintegrated, but the ones on the outskirts, had only been charred to a crisp! Which sounds horrible to say, but we had to do something here to keep these people from going hungry.

For an hour, Annabeth went back and forth, dragging everything from rabbits and deer up to our little clearing. Finally, when she reached her physical breaking point, she had piled up a mountain of edible carcasses. Extra crispy, but they'd make do.

Poor blondie collapsed to the ground after she tossed the last rabbit in the heap. "S-Start...a...fire...and...cook...them..."

Percy chucked humorlessly. "Uh, Annabeth, are you joking? I think these guys are already well done."

Still, we had to check if any parts of them were raw, per Annabeth's orders, because according to her 'we can't let them get sick, because then what's the point?' So we spent another hour doing that. At about mid-day, it was finally time to divide the burnt meat and spread it around the temple.

No, it wasn't the best tasting thing in the world, but it was something. And I think the people were just happy to have anything at all. I could tell they were worried about the food situation too.

When it was all over, the six of us got our own little meals. By that time, it had gotten dark, marking the end of the third day.

I had just finished my rabbit, sitting on a log by this little campfire Harper and I made, alone. The others had decided to bunk where they did last night, down in that dungeon room. Heh, be my guest guys, but I'd honestly take the grass over that rough stone floor.

Asuka hadn't even made a peep since I used my powers on her. She hadn't moved, or even twitched in hours. I must've really done a number on her.

That was the goal though. She couldn't go anywhere, so I guess I did the trick.

Seeing her like that earlier...and remembering the things she said had my mind racing. Wondering about the full story. What happened with her? What really happened on that night her mom 'died' at the hands of those two?

"Ah, who am I kidding." I muttered, chucking rabbit bone in the fire. I contemplated crafting a beer to go with it all, or just heading off to sleep. Probably better not to drink at a time like this, but it might ease my nerves a little...

Before I could decide, I heard rustling behind me. I didn't even turn to acknowledge it, just passing it off as one of the citizens coming out to piss. Already happened a few times since I've been out here.

But the voice that came was familiar. "Still up, Talon?"

It was Malachi.

Since he was out here, I figured he'd talk for a second. So I decided to pop open a can. I flicked my fingers, and golden light sparked between them, ejecting a cool Bud right into my palm. A lot of the time I just shuffle through beers I've tasted, and whichever comes out is what I drink. But to be honest, I prefer a Coors over Bud.

Ah, I'm not picky. "Yeah, I'm still up." I cracked open the can and took a sip. It was bitter, as always, but I'd gotten so used to it, it went down my throat like soda to a kid.

I scooted over so Malachi could sit next to me. I'd crafted everybody a new set of clothes, just thinking of different pairs I saw them wear back at Camp. It wasn't hard. For myself, it had been the exact same thing, just fresher, and better smelling. Although since none of us have showered in like...three days, it didn't really help.

For Malachi, it had been a gray hoodie (of course) navy blue t-shirt, and jeans. He'd ditched the hoodie downstairs though to feel the warmth of the fire.

"Why didn't you want to sleep in that room with us?" He asked.

"More comfortable out here, that's all. Ain't meant nothing by it."

"I figured. Sera wanted me to ask."

I nodded, taking another sip. "So, everyone asleep?"

He cocked his head, making a face. "Well...they looked asleep. I doubt they actually are, though. I think we are all worried about Ouranos attacking us in the middle of the night. Or the planet getting destroyed and not waking up again."

"Hard not to think about." I agreed.

He started playing with his electricity, letting it zap between each of his interlocking fingers one by one, something he always does when he's nervous.

I held out the can. "Want a sip?"

He cringed. "Of course not. Talon, you know I can't-"

I pulled it back, smirking. "-Stand the taste, yeah, yeah, I forgot."

"No, you didn't. You just love to remind me of that one night on the island." It came out as a grumble, and that made me grin.

"Oh, you mean when I got you and Sera to drink for the first and only time?" I snickered, "That night?"

"Yes, that night." He acted mad, but I could tell he remembered it fondly. "It's not funny."

I wagged my finger in his face. "Oh, and I forgot, that's not the only time ya'll drank. Remember that big toast we gave when we finished building Fort Incendiary?"

Malachi's head fell back into a deep laugh. "By the gods did that take forever!"

"Because you guys kept messing it up!" We were full on cackling now, probably waking everyone up inside, but I didn't give a rat's ass. "If you idiots would've left me alone, I would've finished it in a day!"

Our laughs eased down, and Malachi wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. "We had many good times, did we not?"

"Oh yeah. Who would've ever thought we'd make some of our favorite memories there? I mean, the same place we were sent to be slaves? It's crazy."

"I wouldn't have. But it was the best thing that ever happened to me."

"Me too." I took another sip, longer this time, as I thought back on the years worth of memories that island held. "You ever miss it?"

His answer was quick. "All the time." Then he paused, and said the next words with less volume. "I wish the others were here, you know?"

Any trace of a smile I had was gone. "Yeah. The twins..."

"Cared for each other in a way I've never seen." Malachi said. "That's the first time I really grasped the concept of sibling love."

I started going down the list, my chest sinking with each one. "Eric..."

"A genius. He and Annabeth would've gotten along so well."

"Willow..."

"Such a kind girl. Sera has missed her so much over the years."

"Hoghead..." I couldn't help the grief that laced my tone. I was close with Hoggie, he reminded me of myself. Reckless, blunt, and battle-hungry, but a loyal friend that would have your back no matter what.

Malachi saw my expression, and smiled sadly. "You two could've been brothers."

"Yeah. It's a damn shame."

I closed my eyes, not even wanting to remember what happened to each of them. It's something I've worked for years on blocking out. Once was enough. I can't relive that kind of loss again.

I tried to keep the balling rolling so my mind wouldn't wander. "The Incendiaries...still a badass name."

"Never gets old."

"Got a million more stories we could tell, huh? It'd take us all night." Malachi didn't respond, marking the end of that conversation. I knew he was thinking the same thing, and had that exact same barrier up in his head that limited him on talking about the past.

My eyes drifted around the clearing until they found Asuka, laying on her back, still out cold.

"Man, I really did a number on her, huh?"

Malachi's head swiveled to match my direction. "I wouldn't worry about it. It's better this way, at least she won't try to risk her life."

"Yeah." I tried to take my eyes away and stare down the can of beer, but it never worked. They were glued to her. It made me think of when I saw Mary just beyond the clearing. That wasn't just a hallucination, that was as real as anything. It had to be her ghost. Reminding me of my mistake.

"Hey, you remember last night? You know, when you saw me out here looking at the woods?"

"Yes."

"I told ya it was nothing, but you know me. Something was up."

"I do."

Instead of opening up about what I saw, I stumbled. "You think it's possible to move on from someone you love? Like if Sera...died. You think you would be able to move on?"

It was a hell of a question. I seem to be asking a lot of those these days. Malachi just lifted an eyebrow and sighed. "Well, you remember when I thought she didn't love me anymore...how I reacted. I couldn't imagine actually losing her." He shrugged, "I-I don't know, Talon. I would certainly try, but I can't say for sure."

"I don't think it's possible." I started to take another sip, but just set the can on the ground completely. "To truly move on. First love is the one that sticks, you date someone else, maybe you think it's love, but it's not. You just settle."

Malachi's stare pierced through me. I knew he kept glancing back and forth between Asuka and I, and that only made it worse.

"I can't say that I know what you're feeling. But perhaps you're looking at it the wrong way."

"How?"

"Well, maybe you don't have to move on to love someone else. Why leave behind what you can take with you?"

That part confused me. "Take with me?"

He exhaled with frustration ran a rough hand through his hair. "I'm probably not making any sense." He turned on the log to face me fully, "Look, if you...like someone else, it doesn't mean that you have to forget about Mary. Maybe past love takes new shape. Kind of like how we have a new group in Percy, Annabeth, Harper, and Matt." His hands were gesturing all over the place, telling me that he didn't fully know what he was saying, but he wanted to make me feel better. "I honestly believe that it's fate. It's the Incendiaries of old taking shape into new. As crazy as that sounds."

Before I could respond, he kept going, on a roll. "And you know, if Sera were to...well, if something were to happen to her, and I manage to keep going, maybe at some point, someone else would come into my life. It is like a cycle." He finally said it, making it obvious to glance at the sleeping goddess. "Maybe that's what's going on with Asuka."

I couldn't believe he said this on the fly. That, or he'd thought about it before. Either way, it made a lot of sense, and I thought it was pretty intuitive of him.

"Besides, even if none of that makes sense, which I'm not even sure it does." He chuckled and placed a hand on my shoulder. "I do know one thing for sure. Mary would want you to be happy. She wouldn't want you to be alone because you miss her."

I nodded. He'd never met her, but that's exactly how she would feel. I could see her now, flicking me on the forehead, telling me to man up and pursue something else.

"You're right, man. I guess...at one point I just thought I was better off alone. But hell, if these last couple of years have proved anything, it's that I'm not. I need you guys."

"And we need you. Who else is going to make the bad jokes?"

I snickered. "Goth Girl." I pointed at him with a serious look. "Oh, and don't you dare tell her what I said."

"The 'I need you guys' part?"

"Yeah. Not a word. Got it?" If she heard that, she'd tease me to no end.

He took his hand off and put both up in surrender. "Loud and clear."

We both stared at the fire for a minute, smiles on our faces. It's times like these where I remember why we're best friends in the first place. We got each other pegged like the back of our hand, and even if we don't know what the hell we're talking about, we mean well. It always seems to work.

"Thanks, man."

"Always."

Just checking in. Still alive. The world hasn't been blown up yet. Or at least...according to Malachi.

We lasted through the night, all the way to the next one. I know I'm skipping, but nothing eventful happened. That is, if you call sitting around watching the citizens of Castle Izanagi be miserable eventful. They're cooped up, bored, and scared. But at least they're still alive.

And Asuka still hadn't woken up. It had been more than twenty-four hours, and still out cold. Now, we were starting to get a little freaked out, especially me, since I'm the one that put her in the semi-coma, but according to Annabeth, her vitals are good, she's breathing, and she's most likely just in a deep sleep. Gods are different, after all. They can sleep for years on end if they want.

Well, it didn't exactly last for that long. I'll tell you what happened.

We were all sitting around the fire, trying to make the best of the situation. You know, telling a few jokes, a few stories, this and that.

I was telling one in particular about the time Mateo and I rode a pair of Chupacabras, and boy were we cracking up.

Even Annabeth was giggling like crazy. "I can't believe you two went out there, ten years old, and lured two Chupacabras with Sirloins!"

Harper was on the edge of her log seat. "And they didn't attack you?"

"Oh they did. Hell, one even bit Mateo on the ass!"

We all laughed, but when it died down, we heard the grass beside us rustle, leaves crunching in succession.

Every single head turned to see Asuka finally awake, standing up and putting her hand to the mask's forehead.

"What...happened?"

My eyes went wide behind the sunglasses, and I know for damn certain that everyone else's did too.

Then we started whispering.

Harper. "Oh shit...she's awake."

Sera. "Well at least she did wake up."

Annabeth. "What do we do?"

Percy. "Well, we could just keep staring at her."

Malachi. "Perhaps...speak?"

I finally stood up and addressed her. "Asuka...you alright?"

She stumbled, "I think so. I just...can't remember..." She trailed off, and her hand lowered to her side. "...Wait, no, I do remember. Tsukuyomi is trying to find Izanami! And you all...stopped me! Talon, you-"

"Yeah, I know. I know what I did. And hey, I'm sorry about that, but we couldn't just let you go back out there and fight those bastards. You were gonna die!"

She stepped forward and pointed an enraged finger at me. "The entire world is going to die! How long have I been out?!"

I glanced helplessly at the others, who offered no back up. "Uh...a little more than a day."

"A day?!" She threw her hands up and stormed over to me, grabbing a fistful of my shirt. I didn't even budge or react, I was too shocked. "How could you do this? Any of you? Do you realize what's going to happen now?!"

"Alright, just relax." I swung a hand at Malachi. "He hasn't sensed any destruction outside of the temple. They're still trying to get inside the barrier."

"If they were trying to destroy the world, we would know about it." Annabeth said.

Asuka's fist shook on my shirt, and the other looked like it was itching to deck me in the jaw. But right at the last second, she let go, sighed, and sat down on my log.

"Damn it." She growled. "This isn't how it was supposed to go."

"How what was supposed to go?" I asked, sitting down next to her. Really next to her. We were practically touching legs and arms. Not exactly a giant log, but she didn't get up or tell me to scooch, so I stayed put.

"It doesn't matter."

Harper gave an unsure look, "Does it have something to do with your past?"

"Atoning for your sins?" Malachi pressed. "Because I know what it is like, believe me. You wanted to make a noble sacrifice to make up for bad deeds, correct?"

Asuka took her hands off her mask, staring at the fire. Fascinatingly, it seemed to get brighter and stronger with her looking at it. "For millennia, everyone looked up to me. I was the source of light, of power, of guidance. I tried to do the right thing, I tried to help everyone, not just the other gods, but even the poorest mortal, especially the poorest mortal, and those that could never help themselves."

We all listened intently, not wanting to take a chance at shaking the foundation being built. She wasn't trying to run off for a change, she was actually opening up. We weren't about to interrupt or get distracted.

"And when I had Asuka...it got even better. For so long, I felt like I wasn't even real. Rather like some...idol that grants all wishes. No soul, no personality, just an endless cycle. I started to hate being a goddess. I wanted to be human. Because I realized, the main thing that makes humans special, is that they have short lives. They make the most of it with the limited abilities they have, and then they pass on what they know to their children. That's how their legacy lives on." She said the next statement with fondness, a tone foreign to her. "I knew I wanted to have a child. And when I did...I'd never felt such happiness in all of my existence. A little me that I can teach, and care for..."

The fire died down a little when her head lowered some more. "When I nearly lost her...after that night, I felt more pain than ever before. I hid, and turned my back on the world, like a coward."

After ten seconds of silence, Sera nervously budged in. "I-I hate to interrupt, but you said 'when you had Asuka.' I thought that you were Asuka and Amaterasu at the same time. Or d-did she truly die?"

"It's complicated."

"Then tell us." I said. "Tell us what happened."

"You don't want to hear my sob story."

"You can't expect us to understand why you want to go out there and kill yourself so bad if we don't know the whole story." Annabeth reasoned gently.

"I know it's hard to open up." Harper offered. "I mean, I still have trouble with it. But it does help."

"I've never told this to anyone before."

"We're not forcing you." Percy assured. "It's just...if you've never told this to anyone before, it's probably been weighing on your mind for centuries. It might help to get it off your chest."

"You're right." She said. "I'm sure it will, but...it's hard to talk about. Just bear with me."

"Take your time."

She inhaled a deep breath, which told me we were in for a long ride. "It was eight hundred years ago...yet I remember every detail like yesterday."

(Eight Hundred Years Ago - Iwate Prefecture)

Daiki Nakano loomed above the thieves; his katana still sheathed. He hadn't even drawn it in the fight, simply slamming the butt of it in their guts was enough. Behind him, three merchants looked up in awe.

"I'm sparing you today in hopes that you will change." He snapped his head to the distance. "Now go, while you're still alive."

The thieves scrambled to their feet and ran away, not a coin retained for their ambush.

Daiki picked up all the items that had fallen off the cart, handing them back to the merchants. "Here you are. Are you okay?"

"Yes! Thank you!"

"I could escort you into town if you wish?"

One merchant couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You are...samurai. You would escort us?"

"I swing a sword and protect the shogun. I am no better than you or a peasant. Now, would you like my company?"

Before they could answer, Daiki's eyes found something in the sky. The sound of flapping wings soon filled everyone's ears; a flock of birds were approaching.

"Excuse me." He gently pushed past the merchants and watched three red crowned cranes swoop from the sky in perfect formation.

"I've seen those before..." He gently tapped the closest merchant on the shoulder. "Go on into town. You should be okay."

"T-Thank you again, sir!" The merchants glanced nervously at the odd acting cranes, slightly relieved to leave.

Daiki met the cranes in the middle, walking up to their landing. Once the merchants left earshot, the middle bird began to speak.

"Amaterasu requires your presence."

Daiki's eyes lit up, "Lady Amaterasu? Where? When?"

"Tonight. Meet Inari at this spot. She will lead you to her."

"The fox god?"

"That's right. Don't be late, it is important."

Without further word, the cranes abruptly flew off into the sky, leaving Daiki with a racing mind. He wondered if...no, it couldn't be.

He would find out tonight. He had been relieved of his shift; he had the entire night to be with her. It had been so long after all.

Daiki slept against a rock until he could feel Inari's presence next to him.

"Daiki, it's me."

His eyes slowly fluttered open to see a large red fox standing at his right, curiously tilting its head at him.

"Inari?"

"That's right. Follow me, Amaterasu is waiting."

Daiki wasted no time in following the red fox down the grass path, into the woods, and finally entering a clearing filled with fireflies and dandelions.

There, in the center, under the moonlight, was her. Amaterasu. In Daiki's opinion, the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. She was perfect. Tall, slim, each shape crafted by a godly sculptor, covered by a long red kimono, and long hair like soft fire, but black as night.

He walked towards her as if she weren't real, drinking her in.

"Thank you, Inari." She said, "That will be all."

The fox nodded, "Yes, my lady." And trotted off.

Daiki sighed a shaky breath, unable to fathom that he had been with this woman. This goddess.

"How many months it's been..." He whispered. "...And you still look as beautiful as ever."

Amaterasu finally turned around, but she wasn't alone. In her arms sat a swaddled baby. Tiny, and asleep.

Daiki's face fell with surprise. "M-My lady, is this..."

"It is ours, Daiki." She poked the child affectionately on the nose.

He made it over to where he could gaze upon it, and if he thought Amaterasu was beautiful...then this was just as beautiful.

"I-I should've been there...the birth, was it-"

"Everything was fine." She assured, "She is healthy."

He calmed down, "May I...hold her?"

"Of course." She handed the baby over, and he cradled her with such care, more care than he'd ever shown anything, being a samurai. "You can hold her as much as you want."

He stared into those little eyelids lovingly. "Is it a girl?"

Amaterasu had never been happier. Staring at the man she loved while he held their baby. "It is."

"Have you decided on a name yet?"

"Yes. If you don't like it, you can tell me. But I liked Asuka. It was my first choice."

"Asuka...I love it. That's perfect."

"Since I was a goddess, I couldn't see Asuka all the time. She lived with both of us on and off, all the while keeping it a secret from Tsukuyomi and Susanoo, but eventually...Daiki wanted her to live with him fully, that way I could focus on my duties. He quit being a samurai, and with that decision came dire consequences."

"I'm so sorry, my lady."

Inari stood nervously behind the devastated Amaterasu, holding Daiki's blood covered body.

He had been killed in his own house. Stabbed through the chest.

The sun goddess wailed, her screams echoing throughout the sky, its force blowing back the very clouds of the night.

"Asuka?!" She roared, "Where is my daughter?!"

Inari ran into the other room like her life depended on it, sniffing the ground to find the baby. Finally, she didn't just smell it, she heard a muffled cry. Using her snout, she lifted up a wooden board. Asuka had been hidden there by Daiki...knowing that his death was coming.

The fox picked up the baby gently in her mouth, carrying it over to Amaterasu by the neck. "Here she is, my lady."

Amaterasu stood straight, still holding Daiki's corpse. She looked ready to destroy the entire world. Eyes glowing in the color of fire, body radiating enough power to erode the ground.

"The samurai...where are they?"

Inari shrunk at the display, afraid a stray blast of energy would hit her. "M-My lady, perhaps it's not wise to attack-"

"WHERE ARE THEY?!"

"D-Down the road. They haven't gotten far."

She sat Daiki gently on the floor, and stared off into the distance. "Keep her safe while I'm gone. This will only take a moment."

"My lady!" But Inari's plea was worthless. Amaterasu had already disappeared.

She travelled eight miles down the road in an instant, stopping the band of retreating samurai.

It had just started to pour rain, the men's armor was soaking wet, Amaterasu's hair now clung to her, covering up her eyes. But the dangerous orange glow was still there.

"Who the hell are you?!"

"Think your last thoughts, scum." She growled. "This is where your lives end."

"Kill her!"

They drew their swords but got no further. Amaterasu moved far faster than they could comprehend, and didn't kill them quickly. She darted between all of them, attacking each of their legs, snapping the bones in half.

They all screamed in agony, the combined sound reminding Amaterasu of screaming pigs. It invigorated her.

She grabbed one by the neck, jabbing him through the chest with her free hand, coming out on the other side of his body. He couldn't even make a sound, just a frozen expression of horror.

"Is this how you did it?" She asked rhetorically. "Is this how you killed him?!"

Her hand began to glow, and flames erupted on her wrist, all the way to her fingers. The heat ripped through the man's skin and caused his head to explode. Amaterasu's hand was unrecognizable now, just a stump of gore and body organs.

She smiled. "I'm going to make you suffer. All of you. I'll burn you in half, and make you look directly into my eyes as I do so."

They were terrified, scooting on their rears in the mud. "I-It's raining! How does she have that flame?!"

"Because I am the goddess of the sun. Amaterasu. My fire burns always."

"I killed each and every one of them, as I said I would. I can still hear their screams, even today. For about ten seconds, it made me feel better, but after that...nothing changed. It didn't bring Daiki back."

"I lost the love of my life. The only man I ever had feelings for. But...I still had Asuka. She had her entire future ahead of her. But of course, I could never raise her completely, not without Tsukuyomi or Susanoo discovering her existence."

"Why would they want to kill her?" Annabeth asked.

"To get to me. To get back at me for taking their stupid sword. Jealousy and greed, that is all."

"Keep going." I said. "What happened next?"

"I released her to the Castle."

Amaterasu stood outside of Castle Izanagi, the stronghold for demigods. She'd been watching the place for months now and had heard about it in the past. It seemed secure, and the people seemed very nice. The only part she was curious about was the leader. She knew it came directly from Izanagi, passed down generation after generation, using the last name Yamaguchi.

She couldn't contemplate it any longer. This was the right thing to do. She knew it in her gut.

"Goodbye for now, Asuka." She kissed the baby's forehead. "This is your new home."

Without alerting any of the guards, she sat the baby down on the ground, and took one more look at her. She knew it would be a while before she could see her again directly.

Amaterasu sighed, and placed her fingers in her mouth. A whistle rang out up towards the watchtowers before she disappeared.

"Asuka was raised there. She lived a good life, made friends, and even learned how to hone her strength. Without using her powers of course. I told her when she could remember to never use her powers."

"Did you tell her why?" I asked.

"No. I remained vague. I didn't want her to worry about Tsukuyomi and Susanoo. If that kind of fear had been placed in her heart, it would have never left." She shook her head, "But looking back...perhaps I should've. Then she might have been prepared for what came."

"You did the right thing." Sera said.

"Before we go further, I need to address the real source of the problem." Her tone got darker, filled with even more hate. "That coward Osuke."

"The guy she was supposed to marry?"

"She loved him from a young age. But he was the Shogun's son." She threw a hand up, "Not the actual Shogun, but the Castle's shogun. Overbearing parents that spoiled him and filled his head with garbage...it was a horrible match. He was kind to her in private, but in front of others, that was a different story."

The twelve-year-old Asuka had a bright smile on her face. Her friend, Keiko, stood twenty feet away from her, with an apple on her head.

She shivered nervously, "A-Are you sure about this, Asuka?"

"It'll be fine, Keiko! I know what I'm doing!" Asuka turned to the other girls watching and shushed them. "Okay everyone, be quiet! I need to concentrate!"

They did their best to stay quiet. Asuka flipped the kunai around in her hand, aiming for the apple. When she felt she had the perfect aim, she pitched it.

The small blade flew across the distance with grace and precision, hitting the apple dead center. It flew off Keiko's head and plopped on the grass.

Keiko gasped, the other girls cheered, Asuka smirked and raised her fist in the air.

"See, I told you!"

"Great job, Asuka!"

Through the giggling and cheering, the girls didn't notice the curious boy with sleek black hair sneaking up to them.

"That was incredible."

The noise stopped and everyone turned to see Osuke Yamaguchi, the young son of Hiroshi Yamaguchi. Standing a couple of inches taller than the girls, handsome, and eyebrows knit with curiosity.

"Osuke?" Asuka's voice heightened a note. "Y-You're out of the palace."

He nodded sheepishly, "Oh, yes. My father is trying to make room for more houses. He decided to let me tag along."

"Interesting." The girls had long backed away from Asuka and started silently laughing amongst themselves at the interaction. They knew Asuka had a crush on the young royal. "That's quite a complement coming from you...what, with your samurai training."

"Oh, I'm not that good." Osuke scratched his neck. "I'm sure you know more than I do about fighting."

Asuka smiled. "Well, I could show you if you like."

"Sure."

Asuka pulled out another kunai and began to show Osuke how to throw it, making a point to guide his hand with hers. After about a minute, he tried it out, throwing it at the ground. It was sloppy, but Asuka didn't want to discourage him.

He scrunched his nose. "That wasn't...very good, was it?"

"No, it wasn't that bad! With a little practice, I'm sure you could get the hang of it!"

Osuke didn't take it hard, he chuckled. "Oh, you don't have to lie. Some things are just better left alone. Do you have any other techniques?"

"Dozens!" Quickly, she threw her arm towards the ground. What she held didn't appear to Osuke's eyes until the smoke plumed, creating a white dome around both of them. He swatted at it and stepped out of the cloud completely, looking around for Asuka.

"Up here!"

The voice came from above in the tree. Osuke's head darted up and there she was, sitting on a thick limb fifteen feet high, legs dangling back and forth. "That's the first little trick I picked up."

Osuke nodded, impressed. "You're like a cat."

"You're not far off. The motion is quite similar."

Before he could say anything else, a deep voice barked at him from the main path. "Osuke!"

Every head turned to the boom. It was Hiroshi, Osuke's father. A savage looking man, sporting a salty beard, permanent scowl, and a long scar across his forehead.

"Get away from those peasants and come here! I want you to see how this works!"

Osuke's face fell. "C-Coming, father!"

Just like that, he was gone. Asuka jumped down from the tree, lip curled in annoyance.

"Peasant?" She growled.

The other girls had to hold her from doing anything rash. "You know how the shogun is, Asuka! Think nothing of it!"

She glared at the old man. "He is our leader; he should treat us with respect. And he should talk to his son in a nicer tone..."

"A man's father is often his biggest influence. Osuke only knew his father's words. He feared him, and that made him weak."

We all exchanged nervous looks. This story went even deeper than we thought.

"If his dad thought she was a peasant, why'd he let him marry her?" Harper asked.

"I'm getting to that." She took in another deep breath. "She had just turned eighteen, and I wanted to visit her. But as I crossed the main Castle, I heard something interesting."

Amaterasu flew towards the Castle, disguised as the rare crested ibis. A bird with white feathers, and a red face.

She had wanted to see her daughter in a more human state, and she still planned on doing so, but her identity as daughter of the Shinto Queen hadn't been revealed yet, and Amaterasu planned to keep it that way.

Of course, there had been suspicions. Mainly from her brothers. She played it off well every time, and they never pressed on the matter. But she knew what they thought of her, how envious they were that she wielded the Kusanagi.

In her opinion, the black blade was far too dangerous to be wielded by anyone. Including herself. But better in her hands than Tsukuyomi or Susanoo.

Amaterasu had seen mortal families welcome babies with open arms. She wished her situation could be like that. Why did the gods have to be so different? Why couldn't Asuka's greedy uncles just accept that she exists, and let her?

All she did was grab a sword...

The goddess flapped her wings a single time and darted forward, reaching the side of the castle. Through the open windows though, she could hear a loud voice. It sounded...angry.

"You're of age, Osuke! You're going to take a wife, and that is final!"

"But there's so much more I want to do before marriage, father! I want to advance my combat skills and become a real warrior!"

Amaterasu stopped abruptly in the air and landed on a tree just beside the window. If she leaned her long bird neck, she could just make out the arm of Hiroshi Yamaguchi, waving violently as he tried to reprimand his son.

"You are royalty, fool." He growled, smacking Osuke on the head. "You don't need to become a real warrior. That's what the samurai are for. All you need to do is lead them. Be the god that they worship. Represent Izanagi in a way that would please him. Does that make sense?"

Osuke groaned and rubbed his sore temple. "If you say so, father. I just think-"

"Don't think. You let me do your thinking for you. I don't care if you're eighteen years old, you still need my guidance! You just don't want to listen to it half the time..."

"I will listen, father! I want to become a great leader like you, I promise!" The poor boy lowered his head in shame. "I just...I guess I get distracted by menial things sometimes."

"Like that peasant girl?"

Amaterasu knew exactly who he was referring to. Her daughter. It made her blood boil a little to hear, but she couldn't do anything, not without revealing Asuka's identity. Which would be too much trouble for a small amount of satisfaction.

She knew how Osuke and Asuka felt about each other. Admirerers from afar, but destined to be apart, thanks to Hiroshi. At least, that's how Asuka put it. Amaterasu thinks it's nothing more than a silly crush on her daughter's part. She'd always known the Yamaguchi's of the modern era to be cruel men. Taking wives only so they could have children, not out of love, but for power.

The goddess was a bit surprised to see Osuke stand up and raise his voice at Asuka's defense. "She isn't a peasant, father! She's the best fighter in the Castle! She's taken out more monsters than all of your samurai combined!"

Hiroshi grumbled incoherently.

"You gave her that house as a reward. You know it's true!"

House? Hiroshi had given Asuka her own house? She'd been living with Keiko this entire time, ever since they found her outside of the main gates, and that's how it had been for eighteen years. That's how it was the last time she saw Asuka. But then again, that was the night of her birthday, at the exact time she had been born. It had been three months since she's visited after all.

The elder Yamaguchi shook his head. "Regardless of her prowess, I don't approve of your...adoration for her."

Osuke blushed, but held his ground. "If you want me to take a wife so badly, father, then let me take Asuka!"

Amaterasu wasn't sure who's reaction topped the other. Hers, or Hiroshi's. The old man's face expanded more than she'd ever seen, his wrinkles disappearing for a moment to show his wide eyes and agape mouth.

"I beg your damn pardon?!"

"That's right! If you want me to have powerful, successful children, then let us wed. With my status, and her power, we'll produce the mightiest children in the world! Even the gods wouldn't dare face them!"

Amaterasu doubted Osuke meant those words. It sounded more like a front to get his father's permission. But, the front seemed to be working.

Hiroshi put his hand to his forehead, the gears turning in his brain. "She is quite strong for a lowly citizen..." He eyed his son suspiciously, "And you do seem to love her..."

"I do, father."

After a few more seconds of thought, Hiroshi groaned and turned his back. "Do as you wish. But I'm not paying for the ceremony!"

Osuke's face brightened ten shades. "T-Thank you, father!"

Amaterasu couldn't believe what she just heard. The young Yamaguchi wants to marry her daughter? Marriage...Asuka, and marriage? It just didn't compute.

Now she couldn't just visit, she had to tell her.

The ibis launched off the tree and swooped towards the source of familiar energy. A small house located at the far left wall, amongst a line of similar buildings. Sure enough, it was a completely different place than Keiko's. Asuka must be by herself now.

Amaterasu landed in the window to find Asuka sitting in the middle of a small room, as still as a statue. With nothing but a small bed and a painting on the wall, this definitely didn't look like her friend's place.

She shifted into her normal form and stepped through the window, looking around curiously.

"Asuka?"

Her daughter's head straightened, "Mother?"

"Are you meditating?"

Asuka popped up quickly and ran over to give her mother a hug. She gladly returned. To a god, three months is a mere second, but to a mortal, or even a half blood, it can be quite a long time.

Asuka pulled away from the hug with a grin on her face. "Just training, mother."

"Mental simulation?" Amaterasu was impressed that a half-blood so young could pull that off. But then again, if anyone could, it was Asuka. "I'm impressed. Some gods can't even train that way."

"Well, I'm not very good at it. Does help me memorize certain techniques though."

Silence fell, and Amaterasu found herself looking around the room again, an eyebrow raised.

"So, what brings you here, mother? Not that I don't want you here. In fact, I was beginning to miss you."

Amaterasu traced the room slowly, brushing her finger against the painting of a river on the wall next to the sliding door. "I came to visit. Just briefly. I wanted to see how adulthood is treating you. Seems...to be going well so far."

Asuka just nodded, then noticed the subtlety in her tone. "Oh, the house? I forgot, it's been three months. This is my place now!"

"I heard. It was a reward from Hiroshi?"

Asuka cocked her head, "Yeah...how did you know about that?"

Amaterasu turned around to face her. She didn't want to blow the girl's mind too much, but she figured it best to let her know what was going on before Osuke did. Her daughter is a bit impulsive, and full of energy. She didn't want her to get too excited and not think things through.

"I overheard Osuke and his father talking in the main castle."

"How did you-" Asuka lifted a finger, nodding at a memory of finding her mother disguised as a bird last year. "-Oh, you did the bird thing again, didn't you?"

"Yes." Carefully, she walked up to her daughter and grabbed her shoulders. "Listen, Asuka..."

"What is it?"

"Hiroshi wants Osuke to take a wife. Since he is eighteen now."

"Right..."

Amaterasu swallowed hard, unsure as to how Asuka would react. Throwing caution to the wind, she just came out and said it. "Osuke has chosen you to marry."

What happened was a bit tamer than what she expected, to be honest. She just knew in her head that Asuka would start jumping up and down, screaming excitedly, but all she did here was blush a deep red and sweat from the forehead.

"O-Osuke...wants to marry...me?"

"Yes."

Asuka had stopped blinking entirely. "And...what did his father say?"

"He was against it at first, but Osuke convinced him. I imagine he's on his way to tell you now."

Asuka didn't blink or move for a solid minute, and Amaterasu began to worry, so she walked her over to the small bed and sat her down. She watched as her daughter seemingly had an existential crisis, staring a hole through the wooden floor.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah...I just...Osuke...wants to marry me. I can't believe it. Out of everyone, all the girls, he chose me?"

"I heard the words from his own mouth, Asuka. It's true."

Finally, she moved her head to look up at Amaterasu, mouth still open with disbelief. "What do you think about it?"

The goddess didn't really think it was a good idea, but she knew how much Asuka liked the boy, so she shrugged. "It doesn't really matter what I think. It matters what you think. You like him, don't you?"

"Y-Yeah...I have for years."

"Then if it makes you happy, I have no opposition towards it."

Asuka stood up and paced the room, running her hands through her short black hair. "Me, a housewife? No, not just any housewife...housewife to the future Shogun! I don't know if I'm ready! I mean...what If I turn out to not be good enough for him?"

Amaterasu chuckled, and for a moment, she had to take in just how much her daughter had grown. She remembered like it was yesterday swaddling her in that cloth, looking upon her tiny face for the first time. She'd seen the Earth in its earliest, most beautiful form. She'd seen the outskirts of the heavens, the tallest, most exquisite palaces...but all of that paled in comparison to the first glimpse of her newborn.

Flash forward to now. She's grown into a young woman. A strong, well-shaped body, with beautiful features, and hair that came down to just above her shoulders, tickling her neck. It wasn't traditional, but Asuka always said long hair got in the way of her training, so she cut it every week to make sure it never gained on her.

"I don't think there is anyone else good enough, Asuka. In fact, I think he should worry about being good enough for you."

Asuka faced her with shiny, uncertain yellow eyes. "Really?"

"Of course. You are the most beautiful girl in the world. Strong, smart, kind...any boy would be lucky to have you."

"But it's not just any boy, mother. It's the only one that I actually like!"

"Well, talk to him. Communication is the key to every successful relationship. If you don't think you're ready, or if you have any concerns, he'll hear you out. I'm sure of it." Amaterasu could sense his energy coming this way. "Speaking of, he's coming. I sense his energy."

Asuka ducked her head. "Oh gods..."

"Just be calm, and don't be afraid. Everything will work out, dear, I promise."

"O-Okay. Thanks, mother."

"You're welcome. I'll visit again soon. Goodbye."

She waved at her before leaving the house in her bird form again. As she flew, she couldn't help but think of the words she said. That it would all work out...

She knew better than to make empty promises. Not everything works out, and that's the truth. Why would she hide the truth from her daughter. She knew how Daiki died.

History doesn't always have to repeat itself. Amaterasu thought, and she prayed that this wouldn't be a repeat of her own tragedy.

"But it was." Asuka said, "It was worse."

We didn't even want to comment. Asuka, or well, Amaterasu at this point, since she keeps talking about Asuka as a different person, had been talking for two hours, at least. We didn't expect her to go into such detail, or open up this much. We figured she would summarize it in about a minute, go off into her own corner, not talk to us, and that would be it.

But here she was, telling everything.

This is what we wanted. Even if we knew how it ended, we still needed to hear her out.

Malachi cleared his throat, "So...the marriage. Asuka agreed to it?"

"Of course. She was in love with that boy. After she said yes, the two were allowed to spend more time together. For about six months, up until the wedding, things were actually very pleasant. The five or six times I visited Asuka in between were the happiest I have ever seen her." Her mask drooped. "Since we are one, I have every memory. Even for the times that I wasn't present."

Asuka and Osuke walked in the flower garden next to the main castle, hands interlocked. The two hadn't talked since they met up, but it hardly mattered anymore. They'd gotten to know each other quite well over the past few months. Any silence the two had now was only comfortable.

"So much land beyond those walls..." Osuke muttered dreamily.

Asuka matched his gaze. Over the wall, sat miles upon miles of open fields, leading into thick forests of green. Osuke stared at it every time they came out here.

"It's beautiful." She agreed.

"I wish I could explore it. Just...be free, and travel the world. I've heard that this world is so large, there's not even an end to it. It just goes on forever."

She looked at him, and tucked her head into the crook of his neck to cheer him up. "You've been out of the palace before, Osuke."

"Not enough." He grumbled. "So much wasted time...when I could see what everything has to offer." Finally taking his eyes off the horizon, he stared at his fiancé with awe. "I mean, you came from beyond the walls as a baby. Don't you ever wish to know where you came from? Who your parents are?"

Asuka's eyes darted to the ground. She'd come close many times to telling him the truth, about her mother, about her true power...but faltered at each turn. She knew it wouldn't end well. It would only put him in danger. So, for eighteen years, she's kept the orphan story.

"Not really. I mean, this is the only home I know. And the only parents I know are Mr. and Mrs. Satoshi. Keiko is like my sister."

"It gets so boring sitting in that castle all day. Listening to my father go on and on about his expectations. I just...want to get out for a little while. Be free for one day, you know?"

Asuka nodded, fully understanding the feeling. She often wished she could meet the gods her mother mentioned all the time, sleep in the palaces she stayed in, or witness the battles she's had. "I know. But we can't. It's too dangerous. You know monsters are attracted to our scent. Yours especially."

"Maybe, but with our combined strength..." He pondered, his mouth breaking into a smile. "...We would probably be okay."

"What are you saying?"

Out of nowhere, he grabbed her shoulders. "Asuka, let's leave the Castle for the day! Go out into the open fields and explore the forest!"

Asuka reared her head back. "What? No! Osuke, we can't!"

"Why not?"

"Because it's dangerous! Not to mention your father would kill you!"

Osuke shook his head. "He won't find out about it, I promise! Come on, you can't tell me you don't want to! It'll be fun!"

Asuka started to protest, but hesitated. Osuke always got excited about this sort of thing. She knew he hated being cooped up in that castle all the time.

If it would make him happy...

She sighed, "Okay. Fine, I'll go with you." Osuke pumped his fist. "But we have to be careful!"

"Of course, of course!" He grabbed her hand, "Now come on! I know of a secret exit we can take!"

"That was where the nightmare began. That's when it all spiraled."

"When Tsukuyomi and Susanoo found out?" I asked, my voice foreign to the air, since she'd been talking this entire time. It almost sounded like it didn't belong. Like we should all just shut up and let hers be at the forefront.

But she only answered. "This was what led to that. She never, ever should've agreed to go with him..."

The young couple ran through the woods like little kids in a new world, leaving their horses behind.

"See, Asuka? This is fun!"

She forced a smile, but took several glances back at the horses. This was a horrible idea. If her mother found out...

But Osuke had laughed more here than ever. She didn't want to ruin what might be one of the best days of his life. Even if it was just leaving the castle for a few hours, it meant a lot to him, someone that rarely ever even leaves a single building.

They finally stopped in a bed of dandelions, fresh and fluffy white in the sun rays. Osuke took time to run his hands through them, little specks floating through the air as the result.

"It's so different to see them out in the wild."

Asuka felt a genuine smile coming onto her face this time. Osuke seemed to always enjoy himself when he was with her, but there was a hint of dread lingering with him all the time that she just wanted to rip away.

"Osuke, do you really want to become Shogun when your father...you know, passes away?"

He didn't turn around or react in a big way, he just kept playing with the dandelions. "Of course I do. It's my dream."

She pursed her lips. "I know your dream is to be a samurai. Don't lie to me."

He sighed, "I'm sorry. It's just...I should want that to be my dream. Father wants it, and he knows what's best, right?"

"Maybe not. You shouldn't listen to what he tells you to do all the time. You should do what makes you happiest."

He looked her in the eyes, "You don't have to worry about me being happy. Making my father proud is what drives me, Asuka. I promise."

It didn't sound like a lie this time. She knew he wanted to impress Hiroshi, that was true. But the feelings were misguided. His father didn't want him to follow his own path, he wanted him to follow the one he laid out. It made Asuka sad.

"That's not-" She started, but a flickering of brown interrupted her. It stuck out from a tree in her peripheral like glass in the sunlight.

When she looked at it, she saw a raccoon dog, or a Tanuki. Short, stubby, fluffy little animals that look harmless. But Asuka's sixth sense told her otherwise.

It was a Yokai. Monster.

It had tracked their scent.

"Osuke, get down!"

Too late. The Tanuki leapt out of the tree and morphed into its true state mid-air. A giant demon, with black fur and fangs as big as the tree it sat in not ten seconds ago. It tackled Osuke under its paw, grinding him against the ground.

Asuka immediately charged the monster. She ran in a straight line and kicked off the ground, launching herself at tremendous speed into the monster's midsection. The force of the blow caved it's very ribs in and sent it rolling across the ground.

In its disorientation, Asuka took the time to help Osuke up. He hadn't been severely injured, being a descendant of Izanagi, he had his own strength too. But training in a castle is different from real experience, which he very much lacked.

"Go to the horses and get your sword!" She ordered. When she didn't hear Osuke's footsteps, she turned to see him staring at the Yokai in horror.

She didn't want to get loud with him, but this was a life-or-death situation. She shook his shoulder and yelled right in his face. "Now!"

That snapped him out of it. He nodded and took off, sprinting like his life depended on it in the opposite direction. By that time, right on cue, the Yokai had gotten up.

It crouched and circled Asuka, who stood in the center, breathing calmly and keeping an eye on the monster's legs. When they flinched. If she could see the start of the movement, she would be able to anticipate it. But she wouldn't dare underestimate this thing. She had fought Tanuki-disguised Yokais before, and they had been surprisingly quick.

It took a long step before its muscles clenched. There.

Just as she predicted, it jumped at her. Asuka easily sidestepped, clearing the distance between its jaw and its leg as if gravity itself had rescued her.

She weaved around its series of bites, waiting for Osuke's voice to call out to her. Once he did, he would throw the sword, and she would catch it, killing the monster and saving both of them. She should've never agreed to come out here, but as usual, her emotions got the better of her.

Either way, as long as it was just one, there was really no harm done. She would take care of it, and they could be on their merry way, learning a hard lesson.

But after several moments, she still heard nothing. That was odd, they hadn't run that far from the horses...

So for one second after dodging another strike, she quickly glanced behind her. Her jaw dropped at what she saw.

"RAGH!" Osuke was shouting, no, roaring out, sword in hand, charging the monster.

"No, Osuke! Hand me the Katana!"

Her plea didn't reach him, he ran right up to the Yokai, ready to swing, but he didn't know how these monsters worked. That's one of their strategies, and another reason why defense is the best offense against them. They wait for an attacker to come, then at the last minute, swipe their claws and sever them in two.

Osuke of course, had no idea. He was strong, but still young. He would get killed!

"Osuke, stop!" She could see the Yokai raising its paw high in the air, one move and it would come down on Osuke's torso, cleaving him like mutton...

He didn't want to listen to her, so she would have to take matters into her own hands. To kill this monster, she would have to use her powers.

But...that would be going against what mother said.

Asuka struggled with the decision for a split second, but ultimately decided to use her powers and save Osuke. They were about to be husband and wife after all soon, so eventually the secret would come out anyway. Might as well be put to good use.

Tapping into the chi inside of her, she ignited a large pillar of fire around her entire body, using it to enhance every ability she had. It was hardly a thing to be concealed. Even if she did nothing, Osuke already knew. The secret was out, because the entire forest visibly reacted to her display of energy. The chi burst alone had rattled the trees and burnt away the nearby grass, not to mention the very air itself had gotten hotter.

With caution long thrown in the wind, she thrust her hand out at the Yokai's paw. Fire extended itself from her fingertips and smashed against the fur, immediately bringing pain to the predator.

The Yokai howled and recoiled, just as the paw came three feet from destroying Osuke. The young royal himself had just now noticed what was going on, and took a second to gaze at his fiancé.

He didn't recognize the woman before him. Asuka was always playful, bubbly, and occasionally a showoff, but never deathly serious. Now, she looked ready to kill the creature. Her eyes were glowing an intense orange, her entire body surrounded by giant flames as bright as lightning, emitting an energy that terrified him. He knew she was strong, but not this strong.

The Yokai shook its arm violently and got rid of the fire, but growled at the result. Singed skin and burnt fur. Just as she suspected, she would have to use physical force to kill it. This Yokai was far stronger than the last.

She barked at Osuke, "Stand back!" With one simple leap, she towered over the Yokai's head in the air. Bringing back her fist, she redirected all of the fire on her body to her hand, coating it in chi. It didn't take a succession of rapid blows, no, it only took one move to destroy the monster.

One punch to the center of the face, and the Yokai caved in on itself. Blood exploded everywhere, on the trees, in the grass, and some clumps never even fell to the ground. The shower didn't last long though, because the core of the monster itself faded away into dust, as they all do.

Asuka landed, remaining clean. She had placed a thin barrier around herself to avoid the bloodbath.

She and Osuke locked eyes. Nothing was said for several moments, but she knew what he was thinking. Well, at least one of the millions of things he was thinking.

"That fire...and that strength..." He whispered, completely taken back. "I always assumed you were a half-blood, but that kind of power, that can only belong to one goddess."

She willed the fire around her fist to dim, and the demeanor shifted so quickly, you would've thought her two different people. She went from a confident, powerful, bloodthirsty killer to a shy, almost guilty girl in a flash.

"Osuke, I-I've wanted to tell you this for a long time. And I'm sorry you had to find out this way, but...I'm the daughter of Amaterasu."

To Be Continued in Part Two.

Until Next Time.