The Son Of Hercules

by Echoxenvy

Follow Matt Beckett, the Son of Hercules, as he and his friends wage war on the Primordial God Ouranos and his wide variety of allies. Love, hardship, battle, loss, and glory are just five of the many things he will experience on his epic journey. Current Book: The Rising Sun. OC-Centered.

124. The Mask Comes Off - Part Two

Alright, here we go. Chapter thirteen and the second part of the last chapter. This one was really fun to write, and that ending...oh man, I can't wait for you guys to read it. I won't hold you up any longer, enjoy the chapter!

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.

13. The Mask Comes Off - Part Two

Talon

"You told him?" Sera asked, "I-I mean she told him?"

Amaterasu, which is the proper thing to call her now, I guess, shrugged. "She didn't really have much of a choice at that point. Once she used her powers, Osuke was able to put two and two together."

I scowled, squeezing my hands together to let out some of the frustration at hearing that. "So that bastard just wouldn't give up the damn sword, huh? Had to be a big boy and show off to his girlfriend. Fucking idiot."

"It was foolish, but Osuke always wanted to be a warrior. I know what he was thinking. If he killed that Yokai, he would prove himself."

"He should've given it to you." I grumbled.

"So that one situation triggered the entire string of events that followed?" Annabeth asked, already knowing the answer. She just couldn't believe it. None of us could either. One little trip in the woods that went sideways caused Tsukuyomi and Susanoo to try and kill Asuka.

"Yes." She said.

Malachi picked up a stray stick by his shoe and tossed it into the fire. "To be honest, I think Asuka was right in thinking that the truth would come out eventually. She had wanted to tell this boy for a long time, right?"

Amaterasu nodded.

"Then it was only a matter of time before she told him. Whether it be on the honeymoon night, or ten years later. It would most likely have been revealed naturally."

"Perhaps." Amaterasu said. "But, it was perfect timing that it happened at this specific moment. At the time, Tsukuyomi and Susanoo had been more or less silent about their plans to overthrow me, but this is where it began to get vocal."

---

Asuka sat on the ledge of her window, while Osuke stood in the center of the room, hands on his hips.

"Why didn't you just give me the sword, Osuke?" She groaned. This was bad, so very bad. Once her mother finds out...oh, she'll be in so much trouble. Her mother might wipe everyone's memories and make Asuka move away. It made her shiver to think about.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Osuke said, his voice harsh.

Asuka raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Why did you lie to me? I thought we were supposed to tell each other everything!"

"I couldn't! Please, you have to understand, Osuke. My mother has powerful enemies, especially in her two brothers. If they found out she had a daughter...they would come to kill me!"

He didn't even question that, like she expected, he just glared at her.

"How many more secrets are you keeping from me?"

Asuka couldn't believe what he was saying. "Why are you acting this way?"

"Because I thought I knew you! But-" He faltered, and turned his back to her, opening her door quickly in anger. "-I guess I don't. I'll see you later."

"Wait! Where are you-" But the door slammed. He wouldn't hear the rest.

For several minutes, Asuka paced around the room, screaming at herself in her own head. Finally, she slid down the wall into a tight lump, knees pressed against her head.

"Oh no...what have I done?" She whispered. "I've ruined everything."

With the way he reacted, she just knew he was going to tell his father. She just knew it.

She had to see what was going on. Stop him somehow, or...she didn't know. But either way, she had to do something!

So she slipped out of the door and followed the main path towards the castle. She could see Osuke in the far distance, just beginning to walk up the long staircase.

Using her enhanced speed, she crossed half the distance of the castle and caught up with him by the time he reached the main doors. Jumping silently behind him, she managed to sneak in behind him.

Hiding behind a pillar, and using the dark room to her advantage, she was able to see Osuke standing at the entrance, watching his father speak with another man.

A very...odd looking man, at that. He was abnormally tall, sporting long, cream colored hair, and an almost alien looking kimono. Instead of having normal skin, his was faded white, like the color of ash, and he wore strange tattoos of a crescent moon on his forehead and chest.

Wait...Asuka knew that appearance. Her mother had told her about this man a few years ago, when she first spoke of her brothers. Of their hatred towards her, their jealousy...

This was Tsukuyomi, the god of darkness and shadows, the god of the moon.

If she hadn't seen his appearance, she would still be able to guess that he was far beyond a normal human, or even a half-blood. His suppressed chi was astounding, dwarfing even Hiroshi's. The two seemed to be in the middle of a serious conversation, with Tsukuyomi intimidating the old shogun.

"-Will do as I say, or die!" Tsukuyomi snapped, pointing a long, sharp fingernail in Hiroshi's face. "Those are your two choices! You have until midnight tonight to choose!"

"O-Of course, my lord!" Hiroshi croaked, on his knees.

Tsukuyomi stepped back and closed his eyes. The ground shook for a moment, and the god disappeared in a plume of shadows, sweeping over the floor like a running deer.

Hiroshi let out a long sigh, and started making what sounded like whimpering noises. Asuka had to keep herself from laughing. How often she'd wanted to hear him sound like that, under someone's mercy. But she knew she had to keep quiet right now. If she got caught, that would ignite pure chaos.

"Oh please...please, lord Tsukuyomi, spare us..." Hiroshi prayed, voice trembling.

Osuke finally stepped out of the darkness. "Father?"

Hiroshi's entire body erected, scrambling to his feet to get out of the awkward position. "O-Osuke!" He forced his voice to take the deeper tone she was used to hearing. "I-I mean, where the hell have you been? I've been looking for you all day!"

To her surprise, he didn't even lie. "I was outside of the walls with Asuka."

"Outside the walls? Do you have a death wish, you fool?! You know you're not supposed to leave the Castle!"

"I'm sorry father. I know it was stupid, it won't happen again."

Asuka didn't like the way he sounded at all. He sounded so...dead, like he was speaking from a piece of pre-written lines on a paper.

"What was that all about, father? Was that the moon god?"

Hiroshi wiped a wad of sweat from his face. "Er, yes, yes it was. Don't worry about it, it was nothing."

"It sounded serious. He threatened you."

Hiroshi sighed, not wasting much more time in hiding the reason for the god's visit. "He did, Osuke. He...he wants to enact a plan to overthrow and kill Amaterasu."

Asuka clamped her mouth to keep the gasp from reaching earshot. Overthrow her mother?!

Osuke asked the question on her mind. "Why was he here?! What do we have to do with that?!"

"He wants us to help."

Asuka turned against the pillar and faced the opposing wall, her face frozen in a trance. This was horrible. She could see it now, the samurai charging her mother, alongside her two greatest enemies. And she...she would have to join them, unless she reveals her identity.

No, no, she has to talk to her mother about this.

Oh gods, her mother. She probably has no idea. And if she tells her, she'll be prepared to fight back, which will lead Osuke to know that she already warned her.

Osuke made a sound between a surprised grunt and a sigh. "B-But why?! Why can't he just do it on his own?!"

"Amaterasu is too strong. She has allies of her own, so he wants our samurai to combat them."

"And the choice is to join him or die."

"Yes."

Osuke had to lean against a pillar to keep his footing. "We can't do it, father."

Hiroshi shot up and looked at Osuke like he had three heads. "If we don't we'll all die, you fool!"

Osuke actually stood up to his father, not backing down for once. "Not if we side with Amaterasu! You don't understand, father, we can't let her die! We just can't!"

"Why not?!"

Osuke faltered, tightening his lips. Asuka silently begged him not to say it.

But he did anyway. "Because Asuka is her daughter."

The string between them snapped, and Asuka felt her heart break. It was over. Her life as she knew it was over. She knew damn well that Hiroshi wouldn't listen, he would side with Tsukuyomi, and he would use her identity against her mother.

The old Yamaguchi's entire body stiffened at the information. "Your fiancé? The peasant girl?"

"She's not a peasant! But yes. She is the child of the Sun goddess."

Hiroshi nodded, too calmly for Asuka's liking. She already knew what he was thinking. "I see...so it's been hidden for all this time. Eighteen years."

Osuke dashed forward and grabbed his father by the arms, shaking him. "But you can't tell anybody! Please, father, if she's been hiding her identity this entire time there must be a good reason!"

Hiroshi swatted his son's arms away and pushed past him, smiling like he'd just found a bucket of gold.

"Are you stupid, boy?! This is incredible! It's our ticket to safety!" He fiddled with his fingers for a moment, "Okay...how's this. We use the girl as a hostage to lure Amaterasu here, when she comes, we order her to give the sword over, or the girl dies. Once she gives it up, we let the gods do as they please!"

Osuke was horrified. "You do realize that's my fiancé you're talking about! I can't just let you take her hostage!"

Hiroshi groaned. "We're not actually going to kill her. Just her mother."

"Father!"

Asuka's heart pounded in her chest. She felt like the entire world was collapsing on her. She had to get out of here. If that plan followed through...she knew that her mother would give up the sword in exchange for her life.

Quietly, she cracked open the main door and slipped out of the castle. Without a care in the world, she began running towards her house, intent on grabbing the essentials and leaving entirely.

She made it there in no time, bursting through the door and immediately grabbing a set of Kunai. What else did she need.

But behind her, the door opened again. She turned around and aimed the sharp end of a kunai at the intruder's throat. It was Osuke. He must've followed her.

She didn't lower her weapon. "What are you doing here?"

"You heard, didn't you? I saw you leave the castle."

Asuka just couldn't keep the blade leveled to him, in spite of what he just did. She shoved it in her pocket and fought back tears. "How could you do that to me? How could you tell him?"

"I was trying to protect your mother! I thought that...well, I thought-"

She turned on him furiously. "What?! That your father would react differently? Face it, Osuke! Your father is a heartless, greedy, cruel man with no soul! He'd kill you in a single second if Tsukuyomi told him to!"

At that, Osuke jabbed his finger in front of her face. "You're wrong! Father is hard to get along with, sure, but he's just...scared. He's scared for our safety. He wouldn't be doing this if Tsukuyomi hadn't threatened to kill us all!"

She wanted to punch him. She couldn't believe how blind he was. "He wouldn't plan to take me hostage either if you hadn't told him about me!" She shoved her hands in the thick, short locks of her black hair to just do something, or else she was going to destroy the house completely. "And I wouldn't have revealed my secret if you'd just given me the sword!"

Osuke's body shrunk a little, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I told him; I just didn't know what to do! I won't let him take you hostage, Asuka, I promise."

"It hardly matters. I'm leaving the Castle anyway."

"You're leaving?"

"Yes. And before you ask, no, I don't know where I'm going. I'll figure it out."

He tried to grab her shoulder, but she shook his weak grip off. "Let me come with you."

"What?! You actually think I would want you to come with me? You broke all trust I had for you back at the main Castle!"

"It was a mistake, okay? I'm sorry. Let me fix it. I'll help you escape, hide, whatever you need. I'll even distract my father and his samurai if you want. Just let me help." Asuka was about to fire back an insult, but he reached forward and took hold of her hand. This time, she didn't stop him.

"I love you, Asuka. It was wrong of me to get angry before. I know you had a good reason to hide your identity, I see that now. I just want to be with you, Amaterasu's daughter or not."

Asuka believed him. Her eyes softened, "Osuke..." But she knew that this couldn't happen. Even if he went through with his proposals, getting him involved would mean putting him in danger. She already knew at some point Tsukuyomi and Susanoo would come after her, and kill anyone that went against them.

She returned the affection with a squeeze. "I love you too. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you sooner, but you have to understand the danger here. I just...can't take you with me. I'm sorry. I need to go on my own."

With a gentle tug, her hand slipped free, and she walked over to her open window, taking one last look at her fiancé for...she didn't know how long. Perhaps forever.

"Will I ever see you again?" He asked sadly.

She lowered her head, not wanting to lie directly to him. But she knew she had to. "Maybe. If so, hopefully soon. But for now, this is goodbye."

He didn't say anything for several seconds, giving her the hint that it was time to go.

She jumped out of the window, and took off, running away from the inevitable.

---

"It wasn't the last time she saw him."

At this point, I was fuming at this Osuke guy. How could he just turn the blame on Asuka like that? Try to direct the guilt, as if it was her fault for never telling him. He's the one that caused the whole freaking mess!

"All due respect, but I'd like to find that bastard Osuke's grave and piss on it." I said, shaking my head over and over. "And don't get me started on his dad."

"No offense-" Harper started, "-But what did she see in that guy?"

"I doubt she knew he would do that." Annabeth reasoned, as she always does. "Everything up until that point had been sunshine and roses, it sounds like."

"It was her happiest time." Amaterasu confirmed. "I knew that she would probably fall in love at some point, but at the same time...I knew it would only end in tragedy. But what could I do? I couldn't keep her from feeling emotion, or being attracted to another person. It's part of the human experience."

I wanted to say so much more, mainly about Osuke, but I held my tongue. Amaterasu wasn't finished with the story, and I imagined now we were getting to the main event. How her daughter almost died.

"What happened next?" I asked, trying to hide my frustration. "Did she make it far?"

"She ran all the way into the night." Amaterasu said. "Until Midnight, when Tsukuyomi returned. Hiroshi told him about Asuka..."

---

Asuka ran through the dark forest, no idea where she was going, with no trajectory, just a straight line and hope that she wasn't being followed.

She hadn't even thought to pray to her mother yet, or ask for help, she just ran in fear. Fear of the unknown. That was the first time she'd ever seen Tsukuyomi, but she'd heard plenty enough about him, and Susanoo. They were the most powerful gods, aside from her mother. She was a mere demigod, a powerful one at that, but still, there was no way she could stand up to both of them if they attacked her.

Part of her wished Osuke had come with her. Even if he betrayed her trust, he'd become her source of comfort over the years. She felt safe with him. Even Keiko, her best friend's company would be more than welcome. Anybody.

But no, she was alone. Trying desperately to survive.

She had been running into the long night. It was several hours after dark, perhaps even into the next morning now, and she hadn't left the giant stretch of forest yet. She thought it might never end.

Finally, she stopped to gather her thoughts. She had to stop running aimlessly and start coming up with a plan. Now that she's gotten away from the initial threat; being held hostage by the Castle's samurai, she can focus on the next thing.

Getting away for good. For that, she needed to contact her mother.

Instead of shouting her name, she closed her eyes and concentrated on her own energy. When she did, she always felt closest to her, because that's where it came from. A little piece of the sun that Amaterasu broke off and placed within her. It's like a small string of river that they both drink from. It connects them.

Mother! Mother I need your help!

No response, but she kept trying.

They know about me! Tsukuyomi and Susanoo are planning to overthrow you!

She waited, but heard nothing. After a minute, her instincts kicked in and she almost punched the trunk of a tree to let out her anger. But a faint noise stopped her.

Her entire face lit up with relief. "Mother?"

"Not quite." Another voice called back. A man's voice. Certainly not her mother.

Out of the darkness ahead, two figures jumped down from seemingly nowhere, and landed in front of her, looming like small trees themselves.

One was Tsukuyomi. He looked exactly as he did earlier, only far more terrifying and imposing in the night. Under the moon, his skin almost glowed white, his eyes definitely did, and he gained wings that hadn't been there earlier. Long, leathery, bat like wings that made him look more like a demon than a god, spanning at least fifteen feet wide.

To his left, was who she guessed to be Susanoo. A far more normal looking god compared to his brother, but still standing at a monstrous height of...ten feet, twelve feet, if she had to guess. Susanoo wore a blue, short sleeved kimono, with wave designs all over. He had tan skin, and a round straw hat that covered his head and eyes, only revealing a smirking mouth and a black goatee.

Asuka backed up in fear, her arms trembling. She hoped to every god that her mother heard her message. If she didn't show up...she would surely die.

Be strong, Asuka. She thought. Just be strong. She'll come.

Straightening herself, she gained a bit more confidence at the thought of her mother coming to her aid. If she could just stall for a bit until she got here.

"So, you must be my uncles." You look uglier than I imagined, she wanted to say, but didn't.

"And you must be our niece." Susanoo said, "Hmm, prettier than I would've guessed."

"Splitting image of her mother." Tsukuyomi agreed, "Minus the long hair."

"What do you want?" She played dumb.

"Oh, nothing, just wanted to have a little chat." Tsukuyomi admired his nails, long and disgusting. They looked like little knives. "I mean, it's been eighteen years after all, and this is the first we're hearing about you."

"Yeah, why's that?" Susanoo said with mock confusion.

Asuka glared at them, suddenly not as afraid as before. "Alright, let's cut it out. I know why you're here, and I know that you want to overthrow my mother. Well I can tell you right now, that's not going to happen."

"Right to the point, eh?" Susanoo muttered.

"Why won't it?" Tsukuyomi asked innocently, starting to walk in the direction beside her. She didn't miss Susanoo doing the same on his side. They were beginning to circle her. "I mean, we have you right here in our sights, and I don't see your mother. What's stopping us from killing you?"

"Because you know that my mother will kill you both if you do." Asuka smirked. "She's the strongest after all, even without the sword."

Tsukuyomi's eyes widened; his face twitched. "Cocky little bitch, are we? Well, let me tell you a little something, Asuka. I don't plan on killing you..." His face lowered, and his eyes shone with concentration. "...Not yet."

That was her cue to dodge. She knew an attack was coming, but even if she wanted to, she couldn't do a thing about it. Tsukuyomi was far too fast. He didn't even run towards her, he disappeared in the very shadows themselves and came up behind her.

Asuka ignited her flame, ready to counterstrike. But she forgot about Susanoo for a moment, and he was ready for her contingency. The heat on her hand died down and replaced itself with a cold sensation, like ice. Asuka glanced, and gasped when she saw a pillar of water hardening to ice around her entire forearm. Susanoo had conjured the water out of thin air, and was controlling it with his very thoughts.

She felt the water tug her hand to the other. When they touched, the water expanded and wrapped around her other wrist, creating makeshift handcuffs. Once her hands were bound and secure, the water hardened to ice instantly.

At the same time, Tsukuyomi swiped his hand across her arm, scratching her with his nails. She felt a horrible sting shoot up her entire shoulder, like poison had been injected with a needle. It made her entire arm go numb. Adding that onto the ice handcuffs, she could no longer do anything to defend herself.

Panicking, she screamed inside her head. Mother! Help, please!

This time, there was an answer. Just as she sent out the neural message, a noise could be heard from the sky, like the moon itself had entered the atmosphere and was on its way to crash land on Earth. Only it wasn't the moon, it was something far brighter.

Asuka only caught a glimpse of her mother's giant ball of fire, travelling faster than light, before it came crashing down in the forest. Tsukuyomi made a quick move to grab Asuka and hold her by the neck.

Susanoo was blown back into a line of trees from the force, while Tsukuyomi had enough time to plant his feet. He remained firm, and held Asuka even tigther, his grip like iron.

Amaterasu immediately dispersed her aura, revealing the sight of the enraged goddess. Asuka was shocked. She'd never seen her mother so...angry, and so goddess like. She never had a hard time believing it was true, but here, and now...this was the most convincing display of her might.

Her eyes glowed a bright orange, her hair was swaying with the wind, emitting smoke that billowed up into the sky, her dress was dark red, and every now and then, with her wave of anger, it would emit little sparks of fire all across her torso. Asuka could've swore she heard Tsukuyomi gulp behind her.

"Tsukuyomi, let her go!" Amaterasu ordered, her voice no longer her own. It was deep and demonic, shaking the entire forest.

Tsukuyomi leveled something to her throat. It felt like metal, but upon glancing down, she saw the blade looked nothing like she'd ever seen. Instead of solid gray steel, she saw a shadow rod, wisping little embers of black energy.

"Not until you hand over the sword!"

Amaterasu tilted her head, raising both eyebrows. "That's what this is about? Oh who am I kidding, of course it is." She noticed Susanoo sneaking up beside her, using the tall grass as cover. "Susanoo, stay back!"

Susanoo stood up, blue eyes being the only thing visible from his position. The sound of grinding metal reverberated from his waist, a long, horrible sound, drawn out to perfection for the intimidation factor. Amaterasu's eyes fell to the tip of the sword. It glinted blue, like his aura.

"It's a power that you don't deserve." Tsukuyomi said. Asuka felt waves of uncomfortable heat go down her body at the feeling of his vibrating chest behind her. "The sword doesn't belong to the weak of heart, Amaterasu."

"It doesn't belong to the cruel, either." She retorted. "In your hands, you would destroy the world. I was born at the forefront specifically so I could grab it. Izanagi always intended for me to wield it."

Tsukuyomi spat a wad of saliva past Asuka's ear, hitting the grass somewhere beside them. "A goddess that would have relations with a dirty mortal. How disgraceful. You want to be human so bad? I can make that happen. You can die like one."

"I wish I were. But then who would stop the two of you? I'm around to make sure this world doesn't crumble at your misuse!"

Susanoo chuckled, "We can argue about this all day."

Tsukuyomi agreed, "He's right. Our ideals have little to do with the situation at hand. You want your daughter to live, right? Hand over the sword. I can't promise your life, but I can promise hers."

"Don't do it, mother!" Asuka shrieked, to which Tsukuyomi tightened his grip, hissing for her to shut up.

Amaterasu's face shifted a million times with contemplation. She didn't know how to handle the situation. If the sword fell into their hands, either one, they wouldn't just kill her, they would kill the entire human race. But if she didn't give it to him, her daughter would surely die.

Either way, the results aren't good.

But one look at her daughter's face, pleading with her to keep the sword, was what made her decision. Asuka's life was too precious to throw away. She would do whatever it took to ensure that she survives.

Amaterasu made a sharp movement with her arm. Out of thin air, the Kusanagi materialized, it's presence immediately tilting the air around them. Tsukuyomi breathed in a sigh of content.

"That's it...give it to me, sister. Give it to it's rightful owner, and the girl goes free."

"No harm comes to her? You kill me, and that's it, right?"

"I won't go after her for as long as she lives and doesn't get in my way."

She knew he was probably lying, but she didn't have much of a choice. It was either let Asuka die now, or buy some time. She would buy some time.

"Take the blade away from her throat." She ordered.

Tsukuyomi obliged, and lowered the blade, dispersing it into nothing. He even took a step back.

"Is that satisfactory?"

Amaterasu's arm flinched. She hesitated, and took one last look at the sword.

This one weapon makes its user the master of death. With one blow, it places the dying curse on its victim. God or mortal, that being will die. If it takes one minute or ten, it doesn't matter. The blade's effect is like poison. That's why it's so dangerous.

It can kill anything with one blow.

Asuka was more important than anything. She knew what she had to do. "Asuka, walk towards me."

"W-What?"

"Just come here. I won't let him hurt you, I promise."

Asuka's lip trembled. She mouthed the words I'm scared.

Amaterasu felt her eyes water, tears threatening to fall. She fought hard against it. One sign of weakness to these two was like giving an antelope carcass to a pack of lions.

"I know, dear. But I've got you. Everything is going to be okay."

Asuka walked towards her mother, and when she got to the halfway point, she threw the Kusanagi to Tsukuyomi. The black blade didn't even spin in the air, it soared in a perfect arc right into the moon god's palm. He caught it carefully and gripped it tight.

Once the exchange was done, Asuka's speed increased tenfold. She ran into her mother's arms, burying her face into her neck.

Amaterasu hugged her tightly, "It's okay, dear. Don't worry about me."

"But..." Asuka sniffed. "I can't let you die."

"I'll be okay. Just get out of here, now. Go, and don't look back, Asuka."

"I can't believe it."

Both women turned to see Tsukuyomi with his head tilted towards the sky, the moonlight empowering his chi, making it rise and rise without a stopping point. He allowed his nose to hover over the sword and inhaled the air as if it had a scent. He wasn't wrong. It did have a scent, the smell of death. Very pungant. To Amaterasu, it was a vile odor, but to Tsukuyomi, it was as sweet as flowers.

He finished his sentence. "I can't...believe this is happening. I have the Kusanagi. You gave it to me." He laughed, "I can't believe how stupid you are, Amaterasu. You used to be so clever, one step ahead of Susanoo and me. I guess the love for this half-breed has blinded you."

"Blinded me?"

"To who I am. You know better than anyone that I will do whatever it takes to get what I want. Even making empty promises."

Amaterasu felt the force of the blow before she saw it. Susanoo was the only source it could've came from. He'd leapt from the grass beside her and stabbed her in the ribs. An aura laced attack, catching her off guard. She could feel the sting already entering her muscle tissue, meaning the blade most likely sunk several inches deep. He'd gotten her good.

The impact knocked her off her feet, Susanoo pressed into her and forced her against the ground. The movement of the blade within her only caused more pain.

"Agh! Asuka, run!"

"Mother!"

Foolishly, Asuka ran to help her, but it was already too late. She should've ran long ago, instead of hugging her mother. Perhaps she could've gotten far enough that Amaterasu could anticipate a coming attack, then fight the two head on. But with her still here...it made it far more difficult.

Tsukuyomi rushed forward with a single step, grabbing Asuka by the back of her hair. With a single yank, he forced her on her rear, and began to drag her across the grass, with Asuka screaming in pain the entire way.

Amaterasu felt her entire body get hot with rage, new adrenaline coursed inside her veins, masking the pain of Susanoo's attack.

"ASUKA!"

Tsukuyomi threw her daughter forward like a ragdoll, flat on her back. When she tried to get up, he slammed the butt of the Kusanagi right in her face, bloodying her nose and sending her head back in recoil.

Amaterasu lost it. Any pain she felt was long gone. Tsukuyomi was hurting her. She was in trouble...

"TSUKUYOMI!" She roared. Reaching up, she found Susanoo's sword and gripped it. With one flex of her palm, she shattered the entire thing to pieces. Shards of metal flew everywhere, some even remaining in her skin. She hardly cared.

Susanoo reared his fist back and threw it, but Amaterasu caught it easily, the shockwave that came burst forth around them, blowing back the trees and nearly knocking them out of their roots.

She bashed her head into Susanoo's, and used his fist against him. Stepping forward, she shifted her weight and tucked herself under Susanoo's chest. With perfect footing and body placement, she only had to pull her arm forward to throw him.

Susanoo flew over her head and crashed into the forest, bringing down trees and uprooting dirt. She hardly paid attention to it though, he was a minor nuisance compared to her other brother. The one attacking her daughter.

The sword butt was the only attack he'd dealt. After that, he resorted to holding her above the ground with his hand around her throat, choking her. Asuka coughed and beat uselessly against his forearm, but it wasn't helping.

Amaterasu aimed to hit him in the spine, hopefully breaking his back. But the Kusanagi was offering more power to him than she expected, at least this quickly. She'd never seen anyone else use it before, so she was surprised for it to settle into a new owner so quickly. If offered Tsukuyomi enough speed to anticipate her strike, and dodge.

Not without dropping Asuka first, which he did. Amaterasu stood in front of her, eyes focused on the sword.

He kept it still. "Now then, let's see what this blade can really do."

He moved faster than ever. Usually, Amaterasu could see his movements long before he made them, but now, she really had to try and keep up. His strikes were quick, diverse, and precise. If one angle didn't work, he would try another one. She did well for adapting, but she knew that if this went on for too long, he might get the upper hand.

Finally, she saw an opening, and ducked under a swipe. It cleared her head, and she took her chance.

Digging her fist into his gut, she knew she'd landed a very clean hit. Tsukuyomi grunted in pain and slid back on his heels, using the sword to halt his movement.

"You have that sword, now let her leave!" Amaterasu begged. "This is between us! You can kill me, that's fine! But don't involve her! She didn't ask for this!"

"No, she didn't." Tsukuyomi said, standing upright. "You made that choice for her when you had her. You pushed her into this life." He held his arms at his side, completely confident in what he was saying. "I decided to kill her the moment that old man told me about her. If I kill you, she'll come after me in revenge, and if I don't, you'll both work together to retrieve what you think is yours."

"You're completely delusional!" Amaterasu yelled, balling her fists and shaking them, desperately trying to make him see sense. "We can all co-exist peacefully! Do you and Susanoo really want to live your lives this way? In constant paranoia? Jealousy? Focusing on what could be instead of what is? Just forge your own path! Stop breaking into mine!"

"You stole everything." He growled. "My destiny! It was meant to be me! You take all of the power, and no one keeps you in check! You use it in weakness!"

She shook her head. "You're insane..."

He smirked, "You can call it that if you want." She saw his leg strain, and knew he was coming for more. She lifted her arm as soon as she felt the chi spike, then a moment later, his forearm was against hers, and they were struggling.

They pushed against each other, the radiating waves of stray chi threatening to destroy the forest. In her peripheral, she could see Asuka still standing there, petrified.

"Asuka, RUN!"

Finally, she listened, and started running the other way, but Tsukuyomi had a different plan.

"No you don't!" He eased on the pressure and returned to his feet, thrusting his free hand out and grabbing Asuka by her shadow, cast out by the moonlight. The poor girl was trapped, unable to move.

Then, as if matters couldn't get any worse, Susanoo returned and joined the fray. He darted in a blue flash from the darkness, swinging down a newly crafted sword against Amaterasu's other arm. Her own chi was being sucked out of her core at a dangerous rate just to keep her skin coated. Without this thin barrier, the Kusanagi would touch her. She couldn't risk a single scrape, unless she wanted to be destroyed.

"Let...her...go!" Amaterasu glared at Tsukuyomi's wrist, and focused her chi into her eyes. Feeling them heat up, she willed the energy to leave and shoot forward.

"AGH!" Tsukuyomi cried out in pain as the wrist that held the Kusanagi was sliced clean off from the heat. Golden blood splattered everywhere on the grass. The wrist and sword flew in separate directions, the sword being thrown farther.

Her small moment of victory didn't last long. Susanoo saw that her chi had been focused elsewhere, and retracted his right fist from her forearm, instead tucking it under, and pushing for her chin.

His fist connected with the bone, and Amaterasu's brain rattled. He'd used full force on that, and broke right through her defenses. The blow was enough for her to lose grip on Tsukuyomi, and that's when it happened. The unthinkable.

Tsukuyomi stepped forward and pulled his arm back, the one that contained Asuka's shadow. As she flew into his line of fire, he straightened the fingers on his good hand, permeating them with condensed aura, focused to a single point, like a sharpened dagger.

Amaterasu had just recovered from Susanoo's attack, straightening her head...when she saw it.

Asuka entered Tsukuyomi's range, and he lunged at her, pushing his fingers forward faster than light. They broke through her skin and stabbed her as well as any weapon would have. Small clumps of blood jumped out on the other side, but most of it stayed inward, Tsukuyomi's hand acting as a cork.

He held her in the air like a trophy, her feet six inches above the grass. Amaterasu's heart broke then and there. She never thought she would see her daughter in such a horrifying, painful position. The shocked expression on her face, as tears streaked down her cheeks, only made it worse.

"Now...it is done." Tsukuyomi said, and set her on the ground. With a tug, he pulled his arm out of her stomach, all the way from outside her back, to exiting her front. The blood started pouring out of the huge hole he'd left, and Asuka instantly fell to the ground, her chi depleting rapidly.

The tears that had been building in Amaterasu's eyes finally broke loose, with one leading the charge down her cheek. "No..." She whispered. That whisper, and the temporary shock that entered her body upon the sight...left.

She was furious.

"NO!" She roared. "NO! NO! NO!"

Amaterasu jerked her arm and summoned a saber of pure chi, wasting no time in using it on Susanoo. The god backed up to avoid a fatal strike, but Amaterasu still managed to slice him across the chest, tearing his kimono and leaving a long, golden gash.

Susanoo made a quick yelp and flew backwards, the force of the blast being too much for him to defend against.

Then she turned on Tsukuyomi. At the sight of him, she felt something inside of her crack. The filter that had been placed there after she killed those samurai...the men who murdered Daiki...it was broken. She felt nothing but emptiness, and the desire to make him suffer.

Tsukuyomi's eyes were wide at her display. He turned desperately to find the Kusanagi, but it wasn't there.

"No, no, where is it?!" He shouted. "Where the hell is it?!"

Amaterasu didn't talk or demand he look at her. She just charged him. Raising her feiry saber above him, she swung down and aimed to cleave his entire body in two, starting from the top of his head.

Tsukuyomi turned in time and managed to move his head, but not the rest of his body. Her chi saber caught him on the shoulder and dug several inches deep, cutting through layers of muscle and even cracking bone, she believed. If that's what that crunching noise was.

Hearing Tsukuyomi's growls and whines of agony invigorated her. It was like the sweetest kind of music.

"This is...over! If I have to use everything, I'll do it just to kill you! Sword or no sword!"

She didn't know what he was doing until it was too late. His chi rose exponentially, the entirety of his body heating up to a level beyond even her temperature...she knew he was going to create an explosion of his own energy. It would probably kill him, but he didn't care...as long as she went too.

She had no time to escape, only to brace herself, and protect Asuka. Using all of her energy, she created a barrier in front of her daughter. Just as it materialized, Tsukuyomi released all of his built up energy.

It was an explosion that destroyed the entire forest, and shook the very planet they stood on. Light shone so bright, Amaterasu had to close her eyes and just feel the pain. It wasn't a stinging pain, like Susanoo's attack, it was more of a burning, crushing pain. Like an iron wall laced with fire closing in on you, condensing your entire body into mush.

It left as quickly as it came. The forest was nothing in its wake, just a wasteland of black stumps.

Amaterasu, somehow ended up on her back, steaming from the heat. She lifted her hands to see nothing but red skin. She had been burned, but not as badly as she anticipated.

Craning her head, she saw Susanoo come from the left and lift up a piece of tree trunk that had burned. But upon blinking the dizziness from her eyes, she saw that it wasn't an incinerated stump, it was...Tsukuyomi.

The blast seemed to backfire, and caused more damage to him than her. He looked like he'd been roasted over a fire, barely alive. Susanoo drug him by the arms, and she watched them go.

She wanted to stop them, to get her revenge if she could. But her body wouldn't allow it. She could hardly move.

After what felt like hours, the thought of Asuka crossed her mind, and it made her summon the power to crawl to her. Shakily, she pushed herself up and flopped over on her belly, using her arms to crawl slowly to the still form of her daughter.

As she caught glimpses of her, the barrier seemed to work. Amaterasu thanked the Universe that she hadn't been burned. The sight of a bloody hole in her stomach was bad enough, she couldn't imagine looking at an unrecognizable corpse.

Just before she reached Asuka, something in the distance caught her eye. A glint of someone's eyes. At first, Amaterasu thought it was a fox. But there was no way. A fox wouldn't survive that...

She squinted, and reached out with her chi sensing. When she locked on, her eyes widened in surprise. It was Osuke.

Carrying the Kusanagi.

He had either been here this entire time, or he just now showed up as a scavenger...picking up the left-over pieces.

He and Amaterasu locked eyes for a moment. His were unreadable. It only lasted for half a second, then he turned around and started running, taking the Kusanagi with him.

As angry as she should've been, as much as she wanted to go after him and reclaim the weapon...all of that paled in comparison to her dread. Her sadness for the precious girl below her.

Amaterasu finally made it to her daughter, and pulled her legs beside her to sit.

She had lost a lot of blood. In the time that had passed, it tricked out into a puddle, outlining her body. Her lips were turning blue, even her skin was getting pale...it was only a matter of time.

But Amaterasu didn't care. She wouldn't lose another. Especially her daughter.

"M-Mother..." She croaked. "A-Are you alright?"

Amaterasu began to cry softly, tears coming down her cheeks one by one. She reached out and tucked a stray lock of black hair behind Asuka's ear. "I'm just fine, my love. We need to worry about you...and get you better."

She placed her hands on Asuka's chest, and gasped. Her energy...it was extremely low. Seconds away from fading away completely.

There was nothing she could do. She couldn't heal her, that would be like reversing death.

Asuka was going to die.

At the realization, Amaterasu just stared at her daughter's face with an empty expression. She saw Daiki there, lifeless. Her lover, and now her daughter. The two things she loved most.

The best things she ever did. Ripped away.

"It hurts, mama." Asuka whimpered. Amaterasu reached out and held her hand, fighting back the tears just so she could look upon her. This would be the last time. She wanted to drink her in, and never forget.

"I know it does. I'm so sorry. It's all my fault, Asuka." She shook her head, a sob escaping her throat. "It's all my fault..."

"I don't want to die..."

"I don't want you to go." Amaterasu whispered, "If you go, I have to go. I cannot go on."

The words seemed to resonate within her. If you go, I have to go. They replayed over and over again in her head.

Taking her hand from Asuka's, she placed it over her forehead. Their energies pushed against the little barrier that blocked them from touching, like a glass window.

Asuka had her energy...the same exact energy.

Maybe there was a way to stop this. To keep her from dying. She'd heard about it, and how it only worked with direct offspring, but she'd never given it much thought.

The act of hosting a half-blood. Specifically, the parent god and his or her child.

It hadn't been done before, but Amaterasu heard it could stop death. If that were true...she was willing to do anything, even if it cost her own life, her own strength, godly abilities, whatever. She would do anything.

Closing her eyes, she concentrated on Asuka's energy. Willing hers to enter Asuka's, the two twin sources of chi touched, and interlocked. Amaterasu had full control of her own soul, and decided to let it fade away, and enter her daughter.

It was more of a decision than a physical act. She had to link their souls by linking chi, but it was all made possible by losing all connection to reality, and deciding to tether one soul completely to another.

When Amaterasu closed her eyes, she was in her own body, but when she opened them again, she was in Asuka's.

Her former body turned to golden dust, and floated away with the wind. Amaterasu watched it go all the way until it could no longer be seen.

She sat up, and saw Asuka's hands, Asuka's skin, her clothes, the stray bangs of hair, and even the wound in her stomach. It was...no longer there. It had been healed during the transfer of souls, good as new.

It had worked. Asuka was alive.

Amaterasu sighed, smiling softly. She allowed her body to ease and fell onto her back, staring up at the night sky.

"I told you...everything's going to be okay."

---

"As I looked up to the sky, I told her and myself that everything would be okay."

Amaterasu stopped there, and said nothing else for several seconds. We all remained silent too, completely lost for words.

The information absorbed through our minds. What we just heard...it was far deeper than we could've even guessed. I had no idea there were so many strings. How brutal it was.

I remember wanting to find out so bad what happened to her that night, but now...I wish I never knew.

Finally, someone spoke up. Sera. Her eyes were watery with tears.

"I cannot imagine that pain. I-I'm so sorry."

"Me too." Percy said, staring at the fire, looking like the story had aged him ten years.

"You transferred your soul into Asuka's body." Annabeth said in awe, just loud enough for us to hear. "You...sacrificed your own body to act as a host. That's incredible."

Even Harper seemed shaken up. She looked to Amaterasu, her good eye gleaming with admiration. "You did whatever it took to save your daughter. That's...really something."

"Indeed." Malachi nodded. "Most of our gods wouldn't even dream of doing such a thing for their children."

I didn't comment. I just stared sideways at her, in complete disbelief. That night...that had to be what shaped her into what she became. Why she pushes people away, prefers to do everything alone. No fucking wonder. She was betrayed by her own family, not to mention her daughter's fiancé.

My admiration was at its peak in that moment. I felt like I was looking at something from a damn movie. A character. Someone that's not even real.

But she is real. She's real, and she's suffering. Has been for centuries.

Her face had been hidden by the mask this entire time. We were unable to see her reactions to certain parts of the story, but with the way her voice broke in certain places, and the movement of her head...I had a pretty good idea of what was going on under there.

I hated to think about that.

I cleared my throat and asked her, "What happened after that?"

She flinched at my question, seemingly caught off guard. I knew what that was. She had been caught in a trance, thinking too hard about the past. Retelling the events must've taken her back...as if she's standing right in it. I knew the feeling.

But she heard me. "After I took over Asuka's body, it didn't get better. Things never went back to normal. For one, being a host wasn't what I thought it would be. I thought both of us existed equally within her mind, but that's not true. I can't speak to her, or hear her. I can only...feel her."

Annabeth leaned forward, confused. "Wait, so she's like a shell for your spirit?"

"Yes. She's never spoken for me, never tried to take control, ever. She just exists deep within my conscience."

"That's horrible." Sera said. "You might as well have lost her for good." We all looked at her, and she stiffened, realizing what she said. "I-I know that is harsh, but it is true. It is like Asuka is in a...what is the word?"

"Coma." Annabeth murmured. "A comatose state. Alive but...you might as well be dead."

Up to this point, Amaterasu had struggled with some of the story, but kept a decent composure. The dam must've broke though, because once Annabeth made that coma comment, I heard silent sobs coming from under the mask.

I made a face at Annabeth and Sera, "Way to go, guys."

Amaterasu waved a dismissive hand, "No, no, it's okay. You are correct-" she sniffed, "-It's exactly like that. My presence is the only thing keeping her soul from crossing over. I should let it, but...it's too hard to let go. Even if it's not much, it's a small piece of her that I can cling to."

"What do you mean let go?" Percy asked carefully, not wanting to upset Amaterasu further. "If she dies, won't you die?"

"Yes. But I have a choice to stop hosting her, if I wish." She looked at me, and I flinched. She hadn't looked at any of us since she started the story, so it took me off guard. "Remember when I told you I couldn't use my powers?"

"Yeah...you were trying to hide your identity."

"Yes, but it was more than that. If I used my full strength...it would overwhelm Asuka's mortal body and burn it away."

"Wait, like physically burn?"

"Yes, it would kill what's left of her, and my chi would create a new body. Most likely my old one."

"So you've been holding back this whole time?" Harper asked, not really as an accusation, but more of shock. Probably because she's been pretty damn strong so far. Hearing that she hasn't been using it all is pretty wild.

Amaterasu nodded, "Tremendously. Twenty five percent is all that I can use. Any more than that is a threat to Asuka's soul."

We all tried not to choke and cough at that, but our eyes sure as hell turned into dinner plates. "Twenty five?!"

"You could've stopped all four of them with that strength." Malachi said.

"I know." She turned from me and looked at her knees in shame. "It's incredibly selfish of me to hold back, when everything is at risk. I thought about using everything when I fought them at that barrier...but I couldn't. I have all the power in the world, but I'm too weak to use it."

I didn't even try to stop myself. "Ain't true."

"It is. If I really wanted to stop them, I would let Asuka's soul rest and use my power to do so. She deserves it after the way I've tarnished her body. The things I've done..."

I didn't retort this time. It was no use right now to try and convince her otherwise of what she already thought. This thing's been going on far longer than any of our lifespans combined. Changing that won't come with just me telling her it ain't true.

She continued, the sniffs and sobs returning. "I killed Osuke. I intended to kill his father too, but the samurai caught me before I could. It was...so strange. He didn't even try to defend himself as I stood over his bed. He had plenty of time, but he didn't move."

"He saw his fiancé." Annabeth supplied.

"At the last second, just before the knife hit his throat, he knew. He knew it was me. He saw Asuka's body, Asuka's face, but not her eyes. They were mine."

I don't normally get chills, but the way she said that last part sure did give my timbers a shiver.

"Then I distanced myself from reality. I hid in the very place we occupy now. My temple. I created this mask from the wood of one of the trees, painted it white, and became a guardian spirit. No longer Amaterasu."

Percy couldn't believe it. "You stayed here for that long? Eight hundred years? Alone?"

She nodded slowly. "Pretty much. I spoke to Ebisu on occasion, and Inari came by once to mourn me, since the word had spread that Tsukuyomi slew both Asuka and I in battle. But she didn't come back after that."

Harper asked the question on everybody's mind. "What made you go back to Castle Izanagi?"

"I decided if I was too cowardly and repressed to be a goddess, I would live as a mortal. I did that for years, until I met you all. So...that's where we are." She chuckled humorlessly, sniffing again. "That didn't take long at all, did it? Quite a boring story. Would make for a horrible myth."

"Actually...that's pretty standard for myths." Annabeth said, and cringed before she even finished the sentence. "Sorry."

Amaterasu presented herself mockingly, "Well, that's my full, pathetic story. You all know now who you've got working with you. Someone that can't let go of the past."

When she said that, I thought back to last night when Malachi and I talked. Something compelled me to speak, and soon the words started piling out.

"Look, take it from someone that can't let go of the past either. We don't think any less of you." I shrugged, "None of us are perfect, we don't expect gods to be either. Well, maybe at one time, but over the years we've come to know better."

"Yeah, we all know what it's like to lose someone." Percy said.

"For me, it was my Master, Jack Colter. And Mary."

"For me, it was my mother." Malachi said.

Then Harper, "For me, it was my dad and brother."

Sera. "For me...it was Peter, one of the family butlers. He was the only one who treated me fair, when the rest of my family despised me."

Percy and Annabeth looked at each other sadly, Percy speaking for both of them. "For us...it was our friends. Chiron, Jason, Luke, Charlie, Silena...the list goes on."

"And the Incendiaries." Malachi added, "We can never forget them."

"The point is-" I said, staring a hole through the side of Amaterasu's mask, "-We get it. It's hard to move on. And we've done bad things too, you ain't alone there either. I used to be a hitman, killing people I didn't even know for money." I gestured to Harper, knowing she wouldn't mind me telling this, "She killed people trying to find her brother, and-"

"I did horrible things for my father." Malachi interrupted. "He ordered me to do something, and I obeyed. Even if the situation was extreme, I still had a choice."

"We all make mistakes." Percy agreed. "I let Tartarus get the best of me, and I almost strangled a goddess to death. She attacked us, yeah, but...that's just not the way I do things. I almost lost my morality."

"Even menial things." Annabeth said, "Like being reckless, or getting jealous over another girl."

Sera nodded, "I have been there."

"Point is, it don't matter what you've done." I urged, "We accept you. We agreed to work together, and that ain't changing."

Sera knew Amaterasu wasn't looking at her, yet she sent a warm smile anyway. "You know, it is a true test of friendship to show another your darkest secrets. If that is pain, or wrongdoings, it helps them understand. It helps them know who you really are."

I smirked. "You can show us. We ain't running and screaming."

Finally, Amaterasu lifted her head. She turned to face me and shook it so softly; I might've missed it if I wasn't sitting right next to her.

"It's been so long since...I'm not sure I even know how anymore."

I didn't look at any of the others for support or answers this time. I didn't even think on what to say next, because there wasn't anything to say, there was only one thing to do.

I smiled, "Here, I'll help."

Reaching forward with both hands, I gently grabbed on to both sides of her mask. I heard a few hushed gasps beside me, but Amaterasu made no noise. She just flinched at the action.

I wasn't sure what I was doing either. It was probably a big mistake after all she had just told us, but something, maybe my instincts, told me it was the right thing to do. So I went with it.

My fingers gripped the layer of wood and I pulled gently. Amaterasu made no move to stop me as the cloth behind the wood slid up her neck and past her head. Before I knew it, I'd removed the mask completely.

Pulling back, I set it, along with both hands in my lap, and just took a good look at her. Past the unkempt hair, I saw her staring at me in disbelief, orange eyes shimmering with both the vulnerability and the tears. Her cheeks were stained with them.

It was hard to fight the urge to look away, but I managed, and never broke eye contact. "See, ain't that better?"

She held my gaze for another moment, then tilted her eyes to the log. "I...I don't like showing-"

"People how you feel?" I finished for her. Those little balls of fire returned when she looked at me, surprised. "Yeah, I know all about it." I kept one hand on the mask and used the other to lower my sunglasses down on my nose. "Why do you think I wear these? Especially at night, or indoors. I ain't trying to look like a weirdo."

I pushed the glasses back up and glanced at everyone. They all watched on in awe, but I didn't let it get to me. Hell, there was nothing to let get to me, I'm just as surprised as they are that I'm doing this, that I'm talking to her this way. I ain't sure what made me, but I knew it felt right. That's all that matters.

"But with these guys, you can let the mask, or the glasses go from time to time. They don't judge." I turned back to her, and held out the mask for her to take. "But it all boils down to your choice. If you wanna put it back on, put it back on."

My hand stayed there for a few seconds before she even looked at it. I could see the struggle in her face without even spotting so much as a twitch. I didn't have to. I knew her mind was turning.

Finally, she tentatively plucked the mask from me, and stared at it. None of us said a word while she made her decision.

I figured she would put it back on. I wouldn't blame her if she did. You get stuck on something for eight hundred years, something that makes you feel safe, it's really hard to let go. Even if it is just a mask. That mask hid her tears, hid all of the pain from being seen, acting as a shield between her and the world. None of that can go away overnight.

So when she tossed it in the fire, it surprised me.

All of our eyes widened, every head darted to the burning wood as it sat in the center.

"I need to let go, little by little." She said, and nodded to herself, her mouth tight with determination. "This is a good start."

We all watched the mask for a second. The fire caught on to the wood instantly and enveloped it, not taking long for the mask to crack in half, and sink down into the ashes. It would most likely be gone by morning.

And Amaterasu watched it do so in pleasure. "Thank you. Thank you all so much. I don't know what to say, or how to express...just, thank you."

"You're welcome." Annabeth smiled, "We're really proud of you."

Sera looked like she was going to burst, tears threatening to fall out of her eyes. "Oh, this is so emotional!" Without warning, she hopped up from her log and rushed over to hug Amaterasu. The goddess grunted as Sera flung her arms around her neck, awkwardly returning it with a single pat on the back.

She pulled away, beaming. "F-Forgive me, It's just...I always love to make new friends."

Amaterasu chuckled nervously, "Friends? I-I don't know..."

"We ain't gotta put labels on anything yet, Princess." I scolded. "Let's all just take it easy and let the woman get some air."

"Yeah, whaddya say we all check on everyone and hit the hay?" Harper got up, surveying everyone's reaction. "Cause I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted."

"Matt returns tomorrow." Malachi noted.

Harper pointed a hand at him, suddenly getting all chipper out of nowhere. "That's right! Got a lot to prepare for!"

"I don't know, I'm not all that tired." Percy grumbled.

But Harper kept arguing. "Well, I'm sure you'll be tired once we do a little recon. I mean, we haven't been inside for a few hours, you know? Annabeth?"

Harper made a face at her, like she was trying get some back up. I was lost. What was she pulling here?

Annabeth glanced between her, me, and Amaterasu, all of sudden catching on to what she was insinuating. "Oh! Right! Yes, yes, we really need to go inside and make sure everyone's okay." She yawned the fakest yawn I've ever seen. "And boy, I think I'm going to sleep right after that! Percy?"

Percy still held his ground, getting annoyed at their behavior. "Guys, I'm not tired! Seriously!"

Annabeth pinched him, and he yelped. "No seriously, Seaweed Brain! How about it?"

"Okay! If you really insist, fine!" He got up, grumbling at her as she drug him off.

Malachi and Sera took that as their cue to leave too, smiling at Amaterasu as they left.

"Well, guess I'd better tag along too." I told her, and she nodded, not looking me in the eye. I got up, following the others, but just as Harper saw me, she stopped.

"What are you doing?" She hissed.

I reared my head back, "What does it look like? I'm helping you guys do recon."

She rolled her good eye, "Gods, you're so stupid. There is no recon. I pulled that stunt to get you alone with Amaterasu!"

At that, my ears got hot. I started whisper yelling at her, "Why the hell would you do that?!"

She poked my chest. "Because you like her, dumbass." I tried to protest, but she cut me off. "And don't even start with me. I know you do. Look at her!"

I turned over my shoulder, and saw her still sitting there, as still as stone, staring at the fire, the wind softly playing with her hair.

"So?"

Harper smacked me on the shoulder, "So you go over there and talk to her! Make some progress! Hold her hand! I don't know, just use some of that charm you've always bragged about!"

I shook my head, not wanting her to see that the blush had spread from my ears to my whole face. "This is ridiculous."

I tried to walk past her, but she put a hand on my chest. "Talon, if you want to move on, you have to at least try."

That stopped me in my tracks. I should've known she saw it too. Hell, of course she knows what's going on in my head, and how hung up I've been about Mary. I just didn't expect to hear it.

"Look, you annoy the shit out of me sometimes, but you deserve to be happy." She took her hand away and gestured to Amaterasu. "Give it a shot."

I hesitated, biting my tongue and debating on whether to go through with this. I hated to admit it, but she was right. If I want to do what Malachi said, and take Mary with me, but move on at the same time...I can't just stay in one place. I have to do something eventually. And the opportunity's here to do it.

I sighed. "Never thought in a million years that you of all people would be my wingman."

At that, she smirked. "Wing woman. But hey, you're welcome. I won't even charge you for it!" She punched me lightly on the arm, walking backwards towards the temple entrance. "Now go get her, tiger!"

Shut up! I mouthed, afraid that Amaterasu would hear her loud ass. But on closer inspection, she hadn't heard a single word of that fiasco. She had only moved to prop her hands at her rear on the logs, resting in a relaxed position.

I took a deep breath. Well, here goes nothing.

The grass crunched as I made my way back to the log. When I stood above Amaterasu, she looked up at me curiously.

"Back again? I thought you were helping them."

I wanted to sigh with relief. Thank God she hadn't heard that.

"Yeah well, they'll be fine. I do most of the heavy lifting anyway, so I think I'll take a little break on this one." I sat down next to her, and didn't miss the fact that her hand was about six inches away from being reached. Good to know.

Idiot, you need to stop treating this like some kind of date, and more like talking to a buddy. That's really all it is right now.

When I thought of that, it oddly helped ease my nerves. I relaxed a little more, and didn't overthink on what I wanted to say. I'd just do as I always do, react and come back with whatever comes to mind.

At my words, she chuckled, "So you're the backbone of the group?"

"Pretty much." I moved my head back and forth to pop it for extra effect. "If you wanna know the truth, I'm the leader too. They just get a little testy around new people."

She nodded jokingly, not buying my bullshit for a second. "Is that so?"

I dropped the act. "Nah, I'm playing. Percy and Annabeth are great leaders. Sera's sort of the emotional glue that holds us all together, while Harper and Malachi are the grunts that pack the damage-"

"So what does that make you?"

I smiled proudly, "Comedy king. Somebody's gotta tell all the good jokes. Lighten the mood a little, you know?"

She actually laughed a little, which only made me smile more. "So you're the jester."

At that, my smile fell. "What the hell's a jester?" But then it hit me, an image of those creepy looking guys with the pointy hats. "Hey wait a second, aren't those the clown guys?"

She didn't answer, she just shook her head and let her laughter die down into a smile. Holy shit did I like that smile. Sorry to be frank, but no mask Amaterasu was blowing me away already. But adding a smile on top of that? Just kill me.

"Hey, sorry if we made you talk about stuff you didn't want to." I said, "I know that had to be tough."

"It was, but it was also necessary. I haven't told that full story to...well, anyone before. It felt like a weight being lifted more than anything."

I poked the surrounding rocks of the firepit with my boot. "I know what you mean. Hell, first time I talked about my past was to Malachi and Sera on that stupid island. Never felt so vulnerable in my freaking life."

"The three of you have a very strong connection."

"Been friends for years." I agreed, "Hell, we did so much together, despite the situation we were in. Being hunted all the time, attacked with bombs, swords, arrows...you name it, it happened." I remembered Malachi's words again, about fate, and the cycle that the universe puts on you. "You know, meeting them was kinda like fate, in a way. Like the universe replaced my old friends with those two."

"Mary and Mateo."

When she said it, my head darted towards her direction. I don't remember mentioning Mateo, so how did she...

I nodded, "Oh, mind reading. I forgot."

"Sorry."

"No, you're good. Yeah...they were the best. Well, Mateo until he betrayed me and I had to kill him, but Mary...she was always special. Sweet girl."

It was her turn to look at me while I stared at the fire. "You loved her."

She said it as a statement, not a question. And I nodded slowly, "Yeah, I did."

"You still do."

"Yeah."

I saw her nod in my peripheral and shrug the tiniest, cutest shrug. Was she...getting shy or something all of a sudden? Nah, I'm reading too much into it.

"Even after all these years, I still love Daiki. I've had time to move on, and maybe I have, but...I've never thought about opening my heart to another."

"I'm the same way. But I know I should, because Mary would want me to be happy. I guess it just depends on when the Universe decides to give you another chance."

I didn't expect her to say anything to that. Just nod and agree, but she surprised me by looking straight at me, orange eyes shining from the fire.

I couldn't keep staring at the fire. Some invisible force made me turn, take my sunglasses off, and lock eyes with her.

She said softly, "I suppose it's all part of letting go."

I nodded, swallowing hard at the intensity of her stare. I should've have expected any different, she was a goddess after all, technically. And this tension, whatever it was, really had me going.

So much so, that the invisible force returned, making me put my sunglasses on the log behind me, but not taking my eyes off her. At the same time, the hand closest to hers moved, inching its way across the bark to cover hers.

She noticed what I was doing. When those fiery eyes flicked downward to catch my attempt, I stopped.

My cheeks burned so hot that I had to turn away to keep her from seeing. "Sorry..."

I made to retract my hand, but before I could, I felt something soft rest on the tips of my fingers.

My head slowly swiveled back to see her small, lithe fingers resting on the nails of mine. I looked at her in mild shock.

But she had her eyes glued to them, as if they were the most interesting things in the world.

"Don't be." She said.

I didn't take that little signal and leap a mile with it, because I knew that would be too much. This was the first little step, from something that felt real. I wasn't about to abuse it.

Carefully, I slid my fingers out from the gentle grip and placed my hand over hers, the sensation making me smile. I hadn't done this in so long, I forgot how warm somebody else's hand is, especially sitting by a fire.

She didn't move, but her mouth did break out a tiny smile. Hardly noticeable, but I saw the corners of her lips lift a little.

"Look, I don't want to make you feel weird or uncomfortable, but I just gotta say it. You're...really something."

She looked at me then, half smiling with confusion. "What?"

"It's southern speak for amazing." My heart pounded against my chest when I said the next words. "...and beautiful."

Her mouth parted in surprise, "Talon..."

I used my other hand to scratch the nonexistent itch on my neck. "Corny, I know. But I do mean what I say, even if it doesn't come out right sometimes. Guess my brain comes up with one thing, then by the time it travels to my mouth it gets all jumbled."

She didn't laugh, or say anything. She just looked at me like she was staring into my soul, and maybe she was. Trying to read my intentions, my thoughts, my feelings. To be honest, if she was, I didn't care. I had nothing to hide when it came to whatever was going on right now between us.

"So uh, it's probably about time for me to head inside. You probably want to get some shut eye, huh?"

"No." She said quickly, keeping me from getting up. "I think I'd like to stay up a little longer."

It took me a second to get the hint. When I did, I stayed put, and gave her hand a squeeze. "Sounds good to me."

"Now earlier, you were telling this story about how you and your friend rode monsters by luring them with meat, but I interrupted. I'm quite curious to know how it ended."

I snickered, "Oh man, that's the best part! So look, here's what happened..."

---

Guess who didn't have a cryptic vision?

If you guessed me, you'd be right on the money.

That's right, one perfect night of actual sleep. No Nikandreos, no dream, no nightmare. I feel like I've won the lottery.

I had a pretty good time leading up to that too. Amaterasu and I stayed up for a while just...talking. Talking about nothing. I'd tell a story, she'd tell a story, and eventually that led me to talk about the others (Matt too) and then I'd get my mind blown by something from way, way back, from thousands of years ago. You get the point.

Eventually I crashed on the ground right next to the log, crafting me a sleeping bag with my nifty little powers. She insisted that she was all set, so I let her be.

It was nice. And no, nothing like that happened. Get your damn mind out of the gutter.

I'm usually one to be forward though, honestly. But I'm glad it didn't go beyond just talking. It's better that way. I mean, you don't eat a piece of meat when it's raw, do you? You wait for it to get done, and then you enjoy. That's how I look at it.

Wait, but sushi's raw...

Okay, sushi's the exception. But who the hell eats sushi anyway? I mean, as far as I'm concerned, fish is barely a meat.

Getting off track. When I woke up, I was lying flat on my back, the sun shining straight in my eyes. I didn't have my sunglasses on, so it stung when I opened them.

I reached up to block the light, shifting around so I sat on my elbow. Well, at least I slept for a little while, didn't feel too crummy or tired, oh, and the world hadn't been destroyed, so that's another good thing.

It took a second to blink the blurriness out of my eyes. When that shit was gone, I saw Amaterasu up and about, standing before the fire, stoking it with what looked like a stick.

As I stretched, I made a groaning noise, which earned her attention. In the time that I went to sleep and woke up, I must've forgotten what she looked like without the mask, because boy was I reminded when she smiled down at me. Good God, talk about gorgeous.

"Good morning." She greeted, somehow having hair perfectly in place, smooth skin, and pretty much flawless everything, except the burnt, torn clothes. "I'm roasting some of the leftover rabbit you all caught yesterday. Would you like some?"

Okay, I think I'm in heaven.

I managed to hide my goofy grin, "Yeah, sure."

She handed me a smoking piece of meat, which did nothing to my skin. Thanks pops. She also handed me a pair of black sunglasses. My sunglasses...I think. Maybe I'm still half asleep.

"You left these on the log."

I took them and put them on, "Thanks."

I wasn't expecting it, but she put her hand on my shoulder. A gentle touch, but it jolted me like a bolt of lightning.

"Talon, last night was incredible. The entire time I didn't even think of Tsukuyomi, Ouranos, anything. So...thank you."

"Nah, it was my pleasure."

We stared at each other for a second too long, and from behind, I heard "Aw..."

Amaterasu took her hand away and I snapped around to look at the source. To my horror, it was Sera, Annabeth, and Harper, all standing in a line. Sera had made the stupid noise.

"See, told you." Harper said, smirking. "Perfect wing woman."

"What the hell are you three doing back there?!"

"Watching you be in love." Annabeth shook her head, "Never thought I'd see it."

I shushed her, turning around to see if Amaterasu heard. Luckily she didn't, she was kneeling by the fire. That, or she did, and she's just ignoring this.

"Would you shut up!" I hissed. "Quit spying!"

Sera grabbed Annabeth's shoulders with excitement, shaking her rapidly. "Oh this is so sweet! I've never seen Talon like this!"

At that I stood up, "Alright, enough. Seriously. Where's Percy and Malachi?"

Harper jabbed her thumb at the temple's entrance. "Just got up. They'll be out in a sec."

"Before you ask-" Sera interjected, "-Malachi said he didn't sense the world being destroyed."

"But we need to act soon." Amaterasu announced, signaling that she could hear us. Oh shit. That means she heard everything else too! "Today is the day your friend returns, right? If Tsukuyomi hasn't destroyed the barrier yet, then he's very close. We need to confront them."

"Hey, I got a question. Why's it taking them so long?" I said, "You know, to break it."

"I'm not sure. With the Kusanagi, Tsukuyomi should be able to break it with ease. That or have Kagutsuchi destroy it." She shrugged, "Either way, we're lucky that it hasn't worked."

"So we're going out there?" Sera squeaked. "Today? Right now?"

"Well, not right now." Annabeth soothed, "Percy wants to eat first."

"Of course he does." I groaned. "Kid eats more than a pack of buffaloes."

"It's actually herd, not pack." Annabeth corrected. "And buffalo, not buffaloes."

We all looked at her, eyebrows raised.

"Sorry...couldn't help myself. Oh, but you are right about him eating a lot."

"About who eating a lot?" On cue, Percy and Malachi came strolling out of the temple, both yawning.

I stifled a laugh, "Speak of the devil. World's still not destroyed, Malachi?"

Sera sounded offended, "Did you not believe me?"

"Not yet." Malachi said. "They've tried, but no success. There must be some magical law in place keeping them from breaking through."

Harper squinted. "Magical law?"

Annabeth wagged her finger. "Wait, that might be it! What if the ancient laws placed some sort of...condition on breaking the barrier! Like, a certain weapon must be used, or a certain amount of gods have to fire energy at the same time! That kind of thing. Maybe no matter how hard they try, they won't be able to do it, because they're missing something."

Amaterasu came over, giving the girls pieces of rabbit. "You may be right. But either way, they won't try forever. They'll eventually turn on the world, or come to find us. We've waited long enough, now is the time to strike. We can hopefully do some damage, that way when your friend arrives, he can finish them off."

It sounded like a decent plan to me. If Matt's coming back today, then we can't weasel our way out of confrontation this time. We needed to make sure we were there when he arrived.

I looked to everyone, "Jury agrees?"

They all shrugged and nodded with hesitance, but ultimate agreement. Good enough.

"Well, if we're gonna be fighting, I gotta eat something." Percy announced, rubbing his stomach. "I'm starving."

Just as Amaterasu picked up another rabbit, something hit the barrier hard, and shook the entire area, temple and all.

Every single one of us lost our footing from the intensity and fell on our sides. People that were already up, and people that had been woken up from the rumbling started piling up at the temple entrance, poking their heads out to see what was going on.

"What the hell?!"

The shaking didn't stop, meaning that whatever was hitting the barrier wasn't just tapping it, it was throwing a blast, or some sort of extended strike. I pushed my sunglasses back onto my eyes and looked to where the strongest quaking was coming from. Right above us at the center, I saw it, the bad end of a giant flamethrower.

Whoever was on the other end decided to recharge, and once the fire wall dropped, Kagutsuchi, the big dragon, appeared. Flapping his wings and hovering over the old tree line. His eyes were clouded with red and his mouth billowed smoke, it made for a pretty freaky image, looking like the grim reaper's pet had come for us.

"Kagutsuchi!" Amaterasu shouted.

"How did they find us?!" Sera shrieked.

Percy ran behind us, his eyes darting back and forth between us and the screaming people. "Doesn't matter! We need to get him away from this place now!" He directed his attention towards the crowd, "Everyone get back inside now!" When they didn't listen, he growled. "Sera, I'm gonna need some help with them!"

"O-Okay!"

I walked up to Amaterasu quickly, "What are we gonna do?"

"What he said." I was amazed at how calm she sounded, after getting surprised like that. To be fair, she's had plenty of practice with it. I'd be a little worried if the lead god over here sounded startled at the first sign of trouble, so it was a bit comforting for her not to freak out. "We keep these people here, and take the fight elsewhere."

"Back to Yomi?" Malachi interjected, coming up on Amaterasu's other side. "If we're going there, you'll have to teleport us. I don't know what it looks like."

"Right now we need to let Kagutsuchi know that we're here. We can teleport once we've got his full attention." She turned over her shoulder to address Harper. "Harper, you and Malachi are the strongest ones of the group, correct?"

Goth Girl came jogging over, "And Percy, yeah."

"Annabeth, switch with Percy, but keep Sera." Amaterasu ordered, "Contain the citizens, tell them everything is going to be okay, and...just do the best you can. Get Percy out here."

"On it." Annabeth nodded, and took off into the temple.

"What about me?" I asked.

She glanced at me, a bit uncertain. "Can you control your power?"

I know it might sound a bit stupid, but it felt pretty good to hear her say your power, instead of your father's power. Made me stand a little straighter. "I can try."

She didn't look very satisfied with that answer, but nodded anyway. "Okay. Malachi, Percy and I will cover ariel attacks, you and Harper cover ground attacks. Kagutsuchi is incredibly durable, so I doubt we'll be able to do much damage. Our best bet is to go all out, so don't hold back."

"Got it." We all said.

"Last thing, are there any hidden abilities you have that I should know about?"

Malachi immediately spoke up. "I bear the Mark of Achilles. It's a Greek Curse that allows it's user to become invincible, save for one small weak spot."

Amaterasu smirked at him, impressed. "I've heard the story. I knew there was a reason my blow didn't affect you the other day."

"That's not all. On top of that, I have a special ability involving defense. I can deflect attacks back to its sender like a mirror, or I can absorb the power, adding it to my own. Permanently."

The goddess's smirk fell and she looked genuinely shocked. "That's...an incredibly useful ability. Well, good to know. Anyone else?"

"Not me." I said, "Heh, just shooting and glowing. That's all I got."

Harper held up her Eros sword, "If I hit someone directly with this thing, it makes them fall in love with me." We all stared at her, and she cringed. "Yeah...it's pretty lame, I know."

Amaterasu shook her head, "Alright then, we just need Percy. Where is he?"

I spun around and saw him running out of the temple, Riptide gripped tight in hand.

"He's coming!"

"Perfect timing. Kagutsuchi's about to fire another blast! On my mark, we leave the clearing and engage!"

Percy fell into position, all of us braced ourselves, save for me, firing up their auras. Sea green for Percy, blue for Malachi, pink for Harper, and orange for Amaterasu. I just pulled out my revolvers and hoped for the best.

Alright pops, now's the time. If you wanna give me some of that awesome power, I'd really appreciate it.

When I didn't hear anything back, I sighed. Crap.

Too late to mull about it. A second after everyone glowed up, Amaterasu gave the signal.

"GO!"

They all took off in a flash, while I was stuck running normally, you know, like a normal person.

But it was damn cool to watch all those colors darting together in a straight line, then separating once they reached the outside of the barrier. At my normal human speed, I had just broke through the thin wall by the time they were already beginning the distraction.

Malachi and Amaterasu flew up simultaneously on Kagutsuchi's right side, just as he began to charge up another blast. I couldn't see them move, since they were so far away, but I did see a massive lightning bolt fly from Malachi's little silhouette, and an orange beam shoot from Amaterasu's.

It hit the dragon square in the jaw, knocking his head to the side and causing his premature blast to erupt in his mouth. It earned a grumble and a head shake, but no damage was done. He didn't even pay attention to them, just opened his mouth up and started charging another blast, a hell of a lot quicker this time.

Just as he released this freaking massive line of fire, the pink dot, who I guessed to be Goth Girl, came up under his chin and slammed into it, pushing his head back. But the blast was already in action, so someone had to stop it. That's where Malachi came in.

My buddy teleported from his spot and reappeared right in the trajectory of the blast, floating in its way. Normally, we'd yell at him to move and not kill himself, but ever since he'd gained the Curse ability, we just let him go at it.

The attack itself was three times the size that Malachi could block, even with his arms spread out, but he placed a little barrier of his aura in the way, acting as a funnel to absorb all of the energy it packed. When it collided with his little aura shield, it didn't shatter it or bounce off, it threw itself right at Malachi's chest. At first, it looked like he was in pain, convulsing and shaking a little, but after a second, when the blast was gone, he let out a deep sigh, and balled his fists up, gaining more energy than before, probably dozens of amplifiers added on now, considering how strong that dragon is.

Malachi flew at it, and everyone followed, all leading a charge side by side, while I stood in the back, watching on like a vegetable. I didn't know what to do. Nikandreos wasn't giving me any power, and without it, I sure as hell can't do all the shit they're doing. Jumping and flying and throwing energy strikes. I just aim and shoot.

Aim and shoot.

I remembered earlier when I trapped Amaterasu...I didn't call out to dad. I sort of drew from his energy that was inside me. I didn't need his permission at the time. Maybe I don't need it now.

Kagutsuchi paid attention to them now as the flew at him. With a loud, Godzilla-like screech, he twisted his entire body and reared his head back like a catapult. Once they reached his strike zone, it was too late for them to dodge or even teleport away. Kagutsuchi's face slammed into all of them, swatting their little energy dots out of the sky.

I winced as they crashed into the wasteland that used to be the forest, leaving giant dust trails as they skidded. I knew I had to do something, help out somehow.

Aim and shoot.

I holstered one of my revolvers and aimed the other one, focusing all of my concentration on it. I didn't really know what the hell I was doing, but like before, I just closed my eyes...and thought of nothing but the gun and the dragon. I closed out all sound down to a butterfly's wing beat, I could hear nothing but my own breathing, and soon all that sat in my mind was the thought of my bullet hitting its mark.

I felt no surge of power, no adrenaline, which meant the power never came. Either way, I couldn't just stand by. Even if the bullet did nothing, at least I shot it.

With a gentle squeeze, I pulled the trigger.

Just as I opened my eyes, I saw a golden light flash from the barrel. I could actually see the bullet leave the chamber and enter the air. It didn't look like a regular bullet. It looked like the one I shot Malachi with a while back. A little marble of blinding energy, like the droplet of a melting sun. Time sped up again, just before I could really get a good look at it, and I heard Kagutsuchi cry out in the distance.

It was a howling screech of pain. I looked up from the pistol's barrel line and saw the dragon stumbling in the air, like he'd lost his footing. For some reason, I could actually see what happened across the distance, even though I never should've been able to. I can't even explain it, but it's like I didn't see, I just felt. Knew in my mind where I hit him. The bullet grazed his wing, just on the side. But it hit, and he noticed.

I smirked. There it is.

Once I realized, I felt the surge of energy I yearned for. I could feel everything from the warmth that Kagutsuchi emitted, to the smaller sources that my friends did. I needed to be next to them.

So I was. As soon as I thought it, I reappeared right there beside all of them, not twenty feet apart from each other, they had all landed close.

Percy noticed me next to him, "Whoa!"

I offered him a hand. "Wassup."

He took it and I yanked him to his feet. "How did you get here so fast?!"

"Ain't got time to explain. Let's keep at it while it lasts."

The others looked at me, and I could tell they all had questions too, but Kagutsuchi's roar broke them out of any thoughts about my speed they had.

"New strategy." Amaterasu said through gritted teeth. "Percy, Malachi, use your powers to hold him still. Harper, help me get his mouth open. Talon..."

"Yeah?"

"Can you make a shot into his mouth?"

I nodded, making a move to tip my hat, but instead felt my hair. Oh, must've left it at the temple. I made a quick save though by giving a little salute. "Sure can."

"Okay, let's try again!"

This time, I could actually keep up. Golden light shone around me as I bent down and jumped in the air. It felt pretty freaking awesome, as someone who isn't normally capable of shit like this, to just casually soar over the entire ground below. I ascended by the yard, while they went to work. I could instantly see Percy and Malachi giving it their best in trapping the dragon, with Percy creating tsunamis of water out of thin air, controlling it as a straight jacket around Kagutsuchi's limbs and torso. The more the dragon struggled, the tighter Percy's grip got with the massive coating of water.

And Malachi was clever. He combined his lightning with Percy's water to act as a conduit. I saw him fly in the air above Kagutsuchi and summon a legion of storm clouds. From them, a giant blue arc as wide as Redwood stump came and connected with Malachi's hand. As soon as it hit him, it spread into this enormous electric spider web. A cage that combined itself with Percy's water jacket, both shocking and holding down Kagutsuchi.

Hell, I almost felt sorry for the dragon. He was writhing and roaring in protest, and it was no joke, either. With each push and buck, he broke Percy and Malachi's restraints, little by little. Harper and Amaterasu needed to act fast.

On cue, the two came rushing in on opposite sides of Kagutsuchi's mouth, hitting him in perfect unison like two little comets. The dragon had no idea it was coming, they caught him off guard good.

When his mouth squished open, I knew it was my time to shine. Just as I reached my jumping peak, about two hundred feet over the ground, I aimed my revolver.

Alright, right in the center of the mouth. Don't get shaky hands now...

Got it! The sight's right on his tongue!

"RAGHHH!"

Kagutsuchi surprised everyone with his rage. The roar made my ears ring and vision go blurry. Next thing I knew, in my dizziness, I saw the water-lightning jacket the boys made get destroyed. Kagutsuchi flexed his back and their little cage was no more.

Something big and red was coming at me, fast. It looked like a spray-painted skyscraper from where I was sitting, but I knew it had something to do with Kagutsuchi's free hand. Or paw, whatever it's called.

His claws hit me in the side, knocking me out of the sky and into the ground. There was no time spent in my fall, it was two hits. Boom, blow to the ribs, and boom, into the ground. An instant hit.

Luckily the pain never came. Good, his blows don't work. At least we know how his claws aren't laced with Heavenly Diamond.

From behind, I heard whimpers and screams. Two figures came running up to me hurriedly.

"Talon!"

"What the hell..." I groaned.

Both of them knelt beside me. It took a few blinks to discern white and blonde hair. Sera and Annabeth.

"Talon, can you see? Are you alright?" I think Annabeth said. My ears were still ringing, so it was hard to tell.

"Yeah, yeah..." I sat up slowly, but it was hard to without bobbing. My head just wouldn't stop spinning. "...That dragon packs a hell of a punch."

"We need to get him away from here!" Sera said, glancing back towards the temple. "We have the people inside, but with another blast like that, this barrier won't hold out much longer!"

"She's right, Talon." Annabeth said, and pointed up at the dome. "Look!"

I squinted. My vision was starting to get clear again, and even with it a little fuzzed, I could make out the large crack that Kagutsuchi's blast imprinted on the barrier.

This time, with a grunt, I managed to sit up, then stand up. "Oh shit. I hear you, we gotta get outta here."

"Where are the others?"

"Out there fighting that thing."

Sera trembled at the sight. "How are we going to lead him away?"

Before I could even speak, Annabeth already had a better plan. "Tell Malachi to stay behind with Kagutsuchi, while-" I started to jump in, telling her there was no way in hell we were leaving him here with Smaug, but Annabeth held up a hand. "-Let me finish! He stays behind with him, while Amaterasu teleports us to the Yomi entrance. Then Malachi can sense our energy, follow it, and lead Kagutsuchi away." She sighed, "Now I'm done. Does that sound good?"

"Yeah...yeah, that does sound good. Should've known that was going somewhere." She just smiled mockingly at me. Sorry, blondie.

"Alright, let me get their attention. Come on!" They followed me out of the barrier and into the open wasteland. Above, the four of them were still going at it, weaving in and out of Kagutsuchi's lazy attempts to swat them. They threw themselves against his skin like flies, but they couldn't even knock him over.

I aimed my revolver right at his head, knowing it probably wouldn't hit. But that wasn't what I wanted it to do.

"Alright guys, hope you're paying attention."

I pulled the trigger. A thunderous sound rang out from the gun, and the golden bullet zoomed towards Kagutsuchi. It might've hit his ear, had he not dodged it. I didn't care about that, as long as it gained everyone's attention.

When Malachi, Harper, Percy, and Amaterasu all turned to find me, I smiled. Alright, think, what's the best way to tell them this...

Yell? Nah, can't hear me. Too far away. It would just sound all muffled.

Get Sera to yell? Nah, too quiet. She never yells.

Annabeth? Hmm, she can be loud, but we'd still run into the same problem.

Then it hit me. I remembered the first day, when Amaterasu talked to all of us with her telepathy. That was it!

I hoped to God that she saw me tapping on my temple with the pistol barrel. It took a few seconds of crossing my fingers, but eventually, the voice came to my mind.

Talon, what is it? She said.

I pumped my fist silently, earning confused looks from Annabeth and Sera.

Hell yeah! You saw!

Yes! Now hurry and speak!

Quickly, I told her the plan. Malachi stays behind, she teleports us, then he leads Kagutsuchi right in our direction. It may have come out as one single, unrecognizable sentence, and with my southern accent, I wouldn't blame her if she needed to hear it again. But right now...I'm really hoping she can interpret it.

When I finished, there was silence.

You get all that?

Yes, I got it. I just told him. We'll be down there in a moment.

Sweet- Before I could finish, the mental link was broken. Up above, I watched as our plan started. Malachi began to go hog wild on Kagutsuchi, using lightning bolt after lightning bolt against the dragon's face, trying to offer the best diversion he could.

"Alright guys, get ready." I told the girls. Just as Amaterasu said, she appeared with a orange flash and shockwave right in front of us, Harper and Percy in tow.

Goth Girl marched right up to me. "We're really leaving Malachi by himself?"

"It'll be fine. He's got the Curse, he's the best man for the job."

"He's right." Amaterasu nodded gratefully at Annabeth, "Good plan, by the way."

Annabeth ducked her head, all the praise getting to her. "Oh, it's nothing."

"Alright, there's no time to waste!" She barked, thrusting out her hand, palm down, to us. "Grab on. We're going to Yomi."

We didn't hesitate for a second, which was odd, since we knew what was on the other side. Ouranos, Susanoo, and Tsukuyomi with the death sword. Not to mention all of Goro's old samurai, which are damn strong in their own right.

But when you've got a plan in motion, it stays in motion.

Every one of us piled our hands on top of hers, signaling that we were ready. Amaterasu immediately collected all of us in her aura and we warped away. Like before, there was no bridge world, no weird trippy kaleidoscope thing, just a tugging sensation in my gut, and the sight of her little fire ball hugging us.

It took maybe two seconds, and we were there. Amaterasu dropped the fire dome and we all stood straight, because right in front of us, they stood.

First of all, Yomi's gate wasn't anything special. I mean, the place looked great, but I was expecting something a bit more ominous, you know? Scary shit.

This just looked like a good place for Yoga.

It looked like the end of an island. To our right, sat a wide, open field, and beyond that, a large stretch of forest, green as far as the eye could see. To our left, was a grassy cliff, and beyond that...the ocean. No other islands or land masses in sight.

In front of us, lie the main event. A lump on a hill, at its center, a big, circular entrance that led to darkness, a lot like the one at Mount Othrys. Blocking it, was the barrier that Amaterasu talked about. It looked a lot like the one we had back at the temple, only less transparent, and shimmering a dark purple. It didn't look damaged or cracked at all. Tsukuyomi must've not been able to put a scratch on it.

Standing beside the entrance, stood the moon man himself. Tsukuyomi, out of breath and sweating, holding that death sword like his life depended on it. Opposite of him, was Susanoo, not as sweaty, or out of breath. He must've been taking a break.

Then twenty feet from them, sitting casually on the grass with his knees propped up...Ouranos. And all around him, scattered, stood Goro's samurai, stiff and sturdy, like Marines at attention.

They all looked at us for a few seconds before anyone said anything. It was pretty awkward.

Of course, Ouranos was the one to pipe up first. The blabbermouth that he is. "Oh, great, they're here. Hey, could you all do us a favor? See if you can open this thing."

Tsukuyomi immediately jabbed a finger at him, eyes wide with rage. "You shut up! This isn't a joke!"

"Four days, no success. It's starting to feel like a joke."

Tsukuyomi growled and started towards him, but Susanoo rushed to hold him back.

"Don't, brother. This is good, we have them right where we want them."

"None of this is good! We haven't broken the barrier yet!"

Susanoo shushed him, and gestured to us with a wide scan of his arm. "Look at them. They're all here. We can kill them!"

Tsukuyomi took a second, his big eyes flickered, and hovered between each of us. Slowly, his smile started to grow.

"You're right...yes, you're right." As if his little tantrum never happened, he walked towards us, twirling the death sword without a care in the world. "So, Amaterasu, you're back! Went into hiding for a few days, did we?"

She glared at him. "And I see you haven't made much progress."

Tsukuyomi's lip twitched. "Let's call it even. At least we can finish this now." He smirked and pointed to her face, then his mockingly. "Face to face."

Susanoo crept up beside him, sporting a shit eating grin. "It'll be a perfect repeat of that night you remember so well, sister. We'll kill every single one of your new little friends, just like your daughter."

"She lives on within me." Amaterasu said, her tone quiet, but laced with fury.

"Oh we know." Tsukuyomi chuckled, "We know it hinders you, too."

At that, her eyebrows furrowed.

Susanoo laughed, "Ha! You didn't think we noticed? Hosting her body has made you weak! You can't even use half of your real power!"

At that, I noticed Ouranos tilt his head a little in surprise, staring at Amaterasu. He seemed to be the only one taking that as a potential threat, while her brothers just laughed.

"How the mighty have fallen. The great sun goddess, succumbed by the love for her daughter." He smirked wickedly, "All of that ends today. I think it's time for our mutual friend to join us."

Mutual friend?

Not a split second after he said that, we heard a roar echo behind us. Kagutsuchi.

All of us turned around to see the giant dragon flying towards us, something in his mouth. It was...a flickering blue light.

My mouth fell open, "Malachi..."

Kagutsuchi flapped his wings a few more times, and closed the distance quickly. Once he swooped in beside us, he threw his head to the side, letting Malachi go from his mouth.

My friend plummeted into the ground right next to us, hitting the grass hard and uprooting a crater of dirt. Sera was the first to break formation and run over to him, all of us except Amaterasu quickly following.

"Kai!" She cried.

We all jumped inside the crater. Malachi lay in the middle, his entire body steaming, but no burn marks. Even if he hadn't taken damage, he looked completely winded, like all the energy had been drained right out of him.

"S-Sorry...I'm late." He croaked.

We helped him up and out of the crater. The sight made Susanoo cackle.

"Just look at that! No man gets left behind with these idiots, huh?!" He put a hand to Tsukuyomi's chest. "Stand back for a second, brother, I want a crack at them."

Sera ignored them, and leaned down to Malachi's ear. "Are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine. Just stunned."

Meanwhile, Tsukuyomi just shook his head at Susanoo. "You want first hit? Heh, someone's greedy today. Well, be my guest. But I get the killing blow."

Susanoo stepped forward, presenting himself with wide arms. "Listen up! Kagutsuchi, Ouranos, all you samurai! You follow my lead!" He jumped up and down excitedly, throwing off his wide straw hat, revealing long, spiky black hair. "It's been ages since I've had any real fun. Time to use my true form!"

Amaterasu's eyes widened. "His true form? Oh no..."

I looked at her, confused. "What? What does that mean?"

"It's like our gods." Annabeth supplied, staring straight ahead like she'd entered some trance. "It's their purest, most powerful form."

"Susanoo is about to get even stronger." Amaterasu said, her voice not sounding as confident as it did earlier. "Brace yourself, everybody."

Right before our eyes, Susanoo began to transform into something else entirely. Slowly, his entire body grew, and became nearly black, swirling with lightning. He expanded higher and higher, finally reaching a towering height, even bigger than Kagutsuchi. His normal human skin became the splitting image of a sea storm, black clouds pouring rain, strobing with lightning bolts every second, even the way his body was shaped changed. From the neck down, he kept two legs and two arms, but his head morphed from a human's to something really freaky.

In the process, he'd become like a raven, or a crow, or something. His mouth turned into a long, sharp beak, and his head elongated, growing fur that stuck up in the back, eyes thin and leaving behind the pupils for a blue glow. He looked less like a man, and more like some avatar, or projection of an ancient being.

Which is exactly what he was. Could this be what he used to look like, back in the day?

"This is him." Amaterasu confirmed, "This is the Susanoo of the old days. The monster of the seas, master of storms..."

"His aura's through the roof." Harper said, shaking her head at the god in disbelief. "It literally skyrocketed."

Everybody stared up at him in horror, while Susanoo himself chuckled in a much deeper, more powerful voice, sounding like a thousand baritones in one person.

"Cower before me, half-bloods."

Tsukuyomi whistled, "It's been a long time since I've seen that. Save a few for me, Susanoo!"

Ouranos decided to join in on the fun, standing up and popping his knuckles. "Well, I won't just sit around and let him have all the fun." He stuck out his index finger, pointing between himself and Malachi. "You and me, son. Let's settle this."

Malachi scowled at him, even though he was still stunned from Kagutsuchi, he looked ready.

But hell, I don't know if we really are. I could feel it, the uneasiness, the uncertainty in everyone's body. We were all shaking at least a little. Even me, I'll admit it.

Standing before all of them, as powerful as they are...it was scary. Damn scary. Susanoo stared down at us, giant fists clenching back and forth, while Ouranos and Tsukuyomi stood with their hands at their sides, waiting for us to make a move. Kagutsuchi hovered in the background, flapping his wings, awaiting orders.

And as for the samurai, they all looked to Ouranos. At the sudden attention, he noticed them.

"I've got it." Ouranos said, clapping his hands together. "How about we assign fights? Just to keep things from getting all tangled up. I'll take my son, you samurai take out the girls, the dragon can play with Talon, Tsukuyomi can kill Amaterasu, and Susanoo can fight Percy Jackson! Ah, that's quite fitting, water on water. I didn't even intend to put it like that."

"I want more." Susanoo said, "One little sea spawn is no challenge."

Tsukuyomi sighed loudly from the gate. "I'll sit this one out, Susanoo! If it's really that important to you, I'll let you defeat Amaterasu. But save me the killing blow! Don't hog her death for yourself!"

Ouranos smiled, "So now you get Jackson and Amaterasu! Is that better?"

Susanoo cocked his head, "I suppose. As long as I get to kill, I have no problem."

"Then it's settled!"

"Treating this like it's a freaking joke." I grumbled, "Look at them."

"To them it might as well be." Annabeth said.

Percy twiddled with Riptide nervously, "I can't blame them. Look at all the power they have. We might be toast here, guys."

"We're not toast." Amaterasu encouraged, but she didn't sound so sure herself. "We can do this. Don't doubt yourselves."

"The dragon was toying with the five of you earlier." Sera peeped, "A-And it's not just him now."

"It ain't looking good, I know." I tried to lift them up, but deep down, I was pretty worried too. "But we can't think like that. Stand firm, ya'll."

"We can come up with another plan." Malachi offered, "Annabeth?"

Annabeth, for the first time, had nothing. She just shook her head and whispered, "Matt..."

"We need Matt." Sera agreed. She put her head in Malachi's shoulder. "Oh Matt, please hurry..."

Ouranos had been taunting us the entire time, waiting for our answer. "So, do those matchups sound good to you?"

I glanced beside me, and Amaterasu did the same. We could both see it. As soon as Annabeth said that name, it got everyone's hopes up. I could literally see his figure in their eyes, the glimmer of hope that he'd show up and step in. They wanted it so bad, hell, I wanted it so bad. But it just wasn't time yet. He may not be here for another two hours, or ten minutes. We just didn't know.

Hell, we didn't know if he could even find us.

"Shark Boy..." Harper muttered, looking to the sky desperately. "...Where are you?"

I tightened my lips.

Kid, if you're out there...please hurry. We need you right now, more than ever.

Ouranos finally laughed at our silence. "I guess they've lost the ability to speak! Whatever, I don't care if they like the matchups or not. Susanoo, on your mark!"

"Guys, he's not gonna be here for a while." I announced, "We need to make a stand on our own. Don't doubt what we can do, alright? We're strong together."

They all looked at me, and I nodded back, forcing a smirk. "You all know I don't normally spout sentimental shit unless I mean it. And I do. We can last, as long as we don't break apart."

"He's right." Amaterasu supported, "Stay strong. Don't be afraid."

Susanoo lifted his hand. From it, he materialized a long, dark sword, surrounded by lightning. Ouranos charged up his own bolt too, and in the background, Kagutsuchi's mouth opened, fire slowly growing inside to charge up a blast.

They were gonna hit us hard, with all they had. It was now or never. All that talk about how strong we were together was about to pay off. To be honest, if it didn't work out...I can't think of a better way to go.

With a bang. I like it.

Susanoo stepped forward and began to swing the sword, leaving powerful gusts of wind in his wake. "Prepare to die!"

All of us braced ourselves at the same time, ready to unleash it all together, in one combined defense. All of us, versus all of them. It would either work, or it wouldn't.

But then...the best thing in the world happened.

I'd like to think it was me. You know, sending that little thought out, but I'd hate to take all the credit for it. I think everybody had a little something to do with it.

Just as Susanoo started to throw his arm, Ouranos started to fire his lightning bolt, and Kagutsuchi started to release his blast...we heard something come from the sky.

Like a series of napalm strikes or rolling thunder. Something flying through the clouds far faster than light, breaking the sound barrier ten thousand times over.

Just as we heard the sound, its source became clear.

The distance between our group and Susanoo was taken up by this massive, glowing ball of red energy. It came crashing down from above and landed as quick as a shooting star, stopping the sea god in his tracks, and even blinding him.

"AGH!" Everyone, even Tsukuyomi had to cover his eyes.

The red glow whirred with energy, emitting wave after wave of power. If I didn't know that color by heart, I would've sworn it was Zeus himself that came to save us.

But as the bright energy dimmed down, and the shockwaves stopped, we got a look at who it really was.

When we did, nobody could contain themselves. Everyone, even me, roared with excitement. Sera even cried tears of joy.

Standing there, in front of us, facing our enemies...was Matt.

He's back. And better than ever it seems.

"Matt!" I couldn't even tell you who all said his name just then, it was a jumble of voices, all screaming in happiness together.

The Son of Hercules turned around, showing half of his face. Even with just that...I could tell he'd changed. A lot. The look he wore, the serious line of his eyes and lips told me that this was a different guy.

But then he smirked, and everything went back to normal. Nah, he's still the same old kid I know.

"Sorry I'm late, guys. Traffic was horrible." He turned back around to size up Susanoo. "So...is this the guy who's causing all of our problems?"

---

(000)

Okay, I gotta admit, that was a pretty fun chapter to write. One of my favorites so far.

Just the conversations, the backstory, the fight, and Matt's return! Man, I'm getting excited myself!

Anyway, I can't wait to get onto the next chapter. Matt's finally reunited with everyone, and he's about to show off his training.

How long do you think it takes for him to beat everyone?

Just kidding. Or maybe not. You'll see.

Until Next Time.