Kaori

"Steven! What the hell is this," he shrugged.

I sighed.

Imbecile. Why does no one take law seriously anymore. I am tired of his half ass work.

"You're fired. We don't half ass do our jobs when we are representing our clients. Get out." I gathered up his shitty paperwork.

"You can't fire me," he slammed his hands down on the desk, "I do good work! I deserve this! You're a woman! Who are you to tell me what I can and can't do?! You can't fire me!"

That's it, way too far. I stood up.

"I am not going to listen to the likes of some sexist pig. Get out or I will have security escort you out." I towered over him.

"Like hell." He went to swing at me

A hand stopped him.

"You heard the lady, get out before she presses charges." Steven looked at me.

I smirked at him. He looked angry. I didn't care.

"He's not going to leave willingly, please escort him out Eduardo," Steven was pulled away, "yes, Mrs. Didymos."

I smiled and got the files fixed. He didn't do anything. Gosh, I hate interns. Someone knocked. Now what? I looked up to see Eduardo. I smiled at him.

"Is everything alright?" He smiled.

"Someone had asked to see you Mrs. Didymos. A Mr. Parthenopaeus." My heart stopped.

So he finally found me. I wasn't surprised. I sighed.

"Let him in, please Eduardo." He nodded his head.

I took a deep breath. It had been a thousand years since I last saw Ash. I felt bad about not seeing him over the past thousand years. I haven't been to Artemis's temple since then either. I couldn't. It was better, in my opinion, to start fresh. Create a new temple. The door opened. I looked up to see Ash. His black hair with one red streak was pulled back into a ponytail. He wore a black suit with a red tie.

"Thank you Eduardo." He smiled at me and left.

I watched as Ash sat down. He looked as good as he did a thousand years ago.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Parthenopaeus?" I saw his eyebrow twitch above his sunglasses.

I wasn't surprised he was wearing them. I knew exactly why he wore them. He didn't say anything. I sighed.

"I have a very busy schedule Mr. Parthenopaeus. I would appreciate it if you could tell me what it is you need from Didymos Law." His eyebrow twitched again.

"Who are you?" I frowned.

"I'm Kaori Didymos, why?" He frowned.

"Where is Artemis?" I flinched.

He was getting angry. I felt his symbol begin to act up under my suit. It was no surprise, he wasn't sure I was actually Kaori. He had a suspicion at most that I was.

"Look, Mr. Parthenopaeus, if you don't have a reason for being here then I need you to leave." He stood up and slammed his hands on the desk.

Not again. He leaned forward and his sunglasses fell. I saw his swirling silver eyes. I bit the inside of my cheek. I never broke eye contact. I still didn't feel the pull of that curse from that stupid goddess.

"What do you want, Ash?" His eyes widened.

He pulled me into a hug. I didn't expect that.

"I'm so glad you're safe. I've looked for you for so long. I was afraid you died, or worse." I felt guilty.

"I'm sorry. I just couldn't go back to the temple. Not after what Inu did, what he said to me. I'm sorry I cut you out of my life Ash. I was just, what Inu said hurt." I hugged him back being mindful of his hair.

Ash hugged me tighter. I felt really bad.

"Ash," he squeezed me tighter, "I'm just relieved. I was afraid I had lost my only friend."

Tears gathered in my eyes. I thought about him so much over the years. I always wrote to him, but never sent the letters to him. I had a drawer full of them.

"I shouldn't have left." He pulled away and shook his head.

"No, you had every right. What Chatos said was wrong. He shouldn't have said those things." I was confused.

"Who's Chatos," Ash looked confused, "wait do you mean Inu?"

"That's what you called him, that's right." He sat down.

I smiled at him. He met my eyes.

"I need you to go back to Artemis's temple," I frowned, "just hear me out."

"Why should I go back, Acheron?" He looked surprised.

Acheron

"Why should I go back, Acheron?" I was surprised.

I knew this wasn't Artemis, but I had seen how bad Artemis's temple was. It looked like death had come and wiped everything out. Like death had taken her as well. When Wulf had come to me when he saw a woman killing Daimons that wasn't a Dark-Hunter, it led me here. Didymos Law. A name I thought had died out. No one should've had the last name Didymos. I only knew one person who would've known that last name.

"Have you not seen it since you left?" She looked worried.

"What has happened to it, Acheron?" She didn't know?

"It looks like death. Everything is dead and withered. I was afraid something had happened to you." She looked down.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know, but I think I might know why," she stood up, "follow me."

She went to the bookcase and pulled on a green leather bound book. The bookcase opened. Behind it was a golden hallway.

"Where does this lead?" She smiled at me.

"A new temple, a better one for the new Artemis." As she stepped into the hallway her apparel changed.

She was wearing a blue dress. Her red hair was down. I stepped through. My clothes changed as well. I was barefoot in a pair of black shorts and a black cotton button up shirt. She turned her head.

"The old temple was for her, and what the gods stood for. This one is different. There are no servants for one thing. I know that there is a large difference between servants and Simi," her face lit up, "is she with you? Can she come out?"

I felt Simi stir on my arm.

Please Akri.

"Not yet." Kaori looked sad.

Okay, Akri.

"I understand." She continued down the hall.

I began looking around. I saw tons and tons of pictures of Kaori with families over the years. Dates and names were under each one.

"What is all of this?" She stopped.

She turned to me and smiled.

"It's me proving Inu wrong," she looked down, "the old temple looks the way it does because I didn't feel like Artemis or I had earned it. So I let it wither, and decay. The animals that roamed the forest are fine. I moved them to a new one. Point is, I couldn't go back to the place where Apollo attacked me or where Inu hurt me verbally. I will never be like that man."

She met my gaze. I could see how sad she was. I sensed something else, but I couldn't put my finger on it. She gave me a small smile.

"My new temple is right through here." She pushed open the door.

It was a room full of books. It looked like a large library. I saw a bedroom off to the left and three doors to the right. It was full of so many books. They all looked to be in good condition.

"What is this?" I looked at her.

"This is me. It's part of who I was growing up. It was my escape. Sometimes a book will be the thing that saves you. I've published a few over the years. This is what I never got to do in my life. I am doing what I wanted to do in my world. This I earned. I worked for it." She smiled at me.

I understand now. She decided to do things a different way. Instead of pearls and riches, books were her go to. Still the old temple needed to be brought back. Leto and Zeus were asking questions.

"Kaori," she turned to me, "Artemis isn't the goddess of knowledge or books. She is the goddess of hunting and childbirth. This can only work for so long."

She took a deep breath. She smiled up at me. She walked over to an empty wall. A wooden door appeared.

"I will not give up this place Ash," she met my gaze, "however I will not go back to the old ways. I will bring back the temple by connecting it to this one."

She looked down at the floor. Then she gripped the doorknob and opened the door. She stopped in her tracks. I stepped closer to her. Her face was scrunched up. Her eyes were flitting everywhere around the room. I placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked at me. I saw a flash of something, it was gone before I could identify what it was. She glanced down at the floor.

"I'll do it," she turned, "I left this place because of the things that happened here. Now I have to come back."

She stepped through. She flinched as her clothing changed and life spread throughout the temple. She continued until she reached the balcony. She gripped the railing. I watched from the doorway. The forest grew back to what it was a thousand years ago. She let go of the railing and looked down. She glanced again. She turned to me and smiled.

"You did what you came to do. It was nice to see you again Ash." She looked sad.

"Why does it sound like you're saying goodbye?" She looked down towards the floor.

"I haven't been a good friend. I left and gave you no way to find me," she bit her lip, "pretty sure that has 'bad friend' written all over it."

She started walking towards me. She didn't look around the room. Then she cringed and stopped moving. She looked up at me.

"You should go," she glanced at the old temple doors, "Leto is coming and she's furious. She can't find the temple I've built. She can be in this one. Wait for me there, please?"

She looked up at me. She looked uncomfortable. Like she didn't want to be in the room we were standing in. I hugged her. She gasped. She was tense in my arms. She relaxed a bit and gently wrapped her arms around the middle of my back. She was being mindful of my hair and keeping her hands still. Then the temple doors busted open. She tried to pull away. I didn't let her go.

"Ash, what are you doing?" She was panicked.

"Mortal," she flinched against me, "what is the meaning of this!? WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?!"

She was struggling against me. I could feel the fear radiating off of her.

"Let me go, Ash. Please?" She tried to push me away.

"Are you insane?! What are you doing with him? My daughter would've NEVER associated with the likes of a Tsolus?!" I felt anger, but it wasn't mine.

Kaori pushed me away clearly using her god powers. She turned to Leto.

"You think your daughter was innocent, was so confident in herself that she wouldn't allow it? You are a fool, and a monster. You gods have no respect for human life," she stormed up to Leto, "you doubt your daughter would've ever had anything to do with Acheron? You are a stupid idiot. I told you once I would never stop looking for your daughter. So let me show you what she was really like."

She gripped Leto's hands. Kaori began to glow green. She was furious. Her hair fell out and it looked like tendrils had surrounded her. Then Kaori pulled away from Leto.

"Your daughter was not a good goddess. Apollo isn't a good god either. Humans aren't playthings. They are people, they have rights," Kaori looked at me, "they deserve to live a good life with someone they love. As do some gods and goddesses."

Kaori looked so heartbroken. I couldn't figure out why. I couldn't hear her thoughts even after all this time unless she spoke to me. She gave me a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. She turned back to Leto.

"I'm sorry," she hugged Leto, "I have scoured the earth for her for a thousand years. She is gone, Leto. I'm so sorry. Losing a child is never easy."

Sobs filled the temple. Kaori had her head resting on Leto's.

"My baby, she's gone!" The wailing was loud.

Kaori held Leto as they slipped down to the floor. Kaori looked back at me.

Please, go back to my library. It may be a while. I'll meet you when I am done. I have a spare room in case you get tired. It's the one without all the books.

She smiled through tears. I saw the pain in her gaze.

You've lost a child?

Fresh tears gathered and fell.

Sort of yes, it's a long story. I will explain later.

She turned away from me as Leto got louder.

"Leto, she lived her life. I may not be your daughter, but I will always be here. From one mother, to another." Leto moved.

I couldn't tell, but she was looking up at Kaori. I heard a gasp. Then Leto hugged Kaori. Kaori almost didn't catch herself. Leto said something I didn't catch. Kaori just nodded. Leto sat up. She looked at me.

She loves you.

What? Why would she tell me that? Who? Leto looked down at Kaori.

"Thank you for trying. You've given me a lot to think about," she pressed a hand to Kaori's face, "please consider your own happiness."

Kaori tensed, but she nodded her head. Leto stood up and helped Kaori up. Leto began to walk away. Kaori pulled her into another hug.

"I am here, whenever you may need me. The soul may not be the Artemis you knew, but blood doesn't always mean family. If you ever need me, I am here for you. Always." Kaori let go.

Leto looked at Kaori, then at me.

Do not lose her, Apostoles. She is a rare one.

Leto left without another word. Kaori relaxed. She looked towards the floor. She took a deep breath. She turned to me and smiled.

"Thank you, Ash, for staying. I know what kind of memories this place holds for both of us," she walked up to me, "I meant what I said earlier about living life with someone you love. You deserve it more than any of the gods and goddesses out there."

She walked past me through the wall.