Acheron

I turned and saw she was back in her suit. I followed after her shutting the wooden door behind me.

"Kaori, wait." She stopped in her tracks.

She turned to me.

"What is it, Acheron?" She bit her lip.

"What was Leto speaking about," she tensed, "she said someone loves me? Who was she speaking of?"

Kaori looked down at the floor and shook her head, "I don't know."

She turned away and continued walking.

"Don't lie to me, Kaori." She stopped.

"I know a lot about your life, Acheron. I also know that you don't get close to people, well you do now. That's not the point, I know who you are supposed to be with. When you meet her I don't know," she took a deep breath, "but I do know one thing. You will be the happiest man alive. So it doesn't matter what she means or who she's talking about."

Kaori met my gaze and smiled. The happiness reached her eyes, but I could still see something was bothering her.

"You're still not telling me everything." She sighed.

"It's not that easy. I know everything about your life, your future even to a certain point. So let me ask you something. Would you ever be able to sleep with this body?" She was out of the suit and in a blue dress.

I didn't understand what she meant. Why would I ever sleep with Artemis- I gasped. After everything Artemis had done to me, I can't even think about touching her body. I wouldn't be able to. So Leto meant Kaori?

"That is why I won't say anything. Love is sometimes one sided, and I have been prepared for that the moment I ended up in Artemis's body. I never said anything because I am your friend. I care about you, I will do anything to protect you, Inu, Simi, and Matera. You are the few people I have in this world. So please understand. I was just trying to leave it alone. Let things go." She bit her cheek and walked away.

She just kept walking away from me. I didn't know what to say. She looked at a few pictures as she passed and smiled. Then she stopped. She took a deep breath and turned to me.

"I loved you the moment I read about you in that book. I felt a connection with you. I felt your pain. I had hoped that life would get better for you. Then it did. You found her. I was happy, so happy, but a part of me wished that maybe just maybe I would get to take her place. However in my world that's pretty common. The day I woke up in this body I knew it wouldn't happen, I didn't want it to. I didn't want to add to the pain and loss you had been through," she smiled, "I knew that pain. I wasn't about to cause that pain to you. I would prevent that at all cost even if I suffered for my decision. It wouldn't be the first time I sacrificed my happiness to protect someone I cared about. It's a habit I have when it comes to protecting the people I love."

She gave me a small smile. Her eyes were sad and she looked guilty.

"Come around whenever you want Ash, and please let Matera, and Inu know they are more than welcome to come see me." She turned away.

She wrapped her arms around herself and finished setting off towards the bookcase wall. She stepped through and was gone.

She loves me?

Kaori

I relaxed into my office chair. I thought about everything Leto had said, everything Ash had said. I sighed. A part of me will always love Ash in some way. Then I thought of Inu and Apollymi. I hadn't seen Inu since that day. I missed him, but his words hurt me a lot. I would never do those things to anyone. Inu's words hurt, but I still missed him. A knock sounded on the door. I looked up and saw Eduardo.

"What is it, Eduardo?" He looked uncomfortable.

"There is someone else here for you. He claims he's your brother." My heart stopped.

Apollo. Of all the people I needed to deal with it just had to be him. Always him. I stood up.

"I will deal with him, Eduardo." I walked past him as he held the door open for me.

I wanted to just teleport myself, but I wouldn't give Apollo the chance to screw this up for me. As the elevator reached the first floor I found myself wanting Inu next to me. When the doors opened I froze. I saw a black dog barking at Apollo. It looked exactly like Inu. I couldn't believe it. I stepped out of the elevator.

"What the hell is the meaning of this," Apollo looked at me, "you are not welcome here, brother."

I didn't shy away from his gaze. He looked angry. He stepped forward and the black dog began barking at him again. I finally looked down. It could be Inu, but I wasn't sure. I looked up at Apollo.

"Get out. You aren't anymore welcome here than you were at the last place. Either see yourself out, or I'll escort you out." He was seething.

"You dare talk back to me? You are nothing! I am not the one who neglected my duties and didn't feed me! You have no power to remove me." The dog jumped and bit him.

Eduardo rushed forward, I blocked him with my arm.

"No, I know that dog. My brother has a temper; the dog has dealt with my brother before." I walked forward as my brother's screams echoed through the building.

"Inu, heel!" The dog released Apollo and turned to me.

Green eyes stared back at me. My heart hurt. I felt deja vu. It was like the last time I met Inu's eyes for the first time again. The last time I saw Inu was a thousand years ago. I stepped forward and gripped Apollo by the collar. I stormed towards the front door.

"Artemis! Let me go!" That pissed me off.

A very large nicely placed puddle appeared outside. I threw him down the steps and right into a muddy puddle. I stood on the first step and watched as Apollo sputtered, wiping mud out of his face. He turned his gaze to me. All I saw was anger on his face.

"Apollo, just because mother named you that doesn't give you the right to bring me into your pathetic little fantasy. I am Kaori Didymos," his face grew angrier, "you are an abusive, power hungry monster. I have avoided you for 10 years unlike your delusion of a thousand years. Never come back here."

I crossed my arms over my chest.

"You foolish goddess," clouds appeared over us, "she is not the foolish one Apollo, you are."

I smiled at the appearance of Savitar. I never came across him over the past thousand years, but he would be someone I would be alright with.

"An honor, Savitar." I bowed slightly.

"Please, do not bow," I met his gaze, "you are one from another world. Yet you protect the innocent. If it's anyone's honor, it is mine Kaori."

I smiled at him.

"Why the hell are you calling her Kaori! That is Artemis! She is my sister and I will do whatever I please!" I bit my lip.

I saw Savitar's eyes change from lavender to red. He held his hand out to me.

"Will you do the honor of helping me put this petty god in his place?" I smiled.

"It would be my pleasure Savitar." I took his hand.

I felt stronger. More power than what I was used to was coursing through me. Hearing Savitar speak spread goosebumps across my skin.

"God who dares try to out his own blood to the mortals, I, Savitar give Kaori, the new Artemis the right to choose your punishment," I glanced at Savitar, "for not only has he hurt her, but he has broken a sacred law that was put into place five hundred years ago."

I looked down at him. What punishment would work? I thought of all the things he did to me, and his sister before me. The only punishment that made sense was to live without his god powers for a certain amount of years, but I did not want him to ever experience what I went through or his sister. I met Apollo's gaze. It may be the only choice. I heard a bark. I looked down at the back hound next to me. Its green eyes were so much like Inu's. I wanted to hug him. Now wasn't the time. I looked to Savitar.

"A human for 10 years." Savitar smirked at me.

He stepped forward with me.

"Kaori, the new Artemis has come to a decision. From this moment on until 10 years pass you will live as a human," Apollo looked shocked, "you will keep your memories, but will not be able to speak about gods and goddesses to anyone no matter what. You came into a Sanctuary today and tried to reveal your sister. This is your punishment." Apollo was angry.

"She can't do this," Inu growled, "she has no right to choose my punishment!"

Savitar let my hand go and Apollo was in the mud again.

"You arrogant god. She thought long and hard about your punishment. Even wanted to choose something else. She has every right to choose your punishment. You have hurt her the most." A purple light glowed in Savitar's hand.

"I, Savitar," he looked at me, "and I Artemis," he looked at Apollo as we continued speaking, "hereby sentence you to ten years as a human."

The purple light shot towards Apollo. His godhood came to Savitar in an orb of blue light.

I saw a human Apollo frozen in place. I turned to Savitar.

"Where will that go?" Savitar turned to me.

"As the one who made his punishment reality, they will stay with me." I smiled at him.

"Thank you Savitar for helping today." He smiled at me.

"You are a rare thing in this world, little one. What you have here is something a lot of gods or goddesses would never do. Be careful, little one. Not many are happy about a goddess living in the human world for a thousand years. They fear you will grow to be too powerful, little one." I didn't like the sound of that.

"I may be, but that power will never be used to hurt others. Not unless they come armed and ready to kill. If they want me, they are welcome at Artemis's old temple." Savitar nodded his head.

Inu barked. I looked down. He was looking at me, but still hadn't spoken to me. That gave me doubts that the hound might not be Inu. I turned to Savitar.

"Thank you for helping today." Savitar smiled at me.

"Always, little one. You have a sanctuary to protect. It is open to Dark-hunters and other beings, correct?" I smiled.

I walked past a few people and to the side of the building. A symbol glowed on the side. It was lavender like his eyes.

"So this is a sanctuary," I looked at Savitar, "where does it lead?"

"Follow me." I took his hand.