I am Artemis

Target

Artemis(Kaori)

I returned to my desk. I sighed in frustration.
When will I have to quit dealing with her god damn messes? I'm glad Artemis is gone.

"Kaori," I looked at Ash, "right. What did you need, Ash?"

He removed his glasses. I bit the inside of my cheek. A feeling welled up in my chest. I glanced down at my desk.

I wish these feelings would go away.

"Are you okay," I looked up at him.

What was I supposed to tell him? I am unsure of what to do. Emotionally and physically. I love Ash, a part of me always will. However, I love Inu as well, but it's not fair to him. It's not fair to Inu if I were to do anything or be with him because of how I feel for Ash. I can't just turn off my emotions. I wish being in Artemis's body wasn't so difficult.

"I'm alright," I smiled at him, "what did you need?"

He stepped closer to me and knelt down next to me. His silver eyes flitted across my face.

"You're lying to me," I bit my cheek, "Ash, it's nothing. I'm just going to have to get over it and that is going to take awhile. Now what did you need?"

I glanced down at my hands. Please just tell me what you need.

"Why did you fall in love with me?" I looked up at him.

I met his silver gaze, "you were a character in a book for me and yet you felt like so much more. I sympathized and felt a connection with you that I had never felt with anyone else in my life. I'm positive it was because we went through some of the same things. Your life, your legend was my safe place. Your story gave me hope that one day I would overcome all the crap the world had thrown my way. That one day I would have that someone or something that made all the hell I went through worth it. I too once wished I was dead and that someone would just kill me. Or that I could do it myself because I saw no light at the end of my journey. I love you-"

I looked down.

I love you like a brother. Don't make that mistake again, Kaori. The last time you said that you lost someone. You don't want to lose Ash too.

I didn't know what to do. I looked down at my lap. It felt like an eternity before Ash lifted my head. His face was blank and I couldn't tell what was going through his mind.

"Kaori, you have been through so much. You have had to fix messes that you should've never had to deal with. You have been through so much and done so much all by yourself. You have been a blessing in my life Kaori. You have given me my freedom and I am so thankful that you did. I know that had we met outside of Artemis's body that I would've been lucky to be with you. You deserve happiness Kaori. So don't feel guilty because of what happened in the stairwell. Go to Inu. Do what makes you happy." I frowned at him.

"It's not that I don't want to," I pulled away, "it's that it's not fair to him. I love and care about you. I love and care about Inu. It's just, I just-dammit!"

I stood and walked through the wall to my temple. I wrapped my arms around myself. It felt like a ball of guilt was sitting on my chest. I just didn't know what to do.

"Kaori!" I stopped in my footsteps.

I felt Ash's hands on my shoulders, "Kaori. You have no reason to feel bad. You may be a goddess, but you're allowed to make mistakes. You respect that I can't be with you. It's not plausible because of everything Artemis ever did to me. However, you are important to me. You have become one of the few people I would trust with my life. So when I say this I mean it. Be honest with him. Tell him everything. As long as you're honest with him I think he will understand." I felt tears gather in my eyes.

He's right.

I smiled up at him, "you're right. Now I'm serious. What brought you here?" His face turned angry.

"What happened?" He shook his head.

"Nothing," I frowned, "Ash. I realize I've been awol for an entire thousand years, but I don't like having shit kept from me. What's wrong?"

"Stryker put a bounty out on you. A lot of daemons and others are jumping at the chance to come and kill you." That little son of a bitch.

I glanced down at my desk. If I ever get my hands on Stryker I'm going to teach him a valuable lesson about hunting a goddess. I stood up and moved towards my temple. I was growing tired of the mistreatment I was dealing with. I wouldn't kill Stryker, but he was wearing thin on my patience. I felt Ash grab me by my shoulder. I looked back at him. He was worried. I couldn't see his eyes, but I could feel it. I could feel his concern. I laid my hand on his.

"I'll be okay. I've got this." His brows furrowed.

I pulled away from him and continued down to Artemis's old temple.

I am coming for you, Stryker. Prepare to meet your end.

Ash

As Kaori walked away I was worried. The look in her eye didn't sit well with me.

"Simi," she appeared next to me, "yes, Akri?"

I glanced at Kaori, "follow her. If she does anything out of the ordinary. Come get me immediately."

"Out of ordinary for Artemis or Kaori, Akri?" I glanced down at Simi.

If Kaori lets this affect her the way I fear it might then we may lose her, "Both."

Simi vanished. It was time for me to pay a visit to my mother's realm.