I am Artemis

Where Is She

Inu

"I don't understand! She never showed up to have lunch with you? I thought we were past the secrets! She was acting weird this morning and I knew! I knew something was up and I didn't push!" I hit the table and a glass shattered.

"Inu, we don't know that she was keeping a secret. I think something seriously wrong was happening. Do you have any idea where she went today?" I shook my head.

"No! She said she was going to work and then lunch with you!" I felt so worried.

She had been missing for the rest of the day. It was midnight and we had no clue where she was.

Ash

I had never seen Inu like this. I couldn't help but agree with him. She had done so much on her own that if something else happened she wouldn't have come to us. I pulled out my phone ready to dial her number when my phone rang. It was her and I answered.

"Kaori? Where are you," Inu looked relieved, "I'm okay. Can you put me on speaker, please?"

I did as she asked.

Kaori

"Alright, Kaori. You're on speaker," I bit my lip, "hello Inu. Ash. Can you meet me in my office at work?"

"Where the hell have you been," I cringed, "I'll explain when you arrive. Please stay calm and keep an open mind." I hung up.

Please don't be too angry, Inu.

•••

I was sitting at my desk. I had made myself look like the old Artemis until I could tell them what happened and why I couldn't ask them for help. It wasn't long before the elevator started moving. I gave a small smile to Ash and Inu when they entered my office.

"I'm sorry I vanished on you both. It wasn't on purpose. Something happened  to me as I left to meet you for lunch and I had to have Leto's help. No one else could besides her, because Artemis had come back. She had started trying to take over her body and bind me to a mortal one," I stood and walked to the other side of my desk, "I wanted to come to you both, but this was something that I had to have Zeus and Leto's help with. It was the only way I could actually step into my role as the new Artemis. I needed Zeus's blessing."

I let the image of the old Artemis vanish. I saw the surprise on Inu's face. I glanced at Ash and I smiled at him.

"She's gone for good. She's never coming back. She'll never hurt you ever again, Ash." I looked up at Inu.

He looked angry really angry as I knew he would be. I had kept something from him again, but I didn't have a choice. Things happened so fast and I was so scared.

"I'm sorry." I whispered.

I looked down at the ground. I hated that I had to do this without telling him. I had to move fast though, and there wasn't time to tell him. I felt awful about it. I closed my eyes trying to keep the tears at bay. I didn't deserve to cry. His anger is what I deserved. I heard a door slam and I opened my eyes. He was gone and hadn't said a thing. I looked at Ash and saw he had his glasses off. I smiled at him sadly.

"I really screwed up, didn't I?" My voice cracked at the end.

Ash didn't say a word. He came over to me and gripped my chin. I looked into his eyes and didn't feel anything except a crushing pain in my chest. I closed my eyes as a tear slipped down my face. Suddenly I was enveloped in his arms.

"I didn't mean to keep you both in the dark," I sobbed, "I couldn't risk involving you both knowing I would need to have them help. Gods from other pantheons wouldn't take kindly to being in your presence. I couldn't risk their wrath. I'm sorry."

The tears wouldn't stop. It was like the floodgates had opened.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" I sobbed.

My knees buckled and Ash slid to the floor with me.

You messed up Kaori. Now you may have lost Inu for good.