I am Artemis

Argument

Kaori

I was at home, in my temple in my room sitting on my bed. Inu had just come out of the bathroom. His hair was still wet from the shower, and I was watching him.

"Are you still angry?" He looked at me.

Then he turned away from me and I grit my teeth. I got up and left the room. It was time for me to head into work anyway. I wasn't working as much because of the pregnancy, but I couldn't keep dealing with the cold shoulder. I was trying. I knew he feared for our daughter's safety. I understand that. More than he will ever know, but I trusted Kissare. I sighed as I started making breakfast. I stared at the stove as I cooked food for me and Inu. He at least was willing to eat what I was cooking, but he was still angry with me.

"Kaori." I turned to him.

"Yes?" He stood there looking at me fully dressed.

I searched his eyes and pressed my lips together.

"Inu-" he held up his hand, "it's Chatos."

I felt pain in my chest and looked down.

"So where does this leave us?" I looked up at him.

"I don't know. But I don't want you leaving my sight." I grit my teeth.

"You know I can't be in your presence at all times. I have things to do-" he snarled at me, "it's not up to you! You have a monster that you don't even know in your womb with our daughter! She isn't even born and you're putting her in danger!"

I bit my bottom lip and grit my teeth. I had been patient and kind. Patient with him. I had even proven that I knew I was birthing. My eyes were still gold because of Kissare being reborn in my womb.

"Chatos. I would never put our daughter in danger. I wouldn't believe someone without proof. I am not an idiot!" I yelled.

He stormed up to me, "you are not to leave my sight. Once she is born-"

I raised my hand and he quit speaking, "you don't get to make that threat to me. I would kill for our daughter to protect her. So don't you dare."

He glared at me and gripped my wrist hard, "I don't care. You have done nothing but make decisions without me. She is mine just as much as she is yours. And you are a danger to her and she is not safe with you and she isn't even born yet."

I felt the color leave my face, and nausea built up in my stomach. I pulled away and stormed towards my old temple.

"Don't walk away from me, Kaori!" I left and fled to the old temple, sealing the old temple behind me.

I didn't make it far before my hands started trembling and I collapsed to the floor. My head fell into my hands and I sobbed.

Apollymi

I was sitting at the tree where Kissare and I once stood together. His sword rested against the tree waiting for his return. The tree had become full of roses since I put the sword there so I knew Kaori was telling the truth. That Kissare would come back to me. I was grateful to her for being willing to carry him in her womb with her unborn child. I was lucky to have her in my life.

"Akri?" I turned and saw Chatos.

I instantly knew he had done something again. He had that look of guilt on his face.

"What have you done to her now?" He looked down.

"I am still angry with her. She did this without me. She put my daughter in danger! How does she even know that it's actually Kissare?" I stared at Chatos for a moment and I narrowed my eyes at him.

"You believe after everything she knows about this world that she wouldn't?" Chatos hesitated for a moment.

"It doesn't matter. That's my daughter! And I don't trust her with her safety." I narrowed my eyes.

"What is wrong with you? That girl has been through Tartaros and back and you still question her judgement? She has done everything to fix what Artemis did, and took all the blame. What is wrong with you? Kaori is a goddess, a mother, and an older sister. She would tear apart the universe to save her child." Chatos shook his head.

"You may know that but I can't trust her anymore." I looked at him in disbelief.

"Do you love her?" I watched him carefully.

He looked me in the eye and then looked down, "I don't know anymore. I can't keep doing this. I can't keep dealing with her making these decisions for us without talking to me about it."

"So what do you wish for?" He looked up at me.

"I want to take the baby and make her forget us." I froze for a moment.

"Before the baby is born," he nodded, "yes. I want my child to be born from another's womb."

I stared at Chatos in disbelief. He wanted to rip this baby from Kaori. Who decided to birth my Kissare into this world? I glared at him.

"Are you insane? That woman loves her unborn child. Has done so much for all of us! This is how you repay her?" Chatos didn't look ashamed at all.

"Yes." I had him by the throat.

"You better reveal yourself, little imposter, before I end you myself." I snarled as I squeezed his throat tight.

There was a flicker and then they no longer resembled Chatos. It was a Daimon.

"You were foolish to think you could deceive me. Now where is Inu?" They clawed at my hand around their throat.

I squeezed tighter, "I will not ask again. Where is he?"

"I don't know! I didn't kidnap him. I was only told to pretend to be him. That he was mad at Artemis for endangering their unborn child. That I was to act accordingly." I didn't hesitate to transport us to Kaori's temple.

•••

I appeared in her temple and heard gasps. Kaori saw me and rushed over to see me holding the Daimon.

"Matera? What's wrong?" She looked tired, stressed even.

"Have you been intimate with Inu recently?" She looked confused, but shook her head.

"No. Not since that day we came to see you. Why?" I threw the Daimon down at her feet.

"He is parading as Inu." All color left her face, and then she gripped him by the shirt.

"Who ordered you to do this?" He looked terrified.

"Why does it matter? You're going to kill me anyway." She gripped his shirt tighter.

"A name and you will be returned unharmed." I could see the fury in her eyes.

The Daimon hesitated and Kaori tightened her grip, "now. Or my offer vanishes."

I watched her. The golden eyes that remind me of Kissare make her look deadly. The Daimon gripped her hands and she dug her nails into his shirt.

"Five." Her hands glowed green.

"Apollo. It was Apollo!" The Daimon turned to dust in her hands.

She looked down, and her body flashed with green and she wielded armor and daggers at her hips. She turned to me and the anger in her eyes was one I knew all too well.

"Kaori-?" She vanished from my sight and I knew she wasn't going to be so kind to Apollo this time.