California, 6am

The beeping of her monitor becomes Hikari's white noise to help her sleep. She struggles to shift her blanket to keep her head warm from the frosty AC in the room.

Several vases of flowers paint the white room with much needed color. Faint footsteps outside her door attend to other patients in the ward. A sense of warmth opens her eyes slightly.

A genuine embrace from her little brother that he's returning to them soon. She crosses her arms over the blanket to accept the hug.

"Otuoto (little brother), everything will work out for you. You went against impossible odds before and this is...a lot different," she almost chuckles. "I can't imagine the pain you're feeling in Gaia. Just know that we are rooting for you. That you will find your way back to us...And I'm sorry."

She fights back against the tears in her eyes. "I take that back. I will be right here ready to punch you in the arm and mess up your hair. As many times as I can. It's too bad you can't do the same to me."

She looks over to the reflective mirror in her room. The headscarf hides the results of chemotherapy on her.

Although it's been helping, the number four can't get out of her head. She thinks about her brother's reaction to hearing how much time she has left.

A brave smile graces her face. He will heal me with what he has. I know it.

Her eyelids close with that hope in mind.

....

Greg sleeps in his bed with a smile on his face. Taki's presence in his dream of them tossing back beers and catching up from the time they had lost. He chuckles that Taki will be a real superhero with those powers over time. All the good he can do.

His best friend wraps his arms around him. "I missed you, man."

"I missed you too."

Misha rubs the circles under her eyes from another late-night medicine delivery. Several empty energy drinks serve as her passenger. As she parks her car, she receives an invisible hug from her best friend.

The warmth gives her the energy needed to finish out her tasks and return home for a peaceful slumber.

Aiko tosses and turns on the futon before getting the same embrace from her son. She tries to hold him still.

"I will cook you anything you want, just stay longer."

She feels his presence is gone, but his warm smile lingers to give her hope.

Little Karisa's feels her father's hand on her stomach. A near gummy smile reveals a small tooth.

Penny receives a dream from her husband. Their lips reuniting with passion with their arms wrapped around each other like trees. Her hands feeling his developed muscles while he fondles her butt. Him sliding down to give her a foot massage that leaves her in complete bliss. She pounces onto him with desire to turn their bodies into one.....

Her dream ends with her resting on top of him for another day of love to come.

"I love you, agapimenos."

----

Mt Delphi,

Mina the Oracle enters the room of Apollo with several guards to quietly remember the times they spent together. How his music had her feet dancing with joy on the grayest day. Her fingers touch the painting of him before slowly walking to the room of her paternal figure.

Dionysus' cellar is left untouched with his wine bottles still there. Her lips quiver from his gentle presence that hadn't left this place. If anything, she would capture Takashi Watanabe and bring her father figure back...and yet it all feels wrong.

Her gifted abilities tell her something's amiss. Like an unfinished puzzle to solve. That the foreigner isn't this evil person. Seeing his face on the bounty letters only brings a friendly warmth to her. It sickened her until she remembered a lesson from the god of festivals.

"If your gut instinct is guiding you, let it travel."

She closes her eyes. A glimpse falls into place of the foreigner sitting opposite from her. Him asking for her--

A bright light grabs their attention. She and the others jump from the sudden appearance of the goddess of wisdom. They quickly kneel before her.

"Forgive me, my goddess. Is everything alright?"

Athena pushes back a wild strand of blonde hair. "Stand up, Oracle of Delphi."

Mina listens without hesitation.

"I need you to perform your ceremony to answer my question."

Maya goes to object from the urgency of the deity's command. Mina still has to rest from the other ceremonies of this week, but she keeps her mouth silent.

Mina gives her a reassuring smile. "I will do my best in this state."

Athena teleports them all to the horrid fountain to get it done right away. Mina performs the ritual spell before drinking the chalice to the last drop.

The deity looks on as the Oracle suffers the epileptic side effects of the divine water. Not even a gram of concern or worry for the gifted mortal.

The shaking stops with the rainbow aura surrounding her figure. Mina can't find the strength to get up from her knees.

"Forgive me, Great Athena. I understand you've been-"

The deity waves her hand. "Get on with it."

"Understand. Are you wanting to know if you will lo-"

Athena's gripping of the spear halts her next word.

"I'm sorry."

"Just tell my future after all this is done."

Mina closes her eyes. Disturbing details enter her mind. She maintains a stoic face to bury the anger and shock from what the goddess did to the Trojans, Medusa, and many others. A glimpse of her future almost makes her jaw drop.

"Goddess of wisdom, you will earn what you rightfully deserve."

The complete stoicism makes Athena point her spear at the Oracle. The tip a few inches from her throat. The guards stop themselves from pulling out their short swords. Maya's breath hitches.

"With what emotion are you using?"

"No emotion. It's the truth."

"Tell. Me. Now."

A strand of blonde hair falls on her face. Her sky-blue eyes darken where no light can be found. Almost like an animal willing to kill for a morsel of food.

Maya glances at Mina out of fear for her life. Although it's forbidden to kill an Oracle, only the living Zeus could punish her. Except Athena is his favorite child out of the ones he sired. Her confidence drops like a rock.

The Oracle of Delphi takes a deep breath to focus her thoughts. "You will be at your father's side in the end."

The spear remains in place. "Anything else?"

Mina exhales. "There's...something muddying my thoughts. I can't describe it."

Athena's helmet shines to illuminate her mind. Takashi Watanabe is sitting opposite of her while drawing squares with the dots. Hephaestus is on the sidelines with the others observing their game. Their squares match each other until... A wide smile of relief breaks on her face. She will best the mortal in that trivial game.

She withdraws her spear while turning her helmet off. "Thank you, Oracle. I will be getting some sleep now."

With a flash of light, she vanishes. The rainbow wisps disappear, leaving Mina on the cold ground.

Maya and the guards rush over to her. She places a hovering hand over her mouth. A small sense of relief that breath is still coming out of her.

A guard gently lifts her up into his arms to bring her back to bed. The grip on his arm stops him.

"Wait."

"Ms Mina, save your breath. You need to rest."

She lets the guard tuck her into bed with the others standing watch over her.

Maya runs out and comes back with some honey infused water. She tips the cup into her friend's mouth to rebuild her stamina. Thanks to Athena's urgent command, the Oracle needs a month to rest or else...

Mina lays her hear back on the pillow. "Thank you."

The Oracle can't close her eyes. Not even to rest them. There was more to the vision than what Athena had seen. Maya's jaw drops from the sight of her friend smiling. Up until she was appointed as the main Oracle, she could smile to her heart's content.

Mina glances at her. "Gaia's justice will be done," before falling asleep. Takashi, it will be rough, but you will set things right. Don't give up.