As Hinata and Koji lead them across the farm, to the furthest building, Melody can't help but shiver. She walks so close to Marcus that their shoulders bump with every step. When he steps out of her way, she follows. It's like she can feel hundreds of eyes on her back - or rather, on Marcus's back. Fujin and Raijin could be anywhere. What if they recognize him? Would they just attack without warning? Her heart racing, she takes his hand, squeezing his fingers for support. Anything that will let her know he's still there.

"It's okay," Marcus whispers, slowing his pace. He lets Hinata and Koji get a few feet away before speaking again. "If they come after me, I'll handle it."

"I don't care if you think you can handle it, I don't want you fighting them at all," Melody says stiffly. "What are we going to do? If Hinata and Haruto are telling the truth, they plan to kill you!"

"We can't worry about that right now," Marcus says, his voice annoyingly calm. Melody's losing her mind with worry, and it's as if he thinks they're talking about the weather. "If things are really this bad, then we need to deal with Amaterasu first. If we can get her to step in, she may be able to call them off." Melody nods slowly, relaxing a bit when he laces his fingers with hers. A fly buzzes around her ear, but she tunes it out, focusing on their conversation.

"I hadn't considered that," She admits sheepishly. "Do you think they would listen to her?"

"I have no idea, but right now it's all I can come up with. If they don't, or we can't convince her to come out, then I'll have to figure out something else." He sets his jaw and scowls at himself. "You're the diplomatic one, so you focus on Amaterasu. I'll think of something for Fujin." Melody's eyes sink to the ground sadly. She still feels so exposed, even though she's not the one they're after. Obviously, if they go after Marcus, she will have to step in to help. But that may end up making things worse.

"We're here," Hinata says, drawing Melody out of her thoughts. She meets Hinata's eye, her face suddenly heating up. She rips her hand out of Marcus's, trying to look casual. Hinata giggles innocently, gesturing to the large building before them. "This is the home of most of the major Kami. Amaterasu, Hachiman, Ninigi, Takemikazuchi. Everyone that's still here is probably inside."

"What are we waiting for then?" Koji says, stepping past her and throwing the door open. Just like the other farmhouse, the windows show nothing of the interior, and once they're inside it looks far bigger than it did on the outside. Long corridors with even more vibrant gardens, beams of light shining through long slits in the ceiling. Melody waits for Marcus to go first, then follows close on his heels.

"I'm afraid I can't come in with you. Since I'm taking on Akari's responsibilities, I have to get back." Hinata explains, bowing to them politely.

"It's fine, I know the way," Koji assures. He leads Marcus and Melody into the building, which is set up like a temple. "Before we get there, I should probably explain the whole sister thing," Koji adds as he guides them through a maze of identical hallways. "Akari is my half-sister. From what she told me, she became a goddess around 20 years ago. Her father died, but she stayed in contact with our mom."

"I thought you had to give up your mortal connections when you became a god?" Marcus snorts. Melody elbows him in the ribs, finally relaxing now that they're back inside.

"Akari's a little...different. She likes rules that make sense, but she told me she hates ones that don't. So, she ignores them."

"My kind of girl," Melody says with a grin.

"Our mom met my dad when he was in Japan on a business trip, and she decided to move to Canada with him just before I was born. I grew up hearing stories of my older sister, the goddess. Of course, my mom thinks it's just an inside joke they share. She told me Akari's actually an electrician. No idea where that came from."

"Let me guess. One day you wanted to meet her and see what all the fuss was about, caught Susanoo's eye, and now you're an apprentice," Marcus says sarcastically. Koji bobs his head from side to side, then shrugs with one arm.

"Basically, yeah. I wish it was more exciting than that, but Haruto just sort of decided that I have the right stuff." He does air quotes and sighs to himself, hanging his head sadly. "Little did he know I'm nothing like the real Susanoo. But Akari was so happy to have a little brother, and honestly, being a god sounded pretty cool. So, I promised I'd stay."

"Even though you hate it?" Melody says curiously, feeling bad as soon as the words leave her lips. "Sorry, I didn't mean-"

"No, you're right," Koji says. "I already told you what it's been like. Akari is the only one I can be myself around, and she has no idea about the act I put on with the others." He stops and turns to face them, lowering his head. "Please, promise you won't tell her about it! I know it's wrong, but with all that she's going through right now-"

"You have to tell her," Marcus snaps before Melody can. "The longer you drag it out, the worse it will be." Koji's shoulders drop, and he nods sadly.

"R-right..." He mutters. Melody steps up and rubs his shoulder gently.

"Look, we won't say anything. But Marcus is right - you can't keep it from her forever." She says. "How much further until we find her room?"

"It's right around the corner," Koji says, jerking a thumb over his shoulder. "Listen, let me do the talking for now, okay? Without Hermes here, everyone else might be a bit on edge."

"Deal," Melody says, stepping back into place at Marcus's side. "Lead the way." Koji smiles at her, spinning on his heel and striding confidently around the corner. Half a dozen people are huddled in the hall, their heads together. Melody can't make out what they're saying, just indistinct whispers drifting through the air.

"Alright, break it up!" Koji snaps, clapping his hands together. Melody cringes at the sudden shift in his mood. He sounds powerful and authoritative to be sure, but she quickly remembers why she was so hesitant when they first met. "I'm here to see Amaterasu!"

"Koji!" A heavy-set man says, breaking away from the group. He has a double chin, a rounded belly, and stands even shorter than Melody. He takes Koji's hand and shakes it firmly as if he's meeting a celebrity, drawing a hankey to mop his bald head with the other hand. "Thank Amaterasu you're back! We're just about at the end of our ropes!"

"Have you seen Haruto yet?" A woman adds, leaning against the wall. She has dark hair and a slim build, wearing a button-up shirt tied around her waist. "You should take his title as soon as you can. It might help Akari-"

"I'm here to talk to her," Koji interrupts, raising his head high. He thrusts the Grass Cutter above his head for them all to see. "I will present this to her and hear what she has to say herself."

"Very well," The man says with a bow. He pauses, noticing Melody and Marcus for the first time. "Koji - who are these two?" He says, a sudden edge to his voice. His beady eyes narrow, his thick cheeks tightening.

"Friends," Koji assures, dismissing him with a wave. "Step aside and let us through. I will not ask again." He glares at the man until he slinks back, lowering his head quickly. "They are Mel and Marcus, and they have come from afar to help us. You will treat them like family while they are here." He commands. The man nods again, turning to Melody.

"I am Kaito - my title is Sukuna-Biko-Na. If there's anything you need, please don't hesitate to ask," he says quickly. Koji walks through the group confidently, shooting a dark look at anyone who lingers in his path. Marcus does the same, but by now Melody knows that his glares are because of his poor vision. She hurries after them, feeling awkward under their gaze. Koji steps right up to the door, banging his fist against it harshly.

"K-Koji, what are you doing!?" The woman from before gasps, a few of the other gods backing away nervously. "Amaterasu doesn't wish to be-"

"She is my sister. If she doesn't want to be disturbed, she can tell me herself," He hisses. The woman backs away, and Melody can't help but notice the wide ring they're leaving around them. She wonders how accurate Julien's stories about his secret girlfriend - the loving, adorably bubbly Akari - actually are.

"Akari, it's me!" Koji yells, banging on the door again. "Let me in!"

"She won't respond, no matter what we try," Kaito says gently. "We tried the roosters, to convince her it was morning when they crowed. We tried the mirror so she would see her reflection. Even Hinata's dance wasn't enough to bring up her spirits."

"Did you actually think that stuff would work?" Marcus snorts, earning another sharp jab from Melody.

"They did in the legends," Kaito explains patiently. He rubs his double chin, shaking his head regretfully. "Who are we to question the wisdom of the first gods?"

"Akari!" Koji calls, kicking the door harshly. The assembled gods gasps when it creaks open, letting out a sliver of light. Half of them drop to their knees immediately.

"You and your friends may come in. Nobody else." A small voice comes from inside. Koji nods, turning to the others.

"Everyone will return to their duties," He commands, pointing down the hall. Again, everyone hurries to follow his command. Kaito dashes away after struggling to his feet. Once he's gone, the door drifts the rest of the way open. Koji steps into the blinding light without hesitation. Marcus, seemingly unaffected by it, follows. Melody raises her arm to shield her eyes as she passes through the threshold.

When the light fades, it's like they're standing in an entirely different building. The walls are made of drywall and plaster, like Melody is used to. The door, which was fabric before, is now made of solid wood. The floor is littered with balled-up tissues, empty buckets of ice cream, and half-opened DVD cases. A flattened cushion sits on the floor facing a round mirror the size of a basketball. A dozen blankets and pillows form a ring around the cushion like a bird's nest.

Melody takes it all in, looking it over slowly until her eyes land on Akari. She has to do a double-take to make sure it's really her. She's only met the sun goddess once, but Akari has the type of face that's hard to forget; smooth skin, round cheeks, thin lips, and a button nose. Her eyes are brown with golden flakes around the iris, always wide and full of wonder. Paired with her brown hair, always styled fashionably, she usually looks like a life-sized doll.

The woman before them now has a hunched back, swollen eyes, and a sickly, pale complexion. Her nose is red and raw, and her hair is a tangle of knots and snack foods. Even her eyes seem dull and grey, with no sign of the life they once held. She's wearing a pair of baggy sweatpants and an oversized shirt covered in stains. Melody hangs back near the door, too afraid of what the goddess might smell like.

"Look at yourself," Koji says, pulling her in for a hug. Akari hugs him back, seeming to melt into his embrace. "What happened to you, Akari?" Melody lets out a soft sigh, happy that he's back to being himself. His real self.

"Koji," She whispers, her voice thick with emotion. Tears build in her eyes as she pulls back, cupping his face in her hands. "I'm so glad you're safe. After everything that's happened, I was worried when you didn't return."

"I'm safe," Koji confirms, leaning his head in her hand. "And I have the Grass Cutter." He holds the sword up as proof. What little joy was in her eyes disappears, and she sighs sadly.

"I see," she says, gently taking it from him. "Good. Then you can become Susanoo whenever you're ready," she says stiffly, setting the sword against the wall. "You have Amaterasu's permission."

"Akari, what happened? I've never seen you so depressed." Koji tries again, and Melody stifles a gasp. For a horrifying second, she wonders what Koji would do if she blamed Marcus and his rebellion. Would he join Fujin's quest for revenge? No, he's a pacifist, she reminds herself.

"A lot has happened since you left to face the great snake," Akari says sadly. She waves her hand, and three more deflated pillows appear on the floor. Another wave produces a short wooden table in the center of the room, and she sits down in her blanket nest. "Sit and I'll explain."

"I heard some of it from my new friends," Koji says, gesturing to Melody and Marcus. "They're here to help."

"I remember you," Akari says with a polite nod to Melody. "You're one of the apprentices at Olympus."

"Yes ma'am," Melody says, taking the cushion across from her. "My name is Melody. But you can call me Mel."

"It's good to see you again, Mel," Akari replies. She turns to Marcus curiously, tilting her head to the side. "I don't think we've ever met."

"No, we haven't," Marcus says. He stays standing as Koji takes one of the cushions next to his sister. "My name is Marcus."

"Marcus," Akari echoes thoughtfully. "Which Pantheon are you from?" Melody's chest tightens, her breath catching in her throat. Five long seconds pass before Marcus takes the last cushion.

"I'm from the Aesir," he says, closing his eyes. "But I'd like to keep my title to myself for now." Koji blinks at him, his mouth falling open.

"The Aesir? But I thought-"

"I'm here to help Mel and Oliver," Marcus interrupts, an edge to his tone. "That's all you need to know." Koji's lip twitches, his eyebrows squeezing together. Melody leans forward, sucking in a quick breath.

"C-could you tell us what's going on here at the Shinto?" She gasps, trying to keep her voice level. "Hinata told us there's a lot going wrong." Akari's head droops sadly, and she nods, resting her arms on the table.

"There is. Where do I even start?" She says. Koji takes her hand, squeezing it softly. Akari returns a gentle smile before continuing. "In the rebellion, Tsukuyomi turned against us. He tried to help Loki drive the Pantheons apart and destroy us." She explains. "I hadn't seen Akimoto in years. We were best friends as apprentices, but when we became gods, we couldn't see each other anymore." Melody and Marcus both shift uncomfortably.

"I knew he hated the way things were. I did too - he was like a brother to me, and since I wasn't allowed to see my mortal family while doing my training, I needed someone like that. But eventually we had to stay away from each other, as the legends say. I knew he was up to something - he was always coming up with silly plans that landed him in trouble. But ever since becoming a goddess, I couldn't do anything until it was too late." Melody bites her lip, gripping her shirt over her heart. She glances at Marcus again, wondering if he realizes that's exactly how she felt when they stopped meeting.

"Then Loki staged his rebellion. I thought, surely there's no way Akimoto would do something so stupid. But when Anubis arrived and told us what he did, I couldn't bear it. I thought-" She hiccups softly, tears rolling down her cheeks. Koji grabs a box of tissues from the floor, and she pulls three out, dabbing her face. "I thought, if I hadn't ignored him for so long, m-maybe I could have prevented it. Maybe he wouldn't have been so desperate." Marcus hangs his head, and from the corner of her eye Melody catches him glance in her direction. She feels pressure build behind her eyes and fights to keep a neutral expression.

"B-but it was too late. The treaty was broken, and as the head of his Pantheon, I had to punish him. I hadn't seen him in 20 years, and the first thing I had to do after reuniting was seal him away." Akari hiccups again, leaning into Koji to cry into his shoulder. Marcus awkwardly plays with his golden cuffs. Melody squeezes her eyes closed, pushing her tears back.

"Then...then he told me...he loved me. He wanted to marry me." Akari continues sadly. "I never thought of him like that, but he told me he had always felt that way. B-but when I told him I didn't feel the same...he started yelling. He accused me of breaking the treaty myself since I..." She bites her lip to stop herself, and Koji hugs her again.

"Because you love Julien," Melody finishes, her voice trembling. Akari nods, blowing her nose.

"All I could do was stand there and take his anger. I had already sealed his powers and locked him away - what else could I do? And when he was done...he said that he's had enough of the gods." She says, her voice growing hoarse. "He told me if I wouldn't marry him, then he would never take an apprentice, and the death of the god Tsukuyomi would be on my hands."

"That snake," Koji snarls.

"I should have known not to trust him..." Marcus mutters, clicking his tongue. Melody chews her lip, praying that nobody else heard him.

"None of this is your fault," she says, touching Akari's arm. "You had no idea what he was thinking, and you couldn't have known what he would do." Even Melody has to admit that it sounds like an excuse. Probably because it's what she's been telling herself ever since finding out about Marcus's role in the rebellion.

"I still turned a blind eye to his pain," Akari whispers, hugging herself. "For 20 years I let it fester and eat through him until the man I knew was consumed by it. And now it's too late to do anything about it." She sighs, dabbing her eyes with her wad of tissues again. She takes a deep breath, pulling away from Koji. "So now I'm looking to the future. A new future."

"What does that mean?" Koji says, his eyes wide with fear.

"I'm so proud of you for defeating Orochi," Akari says, patting his cheek. "You'll make a wonderful Susanoo, I'm sure of it. And I hope you can lead the Shinto to a brighter future."

"Akari, what are you talking about?" Koji says, rising from his cushion. "You're talking like you're not going to be here to help." Akari sighs, folding her hands in her lap formally. She raises her head, sucking in a deep breath.

"That's because I won't be. I plan to step down as Amaterasu as soon as we can find a replacement." Koji chokes out a sound of shock, collapsing back onto his cushion. Melody's blood runs cold as a dozen scenarios run through her mind. Fujin and Raijin, free to go after Marcus whenever they want. Koji struggling to hold the pantheon together while keeping up his Susanoo act 24/7. The Shinto getting attacked from all sides when the other Pantheons realize they don't have their head goddess anymore.

"You can't step down! You don't even have an apprentice!" Koji squeaks, slamming his hands on the table. "We promised, we'd become gods together! What about-"

"I'm sorry Koji, I really am. But I can't take it anymore." Akari says, an ominous calmness to her tone. She reaches under the table, producing a decorative mirror. It's round, in a blue trim decorated with pearls. Koji's eyes widen as soon as he sees it. "Do you know what this is?"

"Y-yata no Kagami," Koji breaths. Akari nods, turning it for Marcus and Melody to see.

"It's one of Japan's three great treasures. It's also Amaterasu's Divine Relic." She explains, setting it in the center of the table. "With this, I can pass on my title instantly, no training needed." Seeing Koji's look of horror, she takes his hand, offering a gentle smile. "I can't take being the head of the Shinto anymore, Koji. I miss our mother. I miss Julien. I can't take being separated from those I love anymore. Now that I've seen what it leads to." She looks down at the mirror sadly, her hands sliding into her lap. "The Kami deserves someone who can fix things, not make them worse."

"But that's exactly why we're here!" Melody says, straightening. She wipes her eyes on her sleeves, digging into her bag. She pulls the treaty out, carefully rolling it onto the table. "This is a new treaty. We've already got the Ennead and the Aesir to sign it, and if you sign, then the Olympians will too," She explains quickly, pointing at the signatures at the bottom. "We don't need the old legends anymore - or the old rules. We can make it so-"

"May I?" Akari interrupts, touching the treaty gently. She reads the first few lines, a thin smile spreading across her lips. "This looks wonderful, it really does. I believe it could be exactly what the gods need right now."

"Then-"

"But I can't sign it," Akari continues. Melody's jaw quivers as Akari squares her shoulders, lifting her head. "I won't be Amaterasu for much longer. It's not fair for me to agree to this and then step down." She says, closing her eyes. "You're welcome to stay as long as you'd like. Once I've found my successor and passed my title on to them, you can discuss having them sign. I'm sure they'd be happy to."

"You can't really intend to step down," Koji says desperately, squeezing her arm. "We promised, we'd become gods so we won't be alone when mom passes. But if you step down, you'll be mortal again. Do you know what that means?" His eyes shimmer with tears, and Akari takes his hand, patting it gently. "What am I supposed to do if you start aging again, and I don't? You're the only family I have."

"You'll have a new family by then," She assures, but it's obvious that the thought hurts her just as much as it does Koji. Koji inhales sharply, turning away when she returns her attention to Melody and the treaty. "For now, I think you should show this to Fujin and Raijin. If they knew there were people trying to fix things, they might relax a bit. There will never be peace while they're still planning to kill Loki."

"We will," Marcus says, breaking his unusually long silence. He rolls up the treaty, thrusting it back into Melody's hands. "Thanks for your time. We'll make sure to set things right."

"Marcus-!" Melody snaps, but he shakes his head, giving her a stern look.

"She's made up her mind. We can't change it. Let's hope Oliver can when he gets back," Marcus says smoothly. "Until then, we should try to fix the other problems here." Melody grips the treaty tightly, chewing her lip. She still hasn't figured out how to address the problem with Fujin and Raijin.

"Thank you for understanding," Akari says to Marcus with a light smile. "Hopefully I won't keep you waiting too long."

"I'm sure you won't," Marcus replies, reaching over the table to haul Koji to his feet. Koji squeaks in surprise, his eyes still wet with tears. "Your sister needs space right now, so let's go."

"B-but, I can't just-" He stammers. Marcus glares at him.

"Give her some time," He growls through his teeth. "Besides, we can't put this off forever." Melody slowly stands up, returning the treaty to the hidden pocket in her bag. She watches Marcus as he pulls the door open, staring into the hall. His scars make it hard to read his expression, but she can tell she's not going to like whatever he's planning.