Once more, disappointment had flooded the young kitsune as she visited Hoja Mesto. The guild informed her that those she sought were still not gracing them with their presence, leaving the boys fending for themselves. While Akira would normally help them, she was confused by the way she longed to see Lewis again. It had been some time since she last saw him. Lewis could be anywhere and she did not want to endanger him by asking around, spreading his description.

Why couldn't he come visit her? Could he not write a letter? Send her some sign he was alive and well? Akira wanted to scream in frustration just thinking about the lack of communication from her favorite person. It was in another flurry of unanswered questions that allowed her to overhear two men talking, her ear quivering at the description one d given.gave. ”–that stoic kid?”
“The one from that silly thieve’s guild?”
“Ya, that’s the one.”
“Odd kid.”
“Heard he got tangled with the god of wrath.”
“What’’d he go and do a thing like that for?”
“The god, from what I hear, took him under his wing.”

Fueled with this knowledge, the kitsune made some inquiries and found her destination. With the help of her pakpak, Akira felt excitement course through her as they flew across the waters to the island and up to the tip of the volcano. She was going to see Lewis after moons and moons again! The beautiful doors made her pause as she admired the constellations, few of them recognizable from the cathedral of Zets'Ki Cradle. Her hand reached up to feel the dark steel doors, admiring a dragon before the creature who bore her weight gave a worried chortle. "Akira be fine. Go home, Akira have mirror." With a few beats of his wings he was gone, leaving the young teen alone with the doorway to a god's realm. Thin fingers curled around the warm handle, almost cooler than she expected it to be considering the swelterng heat that rose from the volcano's mouth.

Beyond lay a starlit, dark path, reminding her of her father's realm before he fell from grace. Akira entered the realm with her mind stubbornly set upon Lewis's face. As she thought about how she would wrap her arms around him in a big hug, scold him for not visiting, her pace quickened until she was running down the hill. She skidded to a halt when she came upon the entrance to the labyrinth. Did she have to solve this just to make her way to Lewis? This maze was quite a bit bigger than the garden maze of Sularia, quite possibly far more difficult. Damn that Lewis for getting mixed up with someone who tests everyone upon entering the realm! Akira showed her childish temper as she stomped angrily at the thought.

Still… Lewis would forever be out of reach until she could pass this trial. She faced worse situations, endured much more than she cared to admit. No little maze is going to best her! Akira marched into the maze. "Hey! Who turned out the lights? Lewis!!" she called out, more upset by the sudden blanket of darkness than anything. When the kitsune realized no one was going to come light the way, that this darkness was to stay, Akira puffed her chest as she glared defiantly into the dark. "Akira not afraid! My daddy was god of dark!" The defiance carried her forward, hands outstretched until she came to the closest wall. She picked a direction and followed it, taking each turn with every corner of the structure.

The darkness was engulfing, allowing her mind to wander. Each step was half slid, barely off the floor. Soon, despite the constant low hum she could hear, her ears began to ring. Why did he not visit her? What reason drove him to this deity? Was she not important to him anymore? Akira stumbled at the thought. What would she do if she lost him forever? Emotions mixed dangerously in the child. "Lewis!" she called out in frustration. A few more steps were attempted until her hands balled into fists once more. She simply could not allow him to walk out without a goodbye or a reason. "Lewis! When I find you–!" her voice choked as she took a gasping breath, trying to calm the violent storm of emotion and anger within her.

Draconis stopped mid-sentence, the Head of Raith’s Celestial court turning her head slightly, eyes closed as she listened. ”The Lord has a visitor, return to your stations, we shall conclude our business for today until the Master is free to grace us with his presence once more,” she stated simply, her words were a whisper and yet they seemed to boom throughout the star studded room of the Observatory, causing the Blind God to smile at her forcefulness. 
The other Celestials bowed to Raith and Draconis before vanishing, flickering star dust floating to the floor the only indicator that the Court had been in session at all, leaving Raith with the imposing woman dressed in long, heavy robes of gold and white. 
”We had time, the Pilgrim has merely reached the door, they have yet to cross our threshold,” Raith said in a amused tone, resting his head on his hand as he grinned.
”While that is true my Lord, I know full well you would track their movements. Some of what we must discuss requires your fullest attention.” 
There we few who could have been allowed to speak to Raith in this manner, but Draconis was one of those exceptions - the oldest star in Revaliir’s sky she was the most powerful of his Court, and the one he trusted most of those he could call upon. Sighing  he waved a hand to dismiss her from his presence, he had no intention of telling her she was right, she bloody well knew she was. 

The childish tantrum outside of Raiqi caused the God to pause as he entered his Throne room, raising an eyebrow at this particular Pilgrim. The footsteps indicated someone far older than the tantrum suggested, could he have been wrong? Lewis’ name echoed through the vibrations of his realm, brought to his sharp ears from the maze. Ah, so this Pilgrim was not here to bow to him, but to find his apprentice? Interesting. She was the second in a short period of time to come looking to reclaim Lewis’ life from him, and he would not bow to her anymore than he had that damned fool on the outskirts of his domain. 

”Lewis is on an errand, doing his duty to me as he should. My what an angry little thing you are, come closer child and let me devour that rage for you, delicate toys should not hold onto storms as powerful as the one brewing inside you,” Raith smiled darkly as he appeared from nowhere, the maze flooding with eerie blue light  click of his fingers. ”Tell me Akori, did you say your father was Nemesis?”

Akira stumbled backward, one hand instantly on her dagger amulet, yanking it off her neck as it grew into the small weapon for protection. The other shielded her eyes from the sudden blue light. Her ears twitched at his words, fueling her frustrations. When she could finally see properly, Akira decided she did not like the dark smile on the stranger's face, craning her neck to see him properly. Defiantly, she puffed her little chest and held her dagger before her with a single hand. "I not toy and you can't eat me! And my name not Akori. It's Akira." She said with an attitude befitting her apparent age.

The kitsune kept the distance between them, neither attacking nor retreating. She kept her stance as she waited, watching for his next move. "You need your ears checked, too. I said my daddy was the god, not is. And it's rude to eavesdrop!" Akira glared at the blindfolded man before her. Was he going to help her find Lewis or not? It remained to be seen, yet she was growing impatient.

"Akira not know why, but Nemesis took it from my daddy Xunatar. So I not know him yet. Where my Lewis?! I want see him now! He promised!" She stomped in anger. He broke the promise and failed to come visit her! "Did you keep him from me? Big meanie!"

Raith smiled wickedly, his elongated canines bared as he did so, the God looked as dangerous as he was - now that he had Ascended he felt he had little use of being deceitful in his outward appearance, no longer did he need to manipulate those around him - they all knew who and what he was, and that was exactly how he liked it. He chuckled at the child’s defiance, unimpressed by her show of courage. 
”Was, all fairly inconsequential when you stumble into my domain,” he shrugged nonchalantly. ”And when you’re in my house it’s not classed as eavesdropping. Anything you say or do in this place is rightfully mine to hear or do with as I see fit. And don’t forget it Little Akira, because I only give one warning.”

Behind his ornate blindfold Raith rolled his useless eyes at the child. If he had been unimpressed by her show of courage he was less impressed by her temper tantrum. ”Maybe Lewis has outgrown a snot nosed child such as yourself now that he has found his true purpose in life? Did you ever consider such things? That maybe, just maybe, Lewis chose not to see you? Not that I could blame him, who would want to spend time with a toddler when they have the company of a God?” He snorted, turning his back on her entirely since he was utterly bored with her hysterics. It was no wonder she hadn’t made it out of the Maze, she wasn’t worthy. ”I took Lewis on as my protege, he has found his purpose here, while he mentioned you to me I have not kept him from you, so your anger towards me is misplaced. I have given him tasks and training, as he asked me to do, if he has not come to you then that is his choice. You will have to ask him why he has not come to you.”

Her heart thundered in her heart as he bared his canines in his smile. ’I am not afraid, I am not afraid… I won’t be afraid…’ she repeated to herself. Akira wanted to counter him against the eavesdropping, but he was right. This was his domain, and she was the trespasser. She swallowed hard at his warning, wondering if she opened her father up for some kind of trouble for her actions.

Raith’s next words were like a knife in Akira’s heart, her armed hand dropping uselessly as she gazed dumbfounded at the god. Tears were welling in her eyes at the possibility of Lewis just abandoning her. Was she truly holding him back now that he found Raith? Was her connection to him plucked like a weed, discarded without remorse? “Who would want to spend time with a toddler when they have the company of a God.” The words echoed in her mind as if mocking her. It was as if she had been picking up lessons from Conner and Lilly instead of her teaching them.

Her amulet clattered to the ground as the tears began to flow silently. Akira found her feet propelling her forward, her arms wrapping themselves around the god. ”I… Forgive me…” she sobbed into his tunic. ”I’m drowning, crushed by things Akira don’t understand. I… just need him… Please, I sowwy.”

Good. It seemed the girl had some semblance of sense since she did not argue the point of this being his home, and thereby anything within it his right. In truth he didn’t want to deal with this pathetic being, she hadn’t been worthy enough to make it through Raiqi therefore she wasn’t worthy of his precious time. Unfortunately she had invoked Lewis’ name, and since the lad was one of the select few in his inner circle Raith had ignored his own instincts in answering… he should have sent one of his other Pilgrims to deal with this annoyance. 

Oh by the Heavens above she was crying?! One lip curled and he sneered at the girl, reiterating his previous assumption that she was little more than a toddler in skin older than her maturity. It was all well and good sporting a frame such as that, but coupling it was a stunted mind was utterly ludicrous. As she launched herself at him Raith snarled, physically repulsed by the attack. In seconds blue flame engulfed his body and he shook Akira away, physically pushing her back as he spread his black wings wide and snarled at her. ”You weren’t worthy enough to reach my presence without help you are definitely not worthy enough to touch me. Daughter of a God, former or other otherwise, I suggest you learn you place in this world before I deem it in my remit to teach you,” he growled, brushing down his clothes as he fueled his wings against his back. ”I forgive nothing, impudent whelp, you constant display of immaturity only cements my belief that you are not right for Lewis, though I will let him sort you out himself, you are not my bloody problem but you will be his.”

”LEWIS!” Raith’s voice boomed throughout Orme. ”My domain is being defiled by the toddler you claim is special to you, I suggest you attend me at once to deal with her.” There was no question that Lewis would come, the lad knew his place and Raith had made his tuition costs quite clear. Once he arrived Raith snarled, lips curling as his soulless eyes fixed on the lad. ”Deal with-“ he waved his hand in Akira’a direction dismissively, ”this. It is not permitted in my domain when I am home, is that clear? Until it acts its age and learns to speak properly I will not tolerate its presence In my home. Today it can stay, after that if I am here when it attends, be warned, I will eat her.” He hissed, turning and vanishing into the shadows to return to the Watchtower, he required a long hot soak to rid himself of its touch. 

Focus.

His mind and thoughts were clear. It had been quite some time since he had achieved something this close to peace. Sure, there was always a dark place in his heart that held contempt for the weak, and more so, hatred for those who would take advantage of it, this was something more akin to clarity. His thoughts were pure and simple, and there was no fear or anxiety about what his purpose was, or what may come in the future.

Lewis opened his eyes. The room he had been given was small by most standards. To the assassin, it was as if he was given a mansion. There were books scattered across the room holding the knowledge of a variety of different subjects - customs, language, killing techniques, poisons… Lord Raith had spared no expense in the tutelage of his apprentice. He stood up from the soft mat he had been meditating on, and moved over to a table that held a small stack of papers and a few vials of liquid. Poisons had been the next thing to teach himself, and Lord Raith had provided a small sample set to get started.

As the boy started to inspect the liquid, sniff, taste, and test, he was suddenly shocked out of his clarity when the God called for him, his voice echoing through everything. What was more confusing was the tone of voice; Lord Raith was angry.

Lewis listened as the message continued. Defiled? His eyes widened. Her? But…how? I’ve been careful. No one should have been able to track me. It took mere moments for him to vacate his room, and make his way into the maze. His time here had shown him the path through Raiqi. It wasn’t long before he appeared before his master. What was waiting for him, though, was a surprise. Akira.

This is… complicated. His eyes showed nothing of his surprise. To the outside world, he appeared cold and emotionless. It was a part of his training. His mind, though, was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Emotions, the one thing that he had hated about Akira. While he appreciated the warmth and comfort, it was one thing after another when it came to emotions. The hurt. The pain. It was one of the few reasons he disliked being attached. With Akira, though, it was something he had just accepted.

“Akira.” He said finally. He glanced to his master, and then to her. “What…are you doing here?” he asked finally. His hazel eyes focused on the kitsune. Why did you come. I cannot stop him from killing you… He had not wanted her involved with Lord Raith, or with anything else involving his life as an assassin. It would only drag her into the sights of those who would oppose the path that the God had chosen. He had intentionally separated himself from his old life.

“You should go back. Xeik and the rest of the guild will be missing you.” Lewis was still emulating his cold persona. “This is no place for you. You could be hurt, or killed by being here. You’d be safer away from me.”

Her breath was caught in her throat as he snarled, blue flames coating his form while he pushed her back. She was shocked. No one had ever reacted negatively toward her in such a long time, she had almost forgotten what it was like to be untrusted, disliked and discarded. Akira blinked up at him then hung her head as the properly scolded child she was. Everything she had been trying so hard to shape herself up to be was dashed to the wind and ignored, landing her in this disposition with a deity. She didn’t want to be seen as the little sister. But everything she tried kept blowing up in her face.

Even when Raith’s voice boomed through the realm, Akira remained motionless save her ears folding back against her head. She was fighting a fresh wave of tears, attempting to keep her lips from trembling. She should not have come…

Footsteps approached, Akira barely affording a glance in the direction to see that it was indeed her Lewis. Her eyes slid back to the ground, listening to the god’s rules about her presence. Raith had spelled it all before her. Act her age, the age she’s attempting to be. Speak properly. They were things she was already working on. He just gave her another reason as to why it was so important. The god vanished, leaving her alone with Lewis. Slowly, her amber gaze lifted to meet Lewis’s hazels.

Anger flared again. It was his fault she was in this realm in the first place! If he had just come visited her like he had promised, none of this would have happened. Akira marched up to the boy and punched him. ”You jerk! Make me worried you died by breaking your promise!” But.. seeing him here, unscathed and healthy… Lewis was so cold, emotionless. He was quick to push her back to the guild. Maybe the god was right? Does he really need someone like her complicating things? ”The Lord is right, though… About everything.” She straightened her shoulders as her heart died inside. If she truly loved him, she had to let him go, for his own sake. This was going to be the hardest thing she ever did.

”I apologize for my disturbance. Neither you nor master of this realm will ever have to worry about my presence. I shan't ever come here again.” Akira swallowed hard against the lump in her throat, trying to keep her voice steady and half as disconnected as Lewis emulated. ”Goodbye… Lewis…” She held her chin up high as she walked past him. As soon as he was out of her peripheral vision, her tears welled and her chin quivered. The kitsune was cutting her best friend out of her life, never to see him again, and it hurt far more than anything she ever had to endure.

Akira kept her posture straight as she walked, but could not hold back the tears. Nothing was ever going to be the same again. She didn’t want to lose him, but he didn’t need her. He finally found his place in life, and she had no place in it. So why was it so hard to breathe? She found herself reaching out to hold a vertical surface while she clutched her aching chest as she began to hyperventilate.