In the lingering moments as we stared at the other, it was debatable who could be considered the most shocked.

Years have passed by since I met those haunting eyes and my mind is pulled back to the past, into the vivid memories of a grey eyed boy with mischief hiding behind every smile.

There was no way I could ever not recognise that boy, who always stood so close to me till the day he was too far for me to reach.

There were thousands of questions I wanted to carve in wood and smash in his face but plagued in worry, I could only ask.

"Are you dead?"

But long before I could roll out the last word he had moved. His steps turning into impatient strides as he crossed the crystal waters like it were solid ground.

But it seemed he was unable to answer for he only stared, his eyes fearful and brows furrowed in alarm. Enough for me to turn back to confirm whether there was a monster standing behind.

Suddenly half way past, he seemed to have realized something crucial and his brows eased and his fear dissipated into shock.

In the end he chose to materialise a feet away startling my poor heart into overdrive that I stumbled back with weak knees and fell hard on my back.

"Sorry." He apologised in a rush and I noticed the shift in hands that had most likely reached out but never caught hold.

"Its okay." I reply and stand up dusting off in awkwardness. "It's really you." My eyes trail up to meet glacial orbs, secretly sore for his hands were the first to scoop me up and the last to ever let me fall.

But maybe my sadness wasn't as hidden as I believed as his hand hesitantly reach out but it still falls back to his side.

I close shut my eyes for a moment of clarity till a voice rings out in pain.

"Ahh." He steps back rubbing his jaw after my headbutt. "You violent child."

"I am not a child!!" I yell red faced with fat salty tears trickling past my lashes. He grows stiff, his shoulders rigid and tense as he watches my outburst.

"You left!"

As his flawless face morph in pain I realize with a pang of guilt that he couldn't stand me crying. "Why did you leave?" I tug at his robes as his face stays downcast , his fists trembling as if he was holding back.

"Rain." He suddenly calls taking me aback by the familiarity of the treasured nickname. "I can't....." he sighs. "You shouldn't be here."

"Is there a reason?" My grip loosens and I suddenly feel the urge to rub his pretty face in mud. As rage takes over, I turn on my heels determined to run away, away from the same person I prayed I could meet again.

The steps I took were hastened and rushed but of anticipation that he would stop me, tell me that he would explain.

But the distance only grew till my forehead hits a sturdy chest with a pair of hands steadying me by the shoulder.

Blue eyes brighter than the noon sky looks down in worry. Zeus then turns his gaze to the black clad figure who had frozen like a brush stroke in a painting.

"What do we have here?" Comes a voice from above and am gently nudged behind him.

"Take your hands off of her!"

Zeus and I instantly freeze by the blade like hostility. Never once have seen such an expression upon his face, never such rage as he advances forward while we stand rooted in lasting shock.

"Why? Because you can't?" Zeus is the first to regain but provocatively chides and maybe he had already foreseen the consequences for the shield was up even before the attack was decided.

An orb of lightening engulfed the King of Olympus protecting him from the invisible dangers which nudged at the force field with terrifying might that the ground around it caved and the air froze to a foggy mist.

But standing only centimetres away, I felt I was a world apart without even a cold breeze blowing past my face.

"It's been a long time, Death." Zeus nonchalantly says.

"Not long enough Lord Zeus." And suddenly the honorific was a mean word rolling off his tongue.

"And I am the magnificent Elizabeth." I mutter under my breath finding myself completely ignored by the two.

"What brings you out of your hibernation?" I glance at Zeus finding him stupider by the moment.

And it seems the other party was no different but I do not fail to notice how he never came closer than twenty feet as if he was afraid of something.

"It was boring so I thought I would wake up and burn a few more of your palace Mister Sparks."

Sparks?

Sparks???

I attempt to swallow my fist to muffle the bubbling laughter.

Zeus' expression was no longer as playful as he says. "I remember warning you not to call me that."

Frightening lightening surges, widening over the plane like the legs of a spider.

And even though, I do not feel the temperature drop the sky begans to snow and the onslaught on the barrier intensifies to the point that the invisible power surgers reflect off and mar the castle walls. And to my dread Zeus goes an extra mile to distroy a balcony with an 'TERRIBLY' aimed counter.

Consequences, consequences.

Around this time I excuse myself from the v.i.p seat of this exiting thriller. Feeling that in a slip of second they might completely forget my existence and I would end up as a burnt out matchstick.

It was then I notice the army of soilders rushing forth from the horizon alarmed by the commotion.

I mean what could have possibility given us away?.

"Hey"

I shriek even though I recognise the one behind. " You dumpo, I almost went into cardiac arrest." I slap away Will' hand inching its way to my hair.

"Sorry sorry." He retieves his hand giving me a toothy grin and I sigh feeling kind hearted. "I forgive you."

"You always seem to end up inviting trouble." Will notes wrapping an arm over my shoulder to give me a tight squeeze.

"Yeah this time I threw a stone at it."

"Oh no, you didn't." Will exclaims in a funny undertone and I break out laughing by the sidelines of deadly battle.

"Sir its getting out of hand." A soilders comes up to us. "We are afraid we can't stop them." The statement seems funny for it was an army that came up against two individuals.

Will nods solemnly and I nudge him. "Go stop them."

"How would you prefer me, roasted or decayed?"

I pretended to think hard on the matter and finally concluded. "Is there a combo offer?"

"You just want me dead don't you." He smiles and despite the lightness of the lines the atmosphere was tense.

"Always" I wink.

"They are going to get hurt." I say and Will agrees. "Most likely. "

But he notices my concern as I look at the black clad man and offers. "They heal very quickly, it doesn't hurt them more than an ant bite."

"But."

"Believe me Elie they fight like this all the time, each time for a different reasons. Between them this is not unusual." He squeeze my shoulders again, but I still couldn't swallow down the bile in my throat.

Realizing all other means were hopeless, I try out my last resort, the simplest out at that.

I inhale deeply.

"Izumi!!"

And suddenly the battle pauses and the land falls silent expect for the crackle of lightening.

As the piling snow melts a pair grey eyes hold my gaze.

You still remember the name? I wanted to ask, but couldn't.

In that moment of happiness a toothy smile breaks loose and I only realize the gesture when his eyes soften and his crimson lips softly curve.

The soilders around suck in a cold breath unable to comprehend how a single word could bring about such a change and quite truthfully Will was no less than a stone statue after the development.

And by his opponents withdrawal Zeus honours battle morals and does not go forth to attack, but does something more underhanded and mocks.

"Ahh. You haven't even told her who you really are?" Mocks Zeus and I watch as the thin strings holding together his calm break.

The moment was instantly lost in memory.

A storm began to brew, one that couldn't be tamed and the people gathered brace themselves.

"Come on, stop it guys." I yell, but the winds are to strong and with the soil and vegetation caught in the whirlwind I could hardly make out their figures within.

"It was a nice try." Will comments casually resting his elbow upon my head.

But I am not detested and decide to try again.

"STOP IT!!"

My effort makes Will's hand fall off amusingly, but it worked.

It worked?

The chaos calmed to utter deadly silence and both Izumi and Zeus seemed to have stepped on a landmine and dared not act recklessly.

With a cheeky grin I turn to Will to show off my accomplished even in doubt, but find him looking elsewhere.

And I only turn to confirm my assumption.

Flanked by the three headed guardian, the Lord of the Underworld descends from his throne.

I reach out to hold Will before he could bolt but was too late for that coward was no where in sight. Not surprisingly neither Zeus or Izumi stayed to offer their greetings and the army that had assembled steadily scurried away in fright.

Following their example, I do not face Hades and began to walk away but a large paw stops me.

Cerebrus seems to shrug when I narrow my eyes feeling quite regretful for thinking he was cute.

I turn painfully slow and meet the eyes of hellfire that rage in annoyance and amusement.

With a tone ice cold he asks. "Care to explain?".

Where the hell is the emergency exit?

"Elia, you are in hell."

I see..... I said that out loud.

Really loud.

I gulp wondering, who can save me now?

.