- Heinrich and Dimitri -
Dimitri and Heinrich were talking in one of Hell's cafeterias. Demons and yuki-onna filled most of the seats.
"Surprised you're staying," Dimitri said with a mouthful of food.
"I need to get better," Heinrich tried not looking at Dimitri. "I think Shiri will be more than an adequate replacement for now."
Dimitri swallowed a large mouthful of food and hit his chest as he did so. "You-" he burped, "You know much about this yuki that's going with the others? I've heard his name but I barely socialize outside the human sector."
Heinrich looked around at the yuki-onnas that were eating. "I'm not particularly familiar with him. I mostly keep to myself here."
Dimitri hummed in agreement. "Not gonna ask about Lao?"
"It's your and his business, not mine," Heinrich shook his head.
"What a fucking difference," Dimitri said under his breath.
- Shiri, Elijah, and Lucifer -
Shiri and Lucifer were standing by the carts discussing the trip ahead. Shiri was about equal height to Lucifer; his long hair and skin were both snow-white with two small blue-tipped horns poking out from the center of his forehead. His irises were two hollow black rings contrasting with his deep-white scleras.
Lucifer rubbed his neck. "Biggest issue, travel-wise, will be Jishcháá. Even then, it should be fine given my connection with Death and the fact that the team is mostly human."
"Should be fine he says!" Elijah yelled out from the cart.
"You're not even joining this trip!" Lucifer replied.
Elijah slumped over the back opening of the cart. "Tell Satan to pull the trident out of his ass and let me join."
Lucifer looked at Elijah while trying to nonchalantly motion his head toward Shiri.
"Lord Satan-" Shiri started.
'Here we go,' Lucifer groaned in his head.
"-has every right to keep you here given all that he's done for you AND Lucifer."
Elijah rolled his eyes. "You and Satan sharing that trident?"
"He doesn't mean anything by it, Shiri," Lucifer reasoned. "I'm surprised he even wanted to join given the...everything."
"Don't talk like I left," Elijah slumped further. "Don't get me wrong, I fully expect this trip to go as poorly as everything else. I just wanted to see Han'ei. I still want to travel this world properly at some point."
Shiri's nose wrinkled. "Han'ei, as it's being called now, is a pile of jewels built upon excrement."
"Still..." Elijah mumbled. "You have any idea how many places in the human world could be described the same way?"
Shiri sighed. "I look forward to seeing my homeland once again. It will be a good refresher as to why I don't miss it."
"What's it been, few centuries?" Lucifer asked.
"A little more than that," Shiri scratched his face and made an inquisitive expression. "I had planned on traveling a few centuries ago but Death's lycan hunt ended up tightening certain borders."
- Peter, Poseidon, and Satan -
The three were in a training area filled with demons. Peter and Poseidon were having a practice duel while Satan was sitting in an observer's seat, holding Poseidon's trident. A small pond circled the area Peter and Poseidon were dueling in. Poseidon was shooting bullets of water as Peter attempted to close the distance while launching fireballs in return.
Satan, while admiring Poseidon's trident, spoke to the two, "If I had known Lucifer was in the business of trading artifacts for favors, I wouldn't have made him a warden. Clearly his talents are better used elsewhere."
Peter was wheezing, his body was covered in deep bruises. He put his sword into the sheath and put his hand up towards Poseidon.
"Enough..." Peter collapsed. "When are ya gonna start trainin' Heinrich and Dimitri?" he said in a muffled tone.
"You okay?" Poseidon moved the water on the ground into the pond.
"After your team leaves," Satan put the trident down. "Once the training starts they won't have much time for anything else."
Peter dragged himself up, practically wheezing as he spoke. "Don't know why I thought this was a good idea. Even Luce hasn't managed another win against ya."
"Well..." Poseidon hesitated.
Satan spoke bluntly, "Lucifer wouldn't have any victories if Poseidon had kept his composure the entire time."
Peter looked directly at Satan while keeping a side-eye on Poseidon. "Don't underestimate a man who's willing to die in a fight."
"I never do," Satan smiled. "Maybe you shouldn't underestimate the efficacy of mental warfare."
Poseidon chuckled nervously. "Sorry if I've been too rough in these practice matches. All those centuries imitating brother have left some lingering habits."
"It's fine," Peter said while turning around. "Just know that if ya hurt Dimitri unnecessarily, Lao and I will take turns kickin' yer teeth in."
Peter refused the healers that were coming up to him. He had a sour look on his face. He kept tapping his sheath as he moved, going over the duel in his mind.
Satan leaned in as he spoke to Poseidon. "So...when do you plan on telling him that you've been holding back?"
Poseidon stared at his trident. "He knows. He saw Lucifer's body after our fight in the Underworld..."
- Death and Anubis -
Death had stopped in Heliopolis to check on Anubis and Osiris. The events in Olympus had him more worried than ever that things might have gotten even less stable between Ra and the others. Anubis had invited Death to view a nighttime play that various beings were putting on. The news of the attack in Olympus seemed to be good news to the residents of Heliopolis.
Anubis and Death were sitting in a balcony seat that overlooked a large outdoor seating area. A massive stage sat in the sands with cloth-wrapped beings giving an introduction to the play. The beings were clearly addressing Death but Death wasn't paying attention.
"Things seem...better?" Death said.
"Far better," Anubis chuckled. "That attack on Olympus seemed to change Ra."
Death leaned over the balcony, giving a half-interested wave to the stagehands. "Changed how?"
Anubis walked up to the edge of the balcony and leaned over with Death. "He's more agreeable."
There was an awkward silence for a moment. Anubis seemed as if he wanted to say something but only kept opening and closing his mouth slightly. Finally, he spoke.
"Ra and I had both been approached by the organization that planned the attack."
"WHAT?!" Death shouted.
"Shh," Anubis pointed down to the now staring beings. "Obviously we turned them down. Do you know why?"
"No," Death mumbled.
"Because of you and Lucifer," Anubis said, a small grin forming. "Ra cares for you, and I...respect Lucifer. We knew that joining some kind of attack against Olympus might make us your enemies."
Anubis let out a long sigh. His eyes seemed to scan the stage even though there was no one on it. A melancholy filled his tone as he spoke.
"I don't know how long it's been since we've properly agreed on something important. Refusing the offer to help destroy Olympus made me question my original decision. Hearing about the aftermath of it all...made me wonder if Ra was right back then."
A warm breeze flowed through the area. Death spoke as calmly as he could.
"Why didn't you warn anyone?"
The play started. An illusory form of Zeus walked onto the stage and was joined by an illusion of Ra. The illusory Zeus yelled in an exaggerated tone about starting a war with Ra while also rambling about how strong it is. The illusory Ra tried reasoning that a war was a terrible idea before being interrupted by the illusory Zeus.
"Weaklings!" The illusory Zeus shouted. "Fighting and fucking are the only two things I know!"
A chuckle spread throughout the crowd. Even Anubis was exhaling a small amount of air from his large nostrils.
"Utter trite," Anubis grinned. "But it keeps the lessers happy."
"Answer my question," Death was monotone.
Anubis sighed. "Despite our territory's feelings toward you and Lucifer, that does not erase millennia-old resentment."
Death's raised his hands off the balcony before clenching his hands. "What would you have done if Lucifer or I had died because of that attack."
Anubis put his hand on Death's shoulder while continuing to watch the play. "Have some confidence in your abilities," He removed his hand. "Besides, we're friends, not allies. Take the small victory of my kin not helping to destroy our former enemies. And before you ask, I have no information to give on the organization."
"I assumed you wouldn't," Death sighed.
Death thought about his battle with Chronos. His eyes were on the stage as the play proceeded to depict an overly dramatic battle between the gods of Olympus and Heliopolis. As Death pictured Chronos dying, an illusory Anubis was ripping light out of Hera.
"I don't think these plays will ever properly capture just how bright that woman's soul was," Anubis smiled.
Death remembered that Poseidon had mentioned Anubis as a potential candidate for being able to kill Chronos. He kept his eyes on the play as he spoke.
"Even though you don't consider Lucifer and me allies, please don't hesitate to ask us for help if you're desperate."
Anubis turned his head slightly. "What's happened to you recently? Every century you seem to get more and more--what's the word for it? Friendly? Less bloodthirsty?"
"Take it as a good sign," Death responded. "There's a reason my rider days are considered a calamity."