I slammed open Papiya's door and saw her nonchalantly lying on her bed while looking at her hand.
"Hey. We need to talk about things." I told her.
The door shut behind me with a wave of her finger, but I didn't let that dissuade my confidence in this room. I just had to put on a farce until I got what I wanted out of her.
"You're damn right you do. So, you want to explain to me why my brother Zeus is dead?" She asked me.
"Because he almost killed me. So, answer my questions. Listen, I want to know what your game is. I took out Ono and Zeus and I'm still alive, so I'll play your damn game. What is it?" I asked her. I really wasn't ready to play it... but I had to hold up my end of the deal.
Call it compassion, whatever you want to, but Papiya and I made a wager about this.
"My game? What, you're actually interested in it? You ruin my life, and now you want to play my game...? I really should kill you." Papiya said.
"I don't think that'll be the smartest move. I am the guy who killed Zeus after all." I told her.
"Funny. So, my game is going to involve a ton of mental strain. Are you sure somebody like yourself is up for the task?" Papiya asked me.
"I'm not supposed to do anything to you anyway, considering Amaterasu wants to see you," Papiya told me.
"Her again? Where is she going to be? Why does she want to see me?" I asked her again.
"Because you killed a Patriarch. That means you are one now, Buddy." Papiya explained to me.
Huh? Maybe I'm crazy... did she just call me a Patriarch? She can't be serious, right? These Patriarchs are insane, I don't equate to their skill at all...
"Says who? Fuki and I did equal work on Zeus, we should both be one if I'm going to be one." I told her.
Papiya turned her body to face toward me again and leaned her hand against the side of her head.
"Did you not see Amaterasu walk in here? I mean, come on. Are you sure you're the one who killed Zeus? You know what... it's not my business. Ama! He's here!" Papiya called out.
The front door opened before Amaterasu walked in, but it closed perfectly behind her. She put her hand on her hip and looked at me again.
"Long time no see Anima. My oh my, look how much bigger you are!" Amaterasu said to me.
"Uh... don't be weird about this. What is this about, why am I a Patriarch? I didn't kill Zeus alone." I told her.
"Hmph, well, it was Ono's wish, wasn't it? And, to be specific... you have a much more grand name! Just like me! You are... The Demon Patriarch! Doesn't it sound cool?! I made it myself!" Amaterasu told me.
"It sounds... extra. Why are you choosing that?" I asked her.
"You're the Patriarch who ruined our hierarchy. The Patriarch from Hell. The Demon Patriarch." Amaterasu explained.
"I didn't need a rundown of everything you were thinking. I just wanted to know why I had this title out of nowhere. And, why are you here?" I asked her.
"To take you to the Patriarch meeting, of course. You'll meet everybody there and we'll do the inauguration, or whatever." She said.
"Or whatever? That sounds pretty important for you to just say 'whatever'. Will my friends be there? What happens there?" I asked her in return.
"Well, whatever you want to happen. It's what you make of it, that kind of thing. Don't do anything stupid and you probably won't die." She told me while shrugging.
"What do you define as something stupid? Because this is kind of making me nervous." I told her.
"Just calm down! You can bring however many friends you want. It's just a party, you can relax for a bit, you know?" Amaterasu told me.
"I don't know... but I appreciate you letting me bring my friends. So, when do we leave?" I asked her. Amaterasu looked at the door, then back at me, then smiled.
"Now, if possible." She said with a wide smile.
"Now, huh? Let me talk to my friends." I told her. Amaterasu nodded and followed behind me.
"Don't worry Papiya, I'll bring him back to play Memory Lock! Oh, can I hold your friend?" Amaterasu asked me.
"My friend? You mean Shima?" I asked her. She nodded, holding her arms out for Shima to hug her.
"No... I don't trust you, you're not allowed." I told her.
"Aw, come on! I will hold you, you hear me, slime girl?" Amaterasu told her.
I don't really like this woman... and Shima agreed with me.
I walked out of the door with Amaterasu right behind me. She rested her clasped hands behind her head and smiled while we walked over to the crowd of people I left to go see Papiya.
"Who's this?" Tama asked me.
"It's Amaterasu. Nice to meet you, Tama. You know, my nickname is almost like your name! I'm Ama, you're Tama! Isn't that something... Well, I'm here to take Anima to a Patriarch meeting, and I told him he could bring whoever he wanted. So, who's going with him?" Amaterasu asked everybody for me.
"Huh...? Woah, you're going to be going to a meeting...? Sounds important. I'm in!" Ruby said.
"I'll be going," Ipa commented.
"Not without me," Ken added as well.
However, Soul and Tama stood quiet.
It was understandable, I think our journey was coming to an end here.
"So, just the five of you?" Fine by me... Anima, are you ready? Are your friends ready as well?" Amaterasu asked everybody.
"We're good to go... but really fast. Tama... Soul... I'll see you guys around. Next time you see me... I will be a better Hero." I said to Soul specifically.
She looked up from the ground with a teary-eyed smile, ripped off the orange sleeve on her right arm, and handed it to me.
"Don't forget that. It's a promise." She told me.