Satan, February 27th

Do you think Ayuma is watching over her people right now?” Eris asked, lounging around the tv room with Satan.

“Who?” Satan yawned.

“Wait, all these years spent in Ayuzuma, you don’t even know about Ayuma?”

“No?”

Eris got up from the couch and looked down at Satan. “She’s the patron goddess of Ayuzuma. She’s like an equivalent to Gaia. There are still people in The Black Kngdom and The Fuschia kingdom that worship her. How have you not heard anything about her?”

Satan sighed while watching Eris roll her eyes while she tried to give information on Ayuma as helpfully as possible. “Guess I conveniently missed everyone talking about her.” Satan sighed.

She shot up. “Ayuma should save her people! If she doesn’t know about all that’s going on right now. we should make her know about it!”

“Are we doing this right now? I think if she’s just like Gaia, as you said, she’d have done something for her people.” Satan groaned.

“Maybe the war can end like, right now. Come on, I’ll get you your crutches.” Eris grabbed them off the floor and handed them to him. He rose from the couch reluctantly, one leg raised off the ground.

“Wait, do you even know where to find her?” Satan’s tail flicked.

“Yes, it’s by the palace in the Rainbow Kingdom. I’m not sure where exactly but at least we can walk around and you’ll get out of the place, let’s go!” said Eris, placing her shawl on the couch. Satan sighed and teleported them to the Rainbow Kingdom.

They took a moment to take in the sights of The Rainbow Kingdom. Who wouldn’t? The palace in the distance, with flowers in a vast array of colors decorated outside, with Queen Auriana tending to them. Everything seemed to be peaceful as usual in The Rainbow Kingdom. She turned around and frowned at Satan's state but still waved. Satan waved back, half asleep. Eris looked around and saw a temple in the distance. It reminded them of temples they’d seen back in The Black Kingdom. It was golden, with a roof that swooped upwards. Gold plastered almost every surface, and only trace amounts of white were visible.

In front of the temple was only one torii gate, made up of two ceramic pieces, spread out very far. On top of the pieces lay another piece of ceramic swooped up and down. There were also three smaller pieces hanging down, holding onto another piece of ceramic that fitted between the parallel blocks. Of course, the entire thing was gold. Eris pointed ahead, which Satan could only make a face at.

“Aren’t temples like these supposed to be way longer? There’s no sacred fence, guardian lion-dogs or purification fountain.” Satan said.

“You remember the terminology of The Black Kingdom temples!” Eris said.

“Well duh, I’d hope I did if I was visiting The Black Kingdom so much.” Satan quickened his pace, mumbling about his crutches to himself.

Eris walked inside, still very ahead of Satan, and surveyed the inside. In front of her stood a table with a red tablecloth that had an oil-painted portrait of Ayuma herself and offerings of food, jewelry, letters, flowers, urns, anything that could be thought of was probably there. Satan continued to lag behind, only just making it inside the temple.

“Um, hello goddess Ayuma. We have come to find you and discuss the state of Ayuzuma.” Eris shouted.

“There’s a war that’s only just started!” Satan yelled. Their voices bounced off the temple's walls, echoing back at them. They stared at each other for a moment.

“How the hell do we summon a goddess?” Satan asked.

“It’s always different! Maybe we should’ve brought offerings…” Eris explained.

“Maybe let’s try that.

They left the temple and slowly walked over to Auriana’s garden. They asked for some flowers to offer to Ayuma, which she graciously gave. According to Auriana, the purple violets and the peace lilies symbolize peace, one of Ayuma’s most important titles.

They made their way as fast as possible back to the offering table. They placed the bunches of flowers on the offering table. Looking at some food offerings, they noticed a small bowl of steamed white rice with a pair of chopsticks.

“Really? Just rice for the patron deity?” Satan asked.

“According to legend she really likes plain rice. Plus, it’s an easy offering, why not do it?”

“I think we can do better then that, Eris. If that’s her favorite she’s had it over and over again, she must get sick of it at some point.”

“Do you plan on making a twelve course meal for her?”

“No… Can’t we at least have an optional topping?”

“Fine, you got any ideas?”

“Chicken soup with rice, but they’re separate. We bring two bowls, chopsticks and a spoon, so she can either combine them or just eat the rice.”

“Perfect, if she doesn’t like it you’re cooking another batch of white rice by yourself.” Eris said. Satan groaned but agreed.

Since they were in the capital, it wasn’t hard to find a grocery store. With Satan on crutches slowing them down, they opted for Eris to do the shopping and Satan to set up everything. As Satan arrived at his palace, he went to the kitchen. Nico and Arsene’s conversation fizzled as they watched him struggle to pull out pots from the cabinets.

“Uh, you need help there?” Nico asked.

“Nope.” Satan let the other pot crash onto the stove from the above cabinet. Nico winced at the noise.

“How did that talk with Ayuma go?” Arsene said.

“We didn’t get to talk yet. Eris is coming back with stuff to cook food offerings.” Satan pulled out a salt shaker and two wooden spoons.

A human-shaped patch of darkness appeared in the room as if it was on cue. Satan quickly whipped out his pitchfork. It had to be Takahiro.

But as the darkness cleared from Eris waving her hands, it was highly unlikely it was. She greeted the three while slamming a bag of rice, plastic containers, chopsticks, chicken, carrots, and a colorful array of herbs on the kitchen counter, She slowly placed two bowls of fine china onto the counter. Eris and Satan cooked their offerings together while having side conversations with Arsene and Nico and getting into occasional banter. After almost three hours of mostly just making broth, they finally finished. Nico and Arsene didn’t realize how hungry they were and drooled over the offerings, but Eris had to stop them so three hours to cook offerings for Ayuma wouldn’t be a waste.

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They finally made their way back to the temple, teleporting in front of the offering table in hopes that they could finally get this over with. Eris placed the two bowls down, Satan placed the chopsticks in front of one bowl and a spoon in front of the other, and he helped Eris open the plastic containers to pour into the bowls, pouring slowly to make sure they didn’t make a mess. As the last drop of soup flowed down into the bowl, and the last grain of rice dropped into the other bowl, the two immediately made a prayer motion with their hands. They slowly opened their eyes and saw… the exact same thing. Satan covered his face while groaning, digging his nails into his face. A sudden idea popped into his head, and he brought his hands down to hold onto his crutches again.

“Do you think if you reveal you’re a goddess she’ll appear?”

“What does being a goddess have to do with her appearing?”

“I don’t know just try it!” Satan almost yelled but covered his mouth immediately and apologized.

Eris brushed it off and took a deep breath.

“Ayuma, goddess of Ayuzuma, I am the goddess Discordia, and I urge you to show yourself for the good of your people!” Eris dramatically spoke, placing a hand on her heart. Satan covered his mouth and stifled his laughter, leaning on his crutches.

Smoke appeared, and it shifted into someone. Ayuma had olive skin, a long white kimono, and long raven hair. She twirled in the air a few times before floating downwards to look at Eris, then at her offering table.

“You called? Sorry, I was taking a nap.” Ayuma began scarfing down some of her food offerings, including the one Satan and Eris cooked up.

“I hope you’re not too tired. We want to discuss an important thing with you,” Eris said.

“Oh, what is it?” Ayuma placed the food back on the offering table and spun around to sit down. They eyed each other and sat on the floor, Satan opting to just lay down rather than sit.

“Well, it’s not good news, unfortunately. Have you been watching over your people or reading the news lately?”

“Nope. if it’s not in my temple, then I don’t know about it. I try to stay out of planet business anyways, last time I got too involved, things didn’t end very well….”

“That does make sense. Well, long story short, a war is going on. Six kingdoms taken by the enemy in a matter of days, and they won’t stop until they’ve taken over the whole planet. After they’re finished, they want to colonize the rest of the galaxy and rule over everything as gods. They’ve also managed to kill the time gods,” Eris said.

“Is that for real?”

“Yes! Is there not anything you can do?”

“Well, who are these people?”

“Katherina Astraia, formerly Conmara, and Takahiro Koizumi. They’ve become black sheep to this planet.” Satan interrupted.

Ayuma froze up at hearing their names, eyes widening. She hugged herself, frowning with upturned eyebrows.

“Them?” Ayuma mumbled.

“Yes! Is there not anything you can do?”

“You said it yourself, they killed gods. What if they kill me?”

“We can make sure that doesn’t happen, don’t worry! Please, whatever you can do, we’d like to hear it.” Satan begged.

“I’m sorry, I can’t face them again!” Ayuma covered her face and disappeared into smoke. Eris and Satan turned their heads to each other, then back at the fading smoke in disbelief. They walked out of the temple, standing. They were frozen outside the temple for a few minutes, just processing what happened.

“Do we tell someone? Who do we even tell?” Satan mumbled. As Satan said that, a man in white priest robes ran into the temple.

“She’s gone! I can’t feel Ayuma’s presence!” The priest screamed out as he ran up to his other fellow priests. The Rainbow Kingdom’s citizens heard the news and started running like there was anything to run from. The priests raced up to Queen Auriana, who dropped her watering can and covered her mouth, horrified.

“Something tells me we don’t have to,” Eris mumbled, “Let’s just go home.”

Satan agreed. Blood coated their vision as usual, and they appeared back in the red kingdom palace’s living room as quickly as it did. Satan laid his crutches on the floor and flopped onto the couch, turning on the TV. As expected, the news was covering Ayuma’s disappearance. Satan clenched his fist while his other hand changed the channel.

Araya, Arista, Lucifer, Arete, and Phoenix were all seated at the dining room table. Cards of red, blue, green, and yellow decorated the table in a messy pile.

“Oh, you’re playing uno?” Eris smirked, seating herself next to Araya.

“I am destroying Lucifer right now, don’t talk to me.” Araya placed a card on top of the pile, only one more in her hand. Arete, Phoenix, and Lucifer all placed cards but it didn’t even make a dent in their massive decks.. Araya slammed down her last card.

Lucifer, Arista, Phoenix, and Arete groaned as Araya pumped her fists in the air and threw cards at Lucifer.

“In your face!” Araya screamed out.

“You… meanie head!” Lucifer hesitated.

“That’s not your best insult.” Eris laughed.

“There are children here, Eris. I am not cursing in front of them.” Lucifer pointed at the kids.

“I know what fuck means.” Arete said.

“Arete!” Lucifer and Arista panicked and covered Phoenix’s ears.

“I know that word too. Daddy taught me to not use it until I’m older.” Phoenix said. Lucifer and Arista sighed in relief.

“Up for another round?” Eris suggested, holding the back of some Uno cards to the four. Everyone nodded, and they dished out the cards, preparing for another battle- er, card game of Uno.

Araya left the kitchen, still celebrating her victory. She walked over to Satan, who was dramatically lying on the couch.

“Hey, how are you holding up?” Araya rested her head on the couch, peering down at him.

“Annoyed at myself, nothing out of the ordinary.” Satan yawned. He blinked, trying not to doze off.

“You should go to sleep.” Araya suggested. She reached out a hand, caressing his face. Satan hummed in response, making himself more comfortable. They both remained still for a moment. If they had a say in the matter, maybe they could both stay like this forever. Maybe there would be no Katherina, no Takahiro, no wars, nothing in their way. Maybe they could be together with no obstacles.

But fate is unkind.

Not yet.

One day, but not yet.

Araya slowly moved her hand away from Satan’s face, who was still and quiet.