This was a bad idea...scratch that, it was the WORST idea.

But she had to tell had to tell Demeter that her child was somehow kidnapped by her own brother. Yuuko swallowed hard as she neared the cottage in the meadow. The very humble cottage that she always went just to visit her best friend since childhood. But approaching it now, it was like nearing the entrance to a vicious monster instead of an agriculture and harvest goddess.

But still, she was one of the Olympians...she is just as powerful as her siblings in her own right.

Gods...this is a really bad idea. She hoped that she would live long enough to see her Takeshi and her precious girls.

As she made the journey to Demeter's earthly domain, a small part of Yuuko actually weighed the pros and cons of not telling the favorite of Mother Earth Gaia about the abduction. Of course she squashed that idea immediately. For one thing, she wouldn't want someone to forgo telling her what became of her daughters if they were kidnapped. And for another it simply wasn't right to do. Demeter deserved to know. Speaking of knowing, the more Yuuko thought about this whole thing the more she wondered something...

"Why didn't Persephone fight back? True Hades is one of the founding Gods, but surely Persephone is able to defend himself to some degree." Yuuko spoke aloud to herself as she climbed up the many steps to the natural temple where mortals go to beseech to Demeter.

Well, cottage for now. But still, it showcased on how powerful Demeter would be...if she felt like it. Still, Yuuko was at the point of no return. After all, Demeter needed to know. Surely, she would understand, Hades is her older brother. He's family...and family forgive each other. Right?…Right?

—

"...Hades...did WHAT?!"

It took everything in Yuuko not to flinch at the overwhelming voice of the Harvest Goddess, feeling everything in the interior of the cottage-no, TEMPLE- shook around her. She peeked one eye open to see Demeter, sitting upon her throne before her. Looking rather calm...that is if you glance at her hands gripping at the arms of the throne to the point of cracking underneath her grip.

"...Hades...took Persephone…" She repeated, praying to her father to help her find peace and watch over her family in case Demeter decided to take her anger out on her.

Demeter was inhaling and exhaling through her nostrils for a few moments...until a look of realization dawned on her face.

"…Zeus..." She whispered, more to herself than to Yuuko. The ocean nymph blinked in confusion as she made a hesitant step forward. "M-milady…?" She spoke with uncertainty. The fair-haired goddess didn't elaborate any further as she stood up and strode down the throne with the otherwordly grace, going past Yuuko. But not before speaking. "Thank you for informing me, Yuuko." She replied with a dignified neutrality. "You may go home now. I had some business to take care of on Mount Olympus."

Then with a flash of light, she disappeared from the temple. Leaving Yuuko alone in the throne room. The nymph felt her knees go weak as she fell down with a release of a shaky sigh. Whether it was from relief at the fact that she got out of this alive, or dread that she somehow made it worse...Heavens knows that Zeus wasn't...well known for his reputation…

Hopefully she'll be easy on him.

—

However, Yuuko should have saved her prayers for another day. For as Zeus sat on his throne, attended by his favorite cup-bearer, he felt a quake beneath his clouds. It wasn't similar in the way he strikes thunder. It was like what would happen if a tree crashed through a roof.

And as the king of deities casually looked up, he saw that is indeed what happened. A tree crashed through the "roof" of the clouds of Mount Olympus. And the one manning that tree, a sycamore, was Demeter.

A very furious looking Demeter.

"ZEUS, YOU ARE A BASTARD TO END ALL BASTARDS!" Demeter exclaimed.

Ganymede squeaked in fright just as he finished pouring Zeus' wine and he scurried off. Though she brought forth the warm seasons, everyone knew the truly cold and vindictive temper Demeter had. No one dared to be in the same room as her when she was this angry. There was a very good chance she would, and most likely will, turn it on you.

"Well, that's a new one. And here I thought no one could top Ares calling me a 'thunder geezer'." Zeus commented with an amused, nonchalant look.

"Do not test me, Brother," The way she spat out the title was almost like a slur as Demeter elegantly stepped down the branches. "This was YOUR doing! It has your name written all over it!"

Zeus blinked before raising his goblet to take a sip of wine.

"...I'm not the one who sprang up a tree in the throne room floor. Hestia would have a field day if she weren't connected to the hearth."

"Don't play coy with me, Zeus," Demeter snapped. "You know what I'm talking about...why did you give up Persephone...MY child...to someone like HADES?!"

It took Zeus a good while to realize what she was talking about, and instantly he straightened up in his seat. "W-wait...you didn't know?"

Shit, he assumed that Hades would ask Demeter as well! But then again, it IS his older brother that he was talking about…

Demeter raised an eyebrow at this. "Didn't know what?" She asked calmly. Too calmly.

Zeus swallowed a lump in his throat as he stared up at his older sister. Gods...this is just as terrifying as dealing with Hera!

"Zeus." Demeter said his name, only his name, in a very harsh and cold voice.

It wasn't a request for him to continue. It was an order for him to speak what he meant. And while he is the ruler of Olympus, he was no fool as to stay silent to Demeter.

"Well...You see...Hades has asked for Persephone's hand in marriage. A-And being that he is my older brother, I couldn't deny him." Zeus explained and hated himself for that little stutter.

With those words, Demeter went absolutely silent. She didn't talk, she didn't move and it seemed as though she didn't even breathe. Zeus wondered for a moment if her mind 'wilted' from the shock. Or perhaps she went into some form of hibernation as she processed what he said. And for one split second, Zeus actually thought she took his words well.

He thought she was not as infuriated as he had feared...But by Chronos was he ever wrong.

"WHAT!?" Demeter's voice boomed louder than any crack of thunder Zeus has made. Her eyes were rose red with fury, her fair skin turned swamp green and her wheat blonde human-like hair turned into thorny vines as her mortal glamor fell.

Oh yeah. Demeter was pissed.

Zeus instinctively hunkered down in his throne, briefly looking over her shoulder and see that he was gaining an audience at the entrance...and not a single one of them are going to come in to his aid. Looks like he's going in alone on this one...oh Gods, could this get worse!?

"Hades, you owe me one for this!" He whispered to himself.

—

Meanwhile in the Underworld…

"Ah…AH-CHOO!" Hades sniffed as he rubbed his nose a bit. Persephone looked up to him with concern.

"Is everything alright?" He asked.

The dark god waved it off while smiling. "Oh, no worries...it's just a little sneeze after all." He reassured him, inwardly cooing at the fact that Persephone was giving his baby boy a belly rub. "Say, how about a little tour in the Underworld? It's like the Surface World but more fun!"

That peaked Persephone's interest as he ceased rubbing Makkachin (arguably better than Cerberus) stood up from the ground and dusted off the dirt off of his chiton. He then looked up to Hades with a bright smile, to which made the other god's heart flutter.

"That would be great!" He said. "So, you'll lead the way?"

Hades couldn't contain his excitement as he went by Persephone's side and offered him an arm to hold. "Now what kind of host would I be if I let you get lost?"

Then a soft whine was heard beside them, making the two gods to look over to see Makkachin sitting upon the ground and looking up to them with wide brown eyes. Hades was contemplating on this situation. As much as he wanted his little boy to come with them, the last thing he wanted was to have the Underworld gates unguarded. He needed to keep souls in the realm until it was the right time for them to be reborn into a new life.

Ah~, such a conundrum!

"Can we take him with us?" Persephone spoke up. "I'm sure that he had been working real hard. He needed breaks once in a while."

Hades gave himself a thought.

Well, Makkachin had been keeping up to his duties since he personally picked him up from Echidna's brood. Well, right after his baby brother practically shoving her husband underneath a mountain…but details. And he was careful on what he eats - though there are times when he tried to beg for either meat buns or honey cakes. But nevertheless, it had been a long time since he had a break. Not to mention played with someone new.

Chasing over the souls of the damned can get old pretty quick for him.

After thinking it over, Hades finally made his decision.

"I guess it doesn't hurt to have him join us on the tour," Then he turned to Makkachin. "Makkachin, just make sure to always go back to your post when we're done, ok?"

The fluffy guard dog gave out an enthusiastic bark before trailing after them as they enter the gates. Persephone couldn't help but feel anticipation at this. Having the tour of the infamous Underworld and possibly live to tell about it…if he hadn't known better, he would say that this was the best thing that he had ever done.

He just hoped that he would get home before his mother noticed him gone.