A/N: I know I promised a longer chapter this go round, but next time. I finished with my new novel which will be released next week, and as I re-read this story, I wanted to add something to it. We see so much of everyone else, but not the other gods. I felt like it was missing. So this chapter will feature them. I apologize for taking so long to update I tried to update a couple of days ago, but fanfiction for some reason would not let me actually post anything. That is fixed and I'm back on track now, and can focus again.

Chapter 14 – Discovery

It did not escape anyone's notice that Yui seemed out of sorts at dinner that night, nor did anyone miss the fact she disappeared quickly after the meal ended. Why? What had happened? Normally, she would have eaten her meal, but this time she picked at it, barely eating anything. It wasn't normal. Not for her.

Apollo tried to follow her, but his uncle and brother stopped him, urging with him to give her some space. Dionysus even commented that it might be "girl" problems.

"Girl problems?" the blond god questioned.

Laughing, Dionysus told him, "They have issues once a month and…" He looked to Hades to help him, but the God of the Underworld shook his head, abandoning his nephew. "They just have problems." Being the God of Fertility and Wine, he knew what the female body went through. Explaining it to his brother though…being alive as long as they had, didn't Apollo know anything?

"Oh. Should we help her?"

"No, let her have some space," Hades said, placing his hand on his nephews shoulder to hold him in place.

Loki listened to the exchange and threw his head back laughing. "You're idiots."

Balder frowned at his friend. "Do you think she needs help? Are the girl problems hurting her? Maybe I should go and find her."

This time it was Thor that stopped his friend. "Leave her alone. Hades is correct, she needs space."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

It wasn't that Balder didn't trust his friend, he did, but Yui was special and to see her tonight had twisted his heart. The girl was special, and he wanted her for himself. That said, he also knew that the majority of gods at the table wanted her as more than a friend. Competition was fierce, and yet, he got the distinct impression that he had already lost, and he didn't know why he felt that way exactly. That said, until he knew for sure he had lost, he wasn't done fighting for her.

Takeru sat back and watched everything, everyone. Their worry and love for Yui was evident on their faces. Each god had special feelings for the human girl that showed them what it meant to care, to look beyond their boundaries and realize that the universe was drastically different than they realized. With her help, they were no longer the unfeeling, uncaring, shallow men/gods they once were.

It hadn't surprised him when she suddenly showed up at the sea and prayed to him, not had it completely surprised him when he learned of her feelings for his brother. The day Loki bound Tsukito and Yui together, he could see something forming and growing between them. He believed the others saw it too, but they liked to pretend that they were ignorant, because if they acknowledged it, they also had to admit that Yui was not theirs to have. They loved her, and although she was the person that taught the how to love for others beyond themselves, she hadn't taught them how to let go.

And if things went the way Takeru hoped they would, the other gods would learn what loss truly meant. Some of them – all of them – had experience with loss. Contrary to popular belief, a god could cease to exist. He had lost the goddess that he had been close to. Apollo lost a woman he loved. Hades dealt with loss on a daily basis being the God of the Underworld. And Takeru was sure the others had suffered at some point in their life as well. It was one of the reasons, at least speaking for himself, they had begun closing themselves off to others long ago. Yui changed everything, which meant although he was loath to admit it, Takeru had to thank Zeus for bringing her to the tabletop garden to show them what it meant to be human.

Therefore, if anyone deserved to be with the one person he/she loved, it was Yui. And Takeru would make sure it happened.

Just as he was about to say something to his brother, he noticed Tsukito get up from the table and quietly leave the room, and without anyone noticing, he did as well. He wanted to talk to their hostess…unless Tsukito got to her first.

After Takeru left, Apollo asked, "Where is Take-take going?"

Everyone ceased their chatter and surveyed the room. Balder spoke first, "Tsukito-san is gone as well."

As one, they got up and rushed to the door, only to be stopped in their tracks by Yui's mother and brothers. Tonight was their turn to do the clean-up from dinner, and after that, Yui's brothers started asking them questions about their home countries.

By the time they were able to escape their hosts and make it outside, they found Yui sitting next to Tsukito staring up at the moon. Apollo tried to run over to them much like he had the night of the moon viewing in the garden, but before he could Dionysus and Thor grabbed him and yanked him backwards.

Now was not the time to intrude. At dinner, Yui seemed so out of sorts and agitated, but now, an expression of peace and contentment softened her face as her lips lifted in a smile. This was her moment, and no one should rob her of it…even if they wanted to. In fact, Apollo and Balder had to be dragged back to the bunk house. They could have their moment another day, if they could steal her heart away from the Moon God.

This wasn't over. Balder and Apollo believed that tonight was nothing more than a friendly gesture - at least that's what they wanted to believe. They weren't ready to give her up just yet. They would win her, or so they hoped.