A/N: Final chapter! Thanks to everyone who's stuck with it till the end. Also, note that 'illeism' is the act of referring to yourself in third-person.

Epilogue: What Begins With an Apple Ends With More Apples

The Shinigami Realm was a desolate place. With every step that Aphrodite took, her disdain for the dark and gloomy dump grew.

The bulbous Shinigami King sat on a massive throne of bones and crafted iron. Aphrodite took a closer look at what she thought were rubies embedded in the chair's skeletal frame and shivered when she realized that they were eyes – discarded Shinigami Eyes.

"How barbaric," Aphrodite stage-whispered, tightening her grip on Apollo's arm.

A nasty smile split the skull-like face of the Shinigami King. "We're the gods of death. What did you expect, flowers and diamonds?"

Apollo stepped forward. "Well, I've heard that one of your kind have taken quite a liking to gold and apples. Specifically, one golden apple."

"MY golden apple," Aphrodite added.

"You must be talking about Ryuk," said the Shinigami King. "He just returned from the human world. Speak with him as you please, but be warned, he is clever and greedy, and he will not part willingly with his prize."

Ryuk was polishing his pens when two glowing beings without names or lifespans appeared before him.

"Whoa!" Ryuk stared at them. "Who are you?"

"I'm Aphrodite, and this is my brother, Apollo," said the female. "I'm here to take back what's rightfully mine."

Ryuk gulped. The time had finally come. He had been dreading this day ever since the god, Ares, had come knocking on Light Yagami's door for a little inspirational chat.

"Ah," said Ryuk resignedly, and he rummaged through his pockets. He pulled out the shining Apple of Discord. "Kallistē. To the fairest!" he declared, rolling it around in his clawed hand. "This came to me five years ago. I have become very attached to it. After all, I clearly deserve it."

"Get your ugly paws off of that," Aphrodite demanded.

Apollo shushed her. "What my sister means to say, my good Shinigami, is that we're willing to trade something of equal value for the trinket."

"It is NOT a trinket."

Apollo rolled his eyes. "What do you desire, Shinigami Ryuk?"

"Apples," Ryuk said immediately. "Freshly picked from the gardens of Mount Olympus. As many as I can carry."

"Deal!" Aphrodite exclaimed.

Apollo frowned and held up a hand. "Hera would not be pleased. Those are her apples."

"Grown from Daddy's land," Aphrodite countered. "And Daddy's little girl gets what Daddy's little girl wants."

"Illeism is not very becoming, sister."

"I also have another condition," Ryuk said, chuckling. "I would like to meet the one responsible for flattering me with this gift. I would like to meet my secret admirer."

Aphrodite and Apollo exchanged glances. "Admirer?"

"Of course. This was no random act of kindness," Ryuk said. He spat into his hand and stroked his hair into place. "And if she looks anything like you," he nodded at Aphrodite, "I'm in for a real treat."

"Eris," Apollo murmured.

Aphrodite sneered at him. "Well, Shinigami, I hope you're used to disappointments."

The Olympians gaped openly at their visitor. A Japanese God of Death, on their mountain!

"What's the meaning of this?" Zeus's voice thundered across the courtyard, followed by the Olympian king himself.

"Look what Apollo found," Aphrodite squealed, waving the Apple of Discord in the air for all to see. "And no thanks to the rest of you!"

Dionysus hung his head in shame. Athena's eyebrows twitched. Ares shrugged. Apollo sent Artemis, who had returned home earlier empty-handed, a smug smile.

"Bragging is poor sportsmanship," Artemis responded sweetly.

"But why is there a Shinigami on my mountain?" Zeus blustered.

"He's here to see Eris," Apollo said quickly before Hera could kick them off Olympus for agreeing to give Ryuk access to her precious apple tree of immortality. "After all, she is the one who started this mess, and chaos loves company."

"And the present company loves chaos, doesn't he?"

The throng of Olympians parted grudgingly, making way for the goddess of strife and chaos herself to glide up to the Shinigami.

Eris's gaze fell upon the Shinigami's wide purple lips and sharp cheekbones, and her chilly heart instantly beat faster. Ryuk took in the sight of the goddess's glossy black wings and wicked talons, and his fanged grin grew. Nobody missed the mischievous glint in either of their eyes.

"And apples," Ryuk finally croaked. "The present company loves apples."

"And luckily for him, I know where the best ones grow."

"Wait, what?" Hera shouted as the pair flew away, gleefully flapping and screeching like two overgrown bats.

"Well, well, well. Don't fall in love now, Shinigami," Aphrodite sang under her breath, "for I've heard it is quite hazardous to your health."

A/N: And fin!

I hope that balanced out the angst in the last few chapters. Thanks for reading, and I hope you've enjoyed the story ^_^