"Isn't Master Bell a bit young for alcohol?" Haruhime wondered out loud, holding up a tiny bottle against the light entering through the window. She had been cleaning out his wardrobe when she had found it stowed away in the corner of a drawer. It was reasonable to assume that he had kept it hidden on purpose - it didn't look like something from the dungeon and thus meant that Bell had probably obtained it by unsafe means. She opened the lid and sniffed the contents curiously.
"It's sweet... I'd almost swear I recognise the smell."
Indeed she did. What she had found was not alcohol, but rather, the small flask of aphrodisiac that Hermes had given Bell all that while ago in the Pleasure Quarter. Bell, being as morally correct and kind as ever, had considered it morally incorrect to throw away a gift from a god - even if that gift did have the potential to bring ten lifetimes of trouble.
Of course, recalling its particular smell didn't mean she knew what it was.
"He wouldn't mind if I... tried some, surely?" she asked herself. She figured that it would be a while before the rest of the familia returned from their daily venture into the dungeon and their goddess was able to leave work.
She shook her head violently, unable to pluck up the nerve to even open the lid. It was better to leave it be and continue what she had meant to do in the first place. She set it down on a clean shelf, moving on to wipe the drawers and walls of his wardrobe clean. She found herself constantly glancing up at the bottle, the vibrant colour of its contents attracting her gaze. She couldn't keep it up forever. There would be a point where she could no longer resist its allure. It was better to avoid it altogether.
Finding a reason to leave the room, she searched through Bell's clothes and found some that needed mending, picking them up and briskly walking out the door.
"I can't do anything with just one window," she told herself, taking a seat in the courtyard. She hoped the tears in Bell's clothes would be enough to keep her busy for the rest of the afternoon.
Her wishes were granted - she had little experience with a needle and pricked herself numerous times, sometimes drawing blood that needed to be washed off. Eventually, but not until sunset, she completed her task. She twitched her fingers, making sure she still had feeling in them after her multitude of mishaps.
She folded and stacked the repaired clothes before carrying them back to Bell's room. After spending so much time on mending his clothes, she had forgotten about the bottle in the wardrobe until she opened the door. Its magnetism seemed to be even more powerful, compelling her to quickly store the bundle in her arms and hide it back where it belonged.
But she would never reach the second step. Despite managing to put his clothes back in the drawers, the moment she lay a finger on the bottle, she failed to endure its charm.
"I'm sorry, Master Bell. Just this once," she said shamefully, opening the flask and putting it to her mouth. Just a few drops, she thought. Just a few drops wouldn't hurt.
She couldn't have been more wrong.
As the droplets of liquid slid down her throat, she felt nothing. Perhaps it was just water? Or maybe even perfume? But why would Bell need perfume? With the way his life was, he seemed like the person who least needed to attract attention, especially from women.
Before she could even complete her thoughts, the effects of the aphrodisiac kicked in. Heat enveloped her body, causing her to question if her fingers were the only places she tortured with the needle. She was barely able to place the bottle down before she fell to the ground, one hand rubbing her head desperately. She had never felt like this before - her head pounded, her body ached and she felt a strong desire for something that she couldn't quite put her finger on. At least she was sure of one thing; whatever she just drank, it was not alcohol.
Suddenly, her head began to hurt even more as she realised what she had just taken, albeit unknowingly.
"This is... aphrodisiac... but why would Master Bell...?"
She didn't have the time to be speculating why Bell had such drugs in his possession as she struggled to rise off the floor. She couldn't cook dinner like this, either. She'd have to at least write a note to apologise for it.
Taking a firm - or at least, a decent grip of the corner of the wardrobe, she gradually pulled herself off the floor and leaned against the wall, clawing her way out of the room. She mentally cursed the size of their home, wishing that for once it would be smaller for her convenience.
Finally reaching the kitchen, she found a rough sheet of paper lying around. Knowing the others would be home before she could find a quill and inkwell, she took a piece of charcoal from the oven and scrawled a messy note, placing it on the dining table before making her way back upstairs to her room. Yes, a good night's sleep would be enough. The effects would surely wear off by the next morning. Then she could prepare a massive breakfast for everyone to make up for tonight. That sounded like a perfect plan. Well, that's what she'd hoped it was.
Her body burned with longing as she lay on her bed. Writhe and turn as she might, she was unable to shake off the feeling of want. She was utterly consumed by her lust, regardless of whether she wanted it or not. There was no running away from it. She could only silently suffer until the effects disappeared. She buried her face in her pillows, as if it wasn't hot enough already, hopelessly begging her brain to let her sleep.
The sharp raps on her door didn't help her either.
"Miss Haruhime? Are you alright? You're not usually unwell," a gentle voice called from the other side.
Of all the people in the familia, of course it had to be Bell who was at her door.
"Um... yes, Master Bell. I suppose today is just a rare occasion," she replied shakily, unable to control her voice.
"Are you sure? You don't sound quite right. Is something wrong with your throat? I know! I'll bring you some tea. That'll help."
"Wait, Master Bell, don't worry, really! I'll be fine if I just sleep it off," she insisted, but Bell was already gone. She sighed apprehensively, tempted to berate Bell for being so kind.
He returned minutes later, knocking on the door again.
"Ah! Master Bell... um... just leave it in front of the door, please."
"Do you mind if I come in? Just to-"
"No, please don't!" she refused immediately. It would embarrass her immensely for Bell to see her like this. She simply could not bear for him to enter her room at any cost. She sounded like a frightened puppy, causing a look of worry to take over Bell's face.
"Alright... how about this? Until you show yourself, you won't be doing any jobs around the house. Do you understand?" Bell ordered in the most stern voice he could muster. He knew wasn't good at being serious in conversations but still made an attempt to sound as severe as possible.
His demands, however, were ignored by Haruhime. She was sure she would only stay like this until morning. There would be no problem if she opened the door the next day.
Well, no problem if Bell hadn't been so obstinate.
"Seems like I have to sit out here all night then."
Haruhime's eyes widened as if they weren't already large enough as a side effect of the drug. She absolutely could not let him do such a thing, even if it meant he would see her in her current pathetic state. If there was one thing that came before her dignity, it was Bell's health. If he slept outside her room for one whole night, she had no doubt in her mind that he would be ruined the next day.
She stood unsteadily, taking a few unbalanced steps toward the door. She hesitantly turned the doorknob and pulled the door back, unsure of what to expect from her familia leader.
Bell could only stare as her already blazing face darkened further with humiliation. He couldn't possibly have imagined anything that would have made her become like this.
"What... uh... what happened?"
"Master Bell..." Haruhime began tentatively, "could you explain... why do you have aphrodisiac in your possession?"
He knew that he was shooting himself in the foot by leaving that drug around. He had really done himself in this time.
"I'm sorry, Miss Haruhime. I've caused you harm," Bell said, bowing his head and avoiding the question.
"No, it's my fault for being too impulsive and inquisitive. Don't apologise for something that wasn't your doing."
No matter how she tried to comfort him, Bell could not help but feel overly guilty about Haruhime's condition.
"Is there any way I can help?" Bell asked without thinking.
Needless to say, of course there was. He could choose to either get her anaphrodisiac or to calm her down the other way. He crossed out the first option - most shops would be closed soon, especially the non-potion selling pharmacies. He highly doubted Miach would have anything of the kind, either. In any case, asking him, no matter how close of a friend he may have been was out of the question.
"Yes, Master Bell. You should help yourself and go back downstairs in case this drug makes me pounce on you. Please, for your sake."
Bell shook his head decidedly. If that was what would happen, then he would let it be. It was his fault in the first place and thus it was his responsibility to solve the issue as well.
"Master Bell, please. I don't want you to-"
Bell shushed her, placing his index finger on her lips, the sensation as if he had just touched the flames of a Crozzo magic sword. He had never expected the aphrodisiac would have been so strong. He admired Haruhime for being able to withstand it for so long. Out of options, Haruhime tried closing the door but she was too sluggish as Bell intercepted her before she could slam it into place.
"Master Bell, please. I'm begging you, stop this."
Bell wasn't planning on listening to her. He forced the door open, almost knocking Haruhime off her feet. He stepped inside the room and locked the door behind him.
"Master Bell."
Bell looked at her sympathetically, knowing that she was doing her best to hold herself back from leaping onto him.
"Master Bell, why? You love Miss Wallenstein, don't you? I'm not worthy of your first time. I'm nothing more than your friend at best, but I'm happy with that! Why don't you understand? Why can't you save yourself while you can?" she cried.
"It's because you are my friend that I cannot save myself, Miss Haruhime. I'm the hero, aren't I? The hero can't save himself until the girl is safe."
Haruhime latched onto Bell, sobbing into his neck and hitting his shoulder with a clenched fist. "I hate you, Master Bell. Why are you always so selfish? Why can't you listen to someone else's requests for once?"
Bell stared at the wall regretfully. "Forgive me."
His shoulder blade may well have become dislodged if he were without a blessing with the way Haruhime had been hammering into him. Her knuckles were white after so many repeated punches. She slammed it against him one more time before lower her arm.
She would not forgive him. Not now, not ever - but she couldn't do anything about it if she were to succumb to the temptations the aphrodisiac had cast upon her. She would focus on resisting it. For her sake, and his. But she couldn't focus with Bell in her room.
"Get out," she demanded simply. Bell was shocked to see such a resilient Haruhime before him, telling him what to do despite being nearly unable to move on her own. He tried finding a reason to refuse her but could not and obeyed, undoing the lock and stepping out of her room, hearing the door snap closed behind him. He leaned on it, listening to his friend pick herself up off the floor.
"You're strong, you know that?"
Haruhime's hand trembled as she pulled it out of her skirt, her fingertips covered in a somewhat sticky liquid. She had done it six times now, yet it still did not help with removing the effects of the aphrodisiac. She wiped her hand on some part of her maid uniform that wasn't already wet, covering her eyes with her forearm afterwards.
To be plain, she was ashamed of herself. The former daughter of a noble family of rare creatures, reduced to this mess by just a few drops of a drug that a queer god have given her friend. Nothing could make her feel worse, except for the fact that she had climaxed six times without any positive outcome.
"I wonder what Master Bell would think of me now."
For all she knew, he may as well have heard her in the middle of one of her sessions. She hadn't exactly been quiet while she was doing it wouldn't be surprised if Bell, let alone anybody heard her. Sunlight had begun to seep in through the curtains of her window. It was difficult to imagine that she had been at it for the whole night. To think that she had hopes for the effects to wear off after the night had passed was absurd now.
She didn't dare risk leaving her room - she knew that Welf and Lilly, if anyone, were larks and never slept past sunrise. To be caught in her present state - she didn't even want to consider it.
Her eyelids were heavy and she blissfully drifted off for the first time since taking those fateful drops of aphrodisiac. It was a blessing for her, ranking second after being saved by Bell on her list of happy moments.
But the pleasure of being asleep didn't last for long. The loud knocks on her door were merciless.
"Miss Haruhime, uh... if you feel like eating, your breakfast will be waiting outside."
There was no need to say that she was indeed starving. Bell had completely forgotten to deliver her food the previous night after their heated argument and she had been to afraid to get food to eat while she could.
She stumbled towards the door, flipping the lock and opening it just wide enough for her to take hold of the food Bell had supposedly set in front of her door.
Well, supposedly. What she found was not food but rather Bell himself. Definitely not the breakfast she was expecting - certainly a much more vulgar definition.
She slammed the door shut once more, turning the lock back to how it was before she heard Bell's voice that morning.
"No," she squeaked, her face somehow deepening in colour still. She could hear Bell take a deep breath on the other side.
"Do you want the truth or the truth?" he asked oddly.
"Master Bell, please don't beat around the bush and just tell me you heard me masturbating," she whispered, her face literally turning fifty shades of red.
Bell didn't really know what to say. "Well, it was a truth one and truth two situation, but... yes, I heard you doing it."
Haruhime squealed involuntarily, uncertain of what to say anymore. She could no longer face her hero. She had lost every speck of dignity she had left since she was kicked out of her home in the Far East. She knew she shouldn't have done it!
"That was... truth one."
"I do not wish to know truth two," she murmured, burying her face in her hands. She had no idea she could feel so bad in her life, but Bell wasn't about to stop talking just because she said she didn't want to hear it.
"Truth two is, I paid Lord Hermes a visit earlier and-"
"Why does he have anything to do with this?" Haruhime interjected, obviously confused as to why Bell would suddenly bring up Hermes.
"He's the one who gave me the... the aphrodisiac. And he told me that it's... well..."
"You can stop talking now, Master Bell. I don't want to hear it."
"The effects are permanent. Or at least until you... uh... actually have sex," he explained uncomfortably, continuing to ignore her. He was pretty sure it was the first time he'd said the words since his grandfather even taught him about its existence. He was relatively sure that Haruhime hadn't heard those words in a while too. He almost wanted to know where and when she learned to get herself off, too. He nearly slapped himself after those thoughts popped into his head. How rude of him, to wonder by what means a woman discovered how to masturbate!
Haruhime was occupied by her own thoughts. Without question, they were equally as obscene as Bell's, just not with as strong a tendency to disgrace someone - specifically herself. To think that she would have to do the real thing again - not that she ever did it as a prostitute, nor did she know she didn't do it as a prostitute - she was daunted. She would have to return to the Entertainment District and ask a random man to-
No, no! What was she contemplating? She could no longer subject herself to the acts of her former life, yet she could not find any other option. She was determined to save Bell's chastity - if Ais Wallenstein ever found out that Bell made love to a prostitute, she would definitely deny him the right to be her lover.
Bell didn't exactly have the nerve to tell her that, after she overheard that Haruhime had accidentally taken the aphrodisiac, Aisha had threatened him on pain of death to be Haruhime's first. However, she had already decided she would not allow it and he understood the basic idea of why she didn't want him to do it. She believed that it was only something to be done between lovers and while she had feelings for him, he did not return them. While his grandfather would have despised such a mindset, he respected it and chose to stay silent while he waited for her to speak.
Ultimately, Haruhime had come to a decision.
"I will stay as I am," she declared, her stubbornness equal with Bell's.
"What about our familia expeditions?
"I will endure them."
Bell almost chuckled despite their situation. "You do you, then."
A/N - well, yikes. I did not expect to write this. I started it as a bit of a joke - I will not lie, I was fantasising a bit about fox girls on the bus (Azur Lane's really getting to me at this point with Sendai and now Amagi) - but to think I actually managed, what? 3100 words? It's surprised me, honestly... This was not what I was thinking when I said I'd write another DanMachi fan fiction in the future.
But alas, it is what it is. I hope you all enjoyed this more mature - or arguably more immature - take on DanMachi. Once again, I do not own DanMachi as all rights are to the original author, Fujino Omori. That's pretty much it for now. Please do feel free to review, and I'll see you all (well, all who can stand the nature of this fan fiction) in the next chapter!