Mariya Yuri had lived in what she could only describe as being a dream for the last few days. Her personal dreams of the last year had suddenly gone from being a sincere hope to a real possibility. Ever since the goddess Pandora had commanded Kusangai Godou to marry her. In their last adventure, she was called Godou's spouse by the goddess Circe, and while Godou was shocked and tried to deny it, her spiritual senses also told her that deep down he was extremely happy. Also, she had noticed when they were alone, he had almost given in to his heart and reached for her. While at first she was shocked by that, she also later wished he had given in, even though it was really improper for her to think such things. But now she was totally happy because it was no longer a matter of if, but a matter of when. However, when Godou received that request from Her Eminence to contact her, Yuri began to become uneasy. She remembered what Pandora had said towards the end about Godou's 'sisters' having gained an interest in him. "Could Her Eminence try to take Godou from us?" Yuri pondered with much concern. "Is she unhappy about this upcoming wedding?" She felt she should have stayed and waited until Godou returned home, but since Shizuka was not happy with her at the moment, she felt it was better to return home and wait for Godou to return so they could discuss it all together.
On the following school day, they all got together at lunch as they usually did. Since Hikari was now a first year of Jounan Academy Middle School Division, She had also started to join them. No one explained this to Shizuka and left her to believe she was joining them because of her sister. She noticed that for some reason, Erica had not caused the normal commotion she did with Godou, and when they all got together on the roof, Godou appeared to have something to say that he didn't want to say. Erica casually began the conversation, "So Godou, what did her Eminence want to talk about?"
Godou looked at all of them and sighed. "Onee-san has said that she wants to make sure you are all trained properly to be wives."
Yuri was stunned. She never thought it would be something like that. As she observed, Erica looked annoyed, Lilliana looked worried. Ena wasn't there at the moment so she wasn't sure if she should inform Ena or if Godou planned to. Godou looked around a second and as if reading her mind, muttered, "I need to remember to tell Sesshuin about this also."
At that moment, Hikari, who had been sitting very close to Godou, excitedly said, "Does that mean me also?"
Shizuka, who had been glowering at Godou this whole time, suddenly looked puzzled and turned to Hikari, "Why would you need to go to?"
Not realizing that Shizuka hadn't been told, Hikari said happily, "Because Pandora-sama told Godou to marry me also."
Realizing the cat was out of the bag, Godou pointedly didn't look at Shizuka and answered Hikari, "Yes that includes you. I was unable to keep that away from 'Nee-san."
Shizuka was immediately furious at Godou, "ONII-SAN, what do you mean that it includes Mariya Hikari-san. She is much to young for that!"
Yuri immediately responded, "Shizuka-chan, you are correct that Hikari is to young, but Pandora-sama did include her in the ones to marry Godou. But at my request, that shall be delayed until she is older."
Shizuka seem to calm down a little, but wasn't fully placated by this answer. "Sempai, Lilliana-san suggested I ask you this question directly. When during the time when onii-san was demonstrating his abilities, I realized that what Erica-san did was not shocking to you or the others. But the way you reacted seemed to indicate that you were sad that you hadn't had that chance. Have you done that with onii-san?"
Godou who had been drinking his tea at that moment, immediately spit out, "Shizuka-chan, what do you mean asking this of Mariya?"
Being a bit panicked, Godou desperately wanted to change the subject. However, Yuri replied calmly, "Shizuka-chan, Godou is someone very special to me and I say clearly that I love him and will always be with him. During the battles I have been with him, it has been necessary at times to do that with him. But I am not ashamed of doing it. I have pledge myself to him for all eternity, and will always be ready to serve him in whatever capacity I am needed. But I will not allow you to call it shameful. I do it out of my love and devotion to Godou, but also," Yuri blushed before going on, "also, because I do enjoy it!."
Shizuka became speechless at that statement.
Godou looked at Yuri, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Yuri smiled shyly. She really wanted to reach for Godou's hand, but she noticed that Erica had inched closer to Godou, trying to take his attention back, or at least to bring his attention back to the group as a whole.
"So Godou, when does her Eminence plan to test us?" Erica asked.
Realizing that he had gone to a world solely of him and Yuri, he immediately broke eye contact and responded to Erica. "'Nee-san wanted, at first, for you all to come to her mountain retreat, but I convinced her it would be better to do it somewhere at one of the Shrines here in Tokyo, in case something happened and I needed you. Mostly, it was because I want to be near in case 'Nee-san tries something outrageous."
Erica smiled at that slyly, Yuri was definitely relieved and Lilliana just nodded her head in satisfaction. "We will need to contact Karou and get one arranged and have everyone stay away from it during that time."
After a discussion with Karou, it was determined that the best place to do this was the shrine where Yuri worked. A perimeter was setup around the entire shrine and all the priests evacuated to other shrines. Godou contact Lu Yinghua to tell Lou Hao the location. A couple of days later, Godou was present at the shrine with Yuri and Hikari, Erica, Lilliana and Sesshuin gathered behind them. A wind came up and there appeared Lou Hao. Immediately the girls bowed down, while Godou stayed standing. "'Nee-san, as you demanded, the ones that Pandora-san commanded me to marry are here behind me. This shrine has been vacated by all except for them and you. Now, what are the tests you plan to give to my companions?"
"As I told you my little brother, I plan to test them about proper training for wives of a campione like yourself. If they fall below my standards, I will also train them appropriately."
She then looked around at the girls and then said, "Godou-san, where is your younger sister? She is also invited to this as it would be proper for her to judge them also."
Godou was a little shocked by this statement, as he knew that Lou Hao's personality would not normally allow someone as common as Shizuka (and as he used to be) to hear or see her, would want Shizuka to be present. "'Nee-san are you sure that my onee-chan should be present?" Godou asked cautiously.
"In this instance, it should be ok for her to see me as I am, as we are judging the future wives of our brother." Lou Hao stated matter-of-factly.
Godou decided not to push the issue as he didn't want to fight with her over this point, but knew that this was definitely going to make his life more difficult than it already was. So he retired to have one of the people monitoring the area around the shrine to contact Karou. "Karou-san, Her Eminence has requested that Shizuka also play a part in this testing she is going to do. Could you get Amakasu to go and get Shizuka and bring her here?"
"Godou Kusangai, are you sure you want to bring your sister into this situation?" Karou asked with a smirk.
"No, I don't. But also, I want to get this over as soon as possible. And since 'Nee-san wants her here, I feel it is best just to accommodate her." Godou responded with a slight annoyance.
Some time later, Shizuka arrived. "Onii-san, why did this person come to get me?" Shizuka said while pointing to Amakasu.
"You remember that Campione I mentioned that wants me to call her Onee-San? Well she is here at this shrine. She is planning on examining Erica, Lilliana, Yuri and Hikari, and Ena to see if they are properly trained to be wives. She also requested that you come to aid in this judgment."
Shizuka looked conflicted. She appeared pleased that she was included in this, but also annoyed that it was going to happen.
"Shizuka, this is very important, unless she says otherwise, please give her respect as though she was a great Queen and keep your eyes lowered and speak only when spoken to. She is an extremely dangerous person. Address her as Her Eminence. And be respectful in all things. Also, if she threatens you, call for me by my full name, like Erica did during the duel the other day and I will be there immediately. That is an ability I have believe in me when you call my name."
Meanwhile at that moment, unknown to those at the shrine, a certain woman arrived at the Tokyo airport arriving from Los Angeles.
I apologize for the time between this update and the last. After reading the first parts of the 15th light novel, I got worried about the direction that Tadezuki-san had taken Annie and was worried it would conflict with the way I thought it was going. I wanted to make sure she wasn't going to become Godou's enemy. I am determined to keep the characters in the parameters of the original story both in character and story. Fortunately, I am safe from what I saw. The next chapter will be sooner as I started writing it a couple of chapters ago but wasn't sure where it should go in my story. Hope you all forgive me my delay and like what I have given here.
