A/N: See A/N 2 at the bottom of this chapter for some important information about this chapter, and ISoaN. Sorry for the long delay all. As always. Like, Hate, See something you think could be different/better. Leave a review!

Disclaimer: I don't own DLWMG

Arc 4: Chapter 1: A Meeting with a Minotaur

Kimihito Kurusu was a child with something that one could call a poor childhood. He wouldn't call it that but some might. His parents worked overseas so he had spent much of his young childhood bouncing between family members. His uncle and Aunt in Osaka, were the first to take him in. Then it was his much elder cousin in Kyoto. Finally he had ended up with at his Grandpa's farm.

While some would consider living on a farm in the middle of nowhere to be a terrible life. Kimihito took to it like a fish to water. The adorable pre-teen would be seen walking around the fields with the tool of the season, making his own small patch of the field his own as over the years he lived there. Eventually though, it had to end. Kimihito found himself seated before his grandfather in the aging home's living room.

"Kimihito," The greyed and weathered man started, holding up a letter. "This came from your parents today. They want you to join them overseas they finally got enough money to settle down for a while."

"But gramps, I don't want to go!" The young Kimihito protested, "I like it here!"

"And I liked having you here too Kimihito, you've been more of a son to me then your father was." The old man gave a cheeking grin and nudged him. "Don't tell him that though."

Kimihito laughed a bit but it was short lived as his grandfather continued.

"Unfortunately though I can't just tell your parents no. But always know you will have a home here."

And that was the end of it, no matter how hard Kimihito tried to protest, he ended up being sent to live with his parents in a big city in Europe. The young child always remembering his grandfather's farm, the quiet days raising his patch of ground. It never left his mind. As the years passed, he'd grow from an idealistic child into an idealistic young man.

He spent much of his teens going from city to city along with his parents. He became quite adept in many skills, namely the art of languages and the skills of horticulture. All of it picked up in bits and pieces between each move. Despite all the travelling, he didn't set foot in Japan again until he was twenty years old.

-ISoaN-

"This your stop, kid?" The bus driver called back to the near empty bus. It would have been completely empty if it wasn't for the sullen lad in the back. Apparently he had had a death in the family or something given what the bus driver could piece together over the hours long drive.

"Yes, thanks. Have a good day." Kimihito replied to the driver and stepped off the bus onto the dirt road. He was standing before a small village that hadn't changed a bit since the last day he had set foot in it. The man sighed. The outsides were the same, but the people changed.

"What am I doing, stop mopping, Kimihito!" The raven haired man said, and slapped himself on the cheek. Picking himself up, he set off. Walking down the familiar path through the town, he headed for an equally familiar place. His grandfather's farm. The old man had passed only a few months ago. Kimihito and his parents had come back for the wake, the burial, and the reading of the will. It was a line in the will that had brought him back to the old farmstead.

To Kimihito, I leave my farm and everything on it. In my old age I haven't been able to maintain it as well as I would like, but I am sure he will be able to bring it back to its former glory.

Kimihito had been a bit worried at the line that his grandpa hadn't been able to keep it in the best shape, and had prepared for the worst. Though at the same time he couldn't help but chuckle a bit at his gramps having left it to him. His uncle hadn't been too happy about it but that's what he got for not visiting often enough.

Unfortunately, he hadn't prepared enough.

"Good gods!" Kimihito was shaken out of his funk by the sight of the house. There were holes in the roof, the fields were overgrown with weeds, and he was fairly sure the barn had collapsed. The whole farm looked like the sty and the sty looked even worse.

"Ahh, are you the newest member of our little town?" Kimihito heard an old voice say from behind him. Turning around he'd see a familiar face.

"Kimihito, it's been years! You've grown up quite a bit since that little lad that would cause havoc all over the town square." The elderly mayor grinned from under his large mustache. "It's too bad about your grandfather. Now I'm the oldest one left in the village. As for the house, I already got the carpenter to come up here and take a look at it when I heard one of his grandkids was moving in. We should have the house up and running in a few days."

To say Kimihito was surprised at how helpful the mayor acted was an understatement. As it was, it was so much of a surprise that he completely pushed his funk off for now at least. "Well, thanks Mr. Mayor." He never did learn the Mayor's name when he was a kid.

"Think nothing of it. Now I know you used to half run the farm when you were here, but we have a few days. So let me give you a refresher." The Mayor nudged Kimihito in the side. "Gets me away from the wife for a bit anyways."

-ISoaN-

Kimihito wiped the sweat from his forehead. It had been a week and a half since he had come to the town, and six days after he had into the farm proper. He was surprised at how fast the bearded man had fixed up his house, and his budget thanked him for getting out of the room above the town inn.

Not only was he back in his house, but he had part of the field in something pretending to be a good shape. Neat rows of plowed land, just waiting for seeds. He had those all at the ready, just waiting for after lunch to happen. He only had maybe a quarter of the fields actually done, but with only hand tools, the tractor was a write off, he wasn't going to get all those fixed for a while. Oh, he could see them growing before his very eyes. That was a while off yet, but what a beautiful image a good harvest was. Prettier than the prettiest girl.

Surprising him, he heard the sound of tires rolling up the dirt road to his farm. He turned to the van with confusion.

-ISoaN-

"Damn, how did I end up out here?" Kuroko Smith muttered to herself as she drove the MON van down the dirt road. She was fairly sure she had taken a wrong turn somewhere. What kind of person didn't at least live on a paved road! Whoever this Mr. Kurusu was he really should invest in some paving.

"Heh, I think I'll like this place. Seems like nice enough country." Said the other passenger of the van, and the entire reason they needed a van at all.. The large minotaur woman took up near the entire back of the vehicle, tall enough that she still had to duck even while sitting down. Her limbs bulged with thick muscles that could knock down a tree, so they counted their blessings the van's iron was firm enough to last the ride. The biggest two bulges were in her 'development'; Kuroko was jealous, but she'd never let anyone know but it was there.

"Well, we're almost there. I can see the farm just ahead." Kuroko said back to the liminal. Judging by the look of the place it might not have been the best place for a homestay, but it seemed okay enough. She was quite surprised to see a young man out in the field though. By the looks of it he was the only one here too. Different people for different stripes, she guessed.

"Wait here, I've got to do some paperwork first." She pulled the van up to the farm and stepping out. The dirt clinging to her leggings. "Tch, now I'm going to have to wash these."

Kimihito blinked at the eye-fetching black haired woman that stepped out of the van. Her skirt and formal jacket seemed rather drastically out of place. While she approached he noticed the symbol on the van.

Liminals had been revealed to the world a few years back and had started to integrate into wider society shortly after. Kimihito had met many of them, from all corners of the world. He didn't know what the Japanese branch of the liminal homestay program was doing at his farm though. "Hello?"

"Hello." Ms Smith said, and looked at the clipboard she brought with her. "Are you Mr. Kurusu?"

"Uhh...yeah?" Kimihito was now very confused, he hadn't sent anything to the liminal placement group in the government had he? Though wait…."Are you perhaps looking for my grandfather? He unfortunately passed away a short while ago."

"Damn, really? Well what the hell am I going to do now?" If this woman was normally professional, it didn't show in her exasperation. But inspiration struck. "Though wait, no, you look about right for the person on this form." Smith sighed, and handed the clipboard over to Kimihito, showing the man that the profile was indeed his.

Kimihito blinked a few times at that. "I have...absolutely…" He noticed something on the board, namely a note in the 'anything you would like to say' box. A note from his grandfather.

Hey Kimihito,

I know I left the farm in rough shape, but I hope by now you've got it fixed up. This was one of the last things I thought to do, you'll need some help around the farm and who knows. The lady situation in town for guys your age is pretty poor. So better be nice if you get a girl here young lad, might be your only shot.

~Gramps

"Dammit, gramps." Kimihito sighed. "Yeah, I guess I am the one on here. Uhh, you mind telling me who I've signed up for?"

"Yeah yeah, hold your horses boyo." Smith waved with one hand as she grabbed the clipboard and flipped some pages. "Sign here, here and here, and while you're doing that I'll give you the basic run down."

Kimihito did as requested, and Smith gave a rather bland, bored sounding description of the homestay program. He'd receive a stipend every month to help pay for the homestay's food and living costs, a rather sizable one which made him a bit worried about just what he had gotten. She also mentioned a few things about appropriate actions between a homestay and host. It was just the basic stuff. A rundown that if he did anything illegal he would be in jail. Smith couldn't help but tease that if something happened to form between him and his homestay, well that was legal.

Then it came time to meet his homestay, and Kimihito would be led to the back of the van, which he noticed was visibly sagging on its rear axle…Before a near breathtaking woman stepped out, and it wasn't just because she was a head and a half taller than him. The liminal sported a pair of horns, messy brown hair, a long shirt that did absolutely nothing to hide her impressive figure, and mile long legs. Also, she was stacked like a snowfort.

He could only blink at the sight of her. She had to be one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. Even with her towering over him and the obviously non human parts he couldn't help but stare like a gormless gob as the woman opened her mouth to speak to him.

-ISoaN-

Cathyl was getting bored. Sitting in the back of the van with nothing better to do then try to listen through the walls. She couldn't really catch much, even with her large ears she could only catch her hosts timber and not his words. She could tell he was a man, and had a reasonably deep voice. Not really much to go on.

Though she heard the voices starting to come closer, and there was a bang on the back door and she heard Smith say. "You awake still Cathyl? Time to meet your host."

"Finally." She grumbled, and a moment later she'd throw the doors open and stepped out of the van. The vehicle creaked in protest as she stepped to the ground and finally got to stand up to her full height of seven and a half feet. Feeling her spine crack she'd look down to see her host.

Honestly, he wasn't much to look at. His appearance not helped at all by the open mouthed gape he was currently putting on. The man couldn't even be as old as her, and she was only twenty three. He had black hair, the hint of some muscles, and seemed to be covered in dirt. She couldn't help but grin for some reason though.

"Nice ta' meet ya." Cathyl reached a hand down, and the raven haired farmer took it and gave it a shake. Managing to not flinch when she put a bit of extra strength behind her grip.

Her grin grew into a full blown smile.

-ISoaN-

The sun was firmly setting now, and he had managed to plow most of the field. Tomorrow he'd hopefully have it set enough to start planting. At the moment he was at his table though. Across from him sat, rather tentatively in a creaking chair, Cathyl. The minotaur woman had already taken the guest room he used to sleep in when he visited his grandfather for her own and now they had settled down for dinner.

"Sorry 'bout the chair, Cathyl, Smith mentioned something about sending some furniture for you over the next few days but I'll try to throw together some new stuff. Most of the chairs and tables need replacing anyways." Kimihito said as he put the first plates on the table. He had made quite a fair bit more then normal as he figured the minotaur girl would eat much more then he would.

He also had to avoid using any of the meat in his freezer. It was painful and annoying, but until he was sure on the girl's ability to handle it, he wasn't going to complain. Rice and salad would have to do.

"It's fine. Don't need ta put in that much effort. I can make myself some places ta sit. Thinking I'll help ya with the fields, too." Cathyl leaned forward to start attacking her bowl, the chair letting out an alarming groan as she shifted her weight. "Reminds me of home, maybe I can show ya a thing or two myself."

"If you can, I'd be really grateful." Kimihito said with a grin. "I learned from my gramps, but it's been years, and I'm kinda floundering a bit here. Don't want to get into like, getting chickens or anything till the fields are all prepped, and I don't have any equipment other than hand tools."

"Heh, well that's an easy enough fix. Ya got a plow? Just hand it ta me and I'll have ya fields done in a few hours."

"I'll go check the tool shed in the morning, for now lets just get you settled in here." Kimihito certainly didn't mind having the girl being so eager to help, but he felt a bit bad about putting his homestay to work so soon. "First though, I was a bit distracted earlier, but we should probably get to know each other if we're going to be living together."

Cathyl nodded, and leaned back again as she put down her finished bowl. "Yah, probably should shouldn't we? Well, name's Cathyl Tarus, from the United States. How bout you?"

"Kimihito Kurusu, from Japan. Though I've lived a fairly long period of time in Europe." Kimihito replied, and offered Cathyl a second bowl. The large girl nodding. "I only moved here just a bit more than a week ago. I did live here for a bit with my grandpa but I have to admit, I'm still a tad out of my league here."

"Heh, guess it was lucky ya got me as a homestay then, I've got lots of experience on a farm. I'll help ya get this place off tha ground if you let me be a partner here." Cathyl chuckled, an action that caused a rather interesting movement of her mammoth chest.

Kimihito took a moment to actually realize what she had said, notably, a moment after her jiggling had settled down. "I don't see any problem with that. Really doesn't even seem like much of a difference at all really."

"Yah, but this way my name's on tha deed, and I can't get deported as easily." Cathyl grinned, and having finished her seconds she reached over the table and sealed the deal with a rather hearty handshake.

-ISoaN-

The next day saw the two out in the fields, Kimihito had a bag of seeds that he was spreading to the turned earth. Cathyl meanwhile, was using a plow that Kimihito had found in the broken down barn, working the field that Kimihito hadn't managed to complete the day before. The process was drastically speeding up with the addition of a second set of hands.

It was a tad distracting to Kimihito though, Cathyl had subbed out her longsleeved t-shirt combo and jeans, for a much rougher outfit. She was wearing what amounted to her aptly cowprint underwear, underneath a set of farmers coveralls. Said coveralls were doing a very bad job of covering all. The distracting part was both Cathyl's well muscled arms, and her massive breasts that were threatening to pop out of the coveralls top.

Seriously, if Kimihito didn't know already that she was a minotauros, he'd have been able to guess nothing other than that with how well developed she was in the chest department.

"What yah staring at Kimihito?" Cathyl called over. "I got a fly on my cheek or something?"

Kimihito shook himself awake and focused back on dropping in the seeds. "No, nothing like that, though what's with the black marks under your eyes?" He said, referring to a pair of black paint spots the girl had put under her eyes.

"Anti-glare paint, helps keep the sun out of your eyes." The cowgirl said with a grin as she leaned on the plow. "Also, all done over here. You need some help with planting?"

Kimihito looked at the sixth of the fields that he had actually managed to plant in. He really should have had much more of this done by now, but well, distractions. "Yeah, I wouldn't mind some help. You start at the far end and we'll meet in the middle."

Passing off some of the seeds to the cowgirl they went back to work.

-ISoaN-

Kimihito didn't know it, but Cathyl had caught the reason for his distraction, and couldn't help but chuckle a bit. Humans, or at least this one, were so much more nervous about that kinda stuff. If he had been a minotauros bull then he'd have been coming over and trying to talk his way into her pants by now. Some of her friends might have even let him.

Instead he was just throwing glances across the field, and they'd only known each other for a day. Really, she might have taken it a bit worse if it wasn't that she'd cast him a few looks too. He was quite tiny, at least compared to her kind. But good muscles stood out, big or small. The guy had actually made a pretty good dent on this field before she had got here, and he had been using a hand hoe.

The fact that he was wearing only a t-shirt and shorts at the moment helped a bit in that regard. The t-shirt was clinging in all the right places as he sweated in the spring heat. Spreading some seeds through the row she had just plowed she hummed a small tune to herself. This'd make things a lot easier when she have to get him to help in a few days.

Stupid minotauros body. She could already feel her top stretching a bit against her bosom. Fresh milk starting to slowly swell them, and it had been a few days since her sisters had last helped her before she left for Japan.

She'd make sure the boys hands didn't wander or do anything too lewd! Otherwise he'd find out himself just why you don't want to get kicked by a minotauros or a centaur. She hoped his hand's were a bit rough already though. Stimulation helped make it go faster...

"You okay over there Cathyl?" Kimihito shouted across the field. Shaking the minotauros from her little daydream.

The minotauros blinked, and this time it was her turn to shake herself awake as she flushed just a tiny bit. "Yep, just thinking a bit about how your farm doesn't have any animals. Ya got ta fix that or we'll get no income during the winter."

"Hmmmm," Kimihito rubbed his chin. It wasn't a bad idea. The barn wasn't in good shape but he could probably get it up to something. It should be more than enough for one or two animals for now. "I'll wander into town. Someone there probably could tell us about getting some. Maybe the farm down the road."

Cathyl nodded, happy that she had managed to cover her little slip up. Stupid liminal sex drive. Moving back to seeding the tilled ground she'd do her work as the day slipped away. The girl eager for another thing as the sun slowly approached its end, making her giddy.

Kimihito's cooking was just that good.

-ISoaN-

The next day, Kimihito would head into town. Cathyl marching along at his side. Cathyl almost felt a tad embarrassed as she towered over the farmer, drawing the eyes of everyone they passed. The only thing that made it a bit less embarrassing was that, when they pulled up to the neighbours farm, there was another liminal there. A sheep woman that waved at them as they came in.

"Hello! Welcome to Popuri farms!" The liminal said and approached them. "You are the two that live up the road right? We saw the government truck heading up that way and were wondering when you'd come into town. Ohh, but where are my manners, I'm Merino. Nice to meet you."

"Kimihito Kurusu." Kimihito said, with a half bow.

Cathyl grinned and reached out a hand, which Merino replied in kind. "Cathyl, nice to see another liminal here."

"There's a dog girl at the tavern too, but yeah." Merino pulled her hand back after the shake and turned, motioning for them to follow. "It's nice to have another liminal around. Let me show you to the owner. You guys are here probably for some livestock right?"

"Yeah, thanks." Kimihito said as they followed.

After one long talk with the owner of the farm - a rather attractive, pink haired woman a bit older then Kimihito named Popuri - the two were heading back to the farm with some chickens. Cathyl was fine with chickens. Kimihito figured they'd be easier to look after with the state the barn was in. They were something they could afford.

-ISoaN-

Unfortunately that meant having to carry the chickens back home. For whatever reason Popuri hadn't had any cages to carry them with. So Kimihito was carrying three chickens, while Cathyl was trying to deal with a half dozen herself. The creatures were surprisingly calm, but they were...curious to say the least.

"Dammit! Get out of there, you damned chicken!" Cathyl growled, seemingly shouting at her breasts.

Kimihito just tried to keep his eyes off the sight of Cathyl trying to dig the chicken out from where it had settled in between her rather significant breasts. Shifting the chickens in his arms a bit, and just ignoring the one sleeping on his head.

-ISoaN-

Two days after the chickens were purchased and settled into a coop behind the barn, Cathyl's problem came along. Kimihito had noticed the woman was getting a bit more irritable. Shifting her outfit constantly. Really he was almost wondering if she was going on her period. Well, he wasn't quite right. It had nearly the same effects though.

Because of that belief, he was rather stunned silent when he found himself suddenly pinned to the wall of the barn shortly after lunch by a panting Cathyl. The woman easily able to manhandle him with her size and strength. Panting hard as she demanded. "Kimihito...milk me."

Yeah, Kimihito's brain was quite short circuited for the moment. Resulting in him saying a rather eloquent. "What?"

"Milk. Me." Cathyl clarified. "My breasts are swollen too much, it's hurting and I need to be milked."

Well, this was honestly something Kimihito wasn't expecting to ever hear. This soon into knowing someone. Cathyl didn't look like she was going to take no for an answer though. Not only that she said it was hurting, and he wasn't going to let his liminal be in pain when he could help! Even if it was something this embarrassing.

Now if only he could get his body to respond properly. Instead of muttering out on repeat. "Uuuu."

Then Cathyl bapped him lightly on the head. "Dammit Kimihito, I'm not doing this 'cause I like you, you know! It hurts and you'd be doing a bad job if you didn't help me!"

Despite her words, Kimihito noticed she was sporting a rather noticeable blush. Well, whatever, don't focus on that now. Focus on getting the brain to work first! Luckily he'd soon be able to say something intelligent. Namely. "Yes, I'll help. Though I don't really know what to do…"

"The way you say that makes me think you know exactly what to do." Cathyl half stared at him. She was right, he had seen some stranger types of porn after all.

Moving into the barn, Cathyl would undo the straps on her coveralls, letting the top drop and revealing her massive chest. Massive still didn't do it justice. Especially since she seemed to have gained a cup size or so from the milk in them. Cathyl already had set up a stool, and some bottles.

"Uhh, why bottles instead of a bucket?" Kimihito asked as he moved behind Cathyl. It would be absolutely to embarrassing to do this from the front when she could stare at him while he fucked it up!

Cathyl seemed confused at the question. "We're going to keep it aren't we? Minotauros milk is real good for people and liminals. Much better than cow milk."

To say Kimihito's mind nearly had a nuclear meltdown would be an understatement. The poor man not expecting Cathyl to actually be planning to well...share...her breast milk. Guess she was more cowgirl then she seemed maybe?

"Start already dammit! You don't have any idea how sore these are right now, and I can't milk myself." Cathyl complained, and Kimihito finally got to, work? Did this count as work?

Regardless, he reached around Cathy and let his hands sink into the woman's breasts. The pillow mounds practically absorbing his fingers, and he had to fight a monumental battle to keep from groping the girl. He was fairly sure he'd probably end up dead if he did that. Instead he just moved his hands, and with a few deft pinches. The entire process was started.

-ISoaN-

Things were...a tad awkward after that. At least they were for Kimihito. Cathyl seemed to take it mostly in stride. It was actually a bit off setting for the minotauros. She was used to things like what had happened just a few days before being commonplace. She had expected Kimihito to be embarrassed and the like sure. She hadn't expected him to practically start avoiding her. Especially since it seemed to be more out of worry that she was offended at him then anything else.

Really, who would have thought that stripping off your top and making a guy milk you after you barely knew him for a week would be awkward!

Cathyl wasn't going to let this stand any longer though. Today she'd solve this little problem! At breakfast. When he couldn't escape.

She usually woke up earlier than he did, but she didn't make breakfast. Now though she'd show off that she wasn't actually a bad cook. Making up a nice enough breakfast for the both of them. Though Kimihito would probably notice that the pancakes tasted a bit more...sweet than normal. Same with the milk. The minotauros still seeing no issue with that.

When Kimihito woke up and made his way into the shared kitchen-dining room. He found the door closed behind him, and Cathyl standing there with a grin on her face. He'd take a moment to wake up and see what had happened. Blinking at the breakfast. "Thanks Cathyl, sorry I didn't wake up earlier."

"Bah, don't be like that. Ya cook all the time. I can do it myself sometimes ya know?" Cathyl grinned, pushing him forward and into one of the chairs. "Also, we need ta talk. You've been ducking out since ta milking. Makes me worry I'm going to get ta boot."

She didn't actually worry about that. Afterall he really couldn't kick her off the farm now that she had partial ownership of the place. Not to mention Kimihito wasn't anything like that. She figured that if she started 'strong' he'd feel worse about it.

"E-Ehh? N-No! That wasn't what I was doing at all." Kimihito replied, waving his hands ahead of him as if to ward off her words.

Cathyl though just replied with a stare. Not saying anything as she munched on her own breakfast. Watching him, almost unblinkingly. While she normally was rather hotheaded. Her species could be...passive? Patient? Those weren't the right word but she couldn't think of anything better. Regardless, her kind could be like this if they tried.

So she kept staring. As Kimihito slowly ate his food. His expression noticeably getting noticeably more nervous under her unblinking watch. Until finally he sighed. "Fine, I guess I have, and I'm sorry. It's just...kinda you know...awkward? I mean you've not even been here a month! And well. T-That happened."

It wasn't that Kimihito hadn't enjoyed it, but well. He was worried he had taken advantage of the cowgirl! The only reason she had let him do it was because she had to, and he felt bad that that had to be the situation. He was thinking about getting her some of those milking bottles so she wouldn't have to force herself to let him do-

Then Cathyl bopped him on the back of the head again. Nearly knocking him into his pancakes. "I know what you're thinking. Stop that ya dunce." The woman glared down at him. "I was planning ta have you do that for a few days before. If I wanted some other way to get milked I woulda told ya beforehand."

"I'll admit it was a tad awkward though." Cathyl scratched the back of her head with a grin. "But well, I didn't mind it. So no beating yourself up over it, and no more avoiding me got it? Not going to have ya thinking I don't like you."

Kimihito wasn't sure what it was, but he couldn't keep himself from smiling a bit. The tensions inside him that had been building since then flowing out of him in a relieving wave. "Well. I can't really keep thinking that after you say that can I?" He couldn't help but tease though with a smirk. "Though I seem to remember you saying you didn't like me in the barn there."

"Different things dumb ass!" Cathyl half shouted. Slamming the table with her palms hard enough to nearly break it.

Then she turned her head and blushed a bit. "Though I am going to need you to do that again tomorrow. Before they start getting sore again…"

-ISoaN-

Life progressed like that, the two slipping into a pattern. Wake up, tend to the crops, tend to the chickens, lunch. The afternoons were usually either more crop tending, or heading into town to let Cathyl see what human settlements were like. Sometimes they'd go over and visit Merino. Every saturday Cathyl would drag Kimihito into the barn to help with her personal issue. Each week it became easier and less embarrassing for both of them. It even managed to become a bit fun, something to look forward to.

Soon enough though the seasons started to change, and the temperature was starting to drop. It'd be harvest time soon. The field that Kimihito and Cathyl had put together was nearly ready. Corn drifting in the afternoon breeze as they walked by on the path to town.

"Heh, field's looking good." Cathyl grinned proudly at the sight. A stalk of elephant grass hanging out of her mouth. A habit she had fallen into ever since discovering them growing on the banks of a creek running through the property.

Kimihito swore she did it to tease him. Especially in more recent days. The grass served to bring attention to her mouth, and to lips he was growing every day more interested in. It really was a strange world that he lived in. Considering what they did every Saturday, and that he hadn't even kissed Cathyl yet, or gotten into any sort of official relationship with her. Made him wonder what would have happened if he had gotten multiple minotauros. He might not have survived…

His words carried none of his thoughts. "They do. It's nice to see them grow in so well. Was sure they'd be all ragged and I'd lose the first year's crop for sure."

"Well, good thing ya got me then ain't it?" Cathyl patted Kimihito on the back. An action that would have once sent him stumbling was now one he was used to and stayed upright.

"It really is. Thanks again for all the help you've been for the last few months Cathyl." Kimihito's grin in reply caused Cathyl to turn away with a bit of a blush. It was things like that that helped keep Kimihito both sane, and slowly going crazy.

On one hand, it made him fairly confident that Cathyl liked him. Honestly he would have hoped she'd like him a bit to let him be helping her with her milk problem. On the other, it was driving him crazy that he couldn't find a good time to ask about it. He didn't want to just bring it up some day around the dinner table! Kimihito had read to many books as a kid, he wanted to make it right and properly romantic when he asked.

Salvation it's said, has a a way of showing up when you least expect it though. As the two were wandering down the hallway, a solution to Kimihito's problem slammed into them like a freight train. Or at least, slammed into Cathyl like a freight train.

"Omph." Cathyl couldn't keep the air in her lungs as Merino slammed into the tall girl's stomach. The sheep girl and Kimihito had a fairly friendly relationship, but Cathyl and Merino had hit it off like sisters. Along with another pair of liminals that lived on another farm on the far side of town called Cot and Ton.

"Hey Cathyl! You hear about the fireworks festival tonight?" Merino said as she pulled back from the cowgirl, falling in step beside her as they went. Popuri catching up a moment later, her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath.

"Y-You shouldn't run off like that Merino. I can't keep up that well in this dress." The pinkette said as she managed to get her breath back. Though she didn't seem really that annoyed as she stood up and smiled to Kimihito and Cathyl. "Hello you two, having a good day today?"

"I was just telling them about the fireworks festival tonight." Merino said before either of them could. "I think they should go."

Popuri smiled brightly at the two. "Ohh, they would make a good pair there. You two should go! I'm looking to see if I can get Kai to go."

"And I was thinking about asking Rick." Merino admitted with a blush.

"Wait wait wait, hold on." Kimihito put his hands up and signaled for them to stop. "Fireworks festival? Why didn't anyone tell me about this before."

"Ohh well, we would have told you yesterday, but you two didn't come into town. There are so many events around here that it kinda slipped our minds till then." Popuri admitted. "We all go down to the beach and watch the fireworks."

"Yeah, you two have to come!" Merino said. "You'd look adorable together."

Kimihito and Cathyl both blushed luminescent, and Cathyl would try to push Merino to the side so she could continue onto the town. "Don't just say that outa nowhere!" The large woman said as she started forward. The other three following behind soon enough.

"Well, that wasn't a no. So are you going to go?" Popuri giggled to the side.

Kimihito realized this was literally the universe handing him his chance on a silver platter. A blush on his face as he said. "I wouldn't be against it. So why don't we go Cathyl?"

Cathyl took a moment to ponder it over. Given who Merino wanted to come. Popuri's brother that she was sweet on. Cathyl knew what kind of event this was…Honestly, she had been looking for a chance to talk to Kimihito properly about this for a while. She had hoped the guy would have come out and asked her out a while ago, and she was half thinking she was going to have to do it herself. This though, this was him trying at least. "Yeah, what time's it at? We'll go. Might not see you there though."

Cathyl's chuckle at the last line brought a blush to the face of literally everyone there. It wasn't exactly wrong either. Popuri knew that many couples tended to...well slip out, or find their own places to watch from. Things tended to get a bit, touchy. Half the kids in the village owed either the fireworks festival, or the later in the year moonlight festival for their conception after all…

"Great! It starts as soon as the sun goes down." Merino said, and grabbed onto Popuri's hand. "We got to go ask Kai and Rick, so see you around." A moment later she had taken off, pulling Popuri behind her and leaving the two standing there a bit awkwardly.

Kimihito looked to the sun, and realized they probably only had an hour, maybe two till it started. "Well, looks like we might want to head back so we can throw together something to eat. Might as well make a full picnic out of it." Kimihito grinned over to Cathyl. It was a shy grin, one accompanied with a blush.

A smile matched by the minotauros. Both of them realizing that this was going to be the first step toward something more. As long as one of them actually found the words to say it this evening. Though Cathyl did decide to get started on that early, not with words, but by picking Kimihito up and slinging him over her shoulder. "Hold on tight Kimihito, I'll get us back there faster." And with that she took off for their shared home at a pace the human wouldn't have had a chance to match.

-ISoaN-

The two arrived just in time, thanks to another trip on the minotauros express. Kimihito over one shoulder and bin filled with food and a blanket held in the other hand. They even managed to get a pretty good spot, a bluff overlooking the beach. Down below they could see some of the older couples in the town. Further down the bluff they swear they saw Merino and Rick too.

Dropping Kimihito down on his feed, Cathyl threw out the blanket and they both sat down just as the first firework set off. Kimihito having decided to try to sit beside Cathyl. A plan that was quickly dashed when the minotaur picked him up and planted him in her lap. Kimihito's brain nearly short circuiting at the two rather soft mounds that were surrounding his head as Cathyl pulled him back a bit. More fireworks started to go off in the distance. The two settling in to watch. Kimihito's short circuit slipping into calm, comfortable, silence.

Eventually, as the fireworks continued to go on, and Cathyl had started to get into the food, Kimihito would speak.

"Cathyl...Umm," Ohh god he was choking at it. Come on Kimihito, man up! "Would you like to be my girlfriend!"

The last line came out more as a barrage of words then a coherent sentence. Causing the minotauros to chuckle. The movement making Kimihito move with the rise and fall of Cathyl's breath.

"Heh, was wondering when ya'd ask." Cathyl finally said, grinning down at the human. "Was going ta ask ya myself if ya didn't tonight. Woulda made ya regret it. So yeah, I'd love ta."

Kimihito sighed happily at the response, and relaxed. Leaning back against Cathyl again. Cathyl herself leaning back until they were laying down. Watching the fireworks burst above them. Her arms wrapping around his waist and hugging him to her as the night wore on, luckily still warm with summer heat.

Eventually though Kimihito would shift. Pushing himself up into a sitting position as he turned to look at Cathyl. The liminal's hair spread out across the ground below her, and the illumination from the crackling fireworks lighting her face. Cathyl sporting an expression that looked half quizzical, and half challenging. Helped by the smirk on her face as she seemed to realize what he was planning to do.

Her grip loosened enough for him to turn around, and a moment later their lips touched. Kimihito and Cathyl letting the rest of the night pass away in a haze as they finally managed to get that kiss, and many more after.

A/N 2: Well now that you got down here I'll tell you. I don't really like this chapter. I'm sorry for the massive delay, school life and everything was not kind to me. The past few months, and I needed to write something a bit more serious then the fluff that is ISoaN or Spokes of Life. This chapter finally came to me a month or so ago and well. I don't really like it. It's not baaaad I don't think, but it's just not as pizzazzy as the last few chapters were. This is both the shortest opening chapter, and I think it'll be the weakest (something I worry may summarize this entire arc but hopefully not.) The next chapter's highly going to at least make up somewhat for the shortness of this chapter, but in general this is probably going to be the most relaxed of all the arcs. If you've ever lived on a farm or a place with lots of orchards or the like, you probably know the feeling of just a slow summer. One where you spend most of the days just out in the field napping under a tree because its too hot to do anything else and the house doesn't have AC. That's to some extent the feel I'm going for with this arc. Relaxed, chill. It also doesn't help that well, the amount of characterization Cathyl gets in the comics makes Zombina look like she's gotten a book written about her.

Either way, now that I've gotten that off my chest. I hope that it's just me being negative on myself, but I understand if you the reviews for the chapter might be a bit negative. Stick around though! There's going to be a much more interesting Chapter 2 for this arc! (I hope.) Also I still hope you review! If you like it then that's great to hear, if you have criticism it's nice to know. Every review helps give that bit more motivation to either make another chapter for you all to enjoy, or prove anyone negative wrong and pull the quality up :P

Now the important parts. First, I'm not sure where they came from, but thank you all for voting so much! There's 110 votes for Arc 5 already, and out of no where in the past month the Manako brigade has shown up and she's jump to #1 in the poll, followed by Tio and Lala. Ms Smith who was at #2 for so long has dropped off to 4th. The poll will be open for the next two chapters so get your votes in! After that there will not be a poll for Arc 6. As after arc 5 I am planning to go back and re-write a few scenes (Rachnera's chapter 3 might get a rewrite), as well as well as do a chapter or two of fluff bits for the previous arcs. Then I'll open up Arc 6. For now we're likely looking at 7 Arcs total before I end this as actually completing this adventure is likely going to be an impossibility as long as Okayado keeps adding new characters. Also my usual editor is planning to leave after the 7th arc. Though we'll see when the 7th rolls around.

Either way, sorry for the big A/N. See you all next chapter! Which will hopefully be coming out in May if I can stick to a schedule.