[DISCLAIMER: Only a fictional story using Hololive characters.

This is a short chapter because I'm hoping to write the next chapter before the end of the weekend. There is Ina, Enma, Nene, lotsa Calliope, and more OkaKoro and AmeSame/Shartson/Gurame (take your choice).

Thank you for all the alerts, fave author, and favorite story adds, and for reading my little story. I've especially loved reading your reviews – it's nice to know you all are reading.

By the way, the title is based on an Antonio Carlos Jobim song, Corcovado Nights. I'd love to hear Gura sing it during a Guraoke stream. Everybody, run and listen to it.]

Chapter 10 – Quiet Nights and Quiet Stars

Stars flicker in a chaotic pattern that not one person could measure, no matter how long they sit and stare into the darkness of the night. Ina considered this, staring out at the night sky. She sat on the edge of the mountaintop. Years had passed, but as the brunette sat beside her, she recalled a time when this view was different.

"Why did you come back, my lord?"

"I was called here. The Ancients speak and I obey, but this time they sent me where I wanted to be. All either begins or ends here on Holios."

Ina giggled lightly considering what she watched below the mountain. The moonlight trailed along the ocean's expanse, leading to the blonde on the beach. Nene was on the beach kicking a beach ball toward the waves, it coming back to her, and then she'd pick it up and kick it again.

"Is she all there?"

"Oh," Enma laughed. "She just appeared here and I couldn't send her away."

"She's… very different." Ina continued giggling, "Do you know she touched my hair?"

"Oh, my."

"I am sure she didn't care the result, but she's such a funny one. I feel eased by her, but I also can't figure her out."

"A conundrum."

"Indeed."

"Indeed – and I can't read her power levels."

"Hm, interesting. The veil here is not easy to pass, but yet she just appeared." Ina smiled feeling lightened by Nene. "I like her, but she's still not allowed to touch my hair."

The two laughed. In actuality, only one was ever allowed to touch her hair and that person was Enma, until Ame, of course. She knew Amelia was meant for Gura, of which she was happy. She liked them both.

Enma glanced to her beautiful goddess, truly the kindest creature she'd ever known, "Will they all be here soon?"

"I am told they are coming and I'm resting. This may be the end for me. Maybe I will finally be free."

"I won't let you down, nor will I let you die."

Ina leaned over to her friend and servant, lying her head on her shoulder. "I know. You've never let me down. But no one can decide death or life. Fates decide."

Enma slowly brushed across her goddess's soft locks of pure obsidian and gold, with the lightest touch of the richest of earth and sea.

"You'll always be my first love, Enma."

"But you like the minor goddess of Planet Tao Tao too."

"I love many." Ina smiled, feeling reposed, beside her oldest and dearest friend. She finally remembered who she was, and it felt comforting.

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Mori Calliope spent life, or death, in a position that she never minded. She didn't judge nor care to dissect the reasonings behind why some die in accidental mishaps or by choosing their time in suicide. Fanatics were another breed, that did irk her to some extent but she knew that was always left for an individual to decide. Stupidity could be a choice.

She didn't care for details and choices others made. Death is necessary for life the way breathing is necessary for life. Beginnings have ends; and ends have beginnings.

"And the world goes round," she stated, leaving the police station watching and following Watson.

Another death followed Dr. Watson Amelia, and so she continued to follow her, knowing there would be another later in the day.

The hospital was always a busy place for reapers like her, but this wasn't her gig at the moment.

She did find it curious Watson was being carried inside by that beautiful lioness. She continued following, her interest in Watson guided by her interest in the cute shark.

Within moments that little shark was running inside and to the investigator's side.

Perhaps she was becoming a romantic, but she watched them quietly in the shadows. Maybe she was getting too involved in this soap opera because she got a text from the Lord of the Underworld himself, calling her to a meeting.

She grumbled, "fuck," under her breath, realizing he was watching and she'd be reamed for paying attention to the living more than to the dying.

In a wisp of black smoke, she recoiled back to the underworld.

In a moment she was beneath the Holios Volcano, walking up to the god of the Underworld himself, sitting back on a lounge chair, drinking a martini, eyeballs floating inside taking the place of olives. Calliope glanced over preferring actual olives.

This is where the door to Hades existed, and she had only been here one other time. She didn't like having to deal with gods.

"Yo boss, long time no see."

"Don't be cheery today, Mori."

"Yessir. I'll be extra un-cheery just for you."

"And don't be a smart-ass, or do that kiss-up crap."

"Yessir. I'd never kiss anything."

A lounge chair suddenly appeared, and Calliope sat down a drink instantly beside her and then an umbrella, as the lava popped up behind her and her boss, shrouded in a black robe, face hidden under the hood, taking a sip from his drink.

"The Ancients have been riding me about you interfering."

"Old guys – go figure."

"I agree. They need to stay in their lane. We don't choose sides we just do what's necessary. They want to play with world order and destruction, that's their thing, but I say to them – yo, all power is in death not life. They're trying to decide ends and then what do we have?"

"Nothing sir."

"That's right – nada. Can't stand those ancient pricks, hiding under the seas and spreading those ideas in their follower's minds. Mind control – it's where it's at apparently. Bunch'a cultists." He emphasized with a pointy, skeletal finger, "and don't get me wrong – cultists are great for business. Jonestown and all those idiots and fanatics that blow themselves up for causes. They add up and Styx can only get a little fuller, but seriously, its gonna get overflowing and crowded with this end of the world thing they're going for – don't repeat any of this."

"Got it sir."

"You're a good reaper, kid, and out of all of Grim's apprentice's you got what I like."

"What's that sir?"

The god of the Underworld sat up, and she could see his grin, "You think. But stop it. No more thinking because that'll get you in trouble. Do your job and stay away from that whacky chicken."

"The Phoenix?"

"Yeah, you think I don't know you've been dipping in the Lethe."

"So?" Calliope's eyes darted to the side, having been found out, but she quickly straightened in defiance.

He chuckled loudly. "Love how you have no fear."

"I'm death – what's fear?"

He kept laughing, nearly spitting out his drink. "Love you kid. I tell you, when you were brought to me, I had my reservations, but you've turned out a top-notch reaper." Again, he leaned in, almost close enough to spy down at her well-endowed breast, then grinning extra-large, "Top-notch."

He stopped laughing suddenly, staring directly at the apprentice, his eyes ablaze in red flames, so close she felt the heat of his anger.

"There can always be room for fear, Mori Calliope."

The apprentice sipped her drink slowly, glancing toward the dark figure, unmoved. He was a legend, and she listened realizing he was deathly serious.

"That Phoenix will be triggered by the Ancients who will cause endless destruction to this world. Don't get involved and let them do their damage. They had their way in Atlantis, and the gods sat by letting the shark take the fall, but now they are pushing them too far and so we just got to do our job. Let them do theirs."

"Do gods even have any power these days?"

"True, we've sat back. But don't ever think inaction means incapability."

"I think I know enough not to get involved."

"Good girl."

Calliope hated being belittled, but she listened quietly, drinking the rest of her drink before standing. "Are we done sir?"

"Yeah yeah, go and take care of that Watson and the shark kid, favored by my brother Poseidon. Do your job and don't get attached. Attachment's what's kept that shark alive, and I'll be honest – my brother's Trident will look nice on my wall. Luck eventually runs out… for everyone – even nine-thousand-year-old sharks."

He chuckled to himself. Calliope didn't speak, but simply left to do her job. There would be a horrific death later that evening.

######################################################################

Botan ended up being invited out to dinner with Korone and Okayu on a double date. She knew her wife would be ecstatic to meet OkaKoro in person and wanted to surprise her.

Once Watson was released after a few hours, Botan drove her to her place to change. Gura left to change for a casual dinner date with Watson, and of course, Korone advised she should dress nicely.

Gura succumbed to Korone's fashion advice, wearing some modern Japanese fashion, with baggie linen Tokyo-style pants, wide legged, and a white cool print T-shirt with matching dark blue hoodie. She looked like a Loli model in Osaka.

Watson had changed into beige baggie pants also, and they had dressed like twins, in style without realizing it.

Amelia Watson didn't wear a hoodie, but a cute beret and over-sized cashmere sweater. She looked like upscale British fashion.

The two were adorable, and Korone wanted to take pictures when Amelia showed up at her door.

Gura giggled, "Feel like I'm going to prom."

They stood closely together for the photo, smiling nervously, as Korone snapped a picture.

Okayu walked up, photo bombing the two.

"OKayu!"

Korone chased after her, as they playfully chased one another along the beach.

"Dogs and cats, gotta love the symbolism," Gura took Watson's hand in her own. "I was thinking of a quiet dinner and I know just the place."

When they looked back Korone had tackled Okayu on the beach.

"She's a lively landlord," Watson commented.

"Yeah, she makes me laugh and smile all the time."

Amelia looked down at how easily Gura took her hand. Gura had an amazingly strong, yet soft and comforting grip, and the ex-investigator blushed. "This feels nice."

"Yeah… it does," Gura listened to the quiet night, watching how the stars twinkled gently as if playing music, "…it really does."

[END NOTE: Thanks for reading, and please let me know how it's going with a review. Next chapter will be a romantic evening, and all AmeSame. I hope this is a sweet romance.]