Chapter 137

Before I left the Hyoudou house, I asked Sachiko, "Where's Yasaka-sama?"

Then, with Delly perched on my shoulder, I followed Sachiko into the elevator, up a few floors, down a hallway, and to a door with an adorable fox plaque on it with 'Kunou' written on its tail. She then sat like a good foxxo and flailed her tail around happily.

"She's a good girl. Very strong too." Delly said quietly, "But her place of power is here, in Kuoh, which is a lot bigger than Jiru, or you."

"Come in." Yasaka said from inside, just loud enough that I might have imagined it, had I not felt a little tug towards the door.

I opened the door and stepped inside quietly, "Sorry for intruding..." I mumbled. Unlike her mostly spartan (with a dash of culture) room in Kyoto, her room here was stylishly extravagant. Nice wood furniture, light red paint, blue ceiling, and thick window curtains to keep out the morning sunlight.

Without hesitation, Sachiko pranced over to Yasaka, and put her head down on the bed. The bed of course, contained Kunou, who looked like a kind of large wrinkle in the soft bed. Yasaka herself was sitting next to it, gently petting her daughter's forehead. Her free hand went to give Sachiko the same treatment. "It's good you've recovered, Kodori-sama." She said quietly, "Oh, you've named her."

"You can tell?" I knelt beside Sachiko, not wanting to stand over Yasaka.

"Part of a mother's protection comes from the name she gives." She smiled softly, "It gives them true distinction in the eyes of the Gods."

I 'hmm'ed' and thought of the naming of my own children, and the Gods who 'heard' those names. "What happens now? I already know she must stay here, but..."

"That is all that needs to happen. Kunou will continue on as she has, though still in training. But now, if there is a threat to the land, Kunou can call upon her help."

Judging by Sachiko's happily flailing tail, she would be quite willing to do so. "Good." I nodded, feeling something inside my chest get lighter, but I couldn't really think of why. "Maybe I'll make a nice bronze mirror... I'm certain Lady Inari would love to see you."

Yasaka laughed quietly, "I would be surprised if she didn't know already."

"She is the Goddess of the Kitsune." Delly said, poking my cheek, "If she weren't busy, she'd probably be down here congratulating you as well."

"I suppose so." I shook my head, "Yasaka-sama. Thank you, truly, for all your help. Letting Kunou stay here, even though she is still half a year from starting school. For helping me learn. For helping me grow. Thank you."

"Ara? I could hardly refuse to help you, after all you've done for me."

"I'd have done it without anyone asking." I smiled, "But please, I ask you continue lending me your strength until I leave."

"Of course." She smiled, taking her hand off Sachiko's head so she could pet my ears instead, "Please, keep watch over my child while you can. I know the others look out for her, and they are wonderful friends to her, but she looks up to you."

"Being a big sister is hard." I smiled, giving Kunou's nose the tiniest of boops, "But I don't think I could ever stop doing it. Thank you, Yasaka-sama."

Before I could stand, her gentle hand pulled my head towards her, and she wrapped me up in a big warm, sakura scented hug. She held me close for a moment, just long enough for me hug her back, then let me breath again. She said nothing else as I stood up and left, Sachiko not following me.

Once the door was closed behind me, I sighed, wondering if I should ask her to adopt me, even if it was only for a week or two...


It wasn't really time for bed yet, and after sleeping for about three days I wasn't tired. So, I went to the workshop. I needed to talk to HIDA about designing a crate for the birds, so they'd survive a trip through the Fairy Circle. If what Ryuu said was true, she and Chime had a very fast trip through the Dimensional Gap. It might have been their adventurer Status that let them survive, or the two of them being really tough, or even just having a much higher mana than your average mortal. But I had just over two weeks, four moon phases, to figure it out.

"Hey HIDA." I greeted as I rolled up the door, "Any messages?"

"Oh! Hey Boss. And Delly." To my surprise, she was already out of her projector tube. The reason being, was that Chime was sitting on a workbench, and she was very carefully petting her, "You don't have any messages, but you do have a package."

"Yeah, we didn't know where to put them." Delly said, "So, we had Chime guard them."

'Them' referred to the two SUPER FANCY ring boxes. She was leaning on them, her eyes half closed in bliss as HIDA pet her. "Aha, good work you two." I gave HIDA a headpat of her own, and Chime a pet over her back, "And I think Lady Hestia gave them both her Blessing." I put my hands on the ring boxes, and yes, the gentle hum of power in them had changed, similar to my own wedding ring.

"I really look forward to meeting your Hestia." Delly said, "Have you told her you met the one over here?"

"No... I haven't called home directly for a little while..." I motioned to my face, "I was... a little shy about what happened."

"Well, now they're gone. And you have your ninth tail! I mean... Doesn't that make you super powerful?"

"I suspect I still have to grow into it, much like Kunou... And if it doesn't stop acting out, I'm going to give it to my wife when I get home."

My newest tail put down my new hammer very carefully.

"Anyhow, HIDA, I have a new project. Super important."


It took about an hour, but HIDA, Delly and I had come up with something that might work. It was basically an air tight, magically protected/insulated box. It would house the seven birds long enough to make the trip, so long as whoever was on the other side of the Fairy Circle chiselled them out relatively fast once they arrived. We were just about to start discussing the materials involved, when Issei tapped on the metal frame of the garage door.

"Hey Sensei." He said, waiting until I looked up at him to step inside, "I'm really glad you're feeling better. You're even smiling a little." Delly landed on his shoulder, and he gave her leg a pat, "Even Delly-chan is feeling better."

"Well yeah! I mean, she's like, the best Boss ever!"

He sounded... odd. Almost sombre. "I'm almost there." I said, "Provided everything goes even a little to plan, I can finally go home." I took a good look at him. He'd cleaned up after training, but he seemed to lack that... energy he usually had. "What's wrong?"

"Wrong? No... Nothing is 'wrong'." He scrubbed a hand through his hair, "I'm guessing you already know about Rias?"

"It was partially my fault." I chuckled, "I can't say much, but Hades was rather annoyed with me for that full moon."

He blinked at me in confusion, then, "Wait, you're the reason she's..."

"Not exactly. Apparently me sleeping at the shrine while I was a raging ball of hormones got all of Kuoh riled up a bit. It might also by why she didn't need any help, considering that notoriously low birth rate Devils have."

Delly was giggling quietly, but Issei still seemed worried about something, "Well huh." He smiled, "I suppose the next step is to start planning a wedding." He had the look of someone staring at a wall that he couldn't see the top of, "A dad... I never thought I'd ever... Even with Rias and I, and all the others..."

"Finally sinking in?" I gave his shoulder a pat, "If you devote yourself to your child like you do your friends, you will have no problems being a father."

"You think so? I still don't think I'm all that reliable... I haven't even finished school yet!"

"Rias might have to wait a year before she goes to collage here. Or maybe take online classes like I've been. Heck, in a couple of months, unless she drops out of school, someone is gonna wonder who the father is." I winked at him.

That snapped him back into his old self, "Aw damn! My friends are going to kill me! Forget them! ALL the boys in the school will be after my hide!"

"You'll still have the girl." I grinned, "Maybe more than one by that point."

On cue, the pink haze started around him, "Eh heh... well, I dunno..." He stopped in mid 'lustful chuckle' and looked at me seriously, "What about Akeno?"

Not expecting that at all, I was caught a little flat footed, "Huh?"

"Well... The others kind of talk about it. And every so often she comes home with this really satisfied expression. Usually after she makes you take a day off." He was blushing as red as steel from my forge, "It's kind of obvious really what you two do..."

"Ah." Delly was on my shoulder now, giving me a 'there there' pat on the head (but still giggling), "We knew it was only for a while. You know why she's so lonely, even with all of you around."

"Yeah. I didn't really get it at first honestly, I mean... So what if she has two different sets of wings! I actually kind of like the angel wings better on her."

"Be sure to tell her so." I nodded.

"Yeah. But then I really thought about it. And honestly, I'm going through a little of that myself. Being so different from my 'normal' friends here at school. Even my parents have no idea what's happened." He smiled, "Even though I still have eyes on her, even now, I'm really glad you helped her. You've helped all of us! But I think Akeno-sempai really needed you."

"Be sure to look out for her when I leave." I smiled, "I'll still call occasionally, but I do not intend on returning."

"You've already got a family to take care of." He nodded, "Thanks Sensei, for listening."

"No problem. Oh, what did she think about the ring?"

"She kind of made a bit of a scene, but the manager forgave her for it, since she was really happy. The others at home are a little jealous though..." He sighed, "You're not taking all this with you, are you?"

"Some, but only a few materials, none of the machines or equipment."

"Good. I'm going to have to make more rings." He did his usual 'nervous head scratch', then extended his fist to me, "Good night Sensei, you too Delly, HIDA."

I tapped his knuckles with mine, "Sleep well." I motioned to Chime, "Oh, make sure to hide those." Issei spotted Chime, then the two ring boxes and carefully scooped them up, making sure to pet Chime for being such a good guard bunny.

"You know, if she lets you sleep, rawr." Delly added, "ACK FLUFFY!" Before being punished.

As his footsteps faded HIDA spoke up, "I've been curious, Boss."

"Good. About Issei's situation?"

"No. My researched into interpersonal relations and the like are extensive, and his current situation is unusual, but not unique."

"help! There's too much fluffy!"

"Then what?"

"Are you planning on taking me with you as well?"

I frowned thoughtfully, my tails going still and letting Delly wiggle free, "I will ask Gasper, but, it might be a little impractical, or even impossible, for you to live there. We have none of the modern infrastructure there that you need to run your tube, and... I don't want to bring that technology with me."

She looked... sad. Genuinely sad. But after a moment, she nodded, "I understand. Even if I could be powered over there, to keep up with data expansion, I would need things that don't exist there... And I wouldn't be able to research new things remotely. And it would be inconvenient for you to..."

I stopped her from the slowly worsening spiral of self doubt, by giving her a headpat. "No. If you made the trip there, I'm sure I could power you. You could read books or wander about town to learn things. You would be every bit a part of my family, and Familia, as anyone else. But I couldn't care for you if you had a problem. If your hardware started to fail, I couldn't fix it." I changed the pat to a hug, my newest tail seeming to really enjoy the faint static tingle the contact gave it, "Eventually, you would run out of memory too. And then you would be forced to forget things. And even if we limited how much information you shared with the world there, I couldn't risk someone learning something too advanced from you, somehow."

HIDA didn't say anything, but she did reach around me to hug me back.

"It's not your fault, but that world isn't ready. Now, if that changes, maybe I'll call Gasper. Then you and him, can teach me how to make a little sister, or make a remote terminal for you. Or something." I let her go and gave her another headpat.

"I will start thinking about how to do that now, just to save time when you ask." She said, smiling, "Oh! You have a message from Rias. Sorry, but you were talking and I didn't want to be rude."

"That's fine. Go ahead."

"Call home. You should check in with everyone." HIDA paused, "The last word is in italics, and underlined."

"Reply with: I will, thank you, and where is my phone?"


Everyone started with the Shadow Broker. As much as I wanted to, needed to call home, I had to make sure everything was in place to get me there.

"I had heard you were unwell." He said as his shrouded form appeared over the summoning circle, "But, I was confident in your recovery, and all plans are proceeding flawlessly."

"Have you started the misdirection yet?"

"Yes. It seems a great deal of important people are taking vacations to far off locals. I hear the mortal realm has some very nice beaches this time of year, and the fishing is lovely. I occasionally fancy a bit of trout and around now is the best time to get it. I also hear that the North has requested a meeting with Lady Serafall, and Heaven, in their gentle yet insistent way, has demanded Lord Sirzechs's presence. Who knows how long they will be away?"

I nodded, smiling, "Perfect."

"I see you've gained your final tail. I suppose all your seven and eight tailed figures are suddenly going to be collector items. Congratulations."

"Thank you, and please, continue to support the Rising Phoenix company. They're going to need it."

We nodded to each other, and his picture vanished.


I went down the list of people, and finally came up to Fels. I looked at his card, took a deep breath, and hoped there would be no bad news.

"Fels?" I called out, wondering if my new improvements to the card, mimicking his design, would have my voice echo around in his skull. I thought of saying something like, 'I am the voice in your head. It's very dusty in here!' but shook my head, no, that would be a little too far. "Fels?" I called again, the card in front of me warming up slightly, and his picture taking on depth.

"Ah. Lady Kodori. I see you figured out what I did." He sounded pleased, "I am very much looking forward to talking in depth about what you've learned over there."

"Me too. Very much so." I nodded, "Speaking of that, I had to do some translating, before what I did worked. Thankfully I was wearing eye protection when it failed the first time. Oh, I made a new Occulus to match the one that exploded."

"Truly? You have improved a great deal then. Those were always made in pairs, and weren't replaceable."

"It might be because I have different tools here. And if you sneak around the alchemist quarter and find a glazier, you'll learn how I made super clear glass."

"I will do that at my first opportunity."

"Now, about the other project?" I was eager to learn more from Fels. But I'd rather do that in person.

"The specifications and dimensions you gave me are... rather difficult. The guild, as well as Hephaestus Familia are hard pressed as it is, and finding extra skilled craftsmen is difficult. But we found a site to begin, and have started none the less."

I sighed in relief, "Will it be done on time?"

"Provided nothing fails catastrophically. Yes. However, I must warn you. Ottar and several of Freya Familia have also come to help in the construction. They are following the plans without question, and I've found no signs of tampering or sabotage. However, considering your... warning to Freya, I cannot help but suspect something."

I frowned, but suspected something like this might happen, "It's fine. If nothing else, it will... hasten the inevitable."

If he had eyes, I could imagine them widening in surprise, "You would challenge him? Truly?"

"I called Freya, personally, and told her to stay away from my family. I can already predict how that will go when I'm there to 'face her wrath'. But I won't let Ottar, or anyone else, get in the way of me returning home."

"I see." He nodded, "Very well. If all goes to plan, we will get exactly one chance to test the device before the full moon."

"I'll see to it all relevant details over here are taken care of. You might even get to chat with one of them yourself, provided Haruhime is willing to part with her half of the Occulus." I smiled, "Good night."

I sighed quietly after the card went dark, and took out the Occulus. Oh BOY would this be an interesting call... But, I only had two secrets from her, and planned to keep it that way. So, I closed my eyes, and let my mind fill with thoughts of Hestia, my Hestia, though I did think a little about the one I'd met here.

After a moment, I felt her small hand on my back, but then I felt another hand, older and worn with age, pat my head. I smiled, then uncovered the Occulus, "Hello? If anyone is listening, you should take this to Lady Hestia."

I waited a moment or two, then I was suddenly looking into the face of Marius. "Good evening, Lady Kodori." He greeted, "Lady Hestia sent me to fetch this, since She's currently... giving dinner."

"Hello King Marius, First of his name." I smiled, "Since you picked up the Occulus, walk a little slower so we can chat."

"Of course." He nodded, "I hear you are almost ready to return?"

"I am. And... Actually, is anyone around? At all? I have a very important thing to talk to you about." I swear, this 'meeting in a dark room to discuss secret plans' was growing on me.

The scenery behind him changed, and I heard a door close, "There. Something off the record? Even here?"

"Yes. I want to make something very clear. My loyalty is to the future. Not a city, or place, but to the continued prosperity of those I hold dear." I smiled, "And it doesn't matter to me if you really understand that. But, the next moon phase will have something for Rakia in it. It is imperative you show no one until you are ready."

"Thinking on all the things I've seen you do, I think I do understand your words. But for Rakia?"

"Yes. You'll know what I mean when you open it. You'll thank me later. Continue on, before Hestia starts wondering."

"Aye ma'am." the door opened, and he left, a broom over one shoulder, "I must say, seeing your children is almost making me want some of my own."

"Almost?"

"Well, they do cause a lot of trouble. Though, Lady Haruhime and you did have seven at once." He smiled, "I think, when the time comes, I will start smaller."

"I was just as surprised as everyone else." I said, "And I regret nothing."

"You say that now, but you have yet to see the... colours after feeding time now." He shivered, then knocked on a door, "Lady Hestia, I brought it."

"You can come in, just mind the noise." I heard faintly.

Marius opened the door just in time for me to hear a 'blup' from someplace, followed by a happy noise. "Lady Hestia." Marius said formally, and the scenery shifted rapidly as he handed the Occulus over, "If I may?"

"Of course." She said, "He'll be much less cranky now that I've burped him."

From the background I heard, "My nose has been captured, what's a king to do without his nose?"

Hestia's face came into focus, and She smiled her best smile (like all Her smiles were.) "We were a little worried, when Akeno contacted us, instead of you, when the most recent transfer happened."

I nodded, "I... I had a bit of a problem. What did she tell you?"

"Just that you were recovering from something. Not what." She frowned, "Am I about to worry about you gain?"

"I was poisoned, and cursed. Or something close to that." I shook my head, "But, they all helped me recover." I smiled, "My friends here are very reliable. I wish you could meet them, though, I might just leave this half of the Occulus here, so you can at some point."

As always, when I gave Her 'bad news' She frowned. But, "Well, if they are keeping you in line, I should at least thank them." She nodded firmly.

"My ear now? How will I hear the pleas of my citizens?" Marius asked, followed by a happy giggle.

"Also... I met you. Or rather, the You of this world."

There was a surprised noise, and the view went crazy. But then Hestia picked up the Occulus again, "WHAT? How could you meet me? I'm here!"

"Well, remember when I told you the Gods here were just legends? Footnotes in history and religious texts? Well, I was wrong. They are real. But... I was too... normal to have ever met them before now."

"Heh, nu ullin ma ips!"

"She didn't do anything strange to you, did she?" She grr'ed, showing her jealous face.

"Well, she threw a sandal at me, but I deserved it." I said, "And helped me get away from another God. Oh, and she sent a friend as well, to help with chores." I smiled, "You, Hestia of Orario, are MY Hestia. But the one here is still a lovely person."

She grumbled, "Well, okay then."

"Oh no! I am slain!" Marius said dramatically in the background.

"What IS he doing?" I asked.

"Oh, he's great with the children, when they aren't hiding under everything they can..." The background changed again, and Marius was laying inside the caged half of the room, our big 'communal' crib, with all of the children crawling over him.

"Well, I know they'll work together well, when they get older." I laughed, thankful that my friend was helping take care of my children... and jealous I wasn't there to do it myself.

I heard the door to the room open, and my heart skipped a beat when I heard, "Is she still there?"

"Yes." Hestia said, followed by more blurred background, "If you wanted to talk to her?"

"Of course!" Haruhime's face appeared in the Occulus, and I felt my chest tighten. She was as lovely as always, but had an edge of... weariness around her. Even after we'd had our children, she managed to keep her appearance nearly perfect, all the time (it made many of the women jealous, while it only made me love her more.) Now however, she had an edge of... fatigue around her. A little hair out of place, her kimono just a little off centre... Little things. "Ko-san! You're okay!"

"Shhh, yes I am." I smiled, "Love? If we could talk a little? Away from Marius the defeated?"

"I'm not dead yet!"

"You're not fooling anyone." Hestia laughed.

"Of course." Haruhime said, stepping out of the nursery and closing the door, "Is it..."

"Nothing bad." I smiled, trying to reassure her, "Everything is on track still." We looked at each other's faces, saying nothing, yet speaking volumes. "My friends here helped me, and I am in no more danger than usual."

"No-chan said the same, but... I was still worried! So worried..." She sniffled quietly, "I think, with your return finally so close... I think I'm feeling your absence more... You will come home, right?"

"Yes." I said seriously, feeling my own eyes get a little hot, "No matter what, I will come back to you." I smiled, "But, just so you aren't too surprised..." I held up my free hand, my newest tail NOT flopping over it like all the others would, but coming up under my hand, to wiggle around happily as if to say 'I AM TAIL!'

While I caught the tail, Haruhime's eyes went wide, her free hand covering her mouth. After a moment, she lowered her hand, "Ko-san... That's... that's nine isn't it?"

"It is." I nodded, "And before you ask... Yes, it's mine. The silver is... from something else that happened a couple months ago." I sighed, looking down, "I have so much to tell you, when I finally get to sit in my favourite chair again."

She covered her mouth again, this time to giggle, "I am looking forward to you telling stories, to me, and our children." She smiled, her best smile, and I could feel my eyes widen and my pupils dilate just to take in more of it, "I hope you have lots of stories, since you will be quite grounded when you do sit down in your favourite chair. Though..."

"Hm?"

"We had to replace it. One of our children had a little accident on it... well, a big one really... it was beyond cleaning."

"I am surprisingly okay with this." I said seriously, "If I get time, I'll just make another one." I smiled, "A thousand years, my love. And I meant every word of it."

A thousand years, Ko-san." She smiled, "See you soon."


"Rias, good evening." I said, letting her into my room, "Isn't it past your bedtime?"

"Packing up, yet still finds time to be a mother." Shinkage said, "You know, I will miss this." She gave her 'metal cat' stuffed animal a pat.

"I believe this is closer to 'big sister' territory." Ryuu said, "I will miss this stove most I think."

Rias stepped into the room with a smile, "Sensei has extensive notes on how to make a temperature accurate oven, using magic stones or another magic power source."

"Ah, Greyfia got my last delivery then." I nodded, because yes I was still employed by the Gremory house, and I wanted to clear all debts. Friends or not, they were still devils. "I heard dinner went well?"

She showed me her hand, and yes she was wearing the new ring. And while yes, I'd seen it already, I made sure to admire it. Partially to be polite, but it did look good on her. "We nearly got thrown out of the restaurant, but then the manager saw why... Oh it was so embarrassing..."

She smiled blissfully, "Well, I might miss the wedding, but, I'm sure you two will do well together."

"Thank you Sensei." She said, giving me a huge hug, "Thank you for guiding me, and my peerage all this time."

"And thank you for... well, almost everything really." I gave her back a pat, then let her go, "Tea?"

"Actually no, but..." She stepped past me, and over to the corner of the room by the window.

"Oh, Jiru, you have a visitor." Delly said with a laugh as Rias knelt down and gave Jiru's back a long slow pat.

"You are the best patch of impossible moss ever." Rias said, "And I wanted to be sure I told you so before you left."

Jiru burst into happy 'blubble' noises at the attention, but I asked, "Did they finally manage to make those tea leaves?"

"Yes." Rias said, still patting Jiru, "That doesn't change the fact Jiru is still a wonderful patch of moss."

Jiru suddenly sprouted a small bundle of bright blue flowers, each with five distinct petals. Forget-me-nots. Rias waited until they had stopped fast-growing, and gently plucked them from the moss.

"I'll be sure to put these in a garden." She said, sniffing at the flowers delicately, then turning to leave.

"Oh, before you go. Could I get a strand of hair?" I asked, "Alchemy thing."

"Hm? Very well." She plucked a strand of hair, and left it next to Sir Skitters, who was watching her on the alchemy bench. The giant spider poked at the strand a couple of times then lost interest, waving to Rias as she left, "Good night Sensei."

We waved to her as she left, and I scratched at an ear, "I realize something, and I feel kind of silly."

"Hm?" Ryuu asked.

"Well, I'm going to have to redesign the box to send the birds home." I looked at Sir Skitters, giving his fuzzy rear a pat, then to Jiru, "If all goes to plan, close to plan, or even sort of to plan... There will be no place for these two." I looked to Delly, who had just sparkled into a night gown and flopped over Jiru, "Would it be a problem if I sent Jiru a world away without you?"

"Well... I'd be sad." Delly said, "But, so long as you are nearby, I'll be okay. And from what you two say, the mana in the air is cleaner over there, so he'll be okay! But also sad..."

"blu...b."

"What about Sir Skitters?" I looked down at him, and he started to do his happy dance.

"He will also be sad. But should be okay? I'm not sure, since he ate that magic stone." Delly shook her head, "He's still no where near his usual life span, so he should be okay, yeah."

I very carefully took his two waving legs in my hands and danced with him, "I suppose since you're a creature of 'magic' and he's one of 'material'?"

"Basically. Hey, you were paying attention to the dwarves!"

Ryuu raised an eyebrow, "Dwarves?"

"I suppose we have time for a bedtime story." I laughed, letting Sir Skitters go, "Lemme tell you about Brok and Sindri."


November 30

"If conditions are really what you describe, I'm not sure this will work." HIDA said, "Considering the new occupants though, it does solve one problem. But we will have to put in something to produce light..."

"We have an easy power source, so that's no problem." I scratched my cheek, then nodded, "And I think I can make a light spell with a bit of Math-Magic. Fels showed me his conversion rig for the cards I sent back to him, using magic stone." I looked at the forge, "No problem."

"I hope the poor birds aren't too stressed by the trip..." HIDA fretted, "Needing to make this air tight and magically insulated is going to be tricky without using modern materials."

"Look up 'Boat Soup'. I can weld everything but the top together, and I can cork the lid with that. As well, Sir Skitters will be in there, and closest to the hatch. Just in case."

HIDA's left eye moved up and down a few times, her right eye still focused on me, then, "Oh... This should work."


"Nyaa..." Koneko handed me a strand of hair, and got her ears played with gently in exchange, "Sorry for not telling you..."

"It's okay." I replied, "As you can see, I'm better than when it all happened, though this new tail of mine..." The new tail in question was holding Asia's hand, and trying to encourage her to dance, "I might have to rub Kuroka's tail backwards again, just because, but no, I'm not upset."

"I think your new tail looks lovely, though, I'm not sure if it wants a waltz, or tango..." Asia did a little spin in place, my tail over her head, "It still feels a little strange, how you are starting to pack things up."

"What do you mean?" I looked over my shoulder, "I can't bring a lot of this stuff with me."

"No, but..." She bowed to my unruly appendage, then took hold of it and gave it a pat, "When I was with the church, I moved a lot. When a person gets ready to leave, they seem to take... a little of the warmth with them. Even something as simple as a blanket they always left on a chair, or their favourite cup in the dish rack."

Before I made the first jump, and became Kodori, I wouldn't have known what she was talking about. But now, I understood, "Well, if it makes you feel any better, I'm going to leave behind a card or two. One thing I'm taking is the little 'Councillor' sign outside my shop." I figured I earned that title at least. "I'm also going to make a card for each of you guys." I motioned to the little collection of bottles, each with a single bit of hair in it and labelled with a name.

"I'll miss your cookies." Koneko pouted, "But thank you for teaching my sister how to make them... almost like you do."

"I could give her something so she could." I smiled, "But then she'd need a new kimono."


"Is it wrong to say you look oddly sexy with a welding mask and blowtorch?" I heard Kiba ask as I ran the blowtorch along a seam of the big 'animal shipping crate' I was making.

I'd been welding for a good half hour, so I was also sweating, and bits of my shirt were starting to cling, "Who am I to judge what others find sexy?" I replied, lifting the mask just long enough to give him a raised eyebrow, then flipping it back down again to finishing up the seam, "Made something for you." I pointed to a corner with a tail, "Sorry it took so long."

My ears tracked his footsteps as he moved to the indicated corner, "Oh! I thought you were joking, Sensei." There was a sudden 'foop' noise, "An umbrella sword sheath."

"Thought you might like it. I remembered I'd treated the fabric like... two months ago, and made the frame a month before that." I lifted the mask off, eyed my work, then stood up, "HIDA?"

From inside the metre cube of metal, HIDA stood up as well, "I'm seeing no gaps anywhere along that line. One more? Or can I get out of this box? It blocks my connection to my hub."

"I'd like to finish, but please wait a moment." I applied a headpat to the fretting AI, "So I finished it up between projects today." I said to Kiba, "You can replace the fabric if you need to, because the sheath is also combat worthy."

"Well, thank you Sensei." He closed the umbrella and bowed to me, "It has been an honour to work with you, and learn under you. You were collecting hair?"

"On the table there, bottle has your name on it." I motioned to the table in question, "And it has been an honour working with you, and learning under you." I bowed as well, "Even if you are a cheatyface sword maker."

"And still unrepentant." He shrugged.


"Lady Kodori." Ganesha greeted, his usual exuberance somewhat muted by just how tired he looked, "Forgive me, but being the God of the People sometimes means I go without sleep." I could see that he was sitting in his office, his well muscled frame sunken into an over padded arm chair.

"I understand, Lord Ganesha. And thank you for your efforts." I smiled, "I have some news for you, that you might enjoy."

"Oh? Another innovation for the people?" That brought a little pep back into his tired face.

"Not... exactly, but maybe. The next thing I'm sending back, in the smaller circle, is going to have some live animals in it. Chime will be in there as well. But also a giant spider, and a very special patch of moss."

"Little Chime is returning first? Poor Wiene will be happy to have her come home. But a spider? Moss? Animals?"

I explained, leaving out only a few details Ganesha wouldn't need to know. Like how they were born of weird science. "But yes, Sir Skitters is an amazing spider, and if you could keep him company a while? He even plays chess!"

"It certainly wouldn't be difficult to house these birds of yours here for a time." He smiled, "And chess? Truly? I look forward to it."

"There will also be a box for Marius. A personal thank you for helping keep my home safe, and apparently, my children entertained." I laughed.

"I will invite him to the circle. Late night, in two days, correct?"

"According to Delly, yes. Right after pasta night too..." It would be my second last one here... if nothing went sideways before it was supposed to...

"We will be ready. Now if you'll forgive me, I am Ganesha, and I require a nap."


A busy day of building things, packing minor objects that I'd be taking back with me, and generally making sure I spent a little time... I dunno... connecting to the people who'd helped me... and I finally got back to the apartment.

"Sister." Ryuu greeted me as I entered, "No problems?"

"Hopefully not. The box is almost done, a great deal of the things I am taking back are packed up neatly. And..." I looked behind me, not spotting my newest tail, "I still have no idea why my latest addition is being so troublesome." I reached behind me, and very carefully took hold of my entire bundle of tails, right at the base.

Now, to explain this. I didn't do this often. It was one of those weird cases of my logical side (a small sad shell of its former self) that caused it to wave its arms around and complain. A single 'tail bone' supporting NINE tails? No way!

So, I just did my best to brush my tails without really thinking about it, before I started to OVERTHINK about it. Thankfully, (much to the... disappointment(?) of my friends and Familia), I had others who would brush them for me.

It didn't take long, but I got my hand around the newest tail, and brought it around, "Well, at least you're just as fireproof... Would you believe it went into the forge on its own?" I sighed, "You're more like an invincible dog, than a..."

Delly, who had been watching me with amusement, seemed to come to the same conclusion I had. And while I grumbled and facepalmed, she fell over laughing, "It IS! It's Fenrir!"

Sir Skitters came over to make sure Delly wouldn't fall off the counter top, while Ryuu smiled, "A little karma for the mischief you've caused here?"

"At least this one isn't trying to kill you." Shinkage said.

"So long as it doesn't try to eat anything, I suppose I'll just deal with it. Sister? No problems on your end?"

"No. Rossweisse and Irina have been quite helpful." She nodded, "Irina reminds me of Arnya, very excitable, yet reliable... so long as you can get her to focus. And Rossweisse is much like Chloe. She desires, yet seems to have horrible luck."

"At least she doesn't throw people around. Two and a half days until the next transfer, two weeks until we leave. Let's get some sleep while we can." I looked at my newest tail, still caught in my hand, "I'm not done with you." I warned it, "But you get to be brushed last."


NOTES

More prep work, some catching up with people, packing up, planning, clearing debts and general 'calm before storm' stuff.

From where I'm sitting, I might be done by the end of October. And while I didn't exactly plan it, I might actually be done on the Fanfic's anniversary...

Daeore on Ko-fi if you want to toss a coin to your writer.

Daeore on Inkitt if you want to read my actual book, Were Too?