So, I got a repeat comment about Kodori's last tail. No, it doesn't have 'god slaying' power. It's a tail. Fenrir's TEETH are the god slaying bits. At worst, this tail might try and get friendly with someone it shouldn't.
Also. ONE MILLLLLLLLLION WORDS! I mean, I knew I'd get there eventually... But thank you all for reading this far. :)
Chapter 138
December 1
"Urg. What IS that smell?" Maki asked as she stepped into the workshop, "What is with you, and all the bad smelling stuff?
"It's called 'Boat Soup'." I said, looking up from my work of stirring the pot of what looked like the ugliest, foulest swamp water, "It's going to be what seals the animal crate on its trip." She was right though, it did smell pretty bad. Worse than roof tar. "Thankfully, at least for the animals, there wont be much inside the crate. But we don't want them exposed to the Dimensional Gap."
"What's it like, anyhow? You've been there right?" She put on a dust mask and safety glasses, then started taking things out of her 'work in progress' cupboard.
"I've never been to space. But it's what I imagine it to be. Really cold, nothing to breathe, and the sensation of freefall, except in every direction." I lifted the wooden spoon I was using to stir, and the 'soup' dripped off the end like warm pine sap, "Perfect. Loaner?"
Maki made a surprised noise as her hat suddenly lifted off her head, the white messenger fox appearing under it, "Hey!"
Loaner caught her hat, hopped off her head, and held it for her. She booped his nose, but accepted the hat, putting it back on her head and over her ears. He then looked to me, tail flopping about happily.
"Find Chime. If someone is with her, get them to bring her over. If no one is with her, ask her to find someone to bring her over. If no one is around, walk with her back here." I was about to pet his ears, but remembered I had been handling all kinds of dirty stuff. So, I lowered my face and touched his nose with mine, a tiny spark of energy tickling me, "Thank you."
He licked my nose, then vanished in a burst of sparkles. "Think he'll follow you home?" Maki asked.
"I hope so. He's a hard worker, quiet, and when he's sitting in one place for more than a minute, fun to have around." I pointed with my chin at the workbench she was at, "You know, you can't bring that with you."
She had her 'revolver' in pieces in front of her, with a proper gun cleaning kit next to it, "I know." She nodded, "But, if there is going to be fighting, I'm going to make sure it works." She smiled, "I'm kinda nervous, to be honest."
"About which part? Coming with me? Or the potential battle with an unknown force who may, or may not be, using monsters from back home?" I smiled.
"Both. I mean, think of it like this. You and Ryuu are crazy strong. There's gotta be a reason for it. And here you say, that these are monsters you've never fought before, because they're past the levels you've been." She carefully cleaned the barrel of her gun with a little scrubby brush, "And, if things go to plan, or even mostly to plan, I'll be there too. Except... I'm not taking this with me." She motioned to her weapon. "And THEN, there's the whole language thing... And new world thing... and people... and yeah..."
"Well, you'll be welcome at home." I assured her, "You've looked at all their cards. So there should be no doubt." She nodded, then returned to scrubbing, "We won't let you into the dungeon without at least a little more training, and equipment. And if you can't deal with the stress, then you can pick up a support role. I'm sure Welf would love to have a new apprentice. Or you could make stuff on my alchemy sets."
She tapped her knuckles on the wood table top, "Let's hope then."
"Yip." Loaner announced himself at the garage door, the two of us turning to look.
He was in the arms of a familiar person, though, not from either of the two peerages.
"Crap." I said, as the Cosplay Club President started to tip sideways. I extended a hand towards her, my aura spilling out and forming into a large ghostly claw to catch her. I managed to stop her from hitting the ground if only just. "Loaner! She's just a student."
He looked at me, his face saying 'just following orders'.
"Well, you are kind of waving around nine tails now." Maki said, standing up and going over to her, "Hey Chime. Good to see you too." Maki picked up Chime, getting a 'happy headbutt' from the critter, "So... now what?"
"You know... People keep telling me Kitsune are supposed to be mysterious and stuff." I smiled, looking at my forge, "I'm sure whoever is watching will forgive me for playing one last joke before I leave."
"Wha..." She came back to her senses slowly, the dim light of dusk the only light around her. "Where...?"
She sat bolt upright, confused. She wasn't at the school anymore... She had been tending the rabbit cages back at the school... saw a small white fox who had tugged on her shoelace then obviously wanted her to follow it... then... then what?
After looking around a moment, she knew where she was. She wasn't a frequent visitor, but this was the Shrine a little ways down the road from the school. She seemed to have been napping behind the offering box, her school bag as her pillow, and her jacket over her as a blanket.
Worried, she quickly pat herself down, feeling no bruises, bumps or out of place clothing. Her phone was still in her skirt pocket, and her purse was still in her bag. But something else was in there too... carefully, she wrapped her hand around the object and took it out.
About the size of her palm, it was a thick coin, with a black metal fox etched into the surface. Curled up into a circle, its head resting among its nine tails, two of them gold, one of them a sort of mixed up black silver and gold, and the other six solid black. What had caught her eyes, since it had been at the bottom of her backpack, were the eyes. Two small yellow gems... topaz maybe? These two tiny gems seemed to look back at her with a mischievous look.
She had never seen it before, or anything like it, but it felt like it belonged to her. Flipping it over, there was a simple Kanji etched into it. "Good fortune..." She read out loud.
"Ara? We have a guest?" She heard a voice say from the direction of the steps.
It was Akeno Himejima, one of the 'big sisters' of the school, dressed in a Miko outfit too. "Himejima-san." She bowed to her, "I.. um..." She put the coin in her pocket as well, "I was about to make an offering, even though it is a little late."
"Oh, I don't mind." She said, "I am only here to clean a little."
So, the girl fished around in her skirt pocket for the change from lunchtime, tossed it into the box, bowed twice, clapped her hands twice holding her hands together for a moment after the second clap, then bowed a third time.
Akeno watched her quietly as she walked away, past the two guardian foxes, and down the steps. "Silly Ko-san..." She said with a quiet laugh.
December 2
With me trying to pull together everything I was taking with me, planning for who knew what was about to happen, and frantically clearing and cashing in all my Capitol F Favours... Pasta night was both a rousing success, and a sombre event. Good food, good cheer, good company. But also in a way, a good bye.
I didn't intend it, but I had been here long enough to get attached. Thankfully, they all understood I was leaving, but not 'vanishing'. I would be leaving a few ways to contact me behind, so at the very least, I could still be a 'friend'. A rather distant one, but still. It was the best I could do with what I had. Sure, I could maybe use a Fairy Circle...
But not until my children were fully grown. I planned on locking myself in the mansion as best I could, to catch up on what I'd missed.
After dinner, I caught up with Kuroka. After a moment of her hiding behind Koneko, then realizing I wasn't about to rub her tail backwards, or even pinch her ears, she asked, "Nyaa?"
"Is everything going well so far as 'the plan' goes?"
"Yes." She nodded, "Vali is still sulking, not that he'll admit it. But we've had no problems sneaking about. Feyfey and Arthur are setting things up underground after Bikbik makes sure it's safe."
"Good." I reached into a pocket, and pulled out a rolled up parchment with a red wax seal on it, "This," I held it out for her, and she shied away a moment, "I can't bap you with it, it would vanish."
"Oh nyaa."
"This is for you, Kuroka. Authorized by Ajuka Beelzebub, signed by Sirzechs Lucifer, and witnessed by Falbium Asmodeus." I said formally, smiling as she reached out for it nervously.
Some of the others who had been around us while we headed out of the school stopped. Considering I just dropped three of the four Satan's names. Carefully, she applied a perfectly filed claw tip to the seal, and unrolled it.
"Nyafter careful investigation, performed and nyasessed by Ajuka the Beelzebub..." She blinked at it, then Koneko nudged her gently to keep going, "at the now derelict holding of the House of Naberius, there is sufficient evidence that the murder of nyer former King was not an nyact of malice, but nyat of self defence and escape to nyavoid unsnayctioned experiments..."
She looked at me, total disbelief in her eyes. The others too were looking at the two of us, as I just grinned at her like I'd just played the most amusing joke. "Go on."
She took a moment to find her place again, "With this evidence, Sirzechs the Lucifer deems that she be cleared of charges, and a full pardon be given." She sniffled a couple of times, her hands dropping to her sides, "It... can't be? Nyo joking? This is real?"
Everyone else was smiling now along with me, except Koneko, who said (with just a tiny bit more emotion than usual), "You can stop hiding now sister... No more running..." And clung to her.
"After that idiocy with Cao Cao, I told everyone about how you and the rest of Vali's team were setting things up so the Chaos Brigade would fail, while still making it look like they might win. Ajuka looked into it, to validate your story of why you killed your previous King, and I made sure to put in a few good words for you as well." I motioned to Rias, "She and her peerage too, since you've been such a good guest when you visited." I reached out and gave her ears a pet, then some more since they were such nice ears, "Since something like this needed majority, I asked Falbium Asmodeus, since he owed me a little favour."
"How did you get someone you've talked to once, to owe you anything?" Rias asked, eyes wide.
"Three times. He contacted me for hair grow cream, and accepted my terms for 'a small favour' at a later date. Reading over a bit of paper, understanding it, and signing it, took almost no effort."
"But... what about the rest of us?" She asked, not angrily though, "They're..."
"Hardly known, and only Bikou has ever been caught causing enough trouble to warrant arrest." I let her ears go (a little reluctantly), "So long as it stays that way..."
I then had to deal with a very busty cat girl trying to hug the stuffing out of me.
Delly, Shinkage, Ryuu and I were near the shrine, where the little 'bird corral' was. Kurin was there as well, helping me gather the birds for transit.
"I will miss them." Kurin said as I carefully started loading the birds into the big metal, magically insulated, warmly padded, crate. "They are very odd, but quite fun to have around." She made sure to pet each one as I picked it up and placed it into the box.
"I am very thankful, Kurin, that you, Okakai and Fukawa have taken such good care of them." I said, "Are you sure you won't join me? You would be welcome."
"No." She shook her head, "While your offer is unique in all the world, you did punish me to bridge the gap between youkai and humans." She smiled, patting the last one before I put it in, getting the usual 'food?' peck from the bird, "And I have come to accept, and even enjoy it."
"Good." I nodded, one of my tails looping around her back, then slipping away, "Delly?"
"I don't wanna..." She said from the back of Jiru, who was clinging to my arm and shoulder.
"But you gotta. There is no way I am going to risk Jiru in combat."
"I know..." She sniffled, "You be extra good while you're there!" She curled her fingers into the green stringy 'moss' of Jiru's back, "Okay?"
"Blu...p..." Jiru... pouted(?) and grew a small pink flower with bright red filaments. An almond flower?
"Don't worry Jiru." I said, putting the best patch of impossible moss into a tray I had suspended in the middle of the crate. "I will take care of her, and see you together again."
"Blup!" Yes, I better! I think it said...
"For only knowing three words, it's easy to understand." Shinkage said, petting Chime carefully, "Ready for her?"
"Not quite." I said, placing a thin plate of metal over Jiru. "Mathmagic light spell in place..." Then a wooden box over it, with an 'electrical' box for the light, powered by some magic stones. There was a little flicker, then the light became steady, "Not too bright?" I asked.
"Blub."
"Good." Then over that, I put a second tray. "Sir Skitters? Chime? Be nice to each other."
Sir Skitters zipped off my shoulder, got into the box, and gave me a salute. Shinkage put Chime into the box, and she crept over to Sir Skitters and gave him a fuzzy headbutt of approval.
"I've told Lord Ganesha about all this. So don't worry. He's a bit weird, but he said he wants to play chess with you. You have all your pieces?"
Sir Skitters held up a leg, and the silver King appeared on the hooked end. After a proud moment of it hanging there, it vanished again. "I want a rematch when I return as well." Ryuu said, brushing a hand over both of them.
"Okay. Sorry about the smell, but I'm putting the lid on." I opened up the pot of Boat Soup, and applied it around the edges of the lid. Once it had been quite thoroughly smeared with it, I picked up the metal lid and fitted it to the top. There was a subtle flicker of light as the magic warding around the box activated, and I smeared more of the gunk around the lid. "Delly? Time?"
"About a quarter of an hour." She said, "I hope this works!"
"Me too." I caught her with a tail, and hugged her with it, "They are all precious friends. Well... maybe not the birds. But I'll be sure to change that when I finally get home."
"Let's head to the site then. You wouldn't want to miss it." Ryuu said.
Akeno was there with Rossweisse, the dungeon segment we were sending off resting off the ground on top of thick wooden beams. "Sensei." Akeno greeted, wrinkling her nose, "Maki-chan wasn't joking when she said it smells..."
"It just has to work. If I ever need to make more, I'll make it mint scented or something." I grumbled, "Thank you you two for getting it here."
"No problem for a rook like me." Rossweisse smiled, putting her hands on her hips proudly, "Oh, I see you're using the Hlifa pattern."
"It's just to keep magic in, and out." I nodded, the word 'Hlifa' a norse word for 'protect', "I just need it to survive the trip and I can't be there to power it, so it isn't an active spell."
Rossweisse nodded, "I know we haven't had a lot of time to know each other... and don't take this the wrong way!" She waved her hands at me to ward off potential misunderstanding, "But I'm glad you ended up here."
"As much as it shouldn't have happened..." Akeno said softly, "I am too."
"You're right. I do wish this never happened." I agreed, "But, I'm glad that I managed to keep the company of such wonderful people while this disaster happened."
"Best of a bad situation." Ryuu nodded, "Thank you for helping take care of my sister."
"I know that word means Sister." HIDA-lite said from Ryuu's pouch, "But I am not translating it on purpose! Ha! Also... battery is low again... I am sad, and it's getting dark..." She sniffled.
"Two minutes." Delly sighed, "I can't even tap on the box to say goodbye..."
I took out the card for Ganesha, and my tail put Delly on my wrist so she could take over when I had to get the rock in position. "Ryuu?"
"Ready." She said, picking up the animal crate.
"AH MRS KODORI!" Ganesha boomed excitedly as his picture came alive on the card, "We are eagerly awaiting the transfer!"
"And we are ready to do it." I said with a smile, "Be extra gentle with the other box."
"OF COURSE! I am eager to reunite with little Chime, the best bunny! Your friend Marius is here too!"
"Hi." From somewhere near Ganesha, "This is still really strange."
"Good good. Send him home with the box, his gift is under the birds." I crouched down and got my tails around the dungeon segment, "Delly?"
"Aye boss." She took hold of the card, and I got my hands against the mirror smooth curve of the stone.
"I'm glad those things are leaving... I never liked having them around..." Rossweisse mumbled to Akeno.
"Kodori says even the adventurers say the dungeon has eyes. It isn't just you." She replied.
"Ten seconds." Delly said, counting down, "Five...four...three..."
As before, I gave the stone a little nudge with my butt and let it go just over the mushrooms, while Ryuu gave the box a little loft of her own.
And they vanished as if they'd never been there at all.
"They've arrived!" Ganesha said happily, the noise of people shouting behind him, "CAREFUL with that other box!"
I rejoined the call, my eyes focusing on Ganesha's elephant mask once more, "Now lets hope nothing went wrong..."
"Box is clear!" Someone said in the background, "My lord!"
"If you would do the honours, MR. MARIUS!" Ganesha flexed at the Rakia Man.
"Oh, Boat Pitch." I heard from Marius, "Good batch too. You there, your dagger?"
There was a couple of tapping noises, probably from him wedging the point of the dagger into the seam of the box, then tapping it with another dagger to ease the seal apart.
"Oh dear..." Ganesha looked into the box, "Well, your spider friend is here, and I am seeing seven very piercing pairs of eyes, but... It seems Chime has a bloody nose, and there are chess pieces all over the place."
I blinked in surprise, then my eyes widened, "Are they okay? Get Marius to give the spider's rear a brush. Call out to Chime."
There was a pause, and then, "Ah, little Chime is okay, though, a little confused looking. And your spider friend is... well... I am no expert, but he seems to be moving. I see no wounds or ichor on the spider."
"Call his name." Delly said, "Sir Skitters."
"Ah! He is shaking himself off. OH! And hello to you too Sir Skitters!" Ganesha said, "Oh! I hear your other passenger too!"
We all breathed a sigh of relief, "Okay, good. As always, I trust you from here, Friend Ganesha."
"All for the People, Friend Kodori. Sir King Marius! Help me get this onto a wagon! And you can take it home!"
December 3
"I am curious. Why the switch?" Hagane asked, pacing about the workshop while Shinkage sat on his back, "It feels much like it did before you put my 'heart' in here."
"Something... Hmm... Each time I've sent something magic back, or gotten something magic that I myself didn't enchant from over there, something has gone wrong." I was sitting by the forge, waiting for another replacement plate to heat up again before I would hammer it into shape. "Your heart has um... four different magic styles. Your body has four, then Shinto and Norse after that, so six in total."
"And you expect something to go wrong." Shinkage said, "I wonder if I can use two bodies at once... I hardly feel the energy usage doing this." She gave Hagane's head a pat, "Strange that this feels like I'm patting myself on the head..."
"We can do a trial of you using Hagane 'unpowered' later today. For now though, I'm going to finish the MK. 2." I pulled the plate from the forge and started slamming it with the power hammer.
"Just don't build forty seven of me." Hagane said, using the 'bigger' voice so I could hear over the hammer.
"The mansion is big, but not that big. I wouldn't know where to put that many giant metal cat statues." I said, taking the plate away from the hydraulic hammer and switching to the anvil for a little more precision, "You're already going to be raising all kinds of eyebrows. I mean, there is literally nothing like Hagane anywhere in Orario that I know of." I gave the plate one last slam with my hammer and lifted it up to look at, "HIDA?"
"Lemme see!" HIDA hopped out of her tube, and came over to me, "This is... Lower left leg, outside shin plate?"
"Unless I did something really wrong."
"It just needs smoothing, and the holes drilled for the joints and rivets." She nodded, holding up her hands side by side, the picture of a finished plate floating between them. "I notice that this and all the other plates are a tiny bit thicker as well."
"The self repair is yet another layer of magic that might not work. So I'm building this to be even tougher. It will be heavier, but overall exactly the same balance wise." I set the plate down to cool, and got the next one into the forge to heat up.
"Thankfully, I do not feel 'muscle strain' with Hagane." Shinkage said as she slipped off the back of the metal cat, "Though, if you had some spare time, I would like a saddle or some such." She rubbed her rear a little.
"I'll add it to my 'to do' list."
After spending as much time as I could in the shop, and not risk noise complaints (or forced vacation time) Ryuu came to the shop so we could walk to the Hyoudou House. I might have gotten my last tail, but it still didn't feel 'mine'. Shinkage and Hagane were also going to test a few things as well.
"Have you contacted home?" Ryuu asked.
"Not yet. I will though, since I'm curious how the critters are doing." I reached up and gave Delly a pat on the leg, "And Jiru. I hope none of my children have tried to nibble on it."
"Heh..." Delly laughed emptily, "Jiru is child safe... unless you have toxic plants growing."
"Lady Hestia hasn't given me any signs that there have been any problems, so I'm sure it's fine." I assured her, "Cheer up Delly. I mean... If you wanted, I could send you back with the next transfer?"
She perked up like I'd pinched her butt, and shook her head, "Nonono! No need to do that! I mean... you need me for the timing right? And honestly, I'm not sure what would happen to me, without either you or Jiru close by..."
"Okay." I nodded, leaning my head against her a little, "I'm not sure what I'd do without my most reliable dream catcher around anyhow."
Aside from having my newest tail try and hug everyone, training with the others was... kind of 'normal'. They were so strong, with magic so powerful, or weapon techniques so outlandish, that they NEEDED the infinitely repairable training room. Even Kiba, who out of everyone was the 'least' destructive, could probably shave a mountain down to gravel if you gave him enough time.
Koneko could make craters you could throw a house into. Gasper and Rossweisse could use so many different types of magic they would never need to worry about being 'predictable'. Akeno was so good with her lightning, holy or otherwise, that it only looked like lightning when she wanted to be flashy. Rias had progressed quite far with her sword skills (though, she was still the least skilled with a blade among the weapon users), and her Power of Destruction had become a far more precise tool than before. Xenovia... Well, she was still a battle maniac with a massive sword. But she had gone a long way to add in all kinds of surprises. She'd actually surprised me with a teeth rattling left hook when I'd disarmed her, giving her enough time to pick her sword up again while throwing knives at me to keep me from trying to stop her.
Then there were the two 'odd ones out'.
Asia, headpat deserving cinnamon roll that she was, still had a 'combat power' of nearly zero. But! She was so adept at healing, and creating defensive barriers, that she could stop anything anyone else from BOTH peerages could throw at her, while covering someone else, AND healing them. Rias had realized early she would be the core of their team, and with a few suggestions from me, and some encouragement for Asia, the little healer had become the Eye of the Storm. The only safe place in the swirling chaos of combat.
And Issei... A 'zero to hero' success story if there ever was one... So much like Bell... Aside from being gifted with the Reincarnated Soul of Ddraig, he had worked for every scrap of power he had now. When ever someone pointed out a flaw, he would work towards either fixing it, or overcoming it. He might complain about it, but he would never say 'this is too hard', or 'I give up'. For short bursts, he could be as fast as Kiba, strong as Koneko, or more powerful than Akeno. And while he still needed a lot of polish, (because he was not a skilled as any of them) he was working hard to catch up to them.
If I could take them back to Orario, they would be a top tier adventuring team with only a little more effort, and a few lessons from Eina.
My thoughts were interrupted by Kunou giving me a Karate Chop of Justice. "You are not following the meditation, Big Sister."
"Sorry, Kunou sensei." I said quietly, "I just... feel really happy right now." I brushed a little dampness from my eye.
"Oh?" Kunou knelt down to face me, "Then why cry?"
"I didn't think I'd see them get this far." I said, looking away from Rias and her peerage as they rampaged around the far end of the training room, "And become a real party of adventurers." I said to Sona once, that I judged them against the adventurers of Orario, not out of spite or condescension, but out of habit. 'Would they make it home at the end of the day?'
And now, I was pretty sure they would.
"Let's start again, Kunou Sensei." I said, though not before bowing to her, "Forgive me for getting distracted?"
"Very well. However, your punishment will be showing me how to make shampoo." She knee walked over to my left and settled into a meditative posture.
"Yes Kunou sensei." I agreed.
December 6
The last few days had been a bit of a blur. Not in a bad way, like say, a drunken stupor or madly training to exhaustion before trying to save your Familia from being absorbed by a raving perverted god. But it was still a rapid fire set of actions in preparation for my departure. Tonight would be the sixth bit of dungeon to return home. This left me with a bit of a problem however.
Ten floors, but only eight recovered pieces. I had seven, Ajuka had the eighth and his Rizevim joker had at least one more. Part of 'the plan' was to either recover it when he showed himself, or capture him and start removing fingers until he told us where it was.
No. Confidence! This was going to be the last full moon spent here! I'd even made some 'cold shower in a bottle' in case -that- happened again. No way I was going to fight like that if I didn't have to. No matter how much people liked patting my ears.
I had done my very best to touch base with everyone I'd gotten close to, even if it was just to say 'thank you'. I'd even sent a message via Loaner to Michael and Azazel. One was busy keeping 'God's system' intact, the other had been told quite firmly (but politely) to stop causing trouble. But they had still helped me in some way, and I owed them at least a thank you. (Though, I did send cookies to both of them.)
Hestia (and the rest of the house) loved the new birds. They were quiet, friendly, and seemed to already be house trained. I was told that Gros called them 'creepy'. But that wasn't my problem. Jiru was also a hit with the Familia, the amazing patch of moss growing a unique flower for all of them, somehow. He occasionally made sad noises, but Chime made sure to keep the poor patch of moss company.
Sir Skitters... Well, aside from Ganesha being unable to beat him at chess, he was... less popular at home. But! He was a hit with the orphans, being really good at hide and seek. And (most importantly) with Haruhime, since he was really good at finding the children when they'd crawled under things. He was also acting a little sad at times, keeping Jiru and Chime company when he wasn't playing or helping with chores.
Hagane Version 2.0 was almost done as well. Aside from the 'basics' which I knew worked in both worlds, I hadn't enchanted the new body with anything. He would have sight, sense of smell, hearing and touch. The mana capacitors worked in both worlds, as did the 'mathmagic' spell cards, so they were also in the new body. But that was it.
And then there was Akeno...
"It has arrived, Friend Kodori!" Ganesha said excitedly, "And your other box as well!"
Kunou was being supported by Akeno, while Delly sat on my wrist. Ryuu was there as well, smiling that 'pleased at someone else's good fortune' smile.
In the background, I could hear Ganesha's Familia members work with the crane and the like to get the dungeon segment out of the circle, "Nothing but 'personal effects' in the box. But please, if you could deliver it?" 'personal effects' such as some very rare materials... There was no way I was going to leave behind all of Fenrir's fur or the like... I couldn't take it all, obviously, and what was left was going to Ajuka, mostly for storage since I trusted him to do nothing more dangerous than research it.
"Certainly! I also have news from the dungeon! It is still very dangerous, but the constant attacks are slowing down! It is working!"
"Good to hear. I'm sure Marius will be glad to go home and be King some more." I laughed.
"Actually, he was complaining quite loudly that he was going to hate it." Ganesha sounded puzzled, "Mentioning 'the Administration'!"
"Sarcasm, I'm sure." I smiled, "The next part will be...?"
"Um... Around sunrise, three days from now." Delly said.
"Very well!" Ganesha did a little flex, grinned like a fool, and put a hand over the card to break connection.
"So far, so good." I nodded, "Everything seems to be clicking into place, without any change in pattern to our enemies movements. Almost there..." I put the card away carefully, then looked at Delly, "You'll have to do the last transfer yourself. I mean, you won't have to lift it, but time it for whoever is here."
"I know. I'm still really nervous... I mean, with Jiru there now, I should have no trouble sustaining myself without you for a while... But that's a bit of a 'maybe' still."
I gave her a headpat, and she hovered off my wrist and onto my shoulder, "Akeno? Have you set up the emergency gate here?"
"Yes." She nodded, "Azazel Sensei says it will work unless the world ends. It was meant to get through Dimension Lost, and it's powerful enough to ignore any magical static that might be around."
"Excellent. Kunou?"
"snrr." Well, it was past her bed time...
Without any issue at all, Akeno picked up Kunou and cuddled her close to her body. I could tell something was bothering her, just by her not smiling that 'amused at everything' smile. So, "Ryuu? Delly? I'm going to walk them home."
Delly traded shoulders for Ryuu, and they both nodded.
"I am so looking forward to doing that with my own children." I said quietly as Akeno stepped out of Kunou's room.
Akeno didn't reply, but slipped into my arms for a hug. "I'm going to miss you, Ko-san."
"I..." I paused, then said, "Forgive me Kunou..."
It felt a lot different than the last time I'd teleported to the shrine. Almost like I was being thrown, instead of taking a step.
But Akeno and I were now standing just inside the Torii of the shrine. "Ow..." I held my head to help push back a wave of vertigo. "I'm going to miss you as well, Akeno." I said as she realized what I'd done.
"I'd considered asking Rias if I could... but... no. I just couldn't..." She paused as I put a finger to her lips.
"My wife has given us both very clear rules. And while I know you'd do well in Orario, your place is here." I leaned down and kissed her forehead, "And who will be the bride's maid, if you leave? Someone else? No way."
I took my finger away, and she sighed bitterly, "It's true... Rias has given me so much... If I left her..."
I put my finger over her lip again, "No... You and Rias are best friends. There is no 'give and take' no 'scales' to balance. You are her trusted companion, even before she was your king. Besides, you'll be close enough to Rias to take the flowers from her hand, if you're fast enough."
That got a laugh, and a bit of a blush, "I still have my eyes on him, even though Rias is going to marry him first... And have his child..." She looked up at me, "I don't suppose you have..."
"If you want a little 'marital aid' for that, I'll tell you where I hid it when you say you're both ready." It was only fair, since Rias got a little... help... that I help the others if they wanted, "Though, make sure you at least finish school. As it is, Rias is going to have to change her plan, or in a few months..."
We both laughed, then sighed, "Shall we step inside? The nights are getting cooler."
"Yes. Though first..." I let her go, her body's warmth clinging to me for a moment before the night air took it away, "You guys keep the place safe, okay?" I gave the two fox statues a pat, both of them coming to life just long enough to give me a silly fox smile.
We slipped off our shoes and entered the main hall. We didn't bother turning on any lights, instead letting some of my foxfire light the way to the small bedroom. It didn't take long to get the futon out of its cupboard and set up, but instead of slipping out of our clothing and getting under the covers, Akeno pulled a brush from someplace and presented it to me. Not one to pass up an offer to brush my tails, I nodded and sat down.
It was around the time she got to the third tail, the others either lazily tapping the floor happily, or patiently waiting their turn, that I broke the silence.
"There were two incidents..." I started, "The first, was when my Familia and I went to rescue Haruhime from being used for a ritual. It involved an artifact, much like the legend of Tamamo no Mai, called 'the killing stone'. Except it would absorb Haruhime's blood and soul, then be shattered, each fragment granting the holder the power of her spell..."
She stayed silent as I told the story. Of why I had that particular 'button' when it came to being restrained. First, was the incident of Ishtar Familia capturing me. Torturing me on a bondage table, naked and blindfolded. Of Ishtar trying, and almost succeeding, in converting me to her Familia, the love of my Goddess the only thing stopping her from making me into either a sex toy, or a backup sacrifice.
There was a little intermission, where Akeno stopped brushing my tails and got closer to me, hugging me from behind, my tails making room for her, and wrapping around her back to keep her close and warm.
Then I told her about 'the Berbera' who had sought revenge on Bell, for rejecting Ishtar's love. Haruhime, for not being a willing sacrifice. And me, for rejecting both. How I had chased one of them like a hungry animal. Gotten myself cornered. Been tied up with steel wire and netting. Then slowly tortured and maimed over the course of almost a full day. The loss of my tails. The potentially crippling wounds. All of it. Then, waking up again after my last thought had been 'I wish I still had a tongue to bite off', with Haruhime's tail attached to my rear.
There was a possibility, maybe, that if I had simply let my torturer burn to death the first time I had met her, I might have avoided all that. But even AFTER all that, I knew that if I had killed that one Amazon then, my Familia, my family, would have never trusted me again. It was only after they had done all that to me, that I took that step to murder them all. To put them down like I would any other monster.
All but one, the one who surrendered to me. Just like Mittelt had. Animals, no, Monsters didn't surrender.
By the time I fell silent again, my story, my feelings spent, Akeno had run out of ways to keep me from simply breaking down and crying over it all, again. There was a reason I never really spoke of it. Letting that part of my life show in my actions instead. It hurt. Still. Even more without my Wife next to me to calm me down after waking up from a flash of nightmare.
So while I clung to Akeno, she somehow managed to get us both undressed, and she put my head under her breasts, so I could listen to her heartbeat until I fell asleep.
December 7
"Ko-san?" Something shook me, and I hugged my pillow tighter. "Ko-san? If you don't let me go soon, I'll be late for school."
I nuzzled my pillow a little, the motion getting a quiet 'eep' as well as helping me open one of my eyes. Illuminated by the faint light of morning coming in through the rice paper walls, was the pale skin of Akeno and the soft flesh of where my face was resting.. Last night had been the first time I'd told anyone about what had happened who wasn't directly involved, and I still felt... delicate. No, delicate wasn't quite the right word. I just didn't want to let go yet.
So I didn't. "Don't wanna." I replied, wiggling a little to get just a little more comfortable.
This of course reminded me I had my own 'morning' to attend to, and while I was more comfortable, the shift of position put just a little too much pressure on my breasts. "So now you want time off?" Akeno teased, "Well... If you are going to stay in bed, I think I will just have breakfast here."
I laughed, though it sounded a little harsh since I hadn't recovered yet from crying before bed, "If you do that, you really will be late." I warned her.
I got to the shop a little before lunch time, feeling not just lighter, but tingling just about everywhere. Both of us did a little more crying, the two of us knowing this was the last time we'd share each other's warmth like that, but it was certainly a... happy goodbye.
Shinkage was already in the shop, riding on the back of Hagane while chatting with HIDA about something. Delly was there too, looking a little... less sparkly, but still able to smile radiantly when I walked in.
"Hey Boss!" A pause, "Oh? Is that perfume?"
"Not my perfume." I smiled, making Delly laugh, while Shinkage gave me a raised eyebrow, "It's going to be weird not having a Miko... I mean, after all this time finding it weird having one... Anyhow, when's the next phase?"
"Saturday morning, around breakfast. More or less. I'll know when exactly when we get a little closer."
"Good." I looked to the tables that had 'Hagane MK 2' laid out on them, "Time to start assembling."
"What will you do with me, or rather, this body, once my core is put into the new one?"
"I'm thinking I'll send that shell to Orario. Mostly to make Welf super jealous. But also to keep my methods and your design away from any other 'problems' that might come up here. But that's my 'vote' on the matter. What do YOU want to do with that body?"
Hagane paced while Shinkage frowned thoughtfully, "I think I will let it stay here. One day I might want to return. Though, I believe I would like it 'stored' at Yasaka's shrine. I rather liked the tree there, and with the body empty, I'm sure she could use it to defend her home, should the need arise."
"I will ask tonight." I nodded, "That's actually a really good idea."
"Hey hey, why not ask for another sakura tree branch? I'm sure it would go nice with the peach trees you say you have." Delly suggested.
Since I'd (ahem) paid off the head of HR of Rias's peerage, I spent the next two and a half days keeping up with 'the planning' and packing the last two packages I was sending home without resting. More 'exotic' materials, copies of my notes (written in English so only I could read them) and Maki's stuff. She was limited in what she could bring, and honestly, her life 'on the run' until recently didn't really allow her a lot of 'stuff'. But, what she did have was packed up and put into the next box to be sent home along with the second last fragment. Like her Zither. Also packed in there was the fresh cutting (with a little soil) of a sakura branch. Hopefully, it would take root like the last one had, and my children could enjoy its shade when they grew up.
Also in that time, HIDA, Shinkage and I got Hagane-ni assembled and mobile.
December 10
"It feels... odd." Hagane rumbled, his voice exactly the same as the old model, "It feels almost like a new shoe... except everywhere."
"HIDA and I did our best getting all the moving parts smooth, but that was without 'gravity' really working on you. How's the internal stuff?"
"I feel it all. Aside from the missing 'heart' and the various manual enchantments that is." There were a series of clicks, his mouth opened and closed, and a little light spilled from his mouth, "The cartridges load and unload properly, my mouth works, my claws extend and retract, and the 'overload safety' still works. Though, without the heart, why bother?"
"I might try to make it again." I replied, "As well, if I ever need a light while I work inside, I'll have it."
"Fair. I suppose my only complaint, is that I am no longer the right colour." Since yes, Hagane-ni was the dark purple-black of worked adamant, and no longer electroplated with special minotaur horn red.
In response, I went to a cupboard and got a bog standard paint can and a roll of masking tape. "Well, I just happen to have the proper colour right here, courtesy of the Rising Phoenix company."
"You'll have to wait until after the transfer though." Delly chimed in, "We have about a half hour."
NOTES!
Almost there folks. If nothing explodes, goes sideways, or generally stops me from writing...
Now, to be honest, I HAVE started playing Genshin Impact. WOW it's an awesome game. IT scratches all my itches for a good game.
Daeore on Ko-Fi, if you want to toss a coin to your writer.
Daeore on Inkitt, if you want to read my book, 'Were Too?'
See you all in five days. :)
