So before I begin.
I'm getting comments asking 'why those three for the next crossover?' The answer is simple my dear readers. Conflict. For a story to be a story, there must be conflict. It can be as mild as making a cup of tea and not finding the sugar where you left it last, to an epic tale like Lord of the Rings.
Konohana Kitan would allow me to world build, and make the 'Danmachi' universe more my own, since the author doesn't really get into the things outside of Orario. It wouldn't be action packed, but it would be a welcome chance for exploration, growth, and adding some flavour to an otherwise VERY focused world. Oh, and probably visit Haruhime's father to kick him in the shin. (Kodori would actually get a vacation!)
Nanoha would introduce the problems of 'the final versions' of Kodori's enchantment, (that being her boiling down 'magic' to a 'science' then adding her own magic to it). It would add a science fiction element to the fantasy setting, and who knows how a city of super powered people might deal with some kind of weird 'thing' from the Nanoha universe? There would also be the mystery of why the Nanoha universe exists at all, since it -was- an anime before the DxD 'Michael' yeeted bits of reality out of existence to protect the failing system the dead 'God' left behind.
Gate, and so the JSDF scratched their heads, would bring in 'modern' science stuff to Orario, something Kodori is trying to limit. Yes, she's trying to modernize Orario, but she's trying to do it cleanly, using the much less toxic fuels of magic and alchemy, instead of oil and plastic. It would also shamelessly allow Kodori to visit, and bring her friends, to see the DxD cast. There also might be -other- problems, since the DxD universe is supposed to be a 'closed' system, and well...
Anyhow. On with the show.
Chapter 23
"I like this one." Fukawa said with an approving nod.
"oop." Tatsuko, uncaring that the one holding her was from a race of people that supposedly ate babies, bopped the Oni on the nose.
Fukawa's nose didn't even flex, but it was the thought that counted.
"This one will certainly be a fighter when she grows up." Okakai said, one of his fingers being ferociously gummed by Chie.
"I think she's just getting you back for smiling at her." I said, walking backwards slowly, Yumi's little hands in mine as she flailed her legs against the ground to walk in that energetic yet childishly clumsy way. "You are doing very well." I encouraged, "Thank you for staying up here for now, by the way."
They looked at each other, then... actually sighed. Like... old man wondering what the youngn's are doing now, kind of sign. "We actually have some business up here as well." Okakai said, "Oh, you seem to have reinforcements." Kei had crawled over to the red oni and tried to help their sister subdue his massive hand.
"Aside from submitting our prizes to you." Fukawa added, "And possibly getting replacement clothing."
"I'll be sure to get your prizes exchanged and put towards your upkeep." I replied with a smile, easing Yumi down to her bum and giving her all kinds of gentle tickles for doing so well, "Ganesha actually dropped off a dozen more of those shirts for you. Funny thing, they had almost all the paths on the way to the tower covered the day you two went down. We just got the ones from the guards who you didn't meet."
They nodded, "We see why you respect him."
"But that's not all is it?" I turned to face them properly.
"No. It is not." They said together, "We found something we could not beat."
My eyes went wide, "Really?"
"Yes." Okakai said, "We also have a message for your little brother."
I frowned thoughtfully, wondering who might have a message for Bell, and how they might have met whomever it was in the dungeon... and went through another round of eye widening, "Asterius... You met the Black Minotaur?"
"Yes."
"And you didn't kill him?"
"They both shook their heads, but it wasn't a 'denial' but a 'you misunderstand' kind of gesture. "We could have killed him." Fukawa said.
"But we could not beat him." Okakai added. "He is a worthy foe, but only death would have stopped him. Our fight was also quite noisy, and we had to stop before there was a clear winner."
I tried to imagine that fight, where something strong enough to survive a half dozen level six adventurers and two of the strongest fighters I knew went all out. They probably had the dungeon spawning things on them just so they'd stop wrecking the walls...
I shook my head, "Yeah... Death would be the only thing to stop him. I'm a little ashamed to admit this, but I couldn't stand up to him, last time I met him."
This time they blinked in surprise, but nodded, "As you are now, you would win." Fukawa said, "He is very strong, very tough, but he relies too much on his body, and not enough on his mind."
"But even that was enough to resist us, to the point where we would have to kill him, to stop him." Okakai said seriously, "Hm, I am feeling outnumbered." Yuki had joined Chie and Kei, and was trying to nom Okakai's pinky finger.
"Careful brother. They are working together." Fukawa chuckled (without smiling), "What is involved, in this... ritual the gods here do?"
"Mechanically, it is simply a few drops of their blood on your back. Spiritually... They are putting a seed of divinity into you, that you grow with your deeds." I helped Toshi walk as I tried to explain, "When I first gained Hestia's blessing, I was a newborn Kitsune. Her gift pushed my demon power along, and well, now I'm like this, after about three years or so." I looked back at my tails, who froze in place to play innocent , "So, it might have a similar, or drastically different effect on you two. For all anyone knows, it might not work, work as intended, or do something really strange, since you are both fully grown and powerful demons."
They hmm'ed in unison, using their free hand to scratch at their almost square jaws, "We will talk at length with Lord Takemikazuchi." Also in unison.
"There is something I must warn you about though." They looked at me, one eyebrow raised, "Guild rules state you must be able to sign your own name on the paperwork. And I will not have our alliance fudging paperwork, even for you two." I smiled, picking up Toshi and rubbing my nose on his, "We all owe Eina far too much to just... make her life difficult for our own convenience."
"We understand, Kodori-sama." They smiled (just a tiny bit, no teeth or tusks involved) (thankfully), as I gave them a halfhearted glare of my own.
"I hear my name." Takemikazuchi said, entering the living room, a fresh pot of tea in one hand and four stone cups in the other.
To my delight, or at least mild pleasure, the children were kind of sad the two massive Oni had left the room to go talk with Takemikazuchi. Not only were they not scared of them, the two Oni were in absolute control of their violent nature. Even 'normal' children were very sensitive to such things, able to read a room better than most adults, and all seven of my children were at ease with the two of them.
Which was good. If nothing went wrong, there would be no friction between them as they grew older. I was of course thinking of all the problems on Earth due to 'race'. Sure, there was racism in Orario, but it was far easier to overcome. I mean, calling a Palum something like 'rodent' was a great way to have your kneecap punched.
No, here... it was more 'how strong you were'. The weak resented the strong, and either improved themselves, like Bell, so they could overcome that little speck of discomfort and stand as equals with whomever they were weaker than... Or tried to undermine them, like say, Moldo, before I beat him within an inch of his life. Moldo was doing well last I heard though, so it wasn't a total loss I guess...
Anyhow, with a collection of sad children, who were pouting that Uncle Red and Blue were gone now, I focused myself on finding the giggles they were hiding.
"Oh look..." I heard Chigusa from just outside the living room, "Heehee. That's very cute."
The tea Takemikazuchi had brought before wandering off with the Oni was cold now, and the Manor was starting to stir again. While yes, I'd had a little of that tea, I had lost interest in it as I went back to helping my children with walking.
At the door of the room, talking quietly while they looked in, were Chigusa, Asuka and Mikoto. Looking far more refreshed now that they had a few hours of sleep, they were keeping their distance so they wouldn't distract the children.
"No word from Delly-chan?" Mikoto asked quietly.
"Not yet." I said, Ryuu's Tarot, and an Occulus stone paired with the one Delly took silent. "But, I'm hoping that's because she didn't just run off without telling me, or making Delly promise not to tell me." I ran out of living room to back up in, so I slowly turned around, my hands and tails helping the children stomp towards me, or pick them up if they fell.
"Oh, hello ladies." Welf said as he entered the living room. Speaking in his usual voice, and then yawning like he was ready for bed again, he drew all the attention, "What?" He asked as we all glared at him.
"Aaaaeee!" Kei pointed at Welf, then lost their hold on my tail and plunked down on their rear.
"That's right. Akai." I said, 'Akai' meaning Red in Eastern.
"Who? Me?" Welf laughed, "Suppose I am. So... what happened?" He asked, carefully stepping around children who had now lost interest in walking practise, and sitting in his favourite chair, "I mean, I remember hitting the monster, then... I woke up in my room with a really nasty headache and the feeling I missed something important."
I could only tell him what I knew, so, "You were in Mind Zero when you got home. So, I got a couple of mana pills, put them under your tongue, and we put you to bed."
"Explains why my nose feels minty." He looked to the girls, "Did we make it okay?"
"We did, thanks to your efforts, and that of the Oni." Mikoto said, "Kodori-san called on the Apollo Familia to support us, as well as the Loki Familia to help us get back out of the dungeon."
"Huh, good to know." He nodded, squinting one eye almost shut, "At least I don't feel hung over... How did I get out of the water? And did my sword make it back?"
"The Oni picked up the magic stone and your sword." Asuka said, "And a Xenos pulled you out of the water. They didn't stay, or leave a name, but there were other Familia around too, so..." The three of them blushed a little, but I might have been imagining things.
"Huh, well, I'll have to say thanks or something..."
He was about to say something more, when I looked away sharply towards our front gate. "They came back." Gros followed my comment with a quiet rumble, (and an even quieter collection of 'Woowoowooooooo' noises from the birds.)
"We will go make tea." Mikoto said.
Gros's rumble and the scent of strong mint tea brought everyone out of their rooms. Even Hestia, though she was laying over Fen-chan's back, her face buried in his furry neck. She wasn't the last to arrive however. Takemikazuchi and the two Oni were the last to come in, their faces thoughtful.
Astraea, in her arm chair, with Ryuu and Delly sitting in front of her, all looked... calm. But it seemed very brittle. Like a single word or action would shatter it and transform it to something vastly different. Even the children were staying away from their favourite ray of sunshine (Delly) or nose booper (Astraea).
Once everyone had arrived, gotten seated, taken a sip or two of tea and scrubbed a little bit more of the fatigue from their eyes, Astraea spoke.
"I'm sorry for my outburst earlier. Especially after you'd all just returned home to us." She went silent for a moment, but not a single one of us spoke. It was obvious she was working up the nerve to continue, and needed a moment. "Before I left Orario, my Famila was a successful dungeon Familia. Averaging level four, we also helped Ganesha Familia, keeping the peace in the city when they needed a little more muscle, or a little more discretion."
Bell spoke, quietly, almost nervously, "Miss Ryuu has told us a little about that. And shown most of us the memorial on the Eighteenth floor."
"Yes." Ryuu spoke, almost a whisper, "It was all I could do. Even the weapons there are only replica of what they used. The only thing I kept that day was my life."
There was a grim silence. Most of us understood, or had first hand experience. Dying in the dungeon usually meant only your name would be brought back to the surface.
"I was devastated." Astraea said, "My pride and joy. My Family. In an instant, they were almost all wiped out. Ryuu... I couldn't even..."
It was rare that Ryuu reached out to someone. It was just her way. Even I could only count how many times I'd given her a hug on one hand. But she took Astraea's hand, giving it a squeeze, "That was the day she left Orario, and I stayed behind to make sure..." She let Astraea's hand go, "To take revenge. Without mercy, I forgot about 'justice', and ended the lives of their entire Familia."
I knew this already, but some of the others didn't. But we all understood why.
"I thought my job was done. And was content to simply bleed to death in an alleyway. But it just happened to be the alleyway behind the Hostess of Fertility." She smiled the smallest of smiles, "But... My job isn't done it seems."
"Do you know who it might be? We know you are... very professional when dealing with enemies." Ouka said, trying to sound at least a little tactful.
"It doesn't matter. They've been hiding from me all this time, but now I know one of them is alive." Ryuu replied coldly, a surprising amount of venom in her voice.
I hmm'ed quietly, "Delly?" She looked like she wanted to say something.
"Um, well... I could look in her head, if she let me." She shrank away from the room full of raised eyebrows, "I mean... adventurers are tough right? I mean, look at what you've lived through." She motioned to me, "Aside from..." She touched the sides of her head, and made a 'mind blown' motion, "Maybe something that looked lethal... wasn't."
Ryuu frowned, but said, "Are you sure? You won't like what you see."
Delly nodded, "I'm kind of used to bad dreams..." She glanced at me, "New and old."
Everyone seemed to take a collective deep breath, "We were worried you might run off into the dungeon looking for who ever it is." Haruhime said, gently rocking the dragon twins, "It's why we all went to sleep, isn't it, Ko-san?"
She smiled at me, but her eyes were accusing.
I tried very hard (and failed) to not shy away a little from her glare, "Yes." Bell came to my rescue, "We are all ready to help you, if you need anything at all, Miss Ryuu."
"I don't want to worry any of you, like I did when it all happened." Ryuu nodded, "Thank you."
There was a chorus of 'don't mention it's.
"Well... Now that we are all in one room, and not about to pass out..." Maki spoke up, "This is the part where we have the after action meeting, right?"
"Heh, she really has trained you." Aisha said, "Sure, who wants to go first? Though, I think I'm going to get something a little stronger than tea before we begin."
It took a couple of hours before we finished recounting all that had happened, in and out of the dungeon. Some of the incidents that happened in the dungeon surprised me, like the Xenos killer moss monster. At least... we all guessed it was. Since they couldn't find it on the way out, they dealt with it the only way they could as a 'wounded' party, and told the guild everything they could.
Paperwork would be filed, notices would be issued, and a bounty would probably be placed. Bell, ever the responsible one, had stayed up just long enough to A: make sure Weine was enjoying herself (she was), and tell Lido to also watch for the moss monster. The Xenos wouldn't get a bounty for killing it, but they would hopefully keep their own reputation intact. They were just like us on the surface, where not everyone had the same goals in life. But even Asterius only killed other monsters.
My side of things was met with, if anything, more shock than what happened in the dungeon. People attacking the Manor, people attacking me, the 'traitors' in Ganesha Familia, the unknown Familia that lost nearly thirty members in a single day... And apparently the 'plan B' of killing our children.
Then there was the Donatis. It was made quite clear that Freya wasn't willing to back down, and that she had much of the other Familia either supporting her, or 'in her pocket'. This, I figured was the case already. But, we knew we could use that overconfidence of hers just a little longer.
Then Ryuu told us a little something new.
"My Sister seems to have even more rumours about her recently as well." Now that the Astraea corner of the room had settled into the comfortable atmosphere of 'good tea and story time' (even if the stories were less than amusing) she was alternately sipping tea and gently bouncing Chie on her knee. "As well as a small observation or two from some of our regular Gods."
"We didn't catch the one who splashed blood on me and started screaming I murdered the prisoners." I sighed, "Kei? Ko-ma wants a hug." Dutifully, Kei clung to my shoulder (and drooled on it, but still a win in my book).
"Yes, aside from that." Ryuu nodded, "We are doing our best to discourage that rumour, but, we are only a single place where people gather."
"She's also got her old rep, which is a little less than sparkling." Aisha added, "Though, in some circles, you score a lot of points."
"Being a violent woman scores points?" Ouka blinked, "Oh! Wait... really?"
There was a little nervous laughter, but Aisha laughed like she meant it, "Of course! You would not believe how many of my fellow Amazon want to spar with you." I was pretty sure not everyone caught her suggestive eyebrow waggle, "But seriously, your reputation for putting your foot down hard on the things that bother you isn't all bad for everyone. Some even wish you'd do it more."
I sighed while there was more hesitant laughter. Kei on the other hand gave the side of my head a pat, though, it might have been an attempt to grab my ear (but that was fine too.)
"It's becoming widely known you can be in more than one place at a time, so to speak. Not just people near your home, but others have caught sight of your foxes as they go from place to place." Ryuu said, subduing Chie with a gentle ear rub, her body leaning into the attention much like a cat would. "Your abilities are becoming known sister."
"That was something she could do before she vanished." Welf shrugged, "Also, I'm going to want that back." Tatsuko ignored him and continued nom-ing on his stolen headband.
"She only really did that here though, for practise and the like. Not so much in the dungeon. It was how she beat Dix, right?" Bell commented, not getting nibbled on like almost everyone else, but still collecting a bit of drool as Tatsuo slept on his shoulder.
"Ko-san had help." Haruhime smiled, using one of my tails to distract Toshi, saving her own from gathering drool.
"I've learned a lot more since vanishing, and the 'many places at once' thing is... far more refined than when I left. That said, the first chance I get I'm going to improve on it a little more. If combat happens I need to be... better than the last time." I looked to Ryuu, "Anything else?"
"Yes. While I have been washing dishes since we returned, I did manage to hear something about Lord Ouranos getting a visitor?"
"Yes. Sir Loaner was our signal for the walk out on Freya." Astraea said, "I was... very amused at seeing Freya's reaction."
Hestia sighed, getting a clumsy pat on the cheek from Yuki, "Thank you."
"It seems that the Guild's neutrality may be in question because of it." Ryuu said.
"Wouldn't that be... I dunno... bad?" Maki asked, "I mean... well, I'm new here, but from what you say, that's what keeps them in 'power', right?"
"Yes." Takemikazuchi said, "It is what gives them the ability to police all the Familia, by not showing favouritism. And if the guild begins to lean in favour, one way or another, in this conflict, then their credibility would be in doubt."
"All rule needs power." Okakai said.
"All power needs trust." Fukawa added.
All eyes slowly drifted to me, and I felt that little itch at the base of my tails, hinting that I was backing into a corner. "If the guild is unable to enforce the rules, there will be open war in the streets." I said after a moment, "The ones who want to use force will simply do so, and the strong will devour the weak." I frowned, but managed to keep my voice calm (since Kei was still happily clinging to me and I wanted it to stay that way), "We need... an edge. Undoubted, irrefutable, total proof that what we are doing is good. And, we need to do it while following all the rules. But..." I sighed, "I don't know how to do that."
"There are a few ways you could do it." Aisha said, "I mean, without suddenly getting lucky, and having Freya just come out and say she's a child stealing, Familia member poaching, devious tw...twit." She corrected herself when Haruhime and I gave her the 'no swearing' glare. "The most obvious, is to toss her off the tower. Assassination, pure and simple."
Hestia seemed to shrink a little at the thought of such a thing, while the rest of us shook our heads, "Too messy." Welf said, "Something like that would really upset a lot of people. Her Familia, for one."
"Ottar would not sit idle, and she would likely keep him at her side at all times." Takemikazuchi said.
"Yeah, well, that's the most direct way." Aisha shrugged, "The next is something that you've done already."
"War game." Hestia groaned, "Don't remind me... It was nerve wracking enough the first time, even though you won!"
"There there." Delly gave Hestia a pat on the shoulder, "Yes that's good, you help too." And so did Yuki.
"The third option? Wait." Aisha said, "It's not what I'd do, but, sometimes its better to let someone else make the first move."
"It might also be the wrong move, what ever it might be." Takemikazuchi said, "Provided your defences are in place, a counter attack may be our best bet."
There was a moment of collective teacup study, but in my mind, I had ideas bubbling. Kind of like Kei blowing drool bubbles on my neck. "We need to back up a step. Find out who our real allies are, make note of those who are pretending, then leave openings where we look vulnerable, but aren't."
"When you are strong, appear weak?" Maki quoted, making Takemikazuchi raise a curious eyebrow.
"Exactly. But, our very first order of business, before even that, is to help Lord Ganesha. One thing Freya does not have is the people's love. And without the people, there is no Orario." I looked to Astraea, then Takemikazuchi, "You have a list for me?"
"Of the Gods who left with us, and those who did not?" Takemikazuchi asked, "I do, yes."
"And those who stood up after most of the others? I have that one." Astraea added.
"Oh... I have a few requests for you too..." Hestia said, snapping out of her 'this is FAR too much politics' slump, "I mean... I am your Goddess, so they came to me... I guess... yeah."
"Let your plans be as dark and impenetrable as the night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt." Maki quoted, again drawing Takemikazuchi's gaze. Mine too, "What? I read the book too, after Issei was done with it."
"So, we're just waiting then?" Asuka asked.
"No, we just aren't pushing back." I said, "We have to follow the rules, we have to remain vigilant, and we have to make sure of who our friends are 'outside' the core of the alliance. Helping Ganesha is priority, and from there, we will branch out. But, it's getting close to dinner time, and I think I'm going to ask our very distant allies for a few ideas too."
We all started to stand up, with those who were holding children helping Haruhime, Hestia, myself and Ryuu collect them for their pre-dinner meal. "Maki-chan, I'm interested in this book you mentioned." Takemikazuchi said, "Do you have some time?"
"Yes O-sensei." Maki smiled, "I even have a copy of it in my room." She met my surprised look with a smug one, "What? I wasn't done with it, and it's far more interesting than general history for a world I'm not going back to."
"What of us?" The two Oni asked, kneeling (which made them more or less eye level with the rest of the room).
"Stay up here a little while. Relax, clean that lingering smell of... what ever it was... off you, and maybe learn a little of the common language." I said with a smile, "Maybe join us in our morning spar."
"I am looking forward to a cooked dinner." Fukawa mused.
"Then you can help cut vegetables." Mikoto said, appearing from the direction of the kitchen, apron already on.
Shinkage, silent throughout the meeting, paused just long enough to brush a hand through one of my tails, then wandered off towards her room, looking thoughtful. I made sure to swish a tail against her back before she got out of range, and resolved to ask about it a little later.
Aside from the Oni surprising everyone with their cooking skills, dinner was a rather muted affair. Even the children were less excited than usual, being around all their favourite people and experiencing new flavours of mush. It wasn't surprising really, but I was a little irritated none the less. Old habit I suppose. I left work, at work. But work was trying to bother me at home.
After dinner, and cleaning up dishes (and children), I found myself with a little free time.
"Shinkage." I greeted her as she slid open the door of the house's little Dojo.
This was Takemikazuchi personal space. Where he held classes for the orphans, kicked my butt when I asked for a lesson, and did his own practise. The entire house had free access to this little garden, but it was strictly forbidden to go past 'normal' limits in this room, so most people didn't.
"Kodori." She returned, stepping up beside me and joining me as I moved through a simple Tai-chi set.
"You were thinking about something?" I asked, slowing myself down even more so she could mirror me, "Your getting better already."
"I was 'there' when you taught Issei." She said, "Now I have a body to do it myself." There was a pause as she struggled to keep her balance through a kick, but she made it, then continued, "As one who once followed the path of 'domination', I will say that you are walking a very thin line."
"Hmm?"
"And, this is a little unlike your usual method."
"True." I admitted.
"If your strength to be passive, is not up to their strength to be aggressive, you will fail."
"Blocking is not doing." I quoted an old friend of mine from... two lifetimes ago.
Shinkage took a moment to parse that, then nodded, "Correct."
"Yes, I'm usually more... forward with my plans. But I honestly don't see a way to be aggressive right now without something breaking. I honestly hadn't thought about what might happen by sending Loaner." I paused, "Speaking of, Loaner should make sure he gets his share of dinner before it gets put into the compost." I hadn't actually seen him since he went to visit Ouranos.
"My opinion here may seem... heartless." Shinakge blinked her dark eyes at me slowly, the secondary eyelid common to lizards and amphibians sweeping back afterwards, "But have you considered laying a trap?"
"Well yes. We're alrea...no?"
"Too timid." She said, "Too subtle. Too many." She shook her head, and we both stopped to face each other. Since this seemed to be a lesson, I knelt in front of her, "How far do you trust your friends, and how far do they trust you?"
"I would like to think we'd fight to the end for one another. And hope we never have to."
"Would they trust you enough to stand in a trap for you?"
"Wait..." I frowned, feeling a little hint of that old anger, before my new balance gave it a Karate Chop of Justice, "But..."
"When Ddraig was beaten, the first time, the last time, it was because he couldn't resist the opportunity for an easy victory. The gains seemed astronomical, too good to simply wait and see, but that victory had him cornered, and the greatest army to have ever existed suffered only the smallest loss because of it."
The explanation was a little cryptic, but the idea was clear. A group of people had sacrificed themselves to be the bait for a trap, and the opportunity had blinded Ddraig to the danger. "But, that would..."
"There are a lot of things you do not know, but you do know one of the goals of your opponent. But you have to trust. Her, and them." She shook her head, "It is a terrible, heartless idea, which is why I'm telling you here, and not in front of them."
"No... It's a heartlessly terrible idea, on its own." I stood and gave her a headpat, "But it just needs a little work. Let's try again."
"Very well."
Loaner arrived just in time for dinner leftovers, and waited just a little longer for Ryuu to warm it up for him a little. Ryuu and I waited at the dining table with him while he ate because he said he also had a few messages for us.
"Lord Ouranos, master of the Guild and reasonably good with headpats says..." and the voice in my head changed to the deep and wise voice of the God of the Sky, "Be sure that you do, and I look forward to a new chess partner."
"Thank you." I said, "I'll have to find a way to sneak Sir Skitters over to him at some point soon then."
He then tapped my hand again said, "Eina, supervisor of the morning shift, team leader of the adventurer counsellors, and positively amazing with headpats says..." Again, a perfect voice imitation, "Please don't make more paperwork for us? Oh, and thank you again for dinner. But that's still no excuse to make more paperwork for us!"
"We're doing our best..." I sighed.
Another tap, "And lastly, Lord Ganesha, the loud and proud GOD OF THE PEOPLE, who makes up for his lack of headpat ability with very tasty snacks." This time, the voice change sounded... tired, but very serious, "While I regret that you were one of the victims of what seems to be a woeful lack of attention on my part, thank you for pointing it out to me. This will limit the amount of physical aid I can offer the alliance until my house is back in order. I hope you understand."
I nodded, sighed, and made sure to give Loaner the best ear scroofles I could. "Hold on... still working..." So I stopped, and he gave Ryuu a pat on the arm.
There was a pause, then Ryuu nodded, "Thank you. I was just about to return." She looked to me, "Dishes to do, after all."
"Want Delly to go home with you? She's house trained and doesn't take up much space." I asked.
From the living room, Delly called out, "Hey! I heard that!"
Ryuu hesitated, then shook her head, "No. This problem is far bigger, and well..." She looked towards the living room, "My sister needs me now."
"Thank you." I felt a little knot untwist inside of me. "Make sure May knows I'll be visiting. The little ice box is ready, and if nothing goes wrong, I'll have a few more delivered soon."
She smiled, nodded, then turned, "So you're planning on having a meal with the enemy?"
"Dessert really, but the Gods want entertainment. And good food is pretty entertaining."
"When the dust has settled a little, I will ask Delly over for a night. But until then... Be careful sister. This is much like how my Familia was wiped out."
Yes, by falling into a trap they themselves thought they set.
Loaner in my arms, getting his well deserved ear scroofles and neck scratches, I entered the living room, "Not tonight then?" Delly asked.
"No. But it will be the next thing, once a little of this settles down." I said, "I want to run an idea past you..."
Even with the nap almost everyone had, no one had a problem sleeping that night. At least, no one but me. I tried, I really did. But I just couldn't find sleep. Too many things to do, too little time to do it, and a single mistake might end everything I was trying to build.
Needing to do something other than peek through the eyes of my foxes to make sure they were still 'programmed' properly, or think of just how bad things might go if the next plan didn't work, I sat up slowly, untangling myself from little hands and tails.
Then stopped when a bigger hand gripped the sleeve of my robe. Like a nervous girl at the school gate about to ask someone out on a date, Haruhime's finger and thumb were holding my sleeve firmly. Looking down at her face, I saw the slight reflection of moonlight over her barely open eyes.
I held her hand a moment, then detached it from my sleeve. She didn't say anything, or resist, just let her hand slump back to the padding of the crib. Though, I saw her eye tracking me as I stood up, stretched my arms over my head, and gave my neck a side to side motion. She was just starting to curl a little more around the children, her eye closed again, when I lay back down.
Behind her this time, I used my wealth of tails to cover her and flutter over our children. No, I might not sleep, but I would not leave her, or them again. My arm over her now, she gripped my thumb with her hand and wiggled a little back against me.
I just hoped I could sleep like this after all this mess got sorted out.
The next morning, after spending precious little of the night sleeping, though with my wife and children keeping me warm, we started in the usual way. Cuddles, pre-breakfast, more cuddles, breakfast, trying to contain the children long enough to feed them some kind of semi solid food, cleaning up after our inevitable failure to do so, then finally getting them cleaned up and corralled in the living room for play time.
The two Oni joined us for sparring, though, it was more of a demonstration. But even with everyone limiting themselves to 'strong human' levels, they were unbeatable in the team battles.
"I feel... inadequate." Mikoto said after her and Asuka were bounced out of the fighting circle quite handily. "I know we all work well together, but they are something beyond what we have ever accomplished."
Civilized as anyone else out of combat, the two Oni bowed to the losers, "Make no mistake, and feel no shame, you have lost through no fault of your own." Okakai said.
"We see you all have half of what you need to reach our skill." Fukawa said.
"Trust." I said from the sidelines. "The two before you have absolute trust in each other. What we," I made an encompassing gesture, "Lack past that, is skill." I stood up, stretched, flicked my tails about a little to warm them up, and stepped onto the field. "They know where the other is at all times, and trust them to work with them without hesitation." I looked up at them, "They also have a lot of practise."
"If you are on the field..." Okakai started.
"You are here to fight." Fukawa finished.
"I am." I looked around the circle, my eyes stopping at Bell, then sweeping back to Haruhime. "My love? Shall we teach these two bullies a lesson?"
The two Oni laughed. But not at my wife stepping over to my side. I was far more of a bully than they were. They also knew I was 'playing the room' by picking, arguably, our weakest member to fight next to me. Almost everyone was looking at us in shock, though Takemikazuchi, off to the side and amusing a pair of children, was smiling that amused smile of his.
"Maybe this will teach them not to scare poor Chie?" Haruhime said, stepping over to me, her tails swishing over mine as she passed, "Oh dear... One moment." She reached into her robe and took out a pair of the 'resist dungeon hazard' gloves that supporters usually wore. "There." She looked up at the Oni, who backed up a couple of paces to the 'start position' we'd marked on the field.
"Um..." Bell was getting 'the look' from everyone else, "Begin!"
It made me think of Kiba and his master Sanjiro. One behind the other, the two Oni lumbered towards us. Fast, but only at 'sparring' speeds. I stood in front of Haruhime, arms up and ready to meet the first attack, a meteoric left fist from Fukawa that came in low towards my side.
I leaned back just enough to let the fist move by, then stepped over to my right. Fukawa kept going, making ready for a spinning backhand with his right, while Okakai was bringing down his own right hand over Fukawa's ducked head.
Instead of blocking that, I stepped to the side, letting Okakai's fist chase me. Haruhime on the other hand, popped out from behind me as Fukawa got half way through his spin, his back to her, and gave the Oni a firm double palm push against his hip. As the blue Oni's balance wobbled, I gave the red Oni's extended arm a push of my own.
Haruhime needed to keep pushing on Fukawa's hip to keep behind him due to her lesser strength, but the end result was that now, her and I were behind the two Oni, as they faced each other. We'd stopped their initial rush cold and turned it back on them.
Being taller, I was able to tap Okakai on the back of the head without issue. Haruhime had to hop a little but still gave Fukawa's shoulder a Karate Chop of (short is) Justice.
"Truly fearsome, these two." Fukawa nodded to Okakai.
"Indeed." Okakai agreed.
We all turned and bowed to the spectators, getting a little applause for the show, "You all have the trust, now you just need the skill." Fukawa repeated, turning to Haruhime, "That was well done."
"I am a supporter." She smiled, "Everyone has encouraged me to improve so I can walk with them, instead of follow behind."
"A good lesson." Takemikazuchi said, "While it is good to work together as a group, forming solid pairs is also a worthwhile practise. Momiji-chan and Kaede-chan have already discovered this, and are well on their way to be like these two."
"We'll spend another hour on team battles." I said, "However, pick someone you are a good match with, and stick with them. And no, just because Bell is the best brother ever, doesn't mean you are the best match for him in combat." I gave a raised eyebrow to the people about to complain, "After that however... We are going to help Lord Ganesha.
NOTES!
Well there you have it. Another one done, and a little progress made towards that nebulous 'end goal' of being able to just... not worry about a single person in power, even though no one person should be.
Thoughts, comments and questions go to the usual places, and I will see you all in five days (unless something stupid happens... sigh... work...)
The vote will remain up for now, and no, the next crossover isn't happening 'soon'. I need time to read/research the winner, so I'm doing this earlier than last time. DxD was MASSIVE, and I was basically glued to the Wiki for the entire thing because I didn't know enough going in.
Anyhow. :)
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?'
