"Hmmmm Hmmmm Hmmmm..." Ryuu was humming while she brought the plates to the customers.
"Here is your order, enjoy your food." She smiled with a light bow and went on to the next customers.
"Woah...such a beautiful elf."
"She really is a beauty."
"And so kind."
"Wow, she is hot."
For the last three months the number one topic in the Benevolent Mistress was Ryuu. Her behaviour, her looks...her charisma...all that had changed since she returned with Bell. In the past she had a neutral expression and a almost indifferent voice when she had to do with customers. But now she had a light smile on her lips all the time, whenever her ring came into her field of vision, a bright smile appeared on her lips and she talked friendly to the customers. Mama Mia was more then pleased with the change, the other waitresses except Syr...not so. Of course they were happy for Ryuu...but now she got the second best tips, right after Syr. It was not like she did it for the tips, but the customers really enjoyed her new image and that Ryuu let her hair grow, she still kept the green color. Not because Bell really loved that...well not only because of that...
"Man she´s hot...I wonder if.."
"Don´t even try it, Meow."
"Huh?" The adventurer looked over his shoulder to Ahnya who had talked.
Ahnya took the empty plates of another table. "Don´t try to flirt with her, Meow. She has a husband."
"Wh-What?! Oh no...such a shame..."
"Meow! But the nyautiful Ahnya is still avaiable, Mwehehehe."
"Good for you..."
"Meow!"
Some of the regulars also had noticed Ryuu´s ring and new behaviour. A few of the women that normally came around noon had congratulated her.
"Ah, thank you very much." Ryuu had smiled to every of the regulars.
"Meow...such a womanly charm..."
"Ahnya, shall I help you with that?" Ryuu smiled friendly to her and even took a plate out of Ahnya´s hand, lightly touching her that way.
"Meow! Too bright!" Ahnya had to avert her face, for years she had refused to give up and tried to take Ryuu´s hand...and now she just took Ahnya´s.
"Hm?"
"Ryuu´s smile! Too bright, Meow!"
Ryuu looked at her confused, then she returned to her work. In the mornings she would often train with Bell in the inner courtyard...and from time to time she left the pub after they had closed and spend the night at the Heart Mansion. Hestia had set up strict rules for her overnight stays. No open kissing or cuddling, they were allowed to do that in Bell´s room, that was all, they were a married couple after all and Hestia wouldn´t forbid them to be lovey dovey in their shared room..
It was hard enough for Hestia to curb Miach and Naza. In the pub Mama Mia had changed the rotation of the day offs a bit. Normally they had to work six days and get one day off, every fourth week they worked five days and got two days off. The day offs were arranged in a way that only one waitress had a day off at a time. Ryuu had noticed, that the day offs were arranged in a way, that she would have her two days off when it was full moon. She said nothing about it, but she was secretly grateful. The full moon still had that special effect on Ryuu where she got in a romantic mood. Ryuu would go on a date with Bell these two days and...spending the night with him in a private way. Soon she would have cleared her debt by Mia for the extra days off she took for the journey. In a month they would close the pub for a week and travel to Melen together, from there they would take a ship to a small beach town and have their shared summer vacation. Mia made clear from the start,
that Ryuu was not allowed to bring Bell with her. That was a special vacation with their small family and Ryuu intended from the start to tell Bell she would be away for a week. This vacation every year was very important to her and her friends.
One evening after she returned, her friends had finally dared to ask her about "that". Ryuu straight up refused to talk about "that", the only thing she said after they asked again and again was.
"He was very gentle..."
.
Working at the pub had the benefit of picking up rumors, most of the time it was nothing special, but sometimes...
There were also some rumors in Orario about the Benevolent Mistress, there was a saying.
"If you have problems...real problems with criminals...got to that pub, drink and eat and lament about your problems...and maybe...maybe...someone will come and help you..."
That someone was most of the time Ryuu. She just couldn´t stand it if criminals intimidated the townsfolk and she had sworn to protect the peaceful life of her friends. In the past she and Syr had helped a man who lost his daughter via gambling. From time to time, Ryuu went in disguise into the city and beat up criminal gangs that could become dangerous. Ryuu didn´t only do that because she wanted to help the people and protect the justice of the city as she had promised Astrea. No the other reason was way more personal.
I want this city to be safe for my friends...and...my future children...
Haaaa...I am only twenty-four and already thinking about children...
Ryuu hadn´t even told Syr about her thoughts on that subject. Sometimes Ryuu was awake late at night in her bed and imagined how it would be...with her being pregnant...Bell taking care of her. Her...holding her child in her arms...and many other things.
One small dream came back to her again and again...
.
Ryuu sat on a couch in the living room of the Heart Mansion and gently caressed her well-rounded belly, there was no way not to see that she was pregnant. She heard the door to the Mansion open and looked up.
"Ryuu, I´m back." He smiled as he entered the living room and came to her.
"Bell, welcome back." She showed him that special warm smile.
He leaned down to her and kissed her lovingly, before he leaned further down and placed a light kiss on her belly...
Hiiiiiii!...
.
In another version, Ryuu sat on the couch, her small child on her lap and together they read a picture book or she sung for her, when Bell came home.
Everytime she strangled her poor pillow and rolled around in her bed. Ryuu really, really loved that dream, but it made her think about something.
Do I want to get pregnant with our children that badly? Will I be a good mother? Haaaa...
Ryuu wished she could talk with Astrea about that, from face to face. She wrote about that in letters to her and without knowing it, made her goddess cry for joy again. For that subject somehow she wanted to talk to the person she saw as her mother and not someone else. Ryuu couldn´t know that, but ever since her pledge with Bell and their first night, the flow of hormones in her body had changed,
increasing the desire to have children. But it was only of a strength, that Ryuu would think about children sometimes, maybe that was the reason why elves still had a low birthrate, the birth of half elves on the other hand was more likely. That was why Astrea could hope to see many grandchildren and she was looking forward to it.
Then Ryuu would stop to strangle her pillow for a while, just held it pressed to her chest and looked at the ceiling.
"Bell..."
She hadn´t mentioned that dream to him yet, for once she wanted to organize her thoughts and don´t disturb Bell when he was about to enter the dungeon.
We have time...
But still...the thought of her being pregnant with Bell´s child, let her smile until she fell asleep.
.
"Hey, have you heard the rumors in the city?"
"You mean about that gang lately? Yeah..."
"I heard they would target the young women comming from the country side to work at the new Entertainment District."
"How exactly?"
"They corner them and say something about loans and stuff like that."
"And no one does anything against that?"
"The guild and the Ganesha Familia don´t interfere with that district, except there are huge crimes..."
"That poor things...I wish the Astrea Familia was still around..."
"Shh! Don´t say things like that!"
"But she would do something against that, I´m sure!"
It wasn´t the first time in the last days that Ryuu had heard these rumors. A criminal organization that targeted young women and did other things. And then there was the rumor about the "new god" of the Entertainment District. Maybe someone was taking advantage of the disappearance of the goddess Ishtar. That and many other rumors drew a picture of rising criminality in Orario, hidden in the shadows.
"Hey, Ryuu." Syr washed the dishes together with Ryuu.
"Mh?"
"You have also heard these troubling rumors?"
"Yes, more than one time."
"I must say, I am a little worried..."
Syr...oh no! What if these criminals target her? As cute, beautiful and innocent as she is...
It would be time to investigate a bit, it took Ryuu three nights to get all the informations she needed. The organization controlled a big part of the Entertainment District and was getting stronger, she would need help.
Help from a certain someone.
.
.
Bell was a bit sad for a while now, the reason was a girl and it was not Ryuu.
.
Two weeks ago, Bell was on a date with Ryuu, they enjoyed the warm sun and strolled through the city without a real destination. While they walked along the market, they met two familiar young elves.
Lefiya and Filvis spend their day off together and chatted while they enjoyed the warm day. By chance they met them on the market place, right when Bell went to a nearby stall to buy some snacks for them.
"Oh my friend...ack..Bell Cranel.." Lefiya first smiled, then made a face.
Filvis nodded lightly. "Good day."
Ryuu smiled. "Hello.
Before Lefiya could say anything, Filvis got big eyes as she saw Ryuu´s ring. "M-Miss Ryuu...what is that?"
Ryuu looked down and smiled. "Oh that." She raised her hand.
"D-D-Don´t tell me...you...made a pledge?"
"I did."
"What?!" Lefiya had a shocked face.
Filvis looked surprised but she smiled. "C-Congratulations."
"Thank you."
Lefiya found herself again. "B-But w-who is your...husband?"
Ryuu looked confused. "Who? Ahm.." She looked over to Bell, who turned around from the stall right now. "Well...Bell."
""What?!"" Both elves looked even more shocked.
"B-B-Bell C-Cranel is your h-husband?"
Ryuu was still confused. "Why are you so shocked?"
"Ah..eh...I ahm...I mean.."
Bell stopped by Ryuu´s side and smiled friendly to the two elves. "Good day, Miss Lefiya, Miss Filvis."
"Good day." Filvis nodded.
"Ah eh..hello...B-Bell Cranel! Y-You made a pledge with Miss Ryuu?"
"Yes we did."
"But I thought...I mean...that means you aren´t after Miss Ais?"
He looked a bit embarassed about her questions. "No I´m not." His face turned to Ryuu and he smiled. "Ryuu is the only one in my heart."
"Bell..." Ryuu looked embarassed.
Lefiya looked shocked but in her head.
Yes...Yes!...YES!...He isn´t after Miss Ais! She is mine! Yeeeeeeeeeeees!
A sudden beautiful smile bloomed on Lefiya´s face. "Oh Bell Cranel, I misjudged you! You´re a good guy." She smiled happily.
"Oh ehm...thanks?"
"Come Filvis, we shouldn´t disturb them!" Happy as never before, Lefiya took Filvis hand and dragged her away. "Bye Bye my friend! Bell Cranel! Have a nice daaaaay!"
"Wha! Lefiya not so fast. Ah! G-Good day you two!"
"Energetic as always." Ryuu smirked.
.
.
The reason why Bell was sad was not that they met Lefiya, it was what followed. Overjoyed, Lefiya returned at the evening to the Loki Mansion and beamed all over her face as she entered the big living room. Ais sat with Tiona on a couch and was chatting, while Riveria sat in an armchair and read a book.
"Goooood eveniiiing!"
"Lefiya...not so loud."
"Sorry lady Riveria! I´m just sooo happy!"
"Did something happen, Lefiya?" Tiona turned her head.
"Hehe...today in the city I discovered something wonderful!"
"What was it?" Ais looked at her.
"I met my friend Miss Ryuu and Bell Cranel."
"Oh, and?"
"I discovered that they are ma-"
"Lefiya!" Riveria tried to stop the younger elf, but it was too late.
"-rried!"
Silence followed.
"Whaaaat? Argonaut is married? No way! I have to congratulate him! Sorry guys, later!" Tiona grinned widly, jumped to her feet and dashed out of the room.
But Riveria´s eyes fell on Ais, who was silent. She had her usual calm face but...the expression in Ais´ eyes hurt. She looked like a lost puppy, confused and as if she wasn´t sure if she wanted to cry.
"G-Good for him..." Ais smiled, but the smile didn´t reach her eyes.
"Yes, is it not?!" Lefiya looked happy.
"Lefiya!"
"Ah sorry...did I say something wrong, lady Riveria?"
Riveria leaned forward with a worried face. "Ais...are you okay?"
"Yes..of course." That young girl looked incredibly sad.
"M-Miss Ais?"
"Please excuse me!" Ais ran out of the living room.
"Miss Ais..."
"*Sigh*...Lefiya...you should think before you announce something like that."
"I´m sorry lady Riveria but...what did I do wrong?"
Riveria sighed again. "It´s okay...I guess you are too young to understand, please excuse me."
"Okay..." Lefiya looked depressed, what did she do wrong?
.
Riveria followed the fleeing girl slowly until she reached Ais´ door and knocked softly. "Ais...can I come in?"
"Come in..."
When she opened the door, the sight of Ais hurt Riveria´s heart. The young girl was sitting on her bed with knees drawn up, her chin resting on the knees. She looked so lost.
Slowly Riveria walked over to her and sat on the edge of the bed. "How are you feeling, Ais?"
"I..." She stopped for a moment. "I..don´t know..."
"What are you feeling?"
"Somehow...my chest hurts...I don´t understand why...I´m happy for Bell but..." Small tears gathered in her eyes.
Riveria supsected for a long time now, that Ais had feelings for Bell Cranel, that she just didn´t understood what those feelings were. The elf had tried her best to show Ais the joys of life beside fighting and getting stronger. She never said it, but she had hoped that someday Ais would realize her feelings and fall in love with Bell Cranel. Out of all the people she knew, he seemed to be the most suited for her. And she had guessed that he was in love with her, that feeling of her was very strong. But it seemed, Riveria was wrong.
"Riveria...I don´t understand..." Ais raised her head and looked at Riveria, almost starting to cry. "Why does it...*Hic* hurt..."
"Ais..."
Ais´ lower lip trembled. "I..*Hic*...don´t *Hic*..understa-*Sniff*...It hurts so much...Why does it hurt?*Hic*"
Riveria did the only thing she had left, she leaned forward, put her arms around Ais, right as the young girl started to cry with a broken heart...wihtout realising what it was.
"*Hic* A hero.. *Hic*...will never...*Hic* Ah...Waaaaaaaah!" Ais put her arms around Riveria and cried uncontrollably into her robe.
.
Riveria kept her "adoptive daughter" company for two hours, until Ais fell asleep from exhaustion. When she silently left the room, she saw Lefiya leaned against the wall on the other side of the hallway.
"Lady Riveria...I´m sorry...I didn´t realize that..." Her ears hung down and she looked more than depressed.
Sigh...one problem child asleep, one to go...
There was a reason why Riveria was called "Mom" or "Mommy" as a joke.
"Lefiya, come with me, we need to talk."
"Okay...I´m sorry..."
"Don´t worry...I won´t scold you, but you have to understand a few things."
"Yes..."
Riveria had noticed how Lefiya saw Ais, how she looked at her. Now with Bell Cranel gone, maybe Lefiya was the only hope for Ais to ever find love.
Ah, youth...
.
And this whole incident was the start why Bell was sad. He didn´t knew what had happened at the Loki Familia´s home, but since then he couldn´t talk to Ais. It wasn´t rare that they didn´t see each other for weeks, but he saw her in the city three times and everytime when she noticed him, she vanished.
Did I made her angry? Did I do something?..
He tried to ask Ryuu for advice, but she couldn´t help him, together they asked Syr and she just told them.
"The heart of girls are complex."
Inside her head, Syr was statisfied with this development.
.
.
Bell entered the Benevolent Mistress, it wasn´t long now until they would close for the day. He came to help with the cleaning and to walk with Ryuu to the Heart Mansion. Whenever she stayed for the night, he would come to pick her up.
After he arrived, Syr greeted him and as he helped her with the tables, she asked him. "Mr. Bell, why do you pick Ryuu up everytime? She would be fast enough at your home."
"I can´t let her walk alone such a long distance in the city at night...what if something happens?"
Syr giggled. "Mr. Bell you´re so cute and a true gentleman...but are you that afraid for Ryuu? She is very strong."
"I am still worried...but..."
"But?"
"I am more worried...that some drunk people might try something and...well...that she goes too far..."
"Ahahahahaha!" Syr´s laughter truly beautiful. "Ah Mr. Bell, you sure are cute...teehee."
"I...I just don´t want her to get into trouble...as beautiful as Ryuu is..."
"Hehehe...You love her so much...but you are right...what about her are you finding beautiful if I may ask? And I won´t accept an "everything"."
"Oh eh...her smile...h-her eyes..." His voice fell a little. "Her ears...her hair..."
"Hmmm...what else?" Syr´s smile became seductive.
"M-Must I say that?"
"I would loooove to hear it..."
"H-Her legs...her hips...and her b...Argh what are you making me say?!" His face was almost as red as his eyes.
"Oh my...Ryuu what do you say to that?"
"Wha-?!" Bell whirled around with a shocked face.
A very embarassed Ryuu stood right there, she wanted to greet him but when he started to praise her, she got more and more embarassed and stopped moving.
"Ryuu?!"
"B-Bell...hello..."
"I will let you two lovebirds alone for now, have fuuuuun!" Syr waved happily and went to help with the cleaning, giggling.
"W-Why didn´t you say something?"
"I-I couldn´t...I got no chance..."
Both looked embarassed to the side, someone who didn´t knew them wouldn´t have guessed that these two were married.
"A...eh...Are you ready?"
Ryuu raised a bag she held in her hands and nodded.
"Oy Ryuu, take your husband and go! You two flirt too much, and don´t you dare be late tomorrow!" Mia yelled from the kitchen.
Now they noticed, that the other waitresses had stopped with their work and looked at them grinning or smiling.
"L-Let´s go!" Bell took Ryuu´s free hand and lightly pulled her to the entrance.
"Meep!" A bit startled, Ryuu followed him and together they left the pub. It was always a nice feeling for her when Bell acted like that.
""""Oh my!""""
Ryuu could very well hear her friends, tomorrow they would tease her again..
.
.
Walking together through the city at night was something that Ryuu enjoyed, they could hold hands without many people seeing them and it was a nice way for her to keep her hand warm when it was chilly outside. One night Bell had insisted to put his jacket around Ryuu´s shoulders when it was cold. She had been touched by that gesture and was happy about the warmth...Bell´s warmth.
She also enjoyed his smell on the jacket, but she would never say that, that would be too embarassing.
Before they reached the Heart Mansion, Ryuu came to the topic she wanted to discuss with Bell.
"Bell I wanted to ask you something important."
"I´m listening."
"There are rumors in the city...and I investigated a bit. In the new Entertainment District are criminals at work."
"Oh...that doesn´t sound good...wait...you didn´t get yourself in danger did you?"
Even though Bell had a huge respect for Ryuu´s strength and skill, he was a little bit overprotective, especially since their pledge. Ryuu found that touching.
"Don´t worry, I was careful."
"Good...and what is it that you wanted to ask me?"
"I wanted to ask you to help me render them harmless."
"Isn´t that the job of the Ganesha Familia?"
"They don´t take action in that District, except for acts of violence."
"Of course I will help you, but..."
Ryuu stopped and took both of Bell´s hands, while looking deep into his eyes. "Bell, I promise you we will only put them into place and hand them over to the Ganesha Famila."
Without him saying something, Ryuu had one day promised Bell to never return to her old ways of work, if it wasn´t the last way out, she would never kill people again.
.
"Hey hey hey...what do we have here? Two looooovebiiiiiirds! *Hiccu*"
A bunch of drunk gods came along the street, but before they could say anything else...
"Giiiii..." Ryuu threw them "that" stare.
"Hiiii!" The drunk gods staggered into another direction.
Bell giggled lightly.
"Bell?"
"I´m always amazed and happy to see how strong you are."
"Mou...not you too..." She looked flustered.
"I am honest!"
Of course Ryuu knew he was honest, Bell was always honest and that was why his praised meant so much to her...and made her so embarassed. The downside was, sometimes Bell spoke and praised her as it just occured to him, sometimes faster than he thought about it. One night as they were in bed naked, Bell couldn´t stop himself, praised and described why he loved every part of her body, one after the other. Ryuu was unable to stop him and after he ended his sentences, both were embarassed as never before in a long time. Ryuu also had tried to praise Bell´s body, but she was way more clumsy with that, since he had more experience. What she had said that night...or tried to say...let steam rose from their heads and non of them could bring a word out for the rest of the night.
"Thank you Bell."
"Always..." He lowered his voice to a whisper. "My Fairy..."
That was the one nickname that Ryuu allowed him to use, for the others she had asked him to not use them, because it was uncomfortable to her. Acting all lovey dovey and stuff like nicknames...was still too early for her.
Some might say that Ryuu had a strange priority list, most people would give each other nicknames before marrying and do other stuff...but that was how Ryuu was...and Bell loved her for that. That was also one of the things in their relationship that Bell loved, when something was bothering Ryuu, she talked with him about it. In his past...and still today...he had problems figuring out what he did wrong with some of the girls he knew, when they were sad or upset.
"But Bell, we will need a disguise...I have mine..but you.."
His eyes started to shine. "I have the perfect thing for that!" He looked almost like an excited child.
"I-Is that so?"
About an hour later, Ryuu looked confused, shocked and amazed...all together. "Bell?! What is that?"
"You like it?" The voice that answered her was deep...very deep.
"I...don´t know...I can´t see much..."
"That is the trick! It looks so cool right?"
"I...guess...?"
What stood in front of Ryuu in Bell´s room was Bell...sort of.
He had asked her to close her eyes and wait, then she had heard rustling and clinging until he tapped her shoulder.
In front of her stood an empty armor without an armor stand, holding Fairy´s Dawn in the right gauntlet.
"Bell?" Ryuu looked confused and stroked with her hand where his arm should be, she definetely touched something.
It was no full plate armor, except for closed boots and gauntlets, there were greaves and bracers, a chestplate, a loincloth made from metal scales and a high helmet, open at the front but with nose protection. And two wings, one on each side of the helmet, standing upright. But inside the armor she couldn´t see him.
"How?"
"That is a magic item that Mr. Fels want me to test out, it is a suit like the one I use under my armor, but it turns the user invisible...except for any armor carried above the suit.
"Ha..."
"What do you say? It looks so cool right, right?" He sounded beyond excited.
"Ahm...I guess." Ryuu was the wrong person to ask something like that, she had no idea about these things.
Bell walked into the middle of his room and made a few training poses, it really looked like an empty armor fighting something.
"I can move well enough...shall we go?"
"Ahm Bell, I wanted to ask...what is with these wings?"
"I thought they looked cool and..."
"And?"
"I promised lady Astrea to protect and help you...and since the wings are part of your icon...I thought...ahm...I wanted...to be your...knight.."
Aaaah Bell...I love you so much...
"They suit you...my knight." Ryuu smiled.
"Thank you...now shall we go, Mylady?" Bell returned her smile.
She leaned forward, his gauntlet moved and his lips came into view as he pulled the suit to the side. They kissed for a long moment, then Bell vanished again.
Ryuu´s face got serious, it was late at night, the perfect time. She put her cloak around herself, wearing parts of her garment from the tournament. "Yes...let us go."
Silently they opened the big window and jumped out into the night.
.
.
.
Both couldn´t know what their actions would trigger...
.
.
.
And what would happen to them...
.
.
.
.
Deep, deep under Orario, the "evil" god Hades took the rod and put it in his cloak.
"Orario will pay...Loki and Freya will pay...for what they did to my brother and sister..."
.
.
.
Authors Note: Hey everyone, thanks again for all those Reviews. For those who asked, the other stories will be posted with this accound here. A small update for the One-Shot story. Most of the chapters will be One-Shots but some are bound together even if they are not posted in order.