Part 25: Blue Nymph Hot Springs
Belldandy ran through her list of errands for the day, and she knew she had better hurry. Hope, Kioshi and Nauthiz would get out of school in three hours and Keiichi usually got out of work at that time too, as long as Chihiro didn't make him go overtime on one of her motorcycle projects. However, that was only on days that she would get one of her model kits in the mail. "Okay then, I only need to pick up some salmon and rice, and then I can come home and start making dinner." She said to herself with a smile. Though it was then she noticed the banners and decorations along the street, all saying 'Blue Nymph Hot Springs' and 'Win a Trip'. "I wonder if it's a contest. Or a raffle? Maybe I shouldn't enter; it seems every time that I apply for such things I win, it would be best to give others a chance." Belldandy said happily to herself, giving joy to others was something she truly took to heart and loved.
"CONGRATULATIONS!!!"
"EEP!" Belldandy was stunned when two men jumped out of nowhere. "P… Pardon?"
"Congratulations Miss… or is it Mrs.?" One of the men shook her hand.
"Mrs. Morisato." Belldandy corrected with a small smile.
"Well Congratulations Mrs. Morisato! You are the one hundredth customer to walk down this street today!" One of the men cheered.
"You've won a trip for you and your family to the 'The Blue Nymph Hot springs'!"
"Forgive my asking," she said somewhat confusedly, "How is it logical to give a prize by someone walking by?"
"Not just anyone, but someone holding a shopping bag with one of this streets store logos on it!" The man that was finding it difficult to stop shaking her hand pointed his other hand to her bag.
"But… I…" Belldandy looked at them both, their smiles remained constant. Her head sunk slightly. "Oh dear…"
Later at Dinner…
"Eh!? You won a trip to a hot spring?" Keiichi asked in surprise.
"I'm so sorry; I wanted someone else to win but..." She said humbly.
"Bell, don't worry about it, you're just naturally lucky that's all." Keiichi laughed and looked at the letter that came with the passes. "So what is this Blue Nymph Hot spring? Never heard of it before."
"The two men told me it's a newly built spring; an elderly couple runs it off of their life savings in hopes of being able to raise money for their family." Belldandy said.
"That's a pretty risky investment." Hope's eyes widened a little at the thought. "But the thought is what counts; I hope they make a lot of money."
"That all depends on the quality of the place, the springs, and the sake." Urd winked.
"You mean that stuff you drink all the time Aunt Urd?" Kioshi asked.
"Mm Hmm!" Urd nodded in a dazed way, she was off in her own fantasy of the hot spring and all the free or paid by Keiichi sake she could drink.
"Well it came at a good time too; tomorrow the schools are taking off so we have the whole weekend." Hope smiled at Kioshi. "Think we could pass Akina off as a Morisato?"
"Why's that?" Keiichi asked.
Hope flinched slightly. "You have to ask?" She looked over at Nauthiz then back to him.
Keiichi raised his eyebrows and nodded. "Yeah, I think we could pass her off."
Nauthiz sat quietly and tried to remember where he had heard about a hot spring. "Could it be… those holes in the ground that spew hot water out? No that can't be right."
The next day, the Morisato family looked like a caravan riding down the highway, Keiichi leading the way on his Beemer with Belldandy in the side car, Hope following behind on her Yamaha with Kioshi, Skuld riding on Banpei in motorcycle mode, and Akina and Nauthiz in her black Honda Civic. Urd insisted on staying behind until they got to the spring; after all she couldn't miss the new episode of her second favorite series.
"She doesn't know what she's missing! This is just the COOLEST!" Hope thought to herself with a smile, she loved nothing more than to feel her hair flutter in the wind from pure speed. What more, she was glad she could share the feeling with Kioshi, he was smiling just as much as she was and staring in awe at the sights around them, they were driving into the mountainside.
"So that's how an automobile works…" Nauthiz nodded after Akina had explained to him the whole process. "Incredible."
"I prefer a car to a motorcycle any day." She said and tapped the steering wheel lovingly. "Anyway, this is your first time to a hot spring isn't it?"
"Yes, now that you mention it. Akina, what exactly is a hot spring?"
She grinned devilishly. "You don't know…?"
"No, would you tell me please?"
She bit her lip then imagined the scene. "In a nutshell, it's a giant outdoor bath."
Nauthiz's eyes widened. "R… Really?"
"Mmm hmm…" She giggled. "I wonder if it's separated or not?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well… you know, gods and goddesses, usually men and women have their own section of the spring… but sometimes they aren't."
Nauthiz's face turned completely red. "Oh… no…"
Akina looked over at him for a second; his eyes were wide and spinning. "What's wrong?"
"I… I… can't…" He was overwhelmed with memories, the reason for why he left his valkyrie training! He could still remember the sight of all those elegantly curved bodies soaking in the showers and baths! "Uuggh…" He slid down in his seat and fainted.
Akina was left confused for a moment, though she knew what was wrong with him. "My poor Nauthiz…" She turned the air conditioner towards him and brushed her fingers through his white hair. "… maybe one perverted situation in his life will do him some good!"
When they pulled onto an exit, the vast green of the mountain forest made it obvious to the group that they were almost to the springs.
"Rats!" Skuld cursed and glanced over at Hope, "And I was just enjoying the new speed mod I installed in Banpei!"
"You have to drive him back home tomorrow…" Hope quickly pointed out, "Kioshi, you okay?"
"Yeah!" He smiled.
"Need me to pull over so you can –"
"NO!" He quickly shouted as a bright red blush spread across his face.
"Okay!" Hope laughed at his modesty. "Just checking!"
"Geez!" He huffed, though suddenly he felt as if he was being watched.
Hope felt it as well.
Belldandy and Skuld raised their goddess eyes to the green forest trees; there was no mistake at all. This land was enchanted.
"Seriously Nauthiz, are you okay?"
"Auu….."
A while later…
"Welcome to the Blue Nymph Hot springs! You must be the Morisato family!" a woman no older than fifty five wearing a kimono bowed to them. "I am your hostess, Izumi Haru."
Belldandy and the others bowed in return. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure is all mine." She smiled in an assuring way, until she saw the odd robot in standby mode next to the car and motorcycles. "Uh… oh! Forgive my rudeness! Please come in!"
She directed them into the building.
"I'll be in just a moment; my aunt fell behind on the way here." Hope said as Akina handed her the civic's keys.
"Very well Miss." The hostess nodded as she led the rest of the family in. "I hope that she didn't mean that literally."
Hope unlocked the car and flipped the small DVD screen down from the top. "Okay Aunt Urd, we're here!" Hope called out.
"That was quick!" in almost an instant, Urd came out of the screen and sat next to her. "You should have stayed behind and watched today's episode of 'Guy Meets Jeannie' with me!" Urd smiled. "Good thing I recorded it, let's go watch it real quick!"
"Just a sec." Hope stopped her, "Will you step out of the car for a moment?"
Urd looked at her a little disappointed but did as she said. She opened the door, looked around, and quickly closed it.
"Did you feel that?"
Urd had a somewhat docile look on her face. "This forest is SO enchanted the aura practically slapped my face."
"So I was right." Hope thought aloud.
"That would explain the spring's odd name." Urd said. "Hope, before I get ahead of myself, let's ask the people who run this place some questions."
Hope smiled playfully. "Alright, it's like an episode of 'Holmes'!"
"Right! Let's go Watson!" Urd pulled a detective cap out of nowhere and put it on her head.
"Right." Hope opened the door, a little relieved that Urd was in good enough mood to joke about their situation.
"Good thing I brought some herbs and potions with me…" Urd thought to herself.
"What was that?" Hope looked back at her blankly.
"EH!? Oh nothing! I was just talking to myself!" Urd sweat dropped.
"… kay." Hope nodded as she went into the lodge.
"Looks like Hope is picking up on Bell's telepathy, better control my thoughts or I won't be able to use her as a guinea pig later… because if my predictions are right…" She looked at the building in an intrigued way while holding a small ampule in her hand. "This may be an episode of 'Hyde'."
"I can't tell you how happy I am that you are all here, it has been a small dream of my husband and mine to open a hot spring resort for some time now, and we hope with the profits we make that we'll be able to make enough money for our families benefit." The hostess smiled.
"That's some heart you have." Keiichi said, until his nose cringed. "… What's that smell?"
"You smelt it your delt it." Kioshi chimed.
"Oh no." The hostess shook her hands. "That's my husband…" She glared over at the shaking mass in the corner. "Ukyo, get up and great our guests!"
"… WHAAH!!" he jumped to his feet and pointed at the group. "You must not bathe here! There are evil things dwelling in the springs I tell you… GAAAH!" His rambling was cut short by the ultimate technique, pan to the head. His wife gave him a very irritated look while she clenched the dented pan in her fist and looked over at the group even more apologetic.
"Forgive him; it seems in his old age he's become rather senile…"
"I'm not senile I'm fifty six!" He grumbled.
"I named the spring, 'Blue Nymph', because my husband claims that he saw blue nymphs when he tried to take a bath… ever since he's refused to go in and it's been hurting our relationship." She put a clothes line pin on her nose.
"That's horrible." Belldandy said worriedly.
"Oh don't worry, I think he just saw things that night because he drank a little too much sake, please don't let him bother you and make yourselves comfortable." She said, preparing to direct them to their rooms.
"What about him?" Skuld pointed at his limp body.
"Oh, I should tie him up and put him in his room so he doesn't bother you all, I'll have my daughter show you to your rooms. Aoi! Will you come here please?"
"Yes Mother!" A sweet voice called out, though that sound made the man stir in even greater fear.
A teen girl, with long blue hair and deep blue eyes like the sea came out of the spring changing room wearing a kimono to compliment her name and appearance. "Have our guests arrived?"
Nauthiz's eyes widened, there was a strange aura around this girl.
"Yes, this is the Morisato family, can you show them their rooms while I put your father to bed?"
"Yes Mother." She smiled and knelt down to Ukyo. "You shouldn't be so odd around our guests Father, it won't help our business."
"Get away! You're not my child!!" He yelped, shocking the Morisato family.
"YOU HUSH!" The hostess clonked him on the head again and dragged him off. "Again I'm terribly sorry."
"Um… no problem…" Keiichi sweat dropped.
"My name is Aoi; I'm the youngest daughter in my family." She bowed. "Allow me to show you to your…" Suddenly she was captivated by the white haired man with the black haired girl hugging onto his arm. "… Oh, it is a pleasure to meet you." She bowed to him.
"Ah, oh, you as well Miss Aoi." He bowed back.
Akina glared at them both, her natural instinct was roaring at the danger that lurked within this place. "Nice to meet you Aoi! I am Nauthiz's girlfriend Akina!" she quickly bowed.
"Girl…friend?" Aoi questioned, and shot her a nasty glare that only Akina saw. "Allow me to show you to your rooms."
"Thank you." The group thanked in unison, oblivious to the lightning glares that shot between the two girls.
"Something's up…" Urd whispered to Hope as the group passed by.
Hope undid the invisibility spell she had cast on them and looked up at her in agreement. "What if that man was right…"
"He is right, and I'm sure that girl Aoi is behind all this…" Urd whispered. "…especially…"
"Especially?" Hope asked.
"Did you notice how she was instantly attracted to Nauthiz?"
"Um…" Hope sweat dropped. "That happens to pretty much any girl who sees Nauthiz…"
"No, no… almost as if she had never seen a young man, you know, like something really rare?" Urd grinned.
Hope thought back on it, and agreed.
"This could be bad, Akina might get hurt if things go the way they are… this place, really may be home to…" Urd gulped. "Blue nymphs."
"What are Blue nymphs?" Hope asked.
"What else, nymphs that live in hot springs. It is said that they are perhaps one of the most mischievous of all nymphs, they'll do anything to get what they want, and it is said that they are preferably interested in young handsome men." Urd peeked down the hall at Aoi. "They use their natural wiles to seduce them, and keep them at the spring for as long as they can until they are no longer interested."
"No longer interested… you mean…" Hope gasped.
"Since the men are unable to leave, they starve, thirst to death, or die from heat exhaustion."
"But Nauthiz is a god; we don't have to worry about those types of things." Hope waved her hand carefree.
"That's not true… Nauthiz suffers from extreme shame and embarrassment, if he sees those naked little vixens he's going to have an over load." Urd giggled slightly, despite the serious nature of the situation. "Also, since Akina is an obstacle, and if Aoi is truly what I think she is… she might try and drown Akina in the spring…"
Hope felt fire burning inside of her, NO WAY was she going to let some nymphs endanger her friends! "I have to do something!!" Hope growled.
"Hold it, now don't think you can go in the spring and hack and slash with your sword to solve the problem, nymphs are very fast and tricky…"
"So what do we do?!" Hope panicked.
Urd grinned and held up her ampule. "We trick them right back."
"Eh…" Hope stared at it nervously. "What… what is that?"
"A little something I whooped up not too long ago… take it." She put it in Hope's hand. "It's the only way to save Akina and Nauthiz."
Hope stared at the little glass tube nervously, what was it? What would it do to her? "This is… my only option?"
"Mm hmm, but don't worry, the effects will wear off eventually, it'll give you enough time to solve this mystery Watson." Urd grinned. "But I also want you to know, that Kioshi may be at risk too."
Hope's eyes widened, with three most precious people at risk, she snapped the top of the ampule off and swallowed the potion within it.
"Excellent." Urd's grin became evil, as Hope's eyes went blank.
"My… My body…" Hope fell to her knees and hunched over.
"This turned from Holmes to Hyde my dear Watson!" Urd cackled in delight, making lightning bolts roar from the sky as Hope underwent a transformation.
"These two rooms will be the women's lodgings, you'll find your futons cleanly folded in the closets, and these two rooms are for the men." Aoi smiled.
"Thank you very much Aoi, you're so kind." Belldandy smiled back.
"Oh no…" She shook her head bashfully. "Please, put all your things away and feel free to use the springs."
"That we will." Skuld said as she towed her bags into her room.
"Come on Kioshi." Keiichi led him into their room.
"Where's Hope?"
"Waiting on Urd."
"Hope?" Aoi thought then quickly looked over at Nauthiz as he went into his room. "Mr. Nauthiz, will you be sleeping all by yourself tonight?" she asked with a concern filled voice. A voice that made Akina's right eye twitch.
"Um, well this door slides open so perhaps I will make the room larger and share it with Mr. Morisato and Kioshi." He sweat dropped nervously as she came closer to him. "… If… If you'll excuse me!" He yelped and closed his door.
"Oh!" Aoi put her hands on the door and sighed in disappointment.
"Yo!" Akina huffed.
"Hmm?" Aoi glared over at her.
"I know what you're doing, just cut it out." Akina warned. "Nauthiz is my go…er guy, if I see you giving him the innocent voice and bating your lashes at him again... you're facing me." She said with a certain power she had inherited from Chihiro, the sort of power that made her a woman that could K.O. a bear with one punch.
"Whoa! There's so much tension in this hall you could cut it with a knife!" Urd laughed as she casually strolled in. "Hey, you must be Aoi." She smiled.
"Yes, pleasure." She bowed to Urd.
"Hmm, well, looks like I'll be sharing your room with you Akina." Urd handed Akina her bag.
"Eh? But what about –" Akina was cut off when Urd held her finger to her lips.
"Shame on you! You know it's not right for a boy to sleep in the same room as a girl at this age…"
"Eh?" She raised her eyebrows in puzzlement.
Urd waited for Hope to come, but she didn't. "Ehe…" She quickly glared over to the side and saw Hope peaking at them sheepishly. "What are you doing? Get over here!" Urd's glare seemed to say.
"But…" Hope looked down.
"Remember who you're doing this for…" Urd added through their telepathic chat.
"… I know… but…"
"Kioshi…"
Hope heaved a rather deep sigh and took a step out from the corner she was hiding behind.
"Ah!?" Akina's eyes widened, where her friend would have stood was a five foot five inch boy with the same facial markings, eyes, and hair, but tied back. "Ho…"
"How could you keep us waiting?!" Urd interrupted. "You're so shy! What were you hiding for… Kibou?"
Kibou glared at Urd with a raised brow that said 'clever,' in the most sarcastic way.
"Kibou…" Akina stared blankly.
"Um, yeah, sorry I was just nervous… ehe." He laughed nervously.
"About what?" Aoi asked, completely captivated by this handsome young man.
"Erk!" he gulped and scratched the back of his head. "Ah… about the springs! Ehehe!" He grabbed Akina's arm. "Pardon me! I need to talk to my friends real quick!" He slid past Aoi and dashed into Nauthiz's room with Akina.
"Oh… he's so…" Aoi's eyes sparkled.
"Perfect? I know." Urd grinned. "You know, he doesn't have a girlfriend."
"Really?" Aoi asked in a dreamy like state.
"Really." Urd said as she went into her room. "Be careful though, he's not all he seems to be."
"Kibou! Ahahahah!!" Akina laughed in a musical way, making Kibou grimace and reconsider who exactly he wanted to protect.
"I can't believe it, Miss Hope what compelled you to undergo such a…a…" Nauthiz was at a loss for words.
"It's a long story … listen." He looked up at them in a shameful way as he explained the scenario, and finished with a warning, "Just stay away from Aoi, Aunt Urd and I have suspicions that she may be a nymph."
"Nymph!?" Nauthiz exclaimed in horror.
"Calm down." Kibou grabbed him before he could tear through the doors to escape. "As long as you stay close to Akina you'll be fine."
Devil horns instantly popped out of Akina's head.
"I feel so terrible…" Nauthiz looked down in shame. "To show such fear… Miss Akina, Miss Hope, forgive me."
"Don't worry! I'd feel bad if you had to protect me all the time!" Akina hugged onto his arm. "Also, I think it'd be for the best if I slept in here with Nauthiz tonight."
Kibou separated them. "There'll be no need, I'll be sleeping in here tonight."
"EH!?" Akina's jaw dropped. "You can't!"
"Why not? We're both guys so there's nothing wrong with it." Kibou grinned.
"You are not!" Akina growled.
"Akina, we should do what Mr. Kibou says." Nauthiz looked up at her in a sheepish way.
"But…" Akina looked at him in a worried objective way.
"He's only trying to protect us."
She looked at them both for a moment, and sighed helplessly. "You're right."
Kibou smiled at her understanding and gave Akina a hug. "Okay, now how am I going to break to my family that they suddenly have another son?"
"I'm sure they'll take it just fine, this transformation of yours is only temporary right?" Nauthiz asked then noticed that Akina's face was turning red.
"Oh, that's right! Ahaha!" Kibou laughed then stared at Akina. "AKINA!? Why are you blushing!?"
"You're hot! I can't help it!" Akina giggled in a pathetic way as Kibou quickly scooted away from her in shock.
Meanwhile, Aoi walked out to the hot springs, quickly checking around to make sure no one was around. "Coast is clear…" She thought to herself, and then she hummed an enchanted melody. Almost instantly, beautiful women with blue hair and eyes just like Aoi's emerged from the spring with eager looks on their faces. "Aoi! How many men are there!?" was the only question she could translate from their banter.
"Sister Nymphs! Please settle down or you'll be heard!" Aoi called urgently, and then checked to make sure no human was around. "There's only two of importance to us… however we might want to take the little boy Kioshi into consideration too!" She blushed happily when she thought of how adorable he was. "Hmm! He's so cute!" She giggled happily.
"What about the two? What are they like!?" A Nymph asked excitedly.
"Incredibly handsome, there's one called Nauthiz, his hair is short and white, and his eyes are teal." Aoi smiled when she saw how pleased her sisters were at imagining such a man.
"And the other!?"
Aoi froze, thinking of Kibou made her heart race. "The other… is for me."
"EH!?" They exclaimed in protest. "That's not fair! You can't have a man all to yourself!"
"Yes it is!" Aoi objected. "You're all lolling about in the springs when I'm walking around on my poor aching feet trying to lure more men to our springs. I deserve some sort of a reward, and I want Kibou all for myself."
The nymphs looked down shamefully, Aoi did have a point.
"I have to warn you though; winning Nauthiz's heart will be a task, for he is already in love with the most vile of all women." She cringed at the thought of Akina.
"Which one!?" They asked, determined to defeat anything that stood in their way.
"You will know her when you see her… she resembles one of our most hated of all enemies…" She warned.
They all knew full well, a woman with hair similar to Akina's appeared in their minds. "The succubus!" They growled.
"Right and she's just as fierce, so take caution."
"A mere human won't stand in our way!" A nymph said with determination, gathering the cheer of her sisters.
"That's the spirit, now hide quickly, the women are about to take their baths, so don't disturb them, we can't let them onto us or the men won't come."
"Okay!" They all cheered again in response before vanishing away into the water.
"NMMMMMPHHHSS!!" A muffled scream called out.
Aoi looked back with an evil grin on her face to see the startled old man half tied up staring at her. "Father… what are you talking about? There's no such thing as Nymphs." She said innocently as the hostess tackled him to the ground.
"Stop shouting! You'll scare our customers and we don't need a bad first review!!" The hostess growled as she hog tied her husband then wiped sweat off of her brow. "Whew, he's stubborn, Aoi, is everything ready?" She asked.
"Yes Mother!" Aoi announced musically as she hopped over the crazed man and down the hall to their guests.
~* A Fan Author's Worthless Rant *~
Hey, I actually finished this on Monday but I've been pretty sluggish *being this the last week before spring break and I've been busy with my Junior Research paper! Oy! The stress!*
Anyway, this is a two parter, and I've found that I type more fics when I write more in my spare time at school ^^ but with any luck ch. 26 should be out REALLY soon ;3 Look forward to it.
FYI: I'm gonna start calling these chapters instead of parts *can't remember why I called em parts to begin with ^^;;*
See ya next time!
Belldandy ran through her list of errands for the day, and she knew she had better hurry. Hope, Kioshi and Nauthiz would get out of school in three hours and Keiichi usually got out of work at that time too, as long as Chihiro didn't make him go overtime on one of her motorcycle projects. However, that was only on days that she would get one of her model kits in the mail. "Okay then, I only need to pick up some salmon and rice, and then I can come home and start making dinner." She said to herself with a smile. Though it was then she noticed the banners and decorations along the street, all saying 'Blue Nymph Hot Springs' and 'Win a Trip'. "I wonder if it's a contest. Or a raffle? Maybe I shouldn't enter; it seems every time that I apply for such things I win, it would be best to give others a chance." Belldandy said happily to herself, giving joy to others was something she truly took to heart and loved.
"CONGRATULATIONS!!!"
"EEP!" Belldandy was stunned when two men jumped out of nowhere. "P… Pardon?"
"Congratulations Miss… or is it Mrs.?" One of the men shook her hand.
"Mrs. Morisato." Belldandy corrected with a small smile.
"Well Congratulations Mrs. Morisato! You are the one hundredth customer to walk down this street today!" One of the men cheered.
"You've won a trip for you and your family to the 'The Blue Nymph Hot springs'!"
"Forgive my asking," she said somewhat confusedly, "How is it logical to give a prize by someone walking by?"
"Not just anyone, but someone holding a shopping bag with one of this streets store logos on it!" The man that was finding it difficult to stop shaking her hand pointed his other hand to her bag.
"But… I…" Belldandy looked at them both, their smiles remained constant. Her head sunk slightly. "Oh dear…"
Later at Dinner…
"Eh!? You won a trip to a hot spring?" Keiichi asked in surprise.
"I'm so sorry; I wanted someone else to win but..." She said humbly.
"Bell, don't worry about it, you're just naturally lucky that's all." Keiichi laughed and looked at the letter that came with the passes. "So what is this Blue Nymph Hot spring? Never heard of it before."
"The two men told me it's a newly built spring; an elderly couple runs it off of their life savings in hopes of being able to raise money for their family." Belldandy said.
"That's a pretty risky investment." Hope's eyes widened a little at the thought. "But the thought is what counts; I hope they make a lot of money."
"That all depends on the quality of the place, the springs, and the sake." Urd winked.
"You mean that stuff you drink all the time Aunt Urd?" Kioshi asked.
"Mm Hmm!" Urd nodded in a dazed way, she was off in her own fantasy of the hot spring and all the free or paid by Keiichi sake she could drink.
"Well it came at a good time too; tomorrow the schools are taking off so we have the whole weekend." Hope smiled at Kioshi. "Think we could pass Akina off as a Morisato?"
"Why's that?" Keiichi asked.
Hope flinched slightly. "You have to ask?" She looked over at Nauthiz then back to him.
Keiichi raised his eyebrows and nodded. "Yeah, I think we could pass her off."
Nauthiz sat quietly and tried to remember where he had heard about a hot spring. "Could it be… those holes in the ground that spew hot water out? No that can't be right."
The next day, the Morisato family looked like a caravan riding down the highway, Keiichi leading the way on his Beemer with Belldandy in the side car, Hope following behind on her Yamaha with Kioshi, Skuld riding on Banpei in motorcycle mode, and Akina and Nauthiz in her black Honda Civic. Urd insisted on staying behind until they got to the spring; after all she couldn't miss the new episode of her second favorite series.
"She doesn't know what she's missing! This is just the COOLEST!" Hope thought to herself with a smile, she loved nothing more than to feel her hair flutter in the wind from pure speed. What more, she was glad she could share the feeling with Kioshi, he was smiling just as much as she was and staring in awe at the sights around them, they were driving into the mountainside.
"So that's how an automobile works…" Nauthiz nodded after Akina had explained to him the whole process. "Incredible."
"I prefer a car to a motorcycle any day." She said and tapped the steering wheel lovingly. "Anyway, this is your first time to a hot spring isn't it?"
"Yes, now that you mention it. Akina, what exactly is a hot spring?"
She grinned devilishly. "You don't know…?"
"No, would you tell me please?"
She bit her lip then imagined the scene. "In a nutshell, it's a giant outdoor bath."
Nauthiz's eyes widened. "R… Really?"
"Mmm hmm…" She giggled. "I wonder if it's separated or not?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well… you know, gods and goddesses, usually men and women have their own section of the spring… but sometimes they aren't."
Nauthiz's face turned completely red. "Oh… no…"
Akina looked over at him for a second; his eyes were wide and spinning. "What's wrong?"
"I… I… can't…" He was overwhelmed with memories, the reason for why he left his valkyrie training! He could still remember the sight of all those elegantly curved bodies soaking in the showers and baths! "Uuggh…" He slid down in his seat and fainted.
Akina was left confused for a moment, though she knew what was wrong with him. "My poor Nauthiz…" She turned the air conditioner towards him and brushed her fingers through his white hair. "… maybe one perverted situation in his life will do him some good!"
When they pulled onto an exit, the vast green of the mountain forest made it obvious to the group that they were almost to the springs.
"Rats!" Skuld cursed and glanced over at Hope, "And I was just enjoying the new speed mod I installed in Banpei!"
"You have to drive him back home tomorrow…" Hope quickly pointed out, "Kioshi, you okay?"
"Yeah!" He smiled.
"Need me to pull over so you can –"
"NO!" He quickly shouted as a bright red blush spread across his face.
"Okay!" Hope laughed at his modesty. "Just checking!"
"Geez!" He huffed, though suddenly he felt as if he was being watched.
Hope felt it as well.
Belldandy and Skuld raised their goddess eyes to the green forest trees; there was no mistake at all. This land was enchanted.
"Seriously Nauthiz, are you okay?"
"Auu….."
A while later…
"Welcome to the Blue Nymph Hot springs! You must be the Morisato family!" a woman no older than fifty five wearing a kimono bowed to them. "I am your hostess, Izumi Haru."
Belldandy and the others bowed in return. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure is all mine." She smiled in an assuring way, until she saw the odd robot in standby mode next to the car and motorcycles. "Uh… oh! Forgive my rudeness! Please come in!"
She directed them into the building.
"I'll be in just a moment; my aunt fell behind on the way here." Hope said as Akina handed her the civic's keys.
"Very well Miss." The hostess nodded as she led the rest of the family in. "I hope that she didn't mean that literally."
Hope unlocked the car and flipped the small DVD screen down from the top. "Okay Aunt Urd, we're here!" Hope called out.
"That was quick!" in almost an instant, Urd came out of the screen and sat next to her. "You should have stayed behind and watched today's episode of 'Guy Meets Jeannie' with me!" Urd smiled. "Good thing I recorded it, let's go watch it real quick!"
"Just a sec." Hope stopped her, "Will you step out of the car for a moment?"
Urd looked at her a little disappointed but did as she said. She opened the door, looked around, and quickly closed it.
"Did you feel that?"
Urd had a somewhat docile look on her face. "This forest is SO enchanted the aura practically slapped my face."
"So I was right." Hope thought aloud.
"That would explain the spring's odd name." Urd said. "Hope, before I get ahead of myself, let's ask the people who run this place some questions."
Hope smiled playfully. "Alright, it's like an episode of 'Holmes'!"
"Right! Let's go Watson!" Urd pulled a detective cap out of nowhere and put it on her head.
"Right." Hope opened the door, a little relieved that Urd was in good enough mood to joke about their situation.
"Good thing I brought some herbs and potions with me…" Urd thought to herself.
"What was that?" Hope looked back at her blankly.
"EH!? Oh nothing! I was just talking to myself!" Urd sweat dropped.
"… kay." Hope nodded as she went into the lodge.
"Looks like Hope is picking up on Bell's telepathy, better control my thoughts or I won't be able to use her as a guinea pig later… because if my predictions are right…" She looked at the building in an intrigued way while holding a small ampule in her hand. "This may be an episode of 'Hyde'."
"I can't tell you how happy I am that you are all here, it has been a small dream of my husband and mine to open a hot spring resort for some time now, and we hope with the profits we make that we'll be able to make enough money for our families benefit." The hostess smiled.
"That's some heart you have." Keiichi said, until his nose cringed. "… What's that smell?"
"You smelt it your delt it." Kioshi chimed.
"Oh no." The hostess shook her hands. "That's my husband…" She glared over at the shaking mass in the corner. "Ukyo, get up and great our guests!"
"… WHAAH!!" he jumped to his feet and pointed at the group. "You must not bathe here! There are evil things dwelling in the springs I tell you… GAAAH!" His rambling was cut short by the ultimate technique, pan to the head. His wife gave him a very irritated look while she clenched the dented pan in her fist and looked over at the group even more apologetic.
"Forgive him; it seems in his old age he's become rather senile…"
"I'm not senile I'm fifty six!" He grumbled.
"I named the spring, 'Blue Nymph', because my husband claims that he saw blue nymphs when he tried to take a bath… ever since he's refused to go in and it's been hurting our relationship." She put a clothes line pin on her nose.
"That's horrible." Belldandy said worriedly.
"Oh don't worry, I think he just saw things that night because he drank a little too much sake, please don't let him bother you and make yourselves comfortable." She said, preparing to direct them to their rooms.
"What about him?" Skuld pointed at his limp body.
"Oh, I should tie him up and put him in his room so he doesn't bother you all, I'll have my daughter show you to your rooms. Aoi! Will you come here please?"
"Yes Mother!" A sweet voice called out, though that sound made the man stir in even greater fear.
A teen girl, with long blue hair and deep blue eyes like the sea came out of the spring changing room wearing a kimono to compliment her name and appearance. "Have our guests arrived?"
Nauthiz's eyes widened, there was a strange aura around this girl.
"Yes, this is the Morisato family, can you show them their rooms while I put your father to bed?"
"Yes Mother." She smiled and knelt down to Ukyo. "You shouldn't be so odd around our guests Father, it won't help our business."
"Get away! You're not my child!!" He yelped, shocking the Morisato family.
"YOU HUSH!" The hostess clonked him on the head again and dragged him off. "Again I'm terribly sorry."
"Um… no problem…" Keiichi sweat dropped.
"My name is Aoi; I'm the youngest daughter in my family." She bowed. "Allow me to show you to your…" Suddenly she was captivated by the white haired man with the black haired girl hugging onto his arm. "… Oh, it is a pleasure to meet you." She bowed to him.
"Ah, oh, you as well Miss Aoi." He bowed back.
Akina glared at them both, her natural instinct was roaring at the danger that lurked within this place. "Nice to meet you Aoi! I am Nauthiz's girlfriend Akina!" she quickly bowed.
"Girl…friend?" Aoi questioned, and shot her a nasty glare that only Akina saw. "Allow me to show you to your rooms."
"Thank you." The group thanked in unison, oblivious to the lightning glares that shot between the two girls.
"Something's up…" Urd whispered to Hope as the group passed by.
Hope undid the invisibility spell she had cast on them and looked up at her in agreement. "What if that man was right…"
"He is right, and I'm sure that girl Aoi is behind all this…" Urd whispered. "…especially…"
"Especially?" Hope asked.
"Did you notice how she was instantly attracted to Nauthiz?"
"Um…" Hope sweat dropped. "That happens to pretty much any girl who sees Nauthiz…"
"No, no… almost as if she had never seen a young man, you know, like something really rare?" Urd grinned.
Hope thought back on it, and agreed.
"This could be bad, Akina might get hurt if things go the way they are… this place, really may be home to…" Urd gulped. "Blue nymphs."
"What are Blue nymphs?" Hope asked.
"What else, nymphs that live in hot springs. It is said that they are perhaps one of the most mischievous of all nymphs, they'll do anything to get what they want, and it is said that they are preferably interested in young handsome men." Urd peeked down the hall at Aoi. "They use their natural wiles to seduce them, and keep them at the spring for as long as they can until they are no longer interested."
"No longer interested… you mean…" Hope gasped.
"Since the men are unable to leave, they starve, thirst to death, or die from heat exhaustion."
"But Nauthiz is a god; we don't have to worry about those types of things." Hope waved her hand carefree.
"That's not true… Nauthiz suffers from extreme shame and embarrassment, if he sees those naked little vixens he's going to have an over load." Urd giggled slightly, despite the serious nature of the situation. "Also, since Akina is an obstacle, and if Aoi is truly what I think she is… she might try and drown Akina in the spring…"
Hope felt fire burning inside of her, NO WAY was she going to let some nymphs endanger her friends! "I have to do something!!" Hope growled.
"Hold it, now don't think you can go in the spring and hack and slash with your sword to solve the problem, nymphs are very fast and tricky…"
"So what do we do?!" Hope panicked.
Urd grinned and held up her ampule. "We trick them right back."
"Eh…" Hope stared at it nervously. "What… what is that?"
"A little something I whooped up not too long ago… take it." She put it in Hope's hand. "It's the only way to save Akina and Nauthiz."
Hope stared at the little glass tube nervously, what was it? What would it do to her? "This is… my only option?"
"Mm hmm, but don't worry, the effects will wear off eventually, it'll give you enough time to solve this mystery Watson." Urd grinned. "But I also want you to know, that Kioshi may be at risk too."
Hope's eyes widened, with three most precious people at risk, she snapped the top of the ampule off and swallowed the potion within it.
"Excellent." Urd's grin became evil, as Hope's eyes went blank.
"My… My body…" Hope fell to her knees and hunched over.
"This turned from Holmes to Hyde my dear Watson!" Urd cackled in delight, making lightning bolts roar from the sky as Hope underwent a transformation.
"These two rooms will be the women's lodgings, you'll find your futons cleanly folded in the closets, and these two rooms are for the men." Aoi smiled.
"Thank you very much Aoi, you're so kind." Belldandy smiled back.
"Oh no…" She shook her head bashfully. "Please, put all your things away and feel free to use the springs."
"That we will." Skuld said as she towed her bags into her room.
"Come on Kioshi." Keiichi led him into their room.
"Where's Hope?"
"Waiting on Urd."
"Hope?" Aoi thought then quickly looked over at Nauthiz as he went into his room. "Mr. Nauthiz, will you be sleeping all by yourself tonight?" she asked with a concern filled voice. A voice that made Akina's right eye twitch.
"Um, well this door slides open so perhaps I will make the room larger and share it with Mr. Morisato and Kioshi." He sweat dropped nervously as she came closer to him. "… If… If you'll excuse me!" He yelped and closed his door.
"Oh!" Aoi put her hands on the door and sighed in disappointment.
"Yo!" Akina huffed.
"Hmm?" Aoi glared over at her.
"I know what you're doing, just cut it out." Akina warned. "Nauthiz is my go…er guy, if I see you giving him the innocent voice and bating your lashes at him again... you're facing me." She said with a certain power she had inherited from Chihiro, the sort of power that made her a woman that could K.O. a bear with one punch.
"Whoa! There's so much tension in this hall you could cut it with a knife!" Urd laughed as she casually strolled in. "Hey, you must be Aoi." She smiled.
"Yes, pleasure." She bowed to Urd.
"Hmm, well, looks like I'll be sharing your room with you Akina." Urd handed Akina her bag.
"Eh? But what about –" Akina was cut off when Urd held her finger to her lips.
"Shame on you! You know it's not right for a boy to sleep in the same room as a girl at this age…"
"Eh?" She raised her eyebrows in puzzlement.
Urd waited for Hope to come, but she didn't. "Ehe…" She quickly glared over to the side and saw Hope peaking at them sheepishly. "What are you doing? Get over here!" Urd's glare seemed to say.
"But…" Hope looked down.
"Remember who you're doing this for…" Urd added through their telepathic chat.
"… I know… but…"
"Kioshi…"
Hope heaved a rather deep sigh and took a step out from the corner she was hiding behind.
"Ah!?" Akina's eyes widened, where her friend would have stood was a five foot five inch boy with the same facial markings, eyes, and hair, but tied back. "Ho…"
"How could you keep us waiting?!" Urd interrupted. "You're so shy! What were you hiding for… Kibou?"
Kibou glared at Urd with a raised brow that said 'clever,' in the most sarcastic way.
"Kibou…" Akina stared blankly.
"Um, yeah, sorry I was just nervous… ehe." He laughed nervously.
"About what?" Aoi asked, completely captivated by this handsome young man.
"Erk!" he gulped and scratched the back of his head. "Ah… about the springs! Ehehe!" He grabbed Akina's arm. "Pardon me! I need to talk to my friends real quick!" He slid past Aoi and dashed into Nauthiz's room with Akina.
"Oh… he's so…" Aoi's eyes sparkled.
"Perfect? I know." Urd grinned. "You know, he doesn't have a girlfriend."
"Really?" Aoi asked in a dreamy like state.
"Really." Urd said as she went into her room. "Be careful though, he's not all he seems to be."
"Kibou! Ahahahah!!" Akina laughed in a musical way, making Kibou grimace and reconsider who exactly he wanted to protect.
"I can't believe it, Miss Hope what compelled you to undergo such a…a…" Nauthiz was at a loss for words.
"It's a long story … listen." He looked up at them in a shameful way as he explained the scenario, and finished with a warning, "Just stay away from Aoi, Aunt Urd and I have suspicions that she may be a nymph."
"Nymph!?" Nauthiz exclaimed in horror.
"Calm down." Kibou grabbed him before he could tear through the doors to escape. "As long as you stay close to Akina you'll be fine."
Devil horns instantly popped out of Akina's head.
"I feel so terrible…" Nauthiz looked down in shame. "To show such fear… Miss Akina, Miss Hope, forgive me."
"Don't worry! I'd feel bad if you had to protect me all the time!" Akina hugged onto his arm. "Also, I think it'd be for the best if I slept in here with Nauthiz tonight."
Kibou separated them. "There'll be no need, I'll be sleeping in here tonight."
"EH!?" Akina's jaw dropped. "You can't!"
"Why not? We're both guys so there's nothing wrong with it." Kibou grinned.
"You are not!" Akina growled.
"Akina, we should do what Mr. Kibou says." Nauthiz looked up at her in a sheepish way.
"But…" Akina looked at him in a worried objective way.
"He's only trying to protect us."
She looked at them both for a moment, and sighed helplessly. "You're right."
Kibou smiled at her understanding and gave Akina a hug. "Okay, now how am I going to break to my family that they suddenly have another son?"
"I'm sure they'll take it just fine, this transformation of yours is only temporary right?" Nauthiz asked then noticed that Akina's face was turning red.
"Oh, that's right! Ahaha!" Kibou laughed then stared at Akina. "AKINA!? Why are you blushing!?"
"You're hot! I can't help it!" Akina giggled in a pathetic way as Kibou quickly scooted away from her in shock.
Meanwhile, Aoi walked out to the hot springs, quickly checking around to make sure no one was around. "Coast is clear…" She thought to herself, and then she hummed an enchanted melody. Almost instantly, beautiful women with blue hair and eyes just like Aoi's emerged from the spring with eager looks on their faces. "Aoi! How many men are there!?" was the only question she could translate from their banter.
"Sister Nymphs! Please settle down or you'll be heard!" Aoi called urgently, and then checked to make sure no human was around. "There's only two of importance to us… however we might want to take the little boy Kioshi into consideration too!" She blushed happily when she thought of how adorable he was. "Hmm! He's so cute!" She giggled happily.
"What about the two? What are they like!?" A Nymph asked excitedly.
"Incredibly handsome, there's one called Nauthiz, his hair is short and white, and his eyes are teal." Aoi smiled when she saw how pleased her sisters were at imagining such a man.
"And the other!?"
Aoi froze, thinking of Kibou made her heart race. "The other… is for me."
"EH!?" They exclaimed in protest. "That's not fair! You can't have a man all to yourself!"
"Yes it is!" Aoi objected. "You're all lolling about in the springs when I'm walking around on my poor aching feet trying to lure more men to our springs. I deserve some sort of a reward, and I want Kibou all for myself."
The nymphs looked down shamefully, Aoi did have a point.
"I have to warn you though; winning Nauthiz's heart will be a task, for he is already in love with the most vile of all women." She cringed at the thought of Akina.
"Which one!?" They asked, determined to defeat anything that stood in their way.
"You will know her when you see her… she resembles one of our most hated of all enemies…" She warned.
They all knew full well, a woman with hair similar to Akina's appeared in their minds. "The succubus!" They growled.
"Right and she's just as fierce, so take caution."
"A mere human won't stand in our way!" A nymph said with determination, gathering the cheer of her sisters.
"That's the spirit, now hide quickly, the women are about to take their baths, so don't disturb them, we can't let them onto us or the men won't come."
"Okay!" They all cheered again in response before vanishing away into the water.
"NMMMMMPHHHSS!!" A muffled scream called out.
Aoi looked back with an evil grin on her face to see the startled old man half tied up staring at her. "Father… what are you talking about? There's no such thing as Nymphs." She said innocently as the hostess tackled him to the ground.
"Stop shouting! You'll scare our customers and we don't need a bad first review!!" The hostess growled as she hog tied her husband then wiped sweat off of her brow. "Whew, he's stubborn, Aoi, is everything ready?" She asked.
"Yes Mother!" Aoi announced musically as she hopped over the crazed man and down the hall to their guests.
~* A Fan Author's Worthless Rant *~
Hey, I actually finished this on Monday but I've been pretty sluggish *being this the last week before spring break and I've been busy with my Junior Research paper! Oy! The stress!*
Anyway, this is a two parter, and I've found that I type more fics when I write more in my spare time at school ^^ but with any luck ch. 26 should be out REALLY soon ;3 Look forward to it.
FYI: I'm gonna start calling these chapters instead of parts *can't remember why I called em parts to begin with ^^;;*
See ya next time!