A/N: Warning, lemon/smut, idk which, unless they're the same thing. This is also my first time writing this type of thing, usually I shy away from that. Dunno why I felt so brave all of a sudden, but... shit happens I guess.

Chapter 45

As I appeared next to Ianite, she was telling the foxes that they should stay away from here for tonight and why. They agreed and understood and gave me a friendly smile before heading off to their burrow/den/whatever further in the forest. I smiled.

"They're so cute." Ianite nodded.

"I can get the shower going for you now, Nix. If you'd still like."

"Later, but later I might go into that waterfall. Some cold, natural water might do the trick. Right now, let's just lay here on the grass and just be together." Ianite smiled gently and nodded. We laid down and I curled up against Ianite's side. I'll always be on her right side, it just feels most natural to me. She put her arm around my shoulders, her arm in the gap between my neck and the ground. She kissed my forehead.

"You're safe now, Nix. Remember that, love."

"I know. Thank you Ianite." She smiled gently. I ended up falling asleep against her. It felt like I slept for hours, but when I woke up, Ianite told me I'd only slept for one hour. It was dark and the moon was out and full. Well, makes sense. When I fell asleep, the sun had mostly sank down beneath the horizon. I sat up. "I'll go into that waterfall now." Ianite nodded and got up. She went into the house. I went over to the waterfall and started undressing. Ianite came back out with two towels. That surprised me. It must have shown on my face, because she blushed.

"I won't let you be alone. Plus, it's a nice night. The water will feel good." I chuckled.

"Alright love. Just do whatever you feel comfortable with." She nodded and started getting undressed too. When she finished, I took her hand and we both got into the pond. Well, it's kind of more like a hotspring with a waterfall, just... not hot. I got under the waterfall and brrr... Ianite did the same. I could feel her shock, but once we got used to it, she was right. It did feel good. We stepped out from under and I started to rub my arms and legs. I really did feel dirty again after seeing that memory. I could feel that Ianite felt for me. She wants to help, but she doesn't how.

"You're helping me by being here, my love." She was surprised at first, but nodded. She dipped under the waterfall again for a bit. I did the same. When we came out again, I smiled at her. Whoa, the moonlight is glistening on the water droplets on her skin. It's also shining on her damp hair. She looked at me the same way I'm sure I'm looking at her. I'm in awe of her beauty.

"Nix, your hair in the moonlight. It's almost like it's actual soulfire the way the moon is shining on it." I gave a small chuckle.

"Is it? Yours reminds me of amethyst. The purple and the moonlight combo." I stepped closer and gently put my left arm around her waist, pulling her close to me, our bodies touching. She looked up at me lovingly, both hands on my chest, above my boobs. I ran my right hand slowly through her hair. "The moonlight makes you look like you're glowing," I whispered, laying my forehead against hers.

"Same with you," she whispered back. I smiled and put my right hand on her cheek. I kissed her just as passionately as this morning. Her arms now wrapped around my neck. My left hand wandered upward toward her boob again. There it was again, her desire as she let out a soft moan. I broke the kiss long enough to ask,

"You sure you're ready?"

"Are you? After what you just relived," she asked, breathless.

"I'm the one initiating. Of course I'm ready."

"Then I'm ready too. Take me Nix, I'm yours."

"Yes, you are. My beautiful, wonderful goddess." I continued the passionate kiss, and started really massaging her boob. That earned more than a soft moan, but it wasn't much louder either. My right arm was around her middle back by now.

"Lower," she muttered around the kiss. I obliged and slowly and lightly ran my finger tips down her side to her forbidden area. She shivered, probably from the cold, but also definitely from the motion I did. I felt around the area, teasing. She moaned while also giving a soft whine at the same time. I chuckled. I know what she wants. "Nix... please..." I put my right hand on the back of her head as I gently moved her against the back wall of the waterfall. Her head is resting against my hand instead of the hard rock wall as I gave her what she wanted. I kissed the area where her collarbone meets her neck, also giving her a mark as two of my fingers entered and felt around, rubbing against the right spots. My thumb was rubbing against her clit at the same time. I felt her pleasure. I knew I was doing something right. At the same time, I was desiring what I was giving her.

"Will you do me next?" I asked, breathlessly. She nodded, unable to speak. "Cheers." I quickened the pace a little. That earned me another moan. I also pleasured her by mouth on boob. It went on until her knees buckled as she came. I caught her around her waist and her face was against my chest. She was trying to catch her breath as she looked up at me. I grinned. "How was your first time?" She took a little to get her breath back.

"Amazing, Nix. You ready?" I nodded and flipped us around. She started out the same way I did. She started massaging my boob. I let out a low moan. That lasted a little before I encouraged her to go lower. She ran her finger tips lightly down my side, slower than I did with her. I really shivered and my desire grew stronger. She teased me right back once her hand got to the forbidden area.

"Payback... I get it... Ia, please..." She grinned, lingering there a little longer, then she obliged my plea and two of her fingers entered and felt around, rubbing against the right spots, just like I did for her. She, too, used her thumb to rub against my clit at the same time. I really moaned when she did that. "Deeper," I breathed. She went deeper. She also pleasured me by mouth on boob. Toward the end, she quickened the pace like I did to her. She marked my collarbone/neck area, as well, as my knees buckled as I came. She caught me by my waist, but as I'm taller, she had a bit of trouble, but stayed on her feet. "Mischievous little goddess you are. Denying me the goods for a bit after I asked," I teased. She grinned.

"I felt like being a little Chaotic."

"Next time, I might take a leaf out of that book of yours and do that to you."

"Do it. I dare you."

"Oh, I will. But right now, we need to dry off and wash off our hands." She nodded and we both got out of the waterfall area, washing our hands off and forbidden areas as we exited.

"I should change that water out. Good thing about being a goddess? I can make things disappear forever, into nothingness. That water will never be seen again," Ianite said as we dried off.

"Nice. Thank goodness." We got dressed, Ianite changed out the water completely, adding new, clean water, and we went into our bedroom. Ianite became the little spoon as she always is when we sleep as we laid in bed. I held her close to me. We fell asleep easily. In the morning, she was the one half on, half off me. Same position when I was on her, but reversed, duh. I tightened my hold on her in a hug.

"Now who's on top?" Ianite joked.

"Always you, love. You are a goddess after all." Ianite giggled and kissed me.

"What a jokester this morning. Did you enjoy last night?"

"Heck yeah, you learned from the best." Ianite gave me a look, smiling.

"I will say, you are really good." I grinned.

"Good, then you will have a full life of pleasure whenever you desire." She blushed.

"Oh, stop with those words," she said lightly, while lightly smacking my arm. I chuckled.

"True though, you can't deny. We both are immortal beings."

"Yeah, yeah." She was smiling, so I know this is just banter.

"Forever my love, forever my goddess," I said, kissing her. When the kiss ended, she laid her head on the front of my shoulder.

"I could stay like this forever."

"Mm, so could I. Alas, we do have to get going at some point." She nodded. We laid there for a few more minutes, relishing in the alone time. Finally we got up and got ready for the day. We arrived at the Isle of Gathering after making sure our marks were covered. Sparky, Gandus, Tom, Karl, Mianite, Dianite, and Dec were all there. So basically, the whole crew.

"Wow sis, you look like you're glowing," Gandus observed. I looked at her confused. "Like, a pep in your step, you look like you did some amazing thing, like, the happiest I've ever seen."

"Oh, today's just gonna be a good day, that's all." Ianite and I sat down, my arm going around her waist. Both of us so close she's almost on my lap. Her arm is also around my waist. The others looked at us scrutinizingly.

"You two seem to be closer than normal. What happened?" Mianite asked.

"What's with the third degree? Plus, shouldn't you be happy we're really close? Means our relationship is going well and I'm not being the dingbat I was before."

"Fair, still."

"Nothing happened that you need to know. Now buzz off and let's discuss fight tactics for when we go up against Darkness. Now, we know he has those tendril things as well as the smoke. We can easily get through those. I have my soul magic that can protect us. Now, Gandus, what other things is he known for? You've been allied with him for a while, you should know a few things he could have up his sleeve." I leaned forward now, getting into the battle strategy.

"Well, he has the power to infect people with darkness, though you guys know that."

"Wait! I know how I can protect us from that. I could call upon my soul magic and ask it to cover us, protecting us from the darkness that wants to infect us. So like, we'd have full armor protection by soul magic, we could easily move around and do whatever. Ok, what else?"

"Well, there's nothing else really. He has no magic like us. He basically can only do what we're doing. Strategizing and use his darkness smoke and tendrils." I sat back a little now. Ianite moved onto the ground between my legs and leaned back against me. I put my arms over her shoulders, my hands resting on her upper chest, making sure they're nowhere near her boobs.

"Damn. So I guess we need to try and stay one step ahead of him. Well, we know one thing for sure, he's trying to recruit a powerful wizard to his side. I think we should protect the other two, X and Z."

"That's a good idea, but a few of us should stay here too, to keep an eye on things here," Dec suggested. I nodded.

"Good idea. I think Karl, Dec, Sparky, and Mianite should stay here. The rest of you, with me.

"Really? The Chaotic beings with you?" Sparky inquired, surprised. I sighed.

"Yes, I may get a little annoyed, but... I will have Ianite with me to help keep the Balance and peace. Gandus even might help me out. She's usually calm when it comes to me if she knows I can't handle the Chaos at any given moment. Plus, someone's gotta make sure the Chaos doesn't go too far. Also, I need the more calm ones here without me. I know you guys can handle the seriousness. Plus, you have Dec with you. You have a Priest as well to listen to if he needs to give orders in a pinch."

"Fair. You are the High Priestess. You're pretty good at reigning in the Chaos," Mianite stated. He must be remembering the time when Dianite pushed one too many buttons building the Isle of Gathering building.

"Exactly. Now, Gandus, do you remember where the wizards live?" Gandus nodded. "Alright Ianite, lemme up." Ianite stood and the rest of my group did as well. "Take us to them, please." Gandus nodded again and led all but Ianite and I to the boat dock. "I believe in you all. Good luck and I hope Darkness doesn't show his face here. But if he does, I know you'll beat him." The guys grinned.

"Thanks Phoenix. You know, you make a great High Priestess. It's an honor serving under you," Dec praised. I inclined my head.

"It's an honor having you guys here with me. I'll see you all when we come back." I led Ianite over to the others, and the others being all Chaos. Ianite and I being the only Balance in said Chaos. But the Chaotic beings were being their normal selves. "Alright, enough fooling around, let's get to it." They all looked up at me.

"Yes ma'am," they all said. 'Ma'am'? I shrugged inwardly, we gotta get going. No time to wonder. We boarded the boats, except for Dianite. He just flew above us. So Ianite and I were in one boat and Tom and Gandus were in another. Gandus was rowing though, thankfully. She'll get us there quicker.

"It'll take us a couple days, so we'll need to set up camp once it starts getting dark," Gandus warned.

"No problem. We've got 2 gods with us," I said. I was rowing my and Ianite's boat. Ianite leaned against my back, wrapping her arms around my back and laid her cheek against the middle of my shoulders, her face facing left. "How are you holding up babe?"

"I'm alright, my love. I just wanna be close to you."

"Ok, Phoenix, spill. Something happened, I know it. Why is Ianite so clingy?" Tom asked.

"As I said earlier, none of you business, zombie." I was getting a little annoyed.

"Lay off, Tom. Let's let their business stay their business," Dianite calmly reprimanded. Wow, I'm surprised. Dianite of all people took our side.

"Thank you, Dianite. I appreciate it." He inclined his head. The ride was quiet now. It seemed none of us had anything to say. Ianite's breathing slowed. Seemed she was tired. Why? Is it the turmoil in her soul that's tiring her out? Something in me told me that was true. Damn... We really need to right this wrong in the world. "Dianite, you and I need to talk when we come upon land."

"You got it, High Priestess." We rode until the sun started going down. Gandus led us to shore. The biome was a birch forest. Wow, it's pretty! We settled just at the edge. Dianite and Ianite both set up camp. Gandus has her own tent, Tom has his own, Dianite has his own, and Ianite and I are sharing, of course. When camp was fully set up, soulfire campfire, thank you Ianite, Dianite and I went into the forest.

"I'm worried about Ianite. She had a full night's rest, but she was tired on the boat ride. I wondered if the turmoil in her soul is making her tired and something in me said that's what's it. The turmoil seems to be weakening her... I'm worried... Dianite, do you know when the Olympics will be? It needs to come soon... I'm not sure how much longer she can last with Darkness reigning strong."

"I do not. However, you need not worry. She has you, you're her strength. You're there for her to lean on. She'll be just fine." He gently laid a hand on my shoulder in comfort. I sighed and nodded.

"Thank you, Dianite. You're right. I'll always be by her side, supporting her. She'll always have me to lean on. I'll always stay strong, for her." He grinned. I grinned right back and we went back to camp.

"Everything ok, Nix?" Ianite asked.

"Everything's fine. I just needed a gentle reminder of something."

"Dianite? Gentle?" Tom asked incredulously.

"He can be. If he needs to," I advocated.

"It's true. He's mostly Chaotic, yes, but he can be gentle if the situation calls for it," Ianite agreed.

"He seems like he knows his boundaries," Gandus observed. Ianite nodded.

"It also helps that Phoenix showed her 'I will not put up with your crap and I will let you know it' side with me the one time. She was very authoritative."

"Oh, Mianite told me about that! Go Nix!" Ianite giggled.

"What happened? What'd you say?" Gandus asked, intrigued now. I told her and Tom what happened and how I handled it. They were impressed. "I echo Ianite, go Nix!" I chuckled.

"What can I say? I'm a born High Priestess."

"Literally," Tom chimed in, grinning. I chuckled again.

"Yes, literally."

"You're the perfect High Priestess. Well... of course you are. You're reincarnated from the original High Priestess. Who also happened to be my lover."

"That's gotta feel weird," Tom and Gandus both commented.

"I usually never think about it, though. I just see the soulfire wielding, fiery High Priestess that is our Phoenix, the Phoenix of this day and age." I grinned like a fool.

"I appreciate that, babe. Though, did I tell you about past me and my merging when I was imprisoned by the Darkness?" I told them what happened and that past Phoenix took over for a little and then we merged in order to try and get through to him that I cannot be defeated.

"Wow, I'd have loved to have been there for that. That sounds like that was intense," Tom said. I nodded.

"You guys would definitely have been stunned into place." After that comment, it was somewhat dark, enough for us to sleep. We went to our respective tents. I cuddled Ianite close to me. "You're safe Ianite. I'll always protect you. Forever." With that, I fell asleep.