I do not own Familia Myth or any of the characters.

Choice

"You're...You're leaving?" Haruhime asked, watching Aisha.

"Well, yeah," Aisha said, sounding a little uncomfortable with the conversation. "I'm a prostitute, and the best place for me to ply my trade would be with the soldiers from Rakia who are trying to get into the city. They'll never make it past the Loki Familia, but as long as they're there, we can string them along for every valis they have."

"But...why won't you join the Hestia Familia?" Haruhime asked.

"I caused them too much trouble," Aisha said. "I don't deserve to be a part of it."

"That's not true!" Haruhime argued. "You saved me! You're my hero! You're my best friend!"

Aisha smiled sadly and sighed, pulling Haruhime into a hug. "I'm sorry, Haruhime. But just because I'm not in the Familia doesn't mean you won't see me. Whichever Familia I join, I'll come to see you as often as I can."

Haruhime sniffed and Aisha pulled back, sighing, and wiped her eyes.

"Come on, Haruhime," Aisha smiled. "Can't you at least see me off with a smile?"

Haruhime sniffed, taking a couple more seconds to compose herself before smiling, though the tears still running down her face made it less convincing. Aisha smiled, nodding.

"That'll do," Aisha smiled, kissing Haruhime on the forehead. "You be good now, alright?"

Haruhime nodded and Aisha turned, heading for the door just as Ethan stepped into the room. Haruhime's smile fell and she began to cry into her hand.

"She's leaving?" Ethan asked.

Haruhime nodded. "Sh-She's...going to...work with the...soldiers attacking the city."

Ethan looked after Aisha before looking to Haruhime. "Do you want her to go?"

Haruhime shook her head.

"Then tell her that," Ethan said. "Beg if you have to. She'll stay if you ask her to. I mean really ask her to."

Haruhime stared at him before nodding and turning, running after Aisha. He followed her to the door to watch Aisha's reaction partially out of curiosity and partially because his mind was still a jumbled mess with regards to his feelings for Ryu and Hestia, and Ishtar's charm had only made things worse, as did ongoing concussion.

"Aisha!" Haruhime called out, catching her around the abdomen just before the gate, sobbing into her back. "Don't go! Please don't go! I want you to stay with me!"

Aisha's eyes widened and she looked back at Haruhime before pulling her arms apart enough to turn around, Haruhime hugging herself to the slightly taller woman's chest, heedless of where that placed her head. "You really want me to stay that bad?"

"Yes!" Haruhime sobbed. "I don't want to lose you!"

Aisha smiled, gently stroking her hand over the back of Haruhime's head. "Because I'm your friend?"

"Yes," Haruhime said. "But more than that...I...also...I..."

Aisha's eyes widened before softening as she smiled, gently pushing Haruhime back by the shoulders. "Haruhime."

The Renard looked up at her just in time for Aisha to capture her lips. Haruhime let out something between a sob and a sigh, returning the kiss as her arms looped around Aisha's neck, Aisha's own holding her tight against her. After several long minutes, they finally parted, Haruhime once again hugging herself to Aisha, who laughed, holding her tightly.

"I love you," Haruhime said.

"I love you too," Aisha smiled. "Come on. If I'm joining the Familia, I might as well do it before I head out to make some money."

Haruhime made no move to release her, instead holding Aisha tighter. Aisha frowned in confusion as Haruhime tucked her face into her, allowing her hair to block Aisha's view of her expression.

"What is it?" Aisha asked.

"Don't go," Haruhime said in a soft, wavering plea. "I know you enjoy being a prostitute, but...please don't go. I...I know it's selfish, but I want you to be mine. Only mine."

Aisha's eyes widened before she tightened her hold on Haruhime, tucking her face into the Renard's hair. "Alright. Just for you. No one else."

Haruhime looked up at her in surprise before smiling and kissing her again. Aisha kissed her for several long moments before pulling away and finally guiding her back inside. Ethan smiled, walking away from the door before Haruhime could realize he was watching them, though he knew Aisha had seen him. He was happy for them. He knew Aisha would be good to Haruhime. His mind began to slip back into itself, trying to untangle his mess of emotions revolving around Ryu. He frowned as he realized he'd already reached his room and was holding the sword she gave him across his lap, his right hand on the hilt as the left traced the hieroglyphs. He stared at the sword for a long few seconds.

"Sometimes, you can choose who you love. Sometimes, it's just that easy."

He swallowed hard, staring at the sword in silence for another few seconds before his mind drifted back to his meeting with Ishtar. The suffocating, unbearable, crushing feeling that had clenched his heart as he'd tried to fight off Ishtar's Charm. At the time, he'd thought it was because of him trying to resist the Charm, but now, as he sat on the bed, holding the sword and thoughts revolving around Ryu, the feeling returned. It wasn't as strong, but it was still painful and uncomfortable, like a hand made of ice crushing his heart inside his chest slowly. He felt his eyes burn slightly as his brain conjured up an image of Ryu, laughing and smiling fully for the first time that he'd ever seen. It was right after she'd given him his sword. He smiled just as a tear slid down his cheek. He wanted to see her laugh again. He wanted to see her smile again. he wanted to see her again. It felt like forever since he'd seen her, even though it was only a couple of days.

"...things like missing them, or worrying about them. That'll be unbearable."

Ethan reached up, wiping his eyes and staring at the fluid on his hand. Finally, his tangled emotions began to unravel themselves, and in an instant, he was on his feet, his weapons strapped to his sides, and sprinted out of the room. He needed to see her. He had made her wait for his answer long enough. However, as he reached the common room, he found Cassandra having a borderline panic attack and Daphne trying to calm her down.

"Cassandra, there is no reason to think-"

"Move, Daphne!" Cassandra snapped, leaving no room for argument.

Daphne stared at her for a moment before stepping out of the way. Cassandra crossed the room to Ethan in an instant.

"Find Ryu!" Cassandra said. "If you don't find her, something terrible is going to happen to her! I dreamed that a prostitute holding a sun crushed a flower under their foot!"

Ethan's gut dropped out through his feet and he spun, sprinting to Hestia's room. She had the day off today, so she was sleeping in. At least, until Ethan began to pound on her door almost hard enough to knock it off its hinges.

"Hestia!" Ethan shouted.

"What?" Hestia asked, throwing the door open and looking around, likely expecting an attack. "Are we under attack!?"

"I need you to upgrade my statuses!" Ethan said, dropping instantly.

"You woke me up just for-"

"Now, Hestia!" Ethan snapped.

Hestia's eyes widened before she nodded, lifting his shirt and quickly upgrading him. However, just as she copied it to a paper, Ethan took off at a sprint, pulling his shirt down as he left the building. He sprinted through the city to the Hostess of Fertility and skidded to a stop outside as he found Syr sweeping in front of the door.

"Syr!" Ethan said. "Is Ryu here right now?"

"Ryu?" Syr asked. "No. She went to run some errands a little while ago. She should be back soon, though."

"Where did she go!?" Ethan asked urgently, grabbing Syr by the shoulders. "I need you to tell me now!"

"Uh..." Syr tried to think for a moment. "She...went to buy more ingredients. We were running low because I forgot to restock last night. She should be at the market a little past your mansion, I think. Or on her way back."

Ethan took off instantly, leaving a thoroughly confused Syr behind. He sprinted through the streets, dodging around confused citizens before finally reaching the market and looking around, but seeing nothing. He leapt to the roof of a nearby building before looking around and beginning to search around the market. It was too crowded for something bad to happen at the market. And with Ryu being the victim, they'd need to be somewhere a fight wouldn't cause a ruckus. He stopped suddenly before turning and streaking southeast. This district of the city was packed with stores and popular locations, making it more crowded. But the next one over and a little south was always deserted. He reached the area just as he heard a crash, seeing a cloud of thick purple smoke from an alleyway. He headed that way as he saw Ryu fleeing from an enormous group of other adventurers. however, she had obviously been caught in the poison, because she was stumbling and staggering, and within moments she was caught and dragged into an alleyway.

"This bitch is strong!" one of the males around her said. "Even without a weapon, she nearly took out half our group!"

"Doesn't matter now!" another laughed, holding Ryu's shoulders down as another held her legs and two more held her arms. "That paralyzing poison did her in!"

"L...Let me...go!" Ryu said, struggling to break free, only for one of the Amazonesses around her to kick her in the side of the face.

"Don't bother, bitch," the Amazoness said.

"After what that banishment trash bastard Ethan did to Lord Apollo and Ishtar, there's no way we're going to let you go," the man holding her legs snarled. "I think seeing one of his friends bloody and knocked up by a rape child aught to send a pretty clear message."

"Then he'll just have to come to us," another grinned. "And we'll be free to avenge Lord Apollo's unjust banishment."

"Let's get this party started," another male said, kneeling beside her. "I'm going first."

He grabbed a handful of her dress and pulled, tearing it off almost entirely, leaping only the sleeves, and some of the back. A moment later, her undergarments followed and everyone around her cheered.

"Well, well," one of the Amazonesses said, kneeling down and shoving a finger into her, Ryu shouting in protest and struggling not to cry from her fear. "She's still a virgin."

Again everyone cheered, only for a shout of surprise and pain to interrupt it. Everyone spun just as Ethan took off through them, his eyes shining a bright, luminous, crimson, his sclerae a dark black. His fists crashed into everyone around Ryu hard enough to shatter bones and send blood spraying out of their mouths. Within seconds, he had sent the last bouncing away down the alleyway with a spray of blood and teeth following. Then, he turned back to Ryu, the red vanishing and a look of worry covering his face.

"Ryu!" Ethan said. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"

Ryu began to cry instantly, curling herself into his chest and her held her in silence for a long few minutes before standing, pulling her to her feet before pulling his shirt off and passing it to her.

"Put this on," Ethan said. "Let's get you somewhere you can get the mud cleaned off."

Ryu nodded, pulling his shirt on, only for it to reach only slightly past her waist. However, she knelt, pulling one of the Apollo Familia men's pants off and pulled them on, tightening the belt before Ethan picked her up, turning and beginning to run, making good time and getting to the Hestia Familia's mansion within a few minutes. He set Ryu on her feet, noticing her legs were still weak from the effects of the poison, as well as her still trembling from what had happened. He guided her inside and up the stairs to his room, fortunately not meeting anyone, and helped her into his room's private wash room, then left to Anya's room to borrow something for her to wear that should fit better, since they were about the same size. He returned after a minute with a pair of pants and a shirt, not being sure if Ryu would want to borrow Anya's undergarments. He knocked on the washroom door but Ryu didn't respond.

"Ryu?" he asked. He heard a sniff and her crying softly and swallowed hard. "I'm coming in."

He waited a moment before opening the door, finding her sitting on the floor with her legs hugged to her chest and her face buried in her knees. She had managed to wash herself, but had apparently not been able to hold it in any longer. He sat beside her, pulling her into a hug and she turned into him, sobbing as she held him tightly. He swallowed hard, gently running a hand up and down her back comfortingly, resting his head on top of her damp hair.

"I-I f-felt...h-helpless!" Ryu sobbed. "I-I couldn't...move!"

"It's alright now," Ethan said gently, holding her more firmly. "It's over. They can't hurt you anymore. I won't let them."

Ryu curled into him, continuing to sob, and he sat with her for nearly an hour before her sobs began to taper off. Finally, she managed to stop and he helped her up, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around her. He dried her hair for her before draping the towel over her shoulders, reaching up to brush her hair into something looking vaguely like it's normal style.

"Thank you," Ryu said, voice still trembling. "Thank you for saving me, and for being here to help me. I'm sorry for acting so weak."

"Hey!" he said firmly, cupping her face and lifting it to make her look at him. "You are not weak. They hit you with a paralyzing poison to keep you from fighting back, and not being able to defend yourself from what they were going to do scared you. That's normal. I'd be more worried if you weren't upset. And you will never need to thank me, Ryuu. I will always be there to protect you. That's what a man does for the woman he loves."

Ryuu's eyes widened as she stared at him before lunging forward and mashing her lips to his. He smiled, returning the fiercely passionate kiss in kind, wrapping his arms around her and noticing she'd dropped the towel, though that thought vanished from his mind almost as soon as it had come. He held Ryu tight against him, feeling her need to fell safe and secure through in the desperation in the kiss. Her hands clung to his neck, holding him tightly as her lips moved against his own and her tongue sought his out. His own tongue slipped out to meet hers, the two beginning to swirl and slide together in a sensual, hungry dance. However, Ethan pulled back after a moment, taking a moment to try and catch his breath and stop his head from spinning, as well as give Ryu a chance to calm down a little. He hadn't been prepared for everything about her to set his head spinning and call to him as much as it did. The softness of her bare skin pressed against his still-bare torso, the feeling of her lips and tongue moving against his, her body's naturally earthy yet flowery scent, her taste, her desperation to be closer to him and to be held tightly. Everything set his head spinning and urged a reaction from him. Finally, after what felt like forever apart, but was barely two haphazard gasps for air, he kissed her again, once again feeling his head spin like a top as the kiss resumed just as passionately as before. However, this time, he was a little more prepared for it and began to take control a little at a time, slowly guiding Ryuu to calm down, slowing the kiss until it was slow, gentle, and comforting, as he knew she needed. She needed him to show her that everything was okay and that it was over, not for him to lose control of himself and take advantage of her moment of vulnerability.

Finally, after far longer than Ethan had bothered to keep track of, Ethan pulled away again, resting his forehead against Ryu's again and opened his eyes, seeing her smiling gratefully, though her eyes remained closed and tears were still running down her face.

"Thank you," Ryuu said, opening her eyes and looking into his. "For a second, I wasn't sure if you'd try to calm me down."

"I would never take advantage of you like that," Ethan said.

Ryuu smiled, shifting to rest her head on his shoulder and they remained there for a while, Ethan twisting side to side gently and trailing his hand up and down her back. Finally, she pulled away and he turned away while she picked up her towel, wrapping it around herself.

"I stole some of Anya's clothes for you to wear," Ethan said as she covered herself. "I figured they'd fit better, and I know she won't mind."

"Thank you," Ryu said. "Would you mind waiting in here while I get dressed?"

"Of course," Ethan smiled. "Anything you need."

Ryu smiled, kissing him for a moment before heading out into the bedroom, closing the door behind herself. After a couple of minutes, she opened it again, now wearing a loose green shirt and a pair of white pants. She held the door open for him and he stepped out of it, walking over to the bed and sitting down. Ryu sat in his lap instantly and he wrapped his arms around her. She tucked her face into the side of his neck and he leaned his head against her. They sat in silence for a long while before either spoke.

"Can I stay here tonight?" Ryu asked. "With you? I just...I don't want to cause any-"

"Ryu," Ethan said, giving her a light squeeze. "You can stay here as long as you want to. If you wanted, you could just live here."

Ryu squeezed him before lifting her head. "Thank you. I promise not to cause any problems."

"Ryu, you don't have to worry about that," Ethan smiled. "It's fine, really. You won't cause any problems."

She smiled and nodded, then looked past him and frowned. "What's that?"

He twisted around to look and saw the paper with his most recent stats sitting on the bedside table on the opposite side of the bed. "Oh, I think that's my new status. I had Hestia upgrade them before I came looking for you."

"How did you find me?" Ryu asked.

"Cassandra told me something bad would happen to you if I didn't find you," Ethan said. "She has visions in her dreams, but for some reason no one but me and Bell believe them."

Ryu nodded. "Do you mind if I see them?"

"Feel free," Ethan said, releasing her.

She shifted over onto the bed and reached over to lift the paper before sitting back. "Wow. Your statuses all went up a lot. Everything's over two hundred fifty now, and your vitality is is five hundred twen...Oh my God! It's gone!"

"What?" Ethan frowned, looking at the paper.

"Your Hero's Sacrifice!" Ryuu said, pointing to his skills. "It's gone!"

Ethan's eyes widened as he read the new two. Berserk and Regeneration. That explained why his head didn't hurt anymore, and also why he was suddenly so powerful when he'd saved Ryuu. He'd been furious. Angrier than he had ever been.

"Thank God that's over," Ethan smiled. "I missed being able to heal fast."

Ryu nodded, eyes swimming in tears again. "I'm so glad! I was so afraid you'd be hurt and not be able to heal fast enough to survive."

Ethan smiled, reaching up to cup her face and wiping her tears away. "And it's thanks to you that it's gone."

"What?" Ryu asked, eyes widening.

"It's because you loved me that I was able to find something worth living for," Ethan smiled. "You saved me from myself."

Ryu let out a short puff of air somewhere between a sob and a laugh before mashing her lips to his again. The kiss wasn't gentle or slow, but it wasn't uncontrolled like before. It was passionate and fierce, but only for the amount of joy and relief in it. He smiled, holding her as he kissed her before finally pulling away.

"We should get going soon," Ethan said, Ryu frowning.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"You've been out on a shopping trip for a few hours now," Ethan said. "Mama Mia's probably getting pretty impatient."

Ryu gasped, covering her mouth. "I forgot!"

He smiled, shaking his head. "She'll forgive you. What did you need for food?"

"Bread and meat, mostly," Ryu said.

"Good," Ethan smiled. "We can get that on the way to the Hostess."

"You're coming with me?" Ryu asked.

"Of course I am," Ethan said. "I'm not leaving your side for at least the next week until I stop worrying about you."

Ryu smiled, kissing him again, lingering there for a few minutes before pulling away and nodding. Ethan grabbed his blades again, just in case, then left the mansion again, letting Aisha and Haruhime know he'd be back later that night as they passed the couple in the common room where the two were spending a quiet moment alone fused at the lips.

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