Authors Note1: A tiny bit short than normal, I don´t have much time to write at the moment, next week will be better. Just to make it sure, I wanted to give Ryu a bit of happiness, but I won´t write about her part, I will still stick to Ais.
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Orario calmed down again after the wargame between two of the biggest Familia´s, some people were happy about the outcome, some not so much. Like for every wargame, many people had bet large amounts of money...
and like in his last wargame, Bell had won...making many people sad again. But a few were really happy, the adventurer Mord made a large sum again, as did Nahza and the Takemikazuchi Familia.
Some things had changed, others not so much. The goddess Freya had only appeared once at a party, many had asked her how she felt, she only said better but not very well. Gods were used to other gods getting sad, especially those who lost children. She started to change her behaviour, not going to all of the parties, but instead spending more time as Syr, together with Helun...or showing her children more affection.
A big help in the first days was Ottar, he was as immovable as always, a strong shoulder to lean on. And in the nights where Freya got really sad again...she pulled him into her bed...he wasn´t the first of her children that she did that with.
And some things changed for Bell and Ais too, as if a great weight had been taken from them, they felt more free and relaxed. As a result of this...they got more shy around each other. After Ais had a long talk with Riveria,
she finally realised that bathing together with her beloved so soon after getting together...was strange. Riveria told her about the history, about couples of mortals and spirits...spirits were similar to elves in certain things.
"Ais...don´t you realize...this is...going too...fast?"
"What do you mean?" She tilted her head.
"I mean...bathing with your beloved...would normally...be a thing...after a longer time...maybe a year or so."
"But...my mother...bathed with father too."
"But they were a couple for a few years...you know?" Riveria knew the story about Ais´ parents well enough.
"You and Bell are a couple...for not even a month..."
Ais couldn´t help but imagine her parents...especially her mother...reacting to the news about Ais´ boyfriend...that she slept in one bed with him...and bathed with him.
"Mmmmmh!"
"At least you kept your eyes closed during bathing...right?"
"Mmmh..."
"Ais?! Please...don´t tell me...he...already...saw "them"?!"
"Mmmmh!" Ais got more and more red.
"Ais?! Please?! He...didn´t touched them?!"
Ais tried to hide her face behind her hands.
Riveria slowly sank down, kneeling defeated on the ground.
"Where did I go the wrong way...Aria...I´m sorry...your daughter...is growing up...so fast..."
"Riveria! Th-This isn´t y-your fault!"
For a reason she didn´t understood, Ais got really flustered. That Riveria reacted that way was one thing...but imagining her mother...and father...how they would react...that Ais and Bell did...all that... It was fine with Bell that they took a few steps back, only holding hands and kissing for now...that...felt right...in their hearts. .
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The day after the victory party was reserved as Familia time, which meant Bell and Ais would spend the day with their Familia´s. While those two were deeply in love, they didn´t forgot their friends and Familia´s.
As a special case, Lefiya was only with the Hestia Familia until noon, then she went to the Loki Mansion...it was an exception from her punishment. Still...many Familia members told her how good and cute she had looked in her uniform and they would eat often at the pub now...and they asked if she didn't want to reconsider...about wearing the Maid Uniform from Loki.
From the morning of the day, Hestia was difficult to persuade to let go of Bell. She was just so glad that he was alive and well again...everyone in the Mansion was worried about him. Another thing that surprised him was that the Miach and Takemikazuchi Familia were present, they had moved in, since the Mansion had so much room.
"Oh before I forget it...Ms. Nahza, Lord Miach, congratulation."
Nahza´s ears twitched and her tail wagged, happily. "Thank you, Bell."
Miach thanked him too.
"And of course for you too, Ms. Mikoto, Lord Takemikazuchi...I´m sorry for not noticing."
Mikoto was unable to answer, she just blushed heavily...it was nearly a month now that she had confessed to the god...it was still new for her. Bell was told that she was so in joy and happy...that she went way too far in the kitchen and even cut a cutting board in two...
Things were looking good again, and Bell even promised to Hestia, Lily and Haruhime that he still wanted to spend much time with them. That he loved Ais didn't mean that his Familia no longer interested him. They were all very important to him...Hestia was his goddess...Lily his first friend ever...and Haruhime a special person.
All of them spend the day at the Mansion, except for Hestia, who had an important job to do.
"You have to go godes-...Hestia?"
Hestia squealed in joy again when Bell called her by her name...he had promised it to her.
"Haaa...Bell...you make me so happy..."
"O-Oy Master Bell! Lily wants to be called by her name too!"
"Lily? I always call you by name."
"S-Still..."
"Master Bell...would you...me...I mean..." Haruhime fidgeted a bit.
Bell smiled, happy to be with his Familia again, he acted without thinking, gently took Haruhime´s hand and looked into her eyes.
"Haruhime."
"!" Haruhime´s mouth opened and closed repated. "Kyun..."
And...she fainted...
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Hestia looked around and took a deep breath...it was a very important job she had attended to today. All of her skills, reaction time and speed would be required ... no one else could do this ... no one else was good enough ... only her ...
Time...to start...
She eyed the people in front of her...it would be a hard day. But she was no longer a nobody goddess, her Familia had won two wargames...she was a someone now. Many adventurers were in front of her, all of them knew who she was. It was the job of a goddess to attend to the needs of the mortals...and those adventurers...eyed her too...it was finally time.
Now...bring it on!
"So now dear adventurers...say out what you want."
Hestia wore a smug grin and crossed her arms under her chest.
A werewolf girl stepped forward, took a deep breath and looked up...to a board over Hestia´s head.
"Azuki bean cream taste, three corn soup taste and...ahm...one rum raisin, please."
Hestia exploded into a fast movement, her hands and arms moved around nearly too fast to see it. In record time she grabbed and packed the desired...potato snacks.
"Oooookay, Azuki, 3 corn and rum, here you go! Thank you for your purchase!"
She smiled happily and handed the customer the snacks, taking the money in return.
"Oh, the loli goddess is working again."
"She is so cute."
"That makes the snacks even more delicious!"
Hestia was well liked by the customers, she was the number one salesperson of the potato snack...and the mascot... She often wore silly costumes to attract more customers...her enormous rack helped wonders. And from this day on, Hestia would be the godmother of the famous Jaggarmaru-kun, working together with the old lady, her former boss. The name of Hestia´s Familia was rising, and now the Familia would protect the potato snack stalls, in case there was trouble. But not only the Hestia Familia, the Miach and Takemikazuchi Familia´s as well...and the Sword Princess.
Everything went well so far, Hestia sold a big number of snacks...until...
"Yo pip-squeak!"
"Ack..."
A happy grinning Loki walked in her direction...after the wargame and party was over...Hestia and Loki were back to their old rivalry. Both had accepted that Bell and Ais were a couple...but both demanded that their child was the cutest. Gods changed slowly or never at all...both just couldn´t help it.
Hestia looked a bit unhappy when she saw the grinning Loki.
"Evil, Evil go away!"
Hestia threw salt into Loki´s direction.
"Hey! Thats no way to treat a superior goddess!"
"Who is superior you board!"
"You dare, chiby?!"
Both were at it again...but Loki wasn´t alone. Hestia noticed long blond hair...and a determined expression. Ais Wallenstein didn´t looked like she was open for fun today...she looked almost grim. Ais shoved Loki a bit back and to the side, glaring down at Hestia.
"Goddess Hestia..."
"Wh-What do you want, Wallen-whatever-it-is?"
"Go Ais! Let the small one taste how amazing you are!" Loki cheered from behind.
A spark appeared in Ais´ eyes. "50 Azuki bean cream, 10 original, 10 of the new matcha...no make it 20!" She had readied her purse already.
Ais Wallenstein was by far the best customer of the potato snack stall...Hestia had even gifted her a key chain with a small Jaggarmaru-Kun figure...it was one of Ais´ most precious possessions.
Loki behind her looked a bit horrified...that Ais let her lose her face so fast in front of Hestia.
"We ahm...just came to purchase the ingredients for dinner." Loki tried a convincing smile.
"Aha..."
"Yes, we are heaving steak today! Kobe meat!"
"G-Good for you..."
It wasn´t like Hestia was still eating only the cheapest meals...but...
"What are you eating today hmmmmmmm?"
"Potato snacks...remaining prototypes..."
Loki grinned victorious...while Ais was already munching on a snack.
I want to eat those snacks with Bell...
"Hehe...I hope you don´t only eat fried food...or you will turn into a fatty." Loki showed a smug grin again.
Before Hestia could answer...a dark energy emitted from behind Loki, the goddess shrinked away in fear. Ais eyed her goddess, a grim look on her face and holding a potato snack in each hand.
"Loki...that´s wrong! Potato snacks are made only out of vegetables, so it is very healthy!"
Ais didn´t tolerated any badmouthing about her snacks...
"R-Right..."
"Hehe...take that Loki...and just for your information...potato snacks help you grow...but I won´t say where..."
Hestia showed a smug grin, Loki knew exactly where she was looking at.
"Y-You are kidding! There is no way tha-..."
Loki stopped when Ais leaned forward to pick up her order...she noticed Ais´ chest.
No way...from...the snacks?!
In the end...Loki bought nearly as much as Ais did...many Familia members had to help to eat them.
"Thank you for your purchase!"
Hestia waved while she smiled happily.
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The day after the victory party was very peaceful, Bell and Ais enjoyed the time with their Familia´s...but at the next day...they had plans.
It would be the day of their first real date and both looked forward to it.
But...
Well...
Both had no idea what to do on a date...
So they ended up meeting at the wall in the morning, trained for a while, took a nap together, went into the city to eat some snacks...trained a bit more...and wished each other a good night, with a shy kiss.
"Ais...wasn´t that just what you two usually do?"
Tione and Tiona sat together with Ais in her room and listened to her report of the day.
"Well...yes...but now...we are a couple...so it...is different?" She tilted her head.
"Geez Ais...you and Argonaut have no clue..." Tiona sighed.
"As if you have any ideas about dates!" Tione eyed her sister.
"As if you have any!"
"I have already planned fifty dates with the captain!"
"Ais is still getting ahead of you!"
"Geh!" Tione growled lightly.
Ais had no idea what to do...she let Tiona and Tione quarrel for a while and went to ask the only other woman possible...since Lefiya wasn´t at the Mansion.
"Riveria?" Ais knocked softly.
"Come in, Ais."
"Do you have a moment?"
"Of course, what do you need?"
Only a few people were allowed to enter Riveria´s personal room, especially in the evening...Ais was one of them. Riveria sat at her desk, a cup with tea in front of her and an opened book in front of her.
For a few minutes, Ais told Riveria about her "date" with Bell.
"Are you unstatisfied with it? I mean if you two had fun...it was okay...was it not?"
"Tiona and Tione told me...that wasn´t a date."
"Well maybe for them...what do you think?"
"I want...to go on a real date...with Bell. What would you do, Riveria?"
That this day would come...
Riveria smiled lightly, she had even given up hope, that Ais would someday have enough interest in a man to even ask that question...and now she sat there like a girl of her age...and didn´t knew what to do.
My little Girl...
And Riveria was called "Mommy" for a reason.
Riveria was in thoughts for a moment, she would prefer a different kind of date, but Ais wasn´t an elf like her.
"Well...I think a good start would be, that you two don´t wear your armor or weapons, use regular clothes...like your skirt and top that you bought."
"Do you think...Bell would like that?"
"I´m very sure he would love to see you in that."
Ais smiled happily and her cheeks turned slightly red. "A good idea."
"I will help you to make your hair."
"Thank you!"
Ah...Ais...you are...so girly...
Riveria thanked all the gods in heaven and on earth...and Bell Cranel...for changing Ais like that. Sometimes Riveria thought what would have happened if Ais were just a few seconds slower back then. If the Minotaur had cleaved Bell in half...Ais would probably feel bad for her Familia causing the death of an adventurer. It would have ignited the black flame inside her more...who knows what would have happened later...Ais could have gotten heavily wounded...or be dead by now. She had told Riveria that it was thanks to Bell that she was able to erase the black flame inside her.
"So, when will you two meet again?"
"Tomorrow..." Ais fidgeted shyly.
Spending so much time together...
Now Riveria smiled really. "Ehe."
"Riveria?"
"I´m just glad, to see you like this."
"Like this?"
"In love."
"Mmmh..."
Riveria giggled, Ais was just too adorable.
"Do you have any other idea?"
"There is a big tree on the hill in the south."
"Hmmmm..."
Ais already had a picture in her head...giving Bell a lap pillow while sitting under the tree...she would do it. Nobody would stop her, not even Bell! She wouldn´t accept a no! Ais clenched her fist and looked determined.
Bell Cranel...I hope you are aware what awaits you in the future.
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It wasn´t only Ais that talked to someone of her Familia about her date on the next day. Riveria send one of her "agents"...Familia members that got send on all kinds of jobs and deliver messages...many people wanted to help Riveria as much as possible. Like this, the Hestia Familia got the information, it was maybe better to not confront Bell directly...since he had no clue about dates...like Ais...
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And so.
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It was late morning of the next day, when Bell arrived at the Loki Mansion, the guards let him pass, the whole Familia knew his name now. And that he was the betrothed of their Princess.
Normally Bell had something like a sixth sense when it came to notice stares on him...he had even felt Freya´s stares in the past...but he was unaware of the two eye pairs that looked at him.
Tiona and Tione couldn't help it...they just had to spy on Bell and Ais.
Bell waited for a few minutes next to the stairs, going up these stairs was forbidden for every male and would be punished by castration...it was the part where the women lived.
"Bell."
He heard Ais´ voice from the stairs and when he turned around...
Whoa...
Ais stood at the top of the stairs, wearing a simple blue skirt, her favorite white shirt...and a large hat. She fidgeted shyly while she looked at him, the hat´s brim covering one of her eyes. The skirt flattered her figure, it had the perfect length, not too long but not too short either. Bell´s eyes wandered by their own will over her for a moment, the shirt showed no cleavage but he could see the elegant curve of her chest and hips. The skirt reached down below her knees and caressed her legs, her feet were in simple shoes.
His eyes were drawn to her neck, slightly visible between the brim of her hat and her shirt.
"Bell?"
"B-Bell?"
"Ahm..?"
"You look...so beautiful..."
Poof!
"Mh!" Ais pulled the brim of her hat down a bit and turned away slightly, clearly embarassed. "Th-Thank you..."
Tiona and Tione squealed in joy, hidden from the two.
"No I mean it! That outfit suits you perfectly! The color and form just enhances your beauty!" Bell´s tongue was faster than his brain, he was enchanted by her looks.
"Ah..." Ais started to squeal because of Bell´s praises.
Now Bell´s brain kept up and he went silent, realizing what he just had yelled out.
Wow...no wonder Ais fell for him...
Way to go Argonaut!
Now someone coughed lightly, Riveria followed Ais down the stairs.
"Ms. Riveria, good morning."
"Good morning, Bell."
Ais stopped next to Bell, smiling shyly at him.
Bell is...my boyfriend...
Ais is...my girlfriend..
Both got more and more red by the second.
"Ahem." Riveria coughed again.
"So Bell Cranel." She used his full name. "What are your intentions for today?"
"Ahm...stroll through the city, visit the great tree...and we will be back when the sun starts to set."
Being a couple or not, Bell had a guess that the whole Loki Familia would go on a rabbit hunt...if he would dare to "kidnap" Ais in the night...not that he would do that. But Tiona, Tione and Ais had explained to Bell, that Riveria was their "Mother"...at least she acted like the mother of the whole Familia.
And a mother that was worried about her daughter at her first real date...was easy to understand.
Not that Bell had any memories or experiences with a mother on his own...
"You have my trust, enjoy the day you two."
Woah...Riveria is in her Mommy modus...
Pfff...such a worried "Mommy"
The amazon twins smirked.
"Oh eh..right...sh-shall we go?"
"Y-Yeah."
When they left, Riveria closed the door and smiled joyfull. "Well...they...sure are adorable together."
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"What would you like to order?"
Hestia´s smile was frozen stiff...even if she had accepted Ais...seeing Bell on a date with another woman...Hestia couldn´t help it.
"A big CoD Snack...or rather two...and dessert."
Ais looked excited...she had eaten the "Couple on a Date" snack with Bell together before...but now they were a couple...on a Date!
The old woman that was the boss of this stall smiled. "Ehe, back with your boyfriend again...you two sure look cute."
Ais and Bell glanced to each other and blushed even more.
Haaauuuuuuu! Hestia just had to agree...Bell and Ais looked really adorable...so in love with each other.
The woman worked for a while in her tiny kitchen and produced two special potato snacks with some sort of cream on top. They were big enough so that they would need two hands to hold them.
"And here are your special limited CoD Jaggarmaru-kun edition. Each is made with different secret ingredients, so if you want the full experience, you have to share or feed the other."
She handed them two special made potato snacks.
"Enjoy it while it´s hot!"
They went and sat down on a nearby bench, both looked at each other.
Feeding...Ais?
Bell gulped and raised the big snack in his hands. "A-Ais...s-say...A-Aah..."
Ais had her head a bit lowered and glanced upward to Bell, blushing fiercly...her heart pounded like never before.
"A-Aah..."
She opened her mouth and closed her eyes, people around them just had to stare in awe...they knew who Ais was...and Bell. Eventually when the snack touched her lips, Ais took a bite of it.
Ais chewed for a moment, smiled happily, and swallowed.
"D-Delicous..."
Ais held her snack towards Bell. "S-Say...Aah..."
"A-Aah..."
Ais offers him her food? She really loves him!
Dear gods! She shares her food with him! THIS IS LOVE!
The amazon sisters weren´t ashamed of their...investigation.
"Bell, stay still."
"Hu-?!"
Ais leaned forward and...
"Chuuu-"
She slightly licked Bell´s cheek and touched it with her lips, kissing something away. Bell squeaked like a rabbit and blushed fiercly.
When Ais leaned back, Bell turned her flushed face to her.
"Wh-Wh-Wha-?"
"You had cream on your cheek." Ais held up her snack to show that her hands were full.
"Ais..."
"Bell..."
For a moment the snacks were forgotten...another proof that Ais really loved Bell. They closed the distance between them and shared a shy, loving kiss.
I´m getting Diabetes from that!
So sweet! Way too cute!
Lefiya would probably have fainted by now if she saw that...old habits died hard.
Some passers-bys saw how the two acted, but both were so into each other...kissing and feeding the other...that they didn´t noticed.
"Gods, they sure are cute together..."
"What a sight..."
"I wish I could switch with her..." It was a man who said that...Bell was just...too...cute.
"What a lucky rabbit..."
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Ais and Bell enjoyed the warm and clear weather, the city was so peaceful again.
Before they knew it, they arrived at the foot of a hill...the special hill that Riveria had told them about. From the top of the hill, one could see over all of Orario. They had made their way here unconsciously, as if their hearts were drawn to this place. Unknown by them, two amazons...a prum and a Renard had explored the hill before the two arrived. And they had "asked" every person that was on that hill "friendly" to leave...well Haruhime had asked friendly...she was not good at being intimidating.
When she tried to be threatening, she only looked more innocent. The four wanted to make sure that Bell and Ais had a perfect first date.
Bell and Ais went up all the way to the top and to their luck no one else was here...well yeah...let´s call it "luck". A lone tree stood here, next to it Bell rolled out a blanket they had taken with them.
"It´s really nice here." Ais leaned her head back while she took off her hat and enjoyed the gentle breeze.
After taking of their shoes, they sat down on the blanket.
Bell smiled at her. "Ais...I love you."
Ais showed him that lovely smile that was reserved for him alone. "And I...you."
Both hooked their little fingers...they were too shy to hold hands at the moment..and smiled at each other, abashed. A true date felt so...different...so...good.
"Ah..uhm..B-Bell.."
"Yes?"
Ais smiled shyly...he could see that she suppressed a yawn. Bell chuckled, he knew Ais behaviour for a long time now, she always got sleepy after they had their dinner together.
And this blanket under the tree might just be the perfect spot for a nap.
"Ais...do you...want to take a nap...with me?"
Pure joy filled her expression, her smile rivaled the sun...the "hidden" amazon sisters...Lily and Haruhime had to avert their faces... It was time to leave them alone.
Bell and Ais lay down on the blanket, smiling to each other. They had often slept side by side...but this was different.
"Ais?"
"Hm?"
"I love you."
Hearing these words made her both, incredible happy and embarassed. "I love you too."
More than statisfied by the food before, they enjoyed the light breeze and presence of the other, slowly drifting into an early afternoon nap, lying side by side.
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Ais would wake up before Bell...and saw him so defensless...she just had to use her chance...Riveria would probably be shocked that Ais took advantage of a sleeping boy...
After an hour Bell started to wake up again. The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes, was a large white hat.
Huh?
He noticed that he was no longer on his side, but on his back and his head rested on something very comfy...Ais´ thighs...his personal privilege...pillow.
"Bell? Are you awake?"
"I am not sure...I might be dreaming..." Looking straight up...two heavenly mounds hindered him of seeing Ais´ face.
Ah...bliss...
Ais leaned forward, the mounds came closer to the blushing face of Bell.
"What are you saying?" She smiled.
Slowly, Bell raised his right arm and carefully touched Ais´ cheek with his hand.
"You´re so beautiful..."
Ais´ cheeks turned pink, but she enjoyed the skinship, especially the feeling of Bell´s head on her thighs. She slowly caressed his hair, like she did everytime when she gave him a lap pillow...after knocking him out...by "accident".
For a few minutes they just looked into each others eyes.
And right when Bell was about to get up again, he noticed a light tug at his shirt.
He turned his head, Ais held the hem of his shirt and had averted her eyes, flustered.
"Bell..."
Bell felt something, a feeling that he should stay on his back. There was something that Ais always wanted to try... She blushed even more, her breath quickened a bit due to her excitement. Slowly...bit by bit she leaned down, pushing hair strains out of her face...eventually leaning down...and...
Their lips touched...will she gave him a lap pillow.
It was...perfect.
I am so happy...
I am so happy...
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Authors Note2: The next chapter comes next week, with the name. "New people and a cook off."