I do not own Mushoku Tensei.

Aisha's Perspective:

Since Big brother Rudeus had told our mothers earlier on in our married relationship, I thought it was also best to tell the rest of my family including Norn, our sister, and Paul, our father who was resting peacefully in his grave. Although incestious relationships between relatives weren't a rare sight, I'm sure If he was still alive, he would have been displeased by ours. Or maybe displeased is an understatement. I think fiercely furious, and fuming red would be a more accurate take. Maybe even an argument would have broken out, with Rudy receiving a few enraged blows, and a hearty lecture. But I know deep down, my father is a good man who cares deeply about us, and he would have come to understand things later on. Eventually he would see the happiness it brought both of us, and he would view this as a positive turn of events rather than a negative one.

When I approached Norn with the topic, we were given a similar set of disbelieving eyes, and unpleasant rebuke. When we were younger our relationship was full of rivalry, and contention, but now we viewed each other as proper sisters, but she saw this relationship with Rudeus as a forbidden line we were never supposed to cross. Her face was twisted in disgust when she found out. She warned us about children born with defects, and how unsightly it must be to the gods. She couldn't speak to us for a while, but as we kept visiting, and showing how happy we were together, the cold shoulder had slowly melted away, and we were glad to see her warming up to our new relationship. It was difficult at first, but I knew we could come to an understanding. It's a terrible feeling having your loved one's disapprove of your feelings, and the types of bonds you create.

Next was Rudeus and Norn's grandmother, Claire. We didn't plan to meet her anytime soon but we were sent a letter of invitation to her estate. So it was a good time to break the ice to her. The whole family was invited, including me and my mother, surprisingly. A part of me didn't want to see her. In her eyes, I was still a bastard child, daughter to a maid who seduced her master. But Rudeus reassured me that no matter what she said, he'll be there to support me. I love him so much, I'm glad to be his wife. On the carriage ride over there, which took about three carriages to take the whole family by the way, I was still thinking about my time there as a child. Lady Claire would always get displeased whenever I beat Norn at something, or how better I was then her. She would always remind me that I was a bastard child. I felt sad, thinking about it, I just want to cry but I can't do it in front of the children. I don't wanna worry them.

As if he felt what I was feeling, Rudeus pulled me into a tight and warm embrace. "It's alright, everything will be fine. I promise, you'll have me beside you." Just like that, the pain and sadness had gone away. Now what was filled was happiness and love, my favorite emotions. I hugged him back tight, I nudged my face into his neck, breathing him in. We continued hugging for a while before we heard a groan from the seat in front of us. We looked at who it was, "sorry Ars, papa just wanted to comfort mama Aisha." Rudeus said, feeling embarrassed. About Ars, I noticed a change in him.

In a way, he had grown more needy, clinging to me whenever he had a chance, and looking sad whenever I left. I also caught him stealing glances at my belly from time to time. There seemed to be a bit of nervousness in him as well. Sometimes, in a fit of nightmares, he would accidentally wake Seig up in the middle of the night. I asked him before what they were, but he was never able to give me a straight answer. I'm worried about him.

As we arrived at the estate, the anxiousness was still there. We were all greeted by the servants then, eventually, Claire. It's been years since we saw her, she now uses a cane to walk. She told the servants to show everyone their rooms, but that she wanted to speak to me, Norn, Rudeus, and my mother first. While the other wives were looking after the children, we went up to a lounge-like room. We all took a seat around this small coffee table with two velvet blue couches on both sides while Claire took the chair at the end of the coffee table. She then sent another servant to get some tea and bring it over here. Once the tea had arrived, we took a sip and waited for what Claire wanted to say.

"Greetings to you all. It's been quite a while since we've last met." She stared at all four of us. Her eyes were much warmer now. It was a stark contrast from the indifference, and disdain we were first greeted to in the past. "Regretfully it was under… unpleasant circumstances. I know our opinions didn't mesh very well, but I'm glad you were able to forgive me, and I was able to understand you all better". There was a pained, but refreshed smile on her face. "I just wanted to check in on my daughter, and the rest of her family. I wanted to make sure you were all doing fine, and that any resentment that lingered has settled now." She was still poised, prim, and proper, but there was a touch of awkwardness in her movements, and a human feeling to her tone. It seems a change had occurred in her over the years. A positive one.

"I would like to congratulate Norn on her marriage. I know it's been a while since then and I hope you got my letter. Of course I am sorry I couldn't make it, I haven't been feeling well since I'm getting old. But still, congrats on your new life. I hope you find nothing but happiness." Norn was taken aback but soon gave a warm smile, "thank you grandmother, I really appreciate it." Claire smiled, "I understood that he is of a demon race. I won't say much, just remember to take good care of him and learn to live well in a new area. Be ready to learn whatever traditions they have." Norn nodded, "yes grandmother, I will." After that was done, she looked towards me and Rudeus.

"Sigh* At first I was disappointed in the two of you after I heard about the new relationship that has blossomed," Clair paused for a moment staring at the two of us. Her eyes were an emotional cocktail, and they saw deep into us. "but I've already learned my lesson several times over." A smile returned to her face- resolute, and satisfied. "My family is one full of surprises. And I guess my old brain needs to remember that." A small chuckle trailed the end of her sentence before she addressed us once more. "There are many risks involved in a relationship such as this, but if it brings the two of you happiness I should find solace in that." She paused again. "And to my young child Aisha… please forgive your grandmother for seeing you as a bastard child. We may have not been bonded by blood, but I understand now, that you were always a part of the family." she stalled once more for another moment of pause "And I guess, now, even more so, with the marriage between the two of you."" she let out another small chuckle.

My eyes went blurry for a moment. I realized there were tears welling up, and streaking down my cheeks. I was happy. I was so, so happy. Earlier I was terrified at the thought of rejection. Visions of Claire's mortified expression haunted me, but now… Acceptance. She had accepted me. Not only as Oni-chan's wife, but as a part of the family as well. I was so happy. So so happy.

After our talk, Claire had also apologized to my mother. It wasn't as long of an apology then it was for me but, she was very sorry for how she treated my mother. My mother doesn't hold grudges, so she forgave her right away. Claire also requested to talk to Roxy at a later time, of course, Rudeus would be there. For now, we all went to our rooms. Rudeus would be sleeping in my room for a time, so it didn't take too long for me to push him to bed and hold him tight. I couldn't help but cry into his chest. I was happy, happy that Claire accepted me. I just wanted to hold onii-chan tight. He patted my head, "see, I told you it would be fine." I raised my head up away from his chest, I looked into his green eyes. I moved my head close and gave him a deep kiss.

That night, we enjoyed being one, and later, the other girls joined in. With all the stress of the day fading away we could finally relax, and enjoy our time together. It felt really good having him make love to all of us. We all felt even closer than before. And I'm not just saying that because he was inside of us.

After reconnecting, and relaxing at Claire's abode our visit was done, and it was time to head home. Ars, and the rest of the children enjoyed their stay there, and Claire said we were welcome back anytime. We would be sure to also send her letters from now on. The return trip was somewhat peaceful aside from the occasional bandit, and spirit beast. Of course they were no problem for Rudeus, and the rest of our group. Maybe they thought they were attacking some unsuspecting nobles, but in the end, they were the ones ambushed. However I saw a look of wonder, and amazement in Ars eyes. He also looked a bit antsy as if he wanted to join in. I guess it's in the boy's nature to join in an adventure.

As we arrived back home, we continued on with our normal lives. Nothing new or strange has happened in the year. Well, I guess what did develop was my time together with Rudeus. There wasn't a shortage of love making when it was my time with him. Eris-nee did get a tad bit jealous of me, which eventually turned into rivalry to see who can please onii-chan the best. But of course it was all in good fun. There have since been a lot more love sessions with Rudeus Eris-nee, and the other girls involved. Poor onii-chan, I hope he can survive this new ordeal.

The children had also developed into their own lives. Just like their father, they were gifted children who could cast chantless magic. By the age of 6-7 they were already familiar with written words, and had proven to be great talents in spells. Several of them had already begun their school life, while the younger children were preparing for it. But I noticed Ars was unnaturally hurried in his development. There was this driven nature about him. Me, and Rudeus were proud of his rapid growth, but we were worried about the hastiness we sensed. Later on we would be in for a huge surprise when we found out he went missing.

I remember one morning when I said goodbye to him when he was going to school with Seig, Lara, and Roxy. When they came back, Ars wasn't with them. They assumed he went on ahead and was probably here. We went into a bit of a panic but calmed ourselves. First, we looked at the places he likes to visit. We checked the adventurers guild, the park, and The Rudo Mercenary Corps. He was in neither of them but at the Corps, Rinia and Pursena saw him asking around if there were any spots that have lurking criminals. When nobody told him anything and brushed him off, he left in a huff. Rinia and Pursena didn't really pay no mind. Thinking about it now, they regret not looking after him when he left. That was a key clue, Ars was still around, so he couldn't have gotten far. Me and Rudeus took to a direction that might harbor drug dealers and such while Eris-nee and Roxy-nee took to one where small gangs hang out. We looked around for an hour before finding him getting pummeled by a rough looking boy. Around them were 4 other boys, laying on the cold hard floor, who had their faces kicked in or bodies broken. They were all around age 14. They looked to still be alive, just hurt really badly. There were several signs of a big fight, and two other children sat cowering in a corner. They looked somewhat victimized. Rudeus rushed to the boy that was punching his son, and pulled him off. When the boy noticed who it was, he took off running, leaving his friends behind. Rudeus quickly used healing magic on Ars.

After making sure all the other children were fixed up, and the two cowering children were ok, Ars was given a giant lecture. The discussion became scolding, and heated. We thought he was being too reckless, and he was too heavy handed. Unfortunately we were unable to resolve the argument properly, and Ars was left grounded. Later on we found out the circumstances behind his escapade. He wanted to learn more about Adventurers, and do research about crime, and the state of the city. He never planned on getting into any big fights, but when he saw a big group of children ambushing two others, he had to join in. With the huge number, and lethality of their weapons, he had no choice, but to welcome them with the same force. Alternatively he could have ran away, and left them to their own devices, or gotten help from some guards, but there wasn't enough time for that. Running away was never an option either. All the heroes he looked up to, and the ideals he held in his own heart wouldn't allow it. We heard this all from the two children who had been ganged upon earlier. But it was already too late. In the haze of panic, and confusion, we never listened to Ars' side of the story. And because of that, later that week, he went missing for a second time.

Since then, Ars had been getting into more fights. Each time we would scold him, he never seemed to listen. I thought with Eris-nee, he would listen somewhat but, they always had back and forth arguments. When one night, he came home looking worse than his other fights, I had enough and put my foot down. I may not be the one that gave birth to him, but I am still his mother. I harshly scolded him for acting like a naive brat and setting a bad example for his younger siblings. I told him, the next time he went out on any more fights, he would forever lose my trust in him. That seemed to knock some sense into him as he broke down crying and proceeded to hug me. He cried into my stomach and said how sorry he was and begged me not to lose any faith in him. I hugged him back and told him I will not. Since then, he stopped going out late at night. But I feel like there was still something missing. Something still felt unresolved. Something left unsaid.

Ars's Perspective:

When I was younger, I remember Aisha-nee reading me a story. The hero in that book went through so many trials, and lost so many friends in his pursuit for the demon king. He was a kind headstrong man that would always return to his goal, and try to save those around him. But at the end of it all, after finally defeating the great evil that threatened the world, a part of him felt unfulfilled. He had lost so many cherished companions that he held dear, and he missed out on a normal life with the one his heart yearned for. He missed out on a chance for love. When I was younger, I never knew what love really meant. And even still, I don't fully understand it. What's the difference between those you care about, and who you love? What is love?

Here's a long one for you, hope you enjoy. I would say we're getting close to the end. Maybe two chapters left, we'll see. Anyways, see you next time.-JJ