Chapter 62

Giselle sniffled a little, her body shaking a little against me. She hadn't answered yet, but I wasn't going to rush her. Both her and I had to address other matters first.

So, I picked her up in a 'princess carry' and gave one of the priestesses my very best 'dojo stare' "You!"

Her spine looked like it might have tried to eject itself from the top of her head, but she squeaked out a loud, "YES?!"

"Hardy left my belt back in that room."

She ran back into the cathedral, and I looked over the crowd of onlookers, my eyes locking on a plain looking man who had the look of a traveller. "You!"

He was young, but tall, and was wearing a long traveller's cape, the kind that one wore to keep all the weather off. He did a left/right look, then looked back at me and pointed to himself, "Me?"

"Yes." I toned my voice down a little, "Can I buy that cape?"

"Oh um... here, take it." He blushed, undoing the cloak pin and coming over. Both Giselle and I were basically wearing nothing after that fight after all. Helpfully, he tossed the cloak over my shoulders, but paused for a moment.

"Keep the pin." I said, since the nice cloak pin looked like the most expensive thing he owned. One of my tails slipped out from under my new cloak and went about my neck like a scarf. "Thank you."

My thanks was all he needed apparently, and he started backing up to get out of my way. Much like the Goddess, I just ignored 'the people' and walked over to the other Priestesses. Slowly. I didn't want them to run away just yet.

"Bringing home another stray?" Shinkage asked.

One of the priestesses (one of the ones Giselle had given a headpat to earlier) looked alarmed, "You can't take our Apostle!" She clapped her hands over her mouth right away though. "She's..."

"No longer an apostle." Giselle said quietly. "Hardy abandoned me."

All of the clergy present went wide eyed, with one of them fainting, and the 'Head Priest' falling to his knees and looking down at the ground, mumbling prayers. All but the one talking to me. "No... but..." She looked at me, "This is all your fault!"

I wasn't even tempted to be undiplomatic. "Most people, both gods and mortals, can't handle their faults being exposed." I replied, "Only when they face true consequence do they understand." I glanced down at Giselle, "Do you have anything here you want to take with you?"

Giselle looked up at me, then down and away, "A couple of things, yeah."

Reality was sinking in for the clergy, the rest of them standing up. "I will wait here for you." I said, "If you are not back, alive, in a half candle mark, I will go looking for you." I set her down and didn't let her go until I was sure she found her balance, "And please, can you do something about the people staring?" I asked them.

A couple of the priestesses and the Head Priest nodded and turned towards the gathered people, "Move along! The Temple of Hardy is no place for a bunch of slack jawed yokels!"

"I'll be by your wyvern." I said to Giselle's back.

"k."

Shinkage and I spent a bit of time giving the wyvern headpats. "Are you okay?" Shinkage asked, using a hand to keep one of the wyvern from giving her friendly headbutts.

"My head hurts, she ate far too much, and my arms are itchy." I said, "I'm also going to miss out on visiting the market here. Which is a shame since this is apparently the best place for exotic minerals and ore." I sighed, "I wasn't expecting her to... I dunno... power trip so hard."

"Power corrupts. And Absolute Power is for dragons." Shinkage said, "What were you expecting?"

"I was expecting her to fight Giselle. Hardy seemed at least 'aware' of innocent bystanders. And since Giselle was 'unkillable'..." I sighed, "But after getting hit back once, she became unhinged."

"Did you use the words properly?" She asked, squinting her eyes at the wyvern, "If you nibble my hair, I will be disappointed." And like one of the Phoenix back home, it looked away innocently.

"I did. It didn't work as I'd hoped. But as soon as she was unwelcome, I could exert a bit of will over my body. Then you simply made it too painful to stay." I turned back towards the Temple's entrance, "Aha."

Giselle walked through the front doors, head down, tail limp, wings drooping. But she had not only a small pack, but my belt and some new, but non-religious clothes. Behind her were the other priestesses. They didn't speak, only waved, but once Giselle was off the steps they closed the big door with a heavy 'thump'. I gave the wyvern I was making friends with a little push to get it to stop trying to curl up around me and walked over to her.

"Hey." I said, standing in front of her. She was so down though, she kind kinda walked into me. She didn't keep moving, but she started to sniffle again. So, I gave her another headpat, "Lets get back into the air. I'll cook you something when we get to Alnus."

"Yeah... I am kinda hungry... For real this time too. I think..." She sighed, taking a half step back and used the hand holding my belt to brush my hand away, "Here." She waited until I moved aside before walking towards the wyvern. "Oh..."

"Hmm?"

"I won't be able to fly all the way myself. Not anymore..."

"Ride with Shinkage." I said, "You don't mind?" I looked past her to the loli-dragon in question.

"I'll even let you hug me all the way there." Shinkage offered.

That got a shadow of a smile from Giselle, "Thank you. Okay you two, nap time is over."

Since neither of us wanted to yell at each other to have a conversation, my trip was spent in quiet reflection. Giselle and Shinkage were chatting though, which was good, because I couldn't even begin to imagine what was going on in Giselle's head. If I recalled, she was around 350 years old. Not nearly as close as Rory was to 'becoming a God' but still...

She needed a friend, and no matter what she might say, Shinkage was a good friend.

Then there was my 'hosting' of Hardy. From what Lelei had told me, Hardy had at least been 'aware' of the mini-mage's limits. She didn't deliberately risk her well being, and aside from a bit of an upset stomach and needing to sleep, the only thing that had changed about Lelei was her hair. It had grown almost to her feet, and temporarily gone blond.

This was the same hair she used to 'tie' the Earth and Special Region Gates together. It amused me to know I wasn't the only one who used hair for magic.

But I could feel something was off with me. It wasn't just my Kitsune abilities being sealed. That felt like it was still working as intended. But just before my mind moved back in to my body properly, Hardy did... something. I'd figure it out, I was sure, but I'd do it away from Hardy, and near people who could help if something went wrong.

The sun was starting to set by the time we'd gotten back to 'the killing field' outside of Alnus's little town. I was sure that the JSDF had seen us pass by Italica, and spotted us from one of the guard towers too. Of course, without a radio I couldn't call ahead to try and get Lelei or even Itami down here.

While I'd been flying, alone with my thoughts, I came up with an idea. One of those ideas that would make even the Grinch's evil smile seem lacking. But to implement it, I'd need to (sigh) deal with politics.

First though, I was going to need to square poor Giselle away. And that meant getting her to the tavern where she worked.

At least... after she'd hidden behind one of the wyvern and watered some flowers.

"I'd forgotten about this!" She pouted from just out of sight, "Apostles never need to do this kind of thing..."

"It took me a little to get used to as well." Shinkage said, but also added, "But you should have gone before we left."

I looked down at Shinkage and gave her a raised eyebrow, "Really?" I sighed.

"It is my right as big sister." She said, "Are you okay?"

"I can wait a little longer, long enough to find a place with a door at least."

"Please don't tease me?" Giselle said.

"I'm being perfectly serious." I said, distracting myself by giving my wyvern some more headpats. "Thank you for your hard work."

Looking much less distressed than when we'd landed, Giselle smiled, "I'm glad you're making an effort to get along with them."

"Of course. I'm going to be the proud owner of a couple dozen dragons in a season, right?" I smiled, "Now... Hopefully we don't have too many sudden gusts of wind." I made sure my cloak was settled over my shoulders properly, "Dragons have a habit of leaving me naked."

"You asked for it that time." Shinkage shrugged.

No matter her actual status, Giselle the plain-old-dragon newt, was just as popular in town as Giselle the Apostle. Not that anyone knew that yet. Her change to 'normal' clothes (actual pants and tunic) hadn't tipped anyone off that something was wrong, and well, she did spend almost all her time around here as a barmaid.

I was drawing just as many looks as her, but considering my tails and cloak were all I was wearing...

"Hey." Giselle said, "I'm gonna talk to the Owner. I'm..."

We were just in sight of the Tavern, and she'd stopped walking to speak.

"I'm not going to just pick you up and drag you there." I said, guessing on her topic of discomfort.

Her eyes widened a little, "No no... I..." She sighed, "I've been at this for a long time. And some of my orders made me more than a few enemies. I'm just as mortal as everyone else now, and staying would probably get me killed before long." She made an encompassing motion with her hand, "Even here."

I felt a bit of relief, "But?"

"Well... I do have friends here. I'd like a little time... y'know, to say goodbye. Maybe send a message to my old tribe. Let them know." She smiled, "I mean... I've outlived all my siblings, but I do check in on their great great great granddaughters."

"See? She writes home." Shinkage said.

"Let them know then..." I said, "They'll have a place too, if any are curious enough."

Giselle went stone still. Almost like she'd frozen in place. Then, "Really?"

"Yes. I will make it happen. Not just for you."

She smiled. Not just a 'pretending to be happy' smile, but a real one, even after what had happened. "I'll do that." She said, "Don't leave without me." And she started to quick march towards the tavern.

Behind her, Shinkage looked up to me, "Really Fox?"

"You said I'd need people and time." I replied, "Keep an eye on her. I might be a little while." I fished through my belt and handed her one of my potion pill vials, "She might be a little bit of an airhead, but she understands that her old job made her unpopular."

"Hmm, good idea." She accepted the vial and followed after the ex-apostle.

This time, I didn't just knock and enter the forward base. I knocked properly, and waited. This business was less... official. And honestly I didn't know if anyone would be there.

But after a moment old man Soichiro opened the door. He gave me a quick up/down look, paused, and opened the door. "Does your mother know you're out dressed like that?" He asked, looking away as soon as I'd cleared the door.

"I don't actually have a mother." I shrugged, "Not even sure why I have a navel. But before I get to business..."

"I'll raid one of the lockers, see if we have something your size. You don't mind green do you?" He laughed.

"So long as it isn't baby-puke green." I chuckled, "I've also spent the last few hours flying. Don't suppose..."

"Down the hall to the left."

Now dressed in a spare uniform that smelled like it had been forgotten in a locker for a year (not bad, but dusty), I sat across from Soichiro. "So... Heard you went to have a talk with one of those God people. Same as Itami did."

"That's part of why I'm here." I said, "Sadly, I met with... less success than I'd hoped."

Of course I edited parts of the meeting. No need to give him a heart attack by saying 'she used my body to masturbate for at least an hour, that I remember at least'. But aside from some 'no need to know' details, I brought him into the 'loop' so to speak. Then I told him the first stage of my 'idea'.

"So... you want to bring a few of the prisoners over to your side of the Gate?" He asked.

"Yes." I nodded, "I'm assuming you've been told about the recent Op?"

"Good bit of work. They're still incredibly outgunned, but we can't resupply until we connect back home." He nodded, "They only have to be lucky one in ten times, less even."

"Well, instead of giving those prisoners up for what is probably going to be an execution... I was thinking of showing them around Orario. They get a chance to live, and you don't have to feed them."

"That can't be all."

"No. Once they've seen what might be, I was thinking of bringing them back here."

"Catch and release? Why?"

"Free advertisement."

He looked at me as if my tails were juggling severed heads or something, but then laughed, "Okay, yeah... That's pretty clever." He rubbed his chin, "You know... We have very specific orders when it comes to the natives. But none of those orders cover 'non natives' like you and yours."

"Could you call the Commander then?"

One call, one left message, one jog up a hill, and two laps around the airfield later... The Commander and Itami were caught up on the story.

"Interesting idea." The Commander grunted, "Come on Itami, I'm over twenty years your senior and you're falling behind!"

Itami groaned, "Yes sir." But made a little more effort to keep up. "Fight-o..."

"How long do you think it would take to convince Italica, Sadera and whomever else captured people to bring them here?" I asked.

"Week at least. Travel times between places aren't exactly the greatest. And we've had a few reports already of 'unfortunate accidents'." He replied.

"Gives me time on my end to set up some lodgings, get the paperwork started..." I thought out loud.

Itami, starting to lose steam, "Then what?"

Not as dull as he appeared, I figured I'd drop the mysterious act, "I want to show them something better, then let come back here and spread the word."

The two of them almost fell over as they stopped running. "What?!"

My tails caught them and put them on their feet properly again, "You have a heap of people who are being oppressed, enslaved, and mistreated. Be it from the old empire, the new empire, the Gods and their Apostles, or what have you." I explained. "If they know they have a way out that doesn't potentially involve a violent death, starvation, or abuse at the hands of a slave master..."

"I don't like it." The Commander said, frowning, "You want us to what... have them camp out on our doorstep while you make space for them? These are armed dissidents!"

"I have space for them." I said, "But until now, I had no one to fill it."

Itami, again, showed that insight of his, "You're going to eat their revolution from the inside."

"I'm going to stop their revolution from getting eaten." I corrected. "I'll arrange with the Guild to have you compensated for any temporary housing you need to set up on the field out there."

The Commander was grumpy, but his feet started moving again, "Fine. I'll have the calls made."

"Name your price, and I'm sure we can help." I said, "Three more laps?"

"Urg... no fair..." Itami sighed.

Itami was saved from the last lap and a bit by Rory showing up on the airfield. In tow, she had 'the girls' Giselle and Shinkage. The Commander, smart man that he was, saw the occasion and actually let Itami rest, while he gave me a nod and went back to his office, "Stay in touch." He said as he made a 90 degree turn and jogged back towards the command centre.

Itami and I came to a stop in front of the girls, "Ladies." I greeted, "Rory."

Itami waved feebly from a standing crouch as he caught his breath.

"Hey!" Rory crossed her arms, but didn't rile further, "Still alive I see. Though..."

"Did you tell them?" I looked to Giselle.

"More or less, yeah." She nodded.

"I'm surprised you survived." Yao said, "Not just the possession but angering her as well."

"And that you're taking Giselle away..." Tuka said.

"She will be safer there. And they are more tolerant than most about other races." Lelei said, "Was my advice helpful?" A pause, "You're going to hug me, aren't you?"

"Do you mind?"

"I'm still wearing my scales."

So instead of hugging the stuffing out of her, I just made her lean on me while I wrapped her up in my tails and arms. "Your advise was invaluable, Lelei." I only gave her one headpat, then let her go. "I've also put together a little more of the puzzle."

"Wha...what puzzle?" Itami asked, standing straight again.

"The Flame dragon was supposed to destroy the Gate. Even she didn't know if it could, but, the dragon was a large magical monster. If the Gate is immune to normal force, then maybe hitting it with enough magic could do it." I explained, "The JSDF, until now, didn't have any magic, so couldn't test it on their side."

"Makes sense." Itami nodded, getting a look from 'his' girls, "What? I pay attention to Lelei-chan when she does the weird magic stuff. You beat magic with magic."

"Oversimplified." Lelei said, "But not untrue."

"What would happen though?" Tuka asked, "Would that let Papa and his friends go home?"

"I honestly don't know." I said, "But, we still have a little time, and if 'the plan' is going to work, well we can't part ways just yet."

"Plan?" Yao asked.

"Itami? You tell them if you want. Later. It's after dinner time, and I have a LOT of work to do." I sighed, "Paperwork, politics, you know..."

"Eina will probably want to kill you." Shinkage said, "Royman too."

"Nothing new." I laughed, "Giselle? Write that letter?"

"I sent my wyverns off to find them." She nodded, "I hope... I hope they understand."

Rory smirked, "I hope your replacement is just as amusing as you were."

Shinkage was the one to reply though, "If her replacement gives you any trouble, let me know."

I think I was the only one who didn't shiver at her tone of voice.

"Lelei? Any luck with the other project?"

"I am reasonably sure it's sending, but I haven't received a reply yet." She said, "uwu?"

This time is was Itami who gave her the headpat, "Just keep trying. I'm sure someone will pick up."

Giselle was quiet as we walked through the Gate, then down the (newly installed) Rakia Road that led to Orario. Part way there, I couldn't take the silence, or wait to see my children, so I stopped, and hoped I wouldn't explode.

"You know." Shinkage and Giselle turned, both with the same (but for different reasons) cold stare, "I'm going to take the binding off."

"I suppose I can still call someone if you suddenly die, again." Shinakge said. "Belt first."

"Wait... again?" Giselle blinked, watching me hand over my belt of potions and such over.

"She isn't always so calm and collected." Shinkage said, "Stand back a little." Then, "Every so often she rushes when she should have just waited an extra ten minutes."

"I said I was sorry." I sighed, "Okay..." I rolled up the sleeves of my borrowed (but totally mine now) JSDF uniform. The complex seals on my forearms were hardly faded at all, showing that they were still in place. I even tried to break them with 'brute force' for a moment, pushing against them to reach my Kitsune power, and only succeeded in making them glow a dull red.

"Is that supposed to happen?" Giselle asked.

"Just making sure they were working still. Though, once in place, these tattoos could fade and it would still be in effect." I replied, taking a deep breath, then letting it out slowly. "I am Kodori Haruhime, and I am still me."

And with a weird pins and needles, cold water dripping down my arms, breeze over my skin, the ink Shinkage had put there only a few days ago just... evaporated. My forearms had a moment of haze over them, the smell of iron and oil went by my nose...

And I could feel my spiritual power wake back up and do a slow stretch, just like Fen-chan did every time you caught him napping. But more importantly... I didn't explode.

"Well?" Shinkage asked.

I took another deep breath, then summoned a little ball of foxfire. Then a little spirit fox. And just because I could, I had one chase the other for a moment. "Nothing feels off." I said, making them both vanish, "Okay. Back in a moment."

I started walking behind the nearest tree, unbuttoning my new uniform.

"Where are you go-ohhhhh." Giselle looked up at me, as I stepped around the tree in the skin of my giant fox form, the uniform held in my lips, "I'll take that?" And she did, rolling it up, "Eep?"

"She's in a hurry." Shinkage said, my tails lifting up the both of them and putting them on my back, "I hope you went before we left. It's a little bumpy."

"Can't be nearly as bad as one of those Humvee."

Giselle was a much better passenger than Rory. She felt more like Maki did, a little sister who needed my help. Of course, this would give me the... karmic privilege... to tease her on occasion. But later! She needed to not just be welcome, but feel it too.

It was a trick you used on people who have something on their mind. Keep changing the situation little by little until that 'thing' stopped taking up all their thoughts. You hear the saying, 'take a walk and you'll feel better', well, this was what I was doing.

There was of course no question that she'd be welcome.

"YAY! O-MA!"

Not more than four steps onto the property, after my passengers had hopped off and I'd changed back, and I was suddenly buried under a bunch of little ears and tails attached to my children.

"Oh no! My happy place has captured me!" I laughed, trying to gather them all up (you would think with an unbreakable grip this would be easy!) and hug them all at once. "Hey... Isn't it close to bed time?"

"Ha-ma said we could." Kei said as they flopped their upper body over my shoulder and rubbed cheeks with mine, "She said you were almost home."

"It's too late for her." Shinkage said, "We should get inside before they see us."

"pfft..." Giselle tried to cover the laugh, "Do you need me to rescue you this time?" She asked.

Her voice had gotten everyone's attention, "O-ma! You brought the dragon lady to visit?" Tatsuo asked, "Hello Miss dragon lady."

There was a little collection of 'hello miss dragon lady' from everyone.

Giselle knelt, "I dunno if I'm just visiting this time." She said, "But my name is Giselle. Pleased to meet you all."

I used the opportunity of them all waving to gather them all up and stand, "Got you all now! Mwahaha!" Ear nibbles and cheek rubs followed, "Okay, let's get back inside. Tomorrow is going to be a very busy day, and well..."

"You still have to ask permission." Shinkage said, "Though, at this point, it might as well be forgiveness."

"Uh oh... O-ma is in trouble." Chie said, "Do we get your cookies if you're in trouble?"

"Yes." I nodded.

When I entered the Manor, Hestia and Haruhime were there waiting. Both of them had the 'you're in trouble' look. For Hestia, it was a frown, for Haruhime, it was 'not smiling'.

"You missed dinner." Hestia said.

"Things didn't quite go as planned." I replied, setting children down, "But..."

"We've already gathered everyone in the living room." Haruhime said, "Good evening, Giselle-san."

"Oh... Hello Haruhime." Unused to the motion, Giselle still managed a good bow. "Um, pardon for intruding?"

"Another stray?" Hestia sighed, "Come along, let them chat. Giselle? Did you want something to drink? A place to put your stuff down?"

"Please?"

Shinkage didn't say anything, but brushed a hand through a tail as she and the others went by, leaving Haruhime and I to face each other.

"Was it worth the risk?" Haruhime asked, taking a step forward.

"I'm not sure yet." I said, "But, I think it will turn out well." I met her, and lifted my arms a little, similar to how I'd greet Ryuu, offering my forearms just in case she wanted to actually touch me/be touched. "After my bath, I would like it very much if I could hug you to bits."

"I will allow it." She held my forearms, then for just a moment slipped into them. Just a tiny bit past her usual 'public affection' levels. "But I will decide if it was worth the risk, after the meeting."

"Yes my love."

While Giselle nibbled on my cookies (I was pretty sure I wasn't going to get any after dropping this idea on them...), I explained what happened. Again, I left out a couple of minor points, but overall it was the entire encounter.

As a side note, everyone said they were going to make a point to thank Lelei. This included Sir Skitters, who immediately started to make something.

Then I told them my plan.

"So you want to... invite a bunch of them to Orario?" Welf asked, "The idea sounds like a lot of fun. But this isn't exactly the safest place."

"The caravan was well received, but they were guests." Asuka added, "Would this be another Xenos situation?"

Our three dragons and metal nightmare cat were all on/by one couch now. And Weine asked, "But... they hardly look different?"

That single comment got most of the room to pause. She was right. This wasn't a 'monsters have always been the enemy' thing. "They are people, and need help, but is this a good idea?" Ryuu asked.

"Will it work?" Bell asked. For him, it wasn't a question of helping, but how to help.

"They've had a rough time." Ouka said, "But not all of them are as... level headed as us, right?"

"I don't plan on having them settle in the city." I said. "We've all done a bit of travelling, and there's a lot of open land out there."

"Dangerous land." Momiji said, "Our trip from the East wasn't too difficult, but we would not have made the trip alone."

"Will all those races get along? They weren't always at peace, even discounting the Empire that drove them to this." Aisha added.

"And how do you plan to rally them? Surely it doesn't end with having them wait by the Gate for you to pick them up?" Maki asked.

I sighed. This may be just a little too wild an idea. But...

"The river delta on the train route to the mines." I said, "It's a massive plot of land, defensible, with forests nearby, clean water, fish and wildlife." I took a little breath, "These people have nearly nothing. Our team that went over saw what they were fighting, fighting for, and fighting against."

Kaede mumbled, "They had hope, but it was so brittle. Before I was shot, I heard what he said. That I was a Traitor. They aren't united by race, but by a cause, and having one of their own abandon it was unthinkable for them."

"There's a lot of little details to work out." I admitted.

"Some... most... of them are criminals though... right?" Chigusa said, "They've been driven to it, but..."

Silent until now, all eyes went to the three Gods.

"These people need justice. But they won't get it by fighting the innocent." Astraea shook her head, "But removing them from the need to fight for survival because they have to, to a place where they can if they want to..."

"Everyone wants a home. But... what about their families?" Hestia asked.

"Indeed." Takemikazuchi said seriously, unfolding his new fan, then snapping it closed, "They would have escape, but no future."

"I have an idea for that." I nodded, "But I'll need some help for sure."

The three Gods of the house looked at each other, then the rest of us, then just on me. "I hope Eina doesn't explode." Hestia sighed.

Even though it was well after dinner, I'd skipped out on making food for Giselle. So, I was doing that now, peeking in at some of our leftovers in our cold room and whipping up something quick.

"Wow!" Giselle stepped out of the walk in freezer with me, "A room made up of winter!" She hugged herself and did a little 'brr', but was still smiling.

"We call it a 'freezer'." I said, not bothering to waste magic stone on the stove and just using my foxfire. "Just one of the many times many things... You like fish?"

"Sure!" She smiled, then frowned, "It's one of those things... But how do you even do it without magic?"

"That is magic, but I can show you how to do it without later." I sprinkled some herbs over the sizzling fish, found Orario's equivalent of a lemon, cut it in half and squeezed it over that side as well. "Some of the innovation you're missing out on is food related you know."

"What? No way!" She paused, "Wait... food is food though. I mean, plant in spring, water it, keep the bugs and weeds away... harvest! Right?"

I cut a thin slice from the half of the lemon I didn't use, "Give that a tiny lick."

You could almost see the '?' over her head when she took the slice between her clawtips and gave it a m'lem. She then started to vibrate in place, her tail and wings twitching, "Wow! Sour! Wait! You're adding that to the fish? Noooo!"

I put a hand on her forehead as she tried to 'rescue' the fish. "That fruit was bred much like an animal." I used my other hand to flip the fish over and give it the same treatment. "The orchard keeper would use the seeds of the most sour fruit, and plant them in their own little field. Years later, he'd do it again. And again. Until you have that."

She relented and sat back down. "But... what happened to the rest?"

"Oh, those are just mild versions of this one." I shrugged, "Itami's world has something called 'broccoli' and 'cauliflower'. They're totally different looking, but came from different cuttings of the same plant."

I put the lemon and herb fish on a plate and set it in front of her, then gave her a knife and fork. While she gave it the 'pre meal exam' (you know, look, smell, pokepoke with fork) I used a mild version of that lemon to make a little juice for her. Then she tried a bite.

After the day I'd just had? It felt amazing to be sparkled at. "Don't talk with your mouth full." I said before she could comment, "Once you're done, we'll find a spot for you to sleep tonight. It's going to be one of those days tomorrow."

"'k!" She replied, the tip of her dragon tail wiggling about happily.

Finally, everything was done for the day. Giselle was napping in our 'random guest for a sleepover' room. The children were sleeping. Dishes were done. I'd had a quick shower. And to top it off, I had set aside the little ideas I had for this massive plan.

And of course, Fen-chan was by the bedroom door. Once he spotted me, he stalked over, accepted some scroofles, then started to nose me towards the door just that much faster.

Both Haruhime and Aisha were waiting for me, and while there wasn't anything naughty before I got to sleep, I was quite firmly locked in place as the 'middle spoon'. There was no chance I was getting up early tomorrow.

NOTES!

There's still some fallout from her little encounter but I'll leave you all guessing for just a little longer. Poor Eina and Royman will probably be losing their minds at all the upcoming paperwork, but what good is being 'the strongest' if you can't help people?

Look forward to more art soon too! :)

Thank you for reading! And if you want to see any full colour art, join the discord!

Daeore on Ko-fi

aKAQg4bnYu for the discord!

And my actual book, Were Too? is on Inkitt.