.

.

"Kofuku! What did you do?!" Daikoku said.

He and the other gods were watching in horror as Kazuma staggered back and forth around the table, bumping into a chair and slumping next to Bishamon.

"I didn't do anything! All he's drinking is cranberry juice," Kofuku said.

Daikoku's eyes narrowed. "How do you know it's cranberry juice?" Daikoku said.

"Because I tasted it~" Kofuku said. Daikoku grabbed his head in his hands.

"Dammit, Kofuku, I told you not to touch anything!"

"But Kazu-chan's drink looked so tasty! It had a pineapple garnish and a fruity pink umbrella and everything~"

"I think we should probably head home," Bishamon said. She hoisted Kazuma's arm around her shoulder, bearing his weight. "My guide is a little out of sorts."

"Dontcha mean your boyfriend?" Yato said.

"I prefer the term 'partner,' but I suppose I could call it that," Bishamon said.

"IYAAAAAA!" Kofuku said. "BISHA HAS A BOYFRIEND!"

Kazuma's chin wobbled. "Veena you have a boyfriend?"

"No, Kazuma." Bishamon sighed. "I was actually talking about you."

xXx

.

They staggered down the darkened street, their footsteps scraping against the pavement.

"Veena, wait. Wait."

"What is it?" Bishamon hefted him across her shoulder.

His gaze drifted hazily. "There's a pothole at one o'clock, half a meter in front of you. Please be careful. If you trip you'll hurt yourself."

Kazuma's foot caught the edge of the pothole. He tripped and pitched forward, sprawling onto the pavement.

"Veena," Kazuma said from the ground. "I've located the pothole."

"Oh boy." Bishamon hooked her hands beneath his arms and pulled him upwards. "Remind me not to wear heels when I'm out drinking with you."

They staggered down the street, Kazuma grinning stupidly while Veena carried him on her back. It would have been easier to just transform him into her earring, but she was trying her best to respect Kazuma as a person. People sometimes needed to be carried. After all, Kazuma had to drag her back to the manor after that picnic under Suzaha's tree. It was only fair.

"Veena," Kazuma said. "Am I burden to you?"

"You mean right now or in general?"

"I...wait. Huh?"

Bishamon tried not to laugh. Apparently that question was too complex to answer in his current state.

"You're not a burden," she said, kindly. "Although you are very heavy."

"You should...you should...you should put me in your ear."

"Hm."

"But I want to stand next to you! I want to stay beside you! I don't want to be inside your ear!"

"Hush. No one's putting you in my ear."

"You have very pretty ears," Kazuma said, earnestly.

They reached their bedroom. Bishamon dragged him inside and he staggered in front of her, falling face-first into the bed. Sighing, Bishamon plucked off his glasses, setting them on the nightstand before getting to the task of undressing him. With some difficulty, she managed to pull off his shirt and tie, then yanked off his socks and pants before hefting him bodily into the bed.

"Veena?"

"Yes, Kazuma?" She tugged a blanket over his shoulders and gingerly slid a pillow under his head.

"I love you."

Bishamon stopped. Kazuma's eyes were hazy, unfocused, but as soon as he caught her gaze he smiled, softly. She smiled and gently stroked his hair.

"I love you too. Get some rest," she said. She lightly kissed his forehead, then stood up to change into her nightgown.

"Veena?"

"Yes, Kazuma?"

She sat on the bed next to him.

"May we have sex?" he asked.

Veena started laughing. "What? Now?"

"We need to keep up our average." He pulled himself into her lap, sinking contentedly against her stomach. "Once, sometimes twice a day, right?"

"I don't know, Kazuma, I don't want to take advantage of you," Bishamon said, smiling. He smiled and kissed her stomach.

"You can take advantage of me whenever you want." He nuzzled her thigh, smiling sleepily. She gently stroked his hair.

The clock ticked. Kazuma's eyes were closed and his breathing had deepened, and it struck Bishamon that it was the first time Kazuma had laid his head on her lap like this. Slowly, she lifted his head and placed it back onto the pillow, before slipping under the covers next to him.

"Veena?"

"Hm?"

"Is it true that I'm your boyfriend?"

"Well I suppose I never really thought about it." Bishamon stroked his hair, thoughtfully. "You're my Kazuma. Everything else is pretty much the same."

"Except that we have sex?"

"Except that we have sex."

"May we have sex now?" he asked again, earnestly. Bishamon smiled.

"Okay," she said, and she smiled up at him. He smiled back at her, then promptly passed out.