Authoress' Notes: I don't know what this is so don't even ask. I'm just writing out this random scene in my head. No particular point in the The Seven Deadly Sins / Nanatsu no Taizai timeline, just probably some time between season one and season two. Because of how many stories I have in the works, I do not intend on expanding on this idea. This is a stand alone but I hope you all enjoy it regardless.
Summary: The squad's antics bring up a topic that the girls didn't usually chat about while in the hot springs.
Pairings: A hot mess of unrequited and tangled love, not overly indulgent in one particular pairing.
The Order of Eternal Pining
A deluge of pinks and purples washed over the sky's daytime hues. Dusk was upon Meliodas and his ragtag crew made up of his four fellow Sins, Hawk, Princess Elizabeth, and Priestess Kagome. Just a few hours ago, they finished subduing several orders of holy knights who sought the glory of defeating the Sins and bringing Elizabeth and Kagome to the castle. With Elizabeth being a runaway princess of the kingdom, the knights' order for her capture seemed obvious enough. But they had yet to figure out why Grand Masters were after Kagome suddenly.
Kagome's presence in the realm was only recently rediscovered after she had been off the radar for years. The priestess had joined Meliodas' party shortly after and he, Hawk, and Elizabeth recruited Diane. Back then both Diane and Elizabeth were puzzled when Meliodas chose to search a well-traversed forest for "reinforcements" instead of heading straight for where Ban was known to be captive. At that time, he grinned widely and assured them, "Ah, Ban will be fine. Knowing him, Ban let himself be captured. I'm sure he'll bust himself out when he hears about us."
Imagine Diane's surprise when Meliodas informed them that he was chasing the rumor of someone powerful, but not a fellow Sin. "Oh, wow!" Elizabeth's eyes glittered in the splendorous scene before her. They arrived at a great tree with a broad waist and expansive branches that reached for the sun. A wooden door was settled in the middle of the trunk and a shuttered window sat several stories above the door. "So beautiful. It looks just like something out of a fairytale~" her voice was breathless as she, Hawk, and Diane stood back, allowing Meliodas to strut over to the front door.
"Lady Diane," Elizabeth looked up at the giantess, curiosity in her eyes as Meliodas knocked on the door. "Do you know if Sir Meliodas is friends with any elves?"
"Elves?" Diane quirked a brow at the inquiry. Her eyes strayed from Elizabeth to the doorway as she heard the door creak upon opening. "I don't know of anyone li—" Her eyes widened in terror when a buxom beauty stepped through the threshhold. Diana's pitch became high and shrill when the young woman's face lit up. "—IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKKKKKKKEEEEE." Kagome smiled and pulled Meliodas in for an embrace that was cut short from the shriek Diane was releasing.
As usual, Diane's shock quickly turned into a burst of anger as she charged forward, her teary-eyed rant muted Elizabeth's soft cry of, "Lady Diane, wait—!" It was too late, a single punch from the giantess demolished and leveled the entire tree home. Needless to say, Kagome and Diane got off on the wrong foot.
Diane had worriedly peeked through an open window of the Boar Hat as Kagome, Meliodas, Elizabeth, and Hawk settled around a table. "So how about dinner, Kaggy?" the blond grinned from ear to ear.
"Meliodas, you're a true monster!" Hawk squealed in protest. "You're really going to punish this poor girl with your cooking after her home was just destroyed?!"
"Don't worry, Hawk," Kagome's smile was brilliant as she stated nonchalantly, "There's no way I'd be stupid enough to eat anything Mel schemes up."
"Only Kaggy could pull off that sweet but cruel beauty gimmick," Meliodas's words earned him a light chop to his forehead and a deadpan 'Sweet talk will get you no where' from the young woman. Kagome called the captain out on how he was trying to talk his way into her making dinner. Despite how casual the pair's banter was, the subtle flush to Kagome's cheek did not go unnoticed by Diane nor Elizabeth. In the end, with her only home utterly destroyed, Kagome readily agreed to join the team. The priestess instantly took to Elizabeth's saccharine demeanor and devoted herself to using her holy magic to protect Elizabeth during battle. With the use of Kagome's unparalleled barrier magic, Meliodas and Diane could now go all out offensively without worry of playing defense.
It was shortly after Kagome had been spotted with the group that her image was added to her very own wanted poster. Fast-forward to this evening and their party grew to acquire Ban, King, and Gowther. Kagome was finishing up on her rounds of healing her comrades' injuries from their recent battle.
Now, Meliodas was delegating tasks to his squad as Kagome was making her healing rounds around them. The priestess started her rounds with Gowther, who had one of his hands detached during their recent battle. "No need to use your magic on me," Gowther told her. He casually reattached his hand at the wrist then flexed his fingers before Kagome's very own eyes. The priestess bristled but offered a smile and expressed her gladness that he was well.
Gowther then observed Kagome as she continued with her rounds. Diane happily accepted the priestess' offer, beaming as the young women exchanged friendly chatter. Kagome's eyes then moved to King, who was floating nearby, hovering well above the ground to keep near Diane. "Hey, King, come here for a sec," The priestess coaxed him with a wave of her hand.
The fairy king, in his diminutive form, quickly obliged and floated down to be eye level with the priestess. "Yes?" He queried, "What can I do for you, Lady Kagome?" His fair skin brightened around his cheeks when Kagome grabbed the hem of one of his sleeves and rolled it up to expose his slender arm, which was covered in minor abrasions. "L-Lady Kagome!" His pitched increased as he pulled his arm away and ascended out of her reach.
"Kiiiiiiiing," Kagome sang in almost a pout. "Get back here. I just want to heal you up!"
"Judging by that reaction, it looks like King thought you wanted to feel him up," Ban wore a toothy smirk as he walked over to the priestess. Before Kagome could roll her eyes, King was quick to sputter his denial, but not without assuring the priestess that he meant no offense to her.
"Whatever," Ban already seemed bored of King's fluster so he decided to return his attention to Kagome, "Ey, Kags. You can—." Gowther saw the way Ban's eyes narrowed upon finding that she ignored him and moved on to Meliodas. She shuffled her feet with her arms behind her back, her torso somewhat bent forward as she spoke to the blond in a coy pose.
Ban wore an his impassive expression, his hands in his pockets as he trailed behind the priestess. "Aw, I appreciate your concern but I'm fine. I'd rather you focus your magic on Elizabeth," Meliodas told her as he caught the princess' eye, earning a pretty blush from her.
"N-No, I'm fine, Lady Kagome!" Elizabeth raised her hands. "You protected me like you always do so—! E-Ehhh!" Her heart-felt statement was cut short by the feeling of Meliodas' hands cupping her plush breasts from behind.
"She's right, Kaggy," Meliodas added, a lecherous smile on his face as he continued copping a feel on the red-cheeked but complacent princess, "I really do owe you for always protecting Elizabeth. Once this is all over, I'll be sure to keep my promise to you."
Gowther noted how the words stopped almost everyone's breaths.
"Oh..." Kagome's voice was also affected by Meliodas' smile. She tucked some hair behind her ear as she responded softly, "That? I almost forgot about it myself. Don't worry about it, ok—. Heh?!"
The priestess nearly jumped out of her skin when Ban suddenly appeared to her left and Gowther on her direct right. Ban propped an elbow on top of Kagome's head and leaned his cheek onto his hand. "Come to think of it, Kags," he cut in, "You offered to heal everyone except me. What's up with that?"
"Oh, I don't know, Ban," Kagome, having gotten used to be being used like a table, merely deadpanned while shrugging her shoulders, "Could it be because you're an immortal?"
"Ah man," Ban exaggerated a sign. "That's such a complete 180 from the time you thought I died."
"Uh, Ban..." Meliodas relinquished his grip on Elizabeth when he noticed the way Kagome's head dipped, her bangs clouding her vision.
Ban gently twisted the tip of his pinky finger inside his ear, gathering wax as he looked towards the darkening sky as he recalled aloud, "It wasn't long ago either. You were wailing like a baby and getting snot all over my chest."
Elizabeth's brows furrowed worriedly when Kagome remained eerily still and quiet. While Kagome was typical good-natured and sweet, she had a temper that would flare if the wrong buttons were pushed. And it just so happened that the person who typically pushed those buttons was the man flicking a glob of ear wax into the wind, "You don't have to go back to that Kagome but how about you meet me right in the middle? Huh?"
Ban had to catch himself when the support of Kagome's head suddenly disappeared from beneath him. Suddenly, the priestess was on her knees, wrapped within Meliodas' arms, "Hey, Ban. Mess with King and Hawk all you want but no teasing Kaggy like that," he lightly scolded. "There, there..." He whispered when the priestess gripped his vest and buried her face within his scent with a sigh of 'Mel...'
"C-Captain!" Diane shrieked upon seeing Meliodas' rare display of affection. Normally he would reserve such intimacy for Elizabeth but now—. 'E-Everyone except me?!'
"I finally confirmed it," Gowther finally spoke up. All eyes were on him as he pushed his glasses further up his nose, "I had been curious about Kagome's relationship with the captain since we've been reunited."
"Relationship?" Meliodas blinked but continued patting Kagome's head. "That's easy. We're good friends."
"Ouch..." Diane whispered as she aimed sympathetic eyes at the priestess.
"Friends..." Gowther repeated without blinking. "Based on my observations, it is more far more complex than that," he continued, meeting Kagome's eyes as the priestess finally peeled herself away from Meliodas. "The captain is what you would call 'popular' as the princess, Diane, and Kagome all harbor feelings of love for him."
Elizabeth's cheeks brightened as she threw her hands over her mouth. Ban's and King's jaws dropped at the Goat's sin brazen statement. Hawk stiffened and he squeaked, "No way! I knew about Elizabeth and Diane but I had no clue Meliodas captivated poor Kagome's heart too!"
Meliodas' expression remained neutral as he placed his hands on hips, not having to act as Kagome and Diane took the initiative. Kagome sprung into action, jumping from her knees and gripping Gowther's shirt as she shook him frantically. "Even if you think something is true, doesn't mean you have to say it out loud!"
Meanwhile, the giantess inverted Kagome's actions, collapsing to her knees, tears in her eyes and her hands formed loose fists in front of her chest, "Gowther, how can you be such a jerk?! You can't just out all the girls like that in front of everyone!"
"Oh, I see," Gowther was unfazed by Kagome's flustered fury and Diane's cries. "So you're upset about the imbalance of knowledge. Very well." Kagome blinked and ceased shaking the Goat sin, but as still gripped his shirt as he spoke. Gowther lifted a dainty finger and aimed it towards King, "Kagome, you have nothing to worry about in regard to your sex appeal. I've noticed that—."
"Eh?" Kagome blinked when she was suddenly separated from Gowther by Ban, King, and Meliodas. All three piled their hands over his mouth. King wore a rosy, perturbed expression. Ban was clearly agitated while Meliodas gave Kagome and Elizabeth an unconvincing grin that came off as more sly than reassuring. "Oh, boy... This is going to get messy, isn't it, Hawk?" the priestess asked as the pig stood next to her.
"Yeah, and a mess that doesn't involve scraps for me is my least favorite kind," He added as he flared his nostrils.
It was later that night that Kagome ushered Diane and Elizabeth towards a hot spring that she spotted before they settled down in their current spot. "A bath? If you need help washing your back, I'd be more than happy to help you, Eliza—." Meliodas didn't even get to finish his offer because Kagome dropped threw a spare towel at his face, successfully muffling his words.
"H-How about me, Lady Kagome?" King shyly raised a hand. Kagome's eyes usually were gentle when she looked at him, but he immediately stiffened when her gaze pierced his soul. He immediately raised his hands and explained, "I-I mean, I was offering to accompany you ladies as a lookout!" Her unconvinced hum and deadpanned expression made him frantic to clear his image, "I just think you'd all be quite vulnerable out there w-while...while..." his voice wavered as the devilish image of three ladies in nude flashed in his mind.
Kagome pulled Elizabeth out of the way of the gush of blood that shot out of King's nose. "That settles it," the priestess concluded, her cadence returning to normal. "I'm never trusting you again, King."
"Uh oh... Looks like Kagome discovered your true self, King," Ban teased from his spot in the kitchen.
"W-What?!" King squeaked. "Unlike you and the captain, I have honor and would never disgrace Diane, Lady Elizabeth, or Lady Kagome!"
"Come on, Elizabeth," Kagome walked the princess out of the tavern and into the night air. "Diane has been waiting long enough. Gowther, you can be our lookout."
Kagome forced Elizabeth to ignore how Meliodas, King, and Ban all expressed their dissent in their own ways. Once the pair and Gowther stepped outside, the priestess looked up at the giantess and smiled, "Ready to go?"
Diane immediately nodded, her twin tails bopping adorably, "Yeah, let's go~!"
Not long later, Diane was soaking her feet in the steaming water, a great relief from her long day of fighting and walking. Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Kagome's much smaller bodies were submerged up to their chests. Gowther stood idly behind a tree within the vicinity, playing the role of trusted lookout from holy knights or any other unwelcome guests.
"I'm no Meliodas but I'll gladly wash your back, Elizabeth," Kagome smiled when the princess turned beet red at her teasing.
"L-Lady Kagome, I-I-I wouldn't!—" Her voice was breathy and shrill as she squirmed at the thought. "I-I mean...!"
"There's no need to pretend around us, Elizabeth," Diane told her, idly kicking her feet and sending small waves across the spring. "As annoying as it was, Gowther was right earlier. It's obvious that all three of us love the captain."
Kagome giggled and added, "I think she may have been more scared of incurring your wrath, Diane."
Diane huffed and pouted at the thought, "Hey! I know I can be intense but I'd never harm you or Elizabeth because of my feelings!"
This time it was Elizabeth's turn to giggle, even with her back turned, the princess could hear that teasing smile in Kagome's voice as she responded, "Oh yeah? This is coming from the girl who totaled my home not too long ago~?"
"Oh, come on!" Diane was definitely pouting, "I thought we moved past all that!"
"Oh, we did," Kagome replied as she used a small basin to pour warm over Elizabeth's shoulders. "I just couldn't stop myself from messing with you."
Diane laughed before kicking her foot and sending a wave of hot water that washed over Kagome and Elizabeth. "You're so mean to me, Kagome!" She giggled when the princess and priestess immediately re-emerged from beneath the spring's surface. "Is that any way to treat a fellow member of our secret order?"
"Secret order...?" Elizabeth blinked and turned to face Kagome who gave her an embarrassed smile.
The raven haired young woman chuckled nervously as she whispered, "Weeeell... I guess it's not so secret anymore." Her eyes lifted from the opaque water to Elizabeth's curious expression. "Diane and I together are the sole members of the Order of Eternal Pining," She explained with her pointer finger aimed at the sky. "Eh heh... It's kinda embarrassing admitting that to you though."
"It is...?" Elizabeth questioned softly. "But why is that? And what is this order of yours? I've never heard of it before."
Kagome and Diane exchanged looks, both silently agreeing that their princess was far too sweet and innocent for her own good. But with her being their precious friend and around that age, they decided to be honest with her.
"Now don't get funny ideas, Elizabeth," Diane smiled softly. "This isn't anything official or anything. It's just how Kagome and I bonded and became this close." She looked towards the moon, its silvery light illuminating the night. "We both realized that our feelings for the captain would probably never reach him."
"Lady Diane..." Elizabeth's eyes lowered with sorrow. Her pale hand lifted to her chest, "Lady Kagome... I..."
Kagome shook her head and poked Elizabeth firmly on the forehead a few times, "Hey now. If we're not depressed about it then there's no reason for you to be." She smiled when Elizabeth's expression didn't shift from being pained and conflicted. "Besides, we only took on that name after we decided the Captain Meliodas Fanclub sounded too lame."
"Kagome, don't tell her that part!" Diane huffed. "I thought we agreed not to tell anyone about that lame-o name!"
"Oh, it's just Elizabeth," Kagome waved her hand dismissively. "Besides, I get the feeling that our little order will be disbanded sooner than later."
"Eh?" Diane blinked at that. "But why, Kagome? Are you falling out of love with the captain?"
"I wish," Kagome admitted with a sigh. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax against a rock behind her. "Honestly, I envy both of you. Elizabeth has Mel and you, Diane... there's already someone special with his eye on you."
Unbeknownst to the young women, King was hidden behind a cluster of boulders nearby. He didn't intend to eavesdrop on their private conversation. He only wanted to provide an extra layer of security while they were vulnerable, especially with how the holy knights were after both the princess and priestess. "Oh, Diane..." He whispered softly as he buried his warm face into his pillow. "What should I do...? As promised, I will always love you, but..."
As much as he hated to admit it, there was another bright smile that had been plaguing his mind lately. He didn't intend for it to happen. Kagome was just so sweet and kind and pretty. It first happened when she first healed him weeks back. She got close and smelled so familiar. Sweet like nectar, fresh like a waterfall, and pure like a goddess. It was striking how a human had a fragrance similar to his home-something akin to a fairy. Based on that alone, he couldn't say that he was in love with the priestess. But also Gowther was going to say earlier, he was definitely attracted to her. And he'd hate to admit it but he was developing a crush on her day by day.
"Ehhh?" Diane seemed surprised by Kagome's confession. "You need to leave the envy thing to me. It's in my name after all," she smiled before adding, "It's not the same level as Elizabeth but the captain treats you pretty specially too."
"You think Mel treats me specially?" Kagome's brows rose with surprise. "I don't know. Just like you, he's never hit on me once," she stated. She then waved her hand at Elizabeth reassuring, "Not that I want him to. I wouldn't know what to say if he did."
"Think about it this way, Kagome," Diane leaned closer as she got more and more into the conversation. "You're the only person who he calls by a nickname and I've never seen him get so close to anyone but Elizabeth before!"
"Oh, come on," Kagome looked unconvinced before chuckling. "I'm the one who started the nickname thing. I got tired of saying his full name back when we first met."
"...speaking of when two first met..." Elizabeth's soft voice uncharactertistically cut into the conversation. She couldn't help but lower her eyes when Kagome and Diane looked at her. "Kagome...i-if it's not too much personal, I was hoping you would tell me more about your relationship with Sir Meliodas...such as how you became so close and about...his promise."
Diane went silent, allowing Kagome the opportunity to answer without more pressure. The giantess was curious about the promise too but didn't want to ask anything that would make her friend uncomfortable.
"Don't look so worried, Elizabeth," Kagome suddenly spoke up, her voice was at its normal, warm cadence. The princess was surprised to lift her head and discover the priestess wearing a fond smile, her eyes softer than usual. "I don't mind telling you two about it. It's no big deal, really..."
And so, Kagome spent some time flashbacking and explaining how she first met Meliodas. "Believe it or not but I'm actually not from this world..." Diane and Elizabeth looked surprised at the revelation. Outside of her accent, Kagome had no peculiarities that made her stand out as someone from another world. "I was all alone for the longest time, until Mel found me by chance."
Elizabeth could just imagine Kagome's memories as she spoke, "He was very kind. He taught me how to speak and read and write this language..." She remembered the long nights around a campfire as she and Meliodas tried to decipher what the other was saying. It started with Meliodas pointing at his chest with his thumb with a deliberate, slow 'Me-li-o-das'. "He even helped me build my old tree home." Diane couldn't help the twang of guilt that shot through her. "And before he left to return to the castle, Mel promised that he'd find a way to get me back to my home world..."
"Ohhhh," Diane squealed while cupping her cheeks within her hands. "I'm so jealous! You claim it's no big deal but that story is so romantic! You definitely have no reason to be jealous of me!"
Elizabeth nodded in agreement, "She's right, Kagome. Sir Meliodas definitely cherishes you like no other."
Kagome blushed at the statement and smiled, appreciative but sad, "Thanks, but..."
"And besides!" Diane cut in before they could start a pity part. "He's no prince charming but I'm pretty sure there's someone who has his eye on you too!"
Diane wasn't one to meddle into others' affairs or out them like Gowther, but she certainly noticed the liking that Ban took to the priestess lately. It started after the waterworks that she put on before she discovered his immortality. Ever since then, Ban began preparing more and more foreign dishes that no one but Kagome recognized. But no one complained because his culinary prowess made anything look and taste amazing.
Kagome was usually perceptive, but with her eyes set on Meliodas, she didn't seem to notice Ban's childish ways of showing his affection for her. Diane initially thought the way he'd hold objects out of Kagome's reach or pointing out her bedhead was bullying, but she soon saw a smile that she had never seen on Ban's face when he was the object of Kagome's attention—even if it was merely her ire.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to anyone but Gowther, Ban himself was standing behind a nearby tree, rubbing the back of his neck, silently cursing Diane and resisting the temptation from revealing his presence to prevent her from spilling more information. It was true that he found himself wanting Kagome's attention more and more lately. He felt terrible for wanting to see more and more of Kagome's faces while still wanting to bring Elaine back to life, but—.
Kagome was wrong that night.
The Order of Eternal Pining would not be dissolving for a long, long time.