The Fading Whispers

by CharlotteValentine

NozoEli fan fiction. An AU where Nozomi is a Ghost buster and Eli is that kind of person who often gets into trouble because apparently, she attract ghost. Rated M because clearly, I'll do something lewd for NozoEli.

24. EXTRA 2

Here is the next one!

Note: This is also a mix with The Revenant of Justice, if you haven't read them you might want to do it!

---

That night,

Nozomi and Eli are on their way to the supermarket to get some groceries. They hold their hands together to keep themselves warm in the cold winter. Eli with her white fur jacket and Nozomi with her black fur jacket, both are wearing dark colored jeans and cute colored sweater.

"It's been a few years now, I kind of miss universities. Working isn't as great as what I expected to be." Nozomi said.

"Surely, you are taking a little too much effort on your job." Eli replied.

"Speak for yourself, Miss Work-all-day-for-the-win." The purplenette replied with a cute pout.

"There, Nozomi, shouldn't we remind each other? I just did that to you." The blonde replied with a playful smile.

"You are, but seriously, Ericchi. The time when I told you to change, it's not for you to change into a big bully, especially to your cute girlfriend!"

"I need to satisfy my hunger of affection, honey."

"How much time I have to tell you to just ask for it?"

"It's much more fun when we hint."

Nozomi rolled her eyes.

"Impossible, you're really impossible!" she said.

"I never mind when you are messing with me." The blonde replied with a giggle.

"Well I don't mind too, but you're overdoing it! Who in shattering earth buy her girlfriend some kinky edible undergarment and told her to strip and dance in it!"

"Someone who want to have some delicious and sexy fun?"

"You shouldn't answer that, silly fox!"

"Sometime I think you're a spoiled lover. You keep making me dance while you just sit there and watching me awkwardly." The purplenette continued still with a pout on her face.

"It's not awkward, you know. I'm enjoying it."

"It is awkward for me! You're really impossible, Ericchi!"

"Well then, what about this, you buy me some sexy clothes, then I'll dance for you."

"I would love that! Serve me for a night, make me blush and weak on my knees. If I didn't laugh at you for an hour, then you win."

"What? Is this a competition now?"

"It's a challenge, Ericchi, I know you are always making an awkward idea whenever we have our intimate time. You never put that serious face anymore and I miss it."

"Now, that's a little bit too much, Nozomi. I barely remember how is 'serious' in your term!"

"The Lust! I want you to act like that again! Not the childish Ericchi who makes me do all the sexy work and touch me after!"

"You don't like my touch?"

"I love your touch! But I need to satisfy my love of being dominated, I need a role play, that's all!"

"Hnng…. I need to awaken that emotion again. Maybe it will take some time…." Eli said.

"I don't mind if you're taking your time, as long as you really can make me weak to my knees, blush as red as I was, or being as happy as how I was doing it with your Lust. I need that thrill so bad!"

The two stopped their 'adult' conversation as they enter the supermarket.

"Well, what about salmon for dinner, Nozomi?" the blonde woman started another topic.

"Sure, a little change on our menu would be nice."

"Salmon salad."

"Sounds good, I can help you with cutting the veggies."

"Then, what do you want for morning?" The blonde asked with her gentle voice.

"Hmm, I think Hanayo-chan told me about her new favorite menu of breakfast yesterday. Rice Burger."

"Alright, I can make that one easily. I'll go get some salmon, you get the veggies."

"No problem." Nozomi replied before she watched her darling leave for the seafood section. She turn herself and head to the vegetable section which is pretty far away from the seafood section. They took each of their own shopping basket.

The supermarket isn't small, it's very big and truth to be told, anyone who are new can be lost in it. Honestly, Nozomi isn't that good on mapping her way to the vegetable section. She need some time to memorize the exact place of that specific section.

She has to go around a little and pretend to browse around in order to make her flaw less-visible. Then when her eyes find the section she headed there and began to search for the vegetables.

It took a while for them to pick. Vegetables has to be in a specific condition to be healthy and fresh. The flawless one looks good, but without a few bug bitten part, it suspiciously may contain a pesticide. But, too much bug bitten may also mean that it's rotten or contain some living bugs in it.

Other than the greens, Nozomi also decided to get some tomatoes—which hilariously reminded her of that one specific friend. She smiled faintly as she picks them, then search for the sweet and woody scent, checking for any part that may be too squishy, and comparing its color to the rest of them.

Lastly, she began to search for additional veggies or fruits that may fit with the taste of salmon. Though, before she was able to move to another section…

A tall blonde woman, with that specific icy blue eyes and pale skin, with that one specific white fur jacket, that specific sweater and that specific dark jeans, standing in front of her. Her face is exactly the face she always knew, except, something feel different. Her aura, her charisma, and her expression are not the same one with the one she always knew.

There's a sexy atmosphere when she stood and gazing at her, but it's not quite the same sexy that she knew. It's not even the same sexy with that one emotion she met.

Trying to not risk of mistaking this person with her girlfriend, she decided to ignore and continue searching for her vegetables. This person didn't move from her place and instead, she is watching her very quietly.

For a few minutes, Nozomi began to feel uneasy. Something is definitely wrong with that one specific blonde. When she remembered how their eyes met, there's a feeling that overwhelming her. It's like a feeling of desire, a feeling of getting dominated, and an unknown feeling that makes her heart racing so fast.

This person isn't a human being.

She thought.

Well, she is a fox. I always knew that.

She thought again.

But something is different, very-very different and she don't know how to describe this differences. Nozomi decided to continue shopping to wherever she find to be interesting. The chocolate section perhaps? See if this person eyes sparkles as she saw it—if this person follows her anyway.

Walking through the sweets and snacks section, Nozomi could see that the person she somewhat knew followed her. There's no difference from the way she walk or the way she dress. Alas, anyone will identify her as the same person who walked with her before.

She stopped at the milk-chocolate rack, pretending to be browsing and reading the prices attached.

"You're going to get me some?" the specific blonde said—with the exact voice she knew.

She is not mistaken.

This is her girlfriend. But… is she really?

"Yes, which one do you like?" Nozomi replied.

"Milk Chocolate, with almonds please." The blonde replied.

Exactly the one that always been her favorite.

"That's rare of you, I thought you always prefer the bitter one?" Nozomi replied.

"I thought you knew that I love all chocolates, I may change my preference from time to time." She replied.

Smart. Nozomi couldn't outwit that statement. Hell, that would be what her girlfriend says too!

"Well then, I'll go pick the small one for you." Nozomi said before she hovered her hand to the small chocolate bar with the brand that Eli dislikes.

The blonde suddenly grab her hand,

"I thought you knew that brand is too sugary and I don't like it."

Then hovering it to the brand she always love.

"This one is better."

The blonde continued with a very gentle and charming voice whispered to her ear.

Is this her response to what I asked her…?

Nozomi thought in her mind.

She is overdoing it again. My heart is racing so fast. This woman is too…

She could feel her knee began to weaken as her eyes gazes longer to the enchanting icy blue eyes.

Beautiful…

She continued with her blood rushing up to her cheek.

"Ericchi…" she called her softly.

"Yes… Honey…?" The blonde replied.

That's a calling that she always use as well. This is scary,

Nozomi doesn't know if she truly is talking to her girlfriend right now. She is too…

Someone else…

"Are you really my Ericchi?" she asked.

"Am I really yours?" The blonde gave her the most charming naughty smile she ever see.

"What about you? Are you really mine?" she asked her back with a whisper.

The pale white cold hand reached down to her waist very carefully.

"Cold…" Nozomi said, her voice has weakened by a strange atmosphere that emitted around the blonde.

Something is really wrong.

She said to herself as she feels like she is about to collapse.

"There, you're not supposed to fall asleep here, why don't we go home now?" the blonde asked.

"But… the groceries…?" Nozomi asked with the weakest voice she ever made.

"Why are you worrying about something that I can handle?" the blonde said seductively as she brushes her hand slowly against her waist down to her groin.

Nozomi couldn't respond. She is too weak to speak. Again, it may be her gaze that drain all of her energies.

"Take a seat outside, I'll handle the groceries." The blonde said.

Nozomi nods and she couldn't even keep her eyes open at the very moment.

---

I am…

The Empress of the Underworld…

A beautiful voice spoke to her mind. She knew this voice very well, but the one she knew is not even the Empress of the Underworld. Kagemi, is the empress of underworld that she knows, not her dear.

I came from another Universe…

To see you…

The voice continued.

Another universe? It doesn't make any sense to her ear. Unless, it's just like what a weird woman said before. Who was her name again?

Lilith Faith?

Such a beautiful woman. A worthy candidate of a wife.

I'd wed you if I could.

Then, your womb shall be bearing my child.

Nozomi can't respond to that sentence. It's honestly would be the most disgusting sentence she ever heard, but then didn't she say… she was The Empress of the Underworld? Not an Emperor? Why did she said that she will make her pregnant?

This is weird.

She has never-ever seen this kind of spirit in her entire life time.

Such a powerful soul, she can't even fight back.

What's happening to her?

Where's her true lover?

It's sad, I'm a married woman.

I'm very loyal to my dearest wife too.

I can't have you.

You're not mine…

And I'm not yours…

Nozomi remained quiet, not a single muscle nor her soul be able to move.

But, why don't we play a little game?

Just for tonight?

The purplenette feel her energy began to regenerate.

Just you and me,

In Magic, Madness, Heaven, and Sin…

The voice continued again.

Still doesn't make sense to her.

Who is this person who have the same voice, the same face, the same favorite, and the same style?

---

She woke up in her room,

Right on top of her bed and her body feel aching everywhere. It's like she hasn't got enough sleep before she forced herself to wake up. She sighted the sky through her windows— it's still dark and the stars shines brighter than usual.

"Lovely, isn't it?" her girlfriend's voice come from the door.

The mysterious blonde walked to her with a cup of milk on a tray along with a bowl of unknown candy and a bowl full of dried meats.

Alas, Nozomi always show her love for Yakiniku to her girlfriend, but, she has never ever told her about this sinful snack that she love so much. It's so greasy and crunchy, anyone will gain weight from eating them.

"You look pale, honey. Is something wrong?" the blonde asked, her voice is somewhat very seductive.

"N-No…." Nozomi replied. Her voice has returned to her, but her eyes still see the different atmosphere from the mysterious blonde.

It makes her feel very nervous. It's like she just met her for the very first time.

"Did I… faint—yesterday?" Nozomi asked.

"Sort of…" the blonde replied.

Even her short reply sounds so different despite the same voice.

"I'm sorry, I could've helped you with the groceries."

"No problem, I've got a strong body to carry you and the groceries." The blonde replied very gently as she placed the tray. For the first time she see the unknown candy in much closer range, she could see a strange aura enveloping it. It's like the candy is created with some unusual ingredients.

"Are you interested in those candies?" the mysterious blonde asked her.

"What are those made of?" Nozomi asked.

"Something you shouldn't eat. I'm not going to let you eat that, not a single bit. It's mine." Eli replied.

Despite the warning, Nozomi decided to pick one and curiously staring at it in so much closer range.

She can smell the scent of flesh and blood, but still having no idea of what it exactly is. She is about to put one in her mouth, but.

No! Don't eat me!

An unknown voice heard from the candy—which Nozomi quickly throw away.

The candy fell to the floor, rolling towards the corner and stopped near the feet of her drawer. The mysterious blonde picks it up and blowing a soft wind from her lips before eating it.

"Humans aren't meant to eat each other, even though they can have the guts to ignore one's prayer." She said.

From that sentence, Nozomi began to feel so much more uneasy. Something is definitely out of place and she needs to clear this up for good.

"Who are you?" The Purplenette asked with a frown on her face.

"Me? I'm Ayase Eli…" she replied.

"No, you are someone else…" Nozomi replied.

"I never told you that I'm your Ayase Eli. I belong to Toujou Nozomi…"

"Are you trying to outwit me now?"

"Certainly not, my wife name is Toujou Nozomi. You can't blame me or her for having the same name."

Nozomi tried to process what she just said.

Could it be related to what the voice told her before…?

Someone who told her that she is the underworld Empress from another universe.

Coming for her to play a game.

A game of magic, madness, heaven, and sins.

What are they exactly?

"The Empress of Underworld." Nozomi said.

"Yes?" the blonde replied with a mischievous smile.

"What is this game you wanted to play?"

"Hmmm…. Eager to go into the climax, huh?" the blonde took the bowl of unknown candy and started to eat it.

"We shouldn't be in a hurry. You need extra preparation." She continued.

"Whatever do you mean?" Nozomi frown deeper at her.

"Don't you want to kiss me?" the blonde replied with her most charming gentle and sultry voice.

"Even though you look like her and act like her, I'm very sure you're not my girlfriend. Plus, you said it yourself, you are married. You can't have me and I can't have you." The purplenette replied surely.

"Harasho!" the blonde said amusedly.

This is really weird. That would be what Eli said too when she gets over excited.

Nozomi said in her mind.

"You're just good in pretending, aren't you?" Nozomi said a little furiously.

"Pretending? Do I look like pretending to you?" The blonde asked.

"Yes, show your true self!" Nozomi said surely,

"Very well then…" The blonde giggled before she ate all the unknown candies in the bowl at once,

She smiled before a red blood suddenly drips out of her lips—which she licks tentatively before her body began to grow taller, then her head grow a pair of big horns while her back grow a pair of huge bat-like wings, then a thick fur robe appeared out of nowhere, covering the dark blue nobility suit. Her eyes shines brighter and her fangs grow slightly longer. Her hair, faces, and body shape remained the same though.

"A… vampire?" Nozomi squints her eyes.

"Is it because my fangs are longer?" her voice remained the same as well.

"What are you? I have never seen a creature like—…" As the emerald eyes met the azure, she is silent.

A creature that somehow charms her at the line of sight. It certainly is a vampire, but those horns and those wings…

Are those really what a vampire have?

A different type of vampire?

"I'm… a succubus. An Empress of my kind, not a mere occults." The blonde said.

"Your name, tell me your name. You can't be having the same name as her when you have all that similarities with her. The Ericchi that I know is a Yokai—a Phantom, not a demon."

"I told you, my name is Ayase Eli."

"You're making me angry." Nozomi prepared her spiritual fires.

"Hmmm…? You want to fight me for that?" the blonde said mockingly.

"Yes, any problem?"

"That will be worthless, none of your magic or whatsoever power will touch me."

And before she knew it, Nozomi pulled her fist and blasted a huge spiritual fire to her. Despite her being able to surprise attack the blonde, her fire can't penetrate through the thick shield that surrounds the demon.

Nozomi tried to cast even harder, yet still nothing can penetrate through it, not even a bit.

"There, honey, I told you, you can't touch me with magic. I'm not an Empress for nothing, you know."

The Purplenette stopped, yet her eyes still furious towards this specific blonde.

"Fine, at least tell me where my Ericchi is."

"She is save in my wife's hand… or so I think" The blonde replied.

"Your wife…? Toujou Nozomi…?" Nozomi said somewhat mockingly.

"Exactly. Or should I call her Ayase Nozomi? She is my wife after all."

"And where is this wife you are talking about?"

"They should be somewhere. After all, our purpose here is to play a game, not a worthless fight. But sheesh, really, why are you so different than I expect? I have never remember my wife to be this furious against me. She always obey me!"

"Because, I'm not your wife!"

"You're just unhappy. There must be still something that you miss. The balance in intimacy perhaps? Or the unity? Or perhaps because your darling is an idiot? I knew that my wife called me idiot from time to time."

"Well, there certainly is something between us, but I'm not going to let you put your hands in our business. We will solve this on our own!"

"Of course, I didn't plan to touch your problem."

"So, which love hotel they are in? I'm taking her home." Nozomi said with mocking tone.

"I wouldn't know! I swear. My wife is so random at times and you can't tell her what to do. Let her loose and she won't be coming back unless she needs me to get rid of her wild side."

"I don't remember to be that extreme. So, I'm going to search for her now. Later!" Nozomi said before she headed to the door.

"Nozomi!" the blonde called her, though the girl decided to ignore that call and keep moving. The demon sighed,

"Now, you just acted like her there. Except that's when she lost contact with her kids…" she said as she raised one of her eyebrow.

"Wait, come to think of it… could she be…?"

The blonde remained silent for a moment before she nods and started to follow the purplenette.

---

Meanwhile,

"I don't know, Nozomi, I don't think I have ever seen any kid that looked like that. I have seen a few demons that looked like that though." Eli replied to the purplenette that currently be with her. They walked through the quiet town park.

"Really? Are you sure you have never seen any kid with blonde hair and a small pair of horns? She got your eyes, you know. Her name is Aria, she likes playing tarot cards like me and she usually wears side braid."

"Did you happen to meet this kid and interested on getting to know her?"

"Hmmm… sort of? Honestly, I just wanted to have a little talk with her and take her to where she belongs to."

"Do you want to call our group for that case?"

"Uh… not really, I rather have a private time with you. We have never done this lately, right?"

"Alright, what about. Let's go back to apartment and place our groceries there? I'm worried about the salmon." Eli said.

"Sure, we can't let that rot." The purplenette hold Eli's hand, about to pull her, though the blonde swiftly fades before her.

"Ericchi…?" Nozomi called her,

"No offense, but you smell like a dog all so sudden." Eli suddenly reappeared behind the purplenette.

The purplenette remained silent, now she knew her disguise isn't fully covering her scent.

"You didn't smell like this before and your aura looks so different too. Do you happen to have a demon blood flowing in you?" Eli asked again.

The purplenette began to worry.

"You see, I never really cared about what others do to me, but if anyone harms my girlfriend…" The blonde grip her hand strongly onto the purplenette.

The purplenette's heart began to beat so fast. She is agitated and she can feel her mind began to be overwhelmed by the fear of having her disguise undone. She can't go back without her lover's magic, alas, her specific part will be revealed and it will cause a real question.

She never knew how strong the Eli in this universe is, but she knows that she probably can outwit her somehow.

This is really bad for her.

What should she do?

"E-Ericchi, I need to go to the restroom." The purplenette said before she quickly shoved the blonde gently, though her wrist is still held and she can't possibly show her immersive strength or she might be even more suspicious.

"You're not going anywhere before you tell me where my girlfriend is." Eli said coldly.

She is worried,

Very worried.

What can she do?

What possibly can be done?

Her disguise is going to be unveiled,

She will be known.

She will be hated,

And her mission will fail.

As her mind overwhelmed with worries, the moon light behind the dark clouds began to shine brighter. It's like a calling has made and her fate is sealed under the full moon. Her energy raises and she can feel her body began to react.

"No! Ericchi! Can you…. absorb my power, somehow?! Just any way works! Take my power! Please!" the purplenette asked in panic.

"W-what?" Eli flustered.

"I'm… I'm turning into something you don't want to see, it will be dangerous, it will be really bad. So please, don't let this darkness win over me! Hurry!" the purplenette begged.

Eli—having no choice, pulling the girl closer to her and grabbing onto her neck, roughly pushing onto her soul and drain her power through her gaze. Though, something is definitely wrong with the soul she absorbs. It's very dark and mysterious to her, she barely understand what it exactly is.

The Blonde devoured her power, she took it by her force but now she doesn't know how to control the flows that run through her. The purplenette fell down as her neck was being released. Least there's another power she still keep—the demon blood.

The magic upon the purplenette dispelled, her head grow a pair of horns and her back with a pair of giant bat-like wings.

"Oh dear, that didn't go properly…" the purplenette said as she cringed to the blonde who is now trying so hard to hold the soul she just took.

"Ericchi! Are you ok?" she quickly approach the blonde, though she was pushed away.

"What kind of power is this…? I feel like crushing anything around me."

"T-That's my precious power! You have to give it back, you can't control it!" the purplenette said.

"Nozomi… are you really Nozomi?"

"I… I am! But I'm not the same Nozomi you knew! I'm from another universe and I'm here to look for my daughter. I was trying to trick you to help me find her and since I can't really explain about my existence, I had to make your Nozomi to go with my Ericchi. I didn't tell my real purpose to my Ericchi either! She never knew about that one last daughter!"

"Could've just said that before, nothing is too bizarre for us, we have dealt plenty of—….urgh!"

"Ah! G-Give it back, Ericchi! You did it wrong when I told you to take my power!"

"I'm fine. I can handle this! As long as I keep it within my soul, I can endure it. It's just… going to take some time to seal it….this power is too… powerful." the blonde said.

"I told you, that's my treasured power! You have to give it back!" the purplenette said.

"I will, but not when you have your mission here. I'm not going to let you go around with this power. Let's just say this as a warranty."

"Stubborn! But fine, if you said that so! When that power trying to overwhelm you and you feel like transforming into something else, tell me, ok?"

"Hah—what you can do with it?"

"I'm a succubus, a queen in our kind too, I'm very capable of transferring power."

"A demon queen…?"

"Yes, like what you've felt before."

"Alright… so…hngh…" the blonde looks somewhat stable.

That's very impressive for the purplenette, there never be anyone who's capable of holding that power other than her.

"Where can we start looking, queen Nozomi?" Eli asked as she stretched her body and acted like nothing happened before. The demon queen smiled, a bright blush appeared on her cheek,

"Why don't we start with a little preparation? I'm sure you need to stabilize your power a bit." She said somewhat seductively.

"Prepa…ration?" Eli took the hint, but she isn't sure of what exactly it means.

"Despite you being not my Ericchi, I got the feeling that you're doing something different than my very proficient lover. I want to see your might, can you show me?" the purplenette said in a very-very sultry voice.

Now, the blonde can feel the lust has somewhat awakened within her. She have never seen her real girlfriend do that to her. Maybe she did, but not in that super-sultry voice that tickles her ears and race her heartbeat.

"Where's your apartment? We need to place our groceries as well, right?" the demon queen asked again in her sultry voice,

"I live together with Nozomi, it's not safe to do it there."

"Hmmm… you're certainly right. My Ericchi might be there too, but you're a phantom, right? Is that what you are? I only heard it from a friend of mine, but either way, can you place those groceries in your apartment? We can go to the inn, or to any private place."

"Certainly! Please wait for me!" Eli replied before she ran excitedly and disappeared with her groceries.

"Now-now, that dork is so cute, just like her. I wonder how awkward she can be during intimacy?" the purplenette whispered to herself.

"…but, I need to make sure that I keep myself on track. Hmm… where could she be…?"

---

At the other part of the town,

"Ariaaa!" shouted a purple haired female teenager with blue eyes. She has a romantic gaze and long straight hair.

"Aria!" A blonde male teenager with muscular body and attractive face shouted.

The two walked through the town,

"Haaah—this is so troublesome, we shouldn't have let her saw what we did." The purplenette said.

"Don't worry, sister, I got your back!" the male said.

"Haaaaaah…. Yuki, you shouldn't say that if we're only about to be scolded together."

"At least we are together…"

"No, you silly boy. It's not cool."

Then as the two stopped near a museum. They could see three familiar girls standing near it. One with ginger hair, second with ash brown hair, then the third with deep blue hair.

"Y-Yuki, aren't they….?!"

"Not mistakenly them!" the blonde boy quickly ran to the trio.

"Yuuuuki! Waaait!" she is too late to shout and she decided to follow up anyway.

The trio turned themselves to the blonde man, wondering what exactly he is doing there,

"Honoka-san, Kotori-san, Umi-san, did any of you see Aria?" he asked so directly.

"Aria….?" The trio asked back.

The purplenette caught up to them,

"Haaah—Yuki, please wait for me next time!"

She said.

For some reason, the trio noticed a few resemblance between the two person they just met—but the most scary thing for them are those two also looked like two people that they know.

"A-ah! Pardon us! This man is Yuki, my brother, and I'm Lily. We are here to look for our sister, Aria." The young purplenette said.

"Aria…? How does she look like?" Honoka asked.

"She is around ten years old, she has a pair of small horn and a pair of small wings, blonde hair, blue eyes that shaped like his eyes." Lily described as she pointed to her brother.

"I'm sorry, but we haven't see anyone like that." Kotori said.

"Put that aside, how do you happen to know our name?" Umi asked.

"Of course, it's from—….!"

"Ahaha, for that!" Lily quickly muffled her brother's mouth.

"We knew about µ's. We love your songs!" she continued with cheerful smile.

"Aaah! µ's! Hehe! I knew that will make us famous!" Honoka said.

"We're about to finish a little business in the museum, can that wait for a while?" Umi asked politely.

"Ah, right, we need to solve something. It will be quick, hehe!" Kotori said.

"Do you need help to make it faster?" Yuki asked.

"No-No-no, Yuki! No! We're going to wait." Lily said.

"Ok, we wait!" Yuki said.

"Hehe, we're sorry, but we do need to finish this ourselves, just wait, ok?" Kotori said before she and her two friends ran in to the museum—through the walls.

The two siblings are quiet for a moment, thinking about what's so weird about them.

"Hmm...Yuki…" Lily said, breaking the silence.

"Yes?"

"Do you think there's anything weird about them?"

"Hmm… Umi-san doesn't have horns?"

"Uh… that's pretty obvious and she might be in disguise…"

"Then, Kotori-san doesn't have feathers?"

"That's obvious too… I feel like there's something off, but I don't really know…"

"Honoka-san didn't bring any bread with her?"

"Probably. That's weird, isn't it?"

"Yep, that's weird!"

"Uhm… but there's still something else…what is it…?"

---

In the museum,

"Umi-chan, Kotori-chan, are we really going to help them?" Honoka asked as they run through walls and jumping to the next floor through ceilings.

"We need to discuss this with the others first. Something is off with those two." Umi said.

"A-Anyway, did any of you noticed a strange scent?" Kotori asked.

"There's a strong dog scent coming out from that blonde man." Honoka said.

"Hmm… I have thought about that too. Is he not a human?" Umi said.

"There's a strange aura from that girl too. It feels like we are facing a legendary soul like Hanako or Yuki."

"T-two Yukis… we might be confused when they both in the same place." Honoka said.

"Yuki name is common, hehe…" Kotori said.

"Either way, we need to warn the others." Umi said before the trio dashed up for the last time.

Up in the museum roof,

Niko, Rin, Hanayo, and Maki are conducting their search.

"Weird, we've been searching for a while now, no sign of strange souls but some unsettling aura." Hanayo said.

"Could we possibly missed somewhere?" Maki said.

"I checked, my vision says that we are not being stalked. But I saw some sign of a living presence. Maybe our client isn't haunted by a ghost after all." Niko said.

"Heh, I told them that already. Nozomi and Eli are never wrong when it's about sensing ghost presences. No wonder they refuse to accept the museum's request." Maki said.

"Hehe, at least we did their favor-nya." Rin said.

"Yeah…" Maki sighed.

"I swear though, people are getting spoiled lately. Ever since our name heard in public, we got plenty of calls and some of them aren't even necessary. Like, who the heck want to steal their damned money, they don't even need it in the afterlife!" Niko said.

"People are making up ghost stories so that their crime isn't visible. Remember that time when that one man trying to bribe us to pretend that we are exorcising his neighbor house? I swear, if Eli didn't read his mind, we will never knew that it was a scam. He was just trying to cover his own crime." Maki said.

"Ah, yeah, that one. I can't believe he stole his neighbor money and blame it unto the poor young boy's soul." Hanayo said.

"Yeah-nya! Sometime I feel like human are so much more evil than the spirits-nya!" Rin said.

"Yeah… let's go back home by the way, we are wasting time here." Maki said.

"Ok-nya!" Rin said.

They turned themselves into the entrance door, though before they are able to reach it, three other girls appeared from the floor.

"W-whaaaa!" Hanayo screamed in her surprise.

"Aaaah!" Kotori—who just appeared from the floor screamed too.

"D-Don't surprise us like that!" Maki said.

"I'm sorry, but we got an urgent news." Umi said.

"Huh? What news?" Niko asked.

"There are two suspicious people outside the museum. They said they are searching for a girl named Aria. She has blonde hair, blue eyes that looked like Eli-chan's eyes. She has a pair of small horn and a pair of small wings." Honoka said.

"Huh? I actually kind of saw that girl before, she should be somewhere around this museum's park." Niko said.

"What? Why you didn't tell us before?" Maki asked.

"I thought she is just a mere demon. I mean, why would we care about that? I'm very sure she is harmless." Niko said.

"What if that's the girl who have been 'haunting' this place, huh?" Maki said.

"But Nozomi and Eli were sure that there are no harmful soul in this place, so that girl is fine. Didn't we agree to let that kind of soul to stay?" Niko said.

"We need to make a confirmation. Let's go to where that girl is." Umi said.

---

Meanwhile,

"Nozomi…!" The horned blonde said as she keep following the stubborn purplenette.

"What? Why are you following me? I need to find my Ericchi, not you!"

"She will be fine! Let's play a game instead!"

"Are you a kid? I'm not in the mood to play any game!"

"S-she rejected me?!" The blonde smirked.

"What? What's wrong with me rejecting you? You might be hot, but I'm not going to give up." Nozomi replied boldly.

"Y-you're interesting indeed. But…" the blonde suddenly disappeared.

"What if I'm this close…?" she said as she appeared behind the purplenette and hugged her.

Nozomi could fee her body began to feel weak again, though, she knows that she shouldn't give up to her before she can find her Eli. She quickly turn herself around, then grab unto both of her bust and squeeze it real hard.

"Aaaaahhh! N-Nozomiiii!"

"I'm not going to look into your eyes anymore! I knew you're draining my power from there!" Nozomi yelled to her while she keep squeezing her bust as hard as possible.

"H-Hurts! My breast! S-Stop it!"

"I don't care if you are an Empress, or whatsoever creature! I just want my Ericchi back!"

"I-I get it! I get it! I'll help you find her, p-please stop!"

Nozomi released her and let her take a short break.

"Hah, you are so tough against my charm…" the blonde said as she tried to control her breath after enduring the painful breast squeeze.

"Listen, it's not like I can resist that either, but understand me a little, ok? I love your looks, I love your voice, I love everything from you because you are her in another universe. But I don't want to abandon my responsibility. I need to make sure Ericchi is safe and we will talk about this game you want to play." Nozomi said.

The blonde nods and she gave her the most charming smile the purplenette ever see.

"I understand. I will stop flirting you from now on, Nozomi." she replied and again, her voice is so gentle and enchanting, too gentle and enchanting.

Nozomi took a really deep breath, with her face blushing so red and her heart beating so fast, she hits the blonde's breast so hard.

"Aarrgghh… N-Nozomi! Why did you hit me?!"

"You idiot! You're not supposed to flirt me!"

"I didn't!"

"You did! Idiot! Stop being so charming!"

"H-How can I do that if I'm naturally is charming?!"

"I hate you,Ericchi from another universe! I hate you!" Nozomi shouted again as she hits Eli's breast once again.

"N-Nozomi! It hurts!"

"Idiot-idiot-idioooottt!" she hits her again and again.

"H-Have mercy to my breast! They did nothing bad!"

---

The Love Hotel,

Eli and Queen Nozomi arrived to the hotel, they immediately ordered a room and a few additional facilities. They are now led to their room by the bellboy. Thankfully for Queen Nozomi, she was able to be disguised again by the Eli that came up with her. It wasn't a real disguise, though. It's just an illusion that casted upon others when they see her.

"Hmm… you are, 27 years old, huh?" Queen Nozomi said as she stare deeply into the identity card that Eli held.

"Do I look older than that?" Eli asked with her playful smile.

"Of course not, darling, you look so much younger." Queen Nozomi replied with a giggle.

"I didn't expect you to be so young, that's all." She continued again.

"Shouldn't you be the same age?" Eli asked.

"Hmm… nope, sadly." Queen Nozomi replied with a somewhat mischievous smile.

"…and I won't let you know, Darling." She continued again before they stopped in front of the room.

The two females entered the room and the door isn't yet closed as the bell boy remained in front of their room.

Both of the women remained silent for a while before they turned to him very slowly.

"I read your mind…" the blonde said.

The bellboy jumped slightly,

"…you were waiting for us to invite you to the fun, right?" the blonde continued with a strange smile in her face. The bellboy remained silent, his face is red and it seems that Eli hits the spot through her mind reading.

"Sadly, not every women wish to have men interfering their private time. You will never get what you wish from us, so I suggest you to go before we do something you don't want." Eli continued again.

The bellboy nods before he closed the door.

"Hmm… that was too bad, I could use him to fill my hunger." Queen Nozomi said.

"Whatever do you mean by that?" Eli asked somewhat a little furiously.

"To eat, literally. I've always missed the taste of human…"

"Do you eat them in daily basis?" The blonde asked.

"Not anymore. We've been living far away from the human world. Food are limited and at most of the time, we only eat some hunted organism that already turned into a soul food."

"A soul food?"

"It looked like a candy, but it contains the whole body of a living being and their soul. It's not always human though, sometime it's some other type of occults."

"Your world seems to be fun." Eli said.

"You think so? Or is it because you think that we're free to kill others?"

"From the very beginning of my life time, I have always questioned myself about if it is ok to kill another." The blonde said,

"I've heard that sentence before. Except, my Ericchi came up to a conclusion that it isn't ok to do that."

"How can she be coming up to that? What is her reason?" Eli asked somewhat seriously.

"Because you never knew about how those people get through their life. At first, she thought that it was ok to kill the bad and spare the good—though, in the end, she realized that bad or good, it depends on one another point of views."

"If a drug dealer, or a thief, or a murderer do what they think to be 'good', are they truly worth living?" the blonde asked again.

"It may be bad for another since they are a disadvantage, but, what may have caused them to turn their life into crime? Are they truly one to be blamed?" the queen replied.

"They could've done it differently."

"Is it really as easy as that? What if a drug dealer became who he is because he was desperate to make a living for his family? What about a thief? What if he steal because he was taught to do that since birth? Then a murderer, would someone murder another without any single motivation, not even from themselves?"

"The society hates them and they treated them like they're not worth living. They shamed them publically and no one would ever trust them anymore. That's why, perhaps, being able to kill another freely is a good thing for the world. We can take their life and spare the food for they who are capable of living honestly."

"Ah, is that so? That's such an interesting idealism. But then, are they really not be able to be fixed?"

"I don't know. I've got through a life where I always think that everyone try to harm another. My wisdom is remade yet such question still linger within me. The world outside is never beautiful to me and it feels like human being is always one to be blamed for any mistake in this world." Eli replied.

"Hmm… you're infected by a disease called as insecurities, a stage before anxiety born within you."

"I don't want to be that sick again…"

"Sure, who wants to be anxious anyway? Many people are struggling to get rid of that. Have you not talk to your girlfriend?"

"I… I don't want to worry her. I don't want to talk about it to her either. She has gone through so much for me back then. I don't want to let it be shown to her."

"Hiding it won't help you either. That's not how you deal with your insecurities and anxiety." Queen Nozomi said.

"What is the right way to do it then?"

The queen giggled to her question.

"Funny, this teaching isn't coming from me but from my Ericchi."

The blonde remained silent to listen.

"It's hard to make the world perfect since it will never be perfect. Everything needs to be done in a moderation to make a perfection, even though in the end, we're all gambling with our choice."

"Gambling with our choice?"

"Yep, did you know that there will never be a 100% result from one action? Success or Fail, you will never know. It's fine to hold into your idealism, but you have to understand that you will never have a 100% of it. So instead of denying, it's better for you to embrace it and find another way to cover it. Forcing your way to do it may work, but it might not and you have to accept whatever the result somehow."

"Can we not struggle to achieve our goal?"

"You can, but then again, if you fail, you have to accept it and try again when you are ready."

"What does 'accept' means to you?"

"It's not to stress about it and take it as a lesson. The more you deny, the more you think, the worse you will feel. Just like friendship. You can try to befriend someone, but if it fails, then you can try again or find another person that may worth your time. Don't stress over that one person who can't follow with you, instead, think of the person who appreciate you just the way you are."

"How can you know, don't you just hate it when someone faking their personality to you?"

"Can you appreciate the way they try to be fake to you? Instead of thinking about how they're trying to take advantage, try to think about how they try to be diplomatic to you. Being true to yourself doesn't mean that you have to speak out anything in your mind at the very second, but it's to find a way to tell what within your mind with the right way and in the right time." Queen Nozomi replied.

"Is that how you think?" Eli asked.

"Yes, and I believe your girlfriend said the same, or perhaps, she has done that to you. I can imagine how she tried to be fake to you so that you can feel comfortable to be around her. She wanted to be friend you, she wanted to make you feel home. Can you appreciate that?"

"I… I can."

The blonde replied a little sadly.

"There you go. She has succeeded to make you fall for her, it's her achievement, she may have gone through more struggle than what you know. Help her to treasure it."

"I surely will."

"Alright, now, shall we get on our main business here?"

"Actually, I feel wrong. You're not her, even though you sounded like her from another universe."

"Is that so? Then you don't want to do this?"

"Can we… do this, but, only as a lesson?"

"A lesson? My… that leads to somewhere. What do you want to know?'

"She was asking me to serve her in intimacy, but I'm never be sharp enough to know what she wanted. I have read her mind a few times now but I still couldn't find the answer. That's why I keep trying to observe her through what she likes to do to me, but then she got pissed off since I was asking for it too much!"

Queen Nozomi giggled,

"Well, being such a dork aren't you? You can't find the answer within her mind because the answer isn't there. You have to surprise her, that's what she wanted."

"Surprise… her?"

"Yep, she doesn't have any favorite position or any specific request, all she wanted is to be close, to be spontaneous, and to be treated specially."

"How can I do that?"

"Hmm… it's hard for you, huh? Because you have always plan everything before doing an action? Then let me help you a bit. Why don't we play a game of Magic, Madness, Heaven, and Sins?"

"What kind of game is that?" Eli asked.

"It's a game that I've always play with my Ericchi. We're playing a role play of random theme. But since this time I don't bring my cards with me, I'll pick the theme. I'm going to be a noble, while you become my butler. I'll be commanding you to do my favor, you can choose your action to respond between magic, madness, heaven, and sins." Queen Nozomi replied.

"What are those action, exactly?" Eli asked.

"Magic, you'll be able to remove one thing before you obey my command. Madness, you are going to use the chance to make your move instead of obeying my order, heaven, you will obey my command without any other action involved, then sins, you obey my command but also twisting it into what you wish to do to me. The only thing you have to remember is that you can't use the same action at the next command."

"How do we know who will win or who will lose?"

"Simple, after you do all four actions, you will take the turn to command and I will choose the respond as well. The game will eventually become irresistible, the first person who's not capable of holding their urge to be intimate will lose. The winner will get to ask one wish at the next day."

"So, what we exactly doing in the game is to tempt another to do intimacy? Sounds good."

"Yes, also, it's to tempt another to do intimacy, if you're telling another to do intimacy to you, it will be counted as you are trying to do the intimacy which mean, you lose the game."

"So it has to be only flirt and no real action? Fun. I'll do it."

"Hehe, I like that spirit, Ericchi. Now, shall we get started?" Queen Nozomi said.

"Bring it on!"

"Alright, first command…" The queen took a deep breath,

"Ah—it's so hot tonight. Would you please do something for me?" she begged with an extremely sultry voice.

The blonde's face blushes red and she began to feel something is breaking inside her as she heard it. A second later, her nose began to bleed and her eyes went blank.

"W-wait, Ericchi! How could you have a nose bleed in the first command?!"

Eli wipe her own blood with her arm.

"Mm… maybe we should just look for my daughter instead? I think you need a little break from all these heat." Queen Nozomi tried to convince.

"I'm fine…" the blonde said again before she wipe her blood again.

"You're not fine, silly! Let's just do something else, ok?" Queen Nozomi said with her concerned voice as she touched her shoulder.

"What about a massage, do you want me to massage you?" the queen asked again, she accidentally show her cleavage as she bent to look into the blonde closer—who collapsed all so sudden at the second after.

"E-Ericchi!"

---

Meanwhile;

In front of the love Hotel, Nozomi and Empress Eli—in her disguise are about to enter just to check if both of their senses are right. Though, Nozomi began to doubt her action. She stopped and turn herself away from it.

"What's wrong, Nozomi?" Empress Eli asked.

"I… I think I was wrong. Maybe they are somewhere else?" Nozomi said with a slight blush on her face.

"Hmm…? I'm pretty sure my sense detect them to be in this place." Empress Eli said.

"They must be somewhere else, I'm sure!" Nozomi said. From the way she said it, Empress Eli realized that something must've been bothering her mind. She smiled faintly at her and grab her shoulder.

"Hey, have she ever take you to a flight?"

"A flight? To where?" Nozomi asked.

"It's not the same flight with a plane flight. You will really fly like a bird."

"I knew you can do such thing, but to where?"

"To nowhere, nothing wrong with browsing the night through the sky, right?"

"I don't see the point of doing that though." Nozomi replied.

"Are you sure?"

"I can fly when I let my soul free from my body. It may takes so much energy, but still, I can fly on my own. I don't need you to take me fly."

"Are your eyes the only sense you want to satisfy? What about your skin? Your nose? Your heart?"

"I'm fine. I don't need you to spoil me." Nozomi replied with a slight blush on her face.

"What a stubborn girl. Then I guess I have no choice." The blonde Empress sighed before she took off her coat, then place it on the purplenette's shoulder.

Nozomi is flustered, though before she was able to ask about it, The Empress grab her waist and jumped up to the sky. Nozomi quickly held into her tightly.

"Ericchi!" she protested.

The two have soared so up high to the sky. Nozomi covered her eyes as she can feel how her body couldn't feel the ground. The Empress turned back to her true form. Now that she touch her, she can feel her cold skin and her muscular feature. Her horns looks very real and she truly able to see it grow on her head, her wings are so huge and mighty, while her grip is as strong as a safety belt yet gentle and comfortable like a pillow. She still wouldn't dare to stare into her eyes, it's too charming and she feel like she will fall deeper in her forbidden love. Alas, the one who she know as her girlfriend is a phantom, it's already wrong but still won't be as wrong as loving a married demon.

"Relax, just enjoy your view." Empress Eli said with her playful yet gentle and seductive voice. Nozomi silenced, the only view she can see right now is the sky and her shoulder.

"Do you like it?" The Empress asked.

"No, I've seen the sky for more than a thousand time now. Let me see something else."

The Empress giggled before she flipped herself over, letting the purplenette to see the beautiful city through the sky—even though its beauty is no match against the Empress herself.

"Like this?" The Empress asked again.

"Yes…" Nozomi replied very shyly.

Again, she know this is truly her first time meeting this most charming creature she ever see, but she feel so wrong and she think that she really should stop looking at her. She tried so hard to put her focus into the city, yet her eyes always leads her back to the charming eyes that make her feel weak until her the tip of her feet.

She wanted this woman to kiss her, she truly is and might soon be really desperate of her touch. She feel the heat around her own groin, then the fact that her groin is on top of her groin make her feel worse. The warmth of the fluffy thick fur robe make it even harder to resist. She wanted to open her clothes right now and begin to be intimate with this woman.

What is this feeling that she feel right now? She is crazy of her—alas, even crazier than when she wanted her girlfriend. Is it called as cheating if she imagine herself to be treated with the Eli that came from another universe?

What about her Eli right now? She went to a love hotel with the other her, did she even know that she is not her? Will it be fair if she let herself drown in the temptation? Will she be hurt to know the fact that her Eli is doing something with the other her?

It's so frustrating, it's so mind consuming.

"You look even more worried. Are you scared of height? I have never know that from my wife." The empress asked with her concerned face.

"No, it's not that. I'm fine with this height." Nozomi replied.

"It just that…" her voice faded.

She took half a minute to think of her answer while the beautiful blonde Empress keep staring at her.

"…I feel like one of my emotion trying so hard to lead me to astray."

"Do you wish to kiss me now?"

The question is simple, yet it makes her heart beating even faster.

"Yes…" she shyly replied.

"Then, kiss me. No one will mind."

"What about your wife?"

"You are basically her from another universe. We also agreed that we will play a bit and none of us will be jealous. To put it in simple sentence, you are basically my wife from another universe."

"So, it's fine if we… you know." Nozomi moved her hips a bit, pushing her gap to hers for a hint.

"Not that far. There's a little border that you can't cross as a normal human being."

"Ah… I see." Nozomi replied sadly.

"A kiss is fine, as long as you're the one who work on the force exchange." Empress Eli said.

"I… have to? Why?" Nozomi asked.

"Because I'm a demon, I might kill you with a kiss even though it just with a little force. The only kiss I can do to you is on your forehead."

"I see. Then never mind it, perhaps its better if we never kiss."

The Empress giggled to her again,

"Just do it with your girlfriend, she is no different than I am."

"Is she really? I feel like she has been awkward to me."

"Now-now, isn't that a little cruel of you? She might be struggling for you."

"She has never really said it, but, I feel likeI always be the one who works her out and… that's why, I started to feel like I have been forcing her too much. Maybe that's why she gets awkward to me?"

"How could you come into that conclusion? That's rare for someone like you."

"It's been a long journey for us both, I know her until the depth of her mind. We've been working together to solve mysteries and banishing evil souls. Despite her being a phantom who lives among us as human being, she always worked so hard for me. Sometime I feel like I don't deserve that much appreciation. That's why, I feel awkward when she asked me to dance for her. I don't know how she likes me to be, not even which part she love most from me. I don't know where she want to see me from and I don't even know what she truly wish from me. The more she ask me to dance, the more I feel like she is trying to give me the chance to satisfy her."

"You're just insecure with yourself. Overthinking is bad, you know. My wife always told me that."

"I knew that." Nozomi replied sadly.

"Everything has to be in a moderation, its fine for you to be aware about yourself, but it's not fine when you start to think badly about yourself. To tell you the truth, maybe your lover loves you just the way you are and what she try to do is to get to know you further. She believes that what you do to others is what you favor for yourself."

"That's a very silly way of thinking, but for real, is it truly that way? What if I was right?"

"Your action is a prayer, do you believe that?"

"I do." Nozomi replied.

"Then what makes you feel insecure of yourself? Have you been bad? Have you been doing something that you shouldn't?"

"Maybe…" Nozomi replied shyly.

"Well, if it is about me, you haven't kiss me. You are just attracted to me and that sounds normal. I am that fabulous, no one can resist me and you did a great job on trying. If not, then you have to believe that someone appreciates you. If you truly want to make others feel secure, then you have to make yourself secure about yourself too. Embrace what you have achieved and love yourself the way you are. When you do that, you're also praying for another people around you to feel secure of themselves, then, the next step, you'll be friends with them when fate told you so."

"So it's still a chance, huh? Not a guaranteed act?"

"Everything in this world is a gamble. You will never know until you try. Truth to be told, my wife made me thinking so much about how an ideal world is. I might be like you now without her presence. She is a part of my soul and I will never let her down."

Nozomi smiled as she heard it.

"Now-now, I feel kind of jealous that she got someone as charming as you. Why my Ericchi can't be like you?"

"Grass is always be greener on the other side. Trust me, your Eli is just the same like me. She need more time to learn. Hang in there, ok?"

"If you says so…" Nozomi replied with her blush still remained on her cheek.

"Now, is there any place you wanted to go to, sweetheart?"

"Hmm… well, maybe we can check the museum? A client of mine called that they found a paranormal activity again in their place. I tried to check for the presence, yet I see no souls are left other than the guardian souls. Now my friends might be there to reassure them. I'm kind of worried that they couldn't find a solution to the problem."

"Got it, so which museum is this?"

"Should be in the historical figure museum. I'll show you the way!"

---

The Museum;

"Where is that little girl now, I swear I saw her here before." Niko said as she leads the group to search around the Museum's park.

"Heh, I'm very sure that you're just imagining it. I can't hear a single sound other than our feet taping on the stone and snows. It's freezing here, why would anyone stay around this place." Maki said.

"I told you, I swear I saw her here before! Besides, we might be dealing with another creature than human, right? Like, who the hell has a pair of horns and small wings?"

"Well, demons, obviously. But then, we don't know if we can deal with this demon. Heck, are we even in the level?" Maki said.

"I'm sure we are. We have our weapons." Umi said.

"Yeah! Also our power to heal spirits!" Kotori said.

"If we're only dealing with a demon child, I'm sure we don't have to use any weapons. There must be a way to convince her!" Hanayo said.

"I wonder if we can just call her. Who was her name again? Aria?" Honoka said.

"Aria-chaaan!" Rin shouted so loudly.

"O-Oi! I don't think that will work!" Niko said.

But after she said it, everyone can feel a presence just moved near the dry bushes. Then soon after, A little girl with blonde hair, a pair of horns, a pair of small wings, cool blue eyes and cheerful lips appeared.

"Rin-san!" she shouted cheerfully before she ran to Rin.

"W-whoa, she knows her name?!" Niko exclaimed.

"Aria-chan!" Rin hugged her cheerfully, she acted like she knew her for a long time.

"Waaaaa! I'm so worried, Rin-san! I don't know how to return to home!" the little girl said.

Rin blinked, she wonder if she should act like she knew where her home is or ask her out directly.

"W-where's your home again?" Hanayo asked gently—it makes Rin relieved that someone initiating the question.

"Aaah! Hanayo-san! You're acting like you don't know! My Home is always be within the castle of the underworld! I need to hurry up home and practice there so I can meet with my papa!"

"M-meet… with your papa?" Everyone flustered.

"Yep! Sheesh, why you are all forgot about it. Mama told me that I should grow up strong before I can present myself to papa! Papa is very strong and papa also has a ton of responsibilities, papa won't waste a single second for weaklings!"

"Her papa sounded like a king, is she Kagemi's daughter?" Kotori whispered to Umi.

"Maybe? Should we take her to the shrine and confirm it?" Umi suggested.

"Hey, do you want to go to the Shrine?" Maki asked.

"The shrine? I don't see the point of going there, Maki-san!But, since you're the one who ask, I'll go!" Aria replied cheerfully.

"She knows my name too." Maki whispered to herself.

"Then, let's just go to the Shrine!" Kotori said.

"Yep! Hehe!" Aria replied.

As the left to the entrance near the park, Nozomi and Eli arrived to the very place, landing on top of the roof. They can see the group leaving the area with a little girl following them cheerfully. Empress Eli noticed the horns and the wings, she is also be able to see a familymark on her soul.

"So that's my third child…" she said.

"How could you not know about your own child?" Nozomi asked.

"My wife isolated herself when she got pregnant with our third child. I don't understand why." The Empress replied.

"What did she say?" Nozomi asked.

"She said nothing, she just told me to work on my responsibilities and leave the family business to her." Eli replied.

"She doesn't want you to overwhelm yourself with responsibilities, so she took a part of your responsibilities." Nozomi said.

"I already told her that I can handle it, I didn't get sick or anything." The Empress replied

"When she said you shouldn't, then you shouldn't. I know my Ericchi and I believe she knows you too."

"She also forbid me to look for this child of mine. I don't understand that one either."

"There must be something about you and that child." Nozomi said.

"Which I don't know. What reason can you think of?" The Empress asked.

"Maybe because you are very strict? I know my Ericchi is always disciplined, almost as disciplined as Umi-chan." Nozomi said.

"I barely tell my child what to do. They have never really approach me unless something is really urgent and they need to come to me."

"Then, there must be something else that she sees." Nozomi said.

"Ah well, I'll just let her do whatever she wishes to do." The Empress sighed.

"Yep, that surely is the only thing you can do. Don't sweat over the details."

"Hah—that would be what she says too."

"Now, should we follow my friends and see what they're going to do? You can always pretend that you are not her parent. I'll help you out."

"I don't know about that, I hope she doesn't have the vision ability. If she happen to have it, she will know I'm her parent."

"Just wing it, Ericchi! Didn't you told me that everything in this world is a gamble?"

"Yeah… I sure did say that."

"So, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

---

The Love Hotel;

Queen Nozomi tended to the silly blonde who just collapsed from whatever she is thinking of about her. Now that the blonde woke up, they started to prepare for the next action.

"Since we ended up doing nothing particular in this room, we really should hurry up to go outside and look for my daughter. I can't let my Ericchi waiting for too long." The queen said.

"Why did you have to hide your daughter from her anyway?" The Blonde fox asked as she tidy up her own clothes.

"Because she isn't a succubus, not a werewolf either. She doesn't have any specialty like her siblings."

"What's wrong with that, huh?" Eli asked plainly.

The queen surprised as she heard it, didn't expect her to respond as plain as that.

"I wouldn't care about that if I'm her. She is my daughter, I have the right to see her."

The queen seemed to be touched by her words,

"There's nothing wrong with being a human. I might be seeing them as lowly creatures, but if she is my daughter, I'll never do that, then perhaps I might finally be able to grow love to them as well?"

"Thing is, I've been trying to raise her like a human being. I gave her a fake horns and wings just to make her think that we're all dressing up. I want her to embrace herself as a human, a kid like her will hardly understand."

"I see, if that's your reason, you could've told me and I will certainly help you."

"I… actually don't wish to burden my Ericchi with more responsibilities. She has got enough on her shoulder."

"Who cares? I don't! I'd take all responsibilities I need to. That's that. I'm her parent, she is my daughter, you are my wife, and no one can tell me another way. I have sworn to love you more than anything else, so is my family!"

"Silly Ericchi, that's the exact problem, you see? Because she care so much, it makes me worried if I get so selfish about my needs."

"I said, If I'm her, wouldn't care about that. There's 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week. I will make a schedule for you and family. I can't be working for that much hours. It's not that I will spend my whole time for family if I knew that my wife and my daughter needs me to be present in daily basis. You just have to tell me what you wish and I shall grant it."

"Well then, if you are her, what exactly you will do?"

"Simple, you said you want to raise her so that she embraced her human race, right? Then I'll be trying to look as human as possible, next, I might be busy, but I will make a day as my family day or some hours as my family hours, depend on how much work hours I need to finish my other responsibilities. Lastly, I will also find a way to explain everything in the most human way possible." The blonde replied somewhat confidently.

The queen giggled to her answer,

"That really sounds like her, except, I think you're so much adorable than my Ericchi. I'm jealous of the me in this universe. Having such a dork like you to be my lover surely will entertain me everyday. Sometime I got tired of being so serious and wanted to have these kind of thing in my life. My Ericchi is getting smarter and smarter everyday, she barely able to be joked with."

"Maybe it's just you who fears her. I get the feeling that you are just hiding yourself too much."

"You are right…but, lately, I don't really know how. Most of our work is truly important, I don't want to mess up with it."

"Do you have anyone like Honoka or Rin?"

"The µ's? We do. They're still there and most of the time they are—…."

The queen pauses.

"…oh…" an idea struck her mind.

"See? You got that, right? All you need to do is to somehow make an event where they are all involved. It doesn't have to be messing up with important cases."

"You are right, I'm glad I talked with you." the Queen replied with a big smile.

"She could've said the same with her own way. You have to open yourself some more, It's fine for you to be selfish, after all, your happiness is the most important thing in this world for her."

The queen nods again before she pushes herself to the blonde. Deeply kissing her lips all so sudden.

"You have to be careful of your sweet tongue. I'm not someone who can hold my desire back." She said.

The blonde still remained silent in shock.

"I'd like to lick you for being so sweet and adorable, but, perhaps, I shouldn't? You're not mine and I'm not yours." The queen continued again with her most sultry voice. Eli nods, she is still speechless about how different the kiss feels like for her.

"Can you give my power back? I think I want to return to my Ericchi now and look for this daughter with her instead."

"You'll be fine? You look like a little overwhelmed before."

"I'll be fine, though we need to hurry up and find my Ericchi, she is the only one who can hold my transformation during full moon."

"Then, I'll hold into it until we know where she is."

"Shouldn't she be with your Nozomi?"

"If that's true, then they should be heading towards the shrine."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's check out and get ourselves there."

---

The Shrine;

The kid and the rest of µ's walked to the shrine. While they're doing so, they also have been listening to the girl about her adventure. The girl demanded to sit on top of Maki's shoulder—which Maki couldn't help but to let her do what she wanted. Other than that, she was also taking off her fake horns and wings and let Niko wears them—which perfectly fit on her head and body somehow.

"…and then and then, I went to the zoo! I don't know who that woman was, but, she was so gentle! There are also a few flying people around her and a flying kid around my age! Hehe, I don't know her name though, never really cared to ask her name!" she said.

"Flying people…?" Umi asked to Kotori,

"Maybe she was able to see ghost? She might be Kagemi's daughter after all." Kotori said.

"She looks very human though, should we really take her to Kagemi-san?" Umi said.

"Hehe, maybe her daughter took someone's body? We never know. There are so much possibilities we have in the spiritual world." Honoka said.

"You're right. We can only try to confirm it."

Then as they reached to where they usually find Kagemi and the others, though they can only see Yuki sitting there alone. She saw them and greeted them immediately.

"Ah! You all! It's been a while! Did you manage to solve the case in the museum?"

"We really can't find anything other than this kid." Niko said as she pointed to the little girl.

"Hmm… I feel like I have met her before." Yuki said as she approached the little girl.

"Hehe, you're one of the flying human around that one woman called Kagemi!" Aria said.

"Ah! I remember now! You are… Aria… right? You said that you are a princess from another universe?"

"Yep! Hehe, I didn't expect to meet you here since I was only asked by Maki-san to visit the shrine,!" Aria replied cheerfully.

"Wait, so she is not Kagemi's daughter?" Maki asked.

"Huh? Of course not, Maki-san! My mother name is Nozomi Toujou! I thought you knew that!"

"W-whaaaaaaaaaattt?!" they all exclaimed in their surprise.

"Y-you are… her daughter? But who is your father then…?" Umi asked.

"Of course, papa is the Ruler of the Underworld! Eli Ayase!"

"W-wait-wait… why have we never heard of this before?! When were you even born?! Then, who are Lily and Yuki?!" Honoka asked.

"Ahh... them, they are my siblings." Aria replied.

"It doesn't make sense to me, I have never heard them to be Ruler of the Underworld or anything, is this some kind of a prank?" Maki asked.

"Prank? No way! Sheesh! I really am their daughter! I knew it! Lily-nee-chan and Yuki-nii-chan said so!" Aria replied as she puffed her cheek.

"I… I don't get it…" Maki said with a smirk on her face.

"Now, are you trying to pretend that you've never known us? Is this a prank?" Aria said.

As she said it, a couple ran to where they are.

"Everyone!" The purplenette said as she ran with the blonde next to her.

"Aah! Mama!" Aria quickly jumped off Maki's shoulder and hugged her.

Nozomi began to wonder what she should respond her with, though, luckily for her, the girl seem to realize about her identity.

"Hmmm…." The little girl started to sniff her inappropriately.

"You don't smell like mama, who are you?" she asked.

All eyes began to focus on her, it gets a little intense after a while too.

"I… I'm not your mama." Nozomi said a little shyly as she breaks the silence.

"Then, what about you? Are you my papa?" the little girl asked to the blonde next to her.

When her eyes met hers, she realized that she might be really talking to someone special. Her gaze is mesmerizing even for a child. The rest of the girls in µ's also feel the same when they look into her. Something is very different and they don't know what it exactly is.

"You know me?" The Empress asked very gently.

The little girl nods very slowly.

"Yes… Lily-nee-chan and Yuki-nii-chan told me." She said.

"I see. Then yes, I'm your papa."

"Eeeeeeehhhh?!" The girls are so surprised to hear the answer.

"Aah!" The little girl suddenly shouted before she ran to Maki and hid behind her.

"Y-You shouldn't look at me papa! I'm not a strong girl yet!"

The Empress tilt her head slightly,

"Why I shouldn't? You have seen me and I have seen you now."

"M-Mama told me that I should see you when I'm strong! I'm not a strong girl yet!" the girl said.

"I don't understand." The Empress replied.

About a few seconds after, another couple arrived to the area.

"Aria-chan!" The purplenette quickly ran in along with the blonde next to her.

"Mama!" Aria once again run to her, though this time, she seem to acknowledge her scent.

"A- another Nozomi-chan and Eli-chan! W-what happened here?!" Hanayo said as she pointed to them.

"D-Doppelganger?!" Rin exclaimed.

"I don't think so, remember what Yuki-san said, she came from another universe. That means, they are Nozomi and Eli from another universe as well." Umi said.

"Yeah, now it starts to make sense to me too." Maki said.

The Empress doesn't look amused, she glared at her wife with a somewhat cold glance. Eli realized it and steps in front of the Queen with a battle stance.

"What with those eyes? If you want to fight, fight me first. I dare you." She said.

"Don't interfere with my family business, phantom. I have a serious question I need to ask to my wife." The Empress said.

"Who cares about your stupid question, I bet you're just going to ask about why she is hiding her from you. Maybe this is the reason after all." Eli said.

"What do you know about this?" The Empress asked somewhat bitterly.

"She told me everything already, maybe you should listen to her now."

"I'm always all ears for her, I see no reason of hiding something from me." The Empress said.

"Well, the reason is because you always listen and she is worried if you are too caring about her." Nozomi said.

The Queen remained silent as she hugged her daughter. She noticed the help that she gets from the purplenette.

"Didn't I tell you? She doesn't want you to put all burden on your shoulder." Nozomi continued.

"I'm capable of doing that. So why not?" the Empress said.

"It's not about capable or not, but it's about her feeling to you. She feels bad for being spoiled too much, as simple as that. I've always known my Ericchi is someone who tends to over-achieve something, so you're probably someone like that." Nozomi replied.

"I'm not someone like that!" Both Eli said.

"Enough! Let me talk for myself!" The Queen said.

Everyone's eyes are now on her.

"I was hiding her because I know that she is born to be a normal human being. Despite her having the family mark within her soul, she doesn't have any magic or any transformation. I was worried if she couldn't impress you… I'm also worried if she becomes your burden. I suspected that you will look for a way to make her feel special and you will probably think about it for years. I don't want you to do that! I want you to let me take this responsibility!"

The Empress silenced while the rest of people began to look at each other, wondering what they can suggest to help out.

"I was thinking to just let her live her life as an ordinary human being, so that she can live free from any magical experience or something of sort, free from the pressure of being an ordinary human being, free from the high-standard life…"

"It isn't fair for her either!" Suddenly a voice came up from somewhere else. Again, everyone's attention turned to the source of the voice.

"Lily…" Both of the demons called her.

"She is born to be human, so what? That's not how it supposed to be done. She should've been taught to embrace herself in this diversity. Being a human is not bad, not at all. I'm sure she can find that by herself in the future. No one have to hide, no one have to think of it too much! You told me before that everyone is beautiful just the way they are, right?" Lily said as her brother stood near her and nods to agree with her.

Both of The Empress and the Queen silenced, the little girl seems to be watching everything in awe, while the rest of the girls still trying to think of what exactly happened.

"Look! Look at them! Do you think they're not beautiful? Do you think they are not capable of doing something good? They're just Mama, papa, and those friends of yours in another universe. Aria is just like them! She is special because she is a human being who grow among us!" Lily continued.

"Raise her just like how you raise us, no more secret! We want her to be treated equally! I bet Aria want the same too!" Yuki the werewolf prince added.

Both of the Empress and the Queen look down to their daughter. The Little girl flustered, though gladly, the blonde give her a question to help.

"Is there anything you want to say to your parents?"

"Hnnng..." she started to think as she look into her parents. The two seemed to be not looking at each other while a slight painful expression is made on their face.

"Mama, Papa, stop fighting. I'll be a good girl, I promise. I won't go wander on my own again." She continued with the saddest face she ever make.

"There-there, Aria-chan. It was my fault for not paying attention to you." The Queen said.

Aria nodded before she began to cry softly and muffle her voice in her mother embrace.

"A-Aria-chan!" Rin and Hanayo began to feel concerned.

"Hey, you, I bet you're thinking like: If you told me before, it will never be this embarrassing. Right?" Maki said to the Empress.

"I don't even think that way. I was thinking of where my fault is until I make everyone around me started to think that I'll give no mercy to them." The Empress replied.

"Your face perhaps? Your eyes? Your action? Or because you've been quiet and working all day, everyone started to feel uneasy around you? Show some smile. Loosen up a bit!" Niko said.

"Sorry to be blunt, but if you truly want to show that you have mercy, you have to show that part of you, especially to your own family. You should've done that frequently so that everyone won't forget about how you can be so caring and loving!" Umi said.

"We understand about how scary it feels like to be around someone who always been so quiet and unresponsive! It makes me nervous and I feel like I won't approach them at all!" Kotori said.

"You don't have to act so tough to be a leader. You can always be the good leader who makes everyone feel comfortable!" Honoka added.

"But don't be like my Ericchi, she is too loose and now she doesn't even have her charisma again." Nozomi said.

"W-what? Why are you judging me like that? I don't always mess up with everything." Eli complained.

The Empress sighed heavily. She didn't make any word of response to any of the sentence that said to her, instead, she walked to her wife and daughter, gently pushing Eli and crouched to reach her small daughter.

"I'm sorry, Aria. I'm sorry, love. Should we go home and discuss about this?" The Empress said.

The Queen and her daughter nodded with the most sincere smile they make tonight. The Empress replied them with her gentle smile and stood up to turn herself to her other children.

"Lily! Yuki! Let's go home." She beckoned. The two nods before they ran to approach her.

"Should I go there too? She looks so hot, maybe I can find someone else like her in her world?" Yuki the ghost said with the smallest voice she can make.

"Ehehe, Yuki-san, don't make Kagemi-san worried about you." Kotori replied to her,

"Right, there's that old woman…" Yuki the ghost sighed heavily.

Then, unexpectedly, the Empress grab Eli's collar and threw her away so roughly. Fortunately for her, her reflex allow her to get on her feet and stopped near where her Nozomi is.

"What on shattering earth is that for?!" Eli protested.

"I hate you so much, moron!" The Empress shouted at her.

"Huh?! What did I do?!" The blonde fox girl complained.

"Shut up, Ericchi, she is you and you are her." Nozomi said.

"What? Wait… Do you mean she hates herself? Then why did she throw me?!"

"Think Ericchi, think."

"What?" The blonde fox smirked in confusion.

After they prepared themselves, the Empress opened a portal and gestured to her family to enter it. The Family waved at them with a happy smile before they all leave through the portal. The Empress stopped for a moment, then she gazes into the purplenette with her most charming gaze tonight. She pressed her own finger to her lips, then blowing a kiss to her.

Nozomi swears that she has never seen an extremely sexy blow kiss, it feels so real to her and she unconsciously licked her own lips after.

"Hey! Stop flirting her! She is mine!" Eli said with a pout on her face.

The Empress giggled, she is about to enter the portal but…

"W-whaw-wa-wa! Eli-chaaaaaan! Wait! Let us in too!" a familiar voice heard from a distance.

"Eh? That's my voice?" Honoka said as she pointed to herself.

Suddenly, a group of unknown creatures passes through the girls and Yuki the ghost.

Firstly, it was a huge red-panther with horns and wings, ridden by a girl with short brown hair and glasses. For a moment there, Maki feel like she has something alike with this creature, but she doesn't really want to believe that.

Then, a tall creature with two pairs of long horns, running in her hakama along with a huge ash-brown bird-like creature. Kotori and Umi shivered as they see those two creature passes through them.

Next, it was a small shadow and a pair of orange haired girls. When they are about to pass through Rin, Niko and Hanayo, they feel like they are about to snatch something—or someone. They can't really react to it though.

The Empress let them enter the portal, then as the last three girls entered—with a shout of 'someone please help' faded in it, Empress Eli suggestively winked to Nozomi and leave through the portal as well.

The portal disappeared and the place become quiet for a moment.

"Haaa, what was that before?" Honoka said.

"I don't know-nya!" Rin said.

"I'm pretty sure two people looked so familiar there!" Niko said.

"S-scary, what are those?" Umi said.

"Y-yeah, I've never seen anything like them!" Kotori said.

"Heh, I'm glad they're gone." Maki said.

"At least that's finished." Eli said.

Nozomi still quiet, her face is so red and she looks like she is gone to the dreamland.

"Nozomi, let's go home." Eli said as she grab Nozomi's hand.

Nozomi turned to her, but her eyes show that she is still somewhere else.

"Nozomi…?" Eli called her once again.

"Ericchi!" Nozomi suddenly replied very seriously.

"I want to give you a new request now. I want you to be very seductive and sexy for me, just like her!" She said.

"Huh? Am I not?"

"Certainly not compared to her, I don't mind if you're over doing it, I think I can die happy!"

"W-what? No way, sometime your nose is still bleeding when we're doing it! I don't want your head to explode! We will do it our way, ok?"

"Not that you're not bleeding your nose away when it gets too hot!"

"But at least it's not as common as you! Remember when I moaned on your ear and you just collapse in the middle of touches?"

"That's because it tickles!"

"Doesn't make sense!"

And before the two continued, a wooden sandal thrown at them—which they luckily dodge.

"SHAMELESS!" Umi shouted with her red face.

"U-Umi-chaan!" Honoka and Kotori hanging on her arm—they might be trying to hold her back.

"U-Umi! Calm down! We're not doing anything!" Eli said.

"Talking about intimacy in public! VERY SHAMELESS!" she tried to pick her other wooden sandal.

"Umiii-chan! Calm down!"

Nozomi and Eli quickly ran away as they know that things are going badly. Umi quickly run with Kotori and Honoka still hanging on her. While they are busy with that business, Maki, Niko, and Rin sighed.

"Well, let's go home too." Maki said.

"Yeah, I'm out for tonight. I have lots of work tomorrow." Niko said.

"Yeah-nya! Let's go home, Kayo-chin!"

No response.

"Kayo-chin?" Rin called her again.

Still no response—alas, she isn't even here.

"K-Kayo-chin?!"

---

BONUS SCENE:

---

The next morning, Nozomi and Eli woke up with a little bruise on their forehead. Last night was going a little too wild as Eli and Nozomi are stupidly trying to explain further about what they were talking about.

Eli headed to the kitchen as soon as she feel like walking off her bedroom while Nozomi still staying on her bed, sitting with her sleepy eyes. Suddenly, an envelope flying to her face. She grabs it and flip it to see the sender name.

From: Nozomi Toujou

To: Nozomi Toujou

And she opened the envelope to see what inside it.

Does it feels funny to you that you got a letter from yourself? Because I do feel funny when writing this, knowing that you are me from another universe.

I just want to tell you my thanks personally. I've never talked to you directly, but, if it wasn't because of you, I wouldn't feel so happy like this. My Ericchi decided to make a schedule for us all—just like what your Ericchi said to me, hehe. She is such a sweet one, don't you think?

I was jealous that she could be that loose, but perhaps it was because of me who wasn't brave enough to speak up my mind to her. We've been through a lot and I already forget when I lost my ability to be as blunt as you.

There are something that I may have to tell you about your Ericchi and herself, though I'm very sure that she got over that now and working out on it. That's why I'm going to let her do it her way and for you to figure out about her true intention.

I also hope you to forgive my friends for stealing someone in your group. Rin-chan is so tempted to have two of her best friend. We returned her immediately after figuring out her existence. Honestly though, it would be fun if we can invite you all to our world. I kind of miss the human food and if we happen to want to eat one, we surely will need the reason to do it. Seriously, being an Empress and a Queen is hard. Anything you do is watched and will become a role model for the society.

Lastly, I'd like to send you my children from time to time. They said, they wanted to live with you and help out when needed, though they said that they want to do it in human way so… yep. Please take care of them and get along with them even if they're being bad.

Note :

Lily is such a tease, but she is actually a caring person. Yuki, he always is a total goof, don't let him go too astray though. Next, Aria, she might be still a kid, but if you try to explain her, she will get it sooner than anyone else. I knew she is a special one for human being, though, it's not that surprising for Ericchi's daughter to question her true place in life. I hope you can help her figure out her true self.

The letter ended there. Nozomi nods and smiled at the letter. Alas, she is happy that there's something that can make her world feel more colorful. Soon after she placed down the letter on the end table, she can hear a bell ringing.

She knows Eli is in the kitchen so she expected her to look at the door. Nozomi can hear some noises outside.

"Papa!" a little girl voice said.

"H-Huh? What are you all doing here?" Eli asked.

"We're going to be living here from time to time now. Don't worry about our room or anything, we will magically make one for ourselves." A female teenager voice said.

"I'll be the family dog!" A male teenager voice said.

"W-what? We can't have a dog in apartment!"

"Booo, then a wolf."

"No way! That is even worse, just be a normal human!"

"Ok, I'm a normal human now!'

"Where's mama?" the little girl asked.

"The… bedroom? Wait, when did we become mama and papa?!"

"Stop denying, papa, we will be pretending that we're the family kids."

Then the door for the bedroom opened. Lily and Aria jumped into the bed while Yuki stood with his ears and wagging tail shown.

"Mama!" Aria said.

"Mama! Let's go out and play! This should be holiday for you, right?!" Lily said.

"Now-now, how did you know when I'm not working?" Nozomi asked.

"Hehe, let's not think of the details, mama! Let's go out—now!" Lily and Aria pulled her.

"W-wait-wait! I'm still in my pajamas!"

"T-there! Don't take her away like that! She is still mine, ok?!"

The blonde protested as she blocked the path.

"You are going too papa! Let's play outside!" Yuki said as he pushed Eli to where the two girls are.

"H-Huh?! But… My cooking!"

---

THE END