So, now that I have reached this point, I have decided to spend a bit of time world building. From various comments I have gotten, there have been a few comments about 'romance'.

It's a little bit of a touchy subject. Now, by now, you may have forgotten, that our protagonist WAS a man. Being stuck in a woman's body but having a male outlook gives Kodori a rather interesting perspective. Things would have turned out quite different, if say, Kodori was a raging pervert. Funny, yes, good story? Maybe not? (Imagine Kodori being like that guy from 'Heaven's lost property' )

But, as well, Kodori was some one who lived in today's society of caution. Might does not make right, or if it does, it isn't for very long. While Kodori has been growing stronger, 'preying on the weak' was just never a thing for her. Things are changing, Kodori is adapting, but it's hard to erase life long habits of pacifism. (Monster hunting aside. That's just a workplace hazard.)

So, before I hit the next 'big thing' on the overall plot line. I think I will take a few pages to build on a few things.

Chapter 22

I realized, that since my arrival, butt naked some place on Daedalus alley, I'd been constantly on the move. From working at the Hostess of Fertility, training with Ryuu and Lunoire, learning the language... Then meeting Hestia, learning more of the language... Dungeon, Bell, Lilly, floor eighteen, the war game... I don't remember a single time in my entire life, where I was so active. One crisis to the next, or preparing for a crisis we knew was going to happen, or that we were about to cause.

It probably didn't help that Bell and I were considered 'hot commodities' by the various Gods and Goddesses. Bell was desired by Apollo, and I suspected a few others, for his innocent looks and insane potential. And while I knew Bell was better than me, as an adventurer I was a little ahead of him. I was also good looking, and my 'innovations' were catching the attention of certain others as well.

So it was with a little surprise, that I almost didn't know what to do on my first real day off since my arrival in Orario. Our new home, Apollo's old one, was well on its way to being furnished. We had everything we needed for the moment, and no looming crisis was threatening us again. The only real problem we had right now, was our Familia funds were almost gone. But, with Takemikazuchi Familia, and Hestia Familia living under one roof, and all of us were level two or higher, a few trips to the dungeon would be all we needed to cover that.

"Kodori..."

It had only been five days since we won the war game, and I'd already gotten a half dozen requests to show them my flying machine. I did plan on building it again, not wanting to disappoint Lilly, whom I promised to take with me next time.

"Kodori?"

I had also taken the 'Crafting' skill, just because I didn't want to be 'Kodori who hit things', until I retired, when ever that might be. I ran a few ideas through my mind on things to try my hand at.

"KODORI!" I felt a hand grab my tail and run along its length right to the end, all my thoughts dissolving in a tingle that nearly made me fall over.

"Huh? What?" I said in English, then again in the local language.

"Stop pacing, you're making me dizzy." I looked behind me, and saw Hestia, a hand still on the tip of my tail, brushing it against her cheek. "You've been pacing back and forth for almost an hour..."

My tail, mind of its own, started trying to curl around the Goddess's arm. "Oh... Sorry. I'm not used to having time to myself these days." Realizing that I hadn't even left the dining room after breakfast, Hestia was sitting in her usual spot at the table, and I'd apparently been pacing back and forth past her.

"Oh... Well, what did you do before? You know, before you arrived?" She asked, tugging my tail gently to get me to sit down.

"Well, not much really. Work left me with little will to do much else but idle around my home. And when I did do things, it was... Rather dull. There weren't really any adventures you could go on..." I couldn't tell her some of the things I'd been doing. Like playing video games. Or wandering the internet.

"Not much help then..." She brushed her fingers through my tail, and I felt myself leaning closer to her. I wondered how much of that reaction was instinct. "You said you were older... What about... umm..."

"Not for a long while." I chuckled, "Never had children either."

"Well... umm... you need a man for that, right?"

We both shared an awkward laugh, for entirely different reasons.

"What's it like?" She asked, quiet enough that even with my ears, I might have imagined it.

I could almost feel the alignment of the cosmos shift with the weight of that question. My ears did a quick twitch around the top of my head to make sure the room was clear of people before I answered. "Well... Before that... How much do you know personally?"

I stepped out of Hestia's room with a sigh. Poor girl. I think Bell was the only other person more innocent than our Goddess. She simply short circuited as soon as I clarified my question of what 'personally' meant. For as much as she wanted Bell, she had basically no idea what to do with herself, let alone some one else. I wondered if she had ever looked at herself with a mirror. Sigh... Being a big sister was hard.

Of course, Bell was walking down the hall of the barracks section of our new home just as I stepped out of Hestia's room.

"Something wrong?" He asked.

"I think Lady Hestia has a little bit of a headache. So I carried her up and put her to bed." I replied.

"Oh... Well, I suppose it wasn't that important. Want to help with some more furniture? Welf said he could use some help with making nails." He said, scratching his head.

"Sure. Wasn't doing anything constructive so far anyhow."

Until dinner, I spent time in Welf's workshop, randomly making things. Nails, leather straps, pottery... I'm pretty sure he just wanted to see what it was I could do. In my previous life, I'd managed to dabble in just about everything. But only to the point of not hurting myself with what ever tools were involved. I was just finishing up a leather collar when an idea hit me.

"Hey Welf... Why aren't there more pets in the city?"

He nearly missed the anvil with his next swing, the only sound for the last hour being that of tools. "Wha...? Oh, well, there are, just... We adventurer types don't really have a use for them." He found his rhythm with the hammer again, "I mean, we can't really bring it into the dungeon. We won't always be there to take care of it... And well, we might leave it behind."

I stitched a metal clasp onto one end of the collar. It made sense when he put it like that. A dog would be either too noisy, or a quick casualty. A cat would be too small. "Ganesha Familia... They deal with a lot of captured monsters right? What about something from the dungeon?"

"Too violent, mostly. They are born hating us. Only the best of Ganesha Familia can truly tame a monster, and even then..." He replied, setting aside his work.

"Hm." I thought about the monster festival.

Hestia was rather... subdued at dinner, refusing to look at me aside from the odd sideways glance. I could tell she was trying to work up the courage to ask something, but also she was trying not to blush thinking about it.

I suppose 'experience' varied between Gods. Loki was rather free with her hands. Apollo was obviously one who played both sides, and Ishtar pretty much ran the 'entertainment' district. So I suppose that would put my dear Goddess at the very opposite of Ishtar.

After dinner, the ever observant Lilly had asked me what was going on. By far the sharpest at the table when it came to social skills, she picked up on something, but asked me exactly what.

"Our Goddess asked me a rather... interesting question, earlier." I replied.

"And what was it?"

I looked around to make sure we were alone in the hallway, before I leaned down and mumbled, "She was curious about how it worked... Between two people." My obvious stress on the word 'it' made Lilly blink.

"And Lady Hestia...?"

"Did what Bell usually does."

"Ohhh. Lilly understands. That was why she was napping this afternoon?"

"Well, I don't think she was trying to figure it out on her own..." I hid a smile behind my hand for emphasis. "Maybe I should get her a hand mirror..."

Lilly was trying not to giggle, "Miss Kodori is very naughty."

"Not as naughty as I could be. But, I also don't want to get in the way of things... I mean... well..." And now it was my turn to falter. I had my own moral code when it came to such things. But, I was also from a time when that moral code made more sense.

My tail had wandered over to Lilly, snaking its way around her back and hip. "Miss Kodori's tail is honest." She teased, playing with the fur.

"Hey... No fair."

"Lilly is thankful you are only giving little pushes." She said with a smile, "But you should remember yourself too."

"You are certainly making me think about it, that's for sure." I mumbled. "It's not like I can just... well, I suppose I could... But... Bleh. Now I'm over thinking it."

We shared a laugh, then Lilly asked, "Lilly does wonder, what's it like?"

To her credit, she didn't faint, like Hestia, when I asked her the first question.

I wasn't able to sleep that night. The combination of... Interesting talks, and my up to this point lack of down time, made me feel that I had to be doing SOMETHING.

So, I wrote a little note, 'gone for a walk', and left it on my pillow. I put on my gauntlets, went to the little balcony attached to my room, hopped up onto the railing, braced, and jumped, clearing our new home's wall with ease.

Aside from bits of drunken memory, and my visits into the entertainment district, I really hadn't experienced much of the night life in the city. To be fair, Hestia obviously didn't want her 'children' misbehaving. And only grudgingly forgave me when I had returned home after my 'chat' with Haruhime. Totally worth it.

But, now, with a mostly clear head, I decided to just... wander. I knew of a few places I could go for a drink. Or I could have visited the entertainment district. Or even wandered into the dungeon for a while. Figuring it wasn't worth the lecture to go into the dungeon alone, I opted for looking for a tavern. Unsure on where to go, I found my feet leading me down half remembered streets until I happened upon the same place that we held Welf's party. Seeing that the place was open, and in full swing, I shrugged and entered.

No one seemed to notice me as I walked inside, dressed in my casual clothing. The smell of spilt beer, oily food and drunk people assaulted my nose, and I could tell that my stay would probably be a short one. The bartender wasn't the same as last time, but he did look... a little... wait...

He recognized me at about the same time, though he was far FAR angrier. As I got close, he pointed his finger and started turning purple, restraining himself from simply swearing at me.

Understandable. He was the Pallum Lilly had replaced during the war game.

"Come to gloat huh? After ruining me at the war game? Once wasn't enough?" He was just barely getting his words out.

I sat at the bar, the rest of the patrons starting to pay attention to us. "I'm sorry that us needing to play dirty to win against twenty to one odds has put you out a bit." I tried to keep the smile off my face. I couldn't help it. When Lilly had picked this guy, from a potential list, he was already the bottom of the bottom in the Apollo Familia. That put him at the top of our list to be alone long enough to have Lilly replace him.

"Since that game, Apollo wouldn't take me with him, and no other Familia I've tried to get in to has been good enough by my standards." He replied, "Because of what you did, everyone thinks I'm some kind of traitor." He huffed, "You just going to take up space, or are you going to order something?"

I suspected his sudden change of tone was due to the owner, the huge man from the last time we were here, sticking his head out of the little plate window that looked out from the kitchen.

After my one drink, and taking pity on the guy and leaving a tip, I wandered off again. That stupid war game had upset quite a few people, all in the name of entertainment. I was feeling a little better, a little less on edge, and was thinking of heading back, when I felt that distinct pressure of aggression.

Not bothering to confront who ever it was I thought was following me, I simply flexed my legs, and took to the roof tops. It was such a simple thing, to propel myself ten meters into the air, grab hold of the edge of a roof, lift, and flip myself onto the rooftop itself. I didn't even bother to speed up as I walked towards the edge of the slanted roof, feeling that sense of scrutiny slide off of me.

"You are very quick... yes..." I stopped as I heard the voice. A cold, hollow voice.

But not unfriendly. Just... Cold, and hollow. Like some one speaking after a long fight with a chest infection. "I've worked hard to become so." I kept my hands open, but ready at my sides.

"And a good thinker. Surprise doesn't make you aggressive..." The voice, once to my left, was now on my right. My ears followed the sound, though I stayed still otherwise. "Cautious, but willing to take risks. Considering all that has happened... Tell me... What keeps you going?"

Not wanting to play this game, but, not wanting to be outright rude, I opted for a middle ground, "Good food, mostly." That drew the smallest of chuckles from my as yet invisible interrogator. "But seriously?"

"Yes. You see, I've been watching you, and your Familia. You've adapted quite well, since your arrival, and fallen in with... Good people." A pause, the voice switching sides again, "But you, yourself, are still a bit of a mystery. You conduct yourself with a certain... Experience. Like you've done this kind of thing before."

"Second hand experiences. Lots of them." If one named a good RPG, I'd probably have played it, after all. "Motivation came with my new surroundings," And body, though I didn't say, "And my age brought with it wisdom to follow the backs of great people, no matter their age." Bell may have had a small back, but he shouldered an awful lot. "Now... Was there a point to this? You seem to know a lot about me."

"To be honest, I hadn't expected to be caught. But, as a show of good faith, I am telling you what I know, or at least, what I think is true." A pause, and again, the shift in position. On impulse, I hopped quickly to one side, hand extended, and closing, on the first thing I felt. "Oh... Very close." The voice was now behind me, and in my hand I held... what looked like a liquid black robe. Like pure black ink that felt like smooth cloth. "I've overstayed I suppose." The voice stayed directly behind me as I looked back and forth. "You may be a true outsider to the city, but you are more than welcome to continue as you have been. Now, don't lose that, you might need it some time."

"I usually get a name before I take the shirt off..." I mumbled, holding the inky fabric in one hand.

No reply.

Huh...

My encounter had left me more wound up than when I left. The voice. The person knowing I was an outsider. Continue as you have been, it said...

As I walked towards home, I wondered what to do with the robe. My unbreakable grip seemed to be the only thing letting me hold it at all, the fabric seemed to try and run like ink too. At one point, I tried balling it up, folding it into a crumpled ball, and it... stuck like that. Taking up far less space than something that was the size of a full grown man should have. It was at about that point, I just stuck it in my pocket like a bunch of paper napkins.

Hopping over the wall of our home, then again to my little balcony, I was met with the sight of Hestia, laying just left of my usual spot on the bed. Lilly, just to the right, and Bell, wrapped in a blanket by the door.

The note I had written had been moved to a low tea table I'd made a couple of days ago, with fresh writing on it.

'We couldn't sleep either. Welcome home.'

Stepping behind my new dressing screen, I got ready for bed, putting the balled up inky cloak quietly in with my extra socks. I had to try not to sniffle as I did so. With a welcome home like this, how could I not feel like staying on a good path? No amount of power, fame, or fortune, would be worth giving this up. Carefully laying in the spot the two girls had left for me, I moved my tail around for Hestia to cling to, and put an arm close enough to Lilly's back to feel her warmth.

Unsurprisingly, I woke at my usual time, with the familiar warmth of Hestia holding my tail, and Lilly against my middle. I could see that the slight noise of me shifting had woken Bell, a single red eye open slightly and looking at me. Quietly, he stretched, his shoulders and back making quiet little pops as he moved around. Equally as quiet, he gave me a small wave, and slipped out of the room, taking his blankets and pillow with him.

With equal care, I slipped out of bed and got ready for the day.

At breakfast, we decided it was time to start earning our keep, and head back into the dungeon. We were running low on valis, and we hadn't earned anything since the war game. Granted, the people we did owe money to were our friends, but eventually, we needed to balance the books.

We must had looked a sight. Both our Familia together only equalled eight people, but on our way to the dungeon, everyone seemed to know us. When we stepped in front of the massive guild job board, people stepped aside to let us all see what was posted. It felt good, honestly, if a little weird. Like we were some kind of gang.

"Well?" I asked, trying my best to read the various papers. Some one had some messy writing, that's for sure. "Don't be afraid to take some work out of the dungeon. It's all money, and it's all helping out."

In the end, we ended up splitting up into three groups. Bell and Lilly took a job to visit a 'pantry' in the dungeon. A place where monsters who weren't killed, went to eat when they inevitably got hungry. Takemikazuchi Familia and Welf took a construction job, rebuilding part of a sewer system, and I ended up with Mikoto, to go take down some orcs for their leather.

A little shuffling, and Chigusa, Ouka's fan girl and supporter, decided to come with Mikoto and I.

Not much needed to be said about the trip. Mikoto was very business like, Chigusa was quiet, but very good at her job, and orcs were... easy. If I felt like a bully the last time, I was feeling like a tyrant now. I reminded myself, part way to lunch time, as I buttoned down my hood to protect my ears from bats, that I was still on the clock, and being careless caused accidents.

And accidents could get you killed in the dungeon.

"Kodori-dono." Mikoto started as we settled down for lunch, Chigusa using a tiny but effective magic stone stove for rice. "I have been curious."

Hoping she wasn't about to ask what Hestia and Lilly had, I raised an eyebrow and lowered my hood so I could hear her better.

"The Renard are from the East, but..."

Always polite, she was having a hard time finding the words to ask the question she wanted, without potentially offending me. It was easy to see on her face. "I'm a bit of an orphan. And my arrival in the city was probably magic in nature." I saved her the trouble by just answering.

"Hm. Yet you know some of the language, when you didn't know any of the local one?" She asked, accepting a bowl of rice from our supporter.

"Lessons, and a deep interest in the culture." I couldn't say I was learning mostly from subtitles, and online classes. "Admiration from afar, if you will."

"Hm. We knew a Renard once. Back home at our first home." Chigusa answered this time. "She was so happy, but..." Strangly, Mikoto glared at the other girl, and the both of them fell into what I guessed was an almost guilty silence.

Curious, I pressed, "I'm guessing something happened?"

"We were friends, her home near the orphanage. Even though she was of royal blood, she would sneak out, or we would sneak her out, of her home to play with us." Mikoto smiled, but then frowned, "But, her father disapproved, considered her a dishonour to his family, and the next time we went to play, we found out she had been disowned, and sold."

I blinked, "I would like to meet this man." Selling your own daughter for... playing with orphans? Mikoto looked up at me sharply, but probably saw the direction such a meeting would take by how my tail was lashing about behind me. "Do you know what happened afterwards?"

"We pleaded with Lord Takemikazuchi to help up find her, but the trail went cold. She had been sold to a merchant, but he had been attacked by monsters on the road." I noticed her knuckles were white on the hilt of her katana. She herself noticed, and forced her hand to relax and return to her half finished bowl of rice. "He fled, leaving her to her fate."

I ate a few spoonfuls of my own rice, wondering myself what happened to this other Renard, when I realized something... No... But... "Um... What was her name?"

"Haruhime Sanjouno." She replied, blinking as I suddenly facepalmed. "Kodori-dono?"

"Royalty... Little princess... From the east..." I sighed, put my spoon back in my bowl, and said, "Um, actually, put your spoon down, and don't interrupt..."

So I told them how Haruhime and I met, where I met her, and all of the less personal details. "So... Yeah..." I picked up my spoon and ate the last bit in my bowl.

The two of them looked like statues, before Mikoto finally said, "She's alive..."

"Very much so." I replied. "If nothing goes wrong, I might be going on a date with her some time soon." I scratched at my ear, a little nervously.

"Yes. Please, Kodori-dono." The both of them said, standing and bowing to me.

"Relax, please. If you were good friends then, she would be happy to see you now. Just... Let me just tell her bodyguard before hand. She seems an understanding lady, so I'm sure she won't disapprove."

The two of them were a little distracted for the rest of our trip, but only enough to notice, not reprimand. Excited that their long lost friend was alive, yes. Foolish enough to let themselves get careless, no.

We all returned back to our home at roughly the same time. Welf and crew were dirty, but happy that they made the most of the daylight hours repairing bits of the city. Lilly hadn't traumatized Bell too much, and they were both in high spirits, having completed their gathering quest on the first day. And Mikoto and Chigusa were finally able to enjoy the news of their childhood friend being alive.

After setting aside all the money earned, dividing it up, and setting aside some for the 'house funds' we considered the day's work concluded, and I told the rest of Takemikazuchi Familia what I had told Mikoto.

Much as she was, the rest of them were both happy and relieved that she was alive and well, even though her place of work was less than optimum.

Now all I had to do was wait for word on when I could see her next, and hope Aisha would let them.

Our second day of 'recover the Hestia/Takemikazuchi Familia funding' was well on its way to being a good day. We had all taken a few different requests and split it up according to skills. Bell had actually gone on a solo mission for the Hostess of Fertility, running messages and the like. I only managed to read half of his mission slip, my reading skills not up to my spoken ones, but it had something to do with a shortage of goods, and finding new suppliers. Mikoto had gone with the rest of her old Familia to hunt more orcs, while I worked with Lilly this time. Welf begged off, saying he had a date with his workshop, and would surprise us later. Easygoing man that he was, he must have had something important to work on.

Today, my job with Lilly was another run to a Pantry. She and Bell had done so well, that the quest giver had asked for Hestia Familia personally for their next request. Eina, caring lady that she was, had warned us that such things were rare, but welcome, as it meant a steady customer. Not quite a contract, but certainly close.

"So this is what those blankets were for." I mumbled quietly, close to Lilly's ear. She had pointed cat ears today, saying we had to be both quiet, and good listeners for our work.

We were both laying belly down under a sheet of dungeon floor coloured fabric, peeking out from under it while watching the area around this 'Pantry'. It was a pretty place, with small crystals growing from the normally plain walls. Its biggest feature was a sort of pillar in the middle of the room. Also covered in small crystals, it leaked a milky liquid that smelled very sweet. Even from the farthest corner of the large room, we could smell that almost sugary scent. We had watched several groups of monsters, like goblins, killer rabbits, and the occasional poison butterfly approach it, sip at the water, then find a corner to nap in.

Lilly was as close to me as she could be. I was honestly thankful, as laying on the cool dungeon floor was slowly getting chilly. "Yes, Lilly is always prepared for work." She replied quietly, "We are waiting for a special one of those." She looked towards a trio of poison butterflies currently perched on the central pillar. "The wings can be used for potions."

"Why wait here? And not just wander around looking for it?" I asked, counting the number of creatures in the room.

"It is a rare monster, but, it likes to hide, so it usually lives long enough to get hungry..." She wiggled next to me, "Miss Kodori's tail tickles."

Also feeling the chill of the dungeon floor, my tail had decided to lay over Lilly's back. "Must be the cold." I mumbled, "But I don't blame it. So you were like this with Bell yesterday?"

I watched a group of killer rabbits enter, passing by a pair of goblins as they left. Lilly let out a quiet 'hee hee'. "Yes."

"Well, I suspect the only reason he didn't melt, was because of the cold floor, and that he is not easy to distract in the dungeon." I put an arm over her back, and hugged her, "Now... Is that it there?"

I had spotted a rust coloured butterfly as it floated towards the pillar. I had missed it until it was nearly half way to it, the wings and its lazy fluttering, blending in with the red walls of the dungeon quite well. I felt her hair brush my cheek as she moved her head to look at my face, then towards where I was looking. "Yes. It isn't dangerous, but it heals monsters near it."

"Okay. I only have a mask, for the other butterflies, so keep your crossbow ready." Lacking the 'abnormal resistance' skill, I was susceptible to any number of effects from the other butterflies poison dust. Lowering the goggles from Nazza, and putting a bandanna over my nose and mouth, I hopped out from under the blanket.

"Miss Kodori looks miserable." Lilly said, after we finished turning in the wings. Once I had a hand on our target, it was a simple matter to tug the wings apart. But, this made almost everything in the room turn its attention to me. Goblins, killer rabbits, butterflies, frogs, a few kobolds, a single lizard man, and a stray hard armoured. At level three, and with my magic, it wouldn't have been a difficult fight, except despite my precautions, the butterfly dust was apparently contact poison too. So not only was I tired from an almost full hour of killing monsters, I was covered in slime, teeth marks, and itchy. VERY itchy. It was almost like poison ivy, and it was taking almost all my willpower to not scratch at every bit of exposed skin I had. I dreaded to think of what would have happened had I not had my goggles or bandanna.

On the plus side, we had made a huge profit on monster parts. As per usual, just about everything that bit me left teeth behind, and my unbreakable grip meant every one of those butterflies donated to our cause.

Our task was relatively simple compared to the others, so we made it home just a little after lunch. Puffy eyed, red skinned, and tail twitching, I made a beeline towards the bath, giving Hestia a wave on the way by. She gave me a raised eyebrow, but Lilly covered for me as I entered the bath room.

After basically showering with my clothes on, then striping out of them and showering again, I still had to stop myself from scratching the worst of it. It reminded me of the time I had second degree sunburns when I was growing up. I had blisters all over my back and shoulders, but could not scratch them, no matter how itchy I got. Or the time I had walked past some poison ivy, the tiny little rip in my pants letting the little plant brush bare skin. I hadn't even known what it was until my scout master noticed I had basically scratched myself bloody without thinking about it.

Finally in the bath, the entirety of my clothing hung haphazardly around the room to dry, I finally started to feel less itchy.

Bell was oddly absent that evening for dinner. For the first time ever, aside from when we screwed up and ended up on the eighteenth floor. Everyone else had finished work, except Welf, who was still in the shop, with a 'do not open' sign on the door. Hestia was worried, but, when we told her that he was working for the Hostess of Fertility, she settled down. We all knew them, and they were all good people.

We all started to worry about him as the moon started to reach its apex in the sky. Welf had finally stepped out of the workshop as well, though he locked the door behind him. Telling him about Bell, he scratched his head and shrugged.

"He's a big boy. He can take care of himself, right?" Was his comment on the matter.

Hestia wasn't convinced, and neither was Lilly. I found them both at the dinner table waiting for him, sitting next to each other with their heads down and snoring. After picking them both up, and putting them in Hestia's bed, I took over the vigil and waited, wrapped in a blanket, sitting on the steps of our home by the door.

"Miss Kodori?" I snapped awake at the voice, blinking once and trying to focus on the shape in front of me. The shape reached out a hand at me, and I made to brush it away, but it took hold of my hand and held it lightly while my eyes adjusted to the predawn light. "It's me."

Eyes focusing, I found myself looking at Bell. He looked out of breath, haggard, and like he had been rolling over gravel. "You look..." I paused to yawn, feeling my neck protest at having slept while leaning against something, "Terrible."

He laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Well... I met Miss Haruhime last night..."

At my raised eyebrow, he explained. His job was going well, running messages back and forth, but at some point, as evening descended, he got lost, and found himself in the red light district. Some Amazons, knowing who he was, and that while he looked timid, Bell is rather strong, decided to chase after him. At some point during the chase, Haruhime called out to him, knowing who he was, and that if he was running, he was in trouble. He hid in her room a while too.

"She saved me when she gave me a hug and pushed me down. An Amazon came into her room but thought she was... umm... busy..." He blushed his usual crimson as he managed to get those words out, "And they left."

Unable to resist, I asked, "Is she as soft as Eina?" I smiled, standing and gathering the blanket I was using.

I turned and saw Hestia standing there at the door, looking at the two of us with sleepy fury. Bell managed to not run away, replying, "She just fell asleep on my chest! Honest! I didn't mean to stay but if I moved I might have gotten caught and pleasedontyellatme?"

Hestia's angry glare lasted a moment longer, but she simmered down after looking at me, then back to Bell, "Fine. Tell me exactly what happened again. You come in too, its chilly out." She pointed at me.

One repeated explanation later, over a quartet of hot tea mugs, and Hestia had calmed down, a little. Lilly was trying her best to stay awake, but was alert enough to giggle occasionally. I simply nodded, knowing the mindset of the Amazons, and understanding why Bell would be a target.

"Well, hopefully, that's not going to happen again." I said, "Maybe we can ask Aisha about it next time I see her." Looking at Bell, I realized that while Haruhime may have slept on him, he didn't sleep, at all. Not that I blamed him, she was rather soft.

Shaking my head to set those thoughts aside, I motioned to Bell, "Take the morning off, have a nap. And a shower." He also smelled like her, and I had to admit, it was making my tail want to wander. I mean, more than it was. Lilly was still half awake and holding my fluffy appendage like a teddy bear.

"Yes." He yawned as if to punctuate his exhaustion, "Miss Kodori."

Having actually slept, if not very well, I still managed to join the Takemikazuchi Familia for the morning spar. I filled them in on what had happened, making the lot of them worry somewhat. But at the very least, they were all glad she was alive and well.

Then Hermes showed up.

As usual, he was with Asfi, her cool 'wish I were somewhere else yet duty dictates I must babysit' face giving the bunch of us a critical eye as we gathered at the gate to meet him. Hermes himself was still the same scruffy looking God, his easy smile kind of annoying me for some reason.

"Good morning, Miss Kodori, everyone. I've a letter, two actually, just like last time." The first he handed me, smiling that infuriating smile. It was a paper crane, made out of a gently scented bit of red paper. "I'm sure you know who that's from."

I nodded to him, but didn't unfold the paper, "And the second, isn't really a letter, but a message." He paused, looked us over again, and... Stopped smiling.

For all that his smile annoyed me, his lack of one seemed much worse.

"Maybe you should come in and sit down." I said, unlatching the gate.

He and Asfi stepped inside, and the lot of us arranged ourselves on a couple of benches we had made for people who wanted to either watch us spar, or enjoy the nice open lawn we had. "How much do you know of the top Familia in the city?"

I heard one of Takemikazuchi Familia head back into the building, while I considered his question. "Well... Freya Familia is the top. Something to do about another Familia failing a quest..."

"Yes, Zeus and Hera Familia were once the top Familia of the city, but they failed to kill a very powerful dragon. The failure weakened them, and Freya, with Ottar, as well as many other high levelled adventurers seized the top spot, and banished the other two."

Ah, interesting to know. Eina had mentioned them briefly, in one of her many lectures, but I put that thought aside, "Next, Ganesha, though they are more quantity, and popularity focused."

"Yes, while not the most powerful, they have a large membership, and deal with a great deal of the day to day stuff in the city. Guards, monster taming, caravan guards, helping the guild run a lion's share of the errands." Hermes confirmed, smiling, "You've come a long way since I met you."

"Good people, and bad events." I nodded my head over to our new home, and gave Mikoto a pat on the shoulder, "I've had to learn a lot. Loki was next, if I remember. Or second... What ever. Also high membership, but they do far more dungeon delving. And are very good at it. Many high levelled members, wide variety of skills and trades."

"Very good. Next?"

"Hephaestus. They all but run the equipment trade in the city." And because of that, they were basically the biggest economic power in the city, though, I didn't mention that.

"And last?"

"Ishtar." I said, "Not just for high member count, but a great deal of them are Amazons, level two or three, and the entertainment district's owner in all but name." If I was going to date someone from Ishtar Familia, I should at least look into them, right?

"And this, bothers Her. A lot." Hermes said, nodding to Takemikazuchi and Hestia as they came out, tea cups in hand, as well as Chigusa, who carried a platter with enough tea for everyone present. "Ah, good morning. We were just finishing the history lesson, and getting to the actual matter at hand." He sipped his tea, waiting for the other two Gods to sit. "I suppose you have heard of dear little Haruhime?"

Takemikazuchi smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Yes, we are pleased she is alive, and well, despite all that has happened." He paused to sip his own tea, his eyes troubled, "I regret deeply the incident that caused her to be..."

"Well... Ishtar has plans for her. And her story may end up a tragedy after all." Hermes replied with his usual smile, "Twice now, I've delivered an item from the East, called a Killing Stone."

I had no idea what it was, aside from an ominous name, but it made my tail poof out angrily. I had to grab it before it started to lash about.

"Secretly, of course, Ishtar commissioned me to find one. I don't know exactly how it works, but I do know that under the full moon, a sacrifice is required, and it will grant a certain number of people great power, equal to the sacrifice." He paused, looking at me, "And it requires the sacrifice to be of a royal, magical blood line." He frowned, "I would imagine Ishtar would do this, and use that power to try and oust Lady Freya from her spot at the top of the Familia rankings."

"Secretly, huh?" Hestia asked, eyebrow raised.

"My job is done. So my oath of secrecy is too." He finished his tea, and placed it on the bench next to him. Asfi did the same. "Now, if you'll excuse me."

He stood and left, the rest of us watching in silence. I had a death grip on my poor tail, feeling my anger seething underneath my skin. It vanished when not Hestia, but Takemikazuchi put his hand on my shoulder. His divine calm pressing down on me.

"Hestia Familia." He said, "I ask you to save that child." I felt his hand give my shoulder a little squeeze, "Though, I'm sure you need little encouragement, I still ask it." He looked to his own Familia, Mikoto included, "We failed that child once, and would like to make it right."

Hestia added her own hand, to my other shoulder. They both knew I had a bit of a personal stake in this too. "We accept."

"Lilly will go wake up Master Bell."

Right then.

This puts us arounnnnnnd Book 6 now. I do hope you are all enjoying the story still. :)

But this also brings us to a bit of a problem. If this is book 6, and so far there are ... well, nine translated books, and I think eleven total so far... Sooner or later, this story will have to end. And then it will either be archived, or I might simply put the books aside and go about making my own continuation. But, that might be a year from now, for all we know.

Until next time.