Chapter 44

"Ma'am, I've been meaning to ask..." Marius started, making me slow down just a little so he could walk beside me instead of just behind and to the left like a tourist.

"I have an open door policy with questions. Even silly ones." I replied, feeling the mid day sun on my back and bringing a little cheer with its warmth.

"Why a pool?" He asked before continuing, "I mean... Why not a proper field, instead of the poor lawn... I dread the next time we train in the rain."

"That's a good question." I said with a chuckle, "A few reasons actually." We turned a corner, heading down a quiet alleyway that lead to one of the bulk material dealers I scouted after the war game and its 'moving in' supply shortage. "First, we have a nice spot to build it."

"The back corner, covered by Apollo Familia's attempt at an orchard?" Marius asked.

"One I intend on making grow, by the way. But yes. Covered by trees for privacy, in the back, out of the way, and space to put a changing room and water shed."

"Hm, the idea has merit, and will keep the women happy with the extra security." I gave him a sideways glance and he raised his eyebrow back at me, "What? I'm sure you've noticed the... greater emphasis on personal space our Eastern members have."

"Pleased you noticed that. Observing people will be part of your job, when you return."

"Don't remind me Ma'am... Urg, political dinners..."

"But yes. Next, it gives us another way to train, without risk of bruising, and actually have fun while we are at it." I grinned, "Ever try and run underwater?"

"Can't say the thought occurred to me." He said as we finally entered the 'public warehouse' district. Where merchants could set up wholesale shops that the public could use. Like a very early attempt at a Home Depot. "Though, I look forward to learning how to swim properly."

I lowered my voice a little, to not attract the attention of the stray passerby as I looked at the signs, "It also gives us a natural reason to be here at all."

He nodded, not answering but returning to his tourist position.

"Keep an eye out for the one you mentioned."

"Yes Ma'am."

I made a point to look like I was here for normal reasons. Our first stop was at a soil seller. Unlike back home, you couldn't just buy a bag of dirt with the Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium numbers printed on the front. So, I had to ask the man there what I should get. I mean, if it HAD the numbers, I could have just selected and payed for delivery, but well...

"Well Miss." For a dirt merchant, this man was pretty clean. The smell from the building was rather ripe, but that was to be expected. Fertilizer was also on his list of items for sale. "You say you want to grow fruit, but what kind?"

"Marius? Happen to know what they were?" I asked the soldier, who just barely stopped himself from clicking his heels together.

"I'm not sure. I did notice that they had... sad looking pink flowers." He answered, his eyes squinting in thought for a moment, "Long leaves too."

"Pink and long leaves... Sounds like peaches. Yup, if they aren't blooming, and making fruit for you, your soil isn't giving them what they need." The merchant replied, stroking his beard a moment, "How many trees are you looking to fix up?"

"Dozen." Marius replied for me.

"Right, I've got what you need... But umm, you're gonna need it delivered, adventurers or not, its not a small amount."

"Hearthstone manor." I said, "Now lets talk price."

It had been a while since I tried my hand at haggling. With no real call for it back home, my only experience before coming here was playing an old ASCII game, where you could haggle with the shop keepers. I'd gotten real experience while working with the girls at the Hostess of Fertility, and a little more after our move into the Manor.

I think I got a good price. Without being too insulting, or cut throat. By the end of it, money changed hands, and we were both smiling, leaving Marius looking impressed at the exchange.

"Ma'am, has anyone told you you'd make an exceptional merchant?" Marius commented as he fell into step behind me, as we looked for our next dealer.

"I'm a Fox, not a Wolf." I said before I could stop myself, "But thank you."

"Wh... ahem, I've spotted the man I mentioned." He said quietly, "Second on the left, bored, sandy hair."

I spotted him as well, and headed over, remembering him from the ones I'd dealt with, but only for a few smaller things. I got our forging materials from another dealer, but this one sold softer metals, things we craft into trinkets and the like.

Spotting me in my coat, and Marius in his armour, the look on his face became worried, but after an instant, he seemed to recognize me, and his worried face broke into a smile. "It's been a while, but its good to see you Lady Kodori."

Fame had added random honorifics to my name, depending on who I dealt with. "It has, that silver you sold me was good stuff. And those little ruby bits you added in went over well with my Goddess." I wondered how many times Hestia held Bell's little rabbit icon. The thought gave me a smile, and an idea for later. "I was wondering..."

The merchant's face fell again, his hand scrubbing through his hair in frustration, "I hope your not going to ask for any bulk materials. I was bought out recently."

I knew this, but acted surprised, "Oh? Everything?" I looked at Marius, who was flawless in looking a little dismayed as well. "Damn..."

"Yeah, I hate to disappoint a repeat customer, but yeah. A couple of people came buy. Rough looking adventurers. Bad attitudes, poor, and looking like they hadn't had a good night sleep in weeks. Demanded I cut them a deal." He sighed, looking at the warehouse door behind him, "Sent it to the address they gave me this morning, not too long ago."

"Well... Maybe I can catch them, pick up a little of what I need..." I mumbled, rubbing my chin, "I mean, they couldn't have bought everything? I've got a project going on, and I need a few things. Copper for pipes, bit of cheap iron for fixings and hinges..."

"Sorry, just about everything useful for building got snatched up. But, if you take a look at some of the more decorative metals they didn't buy, I'd be happy to give you the place I sent it to, and maybe you could talk to them." He smiled the merchant's smile, "I wouldn't suggest it, they looked mean as a tooth ache."

"Sure, I've suddenly been struck by the urge to make something shiny."

"Come in, I'll unlock the vault for you."

"Being the new guy." Marius started, "I've been holding off on asking this..." He watched me tuck a small bag into my coat. Inside were a collection of even smaller bags with very shiny things in it. A little gold, silver, small gems, a hunk of jade...

"And what's that?" I already had a bunch of thoughts on what I'd do with them all. While waiting for peaches to grow.

"Just how well off are we? I understand an amount goes to the 'war chest', but I never considered that 'my business'."

"Well... Takemikazuchi Familia and Hestia Familia both have their own private war chest." I used the term in a more generic way than the literal one, "And a 'house fund' for upkeep, our monthly tax from the Guild, and all that."

"And each of us has our own share as well." Marius said, "Though, I'm surprised all shares are equal."

"Don't be. I made it clear early, that we all put forth our best effort. And I also made a point to make sure that our best efforts were put to their best effects." I give him a light punch to the shoulder, "I mean, could you imagine Lilly with a sword?"

"Honestly... No. She is much better with that little bow, and she cleans up the monsters with amazing speed." Marius nodded to himself as he thought about it.

"We all support each other, we all get paid the same, and we all come back alive." I then added, "And we all have each others support if we need it, in and out of the dungeon. That's more of what the 'Familia' war chest is about. Emergency money in case one of us is sick, or hurt, or needs a new toothbrush, or window replaced in their room. Any number of things."

"And your little bag of goodies there? And this?" He shrugged his shoulder, the small crate with the small distillery equipment not making a noise. Chandra had packed it amazingly well.

"That's from my personal money. The soil, and soon the stone, will be from the 'Household' money. And tonight's food is from Takemikazuchi, because it's your turn to cook." I explained.

"It is, isn't it. I'll try not to make it so plain this time."

"That's... More expensive than I thought it'd be." I said to the man across the table. "What's with the sudden jump in price?"

It was another man I'd dealt with before. This one sold us a large chunk of our proper forging materials. Decent iron, copper, iron sand, and a few others Welf had funny names for that I didn't know the English translation for. This man looked like he had retired after mining all of this stuff up himself. Old, heavily muscled, and with skin like old leather, he let out a long sigh and rubbed a hand over his bald scalp and replied, "Every so often, I get a couple of rough sorts that come by. They snatch up just about everything useful, demanding my best prices, and give me the dirtiest looks while they do it."

Marius and I gave each other a look, then turned back to the man, "It's not regular?" I asked.

"Not... Really, no. Twice last month, once so far this month, four times two months ago. You were lucky actually, the last time you were here, they came by the day after and bought up everything." He replied, leaning on the counter and grumbling, "Different people every time, but I know its the same group. They have the same smell about them."

"Smell?" Marius asked.

"Blood. Blood and iron. Oh, and stone. Makes me think of some of you crazier Familia, diving into the dungeon for months on end, and coming up only when you need something. Pale skinned, squinted eyes, half crazy from lack of sunlight." He described, standing up straight again, "If I were still an adventurer, I'd tell them where to go, but I've been out a long time, and honestly..."

I waved a hand as if to clear the air, "Say no more." I thought for a moment, then asked, "I assume they asked you to deliver it someplace? Maybe after I buy what you have left, I can get the last bit from them." He still had more than what I needed, but by saying I might need more, but was willing to buy from him anyhow, I was hoping to get a little more information.

"I'll write it down for you, but I'd be careful. I've know people who looked like that to do crazy things." He said, pulling out a bit of paper and scribbling something down, "Still willing to buy though?"

"Sure." I grinned, "Lets talk price."

"You have far too much fun doing that." Marius commented as we walked away.

Tucking the second bit of paper he'd given me, as well as the proof of sale, I chuckled, "Blame Mia. Once she taught me how the money worked in the city, I made it a point to not waste her money."

"It that another story?"

"Maybe..." My ears turning a little on top of my head. "Don't suppose you've..."

"Two buildings back, and another on the rooftop to our right." He mumbled. "I do like story time." He said at his normal volume. "I've noticed something, about how you fight."

"Oh? What's that?" I ran some options thought my head, and decided to play it cool. We were both armed, and armoured, though Marius lacked his helmet and shield.

"Well, you're a capable fighter, no doubt. But you lack... Flare." He said, "Not that I am complaining. But your style is very simple."

"Well, it's not like I can't jump around like Bell. I just don't." Marius nodded, turning his eyes forward again. "All we need is the stone, and we can go home. Unless something distracts us."

"I'm looking forward to tea. Lady Haruhime makes very good tea." He shifted the crate on his back, "And while I can carry almost all the things, I'm also looking forward to putting this down."

"Kodori-dono... Why do we have all of this... Stuff." Mikoto asked me as we finally arrived home. "Pipes? Metal?" She sniffed and scrunched up her nose, "Fertilizer?"

Marius looked down at me, "You didn't tell anyone?"

"Hadn't thought of it. Welf knew, but I'm guessing he's still out?" I looked at Mikoto, who nodded once, then looked down at her feet and picked up Chime. The micro rabbit gave her palm a headbutt rub, then settled in as the samurai girl pet her fur.

"Tell anyone what, exactly?" She asked again.

"We are going to build a pool. And try and revive the orchard out back in the corner of the property." I said.

"Orchard?"

"Peaches, apparently." Marius said, "Where would you like this?"

"Just inside the workshop, I'll set it up later." I said, watching as Marius nodded, sketched out a quick bow saying 'ladies', and walked off. "So yes. A pool. So we can keep bath time properly relaxing."

"Hm." Mikoto fell into step beside me as we walked towards the main building. "Shall we keep this a surprise? Or are you planning on telling the rest of us?"

"Well I don't plan on digging out the pool myself, that's for sure." I said, "I figured, since we haven't done our usual morning spar, we needed a good group project with a reward at the end."

"Hm, and the far corner is shaded nicely by the trees." She commented, "Did you find..."

"After dinner." I said, nodding, one of my tails curling over to her and brushing her hip once, "And if you could help Marius make dinner less... bland... I would consider it a personal favour."

"I will instruct him." She said seriously.

I did my very best to make it to my room before I was spotted, but just as I had my hand on the door, Wiene opened my door and said "You're it!" And booped my nose. "Boop!

Blinking in confusion, I watched her turn, dart across my room, leave through the open balcony door, and hop off the edge without hesitation.

"B'wah?" I managed after a moment.

"Ko-sannnnnnn." Haruhime said from someplace just inside.

Entering, I saw my lover flat on her back, not quite laying on the bed, looking exhausted. I took my coat off, hung it on the iron coat rack made just for it, and went over to the fallen fox girl. Kneeling next to her, I started undoing my shin armour and asked, "Do I have to ask any awkward questions?" I teased.

Her tail was just a little too short to swat me, but it made the attempt anyhow. "So mean... She has so much energy..."

I switched legs and chuckled, "To be expected. She's a dragon, after all, and young." I put the two shin guards aside and leaned down, kissing her forehead. "Consider it practise, if you ever have a family of your own."

This time her tail did swat me, but one of my own curled around it, "So mean..." She wrapped her arms around me and held on as I stood back up, my arms going around her back and helping her straighten out her casual kimono. "But you should go after her. You're it."

"I'll do that. Make some tea, and be sure to give Marius the first cup." I said, "He carried all the things."

"Yes, Ko-san." She said with a smile, "Don't hurt yourself while you chase her."

"So you did manage to catch her." Takemikazuchi commented as I walked into the manor again.

Covered in mud, leaves, a few twigs, a pine cone, with my short hair looking like a serious case of bed head, and soaked to the skin, my usual under armour shirt and thin pants still dripping, I nodded once to the war god. Over my shoulder, rear facing Takemikazuchi, though she was covered in her robe still, Wiene was giggling as my tails tickled her face and shoulders. She was covered much the same as I was, except she was in a far better mood.

"How did you managed to get a pine cone stuck to you?" Hestia asked, plucking it off my shirt and sniffing it once, "Ohhhh, this is from the little grove out back."

"Yes Ma'am." I said, huffing a breath upwards to clear a leaf from my hair as it threatened to obstruct my vision. "She managed to find all the best hiding spots."

"Hide and seek, and tag! Kodori is fun to play with!" Wiene said as she dangled over my shoulder. "Oh... Want another pine cone?"

I felt a little tug on one of my tails, and one of Wiene's hands entered my vision for a moment, holding a pine cone. Hestia took it, trying not to giggle as I sighed. "Bath time for us." I said, getting an 'aww but I wanna play more' complaint from over my shoulder. Turning my head back a bit, I said to the dragon girl, "Remember, everything you do. We got dirty, now we must get clean. Especially before dinner."

That settled her down somewhat, and I put her down between myself and the two Gods. "I understand." She said to me, then turning, she asked, "Miss Hestia? Can I have a hug?"

"Once you get clean again." Hestia replied with a smile, petting the girls head, "Then I will give you a hug. And read you a story before bed."

"Yay!"

"Head to the bath." I said to her, giving her back a little push, "I'll be there to help with your hair in a moment, okay?"

"'Kay!" And she was off.

I sighed quietly, giving the two Gods a shrug as they both gave me a bemused look. "What?"

"For one who says she's never had children." Takemikazuchi started, "You're quite adept at handling them."

"I had two younger sisters once..." I replied, feeling a little pain someplace in my chest, "I was ten years older than my youngest sister." I smiled, though the memory of my youngest sister had become little more than a head of black hair without a face. "Not to mention the rest of my family taking advantage of the 'least busy' family member. Me."

"So you would make a good mother some day." Hestia teased, making my face get a little hot.

"So would you." I returned, "Well... You already are I suppose. I want to talk to you a little later, Lady Hestia." I said, stopping myself from putting a hand on her shoulder, "Yuck okay, after dinner. I swear... Every leaf pile on the property... I better catch up to her before she makes another mess."

Wiene was becoming more and more 'normal' around us now. We accepted her, and she was doing her best to fit in. Still very much a child, but her mind was developing rapidly. As we chatted over Marius's latest attempt to bore us to death with healthy, albeit plain food, she talked to us almost as an equal.

Haruhime had helped her start learning numbers, how to read, how to make bread, and cookies too as well as basic hygiene that every girl should know. Wiene was like a sponge for information, even if her childlike mind didn't really comprehend what some of the information was for. If I wasn't so fascinated at the rate she was learning, I'd probably have started pacing with worry.

Even now, she sat between Bell and Hestia at the table, the two of them helping her reach things if she asked for them, or show her how to cut her food properly. Like parents, the two of them.

"It's sweet, isn't it." Haruhime whispered to me, my ears picking up her voice over the chatter that would have drown it out otherwise. I didn't answer, but one of my tails swished over to hers, wrapping itself around her tail. She continued, "You have your serious face on again."

I realized I did in fact have my serious face on, "I'll tell you later, my love." I said to her, taking another mouthful of food and leaning back, giving Haruhime a sideways look and a smile. "You can tell me where her name came from too."

She giggled quietly, also taking a bite of food.

After dinner was cleared away, and Chigusa started teaching Wiene how to wash dishes, the rest of us gathered in the living room. Taking up our favourite spots in the soft chairs and couches, we got comfortable and started our meeting. "Who want's to start?" I asked, eyes scanning the room.

Welf raised his hand, "Lady Hephaestus mentioned something." He said, "I asked if there were any odd happenings, and she said a few of her smiths had been harassed by some shady people down near the eighteenth. Typical thugs, asking if they wanted to do some work on the side, no questions asked."

I nodded, as did a few others, but he wasn't done, "Also, some one has been trying to buy up more rare material than usual. Quest board and everything. Not just adamant but other stuff you'd only find deeper. Like... Loki Familia hunting grounds deep."

That meant past the twenty fifth floor. The risk was higher, but so were the rewards.

"That's unusual?" Ouka asked, "Figured you smith types would always have a quest out for that kind of thing."

"Sure, except a chunk of adamant is worth maybe a quarter what some of the other materials they are asking for." Welf replied, "Serious money here."

A pause, then, "Lilly was followed again." But she did her little 'heehee' laugh, "But Lilly saw her face."

"Want help next time?" I asked, feeling a little surge of excitement, that I suppressed, realizing it was because I wanted to catch and beat the crap out of who ever it was following Lilly.

"Lilly will ask next time." She agreed.

"Dungeon was as normal as it gets." Ouka said with a shrug, Asuka nod-nodding in agreement, "Seeing some new faces, old faces, and not one of them reporting anything odd when asked."

I nodded, thinking, Haruhime hugging my arm as I felt the urge to get up and pace a little. She really did know me well.

"None of the regulars I get, selling potato puffs, mentioned anything." Hestia said, "Though most of my customers are normal people. Not adventurers."

"It's good you're keeping an ear out." I said encouragingly, "Bell? You've been quiet."

Bell ran a hand through his shaggy white hair, "I'm sorry, Miss Kodori. I am thinking too much."

"No such thing." Mikoto said, "A thoughtful warrior is never careless."

I smiled, as did many others in the room, "It's just... What if we've already... You know... Killed some of them already?" He scrubbed his head with both hands, "I just can't stop thinking about it. Seeing Wiene, and thinking, what if there are others? And we just didn't know at the time?"

I closed my eyes and tried not to sigh. I knew this was coming. Bell was so kind, so pure, that the thought of 'monster hunting' becoming 'monster killing', was tearing him up. "I have thoughts on that." I said, opening my eyes and looking at Bell, waiting until he looked up and into my eyes before I continued, "You've seen how smart she is. In the... Two weeks? Three? She's been alive, she's learned to speak almost as well as me, is learning to read, can do simple chores... Well, when you can get her to focus long enough..."

This got a laugh from most of the room.

"The point is Bell." Welf said, "She's smart, and others like her? They're smart too. Think about what that Harpy did. How she came to us when no one else was around."

"But..." Bell sighed, "I still worry."

"Bell, remember, back when you and I had our first serious sparring match?" I asked him, his eyes focusing on me, then something far away, before he nodded. "Remember what I said?"

"Monsters don't really think. People are adaptable." He said, laughing awkwardly, "I had to teach you that word too..."

I smiled at the memory, "Now, all of you." I swept my eyes around the room, "Is there any doubt at all, that Wiene isn't a 'person'." Not a single one of us disagreed, "She can think, she can reason, she can choose. She, and others like her," I paused, thinking that I'd never have said this before, "Have been given the same gift from the Gods. That of free will."

More nods from everyone, a few smiles too, "Does that help, little brother?"

"Yes. I think so." Bell said, not smiling, but not looking so worried. "I think... No, I'm sure that the others like her know enough to keep safe from us."

"If they truly want peace, like you said Sir." Marius said, "Then they wouldn't try and provoke the adventurers by attacking."

We all nodded again. "Marius, who carries 'almost' all the things," we shared a laugh around the room, Marius rubbing the back of his head mumbling 'I do have limits,' "We found out a few things." People focused on me as I continued, "The same, or probably the same, group of people have been regularly buying up a lot of building materials. Metal, stone, rare metals too. Permanent stuff, no wood." That last bit puzzled me, as it was conspicuous in its absence from the list of things purchased, "And." I pulled out the bits of paper I'd collected from the various merchants, "We have some addresses." I looked at the first one, noting the name at the top, "Most of the metals were sent to a place near the south side. Remember where we had that little... Family get together Welf?"

"Urg, yeah." The smith said, rubbing his jaw, "Stupid old man..."

"Yeah near there. The second... No, that's a receipt... So is that..." I froze, seeing the forth bit of paper, but quickly folded it up and looked at the next one, "Ah, this one is actually closer to Soma's holdings."

"That's almost a quarter of the city away." Asuka mumbled, scratching her head, "I think? Opposite side of the Daedalus maze?"

I nodded, remembering the rough map Eina had once showed me. "Yes. Sounds about right. Who ever built that area of town was probably insane." I didn't mention that I knew some of the stories of Daedalus, at least from my world, and he really WAS insane. A genius, but rather nuts.

"We were also being watched. From two different people, possibly two different groups." Marius added, "Just like back home, cloaks, dark hoods. Standard everywhere it seems."

"You had one more thing to add, Kodori-dono?" Mikoto said pointedly.

"Ah yes." I grinned, "Welf and I, being the creative people we are, have drawn up the idea for a pool. Marius and I got the permit from the Guild, and the supplies delivered just before dinner." I said with a grin, "As well, Apollo's Familia tried to grow peaches, but apparently didn't think of planting them in good soil. So, we're going to fix that too."

There was a little ripple of excitement as Welf and I started to detail what we had, what was needed, and what the end result would be. Takemikazuchi was actually excited, in his limited way, about the peaches. I wondered if he knew the story of Momo. The girls liked the idea of a pool, especially since we were going revive the peach trees to shield them from potential peepers. I started thinking about setting aside a little money and seeing if we could find a place that sold bathing suits.

"Since we don't want to alarm our guest with our usual sparring, we can start on the ground work tomorrow." I said finally. "Get a good night's sleep."

"Ko-san..." Haruhime started, as we both sat at the small table in our room, a steaming pot of tea in the centre, a stone cup in each of our hands. "What was on that paper?"

I didn't even consider lying about it, so I took it out of my pocket, separated it from the other bits of paper, unfolded it, and slid it sideways towards her. It was a picture of a mask.

"It looks... Like a fox mask, from back home." She said quietly, looking at it. "During the summer festivals, they would sell masks like these."

I nodded. One didn't need to be a huge fan of Japanese culture to know a Kitsune mask. Done in pencil, this mask was coloured in, all black. Pointed ears, slight beak for a nose, little slit at the mouth. The only colour on the entire thing, were two gold spots for the eyes. Underneath the picture, was a single line of messy writing like something out of a fever dream, "The guise of the hunter, seeing through the eyes of her lover." And under that, in a much neater hand. "Cassandra."

What bothered me most about it, was that the prophetic writing was in English.

"What does it mean?" Haruhime asked, her slender finger tapping the foreign words.

I repeated the line for her, and added, "Well, now I know why Cassandra hugged me. Poor girl..." I looked sideways at Haruhime, then explained what had happened. "She's so shy, and almost no one believes her when she has a vision..."

"But you do?" She sipped her tea, the tiny instant of jealousy in her eyes vanishing after my explanation.

"She's been right every time, so far as I've seen. So yes. Seems she gave me some homework. Always wanted a mask. Sure I'm nearly immune to fire, but there's nothing funny about a claw to the face." I captured Haruhime's tail with one of my own, the rest of them curling around her. "I know I know, I shouldn't joke about it..."

We shared a moment of close silence, before she said, "You had something to say earlier?" She reminded me.

"Your story first." I replied with a smile, refilling her cup of tea, "So where does Wiene's name come from?"

"Well... Bell-san and I, we both like to read stories. Melusine, is the name of a fairy, who a hero falls in love with. I think he added Vouivre, and Melusine, to get Wilusine." Haruhime explained with a giggle, "Bell-san is such a romantic, but I'm not sure he realizes it."

"Interesting. I see the connection... But how does the story end? I asked, sipping my tea.

"Well, being a fairy, and the hero, a human, they had their difficulties." She started, "She had to hide her true form from others. But he discovered it one day, seeing her wings." I nodded, chuckling at how that might have happened, "Tragedy keeps them apart, but in the end, their friendship with each other helps them slay a mighty dragon."

Typical fairy tale stuff... Though I was expecting a tragedy. Not on the scale of say, Macbeth, but... Well, maybe there was hope for this series of events... Haruhime nudged me, "Your turn, Ko-san."

Thankful that I was taller, I looked outside without her noticing, spotting the dim reflection of that black owl's eyes. Quietly, I said, "I was wondering, if Hestia could gift Wiene with Falna."

She looked up at me sharply, eyes wide, her lungs filling with a surprised breath. But before she could say anything, I silenced her with a kiss. I took my time with it, my hands roaming her back for that spot just above her tail and the base of her neck just under her long hair. I held her lips until she let out her breath in a low moan and started to relax into my arms. I then broke the kiss and rubbed my cheek against hers as I drew her into an even tighter hug, whispering into her ear, "Shh... No loud noises, people are still awake."

Notes

Do you hear that Phesik? That's the sound of the author (me) derailing a main plot point, again.

Well mostly. Maybe? Mwahaha.

Also, This is the last update before I call off the 'Kodori goes wandering to different anime' vote. I have a pretty good idea what it is, but who knows? AND! Anime North is at the end of the month! If you see someone in red and gold scales, say hi, and mention Kodori. :)

Until next time, dear readers.