Chapter 58

I wasn't sure what to expect, as I ran with Haruhime towards the surface. Too absorbed in helping the Xenos out of their cages, and fighting with Dix and his brother, I only had what little information Haruhime could supply.

Bell had passed her, chasing Wiene, and saying only that I needed help. Lilly, Takemikazuchi Familia, Welf, Marius and Mikoto basically did a fighting retreat as rearguard for the Xenos. She didn't know where Fels went, but she did know that there was something massive happening on street level.

"Massive?" I asked, stopping as cave walls changed suddenly to granite brick work. "Smells like Soma Familia territory..." I mumbled with a sniff.

"Yes, just as we were getting here, something exploded near Daedalus street." She replied, following me into what looked like a basement wine cellar, though most of the barrels were smashed open, and the floor had all kinds of random seeming tracks in the dirt. "What do we do now?"

"We..." I started, feeling the ground shake, followed by the far off BOOM of a magic blast. "We use the confusion to look natural. Maybe find Bell. Honestly..." I sighed, "I really just want to sit down."

"Have you slept since we went into the tower yesterday?" She asked, making me realize that I'd completely lost track of time. "I'm just glad you're safe." She said as I blinked at my realization.

Carefully climbing up a wrecked set of stairs, the sudden rampage of Xenos making it into more of a half collapsed ramp, I offered Haruhime a steadying hand up and looked out the similarly demolished front wall of the building. "Me too. Evening, good, gives us a little cover... No, have to find Bell and the rest." I slapped my cheeks to try and wake myself up, then looked at the ground just outside. "Biggest feet go that way... Love? Want to come with me?"

"Of course." She replied, prompting me to kneel so she could get on my back. She hugged me tightly, then contented herself to 'perch' on my back, my tails and hers wrapping around to hold her in place.

"Don't bite your tongue." I said as I got to open ground and looked up. The noise of the city was 'panicked'. I could hear normal people running around screaming. The sounds of the distant combat. Adventures shouting at each other. I knelt, took aim, then jumped with all my might.

"Maybe." Haruhime started, then stopped as I landed on a flat bit of roof, Soma's holdings visible from my new height. "I should learn to do this too." Another pause as I jumped again, glancing down at the wreckage only a large monster could make in a narrow alley. "As I can make myself stronger." Another jump, then a direction change. We were far from the main street, but we were now going parallel to it. "It seems quite fun."

"I'll introduce you." Again a jump, then another direction change. I could hear more shouting now. Magic and the clash of weapons. "To my teacher." I nearly lost my balance as I heard the familiar sound of Bell's firebolt. That electric sizzle was unmistakeable. "That's..."

"Bell." Haruhime finished for me. "Is he fighting?"

I turned again, this time running a little faster. Down below, I could hear people yelling, cursing. "No... He's defending Weine." I said, "She changed into a dragon..." I could feel the weight of the little stone from her forehead, secured in the pocket I'd put Dix's notebook.

"I saw... But... Can she change back?" Haruhime asked, her body twitching as Bell let out another firebolt.

"Damn you, Little Rookie!" Someone yelled below us, "Trying to take the monster for yourself!"

"Don't swear." Haruhime said into my ear.

I could hear a large body trampling through the streets. Roaring in agony, the noise stopped just as I got to the edge of the last rooftop. "No..." I wispered.

Bell was kneeling in front of the huge dragon body that was now Wiene. Her body and wings had been torn and blackened by many spells and blades. But that wasn't the worst of it. Sticking out from her back, just behind her left foreleg, was the snapped blade of a sword. Flopped over that, was the body of Gran, one hand holding the hilt of the broken blade.

"How did he..." I shook my head, my ears twitching as I heard a tiny 'snap', and watched as Bell took hold of the dragon's head and hugged it, as if trying to keep it from vanishing.

I knew that noise. We all did. Any adventurer knew the sound of a magic stone breaking. Be it an excessive use of force, or a deliberate one to kill a monster quickly, that sound was one we all knew. My eyes went blurry even before my mind could tell my what my heart already knew.

Except, Wiene didn't vanish.

Not really.

The huge dragon body began to dissolve, turning into the familiar black ash, but as it did, a light spread out from behind her. My tails all tingled as a huge working of magic happened close by, and my eyes pulled themselves away to spot the black robe of Fels. Standing there, where the dragon tail was slowly dissolving, his hands wove an arcane pattern in the air, the light getting brighter, until I could no longer look at it. Turning away, to look back at Bell, I saw the front of the dragon collapse in on itself, only to leave the naked form of a young girl with silver blue hair laying under a coating of black ash.

"I'm... exhausted." I heard Fels say, my legs finally moving, Haruhime hugging my shoulders tightly. "That's the only time I've ever gotten that spell to work."

I nearly flubbed the landing, the impact of me and Haruhime hitting the street putting a crater into the ground. "What..." I started, "But..."

"One success." Fels said, slowly walking towards me as I let Haruhime down, "In eight hundred years."

"You brought her back...?" I asked, hearing Bell and Haruhime gather up Wiene, "But..." I might have just been tired, but it seemed impossible.

"No time. I did my best, but the Xenos are scattered, and we have to get to ground. Her too." He motioned to Wiene.

"She is Familia." Bell said, looking at the dead body of Gran, and kicking him. "We should take her home."

"There will be questions. And even though she is part of your Familia, and the Guild knows, she can't be seen with you." Fels countered, holding up a hand in refusal when I offered him a mind potion. "She will be safest away from you for now."

I didn't like it, but I agreed with him. "Bell, its the safest way. Where is everyone else?"

"Mr. Fels was having them help hide the Xenos." Bell replied, reluctantly handing over Wiene, but not before hugging her limp body tightly first.

Fels nodded, "For now, keep hold of the occulus. I will contact you very soon." And without another word, he backed up a step, then vanished like smoke in the wind.

"FUCK!" Bell yelled into the air, Haruhime and I both jumping back a step from him.

Haruhime recovered first, patting his shoulder, "Bell-san, please... We have to get away for now."

"I..." Bell sighed, "Yes, I'm sure I upset a lot of people just now."

"I could hear them from the rooftops." I put a hand on his other shoulder, "Let's find the others, and head home."

"Lilly sees Miss Kodori!" I heard from the end of a side alley as Bell Haruhime and myself ran towards home. Skidding to a halt, the three of us backed up a little and waited at Lilly, Welf and Chigusa ran down the alleyway towards us.

"Miss Lilly, Mr Welf, Miss Chigusa." Bell greeted them, his foul mood not ruining his good manners at least. "Have you seen the others? We want to make sure everyone else is accounted for before we go home."

"Mikoto, Ouka and Maruis all headed home to make sure there was some one there to greet anyone else." Welf replied, hands on his knees and recovering from what looked like a long run. "But..."

We waited for him to continue, but it was Chigusa who spoke up, "Loki Familia." She started to shy away as Bell Haruhime and I looked at her, but she took a deep breath and soldiered on, "Loki Familia has been fighting a huge monster. A minotaur with black skin."

Lilly and Welf nodded, our little supporter speaking up next, "We were running from one of the hiding spots..." She looked around, trying to spot anyone other than us, "And ran into one of Loki Familia's support wizards. She told us Finn and his squad were fighting a black minotaur, and not having an easy time of it."

She had dropped her childish mannerisms to explain, and I could tell how serious she was, "Something that a half dozen level sixes can't beat?"

"Yeah, none of us saw it, but we were on the edge of what looked like the aftermath of the black Goliath battle." Welf said, shaking his head, "I could feel the force of the fight through my skin, it was so intense."

"Did Lido mention anyone like that?" I asked them.

"No. He did say that some Xenos didn't join with them, but he never mentioned something like that." Bell replied.

"Lilly? Have you dropped anything off at home?" I asked, kneeling in front of her.

"Lilly hasn't." She replied, "Did Miss Kodori need something?"

"My mask. Maybe I can gather a little more information from a distance." I replied, waiting as she reached into the pack and pulled out the black and red Kitsune mask.

"Lilly still thinks it looks scary." She said, "Though, the inside looks pretty."

I smiled as I took the mask, "Well... It is my face." I tucked it under my arm, "If it were gold and silver. Go on ahead, I'm going to the bell tower near our old home. I won't try and get any closer than that."

Bell nodded, remembering the tower that Nazza had tried to help us from, when Apollo was chasing us. "Don't be too late sister." he took hold of my forearm, still covered by Chani's webbing, "It's taco night."

Delaying my departure to give Haruhime a hug, Bell and Welf a fist bump, Chigusa a pat on the shoulder, and Lilly a head pat, I waved goodbye then jumped up to the rooftops.

I could hear the chaos around me, even without the mask on. I was much closer to the main street now, and the people were panicking. Monsters had been seen in the city, and that was supposed to be impossible.

The battle was still raging in the distance too, between Loki and the Black Minotaur. That was impressive, and, honestly, scary as hell. It had been almost a half hour since I hit street level with Haruhime, and anything that could survive that long against six level six adventurers...

I stood in the bell tower, looking towards the flashes of magic and sounds of heavy attacks, then put on the mask.

Smoke. Fire. Panicked people. Blood. Spilled food. Wind from the mountains. Ozone from ground level lightning magic. My tired mind filtered through all these things until finally I could hear the individual sounds of the combat itself.

Trying for more, I tried to push my magic out of my body, to add power to the 'ko-steel' of the mask. And it worked!

"Just what is this thing made of?" Some one asked, the voice gruff and deep.

"Ais! From the side! Tiona! Tione! Get behind it!" A younger voice, Finn.

There was a sudden ringing of metal on metal, and I had to stop feeding the mask magic, just to save my ears.

"So Ikelos." Hermes? "I guess that's it for you?"

"Pretty much. I only have two Familia members left. Everyone else is dead." Ikelos replied. I could almost hear the ruffle of fabric as I imagined him shrugging.

"A shame. Suppose your fun ends here then?" Hermes returned, "Maybe take a trip east?"

"Maybe. Just so long as it's fun right?"

"We understand each other there. I suppose with all the noise, you'll have no problem leaving."

I followed their conversation as I got closer. The heightened senses of the mask making up for my lack of vision, though, as I got close enough to hear Hermes's quiet chuckle, I switched the enchantment to allow me to see, my vision through the lenses washed in gold in black.

"Ah, Miss Kodori." Hermes greeted me. Over his shoulder, I could see the retreating back of Ikelos for just a moment, before he turned down an alleyway towards the main street. "Fancy meeting you here."

"Just letting him leave then?" I asked.

"He's harmless now." He replied, "And, I must say, that mask looks quite frightening."

He was smiling, but since my enchantment for the 'fear' effect of the mask was off... "It has its uses." I said.

"Shame about what happened tonight. The city is going to be such a mess for a while... And I heard your home was attacked while you were out?"

"News travels fast. Though, I suppose since you had people watching my home... Speaking of, if they were watching, why didn't they help?"

"Help? Why? They were only meant to watch you and your pet monster." He smiled, "I wanted to see what would happen, so I told them to just watch.

I sighed, feeling my anger bubble up, past my fatigue. "I'll remember that. You know, that 'pet' monster, is part of my Familia right?"

"I'd heard about that. What ever possessed Hestia to even try such a thing? The guild would have a field day if they knew..." Hermes replied sarcastically, shrugging his shoulders expansively.

"Because you simply wanted to 'watch', Wiene, was captured, tortured, and killed. Asuka, from Takemikazuchi Familia, was hurt. Takemikazuchi himself and my Goddess were put in danger." I could feel my logical mind telling me 'count to ten'.

"Very entertaining." Hermes replied, "It's been ages since I've seen Takemikazuchi fight. And she died? A shame..."

My tails were lashing back and forth now, every fibre in my body wanting to make Hermes into a God shaped tent peg. But still, I resisted, instead saying, "Fel's brought Wiene back to life. First time he managed to make that spell work in eight hundred years, he said." One of my tails lashed a little closer to Hermes, a small fox head appearing and stealing the dagger at his hip. "And the guild already knows."

"Oh? That's a surprise, but I suppose, that if Fels the Fool knows, Ouranos would know."

"Remember when I told you, that I would make you very very unhappy if one of my friends gets killed, right?" He didn't seem to notice that his dagger was gone, and my lashing tails had hidden it next to my Jitte behind my back.

"Yes." He grinned, that irritating shit eating grin, "What of it?"

"Good. Keep watch on the east wall." And I left, switching my mask back to the hyper sensitive mode to follow after Ikelos.

It was easy to follow Ikelos. After so much time underground, and likely without a shower, I could easily pick his scent out of the crowds of panicking people. He was also pretty much the only person around who wasn't in a hurry to get someplace.

That suited me just fine. I was really starting to feel tired. No sleep for over a day, several high energy spikes of activity, and fighting back the urge to run away every time something dangerous was about to happen.

But... Now I was angry. Not in a violent way, but more of a 'point to prove' way. As Ikelos got to the gate, and simply kept walking past the two Ganesha guards, I started to warm up my magic a little, taking the mask off and taking a couple of mind mints, before putting it back on, and also walking past the two guards unchallenged. Ikelos was a God, and I was, at the moment, in fairly high standing with the Ganesha Familia, and well known in the city.

That, and I could tell by the sudden racing heartbeats, that the guards were terrified of me.

I followed at what most would consider a 'respectful' distance. After leaving the city, I kept pace with Ikelos for maybe two kilometres, before He finally stopped, turned, and looked at me.

"Something to say, Fox?" He asked, hands in his pockets looking like he was simply on a morning stroll, and not exiled from the city. "I mean, now that I have only two living Familia left, there's really nothing more you could possibly need from me."

I watched him through gold tinted vision, stopping about two paces away, "Ikelos... God of nightmares. You have a brother, don't you? The name escapes me."

"Morpheus." He replied simply, "He's content to watch you children dream. So I left Him behind in Tenkai." He shrugged, "I've gotta say though, Dix was probably the most fun to be around, in the last... five? Six hundred years?" He laughed, a little bitterly, "Still, I'm surprised you knew."

"Back home, the tales and legends about the Gods are a little... easier to find. Though, now that I'm here, there are quite a few errors..." I replied, thinking on how Hephaestus is a girl, Loki is a girl, and Zeus and Hera actually got along... Sort of... "But, there is one thing common in all the stories." I reached behind me and took out Hermes's knife, "When the Gods started getting too rough, it was almost always a hero, who put them back in line."

He looked at me, then the knife, then back to me again, then burst out laughing. "Really? Revenge? Some sense of justice? You children... I'm a God! No mortal can hurt me!"

"Maybe." I took a step closer, switching the enchantment from vision to heightened senses, and more importantly, the menacing aura. I could hear Ikelos's heartbeat speed up slightly, and his left foot move back a little. "But you see... I pay attention." I slowly pushed my magic outward, feeding the energy into the mask, "Gods can't be hurt by us Children? Fine..." Another step, putting me within arms reach of Him, "But You can get sick. Drunk. Tired. Hungry. Stub Your toes. Feel emotion."

He tried to back up, but I put a hand on his shoulder. With my other hand, I held the knife, palm up and open, offering it to him. "And every time You update someone's status, You cut Yourself."

I simply held him in place, not with any force, but as my tails started to sway behind me, and the mask started to heat up on my head with the extra magic I was feeding it, I could hear His heart start hammering in his chest. He tried to swallow, but His mouth sounded like it was coated in sand. His breathing became shallow.

"You play with our lives. You watch and do nothing when misfortune comes our way. You feel pleasure watching us struggle. Use Your Familia and others as tools and pawns to further Your own goals." My aura started to boil and bleed, growling fox heads started to dance around my swaying tails, and Ikelos's heart sounded like thunder in my ears. "But as one of those pawns, as a child of this world, I judge You unworthy of staying here with us."

I could hear him blink, the magic fuelling my mask starting to burn the hair on my head, the air around us filling with the horrible smell. "Kill you? No." I leaned towards him, "There is only one way out of this for You."

My mask shattered. Even with my eyes closed I could 'see' the red of the metal heating up. But the sudden noise, finished the job for me. Opening my eyes, I watched Ikelos fall backwards, foaming at the mouth, bleeding from the nose, His face twisted in fear. His heart had destroyed itself, His lungs had seized up. His body had failed Him. He had literally died of Mortal terror.

And my world was filled with white, pure and beautiful, as Ikelos returned to Tenkai.

It was easy to scale the massive wall of Orario. Unbreakable grip, super strength, tails that could, when they payed attention to my commands, carry me up if I didn't feel like moving my arms. When I got to the top and landed on the walkway proper, I saw Hermes looking at me...

I felt tired.

Tired and bald. Again.

"Remember what I said Hermes." I said to him, "Oh, how much paperwork is it, when a God sends up another God?"

It took Him a while, but He finally managed to answer, "A lot, I'd imagine."

"Good. Because you lost your knife, over there." I made the appropriate 'over there' motion with my hand as he looked down at his empty sheath. "Now, with any respect that might be due, for your actions, or inaction. Go fuck yourself. Because yes, I do know how to hurt a God." I turned and took a step, then stopped, "And tell Asfi I figured out how to make that soap she uses, its a hit with everyone at home."

I could hear Him try and form a reply, but He said nothing as I hopped off the city side of the wall and made my way to street level, and home.

By the time I got home, I was pretty sure I'd scrubbed as much of the ash and metal slag off my head as I could without a mirror. I was tired. Bone tired. The sort of tired that encouraged a person to just pass out on the first flat surface they saw that was familiar enough to look safe.

And while I resisted the urge to pass out on Chigusa, when she greeted me at the door, I did give her a hug.

"Sorry." I said after letting her go and noticing I got soot on her. "Everyone else?"

She didn't even need to recover from my hug before she began helping me taking off my gear, "Living room, mostly. Lilly-chan and Marius are making dinner. Bell-san is trying to comfort Hestia-sama, and waiting for you before we start the meeting." She paused as she finally took a really good look at me. "What happened? Your hair? Again? And these cuts..."

"Dix had a spear... Was really nasty. And I used my own magic to power my mask. It worked... sorta..." Better than I expected, but I didn't say that.

"Poor Haru-chan." She replied, putting my shin and forearm guards into their storage box by the door. "She..." Chigusa paused as I raised an eyebrow that threatened to sprinkle soot into my eye at her. "Well... She is sad you never seem to be able to grow your hair."

I smiled, then gave the quiet supporter a gentle nudge so we could walk to the living room. "Me too. But since hair isn't alive, it isn't protected by my 'fireproof' ability. My ears are cold though..."

We walked in silence for a moment, entering the living room. Everyone was more or less looking fresh off the battlefield, though I did notice all the furniture was covered with towels or sheets. The atmosphere was gloomy too. A thick oppressive feeling, like the day we were trying to figure out what to do with Wiene...

Except, if how Hestia was crying quietly into Bell's shoulder was any clue, it was 'how to deal without Wiene'. Most eyes turned to Chigusa and I, and most of those eyes looked the same way I felt. Tired and frustrated.

"Are we going to meet before, or after dinner?" I asked, striding into the room and taking off my armoured coat. Putting it beside the couch Haruhime and I sat on, I lowered myself into the seat next to her. "Lady Hestia?"

Bell gave the Goddess a little shake, and she collected herself, sniffling once more then pushing herself off Bell. Bell had thankfully taken off his armour, though Hestia's normally pure white dress had some smudges on it from Bell's shirt. "Sorry... I felt it. When Wiene died. It was the same as when Bell's heart stopped, only worse."

"Bell-san, Ko-san and I watched Fels-san bring her back to life." Haruhime said, slipping her hand into mine, even though it was covered in soot and probably a little blood. "Is she still..."

"Yes. She is still part of our Familia." Hestia replied, "But it was still a shock... Feeling her die."

Takemikazuchi spoke up, as he entered the room with a tray of steaming stone cups, "We Gods bring you into our Familia, and so, we feel any death as truly as flesh and blood family." He passed out tea, smiling his calm smile, though he gave me a raised eyebrow at my current state.

I felt my back tingle, but accepted the tea and sighed quietly at the smell. "Fels thought it was wise to hide her, along with the other Xenos." I said, "In case someone who doesn't know decides to look into our involvement."

More than a few of us grumbled at that, "The little fireball's place is here." Welf said grumpily, scratching at a spot of dried blood on his arm, "So, who goes first?"

Bell, Welf and I looked at each other, and I stuck out my silk wrapped fist.

"Rock paper scissors."

"Damn, okay." Welf retracted his fist, both Bell and I having chose paper. He collected himself, sitting up properly on his favourite chair and leaning forward. "After the news from the eighteenth, we headed back up here with the refugees. No problems getting back up. They were hurt, but we had no trouble with the odd monster spawn."

"After getting up to the surface, we left them to report, and made best speed home." Welf stopped, sighed, then continued, "When we got here, Wiene was already gone. Asuka was hurt, though she had made a good showing for herself. Lord Takemikazuchi?"

"Since she is still resting..." The war god said from his chair, a comfortable, yet thread bare looking armchair from his old home, "I have only a mortal's strength, but I was able to keep them from harming her further, though, I could not protect Wiene as well as the orphans and Lady Hestia." It was a rare sight to see Takemikazuchi look troubled. "I had to choose."

"We understand, Takemikazuchi-sama." Mikoto said, the rest of us nodding.

"The guy Asuka beat up was taken by the guild when they came to connect the water pipes. But after waiting a couple of hours, that black owl showed up." Welf continued, reaching into a pocket and holding up a green sphere, about the size of a big marble though part of one side was smooth , "It dropped off this, as well as another one of those little pyramids. Fels told us that Bell's team found another one of these down below, and from there, we started to co-ordinate."

Bell nodded, and Welf made a 'go ahead' motion to the boy. "After we split up, we finished the trip to the eighteenth. and some of the other Xenos had gone crazy and attacked the town there. Just like the refugees said." He looked to Mikoto, then me, "We separated Lido from the rest, and brought him down long enough to get an answer from him. He said he'd been cursed, and their home raided. But before he gave into the curse again, he told us something was at the old home."

"Kodori-san suggested we spit up further." Mikoto gave me a 'you know what you did' look, "And Marius-san, Bell-dono and I made best speed to the entrance of their home on the twentieth floor." She paused to sip her tea, "The water was gone, and when we entered there were signs of a fierce battle."

Lilly and Marius entered the room then, Lilly sitting on the big man's shoulder, "So we searched." Marius said, "As quickly as we could, for anything that might be important."

Bell nodded, and made room for Lilly as she sat down. It was then I noticed the smell of food past the all too familiar smell of burnt Kodori. "Yes." Bell gave Lilly a head pat absently as the little supporter leaned on him a little. "Mr. Fels noticed the noise we were making. And called out through the stone." He pulled out a second green stone. It was slightly darker than the one Welf was holding. "He told us he sent extra help down to the eighteenth, and a spare key. Also, that he had contacted and the others, and given them a spare key as well."

"So we returned to the eighteenth. Meeting Ma'am Aisha and Miss Ryuu." Marius continued, "Ganesha Familia had arrived by then as well, and were doing their best to subdue the wild Xenos. I stayed behind with them, to defend and protect the wounded, while Bell, Mikoto and our two new helpers opened the gate again."

"It was like they could smell their friends." Bell picked up again, "As soon as the door was opened, and we started to push them in that direction, they simply stopped fighting Ganesha, and ran towards it." Bell looked to me, "We found a few dead Ikelos on the way, as we followed behind them."

"After I split from you." I started, "I followed the air currents upwards. I ran into a patrol and subdued them. Then later another, who had captured another Xenos." I held up my silk wrapped fist, "She and I killed those, and planned for what to do as we got closer to their main camp."

"She?" Lilly asked.

"Half spider, half woman, named Chani by Wiene." I said, "I faced down her four captors, she broke free on her own in the distraction. From there, after salvaging some gear for her, we kept travelling up. Together we made it to the main camp. It was slow going, since we didn't want to be detected. But when we got there, I slipped in, and was trying to figure out how to break some of the Xenos free, when Bell and the rest showed up from another entrance."

"After you sent me after Wiene, I met the others in passing." Bell started, looking to Haruhime and I, "I sent her down after you, since the other Xenos were now back to their normal selves, and there were no more enemies behind us."

"Thank you for that." I said.

"I chased after Wiene while the others went with Fels to hide the other Xenos. She was almost as fast, even as a full grown dragon. And I had to try and protect her, as well as keep up." He sighed, "I had to fight other adventurers to do it."

Hestia tried to comfort the boy, but he shook his head, "I protected her, until that man with the black tattoo on his face showed up. I don't know what was wrong with him, but he looked crazy, and his neck and arm were black with something..."

"Poison." I said, "One of the ones I freed was a snake lady... Lamia? From Eina's lessons, I know their poison can be fatal, so I left her to it, while I went to free more of the Xenos." I frowned.

"He did die, just after stabbing Wiene, and cracking her crystal." Bell said, looking at his hands, "She died in my arms... Even as a dragon, she was so gentle, only thinking of getting away so she didn't hurt anyone."

"Then Fels brought her back." I said, "And took her with him to hide with the others."

"Yes." Bell sighed recovering.

"While this was going on, Loki Familia had been fighting something." Welf spoke up, "Something big. One of the Loki supporters told us it was a minotaur with black skin, but wouldn't say more. And with the sounds that fight was making, we chose not to go looking."

"On our way back, Lilly gave me my mask, and I went to try and get any kind of information about it." I said, "The six aces were still fighting it, and while I could hear the fight, I didn't dare get closer." The others nodded, "But, I also heard Hermes and Ikelos, chatting near by as well."

With the two Gods in the room, and a bunch of young, but certainly not foolish, people in the room, I had to tell this one carefully. "Ikelos said he only had two Familia left. I'm guessing that's the one Asuka beat, and the one working at the Hostess."

"What of Ikelos?" Takemikazuchi asked, "We felt one of Us get sent back to Tenkai."

"Yes. Ikelos will no longer bother us, or the mortal world ever again." I said. "My mask couldn't handle the strain of me putting extra magic into it... That's why I'm bald, again." The war God had interrupted me at the perfect time, letting me skip past the middle bit of exactly how Ikelos left.

Silence filled the room, until my stomach growled like a pack of hungry foxes.

"I agree." Haruhime said, giving my side a poke, "We should wash up a little more then eat."

I washed up quickly, no more than a quick shower, and re-dressing in one of my house robes. My fist and forearm was still wrapped up in spider web, but at least it was mostly clean web now. Before I went to the dinner table though, I went to find Asuka.

I was told she was in the infirmary, so, telling Haruhime that yes, I would be taking a proper bath later, and letting her put on more hair grow cream, I'd be at the table soon. Now that I'd washed most of the burnt Kodori off me, I could smell Lilly's newest attempt at Taco night.

"Asuka?" I called out as I opened the infirmary door.

"Hm?" came the muffled reply. She was sitting up in one of the beds, looking out the window.

"Dinner time." I said, "Unless your nose is missing, I'm sure you can tell it's taco night."

"Haha." She said flatly, "I suppose you'd know about that one..." She turned to look at me, then flinched, "Your hair again... Haru-chan keeps saying she wished you would grow it out more."

"Second time I've heard that today." I replied, sitting on the bed next to her. At first glance, she was fine. Nothing missing, no bandages, no scars. Just a sad... lost look. I knew that look from the mirror. "And that was a terrible joke." I rubbed my nose.

"Sorry... Just..."

"You feel like you failed. Weine got taken away, Takemikazuchi had to step in."

She stopped in mid breath, and just said, "Hai."

"Well. Since you missed the meeting." my tails were slowly making their way over to her, moving in that slow 'asking for permission to visit' motion. "Wiene was a little beaten up, but she is fine. Fels and the other Xenos, as well as Wiene, were scattered across the city, but are, as far as we know, safe. Ikelos, and his Familia, are gone."

"Gone?"

"Back to Tenkai, and only two living members left, gone."

"Oh..." She fell silent, but reached out to one of my tails, the fuzzy appendage looping over her arm and hand. "It's like you have a bunch of cats attached to your butt." She mumbled.

I chuckled but otherwise ignored the comment, "So, going to come to dinner? Or do I have to carry you?" The other four tails waved a little closer, as threatening as they could get without growing teeth.

"You're not mad?"

"I'm too hungry, and tired, to be mad right now. And the others understand. And the help we were expecting to come to our rescue, if something like this happened, decided to nap. It's not your fault, and we will make sure it never happens again."

"Okay." She gave me a smile, her eyes brightening a little, and got a little closer, giving me a hug. "Let's go eat."

I tried very hard to enjoy dinner. It tasted amazing, but the gloom over the table kind of killed the mood. That, and I was tired. Really tired. For the most part, the conversation was limited to 'pass the cheese', 'thank you' and 'no Chime, you can't have a pepper'. Hestia seemed to be somewhat recovered though, and Marius had helped Lilly make a 'mild' version, so our Goddess wouldn't hurt herself.

Afterwards, most of us went to have a proper bath. Haruhime was her usual worried self when it came to cleaning me up, but that was one of the things I loved about her. She did make me promise to ask Nazza about a better hair grow cream, and to stop finding ways to burn my hair off. Being unable to resist her sad face, I promised without question, though I was sure I could figure out the hair cream myself.

Haruhime, the formerly weak and timid girl, also managed to all but carry me to bed. By then, I was fading in and out of conscienceness, so I only dimly remember her kissing me on the forehead and curling herself around my upper body so I could listen to her heartbeat, instead of the other way around.

"Hello." Said a smooth, deep voice. "No no, no need to get up. I'll just sit across from you."

I was sitting down, in the chair I'd made for Royman. The organic carvings of the arms, the nice spacious seat that fit my tails comfortably, and the perfect amount of padding under my rear making me feel at ease. If a bit puzzled.

Across from me, a similar chair rested. A grey and black blur later, and a semi familiar man was sitting in it. Dark brown skin, bald head, dark grey trench coat and small circle lens sunglasses.

The room itself seemed an infinite size, with only these two chairs and us in it. Shadowlessly lit with a soft white light that was easy on the eyes.

"Morpheus." I said. "Though you look..."

"This is your dream, thus, I look as you think I should." He made show of looking at his arms and hands, "An interesting world, you lived in."

"Depends on which side of the looking glass you started on." I replied, "But please, look no further than that. I want nothing but memories of my old home."

"A little late, but it isn't my nature to share secrets, only watch them." He replied with a smile, "And for you to remember them here, now, well, that would be my Brother's domain." He smiled, "Speaking of... No! Do not say His name here, though it might not matter right now, in the state you left Him."

I was about to say His name, but he had quite firmly stopped me, so instead, "That being said... Why are you here? I know why I'M here. I was tired as..." I looked back at my golden tail, taking hold of it and petting it. "But..."

"Well... That's the thing. He and I, by our nature, will always be opposites. Enemies, of a sort. But He is still my brother, and I love him. After so long, I've missed our conversations." He leaned forward, smile widening, "So, I have two things for you."

"Oh?" I leaned back a little, squinting at him warily. "My... Stance about you Deities are... somewhat mixed."

"So is what I have for you." He opened one hand, and of course, there was a red pill, "Heh, I wish I could keep you here, and watch this... movie? Hm. Anyhow." He looked to me again, "First a warning. Be very careful how you use your new knowledge about Us. You enacted retribution upon my brother, and rightly so! Being His only family, both here in Tenkai, and in the mortal realm, this is the only punishment you will receive." He closed his hand, then flicked the pill at me.

Finding myself unable to move, it pelted me in the forehead with a 'thunk'.

Then he opened his other hand, and there rested a blue pill. "But for returning Him home, to do all the paperwork He has piling up, and to keep me company again, I offer you a reward."

Looking at the pill, I tilted my head to the side, and asked, "Being the God of dreams... What could you even give me?"

He leaned back and laughed, long and loud. Finally, he recovered and said, "The Fox, that people call wise, asks Me this? I am the God of Dreams!"

I shrugged, "Not quite what I meant. You've seen into my mind. My dreams. You already know I have almost all I can dream of already." I tapped my chin, then scratched one of my ears, "But, if it is You offering..." I looked at him, a slow smile spreading over his face, "My Familia, and friends, the Xenos, Children of the dungeon. I don't suppose we could get a really good night's sleep? Maybe two?"

Again, the laugh, "Such a simple request. I see no problem in granting this. But is that really it? Such a simple thing?"

"You might think it a 'simple' thing. But again, you should know what we 'Children' go through... We've all had a hard couple of days, some of us longer, and a good sleep makes problems like those... feel more manageable."

"I suppose." This time he rubbed his chin, the blue pill vanishing. "And as a bonus... I'll see if I can ask a Friend of mine for a little help. I'm sure She'd find you all interesting enough to grace with Her presence."

"Thank you. Now, I don't suppose I could get back to my regular dream? I mean, You are welcome to visit, but..."

He chuckled, "As handsome as you've made me, yes, I agree, she's much easier on the eyes than I'll ever be. Sleep well. I mean it."

I woke slowly, my squinted eyes seeing it was my usual pre-dawn wake up time. My body felt relaxed and not at all sore from yesterday's stop-go activities, and I could feel the hair on my head move with the slight draft in the room. Curled into my middle, as usual, was Haruhime, who made the most adorable 'nom' noise as she tried to sleep-capture one of my tails.

Very carefully detaching myself from her, and putting my pillow in my place, I made my way to the bathroom. After, as I was washing my face and making sure my eyebrows were back where they should be, I saw a faint blue outline in the mirror. It was only for an instant, but it had burned an afterimage into my eyes.

Every time I blinked on the way back to my room, I saw the same faint blue lines. As my sleepy mind shook off the cobwebs, I recognized it as hieroglyph. A few more blinks, and I knew exactly where I'd seen it too.

Gathering up a 'one good blink from going back to sleep' Haruhime, and putting her in my lap while I sat at my reading desk, I opened up one of the books I'd borrowed from Ganesha. Haruhime went back to sleep in my arms, as I quietly flipped through the pages, blinking each time I turned a page, until the image matched the page. Only after I'd put a new book mark on the page did the blue after image in my eye stop appearing.

"Ha-chan?"

"mm... fuwafuwa..." one of her hands gently stroked my newly regrown hair. "Nemuidesu..."

I smiled, my tails wrapping around to my front and holding Haruhime close, my partner mumbling contentedly. Sliding out my 'Rosetta stone' from between the pages, and getting a pencil from the drawer, I started to translate the hieroglyph. I had dreamed something... But as with all dreams, I could only guess at what. It felt... important. Like... someone had told me something Earth shatteringly important.

Notes!

Can anyone guess who the 'She' Morpheus was referring to?

Anyhow. This will tie into a 'side story' that might happen next update. Or maybe after this arc. I'm not sure. The comments I'm getting are starting to sound a litttttttle impatient when it comes to a certain question. But Kodori has something she must figure out first, before all her doubts are gone. :)

Until next time.