Chapter 67

After letting someone know I'd be out for a little while longer, and getting a short shopping list for my trouble, Ottar and I got back in the waggon, and headed towards Babel. We were mostly silent on the way, though I could tell now that the King wanted to ask something. The feeling only grew as we made a quick stop at a tailor to drop off the two bolts of black and white fabric, and some instructions for what I wanted made. I knew my own, and Haruhime's measurements by heart now, with all the armour and the like Welf and I had made, so it wasn't a problem.

"Now." I said, looking over to Ottar as I gave the horse a light tap with the reins, "What's on your mind?"

"It occurs to me." He started, giving me a sideways glance, "That you are the first person to not challenge me to a fight."

"It would have ruined our fishing trip." I said easily, "Besides, you know how strong I can be, when I put my mind to it, and you throwing me that far, gives me a good idea of how strong you are."

"I was impressed." He admitted, "Hardened adamant gives even me pause."

"And while I was impressed, did you really need to throw me that far?"

"Njord would have fished you out."

"And you nearly hit me with that harpoon, and bucket."

"I suppose foxes do whine." He flashed a brief smile.

"Never would have thought you used softener for your tail."

"Ears too." He said.

"I might try that. Ha-chan likes my hair... When I can keep it."

"I look forward to fighting you some day." He replied after a moment, face serious, "You carry no arrogance with you."

"Maybe when I'm not three levels under you."

"At your current pace, I'd almost put money on you getting to level six in two years." He paused, "Bell Cranell, too."

"Careful, I might grow an ego."

"Doubtful. You haven't yet."

"Thanks."

Banter done, we rode the rest of the way in silence. When we arrived at the tower, Ottar simply shouldered the massive crate of frozen fish, and headed inside. I took a moment to give the horse a pat on the nose and put a feed bag over his head, before heading inside as well.

It was more or less lunchtime, so the work crews were sitting around eating for the most part. A few of them I knew, and we shared a wave, though I got more than a few odd looks as I followed Ottar to the elevators.

"Handy thing, these." I commented.

"I take the stairs on leg day." He said, "I hate leg day."

I laughed quietly, "I almost never skip my exercises. No matter the day."

"Oh?"

"I make exceptions for being bedridden, or dealing with yet another emergency."

"Good reasons."

The elevator *dinged* cheerfully, the door opening. Ottar stepped out first, exchanging a quiet greeting with someone. He grunted over his shoulder at me, and I stepped out. I got another mild glare from Conan, son of Tank, but that was all. Using his free hand, Ottar pointed towards the room I'd met Freya in last time, and he turned carefully to walk a different way, crate still on his shoulder.

Conan, son of Tank, escorted me, and with a quick, "Ottar and... Guest... have returned." Giving me one last glare, he left.

"Come in." Freya said from inside, "Hm..." She looked at me, then sniffed the air with a delicate nose, "Salt, and soot."

Figuring I'd be as humble as I could stomach, I bowed, "Mr. Ottar threw me into the sea. He is putting away the catch now. As soon as we returned, I made the item I mentioned."

"Please, sit." She waved a hand at the couch across from her, putting a bookmark in a book she had resting on her hip and sitting up slowly. Every motion she made practically dripped sexuality, but, while I certainly looked, I still didn't feel that urge to do more. Even my tails were simply doing that slow lazy motion they did when idle. "Now that I've taken a look... You have another tail, don't you." She commented as I arranged myself.

"I read a Tome." My newest tail flopped itself into my upraised hand, and I pet it with the other, "And my tails are a reflection of my magic power."

"Fascinating..." She purred, "But, you have it? I'll admit, I've been very curious about what you're impression of my Treasure is."

"A moment." I opened my satchel, my newest tail seeming to pout when I stopped petting the end of it. Carefully, not for risk of damaging it, but say, damaging what ever I might place it on, I placed it on the table between us and unwrapped it. "Now, I had to guess at your hand size..."

She ignored me as she scooped it up and marvelled at it, "It's just... Darling! Such detail, and, oh yes, perfect size." She stroked her fingers along the grooves I'd put in the 'Ottar tail stress ball'. "You have a good eye."

"Lady Freya's hands are just slightly larger than Haruhime's. And I know her hands quite well." I smiled, feeling a little pride at having my work admired.

"How does it work? I feel the magic in it, but..."

"Simply close your eyes, and touch it with both hands. But I have to warn you, as a Goddess..."

Again, her excitement made her half deaf to my words, and I could hear a thump, a crash of what might have been metal pots, and a quiet swear word from a little ways out side of the room.

"The person who that is for, will feel Your connection to it." I finished.

I could tell, by the look on Her face, that it was working. She showed all the little cues. Listening for something, sniffing the air, smiling about a memory She, or the stone itself held. Thinking about it, I might have made something closer to a 'nostalgia stone'. I was sure that not everything She was getting from the stone was just from my memory of Ottar.

"Oh, this is simply precious." She said after a moment, opening her eyes. "You were saying?"

"Your power, as a Goddess, will connect you to Ottar through the stone. I suspect he just felt you grab his tail." I smiled.

That's for throwing me into the water, you big lug.

"My... And what of others?"

"For anyone else, it is simply the feelings inside the stone. While I've yet to try it, I suspect any other God or Goddess might have the same effect." This was giving me ideas for later.

"Well, no one but I will touch this." She gave me a brilliant smile, just as Ottar walked in, "I was correct in letting you two out. This is such a wondrous item."

Ottar tried very hard not to look like he had just stubbed his toe, but I could tell he had. "That is good to hear, My Lady." Ottar said, "Do you deem it worthy payment then?"

"Very much so." Freya said with a smile, winking at Ottar then closing Her eyes for a moment, the big man shivering as She ran her hand over the stone.

Trying not to laugh, I opened my satchel and produced the empty potion bottle. "If you please, Lady Freya."

Success. I finally had everything I needed to make the potion. Well, everything but Hestia's aspect. Though that was probably going to be as simple as asking. Maybe make Her some cookies, just for Her.

One thing however, gave me a little chill. I might have been over thinking it, but...

"I look forward to one day, meeting your child." Freya had said.

She was a Goddess. She had time to play the long game. And unless I found a way to protect any children I, or Haruhime might have because of this...

But I think I knew why now, that the Goddess of Love and Fertility didn't effect me like she had used to. And I suspected, it was the the same reason why Bell resisted Ishtar, and I'd more or less done it too, even after a day of torture. Love. I loved Haruhime. A lot. We worked well together, got along nearly perfectly, even traded tails. We were perfectly in synch almost all the time. And before, I, a former atheist, had literally found a Goddess to put my heart in. Bell was much the same. He would do anything for Hestia.

But save those thoughts for later. I had a potion to make.

Welf was still absent from the workshop, so I had it all to myself. I'd hopped over the wall to sneak in, because I wanted to get this started as soon as possible. So, I arranged everything I'd need, then knelt on the floor of the workshop, and prayed. No words, just a simple heartfelt plea for my Goddess to answer my call. For roughly five minutes, I knelt there, thinking of just what an amazing stroke of luck it was that I'd met Her, lived with Her, learned from Her, and taught Her things in kind.

"Kodori?" I heard Her voice, the workshop door closing behind her. "That... felt so weird." She said as I stood up and looked at Her. "I think you are the only person who's ever prayed to me personally."

"Lilly chose a good swimsuit for you, Lady Hestia." I said, not caring that She was still dripping wet from the pool, Her hair done up in a single pony tail as well trailing water on the floor. Her swimsuit was indeed a good one, a two piece dark blue affair, that looked kind of like a short version of my boxers and sport bra, giving her divine bust support, and not being at all see through when wet.

"Do you like it? Bell has been avoiding me though..." She pouted. "Won't even look at me."

"My lady, Bell isn't looking at you, because if he does, he might have to stop swimming." I said confidently, then paused, "Now now, no breaking."

She had started to stammer, and turn bright red, but I hugged her close and pet Her hair, "I'll have you know I am the top virginal Goddess!"

"You don't have to be." I said, "Down here, you are no longer bound by your 'place' in Tenkai." I let her go, putting my hands on her little shoulders, "But, it's time. I need only one more thing, and I can set up my potion kit." I lowered my voice a little, letting my feelings for Lady Hestia fill my heart and voice, "Lady Hestia, Goddess of Hearth, Home, and Family, your child asks for a gift of Your blood, so that she may hopefully, make your Family and Familia grow."

She shivered as I spoke, "Brr, so formal. It's weird." She gave me a Karate Chop of Justice, then gave me a pat on the head, "Silly fox, you didn't have to do that much."

"No, but I wanted you to know how much You mean to me. Seemed appropriate."

She looked around for a moment, picking up a small chisel, "She still doesn't have any idea, does she?" She asked, taking the potion bottle I offered Her, "I kind of want to be there when you ask."

"No," I smiled, "I don't want anyone else around. She might feel pressured." I watched as Her blood slowly filled the bottle, "I take it you are all in the pool?"

"Mostly. Some of the boys are doing other things, and Haruhime is waiting for you." She paused, "Hey, you got a tan."

"I did. Was out fishing yesterday, and most of that was in my underwear."

"Oh really?"

"Salt would have ruined the colours on my clothes, and I had to do some swimming." I explained, carefully accepting the little bottle, watching Her lick the little cut on Her finger closed again. "I suspect I'm going to look a little silly in what ever Lilly has gotten for me."

"Should I go tell Haruhime you'll be along shortly?" Hestia asked, looking over my shoulder as I quickly double checked all the ingredients, and got them put into the proper places in the alchemy setup.

"Yes please. I should be able to let this cook itself in about ten minutes."

I will admit, at this point in time, I wouldn't have cared if Lilly had gotten me three patches of fabric and some string, then told me I had to put it together too. The last thing I needed before I felt I could ask Haruhime the big question, was about two hours or so from being done.

Haruhime herself, was waiting in our room, calmly brushing her hair out, her two black tails trailing behind her, the tips gently tapping against the floor.

"Want me to braid your hair love?" I asked, spotting two fabric bundles on our low tea table, "Ah, our bathing suits?"

"Yes." She said turning away from the little mirror stand and looking at me as I sat down, "And please." She smiled, handing me the brush.

"I'm happy you waited." I said, "Though, I'm a little surprised you haven't tried the pool yet." I made sure her soft golden hair was tangle free, "I'll brush you after, shoo shoo." I said to her two tails as they wrapped around my arm, demanding to be brushed.

"I'm a little nervous." She admitted, giggling as my tails tried to keep hers out of the way as I started to braid her hair.

"Oh?"

"Well... I'm not as confident as you, or Mikoto-chan, about how I look." She said, "And Lilly chose... a rather revealing suit."

"I know just the thing to help with that." I said, putting a tie at the end of her new braid and leaning forward, resting my chin on her shoulder. "And, I know I'm biased, but I think you look amazing, almost all the time."

She giggled again, tilting her head and rubbing her cheek against mine, "Almost?"

"I have to sleep sometimes." I replied, "And sometimes you have the most frightful bed head." I hugged her around the middle, "You've been doing a lot of work recently. Trying to keep up with us in the mornings, sparring, learning from Lord Takemikazuchi... I loved you when you were soft all over, but I love you even more now." I kissed her cheek, let her go, then stood up, "Let's see what Lilly has in store for us."

My words had stunned her a little, though she was smiling as she raised a palm to her cheek, "Yes. And if you wish, I'll help you tickle her later."

"I was going to do it anyhow, simply because I can. But you're welcome to help." I grinned, picking up the first bundle.

"That one's mine." She said, accepting it when I handed it over.

"Then this one is... Hrm..."

If it hasn't been made clear by this point, I not really body shy. Having lived a while, this kind of thing didn't really phase me. Even more, when I arrived naked in the city, or had my clothes burnt off... many times... or having people walk in on me naked. It just wasn't a thing for me.

Sure, I wasn't going to just walk around naked because I could. I respected others enough that I didn't want to make them feel uncomfortable. Well, mostly. Bath time in the manor seemed to always make some of the 'less feminine' women of the house pout at me when they thought I wasn't looking.

This suit however...

The bottom, was a dark blue bit of fabric that rode very high on my hips. It was the kind of thing that you could 'look' like you weren't wearing panties, with a Chinese dress. You know, those ones with the slit up the side that sometimes went to, or not quite, over the hip?

It covered me properly, but I could tell that If I bent over without using my knees...

The top was much the same. A nice dark blue, that started at my neck, went under my arms, and over my breasts. It offered support, but...

"Lilly is getting such a tickle later." I said, raising my arms over my head and feeling the top of my new bathing suit starting to wander upwards.

"And your new tan lines..." Haruhime giggled, drawing my gaze to her.

Haruhime was wearing something similar to what Hestia was. While our Goddess wore a 'one good breeze from a nosebleed' dress of Hers constantly, Haruhime was very much a kimono girl. The french maid outfit was the most daring thing I'd ever seen her wear outside of our room or taking a bath, so this bathing suit was...

"I see you approve." Haruhime giggled, making me look behind me, to where my six tails were wagging happily.

Yes. Wagging. Six, leg length tails, happy to see her. I was astonished, and a little embarrassed, that my tails weren't tangling themselves into knots. "Seven out of seven foxes approve." I said, stepping forward, running a hand over her bare stomach, "I love a girl who does her situps." I teased.

"Do you think it's too much?" She looked down at herself, stretching out a leg that was had just the right amount of tone to it.

"It shows just how much effort you are putting in." I replied, "Now... Lets add a final touch, just in case..."

When we arrived at the pool, we all got a round of applause, as well as a couple of whistles, and one person faking a heart attack. Lilly had apparently gone the distance with the swimming attire. Chigusa, the poor girl still waiting for her growth spurt, was wearing, of all things, a Japanese school swimsuit. Her modest bust and slender form made her look adorable, and her hair, tied back to keep it out of her eyes, added to the effect. Asuka, with her more curvy form, was wearing a similar suit, though it was open in the back and had a little oval missing from the front, showing off her toned girly abs. She didn't mind that she was more 'bouncy' than normal, and was happily splashing with Wiene.

The dragon girl probably tried to be naked at first, but I suspected a half dozen 'no you may not's' had convinced her to wear another school swimsuit. This one was modified to allow her scales to show, and not cut up the fabric. I made a note to see if I could dull them somehow, or talk to Fels about a replacement robe. Wiene was also very fast in the water. Darting about, ducking under and springing up halfway across the pool, and generally being a kid.

Lilly was kicking her feet at the side of the pool, wearing a white one piece that had a little frill over the breasts and groin, hiding her under the almost see through fabric. With her ability to change shape, I wondered why she didn't just... Make herself look how she wanted to. But I personally found normal Lilly the most adorable. Even if she was giving Haruhime and I a naughty smile and a thumbs up.

Hestia was sitting next to Mikoto, sunning themselves on a pair of lawn chairs. The Samurai girl probably would have threatened to drown Lilly if she got her something too revealing. The same dark blue one piece, like Asuka's, though I couldn't tell if the back was open. It was a little known secret out of the Familia, that she had the third largest bust of us all, and I could tell she had let herself free for the occasion, instead of binding them up like she normally did.

"Ko-san... You're staring." Haruhime said quietly.

"Everyone looks good." I said without trying to cover my obvious ogling, "And Lilly kept in mind everyone's... Well, almost everyone's preferences."

"Wow." I heard Welf say as he exited the change room, we had built. "Lil'e, you actually got her to wear it!"

"Miss Kodori lost a bet!" Lilly replied.

The rest of the guys were behind Welf, and all of them were dressed in shorts and t-shirt. Bell's shirt was kind of loose fitting, though Marius and Ouka, both wide shouldered, looked like they had been painted into them. Looking over to Lilly, the little pallum winked at me. She had remembered that Haruhime would faint if she saw a man's bare chest.

Well... She used to. It had been a while since the last ... Incident... I still remember panicking as she fell over backwards and started foaming at the mouth as Marius, still new and as yet uninformed of Haruhime's shy little quirk, stepped out of the bathroom without a shirt.

To be fair, the Rakia Man was built like a statue.

Haruhime was hiding behind me a little, but my tails gently encouraged her to stand beside me. In addition to Lilly's gifts, I had added a 'sarong'. Basically, a thin bit of cloth that went around our hips and was knotted on one side. The fabric was thin enough that it was almost see through, but Haruhime, and I'll admit, me as well, felt a little less exposed.

"So..." Ouka started, looking around and trying not to look like he was ogling, "Who wants to race?"

Our pool wasn't Olympic sized, but it was certainly big enough to hold several activities at once. Takemikazuchi brought out the orphans too, the handsome God wearing a pair of shorts and a prison striped t-shirt, while the kids were mostly in clean underwear and shirts. Swimming lessons were had, myself and Haruhime included, as out tails made traditional swimming a little difficult.

The taller of us were playing with an inflated orc leather ball that Welf had made, while some of the shorter people, like Lilly and Chigusa were playing tag with Wiene over in the shallow end.

"Hey sister!" Welf called, "Done flailing around? Come play over here!"

And for the first time since I found I was cursed, I wished I wasn't. "I'd kill your ball." Almost every sport that required an inanimate object to play, was off limits for me, since you had to 'hit' something. "How about tug of war?" I called back grinning.

"Even if it was all of us against you, you'd still win." Marius said, "Or, we would break the pool."

"You mentioned running in water?" Marius asked. "Care to show us how it's done then?"

And we started to play anew. This time, by running as fast as we could, from the shallow end, to the deep end. Most were surprised at just how fast the resistance mounted, the more you got submerged. Even Bell and I, the two strongest, couldn't keep any real speed as the water got to our necks. Even the orphans got in on it, God and Goddess as well, trying not to slip, keep moving, and not cheat by swimming.

Well, except Wiene. She didn't wanna train. So she just teased us by swimming circles around people.

Speaking of tease... I could resist nudging Mikoto, looking over to Takemikazuchi as He helped one of the orphans learn to kick in the water. "I'd never have guessed He owned a shirt like that." I said.

And I enjoyed a rare moment of Mikoto turning into a stuttering idiot, as she looked directly at Takemikazuchi for a moment, and went crimson.

"Hey!" Ouka shouted, "How about we try a chariot battle?"

"That the one where you have three people holding up a forth, and you try and take their headband?"

Teams were a little hard to decide. Any team Bell and I were on would probably sweep the competition. And the orphans and Gods wanted to play as well. So in the end, we had smaller teams of two people, instead of four. All of the front line fighters acting as the bottom, while the supporters were the attackers. I was forbidden the use of my tails, but Haruhime was allowed to be my partner. Hestia demanded to be Bell's partner, the poor boy no longer having to try not to look at just how Hestia's swimsuit clung to Her, now had Her riding his shoulders. Ouka and Chigusa were an obvious pair. Welf had Asuka, surprising me a little, but Marius was supporting Lilly, the tallest and shortest together. Mikoto had Takemikazuchi on her shoulders, the poor girl seeming torn between her competitive spirit, and her love interest being so close.

With the orphans cheering us on, and Wiene taking on the role of referee the six pairs of us got into a circle and faced off.

Right from the start, I knew I'd either be left alone, or ganged up on. I half expected Mikoto to lunge sideways at me, with the normal, yet highly skilled Takemikazuchi there to try for Haruhime's bandanna. Instead, Mikoto seemed rooted to the spot for a moment, her face blushing so hard it looked sun burnt. Welf and Asuka went after Marius and Lilly, the two men trying to crowd each other while the girls tried to keep their balance and swipe at each other. Hestia was using one hand to turn Bell's head, pointing him towards Haruhime and I, and I spotted Ouka trying a side play towards them.

"Left!" Haruhime shouted, my feet moving left, "Use Welf-san as cover!"

I saw Chigusa and Hestia start to flail at each other, while I moved behind Welf, forcing Asuka to fend off Haruhime and Lilly at the same time. Mikoto seemed to snap out of her daze, and I spotted her coming towards us, the war God on her shoulders opening and closing His hands. Marius backed away, Lilly just missing having her headband taken by Him, but I heard Haruhime shout a cry of victory as Wiene yelled, "Welf and Asuka are out!"

The Welf/Asuka team split up and got out of the way as quickly as they could, leaving Marius, Mikoto and I in a bit of a standoff. I faked going towards Marius, then went as quickly as I could between them as they both tried to move towards me. Instead of stopping however, they went after each other.

"Turn!" Haruhime called out, her little hand between my ears. "Left!" She said again as I obeyed.

"Lilly will get yo-ack!" The pallum was stopped in mid sentence as Haruhime's tails, full of water, sloshed across Lilly's front and over Marius's face. Distracted, they couldn't bother us as I finished my next step and my passenger tried to capture Takemikazuchi's headband. Mikoto and I tried to upset each others balance without actually pushing, while our two riders sounded like they were having an epic duel above our heads.

The fur of my tails felt the water pressure change, and I suddenly ducked out of the way, surprising Mikoto and Takemikazuchi both, as Marius tried to get behind us. The war God was quick however, snatching Lilly's headband. But, taking a page out of Takemikazuchi's book, one is most vulnerable when striking, and Haruhime managed to catch the back of His bandanna, tugging it off His head.

"Mr. Marius and Mikoto, out!" Weine said excitedly, the four of them quickly backing up, "Ouka out!"

Turning, surprised, I caught sight of Chigusa pushing the hair out of her eyes. Gone was the little tie she had put in her hair to keep it up.

Bell and I faced each other, while Hestia struck a victory pose, Chigusa's bandanna in hand. "Side to side." Haruhime said, putting her hands on my head as I zig zagged my way towards Bell. Long time sparring partners, he was reading my moves, but as the faithful 'chariot' I wasn't in control. "Duck right." Haruhime said suddenly as Hestia raised her hands to make a try for Haruhime's bandanna.

Bell still predicted my move, keeping up with me, until Haruhime tapped my left ear. Ducking again left, Bell was left facing empty water, but Hestia cheered.

Then there was the sound of ripping fabric.

Stopping cold, I looked at Bell, who's eyes were trailing upwards. Instantly, Hestia's hands clapped over his eyes, "Don't look!"

My own eyes looked up, and into the divine bust of Hestia, gloriously free from their restraints, before Haruhime's hands moved to cover HER up. Except, since I was taller, Haruhime had to lean forward a little, as she tried to preserve our Goddess's modesty, and I found myself the victim(?) of what some would call, 'the boob hat'. As we held the position a moment longer, a small collection of ripped bathing suit material floated by.

"Cover yourself, Lady Hestia." I heard Takemikazuchi say, before a striped bit of fabric fluttered into my limited vision, "You too, Hime-chan."

Hands exchanged places, another t-shirt was tossed over to Hestia, and I turned to thank Takemikazuchi. And realized, in the excitement, that I'd forgotten about Haruhime's little quirk.

"blub." Haruhime said, going limp over my head, the striped T-shirt over her back.

"Well..." Ouka said, "um... Who won?"

Wiene looked between Bell and I, getting closer, then with a quick motion, took both Hestia's and Haruhime's bandannas. "I did!" She giggled.

Laughing, I said, "Okay, I guess I'll take her to our room to recover." I looked over to Lilly, "I'll get you..."

"Lilly didn't know the sewing was so cheap?" She tried, trying to hide behind Marius.

I took note of the sun's position, as I put Haruhime on a couple of towels up in our room. Covering her up a little more with a third towel, I quickly hopped off the balcony, and dashed around the manor to the workshop. It should be done by now...

And it was! There, on my alchemy table, next to a pair of alembics, were two double sized potion bottles. Quickly, I checked my notes on them, and giggled with glee. Just as the book said, (though in more colourful speech, with lots of 'thee's and 'thou's') I should have two bottles, filled with a opalescent fluid, that smelled like fresh flowers, with a thick consistency.

And there they were.

Trying not to laugh at what ELSE those two bottles looked to be filled with, I carefully put them in the hidden box I had on my workbench. Then I stored the left over ingredients, including three half full bottles of God's blood, (those went into a small padded adamant box), and returned to our room.

Haruhime hadn't moved at all, so I put the little box on our table, very gently moved her so her head was resting on my lap, and waited. Except, while watching the steady rise and fall of her chest even covered by a towel, was enjoyable, my nerves were a little jagged. I resisted the urge to fidget, play with her hair or ears, or simply lay beside her and cuddle.

Then I spotted the three neatly stacked pages with my unread status on them. One of my tails swished over to them, the paper sticking to them as my unbreakable grip held fast even when the laws of physics dictated they really shouldn't have.

Sorting them, I considered when I'd had them updated. The first, was a little while before my run-in with the former Berbera. The second after I'd healed and gotten used to Haruhime's tail, sort of... And the third was after I'd grown a sixth tail and beaten Bete, with the help of Haruhime's magic. The third page was a little crumpled, having been in my pocket while fighting Gros, the second wasn't folded at all, having been left on the table, since I was practically immobile due to Haruhime's epic back rub, and the first was folded neatly twice.

Compiling them all, the progress looked like this.

Kodori Level: 4

Power: F 329-341-410-862

Endurance: E 421-431-682-999

Dexterity: G 218-224-356-856

Agility: G 259-267-328-839

Magic: E 430-443-687-999

Congenital Magic: Self Re-enforcement

Through will alone, boost basic stats and magic resistance.

-Home of the Goddess: Uses Congenital magic to grant natural armour.

-Judgement of the Goddess: Uses Congenital magic to grant increased strength.

Boost is greater in the defence of others.

-Guardian of the Gardens: Additive spell, summons multiple manifestations

-Call of the Goddess: Uses Congenital magic to grant increased dexterity and agility.

Congenital Magic: Outer manifestation

Creates manifestations of will. Greater magic use increases power.

Curse: Weapon's Bane

Weapons used to attack will break upon impact.

Titan's grip

Grants an unbreakable grip.

Titan's stance

Becomes immovable when Titan's grip is active.

Kitsune Manifestation

Grants bestial form.

Grants a boost in all stats.

May lose control.

May also be manifested.

Fire resistance

Is immune to most normal fire, and some magical fire.

Mage: D-C

Crafting: E-D

Abnormal Resistance F-E

I hmm'ed to myself quietly, thinking about what I'd done, or had done to me, for the numbers to change so much. After the little dip in activity, there was a minor gain. One that most would call normal. Then I'd had a life or death fight, piled onto a life or death recovery, then the fight with Bete. Haruhime's tail had added a couple of lines to my magic, not to mention my own experiments with it. Fooling the amazon twins was kind of funny, though I had to do a few things to make it really convincing, and it didn't hold up to physical contact.

They were probably going to molest my tails next time I saw them.

The last addition, before the better development skills, was... kind of alarming. But, it would explain why my foxes would act on their own, or with more... character, than you would expect a remote copy of yourself to show. Part of the ability might also have been caused by my recovery from being tortured, and being afraid to be alone. I could literally summon a friend, even if it was just a little bit of myself.

So, like I had with all my other abilities, I did a little experiment. It sounded like Haruhime had fallen into an actual sleep, so I probably had a little more time.

Looking behind me for a volunteer, my golden tail swished up and over my shoulder, the poofy end of it brushing my cheek to try and convince me to pet it back. While I did, I closed my eyes, held out my other hand, and willed a little gold edged black fox to appear from inside of the golden fur. First one, then two, then four little points of pressure landed on my hand, my closed eyes picking up on the extra set of eyes, and 'looking' at my own face.

I placed the little fox on the floor next to me, and whispered to it, "If you could be free? What would you do? Run away? Stay by my side?"

It was a strange feeling, as the magic supporting the little apparition seemed to stretch. Feeling like a piece of taffy, the energy between me and the little fox came apart, then, nothing. The mana I had used to make it was slowly coming back, while the little fox looked up at me, its vision no longer trying to crowd my own.

And then, with a yawn, it went over to Haruhime's side, curled up, rested its chin on her arm, and slowly vanished.

"Ko-san lap pillow..." Haruhime mumbled, moving her head a little. "What happened?" Her hands slowly lifted off the floor by her sides, reaching up at my face, though her eyes were still closed.

"You still haven't gotten over your... thing with seeing men topless." I replied, capturing her hands and putting them to either side of my face, the warmth of her palms making me want to nuzzle them like a cat or something. "So I carried you back up to our room, and gave you a lap pillow, since you were still wet from the pool."

She opened her eyes then, looking up at me with those two liquid green pools. "You could have gone back. It was your idea for the pool, you should enjoy it."

"It's a giant stone lined pit filled with water, in our back yard. It's not going anywhere." I replied with a smile, leaning down and kissing her forehead, "Besides, it was a chance to repay you for giving me so many lap pillows."

"Are you keeping a count of how many you owe me then?"

"No. I can only be so wise before I lose track of things."

We shared a laugh, and my tails helped her sit up, though they were reluctant on letting go once she was facing me. "I... Don't know that look on your face." She said to me, reaching out again to stroke my cheek.

Taking a deep breath, drawing a little courage as my magic sparked a little inside me, I took her hand in mine, then looked into her eyes. "When we first met, you were a lot like I was, before I came to this city. Trapped by rules, restrictions, and things out of your control. I didn't even realize why I wanted to help you so much, until a little before we rescued you."

"I was so happy, to be brought from that place, and to a home with all my old friends." Haruhime replied, smiling, "To have a home where no one cared what I was."

"Of course, it wasn't just that. It's no secret I find you attractive. You are gentle and kind. Considerate of others, hard working. You helped me with my own magic, and my own self discovery. Through you, you've saved everyone I've cared about at least once." I touched a finger to her lips before she could reply, "What you were, to the point you are at now, makes you who you are. And I love you. You are still kind and caring, even with the weight of your past."

I moved my finger, turning my hand and touching her cheek, leaning forward a little so I could caress the side of her head, where human ears would be, enjoying the soft hair there. "On my back, it says I am blessed with an unbreakable grip, yet, cursed to never hold a weapon."

"Almost everyone has asked me..." Haruhime started, "If you've ever told me why that is. Even Lady Hestia." She leaned her head into my touch, "Our status is a reflection of who we are, and such a curse..."

"I know why." I said, looking down at my lap, though I couldn't bring myself to take my hand away, "Before... I would gain something, then never really put work into keeping it. A pet, a friend, a mate. Yes, I'd regret it when they left, but I just... Didn't put the effort in. Or, I would, and it wouldn't matter. My effort to keep what I had wouldn't be enough." I sighed, "So, I can wield no weapons, because I must do everything with my own two hands. And my grip, keeps my hands from letting go, no matter what it is, until I choose to do so." I looked up at her again, "A reflection of my old self, on my back. Reminding me to not make the same silly mistakes."

She reached a hand out to brush a tear away from my eyes.

"Sanjouno Haruhime." I said, making her blink in surprise. No one used her first name. Even though she was Eastern, and very familiar with the Takemikazuchi Familia, and myself, her last name was just too easy to use. She was our 'Princess'. Our 'Hime'.

"Sanjouno Haruhime." I started again, "I never want to let you go." I reached for the black box sitting on the table, opening it with one hand and taking out two much smaller boxes. Not opening them yet, I continued, "I know, we are adventurers, that tomorrow is not promised to us. That every time we enter the dungeon, we might not return."

Taking her hand, I opened the box with a tiny H etched into the top, "But, even so, I must ask you. Sanjouno Haruhime, will you allow me the honour, to walk beside you until our last day, to stay and grow, learn, and fight by your side? Will you complete me, and give me the honour of your last name, as I don't have one of my own?"

I opened the box, the gold and black braided metal, with the mirror polished jade set into the top glittering in the low light of the room. It was the ring with her 'memory' in it. "But..." She was a little stunned, and her eyes were misty as she looked down at the ring.

"For me to walk beside you, and for us to have a proper future together." I put the ring box in her hand, then reached into the box for the second thing, taking out the two potion bottles, "I have found a way for there to be children between us. I would do anything for you, to set your mind at ease about this."

"You would... Even though I was..."

"Your past makes you who you are. And, who you are, is who I wish to be with. Sanjouno Haruhime, will you marry me?" I took the little ring box out of her hand, looking into her eyes as I asked.

"Yes." She said, offering her hand properly.

Notes

*ahem*

This is basically the end. There are a few little things I'm going to write. Stretch out the legs a little for the lead up to the jump to Highschool DxD. But yes, this is about it.

One of the things, is obviously the wedding. Another, is Marius's return to Rakia. I might, maybe, go East, and kick Haruhime's father in the shin. I dunno. But yeah. :)

And for those asking, yes, that status update was for you. I should have kept better notes on them. I had to look through each chapter to find the latest one, then the others after that, to see when the updates happened, so it would reflect on the status properly.

See you in five days.

Oh, sorry about the status update. doesn't like certain characters, and just... deletes them. So if it isn't clear, well... Sorry. :(