Notes, before I get this chapter started.

As I wind down the story, I find myself looking at my next project like some sort of neanderthal gazing up at a monolith. The DxD universe is vastly different in tone, and Kodori is has a very dim view of some of the things that go on there.

To be fair, that could make things much more interesting.

Anyhow. Thank you everyone for sticking with me so far. And after some cleanup, slice-of-lifeing, and maybe a trip East... Well, I'm not done yet. :)

This does however, leave me with a tricky spot. The next book is coming soon, (thank you for commenting about this, you wonderful people you) and if my final side stories take long enough, I may put DxD on hold just a little longer. Or, depending on what Fujino Omori does when it comes to time lapse, return to Orario after DxD to go through that.

Or throw it all on the ground, and enjoy the books, and do my own thing with the world. I dunno.

Also! Thank you for your comments. It seems I must have been doing something right for so many of them.

Anyhow.

Chapter 68

I was sure everyone knew why Haruhime and I were practically glowing when we entered the kitchen that night to make dinner. Or at the very least, they all had a good idea. Hestia knew for sure at least, though, I was pretty sure she was keeping quiet about it. She was really good about 'Familia announcements', and not taking the spotlight from anyone.

That, and the two of us were wearing our rings now. To later be exchanged, so that we each held the others 'memory', always.

"Ko-san, careful." Haruhime said to me quietly, my hand stopping my knife an instant before I'd have broken it by touching it to my thumb. "This is a lot of fish... How big was it?"

"Almost as big as our dining table? Maybe more? Was too busy trying not to drown." I replied, "So... How shall we do this?"

"There's so much... We could do a little of everything?"

"True. I mean... A single steak could serve most of the orphans..."

"I'll work on the broth for sashimi?"

"Oh, good idea. Okay..."

And so it went. By the time we had gotten everything cooked, Mikoto had joined in to add her own dish ideas, and much needed cooking experience. The Hostess of Fertility didn't have many fish dishes, and Haruhime's cooking skill was more focused on breads and sauces.

But, by the time we had put the platters on the table, we had used almost every part of that massive fish. Breaded, fried, sushi, sashimi, baked, it was all there. And once we were all seated, we dug in.

After the epic meal, with most people at the table looking like they couldn't eat anything more, myself included, we settled down for our usual 'shop talk'.

"Gros wants to talk to you, Miss Kodori." Bell started, "About the little box."

"I mean to." I replied, seeing a few questioning looks, "Well, I suppose I'll go first." I grinned, "Yesterday, I went to Melen with Ottar."

"Lilly is still surprised." She said, "The King fishes."

"The Fisher King?"

"The King Fisher?"

"He's a Boaz, not a bird."

"Yeah, I mean, you'd expect Ottar to just... be in the dungeon for weeks at a time." Welf added, "Not just stand on a boat with a rod and reel."

"Well, I hope you guys didn't treat the messenger too badly?" I looked to Takemikazuchi, who for once, didn't have His usual smile. "I'll start there. Hermes Familia, not Hermes Himself, wants nothing to do with us." This got a few raised eyebrows, "For starters, Aisha, our lovely assistant when we need a little extra muscle, or a tail sitter," Haruhime gave me a friendly punch in the shoulder, "has made it perfectly clear that she is only there for the rest of her year, and will oppose action against us." I looked to our two Gods at the table, "Please, welcome her when she comes to us."

"She conducts herself like a warrior, despite her usual lack of modesty." Takemikazuchi said, his smile back in place.

"Her and Ryuu would both be welcome here." Hestia said, nodding.

"Thank you." Haruhime said to them.

"The messenger also made it clear to me that most of Hermes Familia is simply putting up with Hermes, and using His being loose with the rules as much for themselves as the Familia. So, Lord Takemikazuchi, if you see Hermes in our home, I doubt anyone but Asfi will get in your way."

There were a few grim chuckles.

"Now, as a peace offering, I was given a little map, and a lead to a warehouse Dix was using to smuggle Xenos out to sea. It was empty, save for a single waggon and kennel, which is also in Gros's cage." I frowned, "With Ikelos Familia dead, the occupant was left there forgotten for around a week, with untreated wounds."

Many at the table went pale, others went red faced, I held up a hand to stall comments, "Unfortunately, it was bad enough that an elixir might have been the only way to save her. But, before she died, and dissolved, she trusted me with her children. That little box that Gros wants to talk to me about, has four lamia eggs in it, as well as her magic stone."

Again, the reaction was mixed. Some were a little excited, others pensive, but I saw the looks on Marius's and Lilly's faces. I knew too, that those eggs were probably a product of rape.

"We aren't keeping them, are we?" Asuka asked, "I mean... They will be born Xenos, right?"

"Should we tell Lord Ganesha?" Bell asked, then perked up, "We still have the occulus. We could tell Lido and the others?"

"We should tell them both." I said, "Lord Ganesha might know something about them, and Lido would probably be happy to take them in and keep them safe."

"Why can't we keep them up here?" Wiene asked, holding out a lettuce leaf for Chime to nibble on, "I mean..."

"We have Gros with us, because we didn't want the townsfolk to kill him." Marius said gently, "But, four more Xenos? It might be a little much for people to handle so soon."

"We will talk with people, find out our options." I said, "And decide then. But, anyhow... Just in case anyone wants to join me for fishing next time with Ottar, let me tell you how THAT went."

I had, by far, the most interesting day out of the lot of them. I suppose, going on a 'date' with the King would do that.

"So love?" I looked over to Haruhime, "Would you like to?"

The table went silent, though many of us had a little smile. Haruhime stood up, very politely 'ahem'ed', then said, "Yes, Ko-san and I have an announcement." She idly toyed with her new ring, looking like she might either be too shy to say it outright, or thinking on how to word it. "After all of you, well... Not Marius-san, or Wiene-chan..." She ahem'ed again, "After I was saved from Ishtar, and brought here, to live, to join Hestia Familia, to see my old friends again... None of you have judged me about my past. Instead, you all have helped me grow, get stronger, and fit in, so that I wouldn't be a burden, in, or out, of the dungeon."

She side stepped slightly, to put a hand on my shoulder, "Ko-san especially, has helped me. Be it keeping the bad dreams away, fitting in with new people, or guiding me on ways I could train so I am better able to keep up with you all... It's no secret, by now, that we're together."

Someone chuckled, but some one else kicked them in the shin under the table.

"But, even so, I was hesitant. I know... I know I love her, but it wouldn't be a... fruitful love. Our visit, during the Rakia war, by the Black Fox Clan, I realized that I would certainly want children of my own." She leaned down a little, resting her chin on my head, hugging my shoulders, "Ko-san knew this, and we think we might have a way to change that. And she asked to marry me." She reached down and took my hand, and she displayed our rings to those who could see across from us, "And I said yes."

There were cheers, and gasps, even a 'what's a marry?', but when the noise died down, Chigusa perked up and said, "So that's what you were reading!" Then blushed and tried to hide behind her tea cup.

"That's right." I said, "With the help of many of you, Lady Hestia as well... Well, yeah..." I fell silent. I had only a general idea of what the potion would do, and I certainly wasn't going to explain THAT at the dinner table.

"Hm, I suppose we have to plan a wedding..." Takemikazuchi said with His usual calm voice.

"Actually..." I started.

"Ko-san... How long have you been waiting to ask?" Haruhime asked me.

"After you woke me up with your tail." Hestia nod-nodded at my reply, "I've been very hopeful you would say yes, sooooo..."

"So you put little things in place, and waited for them to be needed." Marius said, "I will have to remember this strategy."

"Aisha and Ryuu both know too. But they were there that day. I'm pretty sure I just have to say 'go', and the Hostess would be willing to host the event." I said with a smile, leaning my head against Haruhime's chest, "Forgive me for presuming?"

"You owe me a back rub." She replied, earning a chuckle from around the room.

"My Lady is kind." Earning me a punch in the shoulder, followed by a pat on the head.

"Actually." Marius started, "While not unexpected, you asking for Miss Haruhime's hand, I have news of my own."

We all turned to him, Takemikazuchi standing at His place at the table, "Marius-san is now level three." We all cheered for him, though the soldier raised a hand to quiet us down.

"Without all of your assistance, I may never have reached this height. And while I have some time before my year is over, I hope to continue working with you, and improving." Marius as ever was as businesslike as always, but he smiled, "Ma'am, have I ever thanked you for kicking my ass back on that mountain?"

"Hm, most people ask me not to do that." I commented, trying to look thoughtful, "But yes. Remember part of you returning home is you have to survive your year."

"Yes Ma'am." He said, "It's odd, but as of yesterday, I am the second strongest person from Rakia. There is only one other level three there, and he might have been captured and returned with no falna."

"We'll make sure you look good when you return." Welf said, giving the soldier a thump on the back, "Isn't that right sister?"

"Almost can't wait." I said, "But, if that's all the news?"

We all gave everyone else a look, shook our heads, then nodded, gathering up plates for the cleanup.

"So." Welf started, picking up a towel and drying a dish.

"Who are you? Welf never does dishes." I asked, looking shocked while my tail rescued the dish before he could fumble it. The reason he never did dishes.

"What can I say? My hands are meant for the forge." He laughed, putting the towel back before I had to rescue another dish. "Speaking of the forge. I noticed that box in Gros's cage is one of the special ones."

"After I chat with Gros, we can get it to the workshop to break it down."

"About that... As your teacher, in most things anvil related. I think you might be ready to try working adamant." Welf said with a smile, "Just don't use your bare hands on it like you do iron."

"Wasn't going to... Well, okay, I lie. Wasn't going to right away." I put another dish in the rack, "You think I'm ready? Huh... Must be doing something right. Oh, I do owe Ottar a bit for helping me get it open. We had no tools, so I had to bend it and... Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You... Bent it?"

"I was very motivated."

"Do you have any idea just how strong... No, that's a silly question, you were there..." He sighed, "I'll get the tools ready to break it down."

"Thanks brother." I said, flicking a little dish water at him, "Now shoo, and draft someone to help dry on your way out."

Fending off my attack with a hand, he nodded and left. A moment later, Bell entered, followed by Lilly. Wordlessly, they both picked up a towel and started drying.

"Don't forget Lilly." I said, handing Bell a dish. "I am going to tickle you."

"Lilly has a dish in her hands." She said, making Bell laugh quietly, "Lilly didn't know! Honest! Master Bell looked too!"

I rescued the dish in Bell's hands as he started to turn to stone, "Master Bell is a boy. Lilly however, was in charge of the swimsuits." I put the dish back in Bell's hands as he thawed out, "But, later." I smiled, "Too many things to do right now to get my revenge."

"I'm surprised, Miss Kodori." Bell said, "Well... Not really surprised? But that you'd be so determined."

"You should know the feeling now." I said, "Being near death can change your view on things."

He nodded, "Yeah... We've been through a lot in the past... year? Just over a year?"

"Considering we've been puppets for Hermes, who's been making problems for us to solve..." I sighed, "Damn. Okay, I didn't mean to bring this up. But..." I looked at Bell, who's hands had stopped, "Bell. What's the requirement to level?"

"To do something even the Gods would acknowledge." He said automatically.

"Even if those things were put in place by someone, to be solved by a hero in training." I said, managing to rescue the plate as my words sunk in, causing Bell to drop the dish. "Yeah. Hermes has been making situations for us, or rather, you, to solve. Each crisis, we barely get by, but we do. The Black Goliath, Moldo and that stupid helmet, Wiene getting captured, Haruhime and the Killing stone, Gros going on a rampage."

"But..." He started, accepting the dish and drying it properly. "Why?"

"Lilly thinks... It's because Hermes wants you to be a hero." Our supporter said.

"Kodori thinks Lilly gets it." I said, chuckling, "I don't know why. But while He's been pushing you to grow, He just... Doesn't get it. Sure, you're strong. The people love you. You have a moral compass that never wavers." I dried my hands and ruffled his hair, "But..."

"Master Bell would solve those problems without anyone pushing." Lilly said, grinning, "Right Master Bell?"

"Yes!" Bell replied instantly, "I would never let a problem that was in front of me go. I don't need anyone to push me towards it." He frowned, his normally friendly face twisting into something close to anger, "I will have to talk to Hermes." He said, "I don't want to be the kind of hero who needs... manufacturing." He said finally, "I will be a real hero. Not some... Actor in a play."

I grinned, patting him on the shoulder, "Exactly." I looked to Lilly, "Bell deserves a hug. I'm going to go talk to Gros."

"Lilly is okay with this." She said, as Bell went from 'righteous indignation' to 'stuttering idiot'. Again.

Gros was, by far, one of the most interesting monsters I'd ever seen. From his shape, a bus length griffon made of stone, to his physical makeup. I mean... How the hell did he even move? Animated stone or not, I wasn't even sure where to start with... well, I guess you could call it 'biology'. Maybe 'organic mineralogy'?

How ever, I couldn't suppress a laugh when I saw him, on his back, wiggling slightly side to side, in a small pit filled with white sand. He was even purring.

"You're welcome." I said, stepping through the bars of his cage, "I though you would be sleeping on it, not rolling in it."

"We have much to learn, about each other." He said between wiggles, opening his eyes and looking at me upside down, "I do this for two reasons." Slowly, he pulled his wings and legs close to his body and rolled over. "First, it is good for my skin. If I don't scrape at my skin, I slowly harden, and if left long enough, I'd turn to actual stone." He watched me as I got closer, crouching down next to his sand pit, "And, honestly, it feels very good."

I believed that. He didn't sound the least bit grumpy right now. "I'll arrange for more sand then. It's not hard to get, and cheap to transport." I reached down and ran my fingers through the sand, noticing little bits of grey mixed in with the white, "As a Xenos, I have to ask about the eggs. We are trying to figure out what to do with them."

"I did not know the mother. Her scent is still on the eggs, and her stone. But yes. You must decide. And soon." Gros said, moving carefully and sifting a claw through the sand, unearthing a wooden cube, "While I am your... guest, I have little say..."

"Wrong." I said, putting a hand on his beak and looking into one of his big black eyes, "You are a guest, truly. While the others will warm up to you eventually, to me, Bell, Lady Hestia and Lord Takemikazuchi, you are family. Your say on this is equal to ours."

"Hmph." He grunted, moving his beak out from under my hand, "Fine. As a Xenos, I would like them to stay. But." He placed the box in front of me, opening the top with surprising dexterity, "If they do, they will need... A lot of care. Young Xenos have many needs. Much like your... little peoples." He grumbled, "Is there any way you can keep them from disturbing me?"

"The children? Why? They want to know more about you."

"They're so tiny... and soft... and noisy."

"Like a young Xenos?"

"Like a young Xenos." He confirmed with a sigh, "Maybe not here, then, but perhaps this Ganesha God of yours might be a better place? He has a large... zoo? My stay there was not unpleasant."

"That was one of the options. We were also going to tell Lido."

"He would be interested in knowing, yes." Gros replied, "I am no expert, but I guess you have a few days, before they hatch."

"What are young Xenos like anyhow? I mean, aside from tiny soft and noisy."

"Curious, and hungry." He replied.

"Makes sense. Okay. Mr. Gros, I leave them in your care for another day or so. Want to help me with that box?"

"It smells... unpleasant." He said, "So I put it over there."

'Over there' was against the bars as far from the sand pit as he could get it. It was too big to fit through the bars though, or I'd have bet he'd have thrown it out of his enclosure. "Well, Welf and I are going to melt it down and make it into something useful. Oh, while I'm here, I'll show you how to work the lock on your home here."

"Oh? You'd give me the key to my cage?" We walked together towards the box, for him being made of stone, he could walk softly over grass.

"Appearances." I said firmly, "You are a guest, really. Just so long as you don't leave our grounds, or start making too much noise, you pretty much have free run of the place. We have rules to follow too, though, so don't make too much trouble, right?"

"Hmph." He grumbled again, "I have no wish to be subject to an angry mob... Again."

The box was heavy, but I could have carried it myself. I wanted, however, to really let Gros know he was a guest, not a prisoner, and willingly letting him out of his enclosure was hopefully a good way to demonstrate this.

"It is a pity." Gros said, as we set the box down outside the workshop door where he couldn't enter, "That you weren't able to gather some of the other cages, when you fought the Butcher."

"True." I said, knocking on the workshop door, "Welf come help!" Then to Gros, "Honestly, I hope never to see another cage like that again. But this does bring me to an idea I've been kicking around."

"Hey sis... Oh, hey Gros." Welf paused in mid step, looking up at the gargoyle, "Is the lock on your cage easy enough for you to grab?"

"Yes." Gros answered shortly, "Thank you."

"No problem." Welf replied.

"Can we open the side window? I want to chat with him a bit more." I asked Welf as we both took opposite ends of the box.

"Sure. And heave."

It was a little awkward, but we got the box into our 'large projects' area, which, ironically, was filled with a bunch of smaller ones at the moment. "Have to tidy more..." I commented as Welf unlatched the thick wooden shutters on the window. A moment later, Gros's head peeked in, blinking at all the seemingly random objects laying about.

"You humans... Such odd things. Weapons and armour, I can understand... But..." He commented, "What is that?"

"Bits of a glider." I replied, "I still owe Lilly a ride with it."

"Hrm." Gros replied, "So, you wished to talk?"

Welf picked up a pair of tools, a thick chisel, and sledge hammer. Handing me the hammer, he set the point of the chisel near one of the box's hinges. "Yeah. See... Up here, we have a saying, 'money talks'. Basically, when you want to be noticed, you spend money. Or, you show off that you have it. Or, you know how to make it."

"Another silly concept, this 'money'."

"Sister is right." Welf had his head turned away slightly, wary of potential chips of metal, as I brought the sledge down a couple of times.

"Well, if the Xenos want to be accepted, they need to do something to get noticed, that isn't related in any way to 'I'm a monster'. Not a show of strength, but utility."

"To show we can be a help, not a hindrance." Gros finished my thought for me, "Yes. Lido has mentioned this, but we had no idea how to go about it. I wasn't interested at the time, either, I'll admit."

I brought the sledge down again, the hinge of the door snapping, "Good." I moved to the other hinge, and Welf readied the chisel, "Chani gave me an idea."

"Oh?"

"Silk. Adventurers would pay a lot for a good amount of that silk she can spin. From what I know, only high class adventurers can go deep enough, to try and gather it from monsters who've made a nest of it. But what if it could be done with less risk?"

"Heh, always thinking the long game, eh sister?" Welf laughed, "Hell hound fur and teeth, dragon scales, gargoyle dust..."

"Really?" Gros interrupted.

"Sure. That dust you keep shedding can be used for top class sharpening tools, and some really useful alchemy." Welf said, setting the chisel aside as the hinge snapped, "Okay, lets put the door over here..."

"Interesting." Gros mumbled, his head following us as we moved about the shop.

"Weld mark here next?" I asked, then turned to Gros, "There is a huge list of things the Xenos could sell, and most of it, you simply cast off naturally. We adventurers kill the monsters to um... Speed up the process, but..."

"We kill them too." Gros said, "They hate us as much as they hate you."

"Oh right, you weren't there for the explanation." Welf said, turning his head again as I smashed the end of the chisel, "They hunt monsters as much for food as self preservation."

"That's another idea I had." I replied, "The Xenos know the dungeon well, I think, and could be employed as guides. I wonder what Eina would think if I brought her over." I looked to Gros again, "Think you'd be up to helping our Familia instructor learn a thing or two?"

"Is that wise?" Gros asked.

"She knows about the Xenos, and has helped us many times... Especially when we break a rule or two..." Welf mumbled the last bit, "Over here, almost deep enough to try and snap it."

"Lido would like to hear about these ideas." Gros said with a rumble.

"Just think, if you guys had a trade route to the surface." I grunted as I brought the sledge down again, "Wow... Tough stuff... Anyhow, if you guys hunt monsters, and brought up monster drops, you could make a lot of money. This could be used to improve your way of life down in the dungeon, as well as show the people," I made a waving gesture towards the city, "that you aren't to be feared, but respected."

"And if your knowledge can save people..." Welf held up a hand, and I stopped my next swing, "Then people will trust you... maybe. Bleh, public opinion is a pain." He looked at the door of the box, now with a deep groove in the middle, almost half way through. "Okay... we need something to brace this on, then something..." He looked to Gros, "Some one, heavy."

Gros raised a stoney eye ridge, but said nothing.

It took us until almost bed time to break the adamant box down into more manageable parts. Welf and I broke apart the walls, etched the big panels, then flipped it over and braced the ends. Gros, with his literal ton of stone weight, would then jump in the middle of the panel, snapping it in half. Welf sent me away afterwards, telling me he had to make a special furnace so we could heat up the still fairly large segments and soften them a little more.

Not that I minded being shoo'ed out of the workshop. I had plans to make for a wedding.

"Oh! Kodori." Hestia intercepted me on my way to the bath, a faintly glowing occulus stone in Her hand, "Lido wants to talk to you."

"Oh? Okay." She handed me the stone, and was about to turn to leave, when my tails distracted Her, "My tails miss you." I said to her before holding the stone to my mouth, "Lido? Doing well?"

"Ah!" His voice, a little distorted by the stone, was just as I remembered, "Good to hear you are well. Lady Hestia told me the good news, and some other news too. You have eggs?"

Figuring Hestia had given my tails enough random pets, I gathered them up with my free hand and gave her an actual hug before continuing my walk to the bath, "Yes, four of them. I didn't get the name of the mother, but, she was one of you."

"Not all bad news then." Lido rumbled, "That means if they hatch, they'll all be like us."

"I plan on telling Ganesha as well, He might be able to keep them up here, but I figure that the two of you should talk about that." I waved to Asuka as I passed her, my tails brushing past her arm lightly, "Gros thinks we have a few days before they might hatch, so I'll see what I can do to set up a meeting with the occulus."

"That would be helpful." Lido said with a smile in his voice.

"Oh, speaking of, Gros and I had a chat about a few things, I'll review them for you."

Lido was quite interested in my ideas, and promised he'd let the others know, and see what they thought. Finally able to bathe, I tried to clear my mind and sort out what I would have to do for the next few days. You would think, that once you save the city (again) you'd be able to relax...

"Lower..." Haruhime mumbled as my hands gave her the back rub I owed her. "Ko-san..."

"Yes love?"

"You really want to..."

"Yes."

"heehee..."

I leaned over her back, and kissed the back of her neck, "No sleeping."

"Not gonna... just thinking."

"Hm?"

"Why did you go with Ottar?" She asked, stretching the 'R' at the end as I worked on her lower back exactly the right way.

"Those potions... They needed Ichor. God's blood." I explained, brushing my fingers through her tail as I moved it out of the way. "I had to get two vials of it, one from Loki, the other from Freya."

"Oh?" A pause, "Oh! Heehee... My Ko-san is so clever..." I could see a sliver of green eye looking back at me, "You made a memory stone of Ottar then? And one for Loki-san?"

"Ottar yes." I smiled, "He's actually a nice guy, once you actually get past the 'I am King'. Kind of feel sorry for him." But then I shook my head, my hands teasing at the muscles of her upper leg, admiring not just the view, but how much she had actually improved herself. Gone was the 'girl who waited to be rescued'. "Loki and I made a bet."

"A bet?" She purred, "You're still giving me a back rub, no getting distracted." It didn't help that she moved her legs just a little further apart for me.

"I bet Her that I could stop Her from counting to thirty, and then turning over an hourglass, after it ran out. And gave Her a back rub, just like you taught me." I tried to look away, and focus on my task, but Haruhime knew all my buttons. "She managed to count, but not turn it over." I shifted my position, Haruhime's ears turning to follow me, but her head remaining motionless.

"Aisha always said my back rubs were the best, well... That I could maybe do them a little harder..." She sighed.

"I'd bet you could now." I pressed my thumbs into her calf muscles, gently working on them until they relaxed.

"You wouldn't mind?" She asked, a little quiver in her voice.

"Haruhime." I started, making her tails twitch, "Just because you and I are going to marry. It doesn't mean I will try and stop you from being friends with people. I didn't rescue you from your room, to put you back into another one." I huffed.

"Sorry..." She pouted a little, then eep'ed as I pinched her still quite soft rear. "ow..."

"Do I have to start over now?" I teased, "But seriously..."

"I wouldn't mind..." She giggled.

"I AMMMMMMM... Oh, Good morning Miss Kodori." Ganesha greeted me at his office door, stopping in mid pose when he saw I was alone. Well, I had Chime on my shoulder, but alone otherwise.

"You're really good at that. Here, have a bunny." I extended my hand, and the God of the People extended his own. Chime hopped across and plunked herself into His big hand, giving Him a fuzzy headbutt in greeting. "I've a few things to discuss with you, if you wouldn't mind giving me an audience?"

Wordlessly, He stepped aside, then closed the door behind me. "The city is just calming down again. This is nothing disturbing, I hope?" He sat on the biggest couch, petting Chime between the ears, "Should I summon for some tea? Cookies?"

"It might be a good idea. One of the things is..." I took the occulus from my satchel, showing it to Him, then closing my fist around it, "First... I'm sure you've heard about my... Well, the city is calling it a date, but it wasn't really, with Ottar."

"Yes!" He paused, chuckling, "Sorry, it is difficult sometimes to keep the persona down. But yes, I did hear."

"Well, one of Hermes Familia, as a 'please don't beat us up because our God is a jerk' peace offering, gave me the location for the last of Dix's holdings in Melen. A warehouse near the docks."

"I had heard that Ikelos Familia was shipping Xenos overseas, when they could." Ganesha said grimly, "What did you find?"

"Well... A dying mother and four lamia eggs. To put it simply. She didn't make it, but the eggs are being kept safe by my new friend Gros."

"A rather brisk fellow that one. But a good guardian. Four... And from a Xenos too... What were your plans for them?" He scratched His chin, "You did not want to keep them, I assume?"

"No. We could, but... Anyhow." I opened my hand, and spoke into the faintly glowing occulus, "Lido? You awake?"

"snnrk... snrrrrk..."

I held the stone in front of Ganesha, and gave Him a wink.

Perking up, and grinning, He took a deep breath... "I AM GANESHA!"

"snRK WHAT HUH WHO!?"

"Lido, good morning. I'm with Lord Ganesha, and I figured you'd want to chat."

"oh..." Lido yawned, the sound not unlike a dragon breathing fire, though in reverse, "Okay, just give me a minute..." There was a noise like clanking armour, then falling armour, then a quiet curse, then the sound of splashing water, "Sorry Lord Ganesha. We are still busy salvaging what we can from the Butcher's lair. It's keeping us up."

"It's fine, friend Lido. Now, Miss Kodori, would you like to start?"

It took me far longer than I thought it would to get them started, but after a couple of hours, getting them on track to think up ideas to trade, and what to do with those eggs, I left the occulus with Ganesha, told Him to keep an eye out for the invitation, and excused myself. I met Shakti on the way out, and she gave me a smile, and a little advice on how to improve on my chai.

As I made my way to my next destination, I could feel the eyes of the people on me. Once again, they were no longer hostile, which was nice, but a little... hollow feeling. Sure, Hestia Familia had 'saved' the city from the 'monster' gargoyle and 'the black minotaur', but really... The truth was very different.

"Pardon me?" A voice called out to me, soft and Godly. Only a God or Goddess could speak those perfectly understandable words. "Yes, you with the tails... My... All the tails."

In this case, it was a Goddess. Long brown hair done up in an almost Eastern pony tail, with striking blue eyes and a kind face. She wore a simple travelling shirt and vest, both in shades of green, and a long dress that went to Her ankles. Modest and functional. "How can I help you, Lady...?"

"Astraea." She said with a smile, "Though, you've helped me much already, Miss Kodori."

Noteeees!

Just another ripple of 'Kodori changes things'. Astraea is a tiny little footnote in the books, who's heart was broken when 95% of her Familia died in one day, and the other 5% going on a murderfest to avenge them.

Anyhow. :) See you in five days.

Oh, this reminds me.

If any of you want to read more of my stuff, I have an actual BOOK. Like... real, original, proof read, book. Its on a site called Inkitt, under the title of "Were too?" I'm trying to get it published, but the site needs people to actually read the thing, before it decides its worthy of more attention.

I wrote it a while ago, and I'm only mentioning it now, because you guys have been reading my works already, and giving me nice comments and stuff. Leave a comment there if you want too, I'll be sure to read those as well. :)