Notes before I begin.
This is it. Aside from a side story, this is probably the last chapter. Thank you everyone who's been reading. Thank you for all the comments and suggestions. Thank you for making me feel like my hobby means something.
And don't worry, part of the 'side story' will introduce the *ahem* effects of the potions Kodori made, since people have been asking about tiny fox children.
Oh! And just another reminder, if you like my writing, I have an actual book on a site called 'Inkitt' under the title, Were too? :)
Chapter 72.
"You want to visit the Xenos?" Hestia asked, giving me a raised eyebrow.
"Or the zoo." I said, "I mean, I have nothing to do except umm... yeah, wait for the wedding. And I'd like to at least see Lido and the others when not trying to save them. It's either that, or I visit the zoo and say hello to the Lamia who's taking care of the eggs."
Hestia pondered a moment, starting to pace. One of my tails visited, and She held onto the end while going back and forth. "I'll go fetch the occulus. But you have to have someone else with you!" She let my tail go so She could waggle a finger at me.
"Of course. I mean, it was a group effort."
"Grr, you're always so easy to get along with." She complained, "I can't get mad at you."
"I could... I dunno... plan something."
"No!" She promptly gave me a Karate Chop of Justice. "Meet in the living room, I'll be there in a moment."
"As you command." I smiled, getting a second Karate Chop of Justice.
"I wouldn't mind going." Mikoto said.
"Me either." Chigusa added.
"I'd love to bring Ha-chan too." I started, but got a pair of raised eyebrows. "What?"
"You can wait two more days." Mikoto said seriously, "We allow you two to sleep together, only because Haruhime-dono would pout if we did not."
I sighed, not wanting to push the 'nontraditional' point any further. "Well... Maybe Ha-chan can go to the one I don't? I'm sure she'd like to get out of the house a little too."
"Oh, that's... a good idea..." Chigusa mumbled, "Umm... Who goes with who?"
"I wouldn't mind visiting the Xenos." Takemikazuchi said as He entered the room with Hestia and Haruhime. "And, Mikoto, would you like to join Haruhime-chan and I?"
"Y...Yes my Lord." Mikoto answered, getting up from the couch and standing at attention.
Haruhime and I shared a look from across the room, our tails waving about behind us, and we both smiled at each other.
"Well, then who's coming with me to the zoo?" I asked.
"I'll go." Chigusa said, "Maybe... Do you think we can take Wiene-chan?"
"She's in the pool right now with Asuka." Hestia said, "But that's not a bad idea."
They had allowed me a slight compromise, and one of my fox images was currently resting in Haruhime's arms, as Takemikazuchi Mikoto and her walked towards the artisan district, where the Xenos would meet with them. With the nearly invisible thread of magic trailing off my tails, myself, Hestia, Chigusa and Wiene walked towards I AM GANESHA.
"So many things out side..." Weine said excitedly, looking around at everything she could, her new outfit making her look like just another young adventurer. "And... I smell food..."
"You'll spoil lunch." I said, "But, maybe we can pick up something on the way back." I looked to the others, who nodded.
"I AMMMMMMMM GANESHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" Ganesha showboated for us, picking up Wiene around the hips, spinning her around once, and putting her back exactly where He'd gotten her. "I am pleased to see you today!" He gave the now giggling dragon girl a pat on the head.
We were inside the main building, on our way to the zoo itself, when the God had spotted us and done his usual introduction. The staff of the building, did various sighs of dismay at their God's antics, but payed us no mind otherwise.
"Is your newest guest settling in?" I asked.
"Indeed she is! Would you like to see her?" He grinned, half turning, "This way this way!"
Shakti had come to drag Ganesha off by his ear as soon as we got to the enclosure holding the Lamia. Before He was however, He said, "Just go through the bars, you'll be fine, please don't pull so hard Miss Shakti!"
Doing as instructed, the first thing I noticed was that the enclosure looked to be empty. I mean, it was fairly large, taking up about half the area of the Hearth Manor. But as we slipped through the bars, it was simply an open field with a few large rocks and trees dotting it.
"Where is she?" Chigusa asked, "Was Lord Ganesha wrong?"
"No." Weine said, "She's... behind that big rock over there." the dragon girl pointed, and the four of us turned and started walking towards the boulder she was pointing at.
Hestia was holding one of my tails. I could tell She was a little nervous, but with a couple more of my tails perching on Her, She seemed to calm down a little. As we got closer, I spotted a tail tip curled around the underside of the boulder. "Hello?" I called out.
"Oh!" The tail slipped out of sight, and from the other side of the boulder, a head popped up, "It's you!" It was the same one I'd rescued, looking much better. Her hair, long and dark was clean, her face was unbruised and calm, and she was wearing a dark blue shirt. "Who... Oh! Little Wiene!"
We let Wiene go ahead, the two of them hugging, "I'm so happy you're safe!"
"It is thanks to The Fox." She said, her long body slowly slithering out from behind the rock. I hadn't realized just how much of her was there in that cage. All told she was probably longer than Gros, though far less massive. I was happy to note that she was fully healed, and her dark black scales were nice and glossy. "Thank you for the opportunity, though... I am sad I am only to be a substitute."
"They will have someone, that's important." I said. "Oh, this, is our Goddess, Hestia." I said, the rest of my tails clinging to Her and bringing Her to stand beside me.
"Hello!" Hestia was still nervous, but She extended a hand all the same. "Pleased to meet you!"
"Likewise." The Lamia said, her body lowering so she wasn't towering over us. She carefully took Hestia's hand, and touched it to her forehead, "I am thankful for your Familia's help. Takemikazuchi as well, if you could extend my thanks?" She let Hestia's hand go, and looked at Chigusa.
"I will!" She said with a smile, then, "How are they?"
"Any time now..." She replied, slowly turning and slithering back behind the rock, "I am keeping them as warm as I can, and tending them as I should."
They were still the same four eggs, though the colour had changed slightly, from a sort of off white to a stone grey. "I can feel the life in them, waiting to come out."
"Good." I said, smiling, "Since we are here, let's chat a while, maybe we can tell you a little more of what to expect up here."
"I'd like that." the Lamia replied, smiling. If it weren't for her snake body, and the two slightly over pronounced fangs in her mouth, it would have been the smile of just another happy person. One day, I hoped she could share that smile with anyone, not just people 'who knew'.
"Ah, it's good to hear she is doing well!" Lido said, his big lizard face filling the vision of my little fox.
"Gah too close!" I said, putting a paw on Lido's snout and pushing feebly. "Still not used to everything looking so... big when I do this."
"Sorry." Lido backed up, Haruhime and the others chuckling. "Oh, since you're... here... sort of..." He stepped aside, the low light of the warehouse we were in revealing Fear and Ray, and behind them, as low to the ground as she could get, was Chani. Even then, she had to bow her human half to avoid a wooden cross beam. "Ladies?"
The three stepped forward, all smiles and looking much better. Chani still had seven legs, though the stump of the eighth looked to be almost fully healed now. Ray, the gold feathered siren and Fear the green feathered harpy looked fully healed, and while they were both wearing cloaks, the feathers I could see looked healthy. "We wanted to thank you, though I suppose this is as in person as we can get right now." Fear said, her voice making my little fox ears tingle. "We wanted to thank all of you."
"I am glad my Children, along with Hestia's, were able to succeed." Takemikazuchi said, "All people are precious, no matter the form they take."
"You're very welcome." Haruhime said, her free hand petting my ghostly fox between the ears, "I'm a little sad you have to watch through the occulus, instead of being able to attend."
"We understand." Chani said, putting a hand on both the bird girl's shoulders. "But..."
"Ta-daaaaa!" The two Avian's said at once, holding out a pair of small baskets. "We made you these!"
My little fox image put both front paws on the edge of one basket and peered in. Ribbons. Thin strips of fabric, much like what Hestia wore in her hair. All kinds of colours and shades too, gold, green, white, blue, rust red, black, even pink.
"I used my silk, and everyone at our new colony used a little of themselves to add colour. It's a simple idea, to go with your 'be useful' plan. What do you think?" Chani said proudly, clapping her armoured hands together happily.
"Love? I can't really feel anything like this..." I turned my pointy fox nose to Haruhime and nudged her chin.
Reaching a hand in, she took out a blue ribbon and hmm'ed at it. "It's very smooth. And the colour is perfectly applied." She handed me to Mikoto, and tied the ribbon around my neck. "Heehee. Perfect."
"We will deliver these to our Familia." Mikoto said, idly patting my head, "I am sure everyone will wear one."
"Yay!" The three monster girls said, Lido, behind them clapping as well.
"Oh... Now that I am here. Do me a favour Chani?"
"Hm?" The spider woman blinked at me.
"Could you lower yourself as much as possible, and stand between Mikoto and Ha-chan?" I hopped to Takemikazuchi, the war God catching me easily, "Lord Takemikazuchi? Could you walk in a circle around them?"
"But... Why?" Chani asked, hunkering down as best she could and getting between the two women.
"I promised I'd make you some armour." I said as Takemikazuchi did a circuit around them, the shorter Haruhime, the taller Mikoto and the sort of in-between Chani in the middle giving me a good estimate on size, while the side view gave me a comparison on bust and torso dimensions. "And since I'm not actually there..."
"I suppose this doesn't count as wedding planning, so I will allow it." Takemikazuchi said seriously.
"Lord Takemikazuchi is understanding." I said, just as seriously. "Hey Lido? Want to stand next to Lord Takemikazuchi as well?" I hopped over to Fear, who nearly dropped me, but managed to recover and pet my ears happily. "Hm. Wow you're tall..."
Hopping back and forth between people, mostly for free ear pets, which was getting me strange looks back at my real body, who's ears were twitching happily for no apparent reason, I got a good guess on everyone's measurements.
"For payment." I said, getting a raised eyebrow from everyone in the warehouse, "We'll need the cages. Welf and I will melt them down and make sure they protect the ones who they once tried to hold."
"Oh, that's a good idea. That's... Irony, right?" Lido asked, getting a nod, "Heh. The fox has a sense of humour." He laughed, "Sure, we'll umm..."
"Ganesha has bought this warehouse, and secured it well against intruders." Mikoto said, "And, given us the key as well."
"We'll leave the parts up here then." Lido said.
"It's a shame you are banned from the forge for now." Takemikazuchi said.
"No it's not." Haruhime replied, taking hold of my little fox form again, "I like her hair where it is!"
Lunch was had out on the streets, Wiene getting her treat of vendor food, and very happy for it. I had to promise to make meat skewers at some point as well, since she liked them so much. After getting home, and having my little fox clone jump back into my tail, I went straight to the workshop to start drawing up things. Just because I couldn't use fire and steel, didn't mean I couldn't draw blueprints and cut leather.
I noticed, as I got Chigusa to hand me tools, or hold things up, or otherwise be an interactive chaperone, instead of just having her sit and make sure I followed the rules... That Aisha wasn't around.
"Oh, she hasn't come back yet." Chigusa replied when I asked, "Do you think something is wrong?"
"Hardly. Just a little odd. Here, hold this corner here..."
Dinner was another short staffed affair. Marius, Bell and Ouka were still absent, and, Mikoto and Asuka had wandered off as well. No one would tell me anything, even when I picked up Lilly and threatened to tickle her. So, I put Lilly back down, and helped Hestia and Wiene make dinner.
No sooner had the three of us brought out a massive pile of sandwiches, on freshly baked bread no less, did Aisha and Ryuu arrive.
"Hm, smells like bread." Aisha commented as she entered the dining room.
"Good evening, everyone." Ryuu said, walking in beside her. "Lady Hestia? Lord Takemikazuchi? May I introduce my Goddess, Astraea."
I perked up as the two women separated and revealed Astraea standing behind them. She was dressed in the same functional travel clothes, though, they were perfectly clean now, with the copper leaf I had made Her being used as a cloak pin. "Lady Hestia, Lord Takemikazuchi, I hope I'm not imposing?"
"Not at all. Ryuu is a good friend of our alliance, her Goddess is welcome where ever she is." Hestia answered, smiling her brightest smile and waving a hand at the table, "And since Aisha knows when meal time is, we welcome you to the table too."
I raised an eyebrow, and so did a few others, at just how... formal Hestia was being. "Lady Hestia, you know her don't you?"
She stopped in mid pose, and 'urk'ed. "Well... Yes."
Astraea smiled, sitting down with Ryuu at her left, "We occasionally talked back in Tenkai. I am pleased you are doing so well, Hestia." She said, "Maybe later, we can catch up? I owe your Familia, for convincing me to come back to my own Familia."
Ryuu and I shared a smile, and we all started on dinner.
"You did some planning!" Hestia used both hands to give me Karate chops between the ears. "Bad Fox!"
There were a few giggles as I tried to look suitable chastened, but Aisha came to my rescue and gently took hold of Hestia's hands, "I asked her who was going to do the actual ceremony, and she suggested I ask Ryuu's Goddess. No actual planning."
"We have been kind of stuck on who to ask..." Chigusa admitted.
"True." Mikoto said, "And so has Haruhime-dono."
"I only know how it works back where I'm from. Never had an actual God involved, just some paperwork, a priest or government official, and some more paperwork." I said, "But, here, we have an abundance of Gods and Goddesses."
"The guild can officiate as well." Ryuu said, "Though, that is more for those who have no Familia."
"Well..." Hestia gave me one last Karate Chop of Justice, then played with my ears, "I suppose I forgive you then. But... Why didn't you ask me?"
"Repeat after me." I said seriously, "You may kiss the bride."
"You m...may... k...k.k.k.k.k..."
"Oh dear." Astraea said, smiling the same smile Ryuu did, "Just like back in Tenkai."
"I'm the top virgin Goddess!" Hestia snapped back at the other Goddess.
"And I was the second. Though, I suppose that was then." Astraea giggled, a quiet 'fu fu'. "It would be an honour to perform the ceremony." She looked down at herself, "Though, I've only this to wear..."
Haruhime and I, as well as Chigusa, looked up at her, eyes gleaming. "We can fix that." We said together.
"Welf! Stay in there!" I called through the door of the forge room.
"Aye cap'n!" He called back, the sound of hammering resuming a moment later. "Still have my eyebrows!"
"Showoff!" I called back, turning to Astraea, "I'm curious. What sort of Goddess are you?" I asked, getting another quiet giggle from her.
"Innocence and purity." She replied quietly. "Though, I've... relaxed a little since descending."
"White and green okay then?" I asked, looking to Haruhime and Chigusa.
"Maybe a little red too?" She offered.
The two girls nodded, and I stood up. "We can do that. Down to your underclothes please?" I asked, pulling out some measuring rope.
The next morning, I woke up alone. Well, I had Chime in the room with me, but she didn't really count. I had been given a little bit of a speech by Takemikazuchi about at least attempting to observe traditions. So, I relented and slept in one of our many spare rooms. Though, Haruhime managed to hand me her pillow, instead of my own, so I at least got a decent sleep.
"Well Chime?" The little rabbit was napping on the corner of the borrowed pillow. She opened her eyes slowly, and swatted a paw at my nose lazily. "No problem. You can sleep in." I gave Chime a gentle pat between the ears, and carefully got out of bed. "Find me later, I have something for you."
Chime simply rolled over, falling into the indent my head had made in the pillow, and closing her eyes again.
Welf stepped out of the workshop just as I was getting there. "Whoa... This late... early? Damn."
"Must be some project, if you forgot the time. Good thing people let me bring food to you." I replied, tapping knuckles with him.
"It's gotta be ready for tomorrow... It is tomorrow right? I didn't work through it?" He yawned massively.
"Yes, it's still tomorrow." I said, "Go get some sleep. Oh, right." I handed him a ribbon, this one red like his hair, "A gift from the Xenos. I think this one suits you."
He took it and his sleepiness was washed away a moment, "Wait... Drider silk? Ohh... I know who made this... You know, on the open market, even this much is worth a fair bit."
I was only a little surprised. I mean, I knew how difficult it was to gather without a friendly Xenos around. But it was only about thirty centimetres long and maybe three centimetres wide. "Well, She and the other Xenos made us a bunch. I'd like everyone in our alliance to wear one."
"Sounds good." He said, "I'm gonna tie this to my sword..." He yawned again, his shoulders sagging, knees bending a little more, "After sleep."
I waved at him as he left, and went to work on the last project I had before tomorrow.
"Ah! Miss Kodori!" It was Bell. "You're skipping lunch?"
"Who are you? Bell would never ask that silly a question." I replied with a grin, "Not planning to skip, but..." I motioned with my chin at the formal gown I was sewing. "I'm doing the longest seam ever..." This particular seam was from the shoulder to the floor, and I had two of them to do, "If I put it down, it will be a pain to start again..."
"Wow! Is that for Lady Astraea?" He asked, "Here, want me to hold this end?"
"Could you please?" He helped me straighten out the two parts, and I got back to stitching, "Yes is it. You've met her then?"
"Ryuu's Goddess seems nice." He said with that honest smile of his, "A lot like Lady Hestia... just..."
"A little more 'worldly'." I offered, "Lady Astraea has been down here much longer than Lady Hestia."
"Yes, that's it!" Bell nodded, "Just like you've said, 'there is no substitute for experience'."
"That's right." One of my tails gave him a pat on the head, since my hands were busy. "Back from your secret project?"
"We are, yes." He grinned, "It was a lot of work, but we hope you two like it."
"Do I get to know what it is yet?" I probed.
"Nope!" He was grinning, "It feels good to be able to surprise you. You always seem to know everything..."
"Well, part of a good surprise, is playing along." I said, "I could have tried to peek at whatever Welf was doing. Or tickle Lilly until she told me. Or bet you that I could beat you in a sparring match, and if I won, you'd tell me."
"Well... um... Actually."
I blinked as I realized what he was leading to, "You're level four now, aren't you?"
"Yes." He said, though, he wasn't smiling, "I... wanted to wait until after the wedding, but... I got my level through failure..."
"And I got mine through murder." I said, patting him again with a tail. "You surpassed limits that night, even if you didn't kill the black minotaur, you impressed him enough that he wanted to fight you again." I finished the stitching finally, and set the dress down. "Now, you know after the wedding, Ha-chan and I are going to take a vacation, right?"
He blushed... Like... Tomato red, but didn't stammer, "Yes. I kind of expected that."
"So, you'll be captain again. For at least a year."
"I understand."
"So, accept your new strength, and build on it. Just as you've always done. You will have two Familia depending on you, just as you do with them. Don't ever doubt that you've earned every shred of power you have." This time, I used a hand to pat his head, while my tails and free arm curled around him for a hug, "It is written on your back, Little Brother, with the ink of our Goddess's blood."
"Thank you Big Sister." He returned the hug, and looked at the dress, still not quite done. "Say... Have you gotten an update recently? Not since just before fighting Gros, right?"
"No, not yet. But, I think I'll wait until after Ha-chan and I get back."
"Why?"
"Because one of the things that can qualify you for a level, is personal growth. And while my stats are just on the edge of levelling, I will be doing something I would never even have considered, back where I'm from. And, really mean it."
"Was your old home really that... cold?"
"I think it's more that my home now, is much warmer." I grinned, "Lets get lunch before I start chewing on my tails."
"Well?" I asked Astraea as she observed herself in the mirror. "If I knew your Familia emblem, I'd have put it on there someplace, but..."
Her gown was a mix of 'catholic priest' and 'ball gown'. With that flat panel like top, accounting for her modest bust and slight build, I'd done white over green, adding in a red stripes over the tops of her shoulders, starting from the neck and going out to her cuffs. I suppose it almost looked a little like a military style... Or something... I wasn't sure where I was getting all my inspiration from. Back when I was a man, black went with everything, and colours were just something that got ruined or faded at work.
The bottom of her new dress was done like a pleated dress. Down to the ankles, it was the same white over green, though the red stripes went down the back from above the butt to the floor. Just a little bit of flash, for an otherwise 'ceremonial' outfit. You could at least dance in it... I think...
"You look a little nervous." She said, poking my nose to get my attention, "It fits wonderfully, though, just a little loose up top..."
"Oh, that gets tightened with a couple more stitches once I know you can take a deep breath without hurting yourself." I replied, rubbing my nose, "And yes... I guess I am. You would understand this I think..."
So I told her my reasoning. Why I was rushing this like I was. We'd know each other less than a year, but we'd done so much in that time. Including almost getting killed, more than once. And even when I'd been, literally, a bag of flesh and bones, Haruhime had risked everything to bring me back.
"I understand the regret of waiting." She said, stopping me with a fingertip over my lips, "Still, it's a big step. But..." She giggled, "I think you're ready. Little Haruhime too."
"That means a lot." I sighed, "Now... Hold still and take a deep breath."
"Well..." Ouka started, "Tomorrow is the day huh?"
Dinner was a simple thing tonight, I think with the Hostess of Fertility catering the wedding, everyone was saving their appetites. As per the last few days, Haruhime was on the other side of the table, instead of by my side. But, Lilly, as usual, was on my other side, giving my tails someone to perch on.
"Are you both ready for tomorrow?" Mikoto asked, "Is everything in place?"
Haruhime and I looked at each other, nodded, though we stayed silent while the others chatted about all the little details.
"Guests will arrive fairly early." Marius said, "Anyone who was free went to confirm with the various guests in person today."
"The ceremony will be just before lunch."
"After the food it laid out, we'll have the dance."
"Music is taken care of too."
"And if nothing goes wrong." Welf, at this point, rapped his knuckles off the wooden table, "Everyone will be out around dinner. And if they aren't we'll have leftovers from lunch."
"Lilly is hopeful it goes so well." She heehee'ed as my tails slipped off her.
"Seeing our friend get married..." Asuka started, "After all that's happened."
"It's thanks to everyone's hard work that it can happen at all..." Haruhime said, getting a pat on the head from Aisha.
"That includes you too, Ha-chan." I said, "We all work together, we all succeed together." I looked to Hestia, "Lady Hestia? You have the occulus ready?"
"Mr. Welf made little stands for them, so the Xenos can watch, as well as Fels." She paused, "Hey no planning!"
That night, I didn't sleep very well. I was a mix of eager, nervous, and under worked. I had been so busy with preparations, that my body, used to constant physical labour, be it fighting or sparring, or working at the forge... I had too much energy. Such a total reversal from before, where I'd come home and just... not want to move.
"Kodori, what are you doing?" Bell asked as he spotted me out in the training field.
Balanced, upside down, on one hand, I couldn't really turn to look at him. "It's just before sun up. What's it look like?" With all my tails, constantly moving about for balance, keeping them still for balance was really hard.
"You have a wedding in a couple hours." He said, coming over and kneeling next to me, "Though... That actually looks kind of hard."
After a couple of tries, Bell managed to mimic me.
"You look silly." Gros said from his enclosure.
Ignoring him, I answered Bell's question, "I'm doing this, because I can."
"Heh. Reminds me of when we first started."
"Doesn't it though." I chuckled, slowly bending my elbow, doing one handed, upside down, pushups. The effort wasn't the problem, I could probably do this with an elephant resting on my feet. But my balance was taking a lot of concentration. "Besides, I'll be taking a bath and stuff before I get dressed."
"Only Aisha knows what you two look like in the dresses." Bell commented.
"Oh? Interested in seeing us?" I teased.
"A little..." He stammered, but kept his balance, "Miss Haruhime usually dressed in her kimono, when she isn't training. But I've never seen you really dress up before, except... the first time we were here."
"It's a shame that dress was ruined." I said, "The fight with Bete, and Gros kind of ruined it."
"I wasn't right in the head." Gros commented.
"I forgive you, you big lug." I said back to him, "And what you did was nothing to what Bete throwing me through part of a house did."
"So..." Bell started.
"Hm?"
"How long are you going to stay upside down?"
"Now hold still Fox." Aisha said as she sat me in front of a mirror, a small kit of makeup nearby. "People are already arriving, so in the spirit of not making them wait too long..."
"Just long enough to feel expectant?" I asked. "I saw the Hostess crew arrive, just before you got hold of me."
"And they should be doing their job of keeping people amused with food." Aisha replied. She took a bit of makeup, and sat in front of me, "Now, hold still, and stare at my cleavage. And no talking."
Trying not to raise an eyebrow, I did as instructed. It was very nice cleavage after all, and being invited to stare was a nice change. That, and with both my eyes looking at the same place, she was able to do my eyelids with something.
"Hime wanted you to look... imperious." Aisha commented, "So..."
It took maybe a half hour. At least, it felt like it took that long. But Aisha's touch was light and swift, and by the end of it, when she moved out of the way of the mirror, I had to admit, I looked... Imperious. To go with my now slightly tanned face, she had added dark accents. Highlighting my cheekbones, darkening my eyes, whitening my forehead slightly, I looked...
It looked as if, more than ever, I was half fox. Just shy of 'fearsome', not quite 'aggressive'. It reminded me a little of when I was looking in the mirror with Ryuu, telling me to get angry. But, with the lighter shades mixed in, it wasn't quite the same. Even my lips, a little darker with a hint of red looked like a smile, or frown, would change a person's day.
"Wow." I commented, "I almost feel like glaring at someone, just to see them tremble in fear or something."
"For as long as I've known you, you've always been the type of girl to get what you want, through your own strength." Aisha said, "So, now that you're all dressed up... No fire, no water. Not until after."
"But... What if she wants to throw me into the pool?"
"After the ceremony, sure."
"You're almost no fun."
"Almost?"
"I had a nice view the entire time."
"Now who has to ask?" She raised an eyebrow at me.
"What sort of wise fox would I be, if I declined your offer?"
"Okay, that's fair."
"I suppose I'll umm..." I stood, looking at myself again, "I almost want a fan..."
"Just so long as you don't do that stupid laugh nobles do."
"No worries there." I replied, "Hm..." I looked at my tails, "I'll go brush my tails until I'm called then..."
I'm not sure I could take much more waiting. I could hear the guests down the hall. I could smell the food, and it was making my stomach rumble. I was basically sitting in one of the small rooms we never really used, waiting for someone to come get me. I knew Haruhime was in a similar room, and would join me shortly after I'd arrived at the little altar that was set up in our main hall/dining room. Being the 'proposer' I was the one who waited for the 'proposed'.
A tap on the door a moment before it opened. "Kodori?" It was Hestia, and to my surprise, Mia was standing behind her. "Your... Mama is here." She looked perfect in Her new dress too.
I stood, the skirt of my dress ruffling, "Since I wasn't allowed to plan anymore..." I looked to Mia, "Are you giving me away then?"
Dressed in the usual Hostess uniform, though this one was perfectly clean, pressed and smelling a little like flowers, the big woman smiled, "Even if you're in Lady Hestia's Familia, you're still one of my girls."
"When I'm not wearing makeup, I'm going to give you a really big hug later." I said, making Hestia laugh, "And you too. Just because."
"I suppose I'll let you too." Mia said, "Since it's a special occasion and all."
And, with Mia in front of me, and Hestia behind, I started my walk.
The first thing to change, was the music. Takemikazuchi had asked a few of His friends, other lesser known Gods, if they had any musically inclined Familia members. While they were from three different Familia, they were playing well together. Now, instead of a quiet background music meant to relax and be social, they changed it to a more formal one. Almost like a march, but with a hint of ceremony, and a dash of celebration.
Most everyone I knew was there. Ottar, with his massive, perfectly tailored tux, had Freya by his side, the Goddess wearing an elegant gown that looked to be made of a patch of a starlit night, and somehow looked more revealing than Her usual dress, even though the gown covered everything but her shoulders and arms.
Ganesha was there, wearing almost as much gold as He had that one day, but as He nudged Shakti, who was wearing something like a ballgown, still in dusk orange and with a much less puffed out skirt, Ganesha's adornments didn't make any noise.
Sweeping my eyes over a little more, I spotted Soma and Chandra. The God was mostly oblivious, though He did look up from his wineglass, His expression changing from disappointment to something that looked like a smile. For Soma, I nodded to Him, glad that He had stepped away from the hermit like living for at least a few hours. Chandra was still dressed like a brewer, but a perfectly clean one.
Hephaestus and Tsubaki were looking at me from one end of the buffet table, the two of them matching in stylish black pants, white shirts and fire red vests. They looked like a pair of pirate captains, with their matching eye patches.
The Hostess of Fertility staff all gave me smiles and little waves, mindful they were still on the clock. I tried to ignore the little tears of happiness in their eyes, and gave them a smile as well.
Eina was there, along with Royman, both in perfectly clean and pressed Guild uniforms. Royman even seemed to be growing all his hair back now, the formerly overstressed and overweight elf looking almost like an adventurer now.
Loki and Ais were there, the Trickster Goddess looking smug, while the Sword Princess looked... just as perfectly statue like as usual. Both were dressed in simple cream coloured gowns, though poor Loki didn't fill Hers out nearly as well as Ais.
As I got to the stairs, the 'altar' being on the first landing, well within sight of everyone, and large enough for our purposes, I almost didn't see Miach and Naaza. The two of them were well dressed in dark blue and white, with one sleeve of Naaza's dress being longer than the other.
The rest of my Familia was standing around the base of the stairs, just off to the side, all in formal clothing, or kimono. While Takemikazuchi Familia was on the opposite side, also in formal clothing. It was kind of funny to see Welf's smoothed red hair slowly perk up randomly into his usual spiky style. And impressive to see Marius in a tux. I almost think his armour made him look smaller.
And, standing at the altar, was Astraea. Behind a simple white painted podium, with the Hestia Familia emblem stencilled in black outline on it, She looked perfect in the dress I'd made for her. Her smile, as I took my place, Mia and Hestia now behind me, Astraea gave me a subtle wink, and a brilliant smile.
Then, the music changed again. The undertones of 'march' were hidden further as the stringed instruments became more vivid and celebratory. And Haruhime entered the room.
Ahead of the three, was Wiene, in her still (amazingly) clean new outfit. The hood was down, her tiara was on, and not a single person in the room, even those who knew what she was, seemed to mind. Very deliberately, the dragon girl was dipping her hand into a wicker basket, and sprinkling flower petals in front of Aisha Haruhime and Takemikazuchi.
With Aisha, in probably the second most clothing I'd ever seen her in, (the first being her new armour) in front, Haruhime in the middle, and Takemikazuchi behind her, I felt my heart twitch as I looked over Aisha's fully clothed shoulder, and at Haruhime's face.
If I was 'Imperious', then she was 'Inspiration'. Her bright blond, almost gold hair framed a face that, normally milk white, was now accented with gold and silver. Green eyes looked out from a face who's smile could inspire the coldest heart to action.
"don't drool." I heard a whisper from behind me, making me blink and snap out of the trance Haruhime's new radiance had put me in.
Aisha caught my eye and winked at me. Kodori 3, Aisha 10004.
Wiene split from them to join the Hestia side, and the the three climbed the steps, Aisha and Takemikazuchi standing behind and to the side of Haruhime and the altar.
Then the music stopped, the crowd below us fell silent and Astraea held up Her hands and began to speak.
"Today, we are gathered to celebrate the union of two who wish to travel the same path. Not just as friends. Not just as Familia. But as the foundation for a family of their own. Orphans both, these two have held each other up, kept each other close, and denied death itself just so that they could stay together.
With the support of friends, new and old, they have been accepted by ones not of blood, and taken in as family. Kodori, of Hestia Familia, is your mother, not of blood here?"
"Yes." I said simply, stepping very slightly to the side to allow Astraea a clear view of Mia.
"Mia Grande. You took Kodori in, when she had no home or family of her own, but now, you are asked if you can let her go, to start on a path of her own, with the partner of her choosing. Do you do this freely?"
Mia's big hand rested on my shoulder, warm and comforting, "Yes, I do."
"Lady Hestia, Goddess of Hearth and Home. You accepted Kodori as your Child, and given her your strength, so that she could in return, give her strength to others in your name. Do you accept this union?"
Hestia's smaller hand rested on my other shoulder, "Yes I do."
Turning to Haruhime, Astraea kept going, "Sanjouno Haruhime. Lacking mother and father both, you too are an orphan. But, you are guarded by a protector most noble and kind." I noticed Aisha blush slightly at the complement, "Do you, Aisha Belka, wish to share your responsibility of guardian with Kodori? Do you deem her worthy of the task?"
As with me, Aisha placed a hand on Haruhime's shoulder, "Yes." The Amazon said proudly, looking first at Astraea, then me.
"Takemikazuchi, God of War. Your Familia were Sanjouno Haruhime's first friends. Do you speak for them? Do they approve of this union?"
Placing His hand on Haruhime's other shoulder, He said, "They do, as do I." He looked to the Goddess as well, then to me, that faint ever calm smile in place.
"Your closest friends and family approve of your union." The hands on my shoulders gently turned me to face Astraea, while the hands on Haruhime did the same. "Do the two of you, vow to uphold the trust placed in you, by your Family, and Familia, and make them all proud? Will the two of you, together, borrow each others strength, share each others burden, and walk the same path? Together, always?
"Yes." We said together. I could tell that Haruhime was just barely able to keep her tails still. I was too.
Astraea smiled brilliantly, "Then exchange your rings, symbolic of your hearts, and keep them safe and close, even when the other is not near enough to do so."
Turning towards each other, we clapped our hands once as if in prayer, then slipped off our rings. Then, I took her left hand and slid the ring with my memory in it onto her left ring finger. "A thousand years." I said to her.
Her delicate hand took my left hand and slid the ring with her memory onto my ring finger, "A thousand years." She said back.
"By the grace of your Goddess, your family, and your friends, I, Astraea, declare you wed, seen by the Divine, I declare it So!"
I could feel, as Astraea said those last four words, a kind of energy. A subtle tingle that filled the air between Haruhime and I. The two of us smiled at each other, lost in that divine bonding, and each others eyes.
"kiss her you fool" Aisha whispered, rousing a few titters of laughter from the group at the bottom of the stairs.
So I did.
Having been unable to eat since breakfast, Haruhime and I were allowed to eat before the dancing began. Having never eaten with make up on, I did my very best to be 'dainty' about it. Haruhime too, was nibbling her food to preserve the amazing artistry on her face.
"Ko-san..." She paused, but my tails wrapped around hers, silencing her for a moment.
"No need for more than that, Ha-chan... Unless it's a formal occasion, you don't need to call me anything else."
She giggled, her tails responding in kind to mine. It was a wonder we never got tangled. "I wanted to try it at least once..."
I very carefully sipped a little of the Hostess of Fertility's famous cloud fruit wine, then said, "As my love wishes. Haruhime-tsuma." I hmm'ed, "Ha-tsuma? Hime-tsuma?" I tried a few versions of her name with 'wife' tacked to the end."
"Ko-tsuma is funny." She giggled, also carefully sipping some of the wine. "I must be careful with this... This got me drunk last time..."
Hestia, the dress Haruhime and I had made for Her hugging her form yet not threatening to suddenly expose Her, came to the two of us, "Congratulations." She said with a smile, "But, if you two are ready?"
Our tails ruffled apart from each other, and we both nodded. Hestia then turned to the musicians who were idly playing in the corner of the big room, and gave a nod to the lead man. It was time to dance.
"Lord Soma." I said, gently guiding the slim figured God of Wine making around on the dance floor. "I am glad you could make it."
"I..." He paused, His usually blank expression twisting a little, "I owe you much. For helping me keep my Familia intact, and inspiring me to try my craft with something other than grapes." In another show of emotion, He added, "Which are still far superior to work with."
"I look forward to trying those inferior drinks you are making, all the same." I said.
"Hear your about to try working adamant for the first time." Tsubaki said as we partnered up. "Hope you don't mind growing new eyebrows again."
"Wouldn't be the first time." I chuckled, the Samurai Smith leading me around, "Wonder how long it will be until I can handle the heat with my bare hands..."
"Showoff."
"You are new to the dancing stuff, ain't cha?" Loki said to me as we paired off and started to dance about. "Maybe you should try dancing on your hands?"
"If you think my hands are good, my wife is the one who taught me. She might be a little shy if you ask for anything else though."
"Oh, I might ouch!" Loki was interrupted by a dancing Ais, who passed behind Her, and gave the Trickster a Karate Chop of Justice.
"Your gown looks interesting." I said to Freya as we spun about the floor. "I'd love to know what its made of."
"Oh? Did you want me to take it off and let you look closer?" She smiled, Her eyes meeting mine and looking mischievous.
With the thumb of my left hand, I guided Her fingers to wrap around my ring, "Close your eyes and ask that again, if you can, Lady Freya."
A moment passed, as we waltzed past a few other pairs of people, then, "That was rude of me." She said, though She was still smiling.
"I forgive you, Lady Freya. You're an excellent dancer, by the way."
"Lots of practise."
"Having fun?" I asked Wiene, who was a surprisingly good dancer.
"Yes." She said with a smile, "Everyone is being nice to me. And the food is so good." She paused, looking a little nervous, but said, "A little better than yours, but not much!"
"They were the ones who showed me how to cook." I said breaking form for a moment to pat her head, before taking her hand again. "Just how you're not quite as good at making tea as some of the others yet."
"heehee." She pushed away from me, bowing deeply while still holding one of my hands, and spun away to take some one elses hand.
"Now I kind of want to find some one..." Chloe said to me, her Hostess uniform's dress expanding as I spun her once by the hand, then brought her close again. "You and Haruhime make me a little jealous."
"Well... If you stopped throwing everyone who touched your tail across the street..."
"We should spar some time." Luniore said as we bowed to each other then took each others hands.
"So long as I don't have to wear this dress." I smiled, "And can bring you some others who want a lesson from the one who taught me."
"Heh, fresh meat. Sure."
"Fishing, fighting, and even dancing." I commented to Ottar as he expertly led me around the dance floor, "Looks good in a suit, and practises proper hair and fur care."
"Practise." He said simply, though he was smiling.
"Won't be long before someone will try and get you to join their Familia." I said to Royman as we bowed to each other and paired off.
"I am far too old for such things." He replied, though he had a faint blush, "But thank you."
"What did you think of your dance with Wiene?"
"I hope some day, that others like her can dance up here in the sun." He said seriously.
"I've gotten more compliments today, than all my days in Orario." Takemikazuchi said as we danced. No surprise that He was light on his feet.
"You do look good in that." I replied, "Maybe I'll make you a slightly less formal one, just so you can properly retire the other one." I noticed that He was wearing a dusk blue ribbon, made from Chani's silk, through His belt where His sword would normally hang. "Mikoto's suggestion?" I nodded towards it.
"It would be attached to the pommel of my sword, but we are dancing."
"Having a good day off?"
"Day off from what? I told you my schedule was clear." Hephaestus said.
"As you say." I grinned, the Goddess chuckling back.
"One day." I said to Naaza, "I am going to brush your tail." The chill of her metal fingers on my hip was a welcome feeling with all the dancing I'd been doing. "And, apply some of the fur conditioner I've made."
"Only if you're gentle." Naaza replied, her tail swishing exactly once, "But only if you let me brush your tails again. Your fur is really useful."
"Well brother, did you get your dances?" I asked Bell, who, to my surprise, didn't blush tomato red.
"Yes." He said with a smile. "Ais and I have come to an understanding about what happened." He paused, "And Lady Hestia..."
"Didn't threaten to explode out of her dress when She hugged you, so you could dance properly?"
Now he blushed, nearly stumbling. But he recovered, "Yes."
"Best little brother."
"Get your practise in now, Marius." I said to the Prince as we held hands and started dancing, "Just think, when you return. All the formal meetings. Galas. Official business... administration."
"Ma'am, did you hear something? Sounded like someone trying to tease me." He looked down at me and raised an accusing eyebrow, "Might have been my imagination though."
"You know, I didn't think you'd be dancing in that." Astraea and I spun about each other, then clasped hands.
"My compliments to the tailor." She giggled, "You have such interesting guests, and all friends. God and mortal alike." Her ceremonial robe was not really made with dancing in mind, yet, She pulled it off flawlessly.
"My sister among others," Here, I spun with her, the Hostess of Fertility's staff behind me for her to see, "Helped me keep a positive outlook, from my humble start in the city."
"Thank you for including me among your friends then."
"Not a problem. Thank you, for returning, and bringing a smile back to my sister's face." It might have been a little improper, but I gave the Goddess a hug, before taking her hand and bowing low, and finding my next partner.
"I am Dancing!" Ganesha said, His idiot persona toned down just enough to stop Him from posing.
"I have only one complaint." Hestia said as we partnered up.
"My lady?"
"I need better sandals to go with this dress." She smiled up at me, though it was a little strained.
"If you sneak into the workshop later, there's a pink bottle by my alchemy bench."
"Thank you." I said to Ais as we paired up.
"Hm?" He usually passive expression changed to a puzzled one. "Why?"
"You know why." I did the same trick with her as I did Astraea, putting Wiene behind me for Ais to see, "A fair chance is all they need."
"She showed true conviction." Ais replied, "Just like Bell."
"Well my love?" I said to Haruhime as we took to the centre of the dance floor, all the other dancers making space for us. "Separated by the trails of life, we return together." We had both danced with everyone else who wanted to dance, but not with each other yet.
"We return together, to show them all what we are capable of." She replied, taking my left hand in hers, and together we bowed to each other deeply.
Now, I'm no expert. Or actor. Or even a good dancer. But. With our wedding dresses both a negative image of each other, our hair, makeup and tails (sort of), a reverse of the other. The two of us danced. Yin and Yang together, we orbited each other, never separated, be it just our fingertips touching, or the ends of our tails holding onto the other. When we finally came together one last time, hugging each other close for an instant, then separating in a last deep bow, we stood back to back as the crowd gave a cheer and clapped their hands.
"A thousand years." She said softly over the noise.
"A thousand years." I replied back, finding her hand, curling my fingers with hers and giving it a little squeeze.
NOTES!
Well, there you have it. This is it. End. Done.
Aside from a side story, where Marius returns to Rakia, and the introduction of small foxes, the main plot is over.
That being said. You can stop here, if you don't want to read the wedding night/epilogue.
Epilogue. (yeah, some of this is going to be so NSFW... Just putting that out there now, before someone points at it and calls me on it.) (no really, you've been warned.)
"Oh boy." Welf said, "Cleanup is going to be epic."
Still in my dress, I, along with all the others, looked over our converted ball room, at... the mess. To be fair, our guests were all pretty clean. No one tried to start a fight. No one got so drunk they couldn't control themselves. But, there were still a few spills here and there. Then there was the food. The ladies of the Hostess of Fertility had brought the food, but unpacked it onto our plates. So we had a staggering amount of dishes to do.
Then there was the decorations. The tables. Chairs. And all the things we had put into storage to change our living room into the ball room.
"Miss... heehee. Lady Kodori is thinking again." Lilly corrected herself, taking hold of one of my tails and hugging it. "Lady Kodori is still going to share her tails with us?"
"I would never stop Ko-san from showing her affection to others." Haruhime replied, one of her tails visiting Lilly too. "It wouldn't be fair to my friends if I did."
"Kodori Haruhime..." I said to myself. "Feels good to have a last name."
"So!" Ouka said, "Is it time?" He looked to the other men.
"I believe so." Marius said, nodding.
Welf turned to face Haruhime and I, "Well, we got together, and put together a little place for you two to have a little alone time." He looked to Bell.
"Y..." He blushed, but Mikoto very calmly stomped on his foot to snap him out of it, "Yes!" He rubbed his foot like it was the most normal thing to be doing at the moment, "Remember the castle? Where we had the war game?"
"Hard to forget." I said with a dry chuckle. "I mean... all that planning, falling from the sky, Bell turning an entire castle tower inside out..." I laughed, "The prize was worth it though." I hugged Haruhime and Lilly close, reaching just a little further and snaring Hestia with my tails and Ryuu too.
"Well." Ouka said, "We went there and fixed it up just a little. Not like we could make it like it was... You know, before Mikoto-san and Ryuu-dono... then Bell-kun... But!" He looked to Marius.
"With Welf's expertise, you will have running water, heat, a shower, and a good place to sleep."
I was stunned. So was Haruhime. Though, I could feel she was blushing as her head rested against my chest. "You... Oh... That's amazing! Thank you." I said finally.
"It's not perfect, but it'll be clean, warm, and have almost all the things you'll need for a comfortable honeymoon." Welf grinned.
"You guys are the best." I said to them. "Speaking of though..." I looked down to Haruhime, "My love? We should pack?"
"Actually." Mikoto said, stepping forward. "We have taken the liberty of doing so for you." She looked to Asuka, who grinned.
"Clothes, bedding, various things a person needs. It's all packed." Asuka said. "Food too."
"And..." Chigusa mumbled, perking up as Mikoto put a hand on her shoulder, "It's waiting in a waggon hidden just around the corner of the entrance, out of sight."
"Wow. I stop planning, and nothing goes wrong..." I grinned, "Makes me want to let you guys do it more."
"Kodori-dono has taught us well." Mikoto said with a smile.
"That being said." Aisha said, "You can leave the cleanup to us, and go get ready."
That evening, Aisha drove the waggon along, with Haruhime and I sitting in the back with our supplies. In the little black box, I had the two potions, along with some others things, but otherwise, everything was set. Aside from the moon. Tomorrow would be the first of the three days.
"So... Why are you coming along?" I asked Aisha, "Not that I mind, you're good company, and you are advertising my work, wearing that armour."
Haruhime and I had taken a bath before getting ready, and we were both without makeup again. It was an interesting experience, and I think the next time I had something official to do, I'd call on Aisha again.
"What the boys didn't tell you, is that some bandits had taken up residence. Nothing serious, especially for them, but just in case, I'm going to camp off at the tree line." Aisha said, "Hence why I'm fully armed."
I'd been wondering what the box marked 'camping' was for.
"Oh..." I hm'ed.
"Well, you two might be *ahem* distracted, so just in case." She laughed as Haruhime and I both blushed. "I even brought one of those signal flares you made." She reached into a pocket and offered a red bottle back to me carefully.
"It seems kind of sad that you'll be out alone." Haruhime said.
"None of that." Aisha said, "I'll be fine. Just making sure your little getaway stays safe." She laughed, "I'd considered not telling you, but ehh... If I did that and trouble did come along, I might not get there in time."
"Thanks Aisha." I said.
"Wow." I said, stepping off the waggon and rubbing my butt. Best company, worst seats. "Now that I'm looking at it, we really did wreck the place."
"Magic sword and magic will do that to a place not built to stand up to it." Aisha said, also stepping off and giving the horse a pat on the nose for its troubles. "From what I've been told, that hallway over there." She pointed to what was pretty much the only unmarked part of the outer wall, and a small internal mini-tower next to it. "And that little building, are where your creature comforts are. Welf was sure you could figure out how to get the shower to work, and there is a magic stone stove there too."
Half listening, Haruhime and I were looking around. The tower, where Hyakinthos and Bell fought, was leaning slightly, but looked stable. I wouldn't want to have a dance party in it, but... The main gate was still a total wreck. And that corner, with the only OTHER intact wall, was a small collection of broken tents and other garbage.
"Yeah, if you're wondering, they just piled the stuff the bandits left behind, over there. Just torch it before you leave, along with any other trash you might make." Aisha said, "The boys left little markers around, for any really dangerous parts. So, at your own risk, if you find time to explore." She looked up at the sky, and came over to us. "You two play nice, I'll be within running distance if you need me."
Haruhime and I smiled at her, and we both wrapped her up in a hug, "Thank you Aisha." Haruhime said, hugging her even after I let go, "For this, and all the time you've been there for me."
"Feels good to be appreciated." Aisha laughed, ruffling the golden hair, then gently scratching an ear, "I'm going to make camp while I have..." She looked at the near-dark sky, "Well... I guess I'll just use some lamps." She shouldered the box marked 'camping', rummaged one handed in another box to get a magic stone lamp, then headed for the broken wall Ryuu had made with her two magic sword.
Turning to Haruhime, and finding myself unable to resist giving her a hug, I said, "Lets get this inside then."
With everything unpacked and the horse hobbled outside under an overhang in case it rained, the two of us settled down for a small meal. Aisha hadn't been kidding when she said I could figure out the water pump and all that either. Welf had outdone himself, and learned some fairly complicated (for this time period anyhow) engineering.
After the meal, a simple thing of rice, a little meat, and pickled vegetables, we had a shower in the simple stall that the boys had installed, and made ready for bed.
"Feels a little..." I started, trying to find the words.
"Not quite lonely..." Haruhime replied, "But... We have each other right?"
I touched the side of her face with my fingertips and ran my hand over the side of her head. She sighed happily as I put my hand on the back of her head and tugged her towards me for a hug. "Yes. Hm... Aside from Aisha, we're the only two people here for quite some distance..."
"That's... OH!" She jumped as I used my other hand to cup her rear and squeeze, just hard enough to make her moan quietly.
"I know, from what the book said, we are going to be very... involved for the next three days..." I didn't relent, my other hand moving under her robe and reaching around to find that one spot just above her tails. She buried her face into my bosom, but it couldn't muffle the noise she made as I rubbed those two spots. I completed the set by leaning down and gently taking the edge of an ear between my teeth and mumbling, "Would my lady mind if I kept going?"
Shivering, her hands tried to distract me from teasing her three most secret spots, but, I'd already, literally, gotten my teeth on her. So she simply leaned a little harder on me to try and push me over. Relenting, I fell backwards and landed on the bedroll with her on top of me. No longer needing to focus on standing, her hands found the string holding my own robe closed and ripped it open. "Baka." She moaned, mouth descending biting one of my breasts just hard enough to leave a mark.
Feeling pleasantly numb all over, with the heat of Haruhime laying over my chest, and the cool night air teasing my limbs, I sighed happily. "I feel so good..." I mumbled, flopping an arm over Haruhime's back and gently scratching at the soft skin there.
"baka." She mumbled. "If we... If we tire ourselves out now..."
"I brought something for that. Just in case." I pet her hair, "Don't worry... We take the potions in the morning, as the sun rises. Rest all day, then at night..."
"Since we have this entire castle to ourselves..." She lazily drew small circles around the nipple she wasn't laying on, making me shiver a little, "heehee... So strong, yet still so sensitive."
"Is my lady asking for more?" I stopped her hand, then pressed it against me.
"They kept us apart for over a week..." She tried to hide her face against me, "I may be secretly very naughty..."
When we finally did sleep, I managed to remember to cover us up with the blankets. It wouldn't do to have one of us get a chill or something when the timing needed to be so exact. As usual, my body woke me up just as the sun was starting to creep into the room's window. I really didn't want to wake my lover, the look on her face and the lay of her two tails telling me she was deep asleep. But, we had about an hour before we had to take the potions.
"Love..." I gently shook her. Getting no response save a tail twitch. "Ha-chan." I tried again, moving my hands down her back. This got a small smile from her, her hands lazily gripping and relaxing on my shoulders. "Tsuma." I tried one last time, taking both sides of her perfectly round behind in hand and squeezing gently.
"so naught...y..." She mumbled finally, wiggling against me. "hands... so warm..."
"It's almost time... We should eat before hand..."
"But... if I get up, your hands will move away..."
I laughed quietly, "Fine then." I said, my tails looping around and wrapping her up. Precious cargo secured, I stood. Both of us naked save for the long fluffy tails that were wrapped around each other, I went to the little box that had our toiletries in it. "If you aren't awake enough to eat by the time I'm done cooking, I'm having a cold shower."
"but... isn't that for when you don't want..." she paused, arms hugging me tighter, "sex."
"Sometimes, its so you can motivate some one for a busy day." I teased.
Slightly more awake now, we sat beside each other, another simple meal in front of us, resting on top of one of our crates. Also there, were the two bottles, each with the pearly white liquid inside.
"It kind of looks like..." Haruhime started.
"I blame the creator of the recipe." I said, "It was an Amazon, after all, and well... Imagine how long it would have had to be for her to need to make it?"
"And we were only apart for a week... poor girl." She giggled, taking one of the bottles and carefully undoing the wire I had used to lock the cork in place.
Doing the same, I uncorked my bottle and waited for her. Then, "Sanjouno Haruhime, my love, my wife, are you ready?"
"Yes." She smiled, brightening the room. And together, we downed the contents of our bottles.
It tasted kind of like soap. But thankfully, didn't react with my stomach like it. It was also really thick, and it took effort to down it all in one breath. But, we finished at the same time, making similar faces of disgust.
"It feels heavy." She said, patting her tummy, "But... now what?"
"Well, it said, more or less, 'to relax'. But... We're in a castle. And I only saw it in the dark."
She giggled, "Well, then... Let's clean up breakfast, and go exploring."
The castle truly was a wreck. Age, and our assault hadn't done the place any favours. And while Apollo Familia had cleaned up a little, they only really pushed most of the dirt out of the way so they could get from place to place without tripping on things. That being said, we went up the tower, looking out the windows, and spotting Babel in the distance. Or even Aisha's camp and her lonely little camp fire. Next, was under the tower. They hadn't really cleaned up at all down here, so we could only find what was left of a wine cellar, and a small room that had nothing but broken bits of wood in it. A storage room maybe?
It was about two hours later, when I felt... something. Originating around my belly button, there was a definite tingle. Haruhime was feeling it too. But, since it wasn't at all painful, we simply held hands and found some place else to explore.
Around lunch, we found some interesting, if broken, bits of statues. The tingles were getting more focused, and were too distracting for us to do more than take guesses at what the statues were supposed to be of. A griffon was my guess, though Haruhime thought it might be a gargoyle like Gros.
"Ko-sannnnn..." Haruhime moaned as we tried to make lunch, but failed. What ever the potion was doing to us, it was so distracting that I was only just able to keep standing.
Holding her, I joined her on the floor and loosened my kimono top and undid the string on my pants, "huh..." I mumbled, a little breathless. "feels like..."
I'm sure, that if this were a manga or something, the *ahem* sudden emergence of my newest bit of anatomy would have come with a 'spong' noise, or maybe a little fanfare. I had just enough time to poke the small hard lump just under my belly button, just above my still hairless vagina, before a red, veined and very non-human penis sprang out of me. Complete with its own little pouch for... storage? It twitched in the cool air. I 'knew' I wasn't human. But I suppose this really drove the point home.
"Ko-san... you have a..." And she fainted, foaming at the mouth.
My new anatomy had almost hidden itself by the time I had roused Haruhime. I'd loosened her top and pants, and she too had the same thing, proudly throbbing with a heartbeat all its own. "Ko-san..." A pause, "I have a..." And down she went again.
I think, that the instructions told the lovers to 'relax' so that they could get familiar with their new, if temporary, anatomy. But, since we were now... well, on a timer...
"Let's see..." I mumbled, Haruhime cradled in my arms, "Warm up the stone... Fill with water..." I was reading the note on the side and turning levers on the mini shower stand Welf had made, my tails helping me reach the pump that was connected to the castle's well. "May need a minute or two to warm up, have fun, Welf."
"I owe that man a drink." I said to myself, holding Haruhime up, just off the floor, seeing as she was still limp in my arms. "Sorry love..." And I turned the water on.
"EEP! GAH! COLD!" She came to all at once, trying to get away, but unable to as I was still holding her.
Turning and blocking the cold water with my back, I set her down, "Give it a minute." I said, taking her hand and placing it over my new lump, "Don't look." I said, "Just use your hands."
Her touch had caused it to stir, and slowly come back out, even with the slowly warming water on my back. "It's..." I took hold of her chin to keep her eyes up.
"Don't look yet." I said again, "Just..." I shivered, the new nerves lighting up as her fingers teased the rest of me out of its sheath. "Now..." I lowered a hand and started to do the same to her.
"N...nnnn." She whimpered, "Feels so strange. Like... its part of my body but... not..."
I couldn't really answer. Her hands were sending all the wrong signals to my brain. Just like when I first arrived and tried to get used to having a tail. It was there, but didn't really belong. From a logical (a rapidly crumbling logical) mindset, hers felt hot, and I could tell water wasn't the only thing making it wet.
"I kind of..." She gasped, "want to look... now..."
"If you faint, I will turn the cold back on." I managed to say.
She tried to giggle, and turned her eyes down, just as her hands found and wrapped around the growing blub at the base of my penis. "Eek!" She managed, turning her face so she didn't catch what felt like all of my body's water in the face. "O..." Then she did the same, as my hands twitched around her own, hot fluid splashing against the underside of my breasts.
We found it easier, for the first few hours or so, to just stay in the shower. Aside from random bits of us going numb, legs mostly, but tails and ears were on the list too, our new anatomy seemed to be tireless. After what felt like the tenth time, the brain under my ears was wedging itself into place again and telling me we should drink something. Or maybe stop, for just a few minutes, and drink something. Eat too, seeing as we missed lunch.
"It feels... a little wrong." Haruhime said, holding up a hand suddenly, "Not bad! Just... the feeling... its in the wrong place?"
I nodded, reaching up and finally turning the water off, the chill of the air suddenly taking over for the now absent hot water. "Brr... We should eat, and drink... And then maybe..." I hugged her, helping her to her feet alongside me. "But yes... It's not a bad feeling at all." I grinned. It wasn't quite the same, from before I changed bodies, but...
Wrapped in nothing but towels, we managed to eat, drink, and keep our hands off each other long enough to do so.
What followed, obviously, was more of the same. Both of us simply... discovered each other. Nothing we hadn't done before, but, I think the reason we were delaying the real reason for drinking those potions, was because... well, we didn't want to decide for the other, who went first. After eating a late dinner, mostly because we were finally reaching the limits of our stamina, and felt we had to at least try and observe our bodies other needs, we made ready for bed.
"I am going to be sore after this..." I said with a grin.
"Like the day after I first put on the weighted clothing you made for me." Haruhime agreed.
"But..." I rolled over, then over a little more, putting her on her back and looming over her, "It's a good feeling. Like we accomplished something." I took the most dominant position I'd ever felt comfortable with, laying over her, my hands on her wrists though not squeezing, just holding in place.
"Oh..." She said, blushing just like the first time we'd ever done this. "Are you..."
"No..." I leaned down and kissed her, a long, slow, slightly tired but very passionate kiss. Then wiggled my body up hers a little, feeling her member warming up again against my belly. "I think you deserve the first..." I wiggled a little more, feeling the point of her poke against me, then I lowered myself back.
The next day, the morning of the full moon, started with a slow awakening to more of what happened the previous night. Between hastily eaten meals, LOTS of water, and a little more exploring, we basically carried towels around with us so we had something to cover the ground, any time we felt like coupling.
Some of the more interesting conversations, that of course happened AFTER we were in that post coitus moment, went as follows...
(After my first time...)
"Ko-san... I'm stuck." Haruhime whined, "Does your grip..."
"Seems so... but..." A pause, "After you do that again... I have something in the little box." I wiggled my hips a little, then rolled over, encouraging her to take the lead this time.
(after HER first time.)
"Now do you believe Aisha?"
"But..."
"My blood's back over there."
"baka..."
"That was fun, Ko-san... But... How do we get down?"
"Carefully." I said with a happy sigh, "These rafters might not all be stable."
"Boing!"
"Really love?"
"It seems so happy though."
"Sigh..."
"I think we should just stay naked... I mean... Look at the mess we've made..."
"But... I feel kind of cold..."
"Easy way to fix that."
"Eep!"
Morning of the third day, the day after the full moon. My body felt like lead, but I still had to get up and make sure I didn't wet the bed. I mean... Any more than we had already. I was really glad someone was thoughtful enough to pack extra blankets.
"Ko-san..." Up with me, Haruhime clung to me a little tighter, "Still early, more hugs."
"Always." I replied, laying back down and figuring I could hold off on my morning routine just a little longer. "Wonder how Aisha's doing... Hope she wasn't too bored."
"Yeah... Poor Aisha. Always looking after me..." She paused, kissing my cheek, "She's been such a good friend to me. I feel kind of bad, leaving her out alone like that."
"I wonder... Has she mentioned our little verbal sparring?"
"Something about asking me a question..."
A little after breakfast, Aisha appeared in the single window of our 'bedroom'. A short sword in either hand, a dagger in her teeth, and shrouded in the red smoke of the signal flare, she looked around the room quickly for any threats.
"Hey Aisha..." I started, Haruhime and I under the last of our clean blankets.
The Amazon blinked at us, the dagger falling from her mouth as she tried to speak.
"Aisha..." Haruhime said, holding my hand tightly for courage, "Did you have a question for me?" She extended her other hand out from under the blankets, while I did the same.
AHEEEEEEEM. Right, yeah. Extreme fanservice/epilog/hentai.
Now that's it. All done. The word processor says 32 (31 cause my final notes are in the last bit here) pages. That's like... 3 times the normal size for an update. My fingers hurt. x.x
But seriously. Thank you for staying on, reading, commenting, and generally being awesome people. Hardly had to moderate my comments section at all, and the people who asked questions were easy to chat with. You know who you are, go treat yourself to a cookie.
That being said, the next part will be a little trip to Rakia, with a tiny, some what abbreviated slice of life of what usually follows a scene like the one above.
In five days. Cause even with this mega update, I AM GANESHA! Oh wait... I mean, I AM A WRITER!
:)