Lefiya looked with a slightly flustered face to her left shoulder. She could still feel the soft body of Haruhime, that she had supported, since she was too weak to stand.

It was nice.

And her ears still rang from the magic that Bell used. While it had hurt that such a loud sound was so close to her ears...she somehow felt also weird. Bell Cranel had looked so...so...manly.

What is wrong with me?

Neze whined. "My ears hurt..."

Laurier also wasn´t happy. "That was so loud..."

"Ouch..." Even Filvis looked like she was in pain.

Kaguya smiled wryly. "I don't envy you your good hearing right now."

If Bell would intend to do this on purpose, his magic could be a fearsome weapon against animal people and elves.

But the Astrea familia was still amazed.

"That was so frickin´ cool!" Alise´s eyes shone.

Lyra smirked. "Gotta admit, that was quite something."

"He fought against an irregular dungeon monster and won...at level one!"

"I know captain, I was there."

"Man, this got me really excited!"

"Hehe, having your eyes on a younger man?"

Alise laughed. "Don´t worry, I don´t plan to go after any man soon. But he probably would make himself good in our familia."

"Hooo? Hunting for new members? I doubt lady Astrea would allow that."

Alise waved her off. "Just thinking loud."

They all talked about the fight they had just seen.

"But using his broken weapon in such a way, truly inspiring."

"His status too must be very high for a level one."

"I bet he can level up now."

"After that fight? Definetely."

Out of consideration for the members with sensitive hearing, they spoke softly.

"Girls, we will take a break on the 18th until your ears stop ringing."

The others nodded thankfull.

"Hmm..."

"Kaguya?"

"Is it just me...or did you heard something ringing too?"

"Well my ears ring."

"I mean before he used his magic a last time...like a bell."

"Ooooh, so I´m not the only one that heard that. Man that sound gave me goosebumps."

Lefiya could only silently agree with her captain, if she wanted to or not. The sight of Bell Cranel standing there, unleashing such a magic attack, the sound of a grand bell...it made her heart throb and gave her goosebumps too.

Mmmmh...

Her face got more red when she rememberred his bare upper body, it was probably the monster that had ripped away his armor and clothes. After he fainted, Lefiya and Ryu used healing magic together to heal Bell´s wounds. The Astrea familia couldn´t spare any potions, so they would use magic.

Even when he defeated the monster completely alone, if they weren´t there to heal him afterwards, who knows what would´ve happened to him. It was good that they were close to the 9th floor. Maryuu and Iska were enough to bring them back to the surface quickly.

I feel a bit sorry for him.

Not only because he got so badly hurt, but his facial expression was sad when he saw his sword breaking.

Maybe it was important to him?

She felt a light poke at her right arm.

"Lefiya?"

"Filvis?"

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, everything okay."

"You are a bit red."

"It was just that so much happened so soon."

Filvis nodded. "I can understand that."

The Astrea familia moved on to their Expedition. .

.
A few hours later on the surface.

.

"Bell."

"Mom?"

Alfia slowly came closer and gently put her arms around Bell, pulling his face to her chest, this way she could held him close to her heart.

Would she scold him for what happened? Maybe cry because he nearly died? Never let him go into the dungeon again?

"Bell...I am really proud of you."

"Really?"

Alfia showed a soft smile, that no one except Bell should normally see.

"Yes, very much."

Miach, Nahza, Lily and Haruhime all looked into different directions, pretending to not see or hear this intimate moment between mother and son.

After Bell woke up on the couch in his familia´s home, he saw the teary eyed Alfia and Haruhime sitting next to the couch. She knew what the life of an adventurer was about, this didn´t make it easier for her.

Two minutes went by, Alfia gently whispered something in Bell´s ear, Haruhime only heard the words "Meteria" and "proud", then Alfia let slowly go of Bell, but kissed his forehead a last time.

Lily especially couldn´t believe this scenery, she only got to know Alfia as a tyrant during training. Thanks to her, Lily´s body ached in places Lily didn't even know could hurt!

Before Miach could step forward and congratulate Bell, Alfia froze when Haruhime suddenly moved quickly and pulled Bell into a hug. They saw that Haruhime trembled slightly, but it wasn´t from embarrassement.

"Thank you...Bell."

He slowly returned the hug.

"I´m sorry for making you worried...Haruhime."

Haruhime slowly let go of him, she smiled.

Nahza smiled in her mind. Is she starting to mark her territory?

If she was honest, Nahza was the same...

"Bell?"

"Lord Miach?"

"I have to join your mother, I am really proud of you."

His eyes wandered to Haruhime.

"And of you too, Haruhime."

"Me?"

"Yes, you risked your own life to push Bell out of the way of that sneak attack. Then instead of insisting to stay by his side when you were wounded, you did what was smart and you brought help."

"But I..."

Alfia nodded. "It was the right thing to do, if you had stayed there and tried to use your magic, the monster would´ve probably killed you. And without you running, the Astrea familia could´ve been too late, even when they let Bell fight alone."

By herself, without saying anything about it to Bell, Alfia was sure that at least one of Astrea´s children would´ve stopped the monster.

Which didn´t change the fact that Bell truly proved himself.

"So, Bell, I guess you are eager to update your status?"

"Yes!"

The fact that Lily and Haruhime would be able to see Bell then without his shirt was only a bit nice. While Lily had no romantic feelings at all for Bell, didn´t change the fact that she welcomed a bit of eye candy...and Bell really was a feast for the eyes.

Bell took off his shirt, Haruhime gulped slightly when she saw his naked chest and stomach, but she steeled herself to not faint right now! Then he turned around, sat down in front of Miach. The god started the ritual right away.

This time, it felt a bit weird for Bell.

"Hm, just like I thought."

"Lord Miach?"

"Bell, here, take a look."

Miach handed Bell a paper, something was different this time.

.

.
Bell Cranel

Belongs to: Miach Familia

Level: 1-2

Strength: S 999

Endurance: S 999

Dexterity: S 999

Agility: S 999

Magic: S 999

.

.

"All your abilities have reached rank S and are maxed out, I never heard of any adventurer achieving that to be honest, since it just takes too much time normally. But I guess your skill helps you very much."

Alfia said nothing about the phrase "maxed out", she was special after all. And yet, while it looked like Bell wasn´t able to break the natural wall, maxing out every status was something that even she couldn´t achieve.

"Lord Miach, this 1-2...does that mean..."

"You can level up to t-"

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-Ouch!"

Bell´s sudden joy filled scream let Haruhime and Nahza hastily cover their ears. He forgot for a second that Alfia hated loud noises, she rememberred him with a karate chop on his head.

"What did I tell you about screaming out loud, young man?"

"Sorry, Mom..."

"Don´t try your puppy eyes now, apologize to Haruhime and Nahza. Even when I understand your happiness, think about your environment."

"I´m really sorry."

He bowed down a few times.

Nahza and Haruhime took the hands away from their ears.

"It´s okay..."

"I understand you, Bell."

"So, lord Miach, I can really level up to two?!"

"Yes, that irregular dragon monster was indeed a worthy deed."

"Awesome!"

"Now you just have to make a choice."

"A choice?"

"Yes, between three abilities, you know about this, right?"

"Yes."

"Good, here are your choices."

Miach wrote them down for Bell.

The first one was the ability "Hunter", it would increase Bell´s status against monsters that he has fought before and gained Excelia from, this skill was only possible to get on level two.

The second one was "Mage", it would increase his magic power, make the mind use more efficient and widened the effect range of his spell. This ability would make his magic on level two as strong as someone on level three without this skill.

And the third one was "Swordsman", which would increase his ability when he was using a sword, his attack power, the strength to block with it and increase his ability to use his magic with his sword.

"Lord Miach, what is this about using my magic with my sword?"

"Honestly, I don´t know, I lack the experience."

Bell´s eyes slowly wandered to Alfia.

"If you had a sword that would be capable of that, you could charge it with your lightning magic for lower mind cost. But only when you use a sword. Also, this skill would make you a much stronger sword fighter than anyone without this ability."

"Phew...a hard choice, I only get one, right?"

"Exactly."

"Hm...what would you choose, Mom?"

"Mage, for obvious reasons, but this would just be me."

"Haruhime?"

"I guess when it is for you, Swordsman. In the future we might get someone into the party that can use magic and you are always on the frontline anyway."

"Good point. Lily?"

"Lily would recomment "Hunter", you only have to strike down one of a type and then you would have improved stats for every other monster of that type."

"Hm...you all have good arguments."

"Bell, may I?..."

"Nahza? Of course."

"I only have a little experience, but Hunter would be the best choice if you would go time and time again on certain floors, but only for a certain amount of time, since you get used to the monsters, get stronger and with that, less efficient. Like Ms. Cranel and Haruhime said, Mage or Swordsman would depend on what you prefer. Do you want to lean more into your sword fighting or using magic?..."

"Hmm.."

Alfia nodded. "Nahza made a good point, also, "Mage" will most likely appear later again. As I said I would use it, but you are not me. Mage will have the most use it you want to really lean into your magic."

"I would like to use my magic with my sword."

"But your sword shall be your main weapon?"

"Hm...yes."

"Then you should pick Swordsman. It will also increase your attack power when you use a sword, without actually having this attack power. As far as I know, by about twenty percent."

"I don´t understand."

"Your physical attack power depends on your strength, you can´t penetrate the skin of some monsters without having reached a special point in your strength. If you would only use your current strength status, you would have an attack power of 1199 if you use a sword, when you pick Swordsman."

"Really?!"

"Yes and remember, when you go up to level two, your status of level one isn´t lost. Let´s say you get a strength status of 300, then your overall strength would actually be 1299 and now add twenty percent to that. That would of course only happen when you reach rank S in swordsman. As far as I know, it will be two percent for each rank. It also helps with your general fighting abilities."

"Wow...that sounds really awesome."

Alfia smiled slightly. "I guess I can help you with your decision."

"How?"

"Close your eyes."

"Okay."

"Now picture a strong hero in your mind."

"I do."

"Does he wield a sword or a lightning bolt in his hand?"

"A sword!"

"Then you have your answer, follow what your heart desires."

"So then...I will become a really awesome swordsman?"

"Of course you will, you are my son."

"Hehe, thanks Mom."

Even Lily had to admit that their relationship was really cute to watch. She wished she would have such a mother figure. Lily´s eyes wandered to Alfia, the yearning in her heart was strong.

Hah...

Bell still took a few minutes to think about it.

"Alright, lord Miach?"

"Yes?"

"Please select Swordsman."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely."

"Good."

Smiling, Miach went to work.

"Oh, we have a small surprise here."

"Hm?"

"You received...wow...two skills."

"What?!"

"You received an active and a passive skill, in addition to Swordsman."

Even Alfia was amazed.

"C-Can you show me?"

"Of course."
And so, Bell finally saw his updated status.

.

.

Bell Cranel

Belongs to: Miach Familia

Level: 2

Strength: I 0

Endurance: I 0

Dexterity: I 0

Agility: I 0

Magic: I

Spells: Thunderbolt

Development Abilities: Swordsman (I)

Skills: Blood of Zeus (passive), Dragonslayer (passive), Argonaut (active)

Dragonslayer: Heavily increases all abilities when fighting dragon type monsters

Argonaut: ?

.

.

"Hm."

"Bell?"

"Somehow I doesn´t feel different."

"You will see the difference soon."

Alfia nodded to agree with Miach. "It doesn´t feel like a sudden power up, but you will see it."

"Two skills, hm...does that happen often? And what is with this Argonaut skill?"

Miach shook his head. "Two skills at once? Not from what I know. And the Argonaut skill, there really is no description what it does, I guess you have to find this out by yourself."

Alfia returned Bell´s gaze. "Let´s just say it doesn´t happen for normal adventurers."

The tiniest hint of a proud smile was on her lips.

Argonaut...the ship of heroes...I bet he likes that.

Of course he did.

"Hehe."

"Congratulation for leveling up, Bell..."

"Congratulation."

"From Lily too!"

"Thank you all very much."

"Bell."

"Mom?"

"You should go and celebrate with your familia."

"Aren´t you coming with us?"

"No, I have something else in mind."

"What?"

She looked at the remains of Bell´s sword.

"I will go and let your sword get repaired."

"But this is exp-"

He stopped when he saw her eyes. Alfia wouldn´t tolerate a rejection, not even from Bell...especially not from Bell.

Bell could nearly hear her voice in his mind.

Let.

Me.

Spoil.

You.

A.

Bit.

She only did it half to relieve him of a financial burden, Alfia also did it simply because it was a pleasure for her personally to take care of Bell.

Miach put his hands on Bell´s shoulders. "Listen to your mother, Bell."

"Okay."

"Now then, I will be going."

"Where are you going to get it repaired?"

"A secret."

"But-"

"No questions."

"Okay."

The fragments of the sword lay on a large cloth, Alfia carefully folded it and left the home of the Miach familia.

"Alright everyone, get your coats, we´re going to celebrate Bell´s level up."

Haruhime raised her hand shyly.

"Haruhime?"

"And what about you two becoming...I mean...you and Ms. Nahza are..."

"Oh...you noticed that?"

Bell, Lily and Haruhime nodded, it would´ve been hard not to. Nahza smiled happy.

"Alright, then let us celebrate Bell´s level up, that Liliruca joined us, that I finally stopped being dense and talked with Nahza about our mutual feelings and that Haruhime´s room is ready!"

""""Ooooh!""""

His four followers were truly energetic. Haruhime gathered more and more courage.

They actually wouldn´t need their coats, it was the second half of june, so it was quite warm.

Actually...it was June 20th.

"Oh, tomorrow is summer solstice."

So they headed to the Hostess of Fertility, it would be a loud, cheerfull celebration.

.

.

"Hmmm~Hmmmm~Hmmmm."

Inside a certain ginormous tower in the middle of Orario, hummed a red haired goddess while she was busy with her paperwork. Everything went well lately, the only thing that made her sometimes a bit worried, was a young, red haired man.

I hope he finds a good party soon.

She didn´t look up when she heard a loud knock from the door.

"It is open, Tsubaki."

The door got slightly opened.

"Boss, do you have time? Personal customer for you."

Now she looked up.

"Oh? That´s rare, I have time."

"Alright, I´ll send her in."

The red haired goddess signed the current paper, then she put her paper work to the side. The guest that came inside was indeed a woman, she wore a long coat and had the hood pulled up, only her nose and chin were visible.

"What can I do for you, Miss?"

"Are we alone?"

"This is my office, so yes."

"No one can hear us?"

"I'm perfectly capable of keeping something confidential if it's important."

The woman came closer and took a letter out of her coat.

"At first I would like to give you this, goddess Hephaistos."

"Oho?"

The woman put the letter on table, without touching Hephaistos´ hand, then she made two steps back.

Hephaistos opened the letter and started to read. It took a few seconds before her one eye widened and her mouth opened slightly.

"Wah-..."

Alfia took her hood off and looked at Hephaistos.

"Can I count on your discretion?"

"Of course, but may I ask...from where do you know Zeus?"

"The past, I can´t say more."

Hephaistos nodded. "Zeus wrote that he would like to call in an old favor from when his family saved my children in the dungeon."

"I don´t know what he wrote, he just asked me to give you this letter when I would ask for something."

"So he gave you my debt?"

Alfia shook her head. "It isn´t for me."

"And who is it for?"

"My son."

"Hm, I see."

"Goddess Hephaistos, I will entrust you with an information about the person that is the most precious to me and my everything in this world. And also because the old man said I could trust you, so I ask you this before I say more, don´t tell anyone this information."

"You have my word as a goddess, not one word will leave my lips."

Alfia continued to look for a few moments at Hephaistos, it wasn´t in her nature to trust other people...except when it was about a certain someone.

"My son...is Zeus´ grandson."

Due to her long life as a goddess, Hephaistos got rarely surprised by something, this information surprised her a little bit.

"Hm, I guess it would shock me more if Zeus wasn´t who he is. It doesn´t surprise me that much to be honest, since he had a lot of children. How is the old man?"

"I guess alive and kicking, like usual."

"I thought that he would do something ever since he left Orario, but to think he would care for a child? Hm, I hope the boy doesn't take after him quite so much."

"I took care of that."

"Good to hear, I would fear for my girls if the true grandson of Zeus would´ve moved to Orario."

Alfia really started to like this goddess. Not that she hated Zeus...but the god hadn´t changed that much.

"So, what can I do for you?"

Alfia took out the cloth, opened it on Hephaistos´ desk and showed her the shattered sword.

"Beyond even my ability to repair it."

"I thought so, but the remains of this sword are very important to my son, it was his father´s blade."

Whenever Alfia said that Bell was her son, Hephaistos had a strange feeling, as if Alfia was speaking the truth and yet not. As if Bell wasn´t really her son but she saw him that way. Whatever it was, Hephaistos would not ask about it.

Alfia slowly took the sword that hung at her hip and put it with it´s sheath on Hephaistos´ desk.

"May I?"

"Of course."

Hephaistos slowly pulled the sword out of the sheath, then she raised an eyebrow.

"This sword belonged to the captain of the Hera familia, the Empress."

"You have a good eye."

"Since I was the one that made this sword."

"Oh? I didn´t know that."

"And what exactly do you want now?"

"I would like you to take the remains of my son´s sword and my sword, to forge a new one for him. One that is truly his own."

"Your sword?"

"After the Empress perished, this sword belongs to me now."

"Are you by chance...one of Hera´s?"

"I won´t answer that question."

"Is Hera planning on returning to Orario?"

"I don´t know what the old hag is doing, nor do I care."

Hephaistos nodded, now she was sure that Alfia was one of Hera´s.

"Then whhat are you doing here in Orario?"

"My son wanted to become an adventurer."

"That is all?"

"He is my everything, whatever it is that I can do for him, I will."

Hephaistos smiled. "The answer is enough for me. But you ask of me to destroy one of my best pieces."

"Not to destroy, to reforge it´s shape, using the remains of the other sword."

"The other is made from adamantium, your sword is made with a big amount of mithril."

"He uses magic with his sword, it needs to withstand the magic."

"I understand."

"There is something else."

"And that would be?"

"Goddess Hephaistos, I love my son more than anything else in this world. I want you to make the best sword you ever made for him. He uses lightning magic."

"That would require a few dropp items from the dungeon."

"Name them, I have a bit stored."

To be expected from one of Hera´s.

"And it will be expensive."

"I don´t care about the cost."

"We are talking about roughly four to five hundred million Vals."

"Would you like them in advance?"

I shouldn´t be surprised that she has so much money. She must really love him.

Hephaistos slowly went from smiling to an excited grin.

"You are sure about your order?"

"Absolutely."

"To be honest, I've been itching to forge a really fantastic sword for a long time. Some of the drop items have been lying around here for years and neither Loki nor Freya has the money to pay for them."

"I am not surprised."

Ha! The typical arrogance of Hera´s children.

"Alright, I accept your order. This shall be my best work, but we need to form a contract."

Alfia only raised her eyebrow.

"Only you and me will know about that. I want to show that I am better than Goibnu, lately he forged a sword for Freya´s captain. This is a declaration of war among smiths!"

"I won´t tell him where the sword comes from, only that it contains the remains of his old sword."

"Then we have a contract."

"How long will it take?"

"A week."

"Only a week?"

"While I can´t use my Arcana, I am still the best smith in existence."

Hephaistos´ smile showed the true pride of the goddess of the forge.

"I will have the money ready and bring you the dropp items in about an hour."

"I will just say it now, this will be the only piece of equipment that I will ever forge for him. And don´t ask me to reforge one of my pieces ever again."

"I understand."

The goddess felt true excitement for the first time in years, while she looked at the note that Alfia left behind. She had written down how the sword should look like, and Bell´s body measurements.

Like this? He sure has an interesting taste. Hm...just you wait, Zeus. I will forge your grandson my best work ever!

.

.

The small party at the Hostess of Fertility became a bit bigger than they planned, but for a good reason. The Takemikazuchi familia was also there, Yamato Mikoto had also reached level two and they wanted to celebrate too.

Thankfully, there was enough room at one of the bigger tables, but Mama Mia expected them to spend a good amount of money.

"Here are nya drinks!"

The waitress that brought them their drinks and food at this evening, was the black haired catgirl. For some reason, maybe because the pub was filled, she always came to the table from behind Bell. Bell thought she was really friendly, she always had a grin or smirk on her face when she arrived at the table.
He couldn´t know that she had this because he had no jacket put over his chair...

What a nyautiful butt, Mfufufufuf.

"Now then everyone, cheers!"

They all clinked their mugs as good as possible. Bell got a special place, right between Takemikazuchi und Miach. Nahza sat on Miach´s right side, Lily between Nahza and Haruhime. The table made a curve there, next to Haruhime was Mikoto, both sat across from Bell. The curve continued, next to Mikoto were Chigusa and Ouka, then the rest of her familia, until it arrived at Takemikazuchi again. The gods insisted on that, Miach because Bell had leveled up and Takemikazuchi because Bell had saved Haruhime´s life.

"Bell, if you ever need something, say the word. I can´t thank you enough for saving Haruhime again."

"Thank you, lord Takemikazuchi."

Bell wouldn´t decline the offer, that would be rude.

"Sir Bell!"

"M-Ms. Mikoto?"

"You truly are a brave warrior, to put your life on the line for Haruhime and risking your life again! I am deeply touched!"

Ouka and Chigusa agreed with Mikoto.

"Oh and Sir Bell?"

"Yes?"

"You should come to our home some day when Haruhime also comes. She makes excellent tea in the traditional, far eastern way, this is something you have to see! Also she can draw beautiful landscapes and is even very good at the sakura dance! You can´t miss this!"

Mikoto pointed with her open hand to Haruhime and smiled brightly.

"Haruhime looks truly majestic and pretty when she wears the special costume and performs the dance. I really wish you could see that soon."

Haruhime leaned slightly to Mikoto, her cheeks were a bit flushed, she whispered. "Mikoto, I don´t deserve so much praise..."

Mikoto turned her face to Haruhime, raised her right hand to cover her face from Bell and whispered with a slight smirk.

"Come on, you gotta make sure he knows this stuff. Because that´s the key to getting Sir Bell to fall in love with you."

Haruhime´s face suddenly got bright red.

"Fall in love?! Oh my!"

Haruhime´s tail wagged so strong, that she felt a slight pain for a second.

With Mikoto and Chigusa, the alliance of love got two new members, currently with Nahza in the lead. Out of consideration for her three "companions", Nahza did not flirt with Miach this evening.

Everyone just drank a little bit of alcohol, not too much. When they were about to leave, Miach noticed something.

"Bell, there is a lint at your behind."

"Hm, oh. Thank you."

Bell used his hand to wipe away the small lint, a sight that made their waitress very happy and let her drool a bit.

The two familias walked together until it was time to part ways. They wished each other a good night and went to their homes. The Miach familia walked Lily to Alfia´s house, she tried to be as quiet as possible as she went inside.

Arriving at their home, Miach wished them a good night and went to his room, Nahza to her room. Even when they recently became a couple, moving into one room was a bit too soon for them.

"Bell?..."

"Haruhime?"

The stood between the doors of their rooms.

"I...ahm..."

Come on, dare it...

"I...I...l-...lov-..."

"Haruhime?"

"I really love this familia!"

Kyuuu! You cowardly fox!

"Hehe, so do I, good night then."

"G-Good night."

When she finally went in her bed, Haruhime sighed, looking at the wall that separated her froom from Bell´s.

Hauuu...I really want to tell h-Ouch!

Haruhime felt a sudden jolt in her back.

Have I sprained my tail?

.

.

"So, time to go."

Bell closed the last of his buckles and checked his equipment a last time. With his sword shattered, Bell asked Alfia to lend him the silvery sword that he had gifted to her, instead of taking it for himself. While it wasn´t really his style, it would work until his own got repaired. They had decided to have breakfast at Alfia´s house, so that Miach and Nahza had a bit time to be alone before they opened the shop.

After closing his door, Bell went to the small kitchen. Haruhime was always up early and normally prepared the breakfast for everyone, since she was the best cook of the familia, Bell or Nahza often helped her. Today she just wanted to prepare some snacks, since Alfia heavily insisted of making breakfast and lunch boxes.

Miach and Lily tried to help her sometimes, but Haruhime banned them from "her kitchen", the tools there were sacrosanct for her...and sadly the god and the supporter weren´t good at cooking...Bell at least had become a master in making the Omelette on rice...the only dish he was good at...

First he put down his backpack in the living room, Lily would later put it in her own, giant backpack, then he walked to the kitchen. Haruhime stood there and worked slowly on the vegetables, her tail didn´t move at all, it just hang down, something he had never seen before, sometimes her ears twitched a bit. A small bird sat on the window sill and looked at her...almost...worried? This also happened often, that birds were sitting there when Haruhime worked, sometimes she sneaked them some crumps and could even gently pat them.
Once when they were in the part of Orario with the big, green hill, birds came and sat down on Haruhime´s head and shoulders, they just trusted her.

Before Bell said something, he noticed that Haruhime...was acting strange. She didn´t seemed to notice him, and that while she normally heard him before he even opened his door. Her cheeks were flushed and...she panted slightly. Her knife had stopped moving and she put it down, swaying slightly.

"Haruhime?"

Bell looked at her worried when he came closer, Haruhime turned her face to him only after he spoke her name a second time.

"Bell..."

He could now see that her face was red...she didn´t look well. Bell moved fast forward when Haruhime swayed a bit, not even risking the chance she might fall. He caught her with his left arm, Haruhime looked as if she would collapse any moment.
Slowly moving his right hand up, Bell put the back of his hand against her forehead.

"Haruhime, you´re burning!"

Her forehead was really hot and she looked more and more unwell.

"It hurts..."

"Haruhime?"

She made a face and whined. "Bell...It hurts...it hurts so much..."

Bell wanted to give her more support and put his right arm around her waist...a terrible mistake.

His fingers came slightly in contact with the base of her tail for a splitsecond. He knew that this place was forbidden to touch, since it was extremely sensitive, but it was an accident. He never expected the reaction that followed.

"Aaaaaah!"

Haruhime yelled out in pain and tried to escape Bell´s touch, she only screamed when his hand moved along the base of her tail again, soon he heard doors getting slammed open and hasty steps.

"Haruhime? Haruhime what is wrong, talk to me!"

She tried to get out of his arms, Bell didn´t know what to do since she was weak on her legs.

"Please...it hurts so much...don´t touch me...auuw..."

Tears dwelled in her eyes.

"Haruhime!"

"Haru-Haru!"

"Haruhime!"

Miach and Nahza were the first ones to arrive...and Lena Tally. Lena had appeared with a bright grin early in the morning, she said she wanted to look after Haruhime and asked her how things were going. It was also Lena that had dragged Haruhime away one day and forced Aisha and her to talk with each other. Haruhime listened to Aisha´s explanation, why she did the things she had done, she started to understand her "big sister".
And Aisha also did something that her pride as an amazon normally forbid her, but Haruhime was special, Aisha apologized.

Haruhime didn´t hate Aisha for what she had done, but she was glad that she could forgive her.

Due to that, Lena came to visit now and then, they still couldn´t get out of her what her new familia was.

"Bell, what happened?!"

"I don´t know, I found her like that!"

Lena put a small chair next to Haruhime, but when they tried to let her sit down, she screamed in pain.

"Haruhime, where does it hurt?!"

Nahza was their expert when it came to wounds, she had a potion for nearly everything.

"My lower back...my tail..." Haruhime was crying.

Carefully they carried her to the living room and let her lay down on the couch, on her side. Her tail didn´t move at all, it hurt too much.

"Bell, lord Miach, please get out of here, I have to take a look." Nahza glanced to them.

They nodded and stepped out of the living room, shutting the door behind them. Nahza carefully opened Haruhime´s kimono with Lena´s help...and got big eyes. The base of Haruhime´s tail was fiery red...and the fur looked strange there. The fur bristled and looked slightly damp at the base...and red. The skin around the base of her tail was badly red, perhaps inflamed.

"Haruhime, I´m sorry if that hurts."

Nahza only touched with the slightest pressure possible, but Haruhime screamed again.

"Not good, we need a healer...fast!"

"Leave it to me!"

Lena dashed out of the room, Bell closed the door behind her. As fast as her feet carried her, Lena ran through the city towards the hospital near Babel. Bell would be the wiser choice when it came to speed, but he just couldn´t do what Lena planned, she would carry the healer towards the Mansion...and if it was a woman...that would be a problem for Bell to do.

"Bell, go to your mother´s house and inform them, I will go and look for some potions that might help Haruhime."

"But..."

"Bell, trust Nahza on this, you can´t to anything at the moment."

"Understood."

He left with speed, Haruhime filled his mind.

.

.

"Ms. Sanjouno, I will try to be as carefull as possible, but it might hurt."

Amid Teasanare´s clothes were out of order, Lena didn´t give her enough time to get the situation before she threw Amid over her shoulder and ran through the city. Now only Mikoto, Chigusa and Amid where inside the living room with Haruhime, Amid needed room to work.

Alfia had told Bell to go and inform the Takemikazuchi familia after she and Lily got the information, he was too worried to think clear.

The time for shame wasn´t now, they had undressed Haruhime and she was still on her side. She whimpered every time someone touched her tail, the whole limb seemed to be very sensitive. The area around the base of her tail was red and swollen. Thankfully Amid was a specialist healer, an absolut pro, she had studied the anatomy of every race that was known in the world.
But even her knowledge didn´t went that far, she had healed fox people in the past, but Haruhime belonged to a really rare kind. Amid had carefully touched Haruhime´s long ears, but except from twitching from time to time, they were fine...even a bit ticklish.

Chigusa went to the door when they heard a soft knocking, Nahza gave her a box with twenty different potions she made, since they didn´t know which would work. The good thing was that Nahza was a one of a kind potion maker, not even the specialists in the Dian Cecht Familia were that good.

"Owie...it hurts..."

Mikoto held Haruhime´s hands and let her squeeze them as much as she needed when she felt more pain. Amid opened the first potion that Chigusa gave her, Nahza had written a note with a description for each potion. She dripped some of the potion on the skin around Haruhime´s tail base, the potion´s effect was to make something numb. It helped a bit to relief Haruhime´s pain...but the next step would hurt.

"Ms. Sanjouno, I have to touch you...please bear with it."

Haruhime looked up to Mikoto, crying. Mikoto´s heart broke to see her dear friend like that, she offered Haruhime her sleeve to bite on...and she did. Amid carefully felt the reddened skin, animal people that often went to the dungeon sometimes tended to have ingrown hair. She blinked a few times...it didn´t feel like an ingrown hair, nor was a hint of that...but it felt really hard under the skin...like bone, bone that moved. Amid moved her hands a bit to the side, up and down to feel the other parts. Haruhime´s hips, butt and lower back all felt normal, only the area around her tail was different.

Amid dripped more of the potion on Haruhime´s tail...before she slowly started to feel the parts of the tail that no one was ever allowed to see...the part that was made of bone, covered by her skin...it was a really delicate part for every animal person. One time Amid had no other choice but to shave the tail of a female patient...the woman shut herself in her house until the hair grew back...she would die of shame if someone other than her husband or Amid had seen her like this. For study purposed, a few animal person of the Dian Cecht Familia had allowed Amid to feel their tails and ears, so she had a good knowledge.

And Haruhime´s tail felt weird...really weird.

Since she wasn´t able to answer, Amid asked Mikoto instead.

"Did her tail change in the last time?"

"Ahm...it grew a bit longer over the last two months...about from here to there." Mikoto showed the old length at Haruhime´s legs.

"Strange...you said she is seventeen, right?"

"Yes...not long and she will turn eighteen."

"Hm...it is rare that an animal person´s tail still grows at that age."

Mikoto gently stroked the crying Haruhime´s cheek. "Can´t you do anything with your magic?"

"I fear...no. I have never seen something like that before...the fur on her tail seems to get thicker and thicker by the minute, it can´t even put a finger into the fur anymore. If I just start to use my healing magic...who knows what will happen. It doesn´t seem that she has a wound or something like that.
I have to take a further look in our records, maybe I will find something there. And also ask all members of my familia that are animal people."

Amid searched through the potions and gave Mikoto three of them...it would made no sense to tell Haruhime that when she was like this.

"Give her one for now, it will make her a bit numb and sleepy. I will return as fast as I can, but we need more informations first."

"Thank you..." Mikoto was really worried.

"Don´t thank me now, I will hurry."

Amid hurried out of the room. "Nahza, we need more of the potion number six."

"Understood."

Amid explained to the Familias that she would need to do more research. Lily offered her help, which Amid agreed to. This time it was Lily that carried Amid back to the hospital...in a more dignified way.

.

.

The potion helped to ease Haruhime´s pain and made her sleepy like Amid said. Mikoto and Chigusa gently wiped down the sweat of Haruhime´s body, before they put at least parts of the Kimono back on her body...they were really worried about their friend.
Takemikazuchi, Ouka and Asuka searched through all of their Familia´s records if they could find anything...but it wasn´t much.

The hours went by, Lena went to the hospital every two hours and returned to give them information. At noon she had the chance to meet with Aisha and told her about Haruhime, the amazon dropped whatever job she was busy with and ran to the Mansion.
Never before had they seen Aisha showing her worry and care for Haruhime so openly. Together with Chigusa and Mikoto she took care of the now sleeping Renard. Since they couldn´t do much at all, the rest of the Familia returned to their usual things to do...all of them worried.

Bell couldn´t bring himself to go into the dungeon when Haruhime was sick like that. .

.

.
Nahza made more potions...and slowly night came. Everything was quiet outside of the house

Bell sat with his back to the wall in front of his door. Even the bodies of the girls that cared for Haruhime had their limits. Mikoto and Chigusa went back to their homes, both of them exhausted. They let Lena sleep in Haruhime´s room, she didn´t want to be far away from her Haru-Haru, also to look for her in Aisha´s place.

Bell was equally tired but he said he would watch over Haruhime this night. She was sleeping on the couch, the gentle moon light fell on her. It was only possible for him to be in here because she was clothed mostly...thanks to an outfit she got from Aisha but never used. It was originally meant as a "sexy Kimono", made of silk and was short, revea led a bit of her stomach and the base of her tail...that outfit now was just perfect for the current situation. He looked at her face...she was sleeping so peaceful at the moment.

"Haruhime..." He was really worried.

At some point...Bell dozed off.

He suddenly woke up when he heard a noise from Haruhime, the moon outside hat reached its highest point in the sky...a smell like from cherry blossoms dancing in the air outside filled the room...

"Nn...nnn...nn...ow..."

Bell got up to his knees when he heard Haruhime mumble, he didn´t understand where the scent came from.

"Haruhime?"

She raised her head...it looked like she was sweating again. "Oww...it hurts..."

He walked to her, worried.

Haruhime only noticed him when he was right in front of her. Her green eyes ... glowed...literally. It was like the glow that was sometimes visible when light reflected in the eyes of cats at night...but Haruhime´s eyes glowed on their own.

"Haruhime...are you...okay?"

"Mafter...Bell..."

His eyes widened...her canines had grown longer...like the ones of a real fox. The blanked slipped down on her body, they hadn´t closed the Kimono, it was open at the front. Slowly, Haruhime got up to her knees, Bell was right in front of her. He could see most of her body now, her breasts were halfway visible, thankfully the most important part was still barely covered. Due to her sitting on her knees, he couldn´t see her sacred spot. But still...Bell saw very much of Haruhime´s skin and noticed how womanly her body was.

"Mafter..Bell...pleafe..."

If the situation weren´tt that serious...it would be so adorable to hear Haruhime talk like that because of the teeth. When she stumbled forward, Bell moved hastily and hugged her from the front, her body was pressed against him.

"It hurtf...it hurtf..."

Haruhime seemed to not care about shame at the moment, she hugged Bell tightly.

"Pleafe...help me..."

She pulled up the lower part of her Kimono a bit, now her butt was naked to the air. Her arms closed more around Bell when she started to tremble...it looked in the moonlight as if her body...was glowing...or rather her tail.

"Haruhime..."

"Mafter Bell...I´m forry...it hurtf fo much...forry!"

Bell gritted his teeth in pain...Haruhime sank her canine teeth into his shoulder...she just had to bite into something...and her teeth itched to do that...maybe it was some sort of beastification.
He heard Haruhime screaming muffled into his shoulder...blood flew down when her teeth pierced his skin...but Bell could bear with it, he returned her hug to hold her up. For many minutes he held her with closed eyes, the pain in his shoulder was nothing compared to the one in his heart...that he saw her suffer so much.

He could feel her hands touching his own, moving them down, Bell didn´t understand what she was doing. Instead of putting his hands on her butt, she stopped at the base of her tail.

"Pleafe..."

Bell understood, he gently started to massage the skin above the base of her tail, Haruhime sighed. Sometimes her body twitched, he was only focussed on holding and massaging her, not thinking about her mostly naked, soft body, that was pressed against him.

Eventually...Haruhime let go of his shoulder, instead she began to nibble tenderly at his neck, Bell got goosebumps from that.

Bell opened his eyes and looked at her face...a few drops of his blood were on her lips and chin. Her teeth were still long, but Haruhime slowly sat down, both legs pulled close at her side.

"Haruhime? Are you...okay?"

"Mafter Bell...fank you...I feel...better.."

She looked really tired...but not like she was in pain, she even smiled slightly. He moved a bit back, his hands ended on her knees.

"Are you still fe-.."

Bell stopped.

His left hand was on Haruhime´s right knee...he felt something fluffy on the back of his hand and glanced down...it was her tail...she could move it again.

But that wasn´t why he had stopped.

It was..

Because on his right hand on her left knee...was also her tail...or rather...a tail.

"What?..."

On each of his hands were a tail...and now he noticed a movement behind Haruhime...a tail slowly moved behind her.

"Haruhime...wha..."

"Huh?..."

She looked down at herself and turned her head back. Slowly she got back up to her knees and looked perplexed.

Three tails...

Three long, golden, fluffy tails...swished behind Haruhime up and down and to the sides.

.

.
Haruhime had not one tail anymore...but three.

.

.

The scenery was surreal.

Haruhime and Bell knelt on the couch, could only look in Haruhime´s face and to her tails.

Three tails...

Instead of her one tail that had grown bigger and bigger over the day...Three slim tails moved behind Haruhime. She had no real control over them...she only was used to one.
Bell´s shoulder was a mess and blood dried on his chest and back, she had clawed into it with her finger nails, that had also grown longer...but finally it had stopped and her fingernails were shrinking again.

Haruhime slowly separated herself from Bell...she looked like a goddess in the moonlight...the tails slowly rose and moved behind her. One curled around her waist and blocked every view to her sacred place, while she slowly moved her arms up to make sure her chest was covered.

Bell just had to admit that he had never seen a more beautiful sight in his life.

"Haruhime?"

"Bell...what...if with me?"

"I don´t know."

"Bell..."

"Haruhime?"

Her eyes still shone, the situation was strange, she was nearly naked...but she couldn´t hold back. Haruhime leaned slowly forward, her eye drew Bell in.

"I..I..."

"Ha-"

"I lo..."

Bell´s mind stopped for a moment, what did she wanted to say just now?

Haruhime looked at him, her eyes were clear, her mind was clear, he could see that. She waited for an answer...looked frightened and hopeful.

"Haru-"

"Nnnnn..."

She suddenly closed her eyes and fell asleep before he could answer.

.

.

"Ms. Sanjouno, please tell me if it hurts."

"Mhm..."

Haruhime sat on a chair in the living room, the backrest on her left side. Amid knelt behind Haruhime on the ground and looked at her changed tails...at least she tried.

"Please don´t move your tails into my face..."

"I-I try! But I can´t control them..."

Thankfully her teeth were normal again. Bell still thought that she sounded very cute with the long teeth.

"But they are your tails."

"But I have suddenly three of them...that isn´t easy."

The scene would have looked funny, if it wasn´t so serious. In addition to Haruhime and Amid, Chigusa and Lena were also present, both knelt next to Haruhime and tried their best to hold Haruhime´s tails.
But both were a bit too carefull, they didn´t want to embarass Haruhime, so her tails slipped out of their grip again and again. Each of the tails was as long as her original one, but more slender...but well her original tail had grown quite thick at the end.

"Does it hurt when I touch here?"

"N-No."

"I know it is embarrassing, but please bear with it."

It was more than embarrassing for Haruhime, she had to sit there only in her underwear, since the base of her tails was much bigger than for only one tail.

"Mmmh!"

"I´m sorry, I try to be careful."

Amid felt the base of Haruhime´s tails as gentle as possible, but except from a slight reddening, nothing hurt.

"So, how exactly did that happen?"

Haruhime tried to explain it as good as she could, but her memories were a bit blurry from last night. She rememberred the strong urge and itching in her teeth to bite something...even more due to the pain in her lower back.
Haruhime was ashamed that she had bitten Bell...so much that blood flew...she just hoped she didn´t swallowed some of it. Hugging Bell in the darkness, half naked and sweating heavily while she panted...it was only due to the pain that she didn´t fainted from that.
After the change had stopped, Nahza came rushing into the living room, Lena and Miach followed shortly after. All three froze when they saw the scene in front of them, Bell had mostly looked away, but he had closed her kimono again. Blood covered the bite marks on his shoulder...and they looked like enchanted to the three tails that slowly moved behind Haruhime in the moonlight.

"I never heard of something like that before..."

It wasn´t that Amid didn´t believ Haruhime...she was more frustrated that something happened to the body of a patient and she couldn´t explain why.

"Bell...mumbled something about the Daughter of the Sun."

"Hmmm..."

.

.

About ten minutes later, Amid was finished with her examination, she only gave Haruhime a salve against the reddening. Mikoto had worked non stop since she arrived in the very early morning and was shocked to see Haruhime like that. It wasn´t the three tails that shocked her...but the sexy outfit. So she worked to adjust Haruhime´s clothes. Now everyone sat in the living room, Haruhime fidgeted a bit since she wasn´t used to her tails.

But she looked incredible...beautiful...pure...innocent...the very picture of purity how she sat there in her Kimono with the tails behind her.

"So Mr. Cranel, would you please tell us about that story you mentioned?"

It was widely known in the Familia that Bell had a great knowledge about hero stories and similar things.

"I read about a story in the past, it was one of many stories about ancient beings and figures. One of them appeared in the far east, known as the "Daughter of the Sun" or "Nine-tailed Fox". The story told that it was a mysterious, very beautiful woman. She was mentioned a few times in the long history, according to the legend, she appeared every thousand years...or so."

"Was there a description of her look?"

"Only, long, golden hair and fur."

All eyes wandered to Haruhime, who got nervous under so many stares.

"And what made her special, except for the number of tails?"

While Haruhime only had three tails and not nine, there was a similarity.

"Apparently she was a very pure being, so much that undead and youkai monsters felt pain or were...afraid...to come near her. And she seemed to be strong with magic...something about "Fox-Fire". Every time she appeared, she became a miko or high-priestess of a certain goddess."

"Which one?"

"The Sun-Goddess, lady Amaterasu."

Takemikazuchi raised an eyebrow and looked surprised. "Ama-Chan?"

Everyone looked perplexed at the War-God, Bell maybe more than the others. "Ama...Chan?"

"I knew her quite well in heaven and we talked later on the surface some times."

"Muh..." Mikoto pouted.

"Mikoto?"

"Nothing."

Miach frowned for a moment. "Amaterasu...I met her too sometimes in heaven...she is quite the beauty...not as beautiful as Nahza...but still."

Nahza wagged her tail and she smiled.

Takemikazuchi continued.

"She was a bit similar to Hestia, a shut-in."

Miach nodded. "At least until Zeus started this big party."

Bell was all ears when his grandfather got mentioned.

Takmikazuchi continued. "It should be no wonder that this priestess of the past was drawn to Ama-Ch...Amaterasu."

His eyes wandered to Haruhime and he smiled. "She looks quite similar to you."

"Oh?"

"Most of the gods look like humans, but the dwarven and eflish gods look like their children. And Amaterasu, has long ears and a tail, both golden like yours. But she didn´t look like a fox, more like a wolf. And I think she would be a bit taller."

Bell looked at the god. "Wasn´t lady Amaterasu called "The sun wolf"?"

"Is, not was."

"Oh."

Haruhime looked like she was in thoughts. "So...the clans in the far east...followed her?"

"It was more the other way around, Amaterasu loved your people, especially those who had a similar haircolor to her."

"Hmm..." Haruhime looked for a few moments at her tails. "But what does that mean for me?"

Miach smiled gently. "I would say nothing for now, it is a story of old."

Amid slightly clapped her hands. "Okay, as long as you are okay, that is everything that matters to me. If you have some problems, please come and see me."

"How much do w-"

"You don´t need to pay me, it isn´t everyday that I am able to see something like that...but please let me treat you when you get sick."

Amid was always on her way to get more knowledge about treating patients.

.

.

After Amid left, Bell told them everything he knew about the "Nine-tailed Fox".

"Hmm...I have to say...Haruhime fits this description pretty good. She is good hearted, friendly...animals like her."

Mikoto was one of the people who knew Haruhime the best, it was still embarrassing for Haruhime to be praised like this.

"And what do we do now?"

Haruhime looked a bit uneasy, so Mikoto took her hand and gently squeezed it.

"For now all we know is, that you just have an unusual amount of tails...that is all."

"People in the city might look and wonder...but as long as they don´t do something, it should be okay."

Miach looked like he was in thougts. "Haruhime, shall I update your status? We will see if something changed."

"Sounds good, lord Miach."

Haruhime got up to her feet...at least she tried...

"Iah!"

She stumbled backwards and fell onto the couch again, landing on her butt.

"Haruhime?!"

"Ms. Haruhime?!"

"It´s okay...I´m not used to the weight..."

Her tails were everywhere around her, one curled over the backrest, one around her left arm, the third around Mikoto´s wrist.

"M-Mikoto...could you help me, please?"

Mikoto got on her feet and held both of her hands to Haruhime, pulling her gently up. Haruhime was more than wobbily on her feet, swaying back and forth. Slowly, with Mikoto´s help, Haruhime made a step forward...it was embarrassing for her that everyone saw her like that.
It wasn´t like her tails did what they wanted, but Haruhime had to focus on them. One by one, the tails came together, lightly pressed against each other, she was able to hold them down like she moved her original tail.

"It feels...very warm..."

The part of the tails that got pushed against the others, felt like she was sleeping under a blanket, normally her tail would stick out under it.

The only person that said nothing the whole time, was Alfia.

"Woah Haru-Haru..."

"Hm?"

Haruhime slowly turned to Lena, fighting to keep her balance.

"Now that I see it in daylight...you really got a bombshell body..."

"Huh?!"

"I mean look at those breasts, your rack is impressive, these are upper C or even D cups! And your butt...those hips! Holy! You could even make Ishtar competition!"

The others were too shy to say it...but Lena was right, Haruhime´s body was indeed quite the sight.

"Mmmmmh! C-Could you not say these things in front of men?!"

In her mind she added.

Especially not in front of Bell!

The pure Renard blushed heavily and tried to hide her face behind her hands, in that moment of lack of concentration...Haruhime stumbled again. Maybe it was karma or something like that...but she stumbled against Lena.

"Hey wha- Mf! Mmmmf!"

Haruhime tried to find her balance, using her tail as usual, but now it were three...and they curled all over Lena, her shoulders, upper body and her head... To get hit by Haruhime´s tails like that...was like a fluffy cloud of death.

"Aaaah! L-Lena! I´m sorry!"

Bell could only stare in unbelief, Mikoto and Chigusa did their best to help Haruhime and Lena...it took a while.

"Puha! I thought I was a goner!"

"I´m so sorry..."

"Woah...that tail play...you will make a man very happy someday..." Lena rubbed her neck and smirked to Bell

But Lena gulped when she felt an icy glare fromt he side, out of Alfia´s direction.

"Hiiii!"

"Little Lena...please don´t make Haruhime even more flustered..."

"Okay, lord Miach."

"Thank you."

"But I have to say Haru-Haru...your tails smell really good...and this time I don´t mean it in a lewd way...you...your whole body...you smell...just really good.

"Hm?" Haruhime sniffed on her arm. "I don´t smell anything unusual."

"I thought it was just my imagination..."

"Chigusa?"

"When I tried to help you with the tails...I smelled it too...it is...like a...hmm...spring meadow?"

"Really?"

"A spring meadow! Right! That´s where I knew this smell from!" Mikoto joined them.

"Haruhime...may I?..."

"Ms. Nahza? Go on..."

One of her tails moved toward Nahza, when she moved only one it was quite easy.

"Wow...it smells really good..."

Lena stared at Haruhime´s body, her hands twitched...

"No! Bad!"

Nahza had a secret weapon against Lena...a spray bottle with water, that she normally used to water the plants.

"Nya! I´m not a cat!"

Lena backed away when Nahza sprayed water at her.

.

.

Bell´s vision went dark when Alfia´s hands moved over his eyes. Takemikazuchi and Ouka stepped outside, Mikoto and Chigusa went in Haruhime´s room.

After Haruhime turned carefully around, Miach needed a while to find a place to stand behind her. Nahza helped by holding her tails.

"Haruhime, ready?"

"Yes."

Miach let Haruhime time to open the Kimono and slip it down on her body, he held his eyes closed while she did that. Mikoto had done fantastic work...right now she sat in Haruhime´s room and changed her clothes with Chigusa´s help.

To her shame, Haruhime had to wear nothing under her Kimono, at least on her chest...while it was a traditional way to be worn...it felt shameful for her. But...it was a bit a funny sight for Nahza...Haruhime didn´t even need her hands to cover her breasts, two of her tails moved forward and curled around her upper body.

"I have to say...they sure look convenient."

Haruhime had to supress a giggle...the fur of her tails tickled on her skin.

"So Haruhime...I will start, okay?"

"Please do."

Miach carefully started the ritual that he had done many times by now.

After he was done, Miach used the special paper, while Nahza helped Haruhime to close her Kimono again. They sat next to each other when Miach showed her the special paper.

"This...this is..."

.

.

Haruhime Sanjouno

Belongs to: Miach Familia

Level: 1

Strength: F 301

Endurance: F 302

Dexterity: G 290

Agility: G 260

Magic: B 701 (+30)

Spells: Uchide no Kozuchi

Taiyo no hono

Skills: The Fox and the Rabbit .

.

.
"Eeeeeeh?! My magic went up this much without me doing anything? And what is this extra number? Is...is this a new magic spell?!"

"It looks like it."

"But I don´t understand, why did it change so much?"

"Honestly, I can only guess it has something to do with your tails."

Alfia eventually took her hands off Bell´s eyes.

"Haruhime."

"Lady Alfia?"

"I know I am not part of your familia, but may I take a look?"

Haruhime nodded and handed Alfia the paper.

"Hm. I have to agree with god Miach. Renard´s are known to be strong magic user and your friend told us that your kind is even more rare than normal fox people. Even I have never seen something like this."

"Hm..."

Nahza nodded impressed. "You really are something else, Haruhime..."

"Please don´t say that..."

Bell agreed with Nahza.

"So, I still have a question."

"Lady Alfia?"

"You said Bell helped you when your tails parted."

"Yes."

"Then would you mind to explain, why my son has a large hickey on his neck?"

All three of Haruhime´s tails got pushed against her body in fear and shame.

"Ah...Ahm...I..."

"My eyes are here, young lady."

"*Gulp*"

"Mom, please wait."

"I will get to you soon enough, young man. You could explain to me why you didn´t wake up that amazon here or your captain to help Haruhime."

*"Gulp*"

.

.
For a few minutes after Alfia left, after getting her answers, Haruhime walked slowly around in the living room. She focused on one tail at a time and slowly moved it...then two. When she was confident enough, Haruhime left the living room and walked slowly towards the bathroom, then the kitchen.
She felt like a small child when she walked around slowly like this, holding on everything that was there to support her balance. It was like she had suddenly two limbs more...and yet not. Haruhime learned pretty fast to move all three at once like it was one big tail, the problem was, her muscles hurt from that...it was like she was clenching her arms together and held them pressed...also there was the problem with the warmth.

Since it was the usual thing for her to do, Haruhime slowly walked to the kitchen to make some tea. She felt more at ease when she stopped at the countertop and prepared the tea.

"Haru-Haru?"

"Yes, Lena?"

Haruhime turned around and...she felt something against her tail.

"Woah!...Safe!"

Lena jumped forward and caught the teacup that Haruhime had swished away with one of her tails.

"Oh!"

Haruhime turned around again and...

"Hya!...Safe!"

Lena had to jump again...

"Aaaah Haruhime!"

Mikoto too, jumped into the kitchen and caught a tea cup.

"I´m sorry!"

"Stop turning around! Stay still Haru-Haru!"

Haruhime stopped but she got really nervous, her tails twitched...then they moved all at once into various directions. She even tried to hold them down with her hands...but it was just too much. Whenever she moved, the muscles in her back and tails reacted and moved in a way that her body told them...but not a way that she intended.
Haruhime wanted to cry...it was just too much.

"I feel so useless..."

Her tails dropped...but thankfully they stopped moving around like they had their own will. Haruhime stumbled out of the kitchen into the living room, fighting with her balance but sitting down on the couch.

"Haruhime, that was amazing!"

"Hm?"

Mikoto smiled when she followed Haruhime. "Your tails, you did nothing with them just now, you moved them normally when you walked."

"But...I didn´t do anything...I didn´t think about anything."

"Did you thought what you wanted to do when you only had one?"

"No, I mean I grew up with it."

"Maybe that´s the trick, don´t think and just move to what you want."

"Hm."

Mikoto smiled encouraging. "And please don´t forget Haruhime...you don´t even have them for a day now...don´t be sad, okay?"

"Okay..."

Mikoto finished making the tea and brought the tray in the living room. Haruhime sat sideways on the couch and moved the tails one by one, she tried to remember the feelings of her muscles when she moved a specific one.
For everyone else they all looked the same, but since it was a body part of her, she felt the difference.

Haruhime was in thoughts and didn´t notice that someone knocked on the door.

"Haruhime."

"Hm? Oh, Bell."

He was back and was amazed by her sight.

"Wow..."

Bell noticed that Lena´s hands twitched slightly while she looked at Haruhime´s tails, he had a guess why. Lena walked to the couch and carefully sat down next to Haruhime, staring at the tails. Haruhime knew that Lena was fascinated by her tail and now there were even more.

"Ahm...if you want...you can touch them..."

"Really?!"

Lena´s eyes shone, she looked so...hopeful.

"Of course."

She moved her left hand slowly towards a tail, gently touching the tip.

"Ehe...so fluffy."

Lena giggled happily when she softly squeezed the tail, another tail moved towards her hand and curled around her wrist.

"Wow...even more fluffy."

Haruhime turned her back to Lena, so that she had access to all of her tails.

"Does that hurt?"

"No."

"Is it heavy?"

"A little bit."
Lena touched a tail with each hand, giggling again when another tail curled around her elbow.

"They smell really good."

"Th-Thank you."

For a few moments, Lena gently fluffed the two tails...but she couldn´t held back...

"Mmmh!"

Haruhime startled a bit, Lena leaned forward and burried her face and upper body...in the three fluffy tails.

"The...ultimate...floof..."

Lena closed her eyes and embraced the fluffiness...it felt really good to hug this part of Haruhime.

"M-Ms. Lena...that...tickles.."

"Haaah...you are...so fluffy...it feels...so good..."

Haruhime got goosebumbs and twitched a bit, but she didn´t pull her tails away from Lena. The few people that were present watched amazed...Haruhime´s tails curled naturally into Lena´s direction, as if she was hugging her that way.
Lena vanished more and more into the tails, they only saw where her head was due to her black hair.

"So warm...it feels...smells...so nice..."

Haruhime smiled while she looked over her shoulder, Lena got more and more relaxed while she sunk deeper into the fluffy tails. It looked like she was really tired...they couldn´t know that, but Lena didn´t slept much, she was really worried about Haruhime.

Sometimes...Lena behaved like a small child...she was so innocent when she fluffed and hugged Haruhime´s tails. And Haruhime had that strong motherly side on her...it felt just right for her to let Lena do that.

Bell really would love nothing more than to swap places with Lena.

"Mnnnn..."

"Hm?"

Haruhime was the only one that heard Lena´s mumble, but due to her tails muffling the words, she wasn´t sure what she had said.

"Ms. Lena?"

Bell leaned closer, but Lena didn´t react.

"Zzzzz..."

"She...fell asleep..."

A warm, motherly smile came to Haruhime´s lips. "Ehe, just let her."

"Is it okay?"

"Yes, Bell...just let her."

Lena sank down more and more to the side, leaning on the backrest...the tails curled around her upper bodylike a blanket, she even used one as a pillow. The feeling triggered a memory very deep inside of Lena, when she was still too small to receive combat training, when she felt the loving embrace of her mother.

And the smell...reminded her of the meadow that she sat on some warm days. Haruhime´s tails twitched a bit when Lena gently burried her hands between them.

Bell was a bit red. I want to do that too...

It was a sweet sight indeed, Haruhime turned carefully to the table, letting her tails rest so that Lena could sleep.

"Haruhime?" Mikoto only whispered.

"Yes?"

Everyone now whispered softly.

"See, you didn´t think about how to move your tails."

"Hmm..you are right."

Bell said nothing, he was enchanted by the sight of Haruhime..she looked so peaceful. And he was glad that she seemed to be fine.

"Haruhime, how do you feel?"

"Better, I slowly get used to them."

"Yeah...slowly..." Lily smirked.

Mikoto screwed up her eyes and raised the spray bottle, that belonged to Nahza.

"Hey, Lily meant it as a compliment." The young prum pouted.

Maybe it was because of the sunrays from behind...or those three golden tails...but Haruhime looked almost like a goddess now...even though she was a mortal. Miach had heard stories from other gods, some mortals were just like that...in the past those people were high priests and similar things, depending on the religion.

The tails had stopped moving, because Haruhime didn´t want to disturb Lena in her sleep. By instinct she did exactly what was needed to sit relaxed and keep the tails under control. It would need a few days to gain the complete control, but it was a start.
They kept talking to each other, Lena napped for nearly an hour inside the tails. Bell burned this sight into his mind...the expression on Lena´s face when he saw it a last time before the tails blocked his view...

He wanted to do that too. But what drew his gaze in the most, was Haruhime´s expression.

So peacefull...so relaxed...so...beautiful...

That was what Bell wanted to protect...this innocence.

.

.

"Haruhime, is it okay like this?"

"Y-Yes, thank you...L-Lena..."

Lena knelt naked behind Haruhime. Mikoto and Chigusa needed a break and went to sleep early, they had worked on Haruhime´s clothes the whole day. So when it came to taking a shower, Lena kept Haruhime company and helped her. In secret...she didn´t want to be apart from those tails...

Haruhime needed help to wash her back, Lena was really fascinated from the spot where the tails grew from.

"How does..this feel? I mean...having a tail?"

"Hmm...it is hard to describe...I had my tail since birth...I find it harder to imagine not having one. I guess...it is like...the feeling of my arms?"

"And with so many?"

"This feels indeed a bit...strange...I hope I will get used to it soon."

"I´m sure of it."

"Meep!"

"Oh, sorry, ehehe."

Lena couldn´t fight the urge...she had gently tapped the spot above Haruhime´s tail base...

"P-Please don´t...this spot...is sensitive..."

Haruhime shivered a bit when Lena continued to wash her back, her tails stroked and curled around Lena´s arms and shoulders...something that Lena really enjoyed.

But one of her tails moved around on it´s own.

"Hm? What is th-"

"Ahm Haru-Haru, this place is reserved for Bete Loga."

"Hm? Oh! S-Sorry!"

"It´s okay, we are both girls anyway. Ha! Imagine your boyfriend would´ve helped you to shower."

"B-B-Bell isn´t my boyfriend! And this would be lewd!"

"What?! Showering together feels great!"

Both young women enjoyed the others presence and talked for a while in the bath, Lena always managed to distract Haruhime from her worries. When she got out of the shower, Haruhime needed Lena´s help again, her tails got really heavy due to the water. Haruhime didn´t see it...but Lena´s heart broke when she saw Haruhime´s tails like this.

No...floof...!

But the change when the tails had dried up...was amazing.

So much floof!

Lena loved the sight, Haruhime´s tails nearly shone and it was much easier for Haruhime to move them now.

"Ahm, Haru-Haru, may I?"

"Ehehe...feel free."

"Haaaah, this is the best. I wonder if Bete Loga would find me more atractive if I had a tail too. Hm, I think I know a shop where I can buy one to attach it to my body."

"What?"

"Nothing, too early for you."

"Ahm, okay.."

Lena loved it...fluffing the freshly washed and dry tails...the smell was even better than before. .

.

.

The day went by peacefully, but Haruhime would have a few problems to find the perfect position to sleep.

While Bell went to Babel, to shop for a new armor, he would have an encounter with a young, red haired man, as if it was their fate. Lily went to her training with Alfia and suddenly, Lena showed up as the first thing in the morning.

"Yo, Haru-Haru."

"Good morning,Lena. What brings you here so early?"

"I forgot something yesterday."

"And what?"

.

.

.
Lena turned around to Miach and grinned. "Lord Miach, would you let me join your familia?"

.