Later that day, Ayane cuddled with Momiji at the top of the stairs leading to the maidens' home. Ayane sat behind Momiji, hugging her with the butterfly's hands on Momiji's. The shrine maiden thought she would be holding Ayane due to her robe would warm Ayane's body, but Ayane insisted she wanted to embrace Momiji. The purple kunoichi did so with a closed-eye satisfied smile, resting her chin on Momiji's shoulder. Momiji overlooked the village feeling Ayane's tight but loving hug.

Ayane sighed feeling the maiden's robe against her own body. Momiji couldn't help but smile seeing Ayane happy after the confrontation with the mob earlier that day. The maiden moved a hand up to cup Ayane's cheek and kissed the other one.

"I'm glad you're here, Mistress. Your company helps me miss Kasumi-chan less." Momiji said.

Ayane opened her eyes, still looking forward.

"Maybe I should become your second wife? Then, we can be together all the time with Onee-chan." She offered in a teasing way.

Momiji giggled softly, moving hair from her own face.

"Tempting, but I'll have to decline. I wouldn't want to take Lady Helena's special flower away from her… Unless we can make it a four-person marriage." She teased back.

"I doubt it. The idea of having three wives might be too much for her to handle." Ayane joked back, making both girls giggle together at the image of Helena trying to comprehend the concept.

Momiji put her cheek on Ayane's, rubbing them together loving the feel of Ayane's soft skin on her own, making them giggle further. But after, Momiji sighed a little deeply as she looked down with a despondent look.

This got Ayane's interest and she lifted her head up to probe the conversation further.

"Something on your mind?" She asked concerningly.

Momiji lifted her head up a bit, holding Ayane's hand.

"I know you were joking… but Kasumi-chan and I have talked before about the idea of… expanding our marriage." She admitted.

Ayane's head went back a bit, surprised at what she heard.

"You're kidding…?"

Momiji shook her head, making Ayane's eyes widen in disbelief.

"We've talked about being in a polyamorous marriage before, shortly after we got married. Kasumi is completely open to it… and it sounds nice to me, too." Momiji said before lifting her hand and face up further to meet Ayane's eyes.

"And we even thought of asking you first to join… But I can't commit. I love Kasumi-chan with all my heart. I'm content with it just being us for now. That could change one day… but for now, I only have enough love in my heart to call Kasumi my wife."

"I… I never expected that…" Ayane said in disbelief.

Momiji kissed the back of Ayane's gloved hand, hoping to comfort her mistress a little.

"I didn't mean to raise your hopes, I apologize if I did. But that's the truth. Kasumi-chan will be fine if I told you about it as long as you were the first either of us confess this idea to." Momiji said softly.

Ayane blinked repeatedly, then looked forward to shake her head.

"Wow… I'm… I'm not sure what to say." She stammered a little.

Then, she looked back at Momiji.

"Would I be it? Or is there more?" She asked.

Momiji looked down for a moment, then up again to see Ayane's curious crimson eyes.

"Can you keep it a secret? Only we and Kasumi-chan can know about it." Momiji offered.

Ayane's brow furrowed for a bit, as her face scrunched in pondering the plea. Then, she looked back at Momiji with a smile.

"Kiss me for it. And I promise I'll be silent." She countered.

Momiji smiled and nodded, before moving her hair away from her angelic face again.

The girls moved their hands to link their pinkies together, pinky swearing about the secret before sharing a loving kiss to seal the deal.

"I promise." Momiji said a little happily.

Ayane nodded, zipping her lips together with her hand before wrapping the arm around Momiji again. They leaned close to each other for Momiji to whisper in Ayane's ear. Ayane nodded as Momiji confessed the secret to her mistress.

"You're serious about Lady Helena?" Ayane said after moving back again.

Momiji nodded before they leaned closer again for the maiden to finish sharing. Ayane moved back once again, surprised at what she heard.

"And them?!" She asked.

Momiji nodded once more, looking down while holding Ayane's hand once more.

"Really, there are too many complications to overcome in order to make that work. I would love to include Lady Helena and those other girls along with yourself… but that would cause a lot of uprooting." Momiji admitted sadly.

"Not to mention they are more like free spirits. I doubt they would settle down here." Ayane added.

Momiji sighed and nodded.

"And as I mentioned… I love Kasumi-chan too much at the moment. I'm perfectly happy with it just being her and myself. She makes feel… complete." Momiji said before cupping Ayane's cheek again, looking at her gaze with a warm smile.

"And there's you, of course. The woman I would love to be my second wife if we can make it work. Don't think I'd leave you behind, Mistress." Momiji said softly before kissing Ayane again.

Ayane's heart warmed a little before she could even ask about her status, as if Momiji expected her to come up with a quick remark from her sharp-witted tongue. Ayane smiled back and rested her chin back on Momiji's shoulder with a half-happy sigh.

"So, that would make six of us, then?" She asked.

Momiji nodded, confirming Ayane's guess.

"It's just a wet dream for now… But if it could come true, I would be satisfied sharing that life with all of you." Momiji said, leaning her head on Ayane's and closing her eyes.

"Hope is a dangerous thing…" Ayane said.

"But it can foster the most beautiful of outcomes, too." Momiji replied with a tiny sense of her usual optimism.

Ayane shook her head around a bit, as her face made a "She's got a point" look.

Momiji rested her head, leaning it on Ayane's with a sigh and closed eyes of her own.

"I mean it when I want to make you my second wife. Ayane-sama, my life would be even more fulfilled if our lives didn't pull us in separate directions." Momiji said before moving her head to take Ayane's head with one hand.

The maiden leaves another slow kiss on Ayane's cheek before continuing.

"Remember… focus on becoming the next strong clan leader of your home… my beautiful protector."

Ayane nods as Momiji rests her head on Ayane's again, sighing satisfied with letting out the wishes in her and Kasumi's hearts onto their most trusting companion.

"If Kasumi were here, this moment would be perfect…" Momiji said softly.

The raven-haired girl silently recalled one of the last occasions she was with her inseparable maiden and wife: The redhead adorned in her Immaculate White ninja garb to match with the same robe Momiji was wearing, and her hair in its classic braid, sitting on the Hayabusa prodigy's lap in a bridal position with her arms around Momiji's neck.

Momiji recalled the giggles they shared as she held Kasumi in her lap while they softly exchanged kisses, making out while talking atop the same stairs Momiji and Ayane were sitting on. Momiji felt she would truly be in heaven if Kasumi was there, still on her lap while Ayane held her from behind.

Momiji's dream scenario was broken when she suddenly felt Ayane's lips lightly touching her neck a few times before her mind's senses snapped her into reality, hearing Ayane lightly smooch her skin. Momiji gasped softly, feeling herself get aroused by her mistress's movements.

"I can make this perfect…" Ayane said in-between light kisses.

"For both of us… on behalf… of me… and my sister…"

Momiji panted slowly, holding Ayane's head again as she felt Ayane's kisses deepen on her neck, feeling her neck get tickled.

"Ohhhhh… Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh… Missssstresssssss…" Momiji panted.

"Say it." Ayane replied softly. "Keep saying it… You never called me Mistress before today… I like it… I love it…"

Momiji felt herself losing to the touches of her mistress and had to make a snap decision to avoid causing a scene that would raise attention to them.

In a flash without even thinking, Momiji turned her head to meet Ayane's lips. The next thing both girls realized, they found the other girl's tongue in their mouth. Without opening their eyes, Momiji shifted her position to hold Ayane's head in her hands while Ayane held hers, as they breathed heavily through their noses, moaning passionately as their lips repeatedly touched for them to gain more air. Ayane moved her hands around to grab and hold to any piece of Momiji's robe as if her life depended on it, to make sure their makeout would never end as the seemingly endless game of oral hockey kept going.

Momiji ran her hands through Ayane's short hair over and over, feeling her bandana all the while. The feeling sent shivers down Ayane's spine and raised goosebumps all over her body. Both girls attacked the other with as much passionate force as possible as long as the will to summon their love from their hearts lasted to show the other girl how much they loved each other.

Somehow, no one noticed the kunoichi making out like ferocious wild animals as they kept pushing their oxygen limits. But eventually, they did stop, breaking their kiss with a final desperate smooch and looking at each other with needing eyes. But Momiji's hazel orbs were filled with a mix of lustful attention… and a heart full of guilt, realizing why Ayane initiated the oral activity.

"Ayane-sama… I'm sorry." Momiji panted.

"I didn't mean… to neglect you. I swear… I don't take you… for granted… I love you." She apologized before kissing Ayane forcefully again.

"I love you." She said again with more conviction before kissing her butterfly mistress again.

"I love you." She repeated with guilt again, kissing Ayane once more with all the love she had, keeping her eyes shut tight to not cry in front of her mistress.

Momiji broke the last lip lock to let them both finally take in air as they leaned foreheads together with closed eyes for a minute.

After recovering, Momiji spoke up again.

"I never… should have said that… in front of you. I'm sorry… I'm so… sorry."

Momiji opened her eyes, gasping at feeling Ayane's hands cradling the back of her neck. She saw the kunoichi panting lightly as her crimson eyes strongly looked into her own with that single-minded focus Ayane was known for. Momiji couldn't help but feel a little intimated inside in her heart, putting her fist over her chest.

"STOP… BLAMING… YOURSELF." Ayane stressed.

Momiji remained silent, trying to get words out when she opened her mouth only for weak, confused noises to spill out. Ayane spoke up again before the maiden in her hands could find the strength to say anything.

"It's not… your fault." Ayane stressed again.

"I don't care if you said Kasumi-chan's name. I don't care if you'd say Lady Helena's name. I trust them, you know that. If they were here, this moment would be even better. But I'm so happy to be here with you right now, Momiji-chan."

"But… Ayane-sama…" Momiji said weakly.

"If you spoke of anyone else besides them, then I would be offended. Not just for me, but for Sis and our lady, too." Ayane replied, keeping her serious tone.

"…I… I'm sorry… I'm sorry…" Momiji said with a weak, but sincere voice as she leaned her head on Ayane's again.

However, the butterfly was getting sick of hearing Momiji being repetitively apologetic. She pushed Momiji to sit straight back up so she could straighten herself up as well.

"If you keep acting like that, I'm going to slap you." Ayane suddenly threatened but in her normal voice again.

Momiji gasped, leaning back a bit with her fist still clutched. She had felt Ayane's strikes before, but knew it was Ayane's act of instilling discipline in her even though both of them knew it wasn't right. Momiji didn't blame Ayane, either, after knowing the upbringing the butterfly had. To her, it was how she was taught to grow stronger when she struggled in her kunoichi training, having to put up with the borderline abusive teachings that made her grow stronger when her life was defined by the "cursed tengu child" labels in her childhood youth.

Ayane also felt bad about it inside, too, knowing Momiji never deserved such behavior toward her. Most of the time, it came off as a reflex. Ayane even apologized sometimes, knowing she was out of line, yet was always surprised when Momiji never blamed her for getting struck, replying with empathy and understanding. Ayane was impressed, and even a little envious, on how someone so kind could be so strong as a person. The butterfly always found herself and the shrine maiden in each other's arms after the fact as a way to console each other. Ayane always questioned how she could hurt someone so precious to her, regardless for her reasons. Even now, she didn't fully believe she would follow through with her threat because Momiji was such a dear, close, trusting friend to her that she almost questioned why she would hit Momiji just for being annoyed by her.

But the act she put up did fool the kindhearted maiden, as Momiji bowed quickly in front of her trying to gather herself.

"If you wish, Ayane-sama… I'm sorr—" Momiji said before covering her mouth with wide eyes, almost letting a habitual apology come out.

Ayane looked at Momiji suspiciously, making Momiji shake her head trying to convince her mistress she wasn't going to say "sorry" again.

"I'm sure you were going to say it again…" Ayane said, almost baiting her pupil and lover.

Momiji moved her hand, nervously saying, "I wasn't, I swear! It almost slipped out, I'm sorry for tha—" before covering her mouth again with both hands and shaking her head again while muffling her words of plea.

Ayane leaned closer as Momiji's wide eyes tried to convince her she was trying to fight her habit. But as much as Ayane was getting annoyed by the repeated apologies… she couldn't bring herself to raise a hand against the shrine maiden. She blamed herself for getting soft around Momiji and Kasumi after being with them so much, but Ayane put her hands on Momiji's shoulders for a moment to bring in the maiden into a hug after looking at Momiji for a moment of doubting herself.

"You're such a goody two-shoes, like Onee-chan!... But dammit, that's why I love you two." Ayane admitted.

Momiji was surprised at the sudden behavior change, but returned the hug pulling Ayane's head into her shoulder after sinking her own face into Ayane's shoulder.

"I never meant to offend you, Mistress… I'm just so messed up inside from Kasumi-chan being gone for so long." Momiji said in Ayane's shoulder.

"…I feel the same way sometimes." Ayane admitted back.

"But I'm sure Lady Helena is looking after her for us."

Momiji nodded as their hug deepened as the girls wrapped their arms around the other's neck. Momiji moved one hand down to rub Ayane's back in circles while cradling and running her hand down the butterfly's short purple locks on the back of Ayane's head. Ayane held Momiji's back of her head with one hand, too, loving the gentle maiden's touches. How Momiji could still consider her feelings after all of this was a mystery Ayane couldn't solve… but she decided to not bother, choosing to love the embracing moment they were having. She held Momiji as tight as she could before each ninja girl took turns planting a loving kiss on the other's cheek.

After they felt better, both girls sat back up with Momiji breathing out with relief as both girls planted their hands on their laps.

"I think we both needed this today." Ayane said.

Momiji nodded, tapping her fingers of one hand over the other. Ayane noticed and put her hand over Momiji's nervous one, making the maiden look down a bit stunned at the gesture, but she looked back up to her mistress and gave that warm loving smile as thanks.

Ayane loved seeing that precious grin, making herself feel better and she smiled back. The butterfly took the chance to ask something she was nervous about, too, after all that has happened.

Rubbing the back of her neck with the same hand she used to calm down Momiji, Ayane leaned back while showing the nervous action.

"…Momiji-chan… I'd like to stay at your place for a few days. I'm… just not ready to go home yet. It's been one ordeal after another back there, and I just need to take my mind off of it for a while… Is that fine with you?" Ayane asked, showing her nerves now.

Momiji tilted her head a tiny bit, absorbing the question showing a quizzical look for a moment before showing that big smile again, giggling as she took Ayane's other hand in her own and held it.

"You don't have to ask, silly! Kasumi-chan and I have told you before we'll always welcome you into our home! It's just as much yours as it is ours. I'd be honored to have you stay for a while." Momiji accepted.

"Besides, I'd love to have some company to keep my mind off of missing my beloved wife." She added.

Ayane nodded and the ninja starlets hugged again with closed-eyed smiles.

"We definitely needed this." Ayane said.

Momiji nodded before they pulled back to hold both hands of the other girl.

"I still have some chores to do before we can spend the rest of the day inside. Plus, I still need to find some food for dinner tonight. You're okay to tag along if you like." Momiji offered.

"As much as I would like to…" Ayane started before rubbing the inner corners of her closed eyes with a thumb and index finger before looking at Momiji again.

"I've felt a little tired lately. I've been having trouble sleeping." Ayane finished.

"Oh no, are you okay?" Momiji asked concerned with her face matching her worriedness.

"Have you been having bad dreams about your dad like before?"

"No, thankfully. I haven't had any bad dreams in a while… I've just been too stressed from the villagers back home bugging me because of the same old reasons. You're… really kind to ask, though." Ayane said before looking away with a bashful look, surprised inside Momiji remembered the last time she had trouble sleeping.

"Nonsense." Momiji said, shifting her position in place so she could put an arm around Ayane.

"Your health is what's important, you know that." The concerned maiden added, rubbing small circles on Ayane's back again.

"Ugh, I know." Ayane said, getting mildly annoyed again.

Sometimes she hated Momiji entering this overly worried "mom mode" the maiden tended to go into fairly often. But the butterfly couldn't bring herself to be too mad since she knows it was only because her lover of a maiden did this when she was extremely concerned for a close soul she cherished. The act almost reminded Ayane of how Kasumi could become so attached to helping someone due to her compassionate nature. It was a behavior Ayane was all too familiar with, but she adored since it felt like her caring mother was somehow channeled through either of the wedded ninja maidens when this happened.

"It's not that bad, I just need some rest…" Ayane argued, but she heard Momiji's gentle, motherly-like voice shushing her as the maiden continued to rub circles on the purple kunoichi's back.

Ayane knew once she heard that noise, there was no winning the debate.

"No, you've been through a lot lately… and I felt like I didn't help you that much." Momiji admitted.

"I'll stay with you to help you fall asleep. I can't finish my duties if I know you're still hurting." Momiji offered.

Ayane felt she was being a bit overbearing, but thought it's just like mothers to be this caring to show how much they want to help their children. Momiji and Kasumi basically acted the same way like this as far as Ayane was concerned, and she thought if her mother Ayame was in the shrine maiden's shoes it wouldn't be any different.

Ayane sighed and straightened up, looking at Momiji with a loving smile and nodded.

"Okay… but I don't want to keep you too long." Ayane said.

Momiji nodded back and told her lover to not worry about the maiden finishing her chores, then shared a quick, loving kiss before Momiji led Ayane inside her home.

Momiji spent some time, humming a relaxing tune that blessed Ayane's ears as the butterfly rested of Momiji's kneeling lap while they were on a short counter that had enough room to make a small, stiff bed on the first floor of the house near a circular window. Ayane enjoyed the gentle pets Momiji gave as she had her hands on her stomach before turning her head up and diagonal, seeing Momiji with her eyes closed swaying a little from side to side, humming her melody while Ayane felt the maiden's gentle fingers play with her short strands from time to time. Ayane kept a smile on the whole time before facing forward again and closed her eyes slowly as she hoped Momiji's dulcet tunes affected her enough to have a peaceful nap so the kunoichi could wake up in time to a memorable dinner with the long-time dragon shrine maiden of Hayabusa village.

Once Ayane had fully fallen asleep, Momiji made sure to slide a pillow under Ayane's head before getting off the bed to stand up. She overlooked the butterfly kunoichi, silently sleeping with a relaxing smile, seeing Ayane's body heave slowly from her slumber.

Momiji smiled seeing the sleeping kunoichi and knelt down, combing some strands from Ayane's face, whispering "sweet dreams" to her mistress and stood up to hunch over and leave one more kiss on Ayane's soft, smiling lips.

The dragoness could swear she saw Ayane's smile grew and giggled softly, smiling herself as Ayane turned to her side, sighing peacefully in her sleep holding her smile as she moved one hand under the pillow, keeping the other one on her slim garbed stomach and slightly bending her legs to make her feet drift apart a little.

Momiji felt Ayane would be fine in the state she was in and stood up completely to turn and grab a wooly brown basket for carrying food back for that night's dinner. She slung it over her bent arm to hang it from there and placed the free hand on the doorknob. The maiden turned her head once more to give one last check on her sleeping mistress, happy that Ayane was still at peace before gently opening the door to exit her home and closed it just as softly to not disturb Ayane's trip through dreamland.

To be continued...