Chapter 66.6

(Kunoh's Shrine, Kuoh Japan)

Sachiko 'the Sly', had been getting a lot of visitors to her shrine as of late. Well, to be honest, it wasn't really her shrine. Kunou was the actual land holder. But she was at school, or out with friends, or doing what ever it was that a teen-aged girl, kitsune or not, did.

But that was okay. Kunou still did her duty and made sure the energy of the city of Kuoh remained harmonious. But part of that was because Sachiko worked a little overtime on her behalf.

Why? Because her mother, Kodori, had asked very nicely. 'Help her, so she can still be a child, but don't do it all for her, so she can learn to be an adult.'

The guests, extra special guests, might have thought Sachiko's happy tail flailing was because she was happy to see them. She was! But she was really just remembering the love she had been shown by her mother, in the limited time they could be together.

"Hello again, Sachiko." Akeno said with her usual perfect smile, kneeling in front of the spirit fox guardian of her former home (but not letting her knees touch the ground!). "I hope you don't mind, but we have more work to do."

As was the semi-solid nature of her existence, Sachiko first sniffed at Akeno's offered hand, accepted headpats, then snaked over her body, her sensitive nose looking for snacks and occasionally poking Akeno's ticklish spots. Her spiral around the Miko's body eventually ended up with her laying over her shoulder, a little paper package of fried tofu held in her teeth.

"Well, then, since you've accepted my offering, I suppose we can get to work." Akeno smiled, helping Sachiko actually open the little paper bag. "Gasper-kun?"

"Almost... there..." Gasper had grown, sure, but he was still rather effeminate, and all those stairs had all but done him in. To be fair, he was also carrying something almost as large as he was over his shoulder.

(Ginza, secured Embassy Dormitories)

One of the many concessions that Japan had to cede to the rest of the world, was the construction of 'the Ginza Dormitories'. Part embassy, part staging grounds, part laboratory, it was where almost everyone who planned on going across to the other side of the Gate, or Orario, ended up while they waited for the Junction.

As the day of the next Junction got closer, the various countries of the world who had paid 'the iron price' (not the actual name, but the accepted one) to the Guild of Orario for access to the Dungeon (or just Orario itself for other reasons, mostly scientific), the Dormitories started to fill.

Some, armed with better intelligence from their fellow delvers, were set to rotate out with those already there, with better, more refined weapons and strategy. Some were there to study the strange new world, adding to, or replacing the science teams already there.

Others still... well they were... others.

For example, one of the new arrivals for the Indian Para, was dressed not in the standard uniform of their military, but instead he was dressed more like the hero from a Bollywood movie. Long pants, nice jacket, all kinds of shiny bits and trim. But to anyone who knew the signs, he carried himself like a fighter, and both his hands, from the edges of his fingernails all the way to what little you could see of his collar, were tattooed in black ink.

Another notable arrival, was from the Greek Hellenic 13th Spec-ops. But we'll get back to him.

Two arrivals from China caused quite the buzz.

Part of it was the age of the first one. He was, by all accounts, ancient. In actuality, by human standards, he was impossibly old. But even at the age of 146, he had no trouble moving about. Skin the colour (and texture) of dried and cracked mud, hair as white as salt, and with dark glasses that were usually worn by the blind, those at the Dorm wondered if the new age of 'magic' had given rise to a zombie. But while his advanced years had hardly hunched his back, his modest 155cm (5'1") was absolutely dwarfed by the man who arrived with him.

While the height difference wasn't so great (176cm or 5'9") the old man's escort was wide shouldered, slab muscled, and exuded an air of health. But at first glance, if you were say, a passerby or total layman in terms of combat, he was a cripple. One of his legs ended in a simple metal peg prosthetic, and one shoulder seemed to be missing part of its muscle between the neck and deltoid. Even so, he moved like a hunting cat, metal 'foot' or not, even as he exuded a strangely approachable air to compensate for the obvious 'too old for this' aura from his elder.

"I wonder if this will be worth it. Can't afford to waste time you know." The older of the two said as they followed a JSDF soldier towards what would be their quarters until the Junction between worlds.

"From what I've heard, honoured elder, there is a wealth of wonders to be had, both in their city, and the place they call 'the dungeon'."

The soldier paused, looked at a little card in his hand, and slid it into a slot on an otherwise blank door. Then, in a reasonable Mandarin he said, "Master Kaiou Kaku, Master Kaiou Retsu, your room, key, and hall passes." He bowed, a small bundle of stuff between the thumb and index fingers of both hands. The larger of the two, Retsu, took it, and the JSDF officer finished with, "The Junction is in three days, please do not lose that."

The shorter of the two, basically ignored the officer. But Retsu accepted the bundle as Kaku breezed past into the room. "Is replacing this pass worse than the paperwork to get here at all?" This was said in a near flawless Japanese, with a clear respect for 'the working man' in his voice.

"Worse." The officer said with a 'sorry I just work here look', "You will have to wait for the next junction. The Guild's Law is nearly absolute on this, and only one exception has been made."

"One?"

"Cooking accident in clear view of a Guild employee as witness." The JSDF officer's voice was absolutely serious. "While they share laws with us here, their law is total when it comes to entry to their world."

"Tyrants then... no?" Retsu stopped as the officer's head shaking.

"There are no exceptions to their laws over there. No matter who breaks the rule, from weakest to strongest." Something occurred to him suddenly, "Ah, pardon, but your leg. Have you had it measured yet?"

"Measured? No." Retsu was puzzled, not offended.

"Someone will be by your room for a replacement. No plastics or non-recyclables unless sanctioned for the research teams. They want none of Earth's problems, while they help us find our own solutions."

"I will expect a visit then." He gave the officer a fist-in-palm bow, "Vegetarian meals only please."

"Noted. Good luck." And they parted ways.

The two fighters, odd as they were, and total celebrities in certain circles, weren't the only 'non standard fighters' to show up for the Junction. Martial artists from other circuits arrived as well. Notably, Cammy White from MI6 arrived in the same Ford Mustang Cobra as Guile from the US Air Force and Abel recently of the French Armed Forces. The two huge men piled out of the back seat of the ultra sporty car looking like they might be sick, while the lithe woman who might have weighed half as much as either of them hopped out of the driver's seat with a catlike stretch and a refreshed smile.

Ken Masters (175cm/5'9" 72kg/158lbs), champion of so many US martial art circuits that even his most die hard fans couldn't name them all, stepped out of the driver's seat of this year's model Porsche, while Biscuit Olivia (180cm/5'11" 150kg/330lbs) manged to gracefully get out of the passenger side while seemingly bypassing several laws of physics with just how muscular he was, even under the nice suit he was wearing. Not only that, somehow, almost impossibly, Cody wedged himself (185cm/6'1" 85kg/187lbs) frame out of the back seat some how as well. The poor car seemed to sigh with relief at the three of them getting out, though it might have been the overpriced suspension gasping its last breath.

And these were far from the last of the 'special assets' who arrived for the upcoming junction.

Heracles watched from his dorm room window as all these prominent humans and more arrived. He'd been one of the early ones to arrive for just this reason too. Officially, he was now part of the Greek Hellenic, though that was for two reasons. First, it seemed appropriate. As the reincarnated soul of the hero with the same name, it was fitting he end up supporting their efforts in another world.

Second reason? Penance. After that mess with the Hero Faction getting wrecked, almost all his 'friends' getting killed or locked up in very special prisons, the few from the Hero Faction who had any kind of freedom were still doing community service.

And now, that included him. Sure, he'd had his sacred gear taken away. But he was still nearly two metres tall and far stronger than any normal human had any right to be. He was still a fighter. Still a battle junkie. And when Azazel showed up at his prison door with a smile and a job offer... the fallen angel had his curiosity.

And when he heard the details, he had his attention. The one responsible for where he ended up, was missing. The world she had come from was open to visitors. This would be his chance...

Chance at what? Not revenge. The last few years in the Underworld, being rehabilitated, hearing about the fates of the other 'heroes', and having his sacred gear as well as the corruption Cao Cao and Georg put into it, and actually seeing Jean after being born again... Revenge just wasn't worth throwing away his first chance at freedom in over five years away.

Strength? Maybe. Maybe he would find what made the one person who pulled apart the strongest people he knew, strong enough to do it, without acting like he had.

Still, this would be the second time in his life where he had to act with any real autonomy. He had to figure out how to get along with his fellow soldiers in this 'Dungeon', figure out how not to get himself killed by people who probably saw him as an enemy, or at least not worth trusting, and maybe even be part of finding out why Kodori went missing.

Or not... That bastard Azazel really just said 'help, or not, but don't make it harder on them, and you can do as you please if you just fill out the occasional report for me'. But even now, even after being stripped down to something just a bit better than 'just a human', he was still Heracles, and Heracles always did things at full force and maximum volume... between regular business hours, since that was the polite thing to do.

One of the personal apartments of the Dormitories, belonged to one of the most important people in the 'known' world of modern day Earth. For all her importance however, it was incredibly modest. A simple futon, a large cabinet, a nice mirror and dresser combo, some floor cushions, and exactly one stuffed Hagane plush (sitting imperiously on one of those few cushions by the single window of the room). This room was home to one person, but currently held two.

Kurin had many 'titles' now. Most of them went far, no, wildly beyond what she thought she had earned. And while even those whom she deeply respected might disagree with her on some of them, she just didn't like all the attention those 'titles' had brought upon her.

But, the first lesson on the path she was on now, was 'accountability'. She had only been offered the job, not told to take it. And thus, she had gone from being a reasonably talented exorcist, to 'The Voice Between Worlds'.

"Ma'am?" Oh, and her new title and position meant she couldn't even sigh without one of her guards taking note. "Should I cancel the conference?"

"That will not be necessary, Guy-san." She replied to the tall (for a Japanese) man just behind and to the left of her, "I merely think of what could have been." She considered herself in the mirror, "Your thoughts on this new wave of guests?"

Had it not been for Kurin already knowing him, Guy would not have been allowed the position he was currently in. To 'the public', he was her bodyguard, butler, and the silent wall between her and the heaps of paperwork she had almost no head for. He was also, occasionally, the 'fetcher of secret snacks' when the young woman just needed a little sugar. To 'the government', he was... nobody. No social media, no records... It was as if he didn't exist from the date on his birth certificate to the day he was suddenly by Kurin's side.

Oh, the powers that be had protested his sudden appearance. That they couldn't have 'just anyone' protecting her. But it was one of the few times Kurin had put her little geta'ed foot down about anything. So now, she had her own personal ninja as 'the all purpose aide' by her side. He was actually her second choice, but Ibuki wasn't quite done her training at that point, and honestly, now that she HAD finished it, she was too loud for her tastes.

"Guy-san?" Kurin asked again.

Guy pulled himself from deep thought, and started to speak slowly, picking up speed as he gathered his thoughts. "Some I know." He started, "From both sides of a gang war that ranged over most of the world. The ones who are here would be considered both the most competent, and... tolerable of them."

"Criminals?" She wasn't surprised. The countries of the world, by this point, knew that sending a 'poor choice' to Orario might close the Gate to them forever. To even get this close to the Gate itself meant they'd gone through so much scrutiny that they would need a ninja to get here.

A ninja better than Guy.

"Some, yes. But the ones I know of were either coerced, or have since reformed." He said with a nod, "Others, I know from what came after."

"The tournaments?"

"Yes. Advertised, secret, or completely hidden. While only a few hold any gifts similar to yours, all of them are exceptional." He replied, something close to a smile attempting to form on his face. "If you can handle his cryptic nature, you might even get along with Dhalsim." Guy mused, his calm, almost placid tone starting to pick up a little.

"Legitimately sponsored?"

"Yes. I will say, however, not all of them have been 'bought' by their representatives. Some, yes, are still motivated by material means. I know that most of them are here for the challenge." Guy paused as Kurin sighed again, "Ma'am?"

"I hope they can contain themselves, and are not disheartened by failure." She sighed, "A shame their 'prize' is away right now."

Guy finally managed a smile, his thin face splitting to reveal perfectly white teeth. "A true fighter sees failure to win as a sign to improve, not give up. And having crossed fists with most of them, I know they are true fighters." He suddenly looked to the door, his body under the nice suit he was wearing becoming cable tight.

"Ah, it's time to start." Kurin said, "Enter."

Heracles stood at the door as it opened without anyone actually touching it, his big hand poised to knock. "Ah, Ma'am Kurin, Guy." After all the whispering between them, his voice seemed to fill the room, even at normal volume. "House is full."

"Your Japanese is getting better." Kurin said, putting one last hair comb in place and standing. "Still undecided?"

Not known for being very smart, the other two forgave him a moment's pause before he replied with, "Oh, I know what to do. And I'll even try to do it right." He didn't bow to either of them, but his old confrontational manner had vanished from his tone, "I even have a new... qualification." He tapped one of the few military styled pins on his uniform, a winged spear.

"You'll just have to earn their trust then." Kurin said, walking past as Heracles stepped aside, "That will be the hardest part for you, I think."

Guy's only word to the much taller man, was to look up at him and say, "Good." With an approving nod, before his body seemed to vanish into mist (fading fog technique!).

It had been the final finger, of a the handful of positive comments he'd gotten from 'the old gang' from Kuoh. And Heracles felt almost hopeful about meeting Kodori's family.

(Fels's secret laboratory, floor 0.5, Orario)

"I think." Fels said, "I have it."

There were two other occupants in his vast underground lab. Three, if you counted the body of a third floating in a big glass tube in one of the rooms. Or, if you were one of those people, two, since the two others next to Fels were Arpeggio, and a nice cellphone on a stand that contained Hida-lite.

The three of them were looking (or pointed at) a nice well lit table with an absolutely mind shattering array of magical stuff drawn on the parchment covering it. To most, even to those with magical inclination, the layers and spirals of magical calculations, mathematical formulae, spiralling rune patterns and the odd math-magic design would cause some people to go into seizures just by looking at it all.

But, the Skeleton, the Geo-mancer, and the Artificial Intelligence (who is adorable), nodded. "Should I..." Hida-asked, her digital voice seeming loud in the stone chambers.

"Please." Fels said, not being one of those people and asking nicely, "Lady Arpeggio? Did you bring it?"

Little camera clicks came from Hida-lite as she took pictures of it all and started compiling the mess of mystic stuff, while Arpeggio nodded, a hand going under her nice wizard robes, "I had to be there for nearly the entire process, but the Hephaestus Crystal Works came through." She took out a collection of perfectly grown crystals. "Will it work over there though?"

The two 'humanoids' looked at the little slab of Hida-lite's home, and after a moment, the AI spoke up, "I will have to ask Papa." She said after her little pixie avatar put away the hourglass icon, "But I see no initial errors or conflicts with the Earth Magic Integration Equations."

"We just have to wait for the junction." Fels said with a sand-over-stone sigh.

"Are you still worried?" Arpeggio asked.

"Of course." He admitted. "But, if it goes well, I may not have to worry at all."

Arpeggio and the Skeletal mage looked towards the room's only entrance, towards the hallway that led to the body floating in the glass tube.

"Well, Shinkage would know more about that... Maybe." Arpeggio shivered a little.

"I think it will work." Hida-lite said confidently. "Papa even asked the jerk who created Shinkage's body! And even he thinks it will work." Her little avatar, the near mirror image of Delly but without the fox features, scratched her head, "Though, I think I understand your reluctance, Fels."

"Oh?"

"Well, copying myself is just something I know I can do, and so long as there is space and time, it will always work. What you have planned is something that's only similar to something that was a..." She paused, "Is the term 'happy accident' correct here?"

Fels sighed again while Arpeggio giggled, "Well, close enough." She said, "Shall we go? I'm sure my sister will be pleased to see me again. I hope... maybe..."

"There there." Hida-lite said, trying to comfort the suddenly pouting earth-mage. "I know for a fact your sister likes you. This new upgraded model has all kinds of little sensors I didn't have before!"

(Junction day, Orario side dormitories)

By Earth's standards, the Guild was primitive. The countries and bureaucrats (though, mostly their secretaries, or anyone with a good computer) had long ago mastered the art of 'getting things from A to B' and 'tracking things as they went from A to B'. It was one of the few things that the leaders of Earth had tried to hold over the Guild when it came to security over the Gate.

However, Royman stuck that idea in a catapult and pulled the lever when he replied to that 'demand' with, "So, tell me why your entire economy is in debt, and you lose track of things no leader should ever lose track of?" Oh, there was a moment of indignation, but he then pulled a little bit of paper out of his pocket and asked, "Remind me what 'MUF' stands for?" Referring to 'material unaccounted for', or more accurately, 'Nuclear material unaccounted for'.

Point proven, the Guild was then allowed to oversee, or rather, be the 'last sign off' for everything Gate related. And while they did an exceptional job, the people of the world were wondering how they were so good at it. Royman's reply, as suggested by Kodori, was to say, "Sometimes, we have the devil's luck and the angels on our shoulders keep us in line."

There had been only one attempt to bribe a Guild official. Just one.

That attempt was made public about two minutes after the culprit and Guild official parted ways. And for the next two months, the person's employer, and their country, were globally embarrassed, the team on the Orario side was informed and put under house arrest, and that country would be starting it's 'year and a day' ban on all Gate related activities.

Of course, there had been a press conference and all that, and the one who had 'taken' the bribe and handed it over as evidence (two minutes and six seconds after the attempt) politely reminded the world once again, that under their rules, no one was above the law.

Royman sighed. Quietly, professionally, but all the same, he sighed.

He was standing next to a JSDF officer in 'the watchtower', watching the first stages of the transfer. First, would be the people. Those leaving would go through the Gate, get processed Earth-side, and return to where ever they had come from. Then the incoming people would come through, and get processed here. It was a little slower than some would have liked, but the clear 'one way' traffic was a precaution. If someone came in while others were leaving, or vice versa, they would be detained, questioned, and depending on why, measures would be taken.

The 'exodus' for personnel had just finished, and now they watched the incoming traffic. "Why the sigh, Sir?" The JSDF asked.

"It's a skill you pick up, after dealing with so many people. I can tell some of them are going to be difficult." He pointed to someone, "That one."

The officer looked out the window, then down at his clipboard, "Ken Masters. World class martial artist. Signed on with the USA team. Note here says 'potential magic user'."

"Arrogant. Oh, I've no doubt he's earned that right from your world. His walk, the way he motions with his hands... But if he doesn't take the Dungeon seriously..." Royman pointed to another, "Her."

A few page flips, "Hmm... Aha. Elena. Signed on with the African team."

"She'll need to wear something with a little more coverage if she wants to survive her first bite... I know 'traditional garb' when I see it, but..." He shook his head, "Him."

The JSDF's eyes went wide, "Oh... um..."

Jack (Hammer) Hanma was... not impressed. After catching wind of the Gate, looming over people until they did his paperwork, then getting to Japan to wait for the Junction... He just wasn't impressed. From his perspective, these 'Guild' people were getting far too much respect. It felt like this new world he was in was being over-advertised as 'dangerous' and 'special'.

All he'd seen so far, were a bunch of stuffed suits who knew how to do paperwork. And now that he was on the other side of the Gate (finally...) the 'warriors' from another world seemed so... primitive. Swords? Armour? A total lack of reaction to some of the strongest fighters on Earth?

Due to his size (a whopping 243cm, or 8'0") he was way at the back of the formation of 'new soldiers' when another one of those 'stuffed suits' walked up to a podium and started a speech. They'd all been given a little earpiece, and were urged to listen through it so they could listen in on the orientation, and while he was grumpy about how much respect they were giving to yet another politician, other world or not, he did listen.

Because at the end of the long winded, boring, and already covered in the little booklet introduction, the guy with pointed ears talking to them finally asked the one question he'd been waiting for.

"Welcome to Orario, warriors of Earth. Now, are there any questions before you are led off to get settled in?" Royman asked, looking over the mixed bag of 'normal' soldiers and 'special assets'.

"Yeah. Over here." Jack said, raising a hand.

Royman ruffled a bit of paper, just for show since he'd already read, looked at, and memorized everyone's face a few minutes before the meeting. "Jack Hanma, Canadian armed forces. What's on your mind?"

"Says in your little book, on the back page, 'there's one in every crowd'. That mean what I think it means?" He broke ranks and stepped over a little so he was standing in the middle row, facing Royman and his silly little podium directly.

"We understand far better than you think, the warrior's mentality. We are a Meritocracy here after all. Would you like to volunteer to be 'that one' in the crowd?" While Royman spoke words Jack didn't understand without the little earpiece, it was clear he sounded almost cheerful.

Jack looked left and right, most of the people he knew shrugging at him with a 'go ahead', while the people he didn't know, mostly the 'normal' soldiers, tried to ignore him. "Sure." He walked forward, a smile on his face, and stopped just within reach of the little podium.

The little stage didn't quite put Royman at eye level with the titanic fighter, and the Guild's master helpfully moved the lectern aside, and stepped to the edge of the stage, just within Jack's reach. Royman had long ago discarded his arrogance, but he couldn't help but smile ever so slightly as he loosened his tie.

Jack lashed out with his right arm, the motion almost without warning and fast enough that the air between his fingers whistled and his uniform's sleeve snapped like a whip.

But his attack met nothing but air. Royman had moved to the side just enough to avoid the serpent-fast strike. Some in the crowd gasped in surprise, a few others clapped politely, but someone laughed.

Jack frowned. He wasn't expecting someone who looked like a middle aged salary man to dodge so easily. He was also not expecting him to be fast enough to tie his thumb and middle finger together with the nice silk tie he had only just been loosening as he attacked.

Normally, he would expect his opponent to taunt him. 'Was that all' or 'too slow!' But no, Royman (said his name tag in something like eight languages) just looked at him impassively, saying nothing, doing nothing, watching him and waiting for his next attack. But instead of attacking, Jack calmly undid the tie around his fingers, opened it up a little, and dropped it back over Royman's head.

Royman smiled in thanks and started to straighten his tie, but with a sudden clap of skin on skin, Jack's huge hands gripped Royman's hands and wrists...

And with a crash Jack fell over, a shoe-print marked in red from chin to forehead on his face. It took him a moment to blink the stars out of his eyes, and while he didn't cry out, he did clap a hand over his face to put pressure on what was going to be an EPIC bruise and bloody nose.

Royman finished straightening his tie, and spoke again, "For the record, I am 'level two'. And while I'll admit, I don't look like much, especially compared to many of you, you have all now seen what even a low ranked Adventurer can do. Please, you are our guests, conduct yourself as such, and we'll have no trouble." A pause, "Mr. Hanma? Are you satisfied with my answer?"

It took Jack a moment to stand up, brush off the people trying to help him up, and then set his nose without a sound past the wet 'pop' of it settling in place again, "For now."

"Good. The dungeon will be open to all of you in two days. Please take that time to settle in, get to know your surroundings a little, and try some of the local foods, just in case some of it doesn't agree with you."

'Off camera', the same JSDF officer found Royman sitting down while looking over the little base around the Gate. In his hand was his shoe, or at least, most of it. The heel was missing, and what looked like teeth marks told the tale of what had removed it. "Wow. He did that?" He remembered himself, "Sir?"

Royman looked away from his shoe, sighed again, and put it back on. "I think your world will do a little better now. Sadly, the 'that one guy' clause at the back of the book forbids me from charging for any damages done to my person or possessions. My favourite pair too..."

(A week later, Hearthstone manor)

Bell looked WAY up at Heracles, suppressed a sigh, and asked with what was clearly false hope, "You're not here to challenge her too... are you?" He asked in a smooth, slow Japanese, the only language he knew that both worlds spoke.

There had been over a dozen 'inquiries' about Kodori, her whereabouts, and if she accepted challenges. Sadly, they had to evade, dodge, and ultimately disappoint whomever was asking. Only one person so far had gotten angry at being turned away, but Mikoto was on guard duty that day, and she stopped that foolishness with perfect draw/sheathing of her katana that left the man's shirt buttons all missing, yes, all of them, sleeves included.

Heracles looked down at Bell, and said in his very best Japanese, "Fen-chan?"

Bell was surprised when the ghostly fox suddenly appeared next to him, and Heracles flinched just a little at the suddenness. "You know him?"

"I'm... one of the people she met on the other side. In Kuoh. I'm here to help."

Bell looked up at him, then to his side at the big fox/wolf/ghost. "What do you think?" He asked Fen-chan.

Fen-chan took a step forward, and poked at Heracles with a nose about the size of the big man's head. After what had happened the last time a giant fox got near him, Heracles was proud of himself for staying calm. "Here." He said, reaching into his uniform's breast pocket and taking out a surprisingly girly handkerchief. "You should know this one."

The fabric pinched between his finger and thumb moved with the ghostly sniff, and Fen-chan did an agile little spin in place before looking at Bell.

"Come in then." Bell said, extending a hand, "I'm Bell Cranell, acting captain while Kodori is away."

"Heracles." They shook, and he put the nice little handkerchief back in his pocket. "I'm supposed to speak with..." He paused and reached into another pocket, "Delly and Maki?"

"Fen-chan? Can you see if Delly is awake?" Then to Heracles, "Head towards the doors, you are a guest."

Even if he was a meathead, Heracles understood the real meaning behind that 'title', and having seen how seriously Kodori had taken it, he wasn't going to even think about upsetting the people who (he thought) taught her about it.

Of course, he was quite surprised at the sight of Hestia. He could hardly fathom how someone so... tiny and (pleasingly) soft looking could be so intimidating. Even if everyone else in the room had the manner and mien of a warrior, this tiny Goddess was clearly a focus of respect in this house. Even with a pair of medusa children in her lap reading a book with her (or without her, now that she was looking up at him).

But, under her tiny burning gaze, he sat, drank tea, and explained everything to those present. Who he was, why he was here, and the 'endorsement' of not just Azazel, but the Valkyrie school on the Gremory lands in the Underworld. It surprised him that that was all he needed to gain their trust. But again, if these people here were anything like Kodori, he knew that the instant he broke that trust, he'd be well and truly screwed, and he would be lucky to survive, let alone face the Guild penalty.

After his introduction, Delly (while grumpy about him being here (though it might have been because Fen-chan tickled her awake from her nap) she had also accepted him, for now) asked, "So why did you want us here? I was napping."

"Azazel wanted me to give you this. And you, this." He offered something to Delly and Maki. "When the team doing... what ever it is they are doing at her old shrine... finally do what they plan on doing..." He scratched the back of his head, clearly 'knowing' but not 'knowing what' was going on, "That should help."

The 'something' was really just a pair of envelopes with names on them. Unlike Kodori, Azazel's writing was exceptional (unless he got someone else to write it, and let's face it, he probably did), and when opened, the two of them went a little wide eyed, "Oh..." Maki said, "I... huh..."

"Sneaky." Delly said, "Okay, we'll this helps, now that the Gate is open again.

"What is it?" Hestia asked.

"It's a... short cut." Maki tried to explain, "Now that the Gate is open, there's a little magic flowing between worlds, where before, it wasn't. Only small and very special magic could talk between worlds."

"This will let us get to, and back, from Kuoh without anyone noticing." Delly finished, "So we can help with the thing going on at the shrine." She looked to Heracles, who seemed to understand he was being 'excluded' from the information loop. "We don't have to break any rules... well, openly at least."

"You better not get us fined by the Guild." Hestia glared.

Maki and Delly went a little pale.

"Well... um... yeah. Gotta go talk to Fels... see if everything is ready..."

(Hearthstone Manor, two days later)

"Ready Hida-chan?" Haruhime asked quietly, feeling... emotional. Just enough for others to notice.

It could have been that all her children were gathered around her, it might have been Aisha, standing behind her, or even Kinza, being held upright by Aisha while sitting on Haruhime's shoulder so she could play with the fluffiest fox ears in Orario (or not, Kinza could do as she pleased when it came to fuzzy fox ears).

But they all knew that it was because she was trying to think of what to say, her sharp mind gathering itself to put as much as she could in the short message she was about to say.

Hida-lite (version 2), a different slab of metal glass and plastic than the one who'd been in Fels's laboratory, chirped from the stand she was on, "Lemme just... Yumi? Just a little closer... yeah like that. Okay. Start your recording with some kind of affirmative, and... I know you want me to record a bunch, but..."

"We know." Aisha said, leaning down a little to rest her chin between the fluffiest ears, "The Fox needs to hear from all the magic types, so she can get home. Or maybe just talk to us. She'll understand we don't have a lot of time."

Haruhime lifted a hand to pat Aisha's cheek, took a deep breath, and said, "Begin." Pause, "Ko-san... We miss you-"

(Three days later, Kunou's Shrine, Kuoh)

Gasper, Akeno, Delly, Maki, Sachiko and Kunoh were all looking at the small heavy box resting innocently on a small stone platform. Around them, and that box, were four metal cylinders, each of them inscribed with so many magic symbols and runes they were kind of hard to look at.

"You've double checked everything?" Akeno asked.

"Yup. We can't risk trying what we did between here and Orario, so we've gone bare minimum." Maki said, "Think the phone will work?" She didn't say Hida's name on purpose, since it would activate her, and run down the battery needlessly.

Gasper nodded, "That's the charm with objects of pure physics. Unless the basic laws of space and matter don't exist there, it should work." He looked to Kunou, "We just need the anchor to connect."

"Almost here." Kunoh said quietly.

"I wouldn't have thought to use this to contact other worlds." Akeno said, giving one of the cylinders a pat. "I know we used them to talk to Orario, but this seems a bit much for them?"

"Oh! Sensei suggested we make them with the next step in mind already. To allow us to visit in person." Gasper said, "Considering what might happen, and has happened, if people born, or under a non-existing magic system go across..."

All eyes went to Delly, "Yeah... Though, to be fair, I love being this size!"

"Sensei's rule on magic accidents certainly applies here. It might work, not work, or not work and explode." Gasper said with a shiver.

There was a little motion from the two bronze foxes standing by the nice red Torii gate of the shrine grounds. They hadn't moved much, only going from 'sitting at attention' to 'standing on all fours'. But a moment later, the two of them were doing happy tail flails as two people appeared, coming up the steps slowly.

The first, was Haruhime, and on the next step upwards, Hestia. This wasn't the happy, young and oblivious to her 'charms' Goddess of Orario, but the old, wizened grandmother of Hearth and Home. As would any adventurer of Orario, Haruhime was helping the elderly up the steps gently, though if you looked at her tails she was also resisting the urge to hug the old woman. Even if it wasn't HER Hestia, she was everything she had lacked for a mother figure after being sold off by her father.

"Yes thank you dear. Having two of you here feels positively invigorating, but you have too many stairs!" She squinted at Kunou and Akeno.

They both 'eep'ed, and went in different directions to fetch tea and a chair.

"So. Now that I'm here, what's the plan?" Age had tempered her speech too, and it was quickly sounding like it was past her bed time.

"Ah... Since this is the place closest to her on a spiritual level at least..." Gasper started.

"Because Haruhime is the place closest to her heart." Delly chimed in, getting behind Gasper and giving his shoulders a squeeze to encourage him.

"We're placing the 'veil breaker' here." Gasper continued, "With Kunoh-sama and Sachiko helping power it, the next time Sensei gets a window of opportunity to contact us, we should be able to send this through." He gave the small black box on the stone pillar a pat, "Haruhime-san and the other Hestia-sama both said contact was very short, so sending a person would either work, or..."

"Explodes." Delly said, though without a hint of cheer.

"I see. But why me?" Hestia asked, sitting down as Akeno put a chair down for her, and trading her cane for a nice cup of tea with Kunoh.

"You said it yourself, Hestia-sama." Haruhime said, "She is a true believer. And while not 'yours', you are the closest thing to 'hers', since our Hestia-sama cannot be here."

The elder Hestia sipped her tea and nodded, "True, having two of 'me' in a realm might do weird things. It's why none of the Gods here have tried to slip past into your world. No one wants to find out."

"Then there is this..." Haruhime took hold of her ring, paused, then reluctantly removed it.

Gasper looked the most upset of all of them, "I'm sorry Haruhime-san." He said, "But every connection we can get will increase our chances. And unless you wanted to stay here when the Gate closes in two weeks... To be fair, we might have the veil breaker ready to go between our two worlds soon, but..."

"No... I cannot stay. As much as I would like to be here, like Ko-san, I have duties to attend. Now... I wouldn't say no to having my ring returned the instant you get it working between our worlds..."

She offered the ring to Hestia, and the old Goddess accepted, but captured Haruhime's offering hand with both of hers. "I'd love to have them visit, if you could." She said, "Maybe not all at once. Getting old you see."

"Of course." Haruhime said as Hestia let her hand go. She had to immediately resist putting her hands together, the reflex of touching her wedding ring when worried was strong.

"So when are you expecting this... 'Wave' of hers?" Hestia asked, reaching up to just hold Haruhime's hand.

"Sadly, just a little after the Gate closes." Delly sighed, "But we got everything inside set up nice and tidy for you!"

"And if you don't mind a pillow that occasionally wanders off to eat the rodents that intrude, we have a super fluffy pillow for you too!" Kunoh said, holding up Sachiko.

NOTES!

The wave starts next update. :) Hope you enjoyed the look back into Orario, and the fresh peppering of side characters that were 'voted in' on the Discord. (I chose the characters, but they decided to let me do it!)

Thank you for reading! And if you want to see any full colour art, join the discord!

aKAQg4bnYu for the discord!

And my actual book, Were Too? is on Inkitt.

And! I'm looking into getting some story themed merchandise made. Join the Discord to find out more!