Chapter III: Another Home

"You're sure you have to leave?"

"Noel, you've asked him that ten times already."

"But Ragna will come back to see us all soon, right?"

"Nu, you've asked him that twenty times," Lambda said, again trying to be the soft-spoken voice of reason.

"…If we're being fair here, how long did you have me in a vice grip this morning trying to keep me here?" Lambda didn't respond to Ragna.

"Even all three of us couldn't keep him down when Nu and I joined in," Noel recollected.

"Does Ragna need to leave that badly?" Nu asked with a pout.

"I don't need to leave, but even in peace time like this there's such a thing as getting too lax. It's been great staying with you girls, but I need to get moving again; at this point the constant traveling is just a big part of who I am."

"Okay," the silver haired Murakumo said with a pout before she practically threw herself at Ragna with a tackle hug. "But you've got to come back and visit so you can see all the learning Nu's done! She'll be read up so much, that next time you'll have to take her with you!"

'That… would make things interesting.' "Alright, it's a promise," he answered, taking the time to hug her back… a hug that lasted a while and seemed that Nu wasn't going to end on her own. "Uh, Nu-?"

"GET HIM!"

At Noel's cry, she and Lambda latched on to Ragna's sides and clung to him just as tightly as her sister. The Reaper struggled to stay standing, not that their weight was a problem but the combined force of three Murakumo units was nothing to scoff at. He still managed to stay standing under some strain.

"…Is this one final attempt to keep me here?"

"Nope! Ragna just needed to be sent off in a way he'd never forget!" Evidently Nu was in on this seemingly staged plan. She then took her chance as the first to claim Ragna's lips. "Hurry back soon! Nu will be ready for an adventure!"

"Be safe," Lambda told him softly as she then got her kiss. "And consider picking up a phone, we'll all feel a lot better knowing we can get in touch if we're ever in trouble."

"That and it will be nice to talk to you and catch up," Noel agreed (especially considering she was the only one of the sisters carrying a phone). Ragna then turned so they could have their own final parting kiss. "And I'll be able to get ready the next time you visit with one of my special recipes!"

"Noel… we agreed that you'll never be cooking again," Lambda reminded with a glare.

"But Lambda, I haven't been able to cook once since we've built this place!"

"Yep! And it hasn't burned down or exploded yet!" Nu declared happily as Noel winced like she'd just been gut punched.

"YOU have no room to talk," Lambda reminded the Nu and leading her to pout. Ragna couldn't help but chuckle.

"Alright, alright; I don't think I'm ever going to be able to forget any of you, so mission accomplished," Ragna told the three with a smile which was returned.

Eventually they let him go and waved him off, leaving him on the road by his lonesome once more. He'd already had his destination in mind for a few days now; Kagutsuchi. Aside from the home he was leaving, there wasn't anywhere in the world that gave him any real emotional attachment, but there was a certain someone waiting for him there and he hadn't mentioned the 13th hierarchical city when he wrote his last book.

"Wonder if they've grown up at all?" he considered aloud before shrugging. "Fat chance, but this will at least tell me if her village is doing okay. Everything should have been fixed a few months ago and the money I've been sending should've helped plenty, this will be able to tell me how far they've come. The kittens will probably be all over me too… guess I should make sure they don't scratch up my coat."

His slight complaints aside, Ragna was actually looking forward to this visit. Visiting the Kaka village was always an interesting time, and they were all good people; even to him back when he was a wanted man. His thoughts of the future broke as he remembered a worry of his present, taking out a small satchel to observed the contents.

"Haven't used a lot, but I should still stock up while I'm in the area. Plenty of spots around Kagutsuchi." This served both as Ragna's medicine kit and his spices for cooking. It was obviously used more for his cooking needs since his Azure Grimoire and healing factor didn't let his body get sick easily. Putting the satchel away and taking out one of two notebooks, he flipped through its pages until he found the writing he was looking for. "Yep, plenty of variety and all in season. I'll need to pick up a bigger bag next time with this sort of haul."

His good mood didn't last too long as he was suddenly hit be the smell of roses. Quietly pocketing his book, he simply stood and waited as Rachel appeared before him, Nago and Gii strangely absent.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" There wasn't any hint of superiority or even disappointment (an oddity for her interactions with him).

"…Honestly? Yeah, I'd say I did," Ragna answered, trying to relax so that the tone of this conversation would follow his example. "I'm going to assume you weren't watching."

"No, but I unfortunately can't help it if I'm still aware," she clarified. "Though I will say I can at least block out most of the specifics."

'…Let her have this much,' he decided, finding his next inquiry more important than calling her out. "Please tell me this isn't where you come to me and say that all of this was only because of those damned Spectacles."

"If you ever truly thought that was the case; you'd have stopped immediately." She was now admitting to having some faith in him at least.

"Yeah, but… sometimes we can get a little caught up in the moment."

"Those three still have their maidenhood, Ragna. You haven't gotten that far yet."

"It's still taking advantage of them if that's what's happened… and didn't you say you were blocking specifics?"

"I am… but you wouldn't be leaving after only a few days if that was occupying your time." Was it just him or was Rachel sounding pretty mischievous when she said that? "Regardless, I came to put your doubts to rest; there is no ethereal reaction to speak of. Whatever you've accomplished and whatever connection you've made; all has been through only the most natural of means."

"Finally getting the confirmation from you is a load off my shoulders, even if you were the one that started this whole mess, Bunny Leech." The vampiress scowled slightly. "Still, you made the effort so that I'd know… so thanks, Rachel."

"…You're most welcome, Ragna." She said it in a haughty and noble manner, but it seemed like there was less of barrier between them now than before.

"Not to say that I prefer to have 'em around, but what happened to the cat umbrella and bat doll? Don't they usually go everywhere with you?"

"Normally they do, but I've need to give them adequate time to recover," she answered, growing tense.

"Recover? From what?" Ragna figured he could ask since it at least didn't sound like his fault.

"From speaking out."

"…Like they usually do? Sure, you give 'em a beating when they go and mouth off, but they're always back up by the end of the minute."

"Yes, but this was an especially egregious occasion; one that's put anything you've ever said to shame."

"…Good lord."

"Indeed, and though I can control my lightning perfectly to only hit what I want, even someone with my skill and patience can lose themselves in the moment. Valkenhayn is still finding singed carpets and drapes to repair."

"That right? …And is it just me or have you been chattier than normal lately?"

"If what you say is true, I think I might finally be at wit's end with my boredom," she admitted. "I wouldn't exchange the breaking of the endless cycles and the peace we've managed to obtain for anything, but this lack of conflict has led me further and further down a dull existence."

"That right? Sorry, but I can't help you there. You'll just have to put in the effort in to make your own entertainment, just like I gotta work to make any meaningful connections." He'd made his point and was about to move on, but an idea struck him. "Since you're so bored, think you do me a solid?"

"My lack of excitement doesn't give you the right to turn me in to your personal servant."

"Okay, there's blatant hypocrisy and then there's whatever the hell you just said." Rachel was starting to wonder how well she'd control her lighting on this occasion. "Anyways, think you can do me a favor and check in with Celica? I mean, you don't have to go with a whole speech ready or anything, but… I dunno, it'd just mean a lot to me to know she's being thought of and visited when I'm not around."

"…Has the temptation of the True Azure worsened for you?" No barriers to speak of now; only the truth of the matter.

"Don't know if I'd say it's worsened any, but I doubt it's ever going to leave completely." He ended his serious tone with a smirk. "Just think about it, alright? I gotta start heading for Kagutsuchi, otherwise I'll never make it there."

"You realize getting you there would be a less than simple matter for yours truly? Work smarter Ragna, not harder."

"Sure sure, but something to be said about enjoying the journey and that crap," he answered as he started walking off. He then called the last parting over his shoulder. "Besides; after what you did last time, I'm worried you'll send me halfway across Ikaruga."

"…Not a completely baseless fear," Rachel admitted with a smile.

A Few Days Later -Sector Seven-

"Ugh, damn pain in the ass…" Kokonoe of Sector Seven growled to herself as she looked over the results from the tests she'd just run. "Gah, if I can't fully commit to this damn project my results are going to start slipping… and that's just letting them know that I've caught on."

"You still haven't told me what this was about," Iron Tager noted from where he sat nearby, lacking his usual mechanical gloves as Kokonoe did maintenance on them. "And you sent Bullet off in quite a hurry for what seemed like a fairly inconsequential errand, yet seem to think that I've needed test after test these past few days. I can tell something's going on."

"Only an idiot would still be hoping that it's nothing; when you have my experience it's almost idiotically spelled out for me," she answered, not pausing from her work as she struggled to catch up. "I managed to intercept a message right out of Sector Seven. Not through any of our usual coms either, so I'm trying to figure out where the hell it's going and even who sent it."

"That does sound plenty suspicious," Tager agreed.

"I don't have to suspect anything; they tried to have the message encrypted but it's clear as day that someone wants me gone." Honestly, Kokonoe was more annoyed that her time was being wasted with this than any actual worry. "It's more than likely that it's someone from the top brass here, in fact I'd bet my entire year's budget on it. From there though, it could be any of them so I can't properly plan just yet."

"So you're not having Bullet looking into them?"

"No, because they're likely using the earpiece I recently issued to track her location. Getting her off base and in the general public was the best move for right now."

"And getting me into this repair state… are you using yourself as bait?"

"If that was enough for them come at me right out of the gate they would have, and they'd have been an idiot for trying. We'll clearly dealing with someone much more levelheaded here." Kokonoe sighed. "But no matter how levelheaded they are, they still have their panic button in mind."

"My god…you really think they'd unleash Azrael again?" Tager didn't show anger often, but whenever the Mad Dog was involved there was a fair exception to be made. "But… you have total control over his prison. And anyone involved with the conspiracy has already been dealt with."

"Only everyone we were able to prove was linked to it. And they might only be trying this because they have a way around my systems or they could've found a chink in my defenses," she guessed. "And with no real way to finish the monster off, we're at an impasse."

"Hmm, what if Ragna the Bloodedge used his True Azure? Would that finally be enough to put him down for good?"

"If anything was ever going to be enough, it would have to be that… but Ragna's not going to try it. Even if the Azure is now his whether he likes it or not, he views it as a power that's just not meant for anyone to use." Kokonoe sighed. "Normally he's an emotional idiot, but this is one decision of his that I have to respect."

"If that's how things lie with that power. That still leaves us with very few options though, what is our move from here?"

"For now, we can do nothing aside from stalling for time as I get these results analyzed. There's gotta be something in here that'll give away who this message is meant for and I'll find it. And since I can't get Bullet involved and you're stuck here, I'll have to play another ace up my sleeve."

"Another?"

"Makoto Nanaya. I can get into contact with her no problem, getting her away from work and on my case won't be an issue either. All we can do now is wait and hope that they don't spring him early."

"If we'd known this in advance, it might've been better to keep Ragna the Bloodedge here as extra protection."

"What? You think I can stand the idea of having him stick around at all? And if I ever let it slip that he was supposed to be here as my protection? He'd never let me live it down," Kokonoe answered before growling and shaking her head. "At that point I'd just let Azrael finish the job."

'I almost feel stupid for just suggesting that.'

Much Later

"Can finally see it off in the distance," Ragna finally realized aloud as caught sight of the shining lights of his mountain destination. "Damn, I'm getting here hella late."

It had taken him several days of travel to get here, not that he'd tried to hurry at all. In fact, he'd managed to pick up the selected herbs along the way as well as finding a couple of fresh spots ripe for the harvesting. With Seither slowly losing its effect in the world, wildlife was now finally starting to flourish outside of the hierarchal cities. This didn't mean that the wilds were ready to house civilization just yet; Seither beasts were still a major problem and there were the groups of roaming thugs that had gotten there first. Still progress was progress, even if he was thinking of the past since this place filled him with a heavy sense of nostalgia.

"Now that I remember it, this is when shit really started to hit the fan," he recalled. "Both before I met the masked freak and when I was put through that whole Embryo nonsense. And both times…" He paused as he neared the familiar spot. Adjusting his senses and deeply focusing on the surroundings, he was rewarded. "Guess there is such a thing as a rule of threes.

Stealthy as they were, Ragna didn't so much as react as Jubei landed on the forest's ground level. Was it just him or did the cat have a couple more gray hairs since the last time he'd seen him? Jubei noticed the worry on his apprentice's face and chuckled.

"Hah, this cat's way too stubborn to kick the bucket; save yer worries for yer own skin," he taunted.

"I'm a little more worried that you'll be needing a cane the next time I see you; we're not in the Embryo anymore, master. You're not as strong as you used to be."

"Where do you come off talkin' like that? Power of th' Azure or not, I can still put yer ass through some trainin'. Maybe this time I'll finally drill th' basics inta that head of yers." Right. Ragna had to remind himself that even after everything, Jubei didn't approve of the crude (while effective) style he'd created. "Honestly… might just be nice havin' someone with me on the road again."

"Is there any word on Trinity?"

"Haven't heard much from her, or even what she's searching for. In fact, I'm just hopin' she's not runnin' herself ragged with whatever she's tryin' ta do." He tried not to show it, but it was clear Jubei was worried about his longtime friend… and missing the apprentice she'd replaced. "Eh, she's tough as nails. She'll be fine, but… if ya see her, try ta send her my way if ya can."

"If I find her, sure thing." Living with a past like the former six Heroes wasn't easy. He suspected that all of the remaining three had some degree of survivor's guilt even after all they'd been through, and those that hadn't made it… "I'm sorry about Nine."

"Sorry?" Jubei asked before laughing, the sound echoing across the nightly forest. "Didn't she wreck yer face with a fireball the first time ya met?"

"Yep, just like how you were about to slice me to ribbons back when we first met." True story, very true. "And you heard how worried I was about you just a damn second ago." Jubei was still smirking. "…I can only imagine how much you miss her… and here I am with literally all the power in the world."

"And ya aren't gonna use it, right?" Jubei wasn't smiling now, but Ragna nodded. "Listen, I've had ta go through losing her twice now. Same story with you an' Celica. Nine, she… I can't say I'd even know what she'd do now, especially if her sister wasn't around. I miss her fer sure, but… maybe right now, rest is what's best fer her soul."

"I thought that too, but… I'm still sorry."

"Hah! You look like you're havin' an ev'n bigger mess a' yer feeling than when I first found ya!" Ragna didn't bother hiding his scowl, but remained quiet. "Still… yer doin' this for my peace a' mind, and it takes a lotta stones to have this kinda talk. Ya don't gotta worry about me, just keep that power you finally got under wraps and you'll be doing right by all the Heroes… well, Hakumen would try ta kill if he was still around, Azure or not."

"Ugh, don't remind me." Jubei again had a laugh at his apprentice's response. "Changing topics, where have you been all this time?"

"Ah, just out an' around. Visitin' a couple people 'ere and there, takin' my sweet time and relaxin' while I can. Just came from a bit a' personal business at the Kaka village here."

"I was just heading right that way. Everything alright?"

"Yer goin' there now?" Jubei asked with a bit of surprise. 'Now that's movin' quicker than I thought.' "Well things 're fine, but they were askin' for ya. Told 'em I'd send you straight there if I saw ya, so that's one job done."

"Any idea what they want from me?"

"Apparently the kittens miss their favorite piece of play equipment."

"Little rascals. Eh, can't even say I'm mad," Ragna answered with a smirk (not knowing that Jubei wasn't telling him the whole story).

"By th' by, also picked up a copy of yer book."

"…Oh boy." Out of all the people that would read his book, his old master was honestly one of the people Ragna could do with ignoring it. If anything, he might've been in for another lecture.

"Ah, quit yer worrying. I liked it."

"Really? No bullshitting?"

"Nah, I ain't playin'. Almost thought it was some sorta joke when I saw it on shelves, but one look at tha' summary on th' back told me that ya really did go an' write yer own book. What's more, it's actually doin' okay."

"Like I've been telling everyone that's picked it up, most of that's just because I'm the one who wrote it."

"Maybe so, but fame doesn't mean much ta me in tha first place," Jubei reminded. "Now I ain't sayin' ya went an' wrote the next Shakespeare, but ya did go and tell yer own story a' travellin'; made it clear what ya wanted ta say with it an' said it. It's got my respect fer that much."

'All of this praise coming from him of all people is… almost concerning. Is he finally mellowing out now that the world's at peace? Or is it old age kicking in?'

"That bein' said I might've given you a healthy break fer yer first ever book, most people probably gave ya that same break. Gonna need ta put out somethin' really impressive if yer gonna keep makin' any waves."

'At least he's being fair about it.' "The money it makes is really just a nice bonus and I don't even keep most of it; I'm only writing because it breaks up all the damn boredom I've been having."

"Which is why yer headed to tha' village. Never a dull moment there with the cats there."

"Pretty much." Ragna decided he could keep his interaction with Murakumo sisters to himself. "Where are you headed?"

"Can't say I got much of a destination in mind, just here an' there really. Should run into ya again sometime down the road."

"Here and there, but not Sector Seven I'm guessing." Jubei didn't answer. "And people were wondering why I was so shocked to find out you had a daughter."

"Kokonoe's just a different beast… well half of one anyway. Ya wouldn't understand."

'Maybe I wouldn't, but… I think I at least owe you to try and help for once.' That would be for much later, he already had a plan and promise. "I'll be getting into the village pretty late; anyone up when you left?"

"Elder's a night person, so ya won't be wakin' her up. You could try an' get into a place to stay in the city proper, but given yer whole Grim Reaper reputation, I'd try to take a swing at the village first an' see if they can't set ya up."

"My thoughts too; I'll catch you later," Ragna promised as he walked off.

"See ya around. Try not ta get yer ass in too much trouble." At Jubei's parting words, the cat leapt above into the tall branches, coving ground as he jumped from tree to tree with expert agility. As he traveled, he couldn't help but smirk. 'Ragna ya idiot, yer not gonna be ready fer what I just got yer ass into.'

Kaka Village

Things were unexpectedly quiet when Ragna finally got to the Kaka Village. There was still the occasional sleeping cat simply lazing about in the street, but not nearly as many as the last time he'd been here. This was helped by the additional and repaired buildings of the community; now that they had food and resources, the clan could focus on ensuring its future; not easy work by any means, but they were determined to make it count. Finding the Elder's residence, Ragna gave the door a knock solid enough to be heard yet quiet enough not to awaken its occupant if they were actually sleeping.

"It's open," came the Elder's tired voice from inside, though no more exhausted than how she usually sounded. Opening the door, Ragna found the old lady sitting in her favorite chair. "Oh? My my. That certainly didn't take long."

"I was already on my way to check in with you; found the old man right outside the city," Ragna explained as he shut the door behind him.

"How fortuitous. And he told you why we were looking for you?"

"Yep." 'Damn, kittens must be pretty damn restless if they're calling for me like this.' "And don't worry about it, I'm ready to help the village however I can."

"Oh, that's certainly good to hear. I'm sure Taokaka will be delighted to hear you've agreed." Tao? What did she have to do with watching the kids? Maybe she was put on watch duty first and needed the help. "You're every bit as reliable as Jubei said you'd be."

"…That doesn't sound like him at all."

"Well, he might've discredited you with enough insults, but anyone who knew him well could see he was talking your praises." Even after the compliment he'd gotten for his book, Ragna still had to wonder that. "The help you've given us so far through donations has been substantial. If anything, this is just ensuring that you'll be a part of our village proper. Not even our dear Doctor Litchi has gotten so great an honor."

'Okay, whatever's going on it's clear that they're not just talking about me watching kids.' "Listen, Elder… Think we might've missed a-"

"GOOD GUY!"

At Tao's yelling as she all but broke down the Elder's door, she lunged onto Ragna's chest and clung fiercely to his back. The Grim Reaper had to endure being trapped in her grasp as she nuzzled under his chin.

"H-Hey, Tao…" he said, trying to escape with little success.

"Oh, seems that you've a knack for timing this once," the Elder said with a chuckle. "Tao, it seems that Ragna's already agreed."

"Yay! That makes Tao SO HAPPY!" It was a miracle she wasn't waking the whole village with her yelling. Before Ragna could ask her to clarify just what he was agreeing to, his hooded childhood friend lip-locked him… before adding tongue. Ragna couldn't break away now with his shock holding him in place.

"My, you're both certainly eager," the Elder noted with a chuckle. Eventually the kiss ended and Tao just remained clinging to an increasingly confused Ragna's chest as she nuzzled him. "Now now Tao, there will be time for all of that affection later."

"But Elder! You said this is supposed to be a super-duper special thing between Tao and Good Guy!" she whined.

"…Can I just say I have absolutely no idea what's going on?" Ragna asked, stunning them both. "Also, please get off me."

"What, but didn't you say Jubei had sent you here after passing along his message?" an aghast elder asked.

"Yeah, but he said that you needed me here to help with babysitting, not with… whatever this is." He sighed. "And Tao, lemme go."

"B-But Cat Person said they'd tell you what's going on!" Tao exclaimed (obviously still clinging to Ragna). "Did he lie to Tao?"

'More like he was playing a mean one on me. Bet he's laughing his ass of right now.' While Ragna was indeed right, he was also still bound by his cat friend. Groaning, he took a seat in the chair opposite the Elder's. "How about you tell me what going on for a start? Can't do much of anything if I'm kept in the dark."

"But Good Guy's always in the dark."

"Not my point, Tao."

"Explaining the situation to you where the Lotus could not; this matter is more for Tao's future in the village."

"Tao's future? I thought it was already decided that she was going to be the next Guardian." Ragna knew that while she spent most of her time napping, eating, or getting into trouble (those last two could often go together) Tao was actually very invested in the role. "Did something happen?"

"It did. A few days ago during your master's visit, he'd asked what else Tao was planning to do; the responsibilities of Guardian are hardly as demanding without a war or other conflict and the village has been stabilizing nicely."

"So Tao told him she was planning to marry Good Guy!" …It took Ragna a second to confirm, but yes she was being serious right now.

"And… what did he say?" the Reaper asked, though he clearly dreaded the answer.

"He might've been speaking for you in hindsight, but he made it clear that you'd love to have her as your bride."

'THAT BASTARD!'

"Tao was all excited too when Cat Person said you wanted to." Her sadness was genuine, he could see that much.

"Tao… Dammit, I can't afford to make any more assumptions today; do you even know what marriage is?"

"Meow? Where you promise your life to each other, have kittens, and grow old together. Does Tao have that right?"

"…Yeah, that's basically it. Huh, and here I figured you were thinking it's some kind of food."

"Tao isn't dumb, Good Guy."

"Some of the younger ones in our village probably do think it's a kind of food though," the Elder admitted.

"Of course… but Tao, you really want to get married? You realize that it's a big deal, right? Like, going to change the rest of both our lives kind of big?"

"Tao knows. Honestly, she can kinda give or take getting married."

"What the-!? Give or take!? Did you hear nothing I just said!?"

"Tao heard, but it's being close to Good Guy that matters; if marriage is the best way for that, then that's what Tao wants to do! She wants to run around and have all sorts of crazy fun with Good Guy! She doesn't want to be without him!"

"I... Tao, that's really sweet, but…" He was struggling hard. "Look things are kinda complicated for me right now already. I'm already sort of seeing some people." He realized that she'd likely take that literally. "Seeing people that I also really care about."

"You mean lacking lady and her sisters?" Taokaka asked innocently.

"First off, I need you to stop calling Noel that; you're really killing her self-confidence with that kind of a name," he growled, leaving Tao to look just a touch guilty (only time would tell if she actually listened). "Second, how did you know?"

"Tao can still smell them on Good Guy, so you were close with those three. Real close."

"Well… pretty close at least," Ragna sighed as he knew there was little point of hiding it now.

"Is that so?" the Elder questioned. "I see. Well that's disappointing that you're already taken. I take it Jubei had no idea either of your-?"

"Tao doesn't mind!"

"…Come again?" Ragna asked right before Tao resumed her nuzzling. "H-Hey!"

"If Good Guy has other girls that like him, then that just means more friends and kittens to play with in the future! This sounds like a ton of fun! Meow!"

"Tao, I-"

"Does Good Guy not want to?" Tao asked as she stopped nuzzling him for a second. "Tao needs to know neow if Good Guy wants out."

"And I'm not saying that I want out; it's just that a lot of thought goes into this, we need to make sure what you're really getting into and…" Looking at her pleading eyes beneath her hood (what he could make out of them anyways) Ragna sighed. "And I'm too tired to come up with an answer now. Let's finish this in the morning or some crap, alright?"

"Certainly," the Elder agreed. "I'm sorry, I would've thought this answer was a cut and dry one, but apparently your old teacher has a couple of tricks up his sleeve."

"Tricks you call 'em…" Ragna sighed, knowing he'd have a lot more to say if it'd do him any good. "Anyways, I was kinda hoping you'd have a place to crash at."

"Good Guy can stay with Tao!" the woman wrapped around him answered only too quickly. Ragna looked to the Elder, but the woman seemed unmoving. "Come on! You've napped with Tao before!"

"That's…"

"You may as well go with her." Now the Elder was speaking. "Hers is likely the only place you'll have here in the village… and I'm not willing to sacrifice my couch for the night."

"Tao has a present for you back at her place anyways Good Guy!" she promised. "Come on! Onward!"

"…Fine," he relented as he rose, only to find that Tao was still clinging to him. "…You'll have to move if I'm going to be walking anywhere."

"Gotcha!" Tao exclaimed as she moved… around Ragna so that now he'd only have to carry her piggyback. "That work?"

"…Perfect, let's go," he sighed.

After Ragna left, the elder only mused to herself. What Ragna didn't know about the situation was that Jubei had actually been worried about him. Worried about the past few months he'd spent in solitude and wishing better for his young apprentice. She'd been asked by the one-eyed lotus not to admit as much, so she'd honored his wish… beside, she already had a good idea of how things would be going.

She could see that there was real love between these two.

Taokaka's Home

"Ya know? I'd call this place a pigsty, but I'm afraid that'd be too insulting for pigs," Ragna groaned as he looked at all of the junk around Tao's floors. "Seriously, when was the last time you cleaned this place?"

"Meow… Tao can't remember." Ragna allowed himself a growl. "Wait, is cleaning a wife thing to do?"

"…In the stereotypical sense maybe, but there's no reason a husband couldn't clean either," he admitted. "Still this is your mess. I'll help you clean tomorrow, but it's up to you to keep it clean from there. Got it?"

"Meow! Tao promises!" Much as expected she hadn't let go of him just yet, but a sudden sparkle in her eyes left her to suddenly leap off of Ragna's back. "Hold on! Tao has that big present for Good Guy! Really really big! Close your eyes!"

"Tao, can't we save this for the morning?" he tried to ask before she started showing him her (crocodile) tears. "Alright, alright, I got 'em closed. Grab what you need to."

"Keep 'em closed, this won't take Tao more than second! Meow!" His hearing let him know that she was getting something from under her bed… and it was taking a bit of time to find what she was looking for through all of the garbage. "Found it! In the back like how Tao left it!"

"Fantastic. Can I open my eyes now?"

"Hold on! Just a second!" Tao declared as she got into position. "Okay! Open them!" Ragna did so and… paused at what he saw. "TA DA!"

"Is that a Kaka coat?" Indeed it was, and it wasn't the usual cream colored one either. This one instead had a black base instead of a cream color and it had a zipper with a red hue that nicely matched up with Ragna's own jacket. Meanwhile the buttons, the highlights around the claw openings, and the ears were white which was a good contrast and matched his usual hakama set. It also had the symbol he carried on his chest as the coat's emblem at the top of the zipper which was also red. "Tao… where on earth did you get this?"

"Tao didn't get this from anywhere, Good Guy! Tao made it!"

"You… you did?"

"Meow. It took Tao about three dozen tries, but once she heard that we could get married from Cat Person, she wanted to make sure Good Guy had this and that it was purrfect!" She then paused in sort of a revolution. "N-Not that Tao's trying to bribe Good Guy to marry her! She just really wanted him to have this!"

"It's fine, I just don't know what to say," Ragna said as he removed his coat and sword so he could slip into the coat proper. It was even a perfect fit and felt more comfortable to have on than he'd been led to believe. "Thank you. I think this is probably the best gift I've ever been given."

"Meow! Stop it Good Guy! You're making Tao blush!" …It was still difficult to tell that. "Tao knows how much Good Guy likes his one jacket so she's not going to insist that he replaces it, buuuuuuut maybe he could wear it whenever he's in the village?"

"Yeah, I could totally do that," the Reaper promised as he got in front of a full view mirror (making a mental note to clean the smudges from it in the morning). "This looks really damn good on me. I heard from Noel that Litchi had one of these, but this thing must be a really big deal."

"Oh, it's a big deal alright! Even a bigger deal than Boobie Lady's!" Tao declared. "She may have gotten hers because she's such an important purrson to the village, but even then she's only got the standard Kaka Clan version. Yours is custom made which basically makes you family with the village!"

"And… you were going to give this to me even if I didn't want to get married?" he asked hesitantly as he turned to her.

"Meow? That doesn't matter much! Even if we're not married, Good Guy will always be family to Tao!" she said with a smile.

"That's nice to know," he answered before turning back to the mirror and got a good look at the hood before… pausing. "Huh, that's weird. I half figured I wouldn't be able to see my own face in this."

"Good Guy's coat doesn't have the usual effect on it. We're only wearing that because- OH RIGHT! TAO DOESN'T HAVE TO WEAR IT AROUND GOOD GUY ANYMORE!"

"Tao, don't shout. You're going to wake you neigh…bors."

Ragna's stunned silence was at seeing Taokaka without her hood for the first time. Her face was human in appearance, though she still had furry cat ears making her closer to a demi-human than a Beastman like Jubei. She had her usual sharp toothed smile and red eyes, but now Ragna could actually see the latter in great detail. She had fairly tanned skin and slightly more rounded features, but it was no doubt that it was really her.

"Okay, I had no idea you look like your standard Beastkin underneath."

"Tao might not've, that's why she wears this!" Yep, same voice as expected.

"I'm… I'm confused, you're saying that no one in the village knows what the other looks like? Why?"

"Because it's an even split if Tao would've looked like this or closer to Cat Person! When Kaka kittens are born there's a chance that they could be either, but they always take after the parents in some way! Meow!" She tapped her chin with her coat paw. "A long time ago, the Kakas almost got into a big fight with each other between the ones that looked like Good Guy and the ones that looked like Cat Person. Tao doesn't know much about it, but Elder said that it was someone from outside the tribe trying to get us to fight each other! After it didn't work and to help remember what almost happened, we used Ars Meowgas to cover out faces and be one big happy village!"

"That's… quite the history lesson coming from you," Ragna commended.

"Meow. Elder made Tao memorize it when she was little; she didn't get any food until she did."

'No wonder she still knows it.' "Alright, then what does it mean that you've shown me? Like, do you even know the Elder and Tora look like underneath?"

"Meow. No one really knows what the Elder looks like, but Tao suspects that Cat Person might." Ragna could guess that too. "As for Tora… Tao knows, but it's a secret. You can only take your hood of for someone you really love and/or trust, becaaaause…" Tao then threw her hoodie back on, but the dark cover never appeared. "See? Now Good Guy can always see Tao's face!"

"But no one else can?"

"Nope! 'Cause Tao would have to take the hood off for them too." Aside from Good Guy now, the only other person who's seen Tao without a hood is Tora, but Tao also thinks that Cat Person can see any Kaka's true face somehow." There was probably fair reason to believe that; Jubei's eyes were hardly normal. "Oh, Elder too of course, but she knows everyone's face."

"Because of some unique power as the village leader?" Ragna guessed.

"No, because she's always the one to help whenever new kittens are born in the village!" Tao clarified.

"Makes sense I guess, meaning then you'd also be seen by your…" Ragna stopped himself before he said parents. He didn't know anything about Tao's familial situation, only that she saw Torakaka as something of a big sister… and maybe that was enough for her. "Never mind Tao, let's leave it there and call it a night."

"Right!" Tao answered eagerly before literally pouncing Ragna off his feet and crashing them both into her bed. Once again Ragna was put into a vice grip by his bedfellow and it didn't seem like she was in any rush to release him tonight. "Tao's not going to let go of Good Guy until she wakes up!" Yep.

"…I guess that works, I could stand to sleep in myself," the Reaper agreed. In truth it was just a touch uncomfortable; not due to Tao's grasp or his new coat, but because of the obvious snacking crumbs in their bed. "Guess we'll figure things out then."

"Hey Good Guy?" Tao asked meekly. "Can… can Tao get a kiss goodnight? Tao doesn't want to pressure you, but-" Ragna silenced her with the requested lip lock. It didn't last long (and unlike when she initiated, he didn't add tongue), but once he was done she still mewled happily into his chest. "Tao's very happy right now."

"…You know what? I think I am too," Ragna answered.

He was still going to have harsh words for his teacher later.

Author's Note

Chapter Three is done! And to put any questions to rest, that not all we're going to be seeing of Tao for a while. This was more of an interlude between characters (even if it did end up on them getting together in this chapter). Next one's just going to be a bit more thorough. As for right now… I still don't know where or with who the first lemons is going.

…Oh well, a discovery for the future I guess.

And as I've been asked before I'll likely do a lemon designated towards some of my other stories couples down the line, but these won't be in the stories themselves since I'd like to keep the actual stories at a reasonable T rating. Maybe I'll make a collection story for them or something, I dunno.

Not too many review (and yeah, one was kinda negative but oh well. They've got their own opinion and that's just fine) so let's take care of the ones from last chapter. Ciao!

Bloodedge 20: Thanks for the review and your patience. Glad you enjoy!

Blazingshade3: Kind of known for slow burns… so good.

Murakumo Unit: Yep, a nice old trio to start with.

P3R50N4: Don't feel too bad; he's still got all of those NPC girls, so it's not like he isn't getting any.

Yb2: I read your review and it seems like you have more of a problem with the whole "are the Murakumos Ragna's sister" than the story premise or my writing itself. They're going to stay a part of this story sad to stay, but feel free to avoid this one if that's what you want. For what it's worth, I'm making it clear that the only REAL Saya was the one released from the Master Unit at the end of and Ragna sees Noel and the other Murakumo units as their own people… plus there's a lot of sci-fi shenanigans in there. If that's not enough for you, no worries. You said you have other works of mine that you read and I hope you continue to enjoy those. Thanks for speaking out anyways.

Obviously don't bully or belittle the above review; that's a fair opinion to have and it's their business not really any of ours (maybe just a little bit mine because it was related to me story).

That's all for now! Ciao!