GxG 29
The next morning was rather quiet. Hana was looking around curiously, trying to get a read of the mood from the adults in the room.
"I apologize for last night. It was unbecoming of me." Hrist was the first to break silence, giving a small bow.
Which led everyone to try and comfort her with a barrage of "No, it's fine" and "Don't worry about it". Of course, this did very little to actually do anything other than make the situation more awkward.
It was at this moment that Lady Hana, in all her saintly grace, took it upon herself to rectify the situation. Everyone watched her get off her chair, run around to the other side of the table, and put her hand on Hrist's arm. Hrist flinched slightly, but was more curious what Hana was doing.
"It's ok. I cried when I tripped on a rock last week. The hurt got better." Hana said in what was probably supposed to be a serious voice, but was a seriously cute critical hit coming from the flower spirit.
Everyone's hearts melted, and even Hrist cracked a small smile.
"You're right, the hurt does get better. Thank you Hana." Hrist patted Hana on the head, to which Hana beamed her signature gigawatt smile.
With the cloud of awkwardness dispelled we all got back to eating while making some light conversation. When we were done my mom and dad took Hana to play outside while we discussed what we were doing next.
"We are going with you, and that's final." I said, Hrist shifting around in her seat.
"I couldn't possibly trouble you more after all you have done for me. I honestly don't think I'll actually be able to repay your grace in any meaningful way." Hrist tried to deflect, but Kunou was not having any of that.
"Nuh uh. You said yourself that you don't know who you can trust." Hrist winced, but Kunou continued. "We were already planning on traveling the world, so escorting you to your home is quite literally no extra effort for us."
"But-"
"No buts! You are not being left alone, and stupid himbo Sage man over here needs to keep an eye on you to make sure you don't explode or something equally not fun." Kunou babbled, which of course caused Hrist to look over to me in mild panic.
"Don't listen to her." I waved her off before pausing for a moment and adding. "About the exploding bit. It was an experimental procedure but I'm confident in my abilities. She's right about us going with you though."
Our little back and forth ended with me and Kunou collectively staring down a stubborn Hrist. I could see her face warring between not wanting to bother us anymore and how utterly exhausted she still was.
Eventually the Valkyrie cracked under the pressure and deflated in her chair.
"Fine. I shall accept your offer of an escort home." Hrist finally relented. Kunou let out a whoop, but I could tell she was actually taking care not to be as loud as her usual self. No loud noises or sudden movements around Hrist.
"Now that that's settled," I plant my hand on Kunou's head, causing her to freeze, "I thought we were past this 'himbo' nonsense."
Since my grip stopped her from turning her head, Kunou tilted her head back to look me in the eyes.
"It's not my fault you have muscles and that goofy look on your face while you simultaneously play with reality like putty while shattering any notion I have of what's possible. As your self appointed harem manager it is my duty to keep you humble and virtuous. Thus, thou art himbo." Kunou reasoned with utmost seriousness.
"Self appointed harem manager? Since when did you get such an illustrious title?" I asked with mirth as I released Kunou to see where she was going with this.
"Ever since I beat off Mama from tricking you into knocking her and her friends up for 8 entire months, duh." She rolled her eyes at me. The nerve of this woman!
"What? I'm too young for more kids and besides, your mother's exhibitionist tendencies were purely casual. We didn't know each other nearly well enough to have a kid together." I replied in disbelief.
Kunou's response was to lightly pout and pat me on the arm. "It's so cute that you think that."
"I'm not nearly as bad as whatever you are thinking."
"Nathan, I love you and you are the single most brilliant person I know, so I say this with utmost seriousness. Whenever you see Mama your first, second, and third thoughts are 'awooga'. Being a senjutsu nut growing up has made you a social moron sometimes." Kunou said softly as if she was a doctor delivering a diagnosis. From the pity in her eyes, it was a terminal one too.
Well sorry for refusing to make any social motes. They don't sound fun at all.
"You know, there is a simple way to answer this. I'm going to text Yasaka."
"Go ahead. Do it."
I took my phone out and shot her mom a text, staring straight into Kunou's eyes challengingly while I did.
[Nathan] - Kunou is claiming to have run interference to stop you from using your beguiling ways to get knocked up.
"There. I sent it."
Kunou didn't say anything, she just sat there staring at me with a growing smirk. My phone pinged instantly, so I checked it.
[Yasaka] - Put twins in this hole
Attached to her text was an image of Yasaka, bare and spread eagle, pointing to her snatch in full view of the camera. The heated look in her eyes sent a shiver down my spine.
I paused for a moment, already used to Yasaka's love of exposure, before casually sliding my phone into my pocket.
"This proves nothing." When in doubt, double down. If you are wrong, triple down instead.
"Heh." Kunou didn't even need to say actual words. She knew she won that and was channeling her full foxy smugness.
"Um... I can leave?" The noise from the side caused both of us to freeze. We may have forgotten there was a blushing Hrist still in the room.
"Eheh, sorry?" Kunou giggled while I just groaned in embarrassment.
[LINE BREAK]
"You're leaving so soon?" My mother asked as we were finishing packing.
"You know this was only supposed to be a quick visit. Healing Hrist made us stay a little longer, but it was still within planned tolerances." I shook my head while double checking that Hana's bag had all of her stuff.
"But I miss my babies" She whined. At her age! Whining.
"And that is why we came back. Hana missed her grandparents." I rolled my eyes at her theatrics.
"You didn't? Tch, boys get a woman and forget about their family."
"I'm not going to apologize. He's mine now." Kunou's voice drifted down the hall.
"No! Daddy is mine!" Hana barreled into the room and latched onto my leg. She misjudged her distance and ended up smushing her wide brimmed hat across her face. It looked utterly adorable.
My mom smiled warmly at Hana's shenanigans.
"You guys need to hurry up, you have a flight to catch." My mom chided as if she wasn't just here to spend more time with us before we left.
"It's fine. All of our papers are in order and the flight doesn't leave for a few hours still. We are fine."
Wasn't that a surprise? I was prepared to be all stealthy and ask Jophiel for a passport for Hrist, or maybe just flat out sneak her on the plane. Then she just pulls a set of obviously fake papers for "Jenna Snow", and when I asked about them she called it an 'occupational skill'.
With all of our preparations done, we all spent some time together. Hana was bouncing off the walls to visit somewhere new, and I can't say I wasn't just as excited.
[LINE BREAK]
We touched down in Norway with little fuss. Hrist had grown more paranoid by the minute during the flight, but leaving the airport with nothing happening seemed to set her at ease.
"So where to first?" I asked as we all looked at Hrist. While we were escorting her, she was also our tour guide for now too.
Hrist thought for a moment before shaking her head to herself. "I'm waiting for a response from a contact, but that could take a few days at the earliest. We have some time to explore. I'll show you some spots around Oslo."
That is how we spent the day. We caught a taxi and hit up all of the tourist traps that Hrist knew off the top of her head, including a few supernatural tourist traps.
I was iffy on those, but Hrist was certain that my formation covered cloak I had given her was more than excessive in hiding her identity.
Most were manned by magicians who had the same vibes as minimum wage teenage fast food workers, but a few were some sort of snow or frost spirits that visibly perked up when they noticed me and Hana.
Speaking of Hana, she was not happy to be wearing her illusion again, especially after so many months of freedom in Kyoto. I've thought about changing the illusion to something closer to a notice-me-not effect for her more inhuman parts, but Kunou convinced me that was an accident waiting to happen. At least while she was so young, a pure illusion like she has is better.
We ended the day's excitement in a cozy little cafe that Hrist almost demanded we go to. I thought it was something official, but when we got there she gave the barista a long order and we all watched her melt when she took a sip.
The taste of home and all that, I guess.
Kunou and I got a simple coffee, while Hana got to experience her first peppermint hot chocolate.
[LINE BREAK]
(Rossweisse POV)
Tired.
Exhausted.
Fed up.
'It's an honor, Rose.' They said, 'You won't get a better chance.'
Like a fool, I believed them.
"I want cocoa from my special spot." The Chief Deity declared.
"Sir! You have a meeting in 10 minutes." If he skips this I am the one who has to spend hours soothing upset egos again.
"Don't care. The Norns are guiding me." Just like the Norns guided you to a new strip club last week?
For an old man he sure was spry. I could be doing something useful. Studying Magic. Practicing Magic. Maybe even pondering Magic if I was feeling adventurous.
Instead I have to babysit the world's biggest infant with a penchant for wandering into titty bars.
It took a moment to catch up to him, and I chased him into the cafe I saw him disappear into.
Surprisingly he wasn't mildly harassing any of the staff by the time I entered, he just ordered for the both of us and sat near the only other group in the cafe.
I sat down opposite of him, slamming the papers containing the meeting notes in front of him.
"If you're going to skip the meeting I at least need you to know what it was about!" I ground out.
Odin proceeded to utterly ignore me while sipping his drink, stealing glances at the table beside us. What could possibly be so interesting?
The Kitsune wasn't exactly hiding herself, but the others at the table didn't really ring any bells either.
Though there was an oddly familiar feeling from the little girl currently sporting a very strong milk mustache. Where have I felt that before? It's almost like...
"Yggdrasil?" I mumbled to myself, but Odin clearly heard me as he burst out laughing.
"What? That feeling, is it not? What's so funny?"
It took the old badger a moment to be able to speak. "Ross. That is the funniest thing I have heard in years. Thank you, really."
"She is clearly blessed or descended or something you old coot." That was apparently the wrong thing to say as Odin lost it completely. If he was younger he would be rolling on the ground at this point.
By this time the other table was staring at us to my utter mortification.
Why me? I'm supposed to be Odin's bodyguard. Why does he insist on making scenes like this in public?
"Young friend, why don't you come over here and talk to this old man for a bit? Bring your adorable little daughter too." What? Why does Odin want to talk to these people? Sure the Kitsune is rare around these parts, but Odin doesn't talk to guys unless it's about women.
I watched the group look between themselves before slowly nodding. The cloaked figure hadn't moved in a few minutes, obviously trying to make their presence as low as possible.
The man scooped up his daughter as he sat down at our table. Odin didn't say anything, just nodding and humming to himself.
"It's as I thought." Odin concluded.
"What is?" The man asked, his daughter looking mildly confused.
"Not telling." Odin gave a big smile, which looked rather grotesque, not that anyone would say that to his face.
"Hey!" The man began, but he was cut off by Odin.
"Your group is so interesting. A yokai princess is the least interesting person. How is Yasaka doing, Mr. Sage?"
Sage? This guy is a Sage? Is this why Odin was being so obstinate about going out today?
"But you aren't even the most interesting, are you?" Odin had a sliver of his majesty shine through, just for a moment as he turned to the cloaked figure.
"Isn't that right, Hrist?"