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Three days later...
Hillah, Iraq.
The setting sun painted the horizon in shades of gold and crimson, reflecting off the tranquil waters of the Euphrates. The ruins of ancient Babylon—broken columns, carved gates, and moss-covered stone blocks—seemed suspended between eras...
Amid the tourists wandering absentmindedly, one couple stood out completely from the ordinary scene.
Kazuya was sitting on one of the stone walls, his dark sunglasses hanging from the collar of his white shirt, with his black jacket draped over his broad shoulders. The warm wind tousled the white strands of his hair, and the lazy half-smile on his lips made it seem as though nothing in the world could disturb his tranquility.
"You should stop posing like you're a magazine model, Master..." Ishtar said, crossing her arms, her tone laced with that familiar pride she had inherited from... well, herself.
The goddess wore a light silk blouse in deep wine red and short dark shorts, a perfect contrast to the ancient jeweled necklace that seemed tailor-made for her. Her crimson eyes gleamed under the sunset light, and her black hair was loose, tied back with her usual jewels in an elegant style...
"Hm?" Kazuya lazily turned his gaze toward her, that insolent half-smile playing on his lips. "I can't help it. It's your fault for calling me out on a date and leaving me bored while you decide if the falcon carved into the wall has enough 'aesthetic energy' for a photo... I had to hold the pose in the meantime, you know?"
Ishtar huffed and turned her face away, but a faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her.
"I just want to capture the moment. It's the least I can do when I bring my husband to a historic place."
"Ah, so it was an educational date..." He murmured, raising his eyebrows. "Got it. I'll pay more attention to the rocks..."
She spun on her heels and stomped her foot hard on the ground, her golden earrings tinkling.
"Master, have some respect, okay? I ruled these lands!"
"Gil-chan would disagree with you..."
"Hmph, that arrogant bitch only ruled by permission of the Gods! She should be grateful to us!"
"You're lucky she's not here to hear you..." Kazuya let out a tired sigh.
Ishtar huffed again, hands on her hips, the wind swaying her long dark hair.
"Do you think I'll let that conceited queen think she can outrank me? She needs to learn who the true goddess of these lands is."
Kazuya chuckled softly, rising from the wall with the calm of someone who was in no hurry for anything in the world.
"Alright, alright, I get it. The mighty Ishtar, fearless and proud wife... who's arguing over territorial jealousy..."
She blushed.
"I-It's not territorial jealousy! I just—"
"Of course it's not." He laughed quietly, pushing off the wall. "Right, Your Majesty of tantrums and beauty, enough talking about kingdoms that no longer exist. Let's do something that still does: have fun."
Before she could retort, he took her hand.
The warmth of her fingers fit perfectly into his, and for a moment, Ishtar looked at him with a mix of surprise and... something softer, almost vulnerable.
He said calmly:
"Come on. Hillah still has more to show than rocks and wounded pride."
They walked together down the street leading to the modern part of the city, enjoying themselves in various ways. The streetlights reflected in the puddles left from the day's heat, and the night air carried the scent of fresh bread and cardamom.
Soon, they found a small night market. Vendors shouted their promotions, children ran around with colorful balloons, and the aroma of kebab, Arabic coffee, and honey-sweetened desserts filled the air.
Ishtar immediately perked up.
"Look at that! They're selling dried figs! And—wait, is that halawa?"
"Hm, you seem like a professional tourist... Did you visit this place without me knowing?"
"Of course, while you were wasting time with my little sister or other women. I was appreciating human culture, Master. That's what civilized gods do."
"'Civilized,' huh? You threatened to destroy an entire exhibition because the curator called Gilgamesh 'legendary' and you a 'minor myth.'"
She huffed, blushing.
"That was an offensive historical distortion!"
"Sure, sure." Kazuya replied lightly, grabbing two kebab skewers and handing one to her. "Eat. The only war you can wage now is against hunger."
She stared at him for a second but accepted it. She took a bite, and her eyes lit up.
"This is... incredible!"
Kazuya shrugged, biting into his.
"See? No offering in the temple of Uruk comes close."
"Hey! My offerings were great!"
"No doubt. But I doubt any had this seasoning."
"You're a first-class heretic." Ishtar said, but smiling, licking a bit of sauce from the corner of her lips.
Kazuya watched her for a moment, his gaze softening without him realizing it.
"Hm?" She noticed. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing. It's just... it's nice to see you smiling. You look beautiful when you smile honestly and not like a tsundere..."
Ishtar blinked, surprised by the unexpected sincerity.
"...Hey, Master! I'm not a tsundere." She retorted with an angry expression, before huffing and crossing her arms, looking away. "But thank you."
The two continued their date. Ishtar, with her natural curiosity, stopped at nearly every stall, examining fabrics, earrings, perfumes, and even rugs with the same enthusiasm as a child at a festival.
Kazuya simply followed her, his smile oscillating between amusement and exasperation.
"How many bracelets have you bought already?"
"These are cultural offerings, not purchases."
"Right. And I'm the god of common sense."
She ignored him, trying on a turquoise stone necklace in front of an improvised mirror.
"Don't you think it suits me?"
"Everything suits you."
"You're just saying that to escape another shop?"
"Yes. But it's also true."
Ishtar let out a short laugh, that rare kind of sound Kazuya loved to provoke.
She turned to him, dangling the necklace.
"You're dangerous when you talk like that, Master~."
"And yet, you keep following me."
"Just to make sure you don't get into trouble."
"So you admit you care."
"Don't twist my words!" She shot back, but the smile on her face made the scolding harmless.
The hours passed without them noticing.
Kazuya and Ishtar walked side by side, their hands intertwined absentmindedly, as if it were the most natural gesture in the world. She was still carrying a small bag with her "cultural offerings," and Kazuya's gaze revealed that he had already given up arguing about it.
"So, what's the plan now, goddess of impulse buys?"
"Hmm..." She tapped a finger to her chin, thoughtful. "I saw a restaurant around the corner with a balcony overlooking the river. They say they serve lamb with dates and saffron rice."
"You read that in a brochure, or was it divine intuition?"
"Both." She replied with a slight superior smile. "Besides, after dragging me through half the market, the least you can do is take me to dinner."
"Dragging you?" He arched an eyebrow. "You bought half the stalls. If anyone was dragged here, it was me."
"Exaggerated. I only bought symbolic souvenirs."
"For whom? The spirits of Uruk?"
"Maybe." She shrugged. "But if you keep complaining, I'll offer one to you as a necklace, Master. A nice pink one—what do you think?"
Kazuya let out a weary laugh, but his gaze remained calm and amused.
"...Show me this legendary restaurant."
The place was cozy, with golden lanterns hanging from the ceiling and dark wooden tables arranged near the windows. Traditional music played softly in the background, and the air was filled with the inviting aroma of spices and grilled meat.
They sat near the balcony, from where they could see the Euphrates waters shimmering under the crescent moon.
Ishtar rested her chin on her hands, watching the reflection of the lights.
"You know, sometimes I forget how beautiful the world can be when no one's trying to destroy or rule it."
"That was surprisingly honest, huh? You're right..."
"I can be honest when I want to." She replied, feigning indignation. "But only when it's worth it."
"And is it worth it now?"
She looked away, pretending to watch the river.
"Maybe."
Kazuya smiled faintly, leaning back in his chair.
"Then I should feel honored?"
"You should feel lucky."
The waiter brought dinner: marinated lamb, saffron-scented rice, and caramelized dates, accompanied by local red wine. The aroma filled the air, and even Ishtar, who always insisted on appearing above human trivialities, let out a satisfied sigh.
"Hmm... this smells divine. Literally."
"Look at that—mortal compliments from a goddess. That's rare."
"Don't get cocky, Master!" She replied, picking up her utensils with a determined look. "I can still curse you if the food is bad."
"Fair." He said, serving himself calmly. "But in that case, curse the chef, not the husband."
She took her first forkful, and for a moment, Ishtar's expression softened.
"...This is really good."
Kazuya watched her savor another bite and smiled.
"You have a talent for looking elegant even while eating."
"Of course. I'm a goddess, remember?"
"Ah, yes. The goddess who got stuck in traffic and cursed a driver for five minutes last week."
She froze for a moment, then puffed out her cheeks.
"Hey! He almost hit me!"
"You were floating in the middle of the street, Ishtar."
"So what? I had divine priority!"
Kazuya let out a genuine laugh, and her gaze softened—half offended, half amused.
"You laugh at me too much, you know?"
"It's easy. You look beautiful when you're angry."
She paused for a second, her ruby eyes widening slightly, before pretending to focus on her plate.
"You're impossible..."
"But irresistible."
"Unfortunately." She murmured, but the smile that escaped soon after belied the irritation.
Dinner continued unhurriedly, full of teasing and laughter. They talked about everything—from the differences between ancient and modern customs to the times Kazuya had to deal with the disorganization of the [Pleiades], since most of the faction leaders were too lazy about certain matters, like Azazel or even Amaterasu...
They also talked about how humanity had entered a utopian era.
Ishtar, always competitive, mocked how the others "idolized" him in silence.
"I don't know if I'm proud or jealous."
"Jealous of what? I literally haven't met any of them in person."
"You underestimate your charisma, Master. Even some ego-driven gods would make offerings just to see you smile."
"Ah, so it's genetic." He teased.
"Genetic?"
"The fascination with me."
Ishtar arched an eyebrow, her gaze loaded with irony.
"You really think highly of yourself, Master..."
"No. I just recognize facts."
She laughed, shaking her head.
"You're extra cocky today, huh... but maybe you're lucky that I love you enough to enjoy it and not punish you for your arrogance."
Kazuya stopped joking for a moment, his gaze fixing on her.
"Repeat that?"
"I said maybe." She replied quickly, but the blush on her cheeks gave her away.
"That's enough."
"You should learn to be less confident."
"And you should learn to admit when you're in love."
Ishtar set down her fork, sighing.
"If I admit it, you'll become unbearable."
"Probably."
She laughed again, this time without trying to hide her smile.
When they finished, the waiter brought two glasses of wine to end the night. The soft sound of an oud echoed in the room, and outside, the night wind was warm and calm.
Ishtar rested her arm on the table and her chin on her hand, watching him with that gaze that mixed challenge and tenderness.
"You know, Kazuya... sometimes I forget you're human."
"And is that a compliment or a criticism?"
"A bit of both." She replied, swirling her glass. "You've saved humanity several times, both in our old world and in this one..."
"...Everyone keeps talking about it, but I just did what I thought was right..."
Ishtar looked at him, a warm glow in her red eyes.
"Yes, because that's who you are... Always doing what you think is right, even when it's not... That's why I love you."
Kazuya didn't respond immediately. He simply stood up, walked over to her, and extended his hand.
"Shall we?"
"Where to?"
"The hotel. Or do you want to beat me in a sarcasm contest first?"
Ishtar laughed, taking his hand.
"You'd lose anyway."
"No doubt." He said, gently pulling her as they walked out of the restaurant.
Outside, the night was calm. The streets of Hillah were bathed in golden light, and the distant sound of the river mixed with the murmur of the last tourists.
Ishtar drew closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder as they walked.
"You know, coming here was a good idea."
"Even with my sarcasm?"
"Especially because of it." She murmured, closing her eyes for a moment. "It's... familiar. Warm."
Kazuya looked at her, his sideways smile returning.
"I've never really thought about it, but being human and goddess—you and I have a strange concept of romance, you know?"
"And that's why it works."
He chuckled softly, slipping his arm around her shoulders.
"True."
The two continued like that, in silence, until they reached the luxurious hotel on the riverbank. The lights reflected off the marble facade, and the night breeze carried the distant scent of spices and flowers.
They climbed the grand staircase of the Babylon Rotana Hotel & Suites, an oasis of luxury on the banks of the Euphrates, with its white marble facade and golden arabesque details echoing the ancient glory of the region. The lobby was a spectacle in itself: crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, casting soft light over intricate Persian rugs and murmuring fountains in the center. The air conditioning contrasted with the external heat, carrying a subtle aroma of jasmine and oud. Kazuya handed the magnetic key to the receptionist with a lazy nod, while Ishtar, still holding his hand, observed everything with curious eyes, as if assessing whether the place was worthy of her divine presence.
The elevator took them to the 12th floor, opening onto a carpeted hallway in shades of burgundy and gold. The presidential suite—which Ishtar had insisted on booking "because gods don't stay in ordinary rooms"—was 1201, with a panoramic view of the river. Kazuya swiped the card, and the door opened with a soft click.
The room was a perfect fusion of modern opulence and Mesopotamian touches: cream-colored walls with dark wood carved panels, a giant kilim rug covering the polished marble floor, and a wide balcony with lounge chairs facing the Euphrates, where city lights danced on the dark water. In the center, a king-size bed with a wine-red silk canopy, piles of embroidered pillows, and 1000-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets. Adjacent was a living area with velvet sofas, a mahogany table with fresh fruit and dates on a silver tray, and a minibar stocked with local wines and champagne. The adjoining bathroom, visible through the half-open door, featured a black marble jacuzzi tub and a rain-effect shower.
Kazuya barely had time to close the door behind them, tossing his black jacket onto a nearby armchair. "Finally, peace. No more markets, ancient rocks, or goddesses complaining about—"
Ishtar didn't let him finish. With a fluid, predatory movement, she spun on her heels, her crimson eyes blazing with an intensity that mixed desire and eternal possessiveness. Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall in the breeze from the open balcony, and her ancient jeweled necklace tinkled against her exposed skin. She pushed him against the wall beside the door, her hands firm on his chest, her short shorts riding up slightly with the impulsive gesture.
"Master..." she murmured, her voice low and husky, laced with urgency. "You've been teasing me all day. Smiling that lazy way, calling me a tsundere, making me admit things I didn't want to... Now it's my turn."
Before he could respond with one of his usual quips, Ishtar rose on her tiptoes and captured his lips in a fierce kiss—nothing delicate or hesitant. Her fingers tangled in his white hair, pulling him closer, while her body pressed against his, the heat of her skin contrasting with the room's cool air. Kazuya tasted the lingering red wine and dates on her mouth, mixed with her unique scent—something between ancient incense and desert flowers.
He laughed softly against her lips, his hands automatically going to her waist, gripping her firmly.
"Impatient, huh? I thought goddesses knew how to wait."
"I've been waiting all day," she countered between kisses, lightly nipping his lower lip, her half-lidded eyes gleaming with mischief. "You owe me for all those teases. And I charge with interest."
With a decisive push, she guided him backward toward the bed without breaking contact. Her nails lightly scratched his white shirt, impatiently unbuttoning the top buttons. Kazuya let her lead, his insolent half-smile still on his lips, but his eyes darkening with the same fire. "Then collect, Ishtar. Show me what a goddess does when she loses patience."
She pushed him to sit on the edge of the bed, straddling his lap with feline grace, her legs wrapping around his waist. Her jeweled necklace brushed his skin as she tilted her head, kissing his neck, trailing down to his exposed collarbone. "You're mine, Master. You always have been... And I'll remind you of that."