Twilight manor, the home of Loki familia, Raul had just spent a long time in the hot shower, and now laid on his bed, in his room, with nothing but his towel on. He stared at the ceiling, contemplating everything that's happened since he came to Orario… The hellish battles he'd just lived through as a level 1, watching the most brutal battle Gekai has seen in years, and now the mental anguish after learning the true nature of the ones he had once looked up to.
"Heh, what am I doing… This familia… I need to tell Anakitty what's really going on here."
Just as he was thinking about the young woman he'd long since fallen in love with, he sighed, closing his eyes. He took a few deep breaths attempting to calm his nerves. He got through a few breaths when he heard his door open, some light, yet quick footsteps, and then the door closed, he sat up and opened his eyes…
"Huh? Aki, what are you doing here?" Raul shook his head…
""I need to tell you the truth about Loki familia.""
They both blinked at each other's comment, and realized they said the same things, and then shared a chuckle, Raul plopped back down on his bed with a sigh…
"So you already know… When did you find out that our current mentors are murderers?"
"A few hours ago, I was so shocked, I ran off, and bumped into the proprietress of a restaurant. She gave me a small meal, on the house, and the ladies there helped talk me through it. When did you find out?"
"Around the same time as you, Finn and Noir let it slip. And then I ran back here, Gareth confirmed it, and so did Loki. I'm disgusted… I can't even decide what I hate worse, the fact they did it, or the fact they hid this from us."
Aki approached Raul's bed, and slowly climbed onto it, and sat on his thighs, looking him in the eyes. It was at this time, Raul remembered he was basically naked, and his face went red.
"What do you plan on doing now, Raul?"
"I'm leaving this familia the first chance I get. Which means, I'm going to fight as hard as I can in the wargame to earn the attention of another god. I don't care what familia it is now, I just don't want to be associated with murderers… What will you do?"
"I…" Aki paused, and peeled off her black shirt, slowly revealing her skin to Raul. "I'm going to stick with you. So let's leave this familia together. I know of one that will surely take us…"
"Eh what are you doing-"
"Shh, we're going to join Hathor familia."
"Wait, Hathor is a goddess of fertility… You don't mean?"
"After the war game, we'll show how deep our commitment is, by having a litter."
"Aki wait…"
"Don't worry, I just want to snuggle for now."
Aki smiled, and laid down onto Raul's chest, nuzzling his cheeks a few times, she sniffed him and then blew in his ear.
"You're the mate I desire."
"I-"
Raul, stunned, and thoroughly confused, relented to his more animalistic base desires, and wrapped his arms around Aki.
"I've been in love with you since the first day we met, you're beautiful… I want you as well."
"Then let's train hard, and get out of this familia, but first let's stay like this for a while."
"Let's not forget to go out for a meal… I don't want to eat anything this familia serves, ever again."
"I know the purfect place. We can head there in an hour or so…"
The two of them cuddled up close, and stayed there, like that, for a while. And at the end of it all, Aki managed to sneak a peek at Raul's member, and smiled.
…
That night was a special night for the Hostess of Fertility, they had the honor of hosting a small portion of the Hathor familia, a portion that just so happened to contain the goddess, and Hero themselves. As an added bonus, some of their chefs came along as well, with the promise to work hard.
"Mew can do that?! Ameowzing!"
"Hehe! Having to cook for that man when he was a growing boy teaches ya a few things."
"You got that right, but we got to hand it to this May, she's incredible in her own right. She really knows her way around the kitchen!"
"Awe, thank mew!"
Out in the main dining area Shurry sat with Ardee to his right, and the rest of his quickly formed harem at the same table. Bell and Meda sat with Alise and the Astraea familia's members, going over some more combat ideas. Some of them were rather wild, and honestly, unrealistic without Shurry's freaky magic. So it turned into a bunch of giggles and laughter while they waited for their orders.
The waitresses, seeing the cute display that Bell gave off, and then they noticed the bunny necklace, which they thought was so cute… Shurry smiled, knowing the story behind those necklaces himself…
"Bell and Meda seem to have crossed over into a territory a bit closer than friends."
"It's so cute!"
The food started coming out, and of course, Shurry ate last, deciding to control himself until everyone else had eaten their fill.
"Hey, Syr, are you going to help or meon't?
"Huh? Oh, I, sorry… Coming now!"
Chloe was at the door, managing the new guests arriving for the night. Deciding to turn away people who needed a bit more space than usual… But groups of no more than four were allowed inside. And then…
"Party of two for the bar! Aki's brought her boyfriend back with her this time."
"Oh my, that was quick. This should be interesting. Come have a seat you two love birds."
Aki, and Raul, both still new to the whole thing, were blushing the whole way into the restaurant, it was then they noticed that Hathor was sitting at a seat of honor, and then… They both turned to see Shurry, the Origin Wolf sitting right there, laughing along with his wives conversations and caressing Ardee who'd cozied up next to him.
"He's amazing… So calm… It's a stark difference from the fight we saw a month ago…" Raul spoke, not nearly as quiet as he thought he was.
Shurry's ears flickered.
"You're both members of that detestable Loki familia right? New members who got suckered in by the lies, right?"
"The lies, as in… About 8 years ago?"
"Yep."
Shurry replied with a hyper casual response, popping a hard boiled egg in his mouth.
"Yeah, we didn't even find out the truth until they let it slip today…" Raul answered, clenching his fist.
"I learned it today as well… Just a handful of hours ago." Aki answered, trembling.
"I see, well then, don't worry about it. Do your best in the war game. You'll really need to try hard if you want to impress everyone."
"We want to-"
"Don't finish that thought yet, wait till after the war game. You were not responsible, and thus you bear no blame for it. I am not so cruel as to blame such people, it would only negate my just anger."
"Miss Mia was right about you, you're kind."
"I- I want you to know, we're both working on what that thing is."
"Oh ho! Now, in that regard, you're already infinitely better than those murderers. Keep it up, even if you feel like you don't understand it yet, the fact you haven't asked me what it is… Well, it's a massive improvement."
Saying the same thing in two different ways, along with a sprinkling of a hint, Aki, and Raul's eyes brightened a bit.
"Oh, and next time, if you were trying to hide your closeness, it may be a good idea not to mix your scents so much. It's obvious to me that you've been… close. Now, sit down and order something, everything here's good."
…