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Chapter -24-

Slumber Party

Nine hours later Mt. Olympus ...

Karla arched her hips up and groaned in sexual release. She gasped softly and clenched the sheets. Her hips rolled up again and she tensed her abdominal muscles. "Damn you know how to use that tongue," she panted.

Karla relaxed, dropping her head onto the pillow. "Are you going to let me return the favor? I've never tasted a Greek deity before."

She sat up, still panting softly, and looked down at the nude body of Aphrodite, lying on her stomach between Karla's thighs. The goddess smiled up at the succubus, licked her lips, and nodded.

"So are you going to show it to me?" Karla grinned. "You promised you'd show it to me."

Aphrodite grinned. "You are ornery, human succubus. But you are divine, and the last of your kind. I cannot say no to you."

Karla moved up on the bed, leaning back against the headboard. "So show it to me."

Aphrodite smirked. She walked across the elegant bedroom and opened a locked chest on a counter with a mirror. At first glance, the furnishing looked like a modern vanity. Aphrodite glanced over her shoulder at smiled at Karla. "Why do you want to see it so badly?"

"Because that makes it real," said Karla. "I want to see it."

Aphrodite retrieved the treasure within the box, brought it behind her back and approached Karla on the bed. "You promise you'll still want to taste me after I've given you what you want?"

"Honey, I'm a succubus. I'm going to rock your world. But first, I want to see it."

Aphrodite drew a golden apple from behind her back. She passed it to Karla. "This is what you seek?"

Karla drew the golden apple into her palms and looked at it closely. Words were scrawled on the side. Karla smiled, seeing the writing. "Kallistei." Her smile broadened. "To the fairest one."

"Not many humans can read that. Not anymore."

Karla looked up from the round gold apple. "I'm not one of them. I just know my Greek mythology. It's fascinating. Did you _really_start the Trojan War at Troy over this little trinket?"

"Trinket?" Aphrodite blinked. She looked insulted. "At the time, I did not know where it came from. I only know that Paris had it. Now I am older ... wiser. I do not need to prove my greatness to a man. I do not need his approval. Athena and Hera know I am sheer feminine perfection."

Karla arched her brows, looking up at the goddess. "Then why keep this on your hope chest, over there?"

"It is a reminder. I can start wars with my selfishness. I can best other goddesses with my allure. But I can also fall prey to shiny objects."

"To trinkets," Karla corrected. She passed the apple back. "I wanted money fifty years ago. I wanted it so badly, I endangered a young man with a heart of gold. And after I received my reward ... I lost the young man with the heart of gold. I value into a 'golden apple' instead of putting my heart and desire into Chance."

"Do you keep a reminder?" Aphrodite asked. She returned the apple to its box.

"I don't need to. I won't forget." Karla forced a weak smile. "You caused a war for selfishness. But I lost the man I loved. I wish I could forget, but I'm glad that I won't."

Aphrodite sat down on the bed adjacent to Karla. "I am so very sorry."

"It's far too late. But thank you."

The goddess wrapped her arms around Karla's neck and hugged her gently. "I can fill the hole in your heart."

"Can you?"

"Only if you stay away from my consort, Ares."

Karla laughed. "We flirted, but he's not my type."

"Good. Because he's one of mine." Aphrodite drew back from the hug and placed her palms on Karla's face. "I can make you feel compelled by desire the way you once felt for your Chance."

"No man will fill the void of a telepath. Chance heard my thoughts. He knew me in a way no other man ever could. I felt safe with him. I never felt judged by him. I knew he accepted every detail of my life because he already knew them."

Aphrodite frowned. "No, I could not give you that. But I could make your heart fond for your friend with the lightning. Nathanial Carrington."

Karla smiled somewhat. "You don't need to." She leaned forward and kissed Aphrodite's forehead. "My heart is already fond of him. It's not lust; it's respect. I genuinely care for him."

"Ah. Very well then. So, Karla, is it my turn?"

Karla placed her hands on Aphrodite's hips. "I think I can ... be convinced. Like I said, I've never tasted a 'goddess of love' before."

"Earlier you said no kissing. You said it complicated things. But, please, my lips thirst for the velvet soft kisses of a woman."

Karla lowered her gaze, drinking in the divine body of Aphrodite. "Maybe I'll ... make an exception for you."

"Perfect." Aphrodite leaned forward and pressed her lips firmly against Karla's own. In a muffled tone, she spoke against Karla's plush, pink petals, saying, "Make me scream in ecstasy."

Karla plunged her tongue into Aphrodite's mouth and leaned forward, guiding the woman onto her back. Karla's hand slid down the goddess' slender tummy and disappeared between her lovely, tone thighs.

X

X

Meanwhile...

Reno sat up in bed and stretched. The bed was larger than a king-sized mattress and a blond and a brunette woman flanked him on either side.

He lifted the covers and, sure enough, he wore nothing, nor did either of the women. He pulled the covers back down.

Standing in the doorway was Evan Balmoral in boxer shorts, with an uncomfortable expression.

"Uh..."

"Sorry, Re- er, uh, Nathan. I've got a problem. I woke up with nymphs in my bed. I told them I was married and they act like they've never seen a wedding ring before. They won't get out of my room."

Reno pointed downwards. "You should get some pants on, before they follow you around."

Evan looked down at his boxers and shrugged. "They're the size of swim trunks. They're my lucky boxers. I'm untouchable in these things."

Reno deadpanned and brought his palm to his forehead. "Right. Go get your pants on, brother. How did I get to my room after we drank last night?"

"Aphrodite asked her buddies to carry you upstairs. So two girls put your arms around their shoulders and helped you up the steps. You slept the whole night."

Reno nodded. "I didn't do anything with these girls, did I?"

"How would I know?" Evan shrugged. "You're not married. I'll send my nymphs over to your room if you want."

Reno held his hands up. "No, no. Not necessary. I wouldn't even know where to start, trying to entertain four girls. Karla's the expert on that sort of thing. Not me."

Evan shrugged. "If you say so. I've never seen Karla try to start an orgy. She usually flirts with people one-on-one. I'm gonna go get my pants." Evan turned around and walked out of the room.

Reno saw a large Batman logo on the back of the boxers. He brought his palm to his face again. "Get dressed, Caped Crusader. I need whatever passes for coffee around here."

Evan stopped in the hall and called back, "Be glad we didn't stay in Valhalla last night. They would probably serve more mead. I'm glad I told our hosts I already had enough to drink last night when she offered."

Reno shrugged. "Yeah. Aphrodite, that was her name right? She was kind of hot."

Evan returned a few minutes later, wearing pants. "Did I hear you right? You said Aphrodite was 'kind of' hot?"

Reno looked around for his clothes but couldn't see them. "Yeah, she was too flirty for me. It was kind of a turn off. She's a pretty girl, but she didn't have to prance around in nothing but a scarf and sandals."

Evan walked across the bedroom and picked up Reno's clothes by the beltloop. The boxer briefs were still inside the pants.

He tossed them to Reno, careful not to awaken the adjacent girls. Evan picked up a shirt and tossed it to Reno then walked to the doorway and faced away. "Seeing a naked woman didn't turn me on, either. It made me miss Patty."

Reno pulled his clothes down, beneath the blankets, dressed and climbed over the front of the mattress. He got down on his knees and found one of his shoes under the bed. Both of his socks were near it, but the other shoe was missing.

"Does that make me a chump?"

Reno got up and sat on the edge of the bed. He pulled his socks on. "What, because you love your wife? Because you weren't turned on by a woman who was trying too hard for attention?"

"When you put it like that," Evan said with a tone of relief, "Yeah, it was a little ... trashy for a goddess. Athena is way more classy."

Reno chuckled. He fixed his socks, pulling part of the fabric back down, so it was bunched up at his ankles. "They're thousands of years old, they don't give a crap about strutting around in the buff. I'm dressed, man."

Evan turned around. He saw Reno had one shoe in his hand, but the second was missing. He started walking around the room, looking for his friend's missing shoe.

"You saw Ares. That guy walks around battlefields with a helmet, sandals, a shield and a weapon. No eff's given."

Evan looked up, from the far side of the bed, and saw a nymph's bare rump hanging off the edge of the bed. He reached up and pulled the blankets over her to cover her.

"Did you just tuck her in?"

"I'm forty-five. She could be my kid. She barely looks twenty-one."

Reno snorted. "I bet she's five hundred years old, Evan." He moved to the opposite side of the bed, searching for his shoe.

"Thanks for censoring the f-bomb a minute ago. But if you want to cuss, just ... I've built up an immunity to it."

"You don't have to tolerate it, if you don't like it," Reno said. He stood up and shrugged. "Do you remember if I was wearing both shoes when those girls helped me up the stairs?"

"No. I don't recall." Evan stood up and brushed his knees, followed by his hands. "Aren't we going to look for an archangel today?"

"Yeah. Michael." Reno moved closer to one of the women and leaned down over her. He held still until her heard her take a breath. Satisfied she was alive, he walked towards Evan and the door. "Man those two sleep soundly."

"Where's Karla?"

"You're asking me?" Reno said with a chuckle. "I turned in early."

"Duh, you're right. Sorry. Anyhow, Tamae woke up an hour ago. She found me and asked who the women were. I sat up, surrounded by two girls. Pretty, but ... nope."

Reno walked down a beautiful hallway behind Evan. The floor and walls were made of marble blocks, and the occasional pillars were painted gold.

Reno peeked into a room with a bed. The covers were undone on one side. Two Nubian women slept in a state of undress atop of the covers. Reno turned back to Evan and rubbed the scruff growing on his chin. "Pretty."

"Not Patty," he reminded. "At least I slept in my boxers."

Reno smirked. "Yeah. I don't remember taking anything off. That wine was wicked stuff."

A woman cried out from down the hall. Evan and Reno exchanged glances. They hurried down the hall and came to stop in front of a large wooden door.

Reno pushed it open. The bedchamber within was decadent. There were fountains in the corners, and a large bed at the far end with a fancy headboard.

They saw the back of a woman, sitting up in the middle of the bed, surrounded by silky covers bunched around her backside. She arched her slender frame, and then she rolled onto her back, panting hard.

Karla sat up in the woman's place.

Reno immediately realized it was Aphrodite, and that she had been perched over Karla. He reached over and put a hand over Evan's eyes. "She's naked, Evan."

Evan turned away, standing in the doorway. "We heard a woman cry out."

"That was me," Aphrodite said with a sigh of content. "I would welcome you to join us but I'm spent. And, oddly, I'm exhausted." She turned her head to Karla, adding, "I hate to be a rude hostess, but I can barely keep my eyes open."

Karla stood up, fully nude, and stretched. "I'm used to it, goddess." She sauntered towards Reno. "Hey, Top Cop."

Reno sniffed at the air. "Nice, Karla. Real nice. You missed a spot, there, on your chin."

Karla replied with a shrug and a smirk. "Thanks." She reached for Reno's shirt and pressed her face into the cotton. "There, babe. 'Mana' of a goddess. That should be worth, what, a hundred in magic resistance and defense, right?" She reached over and patted Evan on the head. "I could get you some for your shirt, too."

"What?"

Reno sighed. "She went down on Aphrodite and wiped the residue on my shirt. Classy."

"Oh, Jesus, are you serious? That's gross Karla!"

Karla snorted. "Germs don't exist up here. Get over yourselves. Evan, you should turn around. I'm naked'er than Aphrodite was last night."

"I've seen you naked before, Karla. Remember? The day I met you in your apartment, in 2023."

Karla brightened. "Good memory, babe!" She sauntered back to Aphrodite's bed, tucked the woman in and kissed her softly on the lips. Karla went for her clothes on a chair adjacent to the nightstand.

She pulled her bra around her waist, facing the wrong way. Karla connected the rear hooks, slid it around so the cups were over her chest, and smiled. "You look well rested, Nathan." She winked. "I remembered this time."

"Yup."

Karla picked up her panties, shimmied them up her thighs, and adjusted the lay of the fabric. She pulled on her blouse, followed by her skirt. "Why are you holding your shoe, babe?"

"Because I can't find the other."

Karla grinned. "Well then." She slid her feet into her flats and approached the two men in the doorway. "Alright, boys. Let's go find Tamae."

"She's meditating," Evan said. He shyly glanced over his shoulder. Seeing Karla dressed, he turned around to face her. "I thought you get hyper after ... you know."

Karla beamed. "Give it a minute. It'll hit soon." She walked over to one of the corner fountains and washed her face. She dipped her hair into the flowing water and held it in her left fist.

She used her right hand to pick up a golden colored vial. She sniffed at the contents with a smile. She dumped the contents into her hair, set the vial aside and lathered it into her bright blond tresses. She wiped the excess over her forehead and cheeks, scrubbing with her palms.

Karla ducked her head into the fountain again, finished washing her hair, and wrung her hair out into the basin. She reached for a cloth towel hanging nearby, dried her hair and wrapped the towel to keep her hair up. "Fountain is as warm as bathwater."

"Well, at least you're not covered in goddess spooge anymore." Reno hooked a thumb over his shoulder. "You ready for food?"

"There's food?" Karla perked up. "I'm down to four survivor bars."

"Those are really good by the way," said Evan. "I'm ready. Let's find Tamae."

Karla reached up, stuffing a few loose yellow strands of hair back up into the towel on her head. "I used to take birdbaths back in the forties. I'd get up; wash my face at a sink ... man, the forties. Those were the days."

"Birdbath?" Evan asked. "My mom used to call it the same thing."

They walked out of Aphrodite's chambers, shut the door and headed down to the entertaining area from the night before. Empty chalices littered the area. Some still had wine left in them.

Reno grinned. "Hell yeah." He picked up his other shoe from the floor. "It's going to be a good day."

Evan watched Reno put his shoes on and said, "Plus five defense."

"Plus five for each foot?" Reno asked. "Let's fight something."

Tamae spoke to them from across the room. "Not on an empty stomach. I have prepared an American breakfast, using the ingredients I could find."

Evan perked up. "I smell maple syrup."

"Hai. Chicken and waffles. I did not have a proper waffle iron, but managed to make two hot surfaces come together."

Evan laughed. "You made chicken and waffles? You think that's American food?"

"Is it not?"

Reno smirked at Evan. "Yes it is."

"I thought it was more of a black thing."

Karla walked around Evan, following the smell to another room with a large table. "Sorry, you can't claim chicken and waffles as a black-only thing." She turned to Tamae. "How did you fry the chicken?"

"In hot batter. I know how to cook, just ask Conner."

Reno shook his head with a chuckle. "We're in Aphrodite's home at the top of Mount Olympus ... eating fried chicken and waffles with maple syrup. No one back home is going to believe me."

"Why not," Karla said with a grin. "You can't even begin to make this shi- er, this stuff up." She fidgeted with her smartwatch and used it to take a picture of the food on the table. "Smells great, Tamae. You're awesome."

"I used to work at an American-style bowling alley when I was a teenaged girl. I made chicken and waffles by request. I didn't have powdered sugar, and I didn't have glaze for the fruit."

Evan hugged her. "You did great, Tamae."

She smiled inwardly. "You know, I've never had friends until I was possessed by Tamamo-no-Mae."

Karla sat down at the table. "Tamae, you're not possessed right now. And we're your friends. Tammy is an awesome chick, but you're cool as yourself, too. And..." Karla licked a knife used to cut the pancakes. "This maple syrup is unbelievable."

"It is real," Tamae said, sitting down adjacent to Karla. She gestured for Reno and Evan to sit. "We will eat, and then, when you are ready, we will find Michael the archangel."

Karla stretched. "God, the hyper-ness is about to kick in. I can feel it bubbling up. I'm going to scarf this stuff down, then we're going to make a bee-line across the realm and kill anything that gets in our way."

Reno shook his head. "Thanks for the breakfast, Tamae. You did great." He sat down at the large table with Evan at his side. "Karla, you get a pass on the goddess. It's like sleeping with a rockstar. But we need to focus while we're here."

She offered Reno a smile. "Are you saying that because you want me to yourself, Top Cop?"

Reno grinned at her. "Like I said, you get a pass. Aphrodite is a big deal."

"You didn't seem interested last night."

"We're not," Evan cut in. He looked at Tamae, "This is really great. You can tell you've made this before. By the way, did you wake up alone?"

Tamae frowned. "It was most awkward. The bathing servants were handsome nude men. They wore nothing."

Karla grinned. "I saw those guys earlier. Not as cut as Ares, but good-looking boy toys. I started flirting and Aphrodite seemed offended I didn't flirt with her. You boys saw how that turned out."

"Yup," Reno and Evan replied nearly in unison.

Tamae reached for utensils. "They are fairly similar to modern Earth forks and knives, aren't they?" She looked up at her new friends. "I wonder how Tamamo-no-Mae is faring with Sekhmet."

Karla rubbed her chin. "I'm sure they're fine."

Reno rubbed the scruff on his chin. "Yeah. I noticed guys around here like their beards neat and trim. I'm assuming there's stuff for grooming around here somewhere. You think I can clean up before we go look for everyone?"

Karla smiled. "Just rough it, lumberjack. First, we will find Michael, and get him together with Ares. We'll give them a list of war deities to rescue, and a mission. Then we'll look for Tamamo and Sekhmet."

Reno cut his pancakes into strips. "I wonder what they're up to right now."

Tamae took a deep breath and announced, "I will guide the three of you to the archangel, Michael. But after that, I have a mission I must attend. And then I will meet up with you."

Karla turned to Tamae. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing is 'wrong,' per say. Your mission will be to free Michael and turn the tide of the war for the Celestial Realm. My role is to find something only Tamamo, and a handful of others, know about."

Evan frowned. "You want to go off on your own? By yourself?"

"I am one of very few people who know the temple. If Tamamo is, for some reason, unsuccessful in resetting the Hallway of Reflection, it will be up to me. But it is, technically, illegal for deities to visit this location. It is supposed to be a secret. I am not sure how the Jötnar sealed the realm, but the temple is where it can be repaired."

Karla frowned. "One of us will go with you."

"I cannot risk anyone learning of the location. It is hidden in a place where the kaiju will never find it. But I must go there. Tamamo will wish to go there, as well. If, for any reason, she did not survive, it would be my mission to go there. Alone."

Evan sighed. Karla frowned.

Reno reached across the table and took Tamae's hand. "Hey, kid. If that's what you've got to do, then that's what you've got to do. Do it." He paused, offered a confused sort of smile and asked, "What's a kaiju?"

"Kaijin are human-like creatures. What I call those who are attacking this realm."

"Oh. Right. And they won't be in the temple?"

"Iie, Reno-san. These beings do not have the mental faculty to navigate the obstacles. It was built in such a way to keep wildlife out, as well as those lacking bravery that might cause serious trouble."

Karla frowned. "So who went out there and caused this mess?"

"Sigyn," Tamae replied. "She would know its location. She could have sent an aid in her place."

Evan frowned. "Why not let me come with you. Tamamo can make me forget about it later. I don't want anything to happen to you. We worked together all day, yesterday, and I know you're very skilled with all sorts of weapons. But..."

"I cannot," Tamae said. "I shouldn't go there, but I know Tamamo will. And, if she is unable, no one else will make it a priority. So it is my honor, incase she cannot."

Karla sighed. "Alright, hon. If you help us find the archangel, Michael, I'll teleport you across the realm and drop you off as close as you'll let me. Then you do your mission by yourself. No one will follow you. It's your thing."

"I accept." Tamae offered Karla a smile, bowed her head, and picked up her utensils. "I hope she is safe and well. I've been worried for Tamamo all night. I can't explain it."

Karla gave Tamae's knee a pat. She turned back to her plate. "Stop worrying. I'm sure Tammy Fox is just fine, babe."

"She had her confidence shattered by a group of Jötnar who overpowered her. She cannot bring Sekhmet to this temple. Technically speaking, Tamamo should not know it exists. The fact she knows is complicated. I wish I could explain better, but..."

Karla frowned at Reno and Evan. In a reassuring voice, Karla said, "The creatures killed off the Jötnar. Tamamo will be fine. I promise. I bet she's sleeping in right now, just like we did, today."

Tamae sighed. "One can hope."

X

X

Celestial Realm...

Tamamo sat up in the tall grass and stretched. The campfire's smoldering remains put off slight warmth. She crawled towards it and held her hands out.

Sekhmet and Susanoo had a separate fire nearby, and lay together with their garment hung carefully from a tree branch.

Tamamo's gi was moist from the morning dew. She turned her side towards the fire, trying to dry her shoulder and hip. She cleared her throat out loud so as to awaken the other two.

Sekhmet sat up. She looked at Susanoo, still asleep, and walked to the tree branch with her gown. She drew it on over her head, and her accessories. "My apologies if we were too loud last night."

Tamamo smirked. "Hardly. In this realm, there is not much else to do. It sounds as though you enjoyed yourself."

"Do not mock me, Tamamo."

"I assure you, I am not mocking you." Tamamo paused. She smiled somewhat. "I had a dream last night. My friends made progress. We have a different task today."

"What is it?"

"We find a way to reactivate the Hallway of Reflection. It is controlled by the magic of various gods. We restore the great hallway to its former glory. From there, the various gods we've freed will be able to secure the realm. We will return to Earth and stop the man responsible for sending those creatures to attack the realm."

"And stop Loki." Sekhmet approached Tamamo. "I will not be going back to Earth with you."

"Wait, why?"

With all due respect, Tamamo, you gave me a battle I cannot deny. It is far from won. I wish to stay and fight. I will help you restore the Hallway of Reflection, but my war is here."

Tamamo frowned. "As you wish. Are you staying because of Susanoo?"

"No. He has a wife and he will retur to her."

Tamamo smirked. "He wouldn't be the first man with consorts."

"After last night, we both agreed, mutually, that it was a temporary..."

Tamamo snorted. She cleared her throat. "Please forgive me, I did not mean to mock you. But, as I said earlier, there is little else to do in this realm. He is a shiny new object for your amusement. You are the same for him. I do not expect it to last, but I do not expect it to end after only once."

Sekhmet adjusted the lay of her armored circular plating over her shoulders and chest. "Perhaps you are right. We will see. I will awaken him. Cover the campfires and ensure the area is clear before we leave."

"Mm, get the man into his armor." Tamamo picked up her sword, in its sheath, and shouldered the harness. She kicked dirt over the smoldering campfire. "I will scout the immediate area. With all due respect, cover your own campsite."

Sekhmet smiled. "It is about time."

"About time for what?"

"You were walked on by Kiko Sigyn for far too long. When first we met, Tamamo, you would have attended our fire had I asked you to do so. But now you have gall. Good."

Tamamo smirked. "I did what I had to, in order to gain her trust. She kept me close because she thought I was useful. I did what I had to do to keep a close eye on Sigyn. I am not ashamed of my role. I have been preparing for this day for a long time."

"Have you?"

"I honestly never thought it would happen. I grew complacent. I began to assume she and Loki would never be fruitful in their plans. I am a fool."

"You were the first responder," Sekhmet said. "Do not blame yourself."

Susanoo sat up and ran his hands through the thick hair that framed either side of his face. "Sekhmet is wise. You should not shoulder the blame. Sigyn is wise, and not much is remembered about her from human lore. But her name has withstood the test of time."

"She is the first kitsune, the only to have ten tails. She does not align with Inari-no-Kami. She influenced Proto-Germanic pagans, and married Loki. What she sees in him, I cannot fathom."

Susanoo stood up and retrieved his clothing and armor from the nearby tree branch. "Tamamo, she knows his destiny. He breaks free of his bindings and sets in motion the events of Ragnarök. We all die, and then humanity dwindles to two small tribes, or possibly two people. The Earth becomes submerged in water."

Tamamo looked down. "Hai. You are versed in the lore."

"Does that surprise you?"

"Hai."

"Forgive my hot blooded temper yesterday. Like the sea, I am calm in the early morning."

"I see that, Lord Susanoo. I am honored to fight at your side. Gomenasai; I should have spoken of my respect and honor yesterday."

"You kept silent while I ranted. My temper needs must learn humility. You are wise, and I treated you disrespectfully, Tamamo. Mousi-wake-arimasen."

Tamamo nodded respectfully. "Arigato. Suimasen, I must scout the clearing to ensure we are safe to leave the area. I am honored to have had this conversation."

"I watched you fight yesterday," Susanoo said. "I thought fox spirits were once a useless irony - a destructive animal dangerous to farms, yet working for a farming god. But I see, now, that you serve Inari out of honor and humility. I see you are much more than a farmer's servant, who brings news of fertility to desperate women. I was mistaken."

Tamamo licked her dry lips, not sure how to handle such praise. She bowed again.

"Go, tend to your scouting. I will be prepared shortly.

Tamamo approached Sekhmet from behind. "Sekhmet-sama, I will return shortly."

Sekhmet turned around and nodded. "Is it true?"

Tamamo tilted her head.

"You're a fertility spirit?"

"I ... have had the honor of such a distinction in the past, yes."

Sekhmet looked Tamamo over. The lioness' ears perked up. Her whiskers eased back along her muzzle. "You were nearby when I mated with Susanoo last night. I am not sure an offspring between the two of us would be a good idea. Please, do not..."

Tamamo brought her hands to her mouth.

"What?"

"You are a goddess of the menstrual cycle. Bring about your period, Sekhmet-sama."

"I cannot at this time. Not now. I have battles to wage."

"Understood. Please excuse me." Tamamo stepped away and headed out into the adjacent clearing. She scouted the perimeter.

Satisfied they were in a secure location, she bent her knees, and then she leapt up into a tall tree. The kitsune made her way up, branch by branch until she could see over the forest.

Silence.

She narrowed her gaze, scanning the immediate area. She plotted a course to avoid a cliff, streams, and judged the direction of the wind.

She spied what appeared to be conflict in the distance, near a mountain with a plume of smoke coming from its summit.

Satisfied she had her bearings, Tamamo made her way back to the ground and hurried back to Susanoo and Sekhmet.

She approached them from behind, while Sekhmet helped Susanoo into his battle armor. Tamamo licked her lips. "Gomenkudasai, Sekhmet-sama. Lord Susanoo, I have news."

Susanoo turned to the kitsune. "Yes?"

"I'm afraid this is where we part ways." Tamamo bowed to Susanoo, not sure how he would react. "You must return to the Rock Cave of Heaven and rescue our Shelf. The kaiju have descended on the kami."

"You can see the kaijin descending on the cave?"

"Hai," she said to Susanoo. "I saw from a tall tree. It is my honor to finish our mission alone. You must stop the attack against our kind, I beg of you."

Susanoo withdrew his lengthy sword. "Through the heart or brain to stop them, and drive a wooden steak in place to keep each kaijin immobilized. Tamamo, my ego makes it difficult to offer an apology. Do _not_require me to ask forgiveness for your death - return to Inari safely."

Sekhmet's maw curled back, offering a smile to Tamamo. "You see? He is worried for your safety. He may not know how to properly word it, but I tamed him in only one night."

Susanoo glared at Sekhmet. He turned back to Tamamo and bowed to her.

She bowed deeply in return. "Sayonara." She reached back and grasped the sheath of her sword against her lower back. Keeping it firmly stabilized in her grasp, she turned about and sprinted through the grass.

Tamamo, now alone, darted into the forest and made her way towards the realm border.

She crossed the line; the morning sun disappeared from the sky. The moon came out from behind clouds, bathing patches of clearing in the woods in an ethereal glow.

Tamamo broke through a line of trees. In a clearing was a large temple. The architecture appeared to be a compromise between several different cultures. It seemed almost futuristic for a stone temple.

She reached for the handle of her sword. Tamamo released the handle and opted for her tessen fans instead. She withdrew both from her sash and moved closer to the temple.

She stepped between large pillars at the top of a staircase. The entrance door was tall enough to accommodate enormous deities - perhaps even titans. Tamamo licked her lips, drew in a deep breath, and opened her fans. She mentally prepared herself for anything.

She walked in through the behemoth entrance and approached a railing. She leaned over the rail, looking down into the heart of the temple in an enormous room.

Down on the lower floor, at the center of the temple, she counted ten Jötnar, possibly the last of their kind still in the realm. Tamamo remained still.

She had a flashback to when they overpowered her. Her seventh tail ached against the base of her spine. She recalled when the creatures bent her over, hiked the back of her kimono, and held her sword against her bare rump.

Tamamo recalled when it felt like to nearly have one of her tails cleft from her body. And then Sekhmet showed up and saved her life.

Sekhmet wasn't here to save her, now.

The kitsune swallowed down the fear created by her shattered confidence. She wiped her hands over her cheeks and rubbed her eyes. Tamamo took a moment to collect her wits.

She recalled how vulnerable and broken those foul beings made her feel. She remembered how they shoved their fingers in her mouth and pinned her in a bent-over position. She thought back to how they chided her, and heckled her, and used her own sword against the hilt of her seventh tail.

Tamamo closed her eyes, drew in a deep breath, and re-secured her tessen fans. She reached back, closing her fingers around the handle of the Kogitsune-maru.

She silently withdrew the blade from its sheath. The blade glistened in the dim lighting cast by torches on stands down on the tiled floor. The sword was recently oiled and, while it bared the marks of prior battles, the blade was in good condition.

She murmured a prayer. She asked for guidance, for divine aid, and for the courage to stand up against the foul race that defeminized her.

Last time it happened, Sekhmet appeared and saved her life. Would the fates be so kind again?

Tamamo swallowed down her fears and took three steps back. She eyed the rail, prepared to leap over the side and attack the group from above. She gave the sword a slow twirl. Tamamo drew in a deep breath, mentally preparing herself.

"Wait."

The voice startled Tamamo. She whirled around, eyes wide, with her heart in her throat.

Tamae stood in the short hall leading up to the colossal entrance. The human woman wore her armor and her weapons. She had both of her sais, her sword, her tessen fans, and her naginata spear with the curved blade.

Tamamo, without thinking, threw her arms around Tamae and hugged her.

Tamae, nervous at first to be face-to-face with her personal savior, melted into the hug. "I am here to help," she whispered in Japanese.

"I prayed. I prayed for guidance and aid from divinity. And you appeared."

Tamae rested her head on Tamamo's shoulder for a moment. "It is my honor to fight at your side, Tamamo-sama."

"I only hope that I've not doomed us both," Tamamo whispered back.

"How many kaiju?"

Tamamo relinquished the hug and guided Tamae to the rail, overlooking the ten Jötnar huddled together below. They appeared to be camping. Some had small campfires made.

At the center of the room, a large well provided water. Perched above the well, a glowing crystal pulsed in the dim illumination of several torches, set up around the room.

Tamae swallowed. "Why is it, when men take to the battlefield, they are sometimes overcome with the intense desire to put their penises in anything that moves?" She thought back to Reno and the nymphs last night.

Tamamo thought back to Susanoo and Sekhmet. "You're right. Aggression brings about a rise in testosterone production. When the day's battle is done, and there are no feminine comforts for the man, he finds whatever will slake his thirst."

"Hai. I remember how they hiked your kimono on that day. I remember feeling exposed and fearing for what would become of your body. Had Sekhmet not arrived, I may never have had the honor of becoming your host."

Tamamo offered Tamae a smile. "You are a gift, little one. Are you absolutely sure you wish to engage those men? They outnumber us."

"They are clumsy creatures. Sigyn must have brought them here to protect this temple. I doubt they are intelligent enough to make their way here on their own."

Tamamo smiled again. "We agree on everything. Are you ready to fight?"

Tamae bowed to the woman she considered her spiritual savior. "We will do this so we can return to Conner. Together."

"Hai. Together." Tamamo looked down at the sword in her grasp. "Are you in love with him?"

"Hai. Every bit as much as you are, Tamamo-sama. We will love him together, as one."

"You are a noble host. I am honored to share your body."

"We will return to him soon, Tamamo-sama. I am ready to fight when you give the word."

Tamamo bowed to her host. Tamae returned the bow.

---

END CHAPTER: https://www.sofurry.com/view/805317