This story contains spoilers for anyone who has not seen the first El Hazard
OAV series, and perhaps minor ones for anyone who has not seen the second
OAV series. It is a sort of side story to my El Hazard Earth Chapter 2,
though having read that is not necessary. To anyone who has seen the first
OAV series, the situation should be obvious.

As the [Lemon] tag indicates, this story depicts adult situations. Strictly
not for minors. You know the drill.

I am currently subscribed to the mailing list in 'vacation mode', if you
post C&C I would certainly appreciate your mailing it to:
Ken_Wolfe@mbnet.mb.ca

Enjoy.



Reunited



Nestled snugly in Makoto's arms, the most powerful Demon God
ever created gazed into his eyes, smiling radiantly at him.
Inches away, her lovely face filled his field of view, filled
his whole world.

After a long silence, she finally spoke. "Shall we go?"

It took a moment for Makoto to recall that he had just promised
to help her get cleaned up. He chuckled. "I'm sorry Ifurita. I
guess I'm still trying to convince myself you're really here.
I've dreamt of your return so many times."

She closed her eyes for a moment and shook her head, as if
dismissing his apology. "I understand. When I saw you come back
for me today, I had to consult my Voices to convince myself I
was not imagining it. We can stand here as long as you need."

It was what he needed. Makoto had only human senses, he needed
to see and hear her, to feel her held in his arms. And she felt
wonderful. That was something that had been missing from his
many dreams. He had known, both from what the Staff had told him
and from the brief moments they had touched before, her systems
maintained a temperature of precisely thirty-seven degrees
Celsius. But feeling her warmth next to him was something quite
different. It told him this was not a dream that would be
snatched from him as he woke to the grim reality of her absence.

Running his hand lightly across the back of her threadbare
uniform reminded him of the state she had returned to him in,
and of his promise. But he needed just one more thing first.
"Ifurita... I know you've said it, but I need you to tell me
again, that I'm not going to lose you."

"You won't." A look of growing realization, and pain, came
across her face. "Oh Makoto..." She reached up and brushed a
gloved hand across his cheek. "It's been difficult for you,
hasn't it?"

A tightness clutched at Makoto's chest and throat, he was barely
able to keep a tremor out of his voice. "There were times, over
these years, when I despaired of ever seeing you again."

"I'm sorry Makoto," she said, her own voice also thick as if
resonating to his pain. She put her open hand more firmly across
the side of his face. "Would it help to show me?"

He could feel the beginnings of a void opening before him, a
great open doorway that beckoned for him to step through. The
link. Only this time it was not he who was opening the door, it
was Ifurita.

Four times before their minds had merged like this. The first
had been an accident... with Ifurita standing over him, the
business end of her staff just inches from his face, for no
reason he could fathom he reached out and touched the weapon
that was about to vaporize him. He had found his mind suddenly
filled with pictures, memories that were not his - Ifurita's
memories. The experience had left them both shaken. The second
time Makoto had leaped upon her and forced the link open in a
desperate attempt to get through to her innermost heart. He had
showed her his memories of a happy and peacful life, something
she could not have imagined. It was not until the third time
that he had succeeded in plumbing the depths of her soul, and in
freeing her from her Staff's bondage. The fourth and last time,
he had guided her in shutting down the Eye of God... and just as
importantly had given her his memories, made her well and truly
a part of them. And now, Ifurita was trying to do the same again.

Makoto reached up and took Ifurita's hand, guiding it away from
his face. Her thin, silvery brows came together in a puzzled
frown. He smiled, trying to show she had not done anything
wrong. "I'd prefer not to. One day soon I'll share my memories
of El Hazard with you, just as I shared my memories of Earth.
But not today, not when we've just been reunited. I know it's
silly, but I'd prefer to just talk."

Ifurita's smile came back. She shook her head. "It's not silly.
For today, tell me as much or as little as you like. I am
content just to be back home."

Home was an odd name for a palace she had only ever visited
twice before, Makoto thought. Especially since the first time
she had come to hunt down Makoto, the source of the confusion
and uncertainty that had been planted in her soul. But he knew
what she meant. Now that she was here, it had suddenly become
Home for him as well. "Anyway, why don't we get one of the girls
to pick you out something a bit less ragged to wear?"

"I am detecting nobody else in the room."

Makoto glanced over to the door. "Oh." The servant girls had
made a quiet, discreet exit from the room while Makoto and
Ifurita were talking. That was their prime directive, be there
when they're needed and be invisible when they're not.

"I sensed them leaving, right after you said you would help me
clean up."

"I guess they took that as a hint. Okay, I'll show you to the
washroom and go pick something out of that monstrous closet. I
don't have much fashion sense, I'll just get you something
simple."

Two stone arches at right angles forming a little square
vestibule led into a bathing room that was not much smaller than
the sitting room Makoto had teleported them into. Like all the
suites in the palace, this one had a grand, elaborate bathing
facility. A continuous stream of water from the palace boiler
room trickled out of a silver lion-head faucet, keeping the
great tub full of fresh, warm water. It was about the only room
that did not lead out to a balcony. The open arched windows were
high up on the outer wall. The bright, playful patterns of the
tiles that lined the room and the blooming vines that draped
down from the windows gave it a cheery atmosphere that Makoto
had always liked.

He showed Ifurita where everything was and made to leave, but
something in Ifurita's face made him pause. "Ifurita, is
something wrong?"

Her expression was hard to read. Puzzlement, or maybe
disappointment. "Will you not stay and help me?"

Makoto had an idea what she was really asking. It was something
he had given a fair amount of thought to himself. Especially in
recent days. Nevertheless, he suddenly felt very anxious and
awkward. He took her hand. "Ifurita, I wasn't lying when I told
you I would like nothing more. I just thought you might like
some privacy, that's all."

"I see." It was plain as day now, however she tried to hide it
in her averted, downcast eyes. He had done exactly what he was
trying to avoid, he had offended her.

Makoto took firm hold of both her hands now, something that
prompted her to look furtively back to him. "Ifurita, I want to
be honest with you. You know that I love you, but you must know
that I desire you as well. I didn't know how you would feel
about that, so... well, I wanted us to talk about it before I
did anything that might offend you."

Ifurita looked like this had taken her by surprise. "I
thought..." She looked away again.

"Yes?" Makoto asked encouragingly.

"I thought you were unsure about... whether you regard me as
human."

Makoto could see how hard it was for her to talk about this. But
he also knew they had to. "You mean, whether I regard you as a
woman, don't you?" he asked gently. She nodded. She looked to be
close to tears now. He stroked her cheek. "I saw your heart,
Ifurita. You held on to your humanity when they did everything
to try and crush it. You have more right to call yourself human
than most people I know."

"Makoto... my heart is artificial. My body is artificial."

"Ifurita... it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter to me at all,
it shouldn't matter to you." The tears welling up in her eyes
spilled down her cheeks now, she looked utterly miserable. He
cradled her face in his hands. "Oh God... I'm sorry, I've really
messed this up. But I don't know what more I can say. Please,
tell me how I can make this right."

After a moment where she looked to be working up her courage,
she finally met his gaze. "Makoto... I need for you to show me
that it doesn't matter. I need... I need you."

Makoto kissed her then looked into the teary blue eyes cradled
between his hands. "You're sure?"

"Yes."

He smiled. "Why don't we have a soak in the tub first? It will
help relax us both." He could sure use it, and it looked like
she could as well. Ifurita nodded her assent. She had said she
wanted him to show her, so Makoto did his best to ignore his
nervousness and decided to take the initiative. "Let me help you
with this." He took hold of the edge of the long glove that went
up past her right elbow with the intention of pulling it down.
It did not stretch and it stuck to her skin like a barnacle.
"Uh..."

"Let me." She touched the spot where he had been pulling and ran
her finger down the glove. It parted as if she were undoing an
invisible zipper. She opened it up to the decorative kerchief at
her wrist then held her hand out.

"That's handy." She obviously still wanted him to do this. He
took her hand and worked her fingers out of the glove. He pulled
it off and let it flutter to the floor. So went the other, and
so went the gossamer veil that covered the back of her hair. She
put her finger to the top of her jacket at her breast and drew
it down to her belt. The fabric parted just as the glove had.
The wide black belt and the big collar about her throat
unfastened as if at some silent command. It came apart just
enough to show that she was wearing nothing underneath. He was
seeing a bit more than just cleavage now. Makoto opened the
collar and dropped it to the floor. He glanced up to see her
looking at him expectantly. But she was also trembling just a
little. He caressed her cheek and smiled. "Feeling a little shy?"

"I suppose so. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You're cute when you're blushing." Makoto was
relieved to see her smile a little. He imagined that for her
this first time was mostly going to be about affirming her
humanity and her womanhood. But he wanted to make it more for
her if he could, wanted her to feel something more than relief
of anxiety. He slipped his hands under the collar of her jacket
and gently worked the muscles between her shoulder and neck.
They responded almost immediately, relaxing and becoming more
supple under his touch. She closed her eyes and gave out a
little moan. "You were really tensed up," Makoto observed.

"I was. But you've fixed it now. Thank you."

Makoto chuckled. "It's just a massage, that's all." And a very
quick one at that. He assumed her muscles were artificial. They
certainly felt normal enough, but were undoubtedly designed for
greater strength and quicker reaction. Perhaps the latter made
them more responsive to touch. He was suppressing his power to
link with her, but perhaps his power was somehow coming into
play unconsciously. Whatever the case, she looked a lot more
relaxed now. He moved his hands over her shoulders and pushed
the jacket off them, letting it fall to the floor along with the
long tails that hung from it. He looked down and stood
transfixed as the thrill ran its course through his body. He
swallowed hard. "Ifurita... you're gorgeous."

She was grinning and blushing furiously. "I'm happy that you
think so." She reached for the top of her uniform's leggings at
the side of her waist, and as expected it parted under her
touch. She pushed them down to the floor and stepped out of them.

"Platinum." Ifurita raised an eyebrow at Makoto's comment.
"You're platinum down under too."

She did something Makoto hadn't expected. She giggled. "Is that
good?"

"Well, it's certainly not bad."

Her response was to start unfastening his long white cloak. When
she had his shirt off she returned his favor by kneading the
tension out of his shoulders. It took her a little longer than
it had taken him. It felt wonderful, he was sorely tempted to
sprawl out on the floor and let her do the rest of his back. But
as soon as his shoulders loosened up she reached down and undid
his trousers. When she had him down to his loincloth it became
obvious what effect the sight of her was having. It was Makoto's
turn to blush. She just smiled warmly. "May I?" She reached down
and slipped the last piece of cloth off him, managing to
discreetly get it around the obstruction. "Black."

"What? Oh...!" They both started laughing at once, and Makoto
couldn't stop if he tried. He almost doubled over. Somehow or
other they ended up in each other's arms as his laughing fit
came to an end with a long, drawn-out sigh of contentment. They
just stood quietly like that for a while. Thankfully that
release of tension had settled Makoto down a bit. He could only
hope that making love to Ifurita would feel half as good as this.

"Makoto," she said softly into his ear.

"Yes?"

"You're gorgeous too."

"Thanks. Come on, I'll wash your back."

"Okay." Makoto guided her to the narrow tile-covered stone bench
beside the pool and she sat down. Makoto pushed her hair aside,
dipped the little bamboo bucket into the pool and poured it over
her back. "You know, for somebody who hasn't taken a bath in ten
thousand years, you hardly look like you need one."

"Dirt really doesn't stick to us. Our skin is different."

Makoto was debating asking, but she did seem more relaxed now.
"Should I be careful about getting soap in your power socket?"

"No. Even hydrochloric acid would not corrode it."

"I'll bet your designers put it here on purpose..." he lightly
patted her bottom. "The view is magnificent."

Ifurita was silent. Makoto was afraid he might have offended
her, but when she spoke it was with a light, easy tone. "Many of
my former masters made a similar comment, but it was always said
in derision. In all these years, you are the only one who has
ever complemented me with kindness. I have always known that I
was made to be beautiful in man's eye. But I never cared before,
never felt good about it before."

Makoto rinsed off her back, leaned forward and kissed the side
of her neck the hair had been moved aside from. "I'll probably
be telling you how beautiful you are day in and day out. Better
get used to it."

She turned around and her smile of gratitude melted Makoto's
heart. "Do I get to wash your back now?"

"Of course."

When they had both finished washing, Makoto helped Ifurita tie
her hair up over her head and they both slipped into the warm
tile pool. To Makoto's surprise, Ifurita went straight for the
deep end and started treading water. "I guess I shouldn't be
surprised that you can swim."

She smiled. "I was designed to function on or under the water.
But I have only ever swam for pleasure once before. On Earth."

"On Earth? Oh, you mean before you went into hibernation. I've
never thought much about it, but you must have been a long time
building that hibernation chamber."

"I did not build it, I found it. The chamber and the temple had
been built by another Demon God, Erinyes."

That took Makoto by surprise. "Another Demon God? What was she
doing on Earth?"

"She had been sent there by the Eye of God when it was used in
the Holy Wars. But she was thrown even further back in time.
Unlike me she was at full power so she had the strength left to
build the chamber for her to sleep in. I woke her and she agreed
to let me use it in her place."

"Do you think she built another for herself? Maybe she's still
on Earth too."

"No, I doubt that. I freed her from her programming, just as you
freed me. Luckily I had learned that from you. I also taught her
to travel the wormholes. She had said she wanted to go find a
soul-mate just as I had found one. I hope she did. But I expect
she is long dead now."

Makoto could sense the undercurrents of sadness. "I'm sorry, it
sounds like you really liked her."

"I only knew her for a short while. But she was a good friend."

That reminded Makoto of something else. "I guess I never told
you, a couple of years ago we found another Ifurita."

It was Ifurita's turn to be surprised. "You awoke another
Ifurita?"

Makoto laughed lightly. "No, she was already awake. Years ago a
man named Yuba Yurius found her. He had powers like mine, so he
freed her like I freed you. It's sort of a long story, but we
stumbled upon them when we were out looking for Fujisawa-sensei.
That was also when we met up with Kalia and Jinnai."

"Jinnai?" Ifurita's expression hardened. "You mean Nanami's
brother? He still lives?"

"He was the one who woke Kalia. The idiot actually helped her
resurrect the Trigger of Destruction. We were barely able to
shut it down. We've heard rumors he's still around. Like Nanami
is fond of saying, he's as hard to kill as a cockroach."

Ifurita swam closer and sat next to him in the shallow end.
"This other Demon God, she is really another Ifurita?"

Her interest seemed more than casual. Makoto was going to make a
joke about almost jumping her on the spot, but decided against
it. "We thought she was you until I linked with her and saw
different memories. She explained to us that there were many
Demon Gods called Ifurita."

"Is she in Rostalia as well?"

"No, she's guarding the place the Trigger of Destruction had
been. There is still plenty of dangerous technology there, I
guess she feels responsible for it." He smiled sadly. "I suspect
it has more to do with the fact that it's the place Yuba had
lived with her."

Ifurita frowned. "Lived...?"

"He died in the battle with Kalia."

"Died..." She looked profoundly disturbed. "How was... how did
*she* take it?"

Again, he could see the answer was important to her. He had an
idea why. "I could tell she was sad, of course. But I also saw
glimpses of her memories. They had a very happy life together,
she seemed to be content with that." It wasn't the first time he
had thought of what that said about what the future held for
Ifurita and him. But this was not the time. "You know, now that
you're back I think we should go visit her sometime."

"Yes, perhaps we could," Ifurita said. Her mind still appeared
to be elsewhere.

"Just don't wear your uniform or we'll never tell you apart."

That did bring a smile to her lips. "Was it very disappointing
for you, when it turned out not to be me?"

"More than I can say. I had to wait two more years for this." On
impulse he took her by the shoulders and kissed her. She wrapped
her hands around the back of his neck, holding him firmly in
place. It was like she suddenly wanted to swallow him. He
responded in kind, delighting in the taste and feel of her lips
and tongue. By the time they broke apart she was breathing
almost as heavily as he was. It was a moment or two before he
felt up to speaking. "Have you had enough of swimming?"

"Yes."

Makoto slipped out of her embrace and they both stood. He
stepped back up onto the tile floor and picked up one of the big
towels the servants had left. Ifurita did likewise. But instead
of drying herself as Makoto started to do, she came up beside
him and started gently toweling his back and shoulders. He
craned his neck and returned her playful grin. When she was
done, he considered his own towel for a second, dropped it,
grabbed hers and returned the favor. By wordless consent they
took turns, making a game of it. The towel's fabric was a bit
rough, so of course he had to take extra care and towel the
sensitive skin of her breasts more slowly and thoroughly. She
gave a little moan of approval. She reached up and put her own
hand over his, holding it in place long after he had dried her.
When he finally let the towel drop she put her arms around his
neck and kissed him just as enthusiastically as she had in the
tub. She put her weight down on his shoulders, as if meaning to
drag him to the floor. Makoto managed to free his mouth from
hers for just a moment. "Ifurita, don't you think we'd be more
comfortable on the bed?"

"Is it far?"

It sounded like a serious question. That gave him an
inspiration. "If you don't think you can manage, then I'll carry
you." With no warning he swept her legs out from under her...
and staggered.

Ifurita squealed, grabbing hold of him for dear life. "Makoto!
Be careful, I'm heavier than I look. You'll fall."

She was. And he nearly had. "Funny," he said, the strain showing
in his voice. "You don't look an ounce heavier than the day I
met you."

"It's the implants. Makoto this is dangerous, the floor is
slippery."

"It's not slippery in the bedroom."

"Don't be silly. I don't want you getting hurt. Please, put me
down."

That made good sense. He smiled at her. "Well, okay. But you are
absolutely not carrying me. I have my pride."

"And I do not?"

He laughed. "Fair enough." He set her down. "If I want to do
that it looks like I'm going to have to start pumping iron."

Ifurita ran her hands across his chest. "You have the build of a
distance runner, not a weight lifter. I would prefer you didn't
try to change that."

"Well, that makes me feel better."

She continued to lightly caress him. "So is it far?"

"Is what... oh, right." He pointed through the smaller arched
doorway. "Just through there." He put an arm about her waist,
coaxing her along. They made their way leisurely into the huge,
bright bedchamber with all its silk drapery hung everywhere.
Their hands explored playfully as they walked, she tickling his
ribs, he squeezing her bottom. They responded with little laughs
or sighs. When they reached the side of the bed, Makoto reached
around her head and undid the silk tie they had used to gather
her hair up. A waterfall of platinum went cascading down her
back. He drew the silk ribbon across her shoulder and down
between her breasts, letting it flutter to the floor. His eye
lingered there, drinking in the sight of her. She was white as
ivory, but no statue could have looked so alive. The lifeblood
coursing under that semitransparent skin left rosy highlights
that were little more than hints. It gathered more obviously
under the darker skin of her nipples and her sex. She seemed to
be glowing. How could mortal man have possibly created such a
thing of beauty? He looked back up into her eyes. A face more
enigmatic than the Mona Lisa stared back at him. It spoke of
contentment and need and a hundred other things. If he looked
any longer he knew he would cry. So he gave in to his body's
ache instead, suddenly reaching out and gathering her fiercely
in his arms, holding her against him as tightly as he could.

Where a moment ago they had been a picture of stillness now they
were all motion. He ran his hands all along her back and her
sides, feeling her do likewise. He buried his face in her hair,
then in the crook of her neck. When he reached down and probed
the insides of her thighs she gasped, threw her head back and
let out a loud moan. He took advantage of that, bending and
planting kisses all along her neck and throat. He wanted to
explore her further that way, but couldn't do it easily like
this. With gentle pressure he indicated his intention. She
followed his lead quickly, and they practically fell down onto
the bed, arms still entangled. Soft beds were a status symbol
among Rostalians, and of course the royal palace could not be
outdone by any. So they were swallowed up by a fluffy silken
cloud. To Makoto it might as well have been air, all he could
feel was the woman in his arms, nothing more. His eyes were shut
tight, vision now being redundant. He found her mouth by the
sound and feel of her ragged breathing. They kissed deeply, and
as if by magic the fire threatening to burn him alive from the
inside managed to cool just a little. They held onto the kiss
for a long while, and their movements became a little less
frenetic. Now their legs and feet could also gently entwine and
caress each other. His hand came around to her front and cupped
a breast, squeezing gently. He felt and heard her breath catch
in her throat, and their kiss broke apart of its own volition.

The feel of her and the sound he was coaxing from her throat
sent the liquid fire hammering through his veins again. He
rolled over on top of her and slid down her body, leaving a
trail of kisses as he went. Then he just let his head sink into
the softness of her ample bosom. His lips and tongue trailed
along one breast as he turned his face to one side. He moved
again, barely able to lift himself on his quivering, trembling
arms. He clamped his mouth down over her nipple, rather more
forcefully than he had intended. He heard her gasp loudly. Her
hands were suddenly pressing down on the back of his head,
forcing him down even harder. "Makoto..." He had to fight
against her to keep from biting her. Perhaps that fact
penetrated her - somehow - and she eased off her pressure. He
lifted himself off her and filled his starved lungs once, again,
and again. For what seemed the first time in an eternity he
opened his eyes. They found hers immediately. There was nothing
enigmatic in that face now. "Makoto, please..." Her legs came
around the outside of his, coaxing him down. Makoto hesitated.
For the first time he regretted his lack of experience. This
suddenly seemed like a very awkward position, with both his arms
occupied keeping his weight off her.

Her sunny, innocent smile washed over him like a benediction,
dissolving his anxiety into nothing. He felt her take him in her
hands, sending a fiery chill racing across his body. "Let me
help," she whispered.

Slowly, carefully, he moved, letting her guide him into place.
Then he remembered the other thing he had been worrying about.
"Ifurita," he said in a low, husky voice that he barely
recognized as his own. "This... might hurt."

"It won't."

Makoto did not think she would not lie to him just to make him
feel better, especially about this. He pushed more firmly now,
expecting a barrier. But there was none... and all of a sudden
he was inside her. The feeling took him utterly by surprise. He
lost control and fell down on her. Only he never hit her, he
went right through her and just kept falling and falling...

And then he really was inside her, and she was inside him. It
was not their memories that merged now, it was their feelings of
the here and now. It was the mammalian part of their
consciousness that resonated together, not the human part.

For Makoto, it felt like the raging flood that coursed through
him suddenly burst its banks, flooding every nerve in his body
with a torrent of pure white passion. Only it wasn't just his
nerves it was hers, and he felt what she felt what he felt and
they both just melted together into a single pool of warm,
golden ecstasy. As one creature they breathed and screamed and
pulsed, pulsed, pulsed, lost in an electric inferno that should
have burned them to ashes ages ago but somehow just went on and
on and on.

Just as involuntarily as it had formed, the link was broken.
After a while Makoto's blasted mind became aware of itself
again, began to comprehend what had happened. He first noticed
her breathing when it fell out of synch with his own. It was
coming in sharp rapid gasps, as was his. He also became vaguely
aware that he really had fallen onto her. But right now there
was absolutely, positively nothing his quivering limbs could do
about that. Gradually he became aware of other things. Her limp
arms lay across his back. Her hair tickled his nose. And for the
first time he could remember he was smelling her. It was a
light, musky scent, utterly unlike anything he could name, a
human scent and yet not so. Having a modicum of motor control
back now, he ran a hand along an ivory flank that was no less
sweat-sheened than his. Absently, he wondered if this was the
first time in ten thousand years she had worked up a sweat.

She was starting to move a little now too, one hand sliding
languidly down his back to rest on his hip. His hair-trigger
nerves responded, causing him to shudder all over again, a wave
of released tension that he could feel mirrored in her body as
well, almost as if they were still linked. Well, physically they
were... he was still inside her. But not for long. His body was
shifting into recovery. He felt like a rapidly deflating
balloon... not just there, but all over. The strength just bled
out of him, leaving him helpless as a newborn.

"Makoto..." It was something between a moan and a whimper,
barely recognizable as her. He managed to prop himself up on
elbows that sank into the feathery cloud that enveloped them,
raising him just enough to be able to move his face over hers.
Still panting through her mouth, she regarded him with a look of
awe. It was also a look of understanding. In that moment they
had been one person, feeling and being as one. Trying to express
any of it with words would have been redundant. But Makoto
wanted to put some kind of signature on that moment. He did it
in the most obvious way, with a kiss. Once again, she responded
as if she wished to swallow him whole. The effect was rather
different this time, calming him instead of arousing him. When
they parted he rolled off her, pulling her gently by the waist.
She took the hint, rolling to her side to face him.

Makoto was hardly aware of the passage of time now. With one
hand he lightly stroked her ribs, with the other he played with
a strand of the silvery hair that spilled all around her head.
One of her hands rested against his chest, occasionally coming
up to caress his neck or shoulder. The only event that
interrupted this bit of timeless eternity was when Ifurita
propped her head on one arm. This prompted Makoto to reach over
their heads and pull one of the big fluffy pillows down from the
head of the unnaturally long bed. They moved closer to share the
pillow. More comfortable now they lay more still, one set of
heavy-lidded eyes gazing into the other.

Time reestablished itself when Ifurita took his hand in hers and
spoke. "Thank you, Makoto."

He brought her fingers to his lips for a light kiss. "Thank
*you*."

"May I ask you something?"

"Anything, just don't ask me to describe that moment in words."

Her smile brightened. "I know, that would be futile. I just
wanted to ask, did you open the link deliberately?"

"No." He paused to reconsider. "Well, maybe. Not consciously. I
remember wanting to know what you were feeling. Then it all just
happened. Why do you ask?"

"I was just wondering if that is going to happen every time."

He chuckled. "It better not." He grinned at her puzzled
expression. "If it does, my heart will give out in no time."

She closed her eyes for a moment. "Your EKG was strong and
steady, you were in no real danger."

"You were *recording*?"

She blushed. "Just normal sensor logs. I didn't think to do
more. Somehow it would be... improper."

He leaned forward the couple of inches needed to kiss her nose.
"You're precious."

She raised an eyebrow. "Are you making fun of me?" It sounded
like she was just wondering.

"I suppose I am. Do you mind?"

"No. People in love can do that, can't they?"

"Yes, they can."

They fell into a contented silence for a while again. Makoto's
mind finally started to drift beyond the little piece of heaven
they had just made for each other here. "Tell me about your
friend," he said. "The one who built the place I found you."

He listened quietly as she related the story. It was frightening
to hear just how close Ifurita had come to being killed by her
fellow Demon God. He still did not accept the idea that their
reunion had been preordained. He had worked desperately to make
this day possible, and now he saw that she had too. "She said to
thank you, Makoto," Ifurita said in conclusion. "For the gift of
freedom."

"She sent you to me. I'm the one who should thank her, it's too
bad I can't."

"I think one day I'll do a painting of her. Having a physical
remembrance is nicer than having just a memory."

"You can paint?"

"I will learn how."

He smiled and stroked her hair for a bit. "That'll be nice. I
mean, using your talents constructively, doing what you want.
Having fun."

"What else do you think I should learn?"

He shrugged. "Oh I don't know. Belly dancing, gourmet cooking,
massage therapy... that sort of thing."

It looked like he had just taught her to smirk. "I think you are
making fun of me again."

He kissed her lightly on the lips this time. "Just learn
whatever you want to. That's what would make me happy."

"I would like to learn what it is to live as a free person, to
do things for their own sake instead of following orders."

"I'd say you're off to a great start."

That brought the contented smile back to her lips. After another
lazy silence she took the hand that had been resting on her and
held it in hers between them. "I've told you of the Demon God I
met, tell me of the ones you met."

"Okay." He thought for a moment. "I guess it all started the day
when Fujisawa-sensei and Miz were supposed to get married."

Her eyes widened in surprise and delight. "They married?"

"They had to make two tries at it, but they did get married just
about two years ago. They have a baby girl now, little Ai-chan."

"That's wonderful." It warmed Makoto's heart hearing those
simple words. Suddenly he was no longer lying next to the Demon
God who had slumbered under his school. She was the childhood
sweetheart who had grown up with him and they were talking about
friends from old memories they shared.

Ifurita seemed to sense that something had changed. "Did I say
something wrong?"

"No, not at all."

He continued with his story. After he told her how Yuba died, he
paused to wipe the tear from her cheek and to hold her for a
little while. When she asked him to continue he told of the
final battle with Kalia and how Yuba's Ifurita had saved him.
"Her last words to me were 'You must go and reunite with your
Ifurita.' It was odd, in that moment I could almost believe she
knew exactly what you and I mean to each other. Later on I had
this crazy notion that all the Ifuritas have some sort of
gestalt mind."

His Ifurita smiled at him. "She didn't need to link with me. She
found love even before I did, so she knew. One day I must go
there and thank her for saving you. Perhaps I will share this
memory with her, to show her how grateful I am."

Makoto was taken aback. "You mean... *this* memory?"

"Oh!" She blushed. "Well, perhaps not that part."

"How about you just tell her we're both very happy and leave it
at that."

"Happy..." She suddenly looked miles away. "I've heard so many
people use that word, I spent so much time wondering what it
meant. All I could think was that it must be the absence of
pain, the absence of war. Until you gave me your precious
memories I could imagine nothing more than that. It was a kind
of blindness I think."

"If it was, I was even more blind than you." She looked puzzled
by his words. "I always thought of myself as being happy. I
suppose I was. But now, if I had to leave you and go back to my
old life, I would be utterly lost. Somewhere there must be
another me who never even met you. He probably thinks he's happy
and doesn't know any better."

Ifurita's frown deepened. "Another you?"

Makoto sighed. "I'm sorry, I'm just babbling." He really didn't
feel like explaining about the multiverse right now.

She reached out and caressed the side of his face, as if sensing
something was wrong. "You were happy, I could see that. Your
life was a wonder to me, seeing it was what opened my eyes to
the possibility of something more."

He took hold of her comforting hand, kissing her palm. "The only
real wonder in my life is you."

"Makoto..." They inched closer and kissed softly. "If I am a
wonder then it is because you made me so. I am your greatest
masterpiece."

There was just nothing more he could add to that. They kissed
longer and more deeply this time. He explored the soft curves of
his masterpiece with his hands. But she was outdoing him, her
hands moved across his back with what he could only describe as
frenetic precision, now floating across his skin like a feather,
now zeroing in on a tightened muscle and digging into it, now
sliding up and down the length of his spine.

"Makoto?" she called softly into his ear.

"Yes?"

"Are you... tired?"

He had thought he was, but the past couple of minutes had begun
to change his mind. "Not any more."

"Then, it's not too soon?"

His answer was to push her gently onto her back and kiss her
thoroughly. Before he was done with that his hand came down and
rested lightly over her breast. As if of its own volition it
began gently squeezing, kneading. Her reaction was just a little
more subdued this time, the little sounds she made were more of
delight than of the desperate need he had felt in her earlier.
He shifted his hand slightly, her nipple sliding from under his
palm to nestle between two fingers, and resumed his rhythmic
kneading. Her head turned to one side and she let out a
contented sigh. He was suddenly faced with her ear, which he
took the opportunity to kiss. He nibbled lightly at her earlobe,
which made her giggle.

He nuzzled and kissed her throat, this time working his way down
at a more leisurely pace. Her hands rested on his shoulders, but
they were gently holding him, not desperately goading  him on as
they had before. Her other breast now got some attention as
well. He lingered a good long time there, exploring with his
mouth, then with his hand, then with both. He teased her slowly
and lightly, not wanting to move things along too quickly. His
hand lingered there while he slid is face down her abdomen. He
rested his head there for a few moments, delighting in the sound
of her steady breathing. He rubbed his face playfully against
her like a kitten, and got a quick, breathy laugh from her. His
mind went off on an odd tangent, a habit that had probably come
from years of contemplating warped space-time. He found himself
wondering why her creators had given her a navel. Aesthetic
reasons, no doubt. There were cultures both on Earth and on El
Hazard that considered the navel one of the most erotic parts of
the female body. Makoto wasn't sure he could agree, but it was
worth at least a nuzzle on his way down.

He contemplated her sex for a moment before giving it a light
kiss. "You're beautiful. Just like a rare orchid."

She put a hand over the one he still had over her breast and
helped him squeeze. "I don't think I've ever - Oh! - ever heard
it called that before."

It was his tongue sliding across her sex from bottom to top that
had interrupted her reply. Makoto slipped his hands under her
arching back and went to work in earnest. He endeavored to be as
methodical and as thorough as she had been when she had sent her
hands dancing across his body. As he slowly and carefully
explored her sex with his lips and tongue, he felt her
reactions. Mostly it was in the trembling of her muscles nestled
under his arms. But on top of that her hands, now holding his
forearms, would squeeze him when he did just the right thing.
And her sounds of delight spoke far more eloquently than words
could have. Gradually, he learned what she liked. As he
proceeded he became more aware of the other thing that had
prompted him to make the orchid comment. That wonderful musky
human-yet-inhuman scent was becoming stronger. He was tasting it
now. His mind went on another of those odd tangents, reminding
him that it was probably just the scent trying to fool his
tongue. He really didn't care, it was delightful all the same.

"Makoto..." There was just the barest hint of pleading in that
voice, it was more of a gentle entreaty. He gave her womanhood
one last kiss, then moved himself back up her body, pausing just
long enough to tease one nipple for a moment. He looked down
into her heavy-lidded blue eyes and smiled. He leaned down to
give her a deep, lingering kiss, then moved back into position.

"Wait." Her hands, which had been working circles down his
flanks as he moved over her, now rested on each side of his
hips. He smiled and nodded in approval. It was only fair, she
just wanted to return the favor at least a little. His breath
caught in his throat as he felt her take him gently between her
hands. For just a minute she lightly stroked, kneaded and teased
him. When he started to tremble she moved under him and helped
him move into place. He pushed and they both gasped in unison.
Nothing else happened for a moment. Well, Makoto thought, that
answers that. No link.

Makoto started to move experimentally. Their first couple of
tries didn't quite work out. He nearly slid out of her
altogether. "Oop... sorry," he said in a strained voice.

Her sympathetic laughter and happy smile did a remarkable job of
soothing his nerves. "Let me try this," she said. Her legs
wrapped more tightly about him. They tried again. It was not
long before they got a steady rhythm going. Makoto closed his
eyes and now his whole universe consisted of the point where his
flesh met hers. He kept thinking his release must surely be just
a moment away but the tension just kept building and building
until he could hardly breathe at all. He was certain he would
pass out before he completed. Then he heard her joyous cry and
felt her flesh clamp down hard around his. The release crashed
right into him and his voice merged with hers. He wanted to keep
moving, but they were both paralyzed now, there was nothing to
do but just try to breathe at least a little while it ran its
course. The waves of delight rolling through him very slowly
faded into tingling hot chills. He managed to stay propped up on
his quivering arms. But a moment later he felt her arms slide
across his back and pull him down onto her. He did not even try
to resist. Amazingly her skin felt even hotter than his. He
turned his head a little and nuzzled the lovely hot, musky skin
around her throat. He was still too busy filling his lungs to
think of kissing her. His hand found hers and they linked
fingers. They lay still that way for a while as they both slowly
cooled down.

When he had some strength back Makoto started to roll off her.
But her free arm immediately tightened against him, firmly
holding him against her. He settled back in place. "Aren't I
heavy?" he asked.

"No. I like having you cover me like this. It's very comforting.
I feel safe."

He kissed her just under her ear. "I'm glad. That's how a
husband is supposed to make his wife feel."

There was a pause before she answered. "What did you say?"

It took a moment for Makoto to realize what she was asking
about. She moved a little so that she could look into his face.
He did likewise. She wore an expression of profound
astonishment. It seemed to him that he had said the plainest
thing in the world, but still she seemed to be awaiting an
answer. "I guess that's how I've been thinking of you since we
were reunited. I proposed and you accepted." She still looked
shocked, but he truly could not think what more he needed to
explain.

She spoke very hesitantly. "You... want me to marry you?"

He smiled. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm jumping the gun. I should ask
you properly. Ifurita, will you marry me?"

She still looked no less astonished. He could not imagine she
was considering saying no, but she certainly was thinking hard
about something. At length she looked into his eyes again. "You
wish to marry me alone?"

"Do you see anyone else here?" She did not react to his glib
answer. He decided she deserved a proper one. He reached up and
ran his fingers along the line of her jaw, letting his hand rest
under her cheek. "Yes, I want to marry you and you alone." Her
continued look of bewilderment was becoming a bit disturbing. He
thought maybe he had just taken her by surprise. "You don't have
to answer right away, you know. Sleep on it if you like."

Suddenly she looked almost frantic. "No, Makoto, that's not it
at all," she said quickly. "There is nothing I could possibly
want more." She seemed about to say more, but something was
holding her back.

He hated seeing her so distressed, especially about something
that should be so simple. He put a finger to her lips. "Wait a
second," he whispered. He reached up and retrieved the great
airy pillow that had somehow or other been swept aside by their
frenetic play. Slowly, gently, meticulously, he coaxed her onto
it and settled them exactly as they had been after they had
first made love, side by side. He took her hands into his,
caressing them almost without thinking. "Ifurita, I can tell
that something is bothering you. I love you, there is nothing
you could tell me that would change that. You have nothing to be
afraid of. Please, tell me. Whatever it is, let me help."

She still looked frightened. It took her a moment to marshal her
courage. "I had never imagined you would ask me... no, that you
would offer me such a gift. I want nothing more than to just
accept it. But there is something I must know."

"Ask me," Makoto implored her. "I trust you, I know there is
nothing I can't tell you."

She gave a barely perceptible nod, as if to acknowledge his
promise. "You are alive, Makoto. I am a machine. If you marry
me, you will be mated to something that only looks human. You
would be giving up any hope of marrying a woman who could give
you children and watch them grow up as you  grow old together."
She swallowed, continued in a more tremulous voice. "I have to
know, would you ever come to regret that?"

He had promised her. "I had wondered about the possibility of us
having children. I'm sad to hear that it won't happen. But I'm
not really sad for myself. I just think you would have made a
better mother than most women I've ever met. My only regret is
that one day my time with you will end and you will be alone
again. But that would be true no matter who I married, wouldn't
it?"

"Would you not regret that you will die without leaving some
part of you to live on in your children?"

"Plenty of people don't have children, Ifurita. You and I saved
a whole world together. We can claim that as our legacy. It's
enough."

She looked even more anxious about what she was going to say
now. "Makoto... there was a time when you dreamed of marrying
Nanami and having a family with her."

He had promised, Makoto reminded himself again. "Yes, there was."

"Many of the memories you gave me, they were ones you had hoped
to share with her."

"I had a crush on her. She saw me as a friend, and eventually I
accepted that. You must have seen that in my memories as well."

"Have her feelings for you changed?"

He chuckled. "No, she treats me like I was her kid brother.
Still thinks she has to wipe my nose for me." She looked as if
she wanted to laugh, but that feeling seemed to be put down by
something else, something like relief. "Ifurita, is that what
was bothering you? Were you afraid I still have feelings for
Nanami?"

"Yes. No." She closed her eyes and shook her head as if to clear
it. "I don't know, Makoto. I wasn't thinking beyond the fact
that I just wanted to be with you. I thought you might even be
married to Nanami by the time you came back to me. It would not
have mattered to me. I would have been content just to be here
and watch you live out your life."

He drew her hands to him and kissed them. "Ifurita, you *are* my
life."

Her look of astonishment returned. But now it was utterly
different. They both lay still for a while. Then she extracted
one of her hands from his to try and wipe away the tears that
were freely flowing across her face. "Don't know why this is...
why I'm... should be happy, I..." Makoto gathered her in his
arms and rolled so that she could rest on top of him. She buried
her face into the pillow next to his head and clung to him while
she wept. He just whispered to her that everything was okay and
stroked her hair.

When she was done, he felt her move to bring her lips next to
his ear. "Yes," she whispered.

He indicated with pressure on her shoulder that he wanted to
roll back to the way they were. She moved off him and he took
her hands again, looked into eyes that showed no sign of the
tears they had just shed. "You mean it?"

"Yes. I... think there are things we will need to talk about.
But, yes. I will marry you."

He grinned and they both leaned into a long, gentle kiss. "Thank
you, Ifurita." He suddenly laughed. "I don't have an engagement
ring for you. Like I said, in my heart you were already my wife.
I hadn't even thought of a proper proposal."

"It doesn't matter. But I'll wear one if you'd like me to."

"Okay. We'll go to the market and get a matching pair." He
glanced at the angle of the sunlight streaming in through the
arched windows and openings to the balcony. It was impossible to
believe it was still not much past midday. But he didn't think
there was any way he would be able to drag himself out of here
today. "How does tomorrow sound?"

She frowned a little. "Would it be okay?"

"I'd love to stay in here forever, but I think we have to step
out some time." It looked as if he had misinterpreted her
question. "Would you prefer to do it later?"

"No, it's not that. I'm just wondering how people will react to
seeing that I'm back."

"Oh..." It was a good point, something he had not really thought
about. The first time she came to Rostalia she had leveled a
whole wing of the palace and killed dozens of people in the
process.

"Who does know that I am back?" Ifurita asked.

"Rune and Fatora, of course. By now Rune has told the three
priestesses. Fujisawa and Nanami knew I was getting ready to try
opening up the wormhole. But they don't know I was going to do
it today."

"I would imagine Miz would have told her husband."

"What? Oh no, she retired after she married Fujisawa. There's a
new Great Priestess of Water, her name is Kauru."

Ifurita frowned. "I took Miz for still being quite young. Was
she injured?"

He could hear real concern in her voice. That, and a hint of
remorse. She had nearly killed Miz once. "No, she's fine, she
just took early retirement that's all."

Ifurita averted her sad eyes. "I don't imagine Shayla and Afura
were very happy to hear about this."

Makoto sighed, laid a hand on her shoulder. "So, that's what's
bothering you."

She met his gaze again. "Your friends have every reason to hate
me and no reason to... accept me. I know how much you care for
all of them. It would break my heart if you had to choose
between them and me."

"Ifurita, you want to know what they did when I told them I had
solved the riddle of the Eye of God?" He smiled. "The very next
day they held a surprise dinner party for me. To celebrate your
imminent return. Rune made a lovely speech, quoting from an old
poem about reunited lovers. Then she brought in musicians,
Nanami and I danced a bit, Alielle sang us a song, Afura did
some magic tricks and Fujisawa and Shayla got into a drinking
contest. The only reason we're not all partying it up this very
minute is I asked them to let us be alone for today. But Rune
made me promise to bring you to dinner tomorrow. I'm pretty sure
she's got an even bigger soiree planned." Though with what
happened today, Rune might very well think that a longer cooling
down period was in order... he thought better than to mention
that now.

Ifurita looked as if she was having trouble believing this. "Did
they never try to tell you that you were making a mistake? I
mean, by coming to find me."

"Well, of course Nanami had to play big sister and warn me that
I'd better know what I was getting into. But she's supported me
the whole time. They all have. Without their help I'm sure I
would have given up, let the council have their damned staff and
go waste away somewhere."

Ifurita frowned. "The Alliance Council wanted you to relinquish
the staff?"

"At one point most of them did. They would have taken it too,
had Rune not stood up for me."

Her expression suddenly transformed, hardening into a mask of
cold hostility. "Do you still have enemies among the Council?
Have they ever threatened you?"

Makoto was shocked by the abrupt transformation. "No, Ifurita,
nobody here has ever threatened me."

She squeezed his hand almost enough to be painful. "If they find
out I am here they might panic and move against us. I may need
to protect you. I should be at full power, perhaps you should
wind my spring after all."

Makoto put his free hand on her shoulder, trying to stay calm
and not show how bewildered he was. "They would never do that,
Ifurita. That was all a long time ago, just after the Bugrom war
ended. Everybody accepts that I want to bring you back, either
accepts it or just doesn't care much any more." He tried to
smile. "I'm a war hero under the Princess' protection, I can
pretty much do as I want. Really, there's nothing to worry
about."

Ifurita suddenly had a blank look. She blinked and he felt her
shudder. It was like she was coming out of a trance. "Oh..." She
put her fingertips to her temples and closed her eyes. "I'm
sorry, I was listening to the Voices again."

He wanted to ask what she meant, but that could wait. "Are you
okay now?"

"Yes, I'm fine." She looked at him again. He didn't like what he
saw, it was like she felt ashamed. "I thought you might be in
danger and... another part of me took control. I let my guard
down, I..." She sighed. When she spoke she was no longer
frantic, but no less remorseful. "Oh Makoto, you've made me feel
so... so *human*. I could almost forget what I really am. You
saw my soul, but there are other things within me you have not
seen. I thought I could save you ever seeing these things." She
looked away and spoke with a bitterness that tore at Makoto's
heart. "I thought I could hide them from you. And now I've...
God, what a fool I've been."

Makoto wanted to just tell her it was okay. But he knew it was
not okay, knew it because... yes, that was it.

He wanted to ask her to look at him as he told her the thing he
had to. But he did not, because he knew what she was feeling.
Without preamble, he just started while he still had the
courage. "A year ago I really did give up. I had run into so
many dead ends, it just looked hopeless. I couldn't do it, I
would never see you again. So I just crawled into a little room
and did nothing. Absolutely nothing. Everyone thought it was
just another of my slumps, so they were as kind and
understanding as they always were. But after days of wasting
away I looked like the beaten, starved animal I had become and
they knew I was just waiting to die. Finally Nanami couldn't
stand it any more. She stormed into my room and told me just
what a pathetic craven loser I had become. I wanted to hit her
but I was so full of hatred I did something far worse. I accused
her of wanting me to fail, wanting for me to be alone so that
she could keep me hanging on a thread like she always had. That
was the one and only time I have ever seen her cry. But the very
next day she brought me another meal in the hope that I would
actually eat something. For the first time in days, I did."

Ifurita was watching him now. Makoto had to take a slow breath
before continuing. "I had been telling them how grateful I was
for their support but in fact I resented them. They had their
lives and the one thing I wanted was outside my grasp. I thought
I could hide that from them, but eventually I couldn't. And I'm
more ashamed than I can say.

"That was why I did not want to link with you today. That was
what I was trying to hide from you. I just finished telling you
I would trust you with anything. I lied."

"Oh Makoto..." he could almost think she was linked with him,
feeling his pain. "Did she forgive you?"

"What, after I showed her my darkest side? Yes, of course she
forgave me."

Ifurita shook her head. "I had no idea it had been so hard for
you."

He caressed her face again. "Ifurita, I didn't tell you this so
that you could feel sorry for me. I just wanted to show you that
we all have things we are ashamed of, things we would rather not
talk about. That's..." He did not have the proper words. It
probably did not matter. "That's just the way it is. It's okay,
really."

It was a moment before she answered. "I'm sorry, I should have
trusted you more."

"We've just been together a few *hours*, Ifurita. It will take
us both time to learn to trust each other. That's okay too."

Ifurita's smile was more than a little strained. But it was
enough. "I should tell you about the Voices, Makoto." She got up
and sat with her arms wrapped around her knees. "It will help
you understand why I reacted so badly."

Makoto also got up and sat cross-legged in front of her. It
seemed by mutual consent there were some things best not talked
about while lying together in bed. "Do they control you? Like
the staff did?"

"No. They were one of the means by which the staff compelled my
obedience. When you freed me that gave me ultimate control of my
actions. But the Voices are as much a part of me as they always
were. They still tell me things they think I need to know."

"What sort of things?" Makoto wanted to help her if he could,
but he also found himself becoming curious.

"Most of the time they are just telling me very banal things
about my environment. When I was on a mission they would present
me with tactical alternatives and compel me to choose among
them. Now that I have no master giving me mission statements,
the Voices are mostly concerned with security and defense. In my
mind I identified you as a friendly party under my protection.
When you told me about a potential threat to you, the Voices
immediately perceived a defense mission and began presenting me
with proposed countermeasures. Obeying them has become such
second nature to me, I simply gave myself over to them."

"Is it hard to resist them?"

She shook her head. "No, not as long as I don't forget myself.
But I have been a slave to them so long. I think it will be a
while before I am accustomed to being their master."

Makoto had the beginnings of an idea. "I wonder if there is some
way I could help you disable them, like I disabled the staff
lock."

"I don't see how. The staff lock was a very simple circuit. The
Voices are at least as complex as my organic brain, and are very
tightly integrated into it. For better or worse, they are a part
of me." She smiled at him, as if to show him he did not need to
worry. "I will learn to live with them. As you said, we all have
our dark side. I'm just sorry you had to relive such pain to
teach me that."

"I feel better, having told you about it," Makoto said
truthfully. "It's not hanging over my head any more."

Ifurita's smile was a little more playful now. "Is it okay if I
feel just a little sorry for you?"

He laughed. "I suppose I couldn't say no, I certainly spent
enough time feeling sorry for myself."

"I must think of some way to thank all your friends, for helping
you make this day possible. I really would like to... I believe
the phrase is 'patch things up,' is it not?"

"Yeah, that's the right idea. I think you'll find there really
isn't anything to patch up. Everyone is very excited about
seeing you again."

Ifurita's face lit up with wonder, as if the prospect of people
looking forward to her arrival was something new and unexpected.
"I am... happy to hear that. It's important to me that your
friends accept me as yours."

Makoto was hoping she would start calling them 'our friends'
soon. Maybe the best way to begin that process was to start
making them more real for her. "Let's see, maybe I can help. If
you want to endear yourself to Fujisawa and Miz, that's a
no-brainer. Just hold Ai-chan and tell them she's cute. And she
is cute, believe me. Afura is pretty easy too, she's been saying
how she'd love to question you on all sorts of things about the
Old Kingdoms. Just tell her anything you can remember and she'll
be your friend for life. Now Shayla-Shayla on the other hand..."
he made a production of looking thoughtful. "That's a little
tougher. Oh, I've got it. She's getting almost as touchy about
her age as Miz. Just tell her she hasn't changed a bit since the
last time you saw her." He thought better of mentioning Rune or
Fatora for now... best deal with that later. "Nanami's almost as
paranoid about my safety as your Voices. If you tell her very
solemnly that you'll protect me with every ounce of your
strength that'll go over well. I think Alielle will be easiest
of all. She more or less fell head over heels for Yuba's
Ifurita." He grinned. "Just stand next to her and breathe,
that'll be enough."

"I barely remember Alielle. I only saw her the once."

"Oh, right." He remembered, it had been on the Island of the
Demon God, Ifurita's island. "You probably never even got much
of a look at her."

Ifurita smiled. "At the time the Voices judged her to be a
minimal threat, so did not draw my attention to her."

It was good to hear her speaking easily about it. "I remember
the trip back from the island. Even though we had barely escaped
with our lives, she saw fit to mention that you're a real babe."

Ifurita's eyes twinkled. "My, how sweet. I understand how you
would have met the others as you were drawn into the war, but
I'm a little unsure of Alielle's role."

"Oh." He had sort of glossed over her part in the story of
Kalia. "She was with us mainly because she wanted to help us
find Princess Fatora. She's Fatora's lover."

Ifurita looked puzzled. "Her lover? You mean....?" She didn't
seem to quite know how to put it.

"Yes, they both like girls. With a vengeance." She was suddenly
giving him a very odd, intense look. He waited, but she just
held that look. "What is it?"

That seemed to snap her out of it. "Oh... no, nothing."

"If I wasn't already naked I would swear you were undressing me
in your mind."

She blushed and managed a shy smile. "I don't know why...
perhaps because I was recalling Princess Fatora's resemblance to
you. For whatever reason I was suddenly wondering how things
would have turned out between us if you had been female."

"Well, for my part I think I would have seriously considered a
quick lifestyle change."

She seemed to understand what he was getting at. "Now I know
what you meant when you said they had provoked Kalia by becoming
'too familiar' with her."

Makoto laughed. "Right. You'd better watch yourself, I wouldn't
put it past them to hit on you too. And you'd better get used to
all the guys drooling over you too. Alielle's right, you're a
certified babe."

She looked delighted at the compliment. "I am well used to men
staring at me. It meant nothing to me then. Now... I'm not sure
how I would feel about it."

"You can find out tomorrow. You'll certainly turn some heads
when we go out to the market. That is, if you'd still like to
go."

"Yes, I would like to. In the memories you gave me we seemed to
go out shopping together an extraordinary amount. It is one of
the many things I would like to do for real."

"I guess Japan is a pathological consumer society. So what else
would you like to do for real?"

"Watch a sunset. Ride a rowboat. Set off fireworks. Go swimming
in the ocean. See a play.... I think I would prefer a comedy.
Play with a kitten. Eat a-" She stopped dead, noticing Makoto's
reaction to the word 'kitten.' "Is something wrong?"

Makoto suddenly wound up and smacked the bed hard. "ULA!"

A little orange blur shot out from under the bed. She could run
extraordinarily fast on those stubby little legs. In a heartbeat
she was out the door and out of sight. "I don't believe it...
all this time."

"That was your cat armor was it not?" She did not seem at all
concerned about the discovery of the eavesdropper.

"Yes. I'd forgotten all about her."

"Was she not supposed to be here?"

"She often sleeps under my bed. But, well..."

"Oh." She giggled. "There were many cat armors in my day. In
fact I preferred their company to that of the aristocrats I
worked for. They are simple and honest creatures, but I learned
they are more intelligent than they seem."

"And they really like to talk," Makoto said dryly.

"They have a limited vocabulary, Makoto. I don't think she will
have much to say about us. Except that we were disturbing her
sleep."

Makoto's feeling of indignation subsided. "Well there's one of
your wishes already. We have a kitten."

"Ula is full grown. I wonder if she was under there hiding from
me? The last time she saw me I was shooting at her."

Makoto smiled. "Ula was just as faithful to me as all my
friends. Even when I had shut myself away from the world she was
there with me. I would always talk to her, tell her how much I
missed you and how happy I would be when you were back. She's
very perceptive, I think she knew that just hearing your name
made me happy. She started sounding like a broken record, just
like me." He continued in a high, clipped voice. "Ifurita back
soon? Ifurita back soon?"

Ifurita put a hand to her mouth and gave a little laugh. She
rested her chin on her arms and regarded him with a warm smile.
"Tell me more of your memories here. Your happy memories."

Makoto obliged her. He thought he would be hard pressed to think
of any. There was much of the past two and half years he would
just as soon forget. But as he continued, he found there were
many more than he would have thought. There was Fujisawa's
wedding of course... the one that actually happened, that is.
Then later everyone fawning over their new baby. Ai's arrival
had been like a balm for Makoto, a joyous event that helped pull
him out of another of his fits of depression. There was much
else in between worth remembering. Nanami making friends with
those war refugees and them opening their restaurant together.
The first year anniversary of the war's end, and many other
smaller but no less memorable parties. Quiet evenings discussing
physics or philosophy with Afura. Good-natured flirting with
Shayla. Making friends with the traders and shopkeepers who
found the ancient artifacts that helped him understand the
technology of the Old Kingdoms. His chance meeting with Kauru.
Sneaking away with Fujisawa to go challenge another mountain.

And of course the day he solved the time paradox.

Ifurita had listened to his stream of consciousness with quiet,
happy contentment. But she listened intently as he recounted the
fateful day when Afura had helped him unravel the secret of the
Eye of God. When he finally told Ifurita the simple, incredible
truth, she suddenly had a faraway look. "So everything we see...
your world and mind, the stars, everything... we created it,"
Ifurita said, her eyes full of wonder. "When we diverted the
Eye's energy, we created it all."

"We created a new version of it. But it is just one of many. I
have seen other versions of El Hazard, other realities where the
Phantom Tribe won and the world was thrown into darkness."

She shook her head. "I will not even try to fully comprehend
this. I am sure it would drive me mad. Those who created the
Eye, they must have known all this. Yet they thought nothing of
using it. Even more incredibly, knowing all this they still
fancied themselves lords of all creation. What sheer hubris."

Makoto recalled the day he explained to Rune what she had set in
motion when she had decided to use the Eye of God. She had
nearly collapsed in shock. "It only hit me later, what it was we
had done. At the time, I was too happy to care. I was going to
get you back, that was all I cared about. Talk about
self-centered."

Ifurita did not smile at his joke. "It's frightening," she said
in a little voice. "To think what we would do in the name of
love. I would think nothing of creating or destroying a universe
to be with you."

That was a sobering thought. "Now I understand why Afura was
looking at me funny for a long time after that day. I just found
out that I had created a universe and all I cared about was that
my favorite girl was coming home."

"I don't think minds such as ours can hope to really grasp what
we did, Makoto. It would take the mind of a god." She smiled. "I
mean a real one."

"Afura said something similar. She thinks after a few
generations of contemplating the significance of the multiverse
we might understand some small part of its purpose."

Ifurita looked very thoughtful again. "Many people in my time
also believed the universe to be a made thing. I always had
trouble believing that. It implies a purpose... if there was
one, it was hidden by the meaninglessness of what I saw going on
around me."

Makoto was surprised to hear her talking like this. "Did you
have some belief, something that gave you comfort back then?"

She thought further before answering. "It was not really
comforting but... my condition was made more bearable by the
thought that my masters were but a tiny part of something vast
and ancient, something they could never, ever hope to fully
understand much less come to master. To understand everything,
to be like a true god... I think that would be a kind of death."
When he did not reply for a moment, she cocked her head and
looked at him more intently. "Have you found comfort in some
belief?"

"No, I can't say I have." He smiled sadly. "Though in the past
couple of years I've prayed to God and my ancestors and Venus
who is said to watch over parted lovers and every pantheon I
could think of. Some nights I would recite Afura's mantras until
I was hoarse. I think that was more of a mental exercise than
anything. It did help sometimes."

Her expression softened, as if signaling the end of any further
profound metaphysics. "You are sounding a little hoarse now. I
lost track of time, you've been telling me stories for a while."

He had been feeling some discomfort, but it had been lost in his
state of quiet euphoria. "I suppose I could use a drink." There
was a pitcher of water and a silver goblet on the little white
marble table that stood beside one of the bed's great wooden
posts. He crawled over to that edge of the bed, poured himself a
cup and drained it. "Would you like one? It's still cold."

"Thank you, that would be nice. I've lost some body fluid."

He grinned at her. "However did that happen?" He refilled the
glass while she scooted over to him. Makoto got an idea. You
were supposed to do this with wine, but why not. "Let's share
this one." He drank just a little of it, then held it close to
her face with both hands. She saw his intention and brought her
lips to the goblet's shiny rim. Makoto tilted it slowly, letting
her drink. He made a bit of a mess of it, a little of the water
spilled across her lips and trickled down onto her chest. He saw
her shiver from it. He took the empty goblet away and smiled
sheepishly. "Sorry."

She shook her head. "No, it was delightful. Much nicer than
using my condensers."

Makoto reached back and put the goblet back on the table. He
turned his attention back to Ifurita. "Here, let me." With both
hands he gently wiped the excess water from her chest.

Her hands came up and took his, pushing them more firmly into
the softness of her bosom. Their eyes met and they both smiled.
"I didn't plan this, if that's what you're thinking," Makoto
said. In truth he really was just being playful, but her eyes
told him she had different ideas. Makoto's quickening heart was
telling him not to argue. He leaned forward and kissed her,
holding it while his fingers slowly flexed, repeatedly sinking
gently into her yielding flesh. Their job of encouraging him now
done, Ifurita's hands slipped off his and snaked across his
shoulders. She coaxed him closer, and his mouth and hands
pressed into her forcefully, hungrily. He leaned into her, and
she yielded. The warm silken bed welcomed them into its soft
embrace once more. She ended up on her back with him beside her,
their kiss still not broken and one of his hands still kneading
one breast as he came down beside her. He had one arm under her
shoulders, which gave him an idea. He pressed against her,
enticing her to roll over a bit. She did and he slipped part way
under her, his arms now wrapped around her midsection.

"Your hair feels good," he murmured, by way of an excuse for
being where he was. Truthfully it did. But he had better reasons
for being in this position. He slid his hands up, then back down
across her chest, his palms and fingers barely touching. She
arched her back and made a low purring noise that no human could
have made. He assumed that was good. So he continued to softly
stroke her, up and down. Occasionally he would take a nipple
between fingers and tease it, or squeeze a breast more firmly.
The sounds she made became more human but no less delighted. Her
body gradually relaxed against his, only tensing now and again
in response to his attentions.

Makoto slid one hand down her abdomen, tickling the hair over
her mound. She giggled, so he continued. "Makoto," she said in a
breathy voice. "That tickles," she admonished.

"Is that bad?"

"N-no.." He had been wondering whether she was sensitive there,
it looked like she was just ticklish. Nothing wrong with that,
but it was not the reaction he was after. He reached down and
laid his hand lightly over her sex. He would almost think he
could feel the heat radiating off the delicate skin there.
"Makoto..." she whispered, turning her head slightly into his.
Makoto stopped his other hand's movement across her, just
cupping a breast so that he could concentrate on her womanhood.
Slowly, carefully, he let his hand become familiar with the
territory he had thoroughly covered the last time. He probed
more deeply with one finger, and she whimpered. He stopped for a
moment. "Did that hurt?"

"No."

He asked her that a couple of more times as he probed
experimentally, paranoid about scratching her. Finally convinced
it would be okay for her, he had three fingers pumping her
rhythmically as deeply as he could manage. It wasn't long before
her breaths were coming in gasps. "Makoto," she cried, putting a
hand over his wrist, bringing him to a stop. "Please..."

"You don't want me to finish?" he asked in a low voice.

She turned her head to the side so that he felt her hot breath
on his face. "I want you..." He let her extricate herself from
his grip and turn over. She reached down and took him in one
hand. It was a bit different this time.

Makoto smiled awkwardly at her. "I guess it was a bit too
early." His body was making a valiant effort, but it wasn't
quite working out.

She brought her face inches in front of him and once again her
sunny smile washed over him like a benediction. She ran a hand
through his hair and kissed him. "Let me help." She moved down
on top of him and kissed his neck very enthusiastically. She
surprised him with a nibble that was just enough to make him
gasp but not enough to hurt. Her hands were already moving up
and down his flanks, each by a slightly different path and with
a different rhythm. Somehow while doing all this she managed to
move her body across his, sliding up and down, then pressing her
breasts or her hips into him.

The small part of Makoto's mind that was not crumbling under
this full frontal assault wondered at the sort of motor control
that was letting her do this. He was being ravaged four
different ways at once and it was exhilarating.

He was focused on the tongue that was lapping at his nipple so
he didn't see it coming at all. She moved down a bit and his
erection slid in between her breasts as if by chance. Then her
hands were there squeezing her more tightly around him. He
shuddered and grasped at the silk covers beside him, taken
utterly by surprise. She moved across him just a few times
before letting him go. The electric shock melted away, but its
aftereffect left Makoto quivering. "Ifurita..." he panted,
starting to prop himself up.

But she took him by surprise again. She took him gently in her
hand and before he realized what was going to happen her lips
were already wrapped around him. Her tongue darted across the
tip of his member. Every muscle seized right up and he dropped
back onto the bed, his breath coming out as a loud moan. He was
helpless right up to the point where he felt her release him.
That in itself sent another thrill across his shivering body.

"Did that hurt?" She was asking playfully, but it also sounded
like she was making sure.

"God no." He spoke in a strained voice between gulps of air.
"Give me... just a second."

Still holding him gently in one hand she moved herself over him,
holding herself up with knees and elbow. "Would it be okay like
this?"

Oddly enough she really seemed to be asking his permission. He
flashed a wide rictus of a grin and nodded once. He was very
happy as he was and not adverse to staying that way.
"Absolutely."

She straddled his hips and slowly moved down, impaling herself
on him. He reached up and cupped her breasts. For a wonderful
moment they stayed like that, both of them just smiling fondly.
Seeing her like that, feeling her warm softness, he wanted to
cry again. Then as if by some wordless signal they both began to
move and an utterly different sort of feeling surged up within
him.

Very quickly there was no room for coherent thought at all. His
body seemed to be teasing him, holding him just on the edge for
an eternity. All at once he heard her cry out and felt the spasm
rippling down her flesh. Incredibly she did not even miss a
beat, it just went on and on. Long after he thought his heart
would burst he saw her throw her head back and cry out again.
But she still kept moving. His vision began to swim. With a loud
moan he barely realized was his Makoto shot his seed into her.

Somehow or other she ended up in his arms again. Absently he
wondered if he had blacked out for a while. He cuddled her head
more closely under his chin. Eventually he worked up the
strength to speak. "Ifurita, I'm ruined."

"Would you like a massage?"

She sounded serious. "You mean you can *move*?"

"If I re-engage my muscle enhancers I can."

"Did something make them go off-line?" he asked half in jest.

"I had them shut down since leaving the Eye of God, to conserve
power. Of course I have not re-engaged them today. They give me
up to twenty times normal strength, that could have been...
dangerous."

Makoto whistled. "I am *very* glad you can turn those off. I
wasn't going to say anything, but I was sort of wondering if..
well, if afterwards you were really as exhausted as I was or..."

"Or whether I was faking it?"

He chuckled. "That's an unfortunate choice of words, but yes."

"Yes, I was just as exhausted as you. I didn't keep my enhancers
off just for safety considerations. As much as I could, I wanted
to experience this as a human does. I only used my biological
functions, which are modeled on human anatomy."

Makoto felt there was something he should ask. "Ifurita," he
asked gently. "You don't mind talking about this do you?"

"You mean about my body? No. You have shown me in every possible
way that you accept me for what I am. Now, I think I can accept
it too."

He craned his neck and kissed the top of her head. "I'm very,
very glad to hear that," he said truthfully.

"Makoto..." she sounded a little hesitant. "I wasn't sure
whether I should mention this but... it seems to me that when
you touched me, you were avoiding my power socket."

Makoto had only been half conscious of that. But it was true
nonetheless. "I thought you might be self-conscious about it."

"I'm not. At least not with you. Not any more."

"That's good. I've been dying to do this..." he slid his hand
down her back to her hips, squeezed, and slid them back up
again. Ifurita's breath came out as a long sigh of pleasure that
vibrated against his chest. "Looks like I've found a new
erogenous zone already. File for future reference." Like maybe a
month from now when he could move again.

She let out a little closed-mouthed chuckle. He just stroked her
lower back a little while they lay there recovering. After a
while she slid across him so that she was pressed up against his
side instead of on top of him. He looked down into her eyes and
smiled. "More comfy there?"

"I thought I might be a bit heavy."

"It's not a problem. Though you were right, you weigh more than
I expected. You might even weigh more than me."

"I mass sixty-five kilos at normal fluids level."

"Wow. It's been years since I weighed myself on a proper scale
but you've probably got me beat by a little."

"If you let me lift you I could tell you exactly what you weigh."

He laughed. "That's handy. But I think that can wait." Now that
she had moved he could get a better look at her, which he was
very happy to do. "You're really glowing." He had noticed her
rosy afterglow the previous times. But that had been a mere
hint. She looked almost feverish. Probably this last time had
been more effort than release for her, just as it had been for
him.

"You are as well."

"It doesn't really show as much on me." His skin was still pale
from his long days in the darkness of the Eye, but it did not
have the transparency that hers did.

"It does for me. Your body is still shedding heat below the
visible spectrum."

He ran a finger down her nose. "Hey, no fair. You said you
turned your enhancers off."

"I'm sorry," she said, sounding like she meant it. "But you look
so lovely in infrared." Her smile softened and she ran a hand
lightly across his chest. "Or at any frequency." After a moment
she raised an eyebrow. "I'm not sure this is the right phrase,
but... penny for your thoughts?"

He chuckled. "Yes, that's the right phrase. Sorry, my mind just
went off on another silly tangent. I was wondering if you could
have detected Ula under the bed if your enhancers had been on."

"I detected her as we entered the room."

Makoto was taken aback. "You did?"

"It's a standard safety protocol," she explained as if it was
the most normal thing in the world. "I turned on my enhanced
senses for a moment as we entered the room. I do it without
thinking."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"She is an enhanced being much like myself. I recorded her
sensor signature when I first encountered her. I knew it was her
and that she is your designated protector so she was not a
threat... Makoto, what is so funny?"

Makoto got his laughing under control and leaned over to kiss
her cheek. "Ifurita, you're precious."

She was getting a glimmer of understanding now. "If she is like
the cat armors of my day, she is like any good bodyguard, she
will keep to herself anything that could be embarrassing to her
master."

"Alielle is a bodyguard too, at least she's trained for it.
Would you have told me if she was under the bed?"

Ifurita's brows arched. "I... suppose I would have. I would not
expect palace bodyguards to do that."

He laughed again. "They don't, but Alielle's done it more than
once, to try and spy on Nanami or Shayla undressing."

"Has Princess Fatora not disciplined her?"

"Fatora was with her one of those times," Makoto said with a
lopsided smile.

That took a moment to register. "Oh..." She smiled. "Perhaps I
should maintain my surveillance protocols."

"It sure couldn't hurt."

She closed her eyes for a moment. Makoto was beginning to
associate that with her consulting her Demon God senses. She
opened her eyes again. "I am detecting no immediate threats."

Makoto took her hand. "I didn't mean to make you paranoid,
Ifurita. I wouldn't call Alielle a threat, she can just be a
little mischievous."

"I know." She smiled. "Don't worry, appropriate response is part
of my operational protocol. If I detect an assassin with a knife
I will disarm him and turn him over to the guard. If I detect a
lesbian under the bed I will escort her to the door."

Her laughter soon joined his, if somewhat less raucously. They
embraced and kissed, just because it felt good. She settled her
head on his shoulder again, and he cuddled her closer. Another
contented silence fell across the room. For the first time in
what seemed a very long while his senses expanded beyond the
little space of their bed. The afternoon sun angling down
through the balcony on the other side of the big room was
interrupted occasionally by the little fluffy clouds that were
so common this time of year. It was a warm, calm afternoon, not
oppressively hot but just enough to make him feel lazy. The
slightest of breezes brought in hints of scents from the flower
beds that lined the wide balcony outside. Maybe he would go out
and pick one later, giving a flower to Ifurita would be nice.

Makoto suddenly blinked and his body twitched a little. He felt
Ifurita move against him. "What is it?" she asked lazily.

"Did I doze off?"

"For just a little while I think."

"Mmm. Wasn't even meaning to."

"Sleep more if you wish."

"That's okay." Just that little nap had left him feeling
refreshed. He recalled the notion his half-awake mind had come
across. "Hey, do you smell the flowers?"

"Which ones."

"Which ones?" he asked incredulously. "How many do you smell?"

"At least eight kinds. There are probably more, but they are too
faint."

He should have expected this. "Okay, which are your favorites?"

He felt her take a deep breath and let it out, as if taking in
the scent again. "The Soulmates' Heart, I think. More for its
looks, though. Even when I could not really appreciate them,
they seemed... well-formed."

He knew the one she was talking about. It was a traditional gift
between lovers. Entirely appropriate. "Would you like one for
your hair?"

She lifted herself up to look at him. Her puzzled expression
dissolved into a smile. "Yes, I think that would be nice."

Makoto felt just a little pang of regret as he got off the bed.
It was like he had been on a cloud for an eternity and now was
coming back to solid ground again. But Ifurita came up beside
him and put her arm around him and he was suddenly on the cloud
again. "Are they on the balcony?" Ifurita asked.

"Yes, but I don't think we can go out like this. Unless you want
to give the guards on the upper terraces a show, that is." Arms
around each other, they walked back into the bathing room. "Just
look at the mess we've made." Their clothes were right where
they had discarded them. Normally when he stayed here he would
always come back into a room to find any mess he made cleaned up
as if by magic. The servants were more skilled at invisible
service than the staff of the Imperial Tokyo Hotel. But it
looked like even they thought better of venturing into a Demon
God's honeymoon suite.

He sensed a subtle tension in Ifurita. "I think I would prefer
to wear something else." She tried to make it sound casual, but
he suspected there was something more to it. Perhaps this had
been like a washing away of the past.

"I sort of remember that getting you something new to wear was
our original reason for coming in here." Her smile became more
relaxed. "There are robes over there," Makoto said, pointing to
one of the tile shelves that lined the wall beside the little
pool. Two white cotton robes were neatly folded there. He helped
her put hers on just because it was more fun that way, and she
reciprocated. They were something like the ubiquitous yukata
that everyone in his native country wore after taking a bath.

They walked back to the bedroom and out onto the balcony. The
sun was hot, but the breeze almost made up for it. Like all the
open space in the palace, their private balcony was alive with
greenery. There were wide beds of aromatic moss, clinging vines
draped across the tiles everywhere, and flowers growing in
everything from high pots to wide beds at ground level. The tile
floor wrapped around all the various green spaces, dotted here
and there across the wide space with stone seats, tables and
benches.

He found the flower bed that held the Soulmates' Hearts. They
were something like a rose, but he had never seen a rose with
such a color pattern. Blood red petals along the edge merged
into a white center, the whole dotted with occasional white
petals that looked as if they had been splashed with blood from
the red ones. He had heard it was supposed to symbolize the
blending of two souls, or to express both the purity and the
passion of lovers' feelings towards each other. It was the
perfect choice. Makoto selected one, broke it off low down on
the stem and stood up to face Ifurita. She was glowing, as if
she was about to receive a gift no less precious than she had
said his proposal of marriage was. But he was faced with a
dilemma. "Now that your headpiece is gone, I'm not sure how I'm
going to..."

She held out her hand. "Let me." He gave her the flower and
watched her weave the stem deftly into the hair on the side of
her head. It ended up above and behind her ear.

He took her in his arms and just looked at her for a moment. It
must have been obvious to her, but he wanted to say it anyway.
"It suits you. Very much." He bent and kissed her.

"Thank you, Makoto." Whether her thanks was for the flower or
the compliment was not clear, it really did not matter.

"Would you like to sit outside for a while?" She just nodded. He
led her to one of the benches that was partially shaded by vines
on an overhead trellice. They sat down and he put his arm around
her shoulders. The little fluffy fair-weather clouds marched
slowly across the sky, gathered a little closer now, offering
occasional relief from the sun.

"It has not been resealed," Ifurita said.

Makoto did not need to follow her gaze to know that she referred
to the Eye of God floating far overhead. It would have been much
higher if it were sealed. "No. It's on the pretext that we are
still investigating whatever sabotage the Phantom Tribe might
have done. But we finished checking on that long ago. If it were
sealed again no airship could reach it. I begged Rune to leave
it unsealed in case I needed it to help me understand how to
bring you back. As it turned out I did need it. It's just
another of the things she's done for me, lying to everyone like
that."

"You spent much time there?"

"I've practically been living there for almost half a year.
There's frozen food stocked up in the cooling systems and
everything. One of these days I'll have to go up there and take
down all the stuff I want to keep. I suppose I'll just leave the
rest there, it certainly won't be bothering anyone. Especially
if Rune decides to reseal the Eye."

"I'd like to help you."

"Sure. The view from the balcony is spectacular, but the place I
was living is not much to look at, pretty much like living in a
big dungeon. Now that I've succeeded in bringing you back, I
don't have much use for those old artifacts. And there's not
much else up there, believe me."

"I would still like to see it. You spent much time their for our
sake. I would like to... share it."

He smiled at her and gave her a little squeeze. "We can save
that for later though." He pointed at an area of the city
sprawled out before them. "That's where we're going tomorrow."

"We are going to walk there?"

"It's not far. Why, would you prefer to fly or teleport?"

She shook her head, obviously understanding it had been a joke.
"Since you are under the protection of the royal family, I
thought they would provide palanquins."

"Has married life made you lazy already?"

She grinned. "I was just wondering."

"I've never even seen the Princesses use one." He waved his arm
around. "As you can see they have no problem living
ostentatiously, but Rune really doesn't like being pampered.
She's very serious about being a servant of her people."

"Yes, I could see that. It is certainly much different than the
masters I used to serve. Most of them had never even come within
sight of anyone who was not either nobility or one of their
bonded servants."

"Rune likes to go out into the city now and then, just walking
around and talking to people."

"That is not dangerous?"

"She takes a couple of guards, of course. But she's very popular
among the people. If anyone tried to waylay her they'd probably
be torn apart before the guard could even draw his sidearm." He
did not bother mentioning that Fatora had no interest in
mingling... and it was just as well anyway.

"It is a lovely city. The ones I remember were ugly, more like
fortresses." She turned around to look back at the palace
complex. "I see they have repaired the tower I destroyed."

"Just finished a few months ago." He laughed. "It was a little
behind schedule, the artisans had to stop for a while to go
repair the damage Miz did to the assembly hall dome."

"Miz? Oh, you mean at their wedding."

"Their real wedding was a few weeks later. Officially, that
first one never happened. To hear Miz talking, you'd think it
was all just a misunderstanding about which day the wedding was
supposed to be. At the time she really wanted to kill someone
though. It's a miracle nobody did get killed."

She averted her eyes quickly. But not quickly enough to keep
Makoto from seeing her discomfort. Makoto understood
immediately. He put his hand to her chin and very gently turned
her to face him. She did not resist, but the hurt was still in
her eye. "Ifurita, Jinnai killed those people, not you."

"I know."

"But it still hurts doesn't it?" She nodded. He pulled her
closer and she rested her head against his. "Nobody can force
you to hurt people any more, Ifurita. It will never happen
again."

"But I continued to hurt people, even after you freed me."

He turned his head, regarded her with real shock. "Ifurita, you
can't possibly feel any regrets over that. We were all fighting
for our lives!"

She looked at him with a serious expression. "I have no regrets
about anything I have done of my own free will. Ultimately I did
those things for selfish reasons, so that you and I could be
together one day. But I'm also proud that we saved so many other
people. It felt like I had redeemed myself."

"You did, Ifurita. You should be proud of what you did."

"I am. But what I did simply affirms what I really am. I am a
warrior. Even if all my implants were removed it would not
change that."

He reached up and caressed her cheek. "Ifurita, did you feel
like a warrior today?"

Her expression changed into something like the look of peace he
had seen when they shared their bed. "No, I did not."

"You've already proven to yourself that you can be something
different. What your masters intended for you has nothing to do
with what you want for yourself."

Ifurita looked very thoughtful for a while. When she spoke it
was slowly and hesitantly, as if she were having trouble finding
the words. "Makoto, earlier today I told you I would like to use
my powers to protect people. I mean innocent people, not slavers
and dictators. I still would like to do that. I have been forced
to fight for the wrong reasons for so long. I want to... I need
to believe it is possible to fight for the right reasons. I
don't fully understand it yet, but I feel it is something I need
to do."

Makoto was unsure how to answer. His instinct was to tell her
that she never needed to be a warrior again. But her previous
words stuck in his mind. Even if she was his wife now, she would
always be a warrior.

Makoto ignored his instinct in favor of what he knew to be
right. "Rune asked you to pledge yourself to her as one of the
Princess' soldiers. Is that what you're thinking of?" She
nodded, as he expected. "Ifurita, if you think that's the right
thing for you, if it's something you need and want to do, then
you have my support."

"I never doubted that," Ifurita said earnestly. Makoto felt
badly about the feelings of doubt he was keeping hidden. "But I
would like to ask you. Do *you* think it is the right thing to
do?"

Earlier today Makoto would have answered without hesitation. But
so much had changed in the past little while. He knew it was
irrational, but he found himself disturbed by the idea of this
new Ifurita, the woman he had made love to, once again wielding
the power key staff in anger.

*You're the one who set her free. Don't enslave her all over
again.* "The ultimate choice is yours, Ifurita. I can only tell
you what I think. What Rune suggests seems to make sense. The
Alliance has benefited all the tribes, despite what some people
say. I think what the rebelling provinces are doing is wrong. It
may even be a prelude to trying to annex pieces of neighboring
provinces. If you were to pledge yourself to Rune and the
Alliance, they really could not consider marching an army across
their borders. They would have to choose between being isolated
behind their existing borders or rejoining the Alliance. It
might take some long, careful diplomacy, but they would rejoin
eventually."

"I see. Jinnai gave me very little intelligence on the Alliance.
He simply told me to destroy the human forces guarding the Holy
River. My Voices selected targets based on what forces I could
see along the river. I know very little about the structure of
the Alliance. Could you tell me more about the rebelling
provinces?"

That took a little while. Makoto had taken little interest in
Alliance politics, being focused on his work most of the time.
But it had obviously been a major topic of discussion for
everybody. Ifurita did not seem to be after a blow-by-blow
account anyway, she just seemed to want Makoto's impression of
the situation. The rebelling provinces were among those least
affected by the Bugrom war, and resented the part they were
being compelled to play in the reconstruction work. The fact
that their territories would have been overrun as well had it
not been for the Alliance forces slowing the Bugrom advance had
been conveniently forgotten. And it was only the centrally
coordinated relief efforts that were keeping the other provinces
from being flooded with war refugees. To Makoto it seemed like a
clear case of their wanting something for nothing.

When she was done questioning him, Ifurita seemed to come to a
decision quickly. "I agree that Rune has the right idea. I would
like to speak with her."

"Okay. Tomorrow I'll ask for an audience."

It looked as if he had failed to hide his reluctance. "Makoto,
is something wrong?"

He decided a half truth was better than nothing. "I was just
thinking about Rune. She must feel terrible about what she did
today. It won't be easy for her, meeting us."

"We have both forgiven her. If we tell her that, and that we
understand why it was necessary, won't she feel better?"

That simple question, asked with such earnestness and innocence,
brought a smile to Makoto's lips. "I love you, Ifurita."

She seemed puzzled by his sudden declaration. But a moment later
she smiled. "I cannot doubt that, but I am happy to hear you say
it again." They kissed. "I love you, Makoto. And thank you. I
mean, for allowing me to do what my heart tells me is right."

It looked like he had done an even worse job of hiding his
doubts than he had thought. But it didn't matter now, they had
both done the right thing. "We can talk about it with Rune
tomorrow."

She took the hint and they did not speak of it any further. They
went back to watching the scenery. He caught Ifurita following a
ship sailing across the sky. "A merchant cutter," Makoto said.
"I love flying in those ships. The way they slide through the
air, it's like a big magic carpet."

"We had them in the Old Kingdoms as well. The principles by
which they operate are very esoteric, they were only discovered
in the last centuries before the Holy Wars. By then the Great
Kingdoms had much more efficient kinds of vessels, so these were
only ever used for sport craft. They are remarkably simple to
make, considering how advanced they are. I suppose that is why
the technology survived."

"I've asked people how they work, I got a lot of quasi-mystical
babble. Only one shipbuilder I ever asked admitted they hadn't a
clue why the ships fly. I guess he was the only honest one."

"All of what you see here is technology from the Old Kingdoms.
Even the Lamps used by the Priestesses."

"You know, when I first arrived here I didn't know what to make
of the place. A lot of it is very primitive compared to my
world. But there were so many things that looked like magic. It
was like dropping down into a storybook world full of knights
and wizards and demons. But I guess there is no such thing as
magic. There's just different sorts of gizmos."

"There is magic." He looked at her and she smiled indulgently as
if he had said something very silly. "Love is the only magic."

By wordless agreement they both started to lean into a kiss.
That was when Makoto's stomach chose to let out a long, loud
growl.

He scratched the back of his head and laughed sheepishly. "I
guess we skipped lunch."

"Would you like to get something to eat?"

"I suppose I should." She stood up with him. "Uh... I feel kind
of silly asking this but... do you eat?"

"Very seldom. I have artificial organs that use energy from my
implants to convert biological waste products back into
nutrients. But it is not one hundred percent efficient. I'm not
hungry right now. But I would like to share a meal with you, if
only a little."

"Okay. Is there anything in particular you'd like?"

"Whatever your favorite is."

"You mean you never acquired a taste for anything?"

"I would ingest whatever biomass was available."

Makoto made a face. "I have a feeling I don't want to ask more
about that."

She smiled. "That is wise. It might spoil your appetite."

Makoto pulled the cord to summon a servant. In less than a
minute, there was a knock on the door and one of the girls
entered and bowed. He ordered something that would be nice but
would not take too long to prepare. While they waited Makoto
suggested they go wash up a bit. Makoto was becoming more aware
of something else he had not done for a while. It took a moment
or two to explain to Ifurita that there were some biological
functions that even marriage partners preferred to do in private.

When Makoto emerged into the sitting room again he saw Ifurita
standing next to a tray of food that had been laid down on the
little dining table. Makoto smiled... they had brought in the
fruit juice and appetizers ahead of time. No doubt they had been
keeping track of how long he had gone without food. "That was
quick."

"She just left. It was the same girl."

Her tone had become emotionless.  By now, Makoto knew that meant
something was wrong. He stepped closer to her and put a hand on
her shoulder. "Ifurita, what is it?"

She stopped trying to hide her distress. "The poor girl was
terrified. She tried very hard to hide it, but I could tell."

Makoto sighed. "Ifurita, most of the people here have never even
seen you. Right now, to them you're just a legend come to life."

"Makoto, it was no legend that destroyed that tower. She may
have lost friends or family for all I know."

Makoto hated to see her like this, he didn't know what he could
do. "She looked fine when she came in a few minutes ago."

"That was when you were with me. Her eyes were searching the
room, I had the impression it was your absence that frightened
her."

"Maybe she thought you'd just eaten me for dinner." He gave her
a quick kiss. "Bad joke, sorry. I have an idea what it might be,
though." She looked interested. Good. "I'll tell you, why don't
we sit down." She sat down opposite him at the table, still
looking to him for some answer. He decided on the thing that
might help her. "Whenever I needed cheering up over the past
couple of years, more often or not one of my Rostalian friends
would tell me a particular legend from the Holy Wars. There are
many versions of it, but the basic story is pretty simple. One
day a Demon God arrived at a city she had been ordered to
destroy. When news of her arrival came everyone hid in their
cellars in fear. But one man stood up on the battlements and
when the Demon God arrived he told her he had something to tell
her that she would find very useful. She had all day to destroy
the city and she required only the blink of an eye to do it, so
she decided there was no harm in listening. He told her his life
story. It was nothing remarkable, he was a simple artisan. But
he told her about everything, his friends and family, his modest
hopes and dreams, his little triumphs and disappointments.
Everything.

"Before the day was done the Demon God fell in love with the
man. That broke the spell that bound her to the evil wizard who
was her master. She stayed with the man and became his wife. It
was said she became the gentlest of creatures. But it was also
said that if she were ever separated from her husband for even a
moment, her bloodlust would overcome her and she would kill
anyone who looked at her or spoke to her."

Ifurita was silent for a moment before answering. "You think...
they believe this is our story?"

"Afura likes to point out how potent myths can be, regardless of
whether they are true or not. That was why she told them to me.
They spoke to me, just as they speak to the people of Rostalia.
For better or worse, I think that legend pretty much defines how
the people of Rostalia regard you."

"But it's not true!" Ifurita protested. "Yes I fell in love with
you and yes I would be distressed if we were ever separated
again. But I would rather die than kill another innocent person."

"I know," Makoto said gently. "People who get to know you will
also understand that. But you have to give them a chance."

Ifurita looked to be at least partly satisfied with that answer.
After a moment, she nodded. "I understand. I need to redeem
myself in their eyes."

"You just need to stop being a legend and start being a person.
There's no trick to that. Just think of the day I freed you.
When Fujisawa came storming into the room, you calmly greeted
him by name. Do you remember the look on his face? One moment
you were a Demon God, the next you were a pretty girl telling
him how you had seen him in my memories. A moment was all it
took."

"Yes, I remember it well," she said wistfully.

"I know it must hurt, seeing people afraid of you like that. But
please believe me, it won't last long."

"I will try to remember that." Just a hint of a smile curled her
lips. "Perhaps in the meantime we should take care to be seen
together when we leave our rooms."

Makoto chuckled. "That sounds like a good idea. Come on, let's
eat. I'm starving."

Makoto ate ravenously. Ifurita just had a taste. She said it was
good, and seemed to enjoy it. Shortly after they were done, the
servant girl and one of her companions arrived with the rest of
their meal. Ifurita thanked them and they left. Makoto raised an
eyebrow. "Well?"

"She seemed very relieved to see you. Perhaps she really did
think I had eaten you."

Makoto ate the rest of his dinner at a little more civil pace.
Ifurita tried a piece of everything. Then she was trying more
pieces of everything. "I thought you weren't hungry."

"I'm not. But if I wish I can cut the amount of power going to
my waste processor and subsist mostly on food energy. I think I
would like to do that."

"That good, huh?"

"It is. But I think it would make me feel more human."

That seemed so odd to Makoto, hers was the most human soul he
could imagine. But it was important for her to feel that way
too. "It'll be nice for me too. For months I've been hacking
food out of ice and eating it alone." Even when in the palace he
would often has not have meals sent to the laboratory or to his
room, not wanting to interrupt his work.

Makoto was not really much of a dessert person, but he watched
Ifurita polish hers off with gusto. "Wow, it turns out you've
really got a sweet tooth."

"You mean you do not? It was by far the best part."

"I assume you don't have to worry about getting fat."

"My ability to store food as fat was disabled."

"Lucky you."

They finished well on time to go out and watch the sunset. The
clouds were rapidly breaking up, so they had a fine view. "So
what frequency does this look best in?"

"Ultraviolet. The sun seems to be the core of a vast inferno.
I'm not sure, but I think I could show it to you."

"You mean, just what you see now?"

She smiled, obviously understanding what he meant. He was still
uncomfortable with doing another full link. "I think we have
already proven that we can share feelings instead of memories."

That they had. There didn't seem any harm in trying. "Okay." He
already had his arm about her, but they joined hands to give
them a focus. Makoto closed his eyes. He felt the gulf opening
before him, slid into it with ease.

All of a sudden he saw what she saw. He gasped, then just sat in
stunned silence. Ifurita's description did not even begin to do
it justice. The sky was on fire, there was no other way to put
it.

After a moment, the vision dissolved and he felt the link
closed. He opened his own eyes again. He was very relieved to
see that the world had not been burned to a crisp by the
firestorm he had seen. He looked into Ifurita's eyes. #It was
fantastic.#

#I'm glad you liked it.#

Makoto blinked. He saw his own feeling of surprise and confusion
becoming reflected in her own face. "What just happened?"

"I'm not sure," Ifurita answered. "We are not linked, but I
heard what you thought. I responded without thinking."

Makoto decided to try this again. #Can you hear this?#

#Yes, just as if you were speaking.#

"Same here," Makoto said, using his voice this time. "It sounded
a bit like when we spoke during our links. But it was just your
voice, nothing more. Do you have any telepathic powers?"

"No. I have never even heard of any such powers existing. It
must be you, your ability to link with my implants."

"I guess. I wonder if we can do that any time?"

They tried a few things. It soon became clear that Makoto had to
be in contact with her or with the staff for them to talk like
that. They decided it was an interesting curiosity, but not
something they really needed or wanted to use unless privacy was
an issue.

When the last of the long twilight had faded away and the clouds
were all gone, they watched the stars for a while. "I know all
the constellations in Earth's sky," Makoto said, "But I never
learned any of the ones here."

"I was taught them for navigation purposes," Ifurita said. She
pointed. "That is the Dragon. There is its head..." they came
closer as she traced her finger across the sky. "There are its
legs, and there is its long tail."

"Right, I can see that now. Does it have a name?"

"You mean a proper name? No, none of the constellations do.
Their origins are from an antiquity that was little but legend
even in my day. If they ever had proper names, they were lost.
Because of that and other clues, many believed there was a
civilization even older than ours which rose and then was all
but obliterated in some war or disaster."

"Do you think it's true?"

"It's hard to say. I would hate to think the people of El Hazard
made the same mistake twice."

That was a depressing thought. "Okay, show me some others."

She did. Each one had a story of some sort behind it. There was
The Archer, The Stag, The Tower, The Spider... and of course,
the Demon God.

"That's *you*?"

He could barely see her smile in the starlight. "Not us, but the
mythical creatures we were named after. The way they are
described, for all I know they may have been just like us, war
machines that destroyed an older civilization."

"That would have been sort of grim. Kind of like Earth making
constellations for Fat Man and Little Boy." He patted her. "No
offense, honey."

She patted him back. "None taken, honey."

"Any others?"

"Over there are The Lovers. There's the man, there's the woman."

"Not sure I can see that. What are they supposed to be doing?"

"Kissing, of course."

"How, exactly?"

"Something like this..."

It was a good long time before words were spoken again. There
was no moment of release this time, just the two of them quietly
delighting in each others' touch, in each others' warmth. Which
was just fine with Makoto... more than fine, it was simply
wonderful.

Eventually they became still, just holding each other. "This
must be why the stars are in the sky," Makoto said softly. "Just
for a moment like this."

"If the Universe is a made thing, then you must be right." A
while later she pulled a little away from him. "Are you feeling
sleepy?"

She must have heard his second yawn. "I suppose I am. It is
getting late."

"Then you should get some sleep."

"I assume that means you don't need to."

"No. But I would certainly like to share your bed with you."

"Won't that be boring, listening to me snoring for hours?"

"No."

While they were outside somebody had lit a few of the oil lamps
in each room. Makoto doused all the lamps in the bedroom save
the one hanging over the headboard. As she had promised, Ifurita
crawled under the bed sheet right behind him. They pulled each
other close and made themselves comfortable. "I don't want you
to think that you need to do this every night," Makoto said.

"All I know is I feel like doing this tonight."

Makoto suspected that would change eventually, as the newlyweds
became old marrieds. He was content to let that happen
naturally, so he dropped the matter. He reached out and caressed
her cheek. "Ifurita... today was magical. I'll never forget it."

"Nor will I. Not ever."

They kissed, and Makoto reached up to douse the last lamp. Her
touch was like a balm, lulling him to sleep in no time at all.



----------------------------------------



Ifurita did watch him sleep all night, the darkness being no
hindrance for her eyes. He slept like a baby, not moving from
her embrace, hardly stirring at all. She had not lied to him,
she would have been content to do nothing but watch over him.
But her mind was wildly delirious, drunk on what the past day
had brought her. A few hours were hardly enough time to try and
absorb it all.

She had been utterly petrified when she had asked Makoto the
question: do you, can you regard me as a human? As a woman? She
had truly thought he might be... repulsed at the idea. She knew
that he loved her, what he had done for her made that clear. But
he loved many people, all in different ways, Nanami as a sister,
Fujisawa as a sensei, many other people as dear friends. In
their shared memories Ifurita was his sweetheart, but was that
truly what he wanted? Even as he told her it was, she had been
unable to keep the doubts from her mind.

There was another question she had hardly dared face but had
been haunting her since long before today. Could the ancient,
battle-weary body of a Demon God actually respond to a lover's
attentions? All the components were there... for their own
perverse reasons, her creators had seen to that. They had often
joked about it in her presence to prove what men they were. But
could a dead thing really participate in the most basic act of
life? It was a question that had terrified her right up to the
moment when Makoto had taken her to his bed. Then the magic had
taken control, and all doubt was forgotten.

But an even greater miracle awaited her. As if it had been long
since decided, as if it had taken no thought at all, he had told
her that he wanted to be hers and hers alone. He wanted to give
it over to her entirely, that one brief, precious irreplaceable
spark that was his life. The very idea had numbed her mind with
wonder and an overwhelming feeling of love that was almost too
painful to bear. She could do nothing but break down and cry.

The day had been full of smaller miracles that were no less
precious. Being able to discuss all her long-buried doubts and
fears with Makoto was a blessing all in itself. He had helped
her in ways she was not even aware she needed. And in a hundred
little ways he had drawn her into that happy, peaceful life he
had shown her in his memories, let her become a part of it, let
her live it with him. Every special moment they shared, from
simple laughter to highest passion, had been another act of
absolution, washing away the blood and horror she had been
steeped in for so very long. After just a day of her new life,
she could almost forget what had gone before. Yes, she could
almost forget.

Now watching Makoto's serene face in the emerging light of dawn,
Ifurita could not help but wonder about his feelings. She could
hardly doubt that he was happy, he had shown her that in so many
ways. But there had been something missing. He had not seemed
nearly so... astonished as her at the joy this day had brought
him. He treated it as the most natural thing in the world. She
had an idea why. His young life had already been so full of joy
and warmth, and he was so full of optimism. It just seemed a
matter of course that he would one day meet his soul mate, fall
in love and marry her. Perhaps for him this day had not been the
revelation it had been for her, it had simply been the next
natural course of his life.

Ifurita smiled. Whatever way one looked at it, Makoto had found
love in no less an unlikely a place than she had.

Makoto stirred, made a little, barely audible moaning noise,
then suddenly rolled onto his back. She let him go this time,
thinking she might wake him if she did not. He had come close to
waking several times during the night, but had fallen quickly
back into another sleep cycle. She knew that this was quite
normal. Nocturnal assassins had to understand human sleep
patterns, she thought with more irony than bitterness. She did
not need to turn on any of her scanners to know he was going
back into another dream state. That was a mystery realm for her.
The few times she did sleep were simply intervals of blackness.
Demon Gods could do many things their creators could, but
dreaming was not one of them. Ifurita frowned. For some reason
the thought of electric sheep came to her mind... it felt like
some reference from Makoto's old memories. She would remember to
ask him about it sometime. But he obviously had other things on
his mind at the moment. The eyes rapidly shifting under his lids
showed he was in the dream realm. Not for the first time she
wondered what it was like.

Something else moved. Under the bed sheet. Ifurita smiled. *Ah,
another very nice dream.* It had not been the first time she had
noticed, but now with him on his back it was rather more obvious.

Ifurita was astonished by the idea that suddenly popped into her
head. She blushed. *Where did that come from?* It was a silly
question, she had already shown she was more than capable of
thinking up what Makoto would probably call naughty ideas. And
this one certainly was. She wondered if he would like it? He
certainly had not objected to her making the opening moves
before, in fact he seemed to delight in it. Would this be any
different? Just the idea alone was already getting her blood
pumping faster. And having other now very familiar side effects.
Of course her body had long since recovered from its state of
exhaustion, but she was surprised at just how quickly that
lovely feeling of need was reemerging. She was already aching
for his touch. Even though she knew he would not mind, she did
not want to just wake him.

As if by its own volition her hand wandered down to her sex. Her
body seemed to be trying to tell her she had another option for
relieving this building tension. She completed the movement of
her hand more consciously now. Slowly, hesitantly, she probed.
Her flesh sang to her as it had under Makoto's touch. She
couldn't keep a little whimper from passing her lips. No more
time for dithering, her body was telling her to make a decision,
either commit or abort.

She made her decision. Very slowly and carefully, she reached
over and lifted the light silken bed sheet off Makoto's still
form, hardly disturbing a hair on his body. A moment later she
had it out of the way. With all the poise and stealth of a
lioness she stalked her prey, moving into position over him,
then becoming utterly still again. She waited.

It did not take long. His heartbeat quickened and his brain
waves were now changing. She knew it was cheating, but she
wanted the right moment, the... well, the climax of his dream as
it were. She reached down with her one free hand and very
carefully took him in her hand. His flesh did not yield at all
under her grip. She smiled. *Yes, a very nice dream indeed.*
Just as she had done before, she guided him in position.

"Hmmm...?" This very intimate touch seemed to have triggered
some warning mechanism in him, he would be awake in a heartbeat.
But it was too late, she already had him snared. With one smooth
motion, she slid down onto him. His eyes came opened. She had
been worried he might have a fright reaction to being approached
in his sleep like this, but for the moment he just looked sleepy
and bewildered.

When his eyes finally focused on her face, she smiled sweetly.
"Good morning."

It took him a couple of moments more to realize the situation he
was in. A grin came to his lips. "You devil..."

Ifurita perceived room for a joke. "Yesterday I was a Demon God.
Have I been demoted?"

"I thought this was another dream," he said, sounding as if he
was still not entirely sure. So, he had been dreaming of her
after all. But she wanted to convince him this was no dream. She
flexed her muscles around him, sending rippling waves along his
length. His next breath came out as a moan. "Guess not..." He
suddenly laughed with delight. "Ifurita, are you serious about
this?"

"Only if you wish me to be, love." She put only the barest hint
of entreaty in her voice, she did not want him to feel badly if
he did not want to.

If he had any decision to make at all, he made it very quickly.
He levered himself up off the bed. Ifurita wrapped her arms
around him. He did likewise with his one free arm and they
kissed deeply. "Wanted to give you your good morning kiss
first," he said lazily.

"Thank you- Oh!" Her exclamation came when he suddenly thrust up
into her. He pressed himself against her further and she
yielded. She thought he wanted to push her back onto the bed,
but he was just folding his legs under himself to get some
semblance of balance. She ended up straddled on his lap, the two
of them still held in a tight embrace. They began to move
slowly, alternating between holding a long kiss and locking each
other in a tight embrace. The former became fewer and further
between as they gradually picked up the pace. Makoto's hands
started making liberal use of the erogenous zones around her
hips they had found yesterday. His hands passed unselfconsiously
across and around her power socket as if it were nothing but a
freckle. For just one thrilling moment they fell still, shared a
glance and a smile that spoke volumes. #Makoto...# She let a
long, desperate kiss express her joy and gratitude. Then they
were moving with great urgency again. Ifurita's body was singing
to her, a frenetic song that promised of the coming release. It
came early, taking her by surprise. She must have worked herself
up more thoroughly than she had imagined. She crooned as the
waves of delight washed over her. Makoto sounded very close now,
she was not anticipating another release of her own. It came
anyway, following very closely on his own. They held each other
desperately, both trembling and panting. Ifurita could feel her
body and his slowly relax and shed heat, moving onto a lazy
downhill path of recovery that was no less delightful than the
steep road they had just scrambled up together.

At length Makoto let out a contented sigh. "Oh God..." It seemed
to be a genuine prayer of thanks, perhaps just for everything
the two of them had been blessed with.

"I hoped you would like that," Ifurita said happily.

"You've already made our first morning together just as
memorable as our first day." She felt him turn and kiss her just
below her ear. "You really are a treasure."

"Thank you," Ifurita said, truly happy that her special wake-up
call had gone over so well.

"So... what exactly were you up to while I slept?" He spoke more
casually and playfully now.

"Just watching you."

"I don't recall falling asleep with you on top of me."

She chuckled. "I simply waited for the right moment, when you
were about to wake up."

"Well, I suppose that's okay then."

"Why, what were you afraid I was doing?"

"I thought maybe you liked me better asleep than awake."

"What?"

"Lots of veterans develop necrophelic tendencies, you know."

"Makoto!" His laughter followed right on the end of her shocked
exclamation. "That's..."

"Not funny?"

"No..." Her reply was very hesitant, now that her rush of
indignation had burst.

He nuzzled her neck. "I'm sorry." He sounded like he meant it.

"It's okay. I just thought you were serious."

"Not really. But I thought I should check, just in case."

"I prefer you alive and awake. Shall I prove it to you?"

"I think you just did." He indicated with pressure that he
wanted to lie back down. They both did, settling down side by
side on the pillow again. Makoto had a look out the window
before gazing at her again. "Looks like the sun's about to come
up."

"In four minutes. Is this when you usually wake up?"

"Yes, your timing was perfect."

Ifurita smiled. "I told you, I merely waited."

"For eight hours?"

"Silly. I only approached you when I sensed you were ready.
Before that I was just thinking."

"About what?"

How could she even begin to answer? "Everything."

He grinned. "The answer is forty-two."

"Excuse me?"

He just shook his head. "Ask me again some time."

She did as he asked and just filed it. "It looked like you were
dreaming the night through. Do you remember any of it?"

"Not really. I'm sure it must have been about you. Even before
yesterday I was dreaming of little else."

"Oh. I was just wondering. I don't dream at all."

He seemed to sense she wanted to hear more. "Well, to my mind
you're not missing much. Dreams are mostly very silly things
that make no sense at all. Here's a good one. A while ago I
dreamed I was flying on a jumbo jet with my parents to Hawaii...
oh, a jumbo jet, picture a big long flying tin can with steel
wings and lots of people crammed inside. So the stewardess -
glorified waitress basically - comes up to us and it's you. I
ask you if you'll take me to see the captain and you say yes.
You take me forward to the cockpit - sort of the bridge - except
when we walk through the door we're on a hill looking at one of
the cities you destroyed in the Holy War. Nanami runs up the
hill and tells me where the hell have I been we need to get back
to Earth. I ask her how and she pulls out the power key staff
and zaps me with it. Then I'm on top of the tower under the Eye
of God and my folks and Nanami's folks are there having a picnic
and asking what took me so long. Beside them there's a little
black piglet in a cage running around squealing. Somehow I know
the piglet is Jinnai, I laugh really hard and I wake up."

Ifurita thought about that for several seconds, then shook her
head in wonder. "Makoto... how can you see such things every
night and maintain your sanity?"

"That's the beauty of it. You can just wake up and say 'Oh, it
was all a dream'. You can even pinch yourself if you're not
sure."

"I see. Still, it sounds like a frightening realm."

"Only for people who take it too seriously." He suddenly lifted
his head and looked out the window. "Looks like the sun's just
hit the needle towers. That's usually when I go for my run."

"Run to where?"

"Just my exercise run, a few laps around the lower terraces."

"May I join you?"

Makoto laughed. "Sure, but I don't think it's going to be much
of a challenge for you. I go for about half an hour and probably
don't cover any more than four miles."

"That sounds quite respectable. I would like to try it. I'll
keep my enhancers off."

"Awfully sportsmanlike of you, ma'am. Let's go get something to
wear."

He led her into a minor warehouse full of great heavy storage
chests. "These can't all be my clothes."

"They can and they are. Now let's see. I think the way this
works is the fancy clothes are in the fancy chests and the most
used ones are towards the front, so let's look at the plain
chests over here." He touched a globe hanging against the wall
and it began to glow, overpowering the scant light coming in
from the overhead stained windows. "We just started
manufacturing these again," Makoto said, pointing to the globe.
"These are prototypes I made when I was trying to figure out the
Living Machines' power systems. They'll be a lot better and
safer than oil lamps."

Ifurita was intrigued by the twinkle she saw in his eye as he
explained these very prosaic matters of lighting. She was seeing
a part of him that his memories had only hinted at, the part
that still saw and touched the world with the curiosity of a
child. "Is this a side-effect of your search for the secret of
the Eye of God?"

"One of many. I've come across all sorts of neat things along
the way, but I've had no time to develop anything."

"Perhaps that can change now. Like me, you are now free to
pursue whatever dreams you please."

She had been serious, but he just gave a little smile. "Right
now I'm pursuing something for you to wear. Let's try this one."

Even the 'plain' chest held an impressive array of garments.
"Here we go, I've seen the priestesses wear this when they work
out. What do you think?"

It was a simple light sleeveless tunic. "Yes, that looks fine."

"Okay, we'll see if they've left some good sandals for you.
They're about the best thing they've got here for running,
though they're a pain to get laced up properly."

Makoto really seemed to enjoy fussing over her like this, and
she was more than content to let him. He found her the sandals,
and also something to tie back her hair, apparently something
you were supposed to do when running. When they were all set
Makoto pulled open one of the great double doors. As Ifurita
already knew, there were two guards out in the hallway. "Good
morning," Makoto said, waving casually. They both bowed and
returned his greeting, doing likewise for Ifurita. They did not
seem at all surprised to see her, no doubt they had been
briefed. "We'll be back within the hour," Makoto told the guards
before the two of them continued down the hallway. On their way
down to the lower level they only encountered a few guards and
servants. About the strongest reaction were ones of barely
suppressed curiosity. So word had got around in one way or
another. They emerged from the bottom of a wide curving
staircase into a big open space. "Here we are."

"It's lovely." The terrace was a much larger version of their
own balcony, with wide tile pathways and plazas interspersed
with vast beds of various greenery. Much of it was covered by
vast arches that held the upper level terraces above them. The
wide space curved away around the palace in either direction,
presumably going all around. A few gardeners were already at
work, as always oblivious to all but their tasks. "It looks like
we have it to ourselves."

"Most people aren't up and about for another hour. Want to
start?"

"Whenever you're ready."

Ifurita kept stride beside Makoto, letting him set the pace. It
was easy for a while. Then the Voices started warning her about
lactic acid buildup. She did not really need them to tell her
that, she could feel it plainly enough. Movement was becoming
more of an effort. They were recommending enhancers being
activated. Absently she wondered if they had given her similar
warnings when she was making love with Makoto... if so, she had
certainly never noticed. Be that as it may, she ignored them
now. She resolved she would ignore any warnings save any of
impending critical or permanent damage. No such warnings ever
came. Which surprised her since the last mile was pure hell.
Just when she had the disquieting feeling that her legs were
about to fall off, Makoto slowed down and brought them to a halt
next to a wide stone bench. Ifurita *fell* down onto it
painfully, flopping down on her side. She lay there and
ventilated as quickly and deeply as she could, but her lungs
just seemed to scream out for more. Makoto was doing something
odd, he was sitting down beside her head and putting two fingers
against her throat. Did he think she was in danger? She wanted
to reassure him but would be unable to unless she dumped her
oxygen reserve into her blood and freed up her lungs for
speaking. She looked up at him, but he was just smiling
sympathetically. He was also breathing hard but did not appear
to be suffering for it. So she just lay her head back down on
her arm and concentrated on breathing.

When she was feeling a little better, Ifurita levered herself up
into a sitting position. "Are you feeling okay?" Makoto asked.

"I am now."

"I'm sorry, I wasn't even watching you, I assumed this would be
easy. You should have told me if you wanted to stop."

"I was in no danger. But I'm sure I was near the limit of my
endurance."

"Really? Your heartbeat was lower than mine and it slowed down
much quicker. I think you could have done another lap at that
pace easily."

"Another *lap*? It felt like I couldn't run another step!"

"You were just going over the hump. Once you get past that, the
last stretch usually feels easier. That is, assuming your system
pumps endorphins into you like mine does."

"It does, but my implants could have done it much quicker.
Makoto doesn't this hurt for you as well?"

"Sure, it hurts plenty."

"And you do this every morning?"

"When I can."

Ifurita shook her head. "Save for when I was on Earth, I have
never had to push myself to the limits of my endurance. For all
practical purposes I had no limits."

"So how does it feel?"

"I'm not sure. Exhilarating. Gratifying. Painful."

Makoto chuckled. "That's about as good a description of runner's
high that I've heard. Are you sure you've never done this
before?"

"You mean run myself to exhaustion? No. It's something entirely
new. I think..."

Makoto cocked his head. "Yes?"

She smiled awkwardly. "I think perhaps I understand just a
little more... what it is to be human."

He put an arm around her and kissed her on the side of the
forehead. "I think you understand a great deal, Ifurita."

"If so then I owe that understanding to you."

They ended the argument with a kiss. "Want to get some water?"
he asked.

"Oh yes."

Ifurita never imagined plain water could be so heavenly. She
gulped down greedily from the stream flowing out of the drinking
fountain Makoto led her to. She took more water and doused her
burning face and neck. "I feel as if I'd like to strip this off
and go jump into that big fountain."

"We can do that in our rooms," Makoto said. "I desperately need
a bath, I'm already starting to smell."

"I like your smell."

"Well if I don't get a bath soon you won't be liking it for
long. Ready to go?"

"Okay."

Climbing the stairs again was more agony. But Ifurita would not
give in, she did it with organic muscles.

"Aren't you actually at a disadvantage," Makoto asked, "Lugging
around that deadweight that you're not making use of?"

"Not really. My genetic enhancements make my heart, lungs and
muscles more efficient."

"I thought so. It's like I said, if you'd pushed yourself you
could still be going strong."

"You know, I used to be contemptuous of humans' limited strength
and endurance. Now I can see it is really I who has been living
within limitations. You make a passion out of overcoming them."

"Well you sure look like you just finished seriously overcoming
some limitations. So do you still feel up to going out today?"

"Certainly. Won't we be having breakfast first?"

"Actually I thought we'd go eat at Nanami's place on the way
out."

Ifurita smiled. "Yes, I would like that." Which was the truth.
She was still nervous about meeting all of Makoto's friends. But
she reminded herself that there was nothing wrong with being
nervous. It was just a sign of unknown territory ahead, of new
limitations to be overcome.

They washed and only took a quick soak in the tub this time.
Ifurita did not say anything but she would have felt content to
sit in there for a good long while. They picked out some
sturdier tunics for their excursion and made their way to the
front gate. There was a little more activity now as the palace
was slowly awakening to the new day. "I seem to see only
servants," Ifurita observed.

"The bigwigs generally aren't morning people. Except maybe Rune.
Actually, I'm kind of avoiding routes that they would take."

"Why?"

Makoto looked a little awkward. "Well, the fact is, I never
really discussed the idea of an excursion with Rune."

"You think she would object?"

"She'd probably ask me to delay it. She wants to make some sort
of public announcement about your return first."

"You don't think we should wait for her to do that?"

"No, I think it's better this way." He would not elaborate on
that. Ifurita knew that even if he still had any ill feelings
towards Rune he would not do this just to spite her. He must
have his own reasons. She was content to leave it at that. True
she was not at full power, but she was more than capable of
dealing with any minor threats that might turn up along the way.

Makoto greeted the officer at the gate. "Good morning,
Lieutenant."

"Good morning, Lord Makoto," he replied. He turned to Ifurita.
"Good Morning, Lady Ifurita. Welcome back."

"Thank you, Lieutenant," she answered.

"If anyone asks we've just gone out shopping for the morning."

The officer hesitated for just the barest fraction before
responding. "Very good, sir. Will you be needing an escort?"

"Not today."

When they were walking across the great plaza that fronted the
palace, well out of earshot, Ifurita turned to Makoto. "The
Lieutenant was not pleased at our leaving. I have little doubt
he has gone to notify his superior by now."

Makoto winked. "Fine, we'll be long gone by then."

"Makoto is this really okay? If the guards are that concerned
perhaps they know something we do not."

"It's their job to be paranoid. We're just going shopping that's
all."

Makoto seemed determined to enjoy himself, so Ifurita resolved
not to spoil it for him. She smiled. "Okay." She slipped her
hand out of his and took a hold of his arm. "Lead the way."

They had to go some distance from the palace before seeing any
shops. Of course they were not really looking just yet, this was
just the route to Nanami's place. Most of the shops were still
in the process of opening up for the day. At length they came
across a street that was even narrower and noisier than any they
had seen so far. Ifurita looked at all the places they passed
by. "Is this where you would search for old artifacts?"

"Yes. You would be astonished at the stuff I've found on this
little street."

"I am astonished at some of the things I am seeing for myself.
Some of these things they appear to be selling as trinkets...
they are pieces from battle androids."

"Battle androids, huh? I found a whole head that's probably from
one of those, I'll have to show it to you sometime. By the way,
a couple of shops up the fellow's got something he won't even
let anyone look at close up for anything less than fifty
thousand gold pieces. I never thought it was worth it but I've
always been curious." They passed the place and Makoto pointed.
Up near the high ceiling of the front room that had now been
opened to the street, displayed prominently in an elaborate
case, was a ball-shaped machine about a foot in diameter.
Ifurita scanned it... and her jaw dropped open. "Ifurita, are
you okay?"

She swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and let it out. "It's
okay. It's been disarmed."

"*What* has been disarmed?"

"It..." She sighed. "It was designed to destroy the Eye of God.
If it were functional it could do that all the way from here.
Easily."

"Whoa..."

"Makoto, I think that one day soon we should come back here and
have a much more careful look around."

"Well most of this stuff has been lying around for ten thousand
years, I don't think anything is about to blow up any time soon.
But that still sounds like a good idea. Shall we go?" They
continued on their way. "I want to step in to Asdic's place and
say hi."

Ifurita remembered, the shopkeeper who found him most of the
artifacts he didn't get through the palace's scholars. Makoto
had painted a picture of a man with a ready laugh, a memory like
a steel trap and a penchant for stretching the truth just enough
not to break it. A born merchant in other words.

Makoto steered her towards a shop that looked little different
than the others. It would have been nearly impossible for them
to squeeze in side by side through one or the other of the
little spaces between the cluttered shelves. But they would not
need to, it looked like the man they sought was already out
front putting aside the front panels he had just removed. He was
a big, heavy man with a great fuzzy black beard, decked out in
colorful silks and much gold jewelry. He noticed their approach,
and his face lit up. He spread his beefy arms out wide as if he
meant to run and embrace them both. "Lord Makoto! My dear
fellow! My day has just been made complete by the end of your
long absence! So many fine new things have turned up that I have
been saving just for you, it would take me half the day just to
show you them all. But for you I shall take the whole day, so
happy has your return made me!"

"I'm afraid I have some grave news for you today, Asdic," Makoto
said in an easy tone that was anything but grave. "I'm not
really in the market for old technology right now, at least not
for a while."

"Ah, a vacation," the man said quickly in his big baritone
voice, nodding in approval. "Good good, the last one did you
wonders. You came back all the more eager to plumb the ancient
mysteries. Then perhaps your new lady friend from the palace is
looking for something special today."

Makoto's face was fairly glowing now. "Actually she's the reason
I'm on vacation. Asdic, I'd like you to meet Ifurita."

The big man looked more closely at her now, this time with
growing astonishment. His jaw came down as if it had suddenly
lost all muscle tension. He took in a slow breath that was not
quite a gasp. "My dear fellow, you've done it..." His suddenly
quiet voice was almost lost in the din of the street.

Ifurita smiled. "I'm pleased to meet you. Makoto has told me
about how you have helped him. I am also in your debt."

"Not at all, not at all," Asdic replied, regaining his composure
and his booming voice with the speed and ease of one used to
quick bargaining. "I'm but a dull merchant, clever young Makoto
here could have swindled me out of shop years ago but not for
his generous heart." His attention went back to Makoto and his
expression suddenly changed to one of unrestrained joy. He
strode up to Makoto and clapped his big meaty hands over his
shoulders. Ifurita could feel the impact through her light grip
on Makoto's arm. "My dear boy, words fail me. Did I not tell you
that you could do it?"

Makoto only winced for a moment, never lost his warm smile. "Yes
you did, many times."

Quick as a cat Asdic turned back to Ifurita and raised a finger
before his face. "Here, let me give you something special to
celebrate your return, pretty lady," he said in a conspiratorial
voice.

"Asdic, what are you giving away?" His face fell a little at the
sound of this new voice, becoming just a little world-weary. He
turned and Ifurita followed his gaze to see a plump, vigorous
looking woman striding out to the front of the shop. Impossibly,
her silks and gold were more plentiful and flamboyant than his
and her clear voice carried further. Her pleasant brown face
held a hint of a frown that disappeared when she saw their
guests. "Ah, Lord Makoto, welcome! And in the company of
beautiful girls from the palace as always!"

Asdic rolled his eyes. "Woman, this is not just another of
Makoto's friends," he said, emphasizing the last word as if to
spare Makoto any embarrassment. "This is Ifurita. *The* Ifurita."

Her eyes went wide and her hands flew up to her face. "Oh my
word! Is it true?"

"Of course it's true!" Asdic countered loudly. "Lord Makoto just
said so, did you not sir?"

"Yes," Makoto said. He and Ifurita shared a glance and a fond
smile, then looked back to the merchant and the woman Ifurita
presumed to be his wife. "I just brought her back yesterday. We
dropped by to say thank you for all your help over the past
years."

Her shock turned to delight even quicker than her husband's had.
"Oh how thick of me not to realize right away, they all said you
were an incomparable beauty, who else could you have been but
Ifurita?"

"Thank you," Ifurita said, a little overwhelmed by her bellicose
voice but finding herself happy at the compliment.

"How nice of you to come all the way here just to see us," she
went on in an almost singsong voice, "You must have been having
such grand receptions in the palace, all day and all night I
would expect!"

"Actually we spent a quiet day together yesterday," Makoto said,
his voice a mere echo of hers.

"Oh my how very romantic!" she drawled. "Reunited after such a
long time, you must both be very happy!"

She was looking to Ifurita now, so she felt bound to answer. "I
couldn't be happier."

"So have you made any plans?" she asked eagerly.

"We were on our way to breakfast," Makoto said as if by way of a
reminder.

She cackled loudly and threw her hand his way in mock dismissal.
"No no no, I mean your wedding plans! Yours will probably be
bigger than Miz Mishtal's weddings! Either of them!"

"They just got back, woman," Asdic finally managed to cut in. "I
really don't think they've had time to discuss that."

"Well it's fine to ask, isn't it?" she retorted, making it sound
like a rhetorical question.

"He's right, we really haven't had time to discuss details. I'm
just happy she's safely back home." Makoto glanced
self-consciously at the crowd that was starting to creep into
their field of view from behind. Ifurita had noted them already.
They were excitedly whispering women in groups of two or three,
keeping as much of a respectable distance as the narrow street
would allow. She had registered them as non hostile. The
whisperings continued, but they were all just curious or excited.

"You poor dear," Asdic's wife suddenly said to her. "Waiting for
Makoto on that strange world all those years, it must have been
terrible!"

"Well, actually..." she glanced at Makoto.

He just shrugged and nodded encouragingly. #Go ahead, we'll
never escape without telling the story.#

Ifurita tried to keep it short, but it still took a while. By
the time she was done there were people up on the roofs too,
mostly children. It was an odd feeling, being the center of so
much attention from people who were not her enemies. It was not
unpleasant.

But she had to stop when she got to the point where Makoto
returned to her. "I could not possibly describe that moment in
words, I would not even try," she said pleasantly but with a
finality that brooked no argument. She was done. She was unsure,
but Ifurita could almost swear she heard very faint, scattered
sounds of sniffling and weeping behind her. Otherwise, this
little corner of the market had fallen into a hushed silence.

Asdic seemed more astonished by the sight of his wife standing
speechless and close to tears than by the story itself. But he
recovered quickly. "Thank you, Lady Ifurita," he said in a voice
that was surprisingly gentle but still carried. "They will be
singing songs of your story for centuries."

"I hate to be rude, but we really should be going," Makoto said.
"We haven't eaten yet today."

"Of course," he said. His former carefree manner suddenly
returned like the dropping of a mask. "But before you go I
really did want to give you something special."

It was a pendant for Ifurita, a little blood-red jewel on a very
fine silver chain necklace. Simple and unassuming, but elegant.
Asdic and Makoto had a very odd argument about whether Makoto
would be paying for this, with Asdic ending it by solemnly
declaring he would rather swallow the item whole than take a
penny of Makoto's money for it. Ifurita could see the sincerity
of Makoto's thanks. He put it about her neck, and she also
thanked the smiling, big-hearted couple whom she already decided
were among the finest people she had ever met. Soon they were on
their way again.

"I wasn't expecting to spend so much time there," Makoto said
apologetically.

"I'm glad we did," Ifurita said, really meaning it. "I had fun."

Makoto's face brightened. "I don't think I've ever heard you say
that."

"I don't think anybody has."

"Hey, lady."

Ifurita looked down at the little street urchin she had been
tracking closely. No metal implements, not a threat. "Yes?"

"Are you the Demon God?" the dirty little boy asked.

Word had got around fast. "Yes, I am."

"Wow. Can you still fly?"

"Of course."

"That's neat. Could you fly me up over the palace?"

"Well..." She considered whether she really wanted to expend
that amount of energy.

"All right that's enough," Makoto said sternly. He made  quick
hand motions. "Go on, shoo shoo." The boy ran away, not really
looking afraid, more like he was following some rule Ifurita did
not quite follow.

She looked back at Makoto. "It would have been no trouble. I
just could have flown him around the block. He probably would
have liked it."

"Yes, and then you'd end up being mobbed by screaming kids all
wanting rides."

"Oh..." She giggled and held on more snugly to his arm as they
walked along.

He looked rather puzzled. "What?"

"Nothing. I just think I'm going to like it here, that's all."



The End