It was a bit awkward between Ai and Artemis for a bit, Cirrus had some ideas but from the looks of things, he probably wouldn’t get an answer.

"It’s amazing how you managed to get Aphrodite, of all the gods, to do manual labor." said Artemis.

"Yeah well you know." Cirrus said cutting some wood.

"What’s that supposed to mean Artemis!? I’m probably the only goddess of beauty that is building a damn house! Or ever will! I say that's pretty damn impressive!" exclaimed Aphrodite.

"Hmm... well, I’m going to go help the young ones hunt."

"Oh, bring Ai along!" said Aphrodite. "She knows these lands pretty well!"

"I... I’ll do that."

Aphrodite could see the awkwardness on Artemis’ face.

  'Slowly and steadily.' Aphrodite thought. 'I am going to drive that stake you call love right in!!'

"So what are you and Ai planning? You always suggest Artemis go with her?" Cirrus asked a curious.

"That is a secret! And if my plans goes through—ops! I need to stop talking or I'll ruin the surprise!"

"...Mmm."

 

Time passed, and Ai spent as much time as she could with Artemis with Aphrodite and just about everyone having the two of them interact with one another. She would eventually learn some rather appealing things from the huntress.

"There. Two clicks right and on the cliff."

"I see it."

Ai watched as Artemis got into her shooting form, She saw how her back muscles bulged as she pulled her bow’s string. Her eyes were as steady as a dead fish and sharp as a blade. "Fuu~" She lets out a warm breath as she releases the arrow.

Fsh!

Aside from the sound of her bowstring, there was no more sound made. The arrow, even when it was cutting through the air, made no sound until it struck its target.

Thud!!

The sound echoed throughout the wilderness.

"Alright, let's go." Artemis said as she moved through the woods.

"Hmph!"

Ai followed her to the animal she shot. When they arrived, they found it was a deer.

"Hmm seems like an 8 or maybe 9-point deer? Ah well. You have the bag?"

"I do."

"Good. Stay back a bit."

Artemis drew her hunting knife and began to methodically dismantle the deer. She skinned it and got all of its meat in under a minute.

‘She very good with her hands.’ thought Ai, as she saw how fast and easy it was for Artemis to do this. 'She is pretty cool in action!'

Ai would spend time with Artemis in the bath after the hunt.

"Ahh~ This feels amazing!" Artemis said, stretching in the bathtub. "I can see how this can be addictive!"

"Is it any different than bathing in the river or a pond?" Ai asked while also in the bathtub.

"Aside from the cool water and the fresh air, not so much."

"Oh, I see."

"Yes..." She then looked at Ai’s happy face and turned away, avoiding her gaze.

‘This is cruel. I’m spending so much time with Ai that my punishment is turning crueler and crueler for me than it is for Cirrus. Is she doing this to get back at me? If this is the case, I guess that is fair. I will be taking her love from her.’

"Say I have been having a lot of fun hunting with you, Lady Artemis! I can see why you are very well regarded!"

Artemis' face flushes slightly.

"Thank you, Ai. I have also enjoyed your company."

"I know this is coming out of nowhere, but I can see why many wished to peek in on you bathing."

"Oh?" Artemis’s brows raise a bit. "Is that so?"

"Hm," Ai said, blushing a bit. "You are very pretty and strong. Despite spending more time in the wild, your skin is always flawless and your attire is always kept neat and tight. I think the image of you defenseless when you are so ready gives you a surprising amount of appeal. Even more so than Lady Aphrodite or even Lady Freya."

"O-oh." Artemis's face was really starting to turn red. "T-thank you for the compliment, but hm? I think I spent too much time in the bath. My head is getting a bit lightheaded."

The Renard and the Goddess would grow closer, despite the goddess's wishes.

 

Eventually, the home was finally completed in two months. Its construction was finished much faster with Aphrodite’s help.

"Waaah!!!" said Ai. "It’s so big and spacious!! Hm? Is that a stream!!" She entered the home to find a small garden in the home with glass frames surrounding it and an open ceiling paired with a tree.

The home was, as Cirrus would say, a mix of Western and Eastern styles, only made possible due to Aphrodite’s eye for beauty and aesthetic sense.

The home has many rooms, each with its own purpose, that have yet to be fully furnished.

"It even has a kitchen!!"

Ai continued to look around the home to find more and more things and was surprised by how much Cirrus was able to make.

When Ai made it to the yard, she found it to be very spacious, but what she loved most of all was--

"It’s a fucking spa!!!!"

Cirrus had made plumbing for the house, and he made a nice, good bathroom made of cypress wood.

"I’m very impressed." Said Akeru. "I thought my home was impressive, but this... there is so much care and thought put into it." He could see some engravings on the wood to give it a more decorated look to it.

"Yes, it’s very exquisite," said Aomi. "If only the rest of our daughters could find a man as good as you."

"Thank you for the complement."

 

Outside the home.

"I’m very, very impressed Aphrodite!" said Artemis, looking around the outside. "How did you make the glass for the outside?"

"Glad you like it! If not for my input, this house would look like a monstrosity! But I must admit it wouldn’t be possible without Cirrus’s help and his magic is... far more versatile than one would expect."

Coming up to them after fully exploring the house was Ai with a nervous expression.

"U-um…so...is it time?"

"Oh…" Artemis lowers her head. "Right the punishment…I-I’m sorry Ai for having to do this…"

"Hm…" she shakes her head. "I’ve had time to think it through… and many nights with him... I know if it was any other god I would be against it but…truth is told, I would rather it still be with me only."

"…Ai—"

"Well, he can always take you on as his second wife?"

"W-what!? What are you saying!?" said Artemis, her face fully red. "B-but then—"

"Then what? Do you think I would just let this loving couple never get married? Hah! I know I told you if you aren’t experiencing love, then you are 2000% missing out in life and all, but here’s a chance to experience double that! Double!! Anyone would be super jealous!!"

"B-but what about the sacred bond of—"

"What do you know about that Artemis! Are yooou the goddess of love or marriage?? Hm?? Are you? Huh? Huh?" She said, getting in Artemis’s face.

"I-I um… N-no."

"Well then... why not share the love with her? You two have gotten close to one another over the past few months. You two are surprisingly getting along well with one another, so... why not share the love?" She said with a slight smile.

Artemis turned to see Ai looking down while rubbing her fingers. Artemis remembered the times they spent together over the past few months; they did get along very well with one another, and seeing her look so down didn’t leave a good feeling in her heart.

"Ai..." Artemis took a deep breath and thought on this all.

'Was this why they all were putting us together? It wasn't to hurt me but to...' She now understood why they did it.

Artemis began to think over the effects her punishment would do. Cirrus would be hers but not fully. Ai had stolen his heart long before she could realize her own feelings. In the most likely scenarios she would have a relationship similar to that of Zeus and Hera. She didn't want that. Thinking on it know she was grateful they did this, making her and Ai grow closer with one another. If Ai had his heart then she will be the one to give her a piece of it.

She took another deep breath and decided on what to do.

"Ai um…do you…wanna be his—"

"Yes!!" she said, jumping at Artemis. "Of course!" Hugging her tightly.

"…V-very well!" She said blushing. She pushed Ai a bit and looked at her in her eyes. "We will be sisters!" She then gave Ai a tight hug. Artemis's heart was pounding.

She took a leap to ensure at least that the one she loves is happy. If Cirrus had Ai in his heart then maybe over time she to can find a place in it as well. This was her first love and she doesn't wish to let that go so easily.

Ai smiled with tears of joy steaming down her face, all the while giving Aphrodite a thumbs-up for the months-long plan's success. Over the months, Ai, Aphrodite, and her Familia, along with Artemis, worked to increase the bond between Ai and Artemis. They would be with one another on hunts and the like, so they could really get to know one another and even do some light hand-to-hand sparring.

‘Fufufu!! Ai, you are as greedy as the gods themselves!! Love truly is an all-mighty weapon that can move even this huntress from her hunt! Now I can truly call myself the SUPREME GODDESS OF LOVE!! But this opportunity still needs to be fully exploited! If things go as planned the special gift I gave to Ai will be the final nail to consummate their relationship!'

 

Back inside.

"Oh your back, so how was the outside?" said Cirrus.

"It was nice!" said Ai, coming into the living room and sitting next to Cirrus. "Sniff! Sniff! Is that mom's cooking!?"

"Yeah she and your dad are cooking, seems they found the kitchen very appealing, so they wanted to try it out."

"I don’t think they could feed all of us." Said Rethusa.

"Yeah, there are like….a lot of people here." Said Phi.

"We shall go and pick up some more food and drinks!" said one of Aphrodite’s children.

"I’ll help you out with that!" said Cale.

Many of them left to go get more stuff while a few of them remained in the living room with Ai and Artemis sitting next to Cirrus.

‘…I wonder what Artemis has planned? Ai has been spending more time with her so…Mmm…they all have been surprisingly tight-lipped, even Nox. One, she'll invite me to join her Familia and travel with them, which explains why Ai spends so much time with her. Possibly so she can come along as well? Second, guess she will make me never see…’

Cirrus didn’t like what could happen. In all honesty, he pushed it to the very back of his mind. But when the time comes he doesn’t know if he can accept the outcome.

Sting!

"?"

Cirrus felt his heart sting just a bit.

‘Ah. I made myself sad…’

 

West coast of Yamato, in Amaterasu’s Heavenly Rock Castle.

Sitting on a throne made from rock and gilded in gold, sat a goddess with hair as red as fire and as golden as the morning light. Her attire was of white, red, and gold, which was a mix of a kimono and a Miko outfit.

"It has been 3 months since you arrived, Susanoo." Said Amaterasu. "Has the Smith arrived within the borders of Yamato?"

Susanoo stood firm, with Kushida behind him.

"He should be here; I shall send my most loyal retainer to go and see if he has arrived."

Amaterasu then looks at Kushida with her eyes as black as obsidian yet lustrous as a pearl.

"!!" Kushida standing already as straight as she can be straightened out even more.

"…You said he would be in Fuyukusa Village, correct?"

"I did say that." Susanoo said.

"Then you, Shirakusa Akio, will go with her and ensure he is retrieved and brought before me."

From the side of her court, a white-haired Renard with red eyes walked up in fine black samurai armor.

"Yes, Lady Amaterasu!!"