Garlis the butler helps Izuya back into the room. Izuya unhooks his arm around Garlis' neck and walks towards the bed and lies on the it.

Garlis: semi-conscious.

Izuya: I am not drunk... just tipsy.

Garlis: Brother. Miss did something again ?

Izuya: I know you are going to stand on her side. It's ok. She won't come home ... Avoiding me. Can you tell her to come home ?

Garlis: I could try. You know she doesn't listen to me.

Izuya: she doesn't listen to anyone.

Garlis: She listens to you.

Izuya: hmph. Tell her I want to see her before she starts it.

Garlis: alright.

________________________________

Joy on the mortal plane was still dealing with nana's matters and helping her manage things.

Make some normal deals to keep them financially strong. Some special ones I kept for myself. Some interesting ones for Nana, I just know she would like them. She had that habit of collecting those kind of things. It's like a gift for her.

He picked the strawberry from the vine. It was especially big. So big it looked weird.

" That's ok ?"

Joy : I'm sure it is.

" It's poisonous. Anything I grow is poisonous. Are you sure ?"

Joy ; you came here to make a deal. To have money to so that your child can go to school. Why do you care what I need your abilities for ?

" .... It's just weird anyone would want someone like that. "

Joy : just this acre is yours. No further. Understand?

" Yes. "

Joy: good. She would absolutely love it.

The two of us had lived too long then and now to just have one layer of relationship. Mother and son. Then again , I never felt she was like my mother.  Nana did many wilful things in her time as a human then. I often took care of her like a child indulging those wilful things.

She was also at times my best friend as I lost people close to me. She was there and understood. When I succceeded and was overjoyed in completing something, she understood. I never had to explain. Whatever I did , she understood. She never doubted me. I never doubted her.

Even when that one time I almost destroyed the organisation. She was so nonchalant about it and said we could just rebuild.

She rarely took care of me as far as I remembered. She did birth me, but it felt like I did most of the taking care. She was a soldier and was rarely home. And when she quit as a soldier and built her business, she taught everything she could to me.

How to be a Trade Dealer . How to see people's weakness . How to use it against them. How to manipulate things in my favour. How to earn people's trust. How to earn people loyal to me. All that and more.

Nana , my mama. She's really my best friend, my mentor , my last pillar. I can always trust her.

It's a bit funny how things developed really. My mother turned to my mentor then turned to my best friend. And at times a child.

She's going to be so mad when she knows I joined Yui. Or izuya in the same sense. Sighs. He needs my help. He can't stop her alone. I can't just accept she's going to die either.

Even just a bit , we can do whatever it is to delay it.

Lent walks into his study " Joy. "

Joy ; hey. How's Rose ?

Lent : she's doing fine. She has Ruin.

Joy: I mean the reputation.

Lent : Rose has been moving in her cottage around for a few years. She's certainly getting the physician name we want her to get.

Joy : any rumours?

Lent : some say she must have come from a rich family last time since she always has that guard around her.

Joy ; hahaha. I guess.

Lent ; why suddenly concerned about her ?

Joy ; she has been acting also sort of our mobile checkpoint for passing information to other branches from country to country. Just seeing if anyone thought her as a threat yet.

Lent : oh. Right. That's not why I'm here. The head of the merchant association - Brandin. He proposed to princess Yen.

Joy ; she said yes ?

Lent ; er. She smiled. She hugged. But there wasn't a definite yes.

Joy : eh. We've never been playing his game. We don't have to be bothered by him.

Lent : he will then have control over a kingdom. I would think yes , we need to worry.

Joy ; you think he will try to kill the king ?

Lent: ... Demi-god. god. Since when did they care.

Joy ; it's fine. We're not playing his game.

Lent : if he gains control over a kingdom , he could come after us.

Joy : that's boring. If he does , we just die. Nothing new.

Lent sighs and then sits onto the couch " there's that. Without mama , everything is boring. When is she coming back ?"

Joy : not sure. But I know she will.

" Know I will what ?" Nana entered the room

Joy : you're back.

Nana : kind of. Help me to send a message to Essure.

Joy : what kind ?

________________________________

Garlis knocked onto the room door " brother. "

Izuya : come in.

Garlis opened and entered " you're sure you don't want me to go with Master?"

Izuya : we're close enough. You can keep the Master thing when there's actually someone around.  Plus , the one you really serve is her isn't it ?

Garlis : .... It's fine for dinner.

Izuya : ok. Can you bring it in ?

Garlis: you wanted to meet someone. She's here already. For dinner.

" Who ?" He exited the room and headed towards the dining.

Garlis : at the balcony.

Izuya : balcony ?

They've reached it as it was short stop from the room. He recognized her sitting in the chair " oh. Right. I was drunk and..."

He entered the balcony and sat down beside her " nanalise. Wife. "

Nanalise: izuya. Husband.

Izuya : you're home.

Nanalise: I don't want to fight you anymore... Our pawns can do the fighting. I don't want...

Izuya: come here.

She goes over and sits onto his lap with her legs hanging on the side of the chair like she always used to . She leans her head against his chest and grabs onto his shirt " cannot stay ?"

Izuya: I can. But I will be against you. Is that ok ?

She shakes her head " you will know my plans and secrets and make them  go away."

" I will make them go away even if I don't know." he kisses her in the hair "I always do. Make the things I don't like around you. Go away."

Nanalise: you're crazy.

Izuya: when are you going down?

Nanalise: later. His exact orders were, destroy god or demi-god countries. He's one stop from controlling one

Izuya: wouldn't it be better if you take him down now ? 

Nanalise: hehe you really don't like him. 

Izuya: something is missing. There must be an endgame to this. Not just destroying god taken countries. Smiting would be so easy for him. Problem solved. Why is there a need to get you involved?

She kept quiet.

Izuya: there is , a further endgame. What is it ?

She kisses his cheek " can't tell." He cups her cheek " nanalise. You never kept anything from me. Tell. Me."

She avoids his gaze as he looked into her eyes. She leans against his chest " I hate being a hero. I am not a hero. At least promise me to be there when I .... die."

Izuya: there's no stars here. This plane is boring.