Ashes of Love and War - TodoMomo

||Chapter 30 ~ Part 1||

Sorry for the late update! I went away for the weekend and thought I could update from my phone but couldn't. Anyways, 1 day late, but here is the next part. Thank you everyone who follows! :D

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When Momo and Todoroki arrived back at the campsite, they found Kyouka, Kaminari, and the others huddled around the fire.

"They're back!" Hagakure shouted as the pair stepped into the firelight. Momo paused as Hagakure jumped from her seat, and Kendo, Tetsu-Tetsu, and Ashido rushed closer.

"Where've you been?"

"What happened, Yaomomo?"

"Are you two alright?" Kendo asked; she gave Momo a serious, worried look.

"Yes, we're fine." Momo smiled. Todoroki's hand, still holding hers, was warm. She gave it a light squeeze before releasing it and stepping forward to give a small bow. "I apologize for worrying everyone with my actions."

"No." Kendo shook her head, her expression relaxing. "Don't apologize. That wasn't your fault." Her gaze slid past Momo's shoulder to Todoroki, and her voice dropped lower. "Kaminari explained everything — about the magic and..."

"Is it true?" Hagakure asked quickly.

Momo's breath caught. What should she say? How much did Todoroki want them to know? They had confirmed their feelings for one another mere moments before; was it too early to tell the others?

"Yeah," Todoroki said before Momo could collect herself.

She looked up. Todoroki's silver and turquoise eyes shone in the moonlight without any hesitation. An invisible rope that had twisted around her heart vanished, and she let out an unconscious sigh of relief.

Tetsu-Tetsu whistled. "Crazy...So the magic is gone?"

"Yeah." Todoroki repeated. He looked down at his hand, curling his fingers into a fist. "I don't feel its influence anymore."

"Yaomomo," Ashido squealed. She grabbed Momo's arm. Her eyes lit up as if they were sharing a secret. Momo gave her a small smile.

"Does..." Kaminari started tentatively.

Momo looked up to see him step out from behind Kyouka. They were the only ones who hadn't moved closer with the others.

Kaminari's expression was tense as he stared at Todoroki. He swallowed visibly. Then in a nervous voice, he asked, "Does that mean everything is good between us? You aren't back to finish me off?"

Todoroki stared at the god for a moment. "Everything's fine. I'm not back to fight you," he responded finally in a flat voice. He dropped his hand then turned towards the others and bowed. "Allow me to apologize for my actions as well. I ruined the party."

"Sure, right you -" Ashido started heatedly before Kendo grabbed her, covering her mouth and smothering her words.

"Don't worry about it," Kyouka said, coming closer with Kaminari in tow. "It's fine. As I said before, my wish to protect Momo and Tokoyami caused all of this in the first place. I can't fault you for getting upset at this idiot for not explaining everything." She poked Kaminari.

"Yeah, man," Tetsu-Tetsu said. He reached up and clapped Todoroki's shoulder. "We understand. Who wouldn't be upset if they learned they were under a spell? Anyone would have acted the same way."

Momo exhaled. A smile spread across her face as she watched the others crowd around Todoroki offering their understanding and support.

She hadn't realized how incredibly anxious she had been of how the other's would react to Todoroki - especially Kaminari.

Gods were notoriously vengeful creatures. Their anger and grudges were littered throughout every story and myth Momo knew. And there were plenty of tales in which a mortal had crossed one and been spited for lesser offenses than what Todoroki had done.

Momo curled a hand over her chest. She didn't know what she would have done if Kaminari had decided to punish Todoroki. It was within his right as a god, and there would be nothing she could do, but Momo didn't know if she could handle losing someone important to her once more.

She couldn't be alone again.

"We all good?" Kaminari asked in a hesitant voice.

Todoroki looked back at him and gave Kaminari a small nod. "Yeah."

"Alright!" Ashido clapped her hands loudly, garnering everyone's attention. "Let's get this party started!"

"Nymphs," Kendo laughed. She slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her giggles and snorted despite her efforts.

"What?" Ashido asked, turning to give Kendo a pointed stare, hands on hips. "Everything has been worked out. Todoroki isn't cursed. And now Yaomomo and Todoroki can get married and have little Todorokis. How could we not celebrate?"

Momo felt her face turn red. "Eh?!"

"Are they together, though?" Tetsu-Tetsu asked, tilting his head.

A warm hand pressed against Momo's lower back, and she looked up to see Todoroki standing next to her. "We're engaged."

Momo felt something catch in her chest, and her eyes widened in surprise. "En-engaged?!"

Todoroki glanced down, meeting her gaze. His eyebrows furrowed. "Are we not?" His voice was as steady as usual, but Momo thought she detected a slight waver in his tone. "Do you not want to be with me?"

Heat spread across her face. Momo waved her hands frantically. "It's not that! It's just - isn't this too fast? I - we only -"

Momo writhed with embarrassment. She wanted to scream or dig a hole to bury herself in. This was all moving far too quickly. In the hot springs, she had made the decision to pursue Todoroki, and it wasn't as if she regretted her decision, but-but this was too fast! They hadn't even properly courted, and -

"Who cares!"

Momo jumped as Ashido's ecstatic voice cut her off.

"He likes you. And you like him?" Ashido stared at Momo expectantly. "What's the point in thinking about it longer? It's not like you were going to say no anyways. Right?"

Momo fidgeted. She thought about it for a moment, then gave a timid nod in agreement.

Hagakure squealed.

"Wahoo!" Ashido shouted. "Then that's all we need. Bring out the booze! Let's get this party going!" She gave a loud whoop, and the remaining tension in the air evaporated.

Kaminari clapped his hands. There was a spark of light, and a lyre appeared. He turned to Kyouka and held it out. "My love, would you do the honors of starting us off?"

Kyouka smiled and took the lyre. Her fingers strummed across the instrument, and a clear, graceful melody started up.

Ashido grabbed Hagakure's hand. "Let's dance!" she cried, pulling Hagakure towards the fire.

Momo watched as the two women began to dance to Kyouka's song. Kendo and Tetsu-Tetsu followed after them. Her heart was still beating fast in her chest at Todoroki's proposal. She could never have imagined the night would turn out like this. It felt as though it had only been yesterday that the walls of Troy were falling and all hope seemed lost, and now - now she had Todoroki and met Kyouka again. She had friends and memories she never even dreamed about back at the temple. It was as if an invisible hole that Momo hadn't realized existed within herself had finally been filled. She wanted to sing. To dance. The happiness overflowed within her until she couldn't stand still.

She turned towards Todoroki and held out her hand. She wasn't sure when she started smiling, but Momo wasn't sure she could stop. "Dance with me."

Todoroki looked down at her and blinked. "Huh?"

Momo laughed and then gave him a cheeky grin. "Do you need your god slayer to teach you?"

She didn't wait for Todoroki to respond and grabbed his hand, pulling him towards their friends. Music and warmth filled the night as the group danced around the fire, casting long shadows against the ground. Kaminari's spell may have faded, but Momo was sure there was magic in the air as the stars and moon gleamed overhead. Selene herself seemed to smile upon the dancing couples.