Ashes of Love and War - TodoMomo

||Chapter 30 ~ Part 3||

The night passed too quickly, and before Momo knew it, it was time to say goodbye.

"This is where we part ways," Kyouka said, hugging Momo tightly.

"I'll see you again?" Momo asked as she reluctantly pulled away. Her fingers skimmed down Kyouka's arms to clasp her hands. Momo squeezed her fingers. Then, she looked up to meet Kyouka's eyes, almost afraid that her friend would deny it.

Kyouka snorted softly, as if reading Momo's thoughts. "Of course." Her lips pulled up, and Kyouka grinned brightly. "You better have lots of good stories to tell me."

Momo couldn't help smiling in return. She released Kyouka's hands. "I will."

"And once everything dies down, Tetsu-Tetsu, Hagakure, and I will come visit you in Sparta too," Kendo promised.

Ashido grinned wickedly. Then, in a low voice so only the women could hear, whispered: "Maybe by then you'll have a baby Todoroki growing in there." Her gaze flicked down to Momo's stomach, then back up.

Momo felt her face go red. "That-that is still a way away, and I'm still a priestess."

"Oh yeah." Kyouka snapped her fingers and looked at Momo, her smile devious. "I almost forgot to tell you, I heard there's a temple to Hera in Sparta. I don't know what your plans are, but you may want to check it out if you want to continue being a priestess."

"That's a great idea! She's the goddess of marriage, so it ain't like you have to be celibate." Ashido winked.

Momo felt the warmth in her face intensify. "Do-don't joke with me."

"Who knows," Hagakure grinned. "Maybe next time we see you, there will be little Todorokis running around, just as Ashido said."

Momo dropped her head into her hands as the others laughed.

"All done with the goodbyes?" Kaminari called out as the men made their way over.

Momo lifted her head from her hands.

Kyouka smiled. "Yeah," she said. Kaminari wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"Excellent!" Tetsu-Testu declared happily. His sharp teeth glimmered. "We're all packed up too. My love? Hagakure, ready?"

"You're going with them?" Todoroki asked Hagakure. His voice remained even.

Hagakure winked. "I don't want to be a third wheel."

Momo giggled behind her hand as she watched Todoroki's eyebrows furrow at the comment.

"Anyways, everyone, be extra careful. Especially you and Todoroki," Jirou said, giving Momo a stern look. "The gods haven't been on top of keeping monsters in check lately — not that they ever really were. But I heard it's worse than before. And supposedly, there's even a shape-shifting Empusa that recently showed up around here that's been acting strangely."

Momo nodded. "We'll be careful."

"Then let's get going...Oh, wait!" Kaminari's eyes widened, and he turned towards Todoroki. "I almost forgot. You still have a wish."

Todoroki paused and blinked. "Oh."

"I ain't the type to go back on my word," Kaminari said, putting his hands on his hips. "So, what will it be? I'll even get out of your way and promise not to show myself ever again if that's your wish."

Todoroki smirked. "I don't need a wish to get rid of you."

Todoroki touched his sword at his side, and Kaminari winced slightly. "But the wish isn't mine anyways."

Momo frowned in confusion when Todoroki turned and stared at her. "It wasn't me who rescued Ashido."

Momo blinked. Todoroki continued to stare at her expectantly, and then her eyes widened. She pointed at herself. "Me?"

Todoroki's eyes softened. "It was your strategy, wasn't it?"

Momo's mouth hung open. She didn't know what to say. How could he give away a wish from a god? "But I didn't..."

Kaminari clapped his hands together, interrupting Momo. "It's settled then," he said, grinning enthusiastically. "What would you like?"

"A harem of hot men!" Ashido cried out next to her. Momo blanched and looked at the nymph. Her yellow eyes were shining.

"All the clothes and jewelry in the world," Hagakure said before quickly adding. "You can always sell some if you need to."

"So materialistic," Tetsu-Tetsu crossed his arms and laughed. "I'd wish to be a top warrior."

Todoroki frowned at Tetsu-Tetsu. "Yaoyorozu is already a good fighter."

Momo looked between her friends as they kept shouting out ideas. Her heart pounded in her chest. One wish. She could transport them all to safety or ensure they always had enough food and comforts for the rest of their lives, but a selfish part of her, a section of her heart that Momo usually kept under wraps, reared its head. She didn't want her wish to be for anyone but herself.

Kaminari stared at her. "Have you decided on your wish?"

Taking a step back. Momo shook her head and smiled. "I'll save it for now."

"Why?" Ashido asked, her voice dropping in disbelief. "You could be back in Sparta just like that. Or have all the hot guys you could ever want..."

Momo laughed. "No. If I'm only going to get one wish from a god, I want to make sure it's worth it."

"Hot men at your every beck and call seems worth it," Ashido mumbled grumpily, looking dejected.

"I'm sure." Momo's smile widened. "But we still have a long way to go to Sparta, and I have all I need right now." She looked up and met Todoroki's gaze. Her heart pounded. She couldn't imagine a day happier than this one. Even if she added up all the days of her life from before that one, it could never compare to the warmth and happiness she felt at that moment.

Todoroki wouldn't leave her. He had promised.

She wasn't alone anymore.

That was all she could ever ask for.