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“Once you go through with this, you can’t return to the surface world. Yui are you sure that this is what you want?” Hades had to be sure. He could’t allow Yui to make such a huge choice without being sure. “You’ll have to stay here in the Underworld with me.”
“I’ve never been more sure. Hades, I love you. I want to be with you, no matter what.” Yui smiled warmly at Hades and then accepted the golden apple he was holding in his hand. “I already made my choice when I turned around to see if you were there. I want to stay with you for as long as I can.”
“I’m so glad…” His eyes warmed as he watched her rise the apple to her lips. “…for that is my dearest wish. For you to stay with me. You have brought joy to my lonely life.”
Yui closed her eyes and bit into the apple.
There was a flash of light, briefly illuminating the dark Underworld and the next thing either of them knew, Yui was seated seated on a throne besides Hades, dressed in a black toga of sorts with a crown of black roses around her head. She felt strange, powerful and yet, calm.
“Thanatos…” Hades called to the God of Death. “…come and greet Yui, my new bride and Queen of the Underworld…a newly awakened Goddess.” He finished the brief statement with a kiss to Yui’s hand.
It seemed like every Greek god known to mankind (and a few that weren’t) had decided to come to the Underworld to greet Hades and Yui. The well wishes and gifts stretched long into the night and then several more days. By the end of it all, Yui was exhausted, not used to her new God body and desperately wanted to rest.
“I apologize, my love.” Hades murmured as he carried her tired body to their bed chambers. “I shouldn’t have announced our marriage until you were used to your new body. “
“It’s alright.” Yui murmured sleepily. “I don’t mind.”
“Rest now.” He laid her in their bed and covered her with a blanket. “You need it.”
When Yui awoke, the first thing she noticed was that Hades was lying beside her in their bed, their fingers entwined. “Hades…”
“Do you feel better, Yui?” He asked. “You slept for quite a while. I was concerned.”
“I do, actually. “ She rolled over on her side and kissed him gently. “I didn’t realize hat becoming a god was so exhausting. But…I’m happy. You and I…we’ll be together forever. You’ll never be alone again and that makes me happy beyond measure.”
“The joy in your face is answer enough for me.” He murmured. “Yui, my Queen…I love you.” The smile crossed his face warmed her heart. There was a pause. “You know…we have to consummate the marriage…but I won’t force you. When you’re ready…I’ll love you, slowly and gently so I won’t hurt you. I want this to be good for you. But I am in no rush. I want you to be comfortable in your new body.”
My new body… She sat up in their bed and for the first time, was able to look at herself in a mirror. She took in the black toga she was wearing and the crown of black thorny roses around her head. She ran her hand down the toga, noting the the fabric was almost silk like and accented with garnet colored trim and jewels. As her gaze traveled back upwards, she note that her skin had taken on a pale hue and that her eyes had turned to a slight garnet color and her hair had darkened to nearly black.
“Is this the first time you’ve seen yourself?” Hades asked.
“I look different.” Yui said.
“Yes, you do. You look more beautiful than you were the day I met you.” He rose from the bed and approached her, brushing his hair away from his face. “I believe that you changed to suit the Underworld. It was slightly unexpected, but either way, I am happy. “ He took her pale hand in his own and kissed it. “You are radiant, a shining light in my dark kingdom.”
“Oh, Hades…” She kissed him then, unable to contain her joy.
“My love…” He murmured, sweeping her up in his arms and carrying her to the bed. “Are you sure?”
“How many times are you going to ask me that?” She asked. “I already made my choice. I trust you.” A pause. “Completely.”
With that affirmation, he helped her to sit up and slid the draped fabric on her arm off. “I promise…that I will do my best…” He unpinned the gem holding the toga up at the shoulder and watched as it slowly slid down milky white skin. “…to bring you joy. Curse or no curse. For as long as we live…I will make you happy. I swear on the River Styx.”
The fabric felt good against her skin, even as he slid it off and when he finally touched her bare skin, it was heavenly. He pressed warm kisses to her neck, shoulders and chest before settling on her lip as he managed to unwrap her from the garment. As she was stripped naked, she began to reciprocate, nervously unfastening the large garnet “button” holding the top part of his toga together and then slipping it off him. He had to stand at this point to try to remove the lower part of it, but before he could even get off the bed, she’d ripped it off him.
It wound up being a harder task than expected as they both got tangled up in the black silky fabric and the sheets of their bed. Even as their bodies were tangled, their hands never stopped touching one another and they never stopped kissing.
“Hold on to me.” He whispered, laying her flat on her back. His hair, which was longer than his entire body, pooled around her as he shifted to rest above her. “…I’ve done all I can to prepare you, but still…this is going to hurt a bit.
There was a gasp and Yui could have sworn she felt the world shatter around her.
He whispered something in Greek, and she was surprised when she realized she could understand him. But even then, she was confused. “…what…what did you say?”
As he began to move his body, taking care not to get more tangled up in his hair than they already wear, he repeated what he’d said, still speaking Greek. “…I love you. More than anything in this world. More than the seas have depth or the sky has air, I love you.”
Surprisingly, she found herself repeating the words back to him, also in Greek. “I love you, too.”
“Oh, Yui….” He rolled them over so she could lay atop him and kissed her again.
She just smiled. Perhaps this wasn’t what she had imagined, or wanted out of a lover, but it was more perfect than she could ever have imagined.
When Yui awoke, she was still very tangled up, but this time, it was between Hades’ body and his hair. She tried to sit up only to find herself so entangled that all she could do was lay back beside him and trace the curse mark on his chest with her fingers.
When she felt him stir, she spoke. “Do you still think that misfortune would befall me if I stayed with you?”
“Yes.” He replied. “But still you’re here. And now, I know I’ll never be rid of you.”
“Does that upset you?”
The small smile that broke across his face told her all she needed to know.