Celeste - Oni (rewrite v0.1)

	“Come on Vahn. We need to go meet our new neighbors,” your father said, grasping your hand and leading you across the shoddy dirt road to the new shop that was beginning to be filled with wares and a family's furnishings. The shop had not been inhabited for years and had a decrepit look about it in recent years, but still, someone was moving into it.
	“Neighbor!? You here?” Your father calls out after he knocks on the door. The door swings open slowly to reveal something that you had not anticipated. A giant of a man with a horn protruding from his forehead steps out of the house. “Welcome! Sorry I wasn't here quicker. Had a few things to take care of inside,” The giant man says in a strangely pleasant voice. It sounds well aged, inviting, and knowledgeable. The person has a deep blue hue to his skin, and a physique that would make him out to be some kind of indestructible monster. His longer brown hair and white beard contrast with his blue skin, but make him seem somehow gentle and kind in a way. He is quite tall, towering over your father, which causes you to hide behind his leg. Peering out behind your father's leg, you see the gargantuan man come down to your level, resting on his toes to look at you. “Now who is this then? You aren't scared of me are you?” The large man chuckles a little and waves at you, and you reciprocate the motion. “This is Vahn, and I am Adam Nalium. It is a pleasure to meet you sir. I am glad we finally have a neighbor out here on the outskirts of town,” Your father says, bowing, taking in the man's physical characteristics in stride.
	“I'm surprised you have not been scared like the other villagers. Not many would willingly accept an Oni into their village. Thank the gods that the elder is understanding enough to let us stay here,” the man says after your father. “I am Garrion by the way. It is a pleasure to meet yo-”
	“Daddy!!!! I wanna go play!!!” A voice from inside the house screams. It is a small one, an intriguing one. It sounds girly, but rambunctious and happy as well, as if it has never known, nor will ever know, unhappiness. A little girl about your height latches onto the blue man's calf. The girl has some strange physical characteristics. Long white hair reaches down to her calves and curls into her body gently, however, the roots of her hair are a jet black, providing a great contrast between the two. Her skin is a brilliant red color, and her eyes are a bright yellow, giving off a feeling of warmth you have not felt before. From her forehead, a small red horn protrudes as well. She looks over at you and your father. Her face goes from happiness and joy to one of fear and uncertainty. “Who are they daddy?” She says in a shaky and scared voice.
	“They are our new neighbors Celeste, could you tell them hello?” Garrion says, ruffling his daughter’s hair gently and coaxing her forward. She pokes her head out from behind her father’s calf, waves, and says a very quiet “N-n-n-ice to m-m-m.... meet you,” before retreating to her father’s calf for safety. “No Celeste, you know how we taught you to say hello. You can do it right. Here I'll do it with you,” He pushes her gently to his side. They both bow slowly and speak in unison; “We are the Dailemont Family. It is a pleasure to meet you,” they say, and then introduce themselves; “I am Garrion Dailemont, a blacksmith and trader,” The large man raises his head after this. “I am Celeste Dailemont. I am to become my father’s apprentice.” She raises her head as well, and gives a scared sigh after.
	“It is a pleasure to meet both of you. Is it just you two? Would you like some help moving in?” Your father says, looking down at you, “You can go back to the shop if you want Vahn.”
	“Thank you, I think we are almost done however, my wife is inside right now unpacking,” Garrion says after heading back into the house, “I should probably go help her though. It was a pleasure to meet you. I hope you and our children become good friends.”
	The little girl gives a wave goodbye behind her father’s leg, and you wave back to her with a smile that you did not feel cross your face, as if it were instinctively there upon the sight of the girl. “Come across to the shop if you'd ever like to talk or need anything,” Your father says as he turns and begins walking away. That was the first time you saw her, Celeste, and it would not be the last. Even in your childhood years, you knew that girl would be with you for a long time, and you were happy.

	“V! Wake up!” You hear a shout from the floor below you. It was a good thing your house had thick walls, or else your father could wake up the entire village with his shouts. “I'm coming dad. Give me a second. I need to wash up,” You say as you stretch and spring up from bed. “Hurry up then! I've got customers!” Your father yells back again.
	You go over to the wash basin, still filled with the water your father used and give yourself a scrub down before drying off and donning your work clothes. Just as the little girl said so long ago, almost seven years now, you too were to become an apprentice to your father, who was also a blacksmith. You donned your apron and proceeded downstairs. “About time son! Hurry and stoke the fire and man the desk. I have a few orders to fill today!”
	This day was just like any other for the most part. Your father did not know the meaning of slow down nor rest, but you were eager to help in any way you could. Since your mother had passed away when you were young, your father had been working tirelessly to treat you well, and teach you life skills at the same time. It was wearing him out, and you could tell. The least you could do was pay him back for all the help he has given you this way.
	Swords, pieces of armor, and even small items came through for repair or for trading, and your father was always happy to take them in. One after another they came in and flew back out as if processed by magic in some way. To you, your father's technique as a blacksmith was one that rivaled the god servant who gave the gods their weapons. It was unbelievable how good he was with his hammer and forge, making them seem as extensions of his own body. One day, you hope to do the same and make him proud.
	“Hey dad, got another sword, why don't you take a break? I can repair this pretty easily,” You say, trying to help your father in any way you can.
	“Not right now Vahn. Could you go across the street and see if Garrion has any leftover wood? His seems to work better than the stuff we harvest,” He says as he continues to beat and shape a shoulder piece for a customer who had come in early in the morning. You give a slight sigh, due to the fact you know what he is trying to do, and the fact that you cannot get a chance to prove yourself to your father.
	“Alright dad. I'll be right back. Don't work to hard alright?”
	“Haha! Good one! Thank you son!”
	Outside, the street is populated with both shops clients, waiting in line or waiting for their orders to be filled. On your side, a human line is forming, on the other, the line forms out into the woods, and is populated with monster species waiting for their wares. Your village had never really accepted that the Oni family had set up shop, and your family was one of the few in the village who saw them as equals, rather than something to be feared. With time however, you knew that the people of the village would change. As you walked through the crowd of people over in Garrion's shop, you moved to the counter, to see Tara, Garrion's wife. She was a lighter blue than her husband, and seemed even gentler, if that were possible. She filled out the bust of her outfits very well, and had a very tall stature, which seemed to be quite a lot more leg than normal humans. Her hair was a stark white, and was normally cut short, due to its frizzy nature and the ease of styling it this way. Her eyes shown with a brilliant red color, and gave off a feeling of caring warmth and contentedness you had not seen in any of the women in the village. “Hello Vahn,” Her soft and motherly voice rang in your ears, feeling very/ sweet and very inviting, “What is it? Everything alright at the shop?”
	“Yes Ma'am. Everything is going well. I just came over to borrow some wood. Father is running out it seems, or he is using an excuse to get me to take your better wood.”
	She gives a chuckle and motions you to the back where the wood is stored. You thank her and give a slight nod before proceeding. Garrion was hard at work with his forge as well and gave you a wave before continuing with his task. “It's nice to see you over Vahn! How's everything with your father?” He said as he hammered away on a piece of armor.
	“Good so far. I think he is gettin' a little worn out. I've notice he hasn't been feeling to well the past few days,” you say with a chuckle. It was only half a joke, but you knew it to be true and so did Garrion.
	“Well, maybe it's time him and Clara settled down. Maybe she could help him a little with the shop so he could train you a bit more. I know it is hard to believe, but he is quite the ladies man with her,” He says as he finishes the armor.
	“You got that right. I'd be alright with some good food too rather than the gruel dad makes.”
	Garrion lets out a hearty laugh and stands up to stretch as you two continue to talk.
	Clara, a woman who had frequented the shop, was a widow. Her husband had gone off to the war and never returned. She had gotten reports that he had died, and had grieved, and seemingly, had moved on. Your father was not one for women after your mother, but Clara had taken a liking to him. Anyone could see that they should be together, and even you think that your mother would not object if she had a say in it. Clara had, on multiple occasions, helped your father while you were sick, with the shop, and had managed to fix up quite a bit of stuff around the shop and the back part of the house as well. She was, in every way they could see, the perfect woman for your father. She was wiggling her way into his heart it would seem too. It was only a matter of time.
	“I'll talk to him about it when things start to die down. It seems we got a lot of orders to fill today.”
	“You and me both. I sent Celeste out to gather more of that wood. She should be back soon in fac-”
**CRASH**
	A small hush fell through the shop as you saw from the side door the little girl you had grown up with. You and her were only eleven years old, but you two were drastically different. Due to her being an Oni, she had massive amounts of strength. The logs she was putting down with one arm were heavy enough for five men to struggle moving. She did not even look like she was breaking a sweat however. You were amazed.
	“CELESTE YULENE DAILEMONT! HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU TO 'SET' THOSE DOWN AND NOT THROW THEM DOWN!?” yelled her father through the door, much to the laughter of the crowd inside and Tara. The look Celeste gave to her father was one of confusion, dismay, and one of an uncaring kind of attitude. “They are just logs!” She said in a child like anger. You gave a little chuckle, as did the monster race infested shop, which brought up a puffy cheeked Celeste into your view.
	“What's so funny huh!?”
	“Sorry! You got in trouble! I thought it was funny,” you said still giggling. She gave you a soft punch to the arm. Amazingly, her strength here was nothing like that of her moving the tree.
	“Shut up you idiot. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be helping Adam with the shop? Did he disown you or something?”
	“Not today he hasn't. I came to get some wood. He says that your wood is better than the stuff we get.”
	“It's the same stuff. He knows that right?”
	“I doubt it. His orders keep piling up on him. I dunno if he knows where I chop it down.”
	“Alright. I'll take one of the logs over there. Let's just hope your customers don't threaten me or anything again.”
	“I'll make sure they don't,” You say with confidence.
	Celeste gives a little grin and a huff as she takes up one of the logs and begins moving over to your shop.
	As you head over, the name calling began. Things like 'Redskin,' 'Demon,' and a few other names were thrown her way. You tried to calm the people down as best you could but, as always, no one was listening. The villagers were so set in their ways that they couldn't see that the creatures across in the other shop were just like them.
	 Clara was inside now helping, even to your father's repeated telling that you would be back momentarily. Celeste sat the log down behind the shop and sat on top of it, legs and arms crossed. You thanked her repeatedly, saying that there was no way you could have gotten that over here.
	“Don't worry. I don't mind. Just what neighbors do right? Sit down. I doubt your dad is gonna call for you anytime soon,” She said patting the piece of the log next to her.
	You sat down and leaned back against the chopped wood behind you. The view was amazing as usual. Your village had an awe inspiring view of the ocean, and at any one time, the sun reflecting off of it looks entrancing. You stare out into the ocean for a small while, but shake it off and look over at your friend. She wore a normal brown shirt and a pair of pants that were fairly loose and easy to move in. Regardless of her outfit, she was beautiful to you, and more entrancing than the sun over the water. You run your eyes down her, instinctively, taking in every gentle curve and the vibrancy of her skin. She was starting to grow more than you it seemed. She had passed you in height and now was about an inch taller than you. Her breasts were growing as well, so much so that her shirt now lifted up a little and revealed her stomach. The little bit of her legs and feet you could see denoted that she had gained her mother’s legs as well. The soft red color of her skin made you feel easy and rather safe for some reason. You could not pin it down, but, something made you want to move over and get a little close to her.
	“Everything alright?” She said with a puzzled look at you. You look up from her body and into her yellow eyes. They seem to glow with a type of understanding you have never seen, nor felt, before. You leaned in closer to her, keeping your eyes locked. “W-wha-? What are you doing?” She says a bit scared.
	You take her hand, and give a gentle pull. She let’s herself go, and falls into you, planting her lips upon yours. You can feel her face heat up upon the moment the kiss started. You feel her tense up suddenly, and then her body eases. Her hand in yours feels almost perfect, as if it were meant to be. Your other hand rests on her back, giving her a little more support so she can feel safe with you. The time you two shared in this moment feels like an eternity, one which you never wish to end. You pull away, letting your lips give a **smack** sound. Breathing heavily, you both simply stare at each other for a moment. You break the gaze suddenly, looking down, embarrassed by the action you just pushed on her. You search for words to convey what you mean, but only utter small noises for a moment and then fall silent. The noise inside the shop rings out as you two sit in strange silence. Something doesn't feel right to you.
	“So this is where you were Red Girl!” says an all too familiar voice.

	You turn just in time to see a group of people you know all too well, as does Celeste. The 'gang,' if you could call them that, were a group of kids in the village that had been taught that the monster races were not to be trusted, regardless of how they acted towards them. Ren, the leader, was standing, his leg on the log, looking down at you. “Well well, smooching on the Red Girl huh?”
	“Back off Ren. Why are you here anyway? Your mom needed her knives sharpened again?” Celeste says, mocking him.
	“What kind of an insult is that Redskin? Your old ones were better.”
	“Oh right. Like the one about how fat you are? Your right. I do like that one better. Speaking of fat, I'm surprised you are still alive.”
	“What's that s'pose to mean?”
	“Well you're mom is fatter than you. I'm surprised that land whale hasn't eaten you yet.”
	With that, the group sped past you and overwhelmed her. You hear punches landing and kicks connecting as you sit there, horrified at what was going on. After a moment, you get up and try to get them off, but one of them breaks off and makes sure you do not interfere. Once they are done, you see Celeste, a few bruises on her body and blood trickling out of her mouth.
	“That'll teach you Redskin. You don't belong here. You know that. Also, no more kissing on Vahn here. He's a human. He doesn't need to be tainted by you. Tell her Vahn.” Ren says, spitting on Celeste.
	“What? What do you mean?” You say, confused.
	“You should be kissing on a human girl. Not this piece of trash. You know that right?”
	“What? That doesn't... I don't...” The words escape you. In the moment, you can't find the right words to say.
	“I...” You hear Celeste say, getting to her feet slowly. “I... knew it...” She said finally.
	“Yeah. That's right Demon. Stay back and go back home. We don't want you here,” Ren finishes, spitting on her again.
	“Come on guys. Lets get outta here,” he says motioning to his cohorts and heading back around the side of the building. He takes a final look at you, and wags his finger to you, mouthing the words “No.”
	To think that as soon as you befriended someone who was different from you, one of your childhood friends would turn his back on you. Ren had been like this ever since you began playing with Celeste when you were young. He had tried to sway your opinions on her, but nothing had changed it thus far. This was the roughest he has ever been towards you two however.
	“Celeste... are you... alright?” You finally manage to say as you brush yourself off.
	“What's it to you? Huh?” She says, spitting blood out of her mouth.
	“I... I'm sorry... I...” you stammer and struggle, finding the words to comfort her.
	“Sorry doesn't cut it Vahn.”
	“But... But I...”
	“But nothin'. You lied to me. You said.... You said you would make sure the villagers didn't do anything. You didn't even...”
	“Celeste... I...”
	“LOOK AT ME!” she screams at you.
	The person before you is still the girl you know, but she looks badly beaten. Bruises line her face and you can tell a black eye is forming. Scratches are all over her face and cheek has already puffed up.
	“I....” you feel ashamed as you speak, trying to find words to calm her down.
	“Save it traitor,” She says as she walks away, “The next time you need something, have your dad come over or something. I'm not talking to you anymore. I guess what they said back at the old village was true. Humans are all the same.”
	“Celeste no... please... I promise.”
	“No... No you don't. You've hurt me enough today. Save it for someone who cares. Goodbye Vahn. Nice knowing ya, I guess.” Tears trickle down her face as you see her walk around the side of the building. You hear the crowd yelling insults left and right as you sit in the dirt, eyes wide with shock. You just lost your best friend, and the girl you experienced your first kiss with.


	A few years have passed since that time. You are now sixteen years old and holding up the shop pretty well with your father. Clara and your dad finally tied the knot after repeated prodding from Garrion and Tara. Despite what had happened to Celeste, the parents of the two families stayed very close friends. In the years since that incident, the people have become a bit more accepting. A few more monster races have been integrated since the new elder took his place, but they are treated the same as Garrion and his family.
	The day seemed like any other. You, Clara, and your father were working the shop as usual, except today was a fairly slow day. Your father and Garrion had expanded the shop so that the forge was now outside, as well as all the equipment. This allowed Garrion and your father to talk to each other while they work. Swapping techniques and whatnot back and worth. As well as trash talk one another. These little spats normally ended in the two testing out their weapons and armor on each other, with one coming out victorious. No real wounds had ever happened during the fights, but they could get pretty heated. Today however, they both had something else in mind.
	“Vahn! Get over here. I need you to do something for me,” Your father said as he poked his head in the door.
	“What's up dad?” you say as you head out the door.
	As you move outside, you see him hold up a stunning piece of armor you had not seen before. Interlocking rings of metal and a weave of iron and leather behind it made the armor seem strangely light and almost impenetrable.
	“Try this on and go to the field,” he says with a grin.
	“Are you gonna shoot arrows at me again?”
	“No. Celeste is gonna try and beat the shit outta you.”
	You step back for a moment. “What? Dad, did you and him make a bet to see which one of us would win in a fight?”
	“No. I wanna see how my armor does against his weapons. IF you want, I could make a bet with him,” He gives a slight chuckle.
	“That's fine. Why me and Celeste though? She hasn't really talked to me in a while. Is she up for it?”
	“Oh she is. Garrion said she kinda jumped at the chance. Said there was a 'fire in her eyes,' or somethin'.”
	“Great. Thanks dad.”
	With that, you don the armor and grab a sword off of the rack. Your father and Garrion might have doomed you to a fate you never thought you would have to face. The field is only a short walk away from your houses. The place has been used as a meeting place for monsters and humans alike, and it is noticeably well used.  Patches of green grass and packed dirt are everywhere, and the place has kind of sunken in a little, giving it a bowl shape. You sit on a grassy patch, waiting for your death to approach.
	“Where is that blue bastard? I told him when to be here,” your father said with a laugh.
	“Hey now. No reason to call him that.”
	“Shut it boy. I've been callin' him that ever since I got to know him. You know and he knows I don't mean it like that.”
	Since Clara had joined the family, your father had become a lot more easy going. So much so that he seems like a different person. He seems exuberantly happy to be perfectly honest.
	“Sorry we are a little late! Had to fit a bit of the armor on differently, you know?” said a booming familiar voice.
	Before you stands Garrion and his daughter, just as you remember them. Celeste looks quite different in armor however. A metal choker is secured around her neck, a half breastplate, as well as some bracers and greaves. A thin longsword of unusual length is propped on her shoulder. Slivers of her red skin can be seen in the unprotected parts, which shimmer in the sunlight. You look over your childhood friend, seeing how she has matured, and you feel something rise in your chest. Those feelings from long ago, and all the pain you went through, as well as the things she went through.
	She looks at you for but a moment, and then looks away. “Let's get this over with,” She says finally, running her fingers through her long white hair as she turns around to get in her position.
	As you ready yourself, the two men on the side begin talking and conversing like old friends who have not seen each other in ages.
	“You two know how this goes right?” Garrion says, sitting down and stretching out a little, “Celeste, you know what to do.”
	“Yes father,” you hear her say with a sigh.
	“Vahn, get ready! You better win! Show her who's the boss!” Your father says, cheering you on as you and Celeste head to the center of the field.
	As you cross swords with the now six foot tall Celeste, and ready for the fight, you decide to make your own little wager.
	“Celeste,” You say, as confidently as possible.
	“What is it?” She says coldly.
	“Celeste, I... I have a request.”
	“Go on.”
	“How about we make a bet? You know. Make this more interesting?”
	“Fine. Go ahead. You first,” She says, still as cold as ever. It is all too apparent that she wants this fight over with as quickly as possible.
	“I want to talk. That's all.”
	…..silence....
	“...fine,” She finally says.
	“Alright. What do you want if you wi-”
	“I want you to leave me alone.”
	The break in your sentence and the stern voice and statement pierces pretty deep. Since the last meeting you two have had. The Dailemont family has not been treated to well in the village. Everything was a challenge for them. Ren and his gang had left you alone since then, but Celeste was still a target of their bullying. Ever since Celeste had found her strength, Garrion had told her to not hurt any humans because it would cause them to hate the family even more. Celeste had played by the rules her father had set, and had been hurt many many times because of it. Getting food, supplies, and even building materials in the village consistently got harder and harder for them since that time, and Celeste seemed to just grow colder and colder towards humans.
	“A-alright.”
	“I will not lose to you.”
	“We'll... we'll see about that.”
	You two leap back and begin the fight.

	With crossing swords and swift movements, you rush around the battlefield, dodging and landing a few blows with your blunted sword. She thrusts quickly at you, trying to land swift jabs on you rather than cleaves. You dodge back and forth, using your smaller size to your advantage. Losing your footing, you drop to the ground, and look up to see a grin appear over Celeste's face. “It's over,” She says, readying a downward thrust to 'finish the fight.' Just as she begins to thrust downward, you raise your sword and change her momentum. You roll over and swiftly take her legs out from under her, and position your sword below her neck.
	“I think I have won Celeste,” you say confidently. She winces a little and with a sigh, concedes defeat.
	“Haha! Garrion! Looks like you are treating me tonight!” yelled your father. “Good job Vahn!”
	“Sure sure! I'll make sure Tara cooks more food. Good job Celeste! You did great!” Garrion says with a kind smile.
	Celeste raised herself up off of the ground, and proceeded to take her armor off and hand it to her father. After this, she turns back to you, and walks over to you. As she walks to you, you look her over once again. She had worn little underneath the armor she had. A small halfshirt and shorts for optimum movement and space in the armor showed off her smooth and flat stomach and her gorgeous long red legs. Her white hair moves with the wind, and almost shimmers like slightly melted snow.
	“What are you looking at?” She says as she notices you looking her over.
	“N-nothing. Umm... Let me get out of this armor,” You say with a slight blush.
	“Hurry up. Let's get this talk over with.” She said coldly.
	Of course she was not wanting to do this. You have not really talked since that time she was first attacked by Rin, and you left her, and on top of that, you did beat her in a competition where she should have won. You take your armor off and motion her to follow you. You move around to the back of your shop, just like all those years ago, and sit down in the grass overlooking the sea.
	“The view is still beautiful here isn't it?” You say, closing your eyes and letting the sea breeze envelop you for a moment.
	“Yeah,” she said, turning to face the sea, “It is still nice. Just like before.”
	You sit in silence. You have wanted this moment for quite a while, and now that it is here, you do not know what to say. You search for words in your head but can't find anything to say. Celeste moves a bit closer and sits on one of the logs behind you, resting her head on her chin. She lets out a long sigh, and breaks the silence.
	“Can't believe you won that fight,” She says with a small smile. “I thought you were just a weak human.”
	“Can't always judge a book by its cover I guess,” you say gently, looking back at her.
	“I agree. I already saw your first few pages. I guess I just needed to read a bit more to find out how strong you really were.”
	Those words cut a bit deep. She still holds a grudge about what happened, as she should. She was beat up and you did nothing to help her. You didn't even stand by her side when you were asked about her.
	You laugh it off for a moment, and then get up to sit by her on the log. “Celeste, is there anyway you could forgive me for what happened in the past?”
	She looks at you for a moment, then out to see, an indifferent expression on her face. “I dunno. You hurt me pretty bad. I mean, what if I saw you getting hurt and just said you were a nobody? Would you just forgive me?”
	A fair point. You have never been through something like that. You look down at the ground and contemplate for a moment. “I thought so,” She says placing her large hand on your head, ruffling your hair. “I won't forgive you. But that doesn't mean we can't start over. Does that sound alright?”
	Starting over? As in how? Introductions? Everything from your childhood... Gone? As if you are meeting someone for the first time. You look up at her, astonishment on your face. She gives you a gentle smile and punches your arm softly. “So, who are you?” She says happily. She is like a completely different person. Did I... Did my request change her somehow? You think to yourself; Maybe this is my chance. I can start over with her, and... tell her how I really feel!
	“I'm... Vahn. Vahn Nalium. A strange last name, I know. I am an apprentice blacksmith working under my father. I hope to follow in my fathers footsteps. It is a pleasure to meet you ma'am.” You say with a slight bow.
	She giggles a little and wipes a tear from her eye. “My how formal,” She gives another giggle. “I am Celeste Dailemont. I am also an apprentice blacksmith. It is a pleasure to meet you sir!”
	The two of you share in a small festival of laughter. More talk of your current life and any happenings you may find interesting for the other to hear get brought up, but eventually, you both fall silent as you watch the sun creep below the waterline.
	“So Celeste... I... I have a confession to make,” you say, your face red.
	Celeste's long index finger pushes against your lips. “Let's not hear those right now. We only 'just met,'” she says laughing again.
	Could she not have those feelings for me anymore? You think to yourself again; that time might have left her with a hollowed heart, but... Does she really not care for me in that way anymore?
	“Celeste I just want t-”
	“No Vahn,” She says sternly. “Like I said. Let's not hear those right now. The past is done. If you want me to hear your confession, prove it to me. Actions speak louder than words.”
	Those words resonate with you. Actions speak louder than words huh? You can do that.
	“Fine,” You say, “But how can I show you that?”
	“Well,” she says, getting up from the log and making her way around the shop, “The bets we made during that fight were nice. Maybe do that again? Be a bit riskier with it? I dunno~.”
	You follow her around the shop, and follow her back to her house where your father, Clara, Garrion, and Tara are all gathered around a table, waiting for you two.
	“Sorry we are late,” Celeste says, “Had to have a heart to heart with Vahn and tell him I let him win that last fight. He thinks we should do that more often. Isn't that right?”
	She looks back at you with a wink, and you nod. With that, the Blacksmith's Banquet began as a tradition of the village. The tradition would not have its full effect until the two would become eighteen years old. The bets that they made were not that jaw dropping, except for the bets they cast when they turned twenty.

	The day had finally come, and you were ready for it. The new weapon you had developed was perfect for taking down Celeste. And this time, you would win for sure. You had tried to make your move on her a few times in the past at the Blacksmith's Banquet, but those requests were never realized due to you losing the match at those events. Celeste's requests were a little far fetched, but you obliged every time she won. Now, it was your turn to win, and win her as well. The Blacksmith's Banquet had formed into something that your two families could not have imagined. Now, people from around the country come to test their skills against each other. The battles are merely for the sake of competition, and never have resulted in any casualties. This makes the battles more enjoyable for the crowd, and gives the competitors bragging rights over the other.
	As the festival grew in popularity, as did the Oni family and the acceptance of the monstrous races in general. First, the children came out to watch their spectacle. They all cheered for the 'big red girl,' most often, because the girls said she looked cute in armor, and the little boys said she was a way cooler looking knight than Vahn. With that, the villagers began to accept the Oni as one of their own, as well as the races that came in to trade. Even Rin had come around to accepting the Oni and the other races. In fact, he ended up dating a Harpy, and eventually marrying her.
	The time drew near and the crowd was starting to gather for the main event. You finish putting your armor on when you hear a knock at the door. “Come in! Door's open!”
	In walks your opponent, her head held high. Celeste had changed much in the past few years, and each day was refreshing as long as you got to see her somehow. Today however, you knew what she was coming over for. To tease you. “Haha! Let's hope that armor holds up! Jeez, I think you are getting smaller Vahn! Last year you seemed a bit taller.” She lets out a little giggle. It was true though. Celeste had been growing since last year. Her parents think she had finally stopped. At seven feet tall and a few inches, she was huge compared to you. You scan her body, looking at the beautiful woman in front of you. Her horn almost touches your eight foot ceiling, and has a deeper red color than her skin. Her white hair is now almost down to her calves, and is slightly wavy, almost creating a kind of shell around her. Her face is a slightly lighter shade than her body, and her yellow eyes shine brightly in the dull candlelit room of the shop. Two small teeth poke out from the bottom of her mouth, giving her a playful look. Her body gives off sharp curves as your eyes make their way down, over her generous breasts and her flat and slightly chiseled stomach. Her legs are slightly bent and look as smooth as silk to you.
	“HEY! Did you hear me? I told you my side of the bet!” She said, leaning over to you, letting you catch a glimpse of her chest.
	“Sorry! What was it again? I was lost in thought.”
	“If I win, you are going to be my training partner for a week! Dad said that he can't keep letting me beat up on him. That I should get someone else for a bit. That sound good?”
	“Sure. I'm fine with that.”
	“Haha! You are gonna be in a world of hurt when I win!”
	“Hey now. What about my side of the bet?”
	“Fine fine, what do you want?”
	“I want to have our talk. And I want to show you something.”
	“Fine. I'm good with that. It's what you have said since that first time we fought. Let's hope you actually show me something unlike the last time you won.” She gives out a little laugh and winks. “Let's have fun out there okay? I'll see you out there soon.”
	You let out a sigh and begin thinking to yourself.
	Today is the day. I will tell her how I feel. Nothing will interrupt us and I won't let her go this time. I have to take this chance while I can. My actions will speak louder than the words I could tell her.
	You make your way out to the field, walking slowly in your armor with your weapon on your shoulder, a special sword you designed yourself. Your father had nothing to do with it this time. You look across the field and see Celeste, in the same armor she has worn since the first fight you two had. The crowd cheers as the 'red knight,' takes the field, waving and smiling. You do the same and are met with the same cheers but just simply for the knight. You meet each other in the center of the field, and cross your swords. As time has gone on, new rules have been added to the event. Celeste can now use an item of sorts to aid in her fight, while you can have thicker armor and more specific weapons. In this battle, Celeste wields a large sword, almost as big as she is, and just as broad. Your sword seems almost like a small butter knife compared to hers. With the clink of the swords together, you two jump back and begin.
	Swing after swing, you two dodge each others attacks. A few slices and stabs graze you, but nothing your armor can't handle. As the fight goes on, you land a few cuts on Celeste as well. While they weren't deep, they are still hits. Celeste charges forward, hoping to take you by surprise. You notice she is only wielding her weapon in one hand, and using her other to grab something on her side. Small black balls dot the ground as she runs by. You take your eyes off of Celeste for one moment, and she is already in the air ready to strike. You roll out of the way in time and try to get to your feet, but to no avail. Your foot feels like it is stuck to the top of the ground somehow. You quickly get out of the steel boot you had and roll out of the way of another swing of Celeste's huge sword. Your other boot gets stuck to the ground this time, and you must discard it as well. “Hahaha! Having some trouble there Vahn?” You hear Celeste laugh at you as she charges you again. This time, you rush at her as well. You make a dash for her, and slide under her, and expose the secret hidden in your weapon. You discard the blade and a kind of rope takes its place. Celeste's legs are already tied up before she knows what is going on. The battle ends soon after this with your victory, due to Celeste not being able to break out of the ties you put on her. The crowd lets out a cheer and begins to move to the dinning hall as you help your friend up. “Awe!!! I thought those things would work! I guess dad is gonna have to toughen up a little for me.” She lets out a laugh. “Let me go get changed and stuff, and I'll meet you at the usual place alright?”
	“Alright. I'll see you soon,” you say, waving goodbye. You make your way back to the shop and are greeted by Clara and your father congratulate you on a job well done as they make their way out the door. You had told them about the bet today, and they understood that you would want some time alone with Celeste. As the door shut behind them, you quickly take off the armor and put it away, and clean yourself up a little. For some reason, you are nervous. Your heart races and feels like it could beat out of your chest at any moment. You quickly finish cleaning and head out to around the back of your house.
	There she sits in the same place as before, her long white hair flowing in the wind. She stretches as you head around the corner, arching her back and displaying herself in the sun quite well. You cannot take your eyes off of her. Her skin gives a soft glow from the sunlight, and you feel entranced and safe by just the sight of it.
	“Yo. What's up? You kept me waiting.” she gives a little giggle and a wink.
	“Haha! I'm sorry. Didn't mean to.”
	“No worries no worries. So what's up? Why'd you want to have this talk today?”
	She jumps straight to the point. Your heart beats faster, as you think of a way to ease into it.
	“Well, I was just wanting to chat is all.”
	“That's all? You sure?”
	“Well there are a few things I want to talk to you about. And... it may be kind of personal.”
	“I don't mind. Go ahead.”
	“Are you sure?”
	“Of course. We are friends aren't we?”
	“Right... Well... Why... why didn't you fight back?”
	“What?”
	“All those years ago. When Rin and his friends beat you up and I couldn't do anything, why didn't yo-”
	“Let's not talk about that please. That's in the past. The other me's past in fact.”
	“Right. I'm... sorry.”
	“I mean, you don't want to talk about why you didn't help me do you?”
	In an emotional battle, Celeste is a monster. Cutting deeper and deeper.
	“No. Not really... I told you that answer before, and you didn't believe me.”
	“Of course I didn't. You didn't show me it was true.”
	You had told her that you were scared and confused during that time, but that was not enough for her. She wanted answers, the same way you did.
	The battle you two had just finished took place quite a bit later than it had the first time it happened, and thus, the sun was already finishing its setting. The stars began to creep out into the darkening sky, and the moon shown brightly over the two of you. The ocean now has a gentle shimmer to it.
	“Beautiful,” You hear Celeste whisper.
	You look over to her, and inch closer to her on the log. “I agree completely,” You say, not taking your eyes off of her.
	“Everything alright Vahn?”
	“Yeah. Everything's fine. It could be better if you were a little closer.”
	“Haha! Don't be a creep,” She says, laughing nervously.
	“I'm not being creepy I don't think,” you move closer, you are but two feet away from her now. “I am just trying to get closer to you.”
	“Why... are you doing that?”
	One foot away. “You know,” six inches away, “To show you something.”
	“What... do you mean?” She says softly, as you take in her lips with yours. Her lips are as soft as silk, and her red skin is smoother than anything you had ever felt before. The feeling in your heart seems to disappear as soon as your lips touched. But just as soon as it began, you are pushed away.
	“You... idiot. Don't just do that! You have to give me some time to prepare... or... something. Just... hold on a second!” Celeste says, dashing around the corner, going back to her house.
	“Wait! I just...!”
	You follow close behind her and see her dart around the back of her own house. Slowly you follow her, and hear something you haven't before; Crying. Specifically, Celeste crying. You quickly head around the corner of the house and see the Red Oni girl sitting with her head in her hands in a pile of thick grass, tears running down her face.
	She notices you there, but keeps in her place, crying softly.
	“I... I don't know why but... I am scared.” She says between her whimpering.
	“Why do you think you are scared Celeste?”
	“I don't know... Of... what people might think? Of... you hurting me again, like all those years ago... of my parents not wanting this or... your parents not liking me,” she says each of these with hesitation, as if she is searching for excuses.
	“Celeste, there is no doubt in my mind that people will support us. Your parents, my father and Clara, and everyone in the village. I think they will be overjoyed at us taking this step.”
	“Are you... going to hurt me again?” She said, lifting her head to you, showing you her tear stained yellow eyes glistening in the moonlight.
	A moment of silence follows, and then, “I cannot promise that Celeste. But I can promise is that I will do my best to make you the happiest girl in the world.”
	“Are you sure?”
	“Yes Celeste. I am sure.”
	She gives a little chuckle, and looks up at you, her huge stature reduced to the size of a small child. “Actions speak louder than words,” She says with her eyes closed, “You dumb idio-”
	You kneel down swiftly and softly run your fingers through her hair as you lock your lips into hers. The action takes her by surprise as you hear her squeak and topple over. You catch her lay her down in the grass slowly as you keep your lips locked onto hers. You run your hand down the arch of her back before letting her go and placing your other hand into hers. You place your other hand on her shoulder and continue to kiss her. An eternity feels like it passes, and you let go of her lips from yours.
	“...Don't.” She says meekly.
	“Don't stop... please... I... I want that feeling back. I... I want you to... To...”
	You run your hand down her arm and interlock your fingers with hers and begin kissing her again. Her hand squeezes you gently as your lips meet and almost melt together. This feeling. The one you have waited to return for so long, has finally happened again. Suddenly, she raises up, and flips you over, pinning you down and pressing herself against you, letting her breasts push up against you as she wraps herself around you. “You have to let me win a little while we do this you know? You doing all the kissing isn't **that** fun,” She lets out a giggle, and runs her tongue over your lips, and gives them a little bite before kissing you once again. The kissing lasts for a millennium to you, but ends only a few minutes after it had started. Celeste raises herself off of you, sitting on your lower half, panting a little.
	“Do you get it now?”
	You say forcefully, as you raise up.
	“Get what?”
	“That I love you. I always have. Even back then. I just couldn't put it into words.”
	“I... I understand.” She says, her soft yellow eyes beginning to tear up. “Thank you.”
	“For what Celeste?”
	“For finally making me... Happy. Truly happy.”
	You wrap your arms around your partner and hug her tightly. Your head only makes it to her chest, but she wraps her arms around you as well and pulls you in. You can hear her heart beating. It's slow, rhythmic, and inviting.
	“Celeste, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
	“Vahn... You... you idiot... Don't... don't make me...” She says as you feel tears hit the top of your head. However, as you look up, you see a big smile come across her face as the tears roll down. You could not ask for a better person to be by your side as you walk through life. The walk might be hard, but you know beyond a shadow of a doubt, Celeste will be by your side, helping you through no matter what you face.