Chapter 32: Moonlit Blush

As the afternoon light began to dim, and the evening winds began to cool, Ares could be seen sitting with his eyes closed and legs crossed on one of the many hills overlooking Tempest.

Not much has occurred since Ares' intervention and impromptu fight with Shion.

Other than being scolded by Rimuru and questioned by Hinata, the result of their encounter played out just as it did in canon.

Sighing to himself, Ares opened his eyes and turned around, his gaze locked on a lone tree.

"Is this necessary?" Ares asked seemingly no one.

Responding to his question, the shadow from the tree Ares had his gaze on suddenly shifted before extending outward, forming a humanoid shape with a singular horn on its head.

"My apologies Ares-sama. Rimuru-sama has tasked me with your surveillance until Guy-sama sends word for you."

"Tsk. Again, is this necessary?" Ares asked, turning his gaze back to the horizon.

"I'm afraid so Ares-sama. After your intervention in last weeks battle, Rimuru-sama requested I watch you personally. Although he doesn't expect another encounter like the last for some time, he feels the ones watching you previously were not adequate. You are a guest Ares-sama. Not just any guest, but one sent by the Demon Lord, Guy-sama himself. Your protection is of utmost importance." Souei explained, fully materializing and standing beside Ares.

'He doesn't trust me.' Ares thought. 'Smart man.'

"Anyway, how's Shion-chan?" I haven't seen her since we got back to Tempest." Ares said changing the subject.

"She's been, training." Souei said hesitantly, looking anywhere but at Ares.

"If she's training what's with the look? Is she using my likeness to train? Is my picture on her practice dummy?" Ares asked curiously, chuckling softly.

Getting no response, Ares soon keeled over in laughter, laughing so much even the normally stoic Souei displayed a small smile under his scarf.

"Great! Why use a dummy when she can get the real thing?" Ares voiced his thoughts out loud after he collected himself.

"I don't think-"

"I'll catch you later Souei. Try to hide a little better next time." Ares smirked, red clouds soon enveloping his body, and in the blink of an eye he was gone.

——

Perched on a branch in a tall tree, overlooking a training field, Ares could see Shion fiercely attacking a training dummy that bares a striking resemblance to himself.

'It's really me.' Ares thought. 'I'm flattered.'

Ares began to clap his hands, making his presence known.

"Honestly Shi-chan, I'm touched you like me so much you even made something in my image." Ares said with a wide smile, floating from the branch he was on and landing beside his duplicate.

"You." Shion growled, her odachi already in a position to attack.

"What about me Shi-chan? By the way, I have to say, you look really beautiful right now." Ares expressed genuinely.

And she was.

Instead of her normal suit, Shion wore a black under vest exposing her stomach with short black, skin tight shorts.

Sweat was dripping from her glistening purple hair falling between her double E breast, enchanting Ares.

If you were to ask him what he was experiencing, he would tell you it was poetry in motion.

Slightly shocked, her eyes widening briefly at the compliment, Shion quickly composed herself, and with out a word swung her odachi with blinding speed aiming for Ares' neck.

Side stepping the strike, Ares nicked his finger causing ichor to fall and willed it to create a golden katana.

Not letting Shion turn to resume her attack, Ares swung his katana at Shion's shoulder causing a small wound, making Shion stumble forward.

"Enough." Shion heard Ares say.

Confused and slightly miffed thinking he was toying with her, Shion attempted to face Ares, only to find out she couldn't move.

"Now Shi-chan," Ares cooed, walking around her frozen frame, moving her purple hair from her beautiful face. "Is that how you express your feelings for someone?" He smirked, his hand caressing her cheek.

"Mmph! Mmph!"

"Hmm? Is my Shi-chan trying to say something?"

Lessening his control over her blood, Ares only gave Shion the ability to speak.

"Get your filthy hands off of me human! Release me now!" She said, her voice laced with anger.

Frowning briefly at her outburst, Ares stepped back and raised his hand re-constricting Shion's movements.

"Now now Shi-chan, that's not nice. I thought we were closer than that?" Ares said softly, trying his hardest to keep a straight face. "I even was hoping you would let me try your famous cooking I've heard so much about. To have your beauty and cooking skills, honestly it's the best of both worlds. But alas, you seem to not share my enthusiasm, and for that, I apologize for the misunderstanding. Goodbye Shion."

With his head low, Ares began to walk away toward the forest, leaving Shion to gaze at his back, her body back in her control.

Shion at the moment was having an internal debate.

The man she had made her rival, the I man she feels is a hurdle to overcome, wants her food.

She doesn't like this man that appeared from nowhere, this mystery.

But he wanted her food!

Nobody wants her food!

No matter how many times she asks Great Rimuru-sama or the others, nobody wants it; always saying they're not hungry or they ate.

But Ares wants it.

He's the first person to actually ask for her cooking.

No matter how much she wants to kill him she can't.

You know why?

Because he wants her cooking.

And he called her beautiful.

"W-Wait!" Shion shouted.

Ares didn't stop.

As he continued to walk away, Ares replied, "No Shion, I have no want to fight you right now. I might see you later." He finished, waving his hand behind him.

Shion didn't want this opportunity to pass her by.

Not only does she feel he genuinely wants to taste her cooking, but also genuinely doesn't mean any harm.

Her perception of him was all wrong.

Disappearing from where she was, Shion appeared in front of the walking Ares, an apologetic look on her face.

"A-Ares-sama, I would like that very much. I apologize as well for my behavior. Its just… I have to protect Great Rimuru-sama. Without him, I don't know where we would be. I perceived you as a threat when you arrived. You came from no where into a place that was supposed to be close to impenetrable and acted like you were visiting old friends. After we were tasked with housing you, I was wary. 'What is this man going to do?' I thought. 'Is he a threat to Great Rimuru-sama?'. Instead of approaching you and finding out about you through you, I immediately classed you as a threat without even knowing you. For that Ares-sama I once again apologize. And as my apology, I will make sure to cook you the best feast you've ever had!" She smiled beautifully, pumping her fist resolutely.

'Wow.' Ares thought.

"Beautiful." He couldn't help but say out loud.

There was a silence.

It was dark, but under the streaks of moonlight, Ares could see a faint blush on Shion's face.

"Ufufufu. Meet me at my home tomorrow, I'm sure you'll be able to find it. I hope you can eat." Shion said twirling her damp hair.

"Just make sure you can cook." Ares said smirking.

Just as Shion was about to reply, Ares appeared in front of her, his lips pressed against hers.

Shion went wide eyed.

'He's kissing me!'

She was angry at first.

'How dare he!' She thought.

She wanted to unsheathe her odachi right there and slice him into pieces.

She would even make sure to use 'Cook' and cut his soul.

But despite her thoughts something happened; it's like her body moved on its own.

Her mouth parted by itself allowing Ares' tongue to invade it.

She wanted to refuse.

She wanted to stop him and say she is only for Great Rimuru-sama, but she couldn't.

No, it not's that she couldn't, but she didn't want to.

There was a part of her deep down that wanted this.

It was like a primal instinct that accepted his invasion, his dominance.

But she wouldn't go down that easy.

The same instinct that accepted the dominance also wanted to fight back.

And so she did.

A fierce lipticuffs ensued.

Both Ares and Shion were fighting for dominance alone in the training field for minutes that seemed like hours.

Pulling away slightly from Ares, blushing fiercely and her fingers touching her lip, Shion spoke softly, "Tomorrow."

Pulling away even more she soon left Ares' grip, and without giving him time to reply, vanished.

"Haa." Ares sighed, a big smile on his face. "Tomorrow indeed Shi-chan."

(A/N: Sorry for the shorter chapter, kinda running out of ideas. Let me know if you guys have any. CK)