The ‘Grand’ Trip

The ones who would be coming to this 'grand trip' were Kisuke, Yoruichi, Hestia, and the obvious two, Hermes and Artemis.

"Thank you, kind children." Artemis smiled gently, "You're not in my Familia, but you will be my comrades in this journey." She then put forward her right hand, "Let's take a vow."

Kisuke already heard about this. It was the ritual which the Deities used whenever they would come to journey with children who were not from their own Familia. Kisuke slowly took Artemis' hand and gave it a kiss before stepping away to give way for Yoruichi.

After Yoruichi took the vow, Hermes asked, "Isn't it better to bring everyone?" He thought that everyone from the Hestia Familia would be coming, since they really needed all the help they could get.

Kisuke shook his head, "That won't do. We still have injured members and we can't just leave them alone." Besides, just him was already enough. Yoruichi only came as Hestia's guard and insurance.

Hermes looked towards Kuroka and Medusa and he didn't see the intention of them coming. Sighing, Hermes continued, "I brought some clothes that could serve as armor. I'd like you to try it."

"No need. The clothes we already have are serving as armor." Kisuke and Yoruichi then went towards the room where Hestia formerly stayed to change their outfits.

Hermes then faced Hestia, "Hestia, you should also change, since it might become dangerous. I'll provide the clothes."

Hestia nodded at him and Hermes went out to get the promised clothes. Artemis then approached Hestia, "Hestia, thank you for helping me."

"Stop that. We're best friends, so it should go without saying that I'll help you in your time of need~." Hestia confidently thumped her chest.

Seeing this, Artemis couldn't help but pat her head.

"Stop treating me like a kid!"

Kisuke and Yoruichi got out and both of them returned to their former attire of green shihakusho and orange overshirt with two white straps on her shoulder.

A few seconds later, Hermes returned with a bag and gave it to Hestia and after a few minutes, Hestia was able to change and the group went on their way, leaving behind Kuroka and Medusa.

"I'll leave them to you two."

"Don't worry, nya~!"

"Take care, master, Yoruichi-san."

Hermes, Artemis, Hestia, Kisuke and Yoruichi then started walking towards the southern wall of Orario. It was already past midnight and the stalls for the festival were already preparing to pack up. Along the way, they came across some people who kept tripping over themselves for no reason and after witnessing it for the third time, Yoruichi thought that their faces were familiar.

After thinking about it for a few more seconds, Yoruichi finally remembered where she saw them, 'It's the people who kept calling Kisuke 'Gigolo Master' in the spear-pulling event.' Yoruichi then got close to Kisuke and whispered, "What did you do to them?"

With a bad smile, Kisuke answered, "I've recently started studying about curse magic... I'm really grateful they presented themselves as test subjects~."

Yoruichi could only smile wryly at his answer. Because of this, a strange rumor would soon begin to circulate to the whole of Orario, 'If you call the 'Gigolo Master' by his Alias, you'll be cursed.'

They reached the southern wall and all of them went up. "But why on top of the wall?", asked Kisuke. He also noticed that Artemis was carrying a sword, as if she was also going to fight, but didn't say anything about it, 'This spear... As expected. She's just a remnant. I wonder what happened?'

"Artemis. Do you know anything?" Hestia asked.

Artemis shook her head, "Uh, no..."

Hestia then turned to Hermes, "What's the plan now, Hermes?"

But instead of answering her, Hermes only looked up.

Kisuke and Yoruichi also looked up and saw some silhouette of wyverns coming towards them, "Hooh~, so that's how we're going to travel? I guess it won't be boring~."

Hestia was about to ask what Kisuke was talking about when Hermes suddenly said, "Here they come~."

A few seconds later, three wyverns approached their spot. "Geh!? That's!?", exclaimed Hestia at the sight of the monsters.

From one of the wyverns, a loud laugh emerged from the top of it, "FUHAHAHAHA!" The laughing figure then jumped down to the top of the wall where everyone was standing. More specifically, to the spot where Hestia was standing, "W-wha!"

Hestia hurriedly got out of the way of the laughing God, "G-Ganesha!?"

The God who landed was a muscular man, wearing a red and yellow elephant mask over his face. He wore an orange sash which went over his right shoulder and wrapped around his waist. A gold-rimmed leather plate sat on his stomach, holding the garb together. He also sported white pants with dark brown under the knee boots - also with gold accents. Ganesha had Gold jewelry to further cement the image of a "showboat". His jewelry could be seen as a thick gold necklace and armbands. He also wore gold-rimmed gauntlets. The God of the Masses had long, shaggy, ash-brown hair. He stood up proudly and introduced himself like always, "Yes! I am Ganesha!"

He then turned to Kisuke and smiled ear to ear, "We finally met, Green Crusader: Gigolo Master!"

Instead of getting pissed, however, Kisuke felt funny. Unlike the rest who emitted hostility, jealousy and malice, Ganesha was instead showing his admiration, albeit a little bit jealous. He thought that he was the kind of guy that was difficult to hate.

Kisuke and Yoruichi also did some checking on him and he was a type of God that was very weird, but put more importance to the masses than himself. 'What an amusing guy.', thought Kisuke as he smiled and greeted back, "It's also a pleasure to finally meet the famous Ganesha-sama! The name's Kisuke Urahara, nice to meet you."

"Fuhahaha! Indeed! It is I, Ganesha! I've heard so much about you, Kisuke! And all I can say is...", Ganesha then put both of his hands on Kisuke's shoulders, "I'm a big fan!... I mean! You bastard! You better not be deceiving them!"

Kisuke and Yoruichi couldn't help but chuckle at this amusing Deity, "I'm not and have no plans of doing that."

Ganesha removed his hands and with a big smile, he nodded repeatedly, "Good, good, good. I hope we can get along!"

"I do hope so too. I'm a big fan of Ganesha-sama, after all~."

Ganesha's eyes widened and started laughing out loud again, "Fuhahaha! Great! We should hang out sometimes! And maybe, you can teach me some of you tri--- Ehem! I mean talk about our daily lives and how we can help the people!"

Hestia knew that these two wouldn't stop talking, so she interrupted them, "So? Are we riding this?" The three gray wyverns already landed beside them.

"Yep, I asked Ganesha for help." Hermes nodded in confirmation, "It'll take over half a month to go there on foot, but this will only take 5 days!" He then muttered to himself, "I need to get back there as soon as possible, or Asfi won't be happy..."

Thanks to this, Kisuke and Yoruichi figured out that they wouldn't be the only ones to complete this quest and adjusted some plans in their mind.

"Fuhahaha! Don't worry about these wyverns! We've tamed them since birth and they would listen to everyone! Though that also makes it easier to steal them! Fuhahaha!" Ganesha added.

The group then started inspecting and bonding with the wyverns and confirmed Ganesha's words of its docility. Yoruichi turned to Ganesha and said, "Ganesha-sama, are these all the wyverns?" She noticed that the saddles on the back of the wyverns were only designed for single person usage.

"To be frank, I couldn't gather enough of them!" Ganesha answered proudly.

"So two have to ride together," Hermes added.

It was then that Artemis suddenly approached Kisuke and looked straight into his eyes before saying, "Let's ride together, Orion."

Before he could reject her, however, Hermes suddenly interrupted, "Please grant her request, Kisuke-kun."

Kisuke looked towards Hermes, who was making a serious expression, and then to Yoruichi who only nodded to him, leaving the decision to him,before looking back to Artemis, 'Does it have something to do with this spear?'

A second later, Kisuke came to a decision and smiled, "Alright~. Please take care of me."

Artemis smiled happily and got ready to hop on.

"Then I'll be riding with Hestia-sama." Yoruichi assisted Hestia.

"Are you fine with that?" Hestia whispered to her.

"It seems like there's a deeper meaning to it," Yoruichi whispered back.

"Deeper meaning?"

But instead of answering her, Yoruichi only said, "Please tell me about Artemis-sama during our trip."

Hestia was still confused, but she nodded, "Okay."

"So I guess I'm riding alone... Talk about a lonely journey." Hermes could only sigh.

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Editors argumentative corner:

28th00: I bet I'll have to come back for the commas again… I AM GANESHA is a pretty fun guy though~!

Alexander: Well, sometimes he can be a bit annoying. But he definitely strikes me as the kind of guy, who makes the party go wild.

28th00: He's for the people after all. Fun fact, I did come back for the commas, among other edits. They're almost criminal in placement this time!