After a brief, but also amusing, time ih, where we discovered an unlikely use for water element, making sure that Daiyu wouldn’t have any unfortunate acts during ht out, we dried ourselves and dressed. The irls had coordinated Daiyu’s outfit for the night, as while Daiyu had a very refined aesthetise, she wasn’t well versed in modern fashion. She looked a little surprised at first, but soon dressed, and I raised my thumb approvingly when she was done.

  “You look great. That’s such a fresh style for you.” She was wearing tight, three quarter-length jeans, showing off her slender legs, as well as a red t-shirt, yered over with a paler cardigan-style frilly top. She had also piled her hair up and pi, giving off airely different impression to her usual stoic ess.

  Spoiler

  [colpse]“It does not hurt to dress more casually now and again.” Daiyu demurred, rather embarrassed. She then deflected attention to me. “You look rather splendid as well.”

  “I would hope so. I never used to put much thought into my clothes, but I ’t show you all up now, I?” I was in smart casual, a white shirt and blue jeans paired with a watch that while not the sort I wore on special occasions or meeting important people, was still more expehan I would have ever sidered buying before all this. After cheg my hair in the mirror, the slight wildness of the style making me look a little dangerous, I gave Daiyu another once over, making her flush a little. “All right, we good to go?”

  Daiyu nodded, and we said oodbyes to everyoamamo-no-Mae was being watched over by Shaeu and Hyath, while Shiro, Eri and some of the others were going out. I noticed Suzu-san tagging along with that group, and my mom and auntie Hana were joining them too. That’s quite the mixture.

  After some pyful teasing from my mom, Daiyu and I headed out into the Tokyo night. The December chill was hanging in the air, but with our stats the cold was nothing. A driver took us the short distance from our estate into tral Tokyo, and our stop was the brilliant lights and bustle of Shinjuku. Daiyu was a little overwhelmed with the number of people around, having lived in a retively quiet mountain hideaway until now, but she was gradually getting used to life in Japan. As we chatted, she admired the bright neon, in shades of purple, blue and green, that seemed to be everywhere. Soon we passed uhe gate of red lights that marked the most well-knowrao the Kabukichō district, and the flow of people and the iy of the garish dispys peting for our attention increased.

  Daiyu looked around, fasated. We were speaking ese, si was just the two of us, and her birthday, so those around us couldn’t uand. “And why have yht me here? It seems iing, but…” She o the numerous handsome well-dressed men propositioning women, as well as stily cd young women, who despite the cold were braving the Tokyo night to speak to passers-by, trying to guide them into various establishments. “…it seems a little… exotic.” she said at st.

  “Teically it is a red-light district, but we’re not here to pick up girls, or heaven forbid, guys.” I snorted, knowing ahat tried to hit on Daiyu would be lucky if she didn’t break them, and if she didn’t I would. “A lot of Kabukichō is great bars, little restaurants and fuo discover. I thought Akihabara, one of the main pces I hang out, just wouldn’t tickle your fancy like it does Shaeu or Shiro. Besides, I’m told there’s a fantastic ese eatery down one of the side streets. I figured you might as well have the taste of home?”

  Daiyu nodded slowly, a slight smile curving her lips. “I see. Yes, if you were here to find women of ill-repute, Eri would be most angry. And she would not be alone.”

  “Yeah, I know. You’d be upset, Hinata, the others as well…” I began, but she cut me off, her words surprising me.

  “Hardly. Those who would be angry would be Belera, Soliteare, Yu-mi and others who desire their ce. They would feel slighted that you would sider suen more important than them.”

  “I see why that would be bad, but Yu-mi? We’re not like that.” I protested, though then I cocked my head, thinking. “No, we’re not like that, but… in Seoul she did seem very rexed arouhough that might have been the booze talking. And she did say the marriage was on hold…”

  Daiyu cpped her hands together, rolling her eyes in a passable imitation of Eri when she was exasperated by things I said. “You were right, you have learned. I am not saying that Yu-mi would wish to marry you… the Elves certainly do, but setting them aside… she has plicated feelings, and it is only natural tret missed opportunities, even if at the time they were spurned. You… have a habit of making us feel special.” Her hand reached for mine, but before we could speak further, a voiterrupted us.

  “Hey hey, beautiful people! Why not e this way? We have food, we have drinks, we have handsome men and women, eager to please!” The ese was heavily ated but passable, auro see a nky, blond man wearing a vivid purple shirt, gold s around his neck, grinning at us. He wasn’t bad looking, I supposed, but Daiyu didn’t seem to care, a the interruption.

  “Make yourself scarce. We are busy.” she decred coldly. “And we have no need of other panionship…”

  “Don’t be like that. Is he your boyfriend? But you were talking about other women. Turnabout is fair, and…” The man froze, as I let out a trickle of my League. Everyone oreet around us felt a brief chill, gng around surprised, but the purple-shirted man shuddered, taking a step back.

  “Sorry, but Daiyu’s mine. I may be a bastard, but I’m a protective one. Besides… if you were going to offer her some guys, they’d have to pay her. And you ’t tell me you have any girls her equal in your bar?”

  The man gaped, suddenly looking at us more closely. “Hang on… are you…” He swallowed, throat w fearfully. “…the hero of Britain?”

  “That’s me.” I agreed, and the man bnched. Apologising hastily, he backed off, and Daiyu rexed.

  “They thought we were fners, as we weren’t talking Japanese.” I grasped her hand now the interruption was dealt with and led her through the streets. Seeing a little izakaya bar that seemed niough, some overworked sarymen and women drinking alongside students from some of Tokyo’s uies, I led Daiyu over to a pair of opes and sat down. “Japan’s generally rather safe, but they occasionally do scam fners. Of course, if they tried that on us…”

  Daiyu ughed meanly and switched to Japanese. “I do not drink often, what do you reend?”

  “Hey, does she have some identification? She doesn’t look legal to me.” The owner of the bar spoke up sternly, gng over, and with a smile, I gestured, and Daiyu flicked her Spatial Ring, which she was wearing with pride, and there were gasps around as her Ministry Passport popped out. I took it and ope, and while she was uwenty, the special exemptions and diplomatic status it ferred made the man’s eyes widen in shock.

  “Don’t worry, you won’t get into trouble, we have a certain measure of extra-legal status.” I promised him. “It’s a bit cheeky, but as you see, it’s her birthday, and I want to make it fun.”

  “I would most appreciate it if you were to relent.” Daiyu said politely. “Besides, I hardly get drunk, my body is extremely hardy.”

  “Hang on… oh.” The barman swallowed, reising me. “Sure thing. I… reend something sweet for the dy. Here…” He pulled out a bottle of Umeshu, plum wine, and poured her a generous measure over some ice. “As for you…”

  “Whiskey on the rocks. A good one, best you have.” I ughed.

  “… I have an autograph?” one man asked, and with a smile I took the proffered pen. “Sure, but… make it quick, okay? Like I said, this is Daiyu’s birthday, and I wao show her a good time in traditional Japanese fashion. So, anyone else?”

  After that, I signed for a number of people, some requesting I jot brief personalised notes. Even Daiyu got asked, a little bemused, but she offered her signatures while sipping on plum wine, her gss stantly being refilled. A couple of the students who were women had taken to her, and Daiyu showed off, summoning money from her Spatial Ring to pay for drinks for them. I had offered, of course, but Daiyu was insistent on paying for them herself, only letting me buy for her. As I ked my gss against hers and took a sip of the fiery liquor, I frowned, as versation around us had turo the volic eruptions in the Nasu mountain ranges.

  “Hasn’t been a big eruption for a long time, it was long overdue.” one man was saying, drink in hand, gesturing wildly. “This one was a doozy though, came out of nowhere.”

  “Hey, you see that edian on TV st night?” another replied, smiling drunkenly. “He said that it robably Tamamo-no-Mae, right? After all, isn’t she supposed to be sealed in some rock up that way?” The man snorted. “Load of nonsense.”

  “Are you sure?” one girl asked, leaning forwards, expression intense. “I mean, we’re sitting here with Oshiro-sama, he’s a hero! And he’s already said that Yōkai are real. They are, you said so, didn’t you?” she asked me, leaning in, only for Daiyu to gently guide her away, muttering that she shouldn’t throw herself to the wolves and expeot to get eaten, which hurt my feelings a little. She’s only a random woman I’m talking to in a bar, I may find it too easy to fall in love, but I’m not going to devour every girl I meet!

  “Very real.” I agreed. “All sorts of mythical bei. Barkeep, another round for everyone.” As msses of booze arrived, I g Daiyu. She nodded, sipping at her drink. It seemed she was enjoying the very different experieo her usual routine, and while she was shy at first, being so domineering and fht, she was soon rexing, and proved very popur, especially with other women.

  “So, do you think it was natural, or was it that fox?” one of the women asked Daiyu, and she g me, unsure of how to answer. I winked, and Daiyu let out a sigh.

  “I do not o think. I know. For I was there, as was Akio.” Daiyu told an abridged story of the tale, skipping the sensitive details, but everyone listened in wide-eyed amazement as they were regaled with a story of us standing up against a wicked Cultivator in amidst the chaos of the eruptions. It almost entirely omitted Tamamo-no-Mae, merely mentioning she was real, but even so, it thrilled the onlookers. More drinks arrived, and when I tried to pay, the barman shook his head.

  “On me. For the story. But… I have a photograph and…” He hastily found some paper. “Could you write that down? It be a treasured memento of the bar, a real talking point!”

  At his words, everyone cmoured for selfies with us, and in the end I agreed, so long as they didn’t post them until tomorrow, as we didn’t want ht to be sed with eager fans.

  “Maybe you o wear a disguise, huh?” one man ughed, and I let out a weary sigh of agreement.

  “Seems so. But then, I’d attract attention being out with Daiyu anyway.”

  One of the women was asking Daiyu what it was like living with my other women, and Daiyu was about to answer, when a familiar voice spoke up behind us.

  “Akio-san. It’s you? And Daiyu, wasn’t it?” Ichika-san was standing there, dressed up to socialise, wearing a fashionable long coat and small fluffy hat. Beside her was the smiling Usui-san, who, on seeing Daiyu with a gss in hand, snorted.

  “Breaking the w again, huh? Setting a bad example, Akio-kun.” She looked at the owner of the Izakaya, who was fussing with the dot I had written out, putting it in a frame. “Don’t worry, I’m off duty. I barely get any time to myself nowadays, the overtime is brutal. So many troublemakers.” She yawheatrically. “So, going to buy us a drink?”

  “We ’t. Shaeu told me it was Daiyu’s birthday today so Akio-san oiling her. We’d be intruding!” Ichika-san protested softly, embarrassed.

  “So who are they?” some of the other patrons were asking with i, and Ichika-san shrank in on herself, still as nervous as ever. Holding in a sigh, I gestured to the guys o me, who took the hint and moved aside, freeing up a pair of seats. Daiyu nodded, rather enjoying the ge of pace.

  “Friends.” I said. “So be nice. I’d have thought you might have go with the others, Ichika-san. You know Shiro and the rest?”

  “I was invited.” Ichika-san sat down, and soon had a gss of the same wine Daiyu was drinking. Usui-san asked for the same, and quickly got annoyed I was calling her by her surname, insisting I call her Yoriko.

  “I just didn’t feel good about going. I feel su outsider.” Ichika-saed. “And since Shaeu is apparently looking after some guest and staying in, she said I could e over firls’ night in… but that’s your house. It wouldn’t be right.”

  “Poor Ichika.” Yoriko-san snorted. “You really have to grow a bae, girl. It’s your attitude as to why you attract wolves and scammers. Get a load of this…” Yoriko-san leaned in. She was dressed up as well, and her baby-face gave her a certain charm. “…the number of hosts and shady guys that tried to lure her into their establishments just walking to here was … it was crazy! Tell me, you think she has to toughen up, right?”

  I g the mortified Ichika-san, who ink-faced and teary-eyed. I then nodded firmly. “Holy, I do. Because evil loves weakness. But… you have to uand. You’re Shaeu’s friend now. My friend too, Ichika-san. And ohing we say for certain is, we don’t let our friends down!”

  “What about me, Akio-kun?” Yoriko-san wheedled, and I realised she was already quite drunk. She gripped my arm, and since she had received Chirurgery as part of the Ministry package, she had enough strength to make an ordinary grown man groan. Not me though.

  As Daiyu sniffed, I pried her hand off gently. “What about you? Yoriko-san, haven’t I saved your life before? Of course we’re friends.”

  “Yeah, worst day of my life that was. I was sure I was going to die.” As she started to pin, I exged a look with Daiyu, and she merely shrugged, a slight smile on her face. I guess this isn’t so bad. Ign Yoriko-san, who was now pounding on my shoulder, wing a little, I ordered more drinks. The night’s still young. And tomorrow is another day…

  ***

  “I’m sorry about this.” Ichika-san ologising again to Daiyu, and I could see her getting rather exhausted with all the apologies. “I didn’t want to intrude…”

  “It is no intrusion. It is not like I o be aloh Akio. Those matters have passed, although…” She looked at me boldly, and I realised I might o find a love hotel ter.

  “I see. Yes, I do.” Yoriko-san elongated her words meaningfully, a gss of beer in hand. We were eating in the ese restaurant I had searched out, after haviracted ourselves from the fans at the bar. It was just the four of us, and there was a certain charm of sitting in a somewhat dark er of a busy restaurant, the area only lit by hanging ese nterns and dles. “That’s probably a crime too, Akio-kun!”

  Daiyu shook her head. “I do not believe so, not even by your ws. I sider myself married, as Dao panions are bound in a mahat even the Heavens shall not sunder.”

  “All you dies are the same.” Yoriko-san sniggered, guiding some food to her mouth and swallowing it, barely pausing to chew. “Damn, this is the best. Beer aaurant food. Beats surviving on oodles ao boxes. Work is rough right now… there’s definitely something about to go down. Reiji-kun…” She addressed her superior rather disrespectfully when not with him, but I could hear affe in her voice. “…he says his intuition is never wrong, and to be fair, it led us to you. But you don’t need intuition to know when shit smells rotten. Oh, excuse me, we’re eating!”

  “You certainly are.” I agreed as she stuffed her face. I was tug into some aromatic duck myself, and Daiyu had eaten her fill, satisfied. Ichika-san ig at her food, still shy, and I turo her. “Look, this is getting a bit silly. We’re not strangers, Ichika-sa me give you some advice, as someone who’s struggled with guilt himself.”

  Daiyu ughed out loud at that, and Yoriko-san put down her beer, ied in what I had to say. “I know you feel you’re a bad friend, and you probably don’t like yourself much… but try being me! I felt I was the worst boyfriend ever. But… just as you’re Shaeu’s friend, and Shiro’s friend now too, and you’ll soon be friends with everyone… I’m their boyfriend, their husband. Feeling bad is only to soothe your own sow… didn’t I save you from the worst situation?”

  “You did.” Ichika-san nodded slowly, w where this was going.

  “In that case, to repay the debt, you have to do ohing for me, all right? I won’t take no for an answer.”

  “I ’t let you extort her, Akio-kun! I may be off duty, but I have my pride!” Yoriko-san joked.

  “I… all right.” Ichika-san said hesitantly, and I held in my annoyance. Yeah, her attitude is dreadful. Holy if I was a meaner person, I might bully her a little. She just cries out that she’s woeful. But… fortunately I’m not. So I’ll help her get on the right track.

  “You’re doing okay at uy now, aren’t you?” I asked, and she nodded, unsure of where I was going, but again her response was self-depreg.

  “Thanks to the money Shaeu gives me. I suppose that es from you as well, doesn’t it? I never did get all of my money back…”

  “In that case… I know Shaeu’s offered you ces to work with us in the past. Now… I’m going to insist.” I said firmly. “We’re always short of people, and we work around your studies.”

  “Do you mean to have her join Adamant?” Daiyu asked, and I shook my head.

  “No, but it might be o have her attend a few training sessions.” As Ichika-san bli me, like a deer in the headlights, I eborated. “I get it. You’re afraid because you don’t feel in trol, and you’ve had too many bad experiehere’s an easy ao that. Power. If you feel at the mercy of others, of life, then put yourself in a position life bends to you. It’s not easy. But… you do have friends who make that happen, whether you like it or not, Ichika.” I made sure to strip away any distaween us by removing any honorifid that startled her, but I felt a shock was needed. “You may be a friend to me, but Shaeu really appreciates you, and for her, I’d do anything. So… quit beien down by life. You think your luck is bad? I’d say the opposite.” pared to someone like Kim Eui, she’s been lucky. But the answer is the same. Power and trol.

  “Akio is quite right.” Daiyu interjected. “From what I uand, you only lost money, not your virtue or your life. Perhaps it setting, you felt hopeless, but such losses mean nothing pared to what you have gained. Do you holy believe that if dahreatened, no one would aid you?”

  “No, I know they would, that’s why…” she began, and Yoriko-san snorted, smming down her y mug of beer.

  “This is ruining the mood! It’s Daiyu’s birthday, don’t be like this! You know, Akio-kun, you’re right. She’ll never ge unless she’s made to. She’s tried before, but as soon as she stops thinking about it, she starts moping again, and we’re back to this. So… this Officer will overlook your coer and bckmail and turn a blind eye!” She looked away, whistling cheerily, and after a moment, even Ichika had to ugh.

  “I’m sorry. I’m pathetic, I know it. But… holy, I do want to prove I’m a friend Shaeu t on. But it’s hard. I mean, she’s one of the heroes of Britain, a princess, and I’m just…”

  “…the same as me.” I insisted. “I wasn’t born anything but ordinary. I got a lucky break, braved danger, and here I am now. Daiyu’s the same. She’s just a girl, who is the prodigy of hard work!” Daiyu smirked at that, letting me speak. “And you experienced fortune amidst your misfortune. Because you met us. So, just accept it. I won’t hear any refusals, right Ichika?”

  She looked down, before finally breaking into a shy smile. “All right. I get it. This time, I promise! I hate feeling this way. I know I’m wrong. I’ve always been an idiot, and slow oake, it’s why I got fooled so easily. I… see why Shaeu likes you so muow. And you too, Daiyu. Fine. But I don’t want to give up uy. I was ready to quit, but… that feels like they won.”

  “Sure. Like I said, we’re short-handed. You work around that. But… first mission, all right?” I tapped away at my phone, and moments ter it beeped, indig a response. Yep, Shaeu is as active on her phone as ever.

  ”What is it?” she asked, nervous, and I grinned.

  “You’re heading to our estate to hang out with Shaeu. You go too, Yoriko-san. Don’t worry about the hangover, Shaeu fix that. Finish up here and a car will pick you up in about half an hour.”

  “Me too, huh? Getting to check out your mansion would be fun.” Yoriko-san agreed. “And it has nothing to do with you wanting to get rid of us so you smooch with Daiyu here?”

  “Maybe?” I equivocated, and that lifted the mood. As Yoriko-san insisted she’d stuff her face with as much as she could before she had to go, I exged a gh Daiyu, who smiled back at me, enjoying the occasion…

  ***

  “That was fun, wasn’t it?” I said to Daiyu as she looked out over the water. We were along the Shibuya promenade, and weren’t alone, as the brightly lit street with a rather picturesque overlook opur with couples, and even on this chill December night, plenty of people were enjoying themselves.

  “It was. But it is now no longer my birthday. A shame.” Midnight had e and gone, after Yoriko-san and Ichika had left, Daiyu and I had visited several other attras, including a pretty outdoor Ferris wheel, which had allowed us to appreciate the lights of Tokyo from a fresh perspective, as well as enjoy a brief bout of kissing in the privacy of our own gss-fronted booth.

  In the end I o wear a scarf over my face to prevent us being stantly reised, and we had listeo a lot of talk about Korea and also the volic eruption, as well as troubles worldwide. It was only natural people were talking about it, normally suddeions were rare, Japan’s Meteical Agency monit for earthquakes and other tell-tale signs. Fortunately, a lot of talk raising the swift response of the gover, but what surprised me was that it wasn’t just the guy we met at the bar earlier who tied in the eruption with the legends of Tamamo-no-Mae, we heard it mentio least a dozen times. It seems like all these new phenomena are being accepted by the public. Makes sense, as there’s no end of evidence about Chosen and spiritual beings worldwide now…

  “I’m not so pedantic.” I pulled Daiyu closer in my embrace. Our breath was steaming in the chill night air, yet we weren’t cold, the warmth of our bodies pressed together despite ht clothing more than enough for us. “Tomorrow I may be endlessly busy, but… the night is still young!”

  “So it is.” Daiyu agreed happily. Our keen ears picked up the words of some other couples nearby, poking fun at our closeness, which made Daiyu redden a little. “I must say… I uand everything now.”

  “Oh?” I raised an eyebrow, not following, and she snorted, gently ping my cheek, before kissing the tender spot.

  “What it is you wish to protect. All I have known up until now was the ascetic rigours of my Sect. I do not disparage it, how could I? It has made me who I am today, and it is as you told Ichika. Strength allows oo trol their own life. And strength brought us together and will keep us together. But… the Incorruptible Jade was too pure. We need a reason to fight. And I see your reason is to preserve this. A warm world, full of light, colour and sound. Full of people living happily.”

  “You uand me well.” I agreed, pyfully poking her cheek in a reverse of earlier. “I think that’s why I could get along with the nobility in the end, despite their problematic viewpoint on some matters. Not everything they want to protect is worth it, and Hinata, Motoko, Natsumi… hell, even Miyu, Mayumi-san, the Shiraishi sisters, the new recruits… we’ll all tear down what shouldn’t stand, but… they believe Japan, and its people, traditions, pces… they have worth, and I agree. I mean, I bet you’d look great in a kimono.”

  “In that case, I shall borrow some from Shaeu.” she said, and seeing me gng down a little, following my gaze, her flush deepened. “I believe my chest straining against the cloth would please you.”

  “So long as it’s just me who sees it.” I kissed her, past the point of g atg. “Yeah, I think people who have something to fight for are strohan those who don’t. it’s only natural. I worry. If something like the Sessho-seki and the eruptions happen here in Tokyo… the damage would be terrible.”

  “Then you should hurry. A Rank four Territory will make a grand bulwark against such disasters. Perhaps you should suffer more a your blood boil!”

  “My blood’s already boiling, thinking of what’s i.” I promised.

  “Are you that eager to Cultivate with me again?” Daiyu teased.

  “I sure am. You look great right now. It’s like you’re a different person.” I looked her up and down, and Daiyu ughed.

  “I feel different. Before, to walk like this, drinking, meeting people, enjoying the sery… it was all a waste of time. Another minute, hour, day I could Cultivate. Now… I feel more motivated thahough I must still work hard, to not lose my title in your heart.” She winked, fuelling my ardour.

  “Don’t worry, your p my heart is secure. So… shall we go?” I scooped her up in my arms into a princess carry. Daiyu was embarrassed but didn’t protest. “I saw a hotel on that street we passed a while back. We cap the night off there nicely.”

  “Fine. I shall allow you to spoil me.” Daiyu gave in, her smile radiant. “Carry me, my Dao panion! Carry me to bed and your embrace!”

  Needing no further urging, I abandoned any attempt to disguise myself a forwards, c a dozeres in a single easy bound. It’s vehey say ese food is good for sexual stamina…

  ShipTeaser