ShipTeaser

  Shaeu and I took Daiyu to a nearby department store, buying her some new clothes and the daily ies she would need. It was eaining seeing her overwhelmed by the crowds of people and the rge buildings of Tokyo. When I asked her why she found it so surprising, it seemed that other than a few rare occasions, such as when she was summoned by the new ese Ministry (which was surprisingly simir to my cept, although I wasn’t intending to force everyoo doheir strengths to me, of course) she was seldom outside her Sect’s mountain home, stantly Cultivating.

  On the way back to Shirohebizumi, we took a car provided by the military. Daiyu was unfortable, seemingly w if she would be taken back to prison, but after a while she rexed. Dressed in a ese-style tunid trousers, her hair now ly tied together, she looked a different person, some light in her eyes.

  “So, this Cultivation.” Shaeu was asking her. “I am most-most curious how it pares to our own trainihods. For example, this Qi. It seems merely like ether aher to me-me.”

  Daiyu was a bit troubled by this question, but after a moment of thought, she answered. “The world around us is full of Earthly Qi, though it is scarpared to the heights our aral scrolls talked of. Did talk of.” She said, eyes glittering with moisture, probably remembering the loss of her Sect’s home and histories. “The Spirit World is far denser with Earthly Qi, and supposedly there is a purer, stronger Qi, from the Heavens.” She looked at me then, curious, as I had told her a little of the description of Spiritually Pure Physique, which did indeed mention Heavenly Qi. “A Cultivator must first lear of refining the Qi of the world around them into a form suitable for the body, for using Cultivation arts and teiques.”

  “I see. Do you not-not make the distin betweeal energy aher?” Shaeu asked, havihe same as I did when she refihe droplets of Spirit Water.

  “It is all Qi, though some Qi is fvoured by a. Earth, Water, Wood, Metal, Fire. Yin and Yang.” She said. “My Foundation requires earth and yang energy tress and streself. That is why…” she looked down, seemingly embarrassed. “I am grateful. The Spirit Water was ri yang energy. It is… difficult… for a woman to raise suergy, without res to certain troubling teiques.”

  “I think I get it.” I mused. “Elemental energy be verted into aether, I did that initially with wind, right?” I reminded Shaeu, who nodded. “It caused damage to my work doing it, as wind energy isn’t the same as aether, but I’ve long thought they are all ected. After all, aether be ged to the elements at a high loss of efficy, and the body vert elements to aether, at the risk of spiritual injury.”

  Daiyu was listening, clearly ied in suformation, anything that might help her improve her Cultivation, and as we pulled up the hills towards the shrine, I asked her if she would be willing to partake in our training session.

  “I would o observe. I ot do anything which would affect my Foundation. Now is the most critical time for me, if I am to plete my Foundation and progress to Accumution. Though were I to be able to learn your Spiritually Pure Physique…” she paused, a little fused. “… I still do not uand how you have a Foundation when you have clearly not mastered Qi Refining though, Young Master Akio.”

  My lips twitched at how she was addressing me. I’m not a Young Master! “Well, we have other skills that deal with aether, rather than Qi. I’ll give you the rundown wheart.” As the military driver opehe door for us, we stepped out into the rapidly darkening evening. Up ahead the training school could be seen.

  “Do not-not worry. You shall be granted a room here.” Shaeu promised. “Anything you require, Akio will pay for it. All we ask is your cooperation, and if the moon wills-wills it, those who destroyed your Sect, they shall-shall receive due retribution in time.”

  “Anything I require…?” Daiyu shook her head. “I need little. Food, a pce to Cultivate. What I require, the a scrolls, tablets and tags, they will not be found in this nd. Though perhaps…” the look in her eyes was greedy. “If you have any more of that Spirit Water… I am aware it is a great treasure, so were the Incorruptible Jade still strong…” her face was impassive now, denying the harsh reality. “… then such would win our favour, and we would offer riches or knowledge for such a precious treasure that could aid me in breaking through the Foundation. I expect if you provided me with two droplets, you have several times that remaining to trade or coerce with?”

  Cultivatic. I see. “Putting aside the Spirit Water, I’d like to make a portrait of your chakra work, all your meridians and chakras, the capilries and… dantians, I guess?” I asked. “In exge, I show you ours, and you will be clearly able to see the differences. It might be useful.”

  “Well, I did say I would follow your orders. I do not know how you will see such details, is it aeique?” she answered.

  “I have a good Eye. As does Shaeu here.” We reached the door of the training school, only for it to open as we arrived, Hinata, Motoko, Natsumi, Eri, Hyath and Shiro all waiting for me, Eri still in a wheelchair of course.

  “Akio, wele home!” Hinata said, flying into my arms for a hug. “it must have been hard.” She soled me, beaming a smile. “I’ve missed you!”

  Motoko and Natsumi also greeted me warmly, though they were far more reserved than Hinata. Shiro looked at them with a mog smile. “o be so shy. I know you want to hold Aki as well. I know Eri here does.” She turo Eri, who was looking at Daiyu beside me, a wary expression on her face.

  “Who’s that?” She asked, and everyone’s eyes were now on us. Daiyu seemed a little wary, adopting a fighting stance, but Shaeu patted her back, calling her down. Well, I khis was ing. But there’s nothing to worry about. She’s an ally and I suppose my ward, in a way, as I’m responsible for her now. But there’s nothing else going on.

  “This is Zhao Daiyu. She icked up by the military after some… trouble, and as she’s a didate too, I seemed the best person to look after her.”

  “She holds a strong favour.” Tan said, taking over Shiro for a moment. As her hair flickered red with fmes, Daiyu called out in shock.

  “Luocha!” she cried, on full alert. “Young Master Akio, Shaeu, we must prepare to defend ourselves!”

  “Silence, little girl.” Tan said in faultless ese. I didn’t reise the word Daiyu had used, but Tan seemingly did. “I am no mere Rakshasi, I am Ta?hā, daughter of Māra. Your feeble arts, cribbed from your betters, are nothing but words howled into the empty night against me. Were I to so wish, I could crush you and devour you whole.” Her ruby eyes flickered to me then. “As, I ot drink deep of your Divine Favour, uhis one here allows.”

  “No, I think you know I won’t let you. I’ve agreed to shelter Daiyu’er here, and in exge she’s sworn to help me with her talents. She’s a Cultivator.” I told everyone, Hinata still in my arms, lookiween the newer and Tan with an expression of wonder.

  “Sworn? A Heavenly Oath. I see. I did so wonder why I could smell the stink of it. Well, fools will be unwise. Drawing the attention of the dwellers in darkness and fme is pitiable, but those of light are hardly any less dangerous.” Her eye slid shut, and once more Shiro was in trol, seeming to have uood what Tan said, even though she didn’t speak ese. I wonder if Tan transted for her in her mind?

  “A Cultivator?” Shiro ughed. “Well Aki, you’re certainly colleg the tropes. So, sure nothing’s going on? You tell me, big sis Shirohime won’t be mad. Best fess now, or Eri here might just get her axe…”

  “I won’t do that!” Eri pouted. “Besides, how you be his big sister? Akio’s older than you!”

  “Well, I’m wiser, aren’t I?” Shiro ughed. “Anyway, so, she’s really just an ally? She’s pretty, and you like the youroubled sort, right?”

  “Seriously.” I assured them. “I only met her a few ho, how fast do you think I work?”

  “Well, I liked you from first sight!” Hinata said proudly, refusing to get out of my arms. “Maybe she’s the same? But what’s a Cultivator?”

  Before I could ahe shaken Daiyu, who was still eyeing Shiro warily, asked me what was going on.

  “Who are all these people? That Luocha! Is she really Ta?hā, She Who Thirsts? How that be possible, such a great being of evil here… Young Master Akio, just who are you?”

  “This again?” I sighed. “Yes, she’s that Ta?hā, but she’s kind of stu a symbiotic retionship with Shiro here. We have an agreement, so she ’t hurt you. The others… well, they are all my fiahough not Tan, obviously.” At that Shiro’s eye glimmered red and Tan ughed mogly. “No, Shiro, the girl she inhabits is one of mine. Oh, and please stop calling me Young Master. It’s depressing me.” I put down Hinata, who moved away from me a touch regretfully.

  “So many? You truly are oo rival that bastard g Gui. And you say you are not a Young Master? Well, perhaps then I shall call you Senior Brother, Akio.” Her expression was now a mixture of mockery and nostalgia. “Though that term is normally reserved for a senior in the Sect who has greater skills, or I have deep respect for. I have not been able to call ahat since I was twelve. But now… the Sect is gone, and I must start anew.”

  “Senior Brother, huh. I live with that. Anyway, it isn’t like I go looking firls, it… well, sometimes it’s unavoidable. But don’t get me wrong, I love them all, and I’ll cherish them forever.” As we entered, Daiyu asked me a question.

  “Then why are two of them so grievously hurt? You seem a failure as a man to me, Senior Brother, letting your women suffer so.”

  Ouch. Shaeu ughed at that, and I expined about how the injuries occurred, and how I was determio heal them and never let it happen again. As I talked, the others seemed sad they couldn’t uand, Shiro asking me just when I mao learn ese, and I told them they’d probably want to be learning as many nguages as possible as their mental stats increased.

  “Did you enjoy the video message?” Natsumi asked me as we he main training hall, her face pink, and beside her Motoko looked desperate for the aoo.

  “I did. It was quite inspirational.” I smiled then, making their blushes deepen. “And on the day we finally join together, I promise, we’ll do it together, the three of us.”

  “I am most relieved. Natsumi has been a part of my life for many years. I need her beside me for ce.” Motoko sighed.

  “That’s not true Motoko. You don’t need ce, you just want us to share everything, our love included. Isn’t that why we first set hts on Akio? Because we could still be together, still carry on our arts, while upholding raditions and responsibilities? Of course, we were wretched and selfish then, and I’m ashamed of myself, as I know you are.” Motoko that, so she tinued. “But now… I hardly wait for the wedding. I’m jealous of you girls.” She smiled at Eri, Hyath and Shaeu.

  “We also talked with Shirohime-san here…” Motoko began, too polite to shorten her niame like everyone else.

  “I said you drop the -san. We are sisters, right?” Shiro protested, embarrassed. It’s alretty funny when Shiro actually gets someoo call her Shirohime, she hardly ever ha.

  “Shirohime then…” she said, and Shiro’s face reddened further, pink skin in stark trast to the ugly bck scarring that ran across her face that wasn’t hidden by her long silver hair. “… she is an iing woman, and when she is healed, will make a beautiful, worthy bride.”

  “I’ll be sure to sew the most beautiful wedding kimono. You have an amazing figure!” Natsumi praised Shiro, to her endless shame, and we tihe small-talk for a few more minutes, before Hinata grabbed my arm before we could ehe training hall.

  “Sorry to trouble you, Akio. But we have guests today.”

  “You mean the rich businessmen from abroad you wao heal?” I asked, and she shook her head.

  “Them too, but… well, you’ll see.” She sighed. “Try not to get too annoyed, all right?”

  Opening the door, I could see Kana, Marika-san and surprisingly enough Keomi-. I wasn’t expeg to see her. She retty traumatised by the events of Kyoto and the injuries she had suffered. Even now, there’s still a lot of work to do to fully heal her, even though she is well out of danger, like the twins and the poor blind girl.

  In addition, the ral shrines were in attendance, but from the former Susanoo fa, the only ones present were Ren-san, still bandaged up and injured, and his father Hikawa-san. There was also… “Huh, Miyu, Michiru-san. What brings you here?” I asked, seeing my vassal and her ninja bodyguard.

  “Please don’t fet me.” A bright, bossy voice said, and from behind them stepped out someone I had only met once. “Hinata, didn’t you tell him I’d be here?”

  “I was just going to, Mayumi-sama.” Hinata said. “But we had other things to talk about.”

  “More important thahe daughter of Ichijou house?” She looked at me, her gaze inquisitive. “You do call Miyu-san without any honorifics. That’s quite… bold.”

  “Well, Mayumi-sama, it is only proper.” Miyu said, a touervous, though I could see she seemed a little more fident than before. “After all, he is my master right now, and I owe him a great deal for his intercession with grandfather.”

  “Mayumi-san will suffice. Are we not both daughters of the greatest noble houses in Japan?” At that, Miyu looked down, before managing a small, affirming nod.

  “Well then.” Mayumi-san cpped her hands together. “Shall we get down to business?”

  ********

  “… so of crandfather has s, as do the other noble houses. The events in Kyoto were a disaster, right? You really made a mess of that, Akio-san.” She had jumped to using my first name, her fidence, even with an older man like myself, really quite something. I g Hinata, who was grinning wryly, and she shrugged, as if to say what you do?

  Yes, it seems her friend is extremely fident. Well, I remember that from her attitude at the big meeting, when Shaeu had to put her in her pce. “I know Kyoto went poorly, but we won’t let that happen again.” I promised. I’ve seen enough injuries ahs of those around me I swore to protect.

  “Well, you’ll have to be certain. After all, if I, Iayumi, am to take your Chirurgery, and your training, if I get injured Grandfather will be furious, and the nobility too! Sakura-san and the others will be in your care as well as my brother. None of them afford injuries.”

  I looked at Hinata again, who looked down, a little ashamed. “Sorry Akio. I couldn’t stop the momentum. Fukumoto house may be part of the Fifty-Eight now, but we don’t have much actual influence. I did mao get my mother tue for cessions though. She’s still of Takatsukasa dest, after all.”

  “You have quite the obsession with profit. Not that I don’t uand, Hinata.” Mayumi-san said, ign my obvious displeasure. “I myself am taking this venture seriously. That follower of yours, Ixitt, wasn’t it? He sent over some rather iing pns. My brother will i Ichijou house, so I want to make something for myself. This joint business venture seems ideal. You ’t pin, Akio-kun. After all, you’ll be a shareholder in Ichijou house, something few boast.”

  “I apologise as well.” Motoko bowed to me, looking chagrined. Beside her Natsumi also seemed down. “I fear this might have been our mistake. We have been showing excelles in our studies and sports at school. It is only natural that other daughters of nobility would talk to their brothers and parents. The Chirurgery reat bes, even if they do not attend the training school after that. It is no wohey want it.”

  “I’ve always had excellent grades, as have you two.” Hinata pouted. “I don’t he boosts to excel. But I admit they help.”

  “Don’t be like that, Hinata.” Mayumi chided her, imperious. “I ’t believe you are hesitating to share such wonderful gifts. I hate missing out on iing things, and when I see Kabuki or Sumo, I always o sit at the front! Just remember, I am not to suffer injury!” she said, and Hinata snorted, having had enough of her friend’s ignorance.

  “Of course you’ll get injured. I’ve been bruised and battered a lot.” Hinata said cheerfully. “But then, I take it. As long as Akio or Shaeu heal you up, what does it matter? I doubt you’ll be able to get as strong as us anyway.” She stoked Mayumi’s petitive nature. “I’m afraid if you aren’t prepared to suffer a little, you’ll never grow!”

  I don’t think that’s fair. Hinata has access to a Rank 2 Lovers’ Link now, of course she’ll be superior. Damn, I ’t believe the nobility wants me to perform so much Chirurgery. I have my hands full with the st of the Special Forces, and I have the Bck Wolf pany to do, and…

  Seeing my expression, Miyu came over, trailed by Michiru-san. The look on her face was simir to Motoko’s, rather ashamed. I could see Daiyu watg all this, puzzled and defensive, but Shiro was with her, eye red, Tan obviously talking to her in ese so she wasn’t left all alone. Shaeu, meanwhile, was with Ren-san and Keomi-, with the rest of the trainees, Eri and Hikawa-san gathered around them.

  Yeah, we aren’t getting much dohis evening. Well, I don’t have too much time, anyway.

  “I apologise for this. Grandfather is also keen on having my cousin Honoka-san, as well as other nobles, blessed by your efforts.” She bowed deeply. “I uand it might be a burden, but I shall make it up to you. I o please grandfather, now more than ever, after keeping my status a secret for so long.”

  “A real man would push through and perform, no matter the odds!” Michiru-san insisted, stoutly.

  “Well, it’s true I’m stronger now, but even so, the sheer weight of Chirurgery, coupled with what I o do other than that… damn, my schedule is going to be brutal for the few weeks. I have to look at Chirurgery for those Haru-saified as worthwhile from cve as well…”

  “You have my sympathies. I… I am learning just how hard it be to have power, not just relying on the weight of my family.” Miyu decred. “it is not as frightening as I feared, but even so, it is hard. I do not envy you.”

  “So, you’ve been keeping up with your Territory, as well as your dang?” I asked, and she nodded gracefully.

  “With your help, I have been able to grow my realm. I still shake with fear fighting monsters, but I defeat some now.”

  “I, Koga Michiru, shall never allow you to e to harm so long as I draw breath!” the little ninja girl decred to her, red scarf fpping.

  That gives me an idea. sidering what I have per… “Miyu, if you want to return the favour, how about helpi tonight with some experiments in my Territory. It’ll be safe, there’s no danger. you get permission from yrandfather to stay out tonight?”

  “Ordinarily, it would be a great shame being with a man unapanied. But he trusts you, as do I. I offered you a precious gift that I did not know the value of, and instead of taking it from me gleefully, you helped me uand my worth, and gave me the strength to put it to use. I shall tact grandfather. I assume Michiru may apany me?”

  “Not a problem. Anyway, let me have a word with Hikawa-san, and then I have to get Daiyu’er settled in, and start Chirurgery aher Healing…” the expression on my face must have been forlorn as Miyu let out a small ugh, unusual for her, as she was quite the solemn girl. Even Michiru-san behind her looked simirly amused.

  “I shall leave you to your efforts then. I shall aid Hinata-san iraining Mayumi-sama… Mayumi-san. e, Michiru!” With that they joihe noble group, trying to calm the feisty Mayumi-san…

  ShipTeaser