ShipTeaser

  “Oh? Was that grandfather Takatsukasa I heard there?” Hinata said brightly, though I could still detect a brittle uoo her words, a fragility. “I don’t suppose you put him on? We o talk seriously.”

  I Haru-san, who started tapping away at the touchs set into the desk in front of her. My phone had a pop-up which asked if I wao accept the e, so I sented, and soon my phone was dispying two images, one of Hinata, Miyu and their guards, the other of Takatsukasa-san, the surface s in front of him ag as a phone.

  “Grandfather.” Hinata said softly, a bit shaken by the look of restrained fury in his eyes. “We o talk.”

  “I hear most of you thinking…” Haru-san said suddenly. “… that this is all a waste of time, what with urgent matters on a to discuss, and personal business should be discussed in private.” Her smile was surprisingly teasing, with a hint of malice. “Ordinarily I might be ined to agree, but that’s short-sighted, and as the leading lights of the try, we ’t afford to be fools, we?”

  “What do you mean, Haru?” her father asked, and her smile broadened.

  “Well, Akio-san said it himself, didn’t he? If he doesn’t like his treatment, he could just up and leave. Remember the aftermath of the War? Some of you are certainly old enough.” She Fujiwara-san, who signalled his agreement, eyes showing his uanding. He gets it, of course he would. There’s no more a political animal than Fujiwara-san. I get it too. I’m curious as to how Haru-san expins it.

  “What do you mean, Takatsukasa house?” Hinata’s grandfather fumed. “You may be my daughter’s child, but susolence…”

  “After the war, stists from defeated Germany and Japaaken in by the USA and other triumphant powers, and it was that strength and knowledge that progressed them to world-leading industrial powerhouses.” She looked at everyone seargly, oer the other. “Do you think that Akio-san and those like him are any less valuable? Stist, Military Force, more… all ed into one.”

  “Yes, that is why we have the Ministry… of whieed I remind you, you are my Under-Secretary, Suzuki-san.” Morita-san warned her.

  “Yes, and again, who helped get bag for that, set out pns, shared knowledge?” Haru-san pressed, while Hinata and her grandfather were feeling around each other, trying to get past the initial e at her suggestion, no, her demand.

  “When it es down to it, If Akio-san says we’re out, then I’m afraid I’ll not be helping you any longer, and I’ll have tn.” Haru-san said, surprising her father, and most of the ministers. “Why so surprised dad… err, father?” She paused, embarrassed, and I held in a smile at knowing that despite her posure, she was still the same daddy’s girl she’d always been. I should be grateful she’ll put her loyalty to me over him. “I’m not just a vassal, I’m thankful. I got a sed ce, and I owe him for that. But it won’t just be me. Shaeu too, Hyath here… they’ll be out too.”

  “I dooo not care what happens to any of you, ooor even this try, whether you live ooor die.” Hyath said sourly, her eyes harsh and gring, full of deep, frightening ahat was still within her, even now, just well buried by a happier veneer. “If Akiooo cares, I care. What he wants tooo protect, Hyath will protect. But what he wishes was gooone, I will turn it to dust!”

  “It’s all right.” I reassured her, patting her shoulder, and as she smiled, fetting herself for a moment and leaning into me, a happy smile on her face, Haru-san poi us triumphantly.

  “Exactly my point. Then there’s Ixitt, Grulgor, even for you gentleman of faith, the White Snake kami. All this will be lost. Really, the primary duty of the Ministry is in appeasing and trolling the Chosen as best as we , so that they want to stay, live in and protect Japan!” Her words echoed, and I grinned, knowing that Haru-san was exactly right. I’ve read a few of the Korean Tower and Dungeon manhwas and they usually devolve into that. Hunters, as I guess we’d be called, often ged tries, going where they were better treated, and the most powerful were ws unto themselves.

  “So sider this a lesson, and hold in your annoyance, my fellow colleagues.” Haru-san finished. “This is the best example of what the Ministry will be for as you could see. Besides…” she gred at the nobility ti, her expression rather baleful. “It doesn’t please me to see Akio-san not get his due, sidering what he’s done for our try already. Kyoto alone should make him a hero, if only it could be known, and that’s hardly all.”

  “You’ve ged, my baby girl…” Suzuki-san said, and she shook her head.

  “I don’t know. The old me died, I don’t know if that’s ge or not. But I’ve fought. I was at Kyoto too, I’ve seen hell. And I assure you, upsetting and driving away your best asset to get you out of hell is a very stupid thing to do.”

  “Even the Chosen will have to follow the ws. No, it’s even more important for them, that’s why we are doing all this.” The Leader of the Opposition insisted.

  “What ws are we breaking?” I scowled. “All I’m asking for is what romised, and a measure of being treated with respect, else I’ll take my support elsewhere. As any Japaizen dht? We’re not sves. Now, sorry, we will get ba topic shortly, but clearing up this mess will give me peaind, and put me in a much more amiable mood, most likely. Which will be us all.”

  I felt hands on my shoulders, reassuring, and turo see Motoko and Natsumi, each with a hand on one of my sides, smiling warmly, though again Natsumi looked pretty nervous, as we were being fronted by the peak of the nobility. Into the silence, Hinata spoke.

  “Well, now that we have a pause, and you’ve vented out, grandfather, it’s time to listen to my proposal.” Hinata said, steeling herself. “I’ve talked this over with mother and father, my randfather too… sorry I didn’t talk about it with you, Akio, but… I knew you’d be mad about how things were going, and I didn’t want to look weak. I’m a bit of a fool when it es to wanting to look capable, I guess. It shows I’m still young.” She smiled weakly.

  “Well, you are young. That’s not a bad thing. But… you don’t have to try and hide it. I promised to support you, as you support me, so ime… talk to me, all right? That goes for you too, Motoko, Natsumi, Hyath. Even you, Haru-san. Any problems, let me know.”

  “Well, if I may tinue?” Hinata asked, her face red, and hers wasn’t the only one. “Well, then, grandfather… I would like to ask my uo adopt me as a daughter of Takatsukasa house.”

  “What?” he said dumbly, surprised, while Fujiwara-san nodded in uanding, and Ichijou-sa out a surprised escation. “… that little minx. Truly she’s worthy of being a friend to my Mayumi…”

  Adoption? But why?

  “Oh, mother and father agree, and obviously, our parental bonds won’t ge, I’ll still live with them most of the week.” Hinata tinued. “But it will be a genuine adoption, legally. Oh, ohing. Uncle, no… father, he has no say in my marriage, I am eo Akio, and that will not be ging. So don’t worry Akio, nobody is going to take me away!” She wi the s, and I heard Hyath ughing happily. Haru-san was giggling too.

  “Even if you do that, your cousin Minoru-kun…”

  “My brother Minoru-kun…” she corrected him cheekily, and his face flushed.

  “Minoru-kun will still be heir. And when you marry Oshiro-san, it’ll be as if you married out, and your status will drop again. You gain nothing.”

  “Really? You don’t say. Firstly, I’ve been cheg all the records, even beyond what we are taught at Hanafubuki. I’m sure, grandfather, that you are aware every noble house has had times when a daughter has had to i, or a branch family heir ted into the family to secure a tinuation of the bloodline, even if not direct? Takatsukasa is no exception.”

  “Even Fujiwara house.” Fujiwara-san affirmed. “No house sting a thousand years will have the good fortuo avoid the death of heirs, or a barren wife. Even so, such is done when there are no heirs. Takatsukasa Minoru-kun and Sakura- still live.”

  “Yes, I agree.” Hinata pressed. “But just because it isn’t only do is still fully in keeping with raditions. I want to work within the system to effect ge. I don’t want to tear everything down, I assure you. But ges have to be made, if we are to proteything. Alienate Akio and you all lose a powerful protector and ally.” She warned.

  “Indeed.” Takakura-san decred. “Due to simir misfortune, I had to adopt in my three granddaughters, from a distant colteral branch. It does sometimes happen.”

  “Since we are having this discussion, much as I want to get back to talking about a…” Abe-san sighed, defeated. “I might as well interject. Akio-san, you wouldn’t really walk out over this, would you?”

  “I fight to make my family and friends happy. If Hinata isn’t happy, I’m not happy. And an unhappy me isn’t something you want to see.” I firmed. “Besides, I think this is an opportunity as well, Haru-san is right. The weakness of the try to san didates is clearly visible here. You ’t impriso’s not like you easily affect my Territory without huge losses. Financially, yeah, you could take away my money, freeze my ats, but I have an iional at with Chase Midas Gold too, so that’d be difficult, and I could make as much money as I o support my family quickly.”

  “Yes, the batch of those wanting healing will refill your coffers.” Hinata chuckled on s.

  “So, you need carrot, but also a stick. And right now I‘m your best and only stick, and I’m not going to beat myself. Loerm, that’s a problem, you ’t rely on just one person for that. After all…” I looked at Kishida-san. “…that would be tyranny, right? But for now, I’m all you have, as I doubt these boys here…” I the intimidated JSDF soldiers, who had been rattled by my dispy of League. “… or even Major Sasaki and the Lieutenant would be able to harue powerhouse.” I left unsaid that I doubted many were of my calibre, but I suspected that even without the extra aether from the e, that ice-wielding ese didate would have proved too muany to handle.

  “Of course, those of us from the faith would be happy to help, as we believe it falls under our purview. But… well, we feel w with Akio-san here is the best way.” Saionji-san said, and Yukiko-san was agreeing too. “Better a benevolent dictator than an inpeteed leader, iroubled times.”

  “You will not be the heir, Fukumoto-.” Takatsukasa-san said again.

  “Why so stiff, grandfather? I’m yranddaughter, direct child of your own daughter. At least call me Hinata.” She pressed her attack. “Well, look. Sakura is going to be married out anyway, nothing has ged for her. I do believe you were sidering an e to Akio for her before, right? But it was decided to risk me as a ected outsider, and the troublesome daughter of a major family, Motoko, who was struggling within what was expected of her. Natsumi was just a little bonus.”

  Natsumi blushed at that, her smile shy. Hinata tinued on. “Well, in the end, the sacrifice was no sacrifice at all, and those of us who agreed profited. And I’m happy to say it’s about more than profit. But I’m sure all you listening people don’t want to hear us being lovey-dovey during such a meeting so… I’ll get to the point. Sakura do as she pleases. She could even make a py for Akio if she wanted, but there’ll be nements. Akio doesn’t like them. The three of us are the st. If he liked arranged marriages, we’d be rolling in elves right now.” She smiled impishly, and I could see she was hittiride, ready to propose something huge.

  That’s true. Well, Moira isn’t ied in marriage, but the other two, they’ve pretty much said they don’t mind. Elves. Okay, they are geous, but… well, we doly gel, and I’ve spent little time with them. Daiyu though… It wasn’t just the profit we’d gain from taking her in, having fought with her, witnessed her pain, seen her genuine smile and rare expressions, felt that there was at least a part of her that liked me, I decided I wao make her happy. I’m shallow sure, but at least I’m sistently so… “Yes, I’ll pass on any more daughters of nobility thanks. I think that I have the best ones anyway.”

  “You heard him.” Hinata flushed at my praise. “But Sakura has always looked out for me, her annoying cousin, in her own way, so… well, if she does decide to win Akio over, I’d be happy to give her some pointers. But enough of that. Minoru-kun… well, let me ask you, Grandfather. Takatsukasa house is only funing due to the wealth Fukumoto house pumps in every year, as payment for my mother’s marriage. Well, that and help from the nobility. Fujiwara-sama, Ichijou-sama…”

  “Call me Kira, Hinata-. I insist, being as you’re my Mayumi’s only true friend.” He said, and Hinata shook her head.

  “I wish I was. But she sees me more as a jester, a ckey. But she’ll have no choice but to accept me soon, Kira-sama. So, it’s true, isn’t it grandfather? Takatsukasa house is the oldest surviving noble house, but it has no industry, no resources, only historical treasures and rich history. Things the nobility needs, but does Japan?”

  “Of course Japan does! Without our heritage, we are nothing but barbarians!” Takatsukasa-san insisted.

  “True. But without power ah, you have no way of proteg it. So, here’s my proposal. Since I’m kind, I’ll eve Sakura have a shot. The three of us, the children of Takatsukasa house, we’ll pete, to see who restore most of the fallen glory of Takatsukasa house. Whoever make it stand freely on its feet once more, free from needing special treatment and suppets to be the heir…”

  That seems surprisingly fair. Though Hinata has a huge advantage in that regard.

  “But what of my son?” Takatsukasa-san scowled. “To have no heir of his blood…”

  “Oh, assuming already that I’ll win? Well, I’m your blood, grandfather, dired pure. It’s less of a stretch than some transitions over history. I have the list here, if you’d care to listen?” On the s, Kazumi-san handed her something.

  “There is no need. We all know it.” Fujiwara-san said. “Setting that aside, Hinata-san, what are your pns for Takatsukasa house? We ot allow su important house to fall. Otherwise why would we have spent all the effort proteg it, sihe st War that rui?”

  “Simple. What Akio wants. Protect the best, remove the worst. The Three Pilr system is outdated. I want Takatsukasa house to have a finger in every pie. Like Takakura house, we’ll have close ties with the faith, as Akio will be marrying in! When I win, He’ll be Takatsukasa Oshiro Moonstone Akio! And he’ll have authority equal to anyone’s! That serves everyone here.” she looked round. “Akio is tied to the nobility, the faith… Japan. Because he bees a part of what makes Japan strong. Motoko and Natsumi too. You bee daughters of Takatsukasa through marriage, so none look down on you anymore.”

  “You thought so far ahead?” Motoko was touched.

  “Of course.” She grinned. “In exge, you’d better teach me some self-defence skills, all right? Akio, you’re served by getting a position where you ’t be gainsaid, with your power and such political bag, your voice will be heard and listeo. I know it pains you to have us looked down on, well, this solves that too.”

  “It serves Takatsukasa house as it will be made whole and strong again. I do it, we do it. Sakura and Minoru-kun will be well peheir share of Takatsukasa house when they marry out will be worth many times the whole house now. And they don’t have to face the shame of being dependant on the charity of their cousin who they look down on.”

  “But… my son…” Takatsukasa-san was shocked at her rapid-fire pns. Though to me, they sound… a good idea? Sure, looks like we gain more for ohan they do, but it’s still what I would call a win-win, Hinata isn’t just exploiting them.

  “My mother is just as much your child as uncle… father is. But… if you worry so much, I’m not so bound by the hierarchy of nobility. I’ve met Eri and irls who don’t even think about that sort of thing. Whoever is heir after us will only have to be one of Akio’s children. If you want your son’s blood to be left behind as Takatsukasa heir for future geions, you’d best tell Sakura to work hard. But as it stands, she’s got no ce. She isn’t the sort of girl Akio likes.”

  “Well, Shige, Itsuki, what do you think?” Ichijou-san asked. “I admit, it would be o see Takatsukasa house ba its feet, and Hinata- is pure-blooded Takatsukasa, and we did promise she’d be reised as such. The legal formalities are also in keeping with tradition, if… bent.”

  “raditions are important. I trust you see that?” Fujiwara-san said, and after a moment Hinata replied.

  “I do. I’m a student of Hanafubuki Academy. But I also know more. So, we’ll not break, just bend, as you so put it, Kira-sama. Modern, strong nobility, and the first house to be both noble, and a powerful Chosen house. Fujiwara house could be the sed, through Miyu.” She smiled. “Strength to endure, well, with Akio as the heir through me, both old and new is respected. A win-win, as Akio likes.”

  “It’s… I…” Takatsukasa-san was at a loss, and Hinata smirked nastily.

  “Well, it’s your choice. But the other option is… we cut the nobility out, and don’t help them. Sure, your wealth and influence will give you an advantage. But pared to what we do, have pnned… in time, we’ll suppnt you, and build our own dynasty. And with us oside, well, there’s no iives for us to keep any history or traditions, are there? But, how about this? You still allow Kira-sama and Fujiwara-sama to support Minoru-kun and Sakura. If you aren’t fident the three houses together ’t do better than us, well… aren’t you just asking for Takatsukasa house to colpse, lost like so many other houses during the War? Isn’t that a bit pathetic for the most powerful houses in Japan?” she smiled triumphantly, and there ping from Fujiwara-san, who must have had simir thoughts regarding Miyu, who wasn’t his heir, but was a didate.

  “She is yranddaughter, Itsuki. And her noble pride is shining now. She bargains like her randfather as well, who built a business out of nothing that leads the world. I say… I have no objes. It is in keeping with tradition.”

  “Yeah, Hinata- sure is a maty Mayumi. The difference is, Hinata- here’s been pnning away carefully, w from weakness, not strength.” He looked at me then. “Akio-kun, are you really going to give up our partnership?”

  “Hinata, what do you think? I was tired of the way they were disrespeg us. But, you’ve phis out, you make the call.”

  “I think we go ahead. We made agreements, and I’m a businesswoman, I don’t like breaking those unless I have to. Besides… we’re going to make a lot of money and secure Takatsukasa house under is. And as for Mayumi… If I may, Kira-sama?”

  “Go ahead.”

  “If Mayumi-sama is rude to Akio or I, well, may I have your permission to chastise her as she deserves?” Her smile was wicked again.

  “Oho, amusing. Well, you know my Mayumi thinks she is the queen of Japan. Her pride is likely to get her into trouble. How will you ha?”

  “I have ideas.” Hinata smiled. “So, Grandfather? It is decided?”

  “I… o speak to my son. I will gather everyone, all the branch families. Your family too. I…”

  “We will witness.” Fujiwara-san said, and Ichijou-san agreed.

  “Yes, I wouldn’t miss this for the world. Mayumi will e too, so she see that your status is being elevated.”

  “Akio, is this fine? I… well, a lot of this is for me, Motoko and Natsumi. I haven’t overstepped, have I?”

  “No.” I smiled down the pho her. “Really, I ’t see many issues, and we gain a lot. Sure, it would make it harder for me to leave Japan, but… well, being a more crete part of the power structure means that I’d have little reason to leave. Oh, but before you go…” I looked around at everyohanks for waiting. We have a bad habit of ending up airing our family business in public, but as Haru-san said, it served at least some purpose. Assume it wasn’t me here, but someoh a power Japan absolutely needed, but that you couldn’t trol. How would you go about getting cooperation without giving away too much? Here, Hinata showed one way. There are others, but… back to a. Michiru-san…” I said, surprising the bodyguard, who spoke into Hinata’s phone.

  “Yes, my master?”

  Still doing that servant ninja thing, I see… “You said that you are from a ninja family, right?” I asked.

  “Ihough father is disgusted at the ck of fir dispyed so… he left to hone his own arts, and taught them all to me!” she decred, proud. I’m fairly certain her younger sister said her father got booted out of the though…

  “So, you tell us where this vilge is?” I asked further.

  She looked troubled. “Master, revealing a hidden vilge is not something done lightly.”

  “I ask you too, Michiru.” Miyu chimed in. “You know he will not betray or harm them.”

  “If… I o sult father first. If I may?”

  “Of course. Well, thanks.” I finished, before addressing the gathered delegation, who had nained some life, after our half an hour of drama had cluded. “Look, we know that Cultivators are in fact real. So a has a huge advantage. Yes, they likely ’t measure up to a Chosen…” I best use the proper terminology that we agreed on, sidering the fuss we just kicked up about respect… “But they have many unusual items and teiques, and if they were to be equipped with modern ons too, they could be a valuable force for them, one we are ill-equipped to ter.”

  “If I may…” the Minoru-san here, Motoko’s father, spoke up. Man that’s fusing. Well, Minoru is a on name, I suppose… it’s like Hinata’s grandfather is Kenji, and that prick ba Nishimorioka is Kenji as well. Same with Hikawa-san and Hinata’s brother… oh well. “… this just outlihe need for further improvement of our JSDF as I suggested, Akio-san.” He was being far more respectful now, after all the arguments, so we were seeis from Hinata’s efforts already. Motoko was looking at her father with a much warmer expression now.

  “I know, and I’ll expin why what you’re asking for isn’t a good option in a minute. But first… Japan is an old try, and thanks to the nobility, the faith and the Imperial family…” I o each group in turn. “… a lot has been preserved. So, if they have Cultivators, well, do we not have Ninja, and perhaps others, like Onmyōji?” At my words there was a buzz of versation in the room.

  “I see.” Takakura-san spoke up, rubbing his , thinking. “Onmyōji were often overpping with those of faith in times past, but their beliefs were not rooted in the divine, but in arts they developed indepely. But I do believe they wein the distant past. I have not heard of any, nor do our ret records indicate such a presence.”

  “Well, I never khat the faith had spiritual powers until I met Kana, aher does the rest of Japan. It stands to reason that as their powers likely faded too, they would go into hiding. If anyone would know, then perhaps…” I turo Yukiko-san, who looked troubled.

  “It… is a guarded secret. Yes, Onmyōji still exist. They serve the Imperial family i. Their powers have deed signifitly, sihe days of Abe no Seimei. Their oo, though some families carry oradition. I am only speaking of this because you asked, Akio-san. My thanks… for Tsukiko. Father will be most upset with me.”

  “I think he’ll uand. You’re speaking not as Imperial Princess, but as the Chosen of Amaterasu.” Saionji-san enced her.

  “You’ve mellowed.” She muttered back at him. “I used to dread your visits, you were always trying to pull me into yames.”

  “Well, I’m not a fool. Not like poor Uchida-san. I know the way the wind blows.” He ughed. “Well, aren’t you going up in the world, Akio-san? The faith behind you, now going to be one of the highest pilrs of nobility in Japan, blessed by the Gods…”

  “Nothing is decided yet…” Takatsukasa-san grated, eyed pained, but Saionji-san shook his head.

  “Nah, you lost the minute his little fiancée dragged you down to her level. Be happy it’s a defeat that profits you. Anyway, I agree with Akio-kun… I call you that, right?” he also increased his informality, but as it was meant as a token of respect, I could tell, I nodded. “Great.” he tinued. “’t let old fox Kudou get too far head of me. I do have my pride, you know. Well, ba topic, you have the database of all the talents that were disclosed, right Suzuki-san?”

  “I do.” Haru-san agreed. “The first didates for Chirurgery, and the other matter, are being notified, Hikawa-san from Hikawa-Kawagoe shrine is anising their transportation to Tokyo for the work. Hopefully we wake some talents.”

  “Great. well, it isn’t just that. Many shrines have old relics left behind. I suspect that the Imperial Family has some too.”

  “The Regalia.” Yukiko-san agreed.

  “… and likely even the nobility are h treasures they don’t know the purpose of. Well, if we have them, they should be gathered and put to use. Fight fire with fire, Cultivators with Japanese occult traditions.” He finished.

  “But how do we know what is usable?” one minister asked.

  “Well, we have to rely on Akio-kun again. He has good eyes, as he always says.” Saionji-san, no Gin-san, I could be informal too, ughed. “Just one more reason that we o keep you onside. You’re a damn multi-tool of uses. I get Yasaka-san to help as well though. He might even be able to track down lost items, if we know what we are looking for.”

  “I see. Progress.” Abe-san said, relieved. “Yes, that would strengthen our hand, but even so, there’s a bigger issue. Numbers. The ese lost twenty-three Chosen in this battle, which is good, but a loss of twenty-three of ours would be a disaster. The popution disparity between our two tries is huge. Assuming there’s a linear retionship between Chosen numbers and popution, they would have more thaimes our tally.”

  “Yeah, and more numbers mean there has to be more powerhouses.” I agreed. “Well, I think there may be other factors in py, such as patibility, but with a having Cultivators and possibly other old traditions, no worse than ours, I doubt we’ll be blessed with more than our fair share pared to them. So… there’s oher thing to sider.”

  “Oh, like what?” Abe-san asked, searg for any light at the end of the tunnel, as the situation seemed precariously out of bance, in a’s favour.

  “Well, this isn’t just human versus human. The Boundary and lower Astral is teeming with life and civilisations. We make alliances with them. I already have cordial retions with the Seelie Court, and the Night Parade… well, a little trade and mutual i.”

  “Trade?” Suzuki-san perked up at that.

  “Yes. While the Fae and the Yokai are alien, living by different rules and thinking in different, often very uable ways, all living beings with intelligence seem to share some on ground. I had support from many Fae during the battle of Kyoto, and some died.” I bowed my head respectfully. “But not even ting Shaeu, who killed enemy Chosen herself, our Fae did defeat Cultivators and living soldiers.” And their zombie terparts.

  “I see. So… allies. lug aps with those.” One man said, and anreed.

  “Of course, alliances only work if both parties gain.” I warned. “And a may be doing likewise, though from what Daiyu tells me, she doesn’t think so yet.” Though holy, she wasn’t in the loop that much. We o press our captives on this. The golden-eyed devourer wasn’t shy in ensving others, and the st Renyu were fairly pitiful, but their destrueant one resource lost to a.

  “Your influence is a bit worrisome.” Kishida-san decred. “One man holding so much…”

  “Well, I’m prepared to give a little. Since my Territory is going to receive state rgess, even though we all know that is because my Territory is the ohat be leveraged into providing the whole of Tokyo adequate prote, not just as a favour to me…” I remihem. “… I’m prepared to set up an Embassy of sorts for Japan, and train some staff with Chirurgery to work there. You clude any deals with the Seelie ht Parade you think is beneficial, though obviously as Shaeu’s husband, I have my own arras with them.”

  “That sounds… fair.” Abe-san allowed. “But it still doesn’t address the fual issue of us being outnumbered. If Material Japan is ihese spiritual beings won’t be much help.”

  “That’s rather short-sighted,” I shook my head. “The prisoners I have from the Kyoto battle include spiritual beings, who were able to e to Japan as they were granted Material bodies en masse. Now, I fess the sheer weight of aether required is beyond me for the foreseeable future, but it should get easier as the ether density of Japan increases. So eventually we’ll be able to field allied armies.”

  “Well, that raises the problem of… well, immigration.” Abe-san said, and I grinned.

  “Well, isn’t the special passport scheme part of the legistion assing right now during this crisis? See, pnning ahead is a good thing. As for immigration, well, we ma, but aren’t we w about the deing birth rate? This is one fix nobody thought of.” I chuckled.

  “That’s all well and good, but … what about crime? Spiritual beings, Chosen… Oshiro-san, you’ve just hammered home the importance of appeasing Chosen where possible, but… when it’s not…” Morita-san decred triumphantly. “… we ot alloan to be dictated to by the unwise or the criminal.”

  “Yeah, well, we’ve started recruiting police officers under Detective Kato. When we’ve gathered them all, I’d like Haru-san to iheir minds, check they are . They too will have Chirurgery and training, and sadly then we run into the same problem we do with the miliary, father-in-w, grandfather-in-w.” I addressed the Tsumuras. “Even a little elemental training, while it would be a nice surprise and might turn a battle against another soldier, is going to be useless against other Chosen. What we need is trusted Chosen to take up the mantle of w enfort, which is going to be a hard sell, as likely they live a better life trading off their ows. But… I have some ideas. We need specialist skillsets. Powers like Haru-san’s would be helpful, also the ability to restrain or ralise. The st thing we want are death battles in public…” Well, there is one power we have that is perfect, though the current wielder… well, we’ll see…

  “Any Chosen we have in w enfort won’t be in the military either, which is a loss of power where we most.” Motoko’s grandfather mused. “How we ence participation? Many who awaken these gifts will be uo fighting, and unwilling to do so.”

  “Well, we o make it worth their while. I do cede that Chirurgery for snipers, Rangers and pilots is probably a good time and cost to bes ratio, so… I be persuaded to schedule that in, for a reasonable fee.”

  “It would make more seo train up some … Chirurgeons… for the military.” Minoru-san said, and I held in a sigh.

  “It certainly would, but do you think the skills required grow on trees? It o be someoh special eyes or se a minimum. Screwing up Chirurgery would be deleterious to the health of the patient. But… if you find the right person, I‘d sider it. But the prestige of the teique would mean I would need heavy pensation.”

  “Fine, we’ll search. We ’t rely on one person anyway. If you were to emigrate, we would then be left high and dry.” He ceded, before speaking to Motoko. “And I would miss my beloved daughter. I’m sorry. you five me?”

  She nodded, pleased. “If you learn from it, father.”

  “Right, so, ba topic…” Abe-san chivvied us on, not wanting to get bato ued drama, not that I could bme him. “… a. So, we’ve sidered the options for our defence, but politically… they have no case to attack us, other than they have the power to do so. With the prophecy, it seems like it’s a certainly. But…”

  “We o dey.” Yukiko-san said urgently, her face ashen. “I… I don’t feel ready to face it. Nor is your friend, the one who is supposed to help defeat it. Right Akio-san?”

  “Yeah, I’d definitely like to do some strengthening of everyone before any future cshes. Really… if we know it’s definite…” Yukiko-san and I smiled at that, and I tinued. “… then we it to a schedule we trol. If repared, we win, just like Kyoto. If we were blind to that attack, the situation would have been desperate.”

  “Our eyes are blinded without the Diviner.” Abe-san began, but Gin-san shook his head.

  “Not so. We have a rept, as well as other sources of information, such as Yasaka-san. Perhaps we ot repce her, but we are not without options.”

  I nodded. “I think for now, we have little choice but to publicly accept ese disavowal of this whole mess, treat it as the terrorism they cim it to be. I mean, it’s funally the truth, and it isn’t like they’ll pay us pensation, like the USA did, is it?”

  “No, of course not. They’d never admit fault like that.” Abe-san snorted. “But we’ve seen publitiment. If we don’t tale a hard line on this, the situation could escate, and we don’t want civil u, now of all times.”

  “Better that than war.” Fujiwara-san said, and others echoed him. “A war simir in scale to the Sed World War would destroy all we have rebuilt. Let the popuce vent, prevent what damage we , and prepare.”

  “Damn, my ces of re-ele are about to turn to dust.” Abe-san sighed.

  “Well, when my Party trols the Diet, I’ll do you the courtesy of allowing your party ht of this Ministry.” The Opposition leader ughed.

  “You’re so generous. Well, my daughter will disown me if I lose shamefully, so… any ideas on how to deal with the public outcry, without provoking the Red Dragon until we are ready?”

  A few actually. And some are even from my sis, oddly enough. “Your son is senior i, right, Fujiwara-san?” I asked, and he nodded.

  “Well, MEXT covers culture, sports and educatiht? Well, education is for the long term, but culture…” I outlined my pns. “If we use television, musid the arts to start subtly preparing people for the ges to e, we build acceptance. We don’t have much time at all, so… instead, we use them to promote pead fiveness.” I could see the JSDF soldiers looking angry, and I didn’t bme them. I hated to gloss over attacks on our soil, but I ragmatid what we needed most now was calm and time. “Things like idol performances for the young, TV dotaries and news pieces for the old… anything to distract from the troubles.”

  “Bread and circuses.” Fujiwara-san approved. “Clever. It worked for the Roman Empire, though modern times are different.”

  “Well, anything that cools the heat down. The US still owes us more, so get them to help with perception ma. Get them to reessages of support for our stance, or something…”

  As we tio discuss this, I had ahought. Hang on, wouldn’t that be perfect? “How about a fundraiser for the victims? Put together by MEXT, and supported by a mixture of nobility, faith and even you, Princess.” I smiled at Yukiko-san.

  “Me? I… don’t usually take the limelight.” She said.

  “Well, that’s why it’s so perfect. As Amaterasu’s Chosen, soon you’ll have to, but your appearance will spark a lot of i. We use it to rally the popud steer them away from escation. Even if it just deys their rage, gives them a distra, it looks like we are doing something.”

  “Military drills as well.” Tsumura-san said, agreeing. “We o be careful not to provoke a, but I believe they will uand if… it paio say it, but if we use our few remaining diplomatic els to stress it is a move to calm our internal u, robably get them to agree to cool their sabre-rattling. Though as a proud Japanese man, it paio give our ehe satisfa.”

  “The thing is, they aren’t our enemy yet.” I said, impressed at his willio sider unpatable, humiliating options. Well, I’ve done my fair share of sad pandering in my life too. It’s what happens in the end that matters.

  “Well, I only tank my re-ele ces to zero, I guess.” Abe-san ughed bitterly. “All right, any other matters to discuss on a?”

  After a little more pnning, we then moved back to legistion, this time on crime. “So, we’ve e up with a basic list of potential powers, and how they might be reguted and legally protected…” I stifled a yawn, maintaining my focus. This one’s important. Well, everything is… damn, I know I wanted respect, but that sure es with a lot of effort to maintain it…

  ShipTeaser