ShipTeaser

  “And you’re dohere’ll be some disfort and deep prig feelings for a day or two while your body flushes out the debris, but you’ll soo used to it.” I cpped the rge Hispani on the shoulder, ahanked me in heavily-ated English, before pulling on his t-shirt and heading out of the room.

  “And that’s the st of them.” I sighed, relieved. “Finding a time to fit the Bck Wolf in was tough.” Luckily, I had received my buffs from Shir the period I had worked on her earlier. With my Chakra work temporarily w at Rank 7, my aether capacity and geion was more than an order of magnitude strohan normal, so perf mass Chirurgery ossible, if tiring. I think… one more day for Shiro. Now it’s just the scars on the sensitive areas of her body that remain, and the st pools of adherence polluting her chakra work. Remembering how Shiro had blushed, wearing the shortest shorts imaginable and a crop top, while I removed the scars from her long, pale legs aorso and back, I had to smile.

  “I doirely get it, but good job, man.” Trey said, handing me a cold drink, which I took gratefully. “We still don’t uairely how any of this works.”

  “Shit, how could we?” Aliyah piped up. She had lost i when Shaeu had left, after doing Chirurgery on the small number of female recruits in the Bck Wolf. “We’re not special like you.” She snorted, crossing her arms under her massive chest, frustrated. “We should be though. Fighting shouldn’t be left to little girls.”

  “Aliyah.” Trey warned her, his tone harsh. “sidering how young you were whearted the Bck Wolf, you aren’t oo talk.”

  “Shit bro, shut up! It’s different for us, we didn’t have a choice, we had to make hard choices or starve. No way I was going to sell myself like some of the irls that grew up in hetto. These… they have a choice…”

  “And they chose to be strong.” I said, uanding her point, as it was something I worried about myself, but… I had e to terms with the answer. “I think… I’d rather they had the means to defend themselves, even if that involves fighting, than to be ordinary, at the mercy of any disaster, just like Kyoto.” I ched my fist. Behihe TV was showing a TV studio, where the journalists were discussing the emergency meeting of all the Representatives yesterday, and the strange emergency legistion passed.

  “… new unnamed Ministry passed with near-universal support, with the G Party and the Opposition both agreeing to share responsibility and posts, in a near-unpreted move.” one man was saying to his colleague, who nodded soberly.

  “Indeed. It is good to see some sort of rea to the disastrous events of Kyoto over the past weeks, and the aberrant as of a. Though I do have to question some of the legistion.”

  “I know. Fast-track immigration clearand special dual-citizenship for those with ‘talents fual to the safety and security of the nation in fields such as eics, teology and the military’. Immigration and the treatment of fn nationals has long been a thorny issue for servative Japaizens, who worry about the dilution of our unique culture aage.”

  “Especially with other strange sidebars. The liberalisation of marriage ws seems aremely troversial choid rather ill-timed.”

  “I ’t believe it. You actually went and did it, you damn pervert.” Aliyah scoffed, hearing the correspos talk about the polygamy act. “I’ll be ho, I’m actually impressed that you’d go so far. I guess you do keep your promises.”

  “I do. And ba topic…” I said, as the reporters moved on to provisions for the preservation of cultural and religious treasures and traditions within the new, seemingly nameless Ministry. “… I have no iion of letting them fight alone, but Kyoto showed disaster strike anywhere. So I feel at peaowing that those I care about, those I want to protect, have the strength to, if not fight and win, at least protect themselves long enough to escape or for help to arrive.” I looked at Trey and Aliyah then. “And that’s why you were released from prisht? To help protect me and mine?”

  “He’s got you there, sis.” Trey muttered, looking at me approvingly.

  “Shit. Shit. I know…” she groused, and I got the impression most of her pints were just reflexive, rather thafelt. “Speaking of…” she poi the TV, where more of the neere being discussed.

  “… internal security measures brought about by the ging world. Japan is itted to never being an aggressor, as the JSDF is purely a self-defence force, but it seems that the Gover is taking matters seriously, despite their initial clumsy response, which might help damp down the explosive protests that have rocked the nation.”

  “Yes, though there have been only a few is of overt violence so far, such as that firebombing, and the stabbing of a se tourist, the perpetrator, a forty-nine year old man…”

  “…passing ws to increase scrutiny of fn nationals and Japaizens, as well as a new branch of the police force with special powers to request cooperation from all citizens in emergency situations, as well as an expansion to the JSDF. That’s the sort of secret police shit Dictators pull. I’m amazed that the citizenry are swallowing it.” Aliyah said sourly.

  “Well, Japaizens are generally very w-abiding, so most of them actually wele stricter polig.” I sighed. “Besides, you know what it’s for. We o tratering Chosen, Cultivators, perhaps even spiritual beings. If they e in peace, that’s fine, but otherwise…” These powers also give us leeway to search for our own citizens who might be Chosen, and also for suitable didates to accept Divine Favours we obtain.

  “…new Researd Development projects to revitalise industry and upgrade our g military might to deter further attacks, as well as new nd development and resource ma ws. Some of these seem a little odd, such as the ability to requisition strategic resources fristered Territories for short-term emergency situations, with suitable Gover pensation. The ao this legistion list a number of resources, but they seem to be code-names. And what’s a registered Territory?” the reporter said, fused.

  Really, all the new ws tying the Ministry together could be summed up thusly.

  Culturally, there were the ges to immigration. Dual Nationality was allowed again in specific rare circumstances, with special, gover-issue diplomatic-style passports, fh-value immigration, for example Shaeu or Ixitt, or say we poached a Chosen from the US but they wao keep their citizenship there. The ge in the w allowing Polygamy was slipped in as part of a generous iive scheme to import aain such exceptional talent, and was already drawing attention, but with so many other odd ws, it wasn’t garnering the lion’s share. The nobility and the faith had also requested that certain ws were enshrio protect their is. Which is uandable, everyone has to look out for themselves. But ter… the nobility has to learn that they aren’t the rulers of Japan. Tonight… we’ll get our fair due.

  There were then the security measures. Expansion of the JSDF and the teology and onry allowed was at the forefront. Current ws only allowed for defensive ons, so we cked le firepower and other staples of the Military other tries enjoyed. It looked as though the legistion was to address this, due to ese aggression, as a deterrent, but it was actually allowing the Military to make use of Chosen powers. The new Police Force was also established, with powers to s citizens, so that we could easily find suitable people as needed, as well as deal with w-breaking Chosen, spiritual beings and fs. The full set of ws on Chosen abilities was being worked on and couldn’t be released yet without blowing secrecy wide open, but it was ready to be passed as a coda to cap off the Ministry as soon as the situation ropriate. There were also ws istered personnel having rexed restris on armaments and use of force. This was not drawing as much heat as I had imagined, as the legistion was worded in ways that made it seem like it applied to the new Police, but it could actually be exteo those under Ministry aegis such as the Bck Wolf. I daresay we’ll have to deal with the fallout on this soon enough, but as national security measures, ush it through.

  Then there were eic measures. The legistion passed on Goveral subsidies for certain special industries, which meant that for example my Researd Development with Ichijou house would qualify us for substantial tax bes, so long as our teology was in key areas such as military, energy and resource security, or public order. The taxing of other Chosen who wished their Territories to be registered and protected by the Ministry for key projects, such as pushing my Territory to Rank 4, that also passed, and the list of resources, such as Ether, Etherites and more, was enshrined in w, though as the entators on TV thought, most people assumed they were ames for something. I don’t feel guilty about it anymore. Though… before we go for Rank 4, I’ll o upgrade some Silos, and it might be worth thinking of the Ether Spires as well. I’ll o run numbers, but… we’re probably looking in the region of two hundred millioher in total. The numbers are insane. But not unreachable…

  Lastly in terms of eics, the w g nominal trol of publid gover infrastructure to suitable parties in exge for support, passed. That would be the ceremonial payment of one yen per year per square metre. It seemed a small amount, and it was, but for example, if one was to vert the whole of greater Tokyo to this, it would be around thirteen billion yen a year, or around a hundred and thirty million dolrs. Obviously this was a signifit amount no gover could afford lightly, but sidering a rge k of this rivately-owned nd, the headline figure would likely be iens of millie. And of course, the Gover would end up taking back half of it in tax immediately, and various other schemes were set up to require the figure to be reduced where they could. It’s damn plicated w out a fair system that satisfies a Chosen’s o be in trol, pensating them fairly for it, without breaking and bankrupting the Gover and the try. In my case, the majority of the funds for the first few years likely wouldn’t go to me, but as pensation to the Chosen who were forced to support me as the ese were doing. Though after that, I’ll have a steady, unassaible ine, for supplyiorial prote aher density, and that's just Tokyo.

  Then there was the stific field. In jun with the powers the new Police branch had, there was also the w that could require citizens to undergo testing for national security and emergency matters. This was said to be in respoo the strange deaths in Kyoto, as people were already starting to notice that the civilian casualties were killed in abnormal ways. The Gover had allowed false data to leak suggesting some sort of biological or chemical onry, or perhaps even something new and unheard of, like nanotech, was involved. This had the dual purpose of distrag from the real causes, and allowed us a further reason to s the popuce as and when was necessary to root out illegal infiltrators and find the talented. Laws on various fields of research that were banned were also lifted, though Ministerial approval and lig was required for several. Of course, I am now fully liced for pretty much every field…

  Lastly, diplomacy wise… As the anchors oV were discussing, over had strongly he atrocious atta Kyoto, while also carefully bang their criticism of the se Gover, allowing that the ese respohat they were a rebel breakaway could be true, but that the Gover would still see a as partly responsible for such events, and that the victims must be pensated regardless. It’s a hard path to walk, we know a isn’t teically responsible, but we ’t just roll over and look weak, as it would not only cause further civil u, but we know from Tsukiko-san, that the Red Dragon is far from doh us, and that Ise Grand Shrine is likely a target too…

  Tying back to the immigration bill and need fhly-skilled, specialised immigrants, Japan also po extend diplomatic els to a number of tries, in the surrounding Asiare as well as others, and boosting ties by cutting dey aape on some trade deals and agreements that had been in talks iionally for years, sometimes even decades, as also mooted. In addition, while it was known iionally that Japan would never be the aggressor in war, more formal details on mutual-defend aid pacts would be sought with likeminded tries who were perhaps unnerved by the supposed ese as on our soil. The Ministry would manage our retions with fn talents, Chosen and Spiritual beings, and when the secrecy was finally lifted, a register of these, as well as our own, would be established a in strictest secrecy within the Ministry, and agreements could be reached with individuals as well as tries.

  All in all, a lot of ws went through. The promises to me have bee, so… As all those thoughts fshed through my mind in moments, Aliyah sighed. “I get it. Fuck. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth though. Still, pared to some of the shit Uncle Sam is pulling, I guess it’s mild. Well, I believe we e uhis special passport scheme, right? Trey, maybe we should find ourselves a harem?”

  “No thanks, just oe guy would be plenty for me.” He shook his head. “So, the question is, what do you want us to do? We take over more security from those goons, but we won’t stop something like a.”

  “Not yet, no. Though the Special Forces did do their best, and mao drive off a skilful Chosen with help.” I mused. “For now, get your team trained in leveraging their new physical boosts, as well as some Territorial training, so that if they o be deployed in battle there, they won’t be shocked.”

  “I’ll put Travis and Lua in charge of the teams.” Aliyah frowned. “But, we rely heavily on our ons, without them…”

  I then expihat Ixitt and his engineers were w on that, and ohe paperwork and passports were properly issued, they would be armed ierial as well.

  “Fihen. So, what about training? We get stronger, right?” Trey asked, flexing his muscles, grin wide. “I do like w out, got to keep my body buff, right?”

  “He ain’t going to care about yure Trey, he likes them cute, and female.” Aliyah snorted. “Now, I have to admit though, seeing young girls and boys still at school outmatch me, I get pissed off. If you want us to protect people, and also take on jobs in a dangerous world, we do need more power. Just being fast and strong, a good shot and a cool head, it don’t mean shit when a guy like you could mow us all down in seds.”

  “Well, I do have a training pn, as a matter of fact…” As I started to expin, the basivolving the way my sis and Eri initially learned, Aether Manipution aher Healing the first steps while strengthening their silver cords aworks, the entators on TV were now talking about something else the Gover had proposed yesterday.

  “… a National Fundraiser, a cert a to restore the spirits of the nation, while providing pensation and surety to the many victims of Kyoto. You think that the public will buy into it?”

  “In troubled times, a distra help, and I am sure the Gover wants to divert attention from their own failures with eles ing up, so…”

  True, distract, divert, dey. Every day we buy in secrecy is important. Our pns are advang, but we always be better prepared. Speaking of preparations… My phone blinked, and it was a message that Hinata was on her way to pick me up, ready for our showdown at Takatsukasa house…

  ********

  “It’ll be fine.” I squeezed Hinata’s hand as we sat o each other around a rge wooden table. It looked to me as if the room was seldom used, as it had hastily been ed, and there was still dust in the ers. Beside us sat Hinata’s brother, as well as her parents and grandfather. Across from us was Takatsukasa-san, his son and daughter-in-w, as well as a stony-faced Sakura-san and a shy Minoru-san.

  Oher side, Ichijou-san sat with his daughter Mayumi-san, along with Fujiwara-san and Miyu, who was smiling at us reassuringly, which I appreciated, as it made Hinata less nervous. For onot a bodyguard to be seen. Kazumi-san, Michiru-san and the others were nearby, no doubt pag nervously away from their charges.

  “Right. Shall we… begin?” Takatsukasa-san said, his reluce obvious.

  “Before that, I have to speak, father!” His son, Hinata’s uncle, who I was told was called Takatsukasa Hideaki, spoke out harshly. “What nonsense is this, father? Why should I have to adopt my sister’s daughter, and even give her sideration as the potential …”

  I stood, pulling Hinata up. “Fine. You don’t. e on Hinata, we’re cutting all ties with Takatsukasa house.” I turo Kenji-san. “I know you likely still have agreements with them to provide support, but I’d appreciate it if you scrapped them.” I looked around at the shabby furnishings and facades, so uhe Fujiwara mansion I had visited in the past. In fact, while the building and the grounds had clearly beeored, and was a massive mansion occupying a rge plot of nd, it gave off the air of a dying prince, living off past glories, faded and bitter. And unlike Ichijou house, Fujiwara house or even a lot of houses like Tsumura house, they own few businesses or other assets. Most of it was lost during the War and the Occupation afterwards, and then more by bad ma. Without selling their daughter… My gaze went to Hinata’s mother Kokoro-san, who smiled at us wryly. … and the support from Ichijou-san and Fujiwara-san, they’d have colpsed and be left with nothing. Past glories are simply that. The past.

  “What are you doing?” Ichijou-san asked mildly, and it was Hinata who answered.

  “Akio is right, Kira-sama. We didn’t e here tue or waste our time. Grandfather, please stop your support for my randfather and his son. It might cause us troubles with the nobility, but… well, when it es to a csh between the nobility and Akio, I know who’ll win.” Her smile was malicious. “I’d like to see you try and stop a Kyoto i when it happens ireets of Tokyo with your history and traditions.”

  “Well, we do have our own…” Mayumi-san spoke up zily, enjoying the spectacle as though it was some sort of kabuki py.

  “Sure, so did Kyoto, but without me, they’d have been overwhelmed. I’m not g I’m the best, the stro, that would be foolish.” I said as we actually walked for the exit, at a measured pace, but clearly i on leaving. “But I am the stro I know, and I have a lot of allies, and together we’ll grow stroill. Do you know how many ese Chosen I killed in Kyoto? I’m not proud of it, I hate killing, but… to prevent evil, and to protect the try and it’s people, I’ll do it. What do you protect, other than your dusty old pride? It’s family that matters.” I fixed Hideaki with a gre, unwilling to give him an honorific, even in my head. “Hinata is your niece, yet you treat her as if she’s so much lesser. Well let me tell you…” As we reached the door we stopped. “pared to those of you who sit here in privilege ah, Hinata has been doing. And she works hard every day. I think that’s far more han any of you.”

  Hinata was blushing, but she mao look imperious even doing that. “I’m sorry uncle, if that’s how you feel, then Akio is right. We weren’t asking. I romised by grandfather Itsuki that I’d be treated the same as Sakura and Minoru-kun.” She was also ging her manner of address, no loreating them as above her. “When Akio promises something, it gets done, even if it seems impossible. Did you see the oday? Most of the girls at Hanafubuki are restricted in what news and curres they access, but I‘m not. I know what the Gover has passed, and how it bes Akio and Japan. Well, on that foundation, we’ll build a new system. And we’ll show the nobility her fear nor favour. If they get crushed under our progress, well, I’ll not shed a tear. Perhaps I’ll feel sorry for Sakura and Minoru-kuakatsukasa house colpses.” Sakura drew her lips into a narrow, angry li that, while the shy Minoru-san looked frightened by her vehemence. “I could even offer you a job as a maid or a secretary, cousin.” She goaded Sakura.

  “Don’t you think you are being rude, Hinata?” Mayumi-san chimed in. “You’re asking for a lot, and…”

  “We’re not asking, Mayumi!” Hinata said shrilly, omitting her honorific as well. “Weren’t you listening? This is our just desserts, what romised, ahan we could demand. I want… I want to stand as your equal, I believe I , no, I do.” She took a deep breath, steadying herself, and with a g my smiling face urging her on, she tinued. “Mayumi, you’ve seen Akio’s Territory, it all its splendour. No, not all of it. It expands even beyond Tokyo, to Kyoto, through Haru-san, and even to nds undreamed of. In Japan itself, ower, wealth, the Gover and the faith bag us. Even Miyu is our ally.”

  “I support them. I no longer see Hinata-san as inferior to myself. If that offends you, grandfather, then I apologise. But in my hour of suffering and need, it was Hinata-san whht me aid, the master I shall serve.” She bowed to me, which put sour looks on most faces, except for her grandfather oddly enough.

  “I have steered the nobility through many crises, with aid from you, Kira, Itsuki. This one is no different. We protect what we must, but sacrifice what we ot protect. My granddaughter is stubborn. But… I have made my peace with it. As should you, Hideaki-kun.” He addressed Hinata’s uncle.

  “But… I am Takatsukasa Hideaki, our house has an even longer history than Fujiwara and Ichijou houses, and…”

  “See? He doesn’t wish to accept reality. Farewell, foolish uncle. Well done on ruining not just your own noble house, but many others too.” Hinata said.

  “Well, Tsumura house has a bright future still, and… well, for Miyu’s sake, we won’t turn our ba Fujiwara house. While the nobility has been overbearing and often insulting, Fujiwara house has been reasonable, I appreciate that.” I added. “As for the rest… well, not our problem. It’s not on the list of things we o save.”

  “Wait a minute, you’re not seriously going to leave are you, Akio-san?” Ichijou-san asked, his joviality disappearing.

  “I said I’d leave the try with all those I love if I had to. I wasn’t bluffing. Turning my ba the nobility is no hardship. And I dare say you could make our lives difficult for a while, but… all we have to do is wait. When the Red Dragon es, I’ll protect Yukiko-san from it, but all of you…”

  “Enough.” Takatsukasa-san cpped his hands. “Son, you o know when to back down.” He let out a long sigh. “They are right, much as it pains me. We hem more than they need us.”

  “I provide wealth and support for your new industries.” Kenji-san ughed. “Ichijou house is a wele tie, but if ties bee s, well, they and should be discarded.”

  “Hinata, don’t you want to be my friend anymore?” Mayumi-san asked, her gaze intense.

  “I always wao be friends. You’ve always shoo my eyes, beautiful, proud, fident, arrogant, witty, the queen of Hanafubuki and the nobility as a whole. But… I now know what true friendship is, and we don’t share it. We ’t, while you stick to your role, your pride.”

  “But…” she tried to interrupt, so I took over.

  “Before we go, let me give you some advice, Mayumi-san. True friendship is without price, and is a treasure. Hinata has friends now she rely on, has opened up her world. And she wants to do the same for you. All it costs is a little pride. Pride is good, but just ask Shaeu oison excessive pride is. The same goes for you, Sakura-san. I know the two of you fight a lot, but Hinata knows you care, and she cares about you, even if your status seems to always get in the way. So… your houses have sted more than a thousand years. By year, they might all be gone. No matter how wealthy, honourable or iial you are, when a disaster like Kyoto hits, none of that will protect you. But Fukumoto House, Tsumura House, even Fujiwara house… they’ll still be there, as within them I have people I o protect, people who treasure their families.”

  “Is that a threat?” Mayumi-san asked, and I shook my head, while Hinata giggled softly.

  “Why would I threaten you, Mayumi-san? Didn’t I say, Hinata wants to be your friend, a true friend? All it’ll cost you is stepping down from that high perch of yours, and then… the rest is easy, and fun. Besides, if you’re her friend, then you are mioo. And I protect my friends. But right now, all of you are just hurting Hinata, Motoko and Natsumi, and disrespeg me. I do bme myself, I’ve tried to be deferential and helpful, which I don’t believe is a bad thing, but it’s given you all the wrong idea. Tyr, and now Tsukuyomi, they pced this burden oo save the world. And I’ll save it. But it's up to me what I save, and if the choice is between the nobility, who has looked down on and tried to use us, and say the faith, who have fallen in line and appreciate what’s to e… well, isn’t that choice obvious?” I let that sink in. “Even so, I do feel bad, so despite the fact that I have o offer a hand, we are trying to work within your systems to get what we want. Hinata be adopted by your s, then she’ll get the respect she merits. But that’s just the start. We have no need of you, Takatsukasa house. Sorry to say this, but it’s true. But instead of cutting you all adrift… well, Hinata’s your family too. So we’re a choice. But I don’t feel like extending a choieone like you.” I growled at Hideaki.

  “Someone like me?” he said, and I nodded.

  “You disrespect your sister and your niece, even though your sister married out to save your house. e on Hinata, we’re going. Want to stop by our Territory? I’ll give you some personal instru to make up for this shitty experience…” and with that we shut the door behind us.

  “Was that… the right thing to do?” she asked, uain. “I agree, we have the advantage, but…”

  “It’s fine. We’ll stroll out nid slow, and… hmm, faster than I thought.”

  The door opened behind us, a grinning Kenji-san looking at us with respect. “Now there’s o be hasty. Itsuki-san would like to wipe the ste . you allow them one more ce?”

  “It’ll cost them!” Hinata promised, and he ughed.

  “As I’d expect from my granddaughter.” With that we re-eo see a shog sight. Hideaki-san was bowing to us, his face pale.

  “Hinata-san, Kokoro, I’m sorry. I have been… foolish.” He mahough I wasn’t deteg much siy.

  “Yes, well, those are the s we are raised in.” Hinata’s mother replied sadly. “But… you took it too far. My son-in-w is right. I married out to save us, and all I received iurn was disdain. I love my husband, my son, my daughter.” She looked at all of them in turn. “And I do not dislike my nied nephew. But brother… I find you hard to love now. When I remember how I’ve beeed…”

  “The times always ge.” I decred. “Now, we are not here to be insulted again, so how about some genuine feelings, Hideaki? It doesn’t take my Eye to see you’re pissed off and insiell me, how have you strengtheakatsukasa house?”

  “Well, I… my son and daughter, they will marry well, bring in more wealth and support…”

  “Not them. You.” I reiterated.

  “I have kept our traditions, our pride…”

  “So, you’ve done, excuse my foul nguage, fuck all.” I cursed for emphasis. “Anybody catch falling grains of sand, but refilling the hss… that takes talent, dedication, wit. Takatsukasa house cks that.”

  “Who are you to say that to us?” he ranted back, his false apology breaking.

  “Who cares who I am. Truth is truth, and you’ve just squahe st ce you had to…”

  “My son is not well. He will be entering a hospital.” Takatsukasa-san said suddenly. “I expect a long, gentle, isoted valesce.”

  “Wait, no, you ’t do this to me! I’m Takatsukasa house, grandfather! Without me…”

  “Kokoro, you take charge of Takatsukasa house for now? I don’t wish for Keiko here to suffer, but she isn’t suited to run Takatsukasa house.” He gestured to Hideaki’s wife, who, despite looking troubled, managed a nod.

  “No, this… why are you doing this, father?” Hideaki cursed, showing no noble dignity.

  “I’m gd my sons aren’t this pathetic.” Ichijou-san scratched his . “I’d feel ashamed.”

  “Mine are… troublesome.” Fujiwara-san admitted. “I was hoping I could find Miyu or Honoka a worthy husband who could i, were I to live long enough, but that is a challenge.” He looked at me, and I had t, sidering it was thanks to me Miyu’s e was terminated.

  A number of bodyguards had arrived and were esc Hideaki out, as he left, he turned a hateful gaze on Hinata. “I’ll not have you usurp my children. They should i…”

  “Well, that’s up to them. If you want your blood to tinue holding Takatsukasa house, uncle, you always have Sakura.”

  “What about me?” Minoru-san asked, and Hinata smiled at the younger boy gently.

  “Sorry, but you won’t be the heir. But that’s fine. I think you’ll have more fun, a better life this way. I’ll support you to find a path that suits you, where you be happy, just as I will for you, Sakura.”

  “What do you mean?” She shough she was looking siow, and her hands were trembling, as her father was held, watg, the guards not letting him interfere.

  “Isn’t it obvious? We always fight, cousin, and I’m tired of it. Before, I was so jealous of you. We were both born from grandfather Itsuki’s line, yet I was treated as nothing, and you were a flower amongst flowers in Hanafubuki. You always used to desd to me, criticise me… but I uand you cared in your own clumsy way, arrogant like uncle. Let me tell you all…” she smiled brilliantly, and her fidence was alluring. “I too was a greenhouse flower, but now I’ve seen the world. Seen things none of you could believe. I’ve drank wine made from honey from magical bees with a princess of the Faeries. I’ve seen aurorae burning in the sky atop a hundred metre tall tree, while trolls, Yokai and more pranced about below. I’ve seen a sister who loves her brother too much, and the brother likewise.” She giggled. “I’ve talked to ordinary girls who you would all look down upon as on, or beh notice, whh their love and force of will, grew strong enough to save many lives, at great personal cost. I’ve seen the dead return to life, and face her suffering head on, ing through it with humour and resolve. I’ve seen all this and so much more. I’ve found love, friendship and sisterhood, and I’ll not let any of it fall through my fingers. Really, pared to us, it’s they who are truly noble.” Her smile was radiant now, fident.

  “Well, I fess, having such strength is rather impressive…” Mayumi-san mahoughtfully.

  “Sakura. Cousi me give you some harsh but heartfelt advice. I’ll try not to desd, but… well, it’s hard. I’m always the cheeky one. You like that though, right Akio?”

  “I do. A Hinata who isn’t sly, impish and to the point wouldn’t feel right.” I agreed.

  “Sakura, I’ll… no, not just me, Akio, and all the others, we’ll push on, rebuild Takatsukasa house, take it to new glories. After all, proteg the past is worthless, without trying to grow it for the future. If you want to marry out to another house, well, I’ll support you in that. I don’t see why you’d want to, unless you do it for love… but, I’m not you. Ihough, if you want to i, as you wouldn’t have been able to before, if you want to pass your father’s blood down as the head of Takatsukasa house you have to fight for it.”

  “Fight?” she said, puzzled.

  “Yes. Fight. All I know is that a child from Akio will be the heir in the end. If you think you win him over, I don’t mind g Takatsukasa house back to you. I mean, it’s not like I care whether you even try, and I think you’d have a hard road, as he doesn’t like moody girls like you, but I’m your cousin, I’ll give you a ce.”

  As Sakura frowhrown off by her assertions, her father likewise pale and angry, gring at us, Kokoro-san asked her a question. “Hinata, dear, why would you suggest that? Aren’t there quite enough rivals already? Besides, wasn’t the point of the adoption for you to take over Takatsukasa house?”

  “Not really.” She shrugged. “It’s to get what we deserve, which is to be treated with the dignity and honour we merit. Takatsukasa house is simply the best way, and it bes them too. We’re kind like that!” she puffed out her chest proudly. “As for the other question… life is so fun now, sure, there are annoyances, like Mayumi not uanding other people, or what a friend even is…” she rolled her eyes, frustrated. “… but, when I’m talking to Motoko and Natsumi as equals, or training, or pnning… when I meet Shaeu, or Hyath or Eri, now Shiro too… everyone is so different, unique, but we all have ohing in on. We love the same man, and we’ll never betray each other.” She looked at me then, face red. “Remember that time whehrew you out and we had that private meeting?”

  “I do, that was a while ago.”

  “We decided then. We’re friends, but also rivals, right? But we will only pete by raising ourselves up, never by cutting each other down. That’s the one rule we all agreed on. That way, you’ll never be unhappy with us, and we trust each other, our sisters. And it’s sometimes frustrating, but always exg. Sakura… there’s a lot of paths open to you. I’m not heartless enough to close off a future for you that I wanted. So make up your own mind. There’s no rush, but Takatsukasa house is ours, Akio’s. If you want to fight for it, go ahead. If you want any other life, I’ll help you get it.”

  “What about me?” Minoru-san asked quietly.

  “Sorry Minoru-kun, but Akio doesn’t like boys, and you ’t have a child together, so tough luck. But your cousin here will make sure you have a fulfilling, happy life. Just like Sakura. You’re you, but take your time to find out what you want to do…” she spped her chest for emphasis.

  “I want to be a superhero!” he said, surprising us. “I want to beat up the bad guys!”

  “Oh my!” Hinata ughed. “Well, that’s easy enough. Akio…” she looked at me. “ you help with that? My dear cousin, well, my brother now, he wants to be strong.”

  “Fine. We fast-trae training.” I promised. “But Minoru-san, it be scary, and I need you to be careful and obey me and your trainers so you don’t get hurt, okay?”

  “All right.” he promised. “I’m a Takatsukasa. I don’t break my word!”

  “If only all of them were like that.” Hinata sighed, as her uncle was finally dragged off, spitting and cursing. Hinata pulled her chair over to Sakura, sitting by her, grabbing her hand. “Like I said, do as you please. But in this world, don’t believe your way is the only way. Our way has merits too.”

  As Keiko-san watched her children sadly, we quickly got down to the iations, now that it was clear that Hinata and I were getting what we wanted. It was decided that Kokoro-san would be installed in pce of her brother while he was in medical seclusion, and that Hinata would be adopted in as pnned. When our marriage took pce, I would then officially be Takatsukasa heir, and until then, I would have equal status to any of the nobility.

  “Well, my sister is moving up in the world.” Hiroto-san, Hinata’s brother remarked, as the discussion tinued. “Seriously, she seems happy.” We watched as she was talking rapidly to Takatsukasa-san, her mother and her cousins, no, her new siblings. “Maybe I should attend your training sore, but I’m always so busy.”

  “Hitting on girls and drinking, Hinata says.” I ughed, and he shrugged.

  “Not all the time. Though that’s important too, and you ’t exactly deny it, you?”

  “I guess not.” I agreed. “I do it too. You’re more than wele to meet my friends if you want. Maybe you’d get on.” Yasu-san would certainly enjoy chasing girls…

  “Everybody is ign me. I’m quite frustrated.” Mayumi-san said, bargiween us. “Akio-kun… is that what you really think of me, that I’m incapable of uanding others?”

  “Well, you’re interrupting a manly talk between brothers-in-w, so maybe.” I chided her, and she had the grace to look a bit embarrassed.

  “I… apologise.” She sighed. “It’s just… I’m not used to being so soundly abused.”

  “it’s not abuse. sider that if Hinata didn’t like you, she wouldn’t care enough to offer such advid criticism. She’d just cast you aside. You’re queen of your little world, but now… the big bad outside world is leaking in, and you have to ge, if you want to succeed.”

  “What he’s trying to say, Mayumi-sama…” Hiroto-san said politely. “… is that every person believes they are the star of their own life. But outside their own walls, the world doesn’t care.”

  “Indeed.” Miyu said, having joined us, while the heads of the Three Great Houses were hammering out the details. “I believed I was important, my life blessed, until I found myself a Chosen.” She sighed. “Mayumi-san, one day, you will find yourself in such a situation, where all the wealth, power and honourable history of Ichijou house is useless.”

  “And what do I do then?” she asked, curious. “What did you do?”

  “I threw a tantrum, relying on what I had before.” Miyu admitted shamefully. “Fortunately, Hinata-san and Akio-san here, they and his sister, they chastised me much as they did you. Their words are ho a to aid you. The world has ged. We ever have too many friends, true friends.”

  “I’d prefer it if you rely on your own power, but it o be your power. Your house and history ah, sure, it’s good, but you o cultivate something all of your own. But if the day es when your own strength isn’t suffit, that’s when you realise you need a friend.”

  “I see. And… Hinata isn’t my friend?” she frowned. “I adore her. She’s funny, fht, and she never fears to speak her mind to me. Others are thteo do so.”

  “Yes, but friends have to be equals. And you never accepted her as anywhere close to that. All because of the borrowed clothes you wore. If it was your own achievements that made you superior, she could accept that, but… well, look. She’s taken over one of the Three Great Houses. Isn’t that something you couldn’t have done?”

  “She helped save my heart, when I was about to shatter.” Miyu aowledged. “I will always be grateful, even though Michiru and I were disastrously rude and should have been discarded. They fave us, so… Mayumi-san…”

  “Mayumi.” She corrected. “We are in the same year. I used to look down on you as timid, unfit to be a daughter of Fujiwara, but… perhaps I was wrong.”

  “Yeah, she’s getting braver all the time. And a better dancer.” I ughed, only for Miyu to openly pout, face flushed, surprising Hiroto-san and Mayumi-san.

  “You are cruel at times, Akio-san. I dance, dand danore! All you do is make me dance! I fess, I do adore the dance, but… my feet bee raw, my muscles ache…”

  “Yes, but my Territory prospers.” I smiled. “Seriously, thank you. I don’t say it enough. Yift, Ame-no-Uzume’s grace, it’s truly found a home in you. And what you do could save not just Japan, but the world.”

  As Miyu looked down quietly, embarrassed, Hiroto-san ented. “Mayumi-sama, that’s what he meant by something that isn’t borrowed. Miyu-sama has gaihat power herself, and uses it. She be proud of that.” Well said. I couldn’t agree more.

  “I see. Well…” Mayumi-san frowhinking. “I don’t know. I do enjoy stock-trading and running my own panies, but…”

  “But you’ve probably realised that whatever you do, your doting family makes sure it doesn’t fail?” I asked, and she nodded.

  “Yes. There are always suspicious successes when times are hard. Before, I assumed I was lucky or skilful, but… my perspective has ged.” She paused. “Wait, does that mean our venture will be the same?”

  “Nope. I’m not going to bullshit you.” I promised. “Hinata woher. Well, bringing in Miss Lihat was a clever move. While I may dispute the share you took, sidering I did all the work, you made that money yourself, and saved someone who was dying. That’s something you did yourself.”

  “irely. I used my family es to make it happen.” She de.

  “Well, just because something isn’t yours, doesn’t mean you ’t use it. That would just be foolish.” I advised. “Just don’t take excessive pride in it. As for our joiures… well, prove to me, to Hinata, you have what it takes to be proud, and if you , we’ll respect you holy. And…” I looked at Hinata, who was arguing with her new sister again, trying to motivate her from the shock of this whole situation.

  “I uand.” Mayumi-sa out a long, drawn-out sigh. “Even if I apply the rules of the world I live in, the nobility, Hinata is the same as me now. Takatsukasa house may be weak and only standing with our support, but… that ends today, I know.”

  “It does.” I affirmed.

  “She’ll still be my kouhai. So I’ll still be treating her like a cheeky little junior.” Mayumi-san said, and I ughed, relieved.

  “I doubt she’d want you to ge totally. All she wants is a genuine e. A genuine friendship with the girl she admires.”

  “I… you say I don’t know how to be a friend.” She pouted.

  “If you respect Hinata, listen to her holy, and don’t lord your status over her, not that you , now… it’ll happen naturally. And… you extend the same courtesy to Natsumi and Motoko?”

  “I . After all, if yoing to i Takatsukasa, and they are yal wives… not even es, but wives… they have a suitable status.” Well, she’s still going on about status, but… it’s a ge, a cra her fa?ade of lonely self-importance. “You do spend a lot of time w about them. So… are you ied in Sakura-san after all?”

  “Nope. I have enough on my pte for now. Besides, it’d be a bit weird, cousins…”

  “No, sisters.” Hiroto-san ughed.

  “Yeah, I guess.” I agreed.

  “So in the end, what was it all for? Just Hinata’s happiness?” Mayumi-san asked, before Hinata herself had joined us.

  “No, though it thrills me that Akio was thinking about that so seriously. Think about it, Mayumi.” She grinned, deliberately leaving off the honorific still.

  “Yes, you call me Mayumi, you cheeky little girl.” She didn’t rise to the bait. “You may be my equal now, but you’ll always be my junior. So I’ll tio dote on you, so long as you op being fun.”

  “You want to know fun?” Hinata grinned. “Think about it. The Gover itself is supp Akio. The Ministry is his idea, and while there are obviously checks and bances, it will be him immensely. He has es to the military, and the JSDF as well as the Tsumura house are ied to him, and tied by marriage. The faiths have been brought into line, and support him, especially after Kyoto. He has vassals under his and…” she smiled at Miyu, who nodded gracefully. “… and in terms of support, has Shaeu, Hyath and many others. es with the Seelie Court, the Night Parade…” she looked at her grandfather. “Big business will i wisely wheime is right, Grandfather Kenji will see to that. And now… Takatsukasa house. Not only is Akio marrying well in the nobility, he will be equal to Kira-sama or Fujiwara-sama. Mother may be installed to repcle, but she knows Akio will be calling the shots, through me. So the nobility will be uo pin, especially when we revitalise Takatsukasa house, freeing up the need for the nobility to support it financially and through other efforts.”

  “I see.” Hiroto-san ughed, and Mayumi-san also caught on.

  “That’s every major power structure in Japan…” she whispered, putting together the puzzle pieces.

  “Not quite. We’re missing the Imperial Family.” Hinata winked. “For now. Eri and Shaeu told me that we have to save Princess Mikasa. She’ll be ied to us as well, and likely join us. So then…”

  “Everything in Japan…” Mayumi-san said, eyes wide. “Nobody would be able to gainsay you, every single disparate fa and group united…”

  “Yes. Dominance over the Boundary and those within. Immense power. The ability to train others and strehem. Money, political and military power, the bag of the faith, nobility and Imperial family. I don’t just want Akio to be one of the Three, Takatsukasa house is a stepping stone on his path. I want Akio to be Prime Minister and Emperor both, no, something greater than both, and not just of Japan, but the Boundary as well!”

  Astral Emperor. Tan says it’s the ruler of a world. Well, I’m not sure whether I make it there, there’s a lot of threats, a lot of obstacles and oppos, but… she’s right. Today was seemingly insignifit, political and marital wranglings to make some of my fiancées happy, to get the respect we deserved, but… in actuality it pletely solidified our powerbase. Now the nobility is tied to us with unbreakable s, and have to follow as we pull. The one downside was, it made it harder for me to threaten to leave Japan if I didn’t get my way, but… what more do we really need? Once we hit Territory Rank 4, there’ll be no-one in Japan who be my match…

  “Emperor, huh? A lofty goal. You’re even more ambitions than I thought, Hinata. But… it sounds fun!”

  “Sounds fun?” She cocked her head, fused.

  “Yes. I’m Iayumi! I’m beautiful, proud, fident, witty. And yes, arrogant too, all the things you said of me. But I’m also… bored. And perhaps I don’t uand how to be a friend, but… you’ll teach me, won’t you, Hinata? After all, now you correct me if I’m wrong, without hurting my pride and arrogance. Well, without hurting it much.” She corrected. “So…” she held out a hand, leaving Hinata a bit fused.

  “Take it, Hinata, my friend. You too, Akio-kun.” She smiled at us radiantly, her fidence dazzling. “After all, this I have to see, just how far you go. No, just how far we go! After all, we’re partners, right? First dominate Japan with our own power, and then…”

  “The world!” Hinata agreed. “No, not just the world, why stop there?” She ughed. “There are other worlds than these out there! Waiting for us!”

  As we csped hands, the girls caught up in the moment, I wasn’t sure whether to ugh or cry. The world? Other worlds? Just let me worry about saving Japan from the Red Dragon and the other threats first… Even so, I was happy. In the end, I still like promising. Most people here beed in one way or another. But… us most of all. From small beginnings, mighty oaks grow… “Hey, Miyu. Join in. After all, you’re a precious ally too, we’ll take you with us as well.”

  “By all means. Miyu-san, grab hold.”

  “Call me Miyu. As Hinata does.” She said, before adding her hand to ours.

  “Any room for me?” Hiroto-san asked, only for his sister to shoot him down, saying his hand would dirty Miyu’s. There was ughter, and then it was time for me to step up, and take stock of all the assets and troubles that came with Takatsukasa house…

  ShipTeaser