Chapter 45

"Alright, so! Everyone here?" Noriaki began, looking out across the hall.

Before him stretched out a grand meeting hall, filled with members from all the Clans, including their leaders.

He sat at the end of said hall, sitting reclined with one arm behind him, and legs sprawled out in front of him.

Suzaku knows he knows everyone's here, he's just asking because, well…

"Y-Yes, Lord Arahitogami!" One of the old men replied quickly, a sect elder who lives here in the Inner Sanctuary, with his voice shaky and stuttering, "Everyone's a-accounted for!"

Suzaku couldn't help the positively evil smirk that stretched across her face, prompting the elders behind Noriaki to wilt further.

It's funny watching those old men quake in their boots.

Oh sure, on some level, she's certain these old farts are quite exuberant at Noriaki's coming here.

After all, the last time any kind of deity was here was far back in antiquity; when the Clans were first born, in fact.

By all accounts, this is a momentous occasion.

She is curious then, why they all seem to be nervous, terrified, like a hive mind sharing the same emotions.

What did Noriaki say to them before they arrived?

She hopes it's less said, and more like he did something to them, but judging by the fact that they are all accounted for…and nothing is on fire…it's unlikely that's the case.

Ah well. A girl can dream, right?

"Splendid!" Noriaki leans forward a bit and claps once.

The elders flinched, and Suzaku barely withheld openly cackling at that, but everyone else's attention was quickly grabbed. The likely intended effect.

Their eyes were all drawn toward him, sitting front and foremost atop the dais, in front of all the elders.

She, and the rest of the leaders, sat closest to said dais, one right next to the other, their subordinates sat in rows stretching back behind each of them.

"Alright, everyone! Welcome, welcome! If we're all present and accounted for, then I suppose we can get started!" Noriaki waved at them all, his eyes closed with a bright smile stretching across his face.

"Don't worry, I'll be quick. This is very sudden after all…and we don't have much time to prepare." His chirpy tone was spiced with light frustration for a moment until a huff cleared it away.

Oh? That's rather ominous.

Now she would have very much appreciated being told earlier!

"Inari showed up in my bedroom this morning, and decided to drop some news about what the Shinto as a whole are planning." Noriaki began, a matter of factly.

Though oddly, Suzaku was much more focused on the first thing he said.

In his bedroom…?

"I'll leave out the…" he paused, and grimaced, "more personal stuff, and skip straight to the point."

…Okay. Now she really wants to know what happened.

She's definitely going to ask him after all this!

"The Shinto have been working on a deal and alliance with the Norse Gods. In one week's time, the Clans and the Youkai Factions will work together to protect the final meeting and signing off of the alliance." He dropped plainly, all at once.

Pin drop silence.

For her part, Suzaku couldn't be any more elated.

She had always believed in, championed even, cooperation with outside or foreign groups.

Even the Grigori, whom she inherently distrusted, she sought to work with rather than ostracize and ignore.

For the longest time, the Clans, much like the Japan of old, had been supremely isolationist. Not working with anyone, throwing out all those who didn't fit.

While the rest of the supernatural world advanced, it advanced without them, and they were left behind.

While the old men at the top covered their eyes to the world outside and continued making the new generations suffer under their old, broken ways.

Mostly all of the new generation share her views, she made sure of that, albeit they aren't so…zealous, about them, as herself.

Still. This is huge!

Carefully, she turned and looked at her fellow clan leaders, gauging their reactions.

To her immediate right, sat Seiryuu Kushihashi.

A bespeckled gray-haired, dark and cold yellow-eyed, young man, tall and lean.

He sat with his back straight, unflinching, and she wasn't surprised by his lack of any reaction whatsoever. His face locked in a perpetually stoic mask.

Well, at least he was frowning, so that's something.

As he's loyal and dutiful to a fault…to his Clan, and pretty much only to his Clan, she's actually kind of shocked he isn't considering the Kushihashi are still stubbornly stuck in their ways.

Back in the day, he'd follow orders to the letter, without question. Nowadays, as head, these traits have made him into…

Well, there's no nice way of saying this, but a hardass.

Stuck in the ways of those who taught him, despite her efforts otherwise.

What he wears is a clear indicator of his stance, especially when compared to the others.

A formal blue and yellow robe and sandals, very traditional clothes, and of course his glasses.

To her left, sat the young Nakiri Ouryruu.

Technically not a head; he's the heir, sent along likely so he could get used to these types of duties as the future head.

…And also because the current head is very old, and could drop dead at any moment.

A shorter than average, yet lean with muscles boy, perhaps a couple of years younger than Noriaki, she assumes.

His golden yellow hair is mostly slicked back, save for a large singular bang that sways from his forehead down in front of his face, and his dark, earthen brown eyes are rich and bright.

Most importantly, however, they are also looking up at Noriaki in curiosity. The boy holding a hand to his chin in thought from Noriaki's proclamation.

In truth, she honestly wasn't sure how he'd react to that, she hadn't gotten to know him much personally, he's only been heir for a couple of years now after all.

Well. She knows that he's scared of her for some reason.

She isn't that scary, is she?

Regardless, what she does 'know' is mostly just what she's heard. That he's a kindhearted, open-minded, and dutiful boy, with a strong sense of justice.

Essentially, he's not a traditional hardlining asshole, but she's not very surprised considering his Clan tends to be much more open-minded compared to the others.

Amusedly, it looks like the poor boy ran here from school, considering he's sporting his school uniform; a red and brown blazer stuck with a golden 'P' pen, a red tie, a white undershirt, long dark green pants, and black dress shoes.

Following Nakiri, is Byakko Shinra.

A tall, broad-shouldered, muscular man, with a shaved head and face full of stubble and five o'clock shadow, and piercing lively gray eyes.

He's smiling. Broadly.

She can't honestly say if that's a good thing after all.

She remembers Byakko, she recalls him literally doing whatever the hell he wanted, whenever he wanted.

Usually, he prioritizes whatever he finds interesting. Fighting new strong opponents is his common go-to, but it can be anything.

She can't believe she's thinking this, but he's essentially Noriaki if his battle-maniac tendencies applied to everything and were dialed up to fifteen.

That trait of his has led him to generally be uncontrollable by anyone, not even by his Clan.

He rocks a wide-open sleek white bomber jacket with black fur trim and collar and a sleeveless shirt referencing some sort of band or anime combo specifically to show off his muscles…albeit rather inefficiently, she might add…along with a simple pair of jeans and white sneakers.

Probably just going to have to wait and see with him, and just pray his interest is something benign.

At the end of the line, noticing Byakko's smile and trying to shuffle away from him as much as she can without it being obvious, is Genbu Doumon.

A short and petite young woman, perhaps one year younger than Noriaki, with shiny long silver hair tied up at either side with bright green beans, and brilliant purple eyes.

Her displeased expression isn't aimed at Noriaki, thankfully, but rather at the man next to her.

Those two never fully got along, no surprise there, and beyond herself only Genbu truly understands how much of a pain Byakko is to deal with, considering how many times the two were paired up for missions.

Which is saying something, because Suzaku knows the girl is infinitely polite and formal.

Sure, she dislikes vulgarity and rudeness, who doesn't, but it's telling that only Byakko managed to make Genbu reach the end of her patience.

She can't tell if it's gotten better or worse after she got over her shyness from the past.

Yet still, out of all the current Clan Heads and Heirs, Suzaku can confidently say she likes her the most.

After all these years, she's finally grown into her…unique outfit. A long yellow and white hooded coat, that goes just past her thighs.

Due to her added height, she's also wearing a simple white skirt with a yellow striped pattern, black shoes, and bright green high socks.

She's also got a couple of accessories. A white scarf, black and green turtle earmuffs, and a black and green turtle shoulder handbag.

Definitely the most exuberant fashion choice out of everyone here, despite her being more reserved than the others, even Seiryuu.

She doesn't doubt Genbu is fine with all this though, really she's more worried about what Byakko is going to do, what with the girl right next to him.

She'd rather there not be a big fight break out in the middle of the Inner Sanctuary between the two.

Well, unless she can take the time to fling a fireball up on the dais, that is…

Hmm? Why did Nakiri just shiver all of a sudden?

"So!" Noriaki speaks up once again, snapping her attention back, "That's pretty much what's going on. Don't ask about the exact details of this alliance, I wasn't told what those are, but anything else? I'm game." His eyes sweep over the crowd, "Well?"

"Who we fightin'?"

Suzaku sighs, as Noriaki's eyes stop and focus on the source of the voice; Byakko Shinra.

"Pardon?" Noriaki asks with a raised eyebrow.

"I asked, who we fightin'?" Byakko smiles with glee, "Because if the Gods are calling together all of us, the Youkai, even you? There's no way in hell they don't expect something to happen! And I'm all for it if that's the case!"

Joy. He's bloodlusted.

To her slight shock and worry, however, Noriaki doesn't refute that, humming before answering.

"...I'm sure there are a few here that don't like what's about to happen. It's the same for the Norse as well." Noriaki essentially confirms, "There is a possibility that dissidents on the Norse side may show up, and try to stop the proceedings."

"Bitchin." Byakko states with a smirk, "I'm game then."

…Suzaku supposes his simple-minded desires have advantages after all.

Even though poor Genbu looks like she swallowed a sour lemon.

"I, unfortunately, am not." Another voice calls, succinctly and plainly, to her right.

Suzaku suppressed a very annoyed groan, as Noriaki turned and looked at Seiryuu.

"Ho? And why might that be?" A slight bit of steel laced his question.

"Simply put, Lord Arahitogami?" Seiryuu began, pushing his glasses up, "I believe it is not the duty of the Clans to protect Pagan Gods from their own rebels. I have heard that the Norse are mighty warriors. Do they truly require us to do the fighting for them?"

Noriaki didn't seem deterred in the slightest, and in fact, waved off his concerns with ease, "I asked Inari the same thing. But in the end, it's a political thing. See, think about it like this…how much more could we get out of them, saving their delegation, solving their problem for them?"

Yet still, Seiryuu didn't seem the slightest bit sold, "I'd say it matters little. Risking the lives of the Clans for Pagan Gods, over what, a little extra on a piece of paper? I wouldn't call that worth it."

Noriaki grinned at the Kushihashi Clan Head, "Even if we're to save Odin's behind from Loki?"

That gave everyone, even Seiryuu, pause.

Except for Byakko, that guy just hooted and hollered, even more excited than before.

Despite the Clans being as isolated as they were, and the Norse being secretive as they are, everyone knows those Norse Gods.

Odin, their Chief God. Loki, the Trickster God. Mostly due to both's connection to Thor, but known the two still are.

If they do end up saving Odin…well. There's quite a bit they could gain from that.

Seiryuu finally reacted, clicking his tongue in distaste, "...be that as it may, it still leaves an unpleasant taste in my mouth. On top of that, working with the Youkai as well…" He shakes his head, "Sure, we may be neutral on paper, but actions between our two sides have led to both holding grudges, I cannot see us working together-"

Noriaki suddenly held up a hand, and talked over him, "You can. And you will." He shuts him down frankly.

Seiryuu flinched back slightly in surprise, before leveling a glare back at him, "What makes you say that?"

"Because the Gods you serve ordered it be done," he states coldly, "because I told you it will be done. You will either get over yourself and hop to it, or you'll be dishonored and replaced." Noriaki glares right back, "There is no room in between."

Seiryuu moved to say something, only to stop and shut his mouth, teeth-gritting, as pressure began to fill the room.

Divine pressure.

Noriaki slowly rose to his feet, his eyes glowing, as his back was wreathed with halos of pure golden white light.

A honey glow tinted the room, the light, a fluorescent shine.

As one, the elders behind him slammed their foreheads into the ground as they kowtowed to him.

Not because of the pressure, no, they did that on their own. But the others? The rank and file mystics? They followed suit due to it.

The only ones that remained sat straight were her and her fellow heads.

Noriaki stepped off the dais, floating down slowly from it, and before Seiryuu, looking down at the young man in complete and utter contempt.

"Do not misunderstand, I can understand your concerns…if they were genuine." Noriaki continues, voice vibrating with divine power and authority, "If you weren't hiding behind them like a coward, using them to mask your bias and disdain."

"I have…no such thing…" Seiryuu ground out, weakly, under the force of his attention.

"Do you?" Noriaki asked, head tilting, "Maybe if not you, then your Clan, no? Or maybe…the Sect Leaders here? Instead of helping with the Night Parade, you did sit here and not participate, after all."

"The Sanctuary-!" He tried to rebuff, only to be talked over once again.

"Would have been fine without you sitting here and twirling your thumbs." Noriaki finished for him, "Ever since the last time this place was attacked, it was protected by dozens of more barriers. It would take several Daiyokai working in consort to get anywhere."

"T-Tch…!" Seiryuu clicked his tongue, looking away, refusing to meet the Arahitogami's gaze any longer.

"Well, regardless. You don't need to worry about the Sect Elders here disobeying," he turns looking back toward the dais, "correct?"

As one, every single elder shoots up, "Yes, Lord Arahitogami!"

He nods, satisfied, before turning back to look down at Seiryuu, "So just fall in line, okay? If you have any legitimate concerns whose solution isn't do nothing, please feel free to speak them, hmm?"

The young man, pointedly, said nothing.

"Good." Noriaki stated with a huff, before floating back onto the dais.

But of course, it couldn't just end there, could it?

"Aw come on! That ain't any fun!" Byakko exclaimed loudly in disappointment.

Noriaki turned back to him, an eyebrow raised in confusion, "...excuse me?"

"It ain't no fun, only telling him off like that!" The man waves to Seiryuu, who glares right back, "You gotta make an example outta him! Pull him out and rough him up a bit, really let the message stick ya know?"

"...you're only saying that because you want an excuse to jump in any possible fight, aren't you."

Byakko flinches away from the small, but not meek, female voice that cuts straight down to the heart of it all.

"Eh? Genbu-chan!-"

"Don't call me that."

Byakko ignores her, and barrels on, "Come ooonnn. That's not what I was going for at all! Even though, ya know, Lord Arahitogami, I also didn't show up at Kyoto-"

"Because you couldn't fight the Daiyokai. You wouldn't stop crying about that, as I recall." Genbu interjects once again.

"Ack!" Byakko flinched back, holding his chest, "That's still disrespectful! I should be punished for that at least!"

"You're always disrespectful. It's nothing new from you." She deadpanned straight at him.

"Ack!" He flinched, and nearly fell, back from that, before turning to Noriaki, "Just ignore her, she's too young to understand! Come on, I offer myself as tribute! I'll do it for glasses over there, so, pleease?" He puts his hands together, bowing halfway to him.

Suzaku had to withhold a chuckle as Noriaki looked down at him, blinking in sheer bewilderment at their resident idiots' antics.

Finally, after a not-so-tense moment, the pressure in the room lightened, and Noriaki snorted out, "No. Maybe some other time though."

A thump radiated throughout the hall, as Byakko finally fell back with a grunt, and a groan, Genbu sitting beside him nodded along in agreement with Noriaki's words.

With a sigh, the aura around Noriaki completely dissipated as he looked around the room one final time, "Does anyone else have anything to add?"

Herself, Genbu, and Nakiri, who she only now realized had been entirely quiet this whole time, all shook their head…with Nakiri being a tad hesitant compared to the girls.

Noriaki clapped his hands, "Good stuff then…uh…mostly," He eyes the downed form of Byakko for a second, "everyone. I'll be contacting the West Youkai Faction, and setting up a channel for the two sides to communicate on how we go about this.

"As I learn more details from the Gods about what's going on, I'll send it here to be shared with the rest of you all. Until then though? We've got a week, start preparing. I'll see you all then."

Taking that as the dismissal it was, people began rising, shakily, the after-effects of Noriaki showing off still fresh in the minds and bodies of everyone present.

Seiryuu was, surprisingly, the first to get up and leave, several members of the Kushihashi streaming along behind him.

Nakiri stood and turned to start talking in hushed whispers with his clan members.

Byakko had to be dragged out of the clan hall by his people, as the head had begun…foaming at the mouth, somehow?

Suzaku will admit, that is a new one.

Genbu rose to her feet, bowed to Noriaki politely with a small smile on her face, and walked away with her clan members following orderly behind her.

The elders behind Noriaki quickly got up and dispersed, not so fast as to seem desperate too, but they were judging by the pale looks on every one of them.

As for Noriaki himself? He waved her over as he started to leave.

Suzaku rose and turned to her entourage to tell them to go back without her.

Now, she needed to decide whether to fuck him that presentation or light him on fire for not letting her in on it in the first place.

Decisions, decisions…

~ A New Sun ~

I walk out of the massive meeting hall, closing the sliding door behind me with a tired sigh.

Meetings. Meetings will forever fucking suck.

Granted. This didn't go as bad as I thought it would, but it's still annoying.

Only one of the Heads threw up any kind of rejection, most of the discontent was from the rank and file.

From my position atop that dais, and with my superb eyesight, I memorized the faces of every single person in that hall who met my decree with scorn, hate, disgust, things like that.

The showing of divine power I did was mostly for them, not the Kushihashi guy, though his position certainly gave me the chance and reason to do so.

For now, that should be enough to cow them into submission.

But if they start shit? Well…

Then I'll start making examples, and not in the way the other guy…think he was the Shinra Head…wanted.

Speaking of the heads, I have to say, they are not what I was expecting.

At all.

Especially the Shinra guy. Holy, he really wanted some smoke, and for once I didn't want to give it.

Can't say why, maybe the begging turned me off?

…Red flag Nori. Red flag.

Moving on, I expected the turtle-themed girl to be more eccentric, but nah, she was the most normal of the bunch.

Yes. Even with Suza there. The girl doesn't qualify as normal.

Because if it were up to her, I'm fairly certain she'd just-

The door behind me slides open quickly and shuts as soon as the girl who opened it steps through to the other side.

Which was almost immediately, because right as I turned to see who it was, the girl herself was already right in front of me, finger pointed straight at my chest.

"I am very mad at you!" She states, glaring up at me with a cute little pout.

I smirk down at her, crossing my arms as I do, "Hey now, if you wanted to come maybe you should have answered your phone, hmm?"

"I was asleep!" She fired back.

"Take your phone off silent, how about that?" I deflect back at her.

"No. That'd be annoying. Do you understand how many messages I get throughout the night?" She huffs, looking away, "Besides, you could have stopped by and picked me up…"

Aww, poor girl looks legitimately dejected.

I reached over and patted her on the head, giving her a sincere smile, "It couldn't have waited that long…besides, I know you don't like…them…but this was serious. Not an excuse to set them all on fire."

Her pout intensified as she looked back at me slowly, "...Not even a little?"

I deadpan back at her, "No. Not even a little."

"Hmph." She huffed, displeased.

This. This is why she isn't normal.

Honestly, ever since Kuroka pretty much forcibly inserted herself as one of Suza's friends, the girl has been a tad bit more…unhinged.

Damn cat, turning the 'ara ara' miko into a pyromaniac miko.

I resisted the urge to chuckle out loud at the thought.

As though she wasn't both of those already, Kuroka is simply coaxing her pyromaniac side out more.

Just as I was opening my mouth to comment as such, the door suddenly slid open again to both our surprises.

Standing on the side, was the only heir amongst the heads that sat before me, a young blond boy that I recognized from DxD canon.

Nakiri Ouryruu.

Kind of unfortunate I only recognize him because he looked up to Issei of all people in the story, but eh.

Think he paid for that by his current school uniform. Seriously. Those colors do not match well with his hair.

Especially the pants! Who picks green pants as the color for their school uniform, a sadist!?

Poor guy.

He looks in, tilting his head as he sees the two of us, he flashes an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry, Lady Himejima, Lord Arahitogami, am I interrupting something?"

I wave him off, "No no, not at all!" Suza, of course, pouts harder at that, "Did you need something?"

"Ah…well, yes. I promise to be quick, I only have some questions to ask of you!" He bowed, deeply, at that, and I merely gave him an amused chuckle.

"Alright. Shoot."

The boy raised his head, and nodded before a serious expression overtook his face, "I noticed...that you agreed with Lord Kushihashi that the safety of our people is important, but you didn't elaborate on how you would ensure it.

"Our opponent is, after all, a not-so-weak Pagan God, and we're protecting Odin. It's likely the Trickster will do something dangerous and I just…"

I hold my hand, stopping him as he trails off, a smile etched across my face, "I know what you're trying to say, and I do. I didn't mention it on stage, because those are details for later, but I can run them by you now know if you'd like?"

"Ah?" Nakiri perked up, and nodded once again, "Please do!"

Even Suzaku nodded along a curious look in her eye.

Of course, I have ideas for dealing with Loki specifically, in case he doesn't just pull up and stupidly reveal himself in broad daylight like in canon.

Speaking of Loki's 'plan' in canon, I was half tempted to refute Nakiri's idea of Loki being strong.

If I recall correctly, and I may not, because my memory of that fight is hazy…the guy is kinda pathetic.

His kids carried that fight hard, and without Fenrir there, I'm pretty damn sure Vali by himself could have beat Loki like a redheaded stepchild.

Hell, the only thing I fear going into this is Fenrir himself.

It's why I have plans, specifically, for Loki if he pulls what he does in canon.

Bitch ain't gonna last a second. I won't give him the chance to summon the dog.

But, no plan survives contact with the enemy.

And meetings after meetings are eternal.

The two constants in any world.

Well. Those and Murphy.

With an internal sigh, I pitch my idea to the two Clan Heads, desperately praying internally that the boys 'few questions' really are only that.

I've got a fox to call, and a week of hardcore training to go under before shit hits the fan, after all.