The East Youkai Faction
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"Is this really necessary?" Takauji whined from the other side of the changing room, Yasaka patiently waiting outside as her servants started to dress him.
"It is, when meeting with another faction, especially a hostile one. It's crucial that you're presentable, especially with your position as our faction's protector." The best way to describe Takauji's role would be to use cultivation novels, Yasaka was the Matriarch, and Takauji was like the overpowered Ancestor that appeared once every blue moon. "Nurarihyon is a detestable individual, if there's even a stray hair on your clothing he'll find some way to use that against me."
"Does it matter? If I'm stronger than him then he shouldn't have any leverage over you in the first place. He's the one coming here to meet you, not the other way around." From appearances alone, it was pretty easy to interpret that Yasaka was the dominant hand at the table.
"Indeed, it would be very easy for me to strongarm him with your strength, but I have no desire to use you in such a way. Nor is that the type of leader I want to become, I must lead as an example for both my daughter and my people after all."
I can't say I hate that about you. Oh well, if he tries anything underhanded I'll just burn him alive, I can't have anyone messing with the kindness of my beloved now can I?
Takauji hummed from the other side, the sliding door opening and revealing his figure.
"Well? How do I look?" He wore a maroon kimono with white lining, and a crimson red haori over it alongside a similarly colored sash in place of his usual pink one. A fiery Eastern Dragon had been etched into the lower half of his outfit, alongside a set of white tabi socks and brown sandals.
Yasaka put her hand on her chin, examining his outfit and smiling shortly after.
"It suits you." She complimented, earning a returned smile from the Dragon. "He'll be here any minute now, so we should probably get going."
He nodded, walking by her side until they entered the already prepared main hall. An enormous elongated table running down the middle, split very clearly into two sides. One for the representatives of the West, and the others for the East.
Yasaka and Takauji sat together in the middle, with the heads of the major bloodlines within the faction on their left and right.
"You don't look very nervous." Yasaka observed. "Perhaps you are used to this kind of politicking?"
"No. It's just that unless he's secretly climbed up to Sirzechs's level since your last meeting, then I simply have no reason to be nervous." He yawned, eager to get the meeting over with and return to his more important mission of flirting with Yasaka.
After some time had passed, the door to the main hall opened. Catching the attention of everyone present in the room as they looked at the figure who had just walked in, followed by a group of what looked to be other Youkai.
The man at the forefront of the bunch was a handsome young man with long wavy black hair that protruded towards the back of his head. He had his hands tucked into the sleeves of a kimono with green and black stripes, alongside a white cloth draped over his shoulders and zōri.
But Takauji paid him no need, instead turning around picking something invisible up with his hand.
"Do you have a death wish?" He asked plainly, a shroud of darkness erupting from where his hand was, revealing an old man with a bald, gourd-shaped head wearing a kimono with an autumn-leaf pattern on it.
"Sorry sorry, I just couldn't help it when I heard you also possessed the same element as me, well kind of since mine makes use of [Youjutsu] instead of Mana." He said with a mischievous smile, Yasaka rolling her eyes as she observed his antics. "Nice to meet you Pandora, I'm Nurarihyon." He extended his hand while suspended in the air, to which Takauji refused to return the gesture.
"If you're here to play games, then I suggest you leave the same way you came in." Yasaka admonished, not sure what she should've expected from the old man.
"Uptight as always I see, Yasaka. How often is it that we get to see a Dragon up close? You can't blame me for being a little curious." He folded his arms, huffing in a playful manner. "But on a serious note, could you put me down now?"
It was then that Takauji decided to use his [Sense Manipulation] which had gotten even stronger after he attained his concept of [Delusion], to mitigate the hearing of everyone around him, Yasaka included.
"If you get that close to Yasaka again, I'll kill your entire faction myself. Wormhead." He stated calmly, a chill running down Nurarihyon's spine as Takauji put him down, the Faction Head quickly returning to his seat, the young man at the front of the group sitting down next to him.
"Did you do something to him?" Yasaka questioned, noticing that Nurarihyon's expression had become uncharacteristically tense. Contrary to his usually flippant one.
"Of course not, you told me not to act without your say-so didn't you?" She narrowed her eyes, confident that he had affected Nurarihyon in some way, but not having any evidence to prove it.
Nurarihyon cleared his throat as he regained his poise, motioning towards the young man sitting beside him.
"This is my son, Rihan. You met some time ago when he was still a child."
"Yo." He greeted Yasaka glibly, to which she spared him a glance.
"I remember, Kunou had just been born back then."
"Speaking of Kunou, where is she?" Nurarihyon looked from side to side, wondering why the West Youkai Faction's Princess was nowhere to be seen.
"She's sleeping, is there a problem with that?" Codeword for Yasaka not wanting Kunou anywhere near Nurarihyon.
"No, of course not." He relented. "You're probably already aware of why I'm here I imagine?"
She nodded.
"Then I'll just go ahead and ask you outright," his expression tightened. "Are you planning on war?"
Yasaka scoffed, even Takauji letting out a sharp exhale as he restrained his laughter.
"Dad, I don't think they're taking you very seriously." Rihan chuckled, finding the problems of his own father amusing to witness.
"Don't bring me down to your standards, Nurarihyon. I have no interest in conflict, I've only ever cared about my own people's wellbeing, which I'm sure you already know." She calmly sipped on the cup of tea one of her servants had prepared.
"If that's the case, then why did you bring a Dragon like Pandora into your fold?"
"Isn't it obvious? With the threat of the Khaos Brigade having been formed, how could I not take measures to ensure my people's safety? Having Pandora as defense is a boon I couldn't afford to pass up."
Nurarihyon started to drum his fingers against the table.
"And you don't wish to join the alliance of Three Powers, isn't that right?" He concluded.
"Mhm, I doubt you're any less disinterested as I am. Forming an alliance with such an enormous group that the terrorist organization itself has been recruiting from offers me no stability, but making one with an individual does."
He grumbled, unable to refute her claim as he carefully examined Takauji.
"I see he's started to learn [Senjutsu], was that the exchange you made in return for his protection?" No matter how detestable he was, Nurarihyon was still one of the strongest Youkai around. He could easily see that much.
"Yes, I did."
He brooded for a moment, a smirk soon appearing on his face as he got a flash of inspiration.
"Hey, Pandora." Yasaka's eyes narrowed, not pleased to hear him addressing her ally so abruptly. "How about you make a deal with me as well?"
"A deal?" Takauji raised a brow.
"What do you think you're doing? Nurarihyon." She glared at him, but the old man's smile remained.
This should be interesting.
"What's the problem? I just want to have a bit of a chat with Pandora. There's nothing wrong with that, is there?" He looked at Takauji, unable to read what was going through the Dragon's mind.
"Go on then." Takauji replied, shocking Yasaka as she looked at him bleary-eyed.
"You see, there's an extremely powerful technique one can obtain through [Senjutsu], that Yasaka cannot help you attain. However, I can."
"What nonsense are you spouting–" Yasaka tried to intervene, but Takauji motioned for her to stop.
"If he has something to say then at least let him say it, that is what meetings are for are they not?" She was forced to set aside her grievances, confused as to why Nurarihyon had piqued his interest.
"Have you ever heard of [Sage Mode]?" He asked.
"Enough of this farce Nurarihyon, neither of us have attained that technique. Just what are you playing at?" Her suspicion was through the roof at the moment.
"I may not have attained it, but have you forgotten? I have connections with someone who does."
"Who–" It clicked, Nurarihyon did in fact have a relationship with someone who had not only attained the technique, but mastered it to a degree that no one else had. "Don't be ridiculous, as if he'd ever agree to do anything on your behalf."
Nurarihyon chuckled darkly, knowing that now was the time to use the ace up his sleeve.
"Judging by Yasaka's reaction, this [Sage Mode] seems to be a rather remarkable technique, so I'd be lying if I said I'm not interested. But who is this figure that has the both of you so hung up?" He tilted his head.
"Sun Wukong."
Takauji's eyelids lifted, there were very few people who didn't know that name to some extent.
"The one working with the Khaos Brigade?"
Nurarihyon shook his head.
"Not that brat, I'm talking about the real deal. The Great Sage Equaling Heaven himself."
Yasaka wasn't sure what to think, not knowing where Nurarihyon got the confidence to drop such a renown name.
"You know him?" Takauji found it hard to believe, for such a legendary figure to be associated with someone weaker than himself.
"I do, a long time ago I committed a deed that earned me a single favor from him, which I was planning to save for a true emergency. And now that the Khaos Brigade has arrived, what better time than the present?"
"A deed? You expect me to believe Wukong would allow himself to be indebted to someone such as yourself?" Yasaka refused to believe the Victorious Fighting Buddha would heed the call of someone like Nurarihyon.
"The facts are the facts Yasaka," he shrugged. "Honestly, even if I didn't have a favor to cash in he'd probably still agree to teach him [Senjutsu]. You know of his love for Dragons, especially with his loyal Yu-Long following him every step of the way."
She bit down on her lower lip, she knew that the [Senjutsu] she could offer Takauji was nowhere near the level of Wukong's. No one's was. And he had another point, Sun Wukong loved Dragons.
Takauji hummed.
"Let's say Sun Wukong agrees to teach me [Senjutsu], what do you want from me in exchange?"
"I want you to extend the same courtesy you've given to the West, to the East. As Yasaka said, I understand the threat of the Khaos Brigade, however currently I also do not wish to join the alliance. Therefore I'd like for you to offer your protection instead, obviously I won't force you to choose which faction you take up residence in, but I will expect you to heed my call when I request it."
"Even if I make such a deal, if both of you were to be attacked at the same time, whose call do you think I'd answer first?" He stared Nurarihyon down with his slit pupils, the latter swallowing down a gulp of saliva.
"I already know the answer to that, but even still I'd like to recruit your help."
Haha, Youkai really are interesting creatures. You'd really go that far just to not ally with the three? You truly are a shining beacon of Vainglory, which I suppose I ought to respect.
Takauji spared a glance to Yasaka, noticing her disgruntled expression.
"It's an enticing deal, but first I'd like to discuss it with Yasaka in private."
"Of course." He got up, motioning for his group to follow him out of the main hall.
"Are you really going to accept Nurarihyon's deal?" She asked him immediately.
"Probably, I mean this is Sun Wukong we're talking about." She frowned despite understanding his sentiment. If Yasaka had been in his position she probably would've accepted as well, there wasn't a single Youkai alive who didn't revere the Monkey King. "But even if I extend my protection to him, this place is my first priority. Even he seems to understand that."
"I know, you don't have to treat me like an angsty child." She pouted, Takauji finding her expression cute.
"Don't worry, once I've finished receiving Wukong's instruction I'll come rushing back into your arms." He leaned closer to her, causing Yasaka's cheeks to redden a little. "And I'll give you a big sloppy Dragon kiss–"
"Alright alright," she gestured for him to stop. "I get it, there's no need to tease me."
"Tease?" He brought his face even closer, whispering into her ear. "I'm being serious though." Her body tingled as she felt the honesty in his words. "Maybe I should do more than just give you a kiss when I'm back," he said with a suggestive look.
"Now isn't the time for jokes."
Takauji sighed.
"You can deny it if you want, but once I'm back my advances won't be so easy to shrug off, just keep that in mind." He got up, getting ready to deliver his verdict to Nurarihyon. "Take care of Raynare for me while I'm gone will you? Darling ♡." He blew a kiss her way, burning her beet-red face into his memory.
Yeah, I'm definitely not letting you escape me when I'm back.
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Playing Black Myth Wukong got me feeling different, that game is just too peak.
10+ Advance Chapters: patreon.com/Accel14
Discord Link: KQAtTw9u7x
Word Count: 2391