Chapter 18

Back in the same chamber where, just the other day, I killed a man.

Sat at the same table, the same chairs, teapot, even the smell of the tea.

Only differences? The cups are different and significantly fancier, and the other occupant isn't an old guy this time.

"Can I just say," I begin after taking a ginger sip of…whatever kind of tea this is, I don't know, but it tastes impeccably sweet, "you fill this room out much better than the old guy did."

Suzaku giggles lightly at that, "My, isn't someone a flirt."

I shrug at that, "I just state the truth when I see it."

Suzaku had long since sent the people she called back to the compound away from this building, so I do not need to hide anything in particular.

"Speaking of old guys," I continued, "Suou Himejima. I killed him. He told me he sent a bunch of the other elders away to this Inner Sanctuary before I arrived here, though." I raise an eyebrow at her, "You know about any of that?"

Suzaku gives a short hum, "I was aware of those elder's survival, yes. Shame that."

Damn. Not even going to try and be coy now?

"But, I wasn't aware of your killing of that man in particular. Did he offend you in some way?" She asked, intrigued.

I stare at her, blankly, "He knew what he was doing was wrong. Yet he still did it anyway."

She grimaces at my brief explanation, "Yes, his more…cowardly insistence on holding to tradition for fear of any sort of backlash was a big pain point for me as well."

I was very tempted to bring up the marriage interview stuff, but really, that sounds like a great way of pissing her off.

No real way to bring up something that sensitive in a joking manner.

"Ah, but if you did kill him, does that mean I'm to assume you mean to follow your father's footsteps?" She inquired, "After all, if I recall correctly, he did much the same upon his introduction to the Clans, just on a much bigger scale."

I snorted, "Depends. Ultimately, nothing he did changed anything. After he was gone, everything just kind of fell back into place."

Look, I'll be frank.

"And me? Well, I heard he tried to start and run a unified supernatural Japan. A kingdom." I point to myself, "I have absolutely no fucking clue how to rule. In that sense, I'd probably do worse than even he did."

I chuckle a bit before thinking aloud, "Unless it's common sense, I can do that. Telling other people not to do stupid shit would be quite easy, I think."

Suzaku nodded and chuckled along with my words.

Honestly. Back when I confronted Suou, I said I wanted to do better than my father did.

I said it because it felt right to say that, and I do want to, ultimately.

Then I sit here and realize, I'm so far out of my depth in that regard it's hilarious.

And kind of sad.

Suzaku gives a lovely hum, "Is that so? Truthfully, I thought you were here in part because your mother ordered you to come take over the part your father played."

Really?

Wait. Is that what everyone is going to think when I go to them?

That's…annoying.

I deadpanned at her, "I haven't even spoken to my mother. Across my entire life, in fact." I shake my head, and press on, "I originally came here just to learn about what supernatural Japan is like, beyond what my sources could grant."

Though at this point, I think I've kind of veered off the path of my original purpose, haven't I?

"Also, allies would be nice, I'd like to have those as well." I shoehorn in.

Suzaku, meanwhile, is just staring at me, "You haven't spoken to your mother, ever?" She utters, clearly in disbelief.

I shrug nonchalantly, "Yup. I came here all on my own."

"I…see." She finally says, a thin frown on her lips, "I truly didn't expect that, not at all. We as well, of the Five Clans, share a similar problem as well. Never hearing from the gods in any direct manner was actually why your father had support at all."

I raise an eyebrow at that, "Really? That's…interesting."

Somehow. I don't doubt for a second that the Kami leave these guys out to dry beyond giving blessings and probably some vague sense of their wills.

She sighs solemnly, "It's a pain, is what it is. Imagine, trying to do the will of your patrons when they won't tell you what they want, explicitly."

I cringe at that.

Damn. Right on the money, huh?

Would now be a good time to bring up that I have Uzume as my maid?

Or that I've met Inari before?

I kind of want to see her reaction to all that.

Hmm.

Nah. I'll save it for later.

"But, getting back on track," she shakes her head and continues, dropping her frown and replacing it with a slight sparkle in her eyes, "I'm actually quite glad you came here of your own volition. We here of the clans are servants to the gods, not seeing another is a nice change of pace."

I give a happy hum at that.

"And I'm pretty glad you're doing what you're doing," I waved my hand to the compound outside, bathed still in the sweet summer night, "with all of them, the Clans, the Himejima especially. I heard about the Clans before coming here, and admittedly, another part of the reason I wanted to come was to help against all the ultra-traditionalist bullshit going on getting people exiled and killed."

That sparkle in her eyes only seems to grow stronger, "Really now? Well, I certainly wouldn't be opposed to a little help, here and there. Being able to say that actions taken are ordained by the gods is an excellent hand waver to get things done."

I take another sip, another chuckle escaping my lips, "You wanna use me like a very handsome stick to beat down certain very stubborn elders, huh?"

The smile that sprouts on her face is poorly contained behind her teacup, "Whatever could you mean, I wonder?"

Very, very, scary indeed.

"Well, apologies, I'll help. But I won't be used." I wave off, unperturbed, "I'm not that dumb, I have agency and my own goals."

"Hmm. As you say." She says simply after taking a sip herself, "So then, what are those goals, Lord Kusanagi? If you aren't going to follow in your father's footsteps?"

"Hey now," I smiled right back, "I never said that, I said it depends."

Her smile turns cheeky, "On?" She inquires.

"Whether or not I could change anything, long term, even if I did manage to gather everyone together," I answer just as cheekily back, "and luckily? I do have some ideas on how to make it work."

At that Suzaku blinks, her head tilting cutely with genuine intrigue and slight surprise.

Anticipating her asking for details, I continue before she can speak, "I won't give away much, since I'm still working out the details, but it involves a more…permanent peace."

As Suzaku's eyes widen slightly as she considers my words, I chortle internally.

The idea only came to me recently, very recently, but I stole it from the Three Factions Peace Conference.

Which I doubt will happen at all here, since there are only Two Factions now.

But in effect, I want to see if achieving a more permanent peace and cooperation between Japan's supernatural factions is possible.

Not the sham peace the Clans have with the Yokai, which was already broken with the East Yokai Faction.

I want something between the Kami/Clans, and Yokai proper, where they all work together rather than trying to murder each other.

The idea is that everyone can collaborate, and use their resources together, to make Japan a better place.

Sounds simple, but I have a very intense feeling it's going to be a pain in the ass to pull off.

For one, convincing the die-hard traditionalist clans to do it sounds like hell, and I heavily doubt the Yokai have the same baseline respect for me that the clans do from my heritage.

That's all assuming I don't come in with a fat stick and start swinging, but I'm nowhere near strong enough to make that method work, unlike my father.

Also, that method didn't end up sticking, so I doubt it will again.

Hmm, it's going to be something I have to build up towards, then.

Help the clans with their stuff, and when the Hero Faction comes around, beat them down and win the West Yokai Faction's favor, that's a good start.

After I'm through here, I need to head back and have a talk with Uzune about stuff. See what's viable and not.

"That's certainly an idea, Lord Kusanagi," Suzaku eventually slowly states, "definitely an idea I've never personally entertained."

I nod, "That's fair, I only recently came up with it myself," I admit, "but I think the idea has a good foundation. Though beyond trying to make it happen, I'm still not entirely sure of my role beyond that."

Suzaku nods pleasantly, "Then may I ask you to keep me informed on your plans? I'll admit, while I never entertained the idea myself, it does sound interesting."

She smiles sweetly as she continues, "A greater, more permanent peace would be amicable towards and help my personal goals for the clans."

"Got a phone number so I can contact you whenever?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.

"Mhmm~!" She hums pleasantly, "But oh my, Lord Kusanagi, asking for a young lady's number so easily? So casually?" She gives me a very cheeky grin as I smirk right back at her, "Aren't you bold?"

I chuckle, "Not so bold, it would be an insult were I to assume a beautiful young lady like yourself doesn't have anyone pining for your attention. No boyfriend, no marriage lined up?" I play along, putting on a distinguished noble-sounding voice.

"Ufufufu~! Beautiful, hmm?" She hums good-naturedly, reaching for a napkin on the table.

It was a quick thing, but I did notice something else.

As soon as I said the word marriage her smile strained. Heavily.

It was so quick, I almost did miss it, but I caught it, and holy fuck am I glad I did bring up the marriage thing earlier more directly.

Dodged a nuclear missile, I think.

Still, four years, and Tobio hasn't done anything about this?

There's only loving your childhood friend, and then there's leaving several girls out to dry for years, including said childhood friend, because you're an indecisive pushover.

Granted, I don't know what's wholly going on behind the scenes, and another man's love life, or lack thereof, isn't my business.

Still. It's just sad.

A burning smell draws my attention from my thoughts, and I see Suzaku carefully burning a message into a napkin.

Flexing her mastery over her power, she writes her phone number down perfectly. I don't even see any fire come from her finger as she writes, just the faint heat haze.

And as she hands it off to me, I find the makeshift note merely warm to the touch, with no damage marring it beyond the intended burned-in numbers.

"There you are, Lord Kusanagi!"

I give a thankful nod as I take it.

"I'll send you a message when I leave here tonight." I pocket the napkin, before adding, "I suspect we might be talking to each other extensively."

"Oh?" She raises an eyebrow slightly, "Whatever for?"

"Well, unless you're gonna tell me everything you need help with tonight." I start, "Also, unless you plan on telling me about supernatural Japan all right now to go along with it. Seems like a fair bit, taken together, right?" She gives a rather sheepish nod to that.

"Also," I tact on, "friends are nice. More of those is always good."

Seriously. I've got like. Three.

Uzume, Kuroka, Koneko.

Uzume only sort of counts, but we don't do friend stuff, Kuroka is…Kuroka.

Koneko fits though. Though I highly suspect she'll be going the way of Kuroka in the future.

Suzaku's eyes widened slightly, "Friends, hmm? Well, if you're looking for more of those, may I recommend a place where you could meet more? They are joining us under the umbrella of Shinto, after all."

I blink at that.

"Ah, right," I hum out, "the Slash Dog Team is being transferred over. Suppose I should go visit them. Know anywhere I could meet them?"

Suzaku chuckles, "They usually frequent a bar, perhaps sometime I can take you there, and introduce you?"

I grin, "My oh my!" I play up and exaggerate my voice, "Asking a young man to a bar, so casually?" I try, likely failing, to bat my eyelashes, "How bold." I finish with a smirk, to Suzaku's giggling.

"Am I to take that as a yes, then?" She asks between giggles.

"Yeah, that's a yes." I chuckle, "I've been to a bar before, got so shit-faced drunk it's still just a haze to me. Think it'll be different this time."

"If the bartender will serve you underaged," she gives me a slight grin, "which he won't. I know the bartender personally, he's far too straight-laced for that."

I sigh, and wave it off, "Well, that's good at least. Means I might remember my time there."

She smiles and nods, "That it shall. Although we will have to go after this mess is over, I'm afraid."

I give a simple nod in understanding.

Then, taking a quick look outside, I find the darkness outside has faded slightly, purple and black pulling back like a curtain to reveal a slight blue glow just beneath the horizon.

Damn. All night? Really? Doesn't feel like it.

I down the rest of my cup like a shot, and place the cup back gently.

"Well~!" I stretch out in my seat, before slowly rising with a protracted groan, "Ah. I think we covered just about everything, no?"

Suzaku followed my gaze for a moment, before chuckling at likely the same realization I just had.

She too rises curtly, a small smile across her face, "I believe it does, yes."

I give a content hum, "I'm not too sure when I'll see you again, sometime before or perhaps during the Yokai's Night Parade, when the Clans have their gathering?"

"I doubt I'll be able to input any of my plans before then," she waves my first notion off with a sigh, "so during the Clan gathering, most likely."

"Any idea when that'll be?"

She thinks for a moment, "A few days at most, I'll send you specific details before then."

I nod, before giving her a slight respectful bow. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Lady Himejima, despite the circumstances."

Suzaku chuckled, before bowing as well, although hers was much deeper, "You as well, Lord Kusanagi. Although," she raised her hand back up, "if we are to be friends, shouldn't we drop the pleasantries?"

"Ah! How bold~!?" I exaggerated exclaimed in response, to sweet giggles.

I smile, "That's alright with me, Lady Suzaku."

"Well then, Lord Noriaki," she smiles right on back, "be seeing you in person again quite soon."

~ A New Sun ~

I was feeling much better on my journey back home.

And why wouldn't I? I got to headbutt Baraqiel in the face. Peak emotional venting.

The talk over tea went well too.

Suzaku was a touch more ruthless than I originally imagined, admittedly.

But when the girl grew up in the Himejima and specifically took the Vermillion Bird on to enact change, what should have I expected?

Speaking of…

As I walk down the street, I mess with my phone's contacts, trying to think of a good nickname for her.

Ah.

I type the first thing that comes to mind.

Tiddy Birb.

Perfection.

Saving that, and sending her a quick message stating it's me and this is my number, I quickly filter through one last thing.

The memories of my clones, specifically. As it turns out, they didn't end up doing much beyond cleaning up.

Not like I could do much else, I'm not a carpenter.

But none of that was important.

What was is the memories of how the other clan members reacted to the clones being there.

See, Suzaka had called everyone back to the compound and sent people to start repairing the damage from my fight with Baraqiel.

And the guys that were sent over? Well. I'd describe their reactions to me as they revered me, practically on sight.

Much the same way that those mystics at the temple did.

I could hear talk, sporadic, here and there about how I came to kill the bastard crow and free them, like a divine gift or some shit.

It irked me, slightly, I recall. To have my agency reduced to being told to come save them by my mother or something.

So one of my clones told them off. That I wasn't sent, that I came of my own will, just like I had told Suzaku.

Somehow, that made them only revere me more.

Rolling my eyes as the memories pass, I continue my rather lackadaisical walk across the city.

Then I realized I burned my bagged sheath off and was freely walking around with a sword strapped to my back.

Thank fuck it's still super early out, and I'm not exactly anywhere near where people would be out so early.

So I picked up my pace, leaping high into the air before flying off.

The view here is nice and all, but I can't help but loathe my luck when it comes to just taking a walk so far.

Specifics shalt not be named, lest I incur the wrath of Murphy.

Nothing interesting happened on my flight back home, although seeing the city eerily devoid of people at certain places from up above was pretty cool.

Rather than enter my apartment via the door, I simply floated in through a window.

Which was open, for some reason, even though I don't recall opening one before I left the other day?

The reason as to why quickly became apparent.

That was, the complete reorganization of my living room into a veritable command center, complete with a big ass table in the center where a map of Japan sat.

Around it, were the boxes from the other day, opened and seemingly organized completely within judging off a cursory glance.

The source for the remodeling overnight?

Uzume, standing there in a tight black skirt and white sleeveless blouse, looking over everything with a finger to her chin, humming pleasantly in agreement with...herself?

My first thought was, damn. Fuck the maid outfit, she fills out a secretary outfit way better.

My second thought was, "Where did all the furniture go?"

"EEP!?" Uzume jumped in her spot, flipping back around to look at me, "Nori!?"

"Yes. I'm Nori-kun." I confirm blandly.

She stares at me a moment, before huffing and pouting, "Why did you come through the window?"

"Because it was open and more convenient?" I state, looking around for a chair to sit on, "Why did you leave the window open?"

"Ambience," She responds as if it answered everything, "and air."

"Ah," I hum in confirmation, walking over to and grabbing a kitchen chair, "that makes sense."

With that, I take a seat. And pat my lap.

Uzume looks on, blinking slowly.

"Nori-kun, what are you…?"

"Come." I command, "Sit."

"W-What!? Why!" She exclaimed, her face flushing.

I roll my eyes, "Because someone moved the couch, so I have to do this instead. Come on!" I continue patting my lap.

Slowly, she waddled over and gingerly sat on my lap.

I grabbed her waist, and pulled her closer, prompting her to wrap her arms around my neck and squeak as if I was suddenly about to drop her.

I take a deep, non-combat oriented, breath.

"Uzume." I start plainly, "When the fuck did I say you were done resting?"

"E-Eeehh? That's what you start with!?" She exclaimed, prompting a very deadpan stare straight into her eyes.

"The fact that you did this anyway, expecting me to have an issue with something, but did it anyway concerns me." My lips twitch, as a thought occurs, "Did you…want me to punish you?"

Uzume immediately starts squirming in my grasp.

Eventually, she stops, refusing to meet my gaze.

"Maybe." She says quietly, so very quietly, I could hardly pick up on it.

But I did. So I smacked her on the ass.

"AH~!? Mmmm~! Nooori~kun!" She shuddered before she started whining.

I give her the blankets of stares, "Maybe later. First, what's all…this?" I wave off to the former living room.

"Nmmmm!" She huffs, I can feel the urge to pout at my denial radiating off her in waves.

Shockingly, she managed to push it and answer me properly.

"It's a planning center," She explained curtly, "I gathered up everything I brought, organized it, set out maps and charts and the like relating to everything. The works."

Slowly, she looks at me, a nervous smile on her face, "Is…is that okay?"

I let out a tentative sigh, "Honestly, I'm more concerned about you doing all this after I told you to rest than anything else."

Mostly because I'm going to pin the hell of that map, put string between the pins, and stuff like that.

Make it like one of those investigator boards, or one of those war maps!

I don't know why, but something about doing that just makes the neurons active in my brain.

"So you're not…mad?" She asks tentatively, and…

Bitch why the fuck do you sound disappointed!?

Then a core memory in my head replayed itself.

At that time she compared my mother's temper tantrums to her siblings.

And found that hot.

In one perfect moment of understanding, I contemplate the secrets of the universe.

And found that it's the horny.

It all boils down to the horny.

The disgust that slowly etched itself across my face at this enlightenment, told Uzume everything she needed to know about what I think of that.

"Eh? Nori-kun!? That face! N-Not that face again!" She cried out, weakly trying to shuffle out of my grasp

But I refused, holding her tighter.

Her cries are only stopped as the bedroom door opens, and a mewling yawn echoes across the room.

"Nyah~...it's too early for all this noise, you know? What's going on—" Kuroka, who was wearing barely anything save a very short top and underwear, stopped at the door and stared out into the living room.

She tilts her head at us, "How long was I out, nya?"

"Just the night," I responded easily, "the secretary did all this overnight."

"S-Secretary!?" Uzume repeated, scandalized, "I thought I was the maid?"

I deadpanned at her, "You can be both."

Kuroka stalks over, a sly smile on her face, "Honestly, I think she looks better in a secretary outfit than a maid outfit, nya~!"

Uzume, reflexively, tries to shuffle away from her, but I hold her still.

I chuckle, "I know right?"

Uzume gives an anguished cry as Kuroka comes up, grabbing her with a low purr, causing the poor goddess to be sandwiched between us.

"Well you did say you wanted to be punished, Uzume…" I trail off with a silly smile.

"Not like this!" She cries out in response, muffled due to being pressed into Kuroka's bust.

Both of us chortle like actual cats as Uzume flails around between us.

I click my tongue though, as I realize what I'm doing.

Damn. The urge to bully the Uzume is just too strong, huh?

Gently pushing Kuroka away, much to her slight confusion, I freed the purple-haired kami.

Who instantly gasped dramatically for breath.

"Haaahhh~! Freedom!" And immediately tries to wiggle out of my grasp and escape completely.

With a long dead stare, I hold her in place and start.

"As fun as this all is, I just came back from talking with the Himejima. We can continue the bullying later," I state, "for now, we have a little talk to do."

Uzume suddenly perked up, looking on much more attentively, while Kuroka merely tilted her head in curiosity.

Not wanting to drag this out for the entire morning, I kept the events fairly brief.

Kuroka already knew about Baraqiel's, but Uzume was still out like a light then, so talking about those events was really for her benefit.

When I finished giving a general overview of that event, Kuroka chuckled, as she had yet to hear about how I handled him.

Uzume had a markedly different reaction, shivering after all was said and done.

"So it's already begun, huh?" She worryingly states, "Still, to think one of the upper echelons of the former Grigori would do something like this at all…"

"He was an idiot, and a coward looking to die early," I state simply back, "I hope, wherever he is now, he realizes that and tries to live for something now."

"We can only hope." Uzume replies in kind, though she doesn't exactly sound hopeful.

"Did you get a picture after you headbutted his nose in?" Kuroka interjects with the important questions.

I facepalm, "Damn! Knew I forgot something!"

Kuroka sighed sadly, while Uzume shook her head in exasperation.

After a short chuckle, I continued.

Describing the events of my talk with Suzaku, my idea for peace, and the upcoming Night Parade.

"Nyah~? My my, Nori-kun, getting a girl's phone number on the first meeting? How bold~!" Kuroka exclaimed, wrapping her arms around my neck and leaning into my side.

Of course, that's what she focuses on.

Sometimes, we do share the same wavelength.

I snort and smack her on the ass, prompting a yelp from her.

"Not like that, you."

"Mhmm~!" Kuroka hums out, "But for how long, I wonder, nya~?"

I blink. Lowkey expecting I'll get a harem, huh?

Uzume, meanwhile, didn't look nearly as embarrassed as she usually is when we got up to our stuff.

Instead, she looked twitchy, worried, fumbling with her fingers.

"Hyakki Yagyō, huh?" She murmurs, "It's been a long, long time since I last heard of one of those happening. Not since the original Daiyokai, I think." She shivers, and turns to me, "Nori."

"Hmm?" I look at her, meeting her gaze.

The slight fear pricking her voice draws my complete attention and makes Kuroka halt her horny. For now.

"I think, if you really want this peace idea to get going, you might have to visit at least one of the Yokai Factions before the Night Parade starts." She begins urgently.

I raise my eyebrow, "Let me guess, the parade is more than just a meeting, isn't it?"

She nods, solemnly, "Originally, it was used as a warcry. When the original Three Daiyokai wanted to cause chaos and kill lots of people, they called for a Night Parade. And the timing, so soon after your existence came out?"

I blink, a thought playing through my head.

They all may expect me to come trying to do what my father did.

Ah. Fuck.

"So this is a reaction to me then, you think?" I ask, and Uzume nods slowly.

"It seems most likely, I can't think of any other reason they'd suddenly do this." She elaborates further.

"I…I see."

Well. That changes things.

Bursting in on that kind of party sounds like a quick way to get killed, then. Even though I was just kind of thinking of sending a clone.

"We've still got a few days until it well and truly begins," I huff out a tired sigh, "I think, I'll take a visit to the West Yokai Faction before everything hits the fan then."

Uzume nods, approvingly, "The West would probably be the most accommodating to you, yes. They're generally the most peaceful of the Yokai Factions, and their leader prefers peaceful negotiation over conflict."

I give a slight hum, before turning back to Kuroka, "Kitty, would you like to come with me?"

Kuroka blinked at that, "Really, nya?"

I chuckle, "Well, yeah? They already know you're here, I bet. And they don't seem to care overtly about your wanted status, judging by the fact they haven't tried anything or told the Devils. So why not?"

"Huh," Kuroka stared at me for a moment, before a pretty smile spread across her face, "alright then, nya~! It's a date! I've never been to Urakyoto before!"

I chuckle at that, "Not even sure there's date stuff to do over there, but I guess we can see."

"Yaaayyy~!" Kuroka snuggles into my side, purring all the while as I pat her on the back.

Uzume merely sighs, "You two…" she intones dully.

I pat her on the back too, just to be a good sport.

Ah. An idea forms.

"You know, we've got a bit of free time before we have to go." I start with a sigh, "I think it's about time we get a little something done before then."

I look to Kuroka, who's still snuggling into my side.

"I doubt this will take the whole day, we can even do this today. Kuroka?" I grab her attention lightly, causing her ears to perk.

"I think it's finally time for you to have a little talk with Shirone."

The way she stilled like a deer caught in the headlights would have made for the perfect picture if only the reason behind it wasn't so damn sad.