A Date with the Tsundere

*Mokuren's POV* (Click here on the comment for the design!!)

I take this chance to show Emilia my choice of clothes for going out with Kyui. With a wave motion of shimmering emerald light, I change my appearance… I spend some hours working on the design in my sketchbook which was actually my reason for staying up so late yesterday.

"How's it look?"

Emilia's mouth open in cute little surprise, her face slightly tinged with red.

"Mokuren-sama… isn't that… a little too expressive?"

Open belly, and open-top, with exposed thighs and tight light violet leggings decorated with vine wrappings. The tight green film that is my dress stuck to my body, accentuating my curves if you will hehe.With a brilliant shade of Paladin green dress. With azure deep blue flowers and sun-bright flowers on my antlers, paired with my signature magnolia flowers, the soothing and soft smell alone speaks beauty.

"Alluring is it?"

Turning around to show my bare back, I notice Emilia looks at me nervously, and we both burst out chuckling.

"Mokuren-sama, I think you're better at being tempting than even a succubus!"

She flutters her bat wings and gives me a thumbs up.

"I'm sure Kyuu-san will have a hard time looking away at you."

We both get up and bid farewell to Lilium and the other fairies as we prepare to leave. Into the bustle and lovely town of Heiwa. With the onslaught of mornings and greetings from the town's people, we finally were able to make it.

Rōtasu no yoake High School. Walking onto the campus again, I feel a sensation of nostalgia falling on me like raining petals. The cherry blossom, the library dome, and the frolicking students. Several students pass me by and stop for a bow. Emilia shys away a bit, standing behind me.

"Mokuren-sama! Good morning! What brings you here?"

"Please, no need to bow. I wanted to see how much has changed, and this place holds many memories for me."

Seeing them thank me and hurry through the doors with their standard black school uniforms, the insignia of a blooming lotus never changed and shined under the morning light. As I pass the glass buildings and rooms, I see the crystal boards I recommended installed a few months before school started.

Holograms popped out in full stunning visuals, articulating the methods of statistical graphs… I'm glad the board approved. If only teleportation technology wasn't widely banned, they would've arrived much faster from Planet Digita.

The sound of hurrying, erratic footsteps are heard above me as I pass under the hallways, with the chorus of conversations and laughter… so this is youthful energy huh? What am I saying? It's no time to feel old.

"Please sign up for the anime club!! We got movies and shows on weekends!!"

Haha! That club still is kicking, wonder who runs it now. With a table set up, a cat lineage girl was dressed in a maid customer handing out flyers... my how brave, the bell on her tail shakes nervously each time a student comes over to take one.

With a slight hiss, the sliding glass door to the library dome opens. I've missed reading and studying up on the tall great tree padios, and sitting by the lake. I should come back here sometime again.

Walking upon the same brick-paved paths… walk past two intersections, turn right, the third shelf down the path, I arrive. Pristine as ever, the shelf full of fantastical books remained… it never changed, did it?

"Chronicles of the Forgotten World, Part I."

The same book, sitting in the same section. It was on a particular day in the past that a particular tsundere fox tomboy helped pick up my dropped book here. Dazed in my daydreaming reminiscence, a tap on my shoulder wakes me. Emilia gazes nervously at me… she was still with me?!

"Ummm… Mokuren-sa- I mean, Mokuren? I'll have to head to class 1st period now."

I totally forgot! How clumsy of me!

"Right! Forgive my wandering around. Always, Emilia, talk to me if you have any problems."

Taking her book bag, Emilia skips quietly, her wings giving her the urgent momentum to get to class.

"Good luck on your date Mokuren-sama!"

As I watched her leave, it was then, I heard a steady pace of clicks and clanks upon the path getting closer. Crisp and clear amidst the quiet ambiance of the library dome, the grating footsteps intruded upon it.

The pungent, suffocating smell of alcohol sends shrivels of disgust upon me as I turn around, to see… a war cyborg? Her cloak hung off one side of her, reeking of alcohol. With a half-grin matching her sardonic eyes, she greets me.

"Morning your highness… Myriam's kid right? Heh."

The way she addressed me… felt off, almost like she knew about me. Singed brown hair, and that cybernetic eye, body parts… they're military-grade.

"Good morning. You are?"

"Ah excuse me, I'm One-Shot Sensei, I teach here."

One...Shot? The teacher Emilia mentioned, we have ex-military people here. Many come for a life of peace and quiet. But… her, she felt off.

"Good morning, One-Shot Sensei. Emilia mentioned you before, you were in the military before?"

Leaning onto the bookshelf, she crosses her arms… at least attempts to as only one arm reaches across. I see her torn-out socket… phantom presence. She chuckles roughly.

"Whoops, forgot about my missing arm, old habits die hard. Yes, I was in the military before. Why so interested, princess?"

… princess? I couldn't help but feel slightly irritated at the underlying playful mocking in her tone.

"Excuse my personal inquiry, but what war were you a part of?"

Raising an eyebrow, One-Shot sensei rubs her chin in a sarcastic manner and grins.

"The Shadow of Gods, I had quite the kill count hahaha. If you'll excuse me, princess, I'll be off to teach the youngins some history, later."

With a slight, humming and whirr, her joints work to once again carry her off. Walking past me, I turn around.

"You should drink less, you know? Even if your cybernetic body processes all the alcohol."

One-Shot sensei waves an arm at me without turning back.

"And let all the good stuff sit there? You worry too much lil' princess."

The Magnolias on my shoulder shrivel in annoyance at her remark, and I was used to having the last word.

The Shadows of Gods… was over thousands of years ago. One the bloodiest wars amongst all gods, with the Prometheus clan a prominent force… and with them… Asura. Just how long was One-Shot sensei in the military? And for someone like her to be here... and her military augments still active.

"Mokuren?"

A familiar hand gently shakes my shoulder, as I refocus… to see worried, sharp amber eyes. Too close!! I pull away from Kyui's face in a sudden soft shove, she also does the same… but she can't fool me trying to hide her sudden blush, I can tell from her slightly perked up, red-tipped ears.

I quickly reply back.

"Sorry! Was just thinking about something."

Scratching her cheeks a little, Kyui glances at me then snaps her head away.

"Mo-Mokuren… what are you wearing… it's… I mean it's pretty, but there are so many… open places. Ahem, I mean it still looks good. And those flowers, they smell nice and not strong, they look mesmerizing on you."

Watching her trying her best to not look directly at me, was a treat on its own. She stutters again.

"Anyways… isn't this where we first met?"

She remembered~

"It is… nostalgic isn't it? I'm glad you remembered, it makes me happy."

Kyuu-san looks at the bookshelf and smiles a little.

"It is… so… should we get going?"

I link with her arms suddenly as she suddenly yelps but silences herself, was she trying to hide it?

"By the way, where's Sura?"

"Oh, that brat? She said she had somewhere to be and rushed off... definitely up to no good again."

I wonder if she's at the music store, interesting to see the little flower take a love to music. Will she become a new rising star guitarist eventually? Hehe.

Well, now onward to a day full of teasing. On the way there, I feel the gaze and eyes of many passersby on me, some avert their eyes avoiding me out of embarrassment.

"Mokuren, your dress is too revealing, people are looking!"

Kyui worriedly warns me.

"And what's wrong with that hm?"

I playfully stretch a bit, giving people around me a better look and Kyui whose face reddens.

"Have you no shame?! You're becoming like that idiot brat!"

Kyui slightly shields me with her tail, and her arms near to block. Her nervousness for me showing from the beads of sweat on her face. This continues for a while until she finally couldn't defeat me and relents hehe.

"Clothes are on sale!"

Entering the large shopping hub near the high school, intersections of high-rise temples and shops decorated the place. Homemade banners hang from the beams over our head, of dresses, clothes, and extravagant models detailed with just a small weaving needle.

The smell of herb perfumes and all-natural fragrances made an inexplicable atmosphere, the hub a culture of its own. But due to Kyui's sensitive nose.

"*Cough Cough!!* All of these fragrances and perfumes burn my nose every time."

Bringing her elbow to her face, Kyui tried her best to cover the smell.

"Do you wanna stop?"

"It's fine… I just need to get away from all the smell once in a store."

I knew this would happen, sorry Kyui. Dryusiem, the popular clothing store, with open glass planes displaying all kinds of clothes. A theme of nature was incorporated, with the store situated under a tree where which mellow lanterns hung, giving the shop a welcoming feeling.

With branching leaves and hanging lanterns on the ceiling inside and sprouting benches, tables, and stands, Dryusiem was the hearth amongst the hub.

Stepping on path stones, we cross the surrounding pond around Dryusiem, brimming with fishes that swam freely while small turtles rested on the lily pads. Setting Kyui down on a bench, I kneel in front of her and sprout an icy herb from my vines.

"Here Kyui, smell it and take a leaf to bite. It's a sort of cough syrup in effect and has a soothing, soft smell that helps with nausea."

Kyui gratefully takes the herb and follows my instructions.

"Feeling better? Sorry about that."

"It's fine Mokuren, I'm feeling better already."

We share a gaze in front of the store before someone calls me.

"Mokuren-sama!! Glad to see you are back."

A tall, dryad lady walks over with clicking heels. Dressed in a glimmering, transparent dress that exposed her bare shoulders, she dazzled the room in her ephemeral glow of fashion.

"Good morning, Claudius, I'm here to help… dress up Kyui."

Kyui's pupil shrinks in fear as she shoots up from the chair, seemingly completely forgotten about her nausea.

"Wait what?! No no no, I'm good Mrs. Claudius… come on, Mokuren, I think I saw a good takoyaki shop over ther-"

I drag Kyui by the arms into the clothes store… Kyui looks at me begging for mercy with her sullen eyes.

"Sorry Kyui, but you need to have some better fashion sense. Claudius, will you help?"

Cladius whips around her long braided hair to lead us to her humble shop.

"Gladly, such crude clothes made for battle, come on Kyuu-san, don't you want to impress the ladies?"

And together we take Kyui to the back of the changing rooms. I hand her a black dress with open shoulders and slanted hemline that showed one side of her leg, to complement her fiery orange hair and tan skin as well as tail.

"You sure you don't want me to help put it on for you?"

A hand reaches out from the dressing cover made of leaves.

"I can do it myself!!"

And with those famous last words and a lot more grunts and rustling…

"Mokuren… could you help?"

An agitated, yet desperate voice comes out. I pull away the changing room cover and enter to see her back to me. The zipper on her back was nearly ripped off and the alignment was completely lobe sided with wrinkles everywhere.

"Kyui! You almost ripped the dress… you clutz."

She hmphs with annoyance.

"Such unnecessary design of dressing and clothes, a gi is much more suited for dressing, effective and combat-ready."

Feeling her back, it was solid, hard… years of training.

"Well… sometimes, you should know-"

I pull up the zipper while straightening her back as she suddenly gasps.

"-Some fashion! Alright, done."

"Could you uh… go outside? I need to… mentally prepare myself."

Still with her back turned to me, I see her ears droop in anxiety and her tail wrapped around her waist to hide as much of herself as possible. I walk outside, to give her some room.

"Come out when you're ready~"

As I step out, I stand there with Claudius waiting as well, one hand to her cheek… eager to see the transformation.

"So this is Kyuu-san you so warmly mentioned before?"

With a knowing, curious tone, she whispers to me.

"So how far did you two go? Dating? Or something… more?"

She curls her last words playfully before chuckling. I nudge her gently.

"Oh please, you're such a nosy woman. We haven't gone far, still just trying to get there. Just leave it to me."

Claudius grins, and on that timing, Kyui pulls back the cover of the dressing room… and out steps sports shoes… having her try on heels would've been too much. Her arms were stiff at her sides tightening her grasp on her dress. Her eyes moving side to side, Kyui half-demands out of embarrassment.

"Ho-How do I look?!"

Clade in a dress cut from the imperial night sky, dotted with stars and silver adornments… Kyui looked… gorgeous. Her open shoulders and top of her breasts showed her toned body which strangely complemented the ironic slim dress. And her fiery hair and tail were like trailing flames against the inky dress.

"My my… you've got a real potential, niche… but potential."

Ignoring Claudius' comment, Kyui was awaiting my response. I get closer to her and gaze up, with an earnest smile.

"You look stunning, beautiful Kyui."

She blushes even harder and turns around quickly.

"Those words don't apply to someone like me! Can I take this off now?!"

"Yes yes… hehe, come on, I'll help."

We enter the changing room again, as I'm unzipping the dress… she whispers to me.

"...thanks…did I… really look ok?"

I lean over her shoulder to her surprised reaction.

"Yes, yes you did… now come on, there are some more dresses I wanna see on you."

Her look of embarrassed surprise turns to shock and horror.

"MORE?!!"

After having fun torturing Kyui, we walk home with takoyaki in hand, vegetarian for me, back to the Magami Aura with a mentally exhausted Kyui by my side.

"You sure you didn't want those clothes? I could've bought them for you, with discounts in mind."

I wink at Kyui as she scoffs.

"Don't abuse your position! And no… I don't think I'm ready for them yet."

"Yet?"

Kyui realizes her words and shouts back.

"I mean they aren't suitable for me! And I'm not wearing them!!"

I pout lightly.

"You didn't have a good time with me?"

She's struck by sudden guilt, how gullible.

"No.. sorry I didn't mean it like that. Thank you Mokuren, for today."

"Mhm, that's more li-"

She cuts me off as something warm wraps around my shoulders. Her gi…

"You're still attracting too much attention… just have this on till we get back. Don't worry about it, I'm not cold."

I decided to tease her.

"Oh? You're saying you don't like it when others look at me?"

She paused for a while… before it was my time to be shocked and blush.

"...Yes."

Eh?!