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"Wait, so where are we going again?" Takauji asked the Governor, watching him don oddly formal attire in a hurry.
"We're going to meet with the head of Kyoto, or more accurately the head of Koyto's supernatural side. Her name is Yasaka, she's in charge of the West Youkai Faction which has their headquarters located here. Well, technically here."
The Dragon grumbled, experiencing one of Azazel's usual habits.
"You're only half-explaining things again."
"The Youkai aren't actually in Kyoto itself, but a sub-dimension within on the other side of the city called Urakyoto. It's like how the Rating Games use a part of the Dimensional Gap."
"And we are meeting with this Yasaka why exactly?" He pressed further.
"Because you're terrifying."
"What?"
"Listen, to everyone who doesn't know you, you are just an immensely powerful Dragon that has appeared out of nowhere. Try thinking about your existence from the perspective of this city's overseer. It's like if I decided to unseal Fafnir out of the blue."
"Hold on, I've been keeping my presence fully concealed. How on earth did she manage to detect me?" Unless Yasaka turned out to be Super-Class, it didn't make any sense to him.
"She has a rather special ability that allows her to connect with all of the spiritual power flowing through Kyoto. Since the underground training chamber I created is also a sub-dimension she didn't sense you there, but once you left she picked up on it immediately and sent me a frantic barrage of transmissions."
"I'm not that terrifying am I?" He didn't want to be feared when he wasn't trying to be, it made talking to people a bother.
"You're a Dragon that Great Red itself acknowledged." As Takauji had promised, he spilled all the details to Azazel. Which really didn't change much whether he knew about what happened or not, but if it kept the Governor's curiosity at bay then he didn't mind. Well, not quite, he had left out the whole Ophis thing Red had asked him to handle. "Yasaka probably thought you were here to take over her territory or something, Dragons don't exactly have a good reputation when it comes to their sociability."
"Well, did you tell her that I'm not here to usurp her?"
"Obviously, but she still wants to have a chance to meet with you nonetheless. You're not just here as a visitor after all, if she's going to have a Dragon as one of her residents, don't you think she'd want to get to know you a little better?"
Normally he'd complain, but seeing as he didn't really have much to do at the moment he decided he could put up with it. Maybe this Yasaka person would be an interesting individual to meet.
"That's a fair point," he exhaled. "Alright then, how exactly do we enter this Urakyoto?"
"If you tried to force your way in it'd be near impossible, but we're guests so there won't be any trouble." He pulled out a talisman from his coat. "All I have to do is rip this, and a teleportation circle linked to Yasaka herself will bring us into Urakyoto."
Azazel's attention turned to Takauji's servant.
"You're coming along as well, from now on meetings like these will be commonplace for Pandora so it's important you become accustomed to them."
"Of course, I go wherever Pandora-sama goes." She smiled, leaning against his shoulder as Azazel prepared the talisman.
"Then let us be off, try not to eat anyone while you're there, Dragon-kun." He chuckled.
"I don't plan on using my Dragon form while I'm there, relax."
Both Azazel and Raynare were shocked.
"Wait, you have a Dragon form?" The Governor asked.
"Obviously."
Switching between his humanoid and Dragon form didn't affect his power whatsoever, if anything it'd be more accurate to describe his Dragon body as his real one, and his current one as an imitation. Other than size and appearance, there was no real difference between the two.
"You're lucky we're in a rush," Azazel groaned. His curiosity flaring up once again. "But you're definitely going to let me see it once we're back."
He tore the talisman in toe, the scenery around all three of them immediately changing.
Takauji found himself at the front gate of what could only be described as a colossal palace, like one you'd expect a Shogun to live in during the Edo Period, but even more profligate.
The outer area was teeming with all sorts of humanoid creatures, presumably the guards of the headquarters, alongside a plethora of cherry blossom trees that soothed the atmosphere around the place.
"Hey, just to be sure." Azazel whispered into Takauji's ear. "You really aren't going to eat anyone right?"
I'll eat you if you ask me that one more time.
Takauji rolled his eyes, soon met with the sight of a young girl coming to greet them at the front entrance. She had golden-blonde hair tied into a ponytail and matching eyes, with nine similarly colored fox tails protruding from her waist and two fox ears on the top of her head. Wearing what looked to be an outfit resembling a shrine maiden of sorts.
"Greetings, Azazel-sama, Pandora-sama." She bowed respectfully, clearly a well-spoken and educated individual.
"You are Kunou correct? Yasaka's daughter?" Azazel kneeled down a little to level with the girl.
"Yes, mother is waiting for the both of you at the main hall." Kunou turned to face Takauji, the latter noticing the mild unease on her face as she faced the Dragon.
Hm. None of my Mana seems to be leaking, but I guess for a Youkai my presence itself might be a little unnerving.
Seeming to have inherited Fafnir's soft spot for children, Takauji pulled out one of his prized cream buns from [Vacio], handing it towards Kunou with a gentle smile.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Kunou." Her expression seemed to lighten as she cheerfully enjoyed the treat in a child-like manner.
I wonder if Raynare wants children? I wouldn't mind having a few little mini-me's walking around.
She flinched a little, noticing that she had just lost her composure in front of the two guests. Hurriedly wiping the stains of her face and motioning for them to follow her.
"Right this way," as they stepped through the front-gate of the headquarters. The group acquired a considerable amount of stares, seeing the Governor General of Grigori and a Dragon walking side by side with their Princess.
Eventually they arrived at a set of double-doors, Kunou stepping aside as she gestured towards it.
"She awaits you inside." The two men opened the door, entering the main hall as a single individual sat at the furthermost end of it.
She was a young woman with an impeccably stunning figure, and long blonde hair tied into a ponytail and matching eyes just like her daughter. Her eyebrows had been cut short and round as a traditional show of nobility.
She wore traditional shrine maiden attire, with a white coat over it held by red ribbon, alongside a crown on her head.
"Are you Pandora?" Yasaka ignored Azazel, having met the man countless times before in the past. Focusing on the young Dragon beside him.
"That would be, it's a pleasure to meet you, Yasaka."
Azazel recoiled internally, wondering why Takauji was being so respectful to a person he had so begrudgingly agreed to meet. Until he saw his eyes, that was.
Takauji's main eyes were most certainly making respectful contact with hers, but his smaller ones seemed to be a lot more focused on her, assets. Her very well endowed assets.
DAMN. Do you need help carrying those? My older woman radar is beeping like crazy right now.
…
I should probably calm down. I'm supposed to be in professional mode right now aren't I?
"Please, have a seat." She smiled, gesturing to the cushions prepared in front of the table she was sitting at. Azazel and Raynare take a seat around Takauji, with the focus of the meeting positioned right in the middle opposite Yasaka.
Which he very much did not mind, able to see her cleavage with his high-definition eyes.
"I hope you don't take any offense to my request, I was just a little startled to feel the presence of a Dragon out of nowhere." She shot an accusatory side-eye towards Azazel, to which the latter simply turned his head and whistled innocently.
"I assure you I take no issue with it, I can understand the sentiment." Even though he spoke like a well-mannered delegate, Azazel knew exactly what was going through his superpowered mind at the moment. Which was probably maintaining two trains of thought currently, one for appearances, and the other a lot more truthful.
He really had no further doubts, becoming Pandora had not changed him in the slightest.
"That's good to hear, I understand you are now a permanent resident of Kyoto?"
"Indeed, there isn't any problem with that, is there?"
"Of course not, on the contrary I was actually hoping I could consider you an ally of the West Youkai Faction. Having a Dragon as a supporting presence would do wonders for us, naturally, we'll compensate you in return for your support."
She just went and said it outright, what a direct woman. I like it. Let's have children– What is wrong with me today? Goodness.
"Sure, I don't mind." His immediate approval shocked both her and Azazel. "But exactly what kind of support do you want from me?"
Yasaka was quick to recompose herself.
"I'd like for you to act as a protector for this city, alongside my people in case any threats should come to harm it or them. Especially now that the Khaos Brigade have appeared, I worry that they may try something in my territory."
"I thought so, but if you're worried about them, why not just join the alliance of three powers? I'm sure they'd be more than happy to bring you into the fold." Azazel wanted to say something, but Takauji's face told him that if he even thought about refuting he'd be melted into a puddle of flesh within seconds.
Yasaka paused for a bit, turning towards the Governor.
"May we have a bit of privacy?"
"Sure." He nodded, signaling for Raynare to follow him out the room. Granted, she did so reluctantly knowing exactly what Takauji's taste in women was. Yasaka basically checked every box, making it dangerous for her to leave them in a room together.
She inhaled sharply.
"You see, I still have my suspicions about the alliance. For three powers to come together so suddenly, I highly doubt that there aren't any holes that have yet to be plugged. And the strength disparity between my faction and the great three is too big, I can't risk having anything happen to my people."
Takauji hummed, all fours of his eyes narrowing.
"And you're telling me this, why exactly?"
"Because I am here to form an alliance with Pandora, The Vainglory Dragon, as an individual. Not the newly formed alliance." The atmosphere grew tense between the two, Yasaka fearlessly locking eyes with his sharp reptilian pupils.
If you get any bolder, I might actually pounce on you over this table. You're an interesting woman, that's for sure.
"I see, but you should be careful when it comes to trusting a Dragon, we're self-centered beings at our core. I might turn traitor on you if I see more worth in doing so, knowing that, would you still try to reel me in as an ally?"
His demeanor was fairly overbearing, but she wasn't the type to relent so easily.
"Yes, I will still try to reel you in nonetheless." He felt her expression harden, not an ounce of uncertainty in her steeled gaze.
Those eyes are even more appealing than your body, alright then. Let's see if you end up regretting this.
"As much as I want to accept, I can't say I like your request very much." Her eyes widened, confused by his statement. "There's nothing I find malicious about it, it's just that I don't really consider it a request to begin with."
"What do you mean?"
"I consider Kyoto my home now, and regardless of whether the West Youkai Faction was here or not I'd annihilate anyone who tried to disturb it. You've basically asked me for nothing, that's not much of a deal in my books."
It was the same with Kuoh, under Azazel's orders or not, he would've killed the Magicians who had the audacity to attack his town.
"I'm not sure I understand, are you telling me to ask more from you?"
"No, I'm telling you to ask something concrete of me, and then offer something concrete in return." Though his words puzzled Yasaka a little, she could find a way to work with them nonetheless.
"Alright then, how about using your insight as a Dragon to help my people with their training? My daughter included of course. If I do eventually choose to ally with the three powers, I'd want my faction to be on more even ground than we are now."
Even if he didn't know anything about [Youjutsu], his eyes, instincts, and brain could decipher things Youkai never could. Offering perspective they'd usually not have access to.
"Then I'll just do that, and in exchange I'd like to learn about [Senjutsu]."
Yasaka's expression grew a little uneasy.
"I'm more than happy to teach you, but only High-Level Youaki and the Sennin are capable of learning it. I don't know whether Dragons are actually able."
"In that case, I suppose it's time to find out. Don't worry, I'm not going to throw a tantrum if it doesn't work. Even if I can't use it, I'm still interested in the subject nonetheless."
Able to tell that he wouldn't budge on the matter, Yasaka didn't have any other choice but to accept.
"Very well, I'll personally act as your instructor if that's alright with you?" He wouldn't have it any other way.
"Of course, I'll be in your care from now on." They shook hands, beginning the relationship between Pandora, The Vainglory Dragon, and Yasaka, Head of the West Youkai Faction.
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First the 700+ year old Raynare, and now the 900+ Yasaka? Are these the inklings of a MILF hunter perchance?
10+ Advance Chapters: patreon.com/Accel14
Discord Link: KQAtTw9u7x
Word Count: 2400