41

He set off into the castle, looking for Yu Wu and Lavinia. Finding them was as simple as following his bond with Yu Wu. When he did find them, he was struck silent by the scene that awaited him.

A blushing Lavinia was now clad in an elegant dress of all white. It hugged her voluptuous figure tightly, and had two slits up both of her legs to allow for mobility. She also wore a white witch's hat and a hair brooch made of ice.

Yu Wu's arms wrapped around Lavinia's waist from behind. From over the blonde girl's shoulder, she was shooting Onari smug, lidded eyes. When she stepped out from behind Lavinia, Onari was treated to another vision of regal beauty.

Yu Wu still wore her signature color scheme of black, red, and gold. Her more casual red robes were replaced with much more intricate ones. The robe was shorter in the front and had wide slits on either side that reached up to Yu Wu's hip. To top the whole outfit off, she also wore an honest to god crown on her head.

"I'm not even dressed, and I feel like I've already lost this game of fashion…" Onari commented, making Lavinia giggle.

Yu Wu nodded, "You have. Perhaps if you beg, this young mistress will assist you in looking half as good as we do."

Onari took one of Yu Wu's hands and fell to one knee, "Please, venerable young mistress Yu Wu. Please, aid this ignorant one in the ways of looking sexy as all hell."

Yu Wu struggled to hide her blush at Onari's dramatics, "O-Of course! Is it not this young mistress' duty to ensure that her beloved does not embarrass himself!?"

Onari laughed, standing and sweeping Yu Wu into a hug that made her squeak, "Eep! Careful, careful! Watch the dress!"

After a short fashion montage, Yu Wu and Lavinia eventually settled on what Onari would wear to the ball. The final outfit was relatively simple. It consisted of black and white kimono, with the white being a base and the black as the over-robe.

To spice the fit up, Onari was given a decorative fox mask to wear on the side of his head. Yu Wu also managed to find a white fur coat that matched Onari's hair. He draped it over his shoulders. It hung off his frame in a way that made it look like he was cloaked in his own 'missing' tails.

The fur cloak made a subtle statement to anyone who would notice it. It drew attention to Onari's lack of tails. He wore it with pride, telling everyone that he had no shame in the way he was born.

Within the Youkai faction, the 'tail-less' talking point had lessened over the years. Onari had never seen the big deal of it. He correctly thought the people who complained were just stuck up and stubborn old men with nothing better to do.

After Onari had proved himself by defeating the Gashadokuro, he had begun to gain a small following of support from some corners of the faction. That following had grown over the years, until it developed into a proper subfaction with Satoru at its head. There were still some who disliked and opposed him, but they were much less open about their disgruntlement now.

With all of them dressed and the ball having already started, the trio made their way through the castle. The ball was being held in a space that Yasaka had long ago designated for parties and events. Half of the venue was open air and the other half was indoors. The two halves of the venue were connected by a wide opening that allowed people to come and go freely between them.

The density of people and Youkai increased as they neared the venue proper. Onari was instantly recognized at the venue's gate and the three of them were nodded through. Lavinia looked around in awe, trying to take in all the sights of her first Shinto faction function.

The sky of the open air half of the venue was filled with paper lanterns that were kept from escaping with magic. Fairy lights twinkled in and out of existence around the party, helping the paper lanterns light up the night. Music filled the air, and fireworks could occasionally be seen past the blanket of lanterns.

The gathering of attendees was a stellar example of how diverse the Shinto faction truly was. Humans and almost every species of Youkai had traveled from all corners of Japan's supernatural world to attend this event.

Members from each of the Five Principle Clans were present alongside smaller clans and organizations that were sprinkled throughout Japan. Suzaku should be somewhere amongst the crowd. Yu Wu offered to go look for her while Onari stayed with Lavinia to show her around.

As Yu Wu disappeared into the crowd, Onari started to tell Lavinia about the various different species of Youkai he recognized in the throng of people. He picked out Tsukumogami, Oni, Tengu, Inugami, other Kitsune, and a variety of other Youkai. Lavinia listened intently as he described them all.

"And that's an Onikuma. I guess you could describe them as demon bears, but I wouldn't say that to one's face. They're usually really chill, but if they get angry, they can be a force to be reckoned with," Onari said, pointing out the giant bipedal bear and guiding Lavinia through the party with a hand on the small of her back.

"Wow… This is so cool! Do Onikuma like to cuddle?" Lavinia asked.

Onari chuckled, "I don't know. I assume they do. They still hibernate like their feral relatives."

"I never knew there were so many species of Youkai…"

"Yeah, it can be fun to see how crazy and unique some Youkai can look. From Tsukumogami, who can be any object, to Kitsune, who are natural shapeshifters. Hell, there's even a feral Youkai called an Umishika. They're half deer, half fish, live in the ocean, and eat meat and sometimes people…"

Lavinia giggled at the mental image Onari had just put in her mind. The pair walked into the indoor portion of the venue. Yasaka caught his eye through the crowd. She was sitting on her throne, surrounded by a decently sized group. The look in her eyes told Onari that he wasn't getting out of his duties as her heir.

Onari sighed, "And now for the part of these parties that I hate… Greeting important people and playing nice."

Lavinia cocked her head, "What do you mean?"

"As Yasaka's heir, I'm expected to put a certain amount of effort towards politics at these events. Usually that means greeting faction and subfaction leaders and other influential people. And I… strongly dislike some of those old geezers, to say the least."

"Oh…" Lavinia's face briefly fell before her bright, perky personality came right back in the next moment. "Well, this time, I'm here! We'll greet those meanies so hard… They won't know what hit 'em!"

Onari smiled fondly at Lavinia as the two of them started walking over to Yasaka, "Thanks, hun."

"Oh! Pet names! Now that we're dating or whatever, we should totally give each other pet names! I think I'd like 'baby'…"

Onari chuckled, "I'm sure Yu Wu will come up with some creative ones for you."

The crowd around Yasaka's throne parted for Onari and Lavinia, revealing five people (including Yasaka) that were sitting on a slightly raised area of the floor. This raised area acted as a sort of VIP lounge for the leaders of the Shinto faction.

As the host of this event, Yasaka had the center seat. On her right, a pair of wrinkled old men were sitting in matching thrones. One of the old men was bigger than the other, but both were basically identical. Both had long, shrunken heads and slouched postures. And both were ugly as all sin.

On Yasaka's left, sat a pair that was completely opposite to the old men on Yasaka's other side. The two people, a man and a woman, were like a matched pair of otherworldly beauty. They radiated this sense of presence that drew people's eyes and shut them up in awe.

The man was delicately handsome. His long silver hair and golden eyes contrasted beautifully. He wore a crown of clouds, with a crescent moon positioned in the middle of his forehead. His robes were elegant and refined, befitting royalty or divinity.

The woman was absolutely stunning. The only way she could be described was as a heavenly beauty. Her hair was long, black, and silky. Her eyes were a piercing ice-blue. Her mannerisms painted the perfect picture of purity and innocence.

"Why does that old man have a mini version of himself sitting next to him?" Lavinia whispered.

"That's Nurarihyon and his son, Junior. They're the leader and heir of the East Youkai faction. Recently, Nurarihyon has been trying to expand his power base by installing Junior as a replacement for me…" Onari whispered back.

"Ah… They're some of the meanies…"

Onari chuckled and shook his head. He grabbed Lavinia's hand and led her up onto the raised area. He bowed shallowly to everyone there, saving his mother for last. Lavinia followed his lead, bowing slightly deeper than Onari each time.

"Mother," Onari greeted. "This is a wonderfully planned event. You've already been introduced to my companion for the evening, but allow me to introduce her to the rest of our guests.

"I would like to formally introduce Miss Lavinia Reni: witch, ally of the Grigori, and wielder of the Longinus Absolute Demise."

"Where's your other girlie, boy?" Nurarihyon asked in his stereotypical grouchy old man voice.

"Oh, Yu Wu is around her somewhere. She's searching for a friend of ours. It was actually her idea to bring Lavinia into our relationship."

Despite his ambition and dislike of Onari, Nurarihyon couldn't help but bark out a laugh, "Ha! That'a boy. Maybe Junior will see how much you lucked out with them and finally decide to settle down…"

Junior glared at Onari, but Onari ignored him in favor of turning toward the other two guests, "Lady Amaterasu. Lord Tsukuyomi. It's a pleasure-..."

"You will use our proper titles when you address us," Tsukuyomi coldly stated.

Onari barely hid his indignation by gritting his teeth, "Lady Amaterasu, goddess of the sun and day. Lord Tsukuyomi, god of the moon and night. It is a pleasure to see you again…"

Amaterasu shot Onari an apologetic look as Tsukuyomi huffed pompously, "Better. I see you still have much to work on when it comes to your courtly manners."

"And you've still got much to work on when it comes to the stick up your butt," Onari mumbled, making Lavinia giggle quietly. Tsukuyomi stiffened but didn't call out Onari on his mumbled words.

"... So, Onari," Amaterasu said, daintily covering her mouth with her hand and changing the subject after her brother's faux pas. "Does this sudden addition of the lovely Miss Lavinia indicate a change in your relationship status. Like maybe, you and your partner opening up your hearts to… ~additional suitors~"

For the sake of preventing an inopportune erection, Onari forced himself to ignore the goddess' side-eyed glance at Yasaka.

"I-" Onari started to say before a disturbance made itself known in his bond with Yu Wu. "... I think we'll have to put a pin in this lovely topic of conversation. Something urgent has just come up…"

Five minutes earlier

Yu Long appeared at the Shinto faction function in a storm of petals. When the petals settled and disappeared, she briefly looked around. She strode up to the entrance and into the party. Her gait was so confident that no one stopped to question her uninvited presence.

"Where are you, Yu Wu?" Yu Long asked herself quietly.

Her eyes scanned through the crowd. Seeing so many humans and Spirit Beasts mingling was a bit disconcerting. It would take some getting used to, but Yu Long liked to think she was an open-minded woman. At least, more open-minded than her subordinate, Xiao Li.

She closed her eyes and spread her Qi senses out over the venue. She quickly hit upon a presence that reacted to the feel of her metaphysical gaze. She instantly made a beeline for that presence.

Pushing her way through the crowd, Yu Long soon found herself staring at a mirror image of her younger self. Her daughter looked so much like her. The resemblance tore at her emotions. It physically hurt. Yu Long felt something that had been buried deep within her stir and tear at heart.

"Y-Yu Wu…" she said quietly, but still loud enough for Yu Wu to hear.

Yu Wu turned to the mystery lady who knew her name, "Hello? Does this young mistress know you?"

Yu Long rushed toward Yu Wu, wrapping her up in a tight hug, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"

A flustered Yu Wu hesitantly patted the woman's back, "I-I'm sorry too? Ahem, this young mistress still does not recall who you are, ma'am."

The sudden hug had broken through Yu Wu's young mistress persona, but Yu Long was too caught up in her grief to notice. She pulled away slightly, looking Yu Wu in the eye.

"I'm… I'm your mother…"