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Post by othus on Oct 11, 2018 1:17:31 GMT
Otemachi Tower: Tokyo, JapanThe Otemachi Tower is quite a famous building in Tokyo, the Mizuho Bank and a business luxury hotel both are located on the inside, something not so well known about the building is that it's co-owned by the Musashi Clan and the Taisei Corp. The hotel has often received hidden world denizens in the past, especially those going on business trips, and it's also one of the multiple entry points towards The Musashi Lands. Akane on this day had invited Callis to finally meet her family, she knew they had always expected her first boyfriend to be a Japanese man, perhaps an heir to some Japanese sword style, but Akane was a determined woman, and she always had things her way. Once they met the man she had chosen, their mind would be at ease. She was sure of it, they had to, and if they didn't, it would be a shame for them. Akane was not the type of woman to fool around, hide, or back down. when she made a decision, it was set in stone. The Otemachi Tower had been closed on that day for "Reparations". Akane parked her motorcycle, (a modified Kawasaki Ninja H2R) and then walked towards the entrance as two bodyguards opened the doors of the skyscraper for her. "Welcome back, Musashi-Sama" Both stated in unison as they bowed, Akane replied with a slight bow as she entered the building, which was further guarded by a dozen or so of the agents of Musashi, these weren't run of the mill security men, as all of them had been trained single-handedly by Akane, these men had earned the rank of Shoden, which is the lowest of the five levels within true Niten Ichi-Ryu, and while they weren't regarded as part of the top 50 within the Musashi faction, they still had genuine strength. "BOW!" The captain of the bodyguards proclaimed as they all lined up to greet Akane. This treatment might look like that of royalty to some, but unlike royal families, where you are born with that merit, Akane had earned it by mastering all the techniques of her style, defeating well over 20 Niten Ichi-Ryu practitioners of the third and fourth ranks at the age of 17. the people there bowed out of respect for their sensei, not because of something like birthright. despite having nerves of steel, Akane felt some anxiety as Callis was about to arrive, she knew he wasn't the type to enjoy a wealthy way of life, but she had confidence such a trivial thing wouldn't make him shy away from her. Akane waited as she sat on the lobby, hoping that this visit would go as well as she wanted.
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Post by Kuma on Oct 11, 2018 2:11:46 GMT
Callis was beyond nervous. He never had to go through this situation before, much less with the particular set of circumstances surrounding it at the moment. The Beast Knight had asked for help both in BHA and the JHWAB to prepare him for this circumstance, trying to untangle himself from his traditions and dive into Japanese ones. The same Seamstress working for the BHA that made her previous outfit worked on a suit for him. He was even more nervous that he usually was so she, out of character, tried to calm him down with some small talk, commenting about how different the BHA was to her school, preferring much more the freedom of the Kyoto Branch over the stifling discipline back in Inazuma Gakuen. Xi’ai Sizhou actually enjoyed the BHA, especially when compared to her last year in Inazuma, things got really weird under the Garyuu Trading Company direction, too much product placement. She did a perfect job, tailoring an elegant yet sober black suit with a black tie. The vest was lined with Kevlar, but without being too bulky, just a security measure.
The Beast Knight, as he lacked a driver’s license or a vehicle, took a cab from the train station to the appointed location. He carried a black gift bag with something Norio gave him, a very expensive sake, brewed by Onis. It was quite the treat, even if the mere proximity to it made Callis’ nose itch. He decided against bringing weapons, mostly because he used public transportation and it would look bad. His newfound blades were resting back in his small office in the Kanto HQ of the JHWAB, miles below the city of Tokyo. The Beast Knight felt a bit uncomfortable with the suit, but he had to do it, he didn’t want to give the wrong idea to her family. He drew every ounce of courtly manners and protocol from inside him and stepped inside the hotel. She noticed Akane in the lobby and smiled, a bit awkwardly. He walked towards her with confident steps. -Hello Akane.- He said while kneeling and kissing her hand. Not just as a courtly gesture, but also as an action filled with love, as he never stopped looking at her.
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Post by othus on Oct 11, 2018 6:50:46 GMT
"Callis! wow...you look great!" Akane's expression shone as the Beast Warrior arrived, she gently blushed as he kissed her hand, almost somewhat embarrassed due to the difference in elegance. Akane was wearing a full piece motorcycle suit, while Callis was much more formally dressed. Akane met the eyes of Callis and for a moment she got lost into the drifter's eyes, maybe it was love, but to her, he was the most handsome man in the world at that moment. Feeling that interaction would last ad infinitum, the captain of the bodyguards stepped up front.
"Master Nomene, welcome to the Otemachi Tower, my name is Yamamoto Ryo." The bodyguard bowed in respect towards him before continuing the introduction.
"I shall guide you to the warp gate, Sensei, Master Nomene, please follow me"
"One second please, I need to get changed"-Akane said as she swapped her attire in a second for a slim-fit suit in all black with 3/4 sleeves, a knee length skirt of matching color and a white shirt, finally matching the Beast Warrior in etiquette.
"Let's go"-She declared with a warm tone as they moved forward, you could hear some whispers between the bodyguards, it wasn't a normal occurrence to see the virtual machine technology in action for them.
The captain directed them both straight to the elevator, the Otemachi tower was entirely made for business in the lower part, but as soon as they entered the hotel area, things became much more luxurious. The inner lobby garden was decorated with beautiful wood and stone finishes, while the center part sported a fully grown sakura tree. The glass view by the window showcased the city as well as Mt. Fuji on the distance.
As they moved towards the location, Akane noticed Callis' gift. He seemed to have the etiquette fully mastered, so she was feeling even more confident now about the whole meeting.
"It's great that you brought a gift, don't worry, my family will love you"- Akane said not only to make him feel more at ease but also to make herself less nervous, she had no doubts everyone would like him, but a couple of individuals troubled her to no end, maybe her sister might like him a bit too much, while her father might like him too little, after all, Mai had a nasty reputation for jumping on anyone she liked, and her father had already threatened her not to date a gaikokujin, telling her he would kill him if that happened.
*No worries, father said that many years ago as a joke before I left to the US, and my sister fully backed me up just some months ago, I'm sure everything will be fine*
As they came close to a smaller side reception clearly not made for regular customers, another man was there to meet them.
"Welcome back, Akane-dono, I see you brought visitors with you, surely you don't mind showing your badges? and please stand over there as well"-He illustrated as he took out a silver badge the size of a large pin with the Musashi logo and pointed towards a pedestal.
The bodyguard pulled a black badge with the Musashi crest as he stood on the pedestal. A green light scanned him and revealed his ID on the screen.
-Yamamoto Ryo, Member ID:737-
"No exceptions even for me, Ren?"-Akane replied as she reached for her napoleon pocket
"Protocol is mandatory, sorry for the inconvenience"
Akane proceeded to do the same as she took out her golden badge and stood on the pedestal
-Musashi Akane, Member ID:05-
She then stepped down from the platform as she looked at Callis, her head tilted a little as she asked him the question.
"You do have what I gave you some time ago, don't you?"-She said with some shyness as if remembering the promise she made him that day.
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Post by Kuma on Oct 11, 2018 13:50:01 GMT
-I must admit I am nervous about this.- Callis commented, replying to her assurance. -This is a new experience for me, I hope I can live up to your expectations.- He let out a shy smile as he walked beside her. -You look stunning by the way.- He said, noticing her newly changed clothes. The Beast Knight was taken aback by the situation, it had been a very long time since he was surrounded by so many guards in such a regal atmosphere. Akane was clearly treated like royalty. For a moment that sent a shiver down Callis' spine, remembering bad experiences involving royalty from his past. But he shook off this off-putting feeling on his chest and carried on. He just hoped he didn’t look ridiculous, he almost got a haircut, but the BHA members convinced him just to style his hair. Mostly because nobody wanted to see a poor pair of scissors die a horrible death trying to cut through his thick mane. With the help of several people and two dozen hair products they managed to tame his unruly fur-like hair into going straight, then they ironed it and he bunched it out in a sober ponytail that fell down almost reaching his waist.
Callis nodded when Akane asked about the medal. He searched the inner pocket of his jacket and pulled out a small red velvet bag with a golden cord. The whole inside of his jacket was lined in dark red. With reverence, he opened the small bag and pulled the medal. He took care of it as much as he did his weapons, so the pin was polished to almost a mirror sheen. -Here it is.- He showed it to the security guard.
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Post by othus on Oct 11, 2018 15:28:15 GMT
-Callis Nomene, Member ID: S-2-"S? this is the second special condition member we get this year"- Ren commented upon listening to the computer recognition. The badges activated as they teleported them towards another location, there were no windows, no doors, and the area was all surrounded by some kind of metal lining, perhaps some sort of underground. At the end of a 10-meter walk, a gate stood, oozing a purple glow. "Here we are, I'll be parting ways here with you"- The bodyguard replied. "Welcome to the Musashi lands"- he said as he walked through the gate. Downtown area: Location, UnknownAs they walked past the warp gate a downtown center in feudal style awaited, the streets of ivory colored stone with red traditional Japanese buildings surrounding the main street were at display, the Musashi banners stood tall at the top of the taller buildings, clearly indicating Akane she was back at home. People could be seen walking through the streets, though it was evident none of them were ordinary, everyone who was in sight, was a member of the Musashi faction, and with over 2500 members, the streets weren't exactly empty. Traditional Japanese garments adorned some of the people, while others wore suits like Akane and Callis. Most of the people walking around had either firearms or some sort of bladed weapon, they were mercenaries, bodyguards, monster slayers or intelligence agents. some exuded martial aura, while others seemed to be far tamer. If Callis looked around he would also see the old appearance was merely for aesthetics, as all the buildings were equipped with highly technological interfaces, weapons vendors traded firearms and all sorts of Japanese style weapons in exchange for gold and silver ounces, though nobody seemed to care much about either the open carry or the gold at display. everyone on sight was an ally after all. "Welcome"- Akane said, somewhat worried about what Callis would think about this. "L-let's get to my home, I'm sure most are already awaiting our arrival"
As the heiress of the Musashi moved through the streets holding Callis' hand, some people turned around to look at her, those that were close enough would courtly bow to them as they walked, making her even more uncomfortable than she already was. Despite Callis being a foreigner, nobody seemed to care much for it, anyone who was within Musashi territory was cared for like family, though the hand holding did raise some brows of those that were close enough. Akane and Callis would move towards a transport station, there were many kinds of vehicles, from Segways to horses and motorcycles, Akane boarded a horse carriage along with the beast warrior, knowing they wouldn't be able to mount on single horses with his gift bouncing around. The driver immediately recognized Akane, and opened the door for both, as they got inside the closed space, Akane let out a sigh of relief and spoke with Nomene now that they were alone. "Sorry about all this, Callis, I know this might be hard on you...thanks for putting up with all this nonsense just for me"- She held his hand hesitantly, worried he would change his opinion about her on the spot.
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Post by Kuma on Oct 11, 2018 16:13:48 GMT
Flabbergasted. That’s the only word that could describe Callis expression, a mixture of goofy surprise and childlike amazement upon reaching the Musashi Capital. The Beast Knight read about the clan in the JHWAB database, but he wasn’t expecting such an exotic location. It made Kyoto’s Gion District, a classic tourist attraction of the Old Capital, look like a cardboard cutout of a traditional Japanese city. -This place is amazing.- Callis barely managed to comment as Akane grabbed his hand and lead the way towards the Musashi Castle. The Beast Knight felt a little bit self-conscious as the curious passersby looked in their direction. He soon realized Akane was the center of attention, surely because of her high standing in the city. Callis joined with Akane inside the carriage. -I am utterly surprised Akane, you talked about this place before, I never expected it to be so wonderful.- The architectural grandeur reminded him of some of the cities in Centris, especially the ones in the Urbis Republic, where the greatest architects of the continent lived.
As she apologized for the situation he gently grabbed her hands, locking his pale blue eyes with hers. -We fought a giant and a dragon together, I might be nervous, but I think we might survive this, is not like your family is scarier than a Dragon…- He tried to make a joke to cut through the tension, but he quickly realized that upon reading the JHWAB files he knew how dangerous the Musashi Clan could be. -...right?- He asked, a bit scared.
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Post by othus on Oct 12, 2018 2:03:14 GMT
"Don't worry, I'm sure it will be alright"-Akane confidently replied, feeling reassured by his positive comments, with how good things were going, maybe they would even get back to downtown to have some fun later in the night. Fifteen minutes or so passed when the carriage stopped, the noises of the busy downtown were replaced by the sounds of birds and the wind. the driver then looked inside to deliver the news "Musashi-Dono, we have arrived at the Castle"Akane nodded as she thanked the man, paying him with a silver ounce. "Well, here we are, shall we?" Akane said as she jumped out of the vehicle. MUSASHI CASTLEThe Musashi Castle was a view to behold. Incredibly massive, walls decorated with incredibly beautiful tones of Ruby red and Emerald green. There was only one way in, and one way out. A large gate separated the entrance from everything else, around that, and over it, forcefields of near invisible quality, though if Callis looked well enough, he could distinguish how they shifted the light, creating a small mirage effect on the sky. All the agents below the level of 50 are forbidden the enter the Castle, but Akane did not mention that, why would she mention such a weird thing anyway? Akane held the Golden badge as the gate scanned her, and when they opened, a familiar face to both showed up. sporting a Musashi patch on her right eye, and wearing a formal military outfit, sporting a rather ornated and old but well-kept blade on her back. Ann Parker lied in wait, she immediately jumped on Akane, hugging her with all her strength "Sis! I missed you!!"Musashi nearly toppled from her lounge but managed to hold her in the air as she hugged her back. "I missed you too, Ann."-She replied as she rustled the virtual warrior's hair over her red beret, she finally looked at Callis and began the introductions "Well, this is a good place to start, I believe you two already met each other, Callis Nomene, this is Ann Parker, my little sister"The Virtual Warrior shifted towards him and offered him a handshake, she looked at the floor one time before saying something. "I've been wanting to meet you for quite some time, this time for real...you must be an exceptional person, to have earned the trust not only of Percival, but now of my sister as well"
Ann shifted the handshake to a hug, for a moment it was as if the Beast Warrior had the same warmth as the old man. She finally dropped the hug to speak further. "You are strong aren't you? take very good care of my sister ok?"
Having said that, Ann guided them both to the inside of the castle. with Akane somewhat moved by Ann's words, she had matured really fast. "Oh, I almost forgot, I have something for you two." Akane looked at her wondering what that was all about "for us?""Well, yeah, since It's the first time you ever have a boyfriend, and with how things are going, I figured I would get you both something, think of it as my blessing"Ann jokingly said as she teleported two small boxes, she handed over one to Akane and the other to Callis. "Callis, you were part of the military, right? this belonged to my grandfather, he lost an eye in the war ironically...I want you to have it"if Callis were to open the box, he would notice a Purple heart medal, Ann had planned on giving that to Percival, but since it was Callis the one who inherited his will, she wanted him to have it. wether Nomene knew what a purple heart meant or not, she was happy to share it with him. As Akane opened hers, a locket was there, the words hang in there were written on the inside. "This was from my mother...you know, before she passed away."
Akane nearly let out tears, she had been there when Ann was given notice her mother had died of cancer. "I can't take this"-She replied with a weak voice "Take it, you were the only one there for me at the time" Akane had never forgiven herself from leaving Ann without notice after college, she just figured the hidden world was something she should never experience, but she was wrong. Ann had matured greatly since that time. "Well, enough of the sad faces, the rest are waiting!" -Ann finally said as she cleared out a tear of hers.
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Post by Kuma on Oct 12, 2018 4:01:27 GMT
Callis amazement didn’t end with the city, as the sight of the castle was breathtaking and quite intimidating. He had seen his fair share of castles back in Centris, but none of them had a style similar to the Japanese Castles. Callis was caught by surprise when Ann charged at Akane, he almost took a defensive stance, but he quickly realized what was happening. The Beast Knight was a bit jumpy, something understandable considering the situation and the materials he researched before coming. -Is a pleasure meeting you again Messa Parker.- Callis politely shook her hand and was utterly surprised by her sudden hug. He read that Japanese people, especially ones who followed traditions didn’t usually use physical contact to greet, he saw it a lot in the BHA and JHWAB. But it made sense that Ann didn’t follow the norm as she wasn’t a direct relative to the Musashi and was an American. -I think she takes care of me more than I could ever take care of her.- The Beast Knight smiled, replying to Ann’s request.
His smile only got wider upon seeing the gift brought by the Virtual Warrior. He didn’t know the origin of the medal, who he understood the meaning of it, or at least had a grasp on it. The purple was usually associated with royalty in this world, the history books he had reading told him more than enough about that, the fact it was a war medal also meant it was linked to some heroic action. Callis smiled, letting Akane talk first and then bowing. -I thank you for this gift Messa Parker, I will treasure it always.- He placed the small box inside his vest pocket, right next to his heart. This was the first gift Callis got in a very long time and seeing Ann’s face he understood the importance of it. The Beast Knight surrounded Akane’s back with his arm, embracing her and giving support as she was choked with emotion. -Yes, let us go.- He quickly searched through his jacket and pulled out two handkerchiefs, giving one to each of them. They were part of the suit, white, with red and gold trimmings and his initials knitted on it.
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Post by othus on Oct 12, 2018 4:45:35 GMT
"Thanks, love" Akane said as she wiped her tears, Ann nodded in unison, thanking for the handkerchief as well.
The group entered the main hall, large pillars supported the castle on the inside, which sported incredible luxury, ranging from fine wood to gold engravings. there was an empty throne at the end, and many doors and stairs leading to the other parts of the castle. decorations in traditional japanese art were at display, showing exquisite taste.
"I think we should go see your sister and Soon now, I'm pretty sure they are hanging around the game room"
As they moved towards one of the doors on the lower floors, a large area opened, it was almost like an arcade, full of games and toys, some luxury cars could be seen parked at the back alongside some extremely expensive motorcycles.
Mai and Soon immediately noticed their entrance, so they quickly dropped their gaming session to say hi.
"Hi sis! so this is the guy you were talking about?!"- Mai said as she looked at him from head to toe, something that made Akane uncomfortable, she just hoped she would behave for once. The sister of Musashi went on to grope Callis by the arms like a curious child.
"Hey, not bad! you are packing some muscle under that suit!...so? have you two already had sex?! how was it?!"- she said with a deviant smile. Soon immediately pulled Mai from the ear, allowing Akane to get a break from such a question.
"Sorry about that, Nomene-san. I'm Hyo-Soon Park, this airhead over here is Mai Musashi"
"hi!" she said still being pulled by the ear.
"I heard you will be spending the day on the Musashi lands, please be very welcome, if there is anything you need do not hesitate to call me."
Mai finally freed herself from the grip, she looked at Akane who seemed to be quite pissed at the terrible first impression she gave them.
"Sorry about that, Nomene-San, It's not every day that Akane brings someone home, in fact, I was starting to think she would die a virgin"
"Mai..." Soon replied with a menacing tone, while Akane just looked at her from the back with red eyes.
"Nevermind! since this is a time to celebrate, all the family wanted to share some gifts with you! just cause we wanna share my big sister's happiness as well!"
Mai rushed back to the game room, where she got a medium sized box wrapped in a ribbon, it was almost like a birthday present.
"This is from Soon and I, I hope you don't get mad for it sister"
"Callis wait, dont open that! Mai...what's inside?"- Akane said blushing, worried that there was gonna be some stupid thing waiting inside.
"It will be fine! Open it!"- she replied without a care.
"Do not worry Akane, I made sure it was something worthwhile"-Soon stated, making the heiress of Musashi feel a lot more at ease.
Akane held the present alongside Callis. Inside there was a framed picture, it was the photo Akane had taken back at Välstånd, on the dwarven lodge. Akane smiled gently towards her sister and Soon.
"Sorry I stole your camera, I saw the picture and had to do it"- Mai said, blatantly showing she was kind of a creep.
"Thanks Mai...this is the best gift you've ever given me, you too as well Soon"-Akane reached out for them as she hugged them both.
"What about the virtual machine?!" Mai replied still under her sister's hug.
"Shut up" both soon and Ann answered in unison.
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Post by Kuma on Oct 13, 2018 2:27:01 GMT
Callis felt a bit uncomfortable under the heavy scrutiny of Mai Musashi. Her touching him only got things worse and finally, the knockout punch was with her first question, managing to make the Beast Knight blush violently. Thankfully Soon intervened and managed to interrupt the awkward interrogation. -Thank you for your hospitality Messa Park.- He bowed with courteous elegance. -And greetings to you too, Messa Musashi.- He repeated his bow, with the same manners, only that midway he lost his form upon hearing the next line from Mai, staggering and almost falling to the ground out of shock by the forward comments of Akane’s sister. Thankfully her onslaught was once again stopped, so Callis tried to regain his bearings, straightening his tie, quite uncomfortable by the whole situation. Before he could even calm down a present was roughly given to him, leaving the Beast Knight quite surprised, not knowing what to do with it. Yet, it didn’t take long for Mai to open it for him, her actions felt like a hurricane passing by, rather than actual human being, leaving Callis a bit shell-shocked.
But through all the confusion and shyness he smiled upon seeing the gift Mai gave them. He did his best to avoid showing his sharp teeth, so his smile was subtle but full of joy and peace. The Beast Knight did an even more elegant bow. -Thank you for such a wonderful gift, Messa Musashi.- Callis stood up and gently extended the gift bag he brought with him to Soon. -This is a gift for all the family, is called “Kazan no Mizu”- He pulled out a very elegant African Blackwood box, the surface masterfully carved to resemble cracked stone, letting the second layer of wood, Red Ivory with golden engravings, to be seen, giving the illusion of volcanic rocks covering magma. Inside the box there was a simple ceramic bottle, tar black, that had been broken and reassembled through the kintsugi technique, using Gold and Ruby dust, once again keeping the theme of Volcanoes. -Is a luxury sake brewed by masters of the craft, who have been improving their techniques and ingredients for more than 500 years.- Callis recited the line Norio taught him about the gift as perfectly as he possibly could.
Even for people like the Musashi, this was a very expensive item. Each year the Oni Brothers owners of the brewery only did 4 bottles, one for each season. This was their thematic bottle for Fall. Norio wanted Callis to be happy and all that, but he wouldn't give that bottle to him just for that. The sly old fox knew that it would be highly beneficial for the JHWAB to have stronger connections with the Musashi Clan, as they mostly worked on their own, following some directives, but self-governing. Callis, a young loyal agent of the Military Branch having a relationship with one of the daughters of the current clan head? That was political paradise for Norio and the JHWAB. Of course, he didn’t mention the fact to Callis or discussed it with anybody. The only true victim was Shin, who was actually the previous top bidder for the bottle and his father kind of took it.
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Post by othus on Oct 13, 2018 3:15:17 GMT
Mai's eyes shone the moment she saw the bottle of sake, she was a complete fan of anything luxurious, and alcohol wasn't the exception. Akane was also impressed by the gift, it was such a particular one, only a Japanese would be able to pick something of such good taste, Akane held his hand and spoke to him in a quiet tone as Soon, Ann and Mai looked at the bottle completely entranced by it.
"Thank you, this is such a mindful gift. I'm sure everyone thinks the same"
Mai also showed her appreciation for the gift, but not in the same elegant manner as her sister.
"Aniki! You brought something great! see? this man has some good taste! well? what are we waiting for?! we should open this now!"- Mai said as she extended her hand towards the beautiful black and gold bottle, only to be met by Soon's hand, as well as Akane's.
"Not yet, sister, this gift must be opened by father and no one else"
Even Mai knew when to back down, the sole mention of her father made her shy away from the bottle almost immediately.
"Besides, there are still some people who need to meet Callis, where is Gan?"
"He went out hunting with Lord Orochi this morning"- Soon replied, she knew it was common of him to join Orochi, as he was captain of the royal guard.
"Hmmm, well, we still need to get Osechi here anyway! so let's go get her...the bar, I assume?"
Soon closed her eyes as she searched the entire castle, she might have looked like an ordinary girl, but she actually was the strongest esper of the clan, her powers were centered around photokinesis, but she could also use telepathy at a basic degree.
"You know your friends well, Akane, she is there indeed"
"We are getting Osechi? that's good to hear, she will love this bottle!"
The group moved out of the gaming room, and walked deeper into the castle, it was incredibly empty for its size, they walked past an indoor zen garden, with Koi carps the size of a large shark, if Callis looked around the corners, he would see signs, showing places to go, Helipad, armory, dojo, pool, bar.
Akane and the rest turned towards the bar, it was still a 3-minute walk from where they were, the area was so large even Ann had yet to know all the places inside the castle.
A single door finally led to the bar entrance. the words -Ōgetsuhime Bar- stood at the entrance in a refined black and white sign.
as they entered, Osechi was there awaiting them, she was a wearing a fully black chef attire, with a guts band on her forehead, the slim girl moved towards the group to say hi
"Yo!"
"Osechi! it's great that you are around!"- Akane said as she saw her
"Of course! when they told me you were gonna introduce us your boyfriend I knew I had to be here, so, is this the lucky guy?!"
She said as she looked with a big smile at Callis, if he could sense Ki, he would know there was something special about her.
"Welcome to my sushi bar, my name is Osechi, great to finally meet you! Akane has been going on about how you were like a prince out of a fairy tale and all!"
"Osechi!!!" Akane replied blushing like crazy, she had never told Callis how she thought of him as a prince.
"Sorry sorry haha! In any case! since we are here, I think It's time for me to give you all my gift!"
"Us too? then that means..." Ann replied
"Yup, I'm doing my 10-course Omakase Osushi for you all!"
Osechi got closer to the beast warrior and smelled his neck, Akane knew this was nothing to be jealous about.
"No cologne? excellent, looking at your factions I can tell you have quite the delicate senses! It's great that you did not use some, it would affect the taste of my dishes"
The Chef God then moved towards Akane smelling her as well, Osechi this time was more delicate and whispered to Akane in the ear what she wanted to say.
"I thought you were using perfume, but apparently that's your natural smell...your pheromones are going like crazy today, you love him quite a lot don't you?"
Akane pinched osechi by the arm as they all took a seat, Ann was particularly excited, she loved watching Osechi cook.
"Please do take a seat, and make yourselves at home. I saw that beautiful sake by the way! It would go extremely well with my meal course, but I know such a thing it's not for us at the moment. once Lord Orochi arrives, please do share a cup with me...Now, onto business! 10 course meal coming up!"
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Post by Kuma on Oct 13, 2018 3:50:57 GMT
Callis was happy that the gift was well received, but he couldn’t avoid feeling the pressure upon noticing how the outgoing Mai reacted when Akane mentioned their father. He must be quite a terror-inducing to stop somebody like that with a mere mention of his name. The Beast Knight had a fleeting thought “Maybe I should have brought my weapons with me, just in case” but he quickly dispelled the idea, knowing that Akane would never put him in harm’s way. He trusted her too much to even consider this being some kind of elaborate trap and he was trying his hardest to think positively. -Please, lead the way.- He said, following the group towards the next location. He discreetly looked around, fascinated, but keeping it low key, about Akane’s home. He had lived in some of the Castles in Centris, but this play almost dwarfed all of them, the only larger structure was the Urbani Senate, a massive building that had been expanded over and over by different architects across centuries, since the biggest award given to the engineering-minded genius in that Republic was to build new expansions for the Senate, formerly the palace of the ruling family, long gone from power.
They entered the bar and the scent of food assaulted Callis’ nose. Yet he was more focused on the young woman who seemed to be running the place. The Beast Knight had recently started training on handling Ki, so he could sense it, even if his skills were rudimentary at best. Yet, those senses added to his already keen physical ones, allowed him to notice that Osechi was somebody peculiar, in more ways than one. Still, he couldn’t put his finger on it, not only because he wasn’t skilled enough, but because his concentration was broken by Osechi’s remarks about what Akane said about him. Just like the Musashi Heiress, he blushed violently. His blushing only got worse when she got closer and smelled Callis. He wanted to move away, but the lack of killer instinct was a comfort as he forced his body, usually accustomed to explode into action, to stay painfully still. -Yes, I do not eat a lot of spicy food because of that.- He managed to comment about his enhanced senses, since last time he ate sushi, invited by comrades in the BHA, somebody slipped him Wasabi on his sushi. His nose and throat felt itchy for 3 days after it.
Callis took a seat right beside Akane. In his nervousness he searched for her hand, gently grasping it, trying to feel her warm to help his courage and composure, currently running low. -Thank you Messa Osechi, I am sure it will be one of the best meals I had since I arrived at this world.- The Beast Knight praised the Chef God just from observing the bar and from assuming that she was as talented in her craft as Akane was on hers.
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Post by othus on Oct 13, 2018 6:06:14 GMT
As Osechi began to work Callis would notice her skills resembled more sword techniques than cooking techniques. with her knives, perhaps she was even faster than Akane was with her blade.
the first set of pieces arrived, but they were all different. This was not a mistake, she was working five different Omakase menus, one for each diner.
"I have tailored each depending on the palate, please do not think I'm having favorites"- she said as all the pieces were finally presented.
Callis got an extremely delicate piece of turbot, the sushi shone in white alongside an incredibly subtle aroma of rice, the piece was clearly tailored to the enhanced senses of the drifter.
Osechi proceeded to describe each piece as she presented it to them, 10 different pieces for each of them, Osechi worked 50 individual creations on that seating, each one complimenting the flavor of the last.
-Bintoro, Fugu, Akami, Toro, Shake, Hirame, Kinmedai, Uni, Kampachi, Engawa, Ika, Kurage, Same, Tamago - All prepped to perfection as one after the other kept coming, each one of them easily 3 Michelin star class, if not above. Not a single one was made two times, in fact, Callis would get Sashimi instead of sushi at times, her concentration was rivaled only by a life or death battle. Osechi also served different drinks for each, Mai got champagne, Ann some craft beer, Soon got sake, Akane got Genmaicha, while Callis got water.
"Not as big of a believer in water taste, but hey, you might just catch the difference"
Osechi had served a bottle of VEEN water to the Beast Warrior, not because it was expensive, but because she did not want to risk ordinary water ruining the pairing.
Ann frowned across the table the moment she saw the VEEN bottle, it made her remember some things that were better left in the past.
The air on the table suddenly became lighter, Akane's family and friends were incredibly curious about the Beast warrior and his relation to Akane, Mai was the first one to speak out, after eating her first serving.
"So, how did you two guys ended up dating?"
"Yeah, Akane is quite the busy woman, seems unlikely of her to have time for dating"-Soon added as she took a sip of her sake.
"Tell us what you liked about her!" Ann shouted from the other side, holding her beer in the air.
Akane looked at Callis with a smile, hoping he would be the one to answer that last one, still not letting go of the warrior's hand, and slightly leaning towards his shoulder she answered Soon's question.
"I met him the day I left for Mikurajima, can you believe he actually drew a sword on me?!"- Akane said, feigning some offense as she continued her story
"Not only that, he said he was gonna scout the area, but after I and his group fought for our lives against a horde of monsters, I found him calmly whistling next to a sailboat!"
"Not the dependable type huh? sounds just like some stupid man in pink that I know of"- Soon said in a very low voice as she held the sake cup between her lips, trying to keep the sentence to herself, but unable to fully guard it under her thoughts.
"Then how come it worked out after that?! Aniki you must have redeemed yourself in quite the flashy manner!"- Mai replied with shock, knowing Akane was not the type to forgive mistakes. "That he did, he saved my life on that day...if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be standing here today"
*Stupid Dan, he did save me as well though...I wonder if he's doing ok*
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Post by Kuma on Oct 16, 2018 4:44:26 GMT
Callis was amazed by the meal. This was the best meal he ever had, period. To the point that most meals after this one might feel bland in comparison. Most foods were quite painful for him to eat, as any strong flavor could give him a sensory overload. He never knew the greatness of a strong cheese paired with the proper wine or the glory of salty food and fresh sweet beverage to counter the savoriness. Without even realizing it, the Beast Knight let out a couple of tears, he quickly wiped before anybody, except for Osechi, who was looking in his direction, instead of sitting beside him. Callis composed himself as Akane explained their first meeting. He only added to her first line a small comment. -I was following my orders, I was not expecting meeting someone as special as your sister there.- The conversation continued he got flustered remembering his failure as he prepared the sailboat. He violently blushed, scratching the back of his head a bit embarrassed about that memory. Akane finished by informing them of Callis sacrifice. -You are worth saving Akane.- The Beast Knight smiled, lowering his guard enough to do a full smile, showing his sharp teeth.
-You are one of the most fascinating and interesting women I have ever met, in this world or my own.- For a moment he blushed, looking away, realizing how personal this was getting. -Not to mention one of the most skilled individuals with a sword I have ever had the pleasure of fighting alongside.- Callis shyly looked down, clearly embarrassed by the strength of his own feelings. -Your kindness and strength of character guided my actions during Mikurajima and if the circumstances ever repeated themselves, I would do the same thing I did back then.- Finally, he looked at her, his smile had a single, almost faint hint of sadness, but it was mostly full of love and trust. His pale blue eyes almost sparkled with emotion. -Without hesitation, I would do it again.- The Beast Knight took her hand between his own. -You made me understand things about me I never knew and released me from the self-imposed shackles of hatred I chained my own heart with.- Callis was too nervous for his own good, and accidentally let out his heart out in the open, as since he met Akane he had been much more open about his feelings, slowly peeling away years of isolation around his soul.
He covered his mouth, blushing until bright crimson, noticing how much he said without even realizing. Maybe Osechi’s Sushi hit him harder than he thought.
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Post by othus on Oct 16, 2018 6:59:12 GMT
Osechi noticed Callis' reaction, something that made her tear a little as well. she had passion and pride for her craft, and such reaction was something priceless to her. Osechi kept up her work as the conversation kept going, this time with a subtle smile on her face.
The reaction of Akane's family was all over the place, Ann was blushing, covering her mouth with her hands as Callis spoke of his feelings, for a moment she wished to have something like that as well. Mai simply lifted a brow, completely decided to say how corny that had been but was suddenly stopped by Soon who kissed her into silence.
Akane was at a loss for words, she felt emotions piling up inside her. She never quite understood how she came to find such happiness...perhaps it was fate, perhaps a mere coincidence, she did not care which one it was. she finally reached for the warrior's hands, holding them tightly as she faced him, she never told him how much it meant for her all of his actions and words, so she would do it now.
"Without you, I wouldn't know the meaning of many things, you showed me what its like to overcome your inner demons, thanks to you I was able to overcome my prejudice and my traumas, you gave me something to look forward to every day of my life after this. You gave sense to my life beyond that of blood, honor and duty."
She leaned forward, almost feeling the breathing of the beast warrior, her eyes locked into his, as she spoke to him with a gentle voice.
"Should we run away again?"-she finally said as she kissed him.
Ann drank her beer in silence, jealous of both of the Musashi sisters, now feeling like a double third wheel. Osechi served her a double ration of Kobe to cheer her up, which definitely worked.
as the couples were entranced into each other, Soon caught a presence through telepathy, she immediately stopped the kiss, which left Mai utterly confused,
"Hey, something wrong?!"
"Lord Orochi will be here at any minute, we need to get back to the hall"
A shiver akin to ice cold water ran down Akane's spine when she heard that, she began to get some chills and slight trembling, but ultimately held Callis hand firmly, restoring her confidence a little.
"W-well, I guess it's time for you to meet my father...don't worry, I'm sure everything will be alright..."
Neither Ann nor Mai said anything, but they weren't as enthusiastic as Akane, The virtual warrior just felt glad she had eaten Osechi's food as her last meal.
The group moved back to the hall, perhaps at twice the speed they moved originally. people who could sense ki would feel a pressure akin to a mountain, sometimes sending them to their knees. those who couldn't would still feel the adrenaline rushing up to their pores, alongside undeniable fear. such was the natural response of the body to flee when in the presence of an unmeasurable power.
The main doors of the castle opened, as Gan, the captain of the bodyguards entered, announcing the arrival of the clan's top.
"BOW BEFORE LORD OROCHI!"
Gan was a tall man, with a chiseled physique, his body seemed to have been sculpted by the gods themselves, but even he paled in comparison to Orochi.
Lord Orochi towered over everyone, he was almost two meters and a half tall, arms as thick as a woman's waist, a visible aura of power surrounded him, he did not look like a man, for he wasn't. The Shintoists in Japan called him by another name: Izanagi.
He carried a halberd that could have been mistaken for the pillar of a building, easily 4 meters tall stained with blood all the way into his grip, the blood was clearly not his, but it had managed to spill over him, covering parts of his chest and shoulder. He walked along the main hall, paying no attention to anyone around. Akane and her family, of course, bowed on one knee even before Gan had commanded.
Orochi finally sat down on the throne as he set the halberd on the ground, crushing the ivory floor without any difficulty.
He finally looked at Akane and the rest, the silver blond hair of Callis made him raise a brow.
Gan, who moved alongside Orochi, stood by his side, with Orochi seated, the captain of the bodyguards was almost at the same height.
"You may speak now"-He said to Akane, looking only once in her direction
"F-father, welcome. The hunt was successful I assume?"
"Yes, Kaiju are often fun to hunt, now, don't waste our time any longer, your man is waiting for you to introduce him, do not be impolite"- Orochi said as he dismissively waved his hand.
"My apologies father, his name is Callis Nomene, Knight of the Kingdom of Via-
"I did not ask for his credentials, daughter. Is he good to you?"
"The best a man can be"- Akane replied without hesitation, but still somewhat shocked by how he was talking.
"And you think he could help you lead the clan?"
"Without a doubt"
Orochi looked upwards an downwards as if thinking things through, the sole wait made everyone in the family feel some kind of unease, Orochi finally decided to speak his mind out.
"Fine, you can all leave. Boy, stay here, I will speak just to you."- He said referring to Callis. even though Callis was almost 60 years old, to Orochi he was nothing short of a kid.
Akane felt like objecting to that, but Orochi looked at her straight in the eye, shutting down any chance for an appeal.
"We shall be waiting outside, father"
Akane held Callis by the shoulder before she let him go. Osechi gave Gan Callis' gift As they all left, Gan in turn, set the gift next to Orochi.
When everyone finally left, the Leader of the Musashi addressed Callis.
"Welcome to my lands, I hope our hospitality has been up to par. now, let's talk. tell me all I need to know about you. Then about this box over here."- He said as he looked at Callis' gift.
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Post by Kuma on Oct 16, 2018 13:30:08 GMT
Callis couldn’t avoid feeling nervous after putting his heart out in the open like that, but Akane’s words eased his anxiety. Her kiss was almost as heartwarming as her words, but the loving atmosphere went cold, once Soon interrupted them with the news. The Beast Knight noticed the change in Akane’s demeanor, almost being able to smell the fear radiating from her. That worried him, not because of what could happen to him, but what could happen to her. Was their love something her parent didn’t want? Could it cause a problem for her? Those were the questions raging inside his mind. But the warmth of her hand squeezing his blew those doubts away. Callis bowed alongside the rest, doing his best to mimic their manners. Orochi was impressive, not the tallest person the Beast Knight ever saw, but the aura he carried was quite awe-inspiring. Callis only had met a few individuals with such force of presence and the last one he met was the most difficult fight he ever faced, the Renegade Agent Ikari. Akane’s father aura felt much like Ikari’s, a pillar of power, confidence and strength far beyond those of lesser men. It took most of his discipline not to show signs of fear, as half of his being was screaming inside of him, noticing through instinct alone the mighty power that Orochi carried.
The Beast Knight witnessed the exchange between father and daughter with attention and once Orochi talked directly to him, he replied. -Yes, sir.- He didn’t mind being called a boy, even if he hadn’t been called one in almost 30 years. The Beast Knight saw Akane leave and contained his desires to hug her and smile, maintaining eye contact with Orochi. Callis trained for this moment and upon Akane’s father invitation he started. First, he took a traditional Seiza position in front of Orochi, his knees touching the ground. It had been quite the hassle getting accustomed to this position, but his natural flexibility and his understanding of the importance of protocol allowed him to easily adapt to it after some training. He lowered his head almost to the ground, bowing with exquisite reverence. -Exalted Lord Orochi, I thank you for your hospitality and for this chance to exchange words with you.- Callis knew it might sound overly formal, but it seemed to be the right setting for it. He raised his head, keeping his eyes locked on Akane’s father, but without any fierceness or hostility, just open honesty. -Allow me to introduce myself.-
-My name is Callis Nomene, Aurora Regulus Ensis, formerly a Knight of the Kingdom of Via, back in my homeworld of Centris, I am what the authorities call a “Drifter”- Callis waged that Orochi was familiar with the terminology used by the JHWAB to classified Hidden World Denizens, “Drifter” was the denomination for any interdimensional sentient being. -Currently, I serve as an agent for the Japanese Hidden World Affairs Bureau, as part of their Military Branch, in charge of missions concerning protecting VIP individuals, investigating dangerous entities and hunting criminals.- The more he talked, the more he felt his tension vanishing, this was kind of his element, as Orochi had the temperament and presence of a King. -I met your daughter during one of the said missions, and through our comradeship in arms we bonded.- He decided to avoid speaking about his sacrifice, as he felt it would be arrogant and hard to explain. - I never met a swordsman as skilled as your daughter, but her martial prowess is not the reason I love her, her kindness, her strength of character and spirit became a standard for me to match.- Callis bowed again. -I am greatly indebted to you just for the reason of bringing her to this world.-
He remained inclined for a moment and then returned to an upright position. -Regarding my gift.- He said, gently nodding towards the box. -I bring to your illustrious home a bottle of “Kazan no Mizu” one of the 4 bottles crafted by the Oni Brothers of Mount Daihyozion each year.- The Beast Knight also memorized more information about the gift if the asked about it. -It was made for the sole purpose to be enjoyed during this season, distilled from the best ingredients and using the best techniques, polished through centuries of trial and error, like anything worthwile.- It was a wise bet to think that Orochi might know about this brand and the Brewers of Daihyozion. -I consider it a gift almost worthy of your household, as nothing material I could ever bring could compare to the book I have received from it.-
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Post by othus on Oct 16, 2018 15:59:13 GMT
"The Japanese Office huh?" Orochi replied, not even bothering to call it by its proper name. Orochi was not the type of man to spend time doing small talk, but Akane had reassured him Callis was a man of worth. The Beast Warrior did not know, but a personal talk with Orochi was something never heard of before. Callis' words of praise for Akane did not go unheard by Orochi, though his mood was more of him waiting for Callis to make a mistake, rather than just straightforward listening.
Once Callis spoke about his gift, Orochi let out a smirk. There was absolutely no way a drifter would know that much about sake, much less of his particular taste. he looked at the bottle once, thinking about how much of a sly bastard Norio was, and then set it aside.
"You seem to be well mannered, Callis Nomene. Perhaps that was what my daughter liked about you, most men these days tend to be impolite bastards. having said that, I appreciate the gift, even if you did not choose it yourself"
Orochi then leaned forward, as he looked straight at the Beast Warrior.
"I do not like lies, so I'll be honest with you, when I heard my daughter was dating a drifter, I thought it would be easier just to kill him. however, my daughter has brought to my attention that you have already died once for her sake, so killing you again would just tarnish the name of Musashi. If my daughter chose you despite my threats, then you are probably a man of worth. Do not disappoint me, Callis Nomene, I expect much from you in the future, I don't plan on letting a nobody stay with my daughter, so make a name for yourself and keep striving."
Orochi was not telling any lies when he said he expected much from Callis. He perfectly knew the drifter could not match Akane's pedigree, but he could definitely match her in accomplishments, ideally surpass her. The only reason he even had this talk with him, was because Callis already had some reputation in the first place. A decorated officer of the JHWAB would not raise any brows within the HW community if he were to marry the next heir of the Musashi. In fact, It would be expected to happen. But for Callis' own sake, he should strive for the top. Japanese tend to have lower opinions of foreigners than of themselves, especially when it comes to dating a living national treasure like Akane.
The head of the clan finally relaxed a little, he leaned back and with a gesture opened the gates, signaling the rest to get back in. Once everyone sat down, Orochi spoke again.
"While I still have my doubts, as I should, I have taken the decision to take Callis Nomene under our wing, conduct yourself impeccably, and, once your achievements impress me, then you might take my daughter's hand in marriage. For now, let us celebrate, I'm tired of the small talk."
Akane's eyes shone as a gleeful expression covered her face, Orochi signaled her to come to her side, which she immediately did.
"Please serve everyone the gift your boyfriend brought, starting with me, then him. I did not educate you into serving others, but this is an exception"
"Yes father!" Akane happily replied. She served everyone a cup of sake, and looked at Callis filled with pride. She knew she had made the right choice.
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Post by Kuma on Oct 16, 2018 16:23:12 GMT
Callis was as relaxed as he could be, facing what seemed to be a storm in human form sitting across him. That calm stopped upon hearing the word “kill”. The Beast Knight instincts flared up, but he managed to contain them, chain them down back in place, with the only visible sign of discomfort from his part were the hairs on the back of his neck sticking out. Once Orochi finished talking Callis bowed again, his forehead touching the ground once more. -I also hope to be worthy of your daughter, Exalted Lord Orochi and I will do my best to always be her support and to walk alongside her, never behind.- He returned to the upright Seiza as the doors behind him opened and Orochi made his proclamation. If Callis wasn’t as tense as he was, he would’ve visibly relaxed, but at the moment his spine had more in common with an iron pole than with an actual articulated system. He managed to smile when Akane served him, just a faint smile, more out of relief than anything else. -Thank you.- He muttered to her.
The Beast Knight waited for the host to drink first, following protocol, or for him to start a cheer, before even drinking. That was an experience he was dreading as even inside the box and with the cork on, he could notice the strong scent that this Sake carried. Now that it was served on a cup in front of him, the scent was pummeling his face with a shovel, but he kept his cool, gathering his resolve for when the time came to drink.
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Post by othus on Oct 16, 2018 21:54:07 GMT
Orochi was served half the bottle in an oversized red sake cup, while the rest were given normal sized ones. The head of the Musashi clan was about to toast when the massive doors of the castle opened again, Orochi frowned, feeling bothered by the intromission.
"Who dares?!"
A slender figure walked across the hall, black suit, long hair and two blades, one on each side. The woman was just as beautiful as Akane and maybe somewhat taller. she walked alongside two bodyguards who were easily on the same level as Gan. Orochi's eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost.
"Now now, is that how you receive your wife? my, you have become quite the bitter man in just a few years"
"...Mother?"-Akane let out some tears, with her face still showing a mixture of shock and surprise.
"Who?!"-Mai replied as she heard that. That was the first time she had ever seen her mother, there were no photographs, no memories of her whatsoever, and Orochi never even spoke about her, but Akane knew, it had been 19 years since she last saw her, and she hadn't aged, not even a bit.
"Tomoe?! what are you doing here?!"
"I finished my mission, so I came back to see my family, what else? and since I heard my little Akane is dating someone now, I figured it would be a perfect time to come back"
"Excuse me what the fuck?! who the hell are you?! If this is a joke I'm not finding it funny"
"Mother??! Mother!!! is that really you?!!"- Akane ran straight towards her, the bodyguards stepped up front, but Tomoe signaled them to stand aside. Akane's golden eyes reflected on the Crimson eyes of her mother. she embraced her as Akane cried like she hadn't in years. The sight of her sister crying made her realize this was not a joke, as Akane never cried about trivial things. Mai hesitantly moved towards Tomoe, unsure as to how to react. She ended up pulling Mai by the arm as well.
"Now, aren't you quite the beauty Mai? what happened to your long white hair? it was all the way to your feet when you were a toddler"
Tomoe rustled Mai's hair, who could only tear out from her eyes, she had never experienced something like motherly love in her life, so it was quite a shock.
"And look at you, you are exactly like me! You have become a fine woman, Akane."
Orochi interrupted their meeting, her first sentence had shaken him to the core
"You completed your mission?! I cannot believe that"
"Raijin and Yomotsu are dead, dear. I killed them with my own hands...now, are you gonna share some of that sake with me, or are you planning on drinking it all by yourself?"
Orochi stood up from his throne as he walked straight towards her and lifted her in the air, kissing Akane's mother in a passionate way neither of the Musashi sisters had ever seen. as he set her gently back to the ground, Tomoe asked Akane to meet her boyfriend.
"Y-yes mother! right away!" she said as she rushed back to Callis.
"This might be sudden but, I'd like you to meet my mother as well, I want to share this with you"-
Mai looked at the floor as if pondering something, but she ended up speaking out her mind as well
"M-Mom, is it okay for me to introduce you someone as well?!"
Tomoe gently nodded with the same smile Akane usually displayed. She rushed back to where Soon was, which immediately made the esper blush, she never thought Mai saw her in an actual serious way.
"Come with me, I want to make it official as well"
Both Akane and Mai introduced Callis and Soon respectively, the esper felt completely weirded out, she had loved Mai for so long, but always felt like the Musashi was playing around. her happiness was on another level.
Tomoe then met Callis, she held him by the cheeks, examining his eyes and facial features
"My, you are quite a handsome man! no wonder my Akane fell for you, you look like a prince!"
"He does," Akane said as she gently laughed. It was almost as if being with Callis were her amulet of good luck.
"So, by any chance, are you a swordsman, Nomene-san?"
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Post by Kuma on Oct 16, 2018 23:15:26 GMT
The Beast Knight wasn’t ready for this. He trained protocol, he learned the customs, he even was taught how to perform the basics of a tea ceremony if that ever happened to come up. He wasn’t ready at all for a tearful family reunion. Tomoe, Akane’s mother, was very much like her daughter, but she carried the same kind of fearful aura Orochi had, the instincts of the Beast Knight flared up, for a moment looking around the room in search of a window, planning a quick escape if something went wrong. The mere presence of the Musashi Lords was kicking his flight instinct into overload. Still, he fought against his instincts and stayed in place, observing the whole scene, unable to hide a smile flourishing on his face upon seeing the love of his life so overcome with emotion from seeing her own mother. Callis never knew his own mother, but deep down he felt like he would react the same way as Akane did. The Beast Knight stood up as Akane came towards him and took him towards her mother. She grabbed the sides of his head, causing a new wave of red on his face.
-Yes, I am a swordsman.- He said, without adding any of his accustomed humility or any kind of arrogance. He felt Tomoe’s red eyes could pierce through his mind. -Is one of the only things I know how to do.- He continued. -My style might be a bit unorthodox and makeshift compared to Akane’s impressive and polished skills.- The Beast Knight added, feeling as if Tomoe’s gaze extracted everything from his mind. -But I do consider myself more or less skilled with a blade.-
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