Kyoto.
Like a perfectly sensible man, I had teleported away from home to avoid trouble and, of course, to settle the ever-delayed matter concerning Yasaka and me. And at the moment, my feet were carrying me towards her palace, bypassing the beautifully lit streets of the ancient city and the vast number of yokai.
Apparently, Gabriel, Irina, and Griselda had shown up at the residence to check in there. And I'm already foreshadowing their absolutely precisely valid reason for doing so.
Michael is not stupid, and certainly noticed the look that Griselda threw at me. But she is a mere complement, as is Irina, unlike Gabriel. Even the blind, deaf and feeble-minded would realize what the Viceroy of Heaven is trying to accomplish.
Yes, in fact, he is using his sister, one of the purest, most beautiful and, by the way, strongest angels, but his end basically justifies the means. Michael is well aware that he needs to somehow connect Heaven to me, and who better suited than Gabriel herself? He also knows that I wouldn't lay a hand on her in any conceivable or unthinkable way. All because I'm 'human', as unusual as that sounds.
Anyway, while pondering all of this, I managed to arrive at the entrance to the palace, which was guarded by a pair of tengu. They greeted me briefly and let me inside while one of them went to alert Yasaka.
And now, I'm already sitting in a not small room at a table with a cup of hot tea in my hand, just like on my last visit here. And, of course, it would be foolish to leave me unobserved, so there was someone above the ceiling. Yokai and a ninja, though not the same one as that time.
After a while, about half an hour or so, Yasaka came into the room, and she looked tired or even exhausted. Her unsteady gait, slightly red eyes and dark circles under them hidden behind light makeup, slow sharp movements and so on spoke directly to the fact that Yasaka had had better days. Though, given our situation...
- "Thank you for waiting, Romani-san. I've had more and more worries lately," she began, sitting down across from me and adjusting her kimono, then poured the tea and took a sip, "You may go now, Yume. I'd like to speak to my guest alone."
After a couple moments, the presence above the ceiling disappeared, and now it was just me and Yasaka in the room. I gave her time to recover a bit before continuing our conversation. It was a touchy subject, after all.
- "Huh..." she sighed in relief, "Now we can continue. I apologize for that."
- "It's all right, Yasaka-san. You don't need to apologize," I waved her away, "Besides, your condition is my fault, isn't it?"
- "The question of our... relationship... was really occupying my thoughts. For a moment I thought that my letter had not reached you, or that you had decided to postpone it altogether. May I ask if there was a reason why you delayed your visit so long?"
I smiled wryly.
I can't say I was saving another world on the whim of one overgrown mosquito, can I? Or how one fairy queen forced me to go on a date with her without being able to turn her down? Well, or that Sirzechs technique? All of this can be generalized, though.
- "All I can say is that things poured over my head like a bucket of ice water. To be honest, my visit could have been rescheduled now as well, but as you can see, I'm here."
- "Am I distracting you? I'm embarrassed to hear that."
- "Come on, let's just cut to the chase," I smiled, "I'm ashamed to admit it, but I haven't thought about our question. My honest opinion is that it's worth a try. The same couple dates or something like that, for example. After all, we're strangers now. What do you think, Yasaka-san?"
- "Well... I've come to the same conclusion," Yasaka nodded, "Like Amaterasu-sama said, you're not disgusted with me, and you even saved my daughter. Also, I've heard what they say about you in the Bible faction, so I don't think we can't find common ground. Some of your character traits do raise questions though."
- "Which is. I prefer to say what I think, the others are just afraid to do the same. Fortunately, my power allows me to do that," I shrugged, "And how does Kunou feel about the issue? I don't have children, so I can't be sure of what I'm saying, but... how should I put it... Is she embarrassed?"
- "Partly, and she's generally good to you. You've protected her, haven't you?" Yasaka smiled, and then looked at me with a slightly judgmental look, "However, what were you thinking when you beat up Shalba right in front of Kunou? Just because of that, she is slightly wary of you. According to her, you were like an evil oni with a terrible smile who found pleasure in the suffering of others."
- "That's slander!" I immediately started to deny it, "It was a lesson in education!"
- "But not in front of a child's eyes! You could have covered it up with magic or something!" She said firmly, to which I grimaced.
Perhaps I really did go overboard back then. However, at that moment, I was simply oblivious to Kunou's presence. Heh.
- "Well, that's true. I'll apologize to her later," I said awkwardly, to which Yasaka nodded approvingly, "In that case, are you free tomorrow night? We could take a walk around the city, me, you and Kunou. I'd offer to do it tonight, but I understand you need some rest."
- "Hmmm..." she hesitated, "That's fine with me. I'll try to finish my business as soon as possible and I think I'll be free by eight o'clock tonight."
- "Fine, then I'll be there by then," I nodded, and then I remembered something. "It's none of my business, but who was your husband? Usually, children have traits from both parents, but Kunou only has your hair and eye color and yokai features."
At those words, Yasaka stiffened and became a little bit sad.
I really hate to bring this up, but nowhere, basically nowhere, her husband has ever been publicized. No name, no appearance, no race. Not at all. It's like he appeared, conceived a child, and vanished. I have one absolutely insane theory, but to make it real? No way.
Why would I even want to know about him? Yasaka is his wife and Kunou is his daughter, and I wouldn't want to overlap him in their minds with myself. Even if it's not NTR, a genre that disgusts me to the core, as he's dead after all, but it feels like that. Like stealing his family from him, to make a long story short. At least this way I know what I'm dealing with and how to proceed.
- "My husband… he…"
- "If you don't want to talk about it, then don't. Let's just forget about it and be done with it." I stopped her when I heard the uncertainty.
- "You misunderstood, Romani-san," Yasaka shook her head, "It's not that I don't want to talk about it, it's just that my memories of it are very vague."
- "Vague?"
- "It's been years since he left us, and he didn't even get to see Kunou's face before he passed away. Only the news of his death remains in my memory, and I'm ashamed to admit that I can't remember his face, his voice, or his appearance. Tears and intense sadness come at once..." she said bitterly, lowering her face, "I'm a terrible wife, eh? I'm unable to even remember my husband's features..."
I raised an eyebrow.
What? Mystical beings have phenomenal memories, and if Yasaka can't even remember a face... Oh no, that can't be right, right?
My face creased with realization.
I mean, Yasaka and Kunou were only needed for the sake of filling out the heroine archetypes? No prescribed backstory, but just to give to Issei? Just some random guy conceiving a daughter to a nine-tailed fox, with no name, face or anything? That's bullshit. And it's total bullshit. Now you need to solve a situation that you created yourself.
- "No, you're just unlucky," I said measuredly, "And I can tell you that you're not a terrible wife. You may not remember your husband, but you make up for it by taking care of your daughter. Kunou is surrounded by love and care, and just the right amount. She is independent, skillful and polite, and your subordinates are truly loyal to her, as well as to you. You are a wonderful woman, just know that."
- "T-thank you, Romani-san." Yasaka practically whispered, wiping away her tears with her hand, to which I nodded silently and took a sip of the tea that had already cooled.
Anyone else would have thought to hug her, to give her a sense of warmth and care, but not me. As I'd said before, we were strangers at this point. By doing so, I would essentially be taking advantage of a moment of weakness and causing false affection. This is different from the same Morgana when we were already relatively close and she already had feelings for me.
My opinion is that the feelings should be mutual. What's the point of building a relationship on false hopes and promises? There isn't. Sooner or later there will come a moment when everything will fall apart. It's just that one will be unhappy from the beginning and the other a little later.
I put the cup down on the table and let out a silly sigh, looking at the untied Yasaka.
Well, the beginning had been made. All that's left is to move forward, eh?
-0-
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