Deus.Ex.Machina Chapter 147 146

The scheduled dinner ca faster than I'd expected.

I spent the rest of the day with Sona, visiting the places we didn't manage to visit yesterday due to our... detour.

By the ti we noticed it was already evening.

By the ti we noticed, it was already evening.

"We should head back," Sona said, checking her phone. "The dinner is in an hour."

"We could skip it."

She looked at . "Leon."

"I'm serious. We could just—"

"No."

"You didn't let finish."

"I didn't need to." She adjusted her glasses. "You're not skipping a diplomatic dinner you agreed to attend."

"Technically Yasaka invited . I just accepted."

"That's the sa thing."

"Debatable."

"It's not."

I grinned despite myself. "Fine. But for the record, I'd rather stay here."

Sothing softened in her expression. "I know."

=====

The Youkai faction's western headquarters looked different at night. Lanterns lined the walkways, casting warm light across traditional architecture that had stood for centuries.

Sona walked beside , her hand resting lightly in mine. She'd changed into sothing more formal — a deep blue dress that managed to be elegant without being ostentatious.

I was wearing a suit. It was sothing Hayama prepared for , sothing he always do during events like this.

Yamamoto followed a few steps behind us.

"You're staring," Sona said without looking at .

"Can you bla ?"

"You already told I looked beautiful. Twice."

"And it's not enough."

"Are you going to be like this all evening?"

"Probably."

She laughed.

We reached the main hall. The doors were already open, Youkai attendants stationed on either side. One of them — a Kitsune, judging by the barely visible tail — bowed as we approached.

"Mishima-sama, Sitri-sama. Yasaka-sama is expecting you."

We followed him inside.

The dining hall was smaller than I'd expected. More intimate. A single long table set with traditional dishware, cushions arranged on either side. Yasaka was already seated at the head, the golden crown catching the lantern light. She stood as we entered.

"Mishima-sama. Sitri-sama. Welco." Her smile was warm. Genuine. "Please, sit."

We took our places across from her while Yamamoto positioned himself near the entrance.

"I trust yesterday's arrangents were satisfactory?" Yasaka said as tea was poured.

"They were excellent," I said. "Kyoto exceeded expectations."

Sona's foot found mine under the table. A light tap. Warning or amusent, I couldn't tell.

"I'm pleased to hear it," Yasaka said. "Before we begin, there is soone I would like you to et."

She glanced toward a side entrance.

A young girl stepped through.

Blonde hair in a ponytail. Golden eyes. Nine golden fox tails swaying behind her, fox ears perked forward with obvious curiosity. She was wearing a traditional miko outfit.

I recognize her imdiately as Kunou.

Yasaka's daughter.

She stopped in front of the table and bowed.

"I am Kunou," she said, her voice clear and asured. "Princess of the Kyoto Youkai. It is an honor to et you, Mishima-sama, Sitri-sama."

Sona inclined her head. "The honor is ours, Kunou-sama."

Kunou's tails swished once. Pleased.

"Please," Yasaka said, gesturing to the seat beside her. "Join us, Kunou."

The girl moved to her mother's side and settled onto the cushion while her eyes lingered with us.

Dinner began properly after that. Courses arrived in sequence — traditional Kyoto cuisine prepared with the kind of precision that suggested Yasaka had spared no expense. The conversation flowed naturally. Yasaka asked about the Mishima Corporation's expansion plans. I answered directly, no false modesty. We were growing fast and I intended to keep it that way.

Sona engaged Yasaka on the complexities of managing faction relations, offering insights that ca from years of observation under her sister. Kunou listened attentively, occasionally asking questions that were sharper than her age suggested.

"Mishima-sama," Kunou said during a lull. "Is it true you fought the Infinite Dragon God?"

The table went quiet.

I glanced at Yasaka. She looked faintly apologetic but didn't intervene.

"It's true," I said.

Kunou's eyes went wide. "And you won?"

"I survived."

"Were you scared?"

"No."

"Wow…"

It was then that Serafall appeared.

Literally.

She didn't walk in. She materialized.

Serafall Leviathan was standing there in full formal attire — which for her ant a dress that was sohow both elegant and aggressively sparkly — holding what appeared to be a gift box.

"Sera-tan has arrived~!"

Every Youkai attendant in the room went rigid.

Yasaka stood imdiately. "Leviathan-sama. This is... unexpected."

"I heard there was a dinner!" Serafall bead, sweeping into the room like she'd been invited all along. "And I brought a present for Kunou-chan~!"

Kunou's eyes lit up. "A present?"

"Onee-sama," Sona said carefully. "You weren't—"

"I know, I know, I wasn't invited." Serafall waved a hand dismissively. "But I'm here now, so it's fine, right?" She looked at Yasaka with that bright, disarming smile. "Right?"

Yasaka looked at .

I shrugged. "It's your headquarters."

"Very helpful, Mishima-san," Yasaka said, but there was amusent in her voice now.

I shrugged.

Yasaka gestured toward an empty seat. "Please, Leviathan-sama, join us."

Serafall dropped into the seat beside with alarming speed. She slid the gift box across the table to Kunou.

"For you~!"

Kunou looked at her mother. Yasaka nodded.

The girl opened the box carefully. Inside was... a magical girl figurine. Limited edition, from the packaging.

Kunou stared at it.

"Do you like it?" Serafall asked, leaning forward eagerly.

"I..." Kunou looked up, torn between confusion and genuine interest. "What is it?"

"A magical girl! From Milky Spiral Seven!" Serafall's eyes sparkled. "She's the best one. Very strong. Very cool. You'll love the show—"

"Onee-sama,"

Serafall stopped mid-sentence.

Kunou was still staring at the figurine. Then, slowly, a smile spread across her face.

"Thank you, Leviathan-sama."

"Call Sera-tan~!"

"...Thank you, Sera-tan."

Yasaka looked like she wasn't sure whether to be amused or concerned.

Dinner continued. Serafall, to her credit, behaved relatively well. She asked Yasaka about Kyoto's leylines with genuine curiosity, complinted the food excessively, and only tried to teach Kunou a magical girl transformation pose once.

By the ti dessert arrived, the atmosphere had settled into sothing almost comfortable.

Then Yasaka's expression shifted.

Subtle. Just for a mont. But I caught it.

"Mishima-san," she said carefully. "There is one matter I wished to discuss before the evening concludes."

I set my cup down. "Go ahead."

"The eastern faction has been... unusually quiet since our preliminary agreent. They have made no formal response. No objections. No inquiries…. And that concerns .""

"Because they should have objected," I said.

"Yes. The eastern faction has always been vocal. Silence from them suggests planning."

"They're not planning. They're evaluating."

Yasaka blinked. "Mishima-sama?"

"The eastern faction and the Five Principal Clans. They've been in contact. Three delegations in the past week. Two from the eastern territories to the Hijima compound. One to the Shinra estate."

The table went very still.

Yasaka stared at . "How do you—"

"The Mishima Corporation has resources."

E.V.E. had sent a report yesterday evening. The AI's surveillance network had picked up movent patterns over the past week. Three separate delegations from eastern territories. Two etings at the Hijima compound. One at the Shinra estate. The timing wasn't coincidental.

The eastern faction and the Five Principal Clans were talking. Evaluating their options. Trying to figure out if opposing the western faction's alliance with was worth the risk.

Smart money said it wasn't. But people made stupid decisions all the ti.

Sona glanced at .

"They're still talking," I continued. "Trying to decide their next move. But they won't act against you directly."

"You're certain?" Yasaka asked.

"They don't have the courage."

It ca out more bluntly than I'd intended. But it was true. The eastern faction could posture all they wanted. The Five Principal Clans could sche in their compounds. At the end of the day, no one wanted to test what the Mishima Corporation — what I — would do if they crossed the line.

Sothing shifted in Yasaka's expression. Not quite relief. Closer to reassurance.

"Then we are fortunate to have aligned ourselves with you, Mishima-sama."

She smiled.

"It's a mutually beneficial arrangent,"

"Of course." Yasaka's smile didn't fade. "Though I must say, Mishima-sama, your dedication to our partnership is quite impressive. One might almost think you have a personal investnt in Kyoto's wellbeing."

"The Mishima Corporation takes all its partnerships seriously."

"I'm sure you do." She tilted her head slightly. "Still, I hope you will visit us again once your... travels are complete. Kyoto is quite beautiful in every season. And Kunou has grown quite fond of you already."

Kunou, who had been listening quietly, nodded enthusiastically. "You should co back, Mishima-sama!"

"I will," I said.

Yasaka's smile widened just slightly. "Then we shall look forward to it. Perhaps next ti we could arrange a more... personal tour of the city. There are many places of interest that most visitors never see."

Under the table, Sona's foot found mine.

"That's very generous," I said. "Though I imagine you have more pressing matters to attend to than playing tour guide."

"Not at all." Yasaka's voice was light. Gracious. "I would consider it an honor to show you Kyoto's hidden treasures personally, Mishima-sama. After all, our partnership should extend beyond re business arrangents, don't you think?"

The temperature at the table dropped about five degrees.

Sona's expression remained perfectly composed. Perfectly polite. But I knew that look. I'd seen it before when soone pushed too far in the wrong direction.

"Mishima-sama's schedule will likely be quite full upon his return," Sona said smoothly. "The Mishima Corporation has nurous commitnts across multiple territories."

"Of course." Yasaka inclined her head gracefully toward Sona. "Though I'm sure he could spare a day or two for such an important alliance. Don't you agree, Sitri-sama?"

Sona smiled. It didn't reach her eyes.

"Naturally. Though as his... close associate, I would likely accompany him on any such visits. For diplomatic continuity, you understand."

"How thoughtful of you."

The two of them looked at each other across the table. Perfectly pleasant. Perfectly cordial.

Serafall glanced between them, then at , then took a sudden interest in her tea.

I took a slow breath.

"I appreciate the offer, Yasaka-san," I said carefully. "We can discuss the details when the ti cos."

"Of course." Yasaka's smile returned to its earlier warmth. "I look forward to it."

The conversation shifted after that. Lighter topics. Serafall filled the silence with questions about local festivals and Kyoto traditions. Kunou chid in enthusiastically. The tension gradually dissipated into sothing more manageable.

By the ti we stood to leave, the evening had stretched well into night.

Yasaka walked us to the entrance herself, Kunou trailing just behind her.

"Thank you for joining us this evening, Mishima-sama. Sitri-sama." Yasaka bowed slightly. "It was truly a pleasure."

Her eyes lingered on for just a mont before shifting to Sona.

"And Sitri-sama, you are quite fortunate to have such... close proximity to Mishima-sama's endeavors."

Sona's smile was razor-sharp. "I am very aware of my good fortune, Yasaka-sama."

"I'm sure you are."

Kunou, oblivious to the undercurrent, stepped forward and bowed. "It was an honor to et you, Mishima-sama! And you too, Sitri-sama! Please co back to visit!"

"We will."

Serafall waved enthusiastically. "Bye-bye, Kunou-chan~! Don't forget to watch the show!"

Kunou waved back, the magical girl figurine clutched carefully in her other hand.

=====

The walk back to the hotel was very quiet.

Sona's hand found mine as we moved through Kyoto's streets. Her grip was... firm. Yamamoto followed at his usual distance, wisely saying nothing.

We walked for nearly five minutes before she spoke.

"That was interesting,"

"Yeah."

"Yasaka-sama is quite hospitable."

"She is."

"Very invested in the partnership."

"Seems like it."

Another block of silence.

"A personal tour," Sona said. "How generous."

I glanced at her. "Sona—"

"I'm not upset."

"You sound upset."

"I'm not upset…It's just I don't like her flirting with you in front of ."

I kept silent as she continued.

"I've accepted that part of who you are. Multiple won are... inevitable, given your position and your nature." She paused. "I don't particularly enjoy it, but I understand it."

"But, what I don't appreciate is soone else flirting with you during our ti together."

"For what it's worth," I said eventually, "I wasn't interested."

"I know." She smiled slightly. "You were very clearly trying not to engage."

"Was I that obvious?"

"To , yes. To her?" Sona shrugged. "I made sure she understood by the end."

I rembered the way Sona had smiled at Yasaka.

She paused. "Leon, I need you to understand sothing. I've made my peace with the fact that I'm not the only one. I genuinely have. But when we have ti together — especially ti like this, before you leave for who knows how long — that ti is ours. Not anyone else's."

"You have that," I said. "I promise."

I stared at her. She held my gaze for a long mont. Then she stepped closer and kissed .

When she pulled back, she was smiling.

"Good. Now let's go back to the hotel."

"Any particular reason?"

"Because tomorrow you're leaving for months and I intend to make very sure you rember exactly what you're coming back to."

I laughed despite myself. "Yes ma'am."

We started walking again. Sona's hand stayed firmly in mine.

"You're going to make tonight very difficult to say goodbye after," she said quietly.

"Good," I said. "That's the point."

She leaned against as we walked.

"Leon?"

"Yeah?"

"When you co back... and if things develop with Yasaka or anyone else..." She paused. "Just tell . Don't let find out so other way."

"I will," I said. "I promise."

"Thank you."

We didn't say anything else the rest of the way back.

We didn't need to.