One Hundred And Eighty-Six
I quickly dumped my bags at the house before accompanying the girls up to the shrine. Shaeula was chattering happily with Aiko and Eri, while the other girls were largely listening, only interjecting an odd comnt when the subject turned to .
“So, are you looking forward to your party later?” I asked Eri when it ca up in discussion. “You know, I find it a bit surprising you’d organise sothing like that. It makes happy though. I’ve always worried you were too shy and didn’t have enough friends.”
Before Eri could answer my sis piped up. “Seriously bro, I’d have thought you’d be more jealous! If Eri makes more friends you can’t have her all to yourself, right?” she said slyly.
As Shaeula laughed and the noble girls and their bodyguards watched on, confused by the turn of the conversation, I shrugged. “Genuinely, I’m happy. And I know you are too, Aiko, so don’t try and pretend otherwise.”
“Ugh.” my sis shuddered mock-theatrically. “It gives the creeps when you say my na so seriously. But… yeah, I’m just ssing with you. I know you worried about us all this ti. We’re sorry we weren’t better. But… we worried about you too, right Eri?”
Eri nodded firmly, gripping my hand tightly. “Yes. And we worry even now. What you do is dangerous. Which is why we have to be there too. Besides, I don’t care about anyone else. Especially other boys. I suppose Rika-san and Yae-san aren’t as bad as I thought, but the way Yae-san still flirts with you is annoying.” She puffed out her cheeks in irritation. “You’ve already shot her down. She should have so dignity.”
“Would you-you have stopped had Akio shot you down and chose only ?” Shaeula scoffed.
“Back then… I had almost given up hope.” Eri muttered. “But now..” her voice turned stern. “… I’m never letting go. So you are both stuck with .” Her gaze strayed to the other girls. “And I’ll fight for Akio and my love for him. I’ll repel anyone who tries to co between us or steal what is mine!”
“So bold!” Shaeula chortled, clearly amused. My sis rolled her eyes, complaining how Eri had gone full yandere.
“If that’s directed at , I don’t appreciate it.” Hinata-san crossed her arms under her chest, looking affronted. “I am just here to learn, after all. Akio-kun has made alliance with Fujiwara-sama, and I am just taking this chance to earn my family so credit. Nothing more.” she then looked away, but…
The way she keeps casting sidelong glances at , her ears pink, is kind of telling…
“As for … I do understand.” Motoko-san said, looking Eri square in the face. “As a daughter of nobility I was raised strictly. Our duty is to marry for the good of the family, and only associate with those we can trust, never n outside the family. After all, were we to be involved in any scandals, the honour of our ancestors would be cast down into the dust. Still…” she looked up at the sky, thinking. “… the sons of nobility, such as my brother…”
“Mine too.” Hinata-san broke in, understanding. “Hiroto is always playing around at University, and it’s accepted that even after he gets married he’ll be free to have affairs, even concubines. It’s hardly fair. I was only one of the Three-Hundred up until now, so I’m not as isolated from the normal life as girls like my cousin Sakura, or Mayumi-sama. I know that way of life isn’t what you would consider normal.”
“Indeed. But that is just the way it is.” Motoko-san said, accepting of it. “We are raised in a greenhouse, because our fathers and grandfathers require us to be beautiful, elegant flowers. Many of the nobility perished during the Second World War, when we were defeated, and most of the remainder failed and disappeared during the occupation afterwards, and the political upheaval that followed. Grandfather managed to keep our family safe by retaining his power in politics and the military, but so of our branch families were not so lucky…”
“This is all very interesting.” Eri said. “But I don’t see the relevance to what I said?”
“My apologies.” Motoko-san said politely. “I shall get to the point. I understand my duty, but… our family has always carried traditional techniques of bow, spear and sword, since the days of the Shogunate, no, even before. I love them, and I can’t let them go. I would do anything to carry them on, but I also have no wish to bring sha to my ancestors, or disgrace my grandfather, who supports .”
“I too!” Natsumi-san declared. “I love the arts, Motoko-sama!”
“Natsumi!” she chided, and Natsumi flushed.
“Sorry, Motoko-san. But… I feel just as strongly as you! I don’t want to give up either, and when you are married, you’ll no longer need as your bodyguard, and your husband won’t let you train anymore!”
“I do not see why our traditional weapon arts are any less valuable than Japanese dancing, shrine rites, or other things Fujiwara-sama wishes to preserve. I agonised over it, my conflicting wants and desires. Many nights I cried myself to sleep over it.”
Really? She looks so refined and composed. But I guess she’s still a girl in the end. Her worries may be… different… from the normal, but they are important to her.
“Then Oshiro-sensei appeared.” Motoko-san said, tears forming in her eyes. “And a new path opened to . One where I can fulfil both duties, where they won’t be in conflict. I can continue, or perhaps even improve the arts of my forebears, and also…”
“Wow. Is this going where I think this is going? It’s going to be a bloodbath…” we had almost reached the shrine, talking as we walked, so Aiko clasped her hands in prayer, joking. “Oh kami, if you can hear … resolve this peacefully!”
“Obviously, for the honour of my family, and… well, every girl dreams of being a beautiful bride in front of her friends and family, do they not?”
At that everyone nodded their agreent, even the standoffish Onoue-san.
“I am no exception.” Motoko-san continued. “But… if it did not bring sha, I could stand to be a concubine, if my husband was suitably noble, and I could continue practising my arts with his blessings. How glorious it would be if my husband even took up the arts as well.” She smiled, and my breath caught. Yeah, she’s beautiful too, especially when she smiles sincerely like that. In fact, all the noble girls I’ve seen are pretty. I guess hundreds of years of good breeding helps with that…
“You hardly know . We’ve barely spent a few hours together. I don’t get it. There have to be other, better ways to fulfil your duty.” I know she implied she was a candidate for my wife, or concubine or mistress, or whatever… but still. Sure, I thought I was a decent catch now, not even counting my Charm which was probably making unfairly attractive to won. But am I so worthwhile that a girl I have only just t is prepared to be my mistress, even knowing I have two fiancées?
“You are just that valuable.” Shaeula said, divining my thoughts. That was happening more and more often recently, perhaps an effect of our nurous bonds. “You have knowledge, power, influence, connections. Indeed, there is not-not a thing you are lacking. These nobles may be old and powerful, but in this new order, your triumphs have been many-many. And you can share that power. They would be fools not-not to be interested.”
“Besides…” Hinata-san broke in sourly. “A lot of the girls at Hanafubuki are already engaged before they even reach high school. And so of them don’t even et their intended until their wedding day. At least we… sorry, at least Motoko-san will have more than that.”
“I do not find you lacking at all, Oshiro-sensei. Though I would see more of your skills.” She smiled brightly, and Eri suddenly spoke up, visibly annoyed.
“We’ll discuss this later. For now, we should greet the master of the shrine.” She glared at , and even though I hadn’t agreed to anything, nor even suggested such things, I still felt guilty.
“Fine. We have a lot to go over, and I don’t want to keep you from your party.”
“Screw the party. They could have fun even without .” Eri pouted, but I pulled her into a hug, reassuring her.
“No way, without the birthday girl, they’d be sad.” I denied her. “Besides… I want everyone to appreciate my beautiful fiancée. That way I can rub it in their faces how lucky I am!” I was joking a little bit, but it was true that I did feel proud of myself. Though at the sa ti, I was almost one of those clueless idiots from manga and light novels who doesn’t see the worth of their childhood friend until it’s too late…
At that Eri seed a bit happier, and a minute later we were greeting the master of the shrine, Marika-san’s grandfather.
“I see you two girls have brought Oshiro-sama, as well as so new faces.” The old man smiled. “Is it ditation and training again?”
Eri nodded. “Yes. With Akio here we are hoping to make more breakthroughs.”
“I see, I see.” He said, and I took that ti to speak.
“Yeah, thanks for always looking after Eri and my sister. Letting them use the shrine helps a lot. I’m sorry Marika-san isn’t with us, but she’s starting to make friends and feel more comfortable in Tokyo now, so she didn’t want to take ti away yet. she’ll be back over Christmas break.”
“I understand. She calls us regularly.” He nodded. “Junko does worry and bend my ear over it, but she’s happy that Marika seems to be doing well.”
“Great. On another note…” I discussed funding to improve and repair the shrine, and after a while I transferred so money. After all, the Brown Dog kami has helped keep Eri safe. And they support as a shrine. I should reward them for that…
Once we were safely in a back room, Eri let out a long sigh, before turning to Motoko-san. “Right. now we can talk. So let be clear.” She said firmly, not backing down. “Akio is mine. I don’t feel good when he spends ti with other girls, but I’m trying to be better, so I can accept it if he is helping you protect your family arts. I think that’s a wonderful goal. But… I’ll never let you have him! I don’t care how rich your family is, or how noble your bloodline…” Eri was starting to look a little green, so I pulled her into a hug again, reassuring her. Still, she never took her harsh glare away from Motoko-san. “… I love Akio with all my heart. And he loves . I’ve even been training to stand by his side in the Boundary!”
At that the noble girls looked puzzled by the term.
“But Oshiro-sensei has Shaeula-sensei as well, does he not? So you already accept that he will have concubines.” Motoko-san said, confused. “I may be lacking, but I shall give my all to be worthy, as well as respect those who have co before .” She turned to . “Should our union proceed as planned, I shall serve by nightly duties too. I have not been taught anything, as mother says I should mould myself to my husband’s tastes, but I am confident in my stamina!”
Yeah, I think you are talking about the wrong things here… “Sorry, Motoko-san. I’m flattered, and while I don’t know you well you are earnest and dedicated, but… I promised Eri and Shaeula I would only love them. So, it isn’t going to happen.”
“Oh co on.” Hinata-san said, fed up. “If it was my brother, he’d be snapping her up in a heartbeat. You should have seen the way he was eyeing them when we t you that first ti.” she snorted. “Be a man and take hold of everything the world offers to you. That is the way of nobility!”
“I agree indeed!” Shaeula pronounced. “You should be greedier, Akio. You shall-shall be an Astral Emperor, as you call it, shall you not-not? Hinata, I like you. I support you! Eri, do consider her, I think she would be a good-good ally and female for Akio!”
As Hinata-san stamred that wasn’t her intent and Onoue-san bristled like an angry cat, cursing at Shaeula, Eri shouted angrily. “Look, enough! I hate this! But this isn’t why we are here!” she looked at , still in my arms. “Akio. We’ll talk about this later. All right?”
I nodded guiltily, even though I hadn’t done anything. “Sure, anything for you.”
“As for you, Shaeula… and don’t think I can’t see you laughing too, Aiko…” at that my sister covered her mouth, looking down. “… I’ll have words with you, too!” she then addressed Motoko-san and Hinata-san. “Shaeula… she’s special. She’s my good friend. And she’s proved herself worthy of Akio, and that she cares about too. So… she’s different. You can’t compare yourself to her.”
“So, if I prove my worthiness to you and Oshiro-sensei, then you can consider too?” Motoko-san reasoned.
Uhh, I thought this was rely a proposed idea. The way she’s talking, it’s like a done deal.
“It’s not the sa!” Eri exclaid, annoyed. “But enough already. We are here for Aiko…”
“Yeah, wow, ti for to jump in. My bro’s gone from trash-tier moonstone to god-tier womaniser, and it’s ssing with my expectations. But… bro, I did it! I managed to enter the Boundary! Praise , I want all your praise!” she echoed the line she gave on the phone.
I opened my arms, and she dived in for a hug. I had Aiko in one arm, Eri in the other, then Shaeula hugged us all from the back. After a while we separated, and I then fielded the inevitable questions from the others.
“Just what is this Boundary?” Hinata-san said. “That’s twice now you’ve ntioned it.”
Okay, what to do, what to do? I’ve skimd over a lot of the details with them, as after the attacks on the shrine I’ve realised leaking info can be dangerous. But… I do want to deepen our alliance…
Seeing my wariness, Motoko-san suddenly bowed deeply. Seeing that, Natsumi-san followed suit. “I understand that you might not fully trust Fujiwara-sama. But he only wishes to do what is best for Japan and the nobility. And I… I’ve been honest with my desires. Now is the ti to show my worth. I’ve pledged to support you. When grandfather proposed I be the first to learn your ways, with… with the prospect of political marriage, I admit I had trepidations. But now…” she looked at Eri and Shaeula. “… if they love you so, you can’t be a bad person. So… I can be the bridge that connects you to the nobility, as well as a hostage should Fujiwara-sama betray you. He will not, should you support Japan. But if he does… you may have your revenge on .”
“If Motoko-san must be punished, I too… I too shall face your wrath.” Natsumi-san said, her voice trembling a little.
Seriously? Is she so extre because she’s a noble daughter, raised strictly from birth, or because she’s a martial artist? Or maybe it’s the strange combination…
“If you are a man, you shouldn’t force a girl to humble herself so, especially a daughter of a prestigious family.” Hinata-san sniffed. “I’m not prepared to be a victim if things don’t go your way, but… my family will support you. With Nichibotsu in your corner, you won’t want for money and prestige.”
“I like these girls!” my sis said suddenly. “I’m not saying you should cheat on Eri and Shaeula with them, wow no, I feel bad enough of a friend when I told you to accept Shaeula too, but… I think we can get along. So… well, I don’t really understand everything either, so why not teach them as well as ?”
I exchanged a glance with Shaeula, and she shrugged. “Very well-well. I applaud your resolve, Motoko, Natsumi. As for you Hinata, you are prudent, but soon-soon you will throw away that caution and yearn for Akio as do we. And you, Kazumi…”
“?” Onoue-san yelped. “I have nothing to do with this! I only protect Hinata-sama!”
“Well, just watch and learn. Though should you betray us… I shall not-not stand silent.”
“Fine.” I sighed. “In that case… I want to appraise you, sis. It might feel a little weird, but I want to check your chakra network.”
“Weird? Wow, you want to do kinky stuff to your…” I rapped her on the head and she pouted. “I was just lightening the mood!” she complained.
“Yeah well… don’t. This is serious stuff. Anyway… here goes!” I let aether flow into her, and she moaned a little, shivering.
“But it seriously is lewd…” my sister complained.
“It works!” I muttered, still a little surprised. I an, when she beca kin for Kin Bonding it implied that she would be visible under Kin Examination, but this proves it.
I looked at her stat-line and skills, surprised at what she had, and then read them out for her.
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