Ryukuza Quest: Protector of Smiles and In Hot Water

[XXX] Let Kiki-hime break the ice.
[XX] Beg forgiveness before you say anything else.
[X] Apologize to Er Yin-sensei and Akari-niji-chan.

You wait patiently for Kiki-hime to decide how she wants to deal with you. It is only fair; after all, you were the one who screwed up in this instance. Even if you didn't. Especially if you didn't! She seems all right with you playing with the single lock of hair, and she isn't stiff and tense next to you, just a bit taciturn. With her feet coiled on the couch and her tail curled around her legs, she rests against your shoulder like a cat, her eyes closed.

You aren't fooled for one second.

Yui-chan glances sidelong at Akari-chan, who is still flushed with embarrassment, and you see her arm move a little as she rests her hand on Akari's thigh. Akari leans towards Yui just a bit, and their tails quickly twin together; otherwise they don't move or make a noise.

Er Yin-sensei is no less embarrassed than Akari is, though she's handling it far better. Much more practice, undoubtedly. Kiku-chan's undirected irritation makes her the least predictable person in the room; a simple glance and the dam would burst. The whole household would be woken up by the torrent of curse-words and name-calling, you have absolutely no doubt. Better to let that steeping dragon lie a little longer. You suspect it might be easier to calm her down than anyone else as well.

Your patience is rewarded when Kiki-hime opens her eyes and looks over at the sleeping Fuuta-chan. The oni-chick, only a little taller than Kiki-hime's sister and far more rounded and soft than Yui-chan used to be, is wearing her too short kimono, which somehow still manages to barely keep her decently covered. The blue satin shimmers slightly as she breathes in slow, calm cycles. “Who is that girl, otousan?” Her question has no envy or venom in it, or even any jealousy. She is curious more than anything else, and is not afraid of Fuuta-chan's presence at all.

Her use of the honorific means you ~might~ not be in as much trouble as you feared, but better safe than sorry. “Gomennasai gozimasu, kasan. I did not mean to cause trouble.” She lowers her eyes and head slightly, and merely response with a soft “Mmm.” You smiles faintly, realizing you're still in water only slightly less hot than that of the Black Smokers in the abyss of the ocean, but it's marginally better that a frown or actual words. You leans back in the couch and slowly twirl her soft pink hair around your finger. You do bow your head to Akari and Er Yin, after a moment of thought, though, the best you can apologize at this moment.

[] Start with when you first met her in the clan.
[] Just give her the basics of the situation.
[] How you met her tonight should be a good start.
[] Explain her importance first.
[] As her how she means the question?

>[] Start with when you first met her in the clan.

>[X] How you met her tonight should be a good start.

Awww damn, I'm late!
>[x] Explain her importance first.

>[X] Explain her importance first.

>[X] Start with when you first met her in the clan.

>[] Start with when you first met her in the clan.

>[x] Explain her importance first.

>[X] As her how she means the question?

It's almost scary how not angry Kiki-hime is outwardly. Ryukusa really is in trouble.

>[] Explain her importance first.

Cant we explain to her how if we did not promise what we did the thing on the island with the twins could have gone way more wrong?

I imagine our thorough explanation for why Ryukusa went out this evening will be forthcoming eventually.

I think the problem is that we went alone and unannounced. To that I would answer more people would be a risk, and no one is a better infiltrator than us anyway.

Yeah, really bringing anyone along would just have been a risk of messing up the whole plan of approach, which could have put Ryukusa in more danger, not less.

I think going alone might have been okay, with kami stuff and us being pretty good at stealth and not wanting the situation to escalate at all, it's more going unnanounced that's the problem.

Like I'm pretty sure ideally Ryukusa wanted everyone to still be asleep when she came back, and then I guess told them about it in the morning? Even if we made a Promise, the only reason she decided on doing this now was because she can't sleep.

...There's no real good reason for us not to have gathered the family and make our case before running off

Really, sleepless Ryukusa has always been a recipe for disaster. She can't sit still and very quickly WILL something to do. Or someone, depending on who's awake. Maybe the wives should start alternating their sleeping schedules...

good points we should have let her know and try to convince her that us going alone would be for the best

It's not normal sleepless Ryukuza. I't because she just became a full demi-god. She's still getting used to all the extra restlessness and need to do STUFF.

Guess we should also show kiki that we are a full demi god now?

I think Er-Yin probably mentioned it?

still think we should tell her our self but i guess er yins health was brought up since we left

> Start with how you met her

Still alive and writing. You'll have Fuuta's Tale sometime in the morning.

Sounds good to me, XS! Hope you're slightly more alive than before, rather than slightly less.

Glad to hear, also I hope the week treated you well.

Cheer XS

[XX] Explain her importance first.
[XX] Start with when you first met her in the clan.

You glance at the peacefully sleeping Fuuta, and you can almost feel your expression soften, the faint tug of a frown at your lips. Yui-chan notices this and looks up, more interested in this strange new situation than anything else. Akari's face regains some of her normal placidity. It takes a moment of searching for you to find the right words.

“You've read fairy tales, haven't you, Hime-chan?” She nods absently to your question but her eyes open a bit, curiosity overcoming all else. “Well....if Oba-san is the wicked queen, the evil stepmother, or the horrible aunt,” all of which are pretty close to a truth to be honest, “then Ryuu Fuuta was her magic mirror, her magic cauldron, or her ikiryo.” The ghost of someone yet living, which could do evil in place of its living body. Your wife glances at the massive scroll lying on the floor next to the couch, the steel chains gleaming in the soft lighting.

Er Yin-sensei's expression immediately lightens, though she doesn't say anything, and Kiku-chan looks at the sleeping oni-child with surprise. Yui-niji-chan is the one who voices what the others are thinking though. “You mean she's Oba-san's seer?!” Her excitement is hard to contain, and to Kiki-hime's credit she doesn't quash that childlike excitement, regardless of how annoyed she might be with you at the moment.

“Not, she's more than that. She's a prophet, or an oracle. She's been having prophetic dreams ever since....probably before Akari-niji-chan and I ever started training with her.”

That surprises Kiku-chan as well as interests Yui-niji-chan further. “You know her from Clan Ryo?” your priestess asks in surprise. “Someone this valuable would have been protected....”

Nodding, you agree with her. “She wasn't sent to Celestial High, but she still had to practice and train. So we saw her, but no one outside the clan did. Fuuta-chan was usually kept with the elites, and she didn't sleep in the barracks with us. But she had to learn to fight, to use her abilities, and to defend herself. Besides, dragonettes and dragonnes turn....strange if left to their own devices for too long without similar company.” Kiki-hime looks at you, concern in her sky blue eyes, but you don't look back immediately, lost in your memories. Memories from hundreds of years ago.

“I was nine when I met her, and Akari-chan was seven. Fuuta-chan was eleven-” Kiki-hime starts, glancing at the youthful looking oni-chick, and Akari-chan smiles faintly. “-and I had noticed she got a lot more cuts and bruises than most. She was almost always bandaged. I mean, beyond an the normal for an oni-child, they were injuries, not accessories. She....” You bite your lip. “She's extremely sensitive. Her skin, I mean. Her kimono is satin, and you can see the chains she uses to hold her scroll are polished perfect. The sheath for her sword and the handle too, perfectly smooth, or as close to it as she can get. Back then, though, it was all natural fibers and handmade material for training.”

“Why is that, aniki?” asks Yui-niji-chan curiously.

Ganbatte XS

“So we know how it tears, cuts and falls apart, and how we can use that to our advantage and the enemy disadvantage.” You love how her eyes light up – literally – when she understands something new. “For Fuuta-chan, it was sheer torture, apparently, but she wasn't allowed to either undress herself or wear anything different. And then I realized why she was getting all those cuts and scrapes and bruises.” Akari-chan smiles faintly again. “She was deliberately letting them cut her clothing off and nearly strip her naked, regardless of how much they laughed and enjoyed it. Fuuta would deliberately practice with the worst bullies and meanest of the trainees.”

“That's awful....” murmurs Kiki-hime.

A simple nod of agreement suffices. “So Akari and I sought her out and practiced with her instead. But it wasn't JUST practice, of course. We would cut as much of her clothing away as we could get away with, during sparring practice.” There is a soft mutter at the end of the table and you shake your head. “No, it wasn't like that. This was long before I knew about lilies. Between Akari and myself, we taught her the best ways to not only get her clothing off, but to fight and use what clothing and movements she had as weapons.” It came naturally to you, of course; it was simply logical to teach her.

Of course, eventually she grew up and out more as you grew older....

[] You can skip that part.
[] Go ahead and continue.
[] See if that's enough for Kiki-hime.
[] Let Akari explain the rest.
[] Tell everyone about the scroll and Fuuta's dreams.

>[] See if that's enough for Kiki-hime.
if not
>[] Go ahead and continue.

>[] See if that's enough for Kiki-hime.
If not
[] Go ahead and continue.

>[x] Let Akari explain the rest.
M-maybe everyone will forget about punishment if Ryukusa isn't the center of attention!

>[] Go ahead and continue.
Poor Fuuta. We better make sure she has the softest life possible.

>[x] Go ahead and continue.
Why keep secrets they could probably guess at anyway?

Oh but I'll add, emphasize polite language.

>>[X] See if that's enough for Kiki-hime.

>[X] Go ahead and continue.
or if it feels better let akari tell the rest

Please remove
>>[X] See if that's enough for Kiki-hime.from my vote

Cute.

>[] Go ahead and continue.
>[] Let Akari explain the rest.

>[] Tell everyone about the scroll and Fuuta's dreams.

Oh dear, something is very wrong with the general pelvis area of the poor woman in this image.

>Let Akari explain the rest

[X] See if that's enough for Kiki-hime.
[XXX] Go ahead and continue.
[XX] Let Akari explain the rest.

You glance at Kiki-hime, to see if she's satisfied with your line of questioning, but surprisingly she seems much more interested in the tale. Yui-chan and Kiku-chan (and you have every suspicion that Kiku-chan would immediately deny it if asked) are also interested in the tale; even Er Yin-sensei is sitting with her head cocked to one side, attentive to your voice.

Well, telling a story is better than walking....um, sitting on eggshells. Which is kind of a perversity to say as a dragonette, now that you think about it. It is something to do, which is good to have as well. “Between the few others who would practice with us, and the fact that Fuuta-chan was older, as she grew into her power and got better at anticipating attacks, it became almost a dance. You've seen Akari and I practice taihenjutsu....well, Fuuta-chan is even better at it than we are.”

Akari murmurs softly, “So very graceful,” in a strangely wistful tone of voice that makes Yui-chan's ears prick up.

“The few outings she was allowed to go on, she usually stayed near Akari-niji-chan and I. Not just because we were nice to her, because we were pretty nice to anyone who wasn't being a jerk. But because I could keep her clothing damp, which caused her a lot less discomfort.” You hesitate, not quite sure whether or not to continue. Akari notices, and tilts her head ever so slightly. Yui-niji-chan catches the motion and looks to you, as does Kiku-chan, but she looks at Akari instead. You nod slightly, your cheeks already coloring, much to Kiki-hime's confusion.

“When Fuuta-chan became fourteen, aniki started noticing certain things,” Akari comments softly, her expression slightly amused as always. The shame is gone from her expression, as well as Yui's which is really all you could have asked for. “Not me, certainly, I was younger than she was....and my attention was on other things at the time. Fuuta-chan noticed aniki noticing....so she made that part of the sparring as well.” Kiki-hime still looks confused, as does Yui-niji-chan. Kiku-chan's hair starts floating, however, and she hides her cupid-bow lips behind her sleeve. “Mmh hmn. It was very interesting, and perhaps....perhaps a little cute, to see aniki actually distracted by something. Fuuta-chan hasn't changed much since then, really.”

If Fuuta-chan were awake she'd probably be shy with this many eyes on her, exhibitionist or not.

Kiki-hime is smiling wickedly now, and her eyes are narrows and looking slyly in your direction. This actually makes the embarrassment worse somehow, and you're not really quite sure how either – it's not Wood Eyes, it's just HER eyes.

“Fuuta-chan took every advantage, until finally aniki was forced to learn how to cope with anything that was happening around her no matter how....interesting it might be. That's why she's much more dangerous than another Water Dragonette might be; she can't be easily distracted by things that are supposed to be shocking or unusual in a fight.” Akari glances up at you, her carnelian eyes glimmering with amusement, and not a little love. “Not that she can't still suffer from an unexpected situation outside of a fight. But before anyone thinks otherwise....no, there is nothing between Fuuta-chan and us other than the thing that all of us have suffered at the hands of others.” Kiku-chan looks a little abashed at that, and Yui-chan nods slowly, a determined gleam coming to life in her softly glowing eyes. Kiki-hime's expression falls, becomes understanding.

Akari pointedly does not mention the side effect of that, which lead to the death of Umetsumi's brother. Then again, she may not even know about that. Kiki-hime does, and she's smart enough to figure it out given half a chance.

“So she's like us in that one way too.” You nod slowly. “Well...if it's Ryukusa, it can't be helped.” She turns towards you, her eyes glittering brightly and her expression stern. “But that doesn't excuse you for sneaking off without Akari or Yuuhi!” She doesn't raise her voice or sound terribly angry, though she is upset. She's not nearly as upset as she was before though.

[] Explain about the promise.
[] Beg and plead for mercy from your beloved wife.
[] Let her take a very good look at you....it will explain itself.
[] Tell her what Inau-kun told you about demigods.
[] Take the entirety of the blame on yourself; Er Yin and Akari are free of blame!

>[x] Explain about the promise.
>[x] Beg and plead for mercy from your beloved wife.

>[] Explain about the promise.
>[] Beg and plead for mercy from your beloved wife

>[] Explain about the promise.
>[] Beg and plead for mercy from your beloved wife.
>[] Let her take a very good look at you....it will explain itself.

>[] Take the entirety of the blame on yourself; Er Yin and Akari are free of blame!
>[] Beg and plead for mercy from your beloved wife.
Sure we have reasons and excuses, but it's no good pretending Ryukusa shouldn't have told them all what she was doing first. Beyond shallow justifications like 'letting them sleep' or 'you wouldn't have let me go alone' anyway.

>[] Take the entirety of the blame on yourself; Er Yin and Akari are free of blame!
>[] Tell her what Inau-kun told you about demigods.

>[] Explain about the promise.
>[] Beg and plead for mercy from your beloved wife.

>[X] Let her take a very good look at you....it will explain itself.
>[X] Explain about the promise.
>[X] Beg and plead for mercy from your beloved wife.

>[X] Tell her what Inau-kun told you about demigods.
>[X] Take the entirety of the blame on yourself; Er Yin and Akari are free of blame!

>pic
Not quite dragonnette, but still good

>Take the blame
>Talk about Inau.

its meant to be godzilla. It has destroyed japan more time then i can count so Horobi could learn something for godzilla

It's Gojira-sama. Do not speak of her so dismissively, good user, as radiation is bad for the internet.

I have seen all the Godzilla movies ever mad with the sole exception of Godzilla vs King Kong where Godzilla wins.

All of them.

Good taste in monster movies. Have you seen the new one? is it any good?

Wow, now that's dedication.

Uh, well I've seen the like, 98(?) movie when I was about 11. None of the Japanese ones. Monster movies aren't really my thing.

You just got even cooler

So what you're saying is that you have never ever seen a single Godzilla movie.

I have; it's good. People complained that most of the movie doesn't actually feature Godzilla fighting, but they're missing the point.
And when the fight finally happens for real, oh baby. People were cheering in the theater the moment his spines lit up.

That's not the newest one, is it?

I was referring to the new one that came out last month Shin godzilla

Oh my god XS...

How'd you feel about Godzilla 2014? I know it's divisive for some, but I loved it.

I have not, they haven't released it anwhere I could pi - er, see it yet.

Ah ha, another person who got the point of the original and that one!

It was done properly and well. It was never about the monster....not really. And they did it well.

Posting.

I still wish it focused more on Brian Cranston and that Japanese scientist guy than the actual male lead they went with, but eh there was probably a symbolic point to it that I'm missing.

Nah, they should've.

Still a good film though

[XXXX] Beg and plead for mercy from your beloved wife.
[XXX] Explain about the promise.
[XX] Take the entirety of the blame on yourself; Er Yin and Akari are free of blame!
[X] Tell her what Inau-kun told you about demigods.
[x] Let her take a very good look at you....it will explain itself.

“Ah, gomen, gomen!” you say rapidly, boding over your upright hand. “Please forgive this terribly stupid and clumsy lizard for her poor decisions and thoughtless actions! She does not deserve mercy, but asks for it, so that she may continue to show her face amongst company, as well as sit down properly to meals, which she could not do if you punished her as much as she deserves....” You hesitate. “Wait, regeneration means spankings don't last any longer than the spanking itself. Well, I suppose Kiku-chan and Yui-niji-chan still qualify....nope, spanking Yui-niji-chan would probably be a lot like spanking a volleyball filled with lead powder.” You look at Kiku-chan, whose eyes are wide and whose hair has exploded into flames. “Sorry, you're it. Er Yin-sensei's tail armor is just too big to work around.”

“Ryukusa-sama!” The shocked exclamation from your seer makes Yui-chan giggle, and even Akari-chan can't help but smile at the suggestion that Er Yin's posterior might be too large to handle.

“H...hentai....no, ~S~ dragon!” Kiku-chan is glaring molten daggers at you.

“Where was I....”

“Begging my forgiveness,” Kiki-hime prompts immediately.

“Oh yes!” You backtrack and then pick up approximately where you left off. “If you punished your wayward dragonette as much as she deserves, she would surely be an announcement of shame and a travesty upon all dragonkind for her foolish temerity at having left your bed unattended for so long....”

Yui leans over and whispers not quite softly enough to Akari. “Wait, isn't this supposed to be about her sneaking out of the house?” Akari nods solemnly. Yui doesn't really look like she gets it but nods anyways.

“Enough, enough! Just....” Kiki-hime, smiling and looking rather gratified, shakes her head. “Just please take someone with you, next time, Ryu-chan?”

That causes your expression to fall, and you murmurs softly, “I can't promise that, kasan. And you can't blame Er Yin-sensei, or Akari-niji-chan. In fact, Akari-niji-chan fought me to force me to take her, but I refused.” Yui-niji-chan turns and stares at Akari as though Akari just desecrated a torii; Akari remains nonplussed, as always. Sitting up, you take her hands in yours, lacing your fingers with hers as you look into her shimmering blue eyes. “I made a promise, princess. A promise of the kind that Inau-kun warned me about. I didn't dare take anyone with me.” You take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “If anyone had gone with me, they could have caused things to go bad, or worse, been caught up in kami stuff.”

“....kami stuff?” Her innocence is telling and you nod slowly.

“The kami take promises like I make very seriously. And if necessary, they will MAKE those promises happen. My promises are one thing, but the promise that I made that day....even Amaterasu-Omikami could not force me to break that promise. But she might make sure that the promise is kept....even at the cost of the life of someone I love. So....no, I couldn't take anyone. I didn't even dare wake you or Yuuhi-chan, because you would have made me take her, at least.” She looks away shyly, knowing just as you do that it's the truth.

“Inau-kun told me, a promise made by a demigod is binding, utterly binding. They can't be changed or broken. They can't be 'tricked' either, the way the fairy tales say. It's stronger than karma, stronger than the will of the gods. Not even Susano-Oh could break his promises when he was cast down from heaven.” Kiki-hime looks back at you and you gently lay kisses upon each of her warm, delicate hands. “....and I am no longer what I once was, kasan.”

Your wife looks bemused, but you simply look at her. She gazes back, confused....then she pulls back slightly, looking at you more carefully. First Yui-chan sees it and she draws a sharp breath. Then Kiku-chan sees it and she reaches into her robs and grasps her prayer beads tightly, her eyes wide and overcome with wonder.

You see the very instant your lover, your first love, the mother of your first born, sees you as you were meant to be; her expression becomes awestruck and her breath catches in her throat.

[] ….surprise?!
[] Kiss her hands again, show her you're still you.
[] It can't be hidden at all anymore....
[] I don't look that different, do I?
[] Breathe, hime-chan, breathe!

>[] Kiss her hands again, show her you're still you.
>[] I don't look that different, do I?

[] Kiss her hands again, show her you're still you.
[] Breathe, hime-chan, breathe!

>[] Kiss her hands again, show her you're still you.
>[] It can't be hidden at all anymore....

[] ….surprise?!
[] Kiss her hands again, show her you're still you.

Didn't kiku already see it when she took a closer look at the fixed Er Yin?

>[] ….surprise?!
>[] Kiss her hands again, show her you're still you.

>[x] Breathe, hime-chan, breathe!
>x] Kiss her hands again, show her you're still you.
Gotta be quite a shock to witness it, even with all the things she's learned since the quest started.

>[] ….surprise?!
>[] Kiss her hands again, show her you're still you.

>[] Kiss her hands again, show her you're still you.
>[] It can't be hidden at all anymore....

>[X] ….surprise?!
>[X] Breathe, hime-chan, breathe!
>[X] Kiss her hands again, show her you're still you.
>[X] I don't look that different, do I?

The original movie and this remake were about one thing.

The connection and importance of family, and how no expense must be spared to maintain that connection. the muto and the were just the plot device keeping them separated....and Godzilla was the will of the gods protecting those who would risk all to get home.

If you watch the original, it will be perfectly clear.

>Yes.

>[] ….surprise?!
>[] Kiss her hands again, show her you're still you.
>[] It can't be hidden at all anymore....
>[] I don't look that different, do I?
>[] Breathe, hime-chan, breathe!

TAKE EVERY OPTION

>[] Kiss her hands again, show her you're still you.
>[] ….surprise?!
>[] It can't be hidden at all anymore....

[X] Yeah, still yourself (and all those kisses!).

You draw her closer to you and despite her awe she allows herself to be drawn closer. You lay two more soft, gentle kisses upon her knuckles as your hands are laced with hers, your eyes closed and paying every bit of attention to each kiss as though they had been laid upon her lips. She shivers each time, and her nipples are hard points under her kimono. You look up at her and she seems taken aback by your expression or your eyes, or....or something you don't understand.

“Surprise....?” You murmur softly, with a wry little smile. She blushes a little but there isn't a sound otherwise in the entire room. “It really is me, kasan....hime-chan. I am yours always, married under the Sun.” Tears start to well up in her eyes and she touches each of your cheeks lightly, her hands slipping free of yours to do so. There is a hitch in her breathing as she tries to speak, and you reach over, your hand cupping her soft, warm cheek, your thumb tracing the three tiny scales there. Like petals on a flower, you suddenly realize, and smile. She hiccups as she sees your smile and looks down, closes her eyes as though it is too bright, to powerful a thing to see.

Moving closer you embrace her tenderly, and whisper to her: “Breathe, kasan. Just breathe.” Her breath hitches once more, and then she starts crying, softly, the scent of sakura blossoms in rain surrounding you as you hold her close, hold her dearly to you. “I am here, we are safe. You, your beloved Yui, my dear Akari, our Er Yin, our Kiku....we're all safe now. None will mistake me for anything but what I am, and what I am....is yours.”

~Inari~

The whisper in your mind isn't yours, isn't hers, isn't any one of theirs.

~Horobi, Inari.~

You kiss her softly, deeply, and she throws herself into your embrace, holding you tight, hard enough to hurt almost, so desperate is her hug. Allowing her that is no hardship, no sufferign at all.

~Horobi. Inari. The Seven Sisters.~

You feel an atavistic chill down the fur of your tail, all the way to the vanes of it and right up through your horns, even as you hold and kiss the mother of your first child so tight your hearts beat as one.

>To Be Continued....

Thanks for running XS!