CH 13
The notices for help by the Aono Construction company were answered by a few hundred people looking for jobs. Moka found work for them as fast as possible. Road guards took up 30 people, to keep all but authorized traffic out of the area. After a local store was rebuilt, putting up shelving and cleaned under the direction of the store manager took up another 20 ( Paid by Aono Construction), With sidewalk and street sweepers, they employed another 50. 15 supervisors to keep the others working, and 18 more to help other businesses get started and drive vans to get people to work where they needed to be, Moka managed to give a large chunk of those waiting jobs.
Unfortunately, Moka's request for witches went unanswered the first week. Yukari helped out by asking her parents if they could ask around good witches to assist them. That did net 3 more, but talented witches were a rare commodity. Issa 'rented' his witch to Moka, to help out the rebuilding. Although the price was higher that the other three witches got paid, Moka accepted her. She knew her father was looking for ways to help them, and make a little profit. It was easier to keep the peace and accept his help.
Now that they were known to be around, Moka shifted the work to daytime. Houses and businesses were still going up by a block a day, with the cleanup crews going in behind them to clean the streets, sidewalks and common areas. Slowly, with stores back in business, the town's economy was rising from the ashes.
Insurance companies were also beginning to pay. With the many houses they had finished, the sums were substantial and helped pay the mass of workers. In the town to the south, other construction companies were putting in their bids, and claiming their own places to start work. By the efficiency of the Aono Company's work, they also hired extra help from the locals to try and get buildings up as quick as possible.
The competition led to places bring rebuilt at a high rate that had never been achieved before.
.
Tsukune got a surprise summons to the Emperor's palace in Tokyo. He was allowed to bring two of his 'females' with him. Due to the construction company working full tilt, Moka insisted she needed to stay and watch over things. Ruby and Yukari were also vital to the rebuilding project. Thankfully, Kahlua insisted she stay to 'watch over' the mansion and ensure things went well there. Karasuba insisted she come to guard him. Kurumu also wanted to come to see the palace, as well as get some good 'Yahoo time' with him. Uzume was still practicing hard with Kahlua, so she wasn't too upset she couldn't go.
Tsukune dressed up in a good tux, Kurumu wore an elegant light blue dress that had an open back, a nice silver necklace, silver earrings with purple gems and Karasuba wore her 'guard' outfit with a long skirt with a slit up the side that was mostly covered by her black coat. She also insisted on having her sword on her hip, the handle sticking outside of her coat.
Getting ready to go, Tsukune eyed the sword. "I don't know if you'll be allowed near the Emperor with that," he said in a musing tone.
"I am your guard, Ashikabi. I cannot be unarmed," she stated.
Tsukune itched the back of his head. "We'll see how it goes, but you will probably have to check it with security."
Climbing into the limo provided, Tsukune left with his escort.
The trip to the Palace wasn't long, but once inside the sprawling compound their progress became much slower.
Before the bridge over a wide body of water, they stopped to meet with the Palace Security chief. The man was formal and polite. As Tsukune suspected, he didn't like Karasuba carrying her sword into the palace area. When Tsukune made her give it up, he thought she was going to cry. The Security Chief complimented her on such a fine, classic weapon and promised to hold it with all due respect to her and the heritage her sword represented until she returned. He even found a satin lined long box that the sword and sheath fit perfectly in.
Bravely holding onto herself, Karasuba stated, "I will just protect my Ashikabi with not skills and my life."
The Security Chief praised her for her loyalty and determination.
The next stop across the bridge was to the Office of the Paranormal. Arita Satori was there with a gaggle of other men to see Tsukune exit the Limo with Karasuba and Kurumu.
"Lord Aono, Welcome!" Satori said happily with a bow. He then bowed to Kurumu and Karasuba and welcomed them. Tsukune and his escorts returned his bow, then Satori introduced the men and women with him, then ushered them inside.
There was history inside as soon as they crossed the threshold. Much Tsukune recognized. He samurai armor that was on a stand, ancient bowls, a woman's sheer white scarf, then a wand very close to what Ruby had. He stopped in front of this one. "I've seen this before," he said.
"It was found up on Witch's Hill. We believe the witch who lived there carried it," Satori explained.
Tsukune nodded. "Yes, that's where I saw it. It's very close to the one Ruby has. It only makes sense she made one like her mentor had."
"You know who owned this?" Satori asked eagerly.
"Not personally," Tsukune explained. "She had passed on, but her wand was there, and this is it. Ruby was there by herself, desperately defending Witch's Hill from intruders. It took much … effort, but we convinced Ruby to return with us so she would no longer be alone."
"This Ruby is a Witch?" he asked.
"A very good Witch. There's not much Ruby can't do," Tsukune said proudly.
"Like attack us with a field of giant plants," Kumuru said in a grumble.
"Let's not get into specifics, hon," Tsukune told her. "You had a few mischievous times yourself."
"I was just doing my best for my race that I knew how," Kurumu said in an aloof tone.
"As was Ruby," Tsukune replied.
"Is this what you really look like?" Satori asked, gazing at Kurumu.
Kurumu looked at Tsukune.
Tsukune turned to Satori. "Have you heard of Succubi?"
"Succubi aren't real," another man said.
Kurumu chuckled. Casting Tsukune a mischievous grin she asked, "Shall I show them?"
"If you want, but behave," Tsukune told her.
Kurumu looked back at the men behind her. "You better move back," she said in a musical tone. They did, eyeing her.
Kurumu brought out her wings in a full unfurling, along with her tail, her nails and her eyes darkened to a deep purple. Looking right at the man who said Succubi didn't exist, she asked in a deep but sexy tone, "So tell me, am I real?"
Everyone around them backed up farther, their faces open in surprise.
"Don't be so shocked," Kurumu said in her musical tone. "I'm far from the only one around. We've all learned how to hide in a world full of humans." Raising a long fingernail up she added, "I bet some of you see them every day, and will never know her true nature. Nor will she reveal it unless she trusts you implicitly."
"Lord Aono, do you have… another form?" Satori asked.
With a wide grin, Kurumu quickly said, "Yes, show them!"
Tsukune shook his head. "No, I'm not going to cause a panic. Let's just say I look a little scary."
"You look awesome, dear," Kurumu said in a purr as she hugged his arm.
Seeing a couple people who looked like they were ready to flee just from Seeing Kumuru, he firmly said, "No. We're just here for a visit."
"Tsukune fights as awesome as he looks," Karasuba added. "He killed four vampires to gain Moka's hand."
"No details," Tsukune told her firmly.
"Yes, you had to beat Kahlua," Satori remembered.
Tsukune let out a sigh. "To do that and not hurt her was quite the task," he admitted.
"I imagine! I saw her sparring. That woman is super fast and lethal," Satori agreed. "So is Karasuba here."
Kurumu put a wing around Tsukune. "That's my Destined One," she said proudly.
"To be honest, Kahlua and Karasuba are the best fighters among any Yokai," Tsukune told them. "So is Moka."
Karasuba grinned and said, "I still can't beat either one of them, but Kahula is teaching me."
"Satori, I must ask, why did you want to see us today?" Tsukune asked.
"The Emperor requested it," Satori said firmly. "After you leave here, one of His Majesty's top Advisor wishes to speak with you. The Emperor will be observing, as will others be."
"That's fine. It is an honor to be here," Tsukune replied.
"After, we would like you to help identify what's real in Japan, and what is only superstition. This information is for royalty only."
"I'll help however I can. Understand we are very busy at the moment also," Tsukune told him. "I think the best thing is to send someone to MBI to make your data base."
"Then we shall do so. This way, please, we can walk from here."
Satori led them through the building into a long corridor filled with old paintings and some sculptures that looked old. As the group went, they became a little more used to seeing Kurumu and didn't walk so far back.
Coming to another large room, Tsukune saw a couple guards standing to the sides of a chair. In the chair was someone Tsukune knew well.
"Bus Driver?" Tsukune and Kurumu chorused in surprise.
The Bus Driver took his cigar out of his mouth and said, "He he he, hey kids! Tsukune, do you have any idea the ruckus you've made? And Kurumu, put your wings away, you aren't suppose to be doing that in the human world!"
"Yes, sir," Kurumu said meekly and returned to her human form.
The Bus Driver got up and said, "Tsukune, you haven't made waves. You've made Tsunamis kid. Both the human and yokai world are in a little bit of shock right now. Lots of scared people out there on both sides. Course, you know since you started this, it's your responsibility to smooth things out."
"Me?" Tsukune cried. "I didn't start it! That big battle in human cites did!"
"Nope," the Bus Driver said. "That could have been passed off a couple ways, but taking over MBI? Making your construction company? Those pretty much sealed the proof to humans that Yokai are real. Especially with your wife coming out and saying so. He he, you've really taken on a huge job there, boy."
"But … wait! MBI was killing women without remorse… if we didn't do something about those storm survivors, they were going to be homeless for possibly years!" Tsukune cried, defending himself.
"Didn't say you did wrong," The Bus Driver told him, "I said, you took on possibly the hardest job there is, finding a away for Yokai and humans to truly co-exist. You opened the doors, boy, how it all turns out depends upon you now."
"But … I … I can't let innocent people die or live in agony…" he cried.
"Hehe, hehe, it's gotta suck to be so responsible," The Bus Driver chuckled. "Still you grabbed the reins, you got the job." He tipped his hat to Tsukune and said, "By the way, I do gotta thank you, I won the bet."
"The bet?" Tsukune asked.
"Yeah. Mikogami bet you couldn't keep yokai a secret for two years after graduation. Shuzen gave your three before you screwed up. I told them you wouldn't last a single year, so I won! Hehe,hehe, Hahaha!"
"I'm glad you're amused," Tsukune grumbled.
"Don't take it so hard, kid. So far, you've been doing OK. You're straightening up MBI, and making people happy with the rebuilding you're doing. That sparing arena in Tokyo is getting positive attention also."
"That wasn't me," Tsukune stated.
"You made it possible," the Bus Driver countered. "Now all you gotta do is get more publicity out there to show everyone that there's nothing to fear. Course with the responsibility, you get a title, Dark Lord Aono."
Tsukune's jaw dropped. "Me? A Dark Lord?"
"Yup. Dark Lords don't just sit on their hands, boy. They make things happen. Any human / yokai problems are in your lap now, hehe hehe. You'd best be looking at ways on how to handle them."
"WHY ME?" Tsukune cried.
The Bus Driver frowned at him and asked, "Who better? You've lived on both sides. You know both sides. If anyone can do it, you can."
"Mikogami is behind this, isn't he?" Tsukune asked in a grumble.
The Bus Driver shrugged and asked, "Does it matter now? You got the ball, kid. Sides, I told you back at Shuzen castle, you owned me a favor. Time to pay up."
"This is one hell of a payback," Tsukune said vacantly.
"Won't deny it. Good luck kid, I gotta get back. Kids to take home from school, you know." With that, the Bus Driver took a few steps away and vanished.
Tsukune face planted with a groan.
"You are very powerful now, my Ashikabi," Karasuba said with a big grin.
"My Tsukune, a Dark lord," Kurumu said happily, beaming him a smile.
Tsukune was glad they were happy about this. He felt like he had just gotten trapped between a rock and a hard spot.
"Shall I call for a press interview?" Satori asked.
Tsukune didn't want to. He really didn't want to. Then again, if people in both worlds were becoming afraid, and he knew some probably were, then he'd better do it. His neck stiffened, but he nodded. "Yeah, I better say something publicly."
.
A mere hour later, a press crew was brought in. The reporter was a pretty woman in a crisp light green suit. With her were two cameramen and a sound man. A room in the Paranormal building was set up for them with stools for the reporter and Tsukune, Kurumu and Karasuba, but Karasuba preferred to stand behind and to the left of Tsukune due to Kurumu being on the right.
As they set up the reporter introduced herself. "I am Yamata Kaiyo," she said with a bow. "Is this your first time in a televised interview, Mr. Aono?"
"That's Dark Lord Aono," Karasuba stated firmly.
"Tsukune's fine, or Aono, whichever you prefer," Tsukune replied quickly. "I've talked to people before, but not like this."
"Just relax, Tsukune," Kaiyo said in a friendly tone. "Don't look at the cameramen, try to forget they are here. Just focus on me," she coaxed. "When we start, I will introduce us, then I will ask questions. Just relax and tell me what you want people to know."
Tsukune nodded.
"We're rolling," one of the camera men said. Kaiyo looked at him with a big smile. "Greetings! I am Yamata Kaiyo! With me is Aono Tsukune, a yokai and a Dark Lord. There has been much rumor and some real news about yokai living in Japan. Aono Tsukune has come to give us some real information."
She then turned to Tsukune and asked, "What can you tell me about yokai?"
Tsukune grinned and said, "If I told you everything, we're going to be here all day. Maybe I can start with the basics?"
"Yes, please," Kaiyo said eagerly.
"First of all, there are all kinds of yokai, many different species. Most of the smaller ones you won't even see, and even if you did, you wouldn't recognize them as such. Yokai are no different than humans in that there are good ones as well as mischievous and bad ones. Many are nervous of living in the human world, and prefer to stay separate. Those who want to live in the human world go to school to learn how to behave as humans. Some can blend in easy, others have a tougher time getting their human form down. My Guard, Karasuba here, looks human, so she has it easier than Kurumu here on my other side, or myself. Just like anyone else, the vast majority of us want is to live our lives in peace and raise our families. I guess you can say that is the super-short version. I've lived much of my life in the human world."
"I take it there is a yokai world that we don't see?"
"Yes, and it is guarded. I understand personally that humans are nervous of yokai. What I want everyone to now is yokai are nervous of humans also. Think of what has happened over the past centuries. If someone was found or even thought of to be a Witch, she was burned alive at the stake. Werewolves and vampires, or suspicion of being such were hunted and killed if possible. Yokai have learned how to hide to keep from being persecuted. That makes them nervous about letting anyone know who they are."
"Were you born in this yokai world?" she asked.
Tsukune shook his head. "No, I was born in one of the towns being rebuilt from that big typhoon that blew through. See, I was born human and went to human schools until I went to high school. That was my first encounter with yokai," he explained. "I had no idea what this school was until after I arrived, and now being in the yokai world, I was stuck there."
Kaiyo's face took on a frown. She asked, "If you were human then, what happened that made you a yokai?"
Tsukune chuckled. "That's another very long story. The first girl I met there was Akashiya Moka. She's a vampire. At the time she was weak. She thought I smelled delicious and sucked my blood. She didn't take much and after a while I understood that was what she needed. We became friends, and I gave her what she needed, her morning nip. In return, since I was pretty much a helpless human, she guarded me and made sure no other yokai bothered me. A couple times yokai who fought us hurt me pretty bad. She gave me her blood to strengthen and heal me. One time, I guess it was like the straw that broke the camel's back, and I turned. I became a yokai also."
"So, you're a vampire now?"
Tsukune winced. "Not quite. I'm something different, though I do have many vampire traits. Frankly, at first I was scared of myself, and others were scare of me too," he glanced at Kurumu. "Over time, I've come to deal with what I am, and got control of it."
"So, you don't really look like this?" she asked.
"No. I look … pretty scary," he admitted.
"You look awesome," Kurumu said quietly in a purr.
Karasuba only grinned.
Tsukune focused at his right hand. "Let's see if I can do just a little," he said in a musing tone.
Everyone watched closely. First his hand and wrist grew some. The veins in his hand turned black, his hand grew in size.
"Tsukune, be careful," Kurumu whispered.
His fingers grew thicker, the nails grew out grew out into claws a little longer than his fingers. The cameras watched closely. In a flat tone, he said, "This should give you a clue." His hand and wrist then shrunk back into a human form.
"I … don't know what to say," Kaiyo said, wide eyed. "By that … you really are a monster!"
"A yokai," Tsukune said, correcting her. "I've gotten better at controlling it. A few months ago, if I tried that, I would not have been able to do it. Remember, I've only been a yokai for a few years. Kurumu here has been one all her life, she has much greater control." With a grin he added, "As my Dad put it, he couldn't decide if she was super sexy or super scary. She doesn't look nearly as scary a I do."
"Can I?" Kurumu asked eagerly.
"If you would, please?" Kaiyo asked.
"Kurumu, didn't you just get talked to about doing that?" Tsukune asked.
Kurumu frowned at him. "But you just did."
"My hand, not my whole form," Tsukune replied.
Kurumu pondered a moment then said, "How about … just my wings?"
"You have wings?" Kaiyo asked.
Kurumu glanced at Tsukune and said, "We both do."
"Ok, JUST your wings, briefly," Tsukune told her.
Kurumu brought her leathery wings out and spread them out to touch the wall on one side and past Karasuba on Tsukune's other side. He left wing she cupped to tap Karasuba on her shoulder, making Karasuba turn to look. Kurumu giggled. Karasuba frowned at her.
"They look like giant bat wings," Kaiyo said eyeing them as the camera men backed up to get the full span into the picture.
"Well yeah, I am a mammal," Kurumu told her. She folded her wings up and retracted them.
"And you hide these … features every day," Kaiyo asked, amazed at what she was seeing.
"Nearly every yokai does," Tsukune told her. "Karasuba here only has one form, so she doesn't have to. Yamata, one of your friends could well be a yokai, and you'll never know it. You may well be employed by a dragon, or served lunch by a rabbit yokai, and will never know what they truly are."
"So, Yokai can turn regular humans into yokai?" she asked.
"Very few can," Tsukune replied. "To my knowledge the only ones who have that ability are vampires and werewolves. Both mainly use that for mating or extreme purposes."
"If my boyfriend is one, then he can change me into what he is?"
"He can, but only if he trusts you enough to do so. That level of trust is hard to come by."
"You said Moka changed to by healing you," Kaiyo countered.
"Moka is my Blood Mate … my wife now," Tsukune told her. "We have both swore to do our best for each other, forever. A vampire Blood Mate, A Succubi's Destined One, A Werewolf's Den Mate, an Ice Fairy's Mate-of-Fate, all these are names not just for marriage as humans know it. Once someone is any of these, there is no divorce. It's forever. I will forever be Moka's Blood Mate, Kurumu's Destined One, Karasuba's Ashikabi. That is a very high level of trust to put in someone."
"I see," Kaiyo said and looked at the women beside him. "You're saying that these women with you, and Moka are joined forever."
"No matter what," Tsukune stated firmly. "That is how yokai do things."
Kaiyo couldn't help by ask, "You have three women to have sex with?"
Kurumu burst out in a laugh. She giggled away and waved a hand at Kaiyo. "If there were only so few of us!"
"No details, please?" Tsukune asked Kurumu.
"I'm not," Kurumu said to him with a slight frown. To Kaiyo she explained, "Dear, our culture is much different than yours. Sex and children are not the only reasons to mate-bond, though making children is a real Ya-Hoo! time. Yes, that is a big part of it. When we are attracted to our mate, it's an irresistible pull. It's the one we have chosen or nothing. Isn't that right, Karasuba?"
"It is," Karasuba said in her serious tone.
"In many cases, if we can't get the one we chose, through any means, even if it is a battle to the death, we die," Kurumu told her. "Tsukune is sweet and caring, he is also very powerful and understanding. Of course he's going to attract females! The male doesn't make the choice, it's ours. The only thing Tsukune can do, is kill us if he doesn't want us, or have Moka do it. Being so kind hearted, Tsukune won't allow that, so now, we're his."
"That is an extreme approach," Kaiyo noted.
Tsukune itched the back of his head. "Dad says I need to learn to say 'no', but knowing the consequences if I do, makes it very hard to do that," he explained.
"You couldn't even say no to Kahula," Kurumu reminded him.
"She's Moka's sister and she really needed a life outside their father's castle," Tsukune reminded her in return.
"Her name's Kahlua?" Kaiyo asked. "Like in the liquor?"
"I wouldn't doubt Kokoa will be next," Kurumu said in a musing tone.
Tsukune frowned at her. "Kokoa doesn't even like me."
Kurumu grinned and said, "Me thinks she protests too strongly."
"Let's not go there, OK?" Tsukune asked.
Kurumu shrugged and said in a musical tone, "I'm just telling you what I think."
"Kokoa hates me, I took her sister away," Tsukune stated.
"She's going to try to get back with Moka… one way or the other," Kurumu sang as she looked at the ceiling, wearing a smirk.
"What other questions do you have?" Tsukune asked, wanting to get on to something else.
"These sisters, they are all named after drinks?" Kaiyo asked.
"They are. Their father is Issa, a cup of tea. Kahlua, Moka and Kokoa are the sisters, yes. It's a family thing," Tsukune told her.
"They are all vampires that were born?"
"They are. I'm what's known as a second-born, since I was not born into the world as a vampire. Due to their culture, I had to work extra hard to be accepted. I had to be accepted to gain Moka's hand," Tsukune explained.
"I must ask, Lord Aono, comparing your time as a human, and now your time as a yokai, which do you prefer?" Kaiyo asked.
Tsukune chuckled and said, "Being human was much, much easier, trust me. On the other hand, for how frightening and hard it is to be a yokai, I have also seen wonders I would have never even known about, let alone be part of if I was not a yokai. The sight of a dragon in flight, watching mermaids swim are things to be savored, not that you want to get close to either one. It has been scary, it has been hard work, it's been misery and agony, and for a while I was lead to believe Moka died, which was a very low point in my life. But overall, the family and life I have now, I wouldn't trade for anything. The love and loyalty I have been blessed with is wonderful and I believe unmatched by anyone, anywhere."
"Where were you born?"
Tsukune winced. "I really can't say. One thing I've learned is I can't let myself be vulnerable to someone who might seek to undermine me. Just know I was a common kid, and never even dreamed my life would end up like this."
"Can you tell me about when you sought out Moka's hand?"
"No," Tsukune said flatly.
Karasuba grinned and said, "You should, Ashikabi."
"I don't even like to remember it," Tsukune told her.
"You had to prove yourself worthy," Kaiyo prodded.
"Ashikabi, you were awesome! Let me explain, please," Karasuba asked.
"Vampires have a very strict code when it comes to mating," Tsukune told Kaiyo, then to Karasuba, "We don't need to go into details."
"Can you give a short version?" Kaiyo asked Karasuba.
Quickly, Karasuba said, "Six others wanted Moka's hand. Lord Shuzen drove one away for not being able enough, Tsukune killed four and the last made a business deal to work together with him."
Kaiyo's mouth dropped open.
"Then Tsukune was challenged by Kahlua and won. Instead of killing her, she has become his newest wife," Karasuba added.
"It was win or die," Kumuru stated.
Tsukune glowered at Karasuba, then Kurumu for bringing that up.
"Even courtship rituals are to the death?" Kaiyo asked in shock.
"Vampire courtships, yes," Tsukune admitted.
"That's barbaric!" Kaiyo cried.
"I won't argue that. It does keep the strongest males getting the best women," Tsukune told her.
"Did you have guns, or swords or something?"
Tsukune shook his head. "It was tooth and nail. In this case, weapons are coincided cowardly, and usually ineffective anyway. Two of them knew I was a second born and didn't take me seriously. That was a fatal mistake. Can we get on to something else? Please?"
"You don't like talking about it," Kaiyo concluded.
"No. It was something I didn't like at all, but I had to do it."
"Now that you're running MBI, it seems that Tokyo has calmed down some, and MBI has been doing well and contributing to the community at large," Kaiyo said. "The Aono construction Company is also doing quite well. What do you do to make things so much better?"
"With MBI, I got rid of the killing game the former CEO had, making Sekerei fight each other. Instead of hundreds of soldiers, I reassigned them to do work where they were able. The attack helicopters were given to the SDF forces and the ones for moving troops were re-modeled to be medical helicopters. Without the daily stress of battles in the street, people have calmed down. I also let the people who know how to run the business, do it. I don't dictate over them. MBI makes more now, so the company can afford to be more charitable. Moka runs the construction company and is doing a good job at it and employing people who currently have no job since their place of business was destroyed. She's also helping to get businesses rebuilt so those people will have jobs when the construction is finished. No real secret to any of it," he explained.
"You're been helping to make people's lives a little better," Kaiyo concluded.
"We try to. Most times we do," Tsukune agreed.
With how different various yokai societies work, do you think there is a real chance of co-existing with humans?"
"We already are," Tsukune told her. "We go to school to learn how to exist with humans. The real question is, can humans accept the truth that we have been here inhabiting the land longer that you have?"
"Do you consider yourself a Japanese Citizen?"
"I am a citizen. So is Kurumu and Karsuba and everyone in our family," Tsukune stated. "We're just not human."
"Some of the things you told me about conflict with the law."
"Human law," Tsukune said, correcting her. "To tell the truth, that is one of my biggest worries. There are also things humans do that conflict with yokai as well. I never said there won't be difficulties. Take Witch Hill for example. That was Ruby's home, yet humans came to plow up the sunflower fields because some human 'bought' the place. He didn't buy it from Ruby but the town. The swamp south of here that was filled in to make more city. That was Kappa territory. There are many instances of humans coming in, and since no humans were already there, they just took over and drove whoever was there, out. Instances like the former CEO of MBI, using Sekerie girls to have his big battle for his own excitement, not caring at all that those women were dying. He had planned to have them battle it out until only one was left. Is that within human law to condition non-humans to fight to the death? Yokai now have barriers up in places so humans can't just take over their lands. Do you know how hard it is to keep angry yokai from lashing back out at humanity? That big battle you saw was only the last of the battles we've fought to try and keep the peace. It's come to the point where Japan is getting crowded. We can no longer live far apart and ignore each other. Humans may be intelligent, but so are yokai. Humans must understand that."
"It almost sounds like yokai are ready to go to war with us," Kaiyo said.
"Not yet, and those who want to have been put down one way or another," Tsukune said firmly. "Is there fear and mistrust? Oh yeah, it's heavy on both sides. What is needed is to dispel the fear and recognize we all are Japanese. No matter what we are."
"You think Japan can benefit from yokai living with humans?"
"Can I give you a prime example?' Tsukune asked. "Do you know what yokai did during World War 2? They hid. They found places humans weren't because it was a human war. Not their problem. Now imagine if humans and yokai lived side by side then, helping and supporting each other. With the strength, the magic, and capabilities of yokai working beside human technology, do you think Japan would have lost?"
Kaiyo stared at him briefly before saying, "I … don't know."
"Something to think about," Tsukune told her. "All we want is not to be worried about getting killed for what we are. To be able to relax and not have to worry about being 'found out' by the wrong people. Yes, yokai are different than humans. That does not mean we deserve any less respect. I'm not saying run down to the lake and hug a lizard man. I'm saying acknowledge he has a right to be there and don't bulldozer the place where he's made his home. If a dragon lives on the top of a mountain, don't go up there just because you want to get a good view. When we're in humans lands, like this city, we do our best to conform. Show us the same courtesy when you're in the woods. Don't spread out fishing nets where mermaids have been spotted. You may find that a Witch or two in a town will keep that typhoon, or tsunami from destroying the place."
"You have given me, and I'm sure, many people something to think about," Kaiyo admitted. "Are there yokai in other parts of the world?"
Tsukune grinned and asked, "Are there humans in other parts of the world?"
"Point taken," Kaiyo said with a grin.
A beep sounded and the man to the side made a slashing motion with one hand. Seeing this, Kaiyo said, "I can't believe time's up already." She turned to the camera and said, "This is Yamata Kaiyo speaking with the yokai Dark Lord, Aono Tsukune!" She then stood up and bowed to him. "That you so much for speaking with me."
Tsukune stood up and returned her bow. "You are quite welcome." he replied.
"We're off," a cameraman said.