Chapter 21
She woke suddenly.
Tiamat peered about her room, but swore she sensed someone was in there, yet, as soon as her eyes opened, the presence was gone. "Strange…" she thought to herself.
Stretching out on her bed, she sighed aloud. Despite the situation, she was rather happy to know that her sons will be staying with her a while longer. They had to, they wouldn't be strong enough to hold their own. "I wonder what they are doing…" she muttered, but has let them be. She could sense cultivation occurring in her belly, which meant they are trying to get stronger.
But there was an important aspect they needed to do, take some of her power. It was a painful process to happen, but it must be done. For a young dragon to grow, they need some of their mother's strength so it awakens their own. She has yet to feel any of her powers go into her soon to be children. "You two better hurry up and do that before you are born, or I can't help you from that moment on…" she whispered and caressed her belly. For now, she would do what she can to help them. As such if they are going to be dragons, they need to be bigger!
Summoning her legions of divine, they came to her quarters. There she announced that she was going to have her children in less than two years time. "However, as such, I have decided if my children are going to be dragons, they need to eat like dragons and become big as one. So, with that being said. I want to ensure my children are given everything. I need to be twice the size I am now!"
Her legions nodded. One approached her rather fearlessly, a medicine man many among the divine as he looked over her belly. He was gently and pressed into it a few times to get a reaction. "Strong, very strong…" he muttered. "But I agree with your decision. They are young still and yet I sense if they are to truly become strong hatchings, they need to grow bigger. My Lady, you are quite small even though you carry two children…"
She agreed, but she also knows the sorcerers outside were concerned with her sudden growth to her waistline. Eso was worried that his meals were making her too big! "I think my children have much more growing to do. I will need your help."
The medicine man nodded as he reached into his pocket, he took out a golden rope and respectfully wrapped it around her body and tied it just over her naval. "This is your goal rope my lady. It will snap the moment you reach your desired size."
"Thank you, now, I need to meet with the sorcerers who are hosting us…" She waddled herself a little to get out of bed. When her feet it the ground she went in search of Yua and the others…
#
"Wait, seriously?"
Yua didn't quite know what to make of it, however as soon as Lady Tiamat explained that she needed to become larger for her children. The room cringed a little. "With all due respect, you are rather… large as it is!" Gojo said rather nervously. "I mean, your splendor…"
"Gojo, stop while you can," Yua warned through her teeth.
"I'm trying I really…" Toji's hand was quick to go over Gojo's mouth.
"Thank you!" Yua said with a sigh.
Lady Tiamat snickered to their antic. She found it rather amusing but insisted that this was for the benefit of her children. "They are going to be strong and powerful. I have to be certain that they are big enough to maintain their strength. It's a dragon thing," she insisted.
Yua nodded to her. "I understand, do we have the means of ensuring that you can be satisfied and obtain your goal?" she asked.
"Of course, my legions have been working hard to ensure that, as well I have called upon others in case supplies are low here to maintain not just my children, but you as well…"
"So, nearly two more years of this huh?" asked Muta. "What can we do in the mean time to assist you?"
"Oh nothing really… but… I do have a strange request. Something I have seen mortals do and have now become interested myself!" she said rather proudly.
"Which is?" asked Toji with a smirk on his lips.
"I want a maternity photo session."
No one in the room could move. Yua was stunned silent. "A… maternity photo session…" she said slowly. "Uh…"
"I know someone," said Nobara.
"OH?!" Lady Tiamat asked with excitement. "You know someone who could do that for me?"
She nodded to her. "Suiryu… use to model for him all the time, his name is D'angelo…"
"Nobara… is this a wise choice?" muttered Yua. "I know he's a divine user…"
"Oh he's perfect!" Lady Tiamat stated. "I've been watching him, one of the few divine jujutsu sorcerers in the world that have remained true to its core values from their establishment. Please, introduce me!" she insisted and stood up from her chair. "In fact, let's go now!"
She was excited for this!? Yua sighed aloud and nodded. "Can someone…"
"I will," came out of Choso instantly as he stood up as well. "I'll escort her along with Nobara,"
"Thank you, now when…" looking up, Yua froze and found the three had vanished in an instant. "What the hell…"
Toji finally removed his hand from Gojo's mouth but was trying to clean it on his pants. "For fuck sake man, know when to shut up and quite licking my hand to get it off!"
"Ew, Gojo, you know where Toji has been!"
"Yeah, it was no picnic for me either… bleh, tasted like old leather!"
She sighed aloud as Nanami leaned over. "Are you SURE you want to marry him?" he whispered.
"Either I do, or he proposes to you next."
"I see, taking one for the sake of us all. I respect that."
#
Nobara didn't know how they left the room, let alone how they arrived at the very studio that D'angelo works at, but nonetheless, they are there. Choso appeared just as surprised as she was! "Remarkable ability," he muttered with amazement.
"Oh that's a Torii passage, or also known as a daemon gate" Lady Tiamat explained. "Divine users travel like that often, but in short distances, to me, I can go anywhere in the world with it!" she said proudly. "Now, let's go meet this photographer…"
Nobara didn't know if D'angelo would give them the time of day, yet she knew she had to try. Nobara went in first and approached the desk, before she could utter a word she heard. "KUGISAKE! DARLING!"
She turned and saw D'angelo with the biggest grin on his face. He pulled her into his arms for a hug and whispered. "I need to talk to you"
"Same here," she whispered back. When he pulled away he went on with his act. "My dear it's been ages, how is Suiryu doing? I know he took time off for a family emergency…"
She tried to hold back her tears and go along with the charade, but he saw how hard it was for her. Instantly he changed the subject. "Oh who are your friends… Oh… my… GOD!" he protested as his eyes came upon Lady Tiamat. "My dear, please, come with me, everyone STEP ASIDE!" he ordered.
The room parted, a clear path was given to him and Lady Tiamat. Choso followed up from the rear with Nobara as they were taken to a massive room for photo sessions. He was quick to lock the door and instantly hit the ground, prostrating himself before Lady Tiamat. "Great lady of the land and sky I humbly greet you!"
She was stunned. "I haven't been greeted like that in years!" she said with amazement. "D'angelo? I have a favor to ask, please stand."
He shot to his feet instantly. "Yes, great Lady, anything you wish!"
She smiled warmly and said. "I want a maternity photo shoot."
Nobara looked to D'angelo who froze, his hands trembled at the request. "You… want me… My Lady… what an HONOR!" he decreed. "Of course!"
"Lady Tiamat, when would you like this done?" Choso asked. "I know many of these sessions are held outside, but it is not suitable for you or your little ones." He said in a gentle voice.
"I have to agree with him, Lady Tiamat, I could do it here, but it won't highlight you the way you wish. If you can wait until summer time, I assure you, I can make you shine in the sunlight!" D'angelo insisted.
She sighed. "If it can't be helped…"
"I will be more than happy to do pictures for you now, and see if they are up to your standards. If they are not, then we will wait for summer time and I will make you sparkle!" he insisted.
She agreed to the notion. With that, he shoved Nobara and Choso out of the room as he worked his magic.
She sighed aloud as Nobara's eyes went about the hall. Choso too as he paused and stared at the photos. A lot of them were Suiryu's photos. "Little brother…" he whispered as his hand gently went on to the frame of one of them.
Nobara choked up a little, until she heard. "Well, where the hell is he?!"
Her back went up as she turned and glared down the blond asshole Suiryu dealt with often. Leo Adonis lingered behind her, his arms crossed as he awaited an answer. "Why should I tell you!" she snapped back. She doesn't know why D'angelo hasn't said anything otherwise to those around him. Suiryu is dead. She told him herself. Yet, he insisted on not saying anything as of yet. Why? She didn't know.
"Tell me where that little piece of shit went! We got unfinished business…"
Choso stepped between them. He glared at Adonis with vengeful eyes. "You speak ill of my brother… Watch your tongue," he warned.
Adonis smirked. "Look here curse, I know all about you. I also know you can't do jack shit to me. I'm more powerful than you!"
Yet he didn't back down, Choso refused to. "Keep believing that if you wish, but I will not stand here and have my brother or his friend be slandered by the likes of you. Choose your next few words carefully…"
Adonis was about to speak, until he heard a door unlock. "I see what you mean, okay, let's wait until summer time then," when the doors opened, Lady Tiamat came out with D'angelo. He promised her any time or place when the weather is to her liking. He will do the shoot. Yet once they left the room, she saw Adonis glaring down Choso. "Excuse me, are you bothering my friends?" she asked in a rather concerned and yet annoyed tone.
Leo smirked. "No, of course not. Why would I do such a thing?" he asked with a sickening grin on his lips.
"Adonis… get lost," warned D'angelo.
He was about to argue, but somehow the pressure in the room changed. He got the message and was quick to leave. Nobara sighed with relief. Choso refused to settle until he felt secure enough to lower his guard. Lady Tiamat turned to him and said to Choso. "You still have the mark, after all, you are taking care of me, are you not?"
He froze. Nobara did too until she remembered. He was Yuuji's caretaker when he was a baby dragon. So the mark… he still possesses. He was stunned himself as he sent energy to his hand and saw it appear. "I… didn't know,"
She smiled. "You have to be strong to tend to me, do you not? We're done here for now. I wish to go back and rest… not to mention get something to eat later. I really want pasta."
"Pasta?" D'angelo asked aloud.
"One of her main cravings, she loves pasta for a strange reason." Nobara whispered.
