Chapter 23
Summer at last.
Lady Tiamat finally got her time to shine as D'angelo was quick to contact Nobara. They arranged a time and date for their photo session but then, he asked an odd question. "I need a bit of a decoy session to do, by chance do you have anyone who can help me? I don't want people seeing Lady Tiamat the way she is and endangering her." D'angelo asked.
Nobara paused to think about it, but then, an idea came to mind. "How about an engagement shoot?" she asked.
"OH?! Who got engaged!?" he asked with great excitement.
"My sensei did, that would be the prefect cover for you wouldn't it?"
He agreed to it instantly. Now, all she had to do was get Sensei Gojo and Yua to go along with it…
#
"Wait? A photo session?"
"Ooo, we should have those done too…"
"You're the one who wanted to get married LAST WEEK!" Yua protested. "Now you want engagement photos?"
"It's a cover for D'angelo" Nobara explained. "It appears that if Lady Tiamat is only seen on the beach it would cause some… unwanted attention. I think this is mainly to keep other divine users at bay."
Yua sighed aloud but nodded in agreement. "Lady Tiamat did want these photos, and if we get some photos too… I suppose we could…"
Yet as she turned to face Gojo, he was already gone. He returned wearing beach wear of all things. Yua glared at him. "You want engagement photos… in swim outfits?" she asked curiously.
"Well… we're at the beach" he said and smirked.
"Why am I marrying him again?" Yua asked Nobara. But only got a snicker out of her.
#
D'angelo was all set, but first thing's first. He pulled a few strings and called in favors to have the beach closed off for the day. Second, he had to make certain that none of the divine users were aware of his activities, as of late, Leo Adonis has been like a gum on a shoe to him. Everywhere he goes, Adonis follows thinking he has hidden Suiryu away. He has been more determined now than ever to take him out. "He's a bastard creation of Sukuna, you and I both know it and he needs to be… dealt with!" he protested to him just the other day.
D'angelo wasn't having it. "Adonis… Listen, and I am only going to say this once… BACK OFF!" he snapped. "You know damn well what I can do, and at the moment, I am ever so pissed, that I will put you through the walls again!" he warned. "But tomorrow, stay the hell away from me. Understood?"
Adonis sneered, if anything D'angelo may have just invited trouble.
He was all set up on the beach, his best crew at his side as his top summons were awaiting for their orders. "You serious?" Rufus asked. "You seriously are going to do maternity photos for Lady Tiamat? You think she is going to show up?" he asked.
"Rufus, she asked for me BY NAME," he protested to him. "Besides, why wouldn't I? She's a dragon goddess to the divine isn't she?"
He nodded. "She's like a goddess to all the divine," said Wayne. "Even my kind treat her as such, we're not dragons but near the family tree of them…"
Suddenly the air shifted.
She appeared and didn't come alone. At her side was Choso, no shocker there. But D'angelo was stunned to see the six eyes sorcerer and a woman he had never seen before. "Oh? I know Nobara explained that she was sending a couple to help out just in case…" he said offhandedly.
"Sorry if we are not needed. I'm Yua Tooru, and this is Satoru Gojo." The young woman explained.
"AHEM!" came out of Gojo.
She sighed aloud. "My fiancé… Satoru Gojo" she said with the roll of her eyes. "Seriously? It's that big of a deal?" she asked.
"Of course it is, anyone who knows me knows this is a HUGE deal"
"But I don't really know you…" D'angelo muttered, but shrugged his shoulders. "Okay people, I want Lady Tiamat to sparkle! Make up, and everything she wants!" he called.
His make up crew came forward, the moment their eyes came upon her, they kneeled before Lady Tiamat. "We are honored to serve you today!" the ladies called aloud.
"I'll be in your care, now, I want whatever will make me sparkle and shine if you please…" the ladies took her off to the side, there Wayne made a barrier to hide her appearance just in case.
"Well, I better take some photos or people are going to suspect… Oh come on!" he protested.
He was on the boardwalk, watching closely. Leo Adonis.
However, he appeared rather pale, as if he had seen a ghost. Suddenly, he rushed down to the beach before freezing at the sight of the couple before him. "Impossible…" he whispered.
"I thought I told you to get lost!" protested D'angelo.
However he turned and glared at him. "You… you found a TOORU of all people!? They were all dead!"
D'angelo paused to think about it, that was true, but at the moment, that's not his concern. "So?" he asked.
Adonis then grinned as he turned to Yua, he turned on his charm and took her hand to gently lay a kiss upon it, yet his lips were instantly repelled! He paused but only then did he notice the glare coming from Satoru. "Can we help you?" Satoru asked in a rather odd tone, it was gentle, yet at the same time, the annoyance in it couldn't be hidden.
Adonis ignored him and turned to Yua. "Miss Tooru, it is an HONOR to meet a magnificent woman like yourself. I have heard great rumors of a Tooru woman being as beautiful as they are powerful…"
She wasn't impressed. "Uh huh… who the hell are you?" she asked in a disinterested tone.
He smirked once more. "Oh, I am a great fashion model. Leo Adonis at your service… in fact, I was wondering if perhaps you would like to get a drink with me?"
D'angelo sighed aloud until he noticed the glare coming from Gojo. "Hey… buddy… look…" Gojo said as he turned on his own charm. He hung off of Adonis and said. "Don't be hitting on my future wife."
He wasn't the least bit bothered as he brushed off the arm. "So, SOON to be married, but not officially yet…" Adonis said in a teasing tone. "Meaning her mind could change…"
"My God how did Suiryu not kill you?" she asked.
D'angelo couldn't hold back his snickering. "I wonder that every day myself…" he muttered.
He sneered at the question. "Suiryu? That poor excuse of a so called living being… I have been searching for him, hunting him if you will. I refuse to allow that bit of Sukuna live a moment longer!"
The beach trembled. Adonis was knocked on his ass as Gojo, Yua and D'angelo barely kept to their feet. Choso suddenly approached. "Whoever is speaking such horrid words, I have been asked to tell you to and I quote… shut the hell up," he said rather bluntly. But when his eyes came upon Adonis, he knew why he was told to say such a thing.
His presence is upsetting the great Lady Tiamat. "Adonis, sweetie… LEAVE" D'angelo said venomously. "Or I'll…"
"D'angelo, don't bother…"
He froze as she emerged from the privacy barrier, her make up and hair done, she wore a rather nice skirt/bikini like outfit but her belly was glowing. Adonis froze at the sight of her before he turned and glared back at D'angelo. "So, who is she?" he demanded.
"Are you that blind or stupid? Don't bother answering it's stupid… I won't speak her name but she does NOT want you here. Take the hint" D'angelo warned.
He turned and stared at Lady Tiamat, unimpressed by her to say the least. "He won't know who I am for I refuse to allow him such the privilege." Lady Tiamat explained. "But allow me to offer but one hint… Choso… if you please?" she asked gently.
A grin came over him.
Choso stepped forward. "And what can I do for you my Lady?" he asked politely.
"Kindly, kick his ass,"
"Ooo me without my video camera…" D'angelo sighed.
But Adonis snickered. "I know this curse, one of the death painting is it not? They are nothing compared to me. My power has stated to be that of Sukuna when he has twelve finger's worth of power!"
"Five,"
"Excuse me!?" Adonis demanded as Lady Tiamat spoke.
"Whoever told you twelve is a lire… you have five if that. And I am being rather generous at the notion." She said offhandedly. "Choso, please rid us of him, but do not kill him… not yet." She said and smiled.
He returned the grin as well and began to crack his knuckles. "Do you really think a half curse abomination is going to…."
It was a fast punch… and it only took one for him to send Adonis down the beach and leaving a trench in its wake. Even D'angelo was stunned. "Wow… Suiryu has strong brothers…" he said with great admiration.
"Is that acceptable, Lady Tiamat?" he asked.
"Perfect Choso, you have my thanks. Now… Gojo, please make sure he doesn't come back in this general area?" she asked gently.
Gojo grinned. "Oh, I'll do better than that… I'm going to tease the HELL out of him!"
"Satoru!" Yua said in a warning tone. He froze as his shoulders slumped. "You are not hogging all the fun. I want in on this!"
His playful grin returned. "Have fun Lady Tiamat, I know we will! Let's go torment this bastard!"
As the odd couple left, D'angelo sighed aloud. "I am so sorry for that, are we ready?"
She smiled and nodded.
For three hours he did nothing but photos, he was a little stunned that every so often he would see a handprint here, or a foot pushing up against her. But she was ecstatic to know he got that in the photo. "It's wonderful to see it happen so naturally!" she said. They stopped after four hours; she was getting rather tried and hungry. The sand on the beach trembled to her stomach roaring. D'angelo was nearly knocked off his feet from that alone!
"We better get you something to eat, we can't have you or your little ones go hungry now, can we?" D'angelo said as he took a closer look at her baby belly, that's when he saw the hand, clear as day pushing up against her sides. Strange though, it wasn't a baby's hand, if anything it was almost like that of an adult!
"It's okay, lunch is provided," she said gently as her eyes turned to the waters.
He turned to see for himself, it was as if the ocean itself opened up and there was a banquet awaiting her! A feast rested on a coral table, full of all sorts of prepared sea foods!
"Wow…" he said with great admiration.
"Oh good, she was jus telling me she was craving sea food…" Choso said offhandedly…
