Chapter 17

The next day…

It wasn't getting much easier.

Suiryu had gone to see D'angelo about a modeling job, yet, he couldn't stop itching his head throughout the whole day. Not to mention, the hunger was getting the better of him. As he waited his turn, he kept noshing on anything within range. Some models were startled as someone dared to bring in fried chicken of all things, but Suiryu ate every scrap of it… bone and all.

He managed to get through his part, however, he was still in need of a decent meal. "Suiryu, sweetie, go have a seat in the other room, we'll call something in for you. Okay?" D'angelo said gently.

He only nodded his head, yet, before he left. Suiryu suddenly turned to a wall and bashed his head into it!

The room froze.

No one moved as he pulled back, and left a crater! He looked a little relieved, yet two massive lumps began to form on the front of his head, and two more started to form within his brow.

This was getting difficult. "Suppressing Sukuna is easier than enduring this! God, why I am starving?!" Suiryu scolded himself.

He was about to head to the room D'angelo suggested, when his nose caught something. "Food…" he whispered.

The trail was strong, which mean it was on this floor! He kept silent and slinked through the halls until he found the source of it all. There was a high ended business company doing a corporate photo. They were posed before a massive long table, full of elegant fruits and dishes that would be considered very high ended. There were even melons there that fetch a high price due to the care that goes into them!

When the photos were done, the people left the room. "Throw it all out, as much as it pains me to say that, we needed that to show off our wealth." One man stated.

"Why not donate it?"

"Please, this isn't to be eaten by those who cannot afford it! That takes the luxury out of it!"

They could care less about the food on the table? So be it, Suiryu smirked as he waited for them to leave before entering. It was mainly fruit. He was hoping for meats but at the moment, he won't be picky. A lick of the lips and his hands on the bounty, he would make quick work of this before anyone noticed…

#

"We got to do something… soon… FAST!" came the concerned voice of Rufus.

D'angelo agreed. "I've never seen him like this before, do you know what's wrong?" he whispered.

Rufus nodded, yet before he could speak, Wayne did.

"He's a young dragon… who is growing very quickly." Wayne announced. "The problem is… there is no food source really on this world that will quell his hunger. He has a brother right? That's two massive bellies you got to keep full until their growth spurt is over."

"But… they are BABY dragons. You know that and so do I. They don't start maturing for a while right?"

He caught the looks exchanged between his two familiars. "Uh… D'angelo, there are a lot of factors that make a dragon grow rapidly. One is environment. When it's a nurturing one and they have plenty to eat and few things to fear and worry about, the growth can be rapid. Second of all, they are Earthbound dragons, their power comes from this world… there are no other dragons besides their mother who can harness this power for themselves. Only dragons born of this world can do that. Lastly… I think we keep forgetting where Suiryu came from."

D'angelo would be the first to admit, he knows little to nothing about young dragons. But this just feels off to him.

"Well the food should be here soon, I hope it's enough." He said with a sigh.

"You ordered two catering companies to come, it's a start." Wayne said. At this point, D'angelo could care less if he was being serious or not.

"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED HERE!?"

Suddenly, there was a commotion in the halls. He rushed out to see one corporate big wigs flipping out to one of the modeling rooms. Within were empty tables and scattered scraps. "That was all high ended food, we had to throw it out to show off our wealth, WE DIDN'T GET THOSE PICTURES YET!"

That was the tread now a days among the wealthy and rich. To show off their power, they buy the most high ended foods one could get their hands on. They pose before it and then show photos and video of the food being thrown out.

It's a compete waste of money and good food!

"WHO ATE THIS? FESS UP NOW!" the man in the suit roared.

Suiryu happened to have wondered by, but was careless not to remove the evidence from his clothing. He had bits of food all over his face, his shirt and apparel. D'angelo cringed at this, and knew what would happen next. "YOU!? YOU ATE THE FOOD IN THIS ROOM?"

Suiryu paused, he peered into the room before looking back at the man in the suit. "Maybe?"

Some people snickered, it was typical of Suiryu to mess with people, especially if he pissed them off… that's when he has his most fun.

"That… was millions of yen worth of food! And you ate it on a whim?" demanded a woman.

"Well… not exactly, I did overhear you say you were going to throw it all out. I was hungry, so I figured I would do you a favor." He said and smiled it off. "Besides, you paid WAY too much for those strawberries, amazing I do admit, but still…"

"You're going to pay up for that!"

"Oh? Am I?" he asked. "You want me to pay for your garbage? You already admitted it was to be thrown out. Therefore it is public domain. So… you want to rephrase that?"

D'angelo sighed to it all. Rufus and Wayne were doing their damnest to not laugh!

What was remarkable was that Suiryu… was oddly calm. Normally he would be in their face about all of this, teasing them to his actions. But he stands rather poised since he strongly believes he is in the right.

Before they could shout at him some more, he paused. His nose scrunched up as he took in a smell. "Food?" he whispered as a low growl soon escaped from him.

"GIVE HIM ROOM!" Wayne shouted as the hall suddenly parted. Suiryu followed his nose blindly until he found his way down into the lobby. The caterers appeared and were just setting up.

He lingered and watched intensely to their actions. Some people were getting nervous around him until he made his move towards the table that finished setting up first.

No one… could believe what they witnessed.

His hands would plunge into something molten hot, fresh from an oven before shoving it carelessly into his mouth. In fact, everything hot didn't bother him, nor did anything with spice. Suiryu chowed down on everything in sight, before the table became bare. Then, his sights sent on the other side of the room.

"Oh God, I should have gotten more than two catering companies…" D'angelo muttered.

"I tried to warn you…" Wayne said offhandedly. "We got to get him out of here…" Wayne suddenly paused. "Uh… who keeps an eye on his brother?" he asked offhandedly…

#

It was… something.

Ozawa though it would be nice to bring Itadori to one of the company appreciate events for the people who have worked hard for her over the years. Kiyoshi loves coming to these since there are so many children that he can play with. Yuuji was a little nervous to go, people don't really see him as anything more than a mooch to Yuko. He has been trying to do better but at the same time, with what's been happening to him…

"Are you okay, young master?"

He jumped.

Tenko was lingering near by. He hasn't see this fox in ages, he hasn't seen Kitsune all that much either. "Just… hungry," he said meekly. "Then again, I am always hungry now."

"Ah, in that case, go and help yourself to the contents of that table over there… the one on the left."

"Thanks… say… I haven't heard from Kitsune in a while… is she…"

Tenko snickered. "Ah yes, it's been so long since this has happened. You see, since Ryujin is now gone, Kitsune is now retired." He explained gently, but smiled. "We have an agreement that one looks after a dragon for the extent of their lives. As you are very much aware, we don't have many to tend to, especially since the culling happened… But now, since Ryujin is no more and you and Suiryu are the new dragons… you will pick your new guardians soon enough."

"Can… can I pick Kitsune?" he asked offhandedly.

Tenko snickered as he gently guided Yuuji to the table he mentioned. "No, part of the rule, it's to ensure all foxes get a chance to be a guardian." He explained.

Next thing Yuuji knew he was standing before a table with a large spread. "Help yourself."

He didn't hold back.

#

He was experiencing pure bliss at that moment.

The food he was eating was divine… perhaps it was divine food since he began to feel almost a sensation of satisfaction. However, despite the spread, it wasn't enough for him. Yuuji took a deep gulp from what was in his mouth. When he finally peered up, he found he was at the center of attention.

People had stopped and stared on as he gorged himself. "Pardon my manners…" he said meekly. However, there was something else in the air.

His nose picked up a rather pungent and yet familiar smell. "Here?" he whispered. Suddenly, he turned to Tenko who merely nodded his head to him. He smells them too doesn't he?

With a brief scan of his surroundings, Yuuji began to sense them mingling among the humans. Orcs.

Some are here on peaceful terms, they spoke rather politely and casually to those around them. But then, there were those who were eyeing the women like meals. He could hear some of them whisper. "That one has potential… could give us a lot of offspring."

That curled his lip.

But he pretended not to notice, as well, he and Suiryu have gone through some extra training to really hide their auras from the other creatures of this world. Divine tend to prostrate themselves no matter the situation. However, when it's hidden, they aren't doing so anymore.

They learned this from Kitsune as well, she taught them this method to hunt better. Had the orcs caught his aura or scent, they would have hightailed it out of here in a hurry!

But now… the hunt was on.

He was doing his best to not lick his lips, every so often he had to catch the drool that escaped from the corner of his mouth as he began to approach the odd collection of gentlemen gathering a small distance away. He heard everything they were talking about. Mainly, they intended on getting some of the women here drunk and then… disappearing with them.

Well, Yuuji has other ideas for them.

He merely wondered over and tried to act casual. "Hey! First time here, I don't know ANYONE here to be honest with you… food is pretty good…"

There were eight of them, they glared at him oddly before their sights set back on the festivities.

"Say, little boy, how about you go back to the kiddie table and leave the grown ups to talk" one said in a snide tone.

Yuuji pretended to look a little hurt by their words but sighed. "Yeah, besides, you wouldn't know who is more fertile than the other women would you? I mean, I know a few things… I like to play the field myself."

Perhaps hanging out with Suiryu isn't so bad. But he found himself more relying on the notions as to what Sukuna would do to get his way. Still, if it works, it works.

Suddenly, he got their attention. "Oh? Who have you been with?" one asked.

"PAPA!"

He turned as Kiyoshi came running, but he managed to give him a signal to move along and not approach. He was stunned, but understood and went on his way. "I already succeeded… have you? So it doesn't matter who I have been with… I have an offspring and you appear… rather barren."

Suddenly, he had their attention.

"What's your secret?"

"Natural animal magnetism…" he said in a bragging tone. "Besides… this isn't the main score I had in mind. Humans are nice. Don't get me wrong. But you want the sorcerers!" he said and began to give them a look of greed. "Humans give you mediocre offspring. A sorcerer… your lineage will increase ten fold at least. Think about it, you find yourself a sorcerer sow to have to yourself… your offspring will gain her power will they not? Isn't what this is all about? Strengthening the blood line?"

He had their full attention now.

"And… where do we find such a prize?"

"Gentlemen, gentlemen… we cannot possibly speak of this here." Yuuji said and brushed off the notion. "Besides, it's in poor manners to speak of this before potential… mates. After all, you need appetizers before the main course don't you?"

He could hear that bastard's tone in his voice. And yet, it's benefited him for this.

He had them eating out of his hands now. "I got a place were we could… prepare some things. Who are you by the way?"

Yuuji smiled. "It doesn't matter who I am, just let me in on the fun, will ya?"

"Of course, come with us, and we will make sure no one here escapes… specially the one throwing this thing…"

He paused oddly. "Who?"

"Yuko Ozawa… she's the prize we are all eyeing. Money, power and yet this allure to her, like she is a forbidden treat. Makes me want her all to myself…"

He nearly lost it, but managed to keep calm. "I want to hear your plans for her in GREAT detail… don't hold back on anything… let's go."