One would have thought that the way the three women in the kitchen were moving they were miserable. One would have been wrong. They were having the time of their lives cooking for the largest group they had ever cooked for family wise. This was their time to shine.
"Moka, check the roast, don't let it dry out. Kurumu, the soup needs a taste more salt. Where is the cream of tartar," Kasumi Aono wouldn't have struck many people as a taskmaster, but when in the kitchen, she was in her element.
"Second shelf of the spice cabinet. Kurumu, can you hand me the pan of beef broth," Moka had a concentrated look on her face as she turned the oven light on.
"Here you are," handing the pan to Moka with one hand Kurumu took a taste of the soup, "Garlic salt. Maybe a little thyme."
"Thyme does sound good. Is there enough rice in it, or does it need some more," Kasumi called over her shoulder as she examined the jars on the shelf.
"Maybe another cup of diced tomatoes. Hey, which one of us is taking care of the salad," the succubus considered as she examined the soup pot.
Kasumi found the jar she was looking for, "Moka, can you take care of the salad in between the checks on the roast."
"Yes Mother. What kind of salad would be good with roast and tomato rice," the vampiress gently poured a ladle of broth over the roast.
"Just a summer salad would do fine. Could one of you get me some eggs," the only human in the room stopped to taste the pie filling she was working on, "Perfect sweetness. Moka, I almost can't believe how tall Tekeshi is now. He makes me feel so tiny standing next to him now."
"Its true, I'm not all that big vertically myself, but he could use the top of my head as an armrest. Perfect, the soup needs to simmer a while now and it will be ready," Kurumu was quick to chime in.
"It really surprised all of us. It has to be from my father's side. It bothers Tsukune way more that he wants to admit that he has to look up to make eye contact with his teenage son, and that he still has a few years to get even taller. Harumi is so adorable now, though I have to question how you succubi manage not to have major back problems. I mean, it is starting to look like she is going to have bigger boobs than your mother," Moka said as she started to shred a head of lettuce.
"Who says we don't. Why do you think I can't live without my hot baths? I don't know how many hundreds of thousands of yen I spend on massages every year. Heath had some trick he had learned from some woman in Vietnam during one of his shorter deployments that really did beautiful things. I really wish I had your boobs nowadays, I love mine, but they are murder on my body. Utsuki is adorable herself. I know that Harumi wants Tekeshi, but I don't think that it would be a good match. I'm pulling for her. Do we want any garnishes," Kurumu said as she reduced the heat under the pot.
"She is though. I can't believe that her family didn't care about her. Moka, I am so proud of you and Tsukune for taking her in. Though I am a little more, uh, unsure about her tag-along. The horns are rather off-putting. You also said the four very beautiful women are connected to her in some way," Kasumi started whipping the egg whites.
Moka snickered, "Yeah, though I am starting to think that Tekeshi inherited the bad habit of dragging women in from the cold everywhere he goes. Still, one of them is actually here for him, actually make that three of them. The elegant one in the kimono is actually Gozen Tomoe, don't ask how she has been around since the 1100's and still looks in her thirties. She is actually training Tekeshi as a swordsman, and he is not enjoying it. Apparently she is trying to literally kill him, I think he is just being hyperbolic."
"Are you so sure? I mean, he had a full thousand yard stare going on yesterday when they finished their first training session. What is the deal with the sword anyway, I mean, is Tsukune allowing him to carry that around the school? Isn't that causing concern," Kurumu walked over to Moka to see what she was tossing into the salad.
"Somehow it is draining any excess power that is getting past his seal. Plus it seems like they have a real good relationship. I don't really understand the whole thing myself, I'm more of the hit harder and see how it goes kind. Even Yukari doesn't get it. However, we haven't actually heard any hints of discontent from anyone over it, so no harm no foul, as long as nobody gets julienned for grabbing 'Suki's ass we aren't going to do anything," Moka said as she crossed to the refrigerator to look at the dressings.
Kasumi looked side-eyed at her daughter in law, "I so want to believe that you are joking, but having known you and your family for over twenty years now, I know you're not. Don't you find it highly irresponsible to allow a sixteen year old to carry medieval weaponry in public. Especially around humans."
"Tekeshi made sure to work some magic on the saya so that humans wouldn't notice it. He is resourceful like that. Besides, even if he isn't as powerful as most, he is still a vampire, and scares the hell out of most of the students. He still gets into fights more than I would like, and he wins, though he doesn't look like he wins. The pie smells great, it's going to be a battle to wait until after dinner," Moka stepped away from checking the roast so Kasumi could place the pie in the top oven.
"I will take the roast now, dear, finish the salad. He cuts a dashing figure, if rather rough. He is nothing like his father was at his age. Though, uh, what is with all the black leather, that does rather concern me. He hasn't gotten caught up in something unsavory has he," the concerned grandmother asked as she wiped her hands on a dishrag.
"It's what he wears when he is on his motorcycle. At some point it just became his style. I am really not that worried, as long as he grows out of it. I still hold out hope that Tsukune will grow out of the whole motorcycle thing, so I may need to re-evaluate my hopes and dreams. Did Father ever go through anything like this," Moka asked as she set out a pair of bottles of salad dressings.
Kasumi looked up thoughtfully, "Not really. Nor did Tsukune as you can remember. He did like motorcycles, but what sixteen year old doesn't. That being said, most sixteen year olds don't actually get a motorcycle. Kōji's first vehicle was a 1979 Daihatsu F20, not that exciting, but he loved it, until he rolled it. After that it he stopped driving until after you and Tsukune got married, and then he bought the Lexus."
"And Tsukune's first car was that overpowered American thing. I can't hate the car, since without it there might not have been Tekeshi. I was hoping that if he had to get Tekeshi a car it would have been some under-powered grandma car. Made his head almost explode when I let Tekeshi and Utsuki take his Buick out to try to have some fun a few days ago, didn't go to plan. I guess everything is just about ready, lets get everyone together," Moka said as she looked at the state of the meal preparations.
If it were possible Guiness Book of World Records might have recorded it as one of the longest rounds of arm wrestling. Two hours and ten minutes at that point. Neither Tekeshi or Anne were moving, and the one person actually watching held her breath. It was incredible to watch Tekeshi, with biceps that were as big around as his opponents thigh, being held at a complete standstill by the much smaller woman.
"Mother Madonna, I can't believe it. I know that you said that we are more physically impressive than any woman that isn't bound, but seeing it in person is something else," Utsuki's eyes were the size of saucers.
The older woman barely looked up from her book, "Watch very carefully. Young Tekeshi there would be considered at the highest peak of human strength limited as he is. Anne is among the strongest of my sisters. Apparently running the rigging of sailing vessels keeps one in enviable shape. Even I wish that I wasn't quite as soft as I am. Still, there is no telling how long they will be at this."
"Utsuki-chan, Unlike us, your body is still rather malleable. Whether we eat or not, nothing changes. I can spend the rest of eternity battering at Tekeshi-san without tiring, if I take a strike my body will bleed, but ultimately it will heal and never show that it ever happened. One day you may deign to join us in our timelessness, it has its advantages, though I would recommend that you be truly in love with your body before you do," Tomoe was reclined on a chaise with one eye half open watching.
"But you can die can't you," Utsuki asked.
"Yes. Not of any natural causes, starvation, or disease, but we can. Were my head to be removed from my neck, I would be gone. I don't truly know how much we can resist, but it is considerable. I have fought on the field of battle many times in my life, and have been run through with lance, I have had parts beside my head removed, and have even been poisoned and bitten by venomous animals. I have always recovered. I have lost many sisters, some I have even had to help from life. I have also seen many take their own life, because they had lost all the will to go on after decades, centuries, some even made millennia. I have considered that I should no longer make anyone undergo the ritual, but I have done it more for the demons, since they don't have the choice in whether they enter into the contract that would lead to them disappearing forever," Madonna closed her book as she turned to the young girl.
"Ancient Mother, have any of my kin actually complained once they settled themselves with their binder. Honestly, I don't care anymore that I am just going to cease existing when Lovely Mistress croaks. However long it has actually been for me, it has been a pretty good run. I am sure every other demon here will agree, death for us, isn't that big of a deal," Deesseedra said from behind her fashion magazine.
"Honestly, I don't think that I have ever asked even Rougar how he felt. No matter how long and hard I have worked to change myself, you are much more in tune with Deesseedra than I will ever be with Rougar. Even I am starting to wonder how long they are going to stay at this. Anne, either break the boy's heart and his arm, or let him win," annoyance crept onto Madonna's face as she looked at the table.
"Oi, I ain't exactly playin' 'round, 'e takes that damnable ring off, and I am 'eaded through the near'st wall. Good lord above, what possessed me to do this," sweat was dripping off both contestants.
The battle was epic, if you actually cared. While impressive, it really wouldn't have rated for most yokai. Still there was fun being had.
Utsuki turned to Madonna, "So, this may seem like a weird question, but if you lose it after you go through the ritual..."
"Yes, lose what," the older woman looked confused.
"'ey, I didn't even have to understand what she was saying to know she just asked the question about gettin' 'er cherry popped if she becomes like us. I won, YAHOO," the woman jumped up and down with happiness.
"Oh for, Anne, have some decency. You just had to go and embarrass the two of them. I am calling that win disqualified."
"'m a pirate, not a debutan'. Besides, what else would a wee maid like her wonder about with her age looking at such? 'Sides, the Lad and Lass are old enough to 'now wher' the youngins are made," the smile on Anne's face showed how pleased she was with herself.
"You have not changed a bit since you joined us. Well, at times we can understand you now, and you dropped most of the vulgar language, so I can't say you haven't changed any," Tomoe still did not deign to open her other eye.
"Up yours, you yellow clunge," the words were accompanied by a very rude hand gesture.
"Oh my, Anne, your language. I don't want to hear that in my presence ever again. What would even possess you to call her that," Madonna had a note of rage in her voice.
"Sorry Mother Madonna. That 'as unseemly, and I should nae have said it. I am really sorry Tomoe, you did not deserve that. I know you didn't mean anything with what you said," the Irishwoman was quick to back down.
"What did she call her?It sounded bad, but I couldn't understand," Utsuki was having trouble following after the language had swapped to English.
Tomoe looked uncomfortable, "Uh, well she called me a certain part of the female body that you would only allow a person you love beyond all others to see. Remember that she was a pirate, and a very violent one about three centuries ago, so she doesn't understand that there are just things that aren't said in a polite setting such as this. Don't judge her too harshly for it."
"Certain part of body, only let... Oh, that, that is not nice, hehe, hehe, heehhehe," Utsuki couldn't help but fall into a nervous fit of giggles.
"I am glad to see everyone is having fun. Um, what is wrong with my son? I don't think I have ever seen him sitting that still, and I don't even know what that expression on his face is. Tekeshi. Earth to Tekeshi. Oh boy. What did you ladies do to him," the room became oppressively dark as Moka examined the stone still form of her child.
Madonna felt every bit of color exit her face, and even felt Rougar shrink within her aura, "It was somethingggggg, thaatt Annnneee saaaiid that sseeeemmedd tosurprisehimquiteheavily."
"I see, Miss Bon... where did she go," pirates always knew when it was time to run away.
A/N: I am really enjoying the everyday life stuff more than the action parts of the story. The exposition on the Witch of War stuff seems to be popular too, and the beauty of original content, is you only have to shape it to fit, not recast it completely with the hard constraints. I will go ahead and spoil that I don't plan for Dibea to feature too heavily over time. She is more meant to be a foil for the more expressive members of the Harlot Squad Mk II. I don't plan to go too much further with the chapters with them at home, and am working on getting them back to Yokai as soon as I can manage.