Shin Ryu sat down on his bed. Well, really, it was their bed. He closed his eyes to remember Himeka Hiromi the first time she was in this very room with him. She had such a feisty nature, but her smile was one of the purest of angels. He once even thought that he shouldn't taint her with his demon touch. Her determination to be near him, and her determination in general, drew him to her. She floated through his mind constantly. She had let her long, black hair effortlessly cascade with her every movement. Her small, simple, delicate hands ignited a flame as they glided across his skin.
The rain had started to pound at his windowpane, and the splash of feet hitting the ground soon followed. It was Akaya just as he had predicted. Though, tonight, Shin just wanted to think about her mother. And the room where her story began, and ironically, Akaya knew nothing of the Himeka he did. It was more ironic that all Himeka wanted to do was be here when her offspring only longed to leave.
Irony was the world's biggest muse. It made situations even demons could not explain logically. Irony retold stories with a different protagonist and similarly, antagonist.
He didn't have Himeka anymore, but as he heard Akaya's deep breaths and frantic footsteps outside, irony showed him that he never really could tame Himeka to begin with. Angels tended to move where their presence was needed. Demons stood where it was safe and comfortable. He had passed on many traits to Akaya, but Himeka's presence was there at all times. Akaya went where she was needed with who needed her when needed.
He heard Tajek follow after her. He would always need her and would always care for her well-being before his own. That was a typical human trait. He would follow her into the depths of any hell and embrace her as the free spirit she embodied.
Shin Ryu could never do that for Himeka. Their paths crossed, but life's irony tore them apart. He trusted Tajek to take care of his daughter as he lost himself in his angelic thoughts of her.
Shin Ryu had almost become accustomed to the evil glares and muttered whispers associated with going into Konoha. Unlike the citizens Shin governed as Mizukage, people here did not welcome strange visitors of his caliber in with open arms. The reactions were always the same no matter how many times Shin came to visit Danter.
There was nothing to do now but listen to the gossip that villagers spoke in hushed tones as he passed them by. It was amusing to the powerful demon. He had excellent hearing abilities, and every academy student knew this basic fact about demons. Yet, villagers still spoke rumors within feet of him.
Useless.
Most everyone in this village was useless. But as Shin walked up the steps of the Hokage's building, he sighed heavily. As much as he was not fond of people, Shin didn't like to be so hated. And if it weren't for Danter, he'd still be in the Bingo Book. He was at least thankful for his one human friend.
With a light push, Shin Ryu opened the doors to the building and swiftly strolled down the long stretch of hallway leading to the official office of the Hokage. It was drastically different from his office back home. His building was tranquil while Danter seemed to invite chaos into his abode on a daily basis. The paintings that lined the halls had no true correlation besides the fact that they were framed, and still, they coexisted well together. And little details like that reflected who Danter was as a friend and as a leader perfectly.
Oak doors stood between Shin and his objective. As difficult as an alliance with Konoha sounded, Shin Ryu had hope. His citizens would thrive and prosper from ties to a stable village, and even though the last Mizukage kept his village self-sufficient, Shin was much more strategic. He waited patiently for an opportunity at forming a powerful alliance. Once Danter was announced as Hokage, Shin Ryu knew his friend would want peace between the two villages.
As he flung the doors open and began to speak, Shin noticed a female present in front of Danter. She turned her gaze onto him, and it took him back. Her look wasn't like the rest of the looks he normally experienced in Konoha. She simply acknowledged his presence and then turned her attention back to the Hokage."As I said before Hokage Danter, I am truly honored by your decision," She smiled boldly, which Shin found oddly appealing on her well-structured face,"You won't regret it."
Danter nodded as he heard whimpers exit his son's mouth as the boy had gotten bored with playing with his blocks. He motioned to Tajek with open arms, and the young baby walked wobbly to his father.
Shin Ryu gave the young child credit for walking as steadily as he was at seven months. Even with shaky legs, Tajek managed to make it onto his father's lap fairly easily. That strong-willed determination was expected from a Montair. "How's the kiddo been?"
The rambunctious child shrilled at the sight of Shin Ryu. For as little as he was, Tajek's memory and recollections were astounding. The baby's smile and wild clapping made his father grin. "I'd say he has been doing pretty good," He paused before allowing his son to slide off his leg and hurriedly wobble, fall, and then crawl to Shin. "But we both know that a family reunion was not your main objective in coming to Konoha."
Himeka Hiromi stood proudly in the Hokage's office. She was finally being recognized for her talent and equally prominent and renowned hard work. Her birthday was today, and what better way to celebrate than to move up in rank to top Jounin. At the ripe age of twenty, it was an impressive feat to accomplish. It was for simple reasons though. From her quick reactions to thorough plans and battle strategies to the fact that no one and nothing intimidated her, Hiromi was the perfect candidate to follow in her father's footsteps.
At her level of experience, it almost impossible to not know of the legendary demon standing in front of her. He was respected by most, but more importantly, he was feared by all. Even so, Himeka stood firm in his presence. Reputation or not, she would hold her ground. As the demon picked up Tajek, she saw a said of the demon that the village was too afraid to notice. The long fingers grazed the boy's nose and gently grabbed it. Tajek giggled in delight as he tried to get his "nose" out of Shin's clutches before putting it on his own. Himeka couldn't help but stare at the joyful scene in front of her. Could a demon really love?
Danter spoke informally to his newly-appointed head Jounin. "To get you up to speed, Shin Ryu here is looking to get an alliance with Konoha. And as my son's Godfather, I can't turn it down easily."
As if by cue, Himeka spoke up, "Even if it wasn't in the best interests of Konoha?" Unintentionally, her words came out irritated, "Relations aside, your job title requires you to consider our best interests, not just your own."
The demon in the room cracked an encouraged smile. He had never seen a female human act so boldly toward him. All of them would quiver and avoid him at all costs. It was evident that his Himeka Hiromi was different, and changes in daily occurrences excited Shin. He gently placed Tajek on the ground before speaking his rebuttal. "So sweetheart, do you think I pose a threat to this village?"
Few words angered Himeka enough to act recklessly on them, but sweetheart was one of them. That word undermined her authority, and worse, her equality to her male colleagues. For the most part, the Hiromi clan could hold their tempers, but that was simply because they used their built-up anger to fuel their attacks in battle; although this altercation was nothing physical, Shin Ryu's words fueled her verbal debate against him. Human or demon, no one would beat her. "Yes I do. I'd be an idiot not to think the great Shin Ryu did not pose a threat to Konoha. Read just one of the academy books on demons, and you'd see why you are out-casted every time you walk through those gates!"
By the end of her opening statements, she had turner her back to Danter and stood directly in front of Shin. He stood several inches above her, but Himeka chose not to hide her intimidated feelings behind her angered ones. She lifted her right hand and slammed her index finger against his hardened chest. She watched as Shin Ryu stood straight and allowed her to continue her educated rage, "You scare everyone, but you don't scare me. And as much as I'd like to sayan alliance with you isn't needed, you would make a better ally than enemy to us. You know that as much as I do, sweetheart."
As she snapped out of her rage, Himeka turned toward her Hokage to apologize for her rattled actions, But she froze when seeing a smile and laugh emerge from Danter. Tajek let out a squeal and clapped loudly. "I definitely picked the right person for head Jounin."
Shin Ryu let out a small smile as he looked at the pretty young woman in front of him. Her long, black hair arched in her ponytail, and her small frame did not reflect her powerful nature. Her green eyes, however, did so perfectly. "Nothing like a bright, fiery person running your village's defenses." He paused before continuing, noticing the determined look in Himeka's eyes and her youthful confidence. She was refreshing scenery in Konoha. "Being allies won't be so bad after all."
In the moments of silence that followed, Danter pulled a few sheets of paper from the top drawer of his desk. He had already prepared protocols between the two villages. Being friends with Sin Ryu for over a decade made Danter realize Shin's habit of abandoning formalities. He wouldn't read any of the outlined details; Shin would simply sign the documents.
Shin looked at Danter's movements carefully. Trust was an important quality to him. He had allies betray him in the midst of battles, and as much as Danter had done for him personally, Shin couldn't help but look for a tail due to bluffing. As he walked forward and gripped the pen, no such bluff appeared. Hokage Danter was to be trusted, and Shin knew Danter expected the same from him. Pressing the pen down firmly, Shin signed for the first real alliance he'd encountered since Sesoni's pact a hundred years ago.
When Shin grinned, Himeka noticed the almost human features of a monstrous demon standing in front of her. Shin Ryu, the legendary demon known exclusively for his lack of emotions, seemed to glisten in happiness. Himeka wasn't sold on the idea that this new alliance was why he seemed so happy. Nevertheless, she watched as the two Kages exchanged friendly farewells. They were ecstatic and seemed to forget about her presence. Before she dismissed herself, Shin Ryu turned to leave and shot a quick glance her way. It was a confusing glance to the new head Jounin. He seemed to be examining her in bits and pieces, which made her stomach turn. Shin Ryu was doing all of this on purpose to test her, and Himeka refused to lose at anything. His mind games would be no different.
Danter leaned back in his chair and watched his boy crawl back to his toys. Tajek was so innocent. It truly was a shame that he couldn't stay that way. The Hokage smiled as he observed the Mizukage and his head Jounin leave his office in silence. He knew of the scrutiny he was up against when he promoted the young Hiromi to the top-ranked position. Several of his Shinobi questioned his decision and wondered about his sanity; however, as he sat in his office, he was content. He'd chosen the perfect candidate.
It took more courage to stand fearless against Shin; it took guts. Unless he knew you on a personal level, your opinion was obsolete. And yet, Himeka's determination and youthful rationality grabbed Shin's full attention. Not one of Danter's other Jounin would dare talk to Shin in such a way. That told Danter that there would be more encounters between the two.
To Himeka, something was off about Shin Ryu during the meeting, but she couldn't quite place what it was. So she found herself sitting in a poorly-lit alley, waiting on the legendary demon to walk by. The nervous woman gripped her kunai tightly and let her loyalty to Konoha engulf her logic. As his white, silver-lined hair was in view, Himeka pulled quickly on his arm and pushed him against the building behind her, grazing the kunai on his neck seamlessly. "Hokage Danter might fall for your tricks, but I won't. One wrong move and I guarantee, alliance or not, I won't hold anything back against you."
Shin Ryu wasn't really surprised at Himeka's attack, but he was utterly amused by it. Not only was she bold with her words but also with her actions. He felt the kunai remain steady against his throat, and that caused him to grin. This girl was one of the kind, but her boldness was going to get her killed if she wasn't careful. Shin mover her fingers toward the blade slowly, thrusting the kunai forward to the opposite wall and causing Himeka to lunge against his back.
The demon had almost forgotten how warm human bodies really were. Their temperatures were different than his own, and it was incredibly noticeable when he came across the contact between them. "Believe it or not, sweetheart, this alliance is as vital to me as it is for Konoha. " He gripped her feminine hand, holding her weapon and turning it slowly around to face her, carefully avoiding a cut to her from the kunai. "But I will give you credit for not trusting me. You have an inner fire that burns to preserve loyalty and respect. You don't find that very often in a female leader. So can we go ahead and call a truce?"
As he held his free hand out to her, Shin noticed her angered and disappointed facial expression. She begrudgingly held her free hand out as he lowered the kunai. Her hand was warm against his cold skin, and it was mystifying to Shin for a reason he couldn't explain. "I shouldn't have underestimated your brute strength, Mizukage Shin Ryu. That was my mistake," Himeka smirked, however as she tightly squeezed Shin's hand. "But your mistake was calling me sweetheart. My name is Himeka Hiromi. It would be best not to forget that."
Understandingly, Shin pulled back from the truce. He looked to the shadows in the alley to find a familiar dog-like face peering at him. Looking back to Himeka, he realized there was no better match for his demon friend. "Well, Himeka, now that we seem to be on the same page, will you accept my apologies with a gift?"
Himeka nodded ever so slightly. This was the first year in which she hadn't received a gift for her birthday, so she was intrigued. She was also impressed with the idea that Shin Ryu could actually apologize for any of his actions. Out of the corner of her eye, the last Hiromi noticed a dog-like figure emerge from the shadows and watched as Shin Ryu patted its head lovingly. As if they spoke a silent foreign language, they peered at her. Within seconds, the shadow was connected to the one at her feet and slid perfectly into that shadow. It was as if it had disappeared.
"Before you ask any questions, let me explain," Shin Ryu confidently walked to Himeka and pointed at her ever-present shadow. "Akira is a shadow demon who recently lost her owner in battle. She came to me for help. And quite honestly, your bold actions could easily result in your death if you don't have a little back-up."
Himeka watched as this legendary demon smiled at her in a friendly manner. She knew of the bonds between lesser element demons and their owners, but she never imagined obtaining one herself. Let alone, obtain one from the ruthless Shin Ryu. "Why?"
Shin patter her shoulder and gripped it, sending goosebumps down Himeka's spine. "Because you are trying to be hopeless when you have everything to be hopeful for."
Nodding, Himeka stood silently as Shin started to walk away. As he turned back to her, he threw his hand up in a lazy wave. "Enjoy the gift, Him. If you're ever in my territory, make sure to visit."
The dark-haired woman simply shook her head; Him was at least an improvement from sweetheart. Shin Ryu was so collected and casual about her semi-failed attack on him. That, along with his actions toward Hokage Danter and Tajek, made the demon truly fascinating to the young commander, "I might if I find the time, Ryu."
A nickname for a nickname. Shin Ryu found that fair enough, but it had been months since their encounter. Word of how successful Himeka Hiromi was had blossomed in every village the Mizukage had visited. Danter's unapproved decision turned out to be the right one, and Shin was glad that it had been a positive move.
Shin Ryu was not one for staying cooped up in an office doing paperwork all day like other Kages; because demons needed little to no sleep, he saved that boring part of the job for the late night. Instead, the Mizukage strolled the village,listening to complaints and compliments of his people. Knowledge was a powerful weapon in his position.
He casually walked into the market area of town near the village's entrance. Shin Ryu smirked as he saw the dark, brown hair swooped into an intricate braid and the fitted uniform that clung to her skin. And then, there was an unusual knot in his stomach and confusion ran through his head. Himeka Hiromi looked up to meet his gaze and waved at him as she entered into his territory.