"Lady Souten!" a red lightning dragon bellowed, as he floated down the halls of the almost entirely vacant castle. "Where are you?"
"I'm back here," a young woman's voice called from a back room.
The pony sized dragon grumbled to himself; his Lady Souten's voice had come from the room he knew all too well as the Strategy Room. "The Betrothal Party will be showing up any minute!"
He rounded the corner to reveal his young mistress standing, almost fully armored, over a box with maps and charts. Her long black hair hung in two tight braids down past her waist. A metal chest plate bound her womanly figure, and a hakama hid her wide hips. She looked up at her long time compatriot and servant, her red eyes glistening in the candlelight.
"Kouryuu, You'll make sure to bring them right?" her voice was barely tinted with a distinct nervousness.
"Of course, Lady Souten," the dragon sighed. "However, you cannot go to your fiancée dressed like that. You must change."
The woman sighed and looked down at the paper gripped in her hand: a picture in bright crayon of a black haired girl with two tight buns, which Souten recognized as being a younger version of herself. In the bottom corner scrawled in bright orange the name of the artist, Shippo.
Souten remembered very fondly of the day that they had met and she attempted and failed to kill the young fox boy to avenge her brothers' deaths. But those days had long since passed. She had ended up a hardened warrior, fending off many attempts on her life, and, now that she was a woman fit to bear children, she was engaged and on her way to rebuilding the Thunder demon clan.
She rolled the picture up with a sigh and tossed it into the box, then turned to her dragon vassal with a calm smile. "You are correct; I must prepare."
An hour later Souten was standing outside, wrapped in a blue and red kimono with her hair loosely bound at the bottom. A straw hat and veil shielded her face from the fish like demons which made up the Bethrothal Party. Several boxes, including the one she had packed earlier, rested upon a wagon, and an ornate Palanquin stood at the ready. Kouryuu lingered close to her side.
Both parties bowed to each other.
"We have come, Lightning Princess, to deliver you unto our young lord," a red scaled fish man gargled through his large lips.
Souten lifted her head just enough to reveal her cool smile, though her nerves jumped around all over.
"Please, take me unto the Storm Lord," she said meekly.
The palanquin was a lot ricketier than she had expected. Her bottom hurt despite the silk cushions, and her shoulders felt weirdly bound in the kimono. She would have to grow more accustomed to wearing feminine clothes; this is what would be expected of her until she bore a first child.
When at last they arrived at the beach bound palace, Souten could not help but be blown away. It was large and ornately carved into the cliffs which reached out to the sea. On the steps of the great palace, stood an imposing figure of a blue humanoid demon with frilled fins jutting from his ears and forearms with a large coral wrapped spear, and next to him stood a smaller, paler version, dressed in the garb of a groom.
She exited the palanquin, and they bowed to each other.
"Welcome, Lightning Princess Souten," the smaller demon said in a smooth, gentle voice. "I am Masao, first son of Lao-ten the Storm Lord. It is a pleasure to finally meet you."
Her groom had a handsome face to match his pleasant voice. His eyes were large black orbs, and his skin faded from powder blue to the color of warm crystal clear seas. Not to mention, he seemed kind.
"My gracious, Lord Masao," Souten murmured. "Thank you for your kindness. I will do my best to serve you."
A deep chuckle came from the imposing demon. His smile was broad revealing a large pair of fangs. He clapped and walked down the stairs until he loomed over the young woman.
"Your wisdom and beauty has been spoken of far and wide," he rumbled. "You are also quite capable in combat and the arts, I hear."
She nodded keeping her eyes down. "You are gracious my lord."
There was silence. Souten glanced up to see the large demon beaming. Her face was hot. She suddenly felt very intimidated.
"I have a gift for you," he said softly. "In honor of my new daughter-in-law, I shall hold a contest! A contest that will test the skills of the greatest artists in the land!"
His eyes flickered a knowing look. "I am interested in your skill…"
She smiled. "Yes my lord."
In a distant village, on a nearby mountain, a young man in a blue kimono and brown fur vest rested under an oak tree. His long rusty hair waved in the breeze. A stack of books and box of paper were tied together in a bundle by his side.
Sunlight warmed the mysterious young man's face, and the sound of giggling human women filled his pointed ears. They twitched with interest suddenly.
Above him a Squirrel demon whispered to a tiny spirit…
"An art contest?" the spirit suddenly exclaimed.
"Yeah, they say the best artist will be awarded one wish that they can use for whatever they want," the demon squeaked.
"Is the Storm Lord really that powerful?" the spirit asked.
"Of course!" the squirrel proclaimed before lowering his voice. "Plus I hear he has the most beautiful demons in the land in his harems."
The young man's eyes flew open. Within a second the man was in the tree with the two creatures. His bright blue, green eyes were full of excitement.
"Where can I find this contest?" he said with a grin.
"What's it to you?" the squirrel chided. "You're just some young punk."
The young man chuckled, and dropped out of the tree. He searched his pack, pulling out a bundle of pages tied together by leather strips. Then with a quick hop he was back up in the tree. He handed the book to the squirrel.
"Feast your eyes," he whispered.
The squirrel opened the book and gawked at it. On the pages were fine lined pictures women in revealing positions. With each page flip the squirrel's eyes grew wider.
"W-where did you get this," the little demon cried.
The young man smirked, snatching the book away. "I made it," he said coolly. "Now tell me…" His feet warped until they were two fury paws, and a sandy tail sprung out from behind him. "Where can I find this contest?"