This is the companion piece to Vows of Truth Redux going into the communication Naoto has with her extended family leading up to the big day. There will be multiple short chapters just to flesh them out a little to help set the scene for the first and second chapters of Vows of Truth Redux. Hope you enjoy a little character and world building.


1st Call

Naoto couldn't help but admire the cloak which had just finished for the wedding as it sat on the manikin ready to be worn. She was going through some of the arrangements needing to be done before the big day, she still needed to meet Yukiko about the flowers and Rise was still finishing things up with the band. Luckily the current Amagi Inn owner was seeing the Detective tomorrow morning bright and early to pick out the colour scheme for them. Still in her casual detective clothes, her long hair was tied up in a high ponytail whenever she was working in her office.

She still had Estate work to do, multiple administrative assignments still needed to be tackled but her Grandfather had been giving her less work closer to the wedding day so nothing overlapped when she needed to walk down the aisle.

She was about to unlock her laptop when her personal phone went off. She curiously eyed it for a second before she noticed it was one of her relatives calling. She debated if she should pick up, having a small idea what could be the concern but she would have to face them eventually…

Swiping up and placing the phone to her ear,

"Hello there… Naoto speaking…"

A curiously neutral tone came through the device, if anything Naoto shouldn't have be too surprised.

"Glad I could get through to you before the big day, if I didn't know better I would think you were avoiding us."

Naoto couldn't help but laugh to herself.

"Well if I was planning on avoiding you then you wouldn't have been invited to the wedding, it's just been very busy."

"I know as well as you do how busy the Estate work is, have you forgotten who does intelligence and runs that department?"

She signed,

"Yes Uncle Enji, I know. But I have been preoccupied a lot."

There was a small pause for a second.

"So, what about the lucky man, you tend be light on the details about him,"

Naoto shook her head, as she tried to sort out some of the documents on her desk.

"Because I know how obsessed everyone will be with every step he makes once I do, and I'd rather not have a folder about him going to the gym land on my desk every morning."

She heard him laugh over the phone.

"Well at least I know he goes to the gym. I'll keep that in mind."

She couldn't help but scoff.

"But are you sure you are not hiding for any other reasons?"

Naoto held back the instant retort she had.

"Are you questioning my ability to select a life partner?"

It sounded like it was in jest but they both knew the implications behind her words.

"Not at all but I do worry that those closest to the heart can hide the most…"

She squeezed the bridge of her nose in exasperation.

"If you think my soon-to-be husband might have ties to the Yakuza, then you can sleep easy because he doesn't."

"That we know about."

This time it got to her as she sighed audibly down the phone.

"Look, what is it that you want?" She then heard him hum in thought over the phone.

"As I said in the email, I want Ryusuke-kun, Yuzuha-chan and I to run a background on him and his family, just so we know who we are dealing with."

"Grandfather has done one on him already and has been specifically working under his strict watch, is that not good enough?"

She could feel the tension as she just put forward the idea that they didn't trust their own father.

"What are you implying?"

Naoto didn't miss a beat.

"I'm not implying anything, I'm just putting forward that Grandfather has done exactly what you are asking for, is there a problem with it?"

"The problem is that he still hasn't unsealed the information, the wedding is in just over three weeks. He never really hid anything like this."

Naoto couldn't help mumble,

"I wonder why that is…"

"Hmm, did you say something?"

"No, not at all. Anyway you have his name, you don't need anything else?"

"Yes but I'm under strict orders to leave him be, we need to get your permission to actually do it. Why does it seem like you are always hiding something with him?"

Naoto was close to giving up.

"My fiancé has been through it all. I'd rather not have my family snooping around him more than Grandpa has already. And knowing the Shirogane family matters as soon as there is something the family doesn't like, almost nothing positive comes from it."

His voice actually sounded downcast which was rare for Enji.

"We just want to keep you and the family safe. People in our world-"

"-Must take all the precautions necessary since they can always use the link of weakness against us. Yes Uncle Enji I know, I know the meaning of that all too well. I would hope you think I know what I'm doing."

She leaned against her desk, a hand running through her hair.

"Yes but I do wonder what he knows what he's getting into. If he's weak there might be a problem-"

"Are we done here? I must admit this is growing a little old. Just enjoy the wedding, I'm sure you will like him."

She sat down hoping this conversation would end.

"I wonder is Koji-kun would-"

"Stop. Don't."

"Sorry." There was a brief pause. "I stepped over the line."

"Yes, well if you have any issues, take it up with Grandpa. Souji-kun and him have met and he is now warm to him. If you have an issue with his judgment then let him know. I'm sure Grandpa will happily explain his reasoning."

A reluctant breath came from the other side of the call as she figured that there wasn't anything in particular that Enji could say that would change her mind.

"I'll go consult father again, it feels like insanity to try the same thing over and over but what options do I have?"

Naoto nodded as she dropped whatever papers she had in her hand, feeling she couldn't concentrate anymore.

"As far as I'm aware all prerequisites have been met, but anything specific like clothes or decorative preparations, don't be afraid to talk to me if you need to know anything."

"Sure."

The was a small pause,

"You are still coming to the wedding?"

There was a laugh that changed the atmosphere pretty quickly.

"Absolutely, father would kill me if I didn't. Plus we all love you, we are just concerned for you that's all."

Naoto gave the smallest smiles.

"Thanks Uncle Enji,"

"Don't mention it, I'll let you know if I need anything else."

With that receiver went dead as he promptly hung up. Taking a minute to stare at her phone she put it on the table then put her head in her hands, sighing in exasperation.

"Family is exhausting…"

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