Scarlet Justice: Full Blossom – ep. 40
"Brilliance"
"Here we are. Follow me, Hina."
"Yes."
We leave the room with the summoning circle and are acknowledged by the guards posted outside.
"This is the heart of the kingdom. Ryuuchi-mon."
"W-wow..."
A place that would be strange and alien to humans. Serpents of all kinds and humanoid figures roam the streets, with grass lining every side and corner, and trees in abundance for both aesthetic and shade. Wheeled vehicles, whether drawn or autonomous, travel along specially made paths for them that go above the heads of shops and pedestrians. They are few in number because of the trains that puff steam into the air as they move along specially made tracks. The buildings are made of simple materials, such as finely crafted stone and densely packed wood – but there is no shortage of colour and life, or creative design.
As always, there is a lovely warmth. Enough to make one want to lie down and rest a while...perhaps the Lions were eager to make an alliance so that they could enjoy the weather here. I wouldn't blame them.
"What a magnificent place this is," Hina says. She takes a deep breath in and sighs. "So refreshing and clean. The Leaf isn't terrible when it comes to air quality, but..."
"I know what you mean. But compared to the old country, the Leaf is heavenly."
"That bad?"
We start our walk towards the embassy. "Mm-hm. The auto cars are part of the reason, and not just because they emit smoke. There are all kinds of things that can dirty the air. Particles of metal, particles of rubber...so many things that we don't consider, and that add up in time to create some disastrous effects."
"I see...it really is a complex web of things," Hina says.
"Yes. What we don't want to do is have them jamming the pathways, most of all. The monstrosities of six and eight and ten entire lanes...in the mornings and evenings, those fill to capacity, Hina. The vehicles all are stopped for an hour or more next to each other."
She gasps. "Trapped in a metal compartment like that...to save energy, could you not just turn it off?"
"The ignition sequence takes time and energy in itself," I say. "And people also don't want to miss their chance to escape the mass of metal boxes...not to mention the climate conditions that will have one using the heat or aircon inside, which don't work unless your vehicle is on."
"It sounds barbaric. I hope that something like that doesn't happen here."
"Midori-nee has restricted the gasoline machines in size and operating area. So they only run along tracks like these, for specific purposes," I say as I point to the lane ways above our heads. "They're having the majority of machines running on chakra. A lot has to happen before we can do the same thing in our world...an extensive program of reforms."
"And you have something in mind, of course."
"I wouldn't make a very good revolutionary if I didn't." I look towards her. "You're along for the ride, as always."
"Yes. Forever by your side, no matter what happens. And no matter what I might have to give up."
"Hopefully it won't come to that. But if it does...none of your sacrifices will go to waste."
"I know. All that said, if it does come down to yourself and Naruto...what would you do? I know you wouldn't go...that far."
"I wouldn't. I don't think I would need to. We understand each other as rivals, and that should continue. I try not to worry too much about it. Still...I suppose I could play the part of a villain well enough, if we truly needed to break ties. Sentimentality is nice and all, but becoming consumed by it is no good."
"Hopefully he'll understand if I take your side," Hina says.
"He doesn't hold grudges easily. Kind of a cute little puppy like that..."
Hina looks around at the city life. Most of the populace lives in small buildings made of common material, and so there are variations even in the same neighbourhood or block. Some look like the standard size for homes in our world, while others are much smaller. It depends on the form one likes taking most of the time. It's not hard to live as a serpent, and things are made so that they can get around and live life as it was before the popularity of bipedal beings rose. Now everyone has the ability and opportunity to take an ideal human form, and enjoy the wonders of opposable thumbs. This is thanks to Midori's aggressive education strategy, part of her many reforms and the reason why she would come home to us barely awake at times.
"It's very fascinating...I didn't think I would see something like this," Hina says.
"This is a unique place within the animal kingdoms," I say to her. "The art that allows those to take a human shape was buried for a long time, and is quite dangerous for humans to use. Non-human users also encountered some difficulty at times, though unlike the sage arts, there isn't any risk of permanent damage or disfiguration. It just fails to launch as a technique. "
"I see now."
"The style is catching on in other places though, and they're having ambassadors take human forms to interact with Midori-nee and the kingdom these days."
"How does it work, exactly? I mean to say, if you can tell me about it."
"Oh, that's no trouble, especially here. For those who inhabit the animal kingdoms, and who are naturally very close with nature, the power to manipulate spiritual essence comes easily enough. More than just a mere transformation technique...it takes one's essence and transforms it into a shape that is reflected on the soul itself. This changes the body into an ideal form, which can conceivably be anything. But it is wiser and safer to focus on the one type of shift. In this case, the humans who are counterparts within the greater shinobi world, and the creators of vast tools and curiosities, make the most sense to copy."
"That does make sense."
"Some denizens have intentionally created forms that hold more serpentine traits than human. Nothing surprising, and nobody makes a fuss about it," I explain. "And still others choose to spend most or all of their time as serpents. That is not a problem either, as all things in this place are made to accommodate humans and serpents both. Once transformed, the user can then further shape themselves, and continue building on their initial transformation. So for example, one can choose to build muscle, or weight with physical activity. Those changes are recalled each subsequent time one transforms, and the more time they spend in that form, the more effective the changes will be."
"So if I understand correctly...our elder sister conceived of a human form initially, then worked on herself physically to shape it further. And it was made easier by the fact that she spent almost all of her time as a human when she was younger. From there, she could maintain that ideal form even as she transformed back and forth."
"Yes, that's it. Changes in mentality can also affect how transformations come off, and the most important thing is the strength of chakra, even more so than the size of it. A strong and focused chakra will make transformation and maintenance much easier, and it allows one to ascend towards their chosen form as they desire."
"Oh, so that's to say...Midori-nee's strength is how she can look so beautiful and youthful."
"Yes. She will be very long-lived, and can maintain her stunning appearance for as long as she chooses. Even baa-sama has her own form she can transform into, though she thinks it's an amusing thing to look wrinkled and old." I shrug. "To each their own."
"That makes it better than Tsunade's art, then."
"Easily. Of course, I intend to age gracefully myself...though I do have a bit of help, being blessed by the heavens themselves, hmhm." I flip my hair dramatically. "An outward beauty that will not fade, and a legend that will be carried by the whispers of charmed men and women alike."
"Ambitious."
"Indeed."
"So if a human learns this power...does that mean they can change into an animal, then?"
"Yes. I have learned this ability myself. It is formally known as Chaos Conversion. My ideal form is a red version of the infamous snake, called the mamba. It is fast and venomous."
"That's just like you," she says with a smile.
"Actually, this is an opportunity. You won't mind if I try something for a little bit?"
"Not at all."
"Good. Let's have a short demonstration, then."
I stop and concentrate, steadying my breathing. My eyes slowly close. A warmth starts from my left arm, going towards my stomach before it flows outwards, towards every part of my body. Out and into the extremities, turning into a gentle heat.
Weightlessness takes over me, and I feel at peace. The essence of my self knows where it is and what to do, and so I am changed. My body lengthens into a rope of muscle, arms and legs ceasing to be. I feel my senses shift, but because of my many years using the tools of the serpent, none of this is unfamiliar or uncomfortable. The heat of the day becomes more vivid, reorganizing itself briefly into data that floats within my mind before changing again, becoming a different understanding of the world. I can now clearly feel all of the vibrations around me, and along the ground.
I snap on my vision, and everything is in working order as always. I lift my head from the ground and rear up so that I can look at Hina properly. For me, that transformation felt involved. For her, it was only a few seconds of watching my body melt into red light – as Luna recorded one day, at my request – and change forms into a snake.
"That should be good," I say to her. My tongue flicks out a few times to get another pulse of the area.
"Amazing. You really became a snake..." She places a hand on my head.
"Have a look, Hina."
"A look? Oh, I see. Alright, then..." She activates her Byakugan and focuses on me. "Oh, wow. You really did change completely. No fluctuations whatsoever. All of the organs, the chakra system...that is very impressive."
"Isn't it?"
"It would always be a bit strange watching someone talk to you without moving their mouth," she says with a giggle. "But it's not a worry. And you look very cute in this form, Lili."
"Luna-nee said the same thing. I like hearing it, so thank you. Cute, quick, and very deadly. That is very much my ideal as a true serpent, hmhm. Let's continue on to the embassy, Hina."
"Of course. Did you need me to carry you?"
"It's not a problem for me to move on my own."
"Yes. Then I'll insist on doing so."
"Very well. Hold still, and I'll get myself comfortable."
She nods and I gently coil my length around her torso. It's always been nice to hold Hina, but this is definitely something new. Her warmth right now is sublime. I come up around her back and rest my head on her right shoulder.
"How is that?" I ask.
"Comfy. Thank you for being gentle with me."
"You're quite welcome."
We move onward towards one of the brick buildings with a few signs on its front. Hina opens the wood door and steps inside, heading towards the front desk where a young woman is diligently writing. She has her dark hair put up into a bun, and wears a dark green blouse with a brooch.
"A pleasant day to you," I say to her.
"Good afternoon to the two madams," she says while bowing her head. "Forgive me for not recognizing the form, but..."
"You are not at fault. I am Lilith Kobayashi, and I have come here with the Lady Hinata Hyuuga in order to fulfill the request of the Lion Kingdom."
"Crown Princess Lilith, please forgive my slowness in recognizing you. And welcome to you, Lady Hyuuga. It is our pleasure to have you here in our kingdom today."
"Thank you kindly. I myself am humbled to finally reach this place. It's incredibly beautiful," Hina says.
"Your praise is greatly appreciated, Lady Hyuuga. Thank you. Please, follow me to the staging area. We will place a call for the Lion Ambassador at once."
I focus my chakra and call forth the usual gold bands that go around sections of my body. These should help clear up any further confusion...I sometimes forget to put them on, like today.
We head to a room with another summoning circle in it, placed behind a counter. The woman with us makes a seal and holds it for a while, until the circle on the floor starts to glow with white light. A person materializes within it, already looking to be large and tall compared to the rest of us. Voluminous brown hair, a strong jaw, and a muscular frame. His chest is visible through the front part of his white robes, which must be on purpose. As Ino would say, certainly a tall drink of water.
"Shishikoro, ambassador for the Kingdom of Lions. Thank you for your timely summons," he says to us with a smooth baritone.
"Greetings to you, sir," I say to him. "Welcome to our kingdom, and thank you for your response to us. I am Crown Princess Lilith, here on behalf of Empress Midoriko. I bring to you our favoured candidate from the Village Hidden in Leaves. This is my beloved sister, Lady Hinata Hyuuga, the woman in line to be the next head of the Hyuuga Clan."
"One from the Hyuuga...we have heard of them, yes. A clan among the humans with a long and rich history, and direct descendants of the Sage's bloodline."
"Yes. Our history comes from the twin brother of the Sage of Six Paths, known as Hamura Ootsutsuki. Unfortunately, much history has been lost regarding the specifics of that era," Hina says.
"Yes. An unfortunately common occurrence in the human realm," Shishikoro says. "Well, I already believe that you will make a fine candidate for our latest summoner. We will take you to our great and esteemed leader to be properly assessed, and from there, a decision will be made. Of course, in the end this will all be contingent on your acceptance."
"Understood."
"Will you have an additional escort?" he asks me.
"None will be required," I reply. "I will be assuming my natural human form upon meeting with your Highness."
"Of course. I am ready to depart when you are."
"Be well, all of you. I will await your return patiently," our escort says with a deep bow.
"Thank you, darling. Please take care," I say to her. She smiles and nods.
Hina finds the small door that separates the two sides and pushes it open, allowing us to reach the summoning circle where Shishikoro is. He makes a half seal and we are immediately transported into another small room, looking more rustic than where we were before. We exit to see plain, dusty streets where lions are roaming about, some carrying baskets on their backs or in between their teeth, others carrying material on their backs. It is very much as I read also, that many of the workers are female.
The mansion that towers over everything isn't more than a few minutes away on foot. It seems to be composed entirely out of sturdy wood, with twisting branches and vines going along the outside to add to the aesthetic.
"The weather isn't as bad as the last time," I say to our ambassador.
"Yes, thankfully we have had more rain this season than at the same time last year. Of course, the increase in trade with your nation meant that we didn't have to worry as much about our food stores," he says to me.
"Very glad to help. We are hopeful that this new partnership with you will further strengthen our ties."
"I hope so as well. As I mentioned before, at a glance the Lady Hyuuga seems a very fine candidate, and not just for her bloodline."
"Oh, thank you very much," Hina says.
"Of course, Her Highness might be looking for a bit more...she does have her peculiarities, at times."
She nods. "Very common for those in positions of power, yes."
The lion guards at the mansion entrance observe us before giving way, bowing their heads respectfully. We walk up the long path towards the front door, which is pulled open on both sides by men in suits with the same kind of long, flowing hair as our current escort. They do take their hair care seriously around here, as I found out on my previous visits. We enter the spacious foyer, with a floor made of smooth, polished stone.
"Brought a snake and a runt out to waste that woman's time, eh."
A rather large lion with a wild-looking mane appears before us. It has many black strands in it, and the same can be said for his tail. He walks forward and looks down on us.
"Some royal brat out for a stroll?" he asks.
"So you've noticed my status, yet you choose to antagonize me and my sister. How very rude of you," I say.
"My lord, it is unwise to-"
"Quiet, gopher boy. You forget that I outrank you here?"
"Of course. My apologies, Lord Shishisei." Shishikoro bows deeply. "Then I will take my leave, and allow you to take care of our guests before Her Highness arrives."
"Oi."
"Princess Lilith, Lady Hyuuga...it was a pleasure meeting you both. I hope that we will meet again in the future."
"Thank you, my good sir. You were a lovely companion," I say to him.
"Yes, thank you very much, Mister Shishikoro. Please take care."
He smiles and bows towards us respectfully before taking his leave.
"So you're in my house and ignoring me now?" Shishisei roars. I can feel Hina tense up. She doesn't want to cause a disturbance, but I know that she doesn't like being threatened either. Time for me to take care of this mess. I've been able to avoid this moron somehow the previous times, and I can imagine that he's usually kept on a leash somewhere if people like myself or Midori visit.
"I've enjoyed this time in my serpent form, but it seems like I have to show myself strong at this hour."
I release myself from Hina and slide down to the floor. Concentrating again, I quickly assume my human form, red light bursting from my form and twinkling in the air before disappearing. I let out a breath and shake out my hair with both hands properly.
"Now, then..."
I stare at the lion before me and uncork a burst of killing intent. He reels and tries to hide his shaken resolve.
"You've certainly got a pair of balls on you, threatening the two of us like that. I don't need you to worry about who I might or might not be related to. What you should worry about is being sliced into wafers if you keep fucking around with me."
"You-"
"Sei. You really picked the wrong set of people to try and bully today."
He freezes and slowly moves away from us, as a new and powerful voice calls from the top of the stairs. Hina and I look to see a lioness with golden fur and a mane that seems to shine like the sun itself. She descends the stairs with impressive grace, her size not even seeming to register against the ground as she moves. Though she stands a bit smaller than Shishisei, her aura and presence filling the room makes her seem like she's the one towering over him.
"She's right. You do have a lot of nerve threatening the little sister of the Destruction Goddess. If she saw this, she would have torn that prick of yours from your body and shoved it down your throat. Leave before you embarrass us further."
"Fine."
"Would you like to try that again?" she asks, glaring at him with her golden eyes. He shrinks further and mumbles.
"Yes...Your Highness."
"Take your leave, then."
He slinks away at that.
"I really must apologize for his behaviour. He has gained a rather inflated ego due to his position in our military, so I have to assert myself and remind him of his place." She sighs. "Fortunately for him, he does well satisfying my appetites when needed."
I nod. "Mm. I see."
"Do you," Hina says, giving me an exasperated look.
"Many high powered women have these problems. It's common in our world as well, you know."
"I don't know much about that, no. I tend to keep my knowledge of such things limited, unlike you. For obvious reasons."
"Always a shame."
Our hostess laughs. "You truly are that woman's younger sister. Just as bold and liberated. Well, let me welcome you properly. Ah, but first...I will properly meet you where you both are."
"If it's not too much trouble," I say.
"Certainly not. A moment, please."
Her body glows with golden light, and her form starts to change as the light melts slowly downwards. What emerges is an athletic figure, complete with defined muscles – most notably those abs that one could grate a block of cheese on effortlessly. White wrappings cover her chest, and she wears a multicoloured cloak on her shoulders, paired with a golden skirt that sits on top of her waistline. Her hair is golden and sparkling, thick and spilling over her back and shoulders, all the way towards her upper thighs.
"There we are. I understand now why your elder sister loves taking on this form so often," she says. A tap to the side of her head summons a set of rectangular glasses to her face, with golden rims. Her golden eyes shine with energy behind the frame. "The bipedal life definitely has excitement in it."
"To say the least of it," I reply. "I see we've chosen a dazzling form. Very lovely, and fitting for a powerful and revered warrior."
"Thank you!" she says with a bright smile. "Well, let's have our introductions now. I don't want to keep you for too long. I am the great warrior queen of the Kingdom of Lions, almighty mother of the Great Pride that has thrived since the arrival of the Sage of Six Paths. Inheritor of the heavenly name passed down from generation to generation, the third worthy of the sacred title. I am the Goddess of the Golden Savanna, Shishigami."
"An honour to meet you, Queen Shishigami," Hina says with a bow. "I am the great princess of the Hyuuga Clan, the strongest family in the Hidden Leaf. A descendant of Hamura Ootsutsuki, who shared blood with the man known as the Sage of Six Paths. Blessed with the title of lioness in her world, and the brave sister of the woman called the Crimson Nightmare. I am Hinata Hyuuga, and it is my hope that you will bless me with the opportunity to become part of your pride."
"Wonderfully said! And last, but not least," Shishigami says, looking to me.
"We of the great kingdom of serpents hail you, great goddess of the golden plains. In the name of Her Royal Highness, Empress Midoriko Ryuuchi, we present to you our beloved sister, Lady Hinata Hyuuga. I am the all consuming Crimson Nightmare, great blade of justice, hero of the Village Hidden in Leaves, called the Scarlet Viper. Favoured daughter of Almighty God, Envoy of Heaven, and Warrior Goddess, blessed by the Inugami Mother Wolf herself. Crown Princess Lilith Kobyashi."
"Oho! The Great Mother of the Inugami...you met her, did you?"
"We met in combat, and I managed to defeat her by using my full strength at the time. She is my beloved senpai who gathers knowledge on the cosmic plane, and continues her existence in her true form, that of the Luminous Black Wolf."
"How amazing. I really will have to call you and Empress Midoriko, along with her lovely wife, over again to talk about these things. I am very pleased to meet you both, and thank you kindly for responding to our request. Lady Hyuuga, may I have your hand a moment?"
"Certainly, my Queen."
Shishigami gently takes Hina's hand, and closes her eyes for a few moments. I can feel her weighty chakra reaching into the air.
"Ah...beautiful and pure. Very steady. It's not at odds with the Hyuuga, but I can also feel a certain firmness. Hmm...another test. Lady Hyuuga, would it be any issue if I placed my hands on you for another assessment?"
"Oh, that shouldn't be an issue. Will it be anything...?"
"Nothing invasive at all, and nothing sensitive. It should be brief."
"Then there should be no trouble at all. Please, go ahead."
"Thank you. If you could lift your arms for me, then."
Hina raises her hands to the sky. "Like this?"
"Perfect. Here we are..."
"Oh...!"
Shishigami lifts Hina off the ground like she was a small child. I can see her blushing as she's turned back and forth, looked over this way and that, and then gently set down as if nothing happened.
"You not only have a lovely shape like your sister here, but you have a good strength in your limbs as well. Your chakra feels very balanced! For a noble girl, you really have done well for yourself, Lady Hyuuga. Be proud of your progress."
"Thank you very much. I do have Princess Lilith here to thank for my transformation...not only did she save my life once before, but she gave me the love and encouragement I needed to keep going. I am very grateful to her, and so when she told me of this opportunity, I joined her without a second thought."
"I almost can't believe this...you really are perfect for us," Shishigami says with a grin. "Then it's decided! I'll have you sign the contract right now, if you would accept our offer to have you join our pride."
"I would be very honoured to, my Queen."
"Our appreciation is nearly too great for words. Thank you, and welcome to our grand family. Come, there is a proper room for signatures this way."
We follow her out of the foyer and down one of the grand halls, then turn into a spacious room filled with shelves that have all manner of books and scrolls on them. The lack of dust and the placement of reading materials says that this room sees regular use.
"Here we are. Sign your name as you normally would with this pen here, then lay down a thumb print with your blood in the box below," Shishigami explains. "From there, you'll have access to the members of our pride as needed, myself included. That's if you can spare the chakra, of course! I'm a pretty big deal!"
Hina takes the pen and writes her name neatly. The ink is infused with chakra, so I have an idea of what is going to happen next. She pulls out a senbon and neatly pricks her thumb, then puts down a thumb print in the specified box. The box and her signature light up, and a thin line of blood goes straight up towards her name. The light around it turns blood red before fading off.
"And with that, the contract is sealed. Welcome home, Hinata."
"Thank you, my Queen. It's good to be home."
"Please call me as you feel comfortable, even in front of the others. Since we've forged this bond, we will have a special relationship. Not as special as the one Princess Lilith here has with her Empress, but special enough. Now that you're a member of our pride, you will have a new name. One that has been revealed to me by the wisdom of the heavens. From this day forward, you will be known within our kingdom as Lady Kikka, the Lioness of the Sun."
Hina nods and blushes. "Truly an honour...thank you, my Queen. I will cherish this gift for as long as I live."
"I know you will." Shishigami smiles and gives Hina a strong hug, which is gently returned.
"Is there anything else we needed to go over?" I ask Shishigami.
"Nothing that I can think of at this moment. Our reputation will surely be bolstered now, and we've gained a wonderful new sister...I really can't thank you enough for this. Our relations with other villages has been strained because of reckless summoners and terrible wars, so having a connection with the Leaf like this will be great for everyone. The cubs will have a place in the shinobi realms to explore safely now. Oh, actually...if you come across Old Man Enma, tell him I said hello! I want to see him for tea again one of these days, and show him how much I've grown."
"I'll be sure to pass on the message. Thank you again for having us over, Your Highness."
"The pleasure was mine. Here, I'll call over your escort...Korocchi! Are you busy?"
"Not at all, my Queen. I am at your service as always," he says as he enters the room.
"Good. Kikka and Princess Lilith are heading back now, since we've completed the contract signing. We'll be seeing them again soon enough. And hopefully Sei is more behaved by then...Korocchi, did you see where he went?"
"I did not, unfortunately."
"Probably lying down on a rock somewhere pouting...I'll deal with him later. When you're done, come right back here and up to my chambers. We have a few things to get done today."
"Did you need me to clear any parts of your schedule?" he asks.
"Already done with. You just need to meet me where I am, as always."
"Of course, my Queen. Then I will return promptly."
She grins at him. "That's a good man. You girls take care, and remember that I'm just a call away."
"We will. A pleasant day to you, Queen Shishigami," I say.
"Thank you for looking after us today, Anego." Hina smiles and bows for her.
She waves us off as we leave with Shishikoro. I could pry easily enough, seeing as I know what that exchange was all about...ah, well. Gossiping with Hina later on back in our world will have to do.
Crossing the threshold is simple enough, with the generously built summoning portal – Midori scribed the seal for it herself by hand a few years ago, while negotiating more trade with the Lions. Suffice it to say, her generosity went a long way and has not been forgotten in the slightest.
"Crown Princess Lilith, Lady Hyuuga...welcome back," our receptionist from earlier says upon our return. She bows her head. "And thank you to the Lord Shishikoro for his help throughout this process."
"Thank you for that, madam. I am pleased that all has gone well. Thank you again for your help, Princess. And we look forward to a new chapter with Lady Kikka in our midst. Farewell to you all."
"Farewell, dear sir. Heaven bless you in perpetuity," I say to Shishikoro.
"Goodbye for now, Brother Shishikoro," Hina says.
He nods before making a half seal and disappearing again. Hina and I step to the other side of the counter.
"The documents are prepared?" I ask.
"Yes, Princess. All that is needed is your signature and royal assent."
She sets the papers down in order, and I read through them quickly before signing each one. I then go through my pockets and recover a small ring that I put on my left hand. Chakra flows through the seal on my left arm before being transferred to the ring, which I press down next to each signature to leave a proper imprint.
"I authorize these documents for processing and release in accordance with section four of the relevant laws, on my name as Crown Princess."
"Affirmed. That should be all for today. Please take care, Crown Princess Lilith, Lady Hyuuga."
"Of course. Take care of yourself with surety, and thank you for your hard work. I will give good report to our Empress posthaste."
"An honour greater than I deserve. I live to serve you." She bows low and Hina and I take the cue to head off. We leave the building and head back into the warmth of Dragon Ground Gate, with the weather coming off as refreshing after our visit to the domain of the Lions.
"Lady Kikka. It's a lovely blessing," I say to her as we walk.
"It really is...I almost can't believe it. I'm a summoner now. I know that there will be a bit of work, but...it's so much different than I imagined." She smiles. "And to think that just a few years ago, I was thinking of myself as garbage to be thrown out and burned. I'm so glad those days are far behind us."
"Both of us are."
"Well..." She raises one hand and makes a fist with it. "Now we can't lose. We won't lose."
"One step closer," I say.
"Yes."
"I suppose it's time to fulfill my promise and report to Midori-nee. We'll have a nice cup of tea and some sweets. Luna will have cinnamon rolls baked and ready, surely."
"That's as good a reason as any to visit..."
"Mm-hm. Though we should be ready for a lengthy wait."
"Really? Why?"
I give her a look. "Because if anything, Luna is enjoying a sweet treat of her own right now."
"A sweet..." She blinks before her face turns red. "Lili!"
"Listen. We know the tendencies of those two, and midday sex is one of their favourite pastimes-"
"Alright, but you don't have to talk about it out loud!"
I sigh. "Fine, fine. May I at least have a moment regarding those immaculately sculpted abs our hostess was showing off earlier?"
"Hrm. Those...I have to admit, I was a bit envious. She's very fit and muscular."
"Right? Her body was definitely glowing, too..."
"It sounds like you're going to develop a new interest or two."
I rub my chin. "It's possible, you know. Fio is going to reach that level one day, and I'm certainly not opposed to being out-muscled in certain areas..."
"It truly does not end with you."
She takes my hand, and as usual, she's only half annoyed at my antics. I squeeze back and give her a smile as we walk.