At Dinner…

Ai was relieved that she was able to convince her bitter sister-in-law and her beast folk to eat, considering they missed out on food with the whole fiasco.

"You're lucky I'm starving and won't be violent in front of my nephew. I am an animal of standards after all." Hanabira growled then sighed, "Speaking of which, where is the official who calls herself an 'expert on the first folk and other magical creatures.' Please, she doesn't know the difference between a Stone Monkey and a statue."

Nagasumi looked at her in confusion.

"Um, Beastfolk joke. You'll start to get it once I properly educate you on your heritage. But I need my questions answered first. Standard procedure and all." She excitedly tells her nephew before returning to being stony, "You didn't answer my question, Guppy."

"You mean Fanshī Pāru? I thought she was here a second ago…" Lunar's mother admitted.

"She fled the moment your name was mentioned, of course." One of the Beastfolk informed her while she sighed again.

"Of course, I'll track her down later. But first now the bigger questions. Why are you lot here and how dare you meddle in the territory of House Michishio?" She snarled while her big bowl of noodles was provided by Ai, "Ooh, chicken."

At the Mothership…

"Empress, we have a problem. A big, BIG problem." Fanshī Pāru warned while her employees were panicking over the news!

"What is it, Fanshī Pāru? Did you locate the Beastfolk?" The empress questioned her on screen.

"It's worse than that! Nagasumi… He's a blood relation to House Michishio, the Black Zheng! He's the Beastfolk!" She informed while the empress spat out her drink.

"WHAT?!"

"It's worse than that. Michishio Hanabira is here, and she'll find out what happened between the boy and Lord Minamoto Yoshiuo! This could result in a war; this is the excuse they need to wipe us out!" Fanshī Pāru warned.

"Okay, okay, don't panic. We can't panic. We simply need to figure this out. Contact Lady Michishio, and tell her we want to negotiate a peaceful resolution. Hopefully, Nagasumi can be convinced of this." The Empress ordered, "And if that's not enough… my brother my need to be sacrificed to save the rest of us."

"… I understand."

The expert then turned off the screen and turned to the others.

"What are you lot standing around for? We need to get to work."

At Dinner at the Michishio Household….

Hanabira coughed out her drink.

"M-marriage? Nephew, you want to marry a mermaid?" She spluttered while trying to compose herself, "Aren't you a little… young to be thinking of things?"

"Sun saved my life-."

"And you saved her. I say that debt is paid in full. Nagasumi, I don't think you fully comprehend this. Merfolk can't be trusted. It never ends well." She warned her nephew, "They know nothing of true honor."

"You're wrong."

Hanabira then turned to Sun, who dared to speak out against her.

"You say something."

Sun took a deep breath and refused to back down, "You're wrong. We are more than capable of honor than you think. You see, Lady Michishio…"

The petals then began to rain.

"Ooh, pretty." Hanabira's monotone commented while flicking a petal off her shoulder.

"I swore to be the bride of Nagasumi, to protect him and he does for me. We love each other and are dedicated to each other. We can conquer any obstacle, any army, and any malevolent force. For honor among thieves, is honor under the sea!"

"Cute. But let me ask you something if you're oh so honorable to my nephew, what have ever truly done for him?" She questioned, "You claimed you protecting him, but from your family? Your own blood causing the problems? Your presence and every thread of connection you made before is another noose to his neck…"

Sun was stunned by her words.

"You fix the problems you caused; you keep taking from him while he gets nothing in return. You only married him to keep blood from staining your hands and you do nothing while others around you bring pain to the one person you pretend to love-."

"That's not true!"

"Isn't it? I see Nagasumi gave you a ring for his devotion. Where's your sign of devotion? Because I don't see it. Sure, you cook his meals, but a full belly is hardly enough to soothe the pain. You don't love my nephew, you're just a selfish spoiled brat."

"THAT'S ENOUGH!"

Everyone, including Hanabira, turned to Nagasumi.

"Aunt Hanabira, I get you want what's best for me, I know it looks like Sun, and every Merfolk I met only brings me trouble, I know you think that she's a terrible selfish girl, but that's not true! Sun is the kindest girl and most honorable. She's so amazing that I'm still surprised at how she likes me."

"Nephew…"

"You don't have to trust the merfolk, but please trust my judgment." Nagasumi pleaded to his aunt.

Hanabira was stunned by her nephew's words while everyone was surprised that Nagasumi stood up against his role model for the girl he loved. It was not an easy thing and for most, it was strangely Déjà vu, maybe even ironic.

"… I'll trust your judgment, Nephew. But the blessing is something else. If Sun really wants to be a part of this family, she's going to have to prove it. Prove herself to me and the rest of House Michishio you really are worthy of my nephew." She agreed with the conditions, "This will probably be the first time someone actually challenges you."

"I won't back down." Sun declared to the woman.

"Good, because I will be keeping a close eye on you, every step of the way, and if I'm proven right, and you break his heart, I won't just take your life, but the lives of the entire Seto Outfit." She threatened her, "Good Luck."

After dinner was done, and the two outfits were given a reasonable deal (Pay her back the money and resources they owed her for trespassing and setting up shop with 90% of the profits on land going to her and she'll let them live.) it was time to talk to her nephew about their ancestral roots. With her a planted peach seed.

"You see Nephew, we come from the land, we are nature spirits who have the power to grow and nourish the very plants we come in contact with. Our power derives from a single seed, and with a little magic…"

She touched the soil and before Nagasumi's eyes, the peach seed grew into a fully grown dwarf peach tree.

"Our magic is so vast; it even succeeds the Merfolk and the Birdfolk."

"Wait, Birdfolk?"

"Right, right, you need to learn the full story. You see, long ago there was only one type of magical creature so powerful, it connected to Water, Land, and Sky. They were the Dragons."

"Dragons, like Mr. Seto?" Nagasumi questioned then his aunt began to laugh.

"Gōzaburō? A dragon? Ha! No, no, he's not a dragon, a leviathan but not a dragon." She answered with humor in her voice, "He likes to think he is and sweetie, that's what all men Merfolk say."

"Huh?"

"You'll understand when you're older. Anyway, Dragons, we, Merfolk, and Birdfolk are their decedents for from the fur was given to the Beast, the scales went to the Fish and the Feathers went to the Birds. But then as soon as they came, they left this world, no traces of them were ever found. Thus, the magic we wield is old and powerful."

She then opened the book to show the crests of each Folk, the Merfolk with the mermaid tail, the Beastfolk with the symbol of an animal clawing at something, and then the Birdfolk with Wings soaring. But it seemed that there was a fourth symbol, but it was inked out.

"What's this one?" Nagasumi wondered.

"Oh nothing… doesn't matter anymore." She coughed and then changed the subject to the motto of the Beastfolk.

'Honor Among Thieves is Honor Among the Jungle and Leaves.'

"Words to live by. Though many depict us as mindless monsters, Nephew but we have decorum and standards. We have always been ones to show our honor and skills. Beastfolk who are Mountain Kings especially."

Hanabira then pulled out from her bag a pocket watch with the symbol of the Zheng but instead of Japanese symbols, they were Chinese Symbols.

"Nephew, as a Mountain King Royal like us, we come from the very heart of the Chinese Mountains, where the celestials once roamed, including the Monkey King himself. Through them and through the dragons, understanding of magic is vast." She declared then presented a statue of a stone Monkey, "Sun Wukong is one of the First Beastfolk and a Deity amongst our kind. One day, you will get to meet him but for now, I leave you these books."

Then she smiled.

"And an offer of a lifetime. I want you to become my heir of Mauntenkyandi Industries and House Michishio."

"Me? But what about Chihiro, Shikako, Takara, Kenji, Chikafusa, Chibi, Goro and Hachi?"

"Chihiro's happy being an artist. Shikako is too hot-tempered and would cause more problems. Takara, Kenji, and Chikafusa are too greedy. Chibi would rather chase boys, Goro is too busy with his muscles, and Hachi-."

"Not interested. Yeah… I don't know, I don't think I'm cut out for it."

"I think you're more than qualified, Nephew and it's never too early to think about a career."

"Hmm…" Nagasumi pondered.

It would be a good role, plus he really didn't have any idea what to do with his life other than be Sun's Husbands and it would give him the chance to provide for her.

"Sure, why not?"

"That's my boy and remember, I am always here for you."

She then gave the boy a kiss on the forehead and walked to where her brother was listening in.

"And before you ask, yes I think Nagasumi is better than you ever been."

"…You're still upset about what happened? That was years ago."

"You shamed our family, disgraced Father, betrayed then burned me with scars I still have still, and had our Ancestorial home burned to the ground. You should be thankful our heirlooms were protected in the secluded rooms."

"It was an accident; Ai and I didn't mean-."

"It happened because you were reckless and acted like a rebellious brat. You know there is only one way you can ever be forgiven with the House and we both know that's impossible. So good luck with that." She snarled before leaving the house.

There, Fanshī Pāru was waiting outside with the rest of the Beastfolk following the lady.

"The Empress wants to negotiate."

"Of Course, the fish queen does. Wants to make sure we don't declare war and destroy you, considering you almost killed my nephew. I wonder how she's going escape this mess." She scoffed while the expert gulped.

"Please follow me."