Miyabi

Miyabi thought she'd been right about the light blue coloring of Wise's yukata. The sky-like color accented the silver of his hair, and the blue of his eyes seemed to lighten to match with the robe. He seemed refined and broad, like a handsome man from a television commercial- but real, really here, and hers to protect.

And now they were walking together! In her house! Her cheeks just wouldn't cool off!

Miyabi and Wise, arm in arm, moved towards the immediate doorway and stumbled into each other as they tried to navigate the 90-degree turn down the hall. It was an ignominious beginning to their couple's walk to dinner. Miyabi felt her ear twitch and her jaw clenched in concentration. She would do better on the next turn.

A squeeze on her arm from Wise's other hand caused her to look up into his face. He was grinning at her, his eyes smiling. She felt her cheeks heat up as a full-strength blast of handsome hit her directly.

Oh! He was… having fun? Was this not, then, a serious thing? …Well, it was just walking to the dinner table for a private meal. Perhaps walking perfectly was not a necessity.

Miyabi relaxed slightly. There was something in Wise's eyes that made her feel… safe- like everything would work out because Wise would find a way through. Miyabi's ear twitched. And anything he couldn't?

Well, she would just cut through it.

Her sword hand clenched instinctively into her own robe. Miyabi's ear twitched again as brief alarm ran through her body. Where was her sword?! But then just as quickly, her mind reminded her body that she was at home and the sword was on the altar- the only other safe place for it to be when not on her person.

That's right. She wasn't the Void Hunter right now. She didn't have to be. Not here. Which was one of the important reasons she still lived here.

Miyabi took in a soft breath and glided through her own home in a too-tight yukata, taking tiny little shuffling steps to keep pace with Wise. Since her sword was put away, did that mean this robe was not a disguise for the Void Hunter? Was normal-person-Miyabi just… Miyabi? Tonight? As she walked to dinner with a man she fancied on her arms? The warmth of his body was starting to find its way through the fabric of her sleeves and heat her skin.

Or was this a dream?

If it was… it was a good one.

Miyabi led Wise to the dining room and found something to make her ear twitch. Instead of the usual sitting table that was used for meals with guests, Father had opted for the more traditional kneeling table. There was nothing inherently wrong with that, but in the context of Wise's visit… it made Miyabi feel a flare of anger. Non-vulpines were usually uncomfortable in the kneeling position, and Father sure knew that fact.

Meanwhile, Father was already kneeling at one of the four sides of the square table, his brown eyes focused on her as soon as she entered. A lifetime of experience told Miyabi that Father was smirking at her, even if his face appeared emotionlessly placid. He wasn't done playing games with Wise in front of her.

Wise suddenly patted Miyabi on the top of her hand and said aloud: "Ah, I've always wanted to eat a meal on a table like this. The opportunity is a treat!"

Miyabi saw her Father's attention shift to Wise, her Proxy diving into the fray with good humor. Father gave a small, false smile and indicated the seat to his left to Wise.

"Oh? I am pleased to provide you with a novelty," said Father.

Wise gave Miyabi's arm one final little squeeze and they disconnected, Wise going to his appointed spot, and Miyabi to her place at her Father's right. Was there really a need to play games with seating symbolism? The table was a perfect square! It didn't even have a head!

She settled down and gave her Father a dark look- but he either didn't notice or he pretended not to. Meanwhile, Wise settled awkwardly into a kneeling position and gave a slide bob of his head, his hand going to the back of his hair, that charming, sheepish smile on his face.

"This will be my first time, please forgive the mistakes of a novice."

Miyabi's eyes shifted to her father. Whether by intent or accident, Wise had rather closely paraphrased a request for leniency in formal decorum. To her eye, Father seemed both set on his backfoot and also, seemingly genuinely mollified. Father gave a small smile that lacked any sardonicism. Whatever Father's motivation in continuing to probe and test Wise, this reaction was ever so slightly… warmer.

That was a small surprise to Miyabi. Had Wise made some progress with her Father while she was gone? She'd been under the impression she was rescuing him in the gallery, but now she was not entirely sure.

"I understand," said Father. "And it is your first time, I think, eating traditionally with a vulpine thiren family… is that so?"

"Yes, that's true," agreed Wise.

Father smiled a bit too toothily for Miyabi's liking. What was he up to now?!

"I thought so!" Father continued. "So I made sure to request six courses for us tonight. Every item is a special delicacy with thousands of years of culinary history behind it. I hope you'll enjoy them."

Wise smiled warmly in response. "Great! I'm honored! Thank you, Mr. Hoshimi."

Father glanced sideways at Miyabi and while there was a twinkle in his eye that made her sure he was up to something, she wasn't sure what it might be. Special delicacies? That was a nice thing for him to do. Miyabi wanted Wise to enjoy his dinner, so that had a promising ring to it. Had she misjudged her Father? Had he come around to Wise already?

With a clap of her Father's hands, the maids were summoned with the first course. An intensely fishy smell preceded them. Each diner received a tiny bowl of rice, and on top of the rice was an oily, brown-ish muck.

Shiokara! One of Miyabi's personal favorites! It was fermented seafood, either fish or-

"Father, is this squid shiokara?" asked Miyabi, her ear twitching in pleased surprise.

"It is," said Father with a smile at her.

What a find! This type was harder to get than the usual fish variety. And one of her absolute favorites. And Father was kind enough to give Wise a chance to try it!

Miyabi eagerly took up her chopsticks and saw that Wise was staring at the bowl with a bemused smile on his face.

"What is this, um, called again? Shio..?" said Wise.

"Shiokara," supplied Father with good humor. "This is raw squid, combined with salt, and left to ferment for a month. That's where it gets its intense flavor and smell."

"Ah," said Wise, "I see…"

Wise looked up at Miyabi and she offered him a small smile and nod. "I love this one. I'm sure you will, too."

Wise blinked at her a few times, seemed slightly surprised by that; but he then gained an expression of determination and picked up his own chopsticks. It was an appetizer more than anything else, not more than two or three bites of rice to it. Miyabi ate hers in two, savoring the super intense flavor of the fermented squid and how it played off the subtlety of the white rice.

Wise seemed to be enjoying his just as much. He was going pale with how delicious it was!

Father seemed to be enjoying watching Wise enjoy the dish, too. "Would you care for another drink, Wise?"

"Yes, please, sir," said Wise quickly after swallowing a very large bite after very little chewing.

"Rice wine is best with many of the dishes," said Father. "Would you like some?"

"O- of course," said Wise, swallowing again for some reason. His blue eyes seemed to be watering slightly when he looked at Miyabi next. He must really like it! He was tearing up with delight!

The maids took away the empty dishes and brought in the next. Another small bowl, and this time it was filled with very sticky little brown beans. Natto! Fermented beans! Father had really lined up the treats!

Wise eyed the bowl and immediately drank a full cup of rice wine. After the natto came a change of pace: basashi- finely sliced raw horse meat. Then another rice topping course, hachinoko- bee larva. Wise had two glasses of rice wine before that one, he liked the look of it so much!

Meanwhile, Father continued a rather energetic account of the latest political gossip in the city, one of his favorite topics. Wise mostly nodded along, murmured polite questions, and looked at each new dish with a mix of determination and concern. It was cute how worried he was of making a mistake of etiquette. Miyabi said little and was content to enjoy the delicious food and observe her first real boyfriend bond with her Father.

She had misjudged Father tonight. He'd seemed like he was up to something, but when Miyabi had expected a mundane meal of perhaps chicken or fish- he'd gone through this trouble to provide Wise with all these delicacies. This really was kind of him.

"I think," said Father, "we are ready for the main? Lycaon!? If you please?!"

Lycaon appeared, looming in the doorway, a tray upheld in one hand, a pristine white towel draped over the other. Nose up and stiff in the perfect image of a butler in service, Lycaon advanced with the two Hoshimi maids following like ducklings in his wake. Miyabi wondered at the preparation, and why Lycaon would be serving at table. He was generally security detail.

The answer was upon the platter, which when set upon the center of the table, revealed itself as an artistic arrangement of very thinly sliced fish meat, pale and ethereal in the dining room light. Miyabi recognized the dish. Another of her absolute favorites! Father really had pulled out all the stops.

"Fugu," said Father with pride, smiling toothily at Wise. "Pufferfish."

"R- right," said Wise with a sheepish smile. "Isn't this… really poisonous?"

"Yes," said Miyabi. She waited for one of the house maids to put the little plate and sauce dish before her, then she took up her chopsticks.. "Even a very little of certain parts of the fish would be lethal to eat."

Father reached out with his own chopsticks and deftly picked up a slice of fish. "Only specifically certified persons are allowed to serve it. So, thank you again, Lycaon."

"Of course, sir," said Lycaon with a secondary bow. "It is a service I am more than happy to provide."

"Lycaon? You prepared this?" said Wise, looking up at the wolf thiren towering over all of them.

"Indeed," said Lycaon with a nod. "Any butler worth his salt has a pufferfish certification, Master Wise."

Miyabi wondered idly how many butlers there were in the city; but regardless, Victoria Housekeeping did keep high standards. Wise seemed to find the news welcome, however. He reached out for the fugu and placed several onto his own little plate.

"Well, if Lycaon made it, then I know there is nothing to fear," said Wise happily. He ate a slice with slow relish. "Oh, it's a little sweet. It's really good."

His head was nodding while he chewed, his eyes sparkled as they met with Miaybi's. Meanwhile, Lycaon bowed his way away from the table and left them to the rest of their meal. Miyabi was pleased that Wise liked this one so much, even after enjoying everything else. Father, however, seemed a little less pleased with himself, perhaps even mildly morose. Perhaps he had overeaten? He was supposed to be watching his salt intake…

"Mr. Hoshimi," said Wise suddenly. "I remember reading about something called the Years of Fang and Claw?"

Father was musing over a cup of rice wine and perked up at Wise's question. "Mm, yes, the war between the ursines and the vulpine/lupine alliance. The late feudal period."

"Was the Hoshimi Clan much involved?" said Wise.

Father blinked a few times as an ear twitched, he then leaned forward suddenly to refill Wise's cup of rice wine himself. "Yes. Yes, indeed. The Hoshimi were quite essential in every phase of the conflict. In fact- I can think of several essential contributions that…"

Father droned on for a time. Miyabi and Wise ate pufferfish. There seemed hardly enough latent toxin in the meat but to tingle Miyabi's tongue ever so slightly- such was Lycaon's expertise. Her lips were feeling it a little, however. But that was the nature of the dish.

Miyabi needed to use the restroom and didn't need to sit through this topic for the hundredth time. It was one of Father's favorite things to talk about. She softly murmured a brief excuse, and Father nodded absently without break in his budding lecture. Wise's eyes followed her slightly and he nodded, but he seemed legitimately interested in what her Father was saying.

Well, Father always enjoyed an interested audience. Perhaps Wise realized that and this was his attack angle. It seemed to be working.

It was a short walk to the bathroom and she removed her outer robe and performed the necessities. As she tied her yukata about herself again, she watched herself in the mirror.

Which Miyabi was that, over there?

Was it Void Hunter Miyabi? Was it normal-person-Miyabi? Was it the Miyabi of Then or the Miyabi of Now? Or had all those things faded away and an entirely new Miyabi stood there, crimson eyes watching herself tie off the glossy white belt of her yukata, re-establishing the hour-glass shape of her form which Yanagi advised to be utterly essential in seduction operations.

Had Mother ever looked into the mirror like this, and wondered who she was?...

That idle thought sent Miyabi down an abrupt spiral: Did it even matter? How many years had it been since Mother died?

There were more hollows than ever. H.A.N.D. seemed primarily an agency to cultivate Hollow Zero, trim back its weeds and keep it tidy, so the city's richest could suck its black teat. And every day, good people died or corrupted for a vague hope of a reclaimed world?

Did it matter which Miyabi she was if all of them didn't really matter? In the end?

Suddenly demoralized, the center of her psyche shaken, Miyabi didn't want to leave the bathroom. But that wouldn't do. Keep moving. Keep trying. Don't stop because if you just keep going, it gets easier. Miyabi took a deep breath and replaced her stoic face and returned to the hall, walking slowly back towards the dining room, the drone of her father's voice growing louder as she went.

Lycaon was standing primly in the hallway, just behind the doorway, waiting for requests perhaps. But as she neared, he put a big paw in front of her, silently bringing her to a stop before she entered into view of the doorway. His crimson eye looked down at her and one of his ears rotated back and forth in the thiren way of silently saying: Listen.

Miyabi stopped and listened.

Wise was talking: "...and since then, I've guided Miyabi through several different hollows- but mainly that one they call the Monochrome Hollow. H.A.N.D. has had a lot of work there, lately."

"I see," said Father. "So you've worked together, this much I understand… now tell me why you are dating my daughter, Wise. What attracts you to her? What do you want from her?"

A small silence.

"Can't think of a good answer?" said Father aggressively. "Her position in the government? Perhaps it's her family name? Her fortune?"

Miyabi felt anger flush through her. She couldn't quite parse why she was angry. But she was. Yet before she decided to storm into the room, Wise fired back:

"...Is this the part where you offer me a check to stay away from her, Mr. Hoshimi?" said Wise, his voice suddenly terse with anger. "Make sure to write enough digits on it so it will be convincing when I turn it down."

Miyabi's ear twitched. Father had been so rude that even Wise had become angry at him!

Father laughed lightly. "What? Are we in a movie?"

"I don't know, are we?" said Wise. "If not- then perhaps I need more than a few seconds to pick the right words for how I feel about Miyabi."

"Fine. Fine, Wise. Take your time."

A longer silence. Miyabi brooded. What did Father think he was doing?! These were her questions to ask Wise! And she had already done so! And yet… she was morbidly curious how Wise would answer when her Father asked instead of her.

"I want to be with Miyabi because she scared me. She scared me with how much stronger she is than me. With how much she can accomplish with just one sword. And then I became scared for her. Because she only has one sword, Mr. Hoshimi. But if I'm with her, then she will always have me, too. I know I'm just a nerd with a bangboo- but I can help her as she fights for us."

A silence. "That's very magnanimous. But what do you get out of it?"

Another silence. "You mean besides the happiness of being with her? Besides the joy of being lucky enough to make Miyabi smile? Well- I think she can destroy the hollows. All of them. And… maybe if I become important to Miyabi, then maybe I'll be important in that goal, too."

"So you do want to use her," said Father smugly. "To make yourself somebody."

"That's not what I said! Or what I meant!" objected Wise.

Miyabi knew what Wise meant. They had the same goal in their lives. And in each other, they had found someone who was reaching for the same thing. It didn't matter who reached farther or most effectively, but together, they became essential to each other, and so fed their own, private, illogical needs to contribute; To not be useless; To win!

Why didn't Father understand that? And why had he been hounding Wise all day! She was sick of it!

All of her sudden despair and apathy from the bathroom swirled and transformed into righteous anger at her own weakness, which her subconscious immediately deflected and focused upon her Father. He was to blame! Revitalized and scandalized, Miyabi finally stormed into the dining room. Enough was quite enough!

She fixed her Father with an angry look. "Enough, Father! Let us retire."

Father's ears twitched and he looked at her in shock. "This is my dinner and my house. I won't be ordered away from my own table."

Miyabi felt her temper blaze higher, and she had to force her voice into quiet and calm. Even to her own ears, her words seemed to tremble with latent anger. "I am Lady Hoshimi. I wield Tailless. This is my house and my table, too. And I am entirely out of patience with your treatment of my guest."

"Out of patience? I'm trying to protect you, Miyabi!" objected Father.

The idea was so absurd and Miyabi was so angry, she saw an opportunity to cut her father to the quick- and she took it.

"Like how you protected me on the night Mother died?"

Father paled and blinked. Both of his ears wilted. His eyes lost focus on her and he sat silently for a moment. Miyabi tried to get her pulse under control, meanwhile Wise's wide eyes flickered between the two of them- he was rather embarrassed bystander now.

Without a word or a glance, Father somewhat rather shakily stood up and left the room without another word. Miyabi's rage faded at the sight. He'd been out of town that night. No one could have predicted Hollowfall. But she knew he felt guilty for it, regardless, and she'd just used it against him.

Perhaps she'd always blamed him for being gone, all the same.

Miyabi felt such a powerful surge of guilt that it set off a sudden headache just behind her eyes. She winced from it. Both of her ears twitched in sequence.

"Miyabi.." said Wise, standing up from the table.

She didn't have time for her boyfriend right now. She needed to go make peace with her Father. No matter what he'd done today, he didn't deserve what she'd just done.

"Please excuse me, Wise," said Miyabi, absently. "But I need to apologize to my father now."

"Y- yeah, okay," said Wise, settling back down. "I understand."

Did he? Well, even if he didn't, he was willing to be patient. Miyabi followed Father into the depths of the house.

Meanwhile, Wise sat alone at the table and blew a long breath out quietly between his lips. Lycaon appeared and he was carrying a bottle of rice wine.

"More wine, Master Wise?"

"...Yes, please, Lycaon."