Aria of Ascending Soul
Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
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In the year 1999 there was a meeting made up of several groups of people, the Belmonts, the Belnades, the Morris, the LeCarde, the Aulin, and several shrine leaders. There was a chance that, using the energies of Japan, the Castle would be linked to it in the same way it was linked to Europe. The nation was different than Europe, there would be repercussions if Dracula was allowed to have access to both nations.
In the end, it seemed ambivalent about the nation, focusing instead on finding and reclaiming its Lord and Master. Leaving Japan as a target for another threat.
Valencia Belnades.
Yoko stood at the gates of the Haneda Airport trying to wrap her mind around the reason for the sudden arrival of her mother. Her original plans were to hang out with Mina since she was going to be in Japan for the next month. Part work part fun, Yoko had been in the middle of making plans when Valencia called her up. So getting a call from her mother requesting to be picked up and dropped off at her dad's home? It was completely from the left field and Yoko would have been lying to herself if she didn't admit to a level of apprehension in this visit. Valencia was a strict, hard woman, well intentioned but deeply traditional and the fact that she had come to Japan, now?
Under a bright sky, with planes regularly taking off and landing beyond her behind a huge building Yoko, parked her car and made her way towards the pick up area. Despite wielding fire magic, Yoko found herself oddly uncomfortable warm walking out in the open air to find her mother. A faint sarcastic part of her noted that the airport hadn't exploded yet so the plane must have been late. After all, 'Mother' was coming to Japan. Mother who held strong to the traditions and practices of the Belnades clan in all things and one of the most offended at the conclusion of the 1999 meeting.
But mother never left Spain save for business and her itinerary involved visiting the Shrine. For which Yoko couldn't understand why, as the seal was holding strong despite the stress put upon it as of the last few years. Yet despite her faith that the airport would explode when her mother arrived, surprisingly, it hadn't.
Valencia was standing in the designated waiting area with her carry on by her feet and her purse tucked to her side, with the vivid red strap taunt over her royal blue suited shoulder. She held a plain, tan colored box in her hands, and a pair of bags behind her that matched her carry on. Dead serious eyes, hair up in a neat bun, Yoko took a lot after her mother, save she had a bright cheerful personality and Valencia did 'not'. At least Alucard said so when grilled, which was part of his problem when identifying each generations Belmont. Another reason why he never socialized, outside of the lack of aging, being surrounded by people who had a great deal of similar traits.
Yoko waved to get her mothers' attention before walking up to the elder witch, while she could have been a random stranger for all the reaction out of her mother. But that was all she ever was good at and Yoko had moved passed expecting a great deal of emotional response. Yoko didn't even bother with a verbal greeting before grabbing the bags at her mothers' feat. They were as heavy as to be expected of a woman and Yoko began lugging them back towards her car.
Her mother followed behind without speaking, her hands gripping the box with the kind of focus that was peculiar. Whatever it was, it was magical in nature, but Valencia had shielded it so well that Yoko couldn't tell what it was. Which was unusual because normally she didn't shield items if and when she traveled with magical items. Yoko was setting the second bag into the trunk when her mother climbed into the passenger side of the car and settled in. She closed the trunk before walking up to the drivers side and climbing in.
"Are you planning on having children."
The keys? They fell to the floor of the car as Yoko tried to think past that thought. Her mother, the stern woman to the left of her was asking if she was planning on having kids. Did the sun rise in the west? More important, was Soma still human?! She grabbed her phone and made a desperate mental plea as she typed out a message and sent it.
Soma? What are you doing?
Studying. Why?
Any chance you've become Dracula recently and decided not to tell me?
… You mean outside of the reincarnation aspect?
Just what I wanted to hear, have fun with the studies.
"Who are you and what have you done with my mother?" Yoko asked as she slipped her phone back into her purse.
"I'm serious Yoko."
"Look mother, 'are you planning on having kids' is something normal families talk about. You and I? We talk business." Yoko pointed out, as she picked up her keys and began putting the car key into the ignition.
"This is business..." Valencia retorted sounding offended, her eyes dropped down to the package in her hands. Fingers tightening the hold until she added, "there's a part of the clan traditions and history I have neglected to inform you about."
"Is it a part that it would be better if we were sitting somewhere and not while I'm driving?" Yoko asked, her voice and tone a way that Alucard never would have heard in her life. Perhaps it was true, that you always revert to the way you were as a child when around your parents. Yoko had managed to reverse the car and get it in motion as the conversation carried on, her fingers still on the steering wheel.
"I suppose so; however, I have an appointment at the Hakuba Shrine today and won't have free time until tomorrow." Valencia sat there with her eyes ever drifting out of the car and staring off at the greenery of Japan. But there was something there that Yoko could sense and it was something that bothered her because it wasn't how her mother behaved. Perhaps it was the jet lag?
"I do not wish for this conversation to wait for long, we shall speak on this matter, the sooner the better."
Trust mother to mandate the conversation, as in there was no choice they would be doing it her way as they always had. Perhaps if Yoko had been raised in a less strict household she would have rebelled against this, been angry. But they had been born with a talent in empathy that made it easier to understand what people were feeling when they did or said what they did, to relate and, if necessary, control. So Yoko understood this was who her mother was and never made the effort to try and change her.
Father was easier, because he was a gregarious, warm hearted man who could tell jokes, laugh and showed a life that mother couldn't. Though even he could be as stern as his wife when the need arose. Her father, Sachiho, could actually get her mother to lift her mood internally, if never externally, something they never could.
"What are the plans you have for the rest of the day, Yoko?"
Yoko merged onto the lane that would lead them out of the airport lands and towards the city after their mutual silence. The question abrupt and stern and knowing her mother, noninvasive.
"I'm going to go to the Hakuba Shrine to pick up Mina and have a girls day out, mani pedis, shopping stuff like that," Yoko recited, Valencia nodding at the statement while neatly planted trees, buildings, other vehicles passed them by as they traveled. It almost made the world seem to slow down when Valencia was in the car. As though she was stuck in time and unable to move forward.
"That will be fine, I have a meeting with the head of the Shrine today, so tomorrow will work out unless you have other plans."
"No, we can talk tomorrow mother," Yoko replied like the dutiful daughter she was, though her personality was often a bit wilder.
They didn't talk through out the car ride for quite some time after that, conversation was often lacking. Yoko was interested in chatting, Valencia was inclined to keep her thoughts to herself and give a bare bones response. Only in business did anyone ever hear Valencia speak her mind, yet there was something off about today, its ride and everything. So when Valencia finally spoke with trepidation for the first time in all of Yoko's life, it made Yoko stop short.
"Is the traditional way of celebrating a male childs' birthday any different than from a females?"
Yoko tried to recall anyone in Japan that they had any type of relationship with who was expecting. Or had a child as of the last few years, years that were currently coming up blank. Because birthdays were 'not' Valencia territory. The very notion of seeing her mother entertaining anyone's child just could not register in her mind. Nothing came up so she finally began going by alphabet who could she could be here for.
"Also, there is word that the Black Masses have begun again. The representatives of the LeCarde, Morris and Aulin branches have been dispatched." Valencia added, as she saw a growing mound before them. Hakuba Shrine rising up before them like a green morning sun.
"The LeCardes and Freelance Police, I haven't seen Sam and Max in a while, it'll be good to get together again," Yoko mused aloud, an amused smile playing on her lips. Business sucked. No lie.
"Honestly Yoko, 'Freelance Police'? You're still using that stupid name?" Valencia asked with an irritated sigh.
"Hey! They adopted that name, not me, it suits them well anyways!" Yoko protested as she slowed to a stop at a red light.
Valencia didn't say anything further until they reached a parking lot that Yoko seemed to know pretty well with the ease to which she moved into a spot. They climbed out of the rental and began the long walk up the stairs that only a few short years ago Soma himself walked when he met destiny. Never noticing Alucards' bat form as it flew by his side trying to stop him, or the wards he snapped as he walked. Never realizing how powerful he was as he crushed every spiritual opposition to his re-ascension.
The spiritual tattered shields of that day were like battle scars on an otherwise perfect skin bothering the elder Belnades immensely. The day she and the others went into the Castle she had been immersed in the raw power of Dracula that her ancestors had all experienced. Vanity would suggest that the power of Dracula did not grow with each passing century, yet reality pointed out quite regularly that wasn't true. The Seals that had been used stripped away all the powers that Dracula commanded until he had nothing left.
Powerless reincarnation overpowering the blessings and spiritual protections of a shrine centuries old.
Yoko, who had no idea what was going on in her mothers' mind, found herself walking alone up the stairs and turned to see her mother. Valencia was standing at the foot of the steps, one foot on the first step and this look of focused and growing concern. It was clear that Valencia had sensed the state of the shrines' spiritual defenses for the first time and so Yoko walked back down to join her.
"Mother?"
"Can you not feel it?" Valencia replied, walking up the steps to avoid any potential bystander, then going the extra mile by switching back to Spanish.
"Of course, but what can we do? Back then Soma released all the power and the Castle floated back into Its Seal harmlessly." No reason to ask what 'it' was, Yoko knew quite well, as well as that what she was saying was leaving an opening for a very obvious question.
"And now?"
Yoko turned her gaze up towards the top of the stairs, towards the shrine where the only living being who could calm Soma down lived. "We pray. Because after what happened the last time, Soma, know it or not, is calling It back."
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"MINA!" Yoko blurted out, flinging her arms around and hugging her dear little 'sister', when the voice in her head that made her such a great hunter noted a few things.
Too tall.
Did not smell like a teenage girl.
Did not have a twin sister who could be standing over there waving and smiling.
"Hi, pops!" Yoko jerked her arms back like fake fangs and grinned at the silently laughing priest.
"Hello, Yoko, good to see you again!" Ichigo, Minas' father, stood there with taking in the sight of Mina's unofficial 'Big Sister'. She was in muted pinks and maroons with a slit up the thigh skirt and top piece. One would be hard pressed to believe her to be a Witch or a Nun, or Japanese with her natural blond hair. From the back no one would have believed she had a drop of Japanese blood in her veins. But her father was a big hearted gregarious man who probably did one of the bravest feats known to the inner circle of Priests in Japan.
He willingly married Valencia Belnades.
Valencia was a formidable Spanish witch, with the stern countenance of a feudal lord, if Ichigo ever saw one. So while he understood the concept of 'marriage of convenience' it still amazed him that neither Japan or Spain exploded out of the differences between the two. Yet somehow both nations were still standing and Yoko claimed that her mother 'did' enjoy the marriage.
"So I'm here to see Mina, and mother came from Spain to see your dad so..." Yoko beamed as Mina slipped on her shoes with all the quickness of a rabbit.
Valencia stepped inside, removing her shoes as was the custom. Seeing mother and daughter standing side by side brought about how much they looked alike, with only the slight slant in Yoko's, and the slightly different tone of her skin to tell them apart.
But Valencia was a stern woman, a woman who took her duties with absolute seriousness while her daughter took them in a different manner. Even their dress styles noted the difference while Valencia wore stark somber colors of royal blue and white. What jewelry she wore were works of the Aulin branch of the family, enchantments crafted by their magics into physical objects. Even her wedding ring was enspelled, but that was to protect it from the intense elements it could be subjected to when Valencia used her magics.
Mina bowed politely before Valencia, her polite expression coupled with her typical girl going out clothes made her seem no different then any other girl out to have fun. That was worrisome, the supposedly one person in the whole world that Dracula cared for was a complete an utter human. Not even gifted with the spiritual powers of her own family lineage, an evolutionary dead end. Yet this dead end was supposed to calm the storm that was Dracula? She said nothing though, merely nodding a greeting to the young girl as she joined Yoko at the door.
The pair walked out with their farewells to go and have their mani pedi day, leaving her behind to discuss business. Valencia looked down at the box, plain in color and shape and wondered briefly if there was even a point in trying to change.
Why change when the world was doomed?
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Soma stared at his phone with a blank expression before shrugging. He placed it back on the table then proceeded to pick back up the book that Dracula had written through Soma the day before. Flipping to a page he took a sip of water and read aloud, "Spiritual Transmutations. The alchemical process of the soul."