Well, at least I’m not in prison again. Technically speaking, anyway. Thinking back on the whirlwind last few hours, I bit down on an aggrieved sigh. Shaeula had gone to the house and retrieved my invitation, and upon calling the number we had been connected to a secretary at Fujiwara house. Thinking I was calling to say I would be attending the gathering on Saturday, they were surprised by my request to be connected to the lawyer, Omori-san.

I was quickly put through to a more important servant, apparently a Butler of the head of Fujiwara house, and after a brief, abridged description of the situation (leaving out any mention of Astral Emperors or their powers, of course) I was then talking to yet another person, this one a man who was supposedly head of something called Fujiwara Security Services. One more explanation, and he was off the phone, promising to take care of matters, and that I was to stay put.

Damn, my life is crazy nowadays. It’s one thing after another. I glanced over at Shaeula, who was cheerfully slurping on some juice, completely unphased by where we were, and shook my head. I guess a princess is comfortable in any circumstances.

After I was off the phone Shaeula had returned with the two other operatives she had taken care of. They weren’t dead, but were in a bad way, all torn up and battered. Speaking of the dead… I confirmed that the one I had struck with Foehn had died as well, and a third was going to die unless he received medical attention quickly. With a sigh I trickled in my aether, digging deep to the dregs, and stabilised him a little. I wasn’t sure if it would be enough, but it gave him a chance at least, which was more than he deserved…

Aliyah, her brother and the others merely sat there, nursing their injuries and making small-talk. I had expected them to run, but when I asked Aliyah why they didn’t try and make a break for it, she merely snorted, rolled her eyes and cursed me for a fool. Her brother then gave me a more reasonable explanation.

“Where the hell are we going to go, anyway?” he had said. “Besides, you think we can escape from monsters like you two? Our best option is to be real co-operative about now. even then… fuck me, we’ll be lucky not to rot in some Japanese prison for the next twenty years…”

“Hey, at least I hear Japanese prisons are pretty fucking swanky.” Aliyah had snorted with laughter, and I had to chuckle a little at that.

I then had to undertake a task I was dreading. Returning to the shrine, I entered, only to find Kana-chan, her family and Marika-san waiting anxiously for news of what was happening. On seeing me, everyone’s expression brightened, only to pale when they saw the ruined and shredded remains of my suit. Funnily enough Kana-chan had blushed a bright red and looked away, only to keep peeking at my hear-topless body.

As Masaji-san asked me what had happened, I swallowed my pride and prostrated myself on the floor in front of them, sincerely repentant. Ignoring their pleas to rise, I rapidly explained the situation, and that I had once more brought danger to the shrine, despite promising only a few days ago this would never happen again. I was about to offer to sever my involvement with them, before a puzzled Masaji-san asked me if they were truly in any real danger.

Well, when I thought about it, the situation wasn’t so clear cut. On seeing that, Kana-chan piped up, saying “We were safe so long as we stayed here, right? Besides, looks like you handled it fine, didn’t you, big bro?”

Damn, their faith in me… it stings a little, especially since… since I had to kill some of the intruders. Still, I wasn’t going to lie to them, and I said that yes, the attackers had no interest in them. But if they’d have investigated the furore then the danger of being hurt or killed was high.

“I don’t think so, Akio-kun.” Her mother, Nagi-san interrupted. “I may have married into this family, so unlike them, I’m not so versed in matters of faith and the kami, but even I can see this is clearly destiny. I believe that you’ll keep us all free from harm. Especially my Kana and Marika-chan, right?”

Kana-chan was embarrassed then, protesting, but at the nodded agreement from everyone else I felt a mixture of equal parts warmth and exasperation. After all, I had every intent of keeping them safe, and even under the face of such an assault, no-one innocent had died. It was close though…

“If you are worried, then seek the favour of the Gods and grow stronger. As you told us that day you first visited the shrine, only power can counter power.” Masaji-san had advised me, and I conceded his point. Getting up off the floor of the shrine, I said my goodbyes, advising them I would give them the full story when I was done. I ruffled Marika-san’s hair before going, as she looked a little pale, perhaps relieving the trauma of the yakuza attack, and then I left, noticing out of the corner of my eye that Kana-chan looked a little pouty.

As I re-joined Shaeula at the scene of battle, I could see a pair of trucks driving up the hill to the shrine, non-descript vehicles in a mixture of dark tones. Once parked below the shrine they opened up to reveal a dozen men and women wearing expensive-looking suits. They were also armed, many having holstered pistols or other weapons. They didn’t look like people from the military, but the way they carried themselves, they were trained and had seen their share of combat. To think that Fujiwara House effectively had their own private army.

The lead man had been graceful and powerful, standing a head taller than me. There was something about the way he carried himself that made even me wary. On seeing the newcomers, Shaeula had stopped her chatting with Aliyah and joined me to greet the newcomers. One was carrying a medical bag and went over to the fallen agents, calling over several other suited men to help her administer emergency first aid.

“Quite the scene here.” the man had looked around, his dark gaze intense, not missing a detail. “Still, seeing is believing.” He held out one muscular arm in a handshake, and I had taken it. The unusual gesture surprised me at the time, but thinking back it might have been a test, considering how hard he gripped my hand. Still, his strength, while formidable, was nothing compared to an Astral Emperor-candidate like me who had honed myself over the last month and a half.

“I am Ueno Junichiro, head of Fujiwara Security Services.” He had introduced himself, and I realised I had spoken to him on the phone earlier. He went on to explain, as his guards secured the area and administered first aid to the fallen, that he had made the necessary arrangements and that agents from Fujiwara Security were already making the trip to Nishimorioka to provide undercover security to my family, as well as Eri’s, until I had met with Fujiwara-sama on Saturday to discuss more… permanent… arrangements.

“That is just-just wonderful.” Shaeula had said, knowing I worried so. “You have our thanks.”

At her looks and praise, Ueno-san had paused for a moment, before shrugging it off. He had advised me that the Counter-Terrorism department of the SDF would be sending a unit for pick-up of these individuals shortly, and at that Trey let out a bitter sigh and Aliyah stared at the sky, forlorn.

“Well, if… these four could be treated with a bit more kindness, I’d appreciate it.” I had said, surprising them. “I have no intention of forgiving them, but at the least they tried to keep innocents and my family out of it. Coming after me is bad, but at least Shaeula and I can protect ourselves.” On hearing my family and Eri’s were going to be protected, even for now, it was as if a lump of frozen ice had melted in my chest, and I started to feel almost forgiving…

“No fucking kidding.” Aliyah had exclaimed then. “But I’m grateful. I doubt I’ll ever get the chance to pay you back, but, fuck, if I escape being tortured that’d be just lovely.”

“I suspect if you are co-operative, that won’t be necessary.” Ueno-san had remarked, looking amused. Turning his attention back to me, he made me a surprising offer. “And as for protecting yourselves… have you considered working for me? I pay very competitively, and I’ve never seen such… well, carnage is the best way to describe it.”

We had declined in good humour, and it was then one of the security personnel brought over some stretchers to evacuate the Detective to hospital, as his weakness had now caught up with him. As two men brought him over, he had smiled a little, as if to reassure the hobbling, still shell-shocked Officer by his side.

“I’ll do what I promised.” The Detective assured me. “But in exchange…”

I had agreed then, sealing our pact, and as he was carried away along with Officer Usui to one of the vehicles, I had shared a glance with Shaeula. She had merely returned a smile, telling me that whatever decision I made, she would support me.

Yeah, well, I’m reaping the consequences of… what was it that Aliyah had said… oh yes, ‘had I ever fucking heard of subtlety?’ Seeing my gaze on her, Shaeula put down her juice and yawned cutely. “Are you concerned, Akio? Do not-not be. I am here with you.”

Reaching over I took her small hand, feeling her warmth. Steeling myself for what was to come next, the ornate panelled walls and expensive artwork of this room deep in the Ministry of Defence building in Ichigaya exerting a noticeable pressure on my psyche, I remembered what had happened next.

With the vehicle containing the injured Detective and Officer pulling away down the hill, I realised I could hear the thrumming of helicopters. That was unusual over the city, so when I saw the pair of sleek military transport helicopters approaching the hill, I knew it was related to us. I remember thinking that Kana-chan would have a lot more to explain away at school the next day…

The Fujiwara people quickly used flares to mark a landing site, and I was once more impressed by how well they coordinated with actual military. The helicopters landed, the backwash from their rotors stirring Shaeula’s yukata. Once they were down, the ramps came down and soldiers flooded out, well-armed and professional. On seeing us and Ueno-san, the highest ranking officer in the detachment had come over.

“Ueno-san, thanks for your call. What’s the sitrep here?” he had asked, and I was impressed by his bearing. His insignia was two bars and three stars, and while I didn’t know much about JSDF ranks, that was pretty high up. Of course, I now know he’s a Colonel in Counter-Terrorism, he told me during the helicopter ride over here, when he had the grace to at least give me a jacket to cover my upper body…

“Looks like a foreign snatch-and-grab on our precious citizens.” Ueno-san had said solemnly. “Luckily for us, our boy here is quite the fighter. Puts a lot of mine to shame. Anyway, two hostiles dead, more dying unless they get seen to quickly. Best get a move-on if you want to pump them for intel.

The Colonel had looked around at the bodies, seeing scattered rifles, knives and other implements of war. Shaking his head, he quickly ordered his men to load up the prisoners. Some went over to seize Aliyah and the rest roughly, and she started cursing them to be more gentle with her injuries, but they ignored her.

“Uh, I don’t think they are that good at English.” I had said, translating her complaints and at least getting them to take care.

“Well, my job is done then, for now.” Ueno-san said as the last hostiles were cuffed and bagged. “I shall see you on Saturday, no doubt, Oshiro-san, Dannan-san. And don’t worry about your family, our Security Services are the best there is.”

With that he and his remaining men and women withdrew in their last vehicle, leaving us alone with the Colonel.

“So, what now?” I had asked. My answer was the Colonel politely inviting me and Shaeula to visit the Ministry of Defence right now to talk to his superiors. I had asked if I was under arrest, getting really bad déjà vu, but again apparently I was not, just an honoured and important guest. After that we had rode the helicopter back to the Ministry of Defence, Shaeula enjoying her second ride in such a vehicle, and this was how we ended up here, waiting for whatever would happen next…

I really hope Omori-san was called. I think I’d feel more comfortable with a lawyer…

Just as I was thinking that the door opened, and three people came in. The first was an older man, perhaps in his early sixties, with steel-grey receding hair and piercing dark eyes. He was quite muscular still, and gave off an overbearing presence of expecting to be obeyed. Behind him came a younger man, in his forties maybe, but he had a similar appearance to the first man, though he was less intense, and his hair was a dark brownish-black. Related to the first man, I’d imagine.

The last was a tidy woman in her twenties or thirties, in military dress uniform, her rank badge that of an NCO, one even I recognised, the three lines of a sergeant first class.

“Well then.” The older man said, pulling out a seat and sitting down, the other man beside him, while the sergeant remained standing behind them, prim, proper and to attention. “Introductions are in order, are they not? I am Tsumura Katsuro, head of the noble Tsumura house, and current Minister of Defence and honorary head of the Japanese Armed Forces.”

Well damn. This guy… he’s important all right. Now, how do I talk my way out of this mess? Shaeula gave my hand a gentle squeeze of reassurance as I met his steely gaze with a hard one of my own. I’ve got to keep the initiative…