Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ Into the Dark Night ❯ Chapter Four ( Chapter 4 )

Into the Dark Night

Nagia

Chapter Four: Paradise by the Dashboard Light

"Though it's cold and lonely in the deep dark night

I can see paradise by the dashboard light.

…

But God only knows what I can do right now!"

Excerpt from Paradise by the Dashboard Light

(Track 6 on the Bat Out of Hell CD by

Meat Loaf)

=====

Author's note: this one is a MUST READ chapter. You can skip chapter three but this chapter adds to my storyline! The title and quote apply more to chapter three than to this one, if you think about it. Oh well! Read on, people!

7:04 AM September 8, 1993 [Nasuti's House]

1

Seiji swirled his coffee around in his cup. Nasuti was bustling about the kitchen, trying to pretend that nothing had happened between them. He wondered why she ignored it but knew better than to ask. Seiji watched as she suddenly slammed a cabinet closed.

"You said that it was the dumbest thing you've ever done," she said without turning around.

"Not very many things are dumber than putting your life in danger," he replied.

She still didn't turn around. "Are you going to pretend that nothing happened?"

"I won't if you won't… as soon as I came into the kitchen, you started acting as though you expected Shuu to come pounding down the stairs. I figured you didn't want to talk about it so I didn't say anything."

"Sorry…I put you on the spot too much, didn't I?"

Is this a genuine apology? "What you did was near suicide, Nasuti. Daemon sex isn't something very many human bodies can…survive. You had a fever when I woke up."

"What would have killed me?"

"Maybe fever, maybe me-hell, maybe I'd have screwed you to death. Seriously."

"When you woke me, I wasn't myself. I kept…I couldn't stop thinking about sex."

It wasn't a question. Seiji hadn't planned to reply, but he found himself saying, "I know. Your heart was beating unusually fast. I didn't think much of it until we got into that argument."

She turned around at last, "Seiji, when are you going to tell me what it's like?"

"Define 'it'."

"Raising a Daemon child. I want to know what it'd be like."

There are only two reasons she would ask that and only one of them is harmless. "I hear it's trying. To be honest, I wouldn't know much about it." Let's see if she's going to react in the worst possible manner…

"Trying how?"

Shit. "Trying as in trying on your energy. We should get registered before we even attempt to have or raise a child."

I'd hoped I'd never have anything like this to worry me. Heh! Who'd of thought, but here I am, desperately wishing I was impotent. Not a normal thing for a man to wish, I'd wager.

"What do Daemons have to register for?"

"Let's see here… bonding, procreation, moving, divorce, yoshu, yeshu and the right to own magical creatures."

"What are yoshu and yeshu?"

"Daemon words. They are 'forest home,' and 'human home,' respectively."

She nodded.

"Shall we go, then?" Seiji asked.

She nodded her response and took his outstretched hand.

*7:35 AM Daemon Realm Time September 8, 5986 Daemon Calendar

2

Seiji was standing at the entrance to the Marking Pool. Nasuti was in his arms. He looked at her and noticed that she was clad rather scantily. He set her down.

"We were doubly blessed 'cause we were barely dressed," he whistled.

She motioned him to lead. He walked toward the registration area.

* * *

"Hai, onamae wa Yagiyu Nasuti. Hai soon will be. Ie, not yet." Seiji said.

The Register wasn't being very cooperative.

Is she your wife?

"IE! SHE IS NOT MY WIFE YET!" Seiji burst out.

No need to shout. You may not register until-

"We're already bonded, you ass. It was a natural Amor Bonding."

Oh. Very well then. Sign the list and please be on your way. You may mark her if you wish.

"Wait…only Daemons and Demons may be marked. What are you saying, mark her? She's human."

She's Siren blood in her. I suggest you make sure she's not harassed if you won't mark her.

He walked out of the office and into the waiting room. Nasuti stood.

"We're registered. I should probably mark you."

"Mark?" She asked.

"It's like a scar, but it's more like a tattoo. Sort of as a way to say that we're bonded."

She smiled, "Let's eat first."

"Let me show you to my favorite café."

***12:05 Noon (Daemon Realm Time)***

Seiji slid in the booth next to her. Ryoko floated over to their table. Seiji appraised her. She had short greenish hair that spiked backwards and eyes that showed her Demon heritage. Her jumpsuit made her look more human than she was.

"Fated One, why have you come to this humble establishment?" She asked.

"I didn't know you owned this place, Ryoko," he replied.

"I don't. I dine here regularly."

Nasuti smiled warmly and said, "Sit down."

Ryoko accepted her offer. She ordered a plate of mushrooms and smiled warmly back at Nasuti.

"Did you know that you're the first person to ever ask me to eat with them?" Ryoko said in her throaty voice.

"Why don't people ask you to eat with them?"

Seiji broke in quietly, "It's the same reason with me. I'm different but I have power and respect. Ryoko is just different. I am one of the most powerful beings in this world. Ryoko is powerful as well…just nowhere near as powerful as I am."

The mushrooms arrived. Seiji took a bite from the plate. The waitress placed three glasses of wine in front of the trio.

"Ryoko…have you ever had a child?" Nasuti asked quietly.

Ryoko nodded grimly.

"What was it like? Raising it, I mean?"

"Why do you want to know?" Seiji asked cautiously.

" I don't know…I just want to." Nasuti replied.

"It was one of the most wonderful experiences I've ever had in my life. It made me whole."

"Thank you. I just wanted to know. Was it hard?"

"Well, birth isn't an easy thing. Raising a half-Demon wasn't much easier. I've heard that Daemon children aren't much better. But Rya wasn't terribly bad. She was just…demanding."

Nasuti smiled. Seiji gave her an uneasy look and looked Ryoko square in the eye.

They spoke mind to mind for a minute. Ryoko nodded slowly at the end of the exchange. He resisted the urge to bang his head on the table. Instead, he collapsed and hit his head anyway.

"Fated One, will you please sign this?" A small voice asked.

Seiji peeked an eye open from where he had collapsed his head on the table, "What is it?"

"It's a petition for werewolf rights." The owner was a young Daemoness.

"Werewolf rights, eh? I've news for you: I don't sign petitions. Ever. There are too many people who would want to say it wasn't me who signed it."

"Please?" She asked.

"What kind of rights?"

"Just the right to have families like we do and not have to wear collars and not to have to be owned by Daemons."

"Number one: I do not want a bunch of werewolves raising kids without Daemons knowing. Number two: I prefer my people alive and collars help us protect ourselves from the crazy werewolves that exist. Number three: I cannot sign this petition for only one cause. I have to sign it for all and I only agree with one thing out of three."

"Oh. We're sorry to have disturbed you, Fated One."

"You know damn well that you aren't. You're just sorry I didn't join your cause."

The Daemoness walked away.

Nasuti gave him a sharp look; "Did you have to be so mean?"
"Yes. I disagree with this movement and don't feel like saying it in public because they'd never have a chance if I said so. Instead I give my reasons for not signing and make them common and reasonable sentiments."

He signaled for a refill for his wine.

Human realm, 5:30PM.

3

Ryo was waiting for them when they got home. Nasuti watched his eyes narrow. A strange feeling of detachment washed over her until she tried to leave the room.

Ryo's voice stopped her in her tracks, "And where do you think YOU'RE going, Nasuti-san?"

"To bed," she replied nonchalantly.

"No. You are going to explain why you disappear."

Seiji couldn't help the noise he made in the back of his throat. "I will explain, I will listen to your rant and Nasuti-san will go to bed and be left alone. I am responsible for her absence and I will accept my responsibility."

Ryo gave him an angry look. "Don't argue with me, Korin. I am too tired, drained," Seiji winced at this. Ryo continued heedlessly, "and just plain worried to argue with you. You will obey orders, Seiji."

"I obey you until my honor impinged upon. Shuu obeys you until his sense of justice has not been met, Shin obeys until you lose faith in us and Touma obeys until you fall from benevolence into folly. My honor has been impinged upon, Sanada Ryo no Rekka and I will make certain you understand how important honor and *on really are."

Shuu walked in the door.

"Nasuti-san, Seiji!" He cried. His face lost its happy glow when he noticed that Seiji and Ryo were arguing and at an impasse. He listened to their arguments and sided with Seiji.

"If Seiji caused her absence, he should pay the consequences. Leave Nasuti alone, I'm sure she's beat. You owe her major, man. I highly suggest you give her a break."

Shuu and Ryo began to argue. Seiji used the time to slip away.

_________

Seiji found her on the balcony. She was leaning against the marble railing. He put his arms around her waist and leaned into the curve of her back.

"I thought this was the single dumbest thing you've ever done." She said.

"I have to tell you," Seiji replied.

She turned to face him. "Tell me what?"

"You're with child."

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Heh, nice little cliffhanger, huh? Yeah, I know, I know. First Incubi, then Ryoko, and now SIRENS?! Unfortunately, it's true. She has a little Siren blood in her. This won't affect the plot (wow…I have a plot!). Actually, I probably won't mention this in the future. I just thought it'd add a little more fantasy. Obviously, it did. Another thing: not only is Ryoko major mover and shaker, she's a fusion/crossover character. The Ryoko in this fic is also the Ryoko from Tenchi Muyo. She calls herself a Demon in TM, but really, she's a Daemon. To keep in her spirit, I made her half-Demon and half-Daemon (half my world and half hers). Both Ryoko-Ni have the voice of TM Ryoko. They look, sound and act the same. For my asterisks:

Daemon Realm Time: the Daemon realm is on a totally different time schedule than the Ningen-Kai. Hence, DRT. Heh, dirt (your laughter would be appreciated)!

On: On is a Japanese concept. It is similar to obligation. Here's a basic lesson:

"ON: Two kinds of on:

Giri: two kinds. 1) To one's name: only boys have to be concerned with this. Self-image or self-confidence. I don't really understand it. After all, I'm a girl!

2) To the world: it MUST be repaid. Everything, down to the tiniest favor, must be repaid. More than money, obviously. When forced with giri, one must override their sense of justice. Quote: "I could not do gi (justice or right) because of giri."

Gimu: family obligation. Never ends."

Alright, well there ends my culture lesson. Have a nice day *settles into bed drowsily* Night, night!