E17: New Home, New Family

For once, everyone in the picnic club had finally gotten back together! Nabu and Marsaw were back from their business trip, Mizuki and Anna had nothing that came up, and even Mervana took a break from her duties for a quick visit; not that the snow stopped, her kitsune-bi was more than capable of covering for a few hours. The location of choice, however...was a new one.

Sana was the first one to visit Mizuki's new home, a towering red temple that rose far above the tree lines of the forest. She had never visited her shrine before, but she never thought that all this space would be needed for just two people. When she landed, she was greeted by blue Nureonagos dressed as maids, taking her guitar and putting a kimono over her since she was a guest. "How strange," Sana commented, thanking them before going up the stairs inside. The maids lead her through the main hall, a theater-sized corridor filled with pillars. Each one had a golden dragon and a blue, splashy line spiraling up to the ceilings. It was also completely empty, save from two fancy seats near the front, and a stone circle in front of those chairs.

What is with large rooms and thrones, Sana thought to herself as she was taken past it up to the next level, and then the next, and then the next. Eventually, they emerged onto the roof, where Mizuki and Anna were setting up the food and blanket. "Buddies!" Sana said, giving both of them a hug.

"Hey," Anna said, giving a quick side hug back. "Pretty impractical to have a picnic on a roof hmm?"

"If I knew, I would have just flown to the top," Sana said, looking around the floor. The roof was tiled with stone slabs, and surrounded by a wooden waist-level fence painted as red as the building. Beyond that, was a view of the mountainside, seeing the grassy hills to the north before the snowstorm obscured the vision. "This is quite different from what I was told…"

"It's different from what I imagined as well," Mizuki said. She had turned around, looking out towards the snowfall empty-mindedly. "I had such a nice rock garden as well…"

"We could make her restore the old shrine," Anna suggested.

"No no, this shrine works just as fine…I can always tend to the new garden on the fourth level," Mizuki resonated, poking around the basket. Anna stayed quiet, having already told Mizuki her view earlier.

"Soo….it is a bit chilly up here, isn't it?" Sana said, trying to break the silence. "I do not exactly have winter wear…"

The latch to the roof opened, Mervana coming through onto the surface. "You have a kimono, don't you? Whoever gets cold in a kimono?"

"I'm not made for winter like you are, Mervana." The kitsune chuckled, hopping over and sitting beside Mizuki. "Hi, it's been a while~" Mizuki nodded. "More like half a season…"

"Well, what can I say," Mervana said. "I had Arkayda prepare a basket, do you know where your kitchen is? I know it's where you keep the donations…"

"Yes, well, we have a cellar now. Tamiko thought keeping food in the kitchen was for, ahem, mortals…"

"That sounds dumb as shit," Mizuki's shadow went. Namaru came up through it, using Mizuki's shoulders to pull herself out of the void. "Where else would you keep the food, the roof?"

"No cursing around the Ryu," Mervana said. "Or any of us for that matter, where are your manners?"

"The same place I keep my love and affection, my hind." Namaru hopped onto the fence, walking along it as she looked downward at the ground. "I never knew you and Anna lived like queens. Almost makes me want to steal this place for myself as well! Who is the maid?"

"As of now, the slime maids," Anna said.

"How quaint! I will definitely be over here more often." Nabu hopped over and slide down the roof, stopping herself against the edge of the panels. "Seika is pulling up now too."

Seika took the longest to come up to the roof, but when she did, the echidna had been stuffed into the same kimono as Sana. "Those prudes!" She complained as a servant carried her tail the rest of the way onto the roof. "Apparently my normal attire was 'too dirty' to wear in the shrine."

"You wear a bra and cloth around your waist," Anna mentioned.

"No one said anything before. Mizuki, these new rules are ridiculous, I demand your ways be changed back to what they were like before!"

"Maybe she just doesn't want us to be cold," Mizuki said. "It could only be for the winter."

"It better be! I already feel like I am sweating in this material," Her sole servant started fanning her, having kept a large leaf under their cloak.

The last ones were Nabu and Marsaw, Marsaw carrying Nabu up to the roof so they wouldn't have to take the long way up the stairs. "Hoot!"

"I know, I appreciate the effort," Nabu said. Marsaw dropped Nabu from her claws onto the rooftop. "What did I miss?"

"Nothing, we wanted to wait for everyone to arrive," Anna said. "Now we can start eating! Mistress, you had something you wanted to say?"

"Right…I wanted you all to meet someone," Mizuki said, getting up.

"Is it this Tamiko person that you have mentioned?" Mervana said. Mizuki nodded, excusing herself off the roof. "Please wait here!" She said, climbing down into the floor below. She emerged back up with her guest, err, host of honor. "Ladies, this is my daughter, as you name you might already know!" Mizuki said, the Nureonago bowing to her group of friends. "I am pleased to be all of your acquaintances."

The resulting greeting was mixed across the board, to say the least. Only Mervana said hello back, while the rest just stared on out of distrust or suspicion. Namaru and Sana avoided eye contact like the plague, each wondering if the rest of them would do the same.

"Well don't all hug me at once…." Tamiko said, giving a nervous laugh while tugging her sleeves. "Mother, they seem a bit silent for the most part."

"It must be the weather, I'm sure they are just as excited as I am! You can even join us for when we gather together!"

"I, simply, cannot wait!" Tamiko hugged her mother, staring at each one of them while she was faced the other way. "And I hope you all feel the same~"

"We would have to grow into it," Nabu said, turning to Namaru and Sana. "You two, I just remembered, I had business to attend with you."

"We do?" Sana said.

"Of course we do!" Namaru said. "We forgot to renew our licenses for the association."

"But we don't have li-" Namaru turned Sana into a servant before she could ruin the ruse, then turned Nabu as into as one as well. "You understand Mizuki? Wouldn't want the scrooge of the higher council on our case." Mizuki turned around and gave a thumbs up. "Of course! I know Anna hates her as well."

"Not hate, I just would rather not be around her," Anna said. Namaru nodded and jumped into one of the shadows, traveling away with both shadow-sized yokai in tow.

"What is a higher council?" Tamiko asked.

"Only one of the most prestigious positions in the higher council," Mervana said, taking out her pipe. "I wouldn't go for it though, it's a drag."

"Hmm...Tell me more."

_________________________________________

Namaru chose a good spot in the forest before sitting down, turning Nabu and Sana back into their normal selves, Sana fell over, holding her stomach while catching her breath. "So cold…"

"Warn us next time you are going to do that," Nabu said, waiting for the feeling to come back in her fingers. She cleaned her glasses with her clothing in the meantime. "Now then, we all know why we really left, correct?"

"Yes, but um, to make sure…it is about Tamiko right?" Sana

"Yes!" Nabu and Namaru shouted.

Sana: "Good, good. I know I have seen that slime before!"

Nabu: "We all have. I never would have expected her to bed up with Mizuki though…"

Namaru: "We need to tell her. She's harboring a criminal!"

Nabu: "We can't, it wouldn't work. Mizuki would never believe us…"

Sana: "We don't know that, maybe there is a slim chance it could work?"

Namaru nodded in agreement. "Exactly, and I don't want to spend ten chapters on something that can be done by the end of today. We go in, and one way or another, that slime is leaving."

They all nodded in agreement and went right back through the void, landing in the middle of everyone eating. Tamiko had made a little chess board for all of them to enjoy, with Seika playing against one of the maids. "Oh, you all have come back!" Tamiko said, gesturing to the board. "Would you fancy a game, I picked up the concept from the humans."

"Shut up," Namaru said, un-shadowing Nabu and Sana. "Mizuki, your "daughter" tried to kill me a few months ago. Kick her out." Mizuki looked up from her bowl of pasta, making a confused noise with a mouthful. "Hmm?"

"Namaru, have tact. You can't just say that with no buildup!" Nabu said.

"That is quite the accusation to make as well," Tamiko said, placing a hand on her chest. "I would never do something like that! Do you have me confused for another slime?"

"You just did a month ago!"

"You also attacked Vargas too!" Sana piped in. "And me, and his husband!"

"I have reports matching your description, I cannot say you're completely innocent Tamiko," Nabu said. Mizuki looked about ready to say something, but Seika cut her off before she could finish her mouthful. "But what if it really wasn't her?" She asked. "All I have heard that it was a Nureonago."

"I have no record of any yokai from the species. I would know if it was a shapeshifter as well," Nabu said, looking straight at Tamiko. The slime's eyes narrowed as they locked eyes, daring the Hakutaku to try anything.

"I did think it was kind of weird that Mizuki's powers turned her into a yokai," Anna said. "I never liked her either way Mistress, with all due respect."

"Wha...but...Tamiko wouldn't hurt a fly!" Mizuki said putting her bowl down. "She has done nothing but good for us ever since she came…"

"I see nothing wrong with her either," Mervana said. "Then again, I have no idea what is happening."

"Well the rest of us don't trust her Mizuki," Nabu said, stepping to the side. "It is either us or her."

"Mother, don't listen to them!" Tamiko grabbed the Ryu's arm, clutching it tightly. "Please, they, they have the wrong yokai! I never did anything!"

"I...I….I choose Tamiko," Mizuki hesitantly said, hugging her daughter. "You three, just came out of nowhere…"

"I would just like to say that your own maiden doesn't like her," Namaru tries.

"Anna doesn't like anyone and tomatoes!" Mizuki retorted back. "If you don't have any proof, then stop attacking my daughter!" Nabu turned to Namaru, giving her that 'I told you so look'.

"Don't look at me, you try having an attempt on your well-being," Namaru said. "I don't have to take this, I'm going home." She stepped behind Marsaw and sunk behind her, disappearing from sight.

"I suppose the mood is sort of ruined…" Nabu said. "Should the rest of us go as well?"

"No please, I assure you we can still have a good time!" Tamiko said, getting in the center of the picnic floor. "Does anyone fancy a show? I know my maids can do a bit of theater."

"It's alright," Mizuki said. "We can just reschedule, some other time…"

"Preferably at the resort," Mervana said. It's more convenient for me that way." Everyone else silently agreed and took their respective leaves; Mervana started to leave, but Tamiko hath managed to grab one of her tails before she could begin her travels back. "Please, you at least don't go." Tamiko shuffled back a bit when she saw Mervana turned around, her left eye glowing blue as she looked at the slime with animosity. "You dare touch the Snow Deity's sacred tails?"

"I humbly apologize! But, I have an urgent question. About the higher council." Once she let go, the glow left and Mervana's chill face came back, her eyes closing as she took out her pipe. "Fine, but let us head inside. No one is on this roof anymore."

_________________________________________

"So, you wish to be on the higher council?" Mervana asked, smoking her pipe. "Even though you just became a yokai?" Tamiko nodded, fiddling with her hand fan in her hand. "If I hope to live up to my mother, I must take on a bigger role."

"And you believe getting on there would further this goal to appease someone that needs no appeasing?" Tamiko nodded again, getting an eye raise from Mervana. "I will never understand anyone in the Yokai Association," she admitted. "But, if you are serious, you have quite the hurdle to get through."

"With my abilities, no hurdle should be unbeaten!"

"If you say so." Mervana sat straight up, stuffing her pipe back in her kimono. "You should know that there are two ways you can get on the Higher Council. The first is through recommendation and being polled in."

"That sounds easy!"

"Do you have ten years and a vacant position you are expecting?"

"Nevermind, what is the second option?"

"Proving yourself, also my favorite option. Essentially, if you know a person that can test your abilities and character-"

"Then I can show that I am worth material!" Tamiko said out loud, hitting her fist in her palm. She caught a side glare from Mervana, sitting back down. "My apologizes."

"I wasn't done talking…"

"You don't need to. When others see what powers I have, they would definitely accept me as one of them!"

"And your character?"

"What is there I have to hide?" Tamiko asked. "I'm merely a rain yokai, right?"

"That isn't for me to decide," Mervana said. "But even if you are, it won't be enough. Only a very select few are capable of handling the tasks of the higher council, but if you want to know about that, I would suggest asking Nabu."

"It is settled then, I wish to be taken to her immediately!"

"I don't do escorts," Mervana said.

"But I do not know where to go."

"Someone that does not know the lands by heart has no business attempting it, I hear." Mervana's body promptly turned into snow, morphing into a her-shaped mound of fast-melting snow. "Ciao!"

"Wait, how are you doing…" Tamiko started, unable to catch her before her body had fully been replaced with nothing but soft flakes of snow. Without her around, her demeanor shifted to a scowl, flicking open her fan while looking at the growing puddle. "Hmph, seems I need to figure out who this Nabu person is…should be easy to coerce her into giving me her position." She extended her pinkie out, bring up a shadowy foot from the pile of snow to stop the pile down into a pancake. "After all, she would have no choice!~"