A Celebrity Banquet

I OPENED MY eyes trying to remember where I was. Sitting up, I took in my surroundings. "What the?!" I'm still in my room. And what's more my sister Kino is in bed with me.

 I'm still trying to comprehend what the hell is going on when she sits up rubbing her eye's. The blanket falls away exposing her naked breasts.

 "Morning Kiyo."

 "Why are you naked in my bed?!" I demand, trying not to look at her.

 "I had a nightmare. So I crawled into bed with you like I used to when we were kids."

 "We aren't little kids anymore and that doesn't explain why you're naked. What if our parents saw this then what?"

 "Did you forget? They're at that hot springs resort for their wedding anniversary. Won't be back for a week. That's seven whole days we have to ourselves. Just. You. And. Me. I've waited so long to do this with you big brother."

 My sister slides her under the blanket towards the tent I'm inadvertently pitching due to it being morning and all.

 "Who are you?"

 Her hand stops. "Huh? What do you mean?"

 "Who. Are. You? I won't ask a third time."

 "I'm Kino. Your little sis…"

 I headbutt the imposter in the nose — hard. Blood flies as her head snaps back and she tumbles ass over tea kettle out of my bed. This imposter stares up at me from the floor holding her possibly broken nose.

 "You're good, I'll give you that, but you fucked up by impersonating 𝑚𝑦 big sister."

 "Tch. You found me out from the outset. Damn, I was honestly hoping to trick you into fucking me while looking like your sister."

 "Rien, where is my sister?"

 "Would you believe me if I said I didn't know?"

 "Coming from you not a chance."

 "Well too bad. Cause I honestly don't know."

 "I think you're lying. So I'm gonna beat your ass until you tell me what I want to know."

 "I'm down for a little foreplay." Rien/Kino said, smiling up at me.

 "That's enough Rien. You've had your fun."

 "Lilith, I should have known you were behind this. You did say you were a succ…u…bus, wait aren't you supposed to satisfy men's fantasy not women's? Unless you're?" I look over at Rien/Kino. 

 "I am woman, see." She said spreading her legs. 

 "Do not do that while looking like my sister!"

 "My apologies Kiyo. That explanation will have to wait. This little charade is now over."

 "Why put this act on in the first place?"

 "Sorry, can't say."

 "Can't or won't?"

 "Both."

 I just sigh and shake my head. "Where's my sister?"

 "She left with my brother Teru."

 "Why?"

 "He challenged her to a race."

 "That sounds just like her. Comes out of coma and immediately goes for a run.

 I'll forgive you both for whatever the hell this was, however," I look directly at Rien/Kino, "impersonate my sister again and I will kill you."

 Rien/Kino continues smiling up at me, while licking the blood from her lips.

****

 "Hey, I think he's waking up?"

 "That good for nothing sister of mine was actually right this time."

 "You should be nicer to your sister, Abby."

 "Go walk down that perverted corridor of her's and you'll understand Alice."

 "Am I actually back or is this another dreamworld?"

 "Yes, you're finally back with us Kiyo. Although I can't figure out why you didn't wake up when Kino did."

 "All that matters is that we're awake, and those parasites didn't kill my sister."

 "What's the last thing you remember, Kiyo?" Leo asked me.

 "Fighting over in the City of Fuchsia. And then afterwards attending a funeral…after the funeral…" My mind goes blank.

 "You were found unconscious in your room. Do you remember that?"

 "No Leo I don't. The last thing I remember is the funeral."

 "Sounds like you might have retrograde amnesia." Says a woman standing in the doorway.

 "Belphegor, what's retrograde amnesia? Asked Alice.

 "In layman's terms it has to do with memory loss from a traumatic event, or disease. Your memories may return or they may not."

 "I'm surprised you know about it."

 "I am well read in many areas and subjects, Kiyo" Replied Belphegor.

 𝐺𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅𝑅!

 We all look at Alice. A hand on her stomach.

 "What, I'm hungry."

 "What time is it?" I asked.

 "Almost dinner time." Replied Abby.

 "The banquet is about to begin. We should go get ready." Luna said heading for the door.

 "Banquet?"

 "You picked a hell of a time to wake up Kiyo."

 "Why's that, Corym?"

 "My worthless father has decided to grace us with his presence."

 "What Abaddon is trying to say is that our father Emperor Po has returned." Lilith informed me, standing in the doorway.

 "I better get dressed then."

 The rest of my party files out the room.

 "I'll wait just outside and escort you over when you are ready."

 "Belphegor, do you know what happened to my sister after she woke up?"

 "Prince Teru challenged Miss. Kino to a race. Which she accepted against my advice."

 "Thank you for telling me, Belphegor."

 Belphegor bows her head and leaves, closing the door behind her.

(Hallway)

 "Thank you Belphegor for not telling Kiyo I'm the reason he was unconscious and has memory issues."

 "You are most welcome, Abaddon. Just promise me you'll tell him it was you who put him to sleep."

 "I will… eventually."

 Belphegor rolls her eyes.

 Back in the room Kiyo sits on the edge of the bed replaying the conversation he had with the Counsel of Gods.

****

 "Welcome Kiyomaro and Kino Kurosaki to Shangri-La. I am Odin…"

 "Oh come on! Not this shit again!" Kino turns to her brother. "Why'd I say that?"

 "Insulate child, you do not speak unless you are granted permission to do so."

 "Or what?" Challenges Kino. "Wow, talk about déjà vu."

 "Knock it off sis."

 "Silence! I did not grant you…"

 "Go fuck yourself, Zeus! Wait?! How do I know that's Zeus?"

 As fast as lightning Zeus has Kino by her throat, lifting her up. Kino jabs both thumbs in his eyes. Zeus howls in pain letting Kino go.

 "Kino stop!"

 Kino ignores her brother and begins unloading on Zeus. She kicks him in the stomach. Zeus doubles over Kino grabs a fist full of his hair and knees him in the face repeatedly. Zeus manages to break away and stumbles backwards giving Kino a chance to hit connect with an overhand punch.

 Kino continues beating on Zeus like a punching bag hitting him with everything she's got. If she had a kitchen sink she'd have hit him with it as well.

 Kiyo, Odin, and Jupiter stare in disbelief as Zeus is sent flying.

 Zeus hits the ground and just lays there trying to comprehend the fact that a mortal just handed him his ass.

 "H-How is this possible? No mortal has ever hurt me like this."

 "There's a first time for everything. Round two bitch, let's go!" Kino's amped, bouncing on the balls of her feet, ready to throw hands.

 Zeus disappears from the ground and reappears behind Kino, hits her repeatedly in the kidneys. Kino attempts a spinning back fist, Zeus catches her arm, he spins on the spot, hurling her through the air like a piece of trash.

 Kino soars a good distance, lands hard, rolls, pops right back up, and runs right back into the fray. Zeus begins moving towards her.

 "Not another step." I had managed to get in front of him, Snow drawn.

 "Stand down, both of you." Orders Odin.

 "Not fucking happening! That asshole put his hands on me and I'm gonna kick his fucking teeth in!" Kino shouts back.

 Lighting crackles all over Zeus's body. "Bring it you little shit!"

 "What does The Council of God's want from us now?"

 "What are you talking about Kiyomaro?" Jupiter asks. "This is the first time we've ever met."

 "What are 𝑦𝑜𝑢 talking about? This isn't the first time we've met, it's the second."

 "It appears we're all operating under false assumptions." Says Odin. "Let us all take a step back and go over everything we know. Starting with you young man."

 I return Snow to its sheath, as Kino comes and stands beside me. Once Zeus stops crackling I start telling them what I know.

 They bring forth Athena, Janus, and Hephaestus, who insist they never met us until now.

 Hephaestus was truly outraged that someone had stolen from his armory, and demanded we return his possessions to him.

 Luckily Zeus talked him out of it by pointing out the fact that he didn't even realize they were gone in the first place.

 "This is an unprecedented situation," says Odin, "to think someone was impersonating us. And handing out equipment forged by a God."

 "Now it's your turn. Tell us why we're here." Demands Kino.

 "Kino, do you remember being infected with parasites?" Asked Zeus.

 "No."

 "Well you were. However, those weren't ordinary parasites. They were actually my reincarnated nephew, Proteus."

 "So I played host to a God. So what?"

 "You could've died sis. Just like Alice could have died when she willingly took in a Goddess-spirit to save you."

 "Alice did that for me. Why?"

 "She cares about you. We all do."

 "In all honesty you should have died," continued Zeus, "but for whatever reason you didn't. Instead you became a host and somehow prevented Proteus from leaving your body."

 "I take it that's never happened before." Asked Kino.

 "You are correct. We were baffled by it at first."

 "At first?"

 "We now know the cause of Proteus' predicament, and what's responsible. Its Snow.

 I look down at Snow in my hand. "Tell us what you know."

 "I believe that covers everything. Do either of you have any questions?" Asked Jupiter.

 "Let me make sure I have this right. Proteus's physical body is no longer in me, but his soul remains within me.

 Any attempt to remove his soul could kill us both, and when I wake up I'll have random blank spots, or jumbled memories as I try to co-exist with Proteus'."

 "Which is why you believed you were an only child." I point out.

 "Does this make me a Demi-god now?"

 "No," said Jupiter, "but because you have a God in you…"

 "Phrasing."

 "Not funny Kiyo."

 "It's a little funny sis." I say holding up my hand with my thumb and index finger just barely touching.

 Kino tries to punch me, but I manage to dodge it. We're both smiling — together — like we used to.

 "May I continue?" Asked Jupiter.

 ""Sorry.""

 "Because a God…" Jupiter pauses and looks at me.

 I mime zipping my lips and throwing away the key.

 "Because a God is in you, you can be classified as a Divine Spark, or a Tabernacle."

 "What's a Tabernacle?"

 "Well Kino, you can call it a mobile temple." Explained Odin.

 "So my body is a temple?"

 "Yes."

 "♫ My body, my temple, this temple!♪"

 "Now is not the time to be singing Metallica, Kiyo."

 "Any time is the right time to sing Metallica."

 "Your singing is as bad as dad's."

 "I'm surprised you remember."

 "Shut up."

 "If you two are done we'd like to send you back."

 ""To Earth?""

 "Until we know what's going on you'll go back to the world where your bodies currently reside."

 "In that case, Kiyo, I'm gonna leave the party for a while. 

 "You want to travel don't you?"

 "I do. Given everything that's happened I just need to process it all in my own way."

 "In that case we have a standing invitation from Countess Bathory to use her villa in the Nihon Empire should we ever visit. Her staff is aware of this so you shouldn't have any issues."

 "Sounds good."

 "Just stay safe sis. You're the only true family I have left."

 "Like I'd die that easily." Replies Kino, holding up her fist. Which I bump.

****

(Dining Room)

 "Thank you everyone for gathering here tonight." Said Emperor Po.

 I'm seated at the table directly across from Emperor Po, who's at the head of the table. Queen La-tif and Prince Teru are seated to his right. Princess Shiori and Princess Lilith are seated on his left.

 Abby, in defiance of her father, sits next to me. She did apologize to me profusely about rendering me unconscious.

 Joining us is: Beelzebub, Asmodeus, Lucifer, Satan, Levitation, Mammon, and Belphegor, also known as The Seven.

 Then there's my friends and party members: Leo, Corym, Alice, and Luna.

 Lastly there's Lilly and Rien. They had been asleep in a different part of the castle. Kept that way by Belphegor.

 "I know I haven't been around much as of late."

 "'As of late.' More like a century." Mutters Abby.

 "Did you say something Abaddon?"

 "Not at all."

 "Very well." The Emperor clears his throat. "Tonight we will be enjoying cuisine from Kiyomaro's world. This was made possible with help from Lilith, and a few chefs brought over from the Nihon Empire. I hope you all enjoy." Emperor Po rings a small dinner bell.

 The doors open, a parade of maids pushing carts enter the dining room. They begin placing plates of: tempura, onigiri – each filled with a mystery filling.

 Yakitori, tonkatsu, takoyaki, karrge, and gyoza on the table.

 Along with bowls of ramen – soy sauce and miso flavored topped with sliced pork, nori, menma, and scallions.

 Soba – served chilled with a tsuyu sauce, a versatile dipping sauce, and several variations.

 Udon – served in a dashi-based broth with soy sauce and mirin. And lastly white rice.

 We all dig in. I was even offered chopsticks, which I happily accepted. For a while no one speaks, they're too busy enjoying the food.

 I really want to ask about my sister's race, but it's been too long since I've had food from home. Oddly enough I don't recall eating anything in the dreamworld.

(Twenty minutes later)

 "Excuse me, Prince Teru."

 "Yes Kiyomaro, what is it?"

 "Who won the race between you and my sister?"

 Prince Teru stops eating. He looks like he's trying to figure out how to explain what transpired between him and my sister.

 "Even with my powers unsealed, she matched my speed."

 "She matched your speed?" Repeats the Emperor.

 "Yes. I was running full pelt, and she kept up like it was nothing."

 "Even with top-tier gear enchanted for speed boosting, no one should be able to keep up with you."

 "And yet she did. Smiling and laughing the entire time. And then…" Teru starts chuckling to himself, "I don't know when she did it, hell I didn't even see her do it, but she offered me an appa. I accepted it, then I slowed down and eventually stopped running while Kino kept going."

 "How did you feel afterwards?" Abby asked.

 A big smile appears on his face. "Euphoric. I haven't ran that hard in a very long time"

 "Kiyomaro, when will your sister be returning? I would very much like to meet her."

 "I don't know, sire. My sister has been wanting to travel for a while. So that's what she's doing."

 Conversations from there get more lively. The liquor probably helped loosen everyone's tongues.

 𝑇𝑖𝑛𝑔! 𝑇𝑖𝑛𝑔! 𝑇𝑖𝑛𝑔!

 "Okay everyone, quite down I have an announcement to make." The Emperor waits until all eyes are on him. "I'm officially announcing that this banquet was also mine and Cesmak's wedding reception."

 "WHAT!!!!" Shout all four of their children.

 "Settle down, settle down. No need to shout." Said their mother.

 "You can't just drop a bomb like that on us and not expect us to react like we did."

 "Shiori is right. There are many things that go into planning a wedding. Such as…"

 "And that's exactly why we did everything in secret." Said the Emperor, cutting Lilith off. "All that wedding planning is nothing but a waste of both money and time. A stupid concept that humans created. We kept it simple; me, your mother, a priest and the leaders of each empire that we have friendly ties with bore witness via Visual Transponder Crystals."

 "You should have at least involved your own children."

 "That's surprising coming from you Abaddon. I didn't think you would want anything to do with me."

 "I would've been there for our mother."

 "But not for your poor father."

 "Who's that?"

 "Oh how your words wound me, dear daughter." Emperor Po says in a mocking tone, a hand over his heart, feigning hurt.

 "This was a choice your father and I made together. So accept our decision or don't. Either way it's done." Said Cesmak.

 "Why now? After all this time." Asked Teru.

 "Until now your mother was ruler in name only. She technically had no authority to do anything. Any changes she put forth I actually signed off on in secret."

 "But now that you're officially married, mother is now recognized as the Empress and no longer needs your approval."

 "Exactly right Shiori. She can run the Empire as she sees fit."

 "I thought no one had any contact with you."

 "That was a lie, Teru. I still ruled the empire, just from the shadows."

 "What will you do then father?"

 "The same as always Lilith. I've been aiding the Britannia Empire with their research of scrolls. The Nihon Empire has asked for help with their research on magical devices, and more in depth research into other fields of interest.

 Now that's enough talk about us. My bride and I need to consummate our union. Asmodeus if you would, please."

 "Of course. Emperor Po, Empress Cesmak enjoy yourselves and congratulations." Asmodeus snaps his fingers and the happy couple disappear.

 "Um, now what?" Asked Luna.

 "I don't know about you guys, but I need a proper bath, after being asleep for so long."

 "Sir Kiyomaro, allow me to show you the way to the baths."

 "Thank you…um."

 "Alistair."

 "Thank you, Alistair. You seem like one hell of a butler."

 "Your words honor me, but it is another who is truly one hell of a butler."