Matter of Connivence

[Sengoku]

After Emi, Naoyoshi took his seat, then Akamaru. As the oni set down their shared loot, he leans over and peers into Emi's camera screen as her fingers swipe across it, sliding through a full gallery of digital photos.

"Generosity?" Akamaru repeated? "I'm holding up on my end of the pact I made with the boy, nothing more, nothing less. I don't need thanks nor payment for obeying the contract." His head cocked to the side for a moment, seeing images of parade floats with papier-mâché constructs in the image of yokai put onto motorized stages. The oni scratched at his beard again when he saw a float of a stylized oni. "You humans enjoy holding onto memories of the past, don't you? Never could understand that."

At that point, Akamaru's further thoughts were interrupted by the food's arrival. Emi's full banquet was on display, drawing the attention of other customers in the food court with them, with some of the children there going wide-eyed with awe, pointing at the extravagant display. Akamaru's meal was four plates of Japanese style hamburger patties, served on rice rather than in a burger. The gravy that was slathered on top of it had a tint of red, serving as a visual indicator of the immense spice. For Naoyoshi, a plate with four onigiri wrapped in roasted and slightly-salted nori was placed before him. Each of the rice balls was above average in size compared to the typical ones seen in convenient stores. Naoyoshi and Akamaru joined Emi when she clasped her hands together.

"Itadakimasu," they both repeated with her. And with that, Akamaru began to wolf down his cuts of minced beef with reckless abandon. Forgoing chopsticks, forks, and spoons altogether, the oni practically shoveled the food into his mouth. A stark contrast to Naoyoshi who sat there and ate his onigiri with one hand. Back straightened, shoulders broad, the samurai maintained courtly etiquette even in an arcade's food court, yet he ate with a speed similar to Akamaru. Big bites, swift yet quiet chewing, and repeat. The smell of tuna and beef lingered around the onigiri as Naoyoshi bit through the condensed rice to reveal the meaty contents.

"You enjoy photography?" Naoyoshi asked Emi. "I recommend Kyoto. I'm not fond of the Ashikaga Clan that rules there, but they have the best-looking traditional castles. There's no contest in that matter."

[Ram]

“Oh oh? Then thanks for carrying a few of my things.” Emi sat up and patted Akamaru’s upper forearm as best of a high-five as any since the real targets were on the table. She went straight ahead to sampling her pasta. A lil kick in the spice and blended cheese. The noodles were slurped away with an admired stirring of her deep sea themed drink. The swirling jellies of stars and sugar bits had the woman humming in awe for how this was made. After a few bites of the pasta she went to cut a sample of the hemburg steak. Notes of miso and umami flavors to the meat easily made one forget how the beef patties tend to be dry and oily but Japan always had some trick it make it juicy. With a quick sip to wash down the oils with a cooling ocean breeze refreshment, Emi had the yakisoba pan in hand when taking a moment to answer their inquires after enjoying each bite with a hum most infectiously performed in every cartoon made.

“Oh no, well yes but no. I work for a magazine to make some funds since the kind of work they need is pretty easy to do. There were some temp jobs before but they didn’t last too long due to delays or weather getting in the way.” Emi explained with a pause to make half of her yakusoba pan disappear in a few bites.

“Took a page from my bro and it’s been working out pretty decently since. Oh yeah! I should visit Kyoto. I should get some clearance with some grounds keepers for the photos. They probably won’t like it much that I’m strolling around areas not meant for the public.”

The rest of the yakisoba pan disappeared to have her eyes scan over the little cakes with weaponry decorations. “Ya sure ya don’t want one of these? That blueberry cheese cake Saber cake is pretty but then again…. that german chocolate Beserker has some heft to it. Oh, hey, are you allergic to any? I forget to ask these things for some folks.”

Her hand worked to take a Castor purple breaded cream puff to pop away and lick some of the cream from her fingers. “Speaking of jobs, you work? I mean, not in a bad way but ya know what I mean, right? Do you and Akamaru go out in jobs?”

[Sengoku]

Akamaru paused when Emi offered him and Naoyoshi bite-sized cakes with weapon symbols drawn on the top via frosting. The oni turned to his master as he gulped down another full cut of hamburger steak drenched in spicy sauce.

"It would be rude not to accept gifts, boy."

"This is an excuse for you to gorge yourself."

"And?"

"...Fine." Naoyoshi relents, bowing to Emi in his seat as Akamaru mimics his action. "Thank you for sharing your meal. We will repay you for this." Naoyoshi himself plucks the cake with the Saber symbol in blue frosting while Akamaru swallows whole the chocolate cake with a Berserker symbol. Unlike his contracted yōkai, Naoyoshi chews on the cake carefully, noting the individual flavors.

"Sugary. Vanilla cream. Similar to castella with added frosting. Westerners enjoy their extreme sweets, don't they?" he notes. As he continued biting into the Saber cake, he moved his plate of onigiri over to Emi, though only a single spicy tuna rice ball remained, flaked with bits of sesame seeds and wrapped in a cut of roasted, slightly salted seaweed. "Please help yourself if you don't mind spice." When the girl asked the brutish duo about work, Akamaru snorted for a moment before he returned to scarfing down his banquet.

"I work directly for my clan, so anything regarding military and security affairs in the Kōzuke Prefecture are within my jurisdiction. Rogue yōkai, human criminals, threats to the general public. If there is an issue in which the Ii Clan is able to intervene even outside of our borders, than I too am given authority to act there, though this becomes difficult should the job demand that I operate in enemy territory."

"Like that time we were in Satsuma," said Akamaru, his chuckle sounding more like rhythmic growling. "Damn near reignited Ii and Shimazu hostilities with that temper of yours, boy." Naoyoshi's eyes narrowed at Akamaru with disapproval and said nothing further on that matter.

"If you'd like to take pictures in Kyoto, I'm finishing up my last year at Abe no Seimei University there. Combine that with clan privileges, I should be able to clear you for at least some exclusive areas for photography."

[Ram]

Emi waited till her mouth was no longer stuffed with dessert and sipped away the ocean soda till it was cubes and jellies. These two made a pair, or three when including the warrior dog Ichigo. “Were you allergic to any?” She asked, missing the point of whatever their banter was about in whomever was the rude party here. She waited to see if this was true.

Neither case happened which made her smile and twirl up a ball of spicy noodles. Having company to eat with her outside of home was always a treat. Plus it makes the table look far more festive. Her eyes then catch the waitress’s as the lady came over with the bag of food to-go. “Ah, thank you,” she gratefully took it. Smells of garlic and fried goodness in the bag. Emi’s mouth was watering as she opened up one and ate it while it was still hot. “Oh! Oh these are fresh! Mmn~l” Emi hummed and snuck another one out as she went about her buffet sampling.

hearing about their antics and what clan he represented, Emi blinked and took at the boy. Was he clearly that important of a person? “Oooh,” she popped the nugget in her mouth to chew on it and began to clap her hands at the most accomplished member on the table. Again there was a pause before swallowing what was in her mouth. “So that means if ya come with me then I can get some better shots? That it? Ooh then we gotta do a whole food walk of Kyoto. There has to be something popular but tucked away.”

Her hands moved the bag to the seat the paper pup Husker sat in and he climbed on top of it. Pulling the plate of pasta towards herself, she made another rolled fork of noodle while explaining her plan. “I’m thinking some passes as guests for our magazine while you help me get some leveling shots and panoramas. Then hit up as many food stops we can before the day ends so we can send in some pictures of what’s a highlight to have. Gotta know the good haunts and eats of places they’re famous in. Then maybe get some supplement materials over how you guys handle yourselves. University, dealing with yokai and a clan, what would be after university for you two?”

[Sengoku]

"I don't believe I have any allergies." Naoyoshi finished off the Saber cake within three bites, each one a mouthful filled with sugary bread and icing. As Emi continued to dismantle the feast before them, Naoyoshi cast a look from her over to the pile of empty plates. "You eat fast. That's a good habit if you serve in the military. Helps you get back into the fight quicker."

When prompted about photos at Kyoto, the samurai pulled out a smartphone from the inner pocket of his kimono. Several swipes on the touch screen were accompanied by soft clicks and taps as the device unlocked itself and revealed photographs. "As a fourth-year there, I can at least take you to sites on campus that outsiders normally can't access." The first photo was of Naoyoshi wearing traditional clothes similar to what he wore now alongside his family consisting of what looks to be his father, mother, and younger sister. And, of course, Ichigo. They stood before cherry blossom tree as white-pink petals fell in the still-frame with more trees behind them and the university buildings even further in view. The second photo was him in kendo armor with other club members in the same gear posing in front of a pond with ducks swimming about as well as the occasional turtle. "You can see where most of our tuition money goes into here at Abe University. Still, you might like the sights. Kyoto's famous for aesthetics."

Naoyoshi eased back into his seat, stacking his own empty plates up and pushing them to the side. He sipped on a glass of water that came with the food earlier, ice clinking gently upon the glass. "After Abe?" He looked out at the window as he answered. "Military service. For us samurai, that also mixes in security detail with Prefectural and City Police. Given how things are right now, peacekeeping seems to be what I get to look forward to, save for the occasional rogue yōkai. I'll have to get used to working with the Yōkai Hunter's Guild." He turned back to Emi. "I take it you'll go into photography? Films, magazines, that sort?"

"You should consider being war photographer," adds Akamaru with a grin, his fangs jutting out of his mouth. "Might catch us on the job one day."

[Ram]

“Sites outsiders can’t go to. Hmm.” Emi mused at the thought as she began snacking on another garlic flavored chicken nugget piece then resumed polishing off the last bits of pasta. The empty plates stacking away to her left. The thought that there were other areas at the old university left to see did make her want to go back and look. Maybe something new showed up

However, out of all the topics of career paths between the two of them, there was an odd word put in from the Oni. “Is there a war happening soon?” She wondered if that was true. Why be a war photographer unless a war was to happen at some point? Having only read about it and what historical media has shown, it looked messy with far more arguments than progress. The girl pondered on the task but couldn’t wrap her head around all the nuances. If such a war is to happen soon, maybe giving her folks a call and check in would be in order.


“I can make some career in that. Currently the magazine was just making money for personal needs than anything else. If I can find somewhere that pays a bit more then I should have a free schedule to do both. A shame that we may not run into each other much if you’re going into military work. Think only family can do close visits or something, right?”

[Sengoku]

"All-out civil war is unlikely in the foreseeable future," replies Naoyoshi as he shoots a disapproving glare at Akamaru. "My pact partner runs his mouth before thinking."

"Ah, but I listen well on what your parents discuss..." the oni sneered. "The Shōgun has been underperforming as of late, does he not?" Naoyoshi answered with silence as he stared back at his empty plate with hint of annoyance. His expression was enough to confirm the oni's comments. Only when the armored Shiba Inu barked twice did the silence break.

"Clan relations between age-old enemies still persist in modern times," explains Naoyoshi. "The Shōgun's job is to manage such bitter rivalries and ancient feuds to ensure a unified Japan. That is the role of the Tokugawa Clan. If such management fails, then the Tokugawa must rely on the more militant clans like the Ii, Honda, and more to forcibly put down potential rebellions before the Imperial Diet takes matters into their own hands." Despite the heavy topics, people around Naoyoshi and Emi seem to show no signs of concern - they don't even seem to be actively eavesdropping. The common folk hardly understood the fragile peace that existed among samurai clans. Such intricacies were far above them, concerns that only the warrior-nobility were embroiled in.

"You don't need to worry too much," reassured Naoyoshi. "Samurai politics. That's the short and simple answer. Now then..." Naoyoshi stood up as a waitress pulled a cart over to start collecting empty plates and bowls. "Would you still like to visit Abe Military University? We can catch the next train to Kyōto and reach there in about two or three hours of transit."

[Ram]

"So...who checks in on the Shogunate? It is our current government," Emi wondered between mouthfuls. The political climate was difficult to navigate when factoring in the other clans that seem to have a stake in what's going on. Or not. It was above her head and pay grade as a civilian photographer for a magazine. Her brow furrowed just thinking about how to untie the scribbling knot of thoughts on her head. Naoyoshi gave a most reassuring voice that this is all above her head but also gave way to the natural course. As the saying goes, ignorance is bliss.

"Let's head there right now. I haven't been there in a while. Arrange some photos for their annual advertisements every year. A few checks to cash in and done." At that, Emi finished her meal and clapped her hands together. At peace with the meal and her to-go snacks for the train ride back, the girl got up and pointed to the door. "Let's go now before the campus closes up for the public."

[Sengoku]

Abe no Seimei University. Located in Kyōto, the spiritual capital of Japan, the University is where the strongest and brightest end up in to learn from the best. Samurai, ninja, onmyōji, sōhei, and more. The top school in Japan for martial, spiritual, and broad academic studies. Yet another reason as to why Kyōto sees so many tourists on a yearly basis. Pink petals still dance in the wind as they flutter down upon Ichigo's head, the armored Shiba Inu swallowing one to satiate his curiosity. Through the entrance gates are a myriad of students ranging from their late teens to early twenties walking around. Only a few classes are still held on Saturday, with only a handful of students seen in uniform. The vast majority seem to be in whatever attire is fitting for their club, be it a martial arts gi or paint-stained smocks.

There are armed guards at the entrance, sporting armor of the Abe clan.

"Identification?" one of them demands. Without a word, Naoyoshi offers a card to them for inspection. "Ii Naoyoshi?" the guard repeats after reading the card. He nods and further presents a golden badge with the Ii clan's kamon carved on it. "And her?"

"Visiting friend," Naoyoshi replies.

"She stays with you. Anything happens, you're responsible for it."

"Understood."

With that, Emi is given permission to set foot on campus grounds. As they travel deeper into the campus, the more specialized students can be seen now, many of them on the verge of becoming full-fledged samurai. A duo in armor walks by, chatting as they each carry a naginata in hand. Elsewhere, a trio of onmyōji are conversing in their ceremonial robes as a kappa and nekomata sit idly next to them. There's a girl who walks by them in a standard uniform, dropping a shuriken as she passes the two. "Oh shit," she mutters, hastily kneeling down to swipe the throwing star. She shoves it into her purse and hurries along with her head down.

"Welcome to campus," Naoyoshi says to Emi as he leads her through the winding pathways. "Higher education for samurai. And onmyōji. And shinobi. Though I wouldn't recommend you talk about them out loud beyond campus grounds." As if agreeing with him, Ichigo barks as he looks up at Emi, wagging his tail with vigor.

[Ram]

Seeing the campus again left a feeling of nostalgia behind the slight smile to see the place. Yokai and humans mingling and openly talking about their courses and lectures. All for that greater peace and somesuch between the more demonic those in the wilds. She followed Naoyoshi towards the grounds without much consideration to her actual status when a guard stopped them. Imposing as ever, that one. She went to get her wallet for the old ID when Naoyoshi went on to vouch for her. Smartly, Emi gave a playful but stern salute to be on her locally best behavior till granted access.

“Thanks for the warm welcome,” she waved to Naoyoshi’s greeting to the campus. His warning afterwards a bit strange when weren’t they talking about them briefly at the dinner? “I’ll keep that in mind. The topic doesn’t come up naturally so we should be ok there.” The woman agreed before bringing a hand up to the wide of her mouth and whispered across the way but it sounded like its natural volume in his head. “They got eyes and ears about that or something? Won’t you be in more trouble about it?”. Her hand then lowered to resume the louder tone from before.

“So where we get started? Usually I go for the highest place and tether myself there. Anything new and eye catching that came up recently tends to be wonderful highlights for the faculty.” Ah. The faculty. “Ah, right, that lil detail about published media. We should head to the staff offices to get that cleared up before someone makes a call that you brought some voyager here.” Cross the Ts and dot the Is as they say.

[Sengoku]

Emi had a point. For the most part, the Shōgunate does have eyes and ears nearly everywhere when considering the ninja clans spread across Japan. Even so, they can't always keep track of every single exchange over the fragile politics between samurai clans.

"Don't worry. Not like they'll hunt you down for political gossip. They've got more pressing matters to attend to, if I had to guess." The university's grounds displayed a harmony between the man-made structures that formed academic buildings and the natural beauty of trees, shrubbery, and other forms of greenery which hugged the campus. At her suggestion to take photographs from high above, Naoyoshi nodded with a single reply of, "Understood." It takes a full five minutes of walking to reach the main office, where they're both greeted by a team of receptionists.

"Ii-sama! What can we do for you and your friend today?" asks one of the ladies in uniform.

"We'd like to take pictures around campus. Is that permitted?"

"Of course! We only ask you avoid prohibited areas reserved only for faculty and any other sections closed to the public."

With that, they're off. Naoyoshi leads Emi up to the rooftops, a popular hangout area among students and even some teachers. On a weekday, there'd be at least a two or three others up here, playing games, eating, or gossiping. Here on a weekend, it's empty. Quiet. Peaceful. The samurai's finger points out beyond the horizon.

"You have an excellent shot of Kyōto's Imperial Palace from here."

"Not many places offer the same view." The Imperial Castle sits on elevated ground, having served as the old capital's fortress from which the shōgun from past centuries ruled. The cherry blossom trees sway in the wind beneath it, almost like they're dancing for Emi and Naoyoshi. "If I may ask, what's your interest in photography? Planning to be a journalist? Or just appreciating the art for what it is?"

[Ram]

"Sure thing!" Emi eagerly responded politely to the ladies in uniform as they laid out the ground rules of her photography. Following Naoyoshi away from them to the roof as per the request of taking photos from high up, the woman was scratching the back of her head in trying to recall what was still considered staff only and prohibited areas. Assuming that they meant areas that were indoors or special locations like that, there shouldn't be anything to worry about. Still, Emi tried to come up a small list of places to attempt to avoid from past memory of what the school was like during her time there while Naoyoshi took the lead for the roof top.

Once at the top the weekends kept the place as quiet as it usually is. Emi checked around and took a small stroll to glance at the horizon for a good vantage point. The young man was the first to point out the direction of Kyoto's Imperial Castle. Emi moved to follow his pointer finger and sure enough, there was the castle. Her fingers and hand turned to make a rectangle to view through for what the shot could look like. It was far with a good zoom lenses and the weather is in a good light. "I can check a few shots while the weather is still good." The woman then went over to the rails and began to unload her backpack of supplies and equipment. Getting her cameras out and laying them on a napkin map to keep clean and checking the battery life on them as well as getting some climbing rope and clamps. As she was getting prepared, Naoyoshi asked her about the idea of being a journalist. Emi pondered it while getting the knots and straps clamped in place. "Mostly a way to savor the moment. Sure it'd be all mine but I'm not that poetic to say to other people. Journalism is for writing staff that want to make a field and then spend hours writing it for the editor. Being outside gives less time to be couped up, ya know? Plus, there isn't a lot of people that can get shots without spending extra money for mechanical drones. Cameras are expensive enough as is!"

[Sengoku]

"That's a very samurai way of thinking," Naoyoshi replied. "Savoring the moment. Not too different from living in the moment." Several cherry blossom petals fluttered up to them, carried by the wind onto the rooftops. Fleeting beauty. Magnificent, yet transient. Not unlike how the samurai are viewed, those who live glorious lives dancing so closely with death. Quite the opposite of the long-lived yōkai whose years of life can reach centuries. Regarding yōkai, the Imperial Palace was notably devoid of them. That, or they simply resided deep within the palace's walls. A stark contrast to the hustling, bustling campus of Abe University, where students carrying weapons walked alongside a myriad of their supernatural neighbors.

Angling their view down, the dojo lay in the distance, complete with an outdoor sparring arena, with magic barriers raised with talismans. Inside was a student dressed in green armor with a  yari in hand dueling against a kappa surfing on conjured streams of water, occasionally throwing out what seemed to be water bullets from time to time. Elsewhere, a girl in uniform barreled down the road on her bike as a nekomata with twin tails and blue, floating fireballs sat in her basket, content to lick at its front legs. Two crows flew overhead, transforming into their humanoid forms as they touched down upon a different rooftop, dropping a grocery bag filled with snacks to hungry students. Humans and yōkai living in harmony. A synergy more prevalent now than it ever was in the days of old when humanity thought them to be mere folklore.

"Yōkai here don't mind having photos taken, if you're ever interested. I believe some of them even enjoy it." Naoyoshi turns his head to the left, looking at a tengu girl sitting on the railings. Adorned in a light-blue yukata with shoulder-length hair, she waved as the red oni manifested again.

"Heya, Nao-sama, Aka-kun~" she greeted with a grin. Naoyoshi bowed slightly towards her. Akamaru grunted in acknowledgement before asking, "Kiku. Whaddaya want?"

"Damn, Aka-kun... you should learn more manners from Nao-sama and his friend there... maybe even lil' Ichigo!" She fluttered over on black wings before squeezing the excited Shiba Inu's cheeks. "Emi, right? Haven't seen you around before. New member of the Photography Club? Or just sightseeing?" She looked no older than either of them, but knowing yōkai, her lifespan likely reached triple digits. "Ooh! Can you take a photo of me and Ichi-kun here? Nao-sama never brings him up to the rooftops like this!"

[Ram]

The woman tugged on her makeshift rigging and checked over her length of ropes. A sinching knot to tie up for ease of maneuverability and things looked about all set. Emi looked at the gusts of sakura petals moving in the air and wondered what the weather will be like while following the trail of pink petals. The school looked pretty harmonious and lively. Maybe that's what it looks like from the outside in now that she graduated with a use of the basics. Spirits roaming around without a care and chatting with humans could be as much of an otherworldly experience when most humans would have found a world populated by youkai to be the case.

"Do they now? Some student shots won't hurt if found in a good set up." As she was getting the rope finished up for necessary safety precautions, a tengu girl spotted them for a chat. The bright blue of the yukata giving a bright air around them as their presence seemed to have drawn the red oni out to chat. The tengu's wings had them flutter about the trio as Emi watched her greet and squish the cute shiba's face. When their attention shifted to Emi, the woman gave a casual wave in greeting. "Not exactly. Naoyoshi here invited me to take some photos after a run in lunch. The majority of the pics will be given to the school as promotional material." Emi explained as this wasn't a usual topic her magazine would cover. On the request of a picture, Emi shrugged and got her camera ready for the duo. "If he doesn't mind. I'll keep it a single print special in that case so give it your best pose," Emi smirked and got her camera ready with an increased shutter speed for the best frame possible.

[Sengoku]

The tengu girl's sly smirk lit up into a genuine smile for the camera as she hoisted Ichigo into her arms, armor and all.

"What was it that the gaijin say? 'Pleeeeease!' No, no, that's not it... Ah! I think I remember! Cheeeeeese!" With Ichigo's ever-present smile on his face, Emi will have her first shot of the denizens of Abe University. Though the tengu's status of residence here is questionable at best.

"Emi-san! Let's fill up that camera of yours, hmm?" Her ebon-feathered wings burst open again. With a single flap, she generates a gust and soars into the sky, diving back down towards the ground with the Shiba Inu in her hands. Naoyoshi scowls at her while Akamaru erupts with laughter, fading out of existence again as the samurai starts running back downstairs.

"Damn crow..." he mutters. So begins the photo spree.

All across campus, students can be found dressed in all manner of clothes. Weekends allow for a looser dress code, resulting in personal flair and current fashion trends being on full display. Several girls in kimonos, Harajuku fashion, and a customized school uniform pause to pose for the camera with Kiku and Ichigo. The tengu girl escapes Naoyoshi's clutches again as she directs Emi to a group of boys in a mix of gym attire and training gi. They roll up their sleeves and flex before their photographer before being joined in by a kappa surfing by just in time for the camera flash while doing a double peace sign. Several professors smile and wave for Emi while others offer a swift bow while going on their way. An androgynous-looking student dressed in Gothic Lolita attire hung around the fashion hounds, turning to perform Jojo-esque poses for their snapshots. Across from them sat a young man with slicked-back hair and a large coat draped over his shoulders. He sat with pride upon his motorcycle alongside other bikers. Were it not for the fact that they all sported modified school uniforms, one would think they were a bōsōzoku gang. They revved their engines and displayed the backs of their jackets, revealing their respective gangs from the looks of it. "Biker Clubs" as they call it.

"Ii-senpai!" the androgynous boy called out. "I see you're lending Ichigo over to Kiku-neesan. Oh? And a visitor? Photography Club?"

"Yoshi-boy, you didn't tell me we'd have a photo shoot today! Woulda' gotten all dressed up properly for the occasion!" chuckled the biker boss.

"Emi-san. Don't talk to Takeda - he's a troublemaker," Naoyoshi growled.

"Rude... I haven't started anything today! Yet."

The feminine boy bowed before Emi while the other two bickered. "My name is Oboro, Emi-san. A pleasure to meet you! I see you've met Naoyoshi-senpai. Katsumoto-senpai is friendly enough, but he is a troublesome one."

A colorful cast here at Abe University. Lively as ever.