Shinigami's Manor. (Shinigami's Entry)

[SataiRolePlayingGuy]

“I would prefer not to make enemies out of allies.  We might be able to talk them into seeing things our way, but I would prefer to have time to prepare for that, and not be caught by surprise and do it impulsively.”  Jumi answered in a way she hoped Shinigami would understand.  There was too much risk of someone seriously getting hurt if they fought.  Or of her and Mitsuko being considered Broken Girls.  She understood this was not the way Shinigami preferred, but it was for the best.  “I’ll make it up to you at some point.  Give you chances to get out there and do things your way.”  Take her to, carefully, look for monsters at some future point maybe?

Something had to be figured out.  Despite her cute little fantasies back at the manor, she did not consider Shinigami a pet, was not going to try to force her to do anything, but hopefully she could see reason.  “It is not a short walk, let’s focus on getting to our destination for now.”  It could be some time before they ran into anything. If they did, hopefully it was something Shinigami could get some excitement over.  Hopefully calm her a little.

[Warning]

Shinigami snickered again as she listened to the fairy, "Humans are not the kind to listen... What makes you think that time will change that?", she asked a bit coldly, at least feeling some freedom while she was outside. She was still aware of what risks she was put in. Being reckless would lead to the satisfying doom that Death had planned for her punishment. The thought made her look upset and just go on the way they were walking toward. Mitsuko gave a sigh but looked at Jumi. "Please don't take her reaction badly... I don't really understand things the way you do regarding her but I want to make her happy, somehow. Even if we tried to hide her, we have a long way to go with her being in the open.", she said as remark.

Mitsuko thought that maybe that walk together might put them in danger, regardless of how much they wanted to hide that they travelled with a beast girl. But she mostly hoped that, in time of peace, they could manage to relax. Shinigami followed but it looked like she was not fully happy about it or about what was waiting for her once they made it to their destination. Nall being sheltered seemed fine but a wild beast like Shinigami, it could end with her trying to escape if she was bored. Even Mitsuko could not tell what was going on in that vixen's mind right now. Mitsuko's plan did not change, though. She wanted everyone to see her as an ally, not an enemy. It would only happen if she was going to be friendly, however.

For the time being, the tension in-between them was not going to be fun if it remained like this all the way. Mitsuko understood why Jumi wanted to focus on the walk they had to do. The valkyrie bit her lip, trying to figure out a way to ease the mood. Anything to at least entertain Shinigami's mood since she was sure that Jumi would be fine. How long was the fox normally out of her manor? Could she find something fun out of just walking around? "You know... We could sing. Or talk about something fun. Well... I don't know if I'm that good at singing but we have a way to go, after all...", she proposes, finally getting Shinigami to look at her then everyone. "Is that what humans do for fun?", she asked, while eyeing toward Jumi.

[SataiRolePlayingGuy]

This was getting frustrating.  But Jumi had committed to seeing this through and was not going to snap at Shinigami, she somewhat understood Shinigami’s feelings, hoped Shinigami would understand she and Mitsuko were trying to help.  All three of them were likely going to have to do things they would prefer not to to make this work, but charging ahead blindly, fighting anyone who did not approve would just go badly for all of them.

At least Mitsuko was making efforts to try to lighten the mood, though they would have to see how effective it would be.  An interesting choice, something Shinigami could potentially participate in, if she wanted to.  “Talking is pretty normal.  Singing?  Some like it, some don’t.  There were a bunch singing on stage back at the convention.  At least one of them a secret half-demon.”  Would that help at all?  Pointing out it was not technically a purely human thing?  Even if that half-demon was more human than demon.  “You could try to start, maybe we’ll join in.”  She encouraged Mitsuko to try singing if she wanted, as long as it did not seem to annoy Shinigami too much, she might join in.

[Warning]

Mitsuko eyed them as they went. Jumi really encouraged her to do it? Sing in front of them? She was capable of singing melodies but she was nowhere as good as other magical girls or even normal girls when it came to that. "Wait, you are serious...? You want me to... I mean, if she likes it.~", she said while turning her head to Shinigami who now appeared to be more focused on Jumi after she had spoken. "You said... Secret half-demon? You humans harbor non-humans commonly or is there something I'm not understanding? I thought you despised non-humans.", she said to the fairy, with her usual tone of annoyance but, as much as possible, without sounding cold. It made her wonder why she even had to hide.

Mitsuko herself wasn't fully aware of what it was about but knowing Jumi, she was sure that it wasn't anything bad. If anything that Diamond had told her was true, and she was sure that she had no reason to lie to her, perhaps a certain affinity with demons or creatures like Shinigami was not so crazy to consider. Even if, evidently, nobody was willing to accept that. Mitsuko knew not to trust any demons but she trusted that the fox beast girl was not one. Still, Shinigami probably asked so she could find her meaning in all this. Nall himself kept quiet but still showed some curiosity. "Well... It's best Jumi tells us. I'd like to understand how this world work as well.", she said quietly, making the fox eye her then Jumi again.

[SataiRolePlayingGuy]

“You said it yourself earlier.  Demons are not kind to us.  Often force themselves on us, and occasionally it leaves one of us with an unplanned child.”  Jumi did not know much about that girl Alexandrine found, could not say a lot, but despite appearances, Shinigami was not a demon, it might be worth explaining generalities.  “Most of the population has no idea it can or does happen.  But we, Magical Girls and Knights, are aware some of us are born that way.  Some can hide it more easily than others, only showing signs while transformed, other have to dress carefully and hide in the shadows.  They did not choose their parents, they are not our enemy, unless they join the demons.  As traumatic as it is for the mother, they rarely if ever abandon such a child.”

That was the basics anyway.  Details varied on a case by case basis.  “But the one I’m referring to was one Alexandrine only found a few days ago.  Daughter of a demon she has a long history with and extra personal hate for.  Finding the girl and eventually dealing with her father was one of the things she had to do, when she left us.”

[Warning]

Shinigami listened like it was the first time she had heard all of this, being herself secluded away from the human worlds most of the time. She was not against sexual fun herself but it seemed like demons had no rules at all if they decided to assault humans. If most of their kinds didn't know about it, it made sense she herself didn't either, or even Mitsuko with how new she was. She knew of demons but not of what impact they did to the world. It seemed like even half-demons needed to hide but at least they did go out free, more or less. "I didn't choose my mother either... Best leave her out of this. Only you should know. So they must hide, too. Fine then, but I don't like it...", she said, still annoyed about the fact.

Mitsuko felt a little sad but she came closer to hug her, not really hesitating. Last time she had done that, Shinigami didn't quite understand the action but slowly, she was understanding that, at least when it concerned Mitsuko, it meant a sign of affection. Why the valkyrie even felt this way toward her still felt complicated to her but she let it happen. "Demons and half demons are not well seen but if we can prove that you're not a demon, we might succeed to make you fit it. There has to be a way... We could test her blood, no? Or test her with holy water.", Mitsuko offered, feeling that some kind of medical or magical experience could do something. Shinigami only raised an eyebrow though, looking toward Jumi.

[SataiRolePlayingGuy]

Setting aside lingering confusion over just what Shinigami’s mother was, and uncertainty if that woman still wanted her after everything that happened, she mostly intended to avoid that subject.  Shinigami might not  be a demon, but there seemed to be some similarities there.  A sensitive subject, Jumi intended to avoid sensitive subjects without good reason, especially after the fight back at the manor.  She paused to let Mitsuko try to comfort Shinigami, hopefully it would at least a little.

The war between humans and the various demons/monsters/aliens reached back into prehistory.  There was good reason to be careful about revealing the truth of the Magical Girls/Knights that had such blood.  They were accepted within the group, but after so many had died after so many years, many average people would possibly fear or hate such people, not trust them.  “…Holy water?”  She asked with a small amused smile.  It was nice Mitsuko cared so much and was trying to think of something.  Though it led to bring something up.  “It isn’t easy to test such things.  With blood, while Shinigami isn’t a demon, I have no idea how close her’s would appear in such a test, if anyone involved could say that so definitely.  Looking to holy water, or divine or magic stuff…”

”…there are not a lot of options to test such things.  Unless you want to take a detour.  It is closer than home, though we are in the wrong side of the city.  A little ways outside of the city is an old well established temple.  Headed by a Knight and his family, who happens to be Alexandrine’s brother-in-law.”  Was it worth it taking a detour to go there.  She was not certain any solution would be found there, but it was one option to consider.  If they were going to try, it would be easiest to do it now, before they got further from it.

[Warning]

Mitsuko pouted at first, keeping Shinigami close to feel some fur. "Y-yeah. holy water... I thought demons were weak to it. Or that's what they say in movies and games. Though, I was given magic of light to fight them... I thought that maybe it would work. O-of course I do not want to hurt Shinigami.", she told them, precising that no harm should be done to the fox who, for now, just stood there and took what Mitsuko was doing. Feeling contact like this was not a thing she was used to but she could not complain, doing her best not to let her tail move unusually. When Jumi finally mentioned a possible way for them to test something, Mitsuko turned her head to her. Could they really find out if Shinigami was friendly?

"Yes...! We have to go!", Mitsuko exclaimed, feeling suddenly hopeful for a solution. "A-and we can visit some new place together. Right?", she asked, looking at everyone but also at Shinigami who rolled her eyes but she wasn't against finding out how that would end for her, having no reasons to doubt Mitsuko or Jumi for now. "Fine, if the girl wants to go, we will walk. For the record, I am not a demon but I can't say for sure how my mother gave me life. Don't go cry if humans still see me like a monster.", she said, looking away for now while Mitsuko remained quiet. Her eyes turned to Jumi, "Show us the way, then. It might still be fun to see what that temple is about. Or the guardians inside.", she told her, cooperative.

Edited 3 hours ago by Warning