Shinigami's Manor. (Shinigami's Entry)

[Warning]

Shinigami kept learning more and more about them. Maybe there was some hope with those humans. Peace was a word she didn't exactly have in mind before while serving her mother but with Mitsuko and Jumi being part of her life now, perhaps there was a chance of that. "Understood... I will trust you on that, then.", she said shortly, figuring that if she was hurt, Mitsuko and possibly Jumi might give them a piece of their mind. Not that she needed their protection but best was not to cause troubles. Mitsuko also was learning how the war with demon was going on. On one side, she was told not to trust any but on the others, some demons could desire for peace? Still, the valkyrie would try to remain cautious.

As Umi spoke to Mitsuko, she started to see that there were more than one coming there to ask for help. Perhaps this place was the next best chance for them, after all. Even if, as Jumi as said, it was not a guarantee. Shinigami was still treated rather well so far but the human shenanigans were not something that the fox really understood completely well. Still, as she was given some freedom, Shinigami did take that into consideration for later. For now, they were offered to go eat, which probably was a good thing for all of them right now. "Fine, let's do that. Right?", she said but asked Mitsuko and Jumi for confirmation. Mitsuko nodded as well but exchanged a smile with Jumi. "Yes, let's go fill these bellies.", she said.

With how this was going, they would meet people and the leaders, possibly finding a solution to what they came for. For once, Shinigami herself didn't feel as anxious as she looked like back at the convention. Back then, there also was the stress of what happened between her and her mother and that punishment. But now, they were being welcomed among other humans. "It would be nice to meet him... I am pretty new at this and still learning how we fight and what threat we face. I have my own troubles after me as well and it's a little scary. I don't think she will find us here, though." Mitsuko said, vaguely leaving out who exactly was running after her. If asked, though, she might explain, not wanting to lie.

[SataiRolePlayingGuy]

Umi led the way to an open room, with several long wooden tables and numerous chairs.  “It can be crowded several times a day, at our meal times, but you all should be able to have a quiet meal, with just yourselves, me and maybe Hikaru.  I will go make arrangements for food and check on Hikaru.  Feel free to sit and wait.  After we are done eating, we will decide whether to check the library, or give you a bit of time to rest, either exploring or in one of our guest rooms.” 

Jumi took a seat near the end of one of the tables, let out a soft sigh, happy to set a little while and rest her legs, as Umi stepped out of the room.  “I’ve seen the library myself.  Impressively large, surprising how much material they have, though I have read very little of it myself.  Have not seen too much more of the place, so can’t tell you too much what you might find wandering.  The guest rooms are comfortable, though unless we want to spend some time researching, I doubt we will spend the night.”  It depended on how quickly something could be found, library or elsewhere.  She would not rule out staying, especially if Mitsuko and Shinigami wanted it, but a shorter stay seemed more likely,

[Warning]

Mitsuko followed Jumi after Uni started leaving, sitting near her while Shinigami followed them just the same. Nall however just landed on the table near them. Mitsuko waited that they were mostly alone to speak, following what Jumi explained about the library. "We know Shinigami's origins, though... What are we supposed to find now that would help us? Would there be a proof that she is not a demon? Or a way to help her fit in?", Mitsuko asked a few questions curiously. Shinigami herself just looked around passively, slightly annoyed about what time they might waste searching. "Death is Death... Don't humans know about her? You are all so mortal, I had no doubt that you would.", she said, like it was obvious.

Mitsuko scratched her head, though. "It's... It's not that simple. Life and death are normal parts of being humans. We never really ask how we're born or how we die... Besides, throughout times, Death had many names. I mean... Ancient civilizations spoke of gods guiding them through death. Um... Ancient history is not really easy to understand, though.", she tried to explain what she had learned at school but it didn't seem to convince Shinigami much. She barely knew her own "mother" all that much. Was she death itself or simply a holder of the power of death? Regardless, she was still the one that created her or at least brought her to life in this world, as far as she knew. The other mystery about her was the relics.

Those were seemingly destroyed into the sound breaking explosion created by Shinigami herself, destroying the portal to her manor or the dimension as a whole. Mitsuko however was not there to see her part with them, hiding them in the manor while she was with Jumi. A thing that she remembered, however. "The power that you used before you take us, though... Was it a demon's power? You controlled a number of sort.", Mitsuko asked, leading to Shinigami turning to her. "You mean the spell of doom. It was a power of the relic, handed to me by my mother. Putting a time on someone's life. Once the counter ends, the life it cursed ends with it. I can't do that anymore.", she answered as honestly as she could.

Mitsuko's eyes saw no reasons for her to lie. If the relics were the bad things and Shinigami was completely separated from them and her mother, she might be considered friendly. Still, she was too new at this to have a proper judgement in this world of magic. Turning her gaze to Jumi and Nall, she still wondered how far all of this went. Her, a guardian of Althena, according to Nall. Jumi was her own kind of magical girl as well. "What do you think, Jumi...?", she finally asked, figuring that she would not be able to figure this on her own. What she wished for was evident but was it realistic? She would not give up on the fox, though. Perhaps their meeting was coincidental and strange but she had followed them this far.

[SataiRolePlayingGuy]

Research into Shinigami’s mother, how different she was from demons, it was one option to this.  The library was one place to look, maybe, but she was hopeful there were other possibilities here too.  She did not have a good idea what they might be though.  She came up with this idea because the people at the temple might have ideas or consider something she had not.  She was unfortunately probably not going to be very helpful in this conversation.

”The library could have some other sort of information, to help convince people she is not a threat, or maybe blend in.  Or speaking of relics, maybe they have something that could help in that area.  Maybe they can convince their ancestor to help.”  The last part was not entirely serious.  But they were already connected to gods through Mitsuko.  Who knew?  Just maybe that Maxim they were supposedly descended from could help in some way.  “But that is why we are here.  Hopefully they already have ideas, or can think of something petty quick.  This sort of thing is new to me, and I don’t have ideas of how to convince most people to accept Shinigami.”  Outside of the people in this temple, Alexandrine and Nymphia, there might be a small number of similarly open minded people, but they would need help to get most to accept her.

[Warning]

Mitsuko was once more lost as to what Jumi said meant. Could any ancestors help somehow? This place seemed to hold many secrets. Still, Jumi had a point. In a world focused on humans or defending humanity as a whole, simply asking the people to accept Shinigami was going to be hard. What Mitsuko hoped however was for her to at least be left alone and not slain on sight. Humans may dislike her or not respect her but the valkyrie wanted to defend her, at the very least. She already wanted to be Jumi's knight of sort as well. She had a lot of work on her hands... "Right. I... still want to find out what we can in this place. Besides, once we're done, we can get a lift back home, right?", she asked, hoping it was true.

Shinigami and Nall both looked lost on what these researches would bring but the fox at least felt comfortable for once, curious about how far this "peace" between her and the people there would last. Even Nall was curious about people connected to gods somehow but he was looking forward to food right now. "Well, it won't hurt being here, I suppose. Better than being locked in a room forever in fear of your kind. However, I'm not a pet and I don't intend to stay like this. Underestimating me would be a mistake, with or without relics. You might not like to hear it but I'll fight any attackers if I must. If your kind is so stupid that they want to see me as the enemy, they'll lose an ally.", Shinigami said, a bit fed with this...

Mitsuko blinked, seeing an annoyed Shinigami but still, if she meant the part about being an ally, it might still be a win for at least her and Jumi. Humans would probably do as Jumi said and blame her with accusations of corruption if they tried to show her the world. Maybe it was silly of her to think that humans may accept her, especially after the convention. But still, Shinigami clearly didn't like this plan to hide and take it slowly. She didn't want to let go of her freedom. Whether Mitsuko liked it or not, conflict would happen soon or later. Being accused of being corrupted seemed like an easy way out for the magical girls to explain whatever alliance they had, whether it was true or not, to justify wanting to slay her.

"...I said it before, Shinigami. I won't let them try. I might be new at this but I'll stay by your side. But... I don't want my choice to put Jumi in danger either...", Mitsuko then said, looking at everyone there. She was torn between her choice to help Shinigami and what history Jumi already had in this world. She knew better than both she and Shinigami and she may or not want to defy other magical girls for the sake of the fox, who was mostly their captor. Was she wrong to want this? looking down for a bit, she slowly stood up. "I need a walk... Sorry, I will eat later. Please give my apologies to miss Umi for this. I will be back later...", the valkyrie said before she left, making sure Nall wouldn't follow her around, this time.

[SataiRolePlayingGuy]

That was getting frustrating.  Jumi understood Shinigami was not human, was having to go through a lot, but she had to understand they were trying to help.  She was still a little scared of saying too much, causing even more trouble, but with Mitsuko gone and in response to that, she had to say something.  She just hoped it would not be taken the wrong way.  "Nobody is telling you to stay locked up forever or be a pet.  But we can't fight the world either.  This whole mess is due to ancient history, goes back to before history.  We can't change the world overnight.  Defend yourself if there is no choice, but please try to avoid a fight with humans, until we can figure something out.  Of course I still hope we can find something here that will make people at least somewhat more accepting.  But this has very little chance of being quick or easy.  But me and Mitsuko still intend to find a way."  She wanted to go check on Mitsuko, but this felt more important.  She should at least wait for Umi and perhaps Hikaru.  Though depending on where Mitsuko wandered off too, maybe she would stumble on Hikaru before Umi found him.  At least if he was not in his personal room.

Mitsuko would not be able to enter the library on her own, the door was sealed, only a member of the temple family could open it.  Same with the room with the altar to Maxim.  But maybe he was in the main chamber, sitting in his chair, having a vague resemblance to a king on a throne, that was how she thought of it, the few times she had seen him there.  Any solution they might find here was not likely to be in a place a guest could randomly walk into on their own.

[Warning]

Shinigami looked at Jumi but didn't look upset toward her or anything. Maybe she had not understood properly but this was what she had intended to do. "I didn't plan to fight the world. Not anymore, at least. I gave up on that life to protect the two of you but maybe you forgot that, didn't you? I will defend myself but I don't intend to fight anyone on a whim.", she said honestly, not wanting to pick a fight for fun. Not with a human, anyway. Unless one of them was looking for a fight then they would get what they paid for. Still, hearing that the both of them intended to find a way for peace at least made her feel slightly thankful even if she would not admit that, at this time. Nall remained quiet, waiting but following the exchange.

The fox looked annoyed but her face said a lot by itself, showing a painful look of being stuck in a situation she was not used to. She may have switched sides for Mitsuko and Jumi but she had spent quite a long time exploring human ways before that and yet, all of this was still new to her. For now, she only sat with her arms and legs crossed on her chair, not looking anywhere in particular. She was trying to relax while she waited, not wanting to bother the two others anymore with her complaining, especially while Mitsuko was gone. If anything, she was finding out more about the structures and cultures of humans, randomly wondering if more of them enjoyed bathing as much as she did herself. What else could she learn?

Mitsuko meanwhile, needed a walk on her own but didn't go extremely far. She stayed around the temple, at least. With all of this situation and what she dragged the others through, out of random love for a fox she just had met, hoping she would not end regretting what troubles that would bring. Lenneth also stressed her, after the first day she had seen her in her room, miraculously surviving an attack that was supposed to kill her that day. Even Shinigami almost died fighting her. Mitsuko felt like she was bringing lot of troubles to this new world and she didn't like it. The magical experience had turned bad quickly but maybe things would get better. Still, she had reasons to be anxious and only needed some time to think.

Edited yesterday at 12:45 AM by Warning

[SataiRolePlayingGuy]

Jumi was relieved a bit by that response.  She did believe progress had been made, but she was still clearly a little shaken up by that fight.  By how offended Shinigame had been in that moment, but maybe it was just a one time thing.  If it was, maybe she could shake this off eventually.  Get that old spirit back.  She was considering whether or not to say more, it looked like Shinigami might want to wait until Mitsuko and/or Umi returned.  Fortunately, Umi stepped back in.

”Ah, Mitsuko will be back in a little.  She, just wanted a walk.”  Jumi spoke up as Umi noticed her absence.  Umi nodded.  “Hikaru is here.  He will be joining us shortly.”  She took a seat, as a member of the temple brought out a little to start with, almost restaurant style, a basket filled with rolls, placed in the middle of the table.  “More will be coming shortly.  Please take some, if you like.”  She was not sure if it was the sort of thing Shinigami or Nall would like but Jumi took some, as well as herself.  “If Mitsuko does not return before we discuss serious matters, we can look for her.  But we can take a moment to eat and wait for Hikaru.”

[Warning]

Shinigami remained quiet until Umi was back. Thankfully, Jumi did the business to warn her about Mitsuko, wherever she had gone. "Things are not easy for her. Can't say I understand it all but she did look troubled. With Lenneth after her, I understand. Odin doesn't want a chosen of Althena to interfere with his plans.", Nall said like it was normal but soon food came up and his eyes shone bright. "I must eat...!", he simply said as he went to pick a roll. Shinigami for herself, raised an eyebrow but picked a roll and replied, not caring that Umi was there to hear it. "...So this Lenneth cat is also the pet of some god? How fitting... I hope my mother at least made her suffer. Next time I see her, she's dead...", she stated a bit upset.

Nall stopped in the middle of eating his roll, eyeing the fox, "Mitshuko ish the one shupposed to fight her.", he said, a little clumsily before swallowing what he was eating, "Althena sent the sword down to her so she could defeat her but she is not ready yet... Lenneth didn't give her any time to prepare. She is very strong but um, you were already hurt by her so you know.", he continued but shifted his gaze to Jumi as well. With all the strange things that had happened, Nall only expected to find Mitsuko. Seeing Jumi as a friend of hers was normal in a human way but everything that had happened since the interference of Shinigami was far from planned. What he had seen at the manor was even pretty strange for humans.

As for Shinigami, it gave some answer as to why she looked the way she did transformed. The sword in question didn't look all that special but maybe if she grew stronger. "Well, whatever... I guess I have to do what I said and protect her. And you? What's your intentions with her?", the vixen said but then asked to Jumi. She knew the two were together, clearly, but she knew nothing of the lives outside of what had happened back at the manor. "I heard her say that she intends to protect you. She's cute but easily vulnerable...", she said with a grin of sort, not just meaning in battle. Mitsuko was quite easy to break and made to squirm in pleasure. Twice, even... Shinigami knew the risks of a sexual assault on their bodies.

Nall only blinked, not being sure what she meant so he continued to eat while Shinigami herself felt more protective, in a way. She knew the power of Lenneth and protecting them was the only reason she had gone out there to risk her life. A miscalculated attack that could have ended worse for her. Lenneth was not the kind to attack with pleasure. It was nothing but destruction in her path. How was this Hikaru going to help them with at least the issue of her being with them? For now, they waited for both him to come and Mitsuko to come back. Surely, she would not take too long. If she wanted to find more about how to solve this issue, she had to be there to hear it. She would need to eat as well, after that long walk.

 

Mitsuko tried to find relief by walking around the temple. Her legs hurt by the walk they had done to reach this place already but she just needed to regain her composure. She was not alone. She had to remember that Jumi and Nall were there with her but also Shinigami now. These were more friends than she usually hanged with. Two very new kinds of friend, three even since Jumi was more than just a girl. She was a magical girl who was used to this world but she could as well be her mentor. Alone, she would be scared a lot worse but now... Perhaps she would be fine. A shade of doubt haunted her mind but it was best that she would come back for now. Slowly but surely, she would make her way back toward the room.

Edited 13 hours ago by Warning

[SataiRolePlayingGuy]

Umi silently listened to the talk of other gods.  Names she had heard of, but did not know a lot about.  That could be a complication, but they were connected to Mitsuko, not Shinigami.  Perhaps they could still obtain Maxim’s aid in one way or another.  “She has been chosen for a difficult life.  She can not be blamed for the difficulty in adjusting.  But with support, she should be able to find happiness.”  To be chosen by a greater power, it carried responsibility, burdens.  But while it was another god who made the choice than the one she worshipped, she trusted Mitsuko was chosen for good reason.  Mitsuko would also hopefully find happiness in what they fought for.

Jumi was taking her time to eat a little, intent on letting Umi do the talking, but not eating too much before the main meal arrived.  But then she was asked a question.  Why that question?  She had to remind herself Shinigami was not human, did not necessarily know or care that there right times and places to ask a question that more private, for the two of them and Mitsuko.  It was a complicated thing too, a sort of relationship she had avoided up until now.  It was not necessarily something she could put into words as well as she would like.

”I am her mentor, ally.  Will help her learn this life, learn to fight.  I am happy she wants to protect me, but until she is more experienced, it is my responsibility to protect her.  I intend to stay by my side.  She is my partner in all of this.”  A word she chose intentionally.  Applying both to them as Magical Girls, but their life in general.  She would still have other companions in bed, she seemed to have opened Mitsuko’s mind to doing the same.  But Mitsuko was the first, man or woman, that she begun to shift into a more serious relationship with.