- Lucifer, Sabu, and Amaterasu -
Lucifer and Death had met up with the others to discuss potential next moves. Death decided he would go meet with the various yokai leaders to try and convince them to help with the current situation. Lucifer had noticed something was off with Sabu so he decided to have the two of them go off into the entertainment district to talk.
"I'm sorry," Lucifer apologized. "I should have been more aware of what this place would mean to you."
Sabu sighed, "It's not your fault. The memories are hazy anyways. Maybe if the memories were clearer, this place would be less...impactful."
"Throw the knife!" a random voice in a spectating crowd yelled.
Because of Sabu's refusal to get food, Lucifer thought it might be better if the two stop off at one of the many prize games set up around the entertainment district. The two were at a knife-throwing game that had a red and white target set about ten meters away. There was a weasel yokai in a robe impatiently tapping his foot.
"This knife's weighting is terrible," Sabu whispered to Lucifer.
"THROW!" multiple yokai were now yelling.
Sabu sighed and threw the knife, hitting the center of the target, causing the crowd to gasp in shock. "I appreciate the concern. I'm sure the feeling will pass once we're out of the territory."
"Nice throw," Amaterasu complimented, drawing the crowd's attention.
Amaterasu walked up to Lucifer and asked if the two could talk.
"No," Lucifer motioned Sabu to leave with him.
Lucifer and Sabu started walking, ignoring Amaterasu as they went. Amaterasu followed close behind, continuing to speak to Lucifer.
"I have a proposition for you."
"Fuck off," Lucifer tilted his head back slightly.
Amaterasu jogged ahead of the two and faced them while walking backward.
"I know you hate me but please hear me out. I want you to practice with me."
Lucifer stopped. "Why? Just accept that you lost."
Amaterasu, failing to hide the irritation in her tone responded, "I do. This is about improving by," she made an obviously strained grin, "fighting someone slightly better."
Lucifer's eyes narrowed. "Those aren't your words, are they?"
"What does it matter, so long as I agree with them?" Amaterasu said through her teeth.
"I think you should do it," Sabu sighed.
Amaterasu went to speak but Sabu continued, interrupting her.
"Sometimes you have to prove a difference in strength over and over again before someone understands their place."
Amaterasu bit a hole through her tongue to stop herself from saying what she was thinking. She waited to hear Lucifer's response.
"Fine," Lucifer begrudged. "Same place as before I assume? I'll let you know when I'm available."
"Tank you," Amaterasu misspoke as she bowed, blood dripping from her mouth.
- Han'ei -
The days went on with mostly frustration. Death and Xiao found no luck with the yokai leaders. Death's presence seemed more of a hindrance with most beings hiding from the Grim squad. While the random attacks on Xiao's squad stopped altogether it appeared the aggression was being shifted to other regions of Han'ei.
Lucifer had been dodging Amaterasu's asks for his availability. He wanted to focus on helping Xiao's squad with getting information while also making sure Sabu was okay. After the frustrating series of days, he decided that training with Amaterasu might be a good way to relieve stress, or at the very least, get her to leave him alone.
- Amaterasu and Lucifer -
Lucifer and Amaterasu were back at the training field that they had initially dueled in. Amaterasu was stretching while weaving a small flame along her body.
"Why are your flames blue?" Amaterasu asked while folded in half during her stretch.
"I don't know," Lucifer groaned. "They're hotter than normal flames, as I'm sure you've noticed. Other than that, there's nothing special about it."
"Mmm," Amaterasu responded doubtfully. "Why do you have crow wings?"
"Crow?" Lucifer questioned. "Not karasu?"
"Same difference, apparently," Amaterasu shrugged while upside down. "I know you're not karasu, so I'm assuming you're either part crow or this is something hellspawn demon-related."
"You want information?" Lucifer grumbled. "Earn it. Every hit you land on me is one question I'll answer from now on."
Amaterasu whipped herself up and cracked her neck. "I don't think you have enough answers for that."
Lucifer and Amaterasu trained with the same fervor as when they had fought, with the main exception this time being that they stopped after three confirmed hits. Lucifer lost two-three, resulting in an exaggerated mocking from Amaterasu. The next round, Lucifer won three-zero, resulting in a severe string of insults.
"Have you tried leaving your mother's shadow before a battle?"
The training continued with back-and-forth wins. Ultimately, Lucifer came out on top, winning seventy percent of the matches.
"ANOTHER!" Amaterasu demanded.
"Your time's up," Lucifer reminded. "You can wait until our next session to lose."
Amaterasu threw an explosive orb into the sky out of anger, swearing and stomping her feet as she went.
"You owe me answers!"
"Pfft," Lucifer rolled his eyes. "Fine, go ahead, but I'm not answering anything I don't want to."
Lucifer was surprised by Amaterasu's questions.
"How many humans know of me? Of my mother and father? Why are humans reborn into your part of the world and not ours?"
Lucifer answered as best he could, trying to be careful with what he said.
"Why not ask the Kages?"
Amaterasu pouted. "They're stingier with that type of information. I normally wouldn't care enough to go searching for these answers but since you're here, might as well take advantage of the situation."
"Surprisingly honest," Lucifer mumbled while narrowing his eyes.
Amaterasu's chain of questions continued, taking more of Lucifer's time than their initial training session did. While Lucifer was in the middle of answering a question, he noticed a look of anxiety on Amaterasu's face. He assumed the worst, and turned with aggression, only to be met by a staring Tsukuyomi.
- Lucifer and Tsukuyomi -
Amaterasu dashed away in her wolf form before Lucifer could turn around. Lucifer was confused but still on guard.
"What do you want?"
Tsukuyomi bowed lightly. "I just want to talk."
"Uh-huh," Lucifer doubted.
"It's the truth," Tsukuyomi lifted his head and looked directly into Lucifer's eyes.
Lucifer had already spent more time with Amaterasu than he had initially planned. He wanted to leave. While he hated Amaterasu, he wasn't much fonder of Tsukuyomi. The moon god was well-known for an unapologetically classist attitude. Lucifer decided it would be best to speed through the conversation as quickly as he could.
"Go ahead then. I have somewhere to be."
"That is what I am curious about," Tsukuyomi said. "Why does someone of your balance associate themselves with such beings?"
Lucifer's eyes went wide before sharpening with anger. He didn't have time for another fight nor did he even want to fight Tsukuyomi given what he knew of the god's power. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He softened his expression and spoke as calmly as he could muster.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?!"
Tsukuyomi tilted his head curiously. "I just want to know why. I am not asking you to defend your actions."
"DEFEN-" Lucifer caught himself. "Fine, you want to know so badly? I "associate" with them because they're good people. Because I trust them. Because gods like you," he pointed at Tsukuyomi, ", disgust me."
"Oh," Tsukuyomi responded calmly. "So you have never met an awful lesser in your life then?"
"Excuse me?" Lucifer questioned.
Tsukuyomi continued, "What I mean to say, is that from what I have seen of this world, those on the top and bottom are the disgusting ones. Stomping from the top, clawing from the bottom, destroying the balance that the world requires. I always thought you were one of the most balanced beings I have ever known of."
"Balanced?" Lucifer's expression shifted from anger to confusion. "I...I don't have any more time for this."
Lucifer flew off.
"Until next time," Tsukuyomi waved goodbye.
- Julius, Salim, Izanagi -
"They're here, lord Izanagi," A shadow yokai bowed.
Izanagi opened his eyes. "Let them in."
A heavily cloaked Julius and Salim walked into the room. They both bowed, expecting Izanagi to turn around. When he didn't, the two took it as an invitation to speak first.
Salim spoke, "As you know, lord Izanagi, we are here to represent a certain organization after multiple failed attempts to make contact through the echo. We mean no offense or aggression to the territory and are merely here to extend an offer."
"I know," Izanagi said, still not opening his eyes. "I know you're organization's true name, what you want from me, my wife, my territory, all of it. Skip the pleasantries and just speak what I already know so I can return to my seeing."
Salim looked to Julius who just shrugged. Julius took over, speaking with a hint of irritation in his voice.
"We just wanted to know if you'll join our organization when the time comes? It was a simple question, which is why we tried reaching you through an echo call first. We respect your strength and don't want to waste your time or ours. I'm sure you can "see" what this proposed alliance is for?"
Izanagi's face strained. He opened his eyes and stood up slowly. He turned around, glaring at Julius. As he took a step forward, the two stepped back.
"Say what you want, properly."
Salim spoke, "Kill Lucifer. If you do you'll have our organization's full support for the future. Or, if you prefer, stall Death, and allow me and my friend here to do it for you."
Izanagi's fists clenched. "How dare you."
"Look-" Julius went to speak but was stopped by Salim.
"You knew we were coming and yet you didn't warn them. It's clear that you're unsure of the future, so please don't do anything certain right now. You have until Lucifer leaves the territory to give us an answer."