The group walked further into the temple, stopping at a room dedicated specifically to the Fox King. Though it was obvious, due to how much fox iconography there was everywhere within the room. The room was split, with tatami mats covering the floor, up to what seemed to be a large shrine devoted to the Fox King, who would sit within, usually covered by a thin veil that would obscure their appearance. Yin could both see and smell her, sitting carefree inside the shrine half of the room.
"Ah~ Hello there. Sorry about those two. The people here get defensive about-" Yin ignored her voice and turned to the side, glancing at a sliding door.
She had also noticed Ghislaine seemed mildly amused once they stepped inside. Though Shia and Blake were none the wiser still.
"Heavens me~ You found out so fast." The voice they'd heard from within the shrine section changed, having come from behind the sliding door to their left.
*SLIIIIDE*
A beautiful woman walked in, her pink hair, tied up in two ponytails immediately drawing their attention. Her striking yellow eyes focused on Yin's own serpentine red eyes. Her orange fox ears and tail twitched, showing her amusement at having been exposed so quickly.
"Mn. You're still a trickster." Ghislaine mused, taking a seat in front of the kotatsu table set up in front of the shrine.
"Eh... She was just.. in that other room..?" Shia stated, confused.
"That was an illusion, Miss Bunny. Pleased to officially meet you all. Come, make yourself at home, like Ghislaine has." Tamamo greeted, taking a seat across from Ghislaine.
Yin acquiesced, sitting beside Ghislaine while Blake and Shia both sat on opposite sides. Looking around, the room was strangely cozy, for being a room where the Fox King had a shrine.
"Now where was I? Ah, yes. Those two are rather protective of me. Though, a lot of my people are. Tea?" Tamamo offered.
Yin shrugged, though Shia rapidly nodded.
"Please. The desert was so hot.." Tamamo covered her mouth and giggled at Shia's honesty and flicked her wrist, a kettle floating over to the table from another room, along with tea cups, tea bags, cream and sugar, all neatly set up on the table.
"Please, go right ahead. I suspect our talk may be lengthy." Tamamo smiled, gesturing them to help themselves.
"Thanks." Yin said, subtly glancing at the sliding door Tamamo came from.
Tamamo noticed this and smiled once more, her eyes gaining an intrigued gleam in them as she watched Yin pour herself a tea. A sort of secret conversation began between the two of them, just using their eyes and micro expressions.
"You're a scary kid, you know that?" Tamamo said after a minute of silence.
The corners of Yin's lips curve up slightly as she takes a sip of her tea. "It's not the first time I've dealt with crafty people. I came to Menagerie prepared. But you should already know that much. Let's get straight into business now."
Tamamo tapped her fingers rythmically on the kotatsu table top and hummed in agreement.
"Sounds good to me. I'd like to procure your technology, to use in my town. I've seen how Kuo Kuana flourishes, and I'm interested. I also saw that display, months back at the Tiger Temple. That old ancestor isn't easy to talk to. I'm curious.. who are you, really?" Tamamo asked, leaning forward, her sizable breasts pressing against the kotatsu, either to tease her or to lower her guard.
Either way, Yin had no issue looking at the fox lady's impressive bust.
"As a Fox lady yourself, I thought you'd know of me. Does the name 'Hecate' mean anything to you?" Yin shot a question back, immediately seeing Tamamo stiffen.
"...Oh. Well then..." Tamamo lost her composure completely, sitting up straight, with an awkward look on her face.
"I should have paid more attention to that hag's lessons.. Yes, she is.. familiar. Did she.." Tamamo paused.
"Send me here? In a way, yes. But let's put that behind us now. I was only curious if you knew her, since you're a Kitsune." Yin replied, confusing both Blake and Shia, while Ghislaine had a general idea what she was referring to.
"Haa~ Okay, good. That kind of talk makes me nervous. Now that your identity is solidified.. How about giving that life-improving tech out, hm?" Tamamo smiled, putting on a cute face and posing her hands out.
The sudden shift from serious, to this kind of mood was jarring for them, to say the least. Though Ghislaine didn't seem to mind it. Likely due to knowing Tamamo the longest.
"I don't mind. As long as you guys agree to unite under one banner." Yin casually replied, making Tamamo's smile stiffen in response.
"Eh~ Well, I'd love to. But we all have.. differing opinions on what we should do about the other Kingdoms. Our current status is what's keeping us from officially becoming a Kingdom, but it's complicated.." Tamamo sighed, glancing at Ghislaine, who seemed content with taking small sips of her tea.
"You mean about how all three of you can't agree on a course of action to take against the humans? The real issue you face is with the SDC and Chrollo groups. Some small groups of people may hate the Faunus, but those two are behind a lot of the anti-Faunus campaigns in Atlas, Vale and Mistral." Yin replied, setting her cup down.
"Ghislaine wanted to remain on the defensive, uniting the Island and becoming an official Kingdom to put pressure on the SDC, Chrollo and Atlas high Council. You, want to take the fight to the SDC and Chrollo, along with freeing the Faunus workers 'contracted' to work in the mines. Muzaka wants to take Atlas down, alongside the SDC, Chrollo and anyone else who discriminates against the Faunus. One wants to pursue peace and freedom through diplomacy, one wants to fight for freedom and destroy corruption, and one wants total war. I get that right?" Yin asked, seeing Blake squirm uncomfortably to herself.
"Pretty much~ Ghislaine's idea won't work while we're fractured and in a disagreement. Muzaka's is.. too extreme. But he lost the love of his life to humans. A lot of bad things that happened to him and his people are due to humans. So he has extremists and sympathizers." Tamamo nodded.
"And your idea will get your people killed, get Menagerie labeled as a rogue state full of terrorists and eventually get Atlas involved. It'll only take one bad mistake for the SDC and Chrollo PMC to use their connections and solidify you as a threat to the other Kingdoms." Yin's words made Tamamo's brows crease, though she had to admit, she wasn't wrong.
But what could they do? Things were getting worse every day for them.
"I have a plan." Yin said, cutting her thoughts short.
Blake leaned in, having been waiting to hear this for a while.
"Ah~? Tell me." Tamamo folded her hands and listened intently.
"First, we need to get Muzaka and you to agree to unite the Faunus here on Menagerie. Second, all White Fang operations must come to a complete halt. At least, for three years. With you all coming together, with my growing company and the economy of a united Menagerie, we can have you negotiate to free the people in the mines." Yin started to explain.
Tamamo frowned, "That just sounds like Ghislaine's plan.. It'd certainly help, to have your company set up here.. But the SDC would never agree."
"Yes, not while public sentiment was on their side. Not while Atlas backed them. I'm aiming to become a public figure in Atlas. One who can sway the people." Yin replied, watching the gears in the Fox Girl's head turn.
"You mean a politician..? That'd take..-" Yin held up her hand to stop her.
"No. There's a different route. Media." Yin stated.
Tamamo furrowed her brows in thought. That was certainly a quicker route. Though becoming a celebrity in Atlas wasn't easy. You needed to be vetted by quite a few people with connections. Atlas and Mantle had their media controlled by the Kingdom, as with any other Kingdom. Though, Atlas had a tighter grip on what could be shown on TV or the Internet.
"You need connections. And being a Faunus.. It'll be hard. How do you intend to get famous in Atlas?" Tamamo asked, inching forward in interest.
"By making connections in Vale. More specifically, Vale's Underworld. I'm going to take over, after I leave Menagerie." Yin smiled, though the implications of that smile made Tamamo shiver. There was a hint of darkness in her tone and face that made her hairs stand on end.
But looking at her, she had to admit. It looked incredibly sexy on her.
*COUGH*
Tamamo cleared her throat (and thoughts) and took a deep breath, thinking of the plan Yin just pitched.
"This.. could work.." Tamamo muttered to herself, though Blake raised her hand.
"We're not in school, Blake." Ghislaine smirked.
"Sorry... Um, how does taking over the criminal side of Vale.. help make the kind of connections you need for Atlas?" Blake asked, idly taking glances at Shia, who almost seemed to understand.
"Vale Councilors, Atlas Councilors, Big names in the entertainment business.. They all have a finger in Vale's Underworld. I wouldn't be surprised if Ozpin himself had one or two. It's big, Blake. Bunch of groups involved too." Yin answered, seeing Shia snap her fingers.
"I got it now!" Shia proudly(?) nodded to herself, having finally understood everything.
"Well, that's a marvelous plan. The issue is.." Tamamo trailed off, giving Yin a wry smirk.
"Muzaka. But he loves his people more tham he hates humans. All he needs to do, is hold off on attacking anyone for three years." Yin said, once more glancing at the sliding door wall.
"Can you do that, Muzaka?" Hearing Yin ask that to the wall, Tamamo snickered into her sleeve, while Ghislaine slightly smiled in pride.
"Hah. Figured you'd sniffed me out as well. Luckily for you, you're right about me." A gruff, masculine voice replied from behind the sliding door, which soon opened.
A silver haired man came into the room, wearing a fur coat with black pants and boots. His chest was exposed, with three deep scars evident in the center of his chest. He sat down, much to the surprise of Blake, who hadn't expected to sit in a room with all three Beast Kings.
"So, will you agree?" Yin asked.
Muzaka softly snorted in amusement, leaning his arm down on the table and looked into Yin's calm crimson eyes.
"I don't follow just anyone. To ask me to set aside my hatred and follow your plan.. I'll accept it if you prove yourself strong enough to lead us. Luckily for you, I know just how you can prove your strength.." Muzaka finished with a toothy grin.
"Do you mean.." Tamamo and Ghislaine were immediately on guard.
"It takes all three of us to take on one, Muzaka. You expect her to-" Tamamo cut herself off as she saw Ghislaine shake her head.
She looked over to Yin, who had an interested, dark smile on her face. Like she was waiting for something..
Muzaka continued, sharing the same smile as Yin.
"It's not only this decision that's preventing a united Menagerie. We have two more things preventing us from uniting. Leviathan of the deep sea, who has taken to wandering our coast. And the King of Flames, Ifrit the Destroyer. He's taken a piece of our land for himself, limiting the routes available to us. Every time we make some progress in trying to kill one of them, the other shows up, and we have to retreat." Muzaka finished, looking at the growing excitement evident in Yin's eyes.
"So, I have to kill a Mythic Class Grimm then? So be it." Yin agreed.
It was time to put her skills to the ultimate test.
[Next Chapter: Mythic Clash]
[AN: Got a P.atreon. Go there if you wanna read my ZZZ/SL fic. I'll upload here after the 6th chap of it gets released! www.p.atreon.com/SaekoKaburagi]