A/N: Sorry for dropping this late
"Good morning Yasaka-sama." Nurarihyon, the Yokai in the shape of an old man greeted the lounging Kitsune that looked for as the world could see as some kind of empress. His dark kimono hugged tightly to his short and skinny frame, with a 'simple' gnarled walking staff being his only other companion.
"Good morning, Nurarihyon."
Yasaka greeted in turn and with a wave of her hand, a nearby servant poured a cup of steamy tea into a nearby cup. The Kitsune was wearing her ceremonial robes for such an auspicious occasion; golden robes that matched her locks, etched with intricate symbols that glittered under the sunlight. Her nine tails pooled out behind her like a kind of throne, a symbol for her near unlimited power in this place.
"Yasaka-sama," Akiko started, her glittering black eyes looking on at the noble woman without even trying to hide her awe," I must say that you are looking very beautiful today."
"Thank you Akiko," The Kitsune smiled broadly," You yourself are also quite stunning. I must admit to my envy, there is no way I could look so refined all the time."
"It's the ice Yasaka-sama." The Yuki-Onna blushed slightly at the praise," It keeps our skin static in a way. It's why our people tend to look young, even in death."
"So you're all just frozen corpses?!"
Mauri burst in the conversation, completely shattering the atmosphere as he looked at the ice-themed Yokai with obvious shock.
"No." She said frigidly," I said, we look young even in death. Not that we're all already dead."
"You know," Kiyo said in a somewhat wobbly tone, their tiny claws gripping at a sloshing barrel of sake," Technically, we're all already dead. Our cells die every second, shedding off ourselves. Leaving nothing slightly altered copies in their wake. Can you truly say you're the same person you were yesterday?"
"...I must apologize, Yasaka-sama." Xoru stood from his chair and bowed to the befuddled councilman. They honestly hadn't expected to be hit in the face with a slap of existential dread so early in the morning. "Please forgive Kiyo. Their testing a new line of sake..and it seems to be a bit too strong…"
"Is something wrong with Spirit Plum Trees?"
Akiko asked worriedly.
"There's no need to worry," Yasaka said quickly, knowing exactly how vital the Spirit Plum trade was to their economy and continued existence," I've just taken some tips from Grandmaster Yamato Iori that has...lets say an effect on the entirety of the Spirit Plum Tree population. They should be marginally stronger and easier to rear. We shouldn't have any worries on this year's supply."
"Grandmaster Yamato is surely a kind man," Nurarihyon cupped his hands together and gave silent bow to somewhere off to the distance. The corners of his heavily wrinkled lips twitched slightly as the Yokai continued their little game. What could they say, Yokai were all known for being tricksters at heart.
As the council-members chatted amiably, showcasing the harmony of the Yokai people, off to the side were a series of distinctly different people who all had a degree of expressions on their faces.
A priestly old man layered in white robes with light purple trimming sat in a seat while taking a series of steady sips of tea, a small congenial smile on his face that couldn't fully hide the amusement evident in those blue orbs.
Next to him, a young tanned girl wearing a pure white toga hanging off of 1 shoulder. She looked lean and powerful, having a runners body. The courier sat politely with twinkling eyes, guzzling the tea down with reckless abandon.
Besides her, a beautiful white haired woman in a plain black business suit sat with her long legs crossed. Her pale skin glistened under the leaking sunlight, eyes zeroing in on any Yokai that dared to meet those desperate green orbs. But inevitably kept landing on Yasaka's and Marui's frame. A slightly manic gleam entered them as she looked on. Her own tea cup off to the side, untouched and seemingly with no real intention of taking.
Off to her side, a sinfully beautiful ebony haired woman stood with her back perfectly straight. Showcasing just how strong those front buttons truly were as they strained against the pressure. She looked a bit like some-sort of twisted secretary in a way, but surprisingly it suited the Fallen Angel. She wore a gentle, closed eye smile as she too looked on at the proceedings with amusement scrawled all over her face.
Everyone in the room seem to be feeding on the ever reddening man who looked as though he was ready to blow a gasket. His golden mane slightly frazzled, aristocratic features twisted in a rictus of burning rage. Fist clenched, the noble looked all to ready to flip the table in that moment. His once pristine black and red 3-piece suit now showed signed of wrinkles, with dark rings coiled around those green eyes it showcased exactly how much of a day week he's been having.
Devils had always been the most domineering in a lot of diplomatic meetings like this, and any chance that the other factions could cut them down to side was all greatly appreciated. They all silently relished in the man's teeth grinding audibly
Yasaka sighed with false surprise, even going so far as to cover her mouth with the fan just to add more to her little performance. It wouldn't do to have him actually destroy their table, they barely had it for a few weeks now after all.
"Oh," The blonde flickered her gaze to the seething man," Please do excuse us, we meant no offense. Now, Lord Nellial of House Vapula can we help you with? It must be something important to demand an 'emergency' meeting."
Everyone could hear those quotations around emergency and it only made the Devil's ears bright a dark red coloring. Thick veins bulged on his handsome face as he received the scrutiny of every person in the room and after coughing into his fist, he tried to compose himself.
"Yes," He did try, really did try not to snarl but it was for naught," There were a few...terms in the new treaty that I felt needed to be discussed."
"Oh?" The kitsune leaned back with a slight innocent expression on her face," What ever might it be? If there is any confusion or questions, this is the time best time ask. None of us wish for there to be any confusion."
The other foreign diplomats sent Nellial an amused look in unison, each thoroughly enjoying the show. It was always something to see such an arrogant creature finally have some issues.
"Yasaka-sama." He ground his teeth audibly," If that's how you wish to play it, then fine. There is a clause that essentially states that you have the right to pass judgment on your people."
"That is correct." She smiled," I don't see where the confusion must lie."
"It lies," Nellial snapped, his magical pressure drowning the room in it's malice," In what follows after! It says that you will have the right to pass judgment on any Yokai regardless of whether they committed the crime in your territory! And that you will have the right to have any criminal Yokai captured instead of killed on sight."
"I still do not see where the confusion must've cropped up?" Yasaka tilted her head cutely," You are clearly able to articulate what was said? So what exactly is the problem?"
"The problem?!" This time, the Devil didn't restrain himself what so ever and shot to his feet," The problem! You know exactly what the problem is! Are you truly asking us, the 72 Pillars, to just let that damned Nekomata free?! No! We refuse! It'll besmirched our honor and pride to do so!"
"I still don't see the problem?" The small smile on the blonde's face slipped off her face and an infinitely greater pressure descended on the room. Ki literally sparking in the air as the man's pressure was washed away like a naughty child. "These are lines directly from the original treaty, your people's own words. And from my knowledge, your 72 Pillars have used this clause quite liberally to extract more benefits from us to 'compensate' for YOUR Stray problem. This is a common clause in a lot of treaties and as a faction, we too wish to exercise our right to pass judgment on our own people. It doesn't matter how high profile the suspected criminal might be, nor should it."
Despite the vast ocean of life energy barreling down on him, his pride wouldn't allow this to go uncontested. The feeling slipped into his magical aura, growing in golden hue as it devoured the emotion with vindictive glee. It was just enough to not be lost to the depths.
"Be that as it may," Nellial retorted," That Nekomata has to die. No matter what. If not, it'll make the 72 Pillars look weak. She killed a member of the prestigious House, Nebiros! That cannot go unpunished!"
"And your people killed off an entire branch family of the Nekomata." She said flatly, that rage roiled just beneath those golden eyes. The incident still churned her wrath and she wanted nothing more than to cut a bloody swath through the underworld. After over nearly a half a decade of their 'investigations' there still hadn't been a viable reason as to why all those innocents had to die. At the time, she needed to accept their repeated evasions and just take the loss of respect from the main Nekomata Clan. But now, one of her greatest bouts of weakness could be remedied.
The Nekomata Incident had been 1 of her greatest stains and failures of all of her centuries of life. If there was anyway to do so, she wouldn't hesitate to do so.