Well, there wasn’t any point in arguing; it was obvious her father had already made up his mind.
“Thank you Dad. I’m sure everything will be fine.” She leaned back against her desk, pushing aside a few files. “Since you’re here, do you want to stay for lunch? It’s been a while since we’ve spent time together.”
The yokai smiled at her invitation.
“I would be delighted, my gracious empress,” he spoke with a bow of his head. “You look like you could use a break from all that paperwork. I could find you a secretary if you like.”
There was a moment of silence before Alysa finally spoke up.
“Say I wasn’t just an ordinary girl…. say I was a… magical warrior of some kind….” she began, “If I was, would you still want me around?” she asked nervously.
“I would feel the same as I do now and I see no reason why I shouldn’t.” The demon cracked open one eye to look at her. “Why do you ask?”
“No problem” Alysa said with a smile, she was happy to see he was returning to normal. It felt nice to have company, especially if it’s Aku.
As Aku was laying comfortably on the pillow, Alysa had a spark of inspiration! She grabbed her sketch book, sat down in her chair near her desk and began sketching. She kept looking back and forth between the paper and Aku as to capture his essence.
“Okay…… don’t move…..” She whispered.
The demon was still for some time as if he’d decided to cooperate. However, it didn’t last long. Slowly, he uncoiled his snake-like form and rolled onto his back, arms outstretched with a big yawn. After his mouth had closed, the tip of his tongue remained visible. He looked like the very essence of ‘relaxed’.
His beard had grown a bit longer and two small flames now appeared on his brow. It seemed he was well on his way to restoring to his former health.
It was another dark and despairing eve at the citadel of Aku and the Shogun of Sorrow was in a foul mood as per usual. Ever since he’d learned that his nemesis was still on the move garnering respect and admiration from the mortal masses wherever he went, the demon lord had been fraught with tension. It seemed nothing could distract him from his preoccupation with the Samurai, not even the things he once enjoyed. Little by little, the fear and misery were starting to eat away at his mind. He sat slouched on his throne, his horned head cocked to one side to rest upon his fist while the claws of his other hand tapped irately on the throne’s armrest.
Just then, he received word of the arrival of a visitor bearing tribute. Aku grumbled under his breath and hardly bothered to look up when the visitor entered his throne-room. The sparing glance he offered her suggested he was in no mood for receiving tributes. Curiously, she did not appear to have brought a tribute, at least none that he could see. His claws continued to tap against the armrest before his booming, god-like voice filled the room.
The Shogun of Sorrow 