*As the groups sat at the banquet table, Author poured green tea from a tetsubin into Shinobu’s yunomi.*
🌟 - I hope green tea is to everyone’s liking; if not, I can bring out another drink.
*After Author finished pouring, the humans stared at their yunomi; Michelle looked at them.*
*Tanjiro flinched a bit and looked at Michelle.*
🌤️ - No, the tea isn’t hot; it’s just that... well...
*Obanai glared at the group.*
🐍 - If you expect us to drink poison, you’ll have to do harder than that.
*The toys glared at the group with growls.*
🌙 - Do you honestly expect us to poison your tea? How vulgar.
*Mitsuri looked at Obanai.*
🎀 - Obanai, they’re being kind to us; don’t be rude.
*Obanai looked away, annoyed, until Michelle giggled a bit, which made the humans look at her.*
💜 - I understand; you’re being cautious about people you’ve never met before. I would also suspect someone of poisoning my drink.
*Michelle pulled her arms out of her sleeves before carefully grabbing the yunomi with her right hand. After Michelle placed her left hand under her yunomi, she drank from it, which shocked the humans.*
💜 - (in head) I’m glad Author showed some Japanese etiquette stuff and how to use chopsticks in our heads before we sat at the table.
*Michelle pulled her yunomi away from her mouth and sighed before looking at the humans.*
*The humans stared at Michelle before looking at their yunomi and grabbed them, which made some of the toys grab theirs. After Katelynn drank from her yunomi, she shivered and stuck her tongue out a bit.*
*As Katelynn placed her yunomi on the table, Author floated next to her before a jar of honey with a honey dipper inside appeared on the table, which shocked the humans.*
🌟 - Would you like some honey with your green tea?
*Katelynn lit up and looked at Author.*
*After Author poured green tea into Katelynn’s yunomi, she brought it close to the honey before grabbing the honey dipper. Katelynn held the honey dipper over her yunomi, which made the honey drip inside. After Katelynn placed the honey dipper inside the honey, she grabbed the spoon before stirring her green tea. Katelynn tapped the spoon over her yunomi and set it to the side before she grabbed it and drank from it. After Katelynn stopped drinking, she sighed with a relaxed smile.*
💖 - (lowly) Much better...
*Matthew glanced at the mini Smiling Critters and noticed a few of them shivered a bit before looking at Author.*
🧡 - We’re going to need some honey over here as well...
*Author nodded before floating toward Matthew’s direction. After Shinobu placed her yunomi on the table, she looked at Michelle.*
🦋 - So, Lady Mercia, if you don’t mind me asking, where do you and your Yokai come from?
*Michelle looked at Shinobu.*
💜 - We come from the north... in a secluded place over the mountain. It’s a place where humans and Yokai coincide with one another...
💜 - Though in my village, if you were to summon and make a contract with a Yokai... the summoner loses something as a consequence.
*Michelle placed her hand against her stomach.*
💜 - When I first made a contract with my Yokai... I became barren...
*Some of the humans frowned a bit.*
*Tears fell from Gyomei’s eyes, and he placed his hands together.*
🗿 - For someone like you to go through such a cruel fate, I pity you; Namu Amida Butsu...
*Kevin drank his green tea with a sweatdrop.*
❤️ - (in head) I know you’re lying to these people, but that’s a little harsh to yourself...
*Michelle removed her hand from her stomach and slightly smiled at the humans.*
💜 - Ah, forgive me, I didn’t mean to sadden the mood; accept this as a token of my apology.
*Michelle looked at Author as they made a honey dipper with honey on it float over a mini Bobby Bearhug’s yunomi.*
💜 - Author, if you would?
*Author looked at Michelle as the honey dipper went back inside the honey jar.*
*Author shone a bit before bowls of rice, bowls of miso soup, plates of karaage, plates of onigiri, and plates of grilled and tempura-battered vegetables appeared before the groups, which shocked the humans.*
🌟 - I hope these appetizers will fill your stomachs up.
*Inosuke lit up and took his boar mask off, revealing a feminine face with black hair and blue tips and emerald green eyes, which shocked the toys.*
*Before Inosuke reached for an onigiri, Tengen slapped his hand, which made him flinch and hold it. Inosuke growled at Tengen and tried attacking him, but Tanjiro held him back.*
*Tengen crossed his arms.*
🎼 - Show some form of humility; terrible manners are unflashy.
*Sanemi glared at Michelle.*
💨 - Besides... her monsters may not have poisoned the drinks, but poisoning food is just as logical.
*The toys growled at Sanemi until Michelle raised her hand, which made them stop. Soon after, Michelle placed her hands together.*
💜 - I’ll enjoy this meal.
*Michelle grabbed her chopsticks and pulled them apart before grabbing a piece of karaage with them. Michelle placed the karaage on her rice before grabbing some with the chopsticks. After Michelle placed the rice over the karaage, she grabbed it with her chopsticks before taking a bite. The humans stared at Michelle as she chewed her bite before swallowing it. Michelle looked at the humans.*
💜 - If it helps you in any way, I can be the first person to try all of the upcoming dishes, but I can confidently say that none of us will harm you. If I wanted to eliminate you, I would’ve done so when all of you were lying on the ground.
*The humans stared at Michelle until Tanjiro smiled and grabbed his chopsticks before placing his hands together.*
🌤️ - I’ll enjoy this meal!
*Tanjiro pulled the chopsticks apart and grabbed a shrimp tempura with them before biting into it; he smiled.*
*The Hashira stared at Tanjiro before Muichiro placed his hands together.*
🌫️ - I’ll enjoy this meal...
*Muichiro grabbed an onigiri before biting into it. After Muichiro swallowed his bite, he looked at the onigiri.*
*The others looked at one another before saying the same words before digging in; Michelle’s group did the same before they started eating. Mitsuri smiled while eating onigiri.*
🎀 - All of this food is so tasty! Thank you for this food.
*As Zenitsu was reaching for a tempura-fried lotus root, Inosuke quickly grabbed it and ate it, which made him angrily look at him.*
🟨 - Hey, I was going for that?!
🐗 - You’ve gotta be quicker than that!
*Michelle stared at the humans with a sweatdrop before drinking from her miso soup.*
💜 - (in head) These guys definitely have different personalities.
*As time passed, the plates and bowls were empty; everyone placed their hands together.*
E - Thank you for the meal.
*The plates and the bowls disappeared.*
🌟 - Whenever you’re ready for the entrees, let me know.
*As Author floated away, Tanjiro petted Nezuko’s head before looking at Michelle.*
🌤️ - I noticed that they didn’t eat with us; is there a reason why?
*Michelle smiled at Tanjiro.*
💜 - Oh, their body conception is like a plant. They get energy from the sun.
*Michelle sweatdropped on the inside.*
💜 - (in head) Then again, I’ve never seen them eat, so I have no idea if they actually can or not...
*Michelle looked at the humans.*
💜 - Anyway, I hope the appetizers were to your liking.
*Zenitsu smiled at Michelle.*
🟨 - It was really delicious, thank you.
*Inosuke looked at Michelle.*
🐗 - Yeah, what he said; thanks weird-armed lady.
*The toys glared at Inosuke, growling, which made him angrily look at them.*
🐗 - What?! You want a piece of me!
*Michelle looked down and held her right wrist with her left hand; Giyu looked at her.*
🌊 - How exactly did you lose your arms?
*The table went silent; Shinobu looked at Giyu.*
🦋 - That was pretty rude, Tomioka; this is why you aren’t liked that much by the other Hashiras.
*Giyu remained silent before bowing his head to Michelle.*
🌊 - Forgive me if that came off as rude.
*Michelle let go of her wrist and gently smiled at Giyu.*
💜 - As for what happened to my arms... it happened a few years ago. It was a peaceful time until a mysterious man entered our village. He called himself ‘Prototype’... he told us to worship him instead of following the leader of our village.
*Michelle clenched her fists.*
💜 - Obviously, we refused his offer, but when night fell... everything was on fire. The men and most of the Yokai fought off the Prototype and his followers while the women and children ran away. Unfortunately, all of the villagers and some of the Yokai were dead except for me...
*Tears pricked Michelle’s eyes.*
💜 - Prototype asked if he would worship me, but I refused and threw stones at him... which led him to cut my arms off. As I was bleeding on the ground, Prototype’s followers were about to finish me off... as I was near death’s door, I begged the heavens to help me.
*Michelle glanced at Kevin, Matthew, and Jack.*
💜 - They answered my prayer by summoning a powerful Yokai.
*Sanemi stared at the trio.*
💨 - If you summoned all three of them at once, you should’ve lost more than the inability to bear children.
*Michelle looked at Sanemi.*
💜 - That’s because the three of them combined created the powerful Yokai.
*Kevin, Matthew, and Jack stood up before approaching one another. When the trio was close, they fused into Doey, which shocked the humans.*
💜 - This is the Yokai’s true form; I call him Blue the Protector.
*Doey took his hat off before bowing while holding the hat.*
🩵 - It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.
*Michelle looked at the humans as Doey put his hat back on.*
💜 - Blue defeated the followers around me; when he faced Prototype, I passed out due to blood loss.
*Michelle held her arms out.*
💜 - When I woke up, I was given new arms from a Yokai who was contracted to a blacksmith.
*Michelle looked at Doey.*
💜 - Blue stood by my side while I was unconscious; he kneeled before me and told me that if I made a contract with him, no other lives would be lost... I accepted his offer without question, even knowing the consequences of contracting with a Yokai.
*Michelle looked at the humans.*
💜 - Afterward, I discovered he could split apart, so I gave them titles as well.
*As the trio split apart, Matthew gently smiled at the humans.*
*Jack smiled and waved at the humans.*
*Kevin sternly looked at the humans.*
💜 - And Red the Defender.
*Michelle looked at the humans as the trio sat down.*
💜 - They’ve been protecting the village and its people for a long time...
*Tanjiro was in awe as Nezuko looked amazed.*
🌤️ - Wow... that’s amazing; if they’ve been guarding your village for so long, they must be crazy strong.
💜 - Indeed, they are... however, every creature has its weaknesses. Unfortunately, they don’t do so well with freezing temperatures.
*The humans were shocked.*
💜 - While I was having one of my walks during winter, Yellow was near the edge of the river. One unfortunate accident led the ground under Yellow to break and nearly fall into the river.
💜 - However, Orange pushed Yellow toward us before he fell into the river, causing his body to go stiff. Even though it hurt their arms, Yellow and Red helped Orange get out of the river, and we quickly returned to the village. It took us hours to keep him warm, but both Red and Yellow never left his side.
*Jack wrapped his arms around Matthew, which made him look at him.*
💛 - Even though you’ve already forgiven me, I’m really sorry that happened to you...
*Matthew gently smiled and petted Jack’s head.*
🧡 - It’s alright, Yellow, accidents happen.
*Matthew looked at Kevin.*
🧡 - Isn’t that right, Red?
*Kevin nodded as Shinobu looked at Michelle.*
🦋 - Then these other Yokai... are they under your contract too?
*Michelle shook her head.*
💜 - They are not... even the strongest Yokai master knows if you make multiple contracts, that would lead to instant death...
*Michelle looked at the toys.*
💜 - But I was born with a great affinity toward the Yokai... and I treat all of them like family...
*The humans remained silent as Michelle looked at them.*
💜 - All of this talking must’ve made us quite famished, yes?
*Michelle clapped her hands, which made Author appear.*
*Michelle looked at Author.*
💜 - I think we’re ready for the entrees.
*Author nodded and shone a bit before bowls of ramen, plates of sashimi with multiple small bowls of soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger on the side, and plates of okonomiyaki with a few heras appeared.*
🌟 - I’m aware that a few of you don’t like meat, so I gave those who didn’t like it a vegetable broth and tofu instead, and okonomiyaki without meat as well.
*Before Michelle could do anything, Tanjiro quickly placed his hands together, which shocked the others.*
🌤️ - I’ll enjoy this meal!
*Tanjiro grabbed the renge inside his ramen bowl and grabbed some broth with it before drinking from it; he looked at the ramen bowl, smiling.*
🌤️ - Amazing! I’ve never had ramen this delicious.
*The others looked at Tanjiro before saying the same words and started eating. Michelle grabbed the renge inside her ramen bowl and grabbed some of the broth before drinking it from it.*
💜 - (in head) I’ve had ramen before, but not ramen this good; now I can see why this is their popular dish.
*Jack cut an okonomiyaki filled with pork with a spatula before cutting it into a square and eating it; he smiled.*
💛 - I didn’t think I would like this, but this is really good.
*Tengen grabbed a tuna sashimi with his chopsticks and ate it before smiling.*
🎼 - This sashimi is divine; it’s not fugu-sashimi, but I don’t mind.
*Katelynn stared at the sashimi plate before poking Michelle’s shoulder, which made her look at her. Katelynn pointed at a plate of sashimi.*
💖 - (whisper) What exactly is this dish?
*Michelle looked at the plate of sashimi.*
💜 - (whisper) It’s basically raw fish without the rice.
*Katelynn flinched a bit and looked at the plate of sashimi with a sweatdrop.*
💖 - (whisper) Is that OK to eat?
*When Michelle glanced at Kevin, he nodded as she grabbed a tuna sashimi with her chopsticks, while he grabbed a yellowtail sashimi with his chopsticks. The couple dipped their sashimi slice in the soy sauce bowl before eating them. Katelynn was amazed as Michelle swallowed her food before looking at her.*
💜 - (whisper) Appearances can be deceiving; who knows, it might be something you actually like.
*Katelynn was nervous and looked at the sashimi before grabbing the salmon sashimi with her chopsticks and eating it; she lit up and smiled.*
*Michelle smiled as she grabbed some ramen noodles with her chopsticks before slurping them up. After some time, the groups finished their meal and placed their hands together.*
E - Thank you for the meal.
*After the plates disappeared, Author looked at the groups.*
🌟 - I hope you’re ready for dessert.
*Author shone a bit before plates of various mochi, plates with pudding, plates of dorayaki, plates of dango, and plates of fluffy pancakes appeared.*
🌟 - It’s not much, but I hope it’s to your liking.
*Mitsuri smiled and placed her hands together.*
🎀 - These look amazing! I’ll enjoy these sweets!
*Mitsuri grabbed a dango stick before eating one of them, smiling.*
*The others said the same phrase before eating. Katelynn grabbed a pancake with her hands before biting into it; she smiled.*
💖 - This is amazing; I’ve never had pancakes before.
*As the other toys were eating the desserts like beasts, the humans sweatdropped; Michelle nervously giggled.*
💜 - We don’t get sweets very often; I apologize...
*Zenitsu looked at Michelle.*
🟨 - Wow... that must’ve been rough... I don’t know if I could go a day without sweets.
*Michelle smiled a bit as she scooped a bit of pudding with her spoon.*
💜 - The younger children in the village and I were raised to have a high mental fortitude; we were able to resist a lot of desires, sweets included, so we didn’t think of them as a necessity.
*Michelle ate the pudding off the spoon before smiling.*
💜 - (lowly) That’s tasty...
*Zenitsu looked at Michelle.*
🟨 - (lowly) You’re sure enjoying them...
*Sanemi spotted a red bean mochi on the plate before reaching for it. However, Giyu grabbed the red bean mochi and bit into it. Sanemi angrily glared at Giyu.*
💨 - That was my red bean mochi.
🌊 - I didn’t see you grab it.
*A tick mark formed on Sanemi’s head, and he stood up before grabbing the hilt of his sword.*
💨 - You know I was reaching for it, you bastard! If you won’t apologize for taking that red bean mochi, then draw your sword and fight me!
🌊 - We’re in the presence of other people; you don’t want to do this.
💜 - I don’t mind; a sword fight sounds entertaining. Besides...
*Author appeared next to Michelle.*
💜 - Author can create a barrier in front of us if things get out of hand.
*Giyu looked at Michelle before nodding.*
*Giyu looked at Sanemi and held his hilt.*
🌊 - I accept your challenge.
*Sanemi deviously grinned.*
*As the duo walked toward an open space, a barrier appeared in front of the banquet table, which surprised the humans.*
🌟 - There you are; you can fight with your heart’s content.
*As Giyu and Sanemi drew their swords, Kevin lowered his head to Michelle.*
❤️ - (whisper) I bet this’ll end in a tie.
💜 - (whisper) I have my doubts, but if you wound up being right, we could have a cuddle session once this is all over.
*Kevin grinned a bit before looking at the duo.*
❤️ - C’mon, you two; put on a good show?!
*The humans flinched a bit and looked at Kevin; Michelle sweatdropped and bowed her head.*
💜 - I apologize about Red; he usually finds fights entertaining...
*Tanjiro waved his hands.*
🌤️ - It’s alright, Miss Mercia.
*Tanjiro looked at the duo.*
🌤️ - But I think this is the first time I’ve seen two Hashira fight against one another.
*The others watched as the duo drew their swords and faced one another. Sanemi grinned before he shot toward Giyu. As Sanemi swung his sword, Giyu raised his, which made him block it. When the duo separated, they circled one another. As Sanemi charged toward Giyu, green wind-like energy surrounded his sword.*
💨 - Wind Breathing, First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter!
*Giyu jumped before Sanemi’s attack hit him; the smaller toys were amazed.*
*Matthew stared at the duo as they clashed swords.*
🧡 - I don’t think I’ve seen sword techniques like that before; how are they able to bring out this much power?
*Shinobu looked at Matthew.*
🦋 - Demon slayers use a very special breathing technique called Total Concentration Breathing. It involves expanding one’s lungs to intake as much air as possible to accelerate one’s blood flow and heartbeat while increasing one’s body temperature, resulting in one’s bones and muscles becoming more excited.
🧡 - (lowly) Interesting...
*Obanai sternly looked at Shinobu.*
🐍 - Isn’t it a little unwise to tell these people our secrets?
*Shinobu smiled at Obanai.*
🦋 - I don’t see the harm in telling them; after all, we became friends with them.
*Michelle was surprised as Shinobu looked at her.*
🦋 - Isn’t that right, Lady Mercia?
*Michelle stared at Shinobu before smiling a bit.*
💜 - Yeah... I’d say we did become friends...
*Shinobu smiled as Sanemi continued attacking Giyu, which made him block them with his attacks.*
💨 - C’mon, Tomioka, fight back!
*When there was an opening, water-like energy surrounded Giyu’s sword.*
🌊 - Water Breathing, Fourth Form: Striking Tide.
*Sanemi dodged Giyu’s attack before jumping; wind-like energy surrounded his sword.*
💨 - Wind Breathing, Fifth Form: Cold Mountain Wind!
*Giyu looked at Sanemi as water-like energy surrounded his sword before multiple ripples appeared in the air, blocking his attack.*
🌊 - Water Breathing, Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust.
*After Sanemi landed on the ground, the duo continued clashing their swords. The smaller toys shouted in joy, while some of the larger toys were amazed. Michelle grabbed a Kinako mochi and took a bite out of it while watching the sword fight.*
💜 - (in head) You don’t really see a dine and show area this epic.
*When the plates on the banquet table were empty, Giyu and Sanemi faced one another while catching their breath.*
*As the duo charged toward one another, Author appeared, which surprised them. Sanemi glared at Michelle.*
💨 - Hey! Why did you make your—
*A red bean mochi appeared in front of Sanemi’s face, which surprised him, before he grabbed it.*
🌟 - If you call this mock battle a draw, that red bean mochi is all yours.
*Sanemi stared at Author before looking away and eating the red bean mochi.*
*Author nodded as the barrier and the banquet disappeared; Michelle stood up.*
💜 - And I think with that statement, it’s time for us to part ways.
*As the humans gathered, Michelle looked at Tanjiro as Nezuko crawled back inside her box.*
*Tanjiro looked at Michelle as the box closed.*
💜 - I hope you find a way to cure your sister.
*Tanjiro stared at Michelle before smiling and bowing his head.*
🌤️ - Thank you, Miss Mercia.
*Michelle smiled as Tanjiro got the box back on his back before catching up with the humans. Michelle looked at Author.*
💜 - Author, if you would?
*A portal appeared under the human’s feet; Author looked at them as a flint and steel appeared above them. Soon after, Author made the flint and steel strike a few times, creating sparks.*
🌟 - I pray for your good fortune.
*The humans nodded before they went through the portal; Michelle sighed.*
💜 - I’m glad that’s over; acting is a hard gig...
*Smoke surrounded Michelle before she was back in her regular clothes.*
🌟 - Well, I hoped you liked trying some Japanese cuisine.
*Michelle looked at Author.*
💜 - I’ll give them credit; they have some awesome cuisine.
*As the group nodded in agreement, Kevin picked Michelle up.*
❤️ - Now that they’re away, you owe me a cuddle session.
*Michelle chuckled a bit and petted Kevin’s head.*
💜 - Yeah, yeah, you were right about it ending in a tie.
💜 - Though I bet they could’ve gone longer if you didn’t give Sanemi that red bean mochi.
*Author looked at the couple.*
🌟 - If they fought any longer, they would’ve killed each other, and that’s something I can’t have in my domain.
💜 - Fair enough... alright then, find a place for us.
*Kevin smiled a bit and kissed Michelle’s cheek.*
❤️ - With pleasure, my lady.
*Michelle giggled a bit before the group dispersed.*
