Immortality in DxD

"Kunou-sama." A nearby Yokai bowed slightly as they looked upon the cute kitsune trying her best to look like some kind of noble lady," I must admit, your Ki has certainly taken a qualitative leap sense last I saw you."

"Thank you for your kind words, Master Jomi." Kunou bowed in kind, her golden fox ear as still as could be but her swishing tails showcased her excitement. She couldn't help it, this woman before her was a well renowned Youjutsu powerhouse. Hell, she had taken many lessons from this legendary figure when first starting out. "Only known with my slightly improved skills can I truly understand the vastness that is you, I am not sure if I will ever catch up."

Master Jomi probably looked the most human out of the assembly present, with the appearance of a thin woman whose deep red kimono simply sparkled under the lightly bobbing overhead lights. The only really jarring thing that truly indicated her true self, was her incredibly long neck that twisted in turn in the air like some kind of underwater eel. The movements in itself defied most laws of physics and biology, which must've certainly aided her in combat in the past. Despite the erratic motions, her head remained stationary as she looked on in fondness at the young girl.

"Don't worry about that Kunou-sama." The rokurokubi comforted the bowing girl like a grandmother to her grandchild," Your potential is boundless and I am already nearing the end of my own journey, it wouldn't surprise me if you quickly surpass me in less than 40 years."

If the kitsune was excited before, the girl now looked down right bashful at her words. Her cheeks grew rosy under the praise and it took every once of self control not to squeal like the little girl she truly was. She could only bow deep while clutching at her pristine white kimono etched with little foxes prancing around the edges. Her long blonde locks were tied up in a tightly done bow with 2 bright red hair pins that simply oozed with energy.

"You too Daidachi, Riko." She turned her attention to the 2 youths standing guard nearby, that neck wiggling to truly face them for a moment," Your Ki seems purer, more controlled. You must've been working hard indeed."

"We are not worthy Master Jomi."

Daidachi, the Oni, bowed his massive frame with a slightly bashful look on his face. He couldn't help, he was considered a teen and this figure before him was certainly more than beautiful enough to get his hormones going. He wore a gray kimono that stretched nicely across his muscled frame, with a small patch on his right breast denominating his station as both a member of the Red Oni clan and an honored guard of the future Yokai Leader.

"Please Master Jomi, you're much too kind."

Sugita Riko bowed in kind, her movement as elegant and silent as a predatory feline. Her pitch black cat ears twitched in kind but her tail stayed absolutely still in the presence of this monster that could snuff her out as easily as she extinguish a candle. While she was awed by her presence, the Nekomata clan had routinely hosted the master on multiple occasions so it was slightly dulled. She wore a pitch black kimono that hung loosely on her frame, plenty of room and places to hide hidden weapons to quickly dispatch of any foolish enough to attack with this many prominent Yokai present.

"I will leave you kids to the party," She nodded in a rather strange way," But Kunou-sama, do please visit me sometimes. I might have some techniques to teach you."

"Yes Master Jomi!" Kunou couldn't help but exclaim a bit louder than was proper but she was beyond caring at that point. The other younger Yokai could sneer all they wanted but she knew the truth. They were jealous. Oh so jealous of her in that moment. She bet they would trade away a dear family for just the mere of being both acknowledged and invited by such a legendary Youjutsu Practitioner.

With that, the legend nodded and waltz away. Her steps fluid like water and as elegant as a dancer. The nekomata had to elbow the gawking Oni who had allowed his hormones to get the better of him as his eyes were glued to her retreating rear.

Kunou could only smile at her friends/bodyguards antics, feeling a bit more at ease with the girl's return. It just hadn't felt right to walk around without the cat-girl by her side, and she suspected Daidachi felt the same. But despite her joy, she could still feel that undertone of something. She knew after the girl's family had been thoroughly face slapped, that things wouldn't be the same. At least for awhile. The Nekomata Clan was simply too prideful to admit when they were wrong and due to that, they had almost ruined the chances of Riko to get direct teaching from an Ancient Senjutsu Practitioner.

She thought that maybe that was the point, her guard got a majority of her standing by being attached to the hip to the future Yokai Leader. She was the daughter of the Patriarch and a maid. Maybe at first they were content to let her be as there was no way she could fight any of the official heirs for the leader position. But what about after she got taught by the literal Heavenly Demon himself?

But that was just a theory the blonde cooked up in her head, and with her mother being mum about details it was all she had to work on.

Ever since the room started to slowly fill with more and more prominent Yokai, Kunou made the rounds. Greeting everyone in kind, singling their praises and getting praised in kind. She had spent a majority of her childhood learning how to read and play a room, especially since that daunting mantle that would sooner or later be placed on her shoulders. Politics and relations would become her primary currency going forward.

From what she could tell, everyone was both excited and a bit nervous. With the pressure from the outside world observing them, the anticipation of networking with all these influential people and of course the worry of the coming negotiations. All of them had their livelihood at stake and only that lightly Ki infused sake could calm their nerves.

"Keep an eye out."

Kunou warned under her breath, that smile still in place but her attention was elsewhere. She had sensed the visibly shift in the room as the leading doors swung open. She could almost taste the tension in the air and with those flickering Ki signature, knew it wasn't just a feeling.

It seems the foreign powers had made themselves known.