genessia | (Sixth Flight

Be careful. (She hands him two slices of meat. The hatchlings hurry towards Souji, looking more like ducklings than dragons.)

[ S-So cute! ;; ] [ He sways both slices above the hatchlings before placing them on the ground. ] Dra... Dracarys! [ With that they throw fire to their respective slices, leaping on them and devouring excitedly. He can't contain his own happiness. ] I did it!~

(She laughs and claps her hands.)

They like you. Dragons are good judges of character.

(They see the shell and what lies beneath.)

I'm glad they do!

[ He tilts his head in curiosity with a smile, fingers twined behind his back. ]

What about their names?

The purple is Hāedar and the black and red is Valonqar. (Little sister and little brother in High Valyrian.)

Hāedar-chan and Valonqar-chan.

[ There! He fixed it for them. ]

What does "chan" mean? (It sounds cute and the hatchlings wiggle upon hearing their names.)

[ He chuckles at them and looks at Dany. ] In my country, '-chan' is an honorific for babies, toddlers and children, also for younger girls.

As I call you Daenerys-san which is an honorific for young and single ladies.

I like your language. (She rises and walks to the kitchen to make them some tea.)

What honorific would I use for you?

Thank you. It is japanese, Japan is where I'm from.

[ And he follows her. ] Normally, my comrades call me Okita-san, my subordinates Okita-sensei since I'm their Captain and instructor too, and my friends and mentors Souji.

You can call me whatever you like.

What is Japan like? Japanese seems...thoughtful. I like the idea of honorifics.

(She heats a pot of water on the stove, still amazed that such a thing exists.)

I like Souji and you can call me Dany if you wish. (Viserys used to call her by that nickname; it would be nice to hear it again in a kinder voice.)

[ Many modern facilities: showers and bathtubs with running water, stoves, heaters and air conditioning... microwaves are his favorite.

Things he didn't have back home. ]

Japan is based on traditions and they are followed to the letter. I haven't been to many cities but I've seen beautiful places in Edo, Kyoto, Osaka and on the road to them.

Especially Kyoto, since it is the most traditional and the main city in Japan, where the Shogun and the Emperor live.

[ Coming near her. ] Let me help you.

[ He stops behind her and stares quizzical. ]

Dany? Just like that?

(The modern conveniences make her feel spoiled. She doesn't need servants to draw her bath or help her clean her hair. She can cook her own food too and she can have all the fruit - lemons especially - that she wants.)

What is the Emperor like? Is he a wise ruler?

(She glances at him and smiles faintly, handing him the box of tea leaves.)

There is something about you that reminds me of Viserys. He was...very kind...when we were young. Whenever he called me Dany, I felt happy and safe.

[ True to that, it takes less time to do everything with that kind of high innovations.

His expression turns somewhat skeptical. ]

Wish I know since all political matters are left to the Shogun and the lords. They rule more than the Emperor himself.

[ Which makes the scepticism on his face more somber. ] I'm on the Shogun side, Iemochi Tokugawa's side. There will be war soon at home.

[ Taking and opening the box, she mentioned a name like hers, setting his worrisome thoughts aside. ]

Viserys? Is he your family?

Against the Emperor? If he is serving no purpose, he shouldn't possess his wealth and title. It could be distributed among the Shogun instead.

(Rulers have to perform their duties too or risk being replaced.)

He was my brother. (She grips the counter, eyes distant.) He was my first friend and I loved him dearly.

I believe it has more to do about the Shogun keeping him as a figure of royalty than an actual ruler. That, and those who support the Emperor want him to fully rule and the foreigners not to "invade" us. Hunting and killing the Dutch and Americans in Japan is one thing I cannot agree with. [ Kondo and Yamanami knew it, it wasn't the real meaning behind the Sonnō Jōi philosophy. He lets out a sigh and laughs in frustration. ] Kondo-sensei would smack me for this, but the Shogun and the lords have done as many mistakes as the Choshu, Satsuma and Tosa factions.

[ He puts the leaves inside a pair of tea ball infusers, looking at her curiously. ]

Why did he die?

Bargains can be made with foreigners. Of course that is hard to do when they are dead. (Killing unnecessarily is not something she relishes. Yet. But there is a need for Dragonfire deep within her. For justice.)

I'm glad your eyes are clear, Souji. Don't let yourself become biased; see the truth fearlessly.

(She takes the pot off the stove once it begins to boil, pouring the water into two mugs.)

He went mad. My husband killed him with molten gold. If he had been a Dragon like me, it wouldn't have worked.

[ He can answer to that sentiment with a sincere and approving half smile. ] They are considered as "barbarians" by the loyalists. [ That smile then turns uncertain. Yamanami tried to teach him about the 'how' and 'why' of the Sonnō Jōi followers, and since politics were more Kondo, Yamanami and Ito's expertise he prefered keeping his thoughts to himself despite any disagreement. There was something that mattered most. ] All that matters for the Shinsengumi is to protect the people and Japan, even if it means serving a misguided Shogun.

[ Plunging the filled tea ball infusers into the mugs, taking one of them and recalling how one of the hatchlings burned her hand. It leaves him confused and in awe about her brother. ] Mad? Why!?

You wouldn't be satisfied with that arrangement. If your Shogun is misguided, you are the sort of man that would tell him. (Or at least suggest it. Daenerys doesn't like it when her councilors disagree with her in public, but behind closed doors, she wants to hear their opinions.

She lifts the mug without any sign that the heat bothers her and she will sip the brew - once it is done steeping - far sooner than him.)

They say it runs in our family. Our father was known as the Mad King, but I personally think Viserys was hurt too many times and his mind collapsed under the strain.

I'm only a Captain, but Kondo-sensei is the Commander and Ito-sensei is Councilor so they are the ones who can convince Lord Katamori-sama to talk to the Shogun. And Hijikata-san being the Vice-Commander will decide what is best for the Shinsengumi.

[ Watching her sip the hot tea without cooling it first makes him stare in worry, his mug still untouched. Then he frowns. ]

Is there a particular reason why?

Don't think of it that way. A Captain can change everything if he has enough reason to do so.

(She arches a brow at his expression, lowering her mug with a small sigh.)

Why was he known as the Mad King? He used to burn enemies and allies alike; he liked to listen to their screams.

(He also had overgrown nails that he refused to trim and he was constantly cutting himself on the Iron Throne. He wa an adorable man, obviously. ~~Oh and he brutalized and raped Daenerys's mother whenever he felt like it. In fact, Dany is definitely a product of one of those rapes.~~)

[ He looks at Dany with wonder. Her words remind him of how his sensei wanted to become bushi despite being from a farmer's family; now he has become a Commander of a great group along his best friend of the same roots. Closing his eyes briefly, deep inside, he missed them so much. ]

You're right. I'll take that in mind.

[ What she tells about her father though brings him back to reality, and not in a good way. His expression shows utter concern. ]

Why!? Why would he do something like that? Is he the reason why your brother became mad too? Daenerys-san is nothing like them!

[ What a charming father-in-law ^^;;... Wait? What? (0_0) ~~Poor Dany! She needs love and trust more than ever ;;~~ ]

I'd rather someone like you rule. Kings, Queens, Lords and Ladies can lose sight of what is most important. Power consumes them and they think themselves...above...common people when they should be guiding them and protecting them.

(She grows pale and grim.)

I don't know. (Shaking her head slowly.) I had two brothers - Rhaegar and Viserys. Only one of them was mad, so perhaps it was circumstances, not blood.

(The scariest father-in-law.)

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action; 1/2

action; 2/2

action;

action; 1/2

action; 2/2

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;