Kyoto Trip Preparation

Sunday morning. Two days until the Council hearing.

Mio sat at the dining table, surrounded by papers. Data printouts. Charts. Testimonials from human clients. Financial records proving her business was legitimate and profitable.

Evidence.

She needed evidence that her methods worked. That progressive vampire-human relations weren't just idealistic fantasy but actual, measurable reality.

Reina sat across from her, laptop open, compiling metrics.

"Acceptance rates among humans aged 18-35 have increased 23% in the last three years," she read aloud. "Vampire-related hate crimes down 15%. Public perception surveys show gradual shift toward neutrality rather than fear."

"Is that enough?" Mio asked.

"It's a start. The Elders care about numbers. Show them the data supports your approach."

"And if they don't care about data?"

"Then we show them testimonials. Human voices saying 'this vampire treated me well, this system works.'" Reina looked up. "We have forty-three documented positive interactions. That's forty-three humans who didn't die, didn't get manipulated, and chose to participate again."

Mio nodded, making notes. "What about the argument that we're making vampires look weak?"

"Counter: We're making vampires look adaptable. Evolution over extinction." Reina pulled up another document. "Vampire population has declined 30% in the last century. Traditional methods aren't sustainable. We adapt or we die out."

"Good. That's good." Mio wrote it down. Her handwriting was shaky. "What if I freeze? What if I can't speak?"

"Then you breathe. And try again." Reina's voice was gentle. "You've faced a camera and twelve thousand people. You can face a room of Elders."

"The camera couldn't kill me."

"Neither can they. Not legally. Not without cause."

"That's not as reassuring as you think it is."

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Reina's phone buzzed. She glanced at it. "Ren wants to brief me on security. I'll be back."

She left. Mio continued organizing papers, trying to ignore the rising panic.

Akira appeared with tea. "How's it going?"

"Terribly. I have no idea what I'm doing."

"You're preparing. That's something."

"Is it?" She gestured at the papers. "I have data and charts and testimonials but what if none of it MATTERS? What if they've already decided?"

"Then we make them listen anyway." He sat beside her. "Together. Remember?"

"Together," she echoed, but her voice was small.

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In the study, Reina met with Ren.

He materialized from the shadows, still unnerving even after weeks of employment.

"Report," Reina said.

"Saturday's attacker eliminated. Elder faction operative. No intel extracted before termination."

"They sent an amateur?"

"Test run. Assessing our response capabilities." Ren consulted his small notebook. "Expect escalation Tuesday."

"The Council appearance."

"Affirmative. I'll scout the venue tomorrow. Establish secure routes, identify potential threats."

"What about until then?"

"Akira has been under continuous shadow surveillance since Friday. He remains unaware." Ren flipped a page. "Three additional threats neutralized this weekend. Two Saturday evening. One Sunday morning. All Elder faction."

Reina went still. "Three?"

"Minor threats. Low-level operatives. Handled before engagement range." Ren's tone was clinical. "The human is surprisingly oblivious. Makes the work easier."

"Should we tell him?"

"No. Awareness creates paranoia. Paranoia creates patterns. Patterns create vulnerability." Ren moved toward the wall. "He's safer not knowing."

"And Kyoto?"

"I depart tonight. Phase-walking. Will secure the Council chamber and surrounding area." He paused. "Expect heavy traditionalist presence. They're mobilizing."

"Noted. Thank you, Ren."

He nodded and phased through the wall.

Reina sat for a moment, processing. Three threats in two days. And Akira had no idea.

Perhaps that was for the best.

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The basement door crashed open. Momo bounded up the stairs, phone in hand, grinning.

"BOSS! I have an AMAZING idea!"

Mio looked up from her papers. "What?"

"I'm coming to Kyoto with you!"

"Absolutely not."

"Hear me out! You need protection, right? And I can fight! Plus I can document everything for social media…"

"Momo, this is a formal Council hearing, not a TikTok opportunity…"

"EXACTLY! Which means we need PUBLIC RECORD!" Momo was bouncing now. "They can't make you disappear if everything's documented and posted in real-time. Transparency is protection!"

Mio opened her mouth. Closed it. "That's... actually not a terrible point."

"I KNOW RIGHT?! Plus I'm good in a fight. And I'm cute. Elders love cute things."

"Elders do not love cute things."

"You don't know that!"

Reina returned, caught the tail end. "Momo's coming to Kyoto?"

"I'M COMING TO KYOTO!"

"Absolutely not," Mio said.

"Too late, already packed!" Momo held up a duffel bag that she'd apparently prepared in advance. "I'm your bodyguard now! Official!"

Akira looked at Reina. "Is she always like this?"

"Yes."

A voice from the corner: "Affirmative."

Everyone jumped. Ren had materialized, standing perfectly still in the shadow by the bookshelf.

"HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN THERE?!" Akira yelped.

"Twelve minutes. You didn't notice." Ren looked at Momo. "If she's coming, establish clear protocols. No filming inside Council chamber. No engaging Elders verbally. Protection only."

"You got it, boss!" Momo saluted.

"I'm not your boss."

"You're EVERYONE'S boss in my heart."

Ren stared at her for three full seconds, then phased out without another word.

"I think that went well," Momo said cheerfully.

"He terrifies me," Akira muttered.

"He terrifies everyone," Reina said. "That's why we pay him."

--------------------------------------------------------------

Monday morning.

Akira had to go to work, one last day before the Kyoto trip. He'd requested Tuesday and Wednesday off, citing "family emergency."

Not technically a lie.

"I'll be fine," he told Mio at the door. "It's just the office. Nothing's going to happen."

"Still. Be careful."

"Always am."

What Akira didn't know: Ren had already departed for Kyoto. And Momo had other plans.

He arrived at work to find Momo waiting in the lobby.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Bodyguard duty!" She was wearing a pink backpack with cat ears. Looked about twelve years old. "I'm your shadow for the day!"

"You can't just…they're not going to let you in…"

The security guard at the desk looked up. Saw Momo. "Who's this?"

"My…" Akira started.

"Little sister!" Momo chirped, immediately shifting into "innocent child" mode. Her voice went up an octave. "Onii-chan is letting me shadow him for career day! I want to work in government when I grow up!"

The guard looked skeptical. "Career day?"

"My school has a program! We follow a working adult for a day!" She pulled out an absolutely legitimate-looking permission slip from her backpack. "See? All approved!"

Where did she GET that?

The guard examined it. Shrugged. "Alright. But stay with your brother. No wandering."

"Thank you, sir!" Momo bowed politely.

They got in the elevator.

"LITTLE SISTER?!" Akira hissed.

"I look twelve. Gotta use what you got." She was already pulling out her phone. "Also I have fake student ID, permission slip, and a whole backstory. I'm Yuki Tanaka, middle school second-year, interested in public administration."

"You made an entire fake identity?"

"Obviously. Did you think I'd just walk in and say 'hi I'm a vampire bodyguard'?"

"I…no, but…"

"Relax. This isn't my first time infiltrating a government building." She grinned. "Now where's your desk? I need to set up surveillance angles."

"Please don't say things like that in a government building."

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Akira's coworkers were baffled.

"Who's the kid?" Tanaka asked.

"My... girlfriend's friend. She's... shadowing me. For school."

"Your girlfriend has a twelve-year-old friend?"

"She's not actually twelve, she's…" Akira stopped. "It's complicated."

Momo was sitting in a guest chair by his desk, phone out, apparently playing mobile games. But Akira noticed her eyes constantly scanning the room. The entrances. The windows.

She was actually taking this seriously.

Tanaka leaned in, lowered his voice. "Is that your bodyguard?"

"How did you…"

"Akira. She's been staring at every person who walks by like she's calculating threat levels. And she's positioned herself between you and the door." Tanaka grinned. "It's kind of obvious."

"She's supposed to be subtle."

"She's a child-sized vampire in a government office filming TikToks. 'Subtle' left the building."

"She's not actually filming…"

Momo held up her phone, clearly recording. Waved at them.

"She's filming," Tanaka said. "Your life is very weird."

"Tell me about it."

--------------------------------------------------------------

Nothing actually happened that day.

No attacks. No threats. Just normal work.

What Akira didn't know: in the parking garage that morning, two Elder faction vampires had been waiting near his car. Ren, who hadn't actually left for Kyoto yet, had intercepted them. Eliminated them quietly. Left no trace.

Then he'd texted Momo: "Two threats. Handled. Your turn to look busy."

She'd responded with a thumbs up emoji.

The system worked.

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Monday evening, back at the mansion.

Speech practice.

Mio stood in front of the empty chairs Reina had set up to simulate the Council. Akira, Reina, and Momo sat watching.

"Esteemed Council members," Mio began, voice stiff and formal. "I appear before you today to address concerns regarding my operational methods and personal relationships. As documented in the materials provided, my approach to vampire-human relations prioritizes consent, transparency, and mutual benefit. Statistical analysis demonstrates a measurable increase in positive human perception of vampires, corresponding to a decrease in vampire-related incidents. Furthermore…"

"Boss," Momo interrupted. "You sound like a robot."

"I'm being professional!"

"You're being BORING. And fake." Momo gestured. "Just talk. Like you're talking to us."

"But it's the ELDERS. I can't just talk like…"

"Yes you can," Akira said gently. "They want to know if your methods work. Show them. Don't recite at them."

Mio tried again. Still too stiff. Too rehearsed.

After the fifth attempt, she collapsed into a chair. "I can't do this. I'm going to freeze up there and say nothing and they'll exile me and everything will be for nothing."

"You won't freeze," Akira said.

"You don't know that."

"Okay, you might freeze. But if you do, I'll speak."

"You CAN'T. You're human. They won't let you…"

"Then they'll have to remove me. Physically. In front of witnesses." He took her hand. "I'm not letting you face them alone. Even if I can't speak, I'll be there. And you'll know you're not alone."

She looked at him. "Together?"

"Together."

Reina cleared their throat. "For what it's worth, the content of your speech is solid. The delivery needs work, but the substance is there. The Elders will listen. Whether they'll agree is another matter."

"Comforting," Mio muttered.

"I'm not here to comfort. I'm here to prepare you." Reina stood. "One more run-through. This time, pretend you're explaining to Akira why you do what you do. Not to the Elders. To him."

Mio took a breath. Tried again.

Better. Not perfect, but better.

Progress.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Monday night, 11 PM.

Akira was getting ready to leave when Mio caught him at the door.

"Thank you," she said quietly. "For everything. For coming with me. For believing in this."

"Of course."

"You could still back out. It's not too late. If the Elders decide against me, anyone associated with me could face consequences…"

"Mio." He touched her face. "I'm coming. Final answer. Stop trying to protect me from my own choices."

She smiled despite herself. "Okay."

"Get some sleep. Tomorrow's a big day."

"You too."

He kissed her goodbye. Headed out to his car.

Texted Tanaka: Leaving mansion. Heading home.

Last night before the trial?

Yeah. Tomorrow we go to Kyoto.

Good luck. You're going to need it.

Thanks. I think.

He drove home through quiet streets.

In the shadows of the parking garage, Ren watched him enter his apartment building safely. Noted no threats. Made his final preparations.

Tomorrow, he'd be in Kyoto. Securing the venue. Ready for whatever came.

Tonight, everything was quiet.

The calm before the storm.

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Tuesday morning, 6 AM.

They gathered at the mansion: Mio, Akira, Reina, Momo.

Ren was already in Kyoto, had phase-walked overnight to scout the Council chamber and establish secure routes.

"Everyone ready?" Reina asked.

"No," Mio said honestly. "But we're going anyway."

"That's the spirit. Sort of."

They loaded into Reina's car. The drive to Tokyo Station was quiet. Tense.

On the train to Kyoto, Mio sat by the window, staring out at the passing landscape. Akira held her hand.

Momo was filming. "Road trip to vampire court! This is either going to be historic or a complete disaster!"

"Momo," Reina said tiredly. "Please."

"What? Documenting for posterity!"

"Document quieter."

The train rolled on. Through cities and countryside. Three hours to Kyoto.

Three hours until everything changed.

Mio's hand trembled in Akira's. He squeezed gently.

"Together," he said quietly.

"Together," she echoed.

Outside the window, Japan blurred past.

Inside the train, four people rode toward judgment.

One ancient vampire who'd never left her mansion.

One human government employee dating said vampire.

One elegant vampire advisor who'd been preparing for this for months.

One chaos gremlin vampire filming everything for TikTok.

It was not a traditional delegation.

But then, nothing about this had ever been traditional.

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They arrived in Kyoto at 11 AM.

The Council hearing was at 2 PM.

Three hours to prepare.

Reina's phone buzzed. Message from Ren: "Venue secured. Perimeter monitored. Recommend entering through east entrance. Traditional faction presence heavy on west side."

"Smart," Reina muttered. "Let them think we're intimidated."

"Aren't we?" Mio asked.

"Terrified. But they don't need to know that."

They took a taxi to a small hotel near the Council chamber. Reina had booked a conference room for final preparations.

Mio reviewed her notes one more time. Akira sat beside her, steady presence.

Momo filmed a "getting ready" montage.

Reina made final calls, confirmed details, prepared contingencies.

At 1:30 PM, Reina stood. "It's time."

Mio looked up. Face pale. "Already?"

"We should arrive early. Show respect."

"Right. Respect." Mio stood on shaky legs. "Okay. I can do this. I can... I can..."

She couldn't finish the sentence.

Akira took her hand. "You can. We'll be right there."

They left the hotel.

Walked through Kyoto's streets. Historic buildings. Temples. Gardens.

Beautiful and utterly terrifying.

The Council chamber was in a traditional building: ancient, imposing, designed to make visitors feel small.

It worked.

At the entrance, Ren materialized from the shadows.

"Perimeter secure. No immediate threats. Traditional faction watching but not engaging." His eyes flicked to Mio. "Ready?"

"No."

"Good. Fear keeps you sharp." He looked at Akira. "Stay close. If anything happens, follow Reina's lead."

"What's going to happen?"

"Unknown. But be ready." Ren phased out, back to his post.

Reina straightened Mio's collar. Adjusted her own. "Remember: you're a Coven Lord. Act like one."

"I don't feel like one."

"Fake it. They don't know that."

Momo bounced on her toes. "This is SO dramatic. I love it."

"You're not coming in," Reina said.

"WHAT?!"

"Security will never allow a camera in the chamber. You stay out here. Document the exterior. If we don't come out in two hours, you know what to do."

"Post everything and call the authorities?"

"Exactly."

Momo deflated slightly but nodded. "Fine. But I want a full report after."

"Deal."

Mio took one last breath. Looked at the imposing entrance.

This was it.

Everything she'd worked for. Everything she'd feared. Everything she'd dreamed.

All coming down to the next few hours.

"Together?" she asked Akira one more time.

"Together."

They walked through the entrance.

Into the Council chamber.

Into judgment.