Ruby picked up the bottle and chuckled at the label.

“Now, my Akashiman is rusty to say the least. But this is a little too quaint even for me.” It depicted a kitsune, eyes red and a sakura tree behind it loosing blossoms in a gust of wind. She picked up two glasses with the fingers of her free hand and waltzed over to the chair next to her sister.

“Little Fox. Produced in Yanbo no longer after the docklands were ravaged by the Crab. It’s one of the last few bottles, so don’t down it.”

“Sukoshi Kitsune has a nice ring to it.” Ruby poured two draughts and handed one to Lilith. “I can’t remember the last time we had a drink together without some world breaking threat looming over us.”

They sipped the sake gently in silence, both fondly reminiscing about what few good and innocent times they had shared since Oblivion’s fall. They were criminally few and far between. Both siblings made a promise to change that.

“I don’t know. The winter festival was grander than I’d planned for.”

Ruby wrinkled her nose. Whilst the performance was riotous and people still talked about it in Scara Brae months on, the hangover had not been worth it.

“We know how to party I’ll give you that. But, tell me. Why have the kami started to return now?”

“The kitsune is the first to appear in the capital for centuries. I can only assume the death of the greater oni has purified these lands. I’ve heard reports of other kami appearing in the southlands and dancing over the shores near Yanbo at dusk. It finally feels like all Arden and I have done has had the desired effect.”

“What do you want to do now? After we hunt a necromancer or two.” Ruby finished her sake, never quite acquiring a taste for it and preferring to saviour it’s lethargic and warming vigour.

Lilith sat upright and patted the end of the chaise lounge. Ruby shuffled over and they leant on one another’s shoulders. Red hair and grey hair representing the fox and the phoenix.

“The senate is talking about opening trade negotiations with Corone. The rebuilding efforts in Yanbo are nearly over. I want to restore the ninja clans in the south and see to it that the shrines destroyed by the Komodo’s ronin are rebuilt. Akashima needs to remember who watches over it.”

“If anyone can bring the stories to life Lilith Kazumi is the one to do it.”

“Even when the kami walked amongst Tokyun I always thought they were alien, distant beings. Naive was I to think any of us could survive without them. They are as much a part of Akashima as Tantalus is a part of us.” They clinked glasses then Ruby refilled them.

“You finally grew up.” Ruby smiled cheekily.

Lilith jabbed her in the ribs playfully.

“You might be my older sister, Ruby, but we all know I’ve always been the adult.”