Shimiko's Outdoor BBQ Party [Hagoromo's Comet]

Shimiko had worked with various servants and caterers to ensure her BBQ party would go off without a hitch. She had been very busy with family, work, and Church affairs recently and this BBQ would be a chance to kick back and relax with those who mattered most to her. The planning process did open up some old emotional wounds though. Usually Natsuru would be the one doing all the planning and hosting, in fact, this was her Tower to begin with. Shimiko thought back to the Dinner Party that the Senou had hosted roughly 4 years ago. It was a fairly dramatic event filled with competitions, tears, fights, and true love. The event had taken a lot out of her emotionally and spiritually. However, she would have traded that experience for the world. It was there that the three comrades became not just friends but sisters. It was there that she had confessed her feelings to Sakata for the first time. And while things didn't exactly work out between them, she saw it as a turning point in her development and for that she was grateful. All of them were gone now, for better or worse. The memories stung but they did fill her with a sense of hope for the future. If good memories could be made then, then why not now?


The outdoor deck was something to behold. It was a truly luxurious setup with state-of-the-art grills, a brand new pool and Jacuzzi, and a series of fashionable deck chairs. The area had been cleaned and prepped for a fun evening. The caterers had brought in all sorts of exotic meats for Miyu to grill. Shimiko walked across the deck with her hands behind her back inspecting everything there was to inspect. She was dressed casually, a pair of short shorts, a tank-top, and a checkered shirt tied around her waist like a makeshift skirt. The blonde also sported a pair of blood-red tinted shades. She kept her hair in its signature pigtail fashion except the clips holding it in place were stylized comets. In the corner of the sky, she could already see it making its way to their location.

Hagoromo's Comet....

The bright blue object pulsated red and each time it glowed she could feel her emotions stirring. This barbecue wasn't just about relaxing and having fun, it was about basking in the eternal glow of something much greater than themselves. It was the official position of the Orthodox Church of Jashin, by decree of its leader Lady Superior Mora, that Hagoromo's Comet was a good omen. Lady Superior Mora had given a rousing sermon in which she decried unbelievers, heathens, and naysayers. She stated that the Comet was being sent to Earth by Jashin. The Lord had directed Hagoromo to create and mold chakra even though the man himself did not realize for which purpose he was being directed. The Comet this unwitting agent of Jashin had created would be sent back to Earth as a reminder to God's true Church that his promise was still in effect. He was coming again in the form of the Necrossiah and when he did, he'd re-establish his Kingdom through a never-ending cosmic crusade of bloodshed. This Comet was a reminder that the time for his arrival was close at hand. Mora had thus commanded her faithful to enjoy the comet's glow and power, but she also instructed them to pray fervently during its passing.

Shimiko had not invited the Orthodoxy's leader to this event. She would heed her leader's words and she would certainly pray during its passing, but ultimately, she wanted this night to also be about her friends and family. That included at least two people who did not share her faith. She had invited Nariko to this get-together and she had done so knowing that she couldn't very well invite Lady Mora as well. The two were cordial with one another, but ultimately there was an aura of distrust that marred their interactions. Mora knew it. Nariko knew it. There was no getting around the situation. Mora must have known and so she did not press her Defender for what plans she might have on the day of the Comet's passing. Instead, she merely told Shimiko that she'd be praying and speaking in private with her Sacristans during that time. It relieved Shimiko of a very unpleasant conversation and for that the teen was grateful.

Shimiko plopped herself down on a pool chair and stared up at the quickly dimming sky. The sun was setting and soon it'd be dark. The twins were probably getting ready, fussing with their clothes as one often did when about to meet their crush. Miyu was probably bringing up more food from the kitchen and of course the rest would be arriving soon. Seid, Nariko, Miyu, and the Twins. It was a decent amount of people. Not too few and not too many. Shimiko looked forward to enjoying this night and making it one to remember.

The twins were very excited today was the comet, a great event to many in the Jashin church and also Seid was going to be there. They felt their hearts race a little faster just thinking about him, he was something they liked almost as much as Shimiko having fallen for him a long time ago. He never showed much interest in the pair but maybe they could convince him he was perfect for them and they were perfect for himself. He was always so focused on his goals and it felt the twins for a long time had laid dormant just enjoying life but no more they had to get focused and had to get stronger to control this beast inside them now.

As they looked at the various clothing they began to make a mess of their hair trying to figure out what they wanted to wear. They would pace back and forth trying to make the decision it was hard for sure but they finally chose the tight red dress. It fits tightly against their form and was a Chinese sort of dress with a long slit up the leg allowing them to if they had to do combat as well as look good. They would begin to put on makeup trying to look the best they could for him before putting on a floral fragrance as well.

They would make their way out to the poolside in their dress smiling as they would go over and tightly hug Shimiko. She had made sure Seid would come meaning today was the day the twins would take their chance, they had to get him no matter what.

"Thank you for setting all of this up for us Shimiko, we could not be happier you invited Seid... do we look good."

They would do a turn with the front flip flying up a bit exposing the band of their thing they were wearing. They waited to see what Shimiko would say, was it too much or did she feel this was a perfect outfit for the pair.

Even with the sun soon setting. The meteor burned bright in the sky. Hagoromo's Comet streaked slowly across the sky. To the humans of earth, this was a treasured and rare moment. It was uncommon for the world to collectively appreciate something unknown to them. Seid was among many who were looking up at the sky, though for a different reason. He had been making his way to an event mostly for food, it would be hosted by Shimiko.

She called it a 'BBQ' it was unlike anything he had at his old home. But this was a good time to mingle. However the looming meteor coming into play was new to him, and exhilarating. This was certainly the work of an Otsutsuki. Seid's eyes narrowed, as he walked in making his way to the back of the party.

He was wearing all black of course, and his usual outfit just in case an emergency came about. There he could see Shimiko and the Twins were already there. "Am I late?" Seid said with a smile greeting the two.

Shimiko was soon joined by her darling twins. She stood up from the pool chair and went over to greet them with a warm smile. "No problem, I knew this would be a special evening so I figured you'd appreciate it if he was there". There was no absolute guarantee Seid would come but now that Shimiko was his boss he'd have to be an idiot not to. She knew he wasn't from around these parts, but he had to have enough sense to know that when your superior invites you to a social gathering you go. Yui and Yua asked how they looked and Shimiko examined their beautiful qi-pao dress. The two looked absolutely stunning and she could tell that their time at Wangchuk mountain had done them well. They were still quite petite but they had filled out a bit providing something to "hold onto" during sex. Shimiko wanted to protect her twins but she also wanted to give them as much independence as possible. Her own parents had never let her make her own choices and she swore she wouldn't do the same to them.

"You look absolutely gorgeous! I'm sure yo-"

Before Shimiko could finish her thought, they were joined by Seid. The young man was Shimiko's newest ANBU recruit and the twins' longtime love interest. It was a good thing Shimiko had stopped herself, while she was certain that he knew that the twins fancied him, she thought it best not to bring up the subject. They'd need to work that out between themselves.

Shimiko turned and gave him a hug. For an ANBU Captain, Shimiko was very friendly and outgoing. She never jived with the grimdark ultra-serious vibe her colleagues in the organization gave off, that didn't make her any less effective of an operative though. The Chinoike replied: "You're right on time. We're just getting started!"

Shimiko snapped her fingers and the servants began to prep the grill and cook the meat. Miyu was probably going to be late, she hadn't been feeling well and although doctors confirmed that it wasn't the plague, Shimiko insisted that she stay in bed and relax for as long as she needed to.

"Have you ever been to a barbecue Seid? I know you're not from around here but you must have had it before"

Shimiko was careful not to explicitly state the fact that Seid was not from Earth. He didn't have a human appearance but then again many people born on this planet did not. If Seid wanted to keep his origin a secret (and all signs pointed to that desire) then she would respect that.

Nariko had spent a lot of time deciding what she wanted to wear, not really being one to do things in a social manner all that much. Most of the time she simply wore her Jounin outfit everywhere, just in case she needed to handle something at a moment's notice, but today wasn't something she really expected to have to deal with anything to begin with. It was a Barbecue at Shimiko's Tower, and with her, Shimiko, Miyu, the twins, and Seid having been invited, she doubted that there was anything the group of them couldn't handle if something did come up.

In the end, she settled on a fun little outfit that she thought looked cute. Nariko's clothing choice was basic, but something she liked a lot. A white long sleeved turtle neck, which she wore underneath a sleeveless black romper. There was no need to dress overly formal, so a casual enough look was plenty for her. Her legs bare other than her combat boots, Nariko had put her hair in its usual side ponytail, and headed out to her destination, ready to have fun for the first time in what felt like forever.

It didn't take the Raikage long for her to get to the tower, nor was it hard for her to find her way to the outdoor patio. She had been fairly familiar with the place, back when it belonged to Natsuru, and the familiarity brought Nariko a small sense of sadness. Natsuru was gone now, and Ryuko was in a coma still, kept alive more or less on life support. Shimiko was all that Nariko really had any more when it came to a personal connection, so Nariko didn't want to turn her down on this night. She had to keep that last thread going.

As she came out, she saw that Shimiko, the twins, and Seid were present. Nariko felt a little bad, having never really interacted all that much with Shimiko's wards, but she knew Seid from a few interactions with him, and obviously she was very familiar with Shimiko.

Nariko smelled the scent of the floral fragrance on the Twins, her senses heightened as ever. She had to admit, the girls looked pretty good in their dresses. Well. Girl. Yua wasn't exactly a girl, but Nariko had a tough time seeing him as anything else, given he tended to look super femme.

"Hello all." Nariko said casually, in normal clothes for the first time that any of them had probably ever seen. Nariko looked... normal. Certainly not the visage of a serious kage that most of them knew.

The twins were excited when Seid showed up quickly moving to offer him a seat right next to Yui, as Nariko also entered they would move before her and give a light bow. They had little to any dealings with her despite being the holder of the tailed beast, still, they were very much showing a kind and gentle smile.

"Seid you can sit next to us, and Kage sama it is a pleasure for you to join us, today is a great day for us all. We are happy we can talk some with you as we have not done too much talking with you before."

They would wait to see where Seid sat and sit next to him no matter what, they were not letting this chance out of their grasp. Tonight would be the night they would find out if it was possible to be with him or if he would make a great sacrifice to Jashin. They would quietly wait for everyone else to begin to eat once they did they would join in. They looked very pretty tonight for sure and clearly they went out of their way to impress someone at the dinner.

"We are glad you both came and I hope we have long and peaceful nights in the future as well, let us make the land of Kumo the nation all wish they were. We will become the symbol for the world and show we do not discriminate against anyone because of social or political views."

Shimiko was the first to greet him, she seemed surprised that he never had this 'BBQ' before. The Twins were there startled by his appearance. They had made movements creating space for him to sit. Before he could act, Nariko the Raikage showed up. She looked terribly normal. Something Seid was indeed jealous about. He couldn't look normal no matter what he did. His strange pale like appearance and silver-white hair was easily noticeable. Traits that weren't easy to hide.

"Greetings Raikage. It is pleasure to have you here. And also Shimiko, unfortunately I have not had it. This is my first appearing at a party. Everything is a little new to me." He walked by and sat down next to the Yui and Yua. "Thank you for the offering."

Nariko arrived not long after Seid. She was worried that the Raikage may not even make it due to spending time with Akame but her fears were unfounded. Shimiko ran over to the woman and gave her a bear hug of ultra tight proportions. She rocked Nariko side to side and practically sang: "Nariko-sensei!!!! You're here!" she broke the hug and looked her sensei up and down astonished that she was capable of wearing something so beautiful but informal. "And you look terrific! You should dress down more often Raikage-sama, in fact....we should go out sometime" she suggested with a warm smile.

The Twins were not shy about saving Seid a seat. The young man admitted to never having BBQ which was a shame because Miyu's BBQ would have been the best "first BBQ" experience he could ever hope for. Unfortunately, with her not feeling 100% they'd have to eat what the stand-in cooks prepared. It'd still be very good, but ultimately not the best.

"Well you're in for a treat Seid! There are few things in this world as delicious as BBQ and sharing it with your friends makes it even better.."

Shimiko sat at the head of the table leaving space for Nariko to sit on her left. The twins would be to her right with Seid setting next to them. As soon as the group was seated, the cooks would place the meat on the grill and get to preparing their food. Glasses of blood-red lemonade were saved and some sweet and savory snacks were provided as well. The assortment of appetizers included but were not limited to: chips, gourmet cookies, fries, buns, fruit, pretzels, and of course bat jerky. As the BBQ guests got settled in their seat, Hagoromo's Comet began to slowly make its way across the skies.

Shimiko almost ran Nariko over in her exuberance, the usual giddy happy normal emotions that she tended to have in informal settings present. Nariko smiled, arms locked to her side through the hug as she was just happy that Shimiko wasn't still in the same sort of mood where she had the underlying sadness, or anger, or any of that. It wasn't fake right now. Nariko liked that.

"I'd love to go out sometime. I hate being cooped up in that damn office. One day, somebody else will be ready to take the office and I can't wait for that day." Nariko laughed, as the twins came up and spoke to her, bowing. Nariko noticed their strange pattern of speaking, but she didn't mention it. The twin's past wasn't the best, and their education wasn't formalized. They spoke like home schooled people often did, overly formal, and Nariko nodded. "Oh, don't bow you two. I don't even like formal settings when I'm on official duty, so I'd like tonight to be a night among friends. I'm not your Kage right now."

Seid mentioned he hadn't had a barbecue before, and Nariko gasped. "Well, then you're in for a real treat Seid!" she said, somewhat disingenuine. Nariko's idea of a good time was gambling or drinking, sex, smoking and partying. She never had many friends to begin with, so she actually hadn't been to a barbecue herself, but she wasn't about to admit to that right now. There were certain things she just didn't say.

The twins listened to Nariko as she said she wanted to retire from being kage if someone took over, the twins could think of someone they knew very well Shimiko. She was a strong leader and would do anything to secure Jashinism what better way than become the kage of the village. She also told them she didn't like being talked to formally and she was just a friend outside the office.

"We think Shimiko would make a wonderful Kage and let you enjoy your life more. We know she is a very good leader and strong-willed, she would not bend the knee to any enemies of her nation. We also think if you are our friend and not our kage right now we should give you a hug as we do all our friends."

Yui and Yua would move toward the kage and attempt to hug her tightly, Yui was quite enthusiastic but Yua seemed timid as a slight blush crossed her face. The pair would let her go if she let them hug her and take a seat ready for the most delicious of meals. They did wonder if Shimiko would pray to their lord before the meal if not the pair would read a scripture from the book for everyone before they would eat.

Yui would move extremely close to Seid and once the food arrived she would try to offer to feed him moving her body very close if not touching his. Tp any normal man it was clear she was trying to give a sign but Seid was not the typical male so maybe he would not notice what she wanted to hint at.

Seid let the other talk as he looked at the food around him. Being so close to these strange foods was indeed a new avenue for him to walk through. He grabbed a glass of red substance and took a sip. It was delicious, a familiar taste. Lemons? It was unlike the fruit he had seen before. But they made many meals from their vegetables and fruits. Seid was pleased with the food assortments. "The food looks wonderful Shimi sensei. So Nariko..." He felt strange not giving her honorific but he continued on. "I would like you to vacate you to my hometown. There you could be free of the hardness that comes with being Raikage. There are just, complications getting there. But its a beautiful place just like the Lightning Country."

The Twins were greeting Nariko, and sat back down close to Seid. They out of nowhere handed food towards the Chuunins mouth. Confused and not knowing what to do, Seid reached out and grabbed it with his bare hand. Is this what they do at these events? I have much to learn.

The BBQ took a dramatic turn for the awkward. Nariko brought up the fact that she would love to hang out instead of slaving over Kage work. The twins being sweet but insensitive to the current political climate, recommended Shimiko as a potential replacement. The thought was so pure and innocent it would warm anyone's heart, but Shimiko knew that that was a sore subject. The Jashinist's face turned beet red and even as she sat down and began snacking, she couldn't help but feel an exaggerated anime sweat drop make its way down her head.

"Hahaha" she laughed nervously. "I like my current job far too much darlings. I wouldn't trade it for the world."

At this juncture she'd wink at Seid. The two of them were ANBU, which meant they had access to the coolest missions.

"Besides, Nariko sensei is doing such a fantastic job that it'd be rude for me to even ask about taking the position"

Shimiko gave Nariko a friendly smile. She wanted Nariko to know that there were no hard feelings. The Twins were being genuine in wanting Shimiko to be leader of the village and she took their enthusiasm as a compliment. Yet for all the love and affection between Nariko and Shimiko, there was an insurmountable socio-religious barrier between their visions for the country. Nariko had to know by this point that Shimiko's loyalty was to Jashin first and foremost. Nariko was a civic nationalist and though she tolerated the Faith, Shimiko had come to learn that she was not going to favor the Church over the other religous institutions within the nation. If she made Shimiko Kage she ran the very real risk of essentially turning it over to Lady Superior Mora. The Church was growing in support with each passing month and many of its newer members had never known what it was like when the faith was underground and secretive. These newer converts were bold and loud. They demanded the Church be respected and placed above other religions in the village. The Church kept them in line but there was still a dramatic shift in rhetoric as the Church grew in size and power.

Nariko may want to retire, but given her political sensibilities leaving Shimiko in charge was as good as turning the country into a Jashinist State. The Defender of Faith was patient in that regard. She was certain the Lord would work out a solution so long as she did as she was told by her religious leader. She was in no need to take the position and true to her word, she didn't want the headache. She much preferred being ANBU over Kage. She hoped her words would diffuse the tension and relieve the Raikage of any pressure to agree with the twins.

Changing the subject, she turned to Seid.

"I'm glad you like it Seid! Wait until the meat is ready. That will really knock your socks off". The chefs were slamming the pork, beef, and chicken onto the grill as they spoke. The hot sizzle of the meat and the smell of barbecue sauce wafted through the air. Shimiko ate some bat jerky and washed it down with lemonade. She listened as Seid talked about his homeworld. He seemed pretty forthcoming about the subject and he was comfortable inviting Nariko there. Shimiko sat back and listened. She was interested in where Seid had come from. And though she had gleamed bits and pieces of his life, she wanted to know more.

Nariko was at a complete loss as to what to say when the twins responded that Shimiko should be the kage. Nariko had given it a lot of thought, having originally wanted Shimiko to take over one day in honor of her brother, but throughout the years, she had decided against that. Nariko was the only thing stopping Shimiko from putting Jashinism above everything else, and then things would be bad. As much as she loved the girl, her religion had a terrifying premise.

Luckily, her ANBU Captain had some level of tact and took over the conversation, as the Twins hugged Nariko. Assuming she wasn't assassinated during the hug that the twins gave her, Nariko shot Shimiko an understanding look. The two of them knew that it wasn't likely that Nariko would let Jashinism ever have a full hold of the nation. She'd never hand it over to Shimiko as the current standing was. Maybe if the girl was able to separate from her religion to do what's best for the village rather than push her own agenda, but not currently. "Shimiko's job right now is invaluable. She's very good at her job, and I wouldn't like to rob our village of their ANBU Captain either."

Taking a seat, Nariko looked up to the sky, rather than eating anything, and closed her eyes. A smile played on her lips as she let herself relax for the first time in a long time. Addressing Seid, "What is your hometown like then? I didn't grow up with the village like this you know. It's only been since I took office that we developed from a village to a massive metropolis. Or do you just mean the country as a whole? I'm interested."

She said she could never take the position but the twins felt there was some underlying lie being told. Shimiko was more than capable as the pair looked at the two and could feel the tension just a bit. The subject, however, would quickly shift as Sied was asked about his home sparking the twins interest even further. Yui would move close to his arm trying to push her chest up against his arm as she showed curiosity on her face she wanted to know as well.

"Yes Sied do tell us what your hometown is like, we are most curious as to what it is like. It did have you join us so it must be a great place to produce someone like you, we... well we are happy now our past isn't important."

The slight look of sadness would cross Yui face as Yua would squeeze her hand tightly reassuring her, she would smile once more but it was clear something was on her mind. The memories of the abuse the delt with was not a fun one. She tried to bury it because remembering just how close Yua and herself were to likely dying frightened her. The twins were happy Nariko let them hug her and Yua still had a flush on his face, she was nice and soft. In his eyes, Nariko was the perfect woman but of course, he could not say this out loud. Despite how he dressed he loved woman and wanted to someday find someone that would accept him for who he was.

"Its complicated. But I was going to tell you all someday anyways. I am not from this world. The Otsutsuki come from a different dimension. The world I am from is called Boros. A planet similar to the one we are on. The village I am from had an amazing leader, and a powerful one. There was a time where we didn't know about things like Ninjutsu and manipulating chakra on a scale as I've seen here. This was a simple village but our lands were vast and bountiful. We have two suns as well, which was why I stare at the morning sky often. Looking for the other sun. I was special even among the Otsus. Which was the reason I was forced to leave the world entirely. My father and few of my uncles used the last bit of their strength to tear open a portal that led me to this planet.

As a child still I did what I could to learn the language and customs of the Lightning country. It has brought me much appreciation for this village and its people. But I do miss my home greatly. Its been over a decade since I've seen the rest of my family. When I get stronger, perhaps I can take you all with me. No worries, I will bring you all back whenever you want." It was a tall order. But Seid was aware of a technique he could develop to teleport across dimensions and worlds. Which had been used to bring him here in the first place. One day he would learn it, and visit his world again.

They enjoyed their meal in silence as the others didn't have much to add after that. He was still adamant about increasing his prowess that he too would be able to bend and shape reality. However it seemed like far-fetched dream. The power his father exhibited was the height of his families time-space ninjutsu. He had been blessed with the Rinnegan as well as we able to use progenitor to all time-space jutsus. Hopefully down the line he would learn it as he did. "It was an amazing feast Shimi-sensei. Thank you all for welcoming me. Perhaps I can do the same for you all. Goodnight all." He bid the Raikage and the Twins farewell. And made his way home.

[Exit]

(Sorry for the lack of posting in this thread guys please forgive me we can just say that it was a relatively happy and uneventful BBQ party and wrap it up haha)

It was great that Nariko and Shimiko were on the same page with respect to the Kageship. That was a can of worms that could be opened another day. The conversation turned to Seid's homeland. The young man was far more forthcoming than Shimiko anticipated and he practically told him all about his homeworld of Boros. What he was saying could arguably be considered a closely held state secret but if Nariko was not rushing to stop him from talking than Shimiko wouldn't either. The group listened in silence as Seid explained where he was from and why he had come to Earth. The holy scriptures of the Jashinist religion mentioned other worlds but it was surreal to actually have a visitor from another world confirm what she had believed for so long. The rest of the BBQ was largely uneventful. The group ate, talked, and soon it was time for everyone to go. Shimiko had enjoyed eating with her fellow Nin and she'd hold this day in her heart for the rest of her life. After everyone had stuffed themselves satisfied and conversation had been exhausted. Shimiko stood up and stretched. It was getting dark out and she didn't want them to think they needed to stay longer than they wished.

"Thank you all for joining me on this special day. Feel free to stay for as long as you like, but if not I'll see you guys later. I'm pretty tired so I'm going to bed. Good night everyone"

The lovely host hugged and kissed each of her guests before turning out for the night. She reflected on the words and pleasantries exchanged as she made her way to her bedroom. Nothing dramatic was really said outside of Seid's revelation of his parentage. It was a simple dinner party but Shimiko loved it all the same. As far Shimiko was concerned those people were her family and she would protect them at all costs. Before she fell asleep, Shimiko would close her eyes and make a few wishes.


I will protect my family at all costs....I won't lose another family member.

I'm going to get stronger....much stronger....stronger and more skilled than any other shinobi in the world....

I'll bring them, this village, and this whole country under the banner of Jashinism....protected by the only true God of this world....

The Twins enjoyed hearing about his world to find out he was from a different planet was amazing, they certainly understood why his head was always in the clouds. As the night winded down they would continue to talk to Seid but by the end of the night, they understood Seid was so focused on his future he was not going to be paying attention to girls around him. While Yui felt very sad she understood, she likely would never get with Seid but she had goals herself, she had to spread the world of Jashin and show how great it was. They would do everything they could to support Shimiko and the church.

When everyone left the twins would scurry off Yui wanted to cry because she knew her and Seid just would not happen but she never wanted to cry in front of Shimiko. Yua would comfort her throughout the night as they reflected on focusing all their effort on the church though Yui still had a heart that longed someone to love her like a lover not as a family.

-Exit Thread-